The Promise of Provision by Derek Prince

After too many years of receiving more teaching in church about finances and prosperity than about God Himself I am admittedly wary about reading, hearing and talking about abundance and provision. But I couldn’t resist Derek Prince’s promise of new revelation about the subject in The Promise of Provision: Living and Giving from God's Abundant Supply:

God longs for you to have fruitfulness in every area of your life. God is a God of abundance. I pray that He will grant that revelation to you as you read.

I know that Jesus said He came to give us abundant life:

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).  John 10:10 Amplified

I believe with all my mind, heart and spirit that Jesus was speaking about more than money, though too often this has been applied simply to finances. I appreciated Prince’s remark:

As we consider abundance, let’s take our focus away from the idea of having a lot of money in the bank. Abundance does not necessarily indicate possessions of large sums of money or property. But it does suggest something that is the opposite of poverty, want and failure.

Prince dives into scripture to show us what God has said about His promises and how we must claim them as our own, now, today. As I continued reading, I found myself asking the Lord to reveal His truth, His way, fearing once again the slant of human understanding.

I find myself wishing that God could erase the blackboard in my mind, giving me a clean slate that holds no bias one way or another about contrversial topics, that I could read His Word without recalling the various ways other people have interpreted it.

I cannot blame my discomfort on the author.  Derek Prince seems to genuinely desire his readers to receive fresh revelation from the Lord about a subject that has long been misunderstood.  I will return to this text many times, I'm sure, prayerfully requesting the Lord to speak.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Chosen Book a division of Baker Publishing Group.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.

 
 

The Essential Guide to Healing by B Johnson & R Clark

I have just completed two books that I received from Chosen Books a division of Baker Publishing Group. Both address issues I once thought I understood, but in the last couple of years I have found myself questioning.

The Essential Guide to Healing  Equipping All Christians to Pray for the Sick by Bill Johnson and Randy Clark contends that:

God’s miraculous healing is part of the Good News, and you, too, can become a powerful conduit for the healing power He loves to manifest.

Both Clark and Johnson share personal stories about witnessing God’s healing power.

The middle section of the book uses scripture to explain and at times defend that healing demonstrates the gospel of the Kingdom of God, as applicable today as it was two thousand years ago. I know this is true, and even though this covers a supernatural subject I can’t help sensing the bias of the author’s human understanding.  Far too often we interpret God's Word to suit our own beliefs instead of our beliefs being shaped by the Word itself.

The third part of the book is practical teaching on the practice of healing. Once again I found myself disturbed as I read about following patterns that have worked for others or that were successful in the past. I don’t believe that Jesus followed a particular set of rules or patterns when He healed, in fact scripture shows us that He healed the same ailments (blindness for example) in a variety of ways.

The idea that the ministry of healing is not reserved for a select few is appealing indeed. We all want to feel that God would choose to move through us. It is important however to remember that God is the only One Who heals even when He uses our hands.

I will return to this book again as I continue to seek God’s heart and understanding about this topic. I have much to learn, but desire that the majority of that teaching comes directly from the Master.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Chosen Books. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I shall be back soon with my review of The Promise of Provision by Derek Prince.

 

Choosing to obey

Ready to burst and bloom, yet waiting

For a long time now my bio has described me as:

a sold out disciple of Jesus Christ learning more each day what it means to abide in Him; desiring to walk in radical obedience to His voice and praying that my life brings glory to The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit

I choose to obey because I have tasted the sweetness of the blessings that accompany bowing to His direction, His will, His ways.  With each new act of surrender, there is a breaking, a shifting and a settling.  The more I give up of myself, the deeper the peace that descends and envelopes me.

As hard as it is sometimes to go when He says "go" speak when He says "speak" or jump if He says "jump" it is far more difficult for me to be still.

Yet this is indeed where I now find myself, quiet, listening and awaiting His command.

So when my words are few, I pray you will understand.  I have books reviews to post shortly and then will write whatever He inspires.

What about you?  Is it easier for you to move or remain still?


 

He reigns

Top of Murchison Falls, Uganda, Africa

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,

like the roar of rushing waters

and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!

For our Lord God Almighty reigns

Revelation 19:6 NIV

Giving him glory at Deidra's today as we unite our praises

 

Faithful to Himself

This week Bonnie asks us - "What is one quality that attracts you to Jesus today?"

How do I choose one quality only when the One Who Is the subject of my choosing is almost beyond knowing even as He calls for us to know Him?  He Is all that is good, all that is worthy of mention.

Faithfullness.  A very particular sort of faithfullness.

I could write about His faithfullness to me, but that isn't exactly what I'm drawn to here.

It is His faithfullness to be exactly Who He says He Is, true to His Word at all times.

Among people, words are spoken freely, tossed about, falling easily from tongues.  The same words are often recanted or contradicted with scarce a second thought.

Often I have heard others, and sadly, I must admit, often I have heard myself say "Oh, I didn't really mean that"

Jesus means each and every word He says, none are false and none are wasted.  Every word is true to Who He Is.  What He says can be trusted, just as He can be trusted, now and always.  Faithful.

For Jesus doesn't change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he's always totally himself. Hebrews 13:8 The Message

  

Joining Bonnie as we continue to unwrap love

 

Cravings

The saying is true that we want what we cannot have.

Today and tomorrow are prep days for the gastroscopy and colonoscopy I am scheduled for on Wednesday morning.  Nothing to chew - clear liquids only.

Knowing I cannot eat makes me immediately hungry.  This is, of course, my mind and not my body, whining, shouting and pouting.

The grass on the other side of the fence
the fruit that is forbidden
just a taste, a tiny little taste...

This is the time to take thoughts captive, not allowing them to bounce off the walls, surging in power, making taste buds salivate.

No temptation more than I can bear, I know this too.

I have liquids, fresh water when billions do not, even my drug of choice is allowed, caffeine in black coffees and teas.  So I have no cause to complain...

well, maybe the tiniest bit....

Prayers are welcomed as my insides are explored, the things God knit together for His glory.

And go enjoy a snack, for me.

 

No masks

It is by choice
by deliberate design
that I walk in this world
unmasked

I have chosen
to know
and be known
a quest that hiding hinders

I have gone beyond wearing my "heart on my sleeve"
beyond naked
to skin glowing thin enough to be transparent
nothing much to peel away

when arrows come
and come they do
the piercing is all the more profound
for the aim is at who I really am
not someone I pretend to be

just me
spotted, wrinkled,
a work in His hands

I used to beat myself up
call myself names
self-accused for my vulnerability
for laying my heart on the line
again and again
instead of vowing "never"

then I heard Him whisper
I created that heart
to be seen and to be shared
and when it breaks
I will repair it
so be not afraid

So here I am
holding on to Him
reaching out to you....

 

Joining Bonnie and others talking about vulnerability as we continue to unwrap love