January, 2006   

Happy New Year!  

I pray that you all have had a wonderfully blessed Christmas and Chanukah. It is so hard to believe that those celebrations have passed, and we are already in to a brand new year, 2006.   

Each year as these holidays are approaching, and the Lord is speaking to more and more believers about the roots of their faith, I have a number of people ask me why in the world believers would celebrate Chanukah, and this year was no exception. Let me just say that Chanukah stands as a heroic reminder of courageous and enduring faith in Almighty God. It is also a reminder of the faithfulness of our God.  

You see, Satan, working through Antiochus Epiphanes, had planned to destroy both God’s Word, and His people, through assimilation and annihilation. Had he been successful, there would have been no more Jewish people, no Messiah to come, and last but not least, no Calvary.  Everyone would have been forever lost in sin, without any hope at all. So the miracle of Chanukah is not just about a cruse of oil, but it is also about God’s faithfulness to His people, and His messianic promise, which gives true significance to Chanukah today.  

Chanukah is a time for all believers to thank the Almighty for the Maccabees, who refused to compromise with the Word of God. They began an uprising that eventually defeated the Greek, pagan forces of Antiochus Epiphanes, so that the Temple could be re-dedicated to God. So as we celebrate Chanukah, we are celebrating the victory of the Word of God over the pagan, secular forces that were trying to destroy not just the Word of God, but God’s people as well.  

In light of the compromised Gospel that is being widely accepted today, and the way our God is being thrown out of everyplace, and His Holy Word mocked, it is time for some present day Maccabees to rise up to make a stand for righteousness. Exalt His Holy Name! Revere and proclaim His Holy Word!  

Chanukah is celebrated for eight days. In Scripture the pattern for dedication was always eight days. The object to be dedicated was set aside for seven days and then on the eighth day it was holy unto the Lord. Let me give you some examples: The consecration of first born animals (Ex. 22:30 & Lev.22:27). Hebrew males are circumcised on the eighth day (Lev. 12:3). The original altar in the Temple was sanctified for seven days and on the eighth day it was holy (Ex. 29:37). The dedication of the rebuilt Temple took place during Passover (Ezra 6:16-22) which, in conjunction with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, lasted for eight days. …..  So you see, Chanukah is a great time for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the Almighty, and to His plan and purpose for our being here at such a time as this. Each one of us is a temple of the Holy Spirit! Let us take His hand and move forward with Him now, that all of His purposes be accomplished.

 

“It’s All About Money! It’s All About Prestige! It’s All About Building Their Own Kingdom!”  

In the December newsletter, I shared concerning the extravagant life styles of four Evangelical leaders.  As a result of what I shared, I heard from two different people who had questions, and two others who were offended by what I wrote. The Lord had me write to the four, who had written to me, explaining to them where I was coming from, and what He is saying about the subject.  In other words, He had me share why I had written the article in the first place.   

 In this newsletter, He has asked that I share with all of the rest of you, as I shared with those who wrote to me, so you will understand the position I was in, and hear His heart at the same time. Please know that I do not take delight in offending anyone, but I do have to be obedient, and speak when the Lord says to speak. His Holy Fire is doing a cleansing work within the Body of Messiah at this time, and He has called me, as well as many others, to be a conduit of that Holy Fire in this season.  The ministry to which He has called me is much the same as that of Deborah, who served the Lord as both a prophet and a judge.  He has told me repeatedly that I will be required to judge with righteous judgment, and I will also be judged.  

Let me very quickly take you back to 1975 when I had my first vision concerning America. I saw an enormous sea, and in that sea all of the idols we have, things we just can’t live without, were bobbing up and down in the sea, and covering it all was an enormous American flag. At that time, the Lord said, “Myrna, pray for your nation, for she is drowning in a sea of materialism.” At that time He called me as a Watchman on the Walls of America, every facet of life in America, including the Church in America. And I have tried hard to be obedient to that call the past thirty years.  

Between the years 1990 and 1997 there were large numbers of us who traveled to various gateway cities throughout America, for the purpose of shutting ourselves in with the Lord, a week at a time, to pray for America, every facet of life in America. The Lord set the date of each gathering, and He also chose the venue for each gathering. Two of those years I was living in Jerusalem, and He brought me back each time, for each gathering He called. When we came together in 1997 in Dallas, TX, the Lord would not allow us to pray for anything but the Church and Church leadership.  

In January of 1998 I was in Jerusalem to participate in the International Prayer Conference, where Watchmen gather from the nations to pray for Israel, the Church, and our respective nations. We’ve done this every year for more than 16 years. It has been so long that I honestly don’t recall how long it has been. As we began to gather in Jerusalem, we found the Conference Leadership to be more concerned about the Church in America, then they were for little Israel, with all her problems.  After they shared Pastors and Intercessors from the Nations began to stand to their feet to share the burden the Lord had laid up on their hearts to pray for the Church in America.  

