38 posts categorized "Word of Our Testimony"

No Longer A Pre-believer but a Believer

Today I have another amazing story that arrived in my email box. This is from Pam Anderson who has been a SUMite for a number of years. She is sharing what is happening in her home right now. I pray you are greatly encouraged and also find these breakthroughs she is experiencing are for you as well.

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Lynn and Dineen,

I’m emailing you today about something God has placed on my heart to share with you.  I don’t know why, but here I go.

I’d first like you both to know what a blessing you’ve been.  In some of my darkest and challenging times, your prayers and words have been the encouragement I needed to hang in there and stay faithful!  When my faith was weak, yours was strong.  And I cannot thank you enough.  It amazes me how closely my life, challenges and blessings, have so closely aligned with the two of you.

Anyhow, here’s what God has wanted me to share with you.  Back in May 2014, God said it was time for me to take it up a notch in my faith walk.  It’s then he showed me that I am to ask for something in prayer once, then after that, begin thanking him for it as though it’s already happened (claiming Mark 11:24).  So I began a “thankful list” which basically converted my prayer requests into thankful prayers.  Specifically, in regard to my husband spiritually, I began speaking and declaring the following:

In the name of Jesus, I thank you Father that:

  1. My husband has turned to you, humbly asked for forgiveness and has repented of his sin’s and has named Jesus the Lord of his life.
  2. My husband accepts the Holy Spirit’s guidance in all areas of his life.
  3. My husband has been transformed by the renewing of his mind, and is living a life that brings you honor and glory.
  4. Your will is being done in my life, my husband’s life, our marriage and our home, just as your will is being done in heaven.
  5. My husband and I love you Heavenly Father with all of our hearts, soul, mind and strength.
  6. My husband is sanctified through me, his wife.
  7. You have given my husband the grace and anointing to carry his responsibility as head of our home.

These are just a sampling of the prayers that I prayed. There are others that deal with physical manifestations of changes, such as habits.  Ladies, I am in awe of what God has done!  He’s bringing my thankful list to pass in front of my eyes. He’s been faithful to moving mountains with mustard seed faith!   My faith increased and I started expanding my vision and asking/thanking.  Praise you Father in the name of Jesus for your faithfulness!

Now God is speaking this to me:   “Call your husband a believer, not a pre-believer.”  I started having this overwhelming “knowing” that by calling my husband a pre-believer I was cursing him, not blessing him.  I was locking him into that status.  God showed me that it was time to call him out of pre-believer status, into believer status.  That he’d be faithful with this as he’s been with the others thankful prayers.

So today, I ask myself, “What do I have to lose? Absolutely Nothing!”  

Beginning today, I prayed:

Prayer Request:  (Prayed one time)

Father, I ask that you bring my husband to believe in Jesus Christ as his savior and Lord, and make him a mighty force in the furtherance of your Kingdom.  In Jesus’ name I pray.

Thankful Prayer: (Will pray this daily as of today)

In the name of Jesus, I thank you Heavenly Father that my husband is a BELIEVER in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and that he is being used mightily in the furtherance of Your Kingdom! Amen!

I know God is doing more than I can possibly ask, think or imagine.  I’m keeping a daily log of all the things God is doing, his many graces.  The more I look for them, the more I find.   I’m so humbled by the whole thing.

Love you both,
Pam

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Pam HeadshotI worked in the healthcare industry for 25 years and quit an executive position to support my husband in his writing career.  A step of faith that has taken me, and my marriage, in directions I could never have thought, asked, dreamed or imagined (Eph. 3:20).  I am humbled and in awe of God’s faithfulness.


Fight The Demonic

image from www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.comIn fighting against the tide of the demonic there is nothing more powerful than our words.

The tongue has the power of life and death —Proverbs 18:21a

I literally believe this. So I speak two kinds of words. Words of life - faith, belief, affirmation and truth from the Word of God over my life and family. And second, I speak words that bind, cancel, blind, silence and cast out the enemy.

If you could walk with me one morning in the vineyards, you would likely think I’m wacked. I pray out loud. I shout, wave my arms, raise my arms and let the Holy Spirit inspired words flow. The spoken Word in prayer wields great power. I tell the devil he is a liar and my God who is in me is greater than he who is in the world.

I will pray something like this:

In the name of Jesus, I command the demonic spirit of fear, confusion, sadness (any others that have been revealed to me by the Holy Spirit) I cast you into the pit. I silence you and you have no voice. I command the warrior angels sent to protect me to take you to the pit and to cut off your head. I have the authority of Jesus, my Savior, to cancel all assignments of the enemy. No weapon formed against me will prosper.

Angels, I have been given authority to trample of the enemy (Psalm 91). This very moment I trample on him and all his works and effects assigned to my life. I command the demonic into the pit along with all their works and effects. This spirit of fear, anxiety, sadness cannot go to my children nor follow any of my family line. I rebuke it and command it to leave me and my family forever. I plead the blood of Christ over my home and my family. In the name of Jesus and by His authority.

Jesus, I ask that you would surround me and my family (I name each one by name) with a hedge of protection. Place your holy angels around us. Prosper me and my family. Protect our hearts, soul and bodies. I ask for more of Your Presence and your anointing of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Let our homes be a place of safety, freedom, love, security, peace and joy. Lord, help me to bring heaven into our home.

Papa God, thank you for your faithfulness (I name several specifics). Thank you for your blessings and your provision. I will live to publish your deeds among the nations. Let everything I do, say and think, be anointed and inspired by the Kingdom. Thank you for Your Word. I believe it. I will proclaim it. I will use it as a powerful sword to bring freedom and healing to people.

