Dear John,

I hope you continue to feel better and stronger each day. Jesus has surely watched over you every moment! I want to share with you what Jesus did for me this morning because it is so encouraging, and I hope you can feel Jesus’ healing touch as I did this morning.

Last evening around 6:30 or so, I started getting a headache. It kept getting more intense as hours went by, and I began to have nausea as well. I was lying on the couch quietly talking to Jesus and Tim was rubbing my head. I was thinking of the times I have asked you to pray for me when those headaches have been so bad, and Jesus has healed me when you have prayed for me. I was also praying for you as I lay there, that he would give you relief from pain.

I went on to bed close to 9:30 or 10:00 and slept all night. When I woke up around 6:30 this morning, I still had a foggy, achy feeling in my head, and I felt like staying quiet. Our family read together and prayed, and Tim told Jonathan and me to expect Jesus to do something good for us today. By 8:00 am both Tim and Jonathan had headed out for the morning and I was home by myself.

I did a few little things around the house but I just physically felt bad. I had put on Songs of Rest and was staying very quiet. I peeled some potatoes, and as I was chopping them, my ears tuned into the notes Darren was playing. It was the introduction to “Blessed Assurance”. During those few notes, I heard the Spirit say, “Just sing to me.” So, as you began singing the 1st word, I chimed in with you. I didn’t even get to sing the whole 2nd word before the Spirit fell on me like water flowing from my head down to my feet! Jesus washed that pain and dull ache away instantly! And he sent joy with that touch. All I could do was laugh and praise him for that healing touch! It was wonderful! And I thought of you and asked Jesus to send that touch your way to give you relief. Whew!

He is so good to us and he encourages us when we obey that still, small voice. I’m very thankful you were a part of my healing again today.

With love,

Bess

I’m running the CD’s from the last two meetings where we were together.  I listened as we sang with you, O Say But I’m Glad.  It is a beautiful song.  Here are the rest of the words.  I love how you are teaching us to say, “O! Say, But I’m Glad!”

Thank you for teaching us how to live and love God and each other.

O! Say, But I’m Glad
by James P. Sullivan

There is a song in my heart today, Something I never had; Jesus has taken my sins away, O! say, but I’m glad.

Refrain O! say, but I’m glad, I’m glad, O! say, but I’m glad, Jesus has come and my cup’s overrun; O! say, but I’m glad.

2.  Wonderful, marvelous love He brings, Into a heart that’s sad; Through darkest tunnels the soul just sings, O! say, but I’m glad. [Refrain]

3.  We have a fellowship rich and sweet, Tongues can never relate; Abiding in Him: the soul’s Retreat, O! but say, I’m glad. [Refrain]

4.  Won’t you come to Him with all your care, Weary and worn and sad? You, too, will sing as His love you share, O! say, but I’m glad. [Refrain]

Hey there,

This was too much to text :).  Yesterday was the sweetest little field trip to Tweetsie.  That is the second time we’ve done this trip (once before when the kids were in preschool).  They close the park to the general public and homeschoolers and young elementary students and their families can attend.  It was such a good family day for us last time that Haskell took off again to go with us–just when Jesus wanted him to be near for Aaron!  That brings tears to my eyes.  While Haskell was gone to be with Aaron, our school was suppose to ride Tweetsie.  A small group of us were on the Ferris wheel and could not get off and get to the train on time. (There is a funny story of Hope riding that with one of her teachers!).  We were allowed to ride the next train after lunch–right when Haskell got back 🙂 And our little group had a whole train car to ourselves!  There were more little things like that all day, and they are so encouraging and comforting.  They make us feel Jesus is close by and concerned with every care.  I am very thankful.

You are in our hearts and in our prayers ❤️

Love,
Cris

Pastor John,

It’s hard to make sense of things in this present evil world, but I do believe that most people are messed up because of the doctrines that they have grown up listening to within Christianity!!  Many preachers are victimized by that spirit of antichrist early on, unfortunately!!

Another great example of this heresy is the lie that you can backslide from time to time and come back to the Lord, no problem… Many are teaching people that they can be re-baptized in the Spirit as well!!  I watched a good friend of mine, who was Church of God of Prophecy, do this throughout his teenage life!!  Now, I don’t even know if he still has the Spirit?