At that time, I thanked God for the confirmations, because for several years I would be driving past a church building, and would all of a sudden break out in to deep travail. Sometimes it was so bad that I would pull the car off to the side of the road. There were times when He would have me circle the building while I was praying, and other times He had me go in to share what I was feeling with the Pastor inside. I knew that the Church in America was in deep trouble.  

As I was traveling back to America from Jerusalem in 1998, I heard the Lord say, “Myrna, America is unclean! Her only answer is Jesus! Because of the concerts of prayer and fasting that have risen before Me as a sweet incense, I AM coming to America, but I AM not coming the way they think I AM coming. I AM coming as refiners fire and fullers soap. As I do so, I will require of My people that they walk in a spirit of repentance, fast when I call them to fast, and pray! I will need prevailing prayer. That will send forth across this nation the grace and mercy needed to cause multitudes to come in to My Kingdom.”  

During the weeks that followed, the Lord began to share concerning the Church. He said that she is simply not ready to be used as He needs to use her. She is unclean! She is a worldly Church! She has been a prayerless Church! She is a Church that moves on her own agenda, accomplishing nothing! He said to me, “For three years I have been calling My people to come apart with Me, rest, put their head on My breast, and listen to My heart beat!” He likened what He was saying to a small weaned child, perfectly contented, lying with it’s head on it’s mother’s breast, listening for her heart beat. He said, “John did, and John heard!” Then He said, “But not My Church!”  That was in 1998.  

Since that time, things in the Church, particularly concerning those in leadership positions, have become increasingly worse. Many in leadership have simply refused to repent of their control, traditions, idolatry, perversions, greed, carnality, etc. He said that He is weary of their pride and arrogance. He spoke of one of the four ministers I wrote about as “strutting like a peacock!” Please know those are His Words, not mine! I do not watch Christian Television, unless He tells me to turn it on, because there is something He wants me to see for myself.  He is telling me, that He is about to remove some candlesticks! He sees things as that bad in the Church!   

As I sat down to begin the December newsletter, I truly felt the anger and hurt of His heart, as I have never felt it before. I’m here to tell you that it left me shaken! He began speaking about many ministers, not just the four that I spoke of. Those four were simply used as examples, because all four of them have made the newspapers, magazines, and nightly news all across this country, because of their extravagant life styles. Donor alerts have been released on them repeatedly by those the Lord has set in place to bring some semblance of accountability to the Body of Messiah. He has spoken to them time and time again, and He has had others speak to them, but always to no avail.  

The world sees all of the nonsense going on in the Church. Until the Church is cleaned up, without spot or wrinkle, she will have no affect on the masses in dire need of salvation. In fact, most of those ministers are very poor witnesses, especially off the stage.  The Lord keeps telling me that my heart will break when I see all that is coming upon the Church, but the exposure and fire must come in order to purify the Church. He went on to say that everything that is in the world is also in the Church. Everything! Therefore, we all must understand why He has to do what He is going to do. It is not going to be pretty!   

Please know that as I shared about the four ministries, I was in no way trying to turn people away from those ministries. I was simply saying that we need to let all ministries know that we will no longer be manipulated in giving. We will give when, and what the Lord tells us to give. A play on our emotions will no longer work, and that is what they have been doing.  We must be Spirit led in all of our giving! 

The Lord said that many in leadership positions, especially those on television, are no different than hucksters, for they are preaching to make money. He said that they act more like CEOs than the Shepherds He has called them to be. Even the IRS has re-classified some of them as businesses, instead of ministries, for they are way over the guidelines that have been set.  

He said that many of them preach faith, but they do not walk it out. They do not practice what they preach! They are drunk with prosperity teaching, busy storing up treasures here on earth, so they don’t have to wait on the Lord, and believe Him for their needs, or His timing to provide it for them.  He went on to say that He is weary of all the excessive marketing that goes on in the Church. He said, “They have turned My Father’s House in to a market place.” In short, He said that they are greedy, and they manipulate His people. He said, “It is going to stop!”   

Joel Osteen has been in the news a whole lot lately. On Larry King Live, he was given an opportunity three times to present the Gospel, and would not do it. He was asked three times if Christians serve the same God that the Muslims serve, and three times he refused to answer. Larry King tried and tried to pull those answers out of him, but you see those who are concerned about having a dynamic church, or building their own kingdom, cannot preach about the cross or the blood of Jesus, for they just might offend someone. Nor can they say that there is only one way to Heaven, and it is through Jesus. They might believe it for themselves, but they won’t speak it, for fear of offending someone.  Just as they won’t tell the people that we do not serve the same God that the Muslims serve.  

