" Cheek slappers and spitters" 
Matt. 5:39 Jesus was telling how one should act when they are slapped on the right cheek. He said to turn your head and offer the other. This was not only a beatitude on how we should respond but also a prophetic word that Jesus spoke about what would happen to Him. It was fulfilled in Matt. 26:67. Last March 2012 the Spirit told me that the opportunity that I was given would not happen. You could say I turned my face and offered the other cheek. When I went on a trip this last Feb. the Spirit warned me in so many words that I would be spit upon. I believe the Spirit warns us ahead of time so we have the opportunity to respond in a godly fashion. Who are those cheek slappers, spitters and beaters? It is not always those in the world and it is not always a physical slap or spit. More often they are your Christian brothers and sisters who use words as spit or actions as their hands that hit our cheeks(heart.) Right now there is a flood of cheek slappers, spitters and beaters that if we retaliate can destroy relationships, prevent the Spirit from moving which can mean a delay of revival or no revival. We must learn to forgive, let go that no root of bitterness can spring up. We must trust our Father to discipline those who have accused wrongly, bitter, jealous or they don't trust the Spirit in you. This season is not over for me yet, but I have learned from similar seasons that I must first die to self and let go of all that I hold on to. Because through these seasons the Father by the Spirit is creating something far greater than I could imagine. Jesus is walking in the mist of His candlesticks purifying and igniting that we can be one shinning as stars before the world. So I wait for Him to fill this place. For when you are so in love with Jesus nothing can take His place.

"A bumper crop year"

John 21:5-6  Knowing somewhat of the history of the church, the commitment, struggles, ups and downs that you as leaders and the church body has gone through, the Spirit has prompted me and lead me to this scripture with the heading or theme of this word."A bumper crop year." Peter and the disciples had just finished fishing all night. They fished in this sea many times and many times received their portion of fish, and many days of no bits and empty nets. This was one of those times when Jesus manifested Himself as He spoke to them from the shore, " Children you do not have any fish do you?" Not only did Jesus appear to them again but gave them something tangible as a convincing proof. I believe the Spirit is agreeing with the need and desire of this church. You have labored in this field for years and you seem to come up short or at best your nets never seem to be full. The invitation and direction of Jesus to the disciples was the most important words spoken to these disciples at that time, and their obedience to His voice and direction brought a bumper crop of fish that could not be hauled into the boat. His words were simple, " Cast the net on the right hand side of the boat."The disciples had fished for many years and I am sure they had thrown their net on the right hand side before. But it was this time, a Karios time, that because of their obedience and Jesus showing them that it doesn't matter how many times you have done the same thing before,when the Spirit is directing you to do it again you will reap a harvest. They fished all night in their strength, but when they surrendered to the voice of Jesus at the right time, they hauled in or should I say dragged in more than they could handle. I believe The Spirit is going to bring a change to the leadership and church body, that if you recognize His voice and obey, you as a church will experience a bumper crop. Casting your net on the right side may mean returning to your first love and doing those things you've done in the beginning in His strength. I see the Spirit moving the church first as individuals to a place of unreserved total yielding to the voice of the Spirit. I see the church expanding and moving to different areas of the city. I believe the body needs to know that the Spirit has not left the church and is very much ready to lead this church into a bumper crop season. Jesus through the power of the Spirit will manifest Himself as the church yields to His direction. He will bring healing to marriages and bring life to the ruins. Can you hear His voice, He's calling forth to each one in the church, come into My presence, throw yourself into my hands and you will be full.
                                                                                 Blessings to you Bruce

