4-16-03   
                As christians there is a process within
                that many of us hardly ever use,
                it is called reaching out to others.

                If we are to love others as Jesus would want from us,
                and if we are in wellness,where is the fear?
                I can see the shame in not doing so.

                I feel the shame also when He does the blessing through me,
                and others try to compliment me.
                It is a hard place to be in when one knows God is doing the work,
                and some glorify the gift,and not the giver of it.

                There is a whole different set of responsibilities put into motion
                along with the accountability  in doing a ministry for God.
                In obedience, out of love,what others think of anothers words
                is their own judgement call.

                Of course how many of us are aware of our unwellness
                when we rise up in the flesh?
                Perhaps that is why not many do the reaching out to others,
                and when they do, it is misinterpreted as being from the self.
                For those who discern,their spirit knows what's from God,and what isn't.

                Glorifying God in  any manner is what it is!

                God sees the intent of the heart,
                and we will all come to that place of judgement,
                for what we say and have said.
                So many christians do not seem to fear God,
                let alone know Him.


               "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened,
                that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy,
                that it cannot hear."
                                                     Isaiah 59:1

               "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirit,
                that we are the children of God."
                                                     Romans 8:16

               " The Lord is my light and my salvation;
                 whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my
                 life; of whom shall I be afraid"
                                                     Psalms 27:1

                                     In His love,            lampwicke   xxx

                                                                                                      11-24-03
         "Why",and "How Too"? Explicit,clear,precise?
          The world has no answers to many of its questions,
          so hit and miss,it struggles with its poor excuse at wisdom.

          Gods word,written in the bible,states the only  reason for "The Why"?

          Because God said it!

          Gods precision, the how too,is layed out clearly.
          Applying it to ones life as we live it, is not difficult today?

          It takes heart and effort, to  live for your God.
          It is never easy,living in a world of deep sin?

          As the world darkens,so to, will the light brighten.

          One of Gods greatests,learning how not to "fear",
          shows how fragile humanity is.
          It seems that at the end of ones life, perspectives change,
          Knowing life may end in a blink of an eye,
          can remove the vulnerablity of losing that life.
   
          Hopefully, by old age,one has reconciled themsleves to their God.
          What is faith?
          Faith is the knowing,that your God is in control even beyond your humanity.
          That your love for Him,is greater than wife,husband,children,parents.
          That to loose all in this life,only means a changing of realms,
          and the aquiring of spiritually knowing ones God in another.

          Fear cannot exist in anyones realm of love with their God.
          Remove the vulnerability of being human,and there are no true blocks
          to loving your God,for perfect love casts out all fear.

          Our God prepared the way for us.
          Stand upon His promises,obey them in our faith,
          and we start to dance in heaven with one foot still on earth.


         "Blessed be the Lord, that hath given
          rest unto his people Israel,according to all
          that he promised: there hath not failed one
          word of all his good promise, which he
          promised by the hand of Moses his servant."
                                           1Kings 8:56

                     In His  love,          lampwicke  xxx  

Dear Steve,
Teaching spiritual growth to others is difficult,as you well know.What I have found is:That the teaching on "how Too",build a personal,deeply loving relationship with ones God is the most important step any christian can employ in their walk with their God.For laying this foundation within any believer,will always emphasize Christ within us,no matter what man may teach.This relationship should also validate the Holy Spirit as the only "Teacher of Gods truth".There is a difference between head knowledge,and Holy Spirit teaching. No matter what is heard of teachings today,(the anointing is not on many) only the Holy Spirit knows the very heart of our God.Then,a specific prayer time,to share with your God in order to maintain that relationship; above the demands of others is a need in any life,coupled with consistant study in Gods word.
            I don't know what denomination you are reaching out to,and/or if the gifts of the Spirit are welcome in the doctrine of your church and the acceptance of those gifts,but the gift of the speaking of "Tongues" is very important in any believers spiritual life today?  It not only edifies,and encourages,it also heals.As you find the materials with the specific needs you wish to teach on to help others to spiritually grow,you will also come to understand,that all in your congregation will be at different places in their spiritual walks,with no two in a similiar place,and that effort to learn Gods ways,will vary with the intensity each individual will seek their Gods love? Some will seek ,little,some much,and few will hunger beyond measure.
When you teach what your God gives you to teach,then ask the Holy Spirit to show you how,and to anoint your words.
Teaching will only be as effective upon the heart,  as the anointing opens the ears to hear". In His love,    lampwicke  xxx


"for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh"
                                         Matt.12:34b.  
 

