Many things that have come up unexpectedly have kept us on this narrow path from month to month, but the Lord has been so faithful. Had many of the things happened along the way that we “expected” to happen, we would have missed seeing the Lord intervene on our behalf, again and again. From two people who had been taught “to make it happen”, we are learning to be content in the place we find ourselves and not lean on our own understanding. We have become accustomed to, and even comfortable with “going without knowing”. We believe God has more for us, and we are not pretending to think that we have done all the right things, or, that we have not missed His voice from time to time. We are thankful for those dear friends who have loved us, believed in us, and listened to the Father on our behalf, helping us to go and do His bidding.

So as we move boldly in Him we can now approach His throne of grace on behalf of those we love, and those we are called to intercede and stand in the gap for. Yes that is right, we are the "gappers" that the Father has chosen to come before Him on behalf of others. The current shaking has caused many to be operating out of fear instead of faith, and we must lift them up. We need His effectual empowerment daily, and we need our brothers and sisters to rise up in His overcoming strength. The Body of Christ must realize how much we need each other. We all have gaps and we all need them to be filled and the Father has called us to fill each others gaps not only in prayer but in supernatural "one anothering" I am reminded of the first "Rocky" movie when Rocky says to Adrian, "I got gaps you got gaps, and together we fill each others gaps". It is a great way to serve, and a great way to show His Apape love.

“The shaking we are experiencing today is a move of God, who wants to live and move and have His being through His people. He wants to change the world through us!” God is bearing down upon established systems of men, whether it is government institutions, or institutional churches. I must include organic gatherings too, because humanity often has it’s grip in those gatherings as well. He is truly shaking all things so that all that we can look to for security is Him. He is making it clear that He is a jealous God, jealous for our love, our affection, and our very lives. During this season, He is giving us a tremendous opportunity to go a better way, to walk in His eternal ways, and to love in His supernatural and transforming love.

Do we really want the truth? Jesus says you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. It seems that many believers simply desire to live out of compromised paradigms, traditions, and religion, rather than seeking after the truth that will set them free. They say truth hurts, but it “hurt is so good”, when it can set someone free. If we are serious followers of the King and His Kingdom, it would seem to be a high priority for all of us to passionately go after truth. We must constantly declare, bring on the truth Lord, set me free to know you more and bring you glory through my life. Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Here are my What Ifs as we move into 2009: What if we prayed for our leaders rather than complain about who we have or didn’t have in office? What if we realize that God is on the throne and will have His way regardless of who is in office and that we are called to pray His will and purposes for the nation? What if we gave to Caesar (government) what is Caesar’s, and gave to God what is His, which is our very lives? Jesus was consumed with His Father’s Kingdom being brought to the earth, what if we focused on that rather than our political processes and gave that burden to Him? What if we were using what we do have, and quit wasting time worrying about what we don’t have? What if we did not fear any longer, no fear of life or death, because we are in His hands? What if we heard the words “Stop it, just stop it” and began to truly stop the negative thought patterns? Stop it, just Stop it, thinking that way, in Jesus name!

Have you been noticing lately how we as Christians can get caught up on the peripherals of our faith? We get so absorbed in non essentials that we miss essential foundations like love, forgiveness, and even how practically the Holy Spirit desires to be in everyday life with us and through us. We can all miss the basics sometimes. You have heard the term, “Being so heavenly minded, but doing no earthly good”. We have been taught mostly through religion, that we are saved for the afterlife, when in fact, Jesus made the way to save us now, and for NOW. We are saved completely and wholly now by Him to engage in His life, and labor for His Kingdom. Throughout Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, the message is very clear. “This present bodily life is not valueless because it will die. God will raise it to new life one day, it is of great value to Him and the world around us. What you do in your body today matters, because God has a great future in store for you.

God, the Lord took us out of the Matrix several years ago. Through continued trials and tests, Father has forged in us a resolve, and a faith in Him, that otherwise had been and would have continued to be minimized. As we travel, we see common patterns that limit our effectiveness and ability to be Kingdom ambassadors to the world. If we do not pause, reflect, and hear correctly, we will often look back and say, wow, so much time has passed and very little of what we had intended to do, ever got in motion. PAUSE… Be Still and know I am God “Pause”, “Be Still”, can that really happen in our lives on a regular basis? We all know it should, and should know that it is vital if we want to be “Father Pleasers”, and hear from Him on what He has to say, and how He sees things going. This does not have to be in the form of a ritual, but just time with Him. He will take every moment you give to Him and make something good out of it.

"O God, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven above and ruler of all kingdoms below? You hold all power and might in your fist—no one stands a chance against you! And didn't you cause some of the natives of this land to leave, while many remained? They have lived here and abroad as Holy Temples of honour and worship for you, saying, 'When the worst happens—whether war or flood or disease or famine—we can take our place before You Lord. We know you are personally present in this place and in our hearts each day. We pray out our pain and trouble, we know that you will listen and give victory.' "And now it's happening, as many are called back to the land and foreigners are coming to help rebuild the walls as the Lord prepares the way for that day! The enemy had come to kick us out of the country you gave us. O dear God, won't you take care of them that remain, and us that will go? We have been helpless before this vandal horde ready to attack us. We relied on men and ma

Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34 We are in a significant transition, not only in this nation but globally. We are seeing many foundations being shaken in many different realms. We continue hearing about judgment in this nation. What if we consider it not judgment as much as the wages of sin at high levels? When sin abounds in a home, it affects the whole household. When sin abounds at a high level in a nation, it affects the whole nation. This nation was founded on biblical principles that gave liberty to its people. We have seen much of that freedom taken from us by the powers that be. We have seen biblical foundations eliminated from the very government that was to serve in maintaining those very foundations. We have witnessed greed in government, greed in most of the industries and systems we live in. We have seen greed in our own leaders

There are many discussions these days surrounding organizational forms and expressions of faith. We have traditional expressions, house expressions, emerging expressions, and other organic expressions of faith, all having biblical references as to why they have it right. Could it be that Father just gets excited when we give Him something to work with? Joyce and I have been truly blessed to have friends and family from many systems and faith communities. We have learned that God’s church (His people), is made up of individuals that are absolutely precious to Him, and though all of us are products of man-designed systems, He is an awesome God willing to relate with us right where we are. Dr. Frankenstein & the World’s Systems is a book written by our friend Bob Mumford that we often give out as tracts to believers. This small book is excellent in describing how systems, though well intentioned, can become bondage.