Jeremiah 12:5       

If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan (war) ?  KJV

             Exodus 17 and Numbers 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 20 & 21

If you recall, God’s chosen people lost their patience in the wilderness with Moses and God, constantly complaining and accusing them as they traveled from Egypt to Canaan. God wasn’t doing this right and Moses wasn’t doing that right. A rabble had banned together, stirring up more complaints—complaints against God’s provision. Where were the leeks, melons, and garlic they enjoyed in Egypt—at no cost? Now, no water! They might as well have stayed in Egypt than die in the wilderness. What did God expect of them, anyway?  Even Miriam, Moses sister, slung accusations against Moses authority, claiming equality with him.

And the complaining goes on, right up to arriving at the door of God’s promise of freedom, possessing their own land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Well, not so fast, God. They had just spent 40 years wandering around in the wilderness without proper food or water and now they had to go into this, so called, “promised land” and fight off giants? Surely, God could have done better than this for His chosen…. 

They had not trusted God, or His messengers, Moses and Aaron. Their lack of trust and continuous complaining and accusing finally provoked God, and it ended for them in the wilderness, costing them their inheritance of a good land with a good life.  They died in the wilderness, without ever receiving their promise. Moses died with them for his disobedience when striking the rock when God instructed him to speak to the rock the second time around. Disobedience cost Moses his promise after 40 years of obedience, while the people lost their promise from years of accusing and complaining.

There were consequences…fire, snakes and plague…and for Miriam’s accusation against Moses—leprosy. When Moses cried out for God’s mercy for Miriam, God relented and healed the leprosy after seven days. Both Miriam and Aaron died in the wilderness (Num 20:1, 20:24).

Maybe you have learned not to accuse or blame God, but you have singled out persons, or groups, and go about telling all they are doing wrong, or did, wrong, and how you are suffering because of what they are doing, or did, or how others are suffering because of what they are doing or did. Maybe you even take a glance over your shoulder every once in a while, hoping to see that God has judged them for all the evil they did to you, or others you see suffering because of them.  Or maybe you’re the one laying on the side of the road, bleeding, after suffering an excruciating loss and everyone passes you by without even glancing.

Let’s cut to the here-and-now and get specific: We’ll call this section Lancing The Boil…. We will use God’s word to do the cutting Hebrews 4:12. Out will ooze the stench of infection and the poison.             (Prov 3:11-12 Spoken to me many times over the years!) 

1. Marriage/abandonment/abuse/divorce: Malachi 2:14-17 God hates divorce. Remember, there is no marriage in heaven—no sex—we are as the angels (Matt 22:28-30), we are here to prepare for Jesus as His Bride (Rev 19:7-8). Look at the end of the article for a more complete (not exhaustive) list of scriptures.

My personal take on the subject of marriage after 50 years experience, as well as a trained lay-counselor for over twenty years: Marriage is one of our strongest and most effective character builders. If

you have quit on your marriage because it feels too difficult for you to learn the lessons or it feels like there is something better for you somewhere else—you have missed out on a tremendous opportunity for growth in your character and understanding of your relationships here on earth and with Jesus Christ, our soon coming Bridegroom. I could easily write an entire book on this subject alone.

My encouragement to you is to stick with it and consider how your situation will bring growth and development to your character, a sense of fulfillment and success to your life, as you decide to do it God’s way. Marriage is His plan for us—and between us and Jesus—so He has a pretty good idea how it all works out in the end. The end of a thing is better than the beginning—A word God spoke to me very early on, which I sincerely pondered a number of times over the years regarding my marriage (Eccl 7:8). I am so grateful I listened….

2. Workplace: Peter 2:18-19 Some rock throwing might be done under the guise of “authority”. One might think they are just setting a paid employee straight, wanting to improve production. Whether we are the boss or the servant, always do it God’s way, whether it changes others or not, it will change us. Proverbs 15:1 Talking back, gossiping, spreading rumors, trashing the boss or employees are no, nos. If you are strongly discontent with an employee, let them go and sincerely wish them well. If your work is unbearable, go somewhere you fit in. If there is complexity in either of these choices, do it God’s way. You will never regret it. 1 Peter 3:8-14 Are you getting the picture that complaining is a two-edged sword.

3. Church: Matt 12:24-31– Zech 3:1-2, I will chose pastors over you Jer 3:15,  Obey those who have rule over you Heb 13:17 ; Matt 16:18 I will build My Church….

