Wow…I was reminded of this today by the holy ghost: “Trump was elected by God, not the electoral college tallies.” 

And a long-time [backslidden Christian] friend said something interesting today…

As he was watching the states’ votes on Tues on TV, he noticed how Hillary was in the lead by only a few votes in each state, up until about 9:pm PST, when the whole situation flipped and the final counts turned in Trumps favor and the percentages began to split and his tallies became higher than Hillary’s. And Mark had read online about many Christians (some of them undoubtedly children of God) had began praying across the nation in small and large groups mid-evening.  God heard their prayers and really turned the tide…and Trump took the office.

It seems like a miracle occurred.  When most everything else was stacked against him, Divine intervention tweaked the numbers and made it happen.

I feel that something is up with the Lord and our 45th president—and his VP.  

Token’s “turn-of-events” idea, although horrible to imagine, might be a possibility.  We do not know what God is up to, but I feel for the first time in a long time, to pray fervently for this man, AND for the changing of the hearts of those who currently despise him.  God forgive them for they know not what they are saying; deceived by the spirits of this age. 

Feeling happy and hopeful, trusting in Jesus.

Brad

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Both candidates were, and still are, souls without God and without hope, but there is, for the time being at least, a palpable feeling of relief in the air that Mr. Trump won.  I think it is because believers feel safer with him.  He doesn’t seem the type to target believers’ hearts for persecution, the way Mrs. Clinton would have, and push an immoral agenda as vigorously.

Pastor John

Hi Pastor John!

I want to share this testimony because it is so good to me.

I often hear brothers and sisters in the Lord say, “When I heard the Truth, it just connected with something inside of me,” or something along those lines. Well, I always felt a little bit worried every time I heard that said because that wasn’t necessarily my experience. 

Recently, a brother testified to hearing the Truth and it lining up inside right away. As soon as he said this, I felt that little ping of worry hit my heart.  I immediately said to Jesus, “Lord, I didn’t feel that way.  Am I ok, Jesus? Why didn’t I feel like that?”  Jesus spoke right back to me and said, “I lured you here with love.”  That touches my heart so deeply!  I did not come seeking the Truth.  I don’t know if I even really understood that there was a Truth.  I came seeking Jesus.  My sweet Jesus who so tenderly picked me up and cared for me.

Today I woke up remembering all that Jesus brought me from.  I spent some time this morning thanking him and God for loving me and not giving up on me.  As I was driving to my first appointment (about an hour away) the sweetest feelings fell on me.  I was already feeling so in love with Jesus, but this was so much more.  It was such a beautiful and pure feeling of love.  I could see Jesus carrying me out of a valley. He is my hero, my everything.  I felt so infused with Jesus. The Earth could have fallen to pieces and none of it would have mattered.  I said to Jesus in that moment, “Lord, do whatever you want to this body, these relationships, this world, just please don’t put me down.”  If I could stay in that place with Jesus, feel those feelings, nothing else would matter.

When the feelings began to fade, I felt so lonely for that place, that connection to Jesus.  I can only imagine what an eternity feeling those feelings will be like.

I feel like the Lord has been letting me fall more deeply in love with him and feel those beautiful feelings because that is how he loves me.  That is a glimpse of how Jesus loves us.

Beth

P.S. I hope we get to see Jesus A LOT in Heaven.

Well, I didn’t pay any attention to the election at all yesterday, as I went about my own business.  It truly was the furthest thing from my mind.  I’d given it over to Jesus.  I felt peaceful, detached from the cultural strife, and at peace in Him.  Really!  Then, after reading your FB post about Jesus being our King, it deepened my trust, and my obliviousness to the whole phenomenon that was unfolding throughout the day.   

I didn’t stay up and watch the TV. I went to bed early. I didn’t care. I prayed. I cried. . .and I hoped.

I didn’t hope that Trump would be elected.  I merely hoped that Hillary Clinton would be defeated. 

I awoke this morning to the newspaper on the front porch, and the headline “TRUMP STUNNER” actually felt strangely comforting.  As I said, I am not as glad that over half the American people elected Trump, as I am that Clinton was destroyed.  An evil person was defeated.  (Well, at least the greater of two evils was defeated.)  As boorish and foolish and politically inexperienced as Trump is, I think it would have been far worse if that vile woman would have become president—worse for the nation and worse for her.  I am relieved for us and for her.  I think if she had become president her madness would have only accelerated.  

Now, having said that…what on earth do we have for a President in this strange character, Donald Trump?

