IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!

by

Ariel Armstrong

DEDICATION

To John Loewen: who God put in my life over twenty years ago. He has used him to walk through countries, minister to people, and even to do substantive editing of the books the Lord had me write.  I am truly thankful for his faithfulness and expertise again in editing this book.

To Linda Germain:  Thank you. When I was at my wits end with the editing you stepped in and gave such words of encouragement and expertise in line editing.  Thank you so much!

To Dr. Myles Monroe: who God had me glean and learn from his excellent teaching on the kingdom of God.

To my mentor, Apostle Esi Mathis:  You were put in my life for such a time as this to help me navigate this walk of faith and obedience to Christ.  I thank you for all your godly wisdom at the numerous times I needed it.

Thank you: To my boys Daryl and Robert who have loved me in spite of my shortcomings.

To my sister Tena: whom God used mightily in blessing me financially and allowing me to stay with her during times of renewal.

To my brother Chuck: who always has been there for my boys; not only being an uncle they can joke with but a “dad” that they can talk to.

To my brother Curtiss:  who has helped me on my journey to California.

To my parents Chuck and Frances: who love me and have helped me through the years. I truly appreciate your support.

To the rest of my family both natural and spiritual, the intercessors: Without your uplifting me n prayer, speaking prophetically in my life, and those whom God has given us, where would we be?

Thank you

IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!

Copyright © 2013

Ariel Armstrong

Unless otherwise noted, the King James Version (KJV - also called “The Authorized Version”) of the Bible is used when quoting from Scripture.

Scripture quotations marked “AMP,” are taken from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE: Old Testament copyright 1962, 1964 by Zondervan Publishing House; and from THE AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT, Copyright 1958 by the Lockman Foundation; used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked “MSG,” are taken from THE MESSAGE (The Message Bible: The Bible in Contemporary Language) by Eugene H. Peterson.  Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002.  Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked “NIV,” are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society.  Used by permission of Zondervan.  All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked “NKJV,” are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION.  Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked “NLT,” are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION. Copyright 1996, 2004.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

Verses quoted from the Bible are italicized.  While this may not be standard practice, it is an easy way to quickly identify scripture on a page.

A small “a” after a verse reference (such as “Psalm 149:3a”) means that only the first part of the verse was cited.  A small “b” means that only the last part of the verse was listed.

Certain words are in italics and bold at the discretion of the author, and are used to emphasize certain passages.

“Jesus,” “Yeshua,” and “Yahshua,” as well as “Christ,” and “Messiah” are used interchangeably in this book.

Words emboldened within a Bible verse are emphasized by the author and are not part of the Bible translation.

Preface

Then they will not be like their ancestors-stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.

(Psalm 78:8, NLT)

“They want to see God’s power, God’s might - they want to see God!” When I first heard this quote from Tim Storey, I knew it had to be in the foreword to this book.  Rev. Storey’s influential ministry extends to stars in Hollywood, athletes around the world, and other icons young people follow, listen to, and admire.

This is a generation that is crying out for reality.  They have seen the hypocrisy of religion.  They have been sold a bill of goods concerning “the American Dream,” and now find themselves unable to find a job and afford health insurance, and in the middle of a global economic collapse.  They have seen divorce rates soar, unwanted pregnancies reach epidemic proportions, suicide scourge society, depression cripple able men and women, and joblessness lead to hopelessness.  They live in a culture looking for love in all the wrong places, where anything goes, and void of any answers leading to true happiness.

“Where is the real deal?” is the question of the hour, followed closely by, “Does anyone really love me? And if someone does, how do I know they care?”  So many questions and so much uncertainty!  While they want God, they don’t know if He really exists.

I am the pen through which the Lord has chosen to communicate the following saga.  Holding me with His skillful hand, He is prompting me to continue documenting the adventure He is leading me through.

Dedication

As the Lord allows me to record in detail my own journey, I dedicate it, with all of its joys, heartaches, ups, downs, questions, and exclamations points, to the generation that will follow me.

I pray that as you read this book, regardless of which generation you find yourself a part of, you will experience the same God of the Universe who has touched and is transforming the woman behind this pen.

Could I ask you to do something for me?  Could you open up your heart and believe that He could also make Himself real to you?  I believe He can!

Are you ready to meet “the Real Deal”?  I hope so, because that is who He has shown Himself to be to me.  And I am no different than you are, as you will see in the following pages.

It’s Not About You!

Ihad just finished the manuscript ofBe Made Whole.[1]  It had been rewritten several times in addition to being line and substantive edited, and was now ready for publication.

I was attending a conference hosted by Christian Leaders, Authors, and Speakers Services (CLASS), in Denver, Colorado.  This organization was giving attendees an opportunity to speak to publishers and other literary agents.  The conference was being held in conjunction with the Christian Bookseller’s Convention.

During the first day of the conference, publishers were to meet with speakers who were also prospective authors.  I had contacted the conference hosts a week before it started to see if anyone wanted to share a room with me.  They said they would take my information and give it to anyone who wished to do the same thing.

A few days later I was contacted by Pastor Esi Mathis who called me before I could call her.  We talked for a while; I really liked her. I learned that she was a pastor who was living in Delaware.

As we talked, I discovered that we were both called to write and learned that she had two boys, as I did.  We then discussed arrangements for the conference.

“I can’t make it the first day, but I will be coming the following morning,” she said, pointing out a prior commitment.

“That’s fine.  I’ll see you then,” I said after we had settled on the finances, and hung up.

I was excited to know that I would finally get my book published!  The Lord had asked me to write the book.  He actually named it, gave me the chapter titles, the outline, and the content.  I just happened to be the “pen in the Master’s hand.”  At first, I had been unsure of myself when it came to putting my thoughts on paper.

One day when my son Robert was at home from college I was reminded of the source of this deep seated fear of writing one day when my son Robert was at home from college.  He was on the computer and reading an e-mail from one of his professors.  Looking at the computer screen he dropped his head in his hands.

“Oh noooooo…”  The tone of his voice indicated something was seriously amiss.

“What’s wrong?”  I asked.

“My professor just gave me a ‘D’ on a paper I wrote.  He’s wondering how I even made it into college!”

Something burst inside me.

“No!  You’re not doing that to him!” I spoke out loud and angrily to the enemy of my soul who was now attacking my son.

“Mom; what are you doing?  You’re scaring me!” Robert said.

My thoughts went back to college.

My English professor had given me an “F” on a paper that I thought was pretty good. He had made the comment, “I don’t understand Kathy; you speak so well in class, but your writing...well…it’s terrible!”

I didn’t know what I was doing wrong or how to fix it.  I did take a remedial class in English to try to fix the problems with my writing, but I couldn’t grasp all the nuances.  I somehow got by in college, but I remember feeling totally inadequate.  My former professor’s words deeply wounded my already low self-image.  I decided immediately that I would never write again.

That inner vow was the source of the battle that was now raging within me.

The enemy was coming through my bloodline and was attacking my son with the same shame and low self worth in relation to writing.

I realized what he was doing and I declared out loud to the atmosphere, “You know what Satan? The war is on now! I will write this book and there is nothing you can do to stop it!  The blood of Jesus is against you and you can’t come against my son or anyone else in my family.  It stops here!”

God had helped me break through these fears and complete the manuscript that I was now trying to get published.

During the week before my departure, I was extremely busy. Between work, packing, errands, and making necessary arrangements, I had tons of things to do, and by flight time I was drained.

I arrived in Denver late in the morning and took a taxi to the hotel.

“Get up Kathy! You‘ve got to get downstairs and pitch this book!” I told myself.

I slowly got to my feet and changed my clothing, reapplied my make-up, picked up my purse, manuscript, notepad, and pen, and headed to the hotel ballroom.  This is where the interviews with the representatives from the various publishing houses were being held.

I felt the manuscript was supposed to be published by Zion Communications, because not every Christian publishing house agreed with the supernatural content of my manuscript. Be Made Whole contained healings, deliverances, visitations to Hell and back, and signs and wonders, and miracles.  Only a few Christian publishers would even touch this type of book.

When I was first commissioned to write the book, I asked the Lord, “Why this book?”  He told me to look at the Bible that was near my right arm on the desk.“Look; it’s the New Testament, Kathy.  I reveal Myself through the testimonies of my people,” Jesus spoke to my heart. This revelation penetrated deep into my understanding.

I thought,they may not pick up a Bible, but He can speak to them if they pick up this book.  He will meet them right where they are at now!’

I went downstairs to meet the one publisher I wanted to see.  While there were several publishers meeting with prospective authors, I walked up to the Zion representative.

“Hello. I’m here for the two o'clock appointment.  My name is Kathy Armstrong,” I said as I extended my hand.

“Nice to meet you,” he responded.  “I’m Alan Dempsey.” He shook my hand and sat down in the chair behind his desk.

After asking where I was from, he inquired about my ministry and then about the book.  We had been taught as budding authors that when we “pitch” our book, we were to take less than three minutes to get the information across succinctly.  He listened and then got straight to the point.

“Do you have at least 10,000 people that you minister to?”

What?  Are you kidding? I knew where he was headed.

“No, I don’t,” I said calmly, trying to hide my anger and disappointment.

“Well, we can’t help you unless you have that type of support base.  We aren’t interested in publishing your book!” he said.  He wasn’t being mean, he was just calculating and to the point.  His company had certain guidelines, and I didn’t meet them.

I thanked him and I left.  At first I was in a daze, but when I got to my room, I erupted.  I threw the manuscript on top of the dresser.

“You know what God?” I said.  “There’s your manuscript - I’m done!  No one is going to publish this!  I did what you told me to,” and then added sarcastically, “You get it published!”

Just writing about what transpired on that day in Denver makes me cringe, but frankly, this is where I was at.  I didn’t want to repent; I was angry!  Despite the Bible’s warning not to let the sun go down on your anger,[2] I was boiling over with this as well as a variety of other emotions.

“I’m leaving.  I’m getting the first flight out of here!” I told myself.

I went to bed, but needless to say I couldn’t sleep!  I tossed and turned all night.  I knew I was in rebellion, but I didn’t care.  I didn’t want to repent and felt justified with my attitude.

Morning came and there was a knock on the door.

Oh No!I had forgotten that my roommate was arriving.  I really don’t want to talk to her!  I know – I will just tell her that she can keep the room!’All sorts of ideas were running through my mind.  I will tell her that I just decided to leave and...

I rehearsed a variety of scenarios in my mind before I reached the door, but all were in vain once I turned the knob.  Before I could say “Hello,” my hands were grabbed and placed over my head.

“Satan you take your hands off of God’s child!”the woman in front of me said. “Prophet of God,get before the Lord!  How dare you tell the Lord what you’re not going to do!” she blurted out.

I slumped to the floor in a blubbering heap.  I had angered God and now He was “chastening me.” I was scared, both of God and of her!

I hear the Father saying,“Don’t abort, don’t abort, don’t abort what I have put in you, daughter!” she continued.

I didn’t hear anymore.  I had heard what I needed to hear!

“I’m so sorry.  I’m so sorry Lord,” I said sobbing and weeping profusely with every fiber of my being.

“Oh, I can see that the Lord is dealing with you.  I’ll see you later,” she said.  I heard the door close.

I repented to the Lord concerning my disobedience, my unbelief, my arrogance and my pride.  Eventually I pulled myself off the floor.  I staggered to the bed, crawled in, and pulled the covers tight around my neck.  I kept sobbing and finally fell asleep.

It must have been a couple of hours later when I heard Pastor Esi come back into the room.

“I brought you some water,” she said holding two water bottles in her hands for me to see.

“You brought me water!”

I began to cry again.  I knew that her bringing me water was a statement both naturally and spiritually.  I was reminded of when Jesus said:

Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life(John 4:13b,14).

“Oh.  I can see God is still dealing with you!” she said as she placed one of the water bottles on the nightstand next to me.  “I’ll come back and check on you later.  Maybe we can have dinner together.”

“That would be nice,” was about all I could manage through my tears.  God was purging and cleansing me.

When she came back I had already washed my face and put my makeup back on.  I was ready to meet this mighty woman of God!

We decided to go for a walk near the hotel.  We wanted to see what our options were for restaurants.  I noticed immediately that we had similar interests.

We pointed at the same table and said simultaneously, “Let’s go sit over there!”  We looked at each other, marveling that we had said the same words.

Later in the hotel room, she pulled out her notebook and started looking at her tabs and pages.

I thought,I have the same color notebook with the same tabs and pages put in - just like hers! This must mean something; Lord what is it?

That evening, sitting inside our hotel room, we talked.  When she came back, and after I was more composed, she started to tell me about herself.  She told me how the Lord told her to move to another state, with no job, and no immediate place to live.  She didn’t “flinch” at His request. She just obeyed! I was very impressed with her stories because I never met anyone with such a faith walk like hers.

I told her about my two sons, and made the following statement: “You know…my sons are in rebellion; I wish they would listen to God!”

“Did I hear you say your sons are rebellious?” she asked. “How can you say your sons are rebellious whenyou are in rebellion?”

Wow!  My hypocrisy had been laid bare!  While I was complaining about my sons, I had forgotten what I just had done, rebelling against God’s plan for my book! Not only was I a rebel, I was also a hypocrite!  God was using Pastor Esi to hold a mirror up to my face and forcing me to look at myself.

This woman was sent by God!

Pastor Esi then stopped and looked at me.  “God is telling me to tell you to grow up...it’s not about you!

The Lord was telling me to “wake up!” It’s about the people he wants to reach through me.  God must have a “legal” body to work with upon the earth.

Those words that the Lord spoke to me changed the course of my walk with God.  He was letting me know that lives are at stake and I must be obedient...my life changed from that moment on when He spoke “It’s not about you.”

A Publishing Miracle

When I came home from Denver I was wiped out; the deliverance I had undergone felt like surgery with no anesthesia!  I remember praying in the Spirit, sleeping, praying in the Spirit, and sleeping; I stayed pretty much flat on my back for three whole days!

After my encounter in Denver, I knew that I had to be obedient and get the bookBe Made Whole published.  I remember coming home and working on the rewrite and added revisions.  I continued to pursue my objective of securing a publisher.

One day I felt the Lord impressing upon me to publish the book.  I realized that I needed to do research in self-publishing and what it entailed. I found that there were many “vanity” presses, where you keep the rights and get a discount in the price by the quantity of books you order.

I found Xulon Press, a company which offers its expertise to aspiring Christian writers, and I inquired about the cost of publishingBe Made Whole.  The package which I felt fit my needs would cost me $1,800.00!

While I had the money, it was money that I used to live on when I didn’t work.  Since I work for myself and do contract work, during the winter I live on the monies earned during the spring and summer seasons, when most of my work typically comes in.

I tried to reason with the Lord.  “You know  this is the money that I need to live,” I pleaded with Him.

His response was a deafening silence.  Nothing! The Lord wasn’t speaking.  I knew God was asking me to trust Him with my finances.  I had a decision to make.

I decided to trust God.  I called up the publishing company and bought the $1,800.00 package, using the money that I would have usually saved for my living expenses.

A few weeks later I got a telephone call from a company I had done some contract work for.

“Kathy, this is Cheryl.  We’ve been trying to get in touch with you,” the voice said.

Since I was busy with family matters, I hadn’t taken the time to call them back, thinking that they were simply looking to book me for the following year.

“I know Cheryl.  I’m sorry I didn’t get back with you,” I apologized.

“Well, the reason I’m calling you is that our bookkeeper says that for the job you did for us with the Wilson group…well...according to our books…we didn’t pay you.”

“Yes, I got paid for that assignment,” I tried to reassure her.

“Well Kathy, it doesn’t show up on the books, and so therefore we haven’t paid you,” she said one more time.

“Yes, I did get paid for this,” I told her again.  Then it hit me!  God had wiped it off the books!

“I know what you’re saying Kathy, but we have to pay you and that’s it.  We simply can’t have this discrepancy in our books!”

“Ok - if you say so,” I said, finally realizing that the Lord may have been behind this apparent accounting error.  “Do you mind me asking how much it is?” I inquired.

“1,800 dollars,” she responded.

The exact amount that I had spent to publish the book!  God wasn’t going to let me down, and He wanted to show himself in such a way that I knew it was Him!

Dick Cheney’s Home

It was four days before the 2004 Presidential election.  President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were up for reelection.  I had been asked by one of the many companies that offer tours throughout the nation’s capital to take a group of students to see Washington, D.C.

That afternoon, I took them to the most popular sites in the city, including the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, and to a picture stop outside the White House. These students were in Washington, DC because they were finalists in a photography contest.

Their host and the sponsor of the contest, Mr. Gregory was a very well known photographer, and a good friend of Vice President Dick Cheney.  He had arranged for Mrs. Cheney to host a reception for the finalists the following day at the Vice President’s Mansion.

Security clearances for the group has been in place for months in advance, which had become standard procedure for White House related functions, so it didn’t surprise me that it was also required for the Vice President’s home.

“Kathy, is it okay with you to stay in the van while we are meeting with Mrs. Cheney inside?” Mr. Gregory asked me.  He wanted to make sure that I wouldn’t be offended.

“Sure it’s okay.  Don’t worry about me.  I know about having to be cleared to go in.  I’m just glad that I will be this close and be able to say I’ve been on the Vice President’s grounds!”  I told the photographer.

Many times I had passed this house, located on the grounds of the Naval Observatory, but had never heard of any tour guide going into the house.

I said my “goodbyes” for the night and headed home.  That particular night was our weekly intercessory prayer time at church.  A few members came to the church to pray for our church, pastors, country, and families.  Toward the end of the prayer meeting, someone asked if I had a prayer need.

“It’s funny you ask. Tomorrow I will be at Vice President Dick Cheney’s home with a group of students. They are going in for a reception and because I am not on their list I can’t go in,” I explained.

Everyone look amazed.

Someone piped up, “You know what?  Let’s pray that you will get to go in!” Everyone else agreed.

“What are the chances that you just happen to be at the Vice President’s house two days before the election?” another person said, confirming what I believed:God was going to allow me to go into the Vice President’s home and pray.

This intercessory prayer group understood the importance of my proximity to the primary power source in Washington, DC.  They were petitioning God to grant me favor with those people in authority, so that I might be able to go inside the Vice Presidential Mansion. They prayed over me.

“Getting in without security clearance is…well…next to impossible. Yet we know that nothing is impossible with you God!” one person prayed.

“Wherever you put your feet, you have been given the territory,” someone else said.

I knew in my spirit that God was up to something.  To me this upcoming “divine appointment” was one more confirmation that President Bush would be elected to a second term.

How could I say that?   I remembered the time after the 2000 election, when I saw on TV a man who was interviewed by the press who had bypassed the Secret Service and spoken to the President.  Despite the newscaster’s probing questions, the man responded in a calm, unperturbed fashion.  It was a riveting interview.

I perceived that this was a prophet of God, being interviewed on secular television!  This man had been used by God to speak a “prophetic word”[3] to not only President Bush, but to at least three other Presidents as well!

“How did you get past the Secret Service?” the perplexed newscaster asked. “Even when they know you are going to show up, you can’t get past them.  How is it possible that they don’t see you until you are speaking to the President?”

“I don’t know how He does it, but I believe that God blinds their eyes so that they can’t see me!” the prophet said.  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and seeing with my eyes; a supernatural example of God’s Kingdom operations being displayed right before me on national television!

Intrigued by this baffling response, the interviewer went on to ask him, “And what did Godsayto President Bush?”

“I can’t tell you specific things,” the prophet said.  “That’s between the President and God.  But what I can tell you is this: God told him that if he did what He asked of him, then he would have four more years!”

Now four years later, and two days before the election, I was about to go to the Vice President’s Mansion.

The next day I met the group of students in front of the hotel.  I could tell by looking at their faces as they came bouncing out of the hotel and rushed towards me, that they were excited!

“Hi Miss Kathy,” “How are you today Miss Kathy!” they greeted me exuberantly as they boarded the passenger van.  I gave their driver specific instructions on where to go and then we headed off to the Naval Observatory, where the Vice Presidential Mansion is located.

We were stopped at the gate.  Two uniformed Secret Service agents approached the van.  One talked to our driver.  The other one came around on the passenger side of the 15 passenger van, walked up the steps and greeted us.

“Hello everyone.  I will need to see your ID,” he commanded.

The adults pulled out their driver’s licenses and the students their school IDs.  He went down the right side of the van, one by one, verifying their IDs with the names on the list.

“Thank you, thank you...” he repeated after taking each of the IDs.  I pulled out my license knowing that my namewas not on the list that he held in his hand.  I was believing that God would answer the previous night’s prayer to “blind the eyes” of the Secret Service agents, so that they would just let me in.

When he came to me, he took my license and looked at his clipboard.  “Ms…I don’t have your name on the list?” he said.

“Yes, I know… I’m the tour guide.”

“Well that’s okay, but you’re going to have to stay with the driver while the group is inside the house,” he stated.  He looked at me for a positive response. He was making sure that I knew what he was saying.  I was literally tostayon the bus and not come off it!

“Yes, sir,” I answered.

I understood what he was saying.  I must admit, however, that I had thought God would blind his eyes and I would waltz in with the others.  It didn’t happen as I expected.

Ms. Cheney’s secretary came on board, greeted Mr. Gregory and the students, and asked them to follow her into the house to meet with Mrs. Cheney.  The driver relaxed and began to readThe Washington Post.  I went towards the back of the van so that I could pray audibly without disturbing him.

‘Oh well, at least I’m on the property…I can still pray!’

It must have been about ten minutes later that I heard footsteps on the stairs of the van.  I looked over the seats and saw Mrs. Cheney’s secretary.

“Hello,” she said.

“Hi,” I responded as I was lying down. I peered over the back of the seat in front of me. What does she want now?

“Ms. Cheney has requested that you join the group inside for a reception and tour of the home,” she said.

Oh My God,I thought. Answered prayer!

“Thank you.  I’m coming!” I said hurriedly, making my way to the side stairs of the van to meet her.  She waited to escort me in.

“Please follow me,” she said as I approached.  She then turned and walked ahead towards the house.

“Yes God.  This is so awesome!” I said quietly to myself.

The student group was in the dining room eating cookies and drinking punch with Mrs. Cheney when I arrived.

“Thank you Mrs. Cheney for allowing me to come in!”  I said.

“You’re most welcome.  Come have something to drink.  Ellen has made some delicious cookies!” she said.  I assumed Ellen was her cook.

She then addressed everyone.  “Now it’s time to tour the house,” she said.  She was gracious with her commentary on each room and you could tell that she was very proud of the mansion and its history, and how for the last four years they had made this their home.

She took us to where they watched TV at night.  As she was talking and everyone was crowded into the den, I placed my hands on the chair where the Vice President watches television, as well as on his chair near the pool outside, where he sits to eat breakfast.  I prayed under my breath that God would station angels all around.  “Lord, give him peace, strength, and anything else that he needs!”  I prayed throughout the house and even outside, around the pool area.

I believe that the prayers of the saints,[4] wherever they may be, give God’s Kingdom access to the earthly realm, even into the Vice Presidents Mansion!

Seeing Jesus

....and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

(John 14:21)

Ihad gone to my editor’s house to talk to her about my book,Be Made Whole.  Karen was working on some final corrections to another manuscript when Denise walked into the room.  She was a young woman who was helping Karen to clean her home.

“Denise, this is Kathy.  I’m editing her book,” Karen said.

“Hi,” I said.

“Hi,” Denise said and then went into the kitchen while Karen and I continued talking.  I was about to leave when Karen suggested we pray.  She asked me if I would pray for Denise.

“Sure - I’d love to,” I said.

Denise came in and I started praying for Karen and all the things she needed and then I started to pray for Denise.  I held her hands and asked her if there was anything I could pray for her about.

She told me that at the age of 15 she had to sacrifice her own ambitions to take care of her mother.  She talked about the difficulties of caring for a mother dying of AIDS, while wanting so much to be in school.

When her mother died she was sent to live with different relatives and bounced from one relative to another just wanting a place of her own.  While she had finished high school her only regret was that her mother wasn’t present to see her graduate.

“Wow,” I thought. “This girl has been through a lot.”  The previous week I had finished reading the book, “Touched by the Master,” by Fred Littauer.  I started reading the book with the attitude that I could always learn something new, not sure exactly what to expect.  I was impressed with the book, and remember thinking that this wasn’t just another healing book - it was different.  He talked about praying for someone and bringing them into the presence of the Lord to the extent that Jesus would present Himself to them.

This got my attention.  Knowing that I couldn’t heal a gnat, but that Jesus is the healer, it made sense to me that the Lord would operate in this manner.  I devoured the book and remembered asking God, “Is this something that you want me to do?” I could see how He would work with us in the healing process.  What I remembered most from the book is that God will allow you to take someone into Hismanifest presence.

I started praying for Denise and midway through the prayers she said, “I see Jesus!”  Karen’s look seemed to convey, “What’s going on here?”

I just mouthed “Keep praying!” which also meant “I’ll explain later!”

I am so grateful that Jesus decided to appear to Denise and that I had the privilege of watching the Lord heal her hurts.

“Denise what is Jesus doing?”  I asked.

“He is walking towards me and He is taking my hand,” she said.

“Which hand of yours is He holding?” I asked.  There was a reason I asked this question.  She held up her left hand. Which means Jesus held her with His right hand!

Wow!  In the Bible it stated that when Jesus holds a person’s hand, it is always with the right hand:

I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness,  And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people.....to bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house(Isaiah 43:6-7).

She then told us that the Lord was speaking to her.

“I have someone I want you to meet,” Jesus said.  Her eyes were still closed but as I looked at her, suddenly I saw her face light up!

“Mama…Oh, Mama!” she exclaimed.

Oh My God!  She is seeing her mother!

“Yes Mama I’m doing okay,” she answered the question her mother posed to her.

“You did?  Thank you Mama!”  She was talking out loud, but not to us; she was engrossed with speaking to her mother.

“What is going on Denise?”  I asked.

“My Mama asked me ‘am I doing okay’,” and I told her, “Yes Mama I’m doing okay.  Then she said, ‘I saw you graduate,’ and then she told me she was very proud of me”.

Denise was beaming!  Her countenance had been totally transformed!  She finished talking to Jesus and her mother.