dear Whitehorse,
Is it possible to love to much? I believe that love and forgiveness cannot operate,without the balance of which Remant speaks of.If we look at  Peter asking Jesus how many times are we to forgive,He responded "not seven times,but seventy times seven",meaning infinite,without limit.This is also IMO,how much love we are to give others.
The flesh within,not understanding the ways of our God,does battle against our very spirit,it is deeply concerned for others and their eternal outcome. The Spirit of God knows,that since the Father did predistinate,He also sanctified and consecrated,who he consecrated He also justified through Jesus Christ. Hell will be filled with many who will make the choice of unbelief,even when Jesus is seen coming in the clouds,with their own eyes they will deny Him.It is noble,and a human trait,to be concerned for all those who will not get to heaven,but this is one aspect of the Fathers plan. He would that all be saved,but also knows that His creation has that "choice " which He Himself has given them. Rejoice,in that you have been chosen, for many have been called,but few will accept Jesus.He came not for prestige or love, but for unbelief to save the lost,(for those who would accept Him?)
About unconditional love, at our salvation, we are given among other things small portions of a measure of faith,Gods Agape love(the only true unconditional love),humans cannot perceive what this is,Oh! they speak the words,go through the motions,and through their spiritual walk with their God will perfect this one aspect of their God ,along with His truth,and His highest order of that truth, His Wisdom.There are many more bits and pieces of Gods qualities given us within our salvation,and we are to develop these portions,like our faith,etc. in order to emulate our Jesus.There will come a time while we walk this earth, if we have been obedient to learning Gods Agape, that we can over time,present ourselves with some degree of purity and spotlessness before our Lord, and comply with the desire of Jesus within us and be healed through Him in us, and allow Him to again walk this earth through us,so that we can carry others burdens,cry their tears, lift and encourage them for the stronger must help the weaker.Only in wellness, and wholeness can we do this,and only in Christ Jesus can we attain this,and only to the point of our humanity, for perfection can only come  when we possess a glorified spiritual body,this is our great hope.
In His love,       lampwicke      xxx

Now, I've always lived with the idea of the only excuse for a divorce is adultery (arn't there three reasons?).  But recently, I've been forced to think a different way.  God is all knowing, right? So if a marriage is completley awful, and the parents have tried marriage counceling and they know it's wrong to divorce, but they just can't work it out and it is completly tearing apart the family, wouldn't God understand?  Or what about wives that are beaten by their husbands?  
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Peachykeen,
     To quote you, God is indeed all knowing.Much has to do with  the intent of that marriages initial purposes.Was God considered in obedience to the Lord,of the choosing of each others mate? If not, being unequally yoked is a no-no from the beginning, and "whatsoever you sow, you will reap".I have my doubts as to the joining of these two persons,the reasons may have been only for selfish reasons,and not Gods love?
     If the selfishness of these two people are in fact tearing up the family, is this not a "reaping of these two persons sowing" in disobedience in not considering their God to marry? The anger between these two persons,is but a symptom of the "Unfaithfulness" of their commitment to their marriage vows.
there is no difference in this or abuse,for both are what I consider "spiritual adultery"? Even so ,what do these two people do? Either stop their abuse with each other,their anger,towards each other,their sin against their God and themselves.(selfishness) correct themselves; for when you say family, I think you allude to either yourself,children, or family members , or a combination of all ? or they separate from each other,for the sake of all involved.
          "What God has brought together( if He did?) let man not put asunder"!  When two people work so diligently to destroy a marriage, then it always is fueled by anger, and at least verbal abuse? Verbal abuse is/can be the precurser to physical abuse, it is only separated by degree of depth of feelings? In any separation,or even divorce, God understands the sins of His creation very well,and I believe makes allowance for "Spiritual Adultery",within any relationship.
           He will & can at times, allow separations and even divorces.in order for His children to repair the conditions of the initial woundings brought about by the original sins of the two involved persons. Even after several years, so it is wizer to separate, and let His children "Examine themselves"(2Corinthians13:5),so they can change their hearts and attitudes,through His love for them."With God all things are possible, with man nothing is".   In His love,     lampwicke xxx
 

 
 

