“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places” … Christmas shopping with Jesus … being given treasures (Isaiah 45:3) Saturday 18th December 2010

We had Saturday to do child free Christmas shopping ... we booked a movie for 2.10pm and so had about 3 hours to complete our list … little did we know that Jesus was out Christmas shopping too!

I was in the “Ladies” when God told me to pray for someone outside my cubicle (yes, He talks to me everywhere). He said she had been a great blessing to others for many many years.  I washed my hands and looked at her - an elderly lady waiting in the bathroom.  I introduced myself and said that I believed she had been a great blessing to many over the years, and I asked if I could pray a blessing on her... she looked surprised but agreed – her name was Joy (second in a week!)

I prayed, knowing that this Joy knew the Joy of God, and blessed her – she teared up a little, and as a young girl came out of a cubicle asked if I would also pray for her Granddaughter.  I agreed and prayed and prophesied over her granddaughter, declaring her destiny would open and unfold and that she was a pillar and a leader in the coming move of God, which, I explained, had been recognised as a move that would come in power through the youth … Joy said excitedly that she had been praying for revival for years …

My husband had been waiting outside and he knew what was going on because people were leaving the toilets saying in amazement that there was “someone praying in there for people …” and pointing back.  I hadn’t thought about that sort of impact, but it was quite funny...

We then got a coffee and discussed our shopping.  Thinking my “God assignment” was done I thought we would have the rest of the time to get our shopping done.

As we waited for our coffees I popped into another store to “bag” our first item where “C” served me … yes, God had me pray for her, another young girl (about 16) who “felt” the anointing as I prayed and I prophesied that she would discover who and what she was created to be in the next two years (she had said she did not know, but gee she was a marvellous girl!).  I headed off with my purchase, and sat with my husband to finish our coffee …

Feeling that I must have done my dash we headed off to a sporting store where we did not purchase anything, but where I saw pass us by a very disabled (physically and mentally) girl with her parents.  The girl was strapped into her wheel chair, arms and legs tied down.  Her body was small and deformed and she had no control over her head.  I felt God’s very strong desire for her to be prayed for, but I felt so intimidated … after a bit of internal arguing I said to God “Ok, for you I’m willing to do it …” and started to search the shop for her. 

I found her, with her parents, who were waiting at the check out.  I was really nervous and fought everything in me to walk away, knowing that God really wanted me to ask if I could pray for her …

I stopped and asked her parents if I could pray – feeling that I did not want them to feel that I felt sorry for them, but that I did care.  They agreed so I knelt and spoke to their daughter who could not talk.  She was dribbling and had a rash on her face from the dampness.  Her hands were not formed properly, her body was tiny … I knelt and took her hand in mine and introduced myself to her.  Her parents looked weary and watched me as I prayed, her father leaning forward to listen.  I prayed and she locked her gaze on mine … I believe that she could clearly feel God as I prayed – her frantic movements slowed, and she held my gaze a number of times.  I prayed for her parents too, not directly but as I knelt before their daughter, feeling a strong need to pray for solutions for them, God given solutions.  I left the store thanking the girl and parents, and feeling quite wobbly … I thought perhaps nerves; my husband very encouragingly suggested it was the anointing …

“Ok” I thought, “big one down”, shake, shake, shake, “gosh, ok, deep breath” shake shake shake …

We popped into Big W and I slowly settled down, fighting the negative thoughts, the nerves.  Eventually the legs stopped shaking and I could focus on our task at hand, with Andrew encouraging me all the way … and we successfully made further purchases. 

As we left God prompted me to pray for the cashier who said to me “I am not a Christian” to which I said something like “ that doesn’t matter, I can still bless you” which I promptly did, placing my hand on his elbow as I spoke peace over him for this season of business and I blessed him …

It was time for our movie.  We headed off to the theatre and to our surprise had calmly and easily done all our shopping.  Feeling quite successful in having bagged all that we had, I waited while my husband put our purchases into the car … when out of the corner of my eye I saw a young girl in a wheelchair - both legs in leg braces … I ignored the very brief quiet prompting, preferring to hear the louder “no” that came very much on top of the very quiet, brief “pray for her”.  The prompt was so subtle, and I tried to ignore her, turning me back, but I knew I had to stop for this one too …

I went up to her Mother and introduced myself and asked what her daughter had done and if I could pray.  The Mum was called “A” and was also with her teenage son who looked like he had down syndrome, but who we later found out had autism … she looked at me and immediately said that would be great. 