Appealers or squealers

What can one say about the state of these United States or the rest of the world? One might say things are looking rather bilk, but it will get better. Or you could say the sky is falling we'er all domed run for your life. Many are blaming this person or that person, this government or that leadership. It seams like many are trying to outdo each other in being heard or making it a point to tell on one another about their past, present and future mistakes, issues and reasons why they should not be running for any high ranking office. What it sounds like is a bunch of squealers trying to tell the teacher about Tommy. What is even worst is the atmosphere that is being created to the masses and now you have multitudes squealing on one another. As christians, ( when I say christian I am talking about a believer in Christ, a follower of His life, teachings and character.) shouldn't get so wrapped up in the affairs of this life (2 Tim. 2:4) that has the potential to take us away from what we should be doing. Praying and appealing to God the Father is and should be our #1 priority. Protesting and voicing our opinions can put us into the arena of a fleshly war when according to scripture our warfare is a spiritual one. This is where the power is! This is where we can be heard! This is where we can make a difference! Our position is to appeal to our Father on behave of this nation, or any other nation, person or event. If God chooses to place His people in the political atmosphere it would probably be along the lines of a Daniel, Joseph or Nehemiah, who were appealers to God trusting that He would make the changes according to His will.They didn't seek an office they were placed in it by God. Philippians 4:6-7 says Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request ( your appeals, your entreaties) be made known to God. We don't need to be anxious about who's going to get into a political office, or what store or company is expressing their right to allow certain people to use their facilities etc. There is a spirit of anxiousness spreading and it needs to be cut off and replaced by His peace working in and through His people. Our position as followers of Christ need to fight these battles on our knees and His peace which surpasses all comprehension will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We are in this world, but we are not of this world. We as followers of Christ, if we are to bring salvation to a lost and dying world, we first need our hearts to be changed that we can have the mind of Christ to do that which Christ would do. Let us commit to being appealers and stop squealing over issues that are much to big for us to handle in our own power. And only God will listen to His people who are seeking Him with all their heart and will change in His timing!

Intercession is more than a weekly meeting, or a gathering of the church to stand and cry out for revival, which is all good. Intercession is also a journey that as one surrenders to the Spirit, that one will never be the same. They will be changed! The shallow waters will not satisfy any longer, and your desire will be totally to ride the waves of the Spirit. Your spirit will be stirred! You'll begin to pour out tears that come from the deep of your spirit, like waves that won't stop. The groaning will be at times so intense, it will feel like a wave crashing down upon you and thinking you can't take anymore, the warmth and assurance of the Spirit comes, and you know your in His presence and your pleasing the Father. The intense time will become calm until the Spirit brings another wave that you will ride until that season is over. The Spirit says Come, surrender and let His waves roll over you! Deep is calling to deep.Psalms 42:7

Positioning for revival or settling for dead bones"

"Praying can be a contact sport" Mark 14:34-35
I know in my profession as a gardener I have found that at my age gardening can be a contact sport. For an example, seeing a brick sticking up, hitting it with my foot, falling forward and face planting myself on the ground. Of course as I was going down I recall asking my Father to help me. Getting up dusting myself off and feeling the pain of a bruised rib, I remembered the scripture that says, Jesus  being exceeding sorrowful unto death in Gethsemane, it goes on to say, that He left His disciples about a stone throw away and "fell to the ground". I do believe because of the agony and heavy burden He was carrying He had no strength to stand and fell to the ground, perhaps face down on the ground, He began crying out to the Father "take away this cup from Me, nevertheless not My will but Yours". Yes I believe there are those prayer times and seasons, that because of the weight of the prayer it can be a contact sport. Having no strength left in you, you might find yourself face down on the ground. Have you been in that place, where the Spirit has put such a burden of prayer on you, that it drains you of your physical strength that all you can do is fall or lay flat on the ground crying out to God for that person, place or event.These are the warriors/intercessor's that God is looking for! Christians that will deny self in order to carry the burden full term. Are we carrying a burden for an Awakening so heavy on our spirit that we're willing to give up the momentary comforts of this life to cry out for souls to make an eternal choice? Is apathy and indifference keeping us from our holy commission to reach the lost? We first must have revival in our own hearts. We must leave the sleepy camp of apathy and run to the upper room of revival. Face planting ourselves on the threshing floor until the Spirit blows upon our hearts filling us with power, igniting us do His will! Are you waiting for the pastor to lead you in prayer? If he isn't given to prayer he won't be leading the church in corporate prayer, except for introductory prayer and or just before his sermon. If you aren't a praying church you won't be experiencing revival, but you will be like dead bones seating in pews. Jesus said "let the dead bury the dead". Many may want to see an Awakening come to America, we certainly would agree we need one. But how many who want one are willing to labor, intercede, carrying it to full term? Many have gone into the fields early laboring, others started mid day, still others in the afternoon. Now Christ is calling still more before the day has ended to come and labor in the fields of intercession for all will receive the same reward---Awakening. So let the heart be broken and let the tears flow over matters to great for your understanding. Allow the Spirit to come and form you into that prayer warrior that you have been designed for.