Keep me humble and always looking to You. The only thing important in this world is Your Presence. I praise you. I worship you. I will always be loyal to you. I am your daughter. In Jesus name. Amen.

image from www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.com


Prepared To Give An Answer - The Books of Peter

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.—1 Peter 3:13-16

Reading through Peter a few weeks ago, I came to this passage. And immediately I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to pose this question to all of you.

What is your answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have?

This is our testimony. If you had two minutes to share your hope, WHY you hope, with someone what would you answer?

In my early faith years I believed I didn’t have a testimony. That is a lie. EVERYONE has a testimony of God’s love, provision, faithfulness and grace. Today share yours in four paragraphs or less.

My friends, take time to do this. Write it out. Record it here in the comments. It’s a permanent record of your written words. This is a moment to bring glory and honor to God. And it’s a moment where your SUM family join to praise and worship the Lord for His goodness and love in your life.

See you in the comments. Hugs, Lynn


Spirit of Self-hatred - Annihilated.... Hallelujah!

There are many reasons why Dineen and I serve in ministry. There are times when it’s tough as people are broken, sick, oppressed and lost. We, the mismatched are truly on the front lines in our own homes, warring for our families. 

Ministry can be tough but it’s for moments like Tiffany’s that I get up every morning. It’s for victories like this that I pray with relentless power and love over our SUM family. It’s for lives that are touched by the love of Jesus that I remain always thankful to serve in any way, the Kingdom of God. Dineen and I continue to pray for your breakthrough. Love and hugs, Lynn 

Tiffany: 

LYNN! I HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOU AND MY FELLOW SUMITES!! 

I received the email for this post in my inbox on Monday at 1:07am (Post Title: It’s Demonic In Nature). I am just now seeing the email and have JUST read your post. 

I have been struggling the past few years with self-condemnation and self-loathing. I mean bad, to the point where I would be constantly telling myself (sometimes even audibly) and describing to my husband that I HATED myself. That I absolutely hated myself. Not allowing freedom from things already forgiven! Not forgiving myself. Not giving Jesus full reign over my life. Quenching the Spirit, etc. I would constantly be crying out to God for help and opportunity yet blinding myself to His work in my life. 

Monday morning I woke up it was probably 5 am and instantly I got on the ground faced down, bowed before the Father. Now this is NOT something natural to me. There I was in the presence of my Creator. In those intimate moments, I just felt something so unique...I have felt God's grace and mercy and been overwhelmed by His love before but this, this was different. 

I have been delivered from all my insecurity and self-loathing, hatred and condemnation. 

I knew it was a miracle because like I said before this was totally unnatural of me. I had no idea until this moment that God is doing a mighty work in all of us and how amazing to see His deliverance for all of us. It's been almost 2.5 days since my encounter "on the road to Damascus" and I have never felt happier and at peace. 

It's like Jesus spoke over me, "It is FINISHED!" 

I have started putting on makeup again and doing my hair and taking time to pamper myself because I finally believe I am worth it...a child of the One True King! I hope I have done a decent job at explaining this because I feel I have no words to truly describe this miraculous work in me. 

How amazing that even in our online community where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name, mighty things happen...more than we can ask or imagine. 

Than you Tiffany for this testimony of God’s love in your life. My friends, press in to the love of our Lord for your miracle. Get on your face if you need to in complete obedience and allow the Lord of the Universe immerse you in His fathomless love. 

Pray in the comments. Let’s pray for one another. I want to post miracle after miracle here where the SUM Nation BELIEVES in a God who can do anything. 

I love you my family. I truly love you, Lynn

Luke 4 18


Breakthrough - Disappointment- Thanksgiving and More On Our Final Day Of Fasting

image from www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.com

Hello Sumite Family – Church Without Walls. 

Can you believe it’s already the last day of our fast? Reading through the comments has been amazing. I have prayed for all of you. This has been an amazingly sweet time with our Lord. And as I spoke to Dineen yesterday about this fast, we marveled at all God has done, the tenderness He has displayed and the answers to our petitions. 

Dineen and I paused a moment and we turned our conversation to prayer: Jesus, we sure hope Rosheeda Lee is watching our community from heaven. What she started here years ago, this annual fast, has had lasting impact on us as individuals. Lord, we know that the prayers and declarations spoken during this tender time will bring about great glory for Your name and bring many into Your Kingdom. Lord, Jesus please hug Rosheeda for us. We love and miss her. Amen. 

I know many of us are praying for breakthrough. And I have to share my breakthrough with you. It was quite unexpected. Before I do, however, I want to speak to those of you who haven’t had your breakthrough and those who feel disappointment. Perhaps, like me, breakthrough came in an area your weren’t praying about. For me personally, I received an answer for prayer that I started praying two and half years ago. So, don’t be disappointed. Instead, ask God to show you where He was working in your life this past week. 

On Thursday morning I was sitting in my backyard next to a gentle and warm fire, sipping coffee from my Broncos mug and reading my Bible and praying. All was right with the world. When all of a sudden my husband texts me and asks me if I sold some stock. 

Text Back: No, What is going on? Did someone hack our account? 

I go into full-on panic mode as this is the little bit of money I have saved for my daughter’s college education. The funds are small and only cover another semester so we can’t afford to lose a dime. After they are exhausted I have three more semesters to pay for and I haven’t a clue where the money is going to come from. 