I knelt by the young girl (she was 14 years old) and laid hands on both legs.  A brick wall had fallen on her, crushing one leg, breaking it.  In the surgery they had had to remove the growth plate and so they had to do the same with the other leg so that they would grow at the same rate.  I placed my hands on her legs (after she also gave me permission) and as I prayed she felt heat.  I kept laying hands and praying and prophesying as her friends waited by our side, politely not looking … I asked her if she had asked Jesus into her heart … she said she had, but I said lets do it again and so she asked Jesus into her heart and asked Him to fill her up … I continued to pray and when she said “enough” I thanked her and looked at her Mother who thanked me …

I thought I was going to go into the movie theatre (time was ticking along and we had not been to a movie for years by ourselves so it was a real treat) when I felt to pray for her brother … so I asked the Mother again if I could pray for the brother and she readily agreed …

The boy called “B” was 16.  He swayed heavily under the anointing, and I motioned to Andrew who quickly steadied him – you could see he was incredibly “open” to God’s presence.  I said to him to say “Jesus come into my heart” – he did – I said “say Jesus fill me up” he did and kept saying it over and over and laughed and swayed under the anointing … I finished praying and turned to the mother, and knew I had to pray for her too … I thought, “Well this is more important than being on time for the movie”, and offered to pray … she agreed.

As I prayed for the mother the compassion of God for her came upon me and I nearly started to cry, she looked like she did too.  I received words of knowledge about her – she was struggling (that was obviously a possibility given her two kids), she was making major decisions, and she was a single Mum.  She told me she had 3 children and had told my husband prior to me praying that she had found the recent challenges with her daughter’s injury tough.  I prayed and she quietly received, she was so very thirsty for God and drank Him in, and as I finished praying for her, I placed my arms around her and held her close for a long long time … she hung on … I went to release her after some time … she hung on quietly … I went to release again and she hung on … so I just stood in the middle of the busy shopping centre and let her drink and cling to me for what seemed and eternity …

I gave her our church card and I wrote my private number on it so she could call me if she felt she wanted to …

As we walked away my husband said to me that he believed that we were there, not so much for the daughter, but for the Mother, who had been through such a tough time and so needed God and His loving, living waters …

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me … streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:38-39).  

We did see our movie – we missed most of the promos, which was great, and we even had time to go to the bathroom and settle in before the show started … God had it all timed beautifully and I am so glad that I did not rush because He had treasures in the darkness to give …

This is what the Lord says to his anointed

…

I will go before you and will level the mountains;

I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.

I will give you the treasures of darkness,

riches stored in secret places,

so that you may know that I am the Lord,

the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”

Every person I encountered was a treasure in the darkness, waiting to be discovered.  Each was a treasure set out for me to discover, to find, to uncover, my foot steps were ordered by a loving and knowing God, who not only blessed us with the miracle of a great time together Christmas shopping in the Christmas rush, but who also entrusted 10 people that all needed a touch from their mighty and loving God … 10 people who will be altered for ever more.  He left those treasures out for me to find because …

God is Good.

Post Script: I have just got off the phone to the Mum (A) who rang just as I finished typing this story up.  She says the following has happened:

1.                  Her daughter has been able to stand without crutches since Saturday;

2.                  Her son has lost his aggression and is much calmer.  She says his eyes look “more alert” and he has stopped asking about his father who left the family earlier this year.  She says the “worry has lifted from his face”.  He is “much calmer”, and is saying “Jesus fill me up” all the time and is laying hands on his mother and family friends and asking her “can you feel that?” … and she can;

3.                  The mum (A) has felt much more peace (in her home and in herself) and is now starting to take care of herself (which she had ceased to do thinking “what was the point”).  She has started eating 3 meals a day and is taking care of herself and is feeling at peace.

She told me she had thought about the encounter every day since Saturday (it is Tuesday as I write this).  She told me that it was no coincidence that we met - just before she met us she had looked for a car park and just knew that she would find one on the middle level (where she met us) at about 1.30pm … just in time to meet us after getting her daughter out of the car with the wheel chair.  She said that she had told her daughter that there would be a car park for them in that place, and there was a reason for the delay in finding one …

During our discussion on the telephone A gave her heart to Christ.  We talked at length and she shared some of her story with me.  She asked for and received the gift of tongues.  She felt “tingling up and down her legs” as we prayed and felt the tingles again over her head … later feeling her spirit spot burn lightly … she is now on the road to finding a church to call “home” and I will see her for coffee tomorrow.  We will continue to walk together and together we will see that …

GOD IS GOOD!

Three treasures in the darkness are now in the light ….

YES, GOD IS GOOD!

Reaching into the empty barrel and finding God’s power and love for others regardless of me! Wednesday 15th December 2010

I was at kindy pick up for my 3 year old.  I saw a Mum whom I had prayed for at a play date a few weeks ago.  At the time she was interested in why I was fasting and I explained that Australia was in revival - a mighty move of God was afoot across this wonderful nation.  At the time this opened up the opportunity, after she shared some very private and painful history, for me to pray for her … at the time she felt electricity running up her arms and she cried as she felt His presence course through her body.

