NOTES OF GLORY NEWSLETTER SPRING 2010
GOD SEES IN THE DARK As we Travel Prophecy Update A Special Need In Memory Schedule
Over the past months, we have been hearing from so many people who have been telling us of heart-wrenching stories of attacks upon their families. It is easy to understand why ungodly families would be going through hard times. What is hard to understand is that of those we are hearing from, many of them really love the Lord and are serving Him, even as Pastors and Missionaries. It is like a spirit of darkness is falling upon people of all walks of life.
We are, by nature, afraid of the dark. The reason being, we cannot see what is ahead of us and do not know what danger is lurking. We are living in a world of extreme danger. Satan, like a roaring lion, is prowling around, seeking whom he may devour. When we cannot understand what is happening, fear results and fear has torment.
Looking at the political situation, many are becoming extremely fearful. We are living in dangerous or perilous times. Old people are worried about their life savings slipping away and being left without health coverage or worse. Young people are becoming afraid to get married so they just live together. Many of those who are married are afraid to have children because of the uncertain future.
In 1978, God gave me a dream about the end times that is now coming into focus. At the time, it seemed so far-fetched; people criticized me and said it could never happen. Shortly after, the Lord gave me a vision that was even more frightening and seemingly impossible to happen. It too, is coming into focus around us. After the Lord showed me that which is to come, He said, "Be not afraid"!
In both situations, the Lord showed me a time of great darkness in which it would seem like the devil was in control and there was no hope. Many are asking today if there is a reason to hope. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 139:11-12, "If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." I am so thankful that "God sees in the dark". He says in Psalm 56:3, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."
Psalm 119:105 says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." When encompassed by darkness, the best way to keep from falling is to focus your attention upon the light of the Word. When going through dark and trying times, the temptation is to focus upon the evening news and set aside the "good news". No matter what the media says, the Lord is still in control and He is not afraid. In these days, we must live by the Word.
Those who hear from God are those who take time each day to be quiet before Him. Our strength is found in the Word of God. When Satan attacks, "It is written", still works to ward him off. (Matt 4:1-11.) If you don’t know the Word, it won’t do you any good. Satan will be able to deceive you and bring confusion. The result is fear and turmoil of soul.
In order to remain strong, we must have fellowship. John writes, "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." I John 1:7. The writer to the Hebrews warns us, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25.)
The devil knows that a home in harmony is a severe threat to him and his kingdom. When a family is in agreement, there is great power in prayer. The Spirit of God then has free access to work and bring glory to God. Satan is therefore attacking the home and causing division. When this happens, the natural tendency is to criticize each other and fight in the flesh. This will only cause more problems as we can only win when we fight in the Spirit. Satan also knows that when your family is attacked, you often act without thinking and develop anger and bitterness. When your family is attacked, remember that the most important thing is not finances or anything physical; it is their relationship with God. I believe the Lord is allowing struggles to take place because the day of the Lord is drawing close. The Lord wants your children and loved ones to be ready to meet him even more than you do. When you and your family prosper spiritually, God can also bless them physically. We will one day leave all these physical things we hold dear behind.
A shaking is going on in which we are being forced to cling to Jesus and His Word. As we see families fighting over things, the words of Jesus ring loud and clear, "Lovest thou me more than these?" I do not minimize the battles you are experiencing. The hurts are real as are the fears of uncertainty. Just remember, Jesus is coming soon. As the winds of adversity blow, hold fast to Jesus, the Word, and each other.
The battles are raging but God still wins. The safest place to stand is in the center of God’s will. My friend, you are not alone. Stand fast and believe for miracles. Greater is he that is within you than he that is in the world. If your loved ones are stumbling in the darkness of fear and despair, hold the light, (God’s Word) so they can see. The day of darkness is soon over. If you meditate on negative things, it will overpower you. If you meditate on the Word of God, it will empower you.