I began praying about our lack of finances for college back when she started school in 2013. I prayed and still pray asking for provision. I trust. I look at my small account. I panic. I pray again. I trust. I mostly lean into trusting God because after all, He arranged her education. 

Well after my panic over my husband’s text, I call my husband and he reminds me that our new “finance” guy is moving things around. However, he wasn’t supposed to touch this account. So, my husband gets off the phone to contact our guy to find out what’s going on. And in THAT SPECIFIC MOMENT the Lord spoke. 

“Lynn, you have asked me to help you provide for college. So I sent you this guy.” 

Now get this. This man works with my husband. He’s absolutely brilliant. The kind of brilliant where he tests out on the IQ Test- Mensa. He works as one of the company leaders in computer technology. On top of that he’s also a Certified Public Accountant. He handles investments for about 10 people, we are one of them. And ON TOP OF THAT…. 

Now get this: He’s an ordained pastor. 

Now when God sends a guy to help you out, He doesn’t fool around. Brilliant, Computer Genius, CPA…. AND A PASTOR…. I think our college funds are in good hands and it’s all okay that he is moving funds about. 

THANK YOU DADDY!!! An answer to prayers from 2 ½ years ago. A Breakthrough. I’ve had another significant event this week but I will share that with you later. 

My friends, our Lord is good. He is lavish. He is a blast and I love Him so much. Hang on to your faith. Persist in prayer. He will work things out for your good and His glory. And don’t give the enemy an inch. I know that ugly snake tries hard to get us to blame God for stuff he is doing to kill, steal and destroy in our lives and family. 

So on our final day, LET’S GIVE THANKS. Let’s thank the Lord for what He has done this week. Share any insights you received this week. Tell me about your time with the Lord. Share answers to prayer and let’s give the Lord thanks. And can you share one other thing. Write along with your comment: Sumite since ___________. Include the month or year or even yesterday if that's when you started reading here.

When we pray, we must believe and then thank Jesus for the work that is in progress. 

This has been an amazing week. I love all of you so much. I have stormed heavens gates for you. I have fought the demonic for you. I have declared and spoken God’s Word, love and hope into your lives. (Even if I didn’t have time to type my prayers out in response to your comments.) 

I can’t wait to praise our Lord with you today. I love you with a full and expectant heart, Lynn, a Sumite since May, 2006.

image from www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.com

PS. yesterday in the comments Teri said this: Today I am asking for a real place to live, a home. To no longer live in my car. 

The minute I read this I knew that I wanted to send her money. If any of you want to do the same, click on the donate button in the sidebar. Thank you. 

Phil 1 4 to 6


The Great Gifts Of The Unequally Yoked

Hello SUM Nation: 

image from www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.comI just wonder…… 

Can you perhaps come to understand the unique and special blessings of the unequally yoked? 

I bet someone just read this and rolled their eyes? Anybody??? 

As a woman who has walked this journey now for more than two decades, I truly understand how very difficult it can be. I have lived through the pain, rejection, fear and confusion. I know that some days it can take everything we have to hold on to hope. Yet as a veteran, I have come to realize the unique and beautiful blessings of this journey of faith. 

If you scroll through the comments from Friday’s post, you too will understand. The intercessors who prayed for this community are amazing. (Thank you Teresa, Merlene and Joanne). 

Family here on the web, you have been brought before the King of Kings by many of us here. We love you and we truly care about your life, family and your faith. Jesus stood with all of us as we brought you individually along with your pre-believer spouse, your children, family members and friends before the Mercy Seat. God listened as we petitioned for you and your loved ones. 

We SUMites have learned to pray. We have gained great faith as well. And our hope in Jesus soars above so many others who are of faith. During this season of miracles, take a minute to reflect on what gifts and goodness have been born out of your difficult marriage. 

I know that I would not have the kind of faith nor the amazing experiences I have with God if I had married a believing spouse. I just know. In fact, it is likely that most of my life I could have leaned on my believing spouse for faith and missed the hard work, perseverance and prayer that are required to move in the gifts of the Spirit that God has honored me with today. 

As I have reflected on this community and the love we have, a story that deeply touched my heart came forward and flooded my soul. So, I want to share it with you again today.

 

This is worth the time to read. 

November, 2013: (Lynn) Today I have a question for you. How many times have you set down in church and looked around the sanctuary at the couples seated together, husband and wife, and felt defeated, disappointed, and pain? 

I know this place of pain existed in my life for many years. And I really didn’t understand why God was ignoring my prayers and my pleas for the salvation of my husband. And why He didn’t see my pain and longing for a “normal” Christian home. 

That was until about two years ago and I heard a woman share her personal story and as I listened it changed everything. Today, I’m sharing this story with you so that you might understand a little more, about the heart of our Father, and His love for us, the unequally yoked. 

Two years ago I was part of the leadership team for our church’s annual women’s retreat. Prior to the retreat, the leadership team would meet once a week for eight weeks on a Wednesday evening and have Bible study together. Every other week, the team welcomed a guest speaker, an ordinary woman from our congregation. 

Well on this particular night, we welcomed Carol Mahaney. And Carol proceeded to tell her story. And it’s likely the rest of the women in the room were moved a bit by her story, but I was leveled to the ground, in my spirit. 

You see, Carol married her high school sweetheart. He was a believer. She was a believer. They attended church together every Sunday. They tithed, they studied the Bible, they prayed together, they were everything I dreamed and hoped and wanted for my own life. They raised two girls to adulthood as Christians. Carol said she had a wonderful life and she leaned on her husband for everything and she utterly adored him. She said she loved her church family she felt absolutely blessed by God. 