Well, today at kindy pick up she looked tired.  I asked her if she was and she teared up so I placed my hand gently on her shoulder and prayed, releasing peace and rest.  She said she was sleeping ok, but that she was not feeling refreshed, so I prayed that one hour of sleep would be as four … after which I hugged her tearing up myself … and told her to call if she ever wanted prayer.

I then drove to DFO and felt to go to a shop opposite.  I was not sure why but as we wandered I saw a woman with a wrist brace on – she had torn tendons in her wist and thumb.  I offered to pray.  She agreed and she told me she felt tingling … which continued after I finished as she continued around the store.

Another woman saw me further around the store and said something about the stress she was feeling – she was hosting her son’s wedding reception at her home and Christmas.  I agreed that that would be stressful.  She said thank you – I felt I had somehow seen her.

I came across her again.  I felt she had been watching me and was placing herself in my path.  She engaged me in further conversation during which I asked her if she would like me to pray for her.  She readily agreed saying she saw me over the other side praying for the other woman … “she had been watching me” I thought and she wanted prayer. 

Her name was “Joy”.  Well I prayed for Joy … for Joy to be released into her destiny, and for joy (the Spirit of Joy) to come upon and within her … for her to receive “joy”, and to be Joy and all that that entailed … I also prayed into the other circumstances she had shared with me … all the while my 3 year old was wandering …

As I prayed I looked at her and said “you can feel that can’t you?”  She nodded and nearly started crying.  When I finished she looked at me and said she wondered if I knew some Christians on her street in a nearby suburb. 

I thought “oh no … here we go” but then she told me their names and they were my Pastors!  She said I was just like them … she had been watching them, and now she had been watching me.  God was obviously on her case.  My pastors’ witness had impacted her, and it was no coincidence that I had come and prayed for.  I told her that I had not known why I had come to the shop but it was apparently for her … it was not a coincidence, God was on her case.

I wished her well and finished wandering through the shop. 

Suffice to say, my barrel was empty today.  Like many people at this time of year, life is busy, children excited and their behaviour can be challenging, people make demands and others can be unkind, we can feel our barrel is empty … we have nothing of ourselves to give however … God’s barrel is never empty …despite me and my circumstances as I reached into my empty barrel God came through and touched three thirsty women all in the space of about one hour.  All needed a touch of God for different reasons …

As long as I will stop for the one, regardless of how I feel, regardless of me my God can and does move to touch a hurting world, and today I saw how His arm is long enough to embrace others, His grace is sufficient for my needs and His desires to be fulfilled, His barrel is deep enough and His power is ever available … despite me … if I will only stop for the one … and allow the river to flow, not only will He refresh me as He flows through me, but He will also show the world that …

God is Good.

Ballet Mum feels “the energy” … and other stories for the day Saturday 11th December 2010

I was backstage at our children’s ballet concert.  A child hurt her foot so I mopped her tears, crouched down, placed my hand on her foot and released healing in Jesus name.  The crying stopped.  She blinked and looked at me … she said it still hurt, but the crying had stopped … I ran to the foyer to meet family and friends for the show …

At the end of half time I bumped into a friend (a Ballet Mum) who sounded like she was struggling with a nasty cold.

Only 2 weeks before she had asked me whether I was a Christian and what type … I said a Bible believing type that believes in a loving God that heals the sick ...

I had seen Darwin’s book on Evolution in her car a week prior, but had not commented on it … knowing that we were on a journey together …

In any case, at this moment I offered to pray and she readily agreed.  I placed my hand on her upper chest and her upper back standing to her right side.

I felt nothing but prayed anyway, feeling very conspicuous … all my family, my in laws and some friends were there as were a throng of others.

As I continued to pray I did feel a gentle anointing and asked her if she felt anything and she said …

YEAH!  I can feel “the energy” … and she motioned up and down the back of her head and upper back … the way she said it indicated that she really felt it -strongly.  I blessed what the Holy Spirit was doing and prayed “More” (thank you Randy Clark Healing School!)

I then stepped out with a word of knowledge and said “you have been stressed haven’t you?” … she had.  I prayed peace and a release of angels.

I then said “you have not been sleeping well have you?”

To which she said “you are starting to really freak me out now”.  I said that God was just letting me know so that I would know what to pray, so I prayed rest and peace and beautiful sleep, with a covering of God’s angelic hosts around her and her family …

The ballet started again … so I scurried back to my seat.

After the show I hurried back stage to collect my children and a woman was there that had lost her voice.  She usually had a very booming voice and had been so mean and gruff with the kids and rude and loud with the parents two weeks before, that when I realised she had no voice I very ungraciously thought it was poetic justice that she had lost her voice … but I straightened out my attitude, reminded myself that God loved her, and that I had been praying peace and loving kindness over her since the unkind behaviour, and with attitude in check I offered to pray for her, explaining that I believed that God would heal her … she said “no thanks” …

So we headed off.  In the car park I said goodbye to a friend of mine, a friend of another faith, who had also lost her voice, who had received a few other miracles in the last year that we had been friends, and she let me lay hands on her and pray for healing …

So I had been through a ballet concert, watched my children glow with delight onstage, and had four opportunities to pray for four different people, all who need a loving God.

