"Just Pray"

“Just Pray”

A Poem By: Linda Foster

“DAUGHTER”

Said the Lord.

“There’s going to be good days

And bad days.”

What? I asked.

“Jus pray during the bad times

For a better tomorrow.”

I was awake.

Yet it was still dark outside.

2:45 am.

Then I began to write.

The writing led to searching.

The searching led to reading.

The reading led to me many scriptures.

The scriptures washed my soul.

10:30 am.

“DAUGHTER”

Said the Lord.

“Just pray.”

Yes, I answered.

I’ll pray.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

“Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly];”

Word From The Lord for Those of 2012

 Word From The Lord for Those of 2012

            Isaiah 1: 23-25 (MSG) Version

"Your dalliances in those oak grove shrines will leave you looking mighty foolish, all

That fooling around in god and goddess gardens that you thought was the latest thing. You'll end up like an oak tree with all its leaves falling off, like an unwatered garden, withered and brown. 'The Big Man' will turn out to be dead bark and twigs,

And his 'work,' the spark that starts the fire that exposes man and work both as

Nothing but cinders and smoke.”

Thus says The Lord Almighty:

“To those that chase after the latest fad, the newest gadget, the famous person in the end they will leave looking mighty foolish.  All that focus in the latest craze, the popular thing and what ‘everyone’ is into will only have you end up like an oak tree with all its leaves falling off, like an unwatered garden, withered and brown.  ‘The Great Prophet’ you follow and hang on his every word will turn out to be dead bark and twigs, and his ‘ministry’ his ‘work’ will be the spark that starts the fire that exposes man and work both as nothing but cinders and smoke.”

“Stop playing with fire, as you will only get burned.  Stop praying for revival because “revival” is here, now.  The day of “The Great Prophets” or “Traveling Evangelists” are not as necessary as they used to be.  They did their job in returning the people to believing that I, the great I AM still do miracles, signs and wonders but that they have a new assignment now.  They are to train the individual to preach, speak and pray for the people as they have to the masses.  God says, “It is the age of the individual who will lay hands on the sick and see them recover, see the dead rise and bring in the harvest of souls.”

God declares, “It is our mandate to stop following the “crowd.  Traveling here and there to hear this man speak or get prayed for by this or that famous person.  Your commission is to take the gospel to the common places.  To pray with the cashier, intercede for your unsaved friends and relatives, feed the hungry and make disciples one-on-one.  It is in this context that you will see the Holy Spirit move like the Old Testament Prophets.  They were a singular class of people usually with only one or two companions to take up their mantle when their mission was complete.”

God says, “I am calling you to be those types of people.  Even to the point of moving from town to town and trusting Me to lead you to whom you should speak to and to where you should rest our heads each night (Matt. 10:28).”

Also says the Lord as Is Isaiah said in 1: 23-25 (MSG) “You must get your focus off of materialism.  That is the god or idol worship of this era and you must tear it down as the Israelites did in the Old Testament In Isaiah 1:24 says, “purge the junk from your life, clean you up.”   The Lord Almighty says if you will listen and do as He asks He will “…set honest judges and wise counselors among you just like it was back in the beginning. Then you'll be renamed City-That-Treats-People-Right, the True-Blue City." God's right ways will put your land right again. God's right actions will restore the back-slidden Christians. “But it's curtains for rebels and God-traitors, a dead end for those who walk out on God.” (MSG)

"What Heaven Maybe Like: Part 2"

  “What Heaven Maybe Like: Part 2”

BY: Linda Foster

   As you begin your trek up the winding, golden path the sky seems to be just a bit brighter, the air just a tad fresher and on either side of the path are lush green ferns and bright blooming orchards of dazzling purples, yellow, oranges and colors beyond your experience.  The path is wide here and the uphill grade easy to climb.  You find yourself getting lost in the beauty of this wild garden-like setting.  There are even small marble benches dotted here and there beside the path if you want to stop and take in every exotic sight, sound and smell.

       High above you in the tall pine trees you hear larks song and an occasional squirrel crosses your path without fear or trepidation of you.  After turning the third or fourth corner of the spiraling path up the mountain you notice a vague mist just beyond the farthest point of your vision.  From below it could be that cloud you saw before starting your climb.  As you approach the next turn you see an alcove to your right with a large fountain of bubbling cool water.  In the middle is a statue of an eagle at rest so you walk over and admire the beauty and craftsmanship before getting a handful of water to drink.  The taste is like nothing you have ever tasted.  Boldly cool but soothing to your throat.  In some way the water invigorates you and you drink some more.  Strangely this time it has a slightly fruity flavor and you can actually feel it go through your body and refresh and renew your lungs, muscles, heart and lungs.  It’s as if the water contains a special healing property designed specifically for your needs.  The fountain is lined with more marble benches and you take a moment to sit and rest, reflecting on this amazing place.  First the enormous gate of entrance made from one single pearl, the splendid market places, the delicious looking café’s with the rich aroma of hot coffee and fresh baked goods.  The pristine rows of mini-palaces and the roads of agriculture and livestock and now this golden path up this glorious mountain!  It is so beautiful and wonderful in perfection.  The very air you breathe felt different but delightful.  This place was filling all your senses with such fullness and satisfaction you couldn’t recall every being anywhere else.