The following comments come from years of experience, attending a variety of churches when God has sent me a distance on various writing assignments. Here is what I have seen and heard over the past 46 years. God loves His Church. Jesus died for His Church. Jesus (the Bridegroom) is coming for His Church (the Bride). But He says in Revelation He has a few things against some of His family. Let Revelation speak for itself (Rev 3:1-22).

There are primarily 3 issues that are consistent wherever He sends me: gossip and slander, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit’s work and resistance against a servant of God and their  vision and assignment from God.  (There are many wonderful things going on in Jesus Church, but here, we are dealing with a specific issue that God is asking us to pay serious attention to. If you read my book Voices Crying in the Wilderness, A call to prophesy, you will see the amazing revelation God gave to me regarding His love for His Church, and my love for His Church also. I have never attended a church I didn’t like…it would be like telling Jesus He didn’t know what He was doing.) 

4. Family/friends  A friend must show himself friendly Prov 18:24; mother-in-law against daughter-in-law Luke 12:53 Familiarity breeds contempt. Definition: Idiom—extensive knowledge of or close association with someone or something leads to a loss of respect for them or it. Coined by Geoffrey Chaucer  1300s. Stay loyal, stay faithful, stay respectful, keep confidences to yourself….

5. Neighbors: Matt 22:35-40, Mark 12:31 love your neighbor as yourself, who is my neighbor? Luke 10:25-37, Exod 20:16-17, Prov 3:28

6 Government: Rom 13:1, Matt 22:15-21-render to Ceasar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which belongs to God. Governments are put in place by God Rom 13:1. God raises up kings and puts down kings Dan 2:21-22. This subject is so volatile at this point and so expansive, I will only say…if you are calling out to Jesus to come…to return for His Church…for His Bride…understand that when He returns all will not be well on the earth. Be prepared. (Rev 22:17; all of Chapter 22!)

7. Yourself: You shall have what you speak Job 3:25; You are fearfully and wonderfully made Psa 139:14. I knew you in your mother’s womb Jer 1:5;  I knew you before the foundation of the world Eph 1:4-5 You did not choose Me, but I chose you John 15:16. *I loved you first 1 John 4:19-21

Speaking evil of yourself is deadly: I’m…too tall, too short, not smart, too fat, too skinny, unloved, not respected, lonely and so on. These thoughts will program and control your mind, emotions and life’s direction. Matt 12:36-37 This applies to all the above….

             Don’t lose heart, now. You can do this. Don’t click the x yet. Read on. Remember your promised land. Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Don’t procrastinate, go in and possess your promise. God will help you slay your giants. Don’t look back, whether you are the accused or the accuser; whether you are the complainer or the one complained against. Let go and leave it all behind. Keep your focus on Jesus, He is always moving forward, and shut down the complaint department. Be quick to get off the merry-go-round of complaining, accusing (Rev 12:9-11) and trying to figure it all out, and give the victim mentality the boot!.  Get up quickly, move ahead and leave the junk behind.

End of Part II OUCH!

Part III FALL OUT—Taking a look at the damages…

1.  Marriage: Genesis 2:24, Eph 5:22-29, Matt 19:4-6, Col 3:18, 1Peter 3:7, Hebrews 13:4, Eccl 4:10, 1Cor 7:2-5, Prov 6:27, 29, Hebrews 13:4, 1Cor 6:9-10, Exodus 20:14, Proverbs 6:26, Proverbs 23:27-35, 1Cor 6:18, Matt 5:32.

(Part IV we will use His Word again to cleanse and heal the wounds, so keep looking forward! There is hope and healing in sight!)

THROWING ROCKS Part I

             My family moved many times over the years as my father’s work frequently took him a distance from our home for many months at a time. My mother’s way of supporting my father’s work was to move us all closer to where his next project took him so that he would have a home to come to after 12- and 16-hour days of strenuous labor. At that time, my father was a logger on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada.

This move took us to a small island off the west coast. Accommodation was limited on the island when we first arrived. The only housing available for a family of five was a converted chicken coup. Maybe that’s what triggered the somewhat hostile reaction to us three kid’s intrusion into the small community and the one room school.

We walked to and from school each day. Perhaps a mile or so. There were two brothers that also walked the distance with us. Well, I can’t say they walked with us, as they walked behind us and threw rocks at us, taunting us and laughing at us. I didn’t understand this rock throwing business. We had never done such a thing to others, nor was it done where we came from. Every day these two brothers followed us, throwing rocks as they had the day before. One day a gentleman came along in his ox cart. He pulled up beside us and beckoned us into his cart, glancing a good scowl at the rock throwers as we clattered on down the road to the little schoolhouse. The rock throwing and name calling came to a halt soon after our ride with the gentleman. Perhaps he had something to say about it to the brothers or their folks. We did move from the converted chicken coup shortly after to a very nice, large home near the ocean.