Winter began winding down a little earlier than normal this year. For that we praise the Lord. The first part of March, we headed south to Illinois to a little town of Gifford. Our dear friends, Steve and Angie Lombardo have been pastoring there for the past few years and invited us to be with them for a Spring Revival. The motorhome Gary and Lois drive is not in good enough shape to make a long trip, especially in cold temperatures. We therefore, decided to all go together in the motorhome David and Brenda drive. Their motorhome had been sitting during the cold part of the winter so hadn’t been started for a while. When he went to get it ready for the trip, we discovered it would not start. After consulting several mechanics, we were told the problem could not be fixed in time to make the trip. We loaded all the equipment in the back of David and Brenda’s pickup, but there was only room for three to ride in the front. The only option was to also take Gary and Lois’ car. We packed suitcases and were on our way. Pastor Lombardo was gracious enough to arrange for a place for us to stay when we arrived. It was a beautiful house belonging to a couple who had gone south for the winter.
Thinking we would have plenty of room in the motorhome, David and Brenda
promised their grandson, 9 year old Jared, he could come along. Hearing he would
be crowded 
in between Grandma
and Grandpa all the way to and from Illinois, he still wanted to go along. The
trip was long for all of us, but Jared never complained. Though the church was
big, Jared still got up and sang and did a great job. He found his way into the
hearts of many people.
The people of Gifford showered their love upon all of us. We did our best to
fill their hearts with the word of God, and they kept our stomachs full of many
wonderful foods. The best part was seeing the many respond to the altar calls.
Enclosed in this letter are two testimonies we received which we have been given
permission to share. Besides the evening services, we had two hours of Bible
Study on "The End Times," each morning. What a joy to tell these dear people, "Look
up and rejoice, Jesus is coming again."
Jared sings last night of Gifford crusade.
Gifford Altar service.
Gifford Il. Pastor Steve and Angie Lombardo in foreground.
Healing Testimony – March 10, 2010 – By Carol Franzen
I Cor 12:7-11 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (I chose this verse because it speaks of the gifts of healing and that it is biblical.)
I have always had back discomfort, but have been suffering from more intense lower back pain over the past year.
While I was attending revival services with the Gloryland Team this past week, Pastor Gary and Pastor David issued an altar call each night for those needing to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Then they encouraged anyone needing prayer to come up and they would pray with you. After each service, I would think about going up, but you have different things go through your mind like there are people with disabilities and chronic illnesses who are hurting more and need prayer more than I do, or what are people going to say if I go up front. It wasn’t until the last evening, after their initial call, they encouraged anyone who felt the need to lay their sins at the altar of God to come forward and that is when I went forward. As I was on my knees pouring out my sins, Pastor David asked if there was anyone that needed prayer. Without thinking, by the power of the Holy Spirit, my hand went up. He came up and asked me my request and I told him back pain. He asked Tim Jesse, an elder of the church, who was also up at the altar to get a chair. Then he asked Ron and Janet Suits who were walking from the front to the back of the church to come back up and he asked other members of the revival team to join us.
Pastor David sat me in the chair, and he asked me to raise both of my legs. As I did so, He placed the inside of his palms under each heel. The only thing he was doing is holding my legs up. He was not putting any pressure of any kind on my feet or legs. As we looked at my feet, we saw that my left leg was noticeably shorter than the right leg. He asked everyone if they could see the difference. Then he told us we were going to pray, and he asked that we keep our eyes open while he prayed. He started to pray for healing. I wish I could remember exactly what he said, but I do know he only said a few words before my left leg starting moving forward and it lengthened until my left foot was even with my right foot. It probably took only a few seconds, but it was long enough for everyone to see my leg move forward. As that happened, I could feel pressure release on my lower back and the pain go away. It was a miracle. Yes, Jesus still performs miracles today.
I feel very, very humble that God chose this to happen to me. God, through the power of pray, used Pastor David as his healing instrument. I just want to make sure that all the glory goes to God. Oh, what a great God we have. Amen
Carol
My name is Gary and I'm the youth director at St. Paul’s. Pastor Lombardo asked me to share this story from the revival at St. Paul’s in Gifford.