But in 2008, Carol’s husband unexpectedly died. She was devastated. Additionally this was the year that the economy crashed and as Carol had never managed her finances before, she was overwhelmed as her finances were in chaos. Devastated by grief and lost in a maze of paperwork, banking decisions and taxes, she hit bottom and there was no longer a husband to save her. 

Carol looked up and said, “That’s when I met Jesus.” 

I looked at Carol astonished. And I sat in my chair as my head reeled. Carol was 63 years old and she admits in front of all of us that she lived the Christian life with a believing husband for 63 years but at age 63 for the first time she met Jesus. 

What is so compelling about Carol story for me is that she had the life I thought I always wanted. She attended church with her husband, raising her kids in church, tithing, all things Christianeese but she really didn’t meet the King of Kings until she turned 63 years of age. She merely “played” church and her husband’s faith was enough for her…….. 

For 63 years….. 

Instantly, God moved my spirit. He made me realize that I could have lived a Christian life with a very shallow faith thinking I was doing all the right things but never truly “knowing” Christ. 

I know walking this unequally yoked journey is very difficult. I still have very difficult days. I struggle with my husband’s media choices, I still miss him by my side at church, etc. BUT I would choose this journey again over the life Carol had until age 63 because I truly know Jesus. 

I grieved for Carol because for 63 years she “lived” the Christian life or so it seemed. But it wasn’t until the death of her spouse and a personal crisis that brought her into of living vibrant relationship with Jesus. 

My friends, our difficulties are what God has given us to push us, pull us, help us to surrender and to seek Him out for rescue, and then to live in His Presence. As I think about Carol’s life and marriage, it isn’t worth it to have a marriage that is easy if it means that I live most of my life without truly knowing Jesus. 

I would sign up again for this unequally yoked thing, over 63 years of playing “church.” 

I’m convinced we will truly see that our challenging marriage is singularly, a divine assignment with generational ramifications, for us and our entire family and more people than we realize. 

1 John 3:1  See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 

I love you so much my friends. Today, don't doubt God loves you and that He has your life in His hands. Ask Him where you need to surrender and ask Him how to love Him more. 

God is good and His ways are always best for His children. Hugs, Lynn


The Destruction of the Demonic Warrior

Today is a continuation of Stone’s testimony. Part I was posted on Monday. On Friday I intend to get started teaching on the power we have to defeat the demonic. Stay tuned… Now here is Part II from my friend, Stone. 

Temecula, CA
Worship In The Valley: A worship event in Temecula, CA on November 20th. 

image from www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.comThen I was brought back to the battlefield with a new knowledge of the enemy’s strategy and his determination to prevent me from ever setting foot on the battlefield because it is my destiny to speak into the face of darkness and command that he let God’s people go, that his captives be set free in the name of Jesus. Before this battle has begun I know and so does he that he is destined to lose his hold over God’s beloved who he has shackled with fear, depression, suicide, self-mutilation and abuse. He has been lying to them, keeping them captive to his lies for too long and God has heard their cries and is committed to them to receiving their freedom. He is going to use me to speak freedom into the lives of his beloved, His chosen and treasured people and they will receive freedom, He will speak through my wounds and years in bondage. He is going to shine through me and shine His light of life, freedom and joy into the lives of His beloved. 

Then He did something amazing! God called me to cast this spirit out of my life, He told me to command that this demonic spirit no longer has permission or authority to stand at my door and torment my nights, or speak lies into my life. I commanded this spirit, who has followed me my whole life at the command of the enemy, to go that it can’t stand beside my bed keeping me awake all night or at my door shouting at me tormenting me or come into my home at all. God assured me that He is my sword and my shield, my strength and my defender and that His hand of protection is upon me and that I am safe in His presence. He showed me that I have the authority in the name of Jesus to command that this enemy leave my home and torment me no longer. 

I am God’s chosen; His cherished and beloved daughter and I have a destiny to pursue my passion of bringing hope and freedom into the hearts and lives of the lost, the hurting, the broken. He has given me authority to speak hope and freedom into the hearts of those enslaved by suicide, depression, self-mutilation and abuse. As I look at the battlefield I know that this victory is sure, that the enemy is terrified of God’s power and passion for His people, he knows that his reign of terror over them is ending and that they will have freedom.  

Jesus is going to rain down and wash away the chains and shackles he’s been using to hold on to God’s beloved. Their freedom is coming and His people are going to run away from their captivity in waves and there is nothing that he can do to stop it. He could not destroy me, he never could but that didn’t stop him from trying, that didn’t stop him from assigning his chosen warrior to stand at my doorway and torment me, shout lies into my life and try to keep me down, convinced of my own enslavement and utter ruin. But Jesus reached out His hand released me from my chains, and carried me out of my prison of pain and suffering. Jesus led me out into a beautiful meadow and taught me to walk with Him in joy and freedom, he taught me a new song and He is singing it with me. He is with me as He always has been and always will be. 

I love you and I'm praying for healing over you and your family.

Hugs,
Stone


Weekend Worship — Share Your Testimony!

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My friends, Lynn and I had a fabulous time at FamilyLife Today with Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine last week. These two men have such HUGE hearts for families and marriage. What a privilege it was for us to share our hearts with them. And they asked us some really challenging questions! Good questions. As soon as we get the details of the broadcast, we will share it with you. 

