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Greetings all who wrestle for the Kingdom, Good Soil This has been a hard week for me and it is only Wednesday. Some things that were promised did not come through. A brother took a “word” and turned it into a rebuke. Many things have happened or not happened that might cause one to ‘worry or fret’. God took me back to Matt 13 this morning and showed me a couple of things I had never seen. I thought I would pass them along to you for this month’s encouragement. Matt 13 starts with the parable of the sower. I have read this many times and know the story … or thought I did. Here is the fresh insight that helped my heart and I pray helps you as well. There were always two soils talked about in relation to this scripture; good soil and bad soil. The first two “soils” were not good soil by my previous definitions so there was little chance for a harvest. The third one was defined by the thorns and the last one was deemed “good soil” and gave a bountiful harvest. What I saw this morning was that all of the soil was good. Soil is by its created nature good. It was intended for a harvest and a harvest will occur if we do not allow it to be choked. The first soil was on the path, or pounded down, so it could not even receive the seed. That does not make the soil bad, it could not receive as a result of being beat down. The second soil was good and the seed started out and grew fast aiming at the harvest but then something happened that affected the harvest. A wave of hard events hit and because there was no depth in the soil to establish roots that could withstand the onslaught of tribulation …the plant burned out. The third soil was also good and the seed grew up and was on its way to a proper harvest but it was choked out. The fourth soil was always the good soil. Good soil is determined by the attitude of my heart. Am I open to receive all God gives to follow His direction and am I willing to obey His commands and nudges? Then I should be living with the 100, 60 or 30 fold increase. If I am doing everything required to be “good soil” and do not see the harvest I need to check on the things that are choking off the harvest God intended. What is impeding my harvest? Is my good soil beaten down and unable to receive? Not enough good soil or is the soil that I have in the wrong place (on a rock, for eg.)? Am I wrapped up in worry or the deceitfulness of riches. All of these situations limit or block a harvest but it is the third one that really struck me. Worry & being deceived. Worry. Lets define it. This came up in an internet search for the Biblical definition of worry; A. English word "worry" from Old English wyrgan and Old High German wurgen, both meaning "to strangle, to choke" B. Greek word merimnao used in most NT references above 1. Etymologically derived from merizo = "to divide;" and nous = "mind." Thus means "divided mind" - cf. I Cor. 7:34 So …. if I have a divided mind regarding God’s intention towards me in any area of my life it will have a choking effect and block the harvest that God always wanted for me. God has sent His Word and its truth will not be diminished by my lack of understanding or double minded thinking. The harvest God intended for me can be prevented or choked out but the truth remains. It is still true and waiting. This could relate to healing or finances or relationships. I spent some time this morning repenting of any area of my life where I am harboring worry or being deceived by riches (like thinking ‘if I only had this much come in it would solve the immediate problem’ thus taking my focus to the situation and not to Him, a deception). Also, I asked God to soften up the areas of my soil that are beat down and unable to receive and to deepen any area of my life that is not deep enough yet so I do not burn out. I also declared “I am good soil!” I want to be in agreement with who God says I am. This may not apply to you but it sure resonated with me. I want to stay in that position of being in God’s word, digesting it’s truth. I want to drink in being in His presence praising His gift of “good soil.” I do not want to thwart God’s harvest by my ‘beaten down’ state of worry or deceived thinking. Perhaps you should take some time to reflect on this passage and bring your mind into alignment with the truth of who you are in Christ. You are good soil. Thank God with us for these good soil reports over the past month … REPORTS: • A 75 year-old woman had fallen two months ago and broke her humerus bone in her arm, dislocated her shoulder and torn her rotator cuff. The doctors had declared the situation inoperable and she would have to live with the pain and lack of mobility (she could not lift her arm any higher than her shoulder and could not use her left hand to play guitar any more as well). An intercessor prayed for her and she immediately lifted her arm over her head and made a fist and said “all the pain is gone!”. The facts according to medical science are not greater than the truth of Your word and we thank You. • That same night a woman was doing the registration at a seminar where we were speaking and she had to stand because of severe pain. We prayed for her and there was some improvement but still pain remained so we prayed again and she was instantly pain free. I love it when God moves this way. • The man who quit his job last month thinking it was directed by God reported last Wed. night at the “W” that he is now employed in a job helping men coming out of prison adapt to life outside the walls and he loves what he is now doing. Thank You gracious Lord. • A man borrowed his Dad’s truck and put in Diesel instead of regular gas. He called his Mom who prayed