The following night Franklin Graham was on Larry King Live, and when given the opportunity to present the Gospel, He shared it boldly. And he made no bones about the fact that Muslims serve a moon god, while we serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He answered every question, and did not deny the blood of Jesus, or the cross upon which His blood was spilled for us.  Franklin did not share that easy Gospel! He shared the true Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he did a fine job! The Lord was glorified!   

While I was writing this newsletter, about an hour ago, the Lord told me to stop, and go to the living room and turn on Fox news, which I did. They were just beginning to interview Joel Osteen. He appeared to be fearful of what they were going to ask him. It was probably because he and his wife and children made a big scene on a Continental Flight a couple of days ago, and they were put off that flight. The flight was held up for a full hour while the airline workers were trying to retrieve their luggage. It was a terrible  witness for the Lord!   

 Today, when the Fox newscaster asked Joel about the hurricanes, he said no one knows why they came, but the people who were affected just need to have faith. They have to trust God for a new beginning. When asked how any minister could possibly meet the needs of such a huge congregation, and they showed a picture of it, he told them that they have more than a thousand volunteers who help in that department. When asked what he has to say to all of the people who say that his message has no substance to it, he really didn’t know what to say. The interview was anything but impressive, certainly nothing that could possibly bring glory to our Lord.       

Yesterday as I was driving home, the Lord was speaking to me about writing this newsletter. He said to me, “Who do they think they are?”  He began to speak about the way so many of the big name ministers put their name on His Holy Bible, and even enclose their interpretation of what the Word of God actually says. Others name the ministry, that He has made them steward of, for themselves. He shared his displeasure.  

Keep in mind that the excessive salaries that these big name ministers take down come from the general fund of the ministry. They come from the donations that have been sent in by believers to carry the Gospel and further His Kingdom, not to build a mansion, or a kingdom for the minister. The gifts and offerings of God’s people are very precious to Him. He once told me that the sins of Eli’s sons were very serious because they treated the offerings that belonged to Him with contempt. The Lord asked me if I thought these ministers would still serve Him with zeal, when they no longer have their big, beautiful mansions. When, these ministers repent, and I pray that they do, and soon, it is going to be costly to them.   

Please know that the Lord is good to His ministers. He meets every need, and I can vouch for that. In all of these years of ministry, I have never taken a salary from the Ministry. Nor have I ever begged, pleaded or manipulated anyone for money. I told the Lord thirty years ago that I would go wherever He wanted me to go, and do whatever He wanted me to do, but I would never beg for the money to do it. I simply pray for what I need and leave it with Him. I never know where the money is going to come from, but in His time, He will meet that particular need. There are many times, when I don’t even have to pray for it. He meets the need before I even realize that there is a need. There are other times, when I am required to wait, but He knows what He is doing!  He is faithful! 

Even when I’m on radio, multiple stations, I have yet to ever ask for a penny, and every bill has always been paid on time. He has shown me, time and time again, that if we are doing what God has called us to do, we will never have to beg, plead, or peddle products to get the job done. The dear Lord is able to meet every need, and in His time He does. Those who handle His money, and it is all His money, should be dedicated and faithful, making sure that everything is honest and honorable.   

I could go on and on sharing with you the things that He sees within the Body of Messiah that breaks His heart, but I believe that I have shared what He wants shared in this particular newsletter. Again, if what I have just shared is offensive to you, I am truly sorry. Just know that I am not the one who selects the topics for these newsletters. I simply try to be obedient.  

He has told me we are going to see repeats of the story of Ananias and Saphira if repentance does not come soon. He also reminded me of Paul publicly exposing Peter because of hypocrisy. Keep in mind that this is a time for confrontation, and He is going to do whatever He has to do in order to have a Bride without spot or wrinkle!  

A Pastor from Holland recently said, “I wish my American brothers realized how hurtful it is to the cause of Christ when they focus so much on material things.”  

A Pastor from Nigeria recently said, “If the American Church is to experience the rapid growth that other parts of the world are experiencing, then it must have revival. But revival is not cheap! There is a price to pay for revival! A revival takes us back to the basics of Christian principles that are fast disappearing from the Christian horizon. This includes a disciplined life of sincere holiness, and a life devoted to prayer and fasting.”  

There were two Pastors from China visiting friends in Texas recently. They were taken on a tour of several large church buildings. At the end of the tour they were very proudly asked what they thought of their beautiful buildings. Without hesitation, one of the Chinese Pastors answered by saying, “It is amazing what the Church in America has done without God!”  