One night when the altar call came, my six year old asked me, "Why is everyone going up front?" I told him that people were going up front to ask Jesus into their hearts. Then when my wife went up front he asked, "Why did mommy go up front?" I told him mommy already had Jesus in her heart, but she wants to love Him even more. So he turned to me and said, "I want to go too." So we went up front and knelt and prayed the sinner's prayer together and spent some time with God at His altar. So the next morning at breakfast I asked him, "Why did you go up for the altar call last night?" His simple response was, "Why wouldn't I?" He said, "Why wouldn't I want Jesus in my heart? Why wouldn't I want to try to love Him more?" As adults, we think of every reason why we don't commit or re-commit our lives to Christ. We make up every excuse why we don't need to confess our sins to Him at the altar. But a child hears the gospel message and says, "Why wouldn't I?"
"Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."--Matthew 18:3
Thank you for your ministry and for being God's instrument in opening my eyes
to seeing Him working in the heart of my children.
Gary Maxwell
Director of Youth and Family Ministries
St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Gifford, IL
Church of Christ, Crookston MN
It has never been so obvious as it is today that we are very quickly approaching the return of Christ for His bride. The architects of the New World Order are pressing feverishly onward in an attempt to bring the whole world under the control of this Godless, government system. Under President Obama, 51% of our free enterprise system has been put under the control of the federal government. Our government is racing to bring America under socialism, which has never worked, but has put the general population under the control of government. Government religions always push Jesus out.
The situation in the Middle East is becoming more volatile all the time. Iran and other countries are making more anti-Israel statements all the time. Iran is a constant threat to attack this little country in the name of their Islamic faith. Even our own president who embraces the Muslim faith, has denounced Israel for building living quarters of their own people in their own capital city, saying that it belongs to the Arabs. In history, whenever America takes a stand against Israel, some sort of judgment falls upon our own country. Israel is Gods’ chosen people and He promised in His word that He would bless those who bless His people and He will curse those who curse them.
Many of the 27 countries in the European Union have already given up their sovereignty to the E.U. and now there are many liberals in Washington who want America to follow suit. Many of our veterans are becoming frustrated and down hearted when they see the price that has been paid for our freedom, and now see it taken away by our own government. I recently saw the new dollar coin that has been printed with a picture of former President George Washington on it, but "In God We Trust" has been left off. Just think, at the time that Thomas Jefferson was President; the largest mega church in the nation was our US capital building.
Be of good cheer, Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready for Him?
Whenever we have services, Jared wants to go along and sing. He now feels God wants him to do more. He would love to learn to play drums so he could be a bigger part of the Team. He has someone to teach him but needs a drum set to play. If you know of a drum set that could be either donated or we could buy inexpensively, we would appreciate it.
|
Gladys Olson Lillian Sundby Elling Olson Marlys Oien Inga Ronnie Darlene Hanna Alyce Hagen Bertle Brown Wally Olson Rose Lentsch Steve Johnson Erwin Rude Cris Ballek Evelyn Nielson Alta Hanson Scott Shimpa Walter Lindseth |
Marian Rasmussen Lillian Lovaasen Elaine Haugen Grace Kildal Stanley Brekke Ella Hanson Bernice Grundyson Eunice Fish Marian Enerson Kendall "Red" Mosser Hilmer "Clepper" Carlson Gordon Nelson Donald Nelson LaDonna Froirak Julie Goulet Philip Mork Jeff Hole |
Beatrice Hamrum Paul Hemmingsen Carol Dvorak Doris Rinkenberger Harvey Erickson Frances Greven Floyd Syverson Victor Broadwell Myrtle Sorkness June Quant Barbara (Thompson) Woodruff Ina Mossen Lena Hanson Carl Bolle Melvin Borseth Dela Jenson |
Polk County Fair, Fertile, MN. June 30th – July 4th.
Missionary Fellowship Assemblies of God, Bemidji MN. July 10th. 1:30 PM – 6:30 PM. Numerous groups will be ministering with the Gloryland Team on about 5 PM followed by a meal.
August Blast – 7 PM August 6th, Williams Community Church, Williams MN. Numerous groups participating.