As reprehensible as Trump is, I feel there is something inside of him that is sincere, and that God can use.  I feel compelled to pray for him, fervently, that God might soften his arrogance and deliver him from his bullyish pride; that God might use him for good, for restoring law and order; for standing up for the right things, for protecting our country against more evil.  I pray that God HUMBLES Donald Trump ,so he can be trusted by the American public, perhaps eventually even by those liberals who currently despise him.  The criminal, deceitful wicked Clinton did not succeed in taking over this country, and I am thankful for that.  I am more thankful for that than I am for Trump being elected.  What happens now is anybody’s guess.  It might be worse.  He might be utterly inept, for all we know; but I feel that, in spite of his immoral and unorthodox manner, there is the potential that he is a better man (in his heart) than Obama, and certainly better than Hillary.  Who knows?   (God knows what He is doing.)  

PRAISE GOD!!  We can Trust GOD!!  …in ALL THINGS!  Let’s stay hidden in Him.

Brad

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Hi Brad.

For all his faults, Mr. Trump has the potential to become what future historians will call a great president.  Some past presidents have not had that potential, and some who did have it never fulfilled their potential.  So, the jury is still out.  And it will stay out until Mr. Trump’s presidency is over.

God help him.  That job is far bigger than any man, no matter what his potential is.

Pastor John

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Hi John,

I woke up this morning and saw your midnight texts about the possibility of Trump becoming president (when it seemed like his election would not be likely)…. I looked online after I got up this morning, and saw that Trump had gotten elected (surprise – I really did not think Trump could win since all sides were in some way against him.) 

I watched the news for a few minutes, and then I realized:  nothing had changed!  The people on the news were still bickering, the foolish were still talking and analyzing about nothing, the supporters and detractors were still complaining…. the spirits of none had changed, one way or the other.

And then I felt the Spirit say:  “what’s that to me?”  In other words, an election is irrelevant to what God wants for me. 

Ha, that was good.  Nothing has changed in me.  I’m still praying, I’m still trusting Jesus (alone), I’m still at peace, I’m still filled with the holy Ghost and happy for all that He has done.  It’s a good feeling to not be caught up in any of that or and focus on the things that are important to Jesus.  One of them it to pray for ALL who are in authority.  Another is obeying and pleasing Jesus, and serving our brothers and sisters everywhere.   That has not changed for us, regardless of the election, either way.

I wondered if God had not given this country another four years, just so men can SEE where this nation will go with a man who seems to have at least “some” common sense about some things, and was not afraid to speak up about it.  We’ll see if he can stand it. 

I will be praying for him.  Mr. Trump will need it – and I hope he humbly falls down on his knees and cries out to the One who has given him any sense he does have.  

It was a surprise – but God knows.  🙂

Gary 

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Hi John,

I am so thankful that I feel the same as I did yesterday, and the day before that, and the year before that.  I am so glad that I believe and I know who is in charge of everything in our lives.  He is in charge of my house; He is in charge of my job; He is in charge of this country, and the rest of the whole world, and beyond.  It makes it so easy, and all I have to be concerned about is this: Am I doing what He wants me to do?  And He will be pleased with whatever He puts in our hands to do if we walk in His ways. Thank you, Jesus!

Stuart

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pastor John,

This morning when I got to work the atmosphere in my office was that of despair.  I didn’t know what was going on, I had forgotten about the presidential results last night. Rick, one of the sales people came to my door and said, “Michelle, I know you don’t vote, but I sure hope your praying!”  I told him yes, we pray for our leaders and our country often.  Then I Googled to find that Trump had won the presidency.  

I am so thankful because the peace and contentment I felt in my heart yesterday is still the same today.  I know that God is in control and I’m so thankful not to be a part of this world!  I’m so thankful Jesus has taken us above all this.  

Michelle H.

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Amen, Michelle.  I am thankful for that, too.

To feel despair of exhilaration at the election results is uncalled for if your hope and joy are in King Jesus.  I have already started praying for president-elect Trump.  He will need our prayers.  And if Mrs. Clinton had won, I would have already started praying for her.

I will say, though, that it feels as if God has chosen the person that has less animosity toward believers in general.  Now, will believers take advantage of that and seek unity and power from God?  We will see.  I hope it will not turn to be a trap, but I remember that God turned Israel’s blessings into a trap when they refused to receive their Messiah (Ps. 69:22).

Pastor John

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John,

I also felt a deep peace this morning when I woke up. It was as if nothing really has changed that much even though there is a new president.  The kingdom of God is so vast that the election of a president is small in comparison. 

The Lord’s choice of Mr. Trump as president is but a detail within His reign. 

All we can do is praise Him!

Tom

Hi John, 

I loved the reading from 1Peter Sunday morning John.  It was very sobering, knowing it is all up to God’s people to be ready.  Jesus is standing at the doors, ready to go when we are ready.  Let us live that real everyday in him!  We are desperate and need to live desperately every day, knowing we are going to answer to him for everything in our lives everyday!!  Wonderful testimonies Sunday morning!!!  Gold!!  So sweet, and from Jesus at work.