The point is. Throwing rocks at others hurts. It intimidates and causes confusion in other’s lives. God showed me something about rock throwing today. Do you know that complaining is a form of rock throwing?

God, our Heavenly Father, wants us to see some things differently. He is calling us higher to a holiness we have not yet known or understood. Hopefully, this message brings lifechanging revelation to our spirits and brings greater revelation of the nature of our amazing God. Amen.

The story of the two brothers randomly came to my mind as I waited for God to provide me with the complete revelation of what He was increasingly, unfolding in my understanding. He was putting His powerful finger on a subject He wanted us to pay serious attention to.

I could not devise this message on my own, it was so complex to me. Where do I ever start with this, Lord?  Then in a moment, for no apparent reason, the story of the two brothers came to my remembrance. Suddenly, the whole mishmash of notes and insights I had assembled over the months made sense.

Holy Spirit has called me to talk to us all about complaining. It is not at all what one might think. It is not at all what I thought….

***Watch for Part II to IV before the end of Feb/23.  Comments and questions welcome.

Hindsight tells me this all really began in 2001. My husband and I were privileged to host a series of hospitality dinners for our Church in hopes to stir up the pot, so to speak. No pun intended…. These dinners were designed to mix up a rapidly growing congregation of saints (reaching about 900) which had a need to become plugged in and connect with others merely on a social level over good food and lighthearted fellowship. One of these dinners made an indelible impression on my heart.

There were generally about 20 guests each month. A team of six of us prepared a formal, sumptuous, pampered, scratch prepared, five course dinner, pulling out all the stops. That is to say—we were considerably well off and in possession of all the good stuff such as restaurant grade foods with all the trimmings—you get the picture. I am not one to hoard. All the good stuff was given to us by God to bless others.  So that’s what we did with it—and continue to do so. Anyway, there was one dinner that stood out. Six guys from a rehab house showed up. I was quickly impressed by these clean-cut looking men, mostly in their mid-30s, as I recall.  They had a great time and mixed in with ease. Now please understand. This was the first experience I had had with up-close substance abuse—bottom line—drug addicts. I never considered that I would ever be entertaining drug addicts in my home.

These guys did not “look like” drug addicts to me. I was accustomed to seeing such people on the streets of east-end Vancouver, dishevelled, begging, or dropped against a building in a state of stupor. These men were, as I said, all clean-cut and apparently ordinary folk.

At the end of the dinner, while all the other dinner guests made their way about the living room and family room to continue the relaxed fellowship we became accustomed to witness, one man remained at the white, linen covered table. He was softly weeping. I stepped over and sat near him and asked if he was ok. He was one of the guys from rehab-mid-30s. He wiped his eyes and said, “Yes, thanks.” But the tears continued to flow, so I waited. He was looking down at the white linen tablecloth as he sobbed. He lifted his eyes from this thoughtful gaze and looked at me. “I just don’t understand why you would invite me to your home and make me welcome.” He wiped his eyes once more, now able to speak out what had brought him to tears. “No one has ever invited me to their home—ever….” I was speechless. His words gripped my heart, and I knew then that I would never see these souls the same again. It was a God moment. His compassion, mercy and grace flooded my heart for these men that He had placed in our home.. In hindsight—He was preparing us for something we did not understand then…but a time would come when we did understand….

Alison Teed

Fast and Prayer Vigil: February 21 and 26, 2017

I believe it is important to describe the experience of how God sometimes brings a prophetic Word to my attention. Strangely, on occasion, I receive a distinct “impression” of a revelation while simply walking down a hallway in my home. Why He speaks to me in hallways I have no idea, but this is again how He chose to download the following prophetic revelation, I was simply on my way down the hall, heading to my office and a sudden download flooded my mind. “The politically correct era is no more.” It was surely a wow! moment for me. I could never have thought that up on my own. As I meditated on this He spoke to me that this was not necessarily a good change. If we did not pray the shift could become more horrible than we ever could imagine. Those who are in a position of power and authority are in the process of analyzing and deciding what the new paradigm will look like. They will decide how we are socially molded for the future. He is calling His people to stop, listen and pray now while those who have the power to make decisions on our behalf are struggling and muddling through the process of establishing new laws and a new order.