SUMites, you know our hearts desire is to encourage wives and moms in their mismatched places, in ALL walks of life and circumstances. And I see that desire in so many of you too. Abba has given us so much! So much hope and strength in our mismatched places. It just bursts out of us. That's why we wrote Not Alone. And let me say how grateful we are to our publisher, Regal Books, who believed in our message and ministry. These people are dedicated to Jesus and sharing His saving hope. Amazing!

In greatest honor to our sweet Jesus, I have a couple testimonies for you. My friend, testimonies are POWERFUL (Rev. 12:11). The enemy knows this and wants to keep us quiet and will even squelch us down if he can. Trust me, I know (and will hopefully share more on this soon). That's because he knows that testimonies increase faith and hope, and release God's power in our lives, our marriages, our children and the world! As Lynn and I sat on the plane on the way home, she turned to me and said, "We need more testimonies." And I agreed.

Yesterday as I walked and prayed I asked Abba for this, for more of His miracles to be released in this community and to bring us more testimonies. He will do it!

This first one is from our book and you'll recognize Gillian's name too. She is a righteous mama contending for her kiddos! I love how she used her children's toys to teach her children! Moms, don't be afraid to ask the Holy Spirit to inspire you with ideas like this. It's fun!

1531631_10152189985277280_674821193_nI read a short story from a children’s Bible, and we sing a praise song or hymn each night at bedtime. “Jesus Loves Me” has become a favorite. Because they are very young, I sometimes use figurines and toys to act out Bible stories—it’s simple, but it really holds their attention and makes the story come to life for them—and for me. 

This is what I pray on the nights when I put my young boys to bed:

Dear Lord, thank You for _______, _______ and _______. Thank You for Your love for them and Your special plan for each of their lives. Please bless them and keep them, and lead them all their days. May they always know Your great love for them.

The last line I find especially important. That is the one thing everything hinges on, because it is when we lose sight of how much God loves us that we tend to fall away from Him. But even when life’s not fun, if we can still feel His love, it makes all the difference.

—Gillian Russell Meisner

This next testimony is one sent in by a reader. So amazing! As you read it, claim that this kind of miracle is possible for you too, becaue with God, ALL things are possible (Luke 1:37).

Hi Dineen,
I'm so sorry I missed the opportunity to join the week of fasting with the community, but I have no doubt that all will be blessed as a result.

We exchanged emails last year when I was going through a tough patch in my marriage and you gave such encouragement and wise words to me through that time.

Well, I wanted to share briefly with you the latest to encourage that God does hear our heart's cry and moves on our behalf, but He also looks for us to actively get involved too. Obedience and His power seem to go hand in hand - Father is so gracious that way, He loves to do things with us.

2013 was a tough year and continued to have challenges in my marriage right up to the end. But even I wasn't prepared for the conversation 2 weeks before Christmas that saw my husband announce the end of our 12 year marriage (and a relationship of 18 years). I was devastated but I knew that God had given me the strength to finally say no to something that was tearing us apart and was unbelievably unhealthy for our marriage and our souls.

Now my husband is a man who, when he makes his mind up, does not bend even if he is in the wrong. When he said our marriage was finished, I had no reason to doubt him. But only 5 days later he took my hand and said that this situation was very wrong, a waste of 18 years and that he didn't want to be without me.

I was stunned. Was this possible? Only with God, I would have to say! I knew that the prayers I had been praying and those of supportive Christian friends had been heard.

Then my second shock that night - I once again asked him to consider counselling. He has never agreed to counselling as he doesn't think it does any good. However, as he began his protestations, God directed me to say that surely if we wanted to save an 18 year relationship, counselling as a last resort was worth a try. He said, amazingly, that he would agree to "consider" a selection that I would provide him with. Again, this is a huge step forward.

So instead of the expected disaster of Christmas and the New Year, my beloved was just wonderfully kind to me, loving and sweet. It was the best Christmas present I could ever have.

Then, as if to add a cherry on this wonderful "cake", God brought another present to me. My husband has a sharp mind with an ability to debate and contest. I'm far more a feeling, sensing person, so he runs rings around me usually on the rare occasions we discuss Christianity.

However, the first Saturday into the new year, out of the blue we meandered through topics of conversation and ended up talking "religion." As mentioned above, I'm not very good at debating, certainly not compared to my husband but, this time, the Holy Spirit just dropped words into my mind and unbelievably my husband was arrested by them to the point that he was nearly speechless. A first in my experience!

The key moment was when, in response to one of his statements, I said I largely agreed with his comments on religion, but that faith in Jesus was actually about a relationship with a personality rather than an organisation. I was even able to share Psalm 139 with him.

Trust me when I say this was a big breakthrough. I'm not expecting my husband to become a Christian tomorrow, but I truly believe that something has been loosed in the spiritual realm to open his heart further to God. So whilst we still have a way to go, still need to get that counselling sorted and deal with our issues, I know that my Father has this marriage in His hands and that He will withhold no good thing from us for it's renewal and healing.

Amazing, amazing, AMAZING! And so GOD! As this dear woman said, God loves to do things with us. Have an amazing weekend bathed in the promises of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. He is mighty to save—ALL of us!

Be shiney for Jesus!
Dineensig

 

  


How One RAK Inspired Another

My friends, a couple weeks ago I shared this post about my daughter Leslie and her amazing heart of generosity. Specifically her act of kindness in taking a Visa gift card she had received on her birthday and giving it to a homeless person.

What blows me away is how we are inspired by these acts of kindness and find ourselves moving in similar places. I'm finding this is something that I want to make a part of my daily life. It's so much fun! 

And that's Jesus in us, my friends. Read this beautiful story from Heidi and how Jesus honored her heart's desire to help someone. He led her right to this mom...