“Okay Mama. Bye.  Thank you Jesus,” she said, and then opened her eyes.

“Wow!  I saw my Mama and Jesus!” she caught her breath as she recovered from the emotional dynamics of what had just transpired.

Karen was still perplexed, but I could tell that she was happy for Denise’s breakthrough.  I told her how much she was loved by Jesus and how He wanted her to be assured of that.  It was Jesus who had brought her mother to her to let her know that the one thing she regretted, she no longer needed to.  Her mother had seen her graduate.  One touch from the Master changes everything!

European Union Headquarters

I went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I met privately with those considered to be leaders of the church and shared with them the message.

(Galatians 2:2, NLT)

I was traveling with students from the United States as part of a presidential leadership delegation.  We were scheduled to visit London, Paris, and Brussels.

The previous day we had been in London.  We went on the London Eye and visited the Globe Theatre; the kids even debated students from Eton College!  We were now on our way to Belgium via the Channel Tunnel.  We were headed to the capital of Belgium, Brussels, and it was Tuesday, just like the movie![5]

This particular morning I was informed by the 12 students that I was in charge of, that they wanted to be known as the “Yummy Chocolates” while we were in Belgium!  From the beginning of our educational tour they had decided to come up with a creative name that I could call them by when I needed their attention.  For instance, when we were in France, they were to be called, “The Smelly Cheeses.”  The only time we had a problem with their given group name was in England, where they wanted to be called “The Bloody Killers”!

“No, I said to them after they told me their selected name, “I am not walking the streets of London calling you guys bloody killers!”  With much angst, they agreed that I could call them the “BK kids”!  This compromise would satisfy their thirst to do something cheeky and clever, and yet let me have some sort of group decorum. Today, they were the “The Yummy Chocolates.”

“Come on Yummy Chocolates!  We have to go get our seats!” I pleaded as we climbed the steps toward the European Union (EU) headquarters building.  We had already visited the Grand Plaza which is located in downtown Brussels, walked as a group to a chocolate factory, secured souvenirs, and had lunch at a local cafe.

Our seats were in the “group gallery” seating, way up in the nose bleed section!  Finally we made our way up to the top gallery.

“Wow...this is so cool!” I said, somewhat out of breath.  The students agreed as they plopped into their seats.

It was now time to see the European Parliament, the only elected body within the European Union.  It has 736 elected members, representing 500 million people.  Not only is Brussels the capital of Belgium, but it is also the unofficial capital and headquarters of the European Union. It was here where we were going to listen to and see this legislative body, called the European Parliament, in action.

I did not see it as a coincidence that I was inside the headquarters of the European Union.  God had used me before to speak to leaders of all types, and now I was bringing future leaders from the United States to help facilitate their learning experience, teaching them firsthand about leadership.

Brussels is the epicenter of the European Union, where major decisions that affect the world, are made. I wanted to stay open to what the Lord would have me to do. This is no coincidence that I am here, I thought to myself.    The question was “What was I to do?”  I knew that if nothing else, I could pray!

We listened as a Member of Parliament from Great Britain rose to speak.  He was angry that the governing body was even considering accepting Turkey as part of the EU. He told of the influx of radical Muslims and the rise of anti-Semitism in England.  As we were listening them bicker back and forth about whether it was wise to have Turkey in the EU, and while I was sitting there, the gentleman from Great Britain rose up again. I knew that what he was saying was opposed to the convictions of most members present.

The Lord then spoke to me. “I want you to speak to this man, this leader, and encourage him.  Let him know that what he is telling them is the truth!”

“What Lord?  You wantmeto talk tohim?  How is that possible?  I’m way up here and he is way down there.  I’m with kids and he’s a world leader!” I tried to convince the Lord. “But nevertheless, if you make a way, I’ll do what you want me to do.”

After the discussion was over, we stayed for another fifteen minutes.  Our schedule was tight, and with the other groups within our delegation we had to leave when it was time because the next thing to do was to visit Breendonk, a concentration camp outside of Brussels.  One of my colleagues suggested we leave and board the motor coach.

“Let’s go, Yummy Chocolates,” I said.

I led my group down the hall.  I looked to the other side of the hallway and saw a group of people making their way toward us. I realized the on-coming entourage included the world leader that God wanted me to speak to!

We almost ran into each other at the top of the stairs!  Before I could try to figure out the probability of this just happening  and the enormity of what I was to say and do, I blurted out, "Excuse me sir; can I talk to you?"

Security gathered around him as I approached.  He looked at his security and nodded as if to tell them, “It’s okay.”

“Sure,” he said, and then stopped to see what I had to say to him.  He waved off most of his entourage, motioning to them to go ahead of him to the motorcade. Just one person stayed behind to stand guard a cordial distance away from us.

“Go ahead of me and get on the bus.  I’ll be there in a minute,” I told my students as I waved for them to go in front of me.

Nervously I walked side by side down the stairs with this world leader, just wanting to honor my promise to the Lord.

"I want to tell you that what you said in there was the truth, God wanted me to tell you this to encourage you in your stand!"

He was pleasantly surprised at what I told him.  He then did something I didn’t expect.  He began to explain to me what was really going on in Great Britain, as if I were a member of parliament!  He told me about incidents with “skin heads” and the rise of anti-Semitism!  “Thank you, thank you,” He said as we were about to part.

“You’re welcome.  I only told you what God wanted you to know!” Both of us had stopped walking and were now facing each other.  We shook hands.  He then walked over with the body guard to his limousine while I walked toward my “kids” and the motor coach.

When I reflect on this incident, it’s incredible. Me…standing there…talking to a world leader… in Brussels!

Years later I came across the following:

Just today, a poll revealed that in Brussels, the capital of the European Union, half the Islamic youths are anti-Semitic. It is dangerous for Jews to walk the streets in Brussels. If you wear a cross or a kippah in certain urban areas in Europe today, you risk being beaten up. In the capital of my own country, Amsterdam, a tram driver was forced to remove his crucifix from sight, while his Muslim colleagues are allowed to wear the veil.[6]

Delayed but Not Denied

I remember not really wanting to ride the motor coach from Fredericksburg, Virginia to New York City with my church group.  As a tour director, I’m on motor coaches all the time;  over the last twenty years I have spent hundreds, perhaps even thousands of hours riding in these vehicles.  If I need to go to New York on a trip not related to my profession, usually I will fly.

Since I was going to be on vacation, I had no desire to feel like I was working again.  But for some reason, here I was on this motor coach going to JFK airport to catch a flight to Israel!

I have to admit I was excited to be going to the land where Jesus walked.  I had heard that once you went, you would never be the same.  From what I was told, Scripture came alive and had a relevancy that could be found no place else in the world.

Traffic was pretty light, but as we were getting close to New York City I looked out of the window and realized that we were going the wrong way!  At first, I didn’t realize what had happened because I was preoccupied talking to my church friends on the bus.  I told my friend Melissa that I thought the driver was lost.

“Well, Kathy God has you on this bus for a reason!” she quickly answered.

‘Why did she have to say that?’

I was hoping he would turn around quickly and get back on track.  But as the minutes ticked away, we were getting farther from the airport. Given the nature of New York City traffic, if we didn’t turn around soon we would miss our flight!

Although I didn’t want to embarrass him, I knew that I needed to talk to the driver.  I went up and leaned down to speak into his ear.  Despite the “eye” that I got from the leader of our group, I whispered to him.

“Excuse me Bob.  Is there any way I can help?  Are you lost?” I said softly.

He looked up at me and leaned back.  Quietly, so others couldn’t hear, he said, “Yeah. I think I took a wrong turn.  I’m not sure.”

I looked out the window and by the look of the houses I figured we were in or around the area of the Bronx!

“I’ll tell you what.  I suggested.  I’m going to call a driver friend of mine and he’ll help us, okay?” I suggested.

“Thanks,” Bob managed.

I then went back to my seat, looked on my cell phone and found Dave’s number.  Dave is an acquaintance of mine and has taken many groups to New York as the driver where I have been the tour director.

“Hey Dave, this is Kathy.  Listen, I wondered if you can help me. I’m on my way to JFK with a group and…no, I’m not the tour director.  In fact, he’s not here, but that’s another story.  Anyways, we are in the Bronx and we need to get to JFK.  Can you help us?”

“Bronx!  How did he get there?” Dave nearly shouted.

“Never mind. I’ll tell you what.  Let me know what street you’re on, give me a cross street, and I will get back with you.”  I told him the information and then waited for his call.

“Hey Kathy put the driver on the phone,” Bob said when he called back.

I returned to the front of the bus and handed my cell phone to the driver.  I heard the driver talking to Dave.

“Thanks so much.  I know where I’m going now, thanks to your friend,” Bob said to me as he handed me back my phone.

“Thanks Dave.  I owe you one!”  I said and hung up.

When we arrived at the airport our supposed “tour director” was anxious because the group was late. We had less than thirty minutes to get the whole group on the plane!  He joked about how he was wondering where we were.

“He should have been on this motor coach,” I said to myself, realizing his incompetence.

He had delegated this group of 40 adults going to Israel to an assistant who had never performed this type of task before and was from my church!

I told him what had happened and that his assistant didn’t know how to get to the airport.  He just looked at me and said sarcastically, “I hope you’re not going to cause any trouble on this trip!”

What? Are you kidding me?I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Shake it off Kathy.  It’s not worth it,I reminded myself.

God knew what would happen, and He wanted the group to get to the airport. Because God used the gift inside me, there was a backlash from the enemy against the move of God.  I had to remind myself that it was the evil spirit on or in the person, not the person himself who was responding.  Truly Scripture was on target when it said,Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake:  for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:10).

The Sea of Galilee

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom...”

(Matthew 4:23)

We arrived at Ben Gurion airport early in the morning.  Still a bit groggy from our long flight, I was a bit shocked to walk into the heavily guarded building; this was the first time I had seen men walking around in public in the view of everyone, machine guns in hand!

There was so much activity going on around that we had to focus on what was at hand to do: Go to the baggage claim, follow the group, and keep up with the tour director!  Since I am by profession a tour director, I knew what was expected.

We boarded the motor coach and drove through the night to arrive late at our hotel in Tiberius.  After checking in, a couple of us sat around the lobby lounge area and talked about how incredibly fortunate we were to be in Israel.

My thoughts this morning, the official first day of our tour, were filled with excitement in anticipation of going to the Sea of Galilee, sometimes also called the Sea of Tiberius.  To my surprise it was a huge lake!  It is thirteen miles long and eight miles wide, in the shape of a heart.  The water supply and irrigation for the desert like land of Israel come from this sea. The rock surrounding it is black basalt - volcanic rock!

I got up out of bed and opened the curtains.  There it was, the Sea of Galilee!  I went downstairs to meet the group.  It was a beautiful fall day with the temperature around 60 degrees.  We were to start our full day of sightseeing at 8 am, with our first stop being the Mount of Beatitudes.  This is where the Lord gave His “Sermon on the Mount.”

When we arrived at our first destination, Pastor Sam read a verse from this well known passage, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven”(Matthew 5:3).

Looking out from on top of the hill where we were standing, you could see that from the hilltop the ground sloped down and formed a natural amphitheater.  What a perfect setting for the crowds of men, women, and children to hear and learn from Jesus, the rabbi!

Jesus reminded them that while they might be oppressed externally, God was, through the benefits of His Kingdom, offering them an even greater internal liberty.  The tour guide explained that the citizens during this time were oppressed by the occupation of the Roman soldiers, whose outpost was located very near where Jesus addressed the gathered throngs of people.

It Is Finished

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30 NIV)

The next day we travelled to Jerusalem; the city of King David.  What a beautiful city!  You can feel the prayers of the people rising from here as well as those coming from around the world.  In fact you can sense God’s presence throughout Israel.

“We are now in Jerusalem,” the tour director stated.  Everyone was quiet.  Then one by one we heard the tour members expressing their love for God’s chosen city.

Some cried, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem - let the angels sing!” while other voices chimed in, “Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna to your King!”  Tears streamed down my face. I looked around and saw many others were also crying.

We eventually stopped at the top of the Mount of Olives.  This is where old gnarled olive trees that date back to the time when Jesus Christ walked on the earth.   This is also where the olives are pressed.

The first pressing is the “purest” press.  The oil from these olives is most costly and considered the most pure and holy.   This oil is what the priest would use in the ministration of his priestly duties. This was also the site of Jesus was pressed.  His “oil” was His sweat and blood!

Here also the priest would take the sacrificial goat[7] during Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when the Old Testament children of God would make things right with their Creator.  The goat would be pushed off the mountain and a messenger would yell across the Kidron Valley towards the Temple, “It is finished!  The sacrifice is complete!”

He shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the LORD’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness(Leviticus 16:7-10).

But this is also the site of where Jesus was pressed.  His “oil” was His sweat and blood!  Jesus died at Golgotha very near here.  Before He died, Jesus yelled out, “It is finished.”

As she was telling this story about the scapegoat and Jesus, I felt the presence of the Lord.  He reminded me of the time I went to Hell, and how I heard the Lord say, “It is finished!”

I then heard a small voice that was speaking from the inside of me talking to me.

“Stand on it,” the voice said.

Because I couldn’t stop screaming, I asked this voice with my mind, “Stand on what?”  Again the voice firmly said, “Stand on it.”

All I knew was that something inside of me had to come out through my mouth but I couldn’t do it.  The pain and torment was too intense to stop screaming.

It took all my strength to stop screaming long enough to let what wanted to come out, come out.  The words just tumbled out as I forced my mouth to open.

“Psalm 91, Proverbs 3, Psalm 91, Proverbs 3!” I cried out.

The loud, booming voice I heard earlier continued.  Then I heard in English another voice say, “It is finished!”

“Ugh…!” I gasped.  I was wrenched out of this wretched place.  I opened my eyes to see that I was coming through my bedroom and I look down and saw Bill and my body lying next to him.

I came back into my body.

“It is finished.” These three simple words say it all.  The sacrifice is complete!

The King David Hotel

Later that evening I informed my friends that I was going out.  I told them that I wanted to visit the King David Hotel.  This hotel is where my parents stayed when they came to Israel, and where dignitaries stay here while in Jerusalem.  It is also where Derek Prince met his future wife, asking her to “Meet me at the King David.”   Melissa, Jackie, Clyde, Susan, and Herb wanted to go too.  We walked up the narrow street from our hotel to the King David.

It was grand, elegant, and a place fit for a king!  I went to the front desk while the group stayed in the lobby until I returned.  I spoke to the hotel manager.

“Where can my friends and I get coffee or tea?” I inquired.

“The lounge cafe is right there,” he said, pointing to the right side of the lobby.

“And you can even have it outside on our terrace,” he said.  He added, “You’ll like it, because it also overlooks the Old City”.

I returned to the group and they were thrilled when I told them what the hotel manager had offered.

We went through the large glass door that led onto the stone terrace.

“Wow! This is beautiful - and it’s a beautiful night!”  I said as I stepped outside.  The soft amber street lights below and the atmosphere of the Old City made Jerusalem glow like a jewel.  It was hard to grasp the fact that we were actually in Israel!

The waiter came over to get our drink orders.  When he came to me, I talked to him and found out his name was Joseph.  He was studying at a university in Jerusalem.  I briefly chatted with him about various things while he was scribbling down our orders.

Since I travel for a living and practically live in hotels, I’ve come to develop quick bonds with the hotel staff wherever I go. They are like family to me, whether I’m meeting them for the first or hundredth time.  I guess it’s because I can relate to those involved in the hospitality industry.

When our waiter left to get our orders, we reminisced about the day’s activities, and we laughed and talked about what was to come.  When the waiter returned with our drinks, he also brought a tray of assorted tea cookies.

“Compliments of the King David!” he said to everyone’s delight.

“Thank you Joseph - that was very sweet of the hotel to do this!” I said, referring to the cookies.  Then out of the corner of my eye I caught Steven, the hotel manager, coming over.

“How is everything?” he asked.

“Everything is splendid.  Thank you for the cookies!”

“My pleasure,” he answered.  “What brings you to Israel?”

Everyone around the table took turns talking.  We talked about our church and our individual desires to travel here.  But when we mentioned our collective love for the Jewish people, he seemed to come alive.

“Really?” he said.  His look was that of astonishment.  “There are so many people who don’t understand our history.”

We told him how we pray for Israel and we recognize Israel’s importance in the world.

“That is so kind of you.  Wait - I’ll be right back.”  He said and then left.

When Steven returned, he had keys in his hand.

“Ladies and gentlemen if you are ready, I would like for you to follow me,” he said.  The group was excited, anticipating what the manager had to show us.  All that had been paid, financially and otherwise, now seemed worth it in light of what was about to transpire.

Steven took us down the hall of the hotel to a room.  “This” he said, “is where Anwar Sadat, and Menachem Begin signed the peace agreement.”

Wow.  That happened right here,’

“If you please...follow me,” he said as he took us up to the next floor in a private elevator.

When we arrived, he said, “This is the King David Suite,” put the key in the door, and opened it.  Group members took time to walk around the spacious quarters.

“Wow!  This is so nice!”  Melissa said as she came out from the bedroom.

The room was very opulent, with gilding on the furniture, beautiful chandeliers in every room, a bathroom with a sunken hot tub, a sitting area with floor to ceiling windows, and a terrace outside.  It was truly a suite fit for a king!

“The Prime Minister of Germany will be staying here tomorrow!” our guide exclaimed as we completed the tour.

While everyone marveled at the gilding in the bathroom, I silently began to pray.  I remembered what the Lord had told me a few years earlier: “Wherever your foot treads, I have given you authority.”

As I glanced around the room, appearing like the others to be looking at the objects, the furnishings, and the opulence, I was really praying, because I knew that this is what the Lord had called me to do.  I stationed angels throughout the room and prayed for the Prime Minister of Germany who would be in that very room the next day.  I asked God that His will be done, in Jerusalem, at the King David Hotel.

Revival in Fredericksburg

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

(Revelation 3:20, NLT)

One day I received a call from Jim, a traveling minister.  He informed me that he was over at my friend Karen’s house.  While he was there he saw a copy of my book, which had been recently published.  He had a “word from the Lord” for me.  He said that he wanted to release it to me in person, not over the phone.

“Okay, I’ll see you soon,”

He arrived around 8:00 PM and immediately asked to see my book.  I showed it to him and he held it for a while and then made a comment.

“When I saw your book the Lord revealed to me that His glory is in and around it!  It is like...” and then in mid-sentence he went over to my lamp and bent over it covering it with his upper body as he wrapped his arms around the lamp tightly.

“…it is concealed,” he picked up where he had left off, “but when it is read, the glory of God will be revealed to the reader!”

Wow!  That’s amazing!

“Glory to God!” was all I could say.

He then said, “Every time you say the word ‘power,’ the Holy Spirit will come upon those surrounding you.”  He then added that the Lord saw me as a “change agent,” and that I was to get prepared.

“I see you getting on and off planes going here and there,” he continued.

We discussed what the Lord was doing in both of our lives and before we knew it, we were getting together each day, waiting to get instructions from the Lord.  It all happened at my little house in Fredericksburg, Virginia!

My youngest son Robert and his wife Atlantris were living with me at the time.   They can testify to what occurred during the next several days.  They saw the people who God drew to my house for prayer.  They will confirm that before you knew it, those same people were on the floor!  There was so much power in that atmosphere thick with the glory of God; it was an open Heaven!

One day Robert and his wife came from their bedroom. As they walked through the living room, there were people lying everywhere!

“Mom, there are so many angels up in here it ain’t even funny!”  Robert said as he stepped over the people to get out of the door.  That tickled me and enlightened me to the Heavenly realm and the power of God in the room!

I remember during this time that for seven days I couldn’t leave my house even though I tried; and believe me, I tried!  I would get dressed and step outside, get in my car, drive down the street and feel this urgency to go back home!  So I would turn the car around and go back inside my house.  This happened every time I tried to go outside.  The impression I would get was to “go back in.”  I didn’t understand what was happening to me.

“Why can’t I go out of this house, Lord?” I cried out. His response was silence…nothing!  God wasn’t answering me; He simply wanted me to obey Him.

All that I knew was to anoint myself, light candles and keep them burning all day long until bedtime, read my Bible, put on worship music, and pray in tongues.  There was an open portal to Heaven over my home, which continued from November 6th until November 13, 2008.  Only when I read from the book of Leviticus did I find the answer to what God was doing:

And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you.  As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you.  Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded(Leviticus 8:33-35).

This is the consecration of priests!

Priests?  Is God calling me to a type of priesthood?

As I further studied the subject, I found out additional scriptural references to priesthood:

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: (1 Peter 2:9).

The Lord had told my mentor Apostle Esi that at the end of November, I was to be ordained as an apostle of the Lord. Perhaps the Lord was preparing me for that ordination!

It was not too long after the service that the Lord released me to go outside my home.  I was to go out and get the people the Lord wanted to touch!  Jim and I would get together in the morning and God would give us instructions concerning whom we were to minister to, and where we were to meet them.

These “divine appointments” occurred every day for about two months.  It was exciting!  I felt as if I were living in the days of the early Church.  We were following the early church model, and seeing the early church results:

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,  Praising God, and having favour with all the people (Acts 2:46, 47a).

One day the Lord instructed me, “Go to Spotsylvania Mall, walk inside Macy’s Department store, go down the center aisle, turn left, and wait.”

I did just as the Lord asked.  Less than a minute had passed when I saw Linda, a friend of mine from the church I had attended, walking my way.

“Linda!”  I cried out.

“Kathy; it’s great to see you!  How have you been?”

“Fine,” I responded, and then got to the point.  “I know this sounds strange, but you’re the appointment I’ve been waiting for – a divine appointment from the Lord!”

She had a quizzical look and said, “I don’t understand.”

I told her about the outpouring of the Lord in my home and how there was an open Heaven.  I then told her how the Lord was having us go out into the “highways and byways” and minister to people He would send our way.

“You are it!” I told her. “Today the Lord wants us to minister to you!”  Linda followed us to my house and we prayed for her.  Many of the people were from the church the Lord had told me to leave.  God was gathering his flock that had scattered!

One day as we were ministering to a couple from my former church, Jim found out that they, like many of the other scattered sheep we had ministered to, had received prophetic words related to wealth spoken over their lives.

He asked me, “What ministers have come to this church and spoken?”

I ran off a list of preachers.  Some were well known and others not so well known.  When I said “T.D. Jakes,” his demeanor changed quickly.

“T.D. Jakes spoke here?” he asked excitedly.  T.D. Jakes is a powerful man of God who has one of the largest churches in the United States.  For him to come to the relatively small fellowship of about 300 people which I had been a part was hard for him to believe, given the demand that is upon Rev. Jakes’ speaking schedule.

“Yes he did,” I answered.  I remember T.D. Jakes commenting when he came that, “the Lord told me to go.”  He himself didn’t understand why.

“But you know what was strange?” I continued.  “When he started to preach, I remember him stopping and just looking at his Bible for what seemed like a long time.  It was awkward.”

“Does anyone have a DVD of him preaching at the church?” Jim inquired.

The couple we were ministering said, “We have a DVD of him preaching at the church.”  This couple too was no longer attending the church.  Then the husband said. “Why don’t you and Kathy come over and we will watch it together.”

“OK.  We’ll do that!” I said as Jim agreed.

That next evening Jim and I went over to watch the DVD.  Clyde put it into the player and turned on the television.  We watched the introduction and then saw T. D. walk up to the podium.  He was about to speak when he paused for a very long time and looked at his Bible.

What is happening to him?’

“Stop! Stop the DVD,” Jim exclaimed.  “There--do you see what’s happening?”

No, we didn’t see what was happening.  We had no clue what Jim was referring to.

“God is downloading to him what is really going on at the church,” Jim exclaimed.

“He was brought there under false pretenses.  Yet he knew God commanded him to come!”

“The next thing out of his mouth will show what is really going on!” He said.

Clyde pushed the button on the remote control to resume the DVD where it had left off playing.  T.D. Jakes looked up from the Bible and said, “The boy worked for the Lord but didn’t know the Lord of the work!”

He was referring to the passage from John 10:12-13, and saying in essence that my former pastor was a hireling and not a shepherd.

WOW!

Jim continued by saying, “Now he will have to fight his way out of there!”

We continued to watch in amazement at the revelation of what was really going on.

“That’s it - there!” he said again.  “Do you see what just happened?”

We didn’t have a clue.

“He was supposed to cast that mantle of prosperity on the pastor of the house, but because of the deception he was involved in, God has now told him to place it on the members of the congregation.”

It then hit me: “That’s why so many of us who were former members of that church have had prophetic words of great wealth.  God passed the mantle on to us!”

God was recovering his flock that was scattered, and was reclaiming, redistributing, and returning all that had been promised.

Danny Burke

“I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.

The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.  The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help.”

(Psalm 18:3-6)

Danny Burke was a student-athlete at the University of Maryland.  In 2003 Maryland football was a force to be reckoned with in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).  The games were always packed out, and the fans would travel wherever the team went; the Terrapins were on an upswing!

How did I know?  My son Robert played for the team as a nose guard.  The Lord told him when he was a little boy that he would someday play professional football.  Danny, on the other hand, was a defensive end.  Robert and I met him before we actually met him.  Let me explain.

One day while looking at recruiting sites and anything else I could find to help my son maneuver through the maze of college recruiting, I came across an article written about a Maryland football player.  The story documented a homeless young man living with his high school coach.  He didn’t have any parents.  I remember feeling deep compassion toward him.

“Robert, come here.  I want you to see something,” I yelled from my bedroom.

“Yeah mom.  What’s up?”

“Read this.  Pretty powerful,” I said as I pointed to the article on the computer screen.  I got up so he could sit down and read it.

“Man, that is so messed up,” Robert said.  “He’s had it tough”

I agreed.  As he got up out of the seat and started to go back to his room I prophesied, “Hey Robert.  I believe one day you’re going to meet him, and you’ll be like a brother to him!”

“Uh, if you say so,” he said, as he gave me that,here she goes again look.

I was thinking about what I had just said when I heard in my spirit,what does that make you?

His mother! I replied to the silent prodding.

A year later we were at Maryland talking to the coaches.  It was near Thanksgiving.  A young player came up to the coach.