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 Navy Chaplain on Hunger Strike  

All through the Christmas holidays U.S. Navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt has been on a hunger strike, which has also included nightly prayers outside the White House. Lieutenant Klingenschmitt says that he will not eat until such time as President Bush signs an Executive Order allowing military chaplains to pray according to their beliefs. As of this writing he is still fasting, for there has not been an Executive Order signed.  

The chaplain said that the Navy Admirals have told him that he cannot pray publicly in the Name of Jesus, unless he is wearing civilian clothes. He is continuing to pray in the Name of Jesus, but not in uniform.  

There have been more than 70 members of Congress and 170,000 petitioners calling on President Bush to allow chaplains to pray according to their faith instead of being limited to generic invocations. Let us pray for this brother to be strengthened and protected, as we also pray that President Bush will sign the Executive Order that is needed.   

If our military can build minarets for the Muslims, give special privileges to them to pray five times a day, and change the military menus to fit their dietary laws, then he can surely sign an Executive Order to allow our Christian Chaplains to pray with, and for, our men and women in the Name of Jesus.     

 

Gambling Tax Credit Reversed

Thank you all for praying concerning the tax breaks that our government was preparing to give to the gambling casinos. Thankfully the Senate reversed itself and took the tax breaks for casinos and massage parlors out of the Katrina Hurricane Relief Fund. The House had already passed a Katrina aid bill that did not provide funding or tax relief for gambling casinos and massage parlors.  This is a major victory for those who had to stand against Haley Barbour, the Governor of Mississippi, and also against a host of big K Street lobbying firms hired by the casinos. Thank you, too for contacting your senators. 

 

Pledge Protection Act

 Please continue to pray for the Pledge Protection Act so that we can keep “under God” in our Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. As I shared last month, the only way to stop the harassment lawsuits by atheist Micheal Newdow, and the ACLU, is for Congress to remove religious _expression lawsuits from judicial review, just as Rep. Todd Akin is attempting to do with the proposed Pledge Protection Act.

 

U.S. Weather Control Efforts

I find this so hard to believe, but it is very true. Our government is being called upon to dole out federal research money to find ways to blast dangerous storms out of the sky, and put rain clouds over parched lands.  It would be called a Federal Weather Modification Research Program. The bill to do this has been introduced by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, and it has already passed out of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee last month, and is headed for the Senate floor. How much money will be appropriated for grants remains to be seen. Perhaps we should all write to our Senators and remind them of the One who controls the weather.  They are attempting to play God!

The Blessing of “Shalom”

 I have noticed, in the last couple of years, that the Lord so often, when I am ministering to people, will have me lay my hand over their heart, and speak the word “shalom”.  Immediately it brings such a   stillness to their whole being.   

Over the holidays I received a beautiful card from Shelley with “Shalom” written across the front of the card, and it carried within it, the blessing of “shalom”.  Let me share that blessing with you, so that you will understand how powerful that little word is when it is spoken over you.  

“May you be whole in body, soul, and spirit, as a result of being in harmony with God’s will and purpose for your life.  May His peace be your covering.  May your heart know His fullness, and by His mighty power may you know victory over every enemy.  May He bring to pass the deepest desires of your heart. May you know the healing power of His Presence, and the restoration of every broken relationship. Through His sufficiency, may every need that you face be met by His limitless resources. May His covenant promises be fulfilled in your life, and in your family.  May He bring you the greatest measure of contentment, and the deepest satisfaction that your heart can possibly know.”   

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Thank you so much!  There are not words to describe the blessing that I received from all of the very beautiful cards, letters and emails throughout the Christmas and Chanukah holidays. Many of them brought tears to my eyes, for I could feel the love and warmth of your heart.  I thank God for all of you each and every day. You are all so precious to me.  I am so grateful for every prayer you pray on my behalf.  Mine is a very lonely walk with the Lord, and so it is comforting just to know that you are all out there. ... Thank you so much for every gift to Fair Havens Missions, which allows us to do so much for so many others. Thank you, too, for the personal gifts that I received.  God has so blessed me through you all!  May the dear Lord richly bless you and yours abundantly in return.

 

Mission to Israel

May I ask for your prayers as Debbie, Marion, Shirley, May, Joann, and I leave for Israel January 14^th, and for Devorah as she, too, leaves for Israel January 15^th.  We are delegates to the International Prayer Conference in Jerusalem, and Devorah’s assignment is in Tel Aviv.  We will be traveling within the country to visit some of the communities in Judea and Samaria.  Please pray for our protection, and that all of God’s plans and purposes for these missions be fulfilled.  Pray, too, that He make us a blessing to the Israelis.  

Until next time, may the Prince of Peace fill your heart and your home with His wondrous love, His unending hope, and His sweet and perfect shalom in 2006.

 

 In Yeshua,

    Myrna 

 

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