I do not know how the Ballet mum is, I have been tempted to call but I know I will see her soon.  Regardless of outcome I do know that she now has evidence that there is something, a power, she knows because she experienced it … an “energy” … she felt the Gospel on her body … her experience will help refute any theory she may be reading … her experience is undeniable evidence … I do not need to argue a single point, because she has tasted and seen (and felt) a good God … the rest God will take care of as she goes on a journey … just as He took care of me all those years ago, because I know that God makes sense, He is real, He loves us and ….

God is Good.

Prayer for the groom … and a praise report - another destiny opens Thursday 9th December 2010

I dropped something into school for my daughter and saw her teacher sitting at her desk without any students in the room.

I congratulated her on being married (last Friday night) and asked her about her husband who had been admitted into hospital on Sunday night with suspected appendicitis.  She told me that it was not appendicitis but a suspected viral infection in his pelvic region.

It was her second last day working for the year and I had not had the chance to pray for her all year, but had been waiting for an opportunity … and here it was!

I asked if she would like me to pray, she said "yes" and I then felt prompted to take her hand and pray rather than do it privately so I did … as I invited Holy Spirit to come the anointing was discernible … I asked her if she felt it – she did.  I prayed for her husband’s healing and for favour to be on them as a couple, especially for their honeymoon to Italy in one week’s time explaining that as we give away favour it then flows to others (I quickly shared a few examples) … I told her that we prayed for her nearly every day on the way to school … I then asked her if her husband was very stressed – he was – so I prayed peace for him while the class children came back into the room …

I trust that her husband is healed and well.  I look forward to hearing the testimony …

I then went to a chocolate shop to buy some gifts for Christmas.  I saw a woman I had prayed for more than a month ago … one of the first I had prayed “open doors” to destiny for on the streets so to speak … at the time she had been amazed because I had prayed for a new job etc and she told me after that she had been looking for a new job, that she was a Christian from a local church and she was looking for new direction …

I had not expected to see her in the shop today, knowing she had wanted to move on, but there she was and she said to me that she had been thinking about me just recently - she had just got a new job late last week … one she did not think she would get at the interview but she had and it would allow her to care for hurting people which was her heart’s desire …

I told her how God had been opening doors to destinies a lot recently and I briefly shared little S’s dad’s story and Karen's story about a friend’s daughter having a door opened for her after prayer … after a brief chat I hugged her and said what an amazing journey she was on …

God is Good! – he let me know the result of the prayers for the woman at the chocolate shop, who confirmed she would now be moving on and was excited to do so … and He gave me a chance to pray for my daughter’s school teacher after a year of waiting for the right time, when I had thought that the year was through and I had missed the chance … yes …

God is good!

More doors to destinies opening – the power of the testimony … a friend’s testimony received Sunday 5th December 2010

Last Sunday I received the following message from a friend who is receiving the God is Good stories … she has caught the wind of the power of the testimony (thank you Bill Johnson) and taken a testimony for a friend’s daughter … prayed and released the testimony for the friends daughter … who saw breakthrough within 24 hours just like little S’s dad did (see below for blog reference).

She says:

“Just want to let you know that after reading your testimonies re destiny and doors opening, I claimed that same grace for a daughter of some dear friends, who was in great need of a break through with respect to doors of opportunity opening for her. (She had failed to be accepted into hospital placements even 2nd time around). Next day after doing this on her behalf she received an offer just as she had desired!!

The power of testimony. In fact the Lord told me this is how we are all equal in the Kingdom - we are able to take hold of each others' testimonies.”

This made me so happy … I got really excited as I read this … there was such joy that welled up!  This beautiful woman of God took the promise contained in the testimony for another and released the power of it again to see someone she knew freed to walk into her destiny … it is like having a little bag of goodies that as we share our testimonies of God’s goodness we then have the resource to multiply the miracle … again … and again … I think our God is into multiplying more than just bread and fish … and as we release His goodness to others, as we co-labour with Him, with the simple utterance from our mouths … we will continue to see that …

God is Good!

Stories referred to are:

1. Declaring destinies … last month’s prayer is an open door into a family and their destiny (Wednesday 10^th November 2010) posted 11^th November 2010 and
2. Door to destiny opens … answer to prayer … and inviting God to “do again” and “again” (Monday 15^th November 2010 and Wednesday 17^th November 2010) posted 18^th November 2010.

God brings them to my door ... & I found my treasure in Mentone Part 2 of 2 Thursday 10th June 2010

Then later the same day … I found my treasure in Mentone ...