“Hey, Coach Spivey.  I’m still coming over to your house for dinner, right?”

“Sure Danny.  We’ll see you in a few days!”

“Danny!”  I said under my breath and looked over at his jersey to make sure that it said, “Burke.”

“Danny Burke,” I hollered after him.  He turned and looked at me.

“Yes?” he said as he walked back.

The look on the coach’s face communicated, “How does she know him?”

“Robert,” I cried out.  My son had just come back from the tour of the locker rooms.

“Robert - this is Danny!”Robert understood the significance of this introduction.

“Hey, how ya’doing?” Robert asked Danny as they shook hands.

“Danny, we saw an article about you and… well…we are just glad to have met you!” I said in front of all who were listening.

I went up, and instead of shaking his hand I gave him a hug.  Robert gave him a “brother’s chest bump” greeting.

Later, the coach took us out on the field.  Danny was already in formation.  When Danny saw me, he stood up and waved!  I waved back.

You will be like a mother to him. These words rang in my spirit.

Months later, I woke up in the middle of the night and started to pray violently in the spirit.  That means I was sending up urgent prayers for someone.   I asked the Lord who was it for?

Danny,the Lord spoke to my spirit.

The next morning I got in touch with Robert.  After we exchanged the latest news concerning me, the family, and his life in Maryland, I asked him, “Robert have you seen Danny?”

“No, Mom…why?”

“I need you to tell him to call me immediately!”  I could tell that Robert was concerned.

“I was praying for him last night and I want to see if he is okay.  Please Robert don’t forget!”  I pleaded with him before he hung up.

I didn’t hear from Danny or Robert but I knew that the upcoming weekend I would make it a point to see Danny even though it was Robert’s birthday.   When I arrived on campus I went by the dorms and saw all the football players sitting on the steps.  There was Danny!

“Hey guys! I greeted the players.  Then I turn to look at Danny.

“Hey, Danny.  Did you get the message from Robert?”  He looked at me perplexed.

“What message?  No I didn’t get it Ms. Armstrong,” he said politely.

“Never mind I’ll tell you later.  Why don’t you come with me?  I’m taking Robert out for his birthday, probablyto eat atApplebee’s.”

“Sure.  I’ll meet you downstairs.”

I went to Robert’s door.  He was glad to see me.  I told him that I ran into Danny.

“Is it OK if we let him come with us for his birthday celebration?” I inquired of my son.

“Yeah mom - it’s OK.”

Danny came running over as we were getting in the car.  He climbed in the back with Robert.  My mother was in the front passenger seat.  She had waited out in the car while I went to get the “boys.”  I talked with them about their football workload, upcoming semester, and upcoming games, until we arrived at the restaurant.

We took a large booth.  I ordered two large pizzas, pasta, salad, and drinks.  While we were waiting, we talked.

“Robert.  Danny said he never got your message,” I said.  I could tell by the expression on his face that Robert had forgotten to tell Danny the message I had given him.

“Mom, I forgot.

“Man I’m sorry - my mom called and wanted me to tell you to call her.  I forgot.”

Danny look intrigued.  “Really?  What day was that, Ms. Armstrong?” he asked looking at me strangely.

“I think it was Wednesday night around 11:00 PM,” I said.

He dropped his head and put his hands on his face, closing his eyes.  He opened them.  Teary eyed he said matter-of-factly, “That was the time I tried to take my life!”

We stopped eating to look at Danny.

“I knew something was going on.  What happened?”  I asked.

He told how the coaches called him all kinds of names - mostly derogatory and abusive in nature.

“I have been through too much in my life and I just couldn’t take it anymore.  So I just left the campus and I started to walk down Route 1.  I made sure that I walked in the middle of the road.  I wanted someone to hit me!  I wanted someone to kill me and put an end to it!” he said through tears.

“God knew what you were going to do and he had me praying for you.  God loves you Danny!” I said while holding his hand.  He thanked me and got up to go to the bathroom. He was crying.

“Mom.  God just showed me what happened to Danny when he was a little boy,” Robert said.

“He was in a type of church where everything inside was blood red!” “Mom,” he continued, shocked and surprised at this revelation, “he’s been satanically abused!”

The devil had tried to take this young man’s life over and over again but each time God sent people into his path.  Even now He was showing us how important it was to listen to what God was saying; someone’s life might depend on it.

Bagdad Comes to America

One night, a few months after 911, I received a call asking me if I could assist with approximately 130 students from the Middle East.  The program was sanctioned by the State Department.

The local news had reported that Washington, DC and the surrounding areas were on “Code Orange Alert,” which is the next to highest alert level.  This meant that every individual in the metropolitan area was to be watching out for suspicious packages, suspicious people, and odd behavior. It also meant that individuals were to have a watchful eye for “anyone of Arab descent  less than 30 years of age.”  These kids coming in from the Middle East perfectly fit that profile!

Shuttles from Dulles International airport were bringing the students to the hotel.  I was informed that one of the groups of students, scheduled to arrive at Reagan National Airport, had been delayed in New York City.

We got word that the plane of this delayed group would arrive within the hour.   It was late around 9:30 PM and they had been detained in NYC for over seven hours already!  No one I asked could tell me why.  I get in the van and the driver and I headed to Reagan Airport to pick them up.  The driver dropped me off at the lower level for arrivals.  I went in and saw that their plane has landed and that it was a matter of time before they would show up at the baggage claim.

After about ten minutes had passed I looked down the long corridor and noticed a small group made up of one man, one woman and three students.  One of the students had the Iraqi flag tied around his shoulders.  This was my group!

Now I know why they were delayed

I almost laughed at the irony of what I was witnessing as this young man proudly displayed his country’s flag, oblivious to the stricken looks of passers-by.  I shook my head and smiled at the scene this group was creating.  As they came towards me I greeted each one.

“Hi Everyone!  My name is Kathy. Welcome to Washington, D.C.” We exchanged pleasantries and then I spoke briefly to the adults who had escorted them on the flight from New York City.

They gathered their luggage and I called for our driver to pick us up.  I said goodbye to the adults who had accompanied the students.  The three students and I then got into the van and headed to the hotel.

In the van I asked them to tell me what had happened in New York.  What was the hold up? I figured I knew the answer, but just in case I was wrong I wanted to hear it from their mouths.

“So what happened in New York City that they detained you for over seven hours?” I asked.

“Akbar was waving the Iraqi flag and then he tied it around his neck.  The guards didn’t like it, so they took us to a room and asked us many questions over and over again,” the young man said.

‘I knew it!  Heightened alert...profiled kids...yep – they had been detained!’

We still had a 35 mile drive.  When we left the airport, Rheul, the young lady from Iraq made a startling comment.

“America is so beautiful – it’s so beautiful!” she said.

Both the driver and I made eye contact. ‘What does she see?’we wondered.

We had just traveled past the Pentagon.

“Where are you from in Iraq,” I asked.

“Bagdad,” they all answered at once. I marveled at their English - it was perfect.  No accent!

“Why don’t you have an accent?”

“That’s because we have learned English from the age of three, and we’ve developed an American accent by watching sitcoms from the U.S.”

Rheul then told me how lucky they were to leave Iraq.

“Our parents were able to get us out.  We are the fortunate ones.  Many of our friends have been killed,” she said.  I listened as she shared more.

“The U.S. soldiers there are so nice but they miss being home.”

She then turned her head toward me and asked, “What does it feel like not to have bombs going off each day?”

Wow!  The question caught me off-guard.‘What had these kids experienced?’  I never once had to think about bombs – that is, not until September 11, 2001.

But she was not asking about a day, she was asking what it felt like on a day to day basis!

Before I could answer, she continued, “I hope to see my 21st birthday.”   She stated her desire with such sadness and hopelessness that my heart almost melted.

Then something on the inside of me exploded.

“Oh yes youwillsee your 21st birthday!” I said boldly.  Then I added, “Is it OK if I pray with you?” I realized she was probably Muslim, but hey – when Jesus said that we were to “heal the brokenhearted”[8] He wasn’t referring just to Christians.

She nodded.  ”Of course,” she said.  The other two young men were busy talking to each other.

I then took her hand and prayed.  “Father these young people have seen so much.  Rheul here wants to see her birthday.  I’m asking that you grant that request, in Jesus name.”

“Thank you” she said.

International Diplomacy

I was asked to pick up a group of people at the airport.  They couldn’t tell me who they were when they first requested my help, but the day before their arrival they faxed me a list of their names.

I noticed that the people I was to pick up had Arabic names.  They told me that a “Mr. Smith” would contact me.  He was my liaison.  While waiting at the airport for the group, he called.

“Hi Kathy this is Steve Smith.  Have the ladies arrived?”

“No not yet,” I answered.

“Call me when they arrive,” he said.  I assured him that I would do just that.

Coming down the hall in the airport I could make out seven people, one man and six women.  Three of the women were dressed in Burqas, the orthodox Muslim attire.   The other two women were dressed in western style clothing, and one was dressed in business attire.

This must be the ones. The man and the corporate looking woman came up to me.

“Are you Kathy?” asked the lady.

“Yes, I am.  I’ll call our driver while they get their luggage.”

She then turned and spoke to the others in Arabic, after which she left.  Now it was just me with the interpreter and the other ladies.

What was that all about?

One of the ladies who had on western style attire said to me, “Hello. Kathy, isn’t it?  We have to get our luggage.  Is the transportation here?”

“Yes it is but I have to call them when we have picked up your suitcases. Because of security, they can’t just wait outside. Let’s go get your luggage,” I said.

“I am curious where are you ladies from?” I continued as I looked at my notes.

“Iraq,” they all said almost simultaneously.

Iraq, Wow...more folks from Iraq!

The porter walked with us and put the luggage in the van.  While the ladies were getting in, I called Mr. Smith.

“Hello this is Ambassador Smith’s office,” the voice on the other announced.

What!  Are you kidding? Mr. Smith is an ambassador?! I was almost incredulous.

Composing myself I responded, “Yes, this is Kathy Armstrong.  I was told by Mr. Smith to call him when the ladies arrived.”

“One moment please,” she said politely.

“Hello, Kathy!” The Ambassador was on the line.  “So you have the ladies?  Great!  I’ll meet you at the hotel.  See you soon!” he said before hanging up.

Who are these ladies?  They must be part of a diplomatic entourage,I presumed.

While riding to their hotel in downtown Washington D.C.   I pointed out to the ladies the various monuments along the way.

“The Jefferson Memorial was built to commemorate Thomas Jefferson, our third President.  Here is the Washington Monument.”  I explained the significance of a variety of other structures as well until we arrived at the hotel.

As the driver was taking the luggage out of the van, I escorted the ladies into the hotel lobby where a tall distinguished looking gentleman appeared to be waiting for us.

“Good afternoon ladies. Welcome to Washington.  I’m Ambassador Smith,” he said as he extended his hand in welcome.  “Here, let’s get you checked in.”

After their exchanges, Ambassador Smith came over to me.

“Thanks Kathy for getting them here safely.  I guess I’ll be seeing you this Friday to pick them up and take them back, right?

“Yes sir, that is correct,” I replied.

“Good.  See you then!”   He turned to talk to the general manager of the hotel.  The ladies were busy, so I left there knowing I would see them again.

Iraqi Parliament Members

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under Heaven.

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

(Acts 2:4-6)

As promised, I went back four days later to the hotel to pick up the women.  I arrived there to find television cameras and representatives of the local news affiliates surrounding my Iraqi government clients and Ambassador Smith.  A microphone toting reporter was interviewing the group of diplomats.

One of the ladies with the full Burqa was holding a picture of Condoleezza Rice.

Wow! They must be very important.  I wonder who they are. A variety of thoughts flooded my mind.

I went up to the interpreter and asked if the driver could load the ladies’ luggage.

“Sure, sure – thank you,” she said.

The ambassador caught my eye and motioned with his hand for me to join him. The cameras had been turned off.

“Hello Kathy,” he said to me.  Then he said “Ladies, Kathy is here to take you to the airport.”  After his diplomatic “goodbye,” he invited me to take over.

“Ladies, if you are ready, please follow me.”

I escorted them outside to their ride. When we were comfortable in the van, I asked them, “So what did you ladies do while in Washington?”

They told me about their diplomatic reception at the State Department, where they met with Condoleezza Rice.  They had also encountered various members of Congress, and spoke to both members of the House and Senate.

I was very impressed and had to ask the question that was burning inside of me: “Who are you ladies?”

“These ladies are the newly elected members of the Iraqi parliament!” the interpreter said.

I looked at their faces and said, “Ladies it is an honor to be in your presence.”

They replied something in Arabic that I took to mean, “Thank you.”

They asked me things about Washington, D.C. through the interpreter.  I answered questions regarding the people who live in the area, our history, and a variety of other topics until we arrived at the airport.

The ladies got out and the driver retrieved their luggage and gave it to them.  I tipped him and proceeded to accompany my “entourage” inside.

We went up to the counter.  With the help of the interpreter, each lady checked in.  I found a waiting area where the people who had completed the check in process could wait for the others.

Four of the ladies sat with me and conversed among themselves.  It was then that the interpreter came over with an obviously distraught parliament member.

I got up and walked toward them, I asked, “What’s going on?”

“They won’t let her on the flight!” the interpreter exclaimed. “She has the wrong date on her ticket and they won’t let her fly out with the others!”

Great!  That’s all we need -- an  international incident!

My head was reeling with questions:Why does she have a different ticket?  Why didn’t someone from the State Department check this before?

Very calmly I said to the interpreter, “Let me see what I can do.”

I saw the woman who had the wrong ticket was commiserating with the other women.  She was visibly shaken.  Before going to the counter I needed to console her.

“May I give you a hug?”  I asked the interpreter as I held my hands out to the parliament leader.

She smiled a little and shook her head as if to say “Yeah – go ahead if you want.”  I hugged her.

“Tell her everything I’m saying,” I said to the interpreter as I looked her in the eyes.

“I don’t care if we have to get Condoleezza Rice herself here; you’re getting on that plane!”

The interpreter told the ladies what I said.  They all laughed.  I was relieved that the tension had been broken!  I approached the ticket agent of Saudi Air.

“Miss, I this ticket is dated for the wrong date, but I didn’t know anything about it.  I’m here to make sure that they get on their plane.  These ladies are diplomats from Iraq.  Is there something you can do?”

The ticket agent seemed to understand to a point.  “I wish I could help you but you have to have a high clearance level to do something like that.”

Remembering the secret clearance I had secured when I worked for the Pentagon, I exclaimed, “I have a secret clearance!”

“No, you have to go much higher than that to do what you want to do,” she responded.

“Will an ambassador do?” I asked, thinking of Ambassador Smith.

“Uh...why…sure...” she managed to say.

Her surprise that I would throw out that type of card on the table was evident in her near speechlessness.

Pulling out my phone, I called the ambassador.

“Ambassador Smith, this is Kathy.  We have a problem sir,” I said as I explained to him what had transpired.

“Let me speak to the ticket agent,” he said.

I gladly handed the phone to the shocked ticket agent.  She in turn called for her supervisor who then talked with Ambassador Smith before handing the phone to me.

“He hung up,” the supervisor informed me. “We are going to change her ticket.”

Yes!

I was barely able to contain my relief.  I couldn’t wait to tell the women the good news.

I walked back over to where the ladies were sitting.  I explained the whole scenario.  They seemed relieved and pleased.  They were so pleased in fact that that the highest ranking among them looked at me and said,

“Ajljojplmlmpojipo,[9]” in Arabic.  She then stopped, remembering that I didn’t speak Arabic.

Not missing a beat I responded to them in tongues, “akan by os fowlhjo! “

They looked startled, as if they understood what I was saying. What did I say to them?  More importantly, what did theLordsay to them?

This unusual interaction broke the tense atmosphere between us; we now knew that we were “connected” in some sort of strange way.

They asked if I had children.

“Yes - two boys,” I replied.  Then they shared about their sons and daughters.  We told stories and laughed until it was time for them to go.

I waved as they went down the long corridor to take their plane to New York, and then on to Iraq.

While I may never see them again, I am so privileged for a brief moment to have met mothers much like myself, who were ready to make an impact on our world!

Anna Nicole Smith

And I give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven:  and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.

(Matthew 16:19)

February 2007.  I was on my way to work when I felt an urgency to pray.

I knew that feeling.  Years earlier I had experienced the same feeling, knowing that it was related to my granddaughter who was a toddler at the time.  I learned years later that she was in danger at the exact moment the Lord impressed upon me the importance of praying for her.

Now I was sensing the same urgency.

“Who am I praying for?” I asked the Lord.

‘Anna Nicole Smith,’ He responded, speaking to my heart.

‘What?  I don’t even know her!’

I nonetheless brought the actress before God’s throne of Grace, even if I didn’t understand why.  God had asked me to pray for her, and I wanted to please the Father.

I finished praying by the time I arrived at the office.  I went to my AOL online account to check the latest happenings.  It was there that I realized why I had been prompted to pray.  Anna Nicole Smith had just died.  It was front page news!

I remember sitting in disbelief and in awe that the same person the Lord had just had me pray for was now dead!

I know that no matter what the media says or doesn’t say, the Lord didn’t have me and possibly others as well pray for her in vain!  Something happened in the spirit realm and I know that Anna Nicole is in Heaven!

I believe the prayers offered to God opened up the Heavens.  I am convinced that through her pain and bondage, she cried out to the Lord and He snatched her out the pit of Hell, and saved her for eternity.

I know in my spirit man that Anna is in Heaven and no one can tell me otherwise.  I know my God, and He is merciful!

Healing Rooms

God is willing, just as willing to heal as He is to save.  Healing is part of salvation.  It is not separate from salvation.  Healing was purchased by the blood of Jesus.

(John G. Lake, Revivalist)

I was invited to help the executives of a presidential organization that I am associated with.  My task was to write and present a module for their program to be held in Washington, DC. The organization’s headquarters is in Spokane, Washington.

It was a couple of months before that the Lord released the name “John G. Lake,” to me.  I knew I had to look him up and find out about him.  I learned that he was from Spokane, Washington and that he was used mightily in healing, so much so that the city became known as “the healthiest city in America”

John G. Lake said, “Mankind has a right to health, as he has a right to deliverance from sin.  If you do not have health, you are being cheated out of your inheritance.   It belongs to you.  In the name of Jesus Christ, go after it and get it.  Take the shackles off God.  Let Him have a chance to bless mankind without ecclesiastical limitations.”

Healing Rooms are now located throughout the country but the first ones were initiated in Spokane during the ministry of Rev. Lake.  I knew that while I was in Spokane I would have to visit the work started by John G. Lake.  I knew that sometime during my stay I was to go there. After I finished my presentation, I had some time in the afternoon to go to the healing room.

The Davenport hotel where I was staying had complimentary transportation within a mile from the hotel.  The healing room was about a mile away.

I had asked the concierge reserve the car for me.  To my surprise when I came down to meet my driver, I was met with a limousine.

“Ms. Armstrong?” the driver inquired.

“Yes”

“Where would you like to go?” he asked while opening the car door.

“1245 State Street,” I said while settling in the back seat.

I smiled thinking how the Lord was showing me favor.  Riding in such a stylish way was something only God could have prepared.

When I arrived at the healing room, people looked.  I walked inside and was told to, “Fill out this form.”  The information is the people who are to pray for you will has some sort of understanding of your background, religious concerns, and if you have prayer requests.

When I walked into the room, I was met by two women and a man.  They prayed over me and the man spoke this over me.

“I see a menorah of yellow flowers.  The Lord is your husband.  You’re to do much more in the realm of healing with the revelation that God will be giving you.”

He then put oil on my head and said the Aaronic Blessing over me:

The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine on you

and be gracious unto you;

the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace  (Number 6:24-26).

Paramount

I came to Los Angeles during the summer of 2008 to meet with my mentor, Apostle Esi.  She was getting her Master’s from Fuller Theological Seminary, and I came out to spend time with her and to talk to her about ministry.

The day I got there, she had to go to class, then on to work.  I decided that since I had the whole day to myself, I would hop on a local bus and take a “ride” around Pasadena.

Whenever I’m in a new city I like to take the local bus.  I’ve done this in Paris and Lyon, France, and then about eight years ago in Las Vegas.

Usually, I will ride the bus to the end of the line, turn around, and come back.  This way I can see the terrain from an elevated vantage point, see the “locals,” and get a feel for the area.

Well, this bus not only took me through Pasadena but it went through Los Angeles, ending up in Hollywood!   I figured that since I was there, I would take a tour of Hollywood and then catch the bus back to Pasadena.

Hollywood is bustling with people…young and old, the sane and insane, the mundane andDang, what is she wearing?

There were street performers and celebrity impersonators everywhere, including Batman. Johnny Depp, and a creepy looking Sponge Bob!

"Come take the last tour of the day.  Tour of Hollywood leaving now!" the announcer said from the loudspeaker.

"How much is it?” I asked.

“Fifteen dollars - but since this is the last tour of the day, I'll let you have it for ten,” he said quietly so others couldn’t hear.

"OK, you have a deal!" I said taking out my money.  I stepped onto the open air bus and went to the top so I could see with no obstructions.

“On your right is the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Here is the Hollywood cemetery where Hollywood legends have their final resting place.  Next up will be Paramount Pictures,” the tour guide said, giving his commentary.

As we were passing Paramount Pictures, the Lord spoke to me

You‘ll come here and work.

“What?” I said, out loud, to my surprise.

Privately, I was internalizing what the Lord had spoken to me:Me?  Work here?  Paramount Studios?  Are You kidding?

Not Forgotten

I was in North Carolina attending an intense time of ministry, including anointed worship, when my friend Walter approached me.

“Kathy, I heard the Lord say that He wants you to position yourself.  To me that usually means preparation through praying and fasting!”

“Thanks Walter,” I responded.  “I’ll do just that!”

I answered knowing that the next day I was headed back home to Virginia where I would fast and pray all day.

Driving from North Carolina to Virginia takes about seven and half hours.  Most of the time while I was driving I sang to the Lord, played worship CDs, and prayed.  I also fasted from food.

As I was coming into the Richmond area, I started to cry.  I was feeling God’s touch and His presence.

Single Parent’s Conference…you are not Forgotten,the Lord whispered to me.

I understood that the Lord was asking me to hold a conference for single parents.

“Yes, I’ll do it Lord,” I agreed out loud, nodding.

Immediately, I knew the place where the conference would be held:  Covenant Ministries, on the banks of the beautiful Chesapeake Bay.  For a longtime I had wanted to host a conference at the beautiful Christian resort located at the headwaters of the Chesapeake.

Once home, I contacted Covenant Ministries and inquired about availability.  I agreed to three days accommodations which includes all meals.  The conference would begin August 14, 2008.

The theme of the conference was, “You are not forgotten,” based on Genesis 21:17 (KJV):

And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of Heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

God hears the cries of the children!  Many times in single parents homes there is an absence of fathers.  Our Heavenly Father wanted to speak to single parents to let them know He is an ever present Father and he has heard their children’s cry.

After I had come back home from North Carolina, I went into my second bedroom and saw a piece of paper sticking out of one of the cubby holes in the desk.  I pulled it and saw that it was from Joan!  This is the woman I had met eight years ago, and about whom I had written in my first book,Be Made Whole.

I met her on one of my adult tours throughout the historic east coast.  At the farewell dinner, the people around my table asked me to tell about my missionary trip to France.

After telling the story, Joan, one of the clients, told me that when I was talking the Lord told her to tell me the following: “In the future you are going to do something that I will get behind.  My husband and I own a philanthropy organization,” she said.  I told her that I would not contact her until it was the appropriate time.

I remember when I wanted to publish my book; I thought of her and thought that this certainly was the time.   Well, I tore up my house looking for that slip of paper.  I remembered putting it in a safe place, but I couldn’t find that “safe place”!

Eight years later, while going into the guest bedroom, I noticed something sticking out from the cubbyhole on the desk.  I pulled it out; it was Joan’s contact information!

Now was the time to contact her!

I called the contact number.  It was her business number.  I was put through to her assistant.  She informed me that Joan was out of the country and would be back in a few weeks.

“Can I take a message?” she asked.

“Sure. Tell Joan that Kathy called.  I was her tour director about eight years ago.  She told me one evening that if I was going to do something, to give her a call and she would “get behind it,” I explained briefly to her personal assistant.

“I will let her know what you told me and I will get back to you,” she said.

“Can I send you my book to give to her?”

She politely replied, “Yes, that will be fine.  I’ll get it to her and when I speak with her I’ll contact you.”

I mailed a copy of the book,“Be Made Whole,” and marked the portion where the conversation between Joan and me occurred. I waited...and continued planning for the conference.  There was so much to do.

God spoke to me, saying this conference would launch many into their ministries. He also said that this wasHis conference.  I knew that meant that I would only take my orders from Jesus.  The conference was only three months away.

I knew I was to pamper these families and make sure that those who were attending would have ample quality time with their children.  The resort now had a swimming pool, hiking trails, and a game room, but no TVs were on the property!  They were to have a vacation with their children and be ministered to by the Lord.

The Lord wanted ministers speaking who were, or had been single parents.  There also was to be much worship, giveaway prizes, a “wedding ceremony” between the participants and the Lord, and so much more!

A month before the conference, the Lord impressed upon me that everyone who came was not to be charged.  They were to come with all expenses paid.  I was in shock!

“How is this going to happen, Lord?”    Almost before the question escaped my mouth, I knew the answer: FAITH!

With that directive I sent out letters to various pastors of churches in the tri-state area.  I asked many people that I knew to sponsor a single parent family.

By now I had contracted rooms, meals, and conference rooms, and based on my estimates of those attending with the amount of advertisements that went out, the conference would cost over $10,000--which I didn’t have.  Nevertheless, since God had placed the order, I was trusting that He would also cover the costs.

I finally heard back from Joan’s personal assistant Carole.

“Kathy, I talked with Joan.  I know it’s been a while since I said I would call, but Joan has been gone for a while.  When she returned, I asked her about what you told me.  Well...she said she doesn’t remember saying that”

What!  Oh No!  God what is going on?

I was at loss for words.  I thanked her for calling me.  My mind kept going back to what Joan said, “The Lord told me to get behind what you’re going to do in the future.”  She said it, not me!