I love them. 

Stuart

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Hi John,

I read Stuart’s comments about the reading over the weekend, and his feelings.  I loved the meetings too, and several times during the progress of the meetings I felt so thankful to be where I am, and to hear what I hear.  We have silver and gold!

Also, I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the testimonies, on Sunday especially…. they were so deeply “felt”…. sister Judy, sister Beth, Amanda, sister Sheila, and others… when we give of our hearts like that, we are truly ministering.  I love it when it gets so real like that. 

The wonderful thing about it is, that, we can ALL qualify to do that.  No special skills needed!   All we have to do is give Jesus US.  And he makes the rest of the story for all to enjoy. 

Anyway, I can’t remember when I have enjoyed testimonies more than I did on Sunday.  And coupled together with the food you feed us, well, it just doesn’t get ANY BETTER!  I loved it, that’s why I’m here.  🙂

Gary

 

 

 

Hi Pastor John,

I’ve been reading quotes from the leaders and generals of the civil war.  It’s amazing how both sides knew (to some extent) that God was in charge, and equally knew that “His will”, would be done.  From Lee, to Stonewall Jackson, to Lincoln and others . . . all prayed for what they knew and what knowledge they had of God at the time– both sides read from the same bible, etc., and yet, both sides put their whole hearts to be the players that God wanted them to be.

I believe that the Civil War may have turned out somewhat differently if Stonewall wasn’t shot by his own troops; he is one that the Union had no answer for and Jesus wanted him off the battle field.  When God was finished with Lincoln, he was removed from office (quickly) and killed by John Wilkes Booth.

After you sent out Daniel 4, where God is the one who sets kings in place and takes them out, that knowledge brings another light for me in world history. We know this, but it just keeps clearer along the way.

I think how my grandfather’s generations in Lebanon that survived the warring middle-east for all of the centuries, for him to migrate to America in the 1920’s so that I would be born and receive the holy Ghost in 1980, because I was predestined to do so.  What love of God I feel now to think on these things.

God is a good God!

Billy M

 

Hi Pastor John!

Jesus showed me something wonderful this morning.  I woke up full from last night’s meeting.  As I was getting ready I found your testimony, “The Sacrifice of Christ.”  It struck my heart when you talked about knowing that the directions for the tabernacle were valuable and about stopping every hour to get on your face and seek God.  I left for work feeling very touched and stirred.

When I got in the car, I put the July music CD in.  When I hit tract 4 Gary started singing “the zeal of Thy house has eaten me up, eaten me up” and the Spirit fell so strong as soon as I heard those words.  I couldn’t help but cry out to Jesus and say “Yes Lord yes! That is exactly how I feel, Jesus, and the more hunger for more of you Lord, the more I seek, the hungrier I get!”

Then the spirit said “Yes, like a consuming fire that burns but does not destroy.”  Then Jesus showed me that is another heavenly shadow.  That is why the burning bush was shown to Moses.  God showed Moses a consuming fire because that is what His spirit does inside of us if we seek Him. That burning bush was a heavenly echo of what was to come. 

Isn’t that beautiful, Pastor John?  I love the Old Testament heavenly shadows of Christ more than I can say in words.  Something about them touches the deepest part of my heart. 

Beth

Hey,

This was too much to text 🙂  I wanted to share this though, about our little Bible class. We sang the Creation song that the kids are working on for Donna’s music class.  While they were singing, I could see through the window that the leaves were falling and blowing all around. I’ve always loved the falling leaves especially driving through them as they fall.  It was so beautiful, and I was feeling that our Creator created THAT (those falling leaves), and that He created it because He loves THAT.  I can’t explain it how I felt it, but it was beautiful.  I’ve always loved fall, but it was like today I realized God loved it first.  It was His idea!!

Then we read Exodus 20, the Ten Commandments.  We talked about each one.  When we came to the Sabbath Day, I was telling them about how we don’t have a day to rest now.  By listening and following the holy Ghost, we rest from doing our own works.  As I talked about taking care of the feelings of God’s people who are still in Christianity (by not working outside and laboring early on Sundays), I got so emotional.  It was unexpected, and I could hardly talk.  It was the tender feelings for God’s people. Last night during the meeting, I felt a pain and an excitement for God’s people, and it carried over into today.

Thankful ❤

Cris

Pastor John,

After last night’s meeting, I feel like I need a note for work saying, “Please excuse Elizabeth D. from any worldly task today due to the fact she will be PRAISING GOD!!”

Beth

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Hi Beth,

Actually, a few years ago, Sister Kathy was so extraordinarily blessed in a meeting that she “called in well” (as opposed to calling in sick), and took the day off!

I am praising the Lord with you!

Pastor John