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

Pastor John,

That felt so good tonight.   I’ve had a praise in my heart for a while and I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest!   I’m overwhelmed with thankfulness for who Jesus is and what He has done for me and how He has loved me and taken care of me! I’m so thankful for the life He’s given me and the family I get to share it with!

Love you so much! 

Michelle