I kept pressing on with the fundraising.  Eventually, I did start receiving monies.  My mom, my sister, and my friends contributed, but it wasn’t enough to cover the expenses of the speakers, their rooms, meals for everyone, gas, airline tickets for the ministers coming from some distances, and other additional costs.

Then one night I get a telephone call.  It was Joan!

“Kathy, this is Joan,” she said. “Remember me?”

“Are you kidding?  Yes, I remember you Joan!” is all I could get out.

“I have to tell you why I’m calling,” she said.

“I was sleep and the Lord woke me up and told me togo get the book.”

She continued, “I thought He was talking about a book I’m working on, but when I got to my desk, I saw your book and I knew that it was yours I was to pick up.”

“Well, I turned to the page you had bookmarked and I started reading.  And I have to tell you Kathy – I do remember now saying those things to you!”

Look at you God! I was thinking.

“As Carole told you, we have now closed down the philanthropic organization, so I know the Lord is dealing with my husband and me in this matter.  I can’t tell you how much we will send you, but I will tell you this, we will send something to you soon!”

I was stunned!

“Thank you Joan!” I said.  I told her more about the conference and the single parents who had signed up, how I appreciated her and her husband, and then thanked her in advance for her donation.

I knew God was going to come through, but here it was, August 7th.  The conference was a week away and the majority of the funding was still not in!

The next morning I walked to the mailbox.  There were bills, but also two envelopes - one from Susan and one from Joan.  I was nervous as I opened the letters!

The one from Susan was for $1,000 and the one from Joan was $7,000.  That was $8,000.00 on August 8, 2008.  On the 8th day, of the 8th month of the 8th year in 2000, God had sent us 8 thousand dollars!

Look at God!  Eight is the number of new beginnings, and this was the new beginning of a revelation of the goodness of God, not only for the single parents whom I had invited, but for me personally.

Confrontation

We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods.  We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God.  We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

(2 Corinthians 4:2, NLT)

I had secured radio advertisements, sent out flyers, bought ad space on the Elijah List, and various other avenues of publicity.  On each of the advertisements and pieces of publicity, I had placed the number to Covenant to get directions and information, along with my telephone number and email address.

I was informed by several people who had heard about the conference on the radio, that when they called Covenant to inquire about the conference they were told, “There is no such conference being held here!”

I was stunned.  I had spent hundreds of dollars in advertising money.  Now to have people who were coming be told there was no such conference!

I remember asking several of the people who were attending if they had tried to call and what was told to them.   Almost everyone had gotten the same response: “There is no Single Parent Conference here.” Since they had already talked to me, they just thought it was a “new” person at the front desk.

Several weeks before and even up to the day before the conference, I tried to get a manager, supervisor, or anyone of authority to talk to me.

I was coming to realize that my assignment was more than just having a single parent conference – a new challenge was forming.

I have noticed in my Christian walk that sometimes the Lord doesn’t reveal the nature of the battle until you are in the middle of the fight!

The day of the conference, the sales manager came up to me.

“Ms. Armstrong I need to get the check for the agreed amount from you,” she said.

Are you kidding me?

Right up to the day of the conference I had called many times and at different times of the day and received the same answer: “There is no single parent conference being held here.”

You can imagine how upset I became.  I would call and be passed from person to person.  No one had answers for my questions.  No one was taking ownership of this obvious costly mix-up.

The sales person was right in front of me minutes before the conference was to begin, demanding a check!  I attempted to retain all possible decorum, because the people were checking in.

“I want to get together with you and the conference center manager,” I said. Then I stepped away so that no one could hear me.

“I have several thousand dollars to give you, but I have complaints that haven’t been addressed.  They have cost me money.  I want some type of remuneration for misinformation given to potential conferees,” I informed her.

“Of course.  I’ll go talk to the manager now.  You go ahead with your conference and let’s say later in the day I’ll let you know the time and place of the meeting.”

“Fine” I responded as I went back to the registration table.

Later during a break I gathered several of the ministers and asked for prayer.  I told them about the upcoming meeting and what it was about.  They prayed fervently for the success and for God to show up at this meeting.

There were about fifteen single parents and their children who were already registered for the conference.

Alan and Renee Hart led praise and worship, which brought the presence of the Lord.  The atmosphere was so charged with the presence of the Holy Spirit!

I remember hearing words for us ministers:

“Every time we speak in tongues we release the angels to do the work”

“Pray in tongues more,” and much more!

After breakfast was our meeting time.  I walked into the room and saw the sales manager and the conference manager.  We talked about issues surrounding the lack of information on the part of the hotel staff and wrong information given out by staff.

“They [the hotel staff] are not responsible for telling people aboutyour conference,” he said somewhat sarcastically. He continued to defend the position of the conference center.

“We are not a hotel, we are a conference center; there is a difference.”

While he was talking the Lord said to me,they’re doing this to many people.

Right then I knew what the Lord wanted me to do.He wanted me to confront them!The Lord is such an advocate of people!

The Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance the many years I had spent in the hospitality industry.  Iknow the various duties of each part of a hotel.  At the front of hotel there is the front desk, sales, and the concierge.  The back of the hotel is where you find the catering, dining, room service, housekeeping, janitors, and more.  I know the responsibilities of each department.  I know what clients expect and what the hoteliers provide.

“You can’t get away with the excuse that you are a ‘conference center,’ not a hotel!” I said.

“If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it is a duck!”

Then, for emphasis I added, “You can say all you want that you’re not a hotel, but when you have beds, a restaurant, and facilities like a hotel, then you are a hotel!”

The Lord was letting me know that they had been doing this to many clients, and that it must stop.  You should have seen the look on their faces.  Busted!

They tried to regroup, but now it was exposed.  And the Lord was doing it!

“This little meeting is over,” I said while rising from my chair and sliding it under the table.

I then added, “I have a conference to get back to!” and walked out the door of the conference room.

Signs, Wonders, Miracles

This ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead.  It is a reminder that the power of the LORD’s mighty hand brought us out of Egypt.

(Exodus 13:16, NLT)

Many people were healed, kids bonded with other kids, and the mother’s were so blessed.  We even had a marriage ceremony at the end to show that the Lord was marrying them and that He was their provider.

It was a glorious, yet exhausting three days.  As I was lying on my bed (I stayed an extra day), I remembered that I needed to gather up all my materials in order to leave the next morning, I got up, put on a worship CD and started packing.

While packing and listening to the CD and worshiping the Lord, I asked my Father, “Did I please you Daddy, did I do what you wanted me to do...did I complete my assignment?”

I felt the presence of almighty God fill my soul, and just His saturation was an assurance that He was pleased.

I was packing my clothes, and the song playing was “How Great Is Our God.” I went to my luggage.  I was about to put my clothes in when a feather dropped from the sky and landed on my suitcase!

I stood there stunned. This just came out of no where...Oh my God!’

I was overwhelmed and as the singer was singing “and my heart will sing....how great is our God,” I picked up this “sign” from Heaven!

I was reminded of a familiar verse, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler” (Psalm 91:4).

Glory to God!

I took the feather in my hand and looked at it.  It was not white but golden.  It had about five wisps and was a light gold color.

While I sat down at the computer and the song was playing, the feather seemed to respond to the worship music.  It was so wonderful to behold that words can't adequately describe what I felt.

Returning Home

How Blessed you are, O Israel!

Who else is like you, a people saved by the LORD?

He is your protecting shield

And your triumphant sword!

Your enemies will cringe before you,

And you will stomp on their backs!

(Deuteronomy 33:29 NLT)

“Iwant you to go to Israel with these women,”the Lord said to me.

Four ladies had been scheduled to go to Israel for months.  Ellen, who was the leader, had been to Israel over a dozen times already.  She had asked me months earlier to go with them.

“I don’t think so Ellen. I was just in Israel in 2006,” I told her through an email.

Now the Lord was telling me to go, just one week before the scheduled departure date.

“Lord do you know the cost of airfare now?”  I asked Him, thinking somehow He really didn’t know.  He always knows...duh!   He was just testing to see if I would be obedient.

“Okay – I know; it’s not my money anyways,” I admitted to the Lord.

When I went online, to my amazement and through God’s favor, I was able to go at approximately 60% of the regular cost of a ticket at such late notice.  I met the ladies at JFK airport in New York, and flew through the night.  We landed in Madrid, Spain the next morning.

We had approximately a nine hour layover.  The train stopped at the airport, so we boarded it and took it to downtown Madrid.  We were able to see the beautiful buildings, the parks, and even had lunch at an outdoor cafe.  We took the train back to the airport and were glad to get back on the plane so we could sleep.  It had been an exhausting day!

It was raining when we arrived in Tel Aviv.  Ellen reserved a Cheroot (mini van) to take us to our hotel - theYMCA Three Arches Hotel. This hotel and the YMCA complex, was built by the Jews and Arabs between 1928 and 1933.  It has a mixture of architectural styles, including Roman, Moorish and Islamic influences. It has become one of the city’s landmarks due to its impressive tower.  The designer of the tower, Q.L. Harmon, was the same person who built the Empire State Building in New York City.

Across the street was the famous King David Hotel, where I had visited in my previous visit to Jerusalem.  Many dignitaries have stayed and conducted business there, including U.S. Presidents.Upon entering the hotel, the impressive archway (in addition to the murals and tapestries), let you know that you were in a special hotel.  The rooms were small but clean.

I was rooming with Theresa and Zina.  These two ladies have known each other for years.  Ellen and Reba were rooming together.

In the evening we took our leader, Ellen, out for her birthday.  She was so happy to be celebrating in her other home – Israel!  We went to a very nice restaurant in the old city, but got back early enough to ensure an early start the next day.  After eating breakfast the next morning, we went to the Jewish section of the Old City of Jerusalem to go shopping.

I was under strict instructions from the Lord not to buy anything unless it was for “bridal purposes.”  I bought a white scarf - no souvenirs, earrings, books - nothing except an item associated with being a bride!

These instructions were for my visit to Israel as well as for the future.  The Lord reminded me that he would be taking me back home to Israel, His home.  Since I am His bride, it is also my home!

The scarf was to serve two purposes.  First, I would wear it at my ordination the following month.  Additionally, I was to use it later in the trip, when we would be going into Jordan praying at Petra as “the bride.”

It was Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and we were here in Israel.  We went to the Kotel or what westerners call “the Wailing Wall,” the only wall remaining of the Temple.  Men and women come here to pray.  Some even take their prayers on small pieces of paper and press them into the stone crevices.

In the evening we went to Ramat Rachel Kibbutz.  They were having the Convocation of All Nations, conducted by Tom Hess.  Many people from around the world were coming to celebrate Yeshua.[10]

Birgitta

In the morning we left the hotel early to head to the Old City.  We were walking through a section called the Moshe Colony, a community of artists.  There we meet a lady who was, I would say, in her fifties.  She had long blonde braids that were pulled up in a bun.

“Come…come to my house.”  She motioned us to follow her.  Her name was Birgitta.  Originally from Sweden, she had migrated to Jerusalem.

She took us to her home.  In the center of her beautifully aged royal blue front door was a window shaped in the Star of David.  Walking in, I was mesmerized - it was like no other home I had ever seen.  Every inch had purpose, expressed in colorful creativity; here was the soul of an artist.

To the right was a raised loft with several large tapestry pillows on brilliant muted colors and patterned bed.  This was her sanctuary.  Art work abounded; some were on the walls and others were propped all around her home.

There was one piece of art that particularly caught my attention.  It was a picture of this Mediterranean man with a dark complexion and a lamb on his shoulder; it was Yeshua – Jesus, the Lamb of God.

“Did you paint all of these?  Is that painting there for sale?” I asked, referring to the picture of Yeshua.

“Yes, I am an artist,” she said, answering the first part of my question.  She then added, “And no…that painting is not for sale.”

She walked toward her balcony and beckoned us to come with her.  We followed her out and saw this amazing view of the Old City from her balcony!

Christine Darg, from Jerusalem and the UK writes about Brigitta, “My friend, Birgitta Yavari-Ilan, is one of the most interesting souls in Jerusalem.  Her home is like an embassy of hope, an oasis of truth for intellectuals, doubters and wayfarers.

“Ahh…Jerusalem, we are really here!  I’m back and I love it much more than I could imagine.  She is beautiful.”

Brigitta then showed us the book of her art work, poems, and memories.  The title wasForsake not your Heart...It was created to love.

She talked about what the book contained.  She told us how she survived a divorce, the loss of her son, and other tragedies that befell her.

“With all these things that have happened to me I still love the Lord!” she declared.

“How much is your book?” Theresa asked.

“50 dollars,” she said.

Reba, Paula, and I were all considering buying the book, but Theresa pulled out the money and bought it.  Bridgett then walked up to me and said, “I’ll give you a discount.”  She looked at my travel companions and added, “…if it is okay with the other ladies.”

They responded affirmatively, and then she asked me my name.  “My name is Kathy but my spiritual name is ‘Ariel.’”

She smiled and autographed the book.  This is the inscription, “To Ariel with love from Jerusalem, Birgitta.”

This woman, who was over fifty, then said to us, “Oh I have to tell you something - I’m getting married next week!”

She looked me in the eye as she was autographing the book and said, “This is for you - the bride!”

The following is excerpted from an article written about Birgitta:

An entree into the dwelling of one of Jerusalem's most colorful personalities.

Birgitta Yavari-Ilan, an artist originally from Sweden, answered the call in 1977 and created a three-story home from one of the original old cottages.  Yavari-Ilan is one of the most colorful personalities living in the area. Born in Sweden, she converted to Judaism but without actually renouncing her Christian faith. Her latest book (her 12th), Forsake Not Your Heart, has just appeared in Hebrew and English and is a record of her spiritual journey to Jerusalem

The Negev

“Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.”

(Genesis 12:9, NLT)

The Negev is a desert located in the southern part of Israel. Many people in the Bible traveled through this vast wasteland.  It is where Abram, later called Abraham, Isaac, Joshua, Moses, and David sojourned, to name only a few.

We had left the city of Beersheba and were traveling to Beertoyim, a campground for travelers wanting to experience the Negev like the Bedouins.

It was so beautiful in the desert!  No buildings to be seen anywhere, just sand, dirt, and hills.  The amber, gold, and hints of pink evident in the setting of the sun were absolutely stunning.  As the sun set and night began to settle in, the realization that we had not yet arrived at the camp disturbed us.

“Where are we?” one of the ladies asked out loud.  This question took on new meaning in the middle of the desert.  There were no gas stations to pull into to ask directions, no street signs to give a point of reference, and no lights, just those of the SUV we had rented in Jerusalem to take us throughout Israel.

Everyone was quiet – noticeably so.

“What’s that?” someone asked as we crossed over something.  The headlights illuminated the street ahead, but on either side of the van there was total blackness.

“It’s a wadi” Ellen said matter-of-factly.

‘What is a wadi?’

As if she had heard our thoughts, Ellen answered.  “A wadi is a river; but a river in the desert is just a deep ground impression.  We were going over a bridge, over the wadi,” she informed us.

Out of nowhere we noticed oncoming lights.  Hurrah!  There was someone else out here!  We were excited until we realized that they were IDF forces!  We came to understand that we were so close to the Egyptian border it wasn’t even funny!

The vehicle stopped.  Inside were two helmeted soldiers with machine guns.  They approached us and looked inside.

We must have been a sight for them to see - five American women in the middle of the Negev – at night!

I don’t think they could have even imagined a sight like us.

The soldier who was driving asked. “Where are you ladies going?”

“We need help; we need to go to Beertoyim,” Ellen explained.

They look perplexed.

“Don’t know what that is?” they said.

Ellen went into further detail about Beertoyim.

“I suggest that you keep going,” the soldier advised.  I don’t know what it is, but there is something further up the road... not sure what though.”

“Thank you; thank you so much,” we all said together hopefully.

Relieved that the campgrounds might be near, we began talking as before.  It’s funny how the road doesn’t seem as ominous when you are close to your destination.

Blinking lights!  One more time a vehicle stopped.  This time two men with tan head wraps rushed towards the car.

Each one of us reacted in a way that only Pentecostals would find normal: Tongues!

The men realized that they had frightened us.

“Hey, we are here to help you!  Come with us; we’ve been expecting you and we came out to get you!” one of them said.

Relieved, we all settled down and relaxed as much as we could.  Personally, I would be glad just to get there.

Beertoyim

“He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”

(Song of Solomon 2:4)

As we pulled into the campground, the evening meal had already been served to the others that were camping out - mostly Europeans as well as a couple from America.

We sat down in the place that had been reserved for us and had a delicious meal of hummus, salad, lamb, and some type of couscous.

We were then shown to our room.  Yes, room - all of us were sleeping in the same room!

We were given one inch pallets and a pillow.  The lattice framed window opened up and we could look up right into the night-time desert sky!  The magnificent stars seemed to smile back at us as we took in the wonderful panorama.

I was reminded of the following scripture:“...he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.”[11]

We were warned to close the window at night so that the animals from the desert didn’t enter in.  After putting my bag down, I walked about forty feet outside our room to see a circle of pallets laid in a spoke-like fashion with a large bonfire in the middle.

A few people were standing and talking, while others were engrossed in conversation all the while sitting cross legged, but most were on their backs, looking up at the stars.

As I went over and sat down, I thought how blessed I was to be in the desert, in Israel, and around the bonfire!

“Come away with me.”  I heard the lover of my soul, my husband, my Kinsman Redeemer speaking to my heart.  His words reminded me of this passage from the Song of Solomon: “Arise my love, my fair one, and come away.”

I gently lay down on the pallet and was enfolded in the arms of my Lord.  As we looked up at the stars, this scripture came alive to me:“His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.”[12]

So sweet, so kind, so gentle is our Lord!  It was as if I were alone with my King.

“Wow, I can almost touch them,” I said to the Lord. “This is so amazing.  I can imagine the surprise and the enormity of what Abraham must have felt when you told him that he would have children as numerous as the stars are in the sky.”  He then brought to my mind the following Scripture:

“““I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies(Genesis 22:17).

With the fire crackling in the background and voices fading, I fell asleep in the arms of my beloved.  Truly,“My beloved is mine and I am his”[13] [14]

Desert Bride

The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

(Song of Solomon 2:8)

When I woke up the next morning, I peered out through the lattice window and saw the desert in the early morning.  It was so beautiful!

I walked outside and started to walk toward a nearby hill.

I started to dance – I felt so free out there in the desert!  Dancing for the Lord, it felt as if I were dancing with Him!

I heard someone approaching me from behind.  It was Ellen, and she was walking towards me holding a large cape with the words “Lion of Judah,” written on it.

“The Lord said for me to put that on you and you are to dance with Him,” she said as she placed the cape on me

So I did just that, and as I did, I started to cry; I couldn’t stop thinking about Him as I danced.  It was wonderful!

Bloom in the Desert

Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy!

(Isaiah 35:1-2a, NLT)

Izzak and Elizabeth Solomon are musicians and farmers, part of a settlement in the Negev desert.   We went to visit them and see their orchard.

Elizabeth had been a representative at a major fashion house.  Izzak was from Yemin.  Both are Messianic Jews.  They live in what is called amoshav.  It is like a kibbutz but much smaller; this moshav was in the middle of the desert!

Elizabeth greeted us and showed us their home.  It was a nice modular model.  There were other families with modular homes that surrounded theirs - maybe fifteen at the most.    They had two boys whose toys were everywhere!

Izzak was away when we arrived.  Despite his absence, we planted trees in “the desert.”  I dedicated mine to my sons Daryl and Robert there would always be a part of my family in Israel.  It was moving to know that I was literally sowing into the future of Israel, and to know that I was blessing the land of which God said,"I will bless them that bless thee…" (Genesis 12:3a).

We met with wonderful Messianic[15] families throughout Israel.  We enjoyed fellowship together, worshipped, and sowed[16] into their ministries.

It was such a moving time to be in the area where, as prophesied, the desert was blooming - not only with olive trees and other vegetation,[17] but with people.

I now fast forward to January 8, 2010.  I was in Houston on an assignment. The church my parents attend is multicultural, and they are the leaders of the senior ministry in their congregation.

Accompanied by my parents, I went to the home of a couple from their church.  It was a holiday party and many people were there.  I am always amazed by the size of the homes in Texas, and this was one was no exception.  It was about 7,000 square feet; most of the people were congregating in the great room off of the kitchen.

When I went into the kitchen I started to talk with Debbie, a leader in the church.  We discussed various things, and I mentioned my time in Israel.  I told her how much I loved the desert, the Negev.

“I met this amazing couple in the desert; she is American and he's Israeli,” I told her.

“Really?  Debbie said.  “I have a friend who was a bridesmaid at my wedding and she met her husband in Israel.  They live in the desert also!”

I knew this was no coincidence!

“Was your bridesmaid named Elizabeth?” I asked.

She was taken aback. “Yes!  How did you know?”

“She and her husband Izzak are the couple I was talking about.  Oh my God.  We are talking about the same couple!  What is the likely hood of that?”

I heard that when someone asks, “What is the likelihood of that happening?” you are to respond, “100% - when it's God!”

I then emailed Izzak and Elizabeth and told them about this amazing encounter.  I also sent pictures of my time in Israel including photos of them.

Izzak wrote me back:

I read your email and saw the pics.  WOW!  How amazing that you were at Debbie's house!  God is so cool. We went to church together when I first came to the Lord  and we were very close then.

Thank you for sending the email.  Even if nothing happens, I am grateful that you care.  By the way, TU B'Shvat is on the 30th of this month.  It is the day that we plant trees in Israel.  You gave me the idea to send out an email about it and promote the tree planting.  Thanks!

On the King’s Highway

“...we will go by the king’s highway; we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.”

(Number 20:17b)

“This is called the King’s highway,” our Arab tour guide Aahil told us.

“This highway has been here for thousands of years. This was the passage to the east.  Many people traveled on this path, bringing spices, cloths, timber, and other riches to the king and to the various markets along the way.”

We were now on our way to Petra.  All five of us were traveling in a white van with our Arab driver, going up and down the hills and mountains of the desert outside of Agaba, Jordan.  It was a strategic mission from the Lord.

We stopped off at a local restaurant outside of Petra.  The food was amazing!  I so love Middle Eastern food, including the hummus, pita, chicken, falafel, vegetables, fish, and more.

When we arrived at Petra, Aahil went to pay for our admission.

“Do you want to ride the camels into the city or on the way out?” he asked us.  I decided not to ride them.  The other women agreed to ride them on our way out.

Petra is a fascinating place.   It has existed for thousands of years.  When you first see the tall stone, you notice the rich colors: amber, coral, and burgundy combine with sand, ocher, and beige to create a spectacular sight.

This is really a city.  The caves are where the people dwelt; the treasury is the vast area where the people would congregate, go to the market, get their news, and change monies.

We found a place to stop.  It looked like we were resting from walking, but really we were praying.  Praying about things the Lord told us to pray about – secrets that I can’t divulge.  Let’s just say it had to do with end time events.

One of the ladies took a picture as we were walking away from the area.  When we looked at it later, we were amazed at literally hundreds of orbs in the picture.  Angels!

After a couple of hours we got back to see Aahil waiting for us with a big smile.

“Ladies, welcome back!  You had good time, yes?”

“We did” Ellen said.

“Well, then let’s get you back to Agaba!”

We passed by many small villages along the way.  We had to stop when the King of Jordan’s motorcade passed by.  After talking to the police who had approached our van, our driver said, “The King of Oman is with the King of Jordan and they are both riding their motorcycles!

Imagine two Kings on Harleys!

There were many people standing about to see this motorcade.  The crowd was composed mainly of men and children.  I noticed that I didn’t see any women.

We all looked as the Kings passed by.  Then the people turned their attention to us in the van.  They gathered around the van.  As they looked inside, you wondered what was going through their minds. Women, probably western women from America.Then the police spoke to our driver.  Aahil nodded and said something to him in Arabic and then pulled back onto the highway.

We passed the checkpoint right outside of the town.  And were now back in Agaba.  As we came off the main highway onto a lesser one, we found ourselves with the King’s motorcade passing by from the right to the left.  We had to turn left.

Aahil looked at me as if to say, “What do you think?  Should we go?”

I nodded and leaned my head to the left, implying, “Go ahead!”

We both smiled at each other knowing what we had just done: We were at the back of the royal motorcade! The ladies in the van then realized that we were now in the King’s motorcade.

“Oh my God!” someone responded.  “How….?  What just happened?  Are we in what I think we are in?” several voices demanded.

“Uh huh,” I responded.

Overhead were the aircraft and along the road were armed guards.  Yet no one stopped us!

“We are on the King’s Highway,” I mused.

“Are we not the King’s daughters?  Shouldn’t we also be in this motorcade?”

Aahil just smiled not knowing what I meant but the ladies knew and God knew because He orchestrated it!

Yom Kippur – 2008

Be careful to celebrate the Day of Atonement on the tenth day of that same month – nine days after the Festival of Trumpets.  You must observe it as an official day for holy assembly, a day to deny yourselves and present special gifts to the LORD.

(Leviticus 23:27, NLT)

We came back into Jerusalem for Yom Kippur, the most sacred day of the Jewish calendar.  It is also known as the Day of Atonement.  On this day there are no motor cars on the streets.  Everything is shut down and everyone goes to the synagogue.

We went to the high synagogue in Israel.  I remember thinking that this was the same synagogue where Derek Prince and his soon to be wife Ruth had their first date.  They went to service here and then went back to the King David Hotel for a meal.

Later after service we walked back to the Kotel where we went to pray.  As we were standing away from the Wailing Wall, two men approached us and tell us that if we returned back the next day around noon, a Rabbi would invite us to his home.

Wow - what an unexpected surprise!  It would be our last day in Israel; what a treat to go to a rabbi’s home!

The next day we were there waiting to see which Rabbi would show up.  There were many people near the entrance to where the women went to pray.  Then a Rabbi gave a blessing to each person, and said, “Come...come with me to my house anyone that wants to, and have dinner with my family!”  He proclaimed to everyone within earshot.

This had to be the Rabbi that the men were talking about.

The Rabbi turned and started to walk away from the Kotel.  He had a tallit around his shoulders and a yarmulke on his head.  We found out that this particular Rabbi told God that if He saved his son from a terrible disease that he would open up his home to anyone.  Since God answered his prayer, he has opened his home to those who want to come.