Dear DovesWings,
It is difficult to discern sometimes as death approaches,why attitudes change in those we love. I will tell you of one thing I have learned? That any pain that a christian experiences in a terminal disease,nothing matters but that pain,nothing, even ones God! I saw/experienced this for several years before my wife went home to be with the Lord.All that I could cling to is/was Romans 8:28. Her spirit left her physical body approximately one month before her death occured,I saw this,and attributed it to our Gods mercy,so that her spirit not suffer pain any longer. I can see that this dilemma,has brought about spiritual questions within you? Our God teaches as He comforts,and allows us to experience other spiritual truths even in our pending deaths, for at no other time do we really evaluate our time ,purposes,and works ,in preparation for heavens arrival. I am a firm believer in Gods miraculous healing as well as His slower healing over time,even finishing that healing in heaven? So whatever your relatives motives,for shutting others out of her life at this time, is hers alone. It seems that the person who really hurts the most when a loved one leaves us here on earth for heaven, we are the one feeling the process of acceptance more than those who leave. They have already resolved the leaving, we may even go through the several steps of grief,even before they leave.Perhaps she knows this and in her acceptance of death,she also knows that   death is a part of our spiritual walks with our God ,just the same as love and obedience is? Your grief is genuine,and do not listen to those who attempt to placate with "God helps them, who help themselves",that is not scripture, and is not in any bible I have found,and is a lie, God always helps those who cannot help themselves.Why else does He expect us stronger to help the weaker,as our Jesus did/does.No, experience your grief, thank your God, love your relative,understand that this is but another spiritual journey,you will not be allowed to take part in now,and move on in your spiritual walk. There will be all eternity in heaven to ask all the questions you need for answers now,as your God would say, be patient,and "wait".
            In His love,       lampwicke     xxx

dear Brother Love,
thank you for the kindness of His word.
      In His love,       lampwicke   xxx

dear Whitehorse,& Symphony,
Thank you for your comments and confusion!
      In His love,       lampwicke   xxx

                                                                                                   1-12-03
                  There comes a time when all the torment and agony
                  overwhelms us and the tears never stop.
                  We ask constantly God,where are you?
                  We never stop to think,we are causing our own demise.

                   Usually confusion is a by-product,
                    of our enemys success.
                   We may continue to let ourselves be clouded
                   in our spirit?
                   Never suspecting,blank in understanding,
                   wrapped so heavily in our own ignorance.(not knowing)

                   So deeply can we do this with our own emotions
                   years can pass before we begin to cry out
                   for mercy from our God?
                   We can even place our own selfishness between
                   wanting an answer from our God,and deliverance.

                   Sounds self-defeating doesn't it?

                   Yet,in His wonderful mercy,He sends someone
                   into our lives to share His truth with us.
                   For His wisdom has even taken this scenario
                   into account.

                   In His precise timing,the Holy Spirit reveals
                   Gods truth to the deepest of wounded hearts.
                   It is at a time usually after many years of not
                   knowing how,bad teaching,or no teaching,
                   God rises up in His love for His child.

                   God has prepared some for special therapy of the Spirit,
                   by combining certain skills of ministry to
                   bring healing,and deliverance to those
                   who have come close to no hope.

                   With the help of the Holy Spirit,the Healer,
                   God intervenes and shortly with understanding
                   and love,and the teaching of truth: delivers
                   one more soul back to His heart.

                   A work done in concert by Jesus's friend
                   who knows those sent to him by His God,
                   shall return them to the fold.

                   Such is the ministry of the retriever!
       
                  "This is my commandment,That ye love one
                   another, as I have loved you."
                   Greater love hath no man than this,
                   that a man lay down his life for his friends."
                                                                 John 15:12,13

                  "For I am persuaded, that neither death,
                   nor life,nor angels nor principalities,nor
                   powers,nor things present,nor things to
                   come,
                   Nor height, nor depth, nor any other
                   creature, shall be able to separate us from the
                   love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
                   Lord."
                                                                 Romans 8:38,39
                 
                  "And ye shall know the truth, and the
                   truth shall make you free.
                   If the Son therefore shall make you free,
                   ye shall be free indeed."
                                                                 John 8:32,36

                   In His love and mercy,                        lampwicke    xxx

                                                                                                  5-20-04


                   Those of us who use the internet, do so
                   for different reasons?
                   Wishing to help,or to lift oneself up,
                   one genuine,the other selfishness?

                   We as christians want to help those who  don't know,
                    and honestly need answers.
                   Then those who wish to present the intellectual mind,
                   attempting to look good to self and others:
                   love stroking their own egos.

                   Our society is steeped in teaching poor self-esteem.
                   Perhaps our parents learned this trait from their parents,
                   but; it trickles down even to today.
                   We see it clearly in others,hear it in their words,see it
                   in their inactions.

                   It will always be a process for others to feel better
                   about themselves,this dumping on others.
                   Where it began in each of our lives, only God knows.
                   God heals us from even this malady,
                   in our spiritual walk with Him.