 

ImageFinally here I am, though I feel my RAK is not near as awesome as some I have read, but I promised an update anyway. As I had mentioned before I don't have access to our funds so I needed to be creative, because I really wanted to give back since God has given sooooo much to me! :-) I need to back up a bit so bare with me.

My Mom had sent me a $100 gift card for my birthday and as you can imagine I was totally excited, being that I never have money of my own, which for woman my age can be very humiliating when out with friends. Then I read the RAK post. I sooo wanted to do that leave money here and there, but I knew I would have to ask my hubby who wouldn't have allowed it.

Then I thought I wonder if I could find a way to cash it—nope that wouldn't work either. Then I thought I'll just give it away, but worried it would hurt my moms feelings. Well finally, after reading about your daughter, Dineen, and how she said " Mom, this gift is for me right? Well this is what I want, it will make me happy," I said to myself "exactally! It will make me happy, and was given to me with the idea it was mine to spend how I wished!"

My first thought was, the freezing temp here that we had, I wanted to buy blankets, search out homeless people who didn't make it into shelters and give them to them. Well finding the homeless turned out be a task in its self, and when I did, I felt I would be in danger getting out of my car alone. Also they all were covered in blankets and jackets. So I drove praying, "God if this is what you want me to do I will, I trust you will keep me safe, but I need to know if this is your idea or mine."

So I kept driving, then Wal-mart popped into my head! Hmmm, I thought, is that what I should do, Father, find someone in need there? So I told myself, I will go to Wal-Mart, and if I find someone that stands out and looks in need, then I will give them my card. If not blankets. Wal-Mart it is!

I walked around with an empty cart pretending to shop, even checked out the blankets to see how many I could get for $100. Finally, walking in the food section, I saw a mom and her two children with about four items in her cart and using a calculator to figure out what else she could afford. I could tell by their clothing it had been quite awhile since they had anything new.

I could hear the children pleading for something they wanted or needed. So that was it. I walked over, stuck my hand out and said, "Here this is for you."

She was embarrassed and said, "Oh no, you don't have to do that!"

I told her, "It was given to me as a birthday present, and I want to do it for you. I saw you working on your calculator. Merry Christmas."

And then Itook off! I was embarrassed too and didn't want her to feel bad by drawing attention to us, or try to give it back. I could hear her say "thank you" as I disappeared. I had planed to place God in my words in speaking with her, but didn't because I could see she was worried people would look at her.

 

Heidi, thank you so much for sharing this precious story with us. I have no doubt that mom knew our great Abba was looking out for her that day and He did it through you.

My friends, our testimonies are inspiring and when we share them with a heart to glorify and praise Jesus, we inspire others. So share your testimonies with that heart and ignore the enemy's attempt to condemn and make you think you're bragging. He would love to keep us quiet so that others won't be inspired to do similar acts of love and kindness.

And I wish you could have seen my daughter's face when I told her how her act of kindness had inspired someone to do something similar. I tell you, I literally saw her spirit expand with in her. So beautfiul and so precious. Heidi gave my daughter a gift too in her desire to help another in like manner.

Wow, wow and wow again! This is the heart of Christmas, my friends. The love of Jesus in action. Not to earn the praises of others but to share the sacrifical love that was born first as a tiny baby and came with the sole purpose to save the world. 

Jesus, our great King, Savior and Friend. The epitomy of love, Who CHOSE to dwell in us. He's in you, my friends. Let that sink in and blow you away! Then let Him shine brightly through you.

Love you so much! Be shiney for Jesus!
Dineensig


Where We Discover The Power For Our Lives

image from www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.comBack in October, I asked you to jon me for a journey. I took you with me through the vision and the implications of all that I saw in the spiritual realm when I went to receive prayer in the Healing Rooms at Bethel. GOD CRACKED THE UNIVERSE open for me!

But do you remember the original prayer request?

Here is the excerpt from October 18, 2013: The Vastness of Our God.

I thought to myself, “Well, they can pray for me to receive the gift of fasting if they must pray bout something for me.” Geeze, it sounds so smug when I type this. Forgive me. And in all honesty, I do struggle in this area of fasting and my stomach is my last remaining idol of my life. I would like to rid myself of overeating. 

So today we are ending this journey and I have one final miracle to share:

That original prayer request to gain control over my last remaining idol, my stomach. Well I came home and my desire for a glass or two of wine at night  -- GONE--. I’m healed and I’ve already lost weight. My body will be a living testimony to the power that comes from the fear of the Lord. 

Psalms 33:8
Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

The journey to the supernatural is one of maturity and purity. 

I’m healed and whole by the power of the King of Kings. That is my testimony. 

This entire story is my testimony and now I anoint it and pass it along to you that you may partake of it, receive it and may it manifest in your life. 

Revelations 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

To read the entire story, here are the links:

The Vastness of Our God

I Met Prince Jesus - Who Am I?

The Bride - Becoming

Balm For My Pain

Prince Jesus Sings

This Is For The Men

 

And if you want to receive this gift of anointing to rid yourself of idols from your life, please tell me what you need deliverance from or what gift you are earnestly seeking from the Lord and I WILL pray for your deliverance and anointing to take a giant step further into the power and the glory of Prince Jesus' Kingdom. I love you my SUMites. So very much. Lynn


Prince Jesus Sings

image from www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.comMy friends, we are drawing to a close of this story. Although I’m feeling like I’m just getting started. It’s as if a bright door with brilliant light has opened before me and it beckons. It’s so bright that I can’t see past the door frame but I know something warm, good and holy waits inside. I’m filled with trepidation and yet my soul is compelled, drawn to allow this Prince Jesus to summon me further into His Kingdom. 