As we were walking away from the Old City, I noticed that the men who were right around him were the young men; behind them were the older men, and behind the older men were the women.

This must be how it was to walk with Jesus

Then the Rabbi took his tallit and flipped its ends over his shoulders.  It looked like a cape.  Immediately I received revelation of a particular scripture concerning the Lord:“He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God”(Revelation 19:13).

I suddenly realized. It was his tallit that he had on! Wow!

When we arrived at his home there were so many people already there!  The women sat near the kitchen and the men sat in the living room.  The rooms flowed together and the furniture had been removed to accommodate the tables and chairs.

Once you sat down, you were stuck!  The chairs from each table were touching each other.  You couldn’t get out once you were in!

The food was passed through the window from the kitchen.  We passed it to the men first and then it was passed to our table.  I asked the lady to my right, “How do they get all these people in here?”

“I don’t know how it’s done, but there is always room; I’ve never seen anyone turned away” she said.

It reminded me of how the Lord multiplies the provision when there is a need:

But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”

“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.

“Bring them here,” he said. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward Heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children! (Matthew 14:16-21, NLT).

He Will Fight Your Battles

“With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles…”

(2 Chronicles 32:7, NKJV)

I knew that I had to be quiet and not say a word while David spoke.  The Lord spoke to me that even though I had been hurt, I was still to pray for him while he ministered. I was not to minister, just pray.

I had to admit that I really didn’t feel like praying for David!  I was still harboring hurt.

The Holy Spirit reminded me of when I interceded for David when we were in France.  I undergirded him in prayer.

He was explaining about tongues when a woman next to me, “What does he mean when…” As she was asking me the question, I knew the answer, but I was under strict orders from the Lord just to pray.

“Uh....he will explain it, and if he doesn’t, ask him a little later,” I said, knowing that the answer I would give was not what he was saying at the time.

About ten minutes later something amazing happened, and my hurt and resentment began to disappear.  I began to see the power of obedience: It appeared as if David was switching from his previous explanation to what I would have said!

Wow!

I felt that the Lord was showing me that when I pray with my husband, or anyone else he puts me together with,  there would be times when I might have the correct interpretation, but that I was to defer to prayer, because the Lord would reveal it to him or her.

David then stopped teaching and looked at me and said, “Kathy the Lord wants me to tell you that you’ve passed the test.”  I felt like the lesson the Holy Spirit was teaching me was that when I am quiet and not defending myself and not debating, then the Lord will fight for me.

It was a test! I marveled at how God had David even say it out loud, though he knew nothing of the test the Lord had for me.

As the teaching time continued, Dianne, who was now ministering, shared an experience she had observed with a woman and her husband.  The woman spoke in tongues and her husband came up to the platform where she was standing, put his arm around her waist and said, “I have the interpretation, honey!”

I remarked to myself, “That’s a beautiful picture of oneness between a husband and wife.”

I looked over to the hallway.  I knew in my spirit that the Lord Himself had walked in the room!  He came over to my right side and sat down next to me.  I felt like he just patted my thigh as if to say to me, “I’ve got this one!”

Before I knew it, the Lord had David come to me and say words that amounted to an apology.  Isn’t God amazing?!

Ms. Redgrave

“I am proud to be part of a family of actors, embracing as it does more than five generations:  my grandparents, parents Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, sister Vanessa, Brother Corin, and nieces Natasha Richardson, Joely Richardson and Jemma Redgrave”

(Lynn Redgrave - Official website)

Iwas eating lunch at Union Station in Washington, DC.    I normally order food fromThai Cuisine and sit in the general area, but today I had a taste for Mexican food.  So I went to the Mexican food vendor in the food court, and sat at an elevated table nearby.

I began to eat when I heard a voice.  A woman with short spiky hair, wearing a black cape, who looked to be in her late sixties, approached me.

“May I share this table with you?”

“Certainly,” I said, noticing that she looked familiar.  Then I recognized her.  “Ms. Redgrave!?”  I inquired.

She smiled and nodded. “Yes.”

‘Wow!  Lynn Redgrave is sitting at my table!’

My mind was racing through all the movies that I had seen her in, what I should say, how I should act, and a variety of other scenarios.  She asked me about myself, but I realized that she was merely extending niceties. I had to stop her.

“Ms. Redgrave you don’t have to talk to me.  I’m quite sure you have people coming up to you all the time; enjoy your lunch in peace.”

I then continued, “The only thing I ask is, can I pray for you before you leave?”  I knew that this was the Lord speaking through me because it didn’t occur to me to ask her this.

She looked intrigued and said, “Yes that would be okay.”  So we sat there; me eating my lunch and Ms. Redgrave eating hers.

“Thank you for your kind hospitality,” she said as she stood to leave.

“Can I still pray for you?” I asked.

She then approached me and I took her hand in my hand and prayed.  I don’t remember what exactly I prayed, but I did pray something about “healing her heart.”  Her face relaxed and peace came upon her countenance.

“Thank you so much for that prayer!” she said before leaving.

When I told my colleagues later about this encounter, they reminded me that she is the aunt of Natasha Richardson, who died in a skiing accident.  Her heart was broken; God knew what she needed.

Daytona

And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes.

(Ezekiel 47:9)

It was my fourth year presentingthe Personalities seminar to educators in Florida.  Learning how God has uniquely created each individual helps people get along with others.  It was a lot of fun, and each year participants would tell the conference planners that they wanted me to come back the following year.

This year, instead of taking a taxi, I rented a car.  At first, I really didn’t understand why.  When I came to present at these conferences, I usually arrived a day before, prepared myself, did the workshop, and then flew out the next day.  While I rarely had time to go sightseeing, this time I felt led to rent a car.  My logic was that I would have time to look around Daytona, but my heart still wondered, ‘Why am I renting this car?’  I tried hard to understand my decision to do this.

The evening I arrived at my hotel, I went to the business center to get on their computer.  When I arrived, there was a family there.  We started talking and before I knew it, they asked if I would like to come to their church service.

“I would love to, but I have a workshop late tomorrow morning,” I answered.

“That’s perfect.  It’s early – six in the morning – and it’s only about a 30 minute drive outside of Daytona,” the young lady said. “Do you have a car?”

“Matter of fact I do,” I said, realizing now why I rented the car.

‘Wow...6 am,’  That meant that I would have to get up before 5 am just to make sure I got there on time.

Nonetheless, I found myself saying “Sure...I’ll be there!”  Since the young couple was celebrating the wife’s birthday, they had dinner reservations and had to leave.

“We’ll see you tomorrow,” they smiled and gave me a hug.

It was the prompting of the Holy Spirit to get the rental car becauseI was supposed to be at the meeting.

That night it was perfect for a swim in the pool; it was late evening and not many people were around.  I was on my back floating when I noticed that the water started to move faster, this without anyone else being in the pool.

I remember sensing that I was to just “rest and float with the moving of the water.”  The Holy Spirit was showing and telling me how to operate under the anointing: “Just be carried by the water...just rest...I will carry you to where you need to be.”

Later in my room, I wrote this in my journal:

September 20, 2009

Daytona Beach

In the swimming pool, I felt like the Lord was reminding me of the time we had together in the Negev looking up at the stars while I lay on my back.  Today we were resting here in Daytona.

Back to the Future

I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

(Galatians 1:12, NLT)

The Conference was a success and I was at the airport, but I couldn’t get out.  There was flooding in Atlanta where my connecting flight back home to Virginia was scheduled to leave. There was nothing I could do but wait.  I made telephone calls, walked through the airport, surfed the internet, and read from a book – anything to make use of the excess time.

When I had been in the airport for over three hours, I heard over the intercom, “....plane going to Atlanta leaving from Gate 4.”

It dawned on me that I didn’t have to wait for my scheduled flight – any flight going to Atlanta would do.  I went to the counter where the airline attendants stood.  There were two lines, with just a few people in each.  I picked the one on the right.  Before I knew it, the attendant in my line looked around and made eye contact with me.  “Do you have all of your luggage with you?” she asked.

“No I don’t; I have one bag already checked and am carrying just this bag,” I said, pointing to my small carryon.

She shook her head; “Sorry; you must have all your bags with you.”

“Okay,” I said.  I understood that since I didn’t have all my baggage, I couldn’t get on that flight.

I stood there thinking, ‘I probably should just go back to my gate and wait.’

It was then that the attendant from the other line looked at me and said, “Come on; I’ll get you on this flight.”

She came around and escorted me through the breezeway.  There were a lot of people standing around.  I wondered what made me so special.  I noticed people looking at me as if to say, “Who is she?”

When I got on the jet, the flight attendant took my large bag and said, “I’ll take that – here is your seat.”  The plane was a twenty-five seat passenger plane and I was in seat number 1!

We were about to take off when the flight attendant came back to me and said, “I’m sorry there has been a mistake. You’ll have to disembark the plane!”

It was like I was in a daze at this point.  Normally I would have felt ashamed or angry, but I was neither!

“Oh, okay. No problem!”  I said, and I really meant it.

The attendant opened the door of the plane.  I looked out and was shocked to see no breezeway – just the tarmac!

Also, below the stairs were three people standing in a row waiting for me!  One was the attendant that put me on the plane, and the other two were on the ground crew or perhaps baggage handlers.

“Here’s your bag.” The flight attendant said.  She was right behind me as I turned to retrieve it.

“Thank you,” I said.  I turned around and looked down at the people.  Why did I feel like I’m arriving somewhere and these people are greeting me?

They are waiting for you, came the thought.

In that moment I was caught between two worlds: the present and the future!

The people on the tarmac represented the people who were waiting for me in the future.  They were from another country and because I was coming to minister to them, they had come to greet me and I had just stepped out ofmy plane!

What?  My plane?

It took me awhile to come back to the present; my head was still reeling with this revelation from God.  He had translated me into the future while I was in Daytona waiting for a plane!

The Canadian Soldier

I met Brad in Gettysburg. He was on vacation, visiting historic sites throughout the east coast of the United States.  I was leading a group of middle school students through a Presidential program for future leaders.

We had arrived in Gettysburg after leaving Virginia.  I was talking about the history of our country, and what led to the Civil War - particularly what led the North and the South to meet at Gettysburg.  We had just finished our battlefield tour and were having lunch at General Pickett’s Buffet.

My colleague Michael and I sat in our special place.  The restaurant had reserved us a spot away from the group.  Taking our seats, I noticed a man sitting alone next to us.  He looked up and smiled, then kept on eating.  As I glanced over at him, I noticed that he was listening and reacting to our conversation.

“Would you care to join us?”  I asked.

“Yes, please do,” Michael chimed in.

“Sure,” he responded, grabbing his plate and water from the table. “Thank you!”

The three of us talked about history. Brad was a history teacher in Canada.  He gave his thoughts on various periods in American history.  It was fascinating hearing a Canadian perspective.  We introduced ourselves as historians who give tours to groups.

Time flew by.

“Oh - I think the kids must be finished; they’re getting loud!” I said to Michael.  “I’ll go check on them.”

I went over to the other side of the restaurant where the students and chaperones where eating.  They had finished their main meal and were on their dessert.

We have about five minutes, I thought, calculating the schedule for the afternoon.

When I came back, I noticed that Brad had left his phone number on a piece of paper next to my plate.  He was leaving.

“Call me,” he said, staring directly at me. “I’d like to see you do that mock Supreme Court trial module.  I’ll be in Washington tomorrow too.”

“Okay.  It was nice meeting you,” is all I could get out.

I was flattered that he wanted to talk to me some more.  Later that evening I called and left a message.

“Hey Brad.  I will be on the steps of the Supreme Court later than planned; it will be around 9:30 AM.”

We arrived the next morning on Capitol Hill around 9:00 AM.  Walking up the hill, we went past the Capitol where we would go later.  We prepared for the mock trial module on the steps of the Supreme Court.

Most of the prep work, selecting the Supreme Court Justices, picking the two attorneys and the case to be presented to “the court,” was done on the long bus ride from the hotel, through traffic and into Washington.

The module I developed helped facilitate the learning process demonstrating how our system of democracy works.  This government of the people is based upon leaders elected to represent Americans.  Hence we also have a republic.

I told them that the case they will hear today is about the legality of whether the downloading of music should be free or not.  One attorney will argueforthe downloading of music freely and other sideagainst it.

The first attorney was addressing the Justices as “the gallery”, the chaperones and I watch.   I decide to sit down with “the gallery” and observe.  A few minutes passed; when I looked to my right, there was Brad!  He snuck up behind me and sat.  Seeing him was a pleasant surprise.

He leaned over and whispered in my ear.  “I received your message this morning,”

“I see.  Good to see you,” I whispered back.  “Excuse me,” I said as I got up to give more instruction to the students.

We continued watching the mock trial, until a “decision” was taken.

I told the chaperones and students that after the exercise, they would now have time to go into the Supreme Court.  Brad and I spent some time talking together.  When they came out I introduced him to the teachers and the students.  They seemed to like him.

“Time to go to the Capitol,” I said to the group.  Brad walked with me and we continued talking.  He listened as I spoke to the students about the history of the Capitol.

“Hey Kathy, I’m going to go now; I have more sightseeing to do but I would like to talk to you again,” he said.

“Sure - that would be great.”  I fumbled for words as I spoke.

Later that evening he emailed me asking if he could call me.  I didn’t really understand texting at that time, so I called and told him that I was a devout Christian woman and at this time I didn’t feel that I was to date.  He wasn’t there so I left a voicemail.

There; it was done.  I didn’t expect to hear back from him.

A few weeks later while taking my son and my daughter-in-law out to dinner, Robert spoke up.

“Mom, Daryl and I are concerned about you.  You don’t date and, well…we want you to get married, so we decided to buy you a husband!” Robert said.

“What?” I said.  I just looked at him, laughing at the dubious proposal.

I glanced over at his wife, Atlantris.  She just shook her head in disbelief and smiled.  She knew that her husband was a jokester.

I’m used to Robert making me the butt of his jokes, but this was so far in left field that I didn’t see it coming.

“Are you kidding me?  You and Daryl...you two? Are going to buyme a husband?!” I repeated what I had heard.

“Yeah Mom.  You don’t go out with anyone.  My dad has dated many women, and well, Mom you have no one!”  Robert said with concern for me.

“Robert! God is bringing my husband.   I don’t have to go out andfindhim.’”

I then felt led to tell him told him how I met Brad.  We continued talking.

“Hey Mom can I borrow your phone?  I left mine at home,” Robert asked.

“Go in my purse,” I said while heading up to the salad buffet.

When I got back home I heard the phone ring.  I answered it.

“Hello Kathy this is Brad,” the voice said.

‘Oh no! Robert texted him,’

“Brad hi...um...wait a minute.  Are you calling in response to a text you received from me?” I asked.

“Yes,” he chuckled.

“I thought so.  That wasn’t me - it was my son who texted you - oh wow...”

“It’s all right that he texted me.  I want to see how you are doing anyway,” he said.

“I’m doing fine,” I told him.  We talked for a few minutes and I told him that the following month I would be in Canada.

“Really?”  He asked, “Where?”

“Outside of Toronto,” I said.  “I’m going to a conference with some minister friends of mine.  I’ll be there from the 23rd to the 25th.”

“I live outside of Toronto.  When you come up I would love to take you out to see Toronto!”

“I would love that,” I told him, without thinking.

As soon as I got off the phone I was convicted.  I knew that I wasn’t supposed to go out with a man alone; I had to have others around me as accountability partners.  I phoned back later and left him a voicemail explaining this to him.

I didn’t hear back from him and didn’t expect to.

Oh well. This is another time when God said “no.”

In Toronto, my friends and I stayed at Barbara’s home.  Our first morning there, we ate breakfast and left for the conference.  Later that afternoon I looked at my phone.  I had a text message.

“Hey...how is the conference?  Do you think we can meet someday this week?”It was from Brad!

I marveled at the timing of his call.  “Why is God allowing him to call me?”

I wondered out loud,“God, what’s going on? I know you pretty much when it comes to men.  If he is calling, and he is, then you want me to meet him!”

I had told the Lord many years before, that if I presented any man to Him, and if he was not for me and He didn’t want him in my life, then He was to remove him!

I can’t tell you how many times I prayed that prayer hoping that the Lord would let the man I was presenting to Him stay in my life.  Not only did He not allow the man to call me, but God would erase him from my mind and sometimes my phonebook.

Sensing that God had granted me permission to contact him, I texted Brad back and gave him the dates and times that I could meet with him.  We decided that we would meet at 1:00 PM the next day at theChina Buffet restaurant that my new found Canadian friend Kathleen had suggested.

I knew that it was a divine appointment, but I didn’t know what God was up to.  My friends call this a “God set-up!”

China Buffet

‘Brad is coming through; this must be God!’

I had sought the Lord on the matter of whether I was to see this man or not and there didn’t appear to be a check in my spirit.

On the day we were to meet him however, obstacles appeared everywhere, apparently trying to thwart the meeting.  I was in my friend’s van praying when I got a phone call from my mentor Apostle Esi.

I recited to her all the obstacles in my path trying to prevent me from getting together with Brad.

“Do whatever you have to do; this is a divine appointment!” she said, emphasizing, “Do not miss this assignment!”

She was right.  I went inside to where two of the ladies that I was traveling with were talking.  I told them that I had an assignment from God and that I had to leave at that moment, whether they were ready or not!

After much chagrin we all headed off to the restaurant.  I called my friend David and asked if he could get there and meet him, and to tell Brad that I was on my way.

Twenty minutes later, we arrived at the restaurant; Brad was already there.  He opened up the restaurant door and gave me a hug.  My two friends followed Brad and me inside.

I introduced them to Brad and we went to the table he had already reserved for us and we took our seats.

My friend Dianne, who had had hip surgery, was asking, “What is there to eat here?”

“Let me look and I’ll come right back,” Brad said as he went to the buffet to see the choices.

He is soooo nice! And so sincere!

“They have dumplings, moo goo gai pan, sesame chicken....” he began as he listed the various choices available.

“Don’t worry; I’ll fix you a plate Dianne,” he said.  Again I thought, ‘what a gentleman.’

By the time he came back, Kathryn had gone up to the buffet bar and Brad and I went up together.  We talked about what we had both been up to since I had last seen him.  We brought our food back to the table.

David had now joined us, as he too had been delayed.  I knew this was the enemy’s tactic, since he was supposed to arrive early to explain my dilemma.  He looked at me with a pained look in his eyes as if to say, “I tried getting here but...”

“I understand David.  No need to explain.  At least you’re here!” I said.

While David was getting his food, questions directed at Brad begin to fly.

“What do you teach?”  “Where do you live?” “Are you married?”

“History, Massapequa, and no - never have been,” Brad responded.

When he said where he was from, Kathleen exclaimed, “You drove over an hour and a half to get here!”

“Wow!”  I was impressed.

He looked at me and said, “Kathy - I almost forgot; I have something for you!”

He excused himself from the table and went outside.  When he came back in, he had a book in his hands. He handed me the book “Anointed People,” a story of the Mennonites in Canada.

Well I had to admit, I really wasn’t expecting a book, but it was an awfully kind gesture on his part to give it to me.

“Thank you Brad” I said. Thumbing through it, I leaned over to my friend Susan and pointed to a particular page with Amish looking children playing in the barn.

“May I see the book Kathy?”  Brad asked.

He then took the book, turned to a particular point and started reading.  I didn’t recall a word he read.  One of the deepest desires in my heart for a man had always been that he would read to me.  I was enraptured!

When he had finished, all I could think of saying was “Thank you.”

Brad looked at me and mouthed back, “You’re welcome.”

“Hey Brad let me tell you about our Savior,” David then interjected as he began sharing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

I had walked with David throughout France twice and had known him for about ten years. His calling was that of an evangelist.  David asked Brad if he was willing to say the prayer of salvation after him.

Brad responded, inviting Jesus into his heart to be his Lord and Savior.

‘That’s what this is all about.’  ‘It is about his salvation…’ Or was it?

Kathryn asked, “Do you need a Bible Brad?”

“No, I have several,” he responded.  “Matter of fact, my favorite is the New Reformed Bible.”

Now I was lost.  Did this man just get saved or was he already saved and just being kind and not wanting to offend David because he preached the Gospel with so much zeal and passion?

I tended to lean toward the latter option, that he was already a believer.

Kathleen said to Brad, “Oh, I have a couple who you can meet.  Give me your number so I can give it to them and they can take you to their church.”  Instantaneously, I knew that he was not to do that.

“He can’t,” I interjected. Kathleen didn’t understand my answer.

“He’s undercover!”said the Holy Spirit.

I looked at Brad who looked at me as ifhe knew what God had just told me.  He then smiled!

I just stared and tilted my head towards him, caught his eye, and conveyed the thought,

You know what was told to me, don’t you?

He nodded.

Whoa! How does he know what God is saying to me?

I wanted to end the questions so I said to him “is there was anything we could pray for you about.”

“Yes, I would like to receive orders to go to Afghanistan!

The questions started to fly: “What?  Aren’t you a teacher?” “Why there?”  “Are you in the service?”

Before he could answer, he looked at me and I then received the download from God:

He’s undercover...Special Forces.

We laid our hands on his hands and we asked the Father to grant him the desire of his heart, which was to serve his country in Afghanistan.

December 16, 2011 - I woke up with the revelation of the piece about when Brad and I were at the restaurant and we were “communicating” with each other.  Man calls it mental telepathy but the Holy Spirit revealed to me it was my spirit speaking to his spirit!  This is because Satan is the prince of the airways and if he had spoken or I words about him then Satan would have “access” to what was happening at that moment and God didn’t want that.  I believe the revelation of this came so that we will know in the future when we “must” communicate to each other in the spirit - it will be necessary.

Mission: Possible

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:2

Who was this man?

I was still in a daze from this supernatural encounter with God, Brad, and myself. When we decided that it was time to leave Brad had disappeared. When he came back he said, “Okay.  Let’s go....”

We balked and said, “We still have to pay the bill.”  But by the way he was motioning to us that it was time to go, it was clear that he had already paid it.

I thanked him for a lovely time and thought that it was to be the end of our time together.

Kathleen then told me in front of Brad, “I think it would be okay with Barbara if Brad comes over - she’ll just love him!”

I looked at him.  “Do you want to?” I asked.

“Sure - David you can ride with me and we’ll follow you,” he said as he motioned me to walk outside.

When we got to the house, all the ladies were in the living room.  They seemed to know we had a visitor!  One of the ladies put a chair in the middle of the room.

“Please Brad sit right here,” Sharon said as she motioned to the chair.  As Brad sat down the questions began.

“So where are you from” one of the lady ministers asked.

“Brampton” Brad responded.

I left and came back about ten minutes later.  “Ladies, if you don’t mind, I want to talk to Brad privately for a moment.  Please excuse us.”

Brad then got up and both of us went outside to sit on the porch.  He sat down in an Adirondack chair that was facing the street.  I sat in the chair against the wall, perpendicular to him.

We talked for a few minutes about the women he had just met and then he looked up in the sky and without looking at me, asked, “What’s your view of God?”

“Why he’s everything to me,” I responded.  “I’ve literally been to Hell.  He brought me back.  Matter of a fact, I wrote a book about it!”

“Really?”

“Would you like a copy of it?”

“Yes, thank you!”

By this time Barbara had come back from running errands.  She nodded towards Brad.

“I’ll be right back,” she said looking at me.  When she came back she asked several questions which Brad graciously answered all over again.

It was late afternoon and I asked Barbara if there were a park or something that we all could all go to.

“There is!  As a matter of fact, why don’t we go to the arboretum?”

The ladies had gone to their rooms to take a nap, and the only ones still up were Brad, David, Barbara, and me.  We all agreed that it was a great idea.

Barbara drove.  When we arrived at the arboretum we carried our conversation seamlessly onto the path that was before us, meandering through a forest of trees.  I would be talking to Barbara, and then it would be Brad and me talking with Barbara and David.  It was so effortless.

We kept walking along the path.   The trees then parted to an open area where there was a large stream and small hills.  Brad and David picked up rocks and skipped them across the water.  Barbara and I talked.  It seemed like we had reverted to our childhood.  It was so much fun.  We wondered what lay ahead for us.

Following the path, we came to a large field of wheat.  In the middle of the path going up this hill was a large wooden door!

I thought,‘This is so cool!’  We pushed the door open as if we were going through the entrance to the “secret garden.”

After going through the door, we continued up the hill at the top of which was a beautiful white gazebo.  The sun was setting as each one of us without saying anything sat down at various spots inside the gazebo and took in the glorious sunset.  Not a word was spoken!

When the sun set, we got up as if someone had told us without words, “Now you all can get up.” We then continued on our path.  It felt like this was how Heaven would be!

We continued back to the parking area and got in the car.  While returning to the house, I received an urgent plea from Dianne; her mother was sick, meaning that David, Dianne, and I would have to leave as soon as possible.

“Kathy, why don’t you wait until you see Dianne and let’s figure out what is going on before you make that decision?” Brad suggested.

Now that’s wisdom! I couldn’t help but admire my new Canadian friend.

When we got back Dianne was surrounded by all the ladies of the house.  After telling Brad he didn’t have to come in, he just smiled and walked inside.  He then went over and put his arm around her and told her that it would be all right!  I was impressed by this demonstration of care and compassion.  I think the other ladies felt the same way.

Brad said goodbye to the ladies and He and I walked to the front porch.  I said my “goodbyes” to Brad and told him that I would send him a copy of the book I had promised.

The next morning I came in to the breakfast room where at least four of the ladies were eating their breakfast.

“Kathy we have to ask you something.  We have been talking about it all morning.  Is Brad an angel?”

“What?” I said, but then realized that it was the same thing that I had been thinking!

We had never seen anyone like him; it’s as if he knew what we were going to ask him before we opened our mouths!  Even when I was telling him about Afghanistan, I felt he already knew, but was being kind as we talked.  And when he was saying the sinner’s prayer earlier, I sensed that he was already a Christian but didn’t want to offend David.

Barbara then broke the silence. “Kathy --yesterday at the arboretum was the best day of my life.  It was supernatural how we all flowed together.”

I agreed. “Yes it seemed like this is how we might act in Heaven,” I responded.