Real prayer. What is real prayer, and what is the difference between real and fake, or should I say "passing by prayer". Let me use one example for this season as we remember our Lords death and resurrection. Jesus was in Gethsemane with His disciples and as He went to pray they were asked to watch and pray with Him. Jesus being heavy burden and distressed said "Father if it is possible let this cup pass from Me, yet not as I will but as Thou wilt. Now that's real prayer! Dying to our will and living for His. Real prayer changes the heart. Real prayer requires denying self. Real prayer will bury the temptations of this life and resurrect you a new person. The disciples couldn't watch and pray even for an hour. I think the definition for fake or passing by prayer is because we don't have the time or should I say "want to take time from our schedule" we just pass by the throne room of our Father and throw up a few requests and we're on our way. The disciples were indifferent and apathetic and that is why they couldn't watch and pray for at lest an hour and that's why they fell into temptation. Fake prayer will never change you. Real prayer will give you the power to do His will and give you a heart to want more time with Him. Christ our resurrected Lord and Savior is calling the church to "come away with Me My beloved" and linger in My presence and you will be changed,really changed!!

The set up, a one world religion visitation

Revelations 13 This historic visit by the new Pope is more than a gathering of the faithful followers of the Catholic religion. It is more than an outward appearance of humility and reaching out to governments and every sect of life. More than enlisting new converts and re-enlistings those who strayed away. This visit has been in the workings for decades, not so much from the present Pope but behind the scenes by the red dragon himself. It was also Pope John Paul the 2nd agenda when he was in the Vatican. It is to unite all governments, all people and all religions to be one. Before the return of Christ the revived Roman empire must be in full swing which means one world government,with one world leader and one world religion, with one leader. The red dragon (Satan) is already raising up the first beast (antichrist) and shortly another beast will emerge the false prophet (religious leader). We are in the season of the church and history that a worldwide set up is taking place. A setting up of the world wide stage which will reveal the antichrist and false prophet. There is also a coming event unlike any witnessed and certainly greater than the Popes visit, he is just a pawn being used in this set up. I am talking about the second coming of Jesus, when every eye will see Him. But before this event happens an apostasy must come first, a falling away from the faith by born again believers (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). The scriptures are very clear but the exact timing of His coming is not. With the multitude of events that have been taking place just over the last five years one would think we are on the brink of destruction. This Pope may not be the false prophet of Revelation 13:11-18 but he is one that dresses in sheep's clothing and he may not know it but his statements of embracing all religions as one is the same agenda as the Bahai faith which is now considered the largest religion in the world. Can you not see the wolf? he may be walking around in white sheep's clothing with a message of peace, harmony and benevolence, but I see another wolf laying a foundation for the antichrist. These things don't happen overnight, there has been a gradual implementing from the red dragon upon the mindset of the world that they will be ready to embrace this world leader (the antichrist )which will be raised up from a fatal wound and all will worship him. But lets not forget the Fathers agenda who ultimately is allowing these events to take place because in the final battle Righteousness prevails and the King of glory will establish His kingdom with a new heaven and new earth. The antichrist and false prophet will be thrown into the pit alongside the red dragon and there will be no more sin. Many in the church don't care about these coming events and many who are not a part of a local church, for  many various reasons are fine with just living their lives and enjoying being a child of the King. Jesus said in Luke 12:54-56 that they were able to see a change in the weather and it was so. But then He called them hypocrites because they could analyze the appearance of the earth and sky but they would not analyze this present time. I believe it is very important for us believers, saints of God, to know the times and seasons. To be awake that we won't be lead astray by an event that seems so inviting to one that is so vulnerable and not knowing what the scriptures are saying about the end times. Don't be that wild stallion who thinks they can make it on their own without the covering of their master in the form of His authority played out in the greater church body of believers. Come into the yoke of the King that you can be a strong seasoned majestic war horse with eyes wide open understanding these times.(Zach. 10:3)