Christianity is such an evil thing… It has destroyed so many of God’s people!  I just have to take the reproach of Christ outside the Camp.

John C.

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Hey John,

When I read John C’s email, Luke 4 came to my mind:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”

God knew we needed JESUS to take away the hurt, the wrong thoughts, the confusion of Christianity that we were entangled in.  I love His power and His peace that delivers.

I hope you have had a good and restful day:)

 Bess

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Pastor John,

I stumbled across this article today:

https://danieldailey.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/regarding-the-done-with-church-buzz/

I thought it was very interesting. I especially like this sentence from the 10th paragraph: “I realize this may be too much to expect, but is it really so far fetched to consider that MAYBE the people that are leaving are being drawn out by God himself?’

I often wonder if God had not shown me the truth, would I still be in Christianity, or would I have come out. Thankful I am out.

Jenny

Pastor John,

I was raised Baptist, and I knew something was not right all my life (of course, God placed that in my heart), but imagine living 22 years of your life without the holy ghost and God dealing with u!!  The problem that I see with Pentecostals is that many “get saved” and then “baptized with the Spirit” at an early age – only because their Pentecostal doctrine or heritage pushes them to do!!  And they are never able to quite understand what really changed them because of their Doctrine or Heritage!!

I have had several people over the years tell me “Yeah, I spoke in tongues one time when I went to this church I grew up in”!!  It doesn’t mean anything to them now as an adult or person!!

God laid a message on my heart a few weeks ago on the way home from work: “Do you love the Gift of God?”  I think that is a great question, and unfortunately, many have forsaken that gift.

John C.

Pastor John,

Today I was outside doing some weeding and yard work. We have a row of bushes in our backyard that have been half dead since we moved in. I can see them out my kitchen window, and lately, I’ve been tired of looking at those dead branches (actually medium size limbs) poking out of the bushes. When I got out there, I saw that they were more dead than I thought. I could just crack those limbs right off. I was really enjoying cracking those limbs off with the feeling, “I don’t want anything dead around here! Only things that are living!” Ha!

There were a lot of weeds wrapped around those limbs that gave them the appearance that they were living, but when I cracked that limb, it was dead to the core. I thought, “Oh God, don’t let me ever have the appearance that I am living when I’m really dead on the inside.” It was more of that feeling of wanting to be real!

It also amazed me how those weeds had vines that wrapped tightly around the limbs. The weeds started out so small at ground level in some areas, but could they take over! I want to keep any “weeds” out of my life. They choke out the life! What good lessons I learned being out there in the yard and thinking on Him.

Carrie

Hey everyone,

With tears of gratitude, we wanted to say thank you to everyone for your love and support while going through the death and funeral of my Mom.  Debbie, Jamie and I all felt that everyone was with us during this time.  We love our family.

Jim, Debbie, and Jamie

Hi Pastor John!

I was thinking about the email Michelle wrote about God caring about what we watch on TV. Jesus let me know how much He cares about what we expose ourselves to.  At one time I would sit down in the evenings and watch TV with Jerry. After a few months I realized how this was making me feel.  I listened to my CDs throughout the day and studied OT material after work but in the evenings I left to sit through worldly junk. Then I went to sleep with that being the last thoughts for the day.  Jesus very gently began to prick my heart about what I was exposing myself to.  Even the ” clean ” shows are nothing but noise and distraction.

When I made the choice to curl up with the Bible verses the TV, everything changed.  Those good feelings came back.  I felt connected to Jesus again.  I was thinking about this tonight, and Jesus gave me a thought.

Exposing yourself to what this world has to offer is like going to a place to eat that serves food laced with poison.  You may be able to eat a little here and a little there, and just feel a little sick from it, but if you eat that poison everyday, you are going to die. Eating God’s food is so important. 

I remember when I was seeking the holy Ghost, searching through different sites on the internet.  I saw the cult article.  Jesus put it in my heart not to read that article.  I am so thankful for that. Jesus cares what we eat and what we expose ourselves to.  I love these lessons from Jesus.

Beth