The following week Brad called and said He had received orders to go to Afghanistan!

No Atheists In The Foxhole

But I tell you this: a single person praying powerfully fully expecting God to act, has faith that is contagious.  Soon others will join in prayer - in positive and powerful prayer and in this manner the mountain will be moved.

Chaplain McLaughlin from his bookNo Atheists in the Foxhole

Chaplain McLaughlin was the chaplain to President George W. Bush.  He was then deployed to Iraq after serving the President, the military, and their families for three years at Camp David.

He talked about how, as a child, military life forced you to move often; you had to leave friends and then learn how to make new ones.  How difficult it is to answer the question,

“Where are you from?”

Military families serve just as the military member does.  “Wives are not paid; they serve right alongside their warrior husbands” (Proverbs 31:10, 28).

His prayers for the children of those serving in the military had me well up with tears.  I thought of how I left my children and my parents to be “deployed” to the mission field in Texas and now Hollywood, California.

I’m in the military.  I have been willingly drafted by the Lord to do His work; to go where He wants me to go and do what He wants me to do.

One day while watching the news, a high ranking official was asked about a decision the President of the United States had made.  The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the military.

He told the reporters “I have no public comment on my Commander in Chief’s policy.”

What a great answer to give to people who don’t understand “following orders!”  I have a similar answer when I try to explain the call on my life when I am asked.  This sometimes comes up when I talk about an assignment He may give me that doesn’t make sense to most people.

Jesus my Lord makes the decision and I just obey.

Another great line is from the movieA Few Good Men.  One of the soldiers, asking why he should follow orders, is told,“Son, we follow orders, or men get killed!”

How many of us has the Lord asked to pray for someone, and we have found it too boring? Many times we don’t realize it, but there are lives depending upon the prayers of the saints.

Soldier of the Lord

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

(John 15:13)

His note was brief and to the point:

Kathy - thanks so much for the mail!  Very much appreciated, and the subject of some good conversation.

I immediately followed up with an email to my intercessor friends:

He's in Afghanistan!  Please email me when the Lord gives you anything concerning this mission.  Yes ladies we are on a mission! The Lord showed me in a vision, scenes of war: Tanks, explosions, etc. I saw explosions followed by coffins going on a conveyor belt going into a huge airplane.  I immediately started praying for Brad and the other soldiers in Afghanistan.  I prayed for their protection.

Remember, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (earthly) but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds....”

Ariel[18]

I had been drafted into the army of the Lord to pray for Brad and his men.  I explained to the other intercessors recruited to pray with me that they were to use God’s weapons to combat darkness.

I had enlisted others who, when told about Brad’s assignment, asked if they could partner with me in prayer; a type of spiritual SWAT team!

I now knew that the Lord had had me meet him the previous year for this reason.  God knows that I'm a woman who doesn't want to disappoint Him.

I wrote Brad an email:

My assignment along with that of the other intercessors is to bombard Heaven and activate angels on behalf of you and your men until I hear you are safe and well and back in Canada.  Then my assignment will be over.  Those are my marching orders from the Lord!

I followed up this e-mail with a letter to Brad:

I was getting ready for bed and felt led to pray for you in a specific way.  I prayed that God would heal your heart and give you His peace.  In Psalm 4 it says that David cried out to the Lord: “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou has enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer”(Psalm 4:1).  Then it says in verse 8, "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:  for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety."

The Holy Spirit reminded me of when I was in Israel and we took a drive through the Judean desert and came to an oasis called En Gedi.  This is where David wrote the Psalms.  I remember seeing all this wildlife (a type of mammal, birds, and other varieties). I thought,I couldn't rest in this area; too many critters!

It was after we kept climbing higher through the roughed terrain of rocks, vegetation and fauna, that we came to a spring with an amazing waterfall – an oasis in the desert!

Like kids, we got into our bathing suits and jumped in.  We splashed each other, swam, or just allowed the water from the waterfall cascade on us.  We were like children again.

Then I experienced it. Peace - His peace, right there in En Gedi:My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blooms in the vineyards of En Gedi.

June 18, 2010

Hello Kathy!

I have to say, I continuously marvel at your ability to listen to the Lord; it is truly a gift.  I haven’t been online for a while – the Internet is really patchy here – but I got on and read your email, and marveled at your insight and gifts.

This past week one of my students gave me a prayer journal, and I kid you not, I wrote this word for word:

From the depths I cry to you, O Lord; my pleas I send from the darkness.  Be with me in my desolation calm my frustrations and fill me with hope for the future.  My eyes see only dust; my ears are deaf to the pleas of those around me… and the joyful sounds that may boost my spirit.  Open my eyes to the glories around me, and my ears to the sound of Your voice in all that I hear.  Help me to find and nurture that small voice in the tumult.

The date for that entry?  June 13.

The next day - the same day you wrote your email to me - I had a blowout with someone I worked with, and went almost immediately to apologize and reconcile; I somehow felt that it couldn’t wait.

I don’t know how you do it, but I thank God for you.  Your prayers and interventions over there become interventions and miracles over here.  Me

Shortly thereafter, I was able to tell the other intercessors:

Well ladies – Mission Accomplished!  Brad is home safe and snug in Canada!  He is very grateful and humbled at the prayers everyone sent up on his behalf.  I am so grateful to have strong intercessors as friends.

Again thanks mighty women of God! Know that the Father is well pleased with our mission accomplished!

Love ya,

Ariel.

A Place of Healing

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

(Psalm 147:3, NKJV)

I arrived at Atlanta airport on Sunday, July 5, 2010.  Terri Mason, a friend from a Christian newspaper where we had worked together, picked me up at the airport.  We drove for over two hours from Atlanta into the mountains of Appalachia.

She lived within sight of Lookout Mountain, Georgia.  Hearing her simply say the name of this well known site evoked memories of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King’s famousI have a Dream speech.  In this historic oration, the late reformer referenced the mountain as a metaphor for the injustices in America, urging us to lift up our voices from “mountaintop to mountaintop,” and let freedom ring.

The camp,New Beginnings, is located in a valley within the Appalachian Mountains. I had volunteered to go there because I knew that during the week at the camp, orphans from several group homes would be visiting.  I volunteered to wash dishes; later in the week I would have an opportunity to minister to the girls on the topic of sexual purity.

Since I believe that in the future the Lord wants me to finance and run a summer camp for kids, what could be better than to learn the ins and outs of operating such a ministry by volunteering ones time there?

The leadership staff consisted of Terri, her husband Bob, their son Bill and his wife Candace, Pastor Douglas, and the camp counselors.  Bill and Candace were the directors of the camp.  Pastor Douglas was the head camp counselor and pastor of a local Baptist church in the next town.

Then there were the other camp counselors:   John, a young man in his early twenties named for his flaming red hair and beard; Shelly, a 20 year old blonde college student; Ty, another college student; and Debby, a black college student who was originally from Haiti.

Then there were the “Rangers.”  These were the kids who were not on staff and not really campers.  They were helpers to the staff, yet they were young enough to relate to the campers and available to give insight and help when needed.

The students from Livingston arrived around five PM that afternoon.  Livingston was a group home for orphaned and abandoned teenagers.

Jennifer, a pretty blonde who was very overweight, was the apparent boss of the girls coming from this particular group home.  She had a loud and boisterous personality, accompanied by an acerbic tongue. As she stepped out of the van, she announced, “I don’t believe in no God and I don’t know why they brought me here ‘cause I don’t want to be here!”

Got it Lord! I see them and hear them and I will pray for them earnestly, because You are showing them to me.

Jason was a muscular, handsome young black man with a million watt smile.  Below the surface, however, I detected genuine pain.

Raymond was a young man who at first caught me off guard; he had gothic dress, attired in all black, including his fingernails.  Chains were slung around his feet and waist.  On his black T-shirt was some type of self degrading message.  He walked back and forth all the time.  Then there was Jennifer, a beautiful Hispanic girl.

Michael, a tall, nice looking young black man who bore a remarkable resemblance to Michael Jordan, never really talked to the adults. He was always talking to the young girls, particularly Jennifer.

Chrissy was a very pretty teenager in the body of a twenty-two year old.  She was bubbly at times and then, as if catching herself, would pull back.  I discerned that there was some hidden reason for this behavior.

Then there were the kids from the group home calledThe Cove.  Jaime was a bright kid who reminded me of a surfer, with his long, layered, light blonde hair, and his thin athletic frame.

Finally there was Jade, an attractive, shy girl. These were the children that I had the most contact with.

The first day started with check-in.  It was hectic to say the least!

Later in the morning, the camp counselors took the young people out on the grounds for a tour and ice breakers.  During the first few days they swam, played games, and got dirty in a mud pit.  There were many other activities as well.

Two days later we took off on a camping expedition.  The first day we were to go hiking in the woods.    I had the kids laughing because I told them, “My idea of camping is a Holiday Inn on the edge of town.”

The kids just laughed.

“I must really love you, because I don’t just do this for anyone; seeing snakes and repelling off walls; oh no; you’re special!” I said.  Again, they laughed.

Although I wasn’t planning to repel off the walls of an 85 foot cliff, they were!

As I was walking up the hill, Chrissy came up to me.

“Ms. Kathy can I ask you something?” she said.

“Sure Chrissy, what is it?”

“How do you know God exists?” she asked boldly.

Wow...how do I respond to that?

Before I could think up an answer, I took her hand and said without thinking, “God, show Chrissy that you exist!”

She looked stunned. “That’s it?”

I smiled. “That’s it!”

“Huh,” she said, seemingly puzzled as she turned and went back to the others.

Later that afternoon she came up to me.  “Ms Kathy, Ms Kathy; I have to tell you something!” she said excitedly.  “I was walking across the stream and placing my feet on the stones.  Well I missed one stone, and as my foot went down, I felt someone push my feet back up above the water!” she said, catching her breath. “Can that be God?”

“Sure Chrissy…that could be God!”

“Cool,” she responded.  As before, she turned and went back to her friends.

That afternoon we set up camp; I had the kids put up my tent. We ate, sang songs, and sat around and talked.  We had just gotten the kids to bed and I was getting ready for bed myself when I saw Chrissy come towards me.  She had been crying.

“Ms Kathy, I have to talk to you,” she said through the sobs.

“Sure Chrissy, let me go get Shelly.  I’ll be right back,” I said, knowing that I had to have another adult present when dealing with children.

I found Shelly.

“Shelly, Chrissy wants to talk, and I need you to be there with me as I talk to her; is that okay with you?”

“Yes, of course,” she said and climbed out of her tent.

We found Chrissy and took her away from the tents to the picnic tables away from the campers.  I had her sit down and I sat down across from her; Shelly sat next to her.

When she couldn’t hold it in anymore, she burst out, “Whydid my mother give me away?” She released her emotions openly as she continued, “Why, why…didn’t she keep me?!”

My heart broke as I heard this.

I grabbed her hand and started praying in tongues while she continued releasing her pain.  Shelly then placed her hand on Chrissy’s back and began comforting her.

“What did I do,” she sobbed, “to not have parents take care of me?” she continued.  “I feel like God doesn’t care about me either.”

I didn’t respond.  It was more important for her to get this out.

“My stepfatherraped meand my mother chosehim over me,” she sobbed.

She was so terribly wounded.

As she was crying, I ventured to speak to her.

“Chrissy...baby.  I know this is so hard and I wish this hadn’t happened to you, but Chrissy even with all this pain...you’re going to have to forgive him”

“NOOOOOO!”  She wailed from a place very deep within her.  “I can’t, I can’t....he hurt me so bad!”

I began crying as I felt the intensity of her pain.

“Chrissy, Chrissy; listen to me Hon…do you trust Ms. Kathy?” I ventured to ask.

“Yes,” she replied, all the while looking at me as if to say, “I really, really want to trust you, but can I?”

“Then trust the God I serve Chrissy,” I said.  This came out of my mouth with such a deep conviction that I knew God would heal her!  “Jesus loves you, Chrissy.  He is God and not a man; He cannot lie,” I pleaded.

“He said that if we forgave those who have hurt us, He would forgive and heal us; He said it Chrissy.”

“I can’t even say his name.  I’m so angry!”  She shook as she spewed out the venom of her soul.

“Honey, I understand; but look – you’re the one who’s suffering.  Please Chrissy, trust me.  When you forgive him, watch what God will do!”  I declared, believing with every fiber of my being what I had said.

She seemed to calm down a bit, yet she continued crying.

“I’ll help you Chrissy,” I said. “Just repeat these words after me.”  She nodded her head in agreement.

“Father,” I said.

“Father,” Chrissy said.

“I forgive my stepfather and I forgive all the other men who have hurt me.”

“I forgive my stepfather, and I forgive Jim, Sam, and the other men who have hurt me.”

I sensed the power of what she was doing by actually naming the men who had hurt her, while talking to the Father.  I was so proud of her for taking this step toward freedom. I prayed in tongues as she was praying.

A few seconds after finishing, Chrissy seemed startled.  She still had her eyes closed.

“Whoa...I see Jesus!” she exclaimed.

“What is He doing?” I was excited.  Jesus had decided to show Himself to her personally.

“He smiled at me and then He went behind me.  He’s behind me!  He’s putting his hand on my shoulder!”  She was so excited.

I have read and know from experience when Jesus appears to those who have been victimized, He being the gentleman that He is, won’t take out the “darts and blackness” sown by the enemy from the front, but will do it from the back.

“He is now in front of me and is telling me that ‘I will be alright,’” she smiled.

“What is happening now Chrissy?” I was so grateful that the Lord was revealing Himself to her!

“He is picking me up and walking with me,” she said.

“Hey why am I thinking of that footprints poem…this is so cool…he’s taking my hand”

“What hand is it?” I asked.  There was a reason that I asked this question.

“It’s His right hand!” she said.  I was reminded of the scripture,The Lord’sright handis lifted high; the Lord’sright hand has done mighty things. (Psalm 118:16).[19]

By this time, I look over at Shelly and she was giving me a puzzled look as if to say, “What’s going on here?”

I mouthed, “Just keep praying.  I’ll tell you later.”

“He’s telling me that He will never leave me!” Chrissy was shocked at what the Lord was revealing to her.

She opened her eyes.  “Wow…that is so cool,” she said and then looked up at me.

“Ms. Kathy, I don’t hurt anymore,” she exclaimed. “I feel free!”

Once again, I was privileged to be able to observe the Lord ministering to a person Himself.  He comes to them and heals their wounds.

“Whom theSon sets free is free indeed!” I exclaimed.

The next day I ministered to the girls about dating and waiting for the husband God has ordained for their lives.  Chrissy told the girls about what had happened to her, and then turned to me saying, “Miss Kathy can you do it for the other girls!”

Although I knew that she had been genuinely touched and was “on fire,” I had to tell the others and her that it was not magic, but that what happened to her was by the leading of the Lord who chose to manifest Himself to her that way.  I did tell them that I could pray for them though.

“If anyone needs prayer, I’m available,” I said.

Chastity came up.  I talked to her and prayed with her.

“Ms Kathy, I want to know Christ; I want to be a Christian.”

God had pinpointed her from the beginning.

“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32).

At Last

...the skies above are blue...

And here we are in Heaven, for you are mine...

Partial lyrics from the songAt Last

The songA Summer Place[20] had been given to me by the Lord several years earlier.  I wrote about it in my last book.[21]  Whenever I would get lonely, or felt like I would never be loved by a man again, the Lord would send me the song,A Summer Place.

He did this to let me know that He loved me and that He would never leave me or forsake me.  He wanted me to believe the promise that He had given me that I would marry again, but that I had to wait until it was His appointed time.

I was reminded of what my mentor and friend Apostle Esi had said to me:

”Kathy, God’s promises are for an appointed time and season.  God is not moved by how much we want something.  He knows when we are able to receive what He has promised.”

She oozes with Godly wisdom.

I was coming back from a conference in Florida and was watchingOcean Elevenon the plane. It was while the plane was going through slight turbulence that I heard the strains ofA Summer Place being played on the screen in front of me.  When we hit some air pockets I had received assurance from the Lord through our song, so I didn’t entertain fear.

While watching the movie,Chanel,I saw an outfit through which the Lord was speaking to me.  I felt He was saying that I would be getting a suit very similar to the one worn by one of the models; it was a brown tweedCoco Chanel suit.

As I was marveling at how the Lord was speaking to me about my future, I heard the strains ofA Summer Place being played in the movie!

The transition fromA Summer PlacetoAt Last[22] came October 23, 2006.  I was doing the last revision to the bookBe Made Wholebefore giving it back to David to edit.  As I listened to the radio, the songAt Last,sung by Etta James, came on.  I knew then that the Lord was shifting His means of reassuring me concerning my future marriage fromA Summer PlacetoAt Last.  Through this transition, I knew that this would be the song played at my wedding ceremony.

As I listened to the song, tears welled up in my eyes, because it had been so long that I had been waiting for the promise of my husband, that I had almost lost hope.  It was then that I noticed that the chords behind the song sounded eerily likeA Summer Place.  The two songs, while conveying different messages, have the same underlining chords; two shall become one.

From that point on, I no longer heardA Summer Place,I would hearAt Last.

It was Valentine’s Day, 2009.  The previous night I had watched a movie calledLove Actually.  It made me remember my lost love.  I was feeling lonely and the enemy of my soul was speaking to my mind about how long I had been waiting for the promise of my husband and I started to cry.

Here I was, all alone again.  It was Valentine’s Day, and once again, there was no one to hold, cherish, and love me.  After I had finished my pity party, I returned to the movie.  The husband was giving his wife a present--a Joni Mitchell album.  She played one the songs from it,Both Sides Now.

I remembered the song from middle school chorus.  It brought back happy memories.  I watched a bit more and because I liked the score so much, I went to my computer and pulled up the album.  There was a preview button so that I could hear a snippet of each song on the album.  As I was listening to the music and surfing the net, I heard it –At Last!   In the following months, I would hear the tune on numerous occasions:

Sept 14, 2009: As I went to a blog site,At Last came on.

June 9, 2010: At a Bridal Fashion Show the songAt Last was played.

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010: As I was watchingFather of the Bride II,the songAt Lastcame on!  Again, the Father (Father of the Bride – get it?) was telling me that He was sending me my husband,At Last.

Dec 26, 2010: While watching the movie(500) Days of Summer,I heard the songAt Last.

The Lord was telling me thatAt Lastwe were together and that He hadn’t left me nor forgotten me.  He was telling me,“I am your husband and the lover of your soul.”

Ambassador for Christ

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us:  we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

(II Corinthians 5:20)

God has given me tremendous favor with the Tauck Family.  I am the tour director for one of their philanthropic organizations.   They go into urban communities in Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts and pay for students to be in a safe learning program during the summer months.  Then as a reward, they pay for them to take a one week field trip to Annapolis, Washington DC, Gettysburg and Philadelphia.

Fran, the wife of one of the heads of this large organization, invited me to stay at her house before picking up my group in Ithaca.  She and her husband have a place along beautiful Cayuga Lake.  When I arrived in Ithaca, Fran picked me up and took me to their beautiful home.  It looked like a very large craftsman house.  I stayed in their guest bedroom.

On the evening I arrived, they were planning to take me to dinner and to a play.  Before leaving for dinner, we exchanged contact information.  Fran had been told that I had written a book.

“So I hear you wrote a book!” she exclaimed.

“Uh – yes – I did!” I said.

“Well, tell me – what’s it about?” Fran asked.

“The book deals with the supernatural encounters I have had with God – you have to be ready – it’s a different kind of book,” I warned her.

I could tell that she wasn’t expecting me to say that, but being gracious she replied, “That’s nice.  I would like to read it, although I’m really not interested in becoming born again.  I have a friend who just pounds religion down my throat.”

What do I have to lose giving her a copy of my book?  So before going out for the evening, I gave her a copy to read.

We went to a restaurant in town and went to the theatre. We had a wonderful time.  Since they knew I had to meet my group the next morning we made it an early night.

The next morning, after packing and dressing for the day, I went to the kitchen where I saw Fran.

“Good morning,” Fran said.

“Good morning Fran,” I replied, “I’m ready when you are.  I’ll go put my things in your car.”

As she was dropping me off at the recreation center to meet my group, Fran asked about my return plans.

“I’ll pick you up next Friday around 7pm, right?”

“Yes, if we get in any earlier, I’ll call you.”

I left for a week-long tour with theBoys and Girls Club of Ithaca.  It was very hot and humid the whole week.

Fran picked me up when I returned and took me to the airport.  I was exhausted and couldn’t wait to get on the plane and go to sleep.

On the way to the airport, Fran told me how she had completed reading my book!

“You did?” I said, shocked.

“I have to tell you Kathy, once I started, I couldn’t put it down!” she said.

She shared with me the various things she enjoyed about the book, but the main thing I remember about my visit was what she said just before I boarded the plane.

“Do you know what you are?” she said.

“No…,” I answered with uncertainty.

“You‘re an Ambassador of God,” she said

“Thank you,” I said, in awe of her revelation.

The Holy Spirit reminded me of something that had happened during a time of worship in North Carolina. I was in the kitchen when Jaime, a young boy of about fourteen, came over to me and, looking me straight in the eye, said, “I saw the outer court of this temple and the place was huge with wide, wide columns, and rows, rows, and rows of people; they were kneeling.  Then I saw the Father and Son on the throne, and behind the throne were saints, like Abraham and Moses.  Then I saw you on the other side with the ambassadors!”  Looking at me, he said, “You’re an ambassador of God!”

Relocation

Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country.

(Matthew 21:23, NLT)

I was on the highway coming back from North Carolina, when a moving vehicle cut in front of me.  The words “Armstrong Relocation” stared back at me from the back of a United Van Lines truck.  I knew that it was a sign from the Lord.  I was about to move!

I was sitting on my back porch when I heard the Lord speak to my spirit, “You’re moving to Texas first.”

I had been packing for the previous several months.   I was sitting in the middle of my living room in a chair, my computer on top of a folding card table, typing my thoughts.  The house had been emptied of most of my earthly possessions.  He didn’t want me to bring anything except personal essentials such as my clothes.   If it couldn’t fit in the van, it had to go!

I gave most of my furniture to my boys and their wives or friends, and the rest was sold or given to charity organizations.

The Lord hadn't revealed where I was to go after my assignment was finished in Houston.  All I knew is that I was to stay at my parent’s home for a couple of months.  After that I didn’t know when or where He would send me, but one thing was for sure: He would let me know.

I had surrendered my will to the Lord many years prior to that point, and told Him that I would do what He wanted me to do, no matter what the cost.

The Lord knew that when He asked me to do something, I couldn’t do it in my own strength.

…If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ...(1 Peter 4:11, NIV).

As the departure day approached, my emotions escalated.  I had cried so many tears.  It was hard to leave, especially when I said goodbye to my boys.  I hoped I didn’t break down in front of them.  I cried all the way to Georgia and then on the way to Texas.

I stayed two days with my friend, Corrine, who lives in Atlanta.  Then I headed to Houston.  My next assignment was with my parents and the people I would meet while I was there.

The Lord was doing a work in their hearts and mine, and He wanted me to serve them and walk in love, as I was learning to do with other ministers that He had placed in my life.

Leaving my children, family, and friends was bittersweet. I had called Virginiahome for the previous thirty years.

I knew the Lord was leading me into my destiny.  When I had decided to surrender and walk by faith in the Lord, it had been challenging.  In retrospect, however, I was so glad that I had been obedient, because I learned so much along the way.

Abortion

And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him…

(Exodus 1:15, 16)

I heard about a rally to protest the building of an abortion clinic in one of the poorest sections of Houston, specifically targeting the African American and Hispanic communities.

I felt that I was to be at the rally that Friday evening.  I told my friend Angie.  She sent this teaching and revelation she received from the Lord.

Midwives are women who assist and tend to the pregnant woman in the delivery of their babies.  In addition to actually helping to bring the baby into the world, they also decree and declare the birth of the baby. Pharaoh told the Hebrew Midwives to kill all the male babies.

These midwives feared God more than Pharaoh:

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive (Exodus 1:17).

Pharaoh was furious, but when asked why the babies were being delivered alive, the midwives explained to him,

Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them(Exodus 1:19).

Because they were obedient God blessed them!

Therefore God dealt well with the midwives:  and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.  And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses (Exodus 1:20-21).

When I arrived at the rally later that evening, Lou Engle, a well known Christian leader, was the moderator.  He told the crowd words they weren’t expecting!  He stated what the Lord gave John Piper:

Wave 1:  Catholics say NO to abortion.

Wave 2: Evangelicals flood the land with

Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

Wave 3:  Blacks and Latinos bring it down.”

Wow!

I looked to see the faces of my Anglo brothers and sisters.  They were in shock.  They were expected to lead movements.  Now God had spoken!

The Lord had showed me before I left Virginia that the “eyes” had to be restored to the church and it would be through the people of color.  He told me I was an “eye” and I was to be like a Harriet Tubman and like the Underground Railroad.

The conductors of the “railroad” church will be people who have been in rough places; people who don’t mind if they get recognition of not just as long as freedom in Jesus Christ is reached.

That evening the Holy Spirit spoke:

You’ll be interviewed tomorrow.

That morning I left my mom and dad’s home and went to the gathering for this historic march.  News cameras were everywhere.  A helicopter was circling overhead.  This is to be a peaceful march; no singing, no chanting, no protesting...a silent March.

Well, about ten minutes from the time I got there a reporter came up and asked if I could be interviewed.

“Sure,” I responded, smiling.

She then lunged, full force, with questions.

“Why are YOU against the women who want to have an abortion?”  I smiled.  God had already given me what I was to tell her.

“We’re not against the women who have abortions, matter of fact I have had an abortion.”

She was expecting that response.

“I was told it is a blob and it’s not it is a child and I don’t want that spirit of murder to come on them.”

You see the Hebrew midwives were told to “kill” the male children of the Hebrew mothers....”

She’s Jewish and she’s had an abortion,the Holy Spirit revealed to me about this reporter.

I continued, “...yet, they didn’t kill the children because they feared God versus fearing man.”

The reporter asked, “Why are they targeting the Black and Hispanic neighborhood?”

“Because these children will be prophets of God and that spirit wants to kill the prophets!”  I said boldly.