This is the first time that I have followed a political movement. It is absolutely fascinating to me what is transpiring around the world; and the reason it is so fascinating is that He has shown me how close is His return. (see page A-8 PROPHECY: The Writer’s Visions and Dreams from God.)

On the second day of this fast I closed my  Facebook and again I experienced a sudden download from the Holy Spirit: “There is a separating of the sheep from the goats.”Wow! How dare I profess to have heard such a thing from God! But I tell you this is what I heard and there will be no doubt of who is who and where heads of nations stand and the peoples within the nations stand. There is a great shaking of the nations; there is a great dividing within the nations...the sheep vs the goats. The angels are sent forth….

“The “Politically Correct” era is drawn to a close. A new era is ignited, yet undefined. This is not necessarily good news. It is entirely reliant upon how the new era of social intercourse is defined.”

“There is a separating of the sheep from the goats”, ushering in:

1. The long awaited revival of God’s people

2. Those who have turned from God and turned back to the world for their hope to satisfy the hungers of the flesh. (Not trying to make this “religious”. This is what the Holy Spirit it instructing me to record here.)

3. A massive move of the Holy Spirit upon the earth as He pours out His power and glory upon all nations, tribes and tongues of the earth.  Those who receive His visitation and revelation of Jesus Christ, the only way to the Father, He will welcome into His Kingdom forever. Amen.

Acts 4:11-12
11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” NKJV

John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  NKJV

Acts 2:21
21 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’  NKJV

Multitudes, multitudes now stand in the valley of decision. Pray for them. Millions upon millions around the globe stand undecided which side to stand. Do I stand with the sheep or the goats? Pray for them. Speak to the dry bones that they should live! Pray for the multitudes.

Go to:  Pages A-8 and A-9 PROPHECY  GOD IS ON THE MOVE!! JESUS CHRIST IS ON THE HORIZON!

Joel 3:14-16

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision…. 

Ezek 37:1-10

1 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”

4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”‘

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.

9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”‘” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
NKJV

When God brought me into this region He did not tell me who I would reach or what I would do; He simply said He was sending me to a specific place. When I arrived He quickly spoke Ezek 37:1-10 and I was to prophecy to a specific people and intercede on their behalf…a people He had rescued and brought out of bondage…a people He loved, loved, loved. This then became my anthem for this region.

Now He is saying, “Speak to the dry bones around the earth who stand undecided and confused and unable to understand what is happening. Speak life to these dry bones and they shall live! For my eyes run to and fro throughout the earth seeking those I might show myself strong!” Amen and amen.

Pray for the multitudes, pray for the dry bones and they will live! Pray for revelation of Jesus Christ and His wonderful gift of salvation. Pray for their understanding to be enlightened. Pray they will come to the light and forsake the darkness of the world. Pray for God’s mighty hand to save to reach out to every corner of the earth and rescue and save the multitude. Amen and amen.

F-1 WORDS FOR INSPIRATION:

An essay by Alison Teed ©June 10/10

A young man stood pensively waiting at a starting line. Shaking out any tightness from his limbs, he moved from one foot to the other.  His mind was set not on the start he would make, nor on the race itself, but on the finish line. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the ion charged air. He turned toward the crowd, reaching his long, fit arms up over his head he gave the cheering crowd a wave—a promise he wouldn’t disappoint them.  He glanced at his opponents now lining up along the start line in the outside lanes. He smiled at them nodding; he knew now that the gold was his for the taking.

Then a gangly man trotted up and took his place alongside the crowd’s favorite on the very inside lane—he was a skeleton of a man, really. But he displayed confidence as he waved to the still cheering crowd. The crowd was dumb-founded at the sight of the skinny contestant alongside their favorite. Mocking laughter began to roll through the crowd, some jeering insults.  The more polite spectators in the crowd merely scowled, whispering back and forth.  But the skinny man waved the more, apparently oblivious to the crowd’s disapproval.

An official strode to the starting line raising his starting gun.  The crowd hushed.

“On your mark!” came the command.

The runners took their stance on the starting line.

“Get set!”

They planted their feet, tensing their muscles and owning their positions—they were ready….

Pop!

The runners leapt from the starting line and sped off down the track. Sure enough, the crowd favorite moved into the lead—swift and sure he streaked around the track.  The crowd cheered him on.