It’s been three weeks tomorrow since I met this Prince and our new and different love affair is only beginning. I remain in awe. I'm filled with a holy fear and reverence and also I know I'm in over my head with this King who loves tenderly and woos me unto Himself. 

And what does that look like? 

Well right now I can only give you a simple story.

On the Monday following my experience in the healing rooms, I’m at home and I wake early. I shuffle out to the coffee maker, scoop up my Bible like every other morning and sit in the family room to read and pray. It’s moments like this that life returns to normal and it’s routine and you fear that you will lose what God gave you over the past four days. Because I’m back in my home and I’m still married to an unbelieving man. I have dishes to do. Errands to run and the dog wants his breakfast. Nominal, ordinary, everyday stuff. 

Yes, two days ago I had a life-altering encounter with the Most High, The Prince of Peace. 

How do I move forward? How can I proceed with such a change in my heart and soul? I know most of us have lived in this very place. We return home from a retreat, a mountain top experience, and as much as we experienced and changed, “real” life awaits. The enemy is prowling just waiting for a moment to destroy our newly found hope and joy. Can anyone relate? 

Well, I have more to say about that later but let me take you back to this Monday morning. I’m sitting in the family room. I am so hungry for God that I just remember praying, “I’m hungry for you Dad. I just want your heart. I want more of you. I want all of you Prince Jesus. Fill me with your Spirit. And Dad, give me more love. More love to give you and more love to give to people.” 

I close my Bible. I shuffle back to the kitchen, feed the dog, the fish and head to the bedroom. I change into my walking clothes and I drive out to my walk-n-pray wilderness. I turn on my music and begin to walk still marveling over all that has transpired. And also asking Jesus to come and woo me, all the while wondering what in the world will that look like. What does that even mean? 

I had walked about 20 minutes and as an old familiar song, one of my favorite worship songs ended, I stopped singing out loud, waiting for the next song to queue. It was a fairly new song in my playlist. It was Your Voice by Kim Walker-Smith & Skyler Smith. I began to sing along as I walked briskly down the vineyard-lined, country road. I sang the lyrics in worship while thinking about this Prince who galloped into my life two days earlier. And as I mulled the words of this song over in my head, THAT IS WHEN IT HAPPENED. 

I was singing:


There is no greater need
You make my life complete
You set me free

Your voice alive in me
The sound of victory
You speak to me

Your voice is the light 
Shining through the doorway
Of my heart and comes alive
When You speak into me

You're my life
You're my life
You're my life
You're my life

And as I hit the chorus of, “You’re my life. You’re my life.” I heard distinctly the voice of Jesus speak to me and he said, “No Lynn. You are not singing these words to me. (Don’t you get it) I’m the one singing these words to you.” 

Yes, you guessed it. Blubbering ensued. Again!

Wait a minute. Jesus is singing to me….. Your voice is the light shining through the doorway of my heart and comes alive when you speak into me.  You’re my life. You’re my life....... 

Gulp. I’m still emotional typing this three weeks later. 

Well to say a certain 5’4” blonde girl was astonished is an understatement. I don’t think I could do anything else the rest of the walk but just receive this love that Jesus poured upon me whether I was ready or not. 

I arrived home. And what is a girl to do when she is being pursued? She calls her girlfriend, her BFF. Yep, Thank God Dineen is on speed dial. I explained to her what had just happened to me on the walk and she replies: 

“Oh Lynn, your being wooed.” 

Double gulp! I didn’t even realize. Thank goodness for girlfriends who help dull ones like me, figure things out! Sheesh!!! 

More crying. Sniffle, sniffle. More awe. More love….. More. 

I just want more. 

As I leave this post today, I just can’t get out of my mind what was said at the conference: Bobby Conner said that God is wanting His people to embrace THE AWE OF GOD. So I’m certainly on this path. I’ve never understood the awe of God, His Son, Prince Jesus, of the Holy Spirit as I do today. 

And as I leave you today, I’m asking that every single person who reads this will receive an encounter with the Prince and that you will fully experience the awe of being the bride of the Most High King. 

Prince Jesus, woo my friends, this SUMite family. The Bride adores you. Reveal Yourself to all of us in supernatural encounters that leave us wrecked, changed forever. We ask to help us embrace the awe of your power and love. Teach us, grant us wisdom and understanding. Make in us a people that are worthy, a people of maturity and purity. Fill us with your love. Prince, we want more. We want more. We want you. We want your heart. This is our plea for all of our lives. Amen. 

See you next time as I have two remaining posts that are part of this series. However, there is so much more going on in this community that I will likely have other stuff interspersed. 

I love you my friends… my family. I carry you in my heart. 

This entire story is my testimony and now I anoint it and pass it along to you that you may partake of it, receive it and may it manifest in your life.

Revelations 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

 

White Open Door
Will you walk through this door with me?

"Image courtesy of ponsulak, FreeDigitalPhotos.net".

 


A Day of Remembering

Hi Everyone,

Lynn here. Still a bit under the weather so today's post is short and sweet. Before I get to that I want to give you a head's up that in my heart there is a series brewing, Open Heavens. I want to talk about what this term means and how an open heaven changes everything in our homes, our hearts, marriages and lives. 

It's going to be cool.

But for today, I think we must take moments to remember. 