The woman looked at me, clearly astonished. She didn’t know what else to say except, “Thank you for your time and input.” She turned around and walked back to the news truck.

Jesus Wept

It was after this experience that I was studying the book of John.  I read the story of Lazarus’ resurrection, where Mary and Martha asked Jesus to come to Bethany because their brother was dying.

Jesus told them that He would come.  They thought He should have come when they called Him, but He couldn’t go until the Father told Him to go. He waited four days.

This intrigued me.  Why did He wait four days?  Later that evening God would give me the answer through a Bible study I went to at a friend’s house.  Linda attended one of the churches I went to while in Houston.  Linda had a very nice house and there were about five ladies present.  Well, about half way through our meeting, they talked about the passage where Jesus waited four days prior to going to Bethany.

One woman spoke up, “I know that in Jewish culture the body can still be revived if it has been dead less than four days.  After four days they believe the spirit can’t return!”

Then it hit me: that was the answer!  That’s why Father had Jesus wait, because Jesus and He both knew that Lazarus was going to be resurrected!

When Jesus got there, the people who had come to meet him were crying and wailing!  Jesus wasn’t moved to cry.  He was on a mission.  He was moved deeply by what He was coming against – Death himself!

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled  (John 11:33).

But it wasn’t until he saw where Lazarus was that the revelation of the tomb He was going to be laid in was manifested to him!

And said, Where have ye laid him?  They said unto him, Lord, come and see. He saw His future and the man Jesus started to cry. Jesus wept(John 11:34,35).

The Jews thought he was weeping over Lazarus. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! (John 11:36).

Jesus was shown His future.  I saw this so clearly after the episode at the airport.  When we walk on this earth, Father God prepares us when He wants to reveal something to us.  We need to learn from whatever He shows us!

Jesus, the earthly man, was shownHistomb! He was overwhelmed by whatHe had to do!

So many of the scriptures we read we think are only for us to know and apply via our sense knowledge.  When you see Jesus going through something, however, it is for us to grasp that we too are going to have to go through the same process to reach our God given destiny.

Spying Out the Land

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan...

(Numbers 13:1-2)

It was the summer of 2010, and I was assigned to chaperone twelve students in a theater and arts program conducted by a presidential program.  It was to be held on the campus of UCLA.

Students attending would have access to talk to and meet directors, actors, producers, directors of photography and much more. They would work on a five minute film, which they would have to shoot, edit, and produce.

I had been in contact with thousands of students over the years.  The Lord had given me tremendous favor with them.  The Lord let me know that among the students I would lead into Washington DC would be a future President of the United States; others would be future members of Congress or the Supreme Court.  Now I felt the Lord was expanding my territory of influence to those called to the film and arts industry.

I was volunteering and I chose this over being paid for another program within the same organization but in a different role.

I asked myself,‘if money wasn’t the issue Kathy would you take it?’ My answer was “yes.”  So that settled it. I had peace about accepting this assignment despite my need for the money, since I felt the Lord leading me to do so.  I was going to trust God for my finances.

This decision created a created a buzz throughout the organization.  Someone asked “Why is Kathy taking a non paid assignment versus one that will give her lots of money?” someone asked.  When you walk by faith, it rarely makes sense.

When the plane landed at LAX, I felt the overwhelming presence of God.  I heard in my spirit"you're here!"  I gathered my luggage and met the driver at the baggage claim.

Driving along Wilshire Boulevard and looking out of the taxi window, I felt such an excitement coming onto the UCLA campus.  My roommate, another chaperone, was sound asleep.  I tiptoed around getting ready for bed and tried not to wake her as set my alarm and slipped into bed.

The next morning, I met my students.  I had twelve who had come from all over the United States and two from other countries.  These twelve high school students all had a desire to be in film and/or theatre.

After our morning meeting we loaded on the motor coach and went to the New York Film Academy to learn about directing, screenwriting, and producing.  Each group would direct, edit, and show a five minute movie at the end of the program to the other students at the end of the program.  There were about one hundred participants in this session.

When we arrived, we were told to go get our T-shirts.  As I was walking around the corner I saw the New York Film Academy poster and stopped dead in my tracks. ‘This is the film school David told me about seven years ago’, I realized.

Wow!  It was the Lord prompting him to tell me about this school.  I never believed in a hundred years that I would be here!  What made it even “cooler” was that I could listen to what the students were being taught and not have to pay for it!  Praise the Lord!

While I was out there I also was able to pray with a Hollywood director who was one of the teachers for the students.

The director told the students as we were on the back-lot of Universal Studios, with trams full of tourist watching us, “You are so lucky!  You’re the first film crew to film on the new back-lot of Universal Studios.  Steve Spielberg built this.  Isn’t this exciting?!”

I just laughed and said to myself,You are so strategic, God. You have me here at this ‘birthing.’

A few days later we went to the Stella Adler acting school for a morning of improvisation.  After we had finished, we walked down the street to see the handprints outside of Grumman’s Chinese Theater and also visited the famed Hollywood Walk of Fame.

We had lunch and boarded the bus to go on a tour of Hollywood. As we were on our way to visit the Observatory at Griffith Park to see the “Hollywood” sign, the Lord spoke to me,“You’re going to come back and live here”

What?  Who me?

I looked around and realized that we were on Franklin Street and turning left on Los Feliz Avenue.  I saw apartments and then big houses and thought,No it couldn't be.  What is this place?  Where am I?

Later I looked at a map of Los Angeles and realized that the area that the Spirit spoke to me is considered part of “Hollywood!”

Lord, do You want me to come and live here?

I thought about this later when I was gathering my thoughts. It was then that the Holy Spirit reminded me of what the Lord had said years earlier, when I was on a motor coach and it was passing Paramount Studios.

“You’re going to come back and work here.”

I was still trying to wrap my head around what the Holy Spirit had said when we arrived at Griffith Park.

“Take pictures of the sign, go to the Observatory, and meet me back here in twenty minutes,” I told my group.

I walked over to the overlook to view Los Angeles. “Beautiful view,” I commented.  I turned and looked through the canyon before me and then I saw it: the world famous Hollywood sign.

I felt led to make a declaration.  “Open up your mouth Ariel,” I told myself.

“Jesus is Lord over Hollywood!”  I finally shouted out.  My group was in the observatory and other tourists were around, but I didn’t care; I did what the Lord wanted me to do.

Then the Holy Spirit said, “Look down at your shirt.”  I looked at the shirt I had bought at the UCLA bookstore.  It was my souvenir.  It was a T-shirt with the letters, “UCLA.”

“What does it say?” the Holy Spirit asked me.

“UCLA,” I responded.

Yes,the Holy Spirit declared, YOU SEE L.A.!

Wow!  It all became clear.  I had been sent to spy out the land, similar to the spies during the days of Moses.

The Holy Spirit had asked me,Can it be taken?

It brought to mind in the Bible when Moses sent 12 spies and only two came back with a good report.

Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to...They left and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshkol and explored it. Taking with them some of the fruit of the land, they brought it down to us and reported, “It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us”(Deuteronomy1:22-23).

Caleb and Joshua came back with a good report and because of that, only they could enter in:

You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will beCalebson of Jephunneh andJoshuason of Nun(Numbers 14:30).

Joshua

But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land.

(Numbers 14:24, NLT)

“Yes Lord we can take it!” I declared.  It was time to get ready to go in and possess the land for the Kingdom of our Lord!

Holy Spirit then brought to my mind a word that the Lord had given me over 16 years earlier.  I didn't understand the prophetic ministry at the time, and it happened when a group of us went to see what was called “the Toronto Blessing,” which was a major move of God where people came from all over the world.

It was when we were crossing the Canadian border and re-entering the US that I had this strong impression that I should just speak it out.

“God is going to make movies in Hollywood and people are going to get saved in their seats!”

Everyone seemed to know that this must be the Lord, because I didn’t think prophetically and wasn’t interested in making movies or going to Hollywood!

So here I was, in the capital of the movie and entertainment industry, and God was telling me that I was going to live and work here!

Phoenix

I returned to Texas after being in Los Angeles.  I thought about the revelation that the Lord had given me concerning moving to California.    Upon waking one morning I was again reminded of the theme song from the television sitcom,The Beverly Hillbillies, upon waking one morning.  Two months prior I had been spoken to prophetically by a minister in Houston, “I see you in California”; it was now evident that Hollywood was the “place I ought to be.”

I remember smiling, because I had told my sister that I kept thinking of California.  The Lord had now given me the exact location:  Hollywood.  Now it was just a matter of timing; whenever the Lord wanted me to go, I would be ready.

One day I was looking on the computer to inquire about Lance Wallnau.  His powerful teachings included references to the spheres of influence that the Church should be taking at this time.  I wanted to see where he was teaching.  I found out that he would be speaking at the first Christian Movie Festival being held in Phoenix, Arizona.

I went to XP media website and was looking through the promotional videos when I came across a video by Julie Meyer.  She was singing and prophesying.  At the end of the message she said,“And God is saying that He will bring to Hollywood blockbuster movies which will lead people to salvation while they are still in their seats!”

That is exactly what the Lord had showed me in 1994! My mind was reeling.

In August, I was in Phoenix attending the first Christian Film Festival.  The Lord told me it was time to move, specifically to Hollywood, or what I prophetically call Holy-wood.

He said, also through a personal prophesy that:

I will be sending you people – this is people to people.  Did I not call you the new Oprah (OHpra) OpenHeaven...pray!  Release my voice. I've called you to take the airways. I've called you to knock down strongholds; I've called you to be my voice in a place of darkness.

The Lord said that I was to move to Los Angeles in October!

Later that morning, I attended a workshop.  When I got up to go, a young lady who looked like a starlet pointed at me and prophesied.  God used her to confirm His words to me, particularly when she said, “…and you’re going to Holy...Holy...Holywood!”

California

“California is the place you ought to be

So they loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly”

Lyrics fromthe Beverly Hillbillies theme song

When I left Houston my mother went with me as far as El Paso, Texas, where my brother and his family lived.  My mother then flew back to Houston while I headed to California.

The Lord told me to head to Hollywood afterthe Feast of Tabernacles.  So, true to the theme song ofThe Beverly Hillbillies, I “loaded up the truck and I moved to,” Hollywood.

I knew where I was to look for my apartment but first I had to get my bearing and have a roof over my head, so I stayed at my mentor’s home for about three weeks.  She was truly a blessing from God: food, shelter, and other provisions were freely given; even after I got my own place she continued to bless me.  I can't wait to bless all of those who have given so much to see this destiny of mine birthed!

I met a neighbor of hers who told me about several groups of Christians.  She wanted to know if I would like to go to some of these gatherings.

“Yes – that would be so cool!” I told her.

We left that evening to go to a gathering of believers in the movie business.  Artists, stage managers, actors, writers, and others associated with the industry were there. There was this long tablecloth on the table, which was decorated with flowers in a vase and candles.  People were sitting around talking and there was food everywhere.

We took communion where you could have grape juice or real wine; after all, it’s California – wine country!

After dinner and fellowship we adjourned to the adjacent room.  There were about six couches, the majority composed of sections.  Each of them faced a small band area.  The couches had large pillows and throws draped on them.  Imagine a very large family room. There were about 35 people.  We all worshipped the Lord.  They even had several drums which you could play.  A woman got up to teach out of the book of Matthew.  She commented that it was the last night of teaching from Matthew.  They had been teaching from Matthew for two and a half years!

Everyone participated.  I liked that.  It was a combination of teaching and sharing.  The lesson was about the Great Commission, and how it applied to the individual believer; what did Jesus mean when He said,Go and make disciples of all nations? What does that look like?

I couldn't help but think that here in L.A. I had been to two services where the emphasis was on Jesus, fellowship, community, and love!   In the midst of so much against the Church here in media capital, there were bright lights shining.  They don't look like regular church goers, but oh how they loved Jesus!  It reminded me of what the early church must have looked like.

It was Sunday and I traveled to West Hollywood to attend a church held inside a movie theater.  The sign outside said, “Party inside!”   It was there that I met a woman who had been sent to LA five years earlier and was a teacher.

We decided to go to get coffee at the nearby Starbucks.  Stepping outside we turned to walk on the sidewalk up the street when we encountered a perfect circle floating in mid air!

It was what you would call a cloudy orb.  It was moving through the air.  We looked at each other and then at the orb as it floated by us.

We got up close to make sure that it was not the fluff off of dandelions.  We were satisfied and it kept on floating.  Finally, it hit a piece of metal, and puff – it was gone!

Warlock

…your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about…”(I Peter 5:8)

I was asked to attend what was called a “Christian contemplative prayer group.”  I knew that the person who asked me to attend was a Christian, and yet I had an uneasy feeling about the invitation.

‘Huh...this should be interesting’  I thought.  ‘I’ve never been to a Christian contemplative group...probably a lot of prayer.’

Sarah and I were getting to know each other better.  She was from Sierra Leone and was still somewhat new to the supernatural encounters that I frequently talked about.  She was driving to where the meeting was to be held.  The house was situated on a hill in a section of town called Echo Park.  We climbed the steps and entered the house.

There were already about five people there sitting on the couches in the living room.  I saw Sarah’s friend, a man I had met at another church.  Paul, the host, was sitting on one of the couches.  Before him was a low table with a gong in the middle. It was situated before him so that it was within his reach.  He acknowledged us and motioned for us to sit down.  I sat on a chair a little away from the group, next to the bookcase and next to the door.  Sarah went over and sat next to him.

“We are reading the writings of ___,” he said.  I had never heard of the author.

A young Indian man started to read and then handed the book to me.

“Please – read a page and pass it on,” Paul said.

I read a few passages and handed it to the person on my left.  This was repeated until each person had a chance to read from this book.  Paul, the leader, then leaned over, took the wooden dowel, and hit the gong.

“Goooonnnnnngggg!” It seemed that everyone knew what to do but me.  They had their eyes closed and looked like they were meditating.

“Focus on your thoughts for the next twenty minutes,” he said.

Twenty minutes; are you kidding me?

Well – I was here, so I decided to use the time to focus on God.  I closed my eyes and prayed in the Spirit.

Philippians 4:8, came to my mind: Whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are pure...think on these things.” After twenty minutes he asked everyone to open their eyes and to share what revelation they had received.

While they were sharing, I looked around the room.  There was a Caesar Chavez poster.  I looked past Paul and saw a kitchen which had notes on the kitchen cabinets.  This showed me that many people were living there and that they had house rules.

Then I looked at the bookcase next to me.  Many books were on the shelves.  I saw mystery books and self help books.  Then I saw what I needed to see.

“Oh, Tolle Eckhart,” I said.

New Age,I thought,or something else, but definitely not Jesus!

Then they asked me to share.  I shot up a quick prayer asking God to show me what He wanted me to share.

“Well, I read the works of this writer but it is not reality.  I know the reality of the afterlife.  I went to Hell!”  I declared.

I began sharing my testimony of going to Hell and being brought back and experiencing of the Godhead there.  Everyone was silent!

“Well, that’s your interpretation.”

He just glossed over my account.  “Angie what happened with you?”

Others shifted in their seats.  They really didn’t know what to say to me.  It didn’t matter because I had to release it out of obedience, and their spirits would have to answer to the truth I had shared.

Paul announced, “We’ll take a ten minute break.  You can use the bathroom, get some water, or talk.”

I stayed in my chair.  I pretended to look for something in my purse.  I heard two of the men talking.  “It’s people like her...so fundamental...” They talked so I could hear them, but I just smiled a little to myself and realized that the arrow hit its mark!

They continued and I stepped outside to make a call when I noticed people were leaving.  By the time I finished with my phone calls I walked in and the only persons left were Sarah and Paul.  He looked and spoke to me in a soft, professorial, and yet condescending tone.

“You know Kathy, Jesus said that many would come to Him and say, “Lord, Lord, and He will say to them ‘Depart from me – I know you not.’”

I smiled. ‘The devil is so stupid, he gives me the exact weapon to fight him with,” I thought.

Matching my tone of voice to imitate his, I looked him straight in the eyes and said, “You’re right! Many will come thinking they are doing the work of the Lord and he will say depart from me becauseI don’t know you!”

Then I added, “You can call this a Christian contemplative group all you want; but when you don’t exalt Christ and His teachings, you are just mystics.  You need to take Christ’s name off this gathering because He is nowhere in this place.”

I rose and told Sarah, “I’ll meet you outside in the car.”  Sarah looked uncomfortable.

“Sure, I’ll be out in a couple of minutes,” she said worriedly.  Ten minutes passed.  When she got in the car she said, “I don’t know what happened but I’ve never seen Paul so mad!”

I told her, “These people are not Christians.  They try to take the name of Christ and deceive people into thinking they are Christians.”

When we got back to the apartments, I said my goodnights to her and went inside to my mentor’s home, which was next to Sarah’s.

I made my bed and went off to sleep.  Later that night I woke up and started to pray in tongues, violently!  I felt angels everywhere swarming around me.  I could feel them and I felt calm and protected.

It was then I heard a loud voice outside.  It was a man’s voice.  He was yelling at the top of his lungs. I heard him tell me what Satan was going to do to me.  There were expletives and there was much shouting!  Although my body and mind were calm, my heart was racing!  I heard him, but it was muffled!

Who is that Lord?

A warlock,He said.Go back to sleep...don’t be afraid.

With that, I drifted back to sleep undisturbed.

“…your adversary, the devil,as a roaring lion,walketh about…”(I Peter 5:8)

ANGELS

One particular day I came home and sat down in the beautiful chair the Lord had given me.  A designer chair, it was expertly upholstered with a high back and gentle curves in the legs, the seat, and the back.  It was my first purchase for my new home.  I looked down on the floor.

“What is this?” I said to myself.  I reached down and picked up a feather! Where did this come from?I wondered.

The Holy Spirit reminded me of the first feather, golden in hue, which I received after the Single Parent Conference in 2008.

But it didn’t end with that one feather; I found more!  Almost each day I would find a feather in a different place in my studio apartment.  Usually it was situated where I had spent most of my time sleeping, worshipping the Lord, or reading my Bible.

I truly believe that it was the Lord giving me comfort and confirmation that I was where I needed to be.

One day while I was on the phone, I turned my head and looked down at my bare left arm and there was a feather!

“Los Angeles” is the English translation of the Spanish “the angels,” and for a moment in my journey, God was giving me clear evidence of His protection and provision – by even sending angel feathers!

Hollywood

“It was the divine call that brought me from Houston, Texas to Los Angeles.”

William J. Seymour

When I was told to move to Hollywood by the Lord, I was forewarned that “all Hell would break loose,” and like others who follow the Lord, didn’t really know what was coming.  We are warned so that when it happens, we won’t “faint away from the onslaught of the enemy’s malice against us,” as Lance Wallnau so eloquently puts it.

I was sitting in my green leaf chair.  I had a full size inflatable bed and a bookcase I bought from the Salvation Army.  I had some other items that Apostle Esi had given me; other than that my studio apartment here in Hollywood was pretty austere.

I had been job searching. I would go down the block to the corner Starbucks and connect to their free Wi-Fi.  I uploaded and sent out many resumes.  I contacted and registered with many temp companies.   I had no callbacks.

On top of this I also was without heat!  In Los Angeles in the fall and winter it gets cold at night although it remains relatively warm during the day.

Now I was in a studio apartment, with no job and not enough rent for the following month.  But this one thing I knew:God told me to move here and live in this neighborhood.

“Did God really say to move or was that you?” the enemy taunted me.

I knew that I personally didn’t think in a million years that I would be living in Hollywood, yet here I was.  I didn’t know anyone in the film industry out here, nor did I have a desire to be out here.  But God had called me here!

Yes I’ve visited California, particularly Los Angeles before.  I do love the weather, but to move out here on faith...well let’s just say what the kids today say, “That’s not how I roll!”

That November I moved into my studio apartment and I heard the Lord say, “Blog Radio.”

“What is that Lord?” I asked.

So when I went to Starbucks and I Googled “Blog Talk,” and found out that you can actually host a show on the internet through the media of Blog Talk Radio!

I saw that hosting a thirty minute show was free, so I knew I was to go on the radio.  I put up my site, “In My Father’s House,” and scheduled my first broadcast.

When I finished putting up my site I went to a site where I found this strong prophet of God.  I called in and the word for me was that I “have to trust the Lord, because He put you there and you just have to trust Him!”

Days went by and I was still optimistic that money would come through whatever method God wanted to do.  I just kept searching for a job.  At the end of the month I did not have all the money needed for the next month’s rent and I was scared!

I was so overwhelmed with emotions and fear that I went over to my only “beloved” chair.

I cried out, “Lord you gave me this chair, I know I’m to be here but God I don’t understand what is happening; where is the money Lord?”  I cried out.

Pray in tongues until you get something. I thought to myself.

I prayed so hard that my whole body shook!  The shaking was so violent and my emotions were so strong; I didn’t know when I fell asleep.

The next morning the Lord told me,“Write a letter to the Landlord!”

“What am I to say Lord?”

Hedownloaded all the injustices that had happened during the month.  He told me to document everything that happened in a systematic way and to ask for money off the rent.

After I wrote the letter I walked outside and as I was walking to the landlord’s office Ifelthow Martin Luther felt when he nailed the 95 injustices on the church door!  It wasn’t just about me, others had cried out to God!

Apparently there were others in the complex who had asked for things and been denied; the Lord was using me to come up against that social injustice spirit that I have learned permeates Los Angeles.

Clarence

“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.”

(Luke 10:33, 34)

There are tens of thousands of homeless people in Los Angeles.  You see them everywhere.  It is overwhelming at times.

One night after work, I heard that the annual Christmas parade was going on in Hollywood, so I went to Hollywood Boulevard and found a parking space along the backside of the parade route.

I saw people getting in position for the parade.  Moms with their children were sitting on the sidewalk curbs and young people were smoking cigarettes trying to look cool.  There was a mixed bag of people.

It was getting really crowded because the parade was to start soon.  I saw that all the park benches were already filled with people.  I did spot one that only had one man sitting on the park bench.  When I went up to the man I asked, “Can I sit down here?” motioning to the empty space beside him.

“Sure you can – but not those people,” he said looking off in the distance.

Who is he referring to?

I cautiously sat down and introduced myself.

“My name is Kathy – and yours?”

“Clarence – yes my name’s Clarence Burke,” he said proudly.

“Nice to meet you Clarence,” I responded.

I noticed that he was disheveled and looked like he hadn’t taken a bath in a few days, yet he still looked dignified.  He was drinking coffee. He then proceeded to tell me that the parade would start soon.  We talked about Hollywood and living in LA.

He suddenly interjected, “My mother died a few months ago!”  I was taken off guard by his candor.

“Clarence I’m so sorry to hear that,”

I listened while he talked about how important his mother was to him and how he missed her so.  She had supported him when he moved to Los Angeles and worked in the movie industry during the sixties.  When he fell on hard times, she would have an encouraging word for him.

“Would you like for me to pray with you, Clarence?”

“Yes – thank you,” he said.

I prayed for God to heal his heart and some other things he mentioned.

“Hey Clarence, where did you get the coffee?”  I asked, hoping he would tell me where to find a nice cup of the hot beverage on a cold night here in Los Angeles.

“Oh, I got this at the shelter over there,” he said, pointing down the street somewhere.  “But you can get some at that place over there!” pointing down the street to a small cafe from where we were sitting.

“Thank you – can you save my seat?”

“Sure, sure,” he reassured me, “nobody will get your seat.”

Walking to the taco place I was thinking about how I felt almost homeless like Clarence because I didn’t have any money – well just a little and really not sure if I have enough for coffee.

I waited in line while everyone was buying tacos, burritos, plates of food, coffee.  A feast!

I was hoping I could get some coffee and maybe find in my purse enough money to buy one small taco!

I pushed back the tears; I had never been this broke and never walked this path before – I didn’t know whether I would be able to stay at my apartment or whether I could afford food.  No--I mustn’t think this way.God called me here and He would provide.

When I returned and sat down next to Clarence, I glanced up and watched as a middle aged couple looked down at me as if to say, “Why are you talking to that man?”

I don’t know what rose up inside of me, but I greeted them with a look as if to say, “What areyoulooking at.  He’s a human being too!

I turned back to Clarence.  “Do you want some of my taco?”  I asked.

“Yes, yes. Thank you,” he said as I held out the taco; he took a large portion of it.

Oh well I didn’t really need to eat anyway,I thought as I smiled inwardly.

I continued to talk to Clarence but something happened when I was least expecting it; I had never experienced anything like it before: it was as if Jesus was talking to Clarence, not me!

I was watching Jesus take over and minister to this man on the park bench during Christmas time; a man who was lonely and needed a friend and human connection. Jesus came and manifested Himself to him.  I was reminded of the scripture,“…It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me...”(Galatians 2:20).

Marked Man

“My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

Psalm 84:1-3

I was at the Apple Store in West Hollywood.  I had already signed up for a year’s personal assistance when I purchased my computer while in Texas.  This was to help me in my goal to do the things the Lord wanted me to do, including making video on the internet.  I walked upstairs at the Grove, a beautiful, upscale shopping environment, and I looked around, I noticed an abundance of people, young and old, tattooed and un-tattooed.   I had lived here for two months and I had seen things that I hadn’t seen before.  I thought I had seen most everything and all types of self expressions.

I saw this man walking toward the area where I sat.  He was a handsome man with a lot of tattoos.  When he got closer I saw tattoos that were very graphic pornographic.  They were etched in his skin and showed painted blood coming out of private parts.

I hate to admit it, but my first reaction was one of disgust. I thought,Ooh!  How perverse is that?  I think I prayed in my Heavenly language because I didn’t know what else to do.

Three weeks earlier the Lord gave me a job at Ross Department store on Sunset Boulevard.    I was working at Ross’s Department Store where now the Lord has shown me was the place he has placed me to minister to the people that he will send me.

Now three weeks later while working at the cash register,  I heard a man’s voice ask me a question.  I turned around and there he was...the man withthosetattoos!”

“Can you help me” he asked. Something in his question took me by surprise.

The question he posed was on two levels. Naturally, can I help him find what he was looking for and then on the spiritual level “can you help me” was the cry of his heart.

I answered him yet I was also talking to Father“Oh my God what do you want me to do? I know you sent him to me.”

