July, 2005

 

Greetings!

 

It is so hard to believe that another month has rolled by. I honestly don’t know where the first half of 2005 has gone, but I do know that time seems to be escalating.  I don’t know about you all, but I can barely keep up with Him. He is at work in every facet of life here in America. These are exciting times in Him!

 

The Lord sent me up to Washington, DC last week, so a couple of days before I left I went to get my hair done. I arrived at the shop about fifteen minutes before it was open, and it was too hot to sit in a parked car, so I got out of the car and walked over to stand under the overhang to be in the shade while I was waiting. I walked over toward the door, and a really sweet lady was standing there waiting. She said good morning to me, and I returned the greeting to her. Instantly something clicked in both of us. The next thing I know we were talking about the blessings of the Lord we enjoy here in America. Hallelujah!

 

Just a couple of minutes later two more ladies walked up, and they joined us in thanking God for the way that He has blessed us, and our families. We were all sharing our hearts, and soon there were about fifteen people behind us listening. About that time, a man came to unlock the doors, and as he opened the doors to us he said smiling, “My but you four ladies are happy this morning! What makes you so happy?”  Would you believe that out of all four mouths came, “Jesus!” Then we all just looked at each other and broke out in to laughter. Immediately everyone else began to laugh! It seemed like the whole atmosphere was charged! Only God!

 

Just a little later I was sitting in the chair, and Jenny was trimming my hair for me. I saw a young woman come through the doorway and begin to walk toward the section I was in. She had a shirt on, and I could see what looked like an airplane on the top, and I could see in big red letters JES, but the rest of it was covered by the handbag she was carrying. So I said to her, “What does your shirt say?”  She moved her hand so I could see, and she said, “Air JESUS, the Ultimate High!”  I said to her, “Way to go!” Then everyone in our section began to comment on her shirt. Honestly, you never know what the Lord is going to use to open up conversation. Once again, He was our topic of conversation in that shop. It blessed both of our hearts! I’m sure that it blessed His, too!

 

That’s not all! From there I had to go by Publix Supermarket to pick up a few things for dinner. After I finished shopping I was in the parking lot putting my groceries in the car, and as I turned to take hold of the cart to take it back, an elderly gentleman walked up and took hold of it saying, “I’ll take it back for you. I am going that way anyhow.”  I thanked him, and commented on the fact that it was so hot and steamy. As I said that, he placed his hand on top of his head saying that he could feel the top of his head burning. I suggested that maybe he should wear a cap in the kind of heat we were experiencing. He agreed with me, and then wished me a good day. I thanked him and told him to have a wonderful weekend.

As I mentioned the weekend, he turned to look at me, and all I could see was sadness in his eyes. He told me that he had not had a wonderful weekend for a long time. He said that his wife of fifty-two years had gone home to be with the Lord two years ago, and he has never been able to stop mourning. He said that he realizes that she is in a better place, but he does not seem to be able to help himself. He said that weekends have just been so lonely.

 

My heart ached for him, just looking at the sadness in his eyes. I asked him if I could pray for him, and he said, “Of course!” So right there in the parking lot, I laid my hand on his shoulder and began to pray for him. As I finished praying, he looked up at me with clear eyes. He said to me, “I felt it lift off of me as you were praying!”  We stood and talked for a little bit, and by the time he went on his way, he said that he felt much lighter, and he was walking with a bit of a spring in his step.

 

 God is so good! He will meet people right where they are, in the market place, or on the street, as long as He has a willing vessel to work through. What a privilege it is to co-labor with Him! Always keep in mind that the mission field begins the moment you walk outside your door.

 

Yesterday Meagan and I were in Sweet Tomatoes for lunch. If you have never been to one of their restaurants, it is a very long fresh salad bar. It is our favorite place to go, and we do that occasionally. As we were in line filling our plates, one of the servers came up alongside me and said, “How are you today?” I answered by saying, “I’m blessed!” Well, she became so excited. She said, “I’m blessed too,” and from that point on she could not stop talking about Jesus. She told us how blessed she is to have Him in her life. She went on and on! She blessed our hearts! I am praying that the dear Lord will give her many opportunities to share, for she is faithful in doing so, when given an opportunity.

