Sunday, July 29, 2012

Neutralizing Fear

Back in high school days, which was in the early 70s, there was a lot of racial tension in our school. I used to hear of stabbings in the restrooms, even in the girl's restroom. So I was nervous about being in the restroom whenever there would be more than one person of color in there when I was in there. I also used to be a target of a lot of bullying when I was growing up, regardless of who it was coming from. But I remember being especially nervous during these moments. So I used pot which seemed to help neutralize my fears and it made me less inhibited so that no one would bother me.

Now I no longer use pot, but have the Greater One living on the inside of me. He has given me boldness in the face of enemies. 

Ephesians 6:10-18, Isaiah 41:10-13; 54:17, Psalm 91, Proverbs 3:26

God Fixes Mechanical Glitches

Last year, there was a stalled white car in a school parking lot with a lady inside and group of her friends around. She was unable to get her car to start. I recognized one of her friends who happened to work with me in the college library, who is a believer.

As I neared them, a strange boldness rose up inside me. I imagined myself saying, "Arise and walk!"

Then, I approached the white stalled car and slammed my hand on the hood and commanded the car to start, in Jesus' name.

As the young lady turned the key, it started up immediately. We all gave a shout and she ran out of her car with the engine running, and threw her arms around me, thanking me.

We had a shoutin' hallelujah good time in the parking lot at the marvelous thing the Lord had performed.

Just the other day I found that my USB webcam which I only had for about two years was faulty. It would give a darkened image of insufficient light which made it necessary to edit the images produced by it in order to have the desired result.

I recalled the incident with the stalled car and told God that I honestly didn't know if I could believe for Him to fix my webcam. I called the place I bought it from to ask how to calibrate it, if I could. I was told that since the warrantee was expired, it would be better to replace it. I wasn't so happy about that.

So I tested it again with Facebook and with Photo Booth and still no change. Then I decided to launch FaceTime, and suddenly the problem cleared and it's working again. No more dark images! Hallelujah! God just did it again! That was a savings of $55 or better!

Rocketfish Webcam


Saturday, July 28, 2012

Lessons Learned from a River Rafting Trip

In Summer 2008 I went on a river rafting trip on the Colorado River. I sat on the left side, midway of the raft. So I had a paddle in my hands. It was a beautiful day to be out on the water. I was with a friend of a friend who wanted a companion for the day. This was set up by a friend out of town and it was very thoughtful of her to fix me up with him, although it never led to anything further.

As we sat in the raft, Jim (vaguely recalling his name) was the only one wearing a neoprene outfit. I wore shorts and a swimsuit. So I had to tolerate getting soaked with cool river water.

There were probably nine of us in the boat with the river guide at the stern who led us strategically through ebbs and flows of the river. Every once in a while, he would sneak us upon a treacherous spot where we had to use our paddles rigorously at his commanding and excited voice.

So I paddled rigorously through the rough waters to help us through to safety. I discovered that I felt less intimidated by the rapids whenever I aggressively wielded my paddle against the turbulent waters. I felt more in control of the conditions at hand.

So I pondered how true it is with spiritual things and what I have been taught that circumstances are subject to change but God's Word never changes, but is able to command our circumstances to align with His will and His glory. So, lesson learned, and still learning.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

When Will the Light Dawn?

I recall the break room in Denver being packed with many my coworkers as our eyes were glued to the TV while the Columbine shooting incident was first being broadcasted. I remember the shocked faces of ours as we stared at the TV, and the horror that struck our hearts as the incident was just ten or so miles away.The day following, it was so quiet at work. There was literally NO conversation at work. Everyone was silent the entire shift as we on the clock and did our daily duties. You could have heard a pin drop.

When the kids at Columbine High School died, it felt as if they were my very own kids that died. I could not tell you why other than it had to have been God Who put a spirit of intercession on me to pray for those affected by the tragedy.

How tragic is this new shooting spree at the movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado! How senseless! I feel a similar empathy as I did back in the event of the Columbine incident. How could someone take innocent young civilian lives?

Interestingly, the Oklahoma City Bombing Trial took place in Denver and their were barricades around the Federal Building while court was in session.

Back in the early 90s, a minister from out of town was a guest speaker at a meeting I attended in Denver. A word of prophecy was spoken concerning Denver, how there had been a spirit of murder over that city and that God was going to remove it. Sad to say, it's been many years since and I have yet to see that word fulfilled.

While living in Denver, I had taken to prayer walking. I felt rather safe wherever I was. I lived in an apartment complex for many years near Downtown. I finally moved away in April 2004. When I spoke to some folks there a year later, I was told there had been four murders in the very building in which I lived.

But now I remember a stabbing death that took place in a building across the street while I still lived there. 

Around the time of 9-11, I was awakened in the middle of the night, being warned that Denver could become a target for terrorism. So I prayed during the night and arose early in the day to go prayer walking around the World Trade Center in Downtown Denver. As it is, Denver never got attacked by terrorism, thankfully. However, I heard later that an attack was being plotted against Denver.

Prayer Warriors, we need to take our position more seriously and use the authority invested in the name of Jesus and our spiritual weaponry. God can't do it all for us. I'm preaching to myself as well.

Just recently while watching Sid Roth's "It's Supernatural" when he interviewed Guillermo Maldonado, it was mentioned that they prayed that Miami would have no murders for an entire month, and that it was actually documented. What can we do if we would pray?

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Scored with Quinoa

My eating lifestyle has been undergoing some refinement. Quinoa is one of the better foods I can eat as it is gluten-free and highest in protein of all the grains.

So today some unexpected money arrived in the mail and I was suddenly being prompted to go to Trader Joe's to buy some Quinoa. I had ran out of my supply, but the other day I showed up at Trader Joe's to buy some they were all out. So I felt a little reluctant today about my chances of finding any.

Well, Hallelujah! I found it, and it happened to be the very last one! I was so elated I could have danced right there in the store. When I told one of the clerks she said, "You seem like you just won the Lotto!"

I told her it felt like it because I grabbed the only one left on the shelf. This time it's a package of Organic Tricolor which I never have had. So today it was a triple surprise! :-)


I first learned how to cook Quinoa during a visit to Trader Joe's when they were sampling a salad made with it at their demo booth. I was told to bring one part Quinoa to two parts water to a boil and then steep for ten minutes before adding any ingredients. A vegan classmate told me she uses vegetable broth instead of water to give it more flavor. 

Then, I add chopped vegetables, olive oil and fresh-squeezed lemon with herbs. It's a yummy snack that can be eaten all day long.

Monday, July 9, 2012

I'm generally not an alarmist but...

There is a storm brewing in the heavens. Watch and listen to Shane Warren, guest of Sid Roth on It's Supernatural! to learn more.

I also had a premonition of 9-11 just two days before it occurred. I was in Houston for a conference at the time and had boarded a plane to come home just 24 hours before the Twin Towers were leveled.

Before then, back in 1986 during my prayer time, the Lord had warned me about terrorism on American soil.

In conclusion, the Sleeping Giant, which is the Church (myself included), must arise from its slumber. We are living in the end times and prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes.

By the way, I'm not comforted by this either.