I had written out the following (that I remember) for my treasure hunt list on Sunday night:
Trudi ?

red hair, curly short

green eyes, yellow in them, Around eyes - rash - been crying?  - red?

Sore wrist

Limping

Jeans, brown boots, blue shirt, … cannot remember the rest

Mentone

Inside

Bakers Delight/Op Shop/Post Office

Yesterday I had prayed for a “Judy” not Trudi (see Myer is full of the Spirit posted Tuesday 30^th November 2010) and she did cry (a lot) and was red around the eyes, she had a sore wrist (arthritis and I prayed for her hand) and she had reddish hair (although she denied it), it was in Myer (inside). 

Judy had looked at the list yesterday and said it was not her … I hasten to add I think she was on the list but never to mind because I had kept the list and needed it this particular day … and I had kept looking. 

At this stage I had not yet read Kevin Dedmon’s The Ultimate Treasure Hunt so I did not know you could have more than one treasure on a treasure hunt list …

I needed bread and sensing that God was up to something I waited for His timing … I felt to go about midday.  I “coincidentally” remembered my list, checked it over and looked for anyone to match my descriptions - again not feeling too sure since this was not how I usually prayed for people on the streets … with a list).  I looked around, bought bread from Bakers Delight, walked into the post office looking for someone to match the description, not really knowing what I was doing and feeling like a bit of a dill … and then outside the post office I saw a girl pushing a pram, limping who, I later realised, had been at the op shop because she had a big wooden second hand toy that looked like an op shop buy …

I spoke to her.  She had dislocated her knee.  She had done so many times, about 30 times, and this time was while lying in bed after which she ended up in the hospital’s emergency unit in the middle of the night.  She told me she was going to see a specialist about knee surgery.

I asked if I could pray and told her about Ahmed, from the same morning, who had torn ligaments in his shoulder. I told her how he had been raising his arm in surprise pain free (see part 1 of this story).

I knelt on the pavement and prayed, while my 3 year old held our bread.  I asked if she felt anything – telling her that sometimes people felt heat, cool tingles etc … She felt heat.

I asked her if the condition was hereditary, at least 3 generations.  It was (thank you Randy Clarke, Global Awakening) so I broke any curse off the family generational line and released blessing into her and her family … looked at her little girl and prayed for her daughter her too.

It was cold (12 degrees outside), I was kneeling on the pavement, the wind was freezing … she told me she felt warmth.  I continued to pray into it and asked her to check it out then and there but she said she did not have pain normally now – just that it was weak … on hearing this I touched her knee and released “strength”.  She said she felt the warmth through the tough bandage that kept her knee straight.  I said she may notice a change later when she took her bandage off.

I then told her that I had been looking for someone, a treasure, and I nervously showed her my list - she looked and as she did she became amazed … as did I!

She told me her husband had red hair, it was short and curly and he had green eyes with yellow in them.  He also had eczema – the rash.  She was showing me how she fitted the list …  I noted that her name was not Trudi, but I explained I had prayed for someone yesterday called Judy so that name may have been the woman from yesterday.  She looked at me and said it was freaky – I knew more about her than she did.  She kept the list to show her husband – a bit spun out I think.

I reiterated that she was the treasure, and explained how I got the list from asking God for someone He wanted to touch; I explained that she was God’s treasure for me to find and pray for healing.  I gave her my card so she could let me know how she got on.

God is obviously very economical … I think I got two missions on one page when I wrote out the list!

He makes me laugh … I had such doubt as I wrote out the treasure list … and I do prefer stopping as I feel led … as I go… but through this I see the power in the treasure hunt list … this girl could see the list, well she was so amazed that she kept it … I let her, keep the list not knowing that Kevin Dedmon suggests in that you keep it yourself.  Even so, she now has the list and it is verifiable evidence to her that God had His gaze on her … that He loved her enough to give a total stranger details about her life … that He loved her enough that he would send a stranger to kneel in the cold wet weather and pray for her, who would then nervously show her a list on which her personal details could be found … it is tangible evidence to her and to me that …

God is Good!

God brings them to my door… & I found my treasure in Mentone (Part 1 of 2) Thursday 10th June 2010

Earlier this year, the day after Myer was full of the Spirit and a prodigal daughter came home, Ahmed and Chris came to fix some curtains that had been playing up for months – it had been a most frustrating process but through this time God surely had something brewing, because, if there been no problem with the rod Ahmed would not have been at my house for me to pray for him.

The team were replacing a curtain rod when Ahmed said he was not doing any physical work because he had torn all the ligaments in his shoulder - it was sore and he could not lift it or move it at all.

I asked him if I could pray for him.