The skinny man had a slow start and stumbled, almost falling. The pack was already far ahead, leaving him to regain his balance and find his pace.  It was evident to all that he didn’t have the slimmest chance. By the time he reached only half the first lap the favorite had already passed him, the others close behind. And then again, crossing the starting line for the first time, the favorite sped past him once more.

The crowd cheered for their favorite, turning on the skinny man, laughing and shouting out their contempt. Now—the rest of the runners passed him by, one by one. The crowd made such a racket it was impossible to tell which one the crowd was jeering and which one they were cheering—other than those who had something to say. Shouts came from here and there.

“He’s not fit for this race!”

“Somebody, get that skinny guy off the track!”

“Boo, boo!”

The skinny man kept his pace and gave them a cheerful wave, reassuring them that he was good to go on. He’d now run one-and-a-half laps.

Very quickly the favorite passed him again, heading down his third lap—one to go!  Feeling confident and feeding the frenzied crowd, he whizzed past the bag-of-bones, leaving him in his dust. The crowd laughed louder and cheered on their favorite. Then, another passed the bag-of-bones and another and another until the last runner brushed close to the skinny man, knocking him to the ground.

“Are you crazy? Get off the track wimp, before you get yourself hurt!” he chided as he sped past.

Medics rushed to his rescue, ready to rid the race of this nuisance, but the bag-of-bones stood to his feet just as the medics reached him and began once more to move forward, bloodied knees and all.

A woman called out from the crowd. “You got your nerve! You’re ruining the race, you fool. Who let you on the field?”

The crowd applauded her.

He gave her a wave, reassuring her he was a contender—he would make it.

He’d made two laps and he was determined he would make it all the way.

The crowd’s favorite strutted past the skinny man on his final lap.

What’s this guy trying to prove, anyway? he thought, scowling at the skinny man as he passed him by.

The crowd clapped enthusiastically cheering their favorite on. The skinny man, now feeling a burst of energy, picked up his pace and sped alongside the favorite a short distance, dropping back again, winded and appearing wobbly on his feet. Finally, the remaining pack passed him by one last time. He glanced over to see the crowd’s favorite, now on his home stretch.

The crowd cheered and applauded as their favorite victoriously crossed the finish line; then one by one they cheered on the others as they finished close behind him.

But the race was not over—there was the skinny man. His burst of energy had moved him forward and now he had just over one lap to go and the crowd was intrigued and could not resist egging him on. They began to chant.

“Go bones, go! Go bones, go!”

The skinny man waved to them as he passed by heading into his last lap. He clasped his hands over his head in a victory sign and plodded on, straightening his shoulders and pushing his chest forward. Someone dashed out onto the track pressing a bottle of water into his hand.  He drank and drank and drank until the bottle was empty. Refreshed, he picked up his pace—half a lap to go!

“Oooooh!” the crowd resounded.

He had stumbled again and staggered a bit, but then straightened himself and pressed forward.

The crowd was now on its feet cheering feverishly, as he only had half a lap to go. But his second burst forward quickly waned and the finish line blurred; he felt faint. But the crowd cheered and screamed and shouted.

“Don’t quit now!”

“Go bones, go!”

“Don’t give it up now, man!”

The skinny man moved forward as though in slow motion—one foot in front of the other—one foot in front of the other. He was gasping for air. His legs wobbled like rubber bands. But the finish line was getting closer—now only inches away!

The crowd was frantic. They could see he was fading and they’d put up with this bag-of-bones all this way—he’d better not quit now!

“Don’t quit now!  Don’t quit now! Don’t quit now!” they called out in unison.

Someone shouted, “Tenacity, man. Tenacity! You can do it!”

Then a roar arose from the crowd as the skinny man finally crossed the finish line, collapsing into a heap of bones. He lifted an arm and waved to the crowd reassuring them he was ok.

The crowd rushed the track lifting him to his feet and then up onto their shoulders, chanting, “Go bones, go! Go bones, go! Go bones, go!”

One guy called out, “This is the best race I’ve ever seen—that’s for sure. You’re cool, man. You’re cool!”

The woman who shouted at him on the last lap called out, “Whatever you got, I want some!” She clapped her hands wildly and cheered his victory.

The crowd began to disperse high-fiving and shaking their heads in unbelief at the audacity of the tenacious skinny runner.

“Who did he think he was?” one man accused.

A man from the crowd answered.

“He thinks he’s a winner,” he responded. “The skinny man knew he’d won his race when he crossed that line—as surely as the man who crossed the line first. A year from now we won’t remember who crossed first, but I assure you, we will never forget who crossed it best!”