     It is at this moment a reality you hadn’t considered before rises to the forefront of your mind and a stab of panic strikes your heart. 

"What if I’m dead and this is heaven?” You wonder to yourself. 

The question is followed by a dozen more questions.  Suddenly you desperately look around for someone to tell you where you are and what is happening.  But you are halfway up the mountain and have left what civilization you saw behind hours ago.  You are along.  You have only what you believe to comfort you.  You are too aware and conscience to imagine this as a dream that you will wake up from.  For the first time you are in silence and thoughts of a life elsewhere are all you have.  It is then that your faith, which you had nurtured and tested in Christ, rises to overcome the fear that could have taken you away from this remarkable place.

     Alone but never forsaken.  Heaven was the reward you believed in all of your life.  These two truths sustain you now and you rise to finish your quest up the mountain.  Why?  Because you must.  How?  With renewed strength from the life-giving water you just drank.  What is ahead?  You look behind you with a clear vision of the pristine, beautiful city you have left behind and can only imagine that whatever is ahead must be more glorious and only get better and better.

   TO BE CONTINUED….

"What Heaven Maybe Like: Part 1"

     Imagine arriving at a large gate that is the entrance to a pristine white walled city.  The gate is made from one huge pearl and glistens and gleams with subtle shimmers of lavender, mauve, pink and orchid colors.  It open and you enter to an open area filled with the aroma of roses and jasmine.  A smooth, cobblestone road lies before you lined on either side with tall, evenly spaced Palm Trees.

     You follow the road to a commerce area of blacksmiths, jewelry makers, and glass blowers, large spinning wheels where wool of many colors is being spun, died and rolled upon spindles.  On one side of the road you come upon the most delicious meats, breads and sweets out of carts with wheels.  The other side of the road is lined with a few out-door cafe's and there are people dressed in garments from many countries sipping tea or drinking hot coffee from tiny porcelain cups.  There are small carts of various pastries between the cafe's and your mouth waters with the delight of just one taste but you move on too curious to stop and eat.

     There is something bright in the sky like the sun but giving off a sense of harmony and bliss.  You don't have to wonder as the road has turned into a sort of white brick path and you are now in a residential section of the city.  It too has a gate of entrance, actually more like a large arch connected to a low level wall surrounding this part of the city.  You are fascinated at the mini-palaces that line each side of the brick path.  Some even have small turret attached with bright colored banners flying high in the sky.  You recognize some of the symbols on the flag like; the Flour De lies, the cross, the Christian symbol of the fish and others more ancient and their names harder to recall.  

     You notice, as you walk down the middle of the street that there are no garages or motorized vehicles at all only small stables beside each palace.  Some side streets lead down to cult-a-sacks with larger palaces like huge homes of white washed and gleaming in the light of day.  You see a few children playing in the large, lush green grass of their front yards but other than those the street and sidewalks are sparse with people.  You notice there is no mailboxes yet a dog or cat occasionally crosses your way.

     At the end of the street is another large archway that leads you to three separate roads.  The first is to your left is a country road pickled with light gravel and lined on each side with berry bushes and fruit orchards.  The second is to your right and is a wide highway that leads to many mansions with miles of acres separating each.  They are all fenced in and some of ranch names over the entrances.  In the distance you can see teams of horses, fenced in cattle and pastures of sheep.

     The third road is the most appealing as it is made of pure gold bricks perfectly placed to match end-by-end and side-by-side.  But it leads in a spiral up a steep mountain and you have no guide.  Only a silent beckoning that there is something at the top of that mountain you must see for yourself....

     TO BE CONTINUED.....

"Growing Pains Will Come"

Thus says the Lord:

"Oh my little one.  Growing pains are upon you and you face choices between right and wrong." Says God.  "Remember your dream about the riches of the wicked and that they are laid up for the righteous?  Well those riches are not just monetary but also favor and trust by those around you." Says the Almighty.

"I would have you believe that I AM the only perfect one, yes I AM.  For all have sinned.  My righteousness must run through your veins not in your 'good' deeds." God declares.  

"Sometimes you will face the facts that you are limited and not perfect and must be humbled in your self-righteousness.  Don't be fooled.  I will not be mocked nor do I temp anyone.  Just realize that I AM your provider.  You clean up your mistakes and I will change your heart." 

  

Some mornings...

     I woke at 5:38am the other morning suddenly attacked with intense worry about my finances.  
                       How will I pay my electric bill?

                      What would I do if my income stopped?

                      Would I have a man live here just to survive

     The the Holy Spirit reminded me of God’s Word "Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.  I said it out loud “I cast my cares upon Jesus at His feet.” and instantly the panic left and I suddenly saw my Lord briefly on the cross and all worry freed me.  The moment was so amazing and miraculous I woke and wrote it down.
The Lord Jesus said to me the following:

     “My child, I’m your care provider.  I shepherd you tenderly and help you to free yourself when you get tangled in the cares of the world.  There is nothing so big that I could not rescue you from.  Your are a delicate, small and precious thing yet at the same time containing all my resurrection power to overcome any attacks from the enemy.” Says the Good and Faithful Shepherd.  "You see satan, that old adversary of Mine was defeated both in Heaven and Earth and he wants only to hurt Me by attacking My precious flock.  But I have many angels and guards to watch over them all and My Holy Spirit leads them into all truth.” John 16:13