To chase down a dream!

I got this via email the other day and thought it was wonderful and wanted to share.— “Yesterday I was hiking a mountain in Hawaii with a friend. I was laboring up this beautiful green pastured mountain, looking down at my feet trying to be sure of my footing, while at the same time trying to catch my breath from the altitude. At times, I would make big steps, sometimes all I could do was take small ones. The terrain was uneven and rough at times. It took a lot of effort and a lot of thought so, needless to say, I was getting really tired and at times wanted to stop or just turn back.

I got to one peak and I thought “I’m here, great, we can rest now” only to realize that just because I was at the top of one peak, that didn’t mean I had arrived. There were more…more valleys to go through and more heights to reach. It was interesting to me, that in order to go higher, we usually had to go down through a valley, and it went on and on and up and up. I was tired and wanted to sit down but my friend said, “Come on, let’s go a little higher.” So, not to be outdone by a girl (lol), I dug my hiking boots in and went a little higher.

We finally got to one of the highest points and she said to me, “This is the best part, now turn around.” I turned around and behind me was the most amazing view that I had seen in my 40 years on this earth. As far as my eyes could see, beauty reigned. The Hawaiian Islands seemed to be leaping up out of the silver blue sea, stretching up to catch the dust of the sky. The clouds seemed close enough to catch in my hand and make a wish; rays of sunlight danced through them trying to find a path to show off their own glow and power. Not even Picasso could have out-painted the canvas that was before me. The heavens were declaring the glory of God.

I saw Him in motion. I said to my friend, “When did we get this high?”, and she said, “It was in the climb.” I couldn’t help but think about life – mine and maybe even yours. I thought about how hard it had been for me chasing down my dream. I thought about how hard it can be to believe sometimes. I thought about the entire struggle, all of the pain, all of the hope, all of the doubt. I thought about the times I was working a dead end job, trying to believe; moving through day-to-day with my head down just taking one step at a time, some small, some big ones, wanting to give up; wanting to stop and sit for a while; wanting to lay in my sorrow; nobody believing in me; nobody thinking it would come to pass and never realizing that every step was taking me closer to higher.

That hike was painful, it hurt, but through it all I was getting higher and had no idea how high I was. That’s what it’s like to chase down a dream. Sometimes in life dreams are hard to follow, like that climb. You don’t know how high you’re going or even if you’re moving, but every step, even when you can’t see what’s behind you, will take you closer to your goals. It’s in the climb. I know you may be struggling right now, but you’re in the climb; things may be hard right now, but you’re in the climb; people may not believe in you, but it’s part of the climb. They may take shots at you, but stay in the climb; you may have to stand alone, but you’re in the climb. Even if you’re not where you want to be right now, I want to say to you what she said to me, “This is the best part, now turn around.” Look how far you’ve come. God has not brought you this far to leave you. Stay in the climb.—Tyler Perry.

A Prayer For You

You know most every day I try and put something encouraging on my Face book page. I usually get a few comments, some more than others. However the other day I felt compelled just to write a prayer out for my friends and family. To my surprise, many people responded. It wasn’t anything very special or so I thought. But it was something that they apparently needed. I really think we underestimate the power of prayer. Many of us wonder if our prayers even make a difference. Let me tell you that they absolutely do! Sure He is the God of the universe and can do whatever he wants right? Of course He can. But he did not design creation that way. He chose to co labor with us. That’s why we must pray the Lords will be done.

Even though something may be his will and his desire and timing, it only comes to pass when we pray it into fulfillment. So I felt impressed today to pray for all of you.

Dear Heavenly Father, I come humbly before you and I ask that you bless each and every person reading this. Where there is confusion; I speak clarity. Where there is fear; I speak courage. Father where there is discouragement and despair; I speak hope and strength in you. Father for those that are hurting in body; I speak healing and restoration in Jesus mighty name.

Father we give you all praise, glory and honor this day. Be blessed and encouraged my friends, we are on the verge of breakthrough, but it is going to take all of us praying together to bring it to pass.

Am I A Firman Yet?

In Phoenix Arizona, a 26 year-old mother stared down at her 6 year-old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up & fulfill all his dreams. Now, that was no longer possible. The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son’s dream to come true. She took her son’s hand and asked, ‘Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?’

Mommy, ‘I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.’ Mom smiled back and said, ‘Let’s see if we can make your wish come true.’