StoneConsistently throughout the Old Testament, God directs people to set up memorial stones. I think of the crossing of the Jordan toward Jericho. Does anyone have that scripture handy and can post it in the comments?

We must take active measures to remember and focus on God's Presence inour lives because the devil is continually bringing before us our irritations, our anger, dissapointments and failures.

ENOUGH!

We take every thought captive to Christ and live in victory.

So today I want to do two things. I want to hear about your top three moments where you KNOW God showed up in your life. Let's take a minute to remember the good things and how God was Present, active and changed our circumstances. (list them in the comments)

I also want to remember praises for our husbands. When we live spiritually mismatched, again, we tend to focus on everything that is wrong in our spouse. Today, share three things that you admire and are thankful for about your spouse. (list them in the comments)

I hope to be back on top of the world on Friday and we are going to ...... OPEN THE HEAVENS. Love and hugs, Lynn


This Letter will Inspire You

My friends, today I bring you a special treat. A letter to all of us in this community from Durda who lives in Croatia. Her words will bless you and she brings great wisdom to light on how to stand against the devil for your marriage. I pray you will leave her a note in the comments. Hugs, Lynn

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image from static.ddmcdn.comHi to all there, every person who joint this group and to you Lynn and Dineen.Father bless you all in all your efforts. My name is Đurđa.I'm from Croatia.Me and my husband have four children, four boys. I find this page before two days, because i felt deep inside of me need for many answers that bothers me a lot, so i typ on google something like "what if woman have a faithless husband", or" how to live with faitless husband"...and google throw out this preccious page.

Me and my husband doesn't came into marriage because of love each others, but because of my need and he help me than..so slowly this became - marriage.you understand, right? In that time i became believer and born again, but he doesnt. You know...i felt all this time like i carry him on my shoulders for faith. BUT....from our wedding is past 11 years and i have in those years so much to learn about all.I realize that he is not so bad and against me how i was thinking,but that my pride was so big....

So, why i write all these??shore because of many couragement on your's writing and many good answers to my questions which bothers me a many years...and because i felt like i'm alone a woman who have those problems...and if i will keep all this in my, like a some secred, it will be much more difficult each day i live... BUT, especcially this writing - "who are we really fighting" (from an older post on spiritual warfare) remind me on something big in my life.

Not so long, before maybe 1 on 2 year ago, our marriage was still bad and it look like it will be worst and worst...and one day we are argue and more than argue, and Ivica(in english John) said that he would kill me...because every argue was the same i became to look him and be angry on him because he doesn't believe like me, so i became to see him negative and that is enough for him to see that i look him that way, they feel this, right? and of course, he have his negative things and when this two have join together there is BUMMMMMMMMMM!!! Maybe my case is a uttermost, but i have to be honest, because i know it will help others maybe who will read this... So, on that day we fight and argue and he said that he will kill me and our youngest son scream no, daddy don't kill mammy....when i was heard this, i stopedd, and Ivica too.It was to much!

I stopped and start honestly searching answers, because i was thinking of me as a believer and i know that my Father love me and my family and i ask myself - is this will of my Father who sent His only beggotten Son to die for all people in the world because He love them???? And for me? And like many other times i realize that i again forget on such important thing - devil!!! In one secong thru my head fly a like some idea or picture how devil and his demons seat in our house , laughinh how Ivica and i fight, and he beat me, how kids are lonely and hurt with all that, and what kind are we picture to our neighbours...(and i i'm a christian...)

And in one second, with tears still in my eyes and with my hair in mess, i could allmoust fell how devil was laughing and how he is satisfied, and i was imagine how we, people are like a litlle puppet on thread, you know what i mean? like people stay behing a curtain and just pull the thread, and puppet movin exactly like man wants? Just like this me and my dear husband was, and i believe a many couples, married in faith or whithaut it.

And after that i stand i speak with a loud voice this( and after this our marriage is 100% changed) - Now, listen to me devil and all yours demons, you will not tuch my marriage any more.You have us till now, but from now on your rule on our marriage is FINISH!!! From now on you will not put even your one finger on us ,our marrige, or every each of us, or our children, nowhere.i dont give you nothing, milimetar.Our's Lord from now is Jesus Christ who died for us. And from that on, our marriage, or we as a individuals are different.God is healed everything what our boys are watching, and going thru!

Praise to be the Lord God, Jesus Christ! And i write this, open my heart because myself was at the bottom, i have a thoughts how to runaway from marriage, but i have not strenght because of children, and in the same time i was wondering how that can be - i know Jesus loved me and promise me a good thigs an in the other hand only the bad things what happen? Thruth is that we must know the Thruth and declare it.Our God is bigger than enything else, our unbelievin husbands, or even us like "believers"...

From that time on Holy Spirit teaches me one lesson which i think is most powerfull in marriage . accept your husband or wife totally, complete.Jesus said it like this - Love another like you love yourself!!!So, if God has loved and love me excatly how i'm, i MUST love my husband excatly like he is...this is something beautifull and gives a full freedom and give freedom to Holy Spirit to work. Its not easy, but it's the only way. And on the end, message to all sisters which have a "unbelieving" husbands...God's command is the same- Love him Like I love you.!!! I love you and i'm happy to see that i'm not alone! Sorry for the mistakes in writing, my english is bad. God bless you all in Jesu's name! Đurđa

 

Durda, we love you our sister in the Lord. We are praying for you and feel so encouraged by your faith. Thank you. With deep love Lynn, Dineen and the entire Community here at SUM.

Leave Durda a word of encouragement. Hugs, Lynn