He agreed and I started to pray with my hand on his shoulder - feeling apprehensive and hoping God would show up.  I felt nothing and was nervous … this was not a complete stranger … but as I continued (rebuking the battle in my head) I gradually began to feel warmth under my hand and asked him if he could too.  He said “yes” and so, feeling encouraged, I kept praying and then asked him to check it out.  He said it was much better and he had better movement.  He said the pain and lack of movement was a 7; whereas, before, it was a 10.

I said “let’s keep praying” and as I prayed again I felt the warmth again.  I prayed quietly that he would have dreams and visions and see the truth about God (I think he is a Muslim) and kept praying for and releasing healing, releasing the Holy Spirit on and in him.  The warmth continued.

He then tried it out again and said “gosh” and tentatively moved it above his head in circular movements … with a look of surprise –he had not been able to raise his arm without pain before I had prayed.

I prayed again to rid him of the remnant of the pain and I then left him to it – rasing his arm above his head, looking amazed.

He came downstairs later and said it would be interesting to see what the medical expert would have to say about it – he had an appointment that afternoon.  I laughed and said it would be funny if he was told that it was all healed and mentioned a story I had heard about a person who needed heart surgery, people had prayed for him and when the surgeons opened him up they found nothing needed to be done.

God is Good!

Post Script: I have promised to tell it like it is so … A few months later Ahmed did end up having the surgery.  I was disappointed, but regardless, his arm was definitely pain free when he left our home that day and he had full movement.  He had tasted the goodness of God, the healing power of Jesus Christ … As for “the why” I do not know the answer, but I do know I have much to learn and I do believe that one day soon we will see the “Ahmeds” in Australia irreversibly healed in Jesus Christ’s name because …

God is good!

Myer is full of the Spirit of God – A prodigal daughter comes home - Wednesday 9th June 2010

I had a short amount of time to do some chores, wanting to get back home to complete some study.  I went to the local shopping centre and felt I was to walk through Myers on the way to the shops that I had to visit.  I had my first treasure hunt list in my bag and thought I may find a treasure (see Kevin Dedmon’s book - The Ultimate Treasure Hunt).

I bought a t-shirt in Myers for my husband and was served by a beautiful woman.  I asked if I could pray a blessing for her, telling her that she was obviously a blessing to so many others with her lovely disposition.  She agreed.

I felt nothing in particular as I prayed a 10 fold return on the blessing that she had been for others.  I trusted that God followed the blessing through.

I then headed towards the escalators feeling that I was to go upstairs through Myers to where I thought I was headed …

As I went up the escalator I saw C.  I had prayed for her before – she had graves disease which was causing her right eye to bulge.  She had told me it could eventually cause blindness.  I called to her as she headed up the escalators and I asked how she was.

She told me that she had been loosing more sight and pointed out that her eye was bulging.  I offered to pray a “quickie” since she was heading back to work after a break.  She agreed.

I laid my hand on the side of her face, after asking permission, and prayed, quoting the blind shall see.  She immediately felt something in her eye area.  I laughed and told her that her eye looked less bulgy than before.  I told her to go to the toilets to check it out.  She left excited, saying she would.

I checked out the sheets on sale in Myers and then felt to go to Adairs instead … where I got the best product and price … God’s favour and blessing!  I returned some shoes and then felt that I was to head straight back through the third floor of Myer to go home – I thought I would stop for a takeaway coffee  …

As I headed through the 3^rd floor God reminded me that I needed to buy some pyjamas for M.  I felt great - this limited shopping time was turning out to be an excellent time of prayer, ticking off chores, and blessing and favour all rolled up in one … a smorgasbord outing with God! 

I stood with my purchases at the cash register and waited.  An older lady called J was all anxious etc.  Her credit card would not work - I wanted to get home, but chose to remain calm and I offered to pay for her goods.  She accepted and then told me about her grandkids and started to cry.  I said to wait and I would pray for her.

She waited as I paid for my purchase and we stood to the side and prayed. She wept under the anointing.

She then started to pour her heart some more.  I wrote off the rest of the time I had and figured God would redeem the time and that she was far more important.  I suggested we have coffee (I knew I was getting my coffee at some stage).  I bought her a hot chocolate and listened while she told me her story in the middle of Myers.

I offered to pray some more.  She had arthritis – I held her hand, commanded the arthritis to go, and then felt to take her to her “God space”. 

When she had located her God space she said God was “way up in Heaven” and she was “down here with me” (we were still sitting in Myer).  I said “ask Him to come closer”.  She did.  I asked her where He was.  She said on the couch opposite us. I said “do you want Him to come closer?” – she said “yes”. 

I said “ask Him to come closer”; she did, and started to cry.  The anointing grew heavy.  I asked where He was and she said He was kneeling right in front of her and that He was saying that He had forgiven her.  I told her to tell Him what she wanted to tell Him – she wept and said sorry for being away from Him.

I then felt to say would you like to ask Him into your heart.  She said she had a long time ago, but I said do you want to ask Him again, afresh – she said “yes”.