 

 I share these things with you so you can see that as we move out and about among the people, He leads and guides our every footstep. If He knows that we will be faithful and tell them about Him, He will bring them right to us. Since I’ve been here in Northern Florida, I have marveled over the number of divine appointments and divine connections He has already arranged for me. He is really up to something in this area, and I am excited!

 

The Lord wants me to share with you that there are other ways that He is working in the market places. Before I left Vero Beach, I had to have some serious dental work done. I prayed about where I was to go, and the Lord showed me where to go.  On my first visit I filled out all the necessary forms, and the dentist took all of the necessary x-rays. I paid my bill for that visit, which was extremely high, and then she escorted me to an adjoining room and lowered her voice, so that those in the waiting room could not hear, and quoted me the price for all of the work that I had to have done. When I heard the price my legs went limp. I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

 

During the next few days, a number of people called and I asked them to pray along with me, for in good conscience I could not see paying such an enormous amount of money for the work that needed to be done. Each one said something like, “Don’t worry, Myrna, the Lord will provide!” And each time they said words like that, I heard the Lord say, “No, I will not! I will not feed greed!” I must tell you that I tossed and turned in my bed for two nights. Finally I said to the Lord, “You led me to that dentist, now what is it you want me to do?”  Immediately He said that I was to call and tell the receptionist to cancel out all of the appointments they had set up for me.  Then I was to write to the dentist and tell her exactly what He had told me.

I wrote the letter to her explaining that my situation is such that I must trust the Lord to provide for any physical or dental needs. My walk has been a walk by faith since 1975 when I surrendered all of my insurance policies to Him. He leads me and guides me in all decisions, and He has always been faithful to meet every need. However, this time He said, “I will not feed a spirit of greed!”  He had me go on to tell her that just as He had led me in to her office, He was leading me right back out because of her unfair pricing. I had to let her know that He was going to continue to lead people in and right back out until she changed her ways. He told me that she would soon know that He had sent me to her.  

 

After I put the letter in the mail box the Lord told me to call a dentist in Boynton Beach, which I did. Would you believe that I had the very same work done for a little more than $2,000.00 less than I had been quoted in Vero Beach?  The dentist in Boynton Beach was a young Jewish man, with a love for the Old City in Jerusalem. God really blessed our times of sharing.  Also, He has had me refer others to him. 

 

Shortly after moving here to Jacksonville, I had another serious dental problem. When I prayed about where I was to go, He pointed out a dentist down on Beach Blvd, about a thirty minute drive from where I live. Again I went through the same thing, but this time when they quoted me the price, I heard the Lord say, tell him the very same thing you told the dentist in Vero Beach, which I did. Neither the dentist, or his wife, were happy about it, but I had to be obedient.

 

 After I returned home, the Lord told me to go to a dentist not more than fifteen minutes from where I live. He told me that I would find both favor and fair pricing with this dentist, which I did. He did the work for me for one third the price that was quoted me on Beach Blvd.  I’m here to tell you that the dear Lord is moving against the greed in our market places. But, again, He needs those who are willing to be used as a tool in His hand.

 

When I moved in to the Jacksonville area, I was placed in an area where there is not much in the way of businesses. I needed to find a printer, and so I began to search. One day as I was driving to the post office, the Lord pointed one out to me that sat back off the main road. I had just finished the newsletter so I took it in to the printer the very next morning. I was blessed to see that it was Christian owned and operated. They have banners on the walls and literature set out to tell you so. However, the girl who took the newsletter and wrote up the order was less than friendly. I was told it would be a week before I could have the finished newsletters.  I thanked her and left.

 

A week later I went back to pick up the newsletters, and I was told it would be an additional three or four days before they would be ready. So, once again I thanked her and left the shop. At the end of the three day period I telephoned to make sure that they were ready before I drove in to get them,  and once again I was told that it would be at least another four days. Immediately I heard the Lord say, “Take them back!”