I continued checking out the customer in front of me but my mind was trying to wrap my head around why God was sending this man to me!  I knew he was going to be at my register and I knew I had to make a decision – would I love him like the Father wanted me to!

A few minutes later, he came to me and asked “can you ring me up?”

“Sir, I would like to help you... but the line is over there,” I said pointing to the line of over ten people waiting to finish their Christmas shopping and get out of the store.  I have seen people get ugly and rude for those who got in front of them in line to check out.

“Look,” he said, “they don’t see me!”  Again, on two levels, I looked.  Not one person was even glancing toward our direction

“I’ll take you, of course,” I said.  As I started to ring up his items, I looked up at him.  “I saw you three weeks ago.”  He looked perplexed, and I continued.

“I saw you in the Apple store in West Hollywood, but more important, the Father has seen you!’

He grabbed his chest and gasped!

“He wants to heal you!” I said, while ringing up his items and ministering to him at the same time.

“Can I pray for you?” I inquired as I was moving my hands to place them on his hands.

“No one has ever prayed for me!” He exclaimed!  “Okay,” he said softly.  He started to cry but tried to keep his composure.

A voice in my head said,He has AIDS.  I knew it was Satan trying to stop what God wanted to happen here.

I touched his hand, regardless of Satan’s scare tactic.  You see, God had made sure that I was at the last cash register where no one could see what would happen that day.

God reaches those who we the church deem unapproachable, lost, and beyond hope.  Jesus showed me that He died for the lost, and that this man’s tattooed body was a visible expression of his story of abuse, disease, hopelessness; it revealed the cry of the broken.

Pentecost/Shavuot

From the day after the Sabbath—the day you bring the bundle of grain to be lifted up as a special offering—count off seven full weeks. Keep counting until the day after the seventh Sabbath, fifty days later. Then present an offering of new grain to the LORD.

(Leviticus 23:15, 16)

My job was in the jewelry district, which is composed primarily of Jewish businessmen.  I was working at a building on 5th and Broadway near Pershing Square.  It was a temporary assignment that the Lord had given me while I was working for the City of Los Angeles.

It was Shavuot, also known as Pentecost, one of thefeast days of the Lord. It is mentioned in the Torah and celebrated 50 days after Passover.  After Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, He told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they had been filled with power from above (Luke 24:49).  In obedience to Jesus’ command, His disciples waited in what was known as the “Upper Room.”

On the day of Pentecost, Jesus fulfilled His promise.  The Holy Spirit was first poured out on the early Church, giving them power to be witnesses for the Lord.  We read about this experience in the second chapter of Acts:

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from Heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:1-4, NIV).

Note that when the power came, there was anoise like a “violent wind” from the Upper Room.  The Holy Spirit exploded upon them with power, revelation, and God's glory!  Hallelujah!

Since Shavuot is one of the high holidays of Judaism, everything was pretty much closed, except where I worked.

Late in the evening, there was a loud boom.  People were panicking and leaving the building.  I looked at my boss and she looked at me and smiled.

She often would tell me, “I wish you could stay,” (the Lord had revealed to me that I would only be working there a few weeks). She said, “I know you were sent by God to this agency.”

We were both believers, and knew that God had protected everyone, so rather than be afraid, we just smiled!  Since it was Pentecost, and it was the jewelry district, an area filled with observant Jews, we knew that this was an attack.   In my dual role as an intercessor, I knew that there was more than one reason why I was assigned to this agency.  God’s protection was upon us:He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty     (Psalm 91:1).

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FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT OF THE INCIDENT FROM THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARMENT INCLUDING THE SPECIFICS OF THE EXPLOSION AT 5TH AND BROADWAY.

Date: Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 4:48 PM

Subject: Explosion at Los Angeles, CA

W 5th St & Frank Ct - Roads closed due to an underground electrical vault explosion in the area.

Within 0.569 miles SW of City Hall on 200 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Incident Location:

232 W 5th St

Los Angeles, CA, 90013-2004

United States

Incident: Fire

Incident Type: Explosion

Severity: Minor

When this Happened: 06/08/2011 07:46 PM EDT (06/08/2011 04:46 PM PDT)

Description:

An underground electrical vault explosion has been reported in the area. Roads in the immediate area have been closed.  There are no initial reports of power outages or injuries.

Mocha

I was getting my morning exercise.  Stepping out from my apartment building in Hollywood on an overcast morning, I put on my earphones and began to soak[23], listening to “How He loves Me,” from theWe Cry Outalbum byJesus Culture.

When I stepped outside of my apartment building, it reminded me of the mornings I had spent in Paris.  I walked to the corner and turned right on Western Avenue. Walking down the street, I passed an electrical box in the parking lot of the liquor store, next to a Baskin and Robbins.  It had graffiti all over it.

The reality of the moment hit me: I was in the city – my adopted home of Los Angeles, a city orphans and homeless.[24]  Despite the desperation, I had come to love LA!

As I was going up the hill to cross over Franklin on my way to Los Feliz Boulevard, I noticed a young skinny black girl on the pay phone.  She had a tank top and a micro mini skirt; her black bra was very evident.  Her wig was disheveled; she was a prostitute.

Walking by the young woman, I started to intercede for her.  I knew in my journey with the Lord there are times when He would have me stop and talk to someone; other times I would just pray for the individual.  I sensed that this was a time to pray.

I walked further than I had on prior days; I was getting back into shape.  I wanted to get off the prescription drugs that were a direct result of my weight and eating habits.  On this particular day, I felt good.

The previous night was another story.  I knew that things were pulled out of my life by the roots.  The Lord had done a profound work in my life.  Low self esteem, rejection, and words spoken over me that made me feel as if I wasn’t good enough had been expunged from my life.

I knew that something wasn’t right when I had vomited up all those insecurities, venom, and suspicions on a man whom I loved, and felt loved me.  I cried out, “Lord help me – I don’t like what I see.”

Apostle Esi said the following in an article she wrote:

When we react without thinking to whatever situation that is presented, we are operating on emotions.  We will never be effective if we are driven by emotions.  Sometimes we need to stop, take notice of the situation, pray for wisdom and then proceed or not, according to whatever the Lord would like for us to do.

My mentor Apostle Esi called last night and gave me a strong word from the Lord about my emotions and that he wanted to deliver me.  As she was speaking, I started to cry because the Lord was ministering to me. I knew that what she was telling me was the truth.

I hung up from her and sat in my chair and cried...and cried...and cried.  I then felt pain in the top of my head.  It was like something was coming out of my head.

When I later spoke to Beth and told her this she exclaimed, “He pulled up the roots.  The tentacles went all the way down to the heart!”

I realized that the head is where we have roots – our hair roots and “roots” of the enemy lodged.  The battlefield is in the mind, and his thoughts are planted in the head.

Seeds take root and go deep, in my case straight into my heart.  It wasn’t until my heart got involved that the roots of rejection, suspicion, woundedness, jealousy, and low self esteem manifested, because they were wrapped around my heart.  I knew I had been delivered!

Thinking of this made me praise the Lord even more.  I knew that He had me and that he loved me so.

As I was walking back home, I saw her.  This time she was sitting on the ledge in front of the liquor store.  I stopped.

“Hi, my name is Kathy and yours?”

“Mocha,” she said.

“Oh that is pretty name.  Mocha what are you doing here?”

“She was very blunt.  “I’m a prostitute and I’m waiting for my pimp.”

“Mocha, do you know the Lord?”  I asked.

“Yes, I also was baptized,” she replied.

Here she is, a child of God, lost.

“Girl...you know that God is talking to you...you aren’t staying in Satan’s camp.  How long have you been on the streets?”

“Since I was eighteen when I was turned out ...now I’m twenty.”

She told me how she was waiting for her pimp, and how he took her phone so that she had to use the pay phone.

“He’s coming – I guess soon – I really don’t know when he will come to get me.”

“Can I take you somewhere?”

“No – I’ll wait for him.”

“You’re in love with him?’

“Yes.”

“Honey – Jesus loves you! Any man that loves you would not have you on the streets so other men could have you.”  I paused.

“Mocha, what is your real name”

“Jasmine.”

“Jasmine, can I pray for you?”

I began to pray for Jasmine.  I took authority over Satan’s grip on her and came against all form of darkness.

“What were you doing before you were turned out?”

“I was in school to be a nurse.”

On hearing this, the Spirit of God rose up in me.  I was indignant about what the devil had done, and I decreed the following over her: “You are still going to be a nurse!  You know that Satan wants to steal your dreams and he wants to kill you!”

I wanted her to understand.  “Girl, someone is praying for you.”

I then told her how I had prayed for my son when he was out on the streets.  That when he was in mortal danger was the exact time God had me praying for him.

“Jasmine, what can I do for you now?” I asked.

“Do you have a jacket I can wear? I’m freezing.”

“Sure; I’ll be right back.”

I walked to my apartment all the while thanking the Lord for having me stop and talk to Jasmine.  I shot up a prayer, “Lord, show me what I’m to do next.”

I went inside my apartment and to my closet.  I looked on the shelf.  “No this is too big for her. Maybe I’ll give her a warm sweater...”  It was then I looked on the hanger below and smiled.

A couple of days earlier, at a small low cost store near the99c Store, I noticed the various clearance items.  I saw this small sweatshirt type of jacket with hearts and flowers along the edge; it was a muted beige/khaki green color.

“How cute,” I remembered commenting.  Although it was small I thought,Well maybe when I lose weight I can fit it or maybe it is for Leslie.  She was small.

Now I realized why I bought it: it was for Jasmine!  I grabbed it off the hanger and went to the kitchen and got a plum, an orange, and some cherries.  I then picked up my card and felt led to give her one of my feathers.

I walked back to where I left her.

“Here put on this one,” I said as I handed her the jacket.  She zipped it up – it fit her perfectly!

“I have to tell you that I bought this jacket a few days ago and really didn’t understand why.  It’s too little for me and well, I thought I would give it to my spiritual daughter, but I see now God had it for you!”

“I’m really small and it fits me.”

“Look into the pocket,” I told her.  She pulled out my business card.

“Now put that somewhere where he won’t find it – matter of fact put it in your bra.”  She laughed.

After she had followed my advice I added, “Now I put something else in that pocket.”  She looked and pulled out the feather I had put in.

“Los Angeles is the city of angels, and this is one of the feathers the Lord gave me when I was having a rough time here.

“This is now your feather.  Know that there are angels around you.  Don’t forget that God loves you!”  She thanked me as she reached into the other pocket.

“That is something for you to eat – a plum and an orange.”

As I hugged her goodbye I said, “Jasmine – you take care – and remember – God loves you.  Call me whenever you need to.”

I left knowing that His daughter would make the right decision to leave the streets.

The Kingdom of God

When I was not working, usually from January through March, I would catch up on things to do around the house, running errands, read books, and do spring cleaning.  But this year, the Lord had other plans.  He wanted me to learn about kingdoms; in doing so I would gain greater insight into His kingdom.

I devoured any teaching on kingdoms, whether it was on DVD, by listening to CDs, or through reading books.

I gleaned as much as I could from people who talked about natural kingdoms and the spiritual kingdom of God.  Most importantly it was the Holy Spirit who would direct me to particular individuals and their teaching, articles or the word of God.

Sometimes while reading about natural kingdoms He would show me the correlation in God’s kingdom.

Myles Munroe, Pat Francis, and Lance Wallnau are the main kingdom preachers that I gleaned from.  I researched and researched.  We will look at what are some of the attributes of kingdoms and kings in coming paragraphs.

Myles Munroe said this about reading the Bible, “I am reading a book about a king, a kingdom, and His Royal family.”

God is the original King and Heaven is the oldest kingdom in existence:In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1).

What is a kingdom?  A kingdom is:

·           The territory or territories of a king.

·           An area of land; a region.

·           The land and waters under the jurisdiction of a government.

·           A political subdivision of a country.

·           A geographic region, such as a colonial possession, that is dependent on an external government.

Following are some things I learned about kings and kingdoms as I listened to these powerful teachers of God’s Word:

A kingdom is a governing influence of a king over his territory, impacting it with his will, purpose and intent, to produce a citizenry of people who reflect the king’s morals, values, nature, and lifestyle.

A king is not elected by the people.  A king is born a king:

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him  (Matthew 2:1-2).

The birth of a king is announced throughout the kingdom: When they saw the star, they were overjoyed(Matthew 2:10).

Kings know when another king is in their territory:

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also  (Matthew 2:7-8).

When they come into the presence of another king, kings bring gifts to acknowledge that the other person is a king:

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary               his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh(Matthew 2:10-11).

When a prince is in his father’s domain, he is a prince:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,               Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

But when he is sent to a territory or a foreign land of the king he is a king:

and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world

(Revelation 1:5, NLT).

A king is seated:

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all theangels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.  Matthew 25:30-32

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus(Ephesians 2:6).

A king lives in a palace which has many chambers.  There is the outer court and inner court:

And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to theouter court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh(Ezekiel 10:5).

The inner court is where the King’s Throne is and where the King sits:

Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in theinner courtof the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house (Esther 5:1).

And he brought me into theinner court of the LORD's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were               about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD,               and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the               east. (Ezekiel 8:16).

A king wears robes:

Dressed in their royalrobes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them (1 Kings 22:10).

In the courts of the king and queen, there are ladies and men waiting for the king and queen to present themselves to the court.  They are waiting for the king and queen’s instructions:

Waitfor the LORD; be strong and take heart andwaitfor the LORD (Psalm 27:14).

Wewaitin hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield(Psalm 33:20).

You obey a king.  You don’t obey a President or Prime Minister:

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does”(John 5:19).

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, butonlythe one who does the will of my Father whoisin Heaven(Matthew 7:21).

Though he were a Son, yet learned heobedienceby the things which he suffered (Hebrews 5:8).

Jesus answered, “Itis written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve himonly’ ” (Luke 4:8).

A king decides who will enter into his kingdom.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see thekingdomofGodunless they are born again”(John 3:3).

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God               (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

In a kingdom there is no private ownership everything belongs to the king.

In the Kingdom of Heaven there is no sickness, no darkness, or poverty:

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming               the good news of the kingdom, and healing everydiseaseandsicknessamong the people (Matthew 4:23).

Before a king will send in his army he will commission his spies to get the “ground truth.”

After Moses had sentspiesto Jazer, the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there(Numbers 21:32).

Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent twospiesfrom Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there( Joshua 2:1).

Spies are covert – they must not be conspicuous to the natives in whose land they are spying out, yet their role is crucial they must get intelligence and bring it back to the king:

Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good” (Numbers 14:6-7).

A king has an army – angels!  They are the messengers, warriors, and protectors of the Lord!

For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully”(Luke 4:10).

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrew 1:14).

The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil (Matthew 13:41).

Then war broke out in Heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the               dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back  (Revelation 12:7).

A king is automatically a lord, which means owner:  You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies(1 Corinthians 6:20).

No private ownership in a kingdom, it all belongs to the king.  When we accept Christ as our Lord and savior and do His will, he says that he and the father will take this territory (you) and make their kingdom inside of you.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves mewillobey my teaching. MyFather willlove them, and wewillcome to them and make our home with them”(John 14:23).

Protocol is a set of behaviors.  When you come into a king’s presence you must know how to approach Him!  Learn Diplomatic training.  You must know all the laws of the kingdom.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth(2 Timothy 2:15).

We you come before a king you must give him praise!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name (Psalm 100:4).

Then when the king is ready for you to approach him he extends “his scepter.” The scepter is his visible sign of authority.  God says that his king will come from the lineage of Judah.  Jesus is the Lion of Judah.

The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his(Genesis 49:10).

Jesus when he returns will rule with an “iron scepter.”

Coming out ofhismouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an ironscepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty(Revelation 19:15).

When a king marries his bride, she doesn’t fight – she reigns!  She decrees and declares and prays – she doesn’t go out into the battlefield.  She sits with him in power.

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit(Proverbs 18:21).

The Kingdom of God is where His glory prevails.  When a king’s glory is revealed it is wealth.

A King takes care of those in His kingdom:

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first               his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:30-31).

A king collects taxes from his people and it is investing in the kingdom:

Atithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the               trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD (Leviticus 27:30).

Yet, understanding the authority of a kingdom, when asked about monies that were owed to Caesar, who was a king, Jesus replied.

Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's”(Mark 12:17).

When a King is going to take territory, He sends for his men of war – His warriors and generals:

When a king sends a message on the battlefield, he sends his most trustworthy    messenger:

The angel said to him, ‘I amGabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news’ (Luke 1:19).

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee(Luke 1:26).

When a king goes to war and conquers territory, he then immediately begins to colonize it.  A Colony is a group of people who leave their native country to form a settlement in a new land subject to, or connected with, the parent nation. The king will send a governor to make sure the newly conquered territory adheres to the laws of the king.  Jesus left the earth to sit on the right hand of the Father and he sent the Holy Spirit:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my               name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you  (John 14:26).

The governor begins to change their language:

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues... (Mark 16:17).

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began tospeakin othertonguesas the Spirit enabled them(Acts 2:4).

Their dress:

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride               adorns herself with her jewels(Isaiah 61:10).

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (Matthew 6:25).

Their culture:

Let this mind that was in Christ Jesus be in me. That sets in place your mind, will, and emotions to reflect Jesus.

A king prays – Jesus prayed daily.  He went to the Father.  He told his disciples how to pray:

This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in Heaven,

hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,

on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,[a]

but deliver us from the evil one.

He made it clear that if we did not forgive others their sins, our Father would not forgive our sins.

Jesus takes territory and the Holy Spirit , who is a type of “governor” comes back to the people who once were under the kingdom of God.  “re” before a word means to “bring back again”:

And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’(John 20:21).

But you willreceive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth(Acts 1:8).

When people decide not to be part of the kingdom, in the king’s eyes it is treason.  Treason is the offense of acting to overthrow one’s government or to harm or kill its sovereign.

Lucifer and his angels in Heaven committed treason and were kicked out of Heaven.

How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!(Isaiah 14:12).

If it is a colonized territory, then the governor is taken out of that country and sent back to the kingdom.

If it is a person or people then they are severely punished and banished from the kingdom, even as Adam was banished from the Garden of Eden after he sinned.

Kings will send their emissaries or ambassadors to speak on behalf of the king.  These emissaries are sent to foreign countries that are not under the king’s jurisdiction:

We are therefore Christ’sambassadors, as though God were making his               appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to               God(2 Corinthians 5:20).

The ambassador is not a citizen of the foreign country to where he has been commissioned to.

Jesus will return with the host of angels during the battle we call Armageddon. Since we are co-heirs with Christ and we too are children of God; we will rule and reign here on earth.

This territory belongs to Christ and whenever we conquer, for example by leading someone to salvation, we have taken that man or woman out of the kingdom of darkness.

Now the person may still have some ways and/or habits learned from his or her former landlord the devil, but their spirit belongs to the kingdom of God.  Jesus said that His Kingdom was not of this world:

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence (John 18:36).

What is Jesus’ Kingdom?  Whenever he was going to heal, release from bondage and individual he would tell them “The kingdom is at hand.”  His Kingdom is invisible yet very real.

Myles Munroe said something profound: “The Gospel is not what Jesus Christ preached.  Jesus preached the kingdom of God.”

But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of thekingdomof God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent”(Luke 4:43).

When a king wants you to have crown, he will knight you and call you another name.  God calls you another name when your position changes:

And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall               name(Isaiah 62:2).

But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you (Luke 11:20).

“A King’s glory is territory.”[25]  When he was hanging on the cross one of the men recognized him as a king.  Then he said,Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom (Luke 23:42).

When we win the lost, heal the sick, and deliver the oppressed, we are taking God’s kingdom back from Satan.

The Eyes of the Church

Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.

(Acts 13:9)

Eyes are part of the body.  They allow us to see.  Without eyes, you would walk into walls, fall off the curb into traffic, or not see your child about to touch the hot stove.  We need our eyes to see! Helen Keller said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”[26]

He laid the foundation all the way back to Moses when he asked Zipporah’s father, Jethro, to guide them through the wilderness.

Zipporah, Moses wife, was a dark-skinned Ethiopian “Cushite.”  Moses was Hebrew but must have had strong coloring because he was in the household of the Pharaoh and also given the title, “Prince of Egypt.”

Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ siblings, didn’t like Zipporah, yet she was chosen to be Moses’ wife.

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopianwoman (Number 12:1-3).

God became angry at them and because they came against her this is what happened to them.

And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.

And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.

And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again (Numbers 12:4-15).

Moses asked his father-in-law to help him in the wilderness.

And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel (Numbers 10:29).

When Jesus was on the way to Calvary he stumbled.  There was a man from Cyrene, a Cushite, who was recruited to help carry the cross and to lead Jesus where he needed to go.  What is natural is also spiritual.

And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus (Luke 23:26).

William Seymour, a one eyed black man from Texas, was asked by the Lord to come to Los Angeles.  He was instrumental in what would later be called the “Azuza Street Revival.”

From Wikipedia:

TheAzusa Street Revival was a historic Pentecostal revival meeting that took place in Los Angeles, California and is the origin of the Pentecostal movement. It was led by William J. Seymour, an African American preacher. It began with a meeting on April 14, 1906, and continued until roughly 1915. The revival was characterized by ecstatic spiritual experiences accompanied by miracles, dramatic worship services, speaking in tongues, and inter-racial mingling.

Much fruit came out of this one man’s obedience, including ministries such as those of Aimee Simple McPherson and John G. Lake.

God is raising up people that the world says are the “wrong color, the wrong gender,” as Myles Munroe stated.

This reminded me of when the Lord gave me revelation of African Americans, Hispanics, and the Native Americans, all people of color.

It was when I was listening to a teaching by Myles Munroe, where he said, “The eyes of the church are the people of color.”

That revelation was powerful!  I was in my den when I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Look at your doll.”

I had a beautiful African American porcelain doll on my desk. She was attired in colonial dress. I called her my, “Harriet Tubman” doll.

Her eyes were illuminated to me.  Her eyes looked determined, focused, and had much love in them.  I was amazed that I got that from a doll!  I wrote this in my journal:

As I looked up and saw my doll I now know that she is a representative of Harriet Tubman who had the “eyes” of the Lord to lead a people out of darkness (slavery) into the marvelous light (freedom).

Harriet Tubman was the “eyes” of the Underground Railroad.  She would lead her people to safety.  If they didn’t want to go she had a sidearm and as she would tell them “You can go with me all the way North or you die right here...choice is yours.” She would have no slave go back once they started with her.

People who have been disfranchised, not benefitting from the industrial revolution, have often been people of color.  In the United States these were primarily African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans.

Who knows better how to survive through hard times and valley experiences?

The Church is stumbling and can’t see.

The Lord wanted me to learn from Myles and Pat because they are the “eyes,” and I too am to be an “eye” during this age.  Eyes have vision; God is saying, “Give them their sight.”

Myles Munroe said it perfectly: it is “safer to be in God’s purpose than in your prejudice!”

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people: to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath,and from the islands of the sea (Isaiah 11:10-11).

It’s About HIM!

I am writing this book on the top of Griffith Park in Los Angeles.  It is the largest urban wilderness in the United States.  It ranges from heights of 384 feet to 1,695 feet with canyons throughout.  The coastal sage, scrub oak and walnut woodlands are in abundance.  It’s a hot day in August 2011 and the desert winds off the Pacific Ocean just miles away, make it feel like a Mediterranean climate.

The dry hot air coming off the valley floor meets the cool air from the mountain top, making for an unusual climate where I’m writing, mid way from the top.

Looking out over the valley, I saw a gnarled tree, which reminded me of the two thousand year old olive trees in the garden of Gethsemane; I felt like I was back in Israel.

God has told me to call this book “It’s Not About You!” because it’s not about us, it’s about what He wants to do in the earth.

[1] Be Made Whole (Kathy Armstrong; Xulon Press, 2008) is the first book in this continuing saga which relates my personal experiences with God.

[2] Ephesians 4:26

[3] A message from God.

[4] The term “saints” here refers to all of those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

[5] If It’s Tuesday this Must be Belgium was a movie that came out in 1969.

[6]Geert Wilders: “A Warning to America,” Speech at Cornerstone Church, Nashville, May 12, 2011

[7] Also called the “scapegoat.”

[8] Luke 4:18

[9] This is my attempt to phonetically describe what I heard.

[10] The Hebrew name for Jesus.

[11] Song of Solomon 1:9

[12] Song of Solomon 2:6

[13] Song of Solomon 2:16

[14] After writing this, I turned around and saw a coyote about three feet away from me.  Looking at me and then turning to continue down the hill.

[15] “Messianic” is used to refer to those Jews who have acknowledged and accepted Jesus in

[16] This refers to the act of blessing – usually financially.

[17] Most trees were planted near the dry "Wadi." "Wadi" is the name used for river, so these trees are planted near the rivers, as mentioned in Psalm 1!

[18] My spiritual name given by the Lord

[19] As in other cases where words from Scripture are in bold italics, emphasis is by the author.

[20] This instrumental song that indicates summer romance, was part of the score for the 1959 movieA Summer Place, which stared Troy Donahue and Sandra Dee and was set on an island in Maine.  It was written by Austrian film composer Max Steiner, who also wrote the score forCasablanca. In the US, this was the top selling single of 1960, arranged and recorded by Percy Faith, who was a composer who arranged songs for a variety of artists, including Tony Bennett and Johnny Mathis. He recorded this with his orchestra. It won the 1960 Grammy for Record Of The Year, becoming the first movie theme to win the award. (www.songfacts.com).

[21] Be Made Whole, 2007, Xulon Press.

[22] The At Last Songfacts states that the songwriting team of Mack Gordon and Harry Warren wrote this in 1941 for the film musical Sun Valley Serenade. The following year it was rearranged and re-recorded and used in the film Orchestra Wives. It was performed in both movies by Glenn Miller and his orchestra with vocals by Ray Eberle, and the song became a major big band hit in October 1942 (www.last.fm).

[23] This term refers to filling ones spirit with God’s Spirit.  It is usually done in an atmosphere of worship.

[24] There are an estimated 51,000 homeless people in Los Angeles.

[25] Myles Munroe

[26] Myles Munroe shared this quotation during the Azuza Street Centennial Meeting held back in 2006.