                   Hoping to be of help for others,we respond to anothers
                   posts on our message boards.
                   The sincere is easily discerned by any christian.
                   The need for others to lift themselves up in feigning
                   a response to others,seems to create a snowball effect.

                   You've seen it many times. where differences of opionion
                   seem to trigger an inward/outward strife between believers online?
                   No one seems to care who is hurt in the process,as long as
                  " I" state my point ?
                   Soon the strife has turned to anger,and we find ourselves
                   really upset ,and how we respond: conditions us to become
                   really cautious in responding to future posts?

                   For a medium like the internet: which is devoid of many
                   feelings, it seems that is becoming an outright lie.
                   We bring much into our interaction with each other,
                   with words regarding feelings.
                   Perhaps,it is our subtle need to dump our daily stresses
                   upon others, for the lack of another way.

                   My momma always said ,"if you can't say something nice,
                    don't say anything at all".
                   Many say;"what are friends for if you can't use them".
                   God says,"be not deceived;whatsoever you sow,
                   that shall you also reap."
                   "If you even think you have offended another,
                   go to him and seek forgiveness."

                  "Examine yourselves,whether ye be in the faith;
                   prove your own selves. Know ye not your own
                   selves,how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye
                   be reprobates?"
                                                                2 Corinthians 13:5
                  "Ye are of God, little children,and have
                   overcome them: because greater is He that is in you,
                   than he that is in the world."
                                                                 1John 4:4

                  "but I have called you friends; for all things that
                   I have heard of my Father I have made known
                   unto you."
                                                                 John 15:15b

                        In His love,            lampwicke    xxx              

                                                                                                                           7-25-01
                                                     My Testamony

      I was saved at age thirty-one,received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost
      one year later.I asked God to give me the genuine baptisim.I didn't
      want that which looked improper to me,the coaxing,long drawnout
      prompting with gestures kind.I entered the Pentacostal church
      In 1974,prayed to God for the "genuine" Baptisim,He told me to "wait".
      One word which I have become very familiar with over the years.
      I received the Baptisim of the Holy Ghost,in a small Pentacostal church,
      In a blink as you go thru town, of London,California.Situated in the middle
      of the cotton fields,just south of Fresno,California.I spoke in Tongues for
      three hours,with no one prompting me,so I know it's "genuine".Since it
      is "Genuine" to me,I neither promote,nor deny the  use of Tongues in a
      believers Spiritual life.All I know is that I am edified within me,and I
      understand  in my spirit,that I speak directly to God through the Holy
      Spirit,in my heart. I have spent these last twenty-eight years,walking
      with my God,through many trials,and troubles.In all of them I waited,to
      see "All things work together for good to them who love the Lord,and
      for those called according to His purpose".I know that God teaches,in the
      midst of pain and suffering.I could do no less than lay down my life
      for Christ,should He ask. I do not just speak the Word,I live it.I have a
      good sense of humour,as I believe my God does also.I have worked many
      times in concert with the Holy Spirit.I believe Love to be the very nature
      of God,and that Obedience is one of His most important precepts.I move
      by my Faith,which God gives a same measure to everyone.It is what you  
      Choose to do with that measure of Faith  is what creates a hunger for
      God. My wife went home to the Lord,on may 24,1994,one day before her
      forty-fifth birthday.She suffered extreme severe pain due to Bone Marrow
      Cancer,and her passing brought the blessing,of "all things work together"
      In that the good that came through her passing,brought her release,
      from her pain,and she will never suffer again.My son a week before she
      passed away,was admitted to the same hospital with Juvenile Diabetes,
      and God saw to the needs of both of those I loved that day.My son age 24
      has found his personal relationship,with his God,but not before Doing his
      drugs,and experiencing victory in Jesus by  renewing his faith in his God.
                My daughter,21yrs,I being drawn back to Jesus,but it is slower
      going for her,as she has issues with God in relation to her mothers death.
      I am more than a father to them now,I am their Spiritual mentor,and my
      name is "daddy" because this is me in the l
ast years of my life.I have
      worn,many labels for God,I have been around long enough too.What I
      value the most for all my life pursuits,is destroying the selfishness within
      me, Which is taught everyone from infancy, by being in this world,until the
      acceptance of Jesus Christ as a personal savior.Then doing my part,in
      asking,seeking,and knocking throughout my lifetime,and striving for
      Christlikeness until He takes me in the translation of the church,or I
      take a dirt nap and beat you all there. In His most Gracious Love,

                                                            In His love,   lampwicke   xxx