She recommitted her life to Him and shook and wept as he started to heal her broken heart. The anointing was very strong and thick – it grew stronger and stronger each time she asked Him to come closer and closer -  I shook a bit and could feel Him all over us.  She could feel tingling on/in her hands.

We talked some more and she asked Holy Spirit to come and wash her clean, and back into her heart. 

After she had recommitted her life to Jesus Christ I prayed and told the demonic to go and not come back, and for Holy Spirit to fill her completely up.  I also prayed an impartation of the gift of healing (she said she wanted it – her husband was in a wheel chair due to some condition).

I gave her my number.  We talked about church and about a seminar I was going to where Joshua Mills was talking - inviting her to come.  I told her how I had seen an arm growing out at a Joshua Mills seminar last year – she said her husband’s arm was shorter than the other (a coincidence? … no).  I said he could be healed and that it was worth coming.  She said she wanted to get back to church – I made some suggestions.

We talked a little longer and I walked her through the shopping centre to a point where I hugged and kissed her goodbye – telling her to call and how God loved her so much that He had sent someone to be there and to call her Home to Him.

Throughout the entire “encounter” she said people were watching us.  She said that there was a man during our coffee that looked just like a man from her past - a Christian that had cared for her when she had suffered from post natal depression after her first child, many years ago … I do not think that was a coincidence  either … God was so very on her case.

As we parted I told her she was an answer to my prayers – that the orphans would come home … and they are because …

God is Good!

Aussie Girl impacting the world … a prodigal son goes home - a friend's testimony received 23rd November 2010

To follow is another God is Good story from an Australian friend currently in the States.  She is on fire for God.  I trust we will see more and more of this on our streets.  As we go we can release Heaven onto Earth – we are brokers of His Glory … if we are bold enough to release it, if enough of us are bold enough to release it, the Earth will be filled with the knowledge of His Glory, as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14) … what is great is that although this amazing girl is overseas now, she is there to be trained and equipped and she will bring “it” back with her to Australia …

She says:

On the weekend I went down to San Francisco with some other people to minister to the homeless people there. I've attached the testimony...its really long, but AMAZING!!! 

"A group of us went down to San Francisco to minister to the homeless on Friday night/Saturday.  On Saturday, we went to The Haight and stopped at a cross road to offer some homeless people some sweaters, and got into a conversation with one of them.

He introduced himself as Ray. We found out he was from Portland and he said he wanted to go home for the holidays (more than 1000kms from San Francisco). He had run away from home about six weeks ago looking for freedom, but hated it and wanted to go home. We asked him if we could pray with him and he asked if we could pray for strength. Partway through the prayer, one of the girls asked him if he knew Jesus. He said he did and he was a Christian, but was afraid to tell people about it on the streets for fear that he would get hurt or made fun of. So we prayed and prophesied and then he asked if he could borrow a phone to call his mum. He tried to call but got the answering machine.

We kept chatting and then one of the men had a word of knowledge that he had an older sister with brown hair and that she was thinking of him right then. He began to weep and forgive his sister (who was older, and had brown hair!). One of the girls asked if there was anyone else he needed to forgive and he began listing names and forgiving all these people. Then he tried to call his parents again (we found out these were actually his foster parents). His mum answered and he asked her to forgive him because he had been stupid and told her he was coming home. She forgave him and they rejoiced together!

A short while later, his dad called. He looked at the number calling and didn’t want to answer, because he was scared his dad would be angry with him. We told him to answer it and while they talked we were praying that his dad would forgive him! He told his dad he was sorry and asked him to forgive him. His dad forgave him and told him that he had been trying to find him!!!

At some stage, one of the guys told him that HE was COMPETELY forgiven. That Jesus had forgiven HIM!!! And he began jumping up and down for joy-literally- and he was hugging everyone!!!

One of the girls asked if he had pain in his body. He said his leg was hurting (he had been in a car accident when he was 11, he was now in his late twenties and had had pain since he was 11). He said that it hurt the most when he was walking and running or put pressure on it. So we asked if we could pray for it...he said “SURE!!” He knew Jesus could do anything! So we prayed and it felt a bit better, so we prayed again and he took off running up the street and back and there was NO PAIN! And the he started stomping his leg really hard and there was NO PAIN!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Jesus!

He talked to his Grandpa who was able to pick him up from the station and we worked out his trip home. We got directions to the train station and gave him the money we had towards the ticket. Soon after his grandpa rang and said that his daughter was going to pay for the rest of the ticket. YAY!

We took turns prophesying over him and he was so full of hope and joy by the end that he looked like a different person! He opened up and said his name was actually Aaron, Ray was his middle name. He was sooo excited about going home that he was telling everyone who walked past us! He was jumping up and down with joy! While he had been on the streets, he had been trying to get an acting job, but he said that now he felt like he wanted to do what we were doing-telling people about Jesus!