Later that day she went to her local fire Department in Phoenix, Arizona , where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix ! She explained her son’s final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, ‘Look, we can do better than that. If you’ll have your son ready at seven o’clock Wednesday morning, we’ll make him an honorary Fireman for the whole day.  He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards!

And if you’ll give us his sizes, we’ll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat – not a toy — one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots.’ ‘They’re all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast.’ Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven.

There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the Paramedic’s van, and even the fire chief’s car. He was also videotaped for the local news program. Having his dream come true was amazing, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, Billy was deeply touched. He lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.

One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept – that no one should die alone – began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition.

The chief replied, ‘We can do better than that.  We’ll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire?’ ‘It’s the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?’ About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy’s third floor open window, 16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy’s room.

With his mother’s permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they LOVED him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, ‘Chief, am I really a fireman now?’ ‘Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand,’ the chief said. With those words, Billy smiled and said, ‘I know, He’s been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing.’ He closed his eyes one last time. Author Un-known.

Cindy Jacobs; URGENT Word for The Body of Christ

Cindy Jacobs: An Urgent Call for Massive Intercession
by Cindy Jacobs
Jul 20, 2010
Dear Believers in Christ,
A few days ago as I watched a news business channel, I received the following word from the Lord. As you can tell, it’s a serious warning. I know the nation is in a delicate condition now, but I believe that I need to send this word out. I ran it by Chuck Pierce and he said that it fits with what he has been hearing, only more specific on the economic side.
This is a wake up and it’s so strong.
A Serious Warning and a Call for Urgent Prayer
A warning received from the Lord on July 17, 2010 in Dallas, Texas:
A few days ago as I watched the financial news, the Lord clearly spoke these words to me, “The nation is teetering!” I then had a vision of the economy of the United States, on what looked like a “scale of justice.” He then went on to show me that we must fast, pray and cry out to the Lord for mercy and solutions that will balance righteousness and justice.
In praying to the Lord for wisdom about this word, I realized what must be done—it is time for the Church in America to stand up and take her place once again in the nation. I mulled over the fact that we have already lost so many of our liberties and this is what I heard, “If the Church doesn’t fast and pray for a faster acceleration of revival and awakening, the iniquitous sin structures in the nation will tip the scale that is teetering and there will be another great depression.”
Of course, this word shook me to the core of my being. Many of you may be aware that the Holy Spirit spoke to me almost a year before the September 2008 economic melt down, that there would be “no more business as usual.”
The balance of the economy is fragile and depending on the way we fast, pray, and how we cast our votes in the next election will depend on which way the scale tips. We must pray and do. We must pray and act. We must awaken the Church to the state of the nation without fear of pleasing man or fear for our reputation.
God is watching to see which way the die will be cast. If we shift the nation to Biblical values in the arenas of righteousness and justice, the economy will follow. If we continue in our stance of support for Israel, the Stock Market will stabilize and prosper, and that which is fragile will become strong. Supernatural solutions will be sent from Heaven that our natural minds could never reason, nor grasp and they will heal the land.
If we do not heed in this hour there will be a tumbling of our economy and dark days will be ahead to such a degree that our nation will possibly never fully recover from and have the greatness as a nation that God has favored us with for generations.
God have mercy. God send an awakening. God send salvation.
Cindy Jacobs
Generals International
Email: generals@generals.org

25 Things Regarding Your Walk With God

Hello friends ,I got this in an email last week and wanted to share it with you. I am sure it is something many of you will want to put on your fridge. Or send to a friend. It puts things in perspective. Have a blessed day.

1. Give God what’s right — not what’s left.

2. Man’s way leads to a hopeless end! — God’s way leads to an endless hope.

3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

4. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

5. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma–but never let him be the period.

6. Don’t put a question mark where God puts a period.

7. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a face-lift.

8. When praying, don’t give God instructions – just report for duty.

9. Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to church.

10. We don’t change God’s message — His message changes us.

11. The church is prayer-conditioned.

12. When God ordains, He sustains.

13. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.

14. Plan ahead — It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.

15. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.

16. Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.

17. Exercise daily — walk with the Lord.

18. Never give the devil a ride — he will always want to drive.

19. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.

20. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

21. He who angers you controls you.
22. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.

23. Give Satan an inch & he’ll be a ruler.

24. Be ye fishers of men — you catch them & He’ll clean them.

25. God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.