So I asked her if they had done any work on them at all, and she said they had not.  I immediately told her not to let anyone touch them, for I would be right in to pick them up. When I arrived at the print shop, the same girl was there, and she handed me our folder without even a word of explanation or apology.  In fact, she looked at me as though to say, “So what is your problem?”

 

I didn’t say anything to the receptionist, but after a couple of days, the Lord had me sit down and write a letter to the owner of the shop. He had me speak to him about commitment, and also the actions of the employee and the service being a horrible witness for the Lord. He told me to tell them that He could not bless them if they were going to continue to mistreat customers, and profane His Holy Name. I also had to tell them that He was leading me elsewhere, which He did.

 

 After that, the Lord told me to telephone Phil and Carol Van Vynckt, and they would help me. Phil and Carol have Stevens Printing in Vero Beach. They always did the work for me when we were based in Vero Beach. They are true believers, and people of integrity. With the help of UPS they are still printing our newsletters, for which I am more than grateful. I share this with you to once again point out ways that the Lord is working in the Market Places.   

 

Last but not least, I want to thank all of you who were praying with me that our security deposit, which we were required to put down when we rented the house in Vero Beach, would be returned to us. You know, I never understood why the Lord had been so adamant about us being in that particular house, when the lease required us to put down two full months rent just as security.  Then, shortly after we were moved in, I began to hear many horror stories about this landlord. I heard that he was one who never returned a security deposit. He had a reputation for mistreating his tenants. I finally met him a year in to the lease when all of the hurricanes hit the area. It didn’t take long for me to see that all I had heard was very true. He truly was proud, arrogant and greedy, and had no respect for anyone. The Lord referred to him as a “shrewd manager.” You see, prior to the hurricanes I had dealt only with his nephew.

 

To make a long story short, when we left Vero Beach in April to move to Jacksonville, we had fulfilled our part of the lease to the very last detail. However, the landlord had not. Over a two and a half month period of time, I wrote several letters to him asking him to please return our security deposit, reminding him that we had met every requirement. I sent the letters certified mail, and he received the first three, to which he responded with a very hateful letter meant to intimidate me. The fourth letter which I sent he refused to claim and the post office returned it to me. By this time it was evident that I was not going to get the security deposit back. Also, he and his nephew had both told friends of mine, when they questioned them, that our security deposit had already been returned. We all knew that neither of them were telling the truth, so I agonized for a couple of days over this, waiting for the Lord to tell me what He wanted me to do. Just a day or two later the Lord told me that I would not have to defend myself. He told me to call our attorney, Scott Golden, and ask that he write a letter for me, which I did.

 

Thank God that the letter that Scott wrote produced results, because I don’t choose to take anyone to court. Yet I try hard to be a good steward of the money that the Lord gives us to work with, so I knew that something had to be done to retrieve the security deposit.

 

When the landlord returned the security deposit, he sent it to our post office box instead of sending it to Scott, as he had directed him to do. It was also back dated by one month to try to cover himself. Many of you know this man, or know of him, but I share this with those of you who do not, because this man professes to be a Christian. Nevertheless, he owns many, many rental houses, and has cheated many tenants as he tried to cheat me. This time, though, the Lord said, “Enough is enough! I will not allow you or anyone else to be intimidated by this man.”       

 

After Scott sent the letter to the landlord, the Lord shared with me that this was the reason that He had been so adamant about planting me in that house. Once again, He had used me as a tool in His hand to confront a man who professes to be one of His own, but profanes His Holy Name in both word and deed. He just kept saying to me, “No more! No more!”

Spirit Led or Purpose Driven

 

In the May newsletter I had a brief article cautioning everyone about all of the New Age that has infiltrated the Church, big time! Trust me, when I say big time, I mean big time!

 

I received so many letters from so many of you who have been led in to that deception by your pastors. How I thank God that He Himself has opened your eyes to truth. I also received letters from several pastors condemning me for speaking against this new movement. They say that those of us who are critical of this “New Spirituality” are simply jealous of Rick Warren, Ken Blanchard, Brian McLaren, Phillip Yancey, and all the rest who are involved in the Global Church Marketing and Church Growth Movement.