As we parted, he put his sleeping bag that he had been carrying on the sidewalk for someone else, because he didn’t need it anymore, and began walking towards the station! He was going home!

On Sunday, his grandpa rang one of the girls to confirm that he had made it home safely! He’s not homeless anymore!!!!

It was literally like watching the prodigal son story happen right before our eyes! God completely transformed Aaron's world in about an hour! YAY JESUS!"

… I’ll take this one for Australia!  The prodigals are coming home … all over the world because … God is Good!

“Santa” pays for dinner – tasting God’s goodness … walking in His favour - Friday 26th November 2010

We decided to go out for dinner where the river meets the bay.  It was a beautiful night.  We were all tired, but it was fun to go and as a family we headed out to enjoy a balmy Friday evening together.

The children enjoyed watching the boats, gobbled their dinner and we had a lovely evening.  I sat and finished my drink and A went to pay for our meal.

When A came back with a receipt he said “look at how much the bill was?”  Expecting a big bill, I looked and was surprised at how small it was … I thought “there were no problems with the meal, we had made no complaints, what was going on?”

I looked at A and he said “Santa paid for our meal”.

Incredulous I looked at him and said “what?”

A complete stranger had picked up our entire food bill and wished to remain anonymous – the waitress said that she was instructed to say “Santa had paid”.

We were amazed, a bit shocked … in fact rather incredulous … and felt so very blessed …

My daughter and I prayed for whoever they were and released a 100 fold, a 1000 fold return, blessing them where we sat …

I wrote a short note of thanks … “Dear Santa …” and handed it to the waitress who was beaming as she watched the Goodness of God unfold in our lives … as she watched God’s love unfold in our lives – what a witness … to us and her!

God’s goodness, His loving kindness is remarkable … a complete stranger released it upon us … we did taste and see that God is good … and as I write this testimony I am still amazed at how loved I feel by a complete stranger and by a gloriously good God!

God is Good! 

Taking a swim with Jesus – a friend's testimony - Wednesday 10th November 2010

On Wednesday 10^th November 2010 a friend went for a swim at a pool and she told me what happened as she went …

“Hey B, I prayed for a Cambodian lady this morning at the pool. She was ahead of me as I entered the complex and was limping.  I prayed for her in the change room. The language exchange was a bit of a challenge over exactly what was wrong with her knee, but she wanted me to pray, felt heat and said it felt like needles and she was indicating movement inside. She looked like she was walking on it with a bit more confidence. She was in lots of pain and the doctor was monitoring her for surgery which she didn't want. She kept thanking me!”

Release it here … release it there … release it everywhere we go …

It is so very exciting.

God is Good!

Releasing a blessing and praying in a fruit shop - Sunday 14th November 2010

We were on our way home on a Sunday afternoon (14th November 2010) and R and I decided to go to David Jones to buy her annual Christmas decoration … yes our tree is up already.

We had decided on just the right decoration and were paying for our find when I looked at the sales person T and asked if she had anything she needed prayer for.  She queried me, so I explained and she said “no” so I asked if I could just “bless her”.  She agreed and so I held her hand and blessed her and released favour on and into her.  She looked moved by the experience and R and I went on with our next “purchase” – gift for her dad.

Later I was downstairs at Southland and went to buy some fruit and vegetables.  I placed my purchase on the counter and looked up at N who was putting the purchase through.  She looked tired and I felt compassion for her so I asked her how she was.  She said tired – she had worked 8 weeks straight with her first day off the day before and felt that having the day off had made her more tired.  I asked her if it was a family business, figuring it must be - she said it was. 

I offered to pray for her, and she looked at me exclaiming “Would you really do that? That would be great.”  I waited while she served another customer and I then took her hand, invited the Holy Spirit to come and started to release vigour, strength, joy, peace.  I felt I had a word of knowledge about her sleep and level of anxiety and asked her about it, she agreed she had been struggling with these and so I released more peace, I asked for angelic intervention and declared she would sleep well etc.  Naturally I prayed all of this in the name of Jesus.

Then, in a clear firm voice I “heard” in my head, the word “job”.  In that split second I decided to step out and rather than ask I just looked at her and said quietly “you are looking for a new job aren’t you.” She gasped and before she replied I released favour and declared that the right doors would open and the right job would come for her, that she would be able to leave where she was currently working easily and that she would be freed. 

She had tears in her eyes.  The anointing was strong.  I asked her if she felt anything – she said she felt “energy”, she said she had never felt energy like that, she said it was very powerful energy … she said she believed in energy. I let it go, knowing that God wanted to show his goodness and that He would sort out the detail, it was one more example of His love for her.

She thanked me with tears in her eyes and I wished her the very best for the future … and I know that she will make her way because … God is Good.