 

They could not be further from the truth! Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe the Lord has called us to marketing, nor has He called us to be concerned about numbers or growth. After all, He said, “I Will Build My Church!”  We are simply called to go and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

 

In the early 70s a man by the name of Juan Carlos Orteez wrote a book called, “Discipleship.” It wasn’t  long before five ministers of the Gospel in Florida, later known as the ‘Big Five’  took specific scriptures from that book, and they made a doctrine of it. They fanned out all across America drawing untold thousands in to this Extreme Submission Teaching under the guise of ‘Discipleship’ or ‘Shepherding.’ They set about to raise up their own leaders all across America. If you did not become submitted to their authority, you were considered a lone ranger, an outcast, and were blackballed as far as ministry was concerned. If you were a woman that the Lord was raising up at that time, they would tell you that you were deceived, and you had better submit to their authority.

 

Within a few years I saw so many individual lives shattered, marriages ruined, and ministries destroyed over this teaching that ran rampant throughout the country. I had people coming to me from all sides telling me that I had better submit to the local pastors that were involved in this intimidating, manipulative, controlling teaching. However, the Lord very clearly spoke to me and said, “Myrna, whatever you do, do not become involved in this teaching, or I will not be able to use you as I plan to use you! Stay away from it!”  

 

How I thank God that I listened to Him, even though I was terribly persecuted for it. How I thank God for His warning! You see, when we abide in God, and God alone, looking to Him for everything, He will never allow us to be deceived. However, if we abide in man, and look to man for everything, we are already deceived. He told me one time, “Myrna, there are many out there who would thwart you! If you have any doubts at all about who you can trust, ask Me and I will tell you!”  

 

At the time this erroneous teaching began, I was counseling at the 700 Club. Within two years we were seeing people quietly searching for someone who could tell them what had happened. How they had become so messed up! Particularly women! Through the years, as I have shared, the Lord has smoked one after the other out of my meetings and they would come forward in tears to be set free. It is a horrible bondage to come under that kind of control. It is nothing more than witchcraft! And this very teaching is being revived in this hour.

 

This Purpose Driven teaching, New Spirituality and Contemplative Prayer teaching is taking root the very same way. And it is just as destructive. It is called New Age today, but New Age is a fresh new name for the Occult! In the National Pastor’s Convention that Rick Warren and his colleagues host, they have a labyrinth, which is a maze like structure that is set up where they can walk and pray. They use a chanting prayer while walking through the labyrinth with the purpose of connecting to God, or what some call ‘Divinity’. And those who promote the use of a labyrinth say that it is not necessary to be a born-again Christian to reach this inner ‘Divinity’. When they encourage the use of ‘breath prayers’ which is repeating words and phrases over and over in a mantra-style prayer, they are encouraging the use of the very same “prayer” that is found in Hindu Yoga and Zen Buddhism. Contemplative Prayer is a movement that negates the cross and promotes and encourages the belief that “All Paths Lead to God!”

 

Once again selective scriptures have been used to present the picture that they choose to portray. They also say that a spirit of compromise must prevail in the Church that is to experience dynamic growth. Why? Because the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as those who proclaim it, are usually not accepted by the world. The world’s acclaim usually goes to those who distort or dilute the Word of God in order to make it socially more acceptable. All of this is ground work being laid for one world religion. 

 

Ken Blanchard, who is working with Rick Warren to raise up additional leadership, said, “As a follower of Jesus, I believe that He is the truth and the way. So I look for my inspiration from him as documented in the Bible. And yet, in our company we have people of all faiths as well as people who center their faith in the goodness of human beings. As a result, many of our people would delete my morning messages if they thought I was only coming from a Christian perspective. So I look for inspirational messages from a variety of sources besides Jesus. Our folks get to hear words of wisdom from great prophets and spiritual leaders like Buddha, Mohammed, Moses, Mahatma Ghandi, Yogananda, and the Dalai Lama. Buddha’s insights help us create a kinder and gentler workplace. Jesus would approve. Buddha points to the path and invites us to begin our journey to enlightenment.”   

 

In short, Rick Warren and his global alliance of Christian leaders and organizations are methodically marching the Church out of the land of Gospel Christianity toward the borderland of the New Spirituality. They are now involved in presenting a Global Peace Plan! I do not have the space to go on, but let me say to all of you that they are deceived.  They have already deceived thousands in Church leadership all across America and beyond. If you are sitting under Church leadership who are involved in this deception, you   are open to the very same deceptions. They might present some suggestions or teachings that are helpful, but with that little bit of help is mixed a lot of untruth. “Beware lest you be deceived!”  

 

Hold tight to the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ! Our life is in Him! Our help is in Him! Our freedom is in Him! He purchased salvation for each one of us at a great price! His precious blood covers us! Glory to God! He and He alone is our Messiah!      

 

Jesus said, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life! No one comes to the Father, but by Me!”

 

Let us depend upon the Holy Spirit of God to lead us in to all Truth!

 

Only the Truth of God’s Holy Word can set us free, and when He sets us free, we are free indeed!  Hallelujah to the Lamb!

 

Washington, DC

 

As you know, I just recently returned from a week of meetings in our nation’s capitol. It was a busy place, more so than usual, and extremely tense. There is so much hostility in and about the capitol right now.

 

I’m sure that I don’t have to tell you anything about the decisions that our US Supreme Court have passed down as this term drew to a close. However, I do want to comment on one issue:  The US Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision to grant local governments the right to seize people’s private property, against their will, for economic development. This controversial decision now allows local governments to bulldoze people’s homes or businesses to build more shopping malls, office complexes, hotels, etc. in order to generate tax revenue for the city.  Residents will be entitled to “just compensation” for their homes or businesses under the Fifth Amendment.

 

I must tell you that the Lord told me that His signature is on this one! Just as we have pressured Israel unmercifully to divide her God given land, and seize the homes, farms, businesses, and factories of His people (the Jews), bulldozing some, while turning the rest over to the very people that are trying so desperately to kill them, we here in America will now come to know just how it feels. As we’ve done to the Israelis, it shall be done to us! The Lord said, once again, that the cup Israel was given to drink has been given to America to drink that she will repent of her sins and be saved. He said, “This is just the beginning!” 

 

The Resolution of Apology to the Native Peoples has been unanimously forwarded to the full Senate floor by the US Senate Indian Affairs Committee. It will now be debated and voted on. Please pray that this happens quickly, and that it will pass. It is so important for that healing to take place in this nation.

 

I do not want to frighten anyone, but I am here to tell you that we are sitting on a tinder box here in America right now, and ONLY God can turn this country around and save us from destruction. And there is no one to blame but our very own national leadership. They have done it all in the name of political correctness.

 

I am going to recommend that you pray about buying and reading the book, “Infiltration” by Paul Sperry.   This dear brother is one whom God has raised up in this hour to bring forth truth. We cannot get much of that from the secular media anymore. He covers and documents everything very well. So well, that after I finished reading it, I wrote to him and thanked him. A lot of what he shared I knew, but a lot I did not know, but had wondered about. Having read the book, it is much easier to pray for our vulnerable areas.

 

For those who have access to the internet, I am going to recommend a website to you. It is American Congress for Truth:  www.americancongressfortruth.com . When you reach the site, sign up for the email alerts. Brigitte Gabriel is a Lebanese American who was a former anchor for World News in the Middle East. She is also a prominent American journalist. She is on the front lines meeting with our politicians, and speaking on college campuses, working to inform and educate the public about the threat of radical Islamic fundamentalists to America’s peace, as well as to world peace. I have heard her a number of times when she was interviewed on radio. Her prayer alerts are very helpful!

 

As usual, I am out of space. Thank you for all of your prayers, cards, letters and support. I am so grateful! I’m also pleased to know that the prayer alerts on our website are such a blessing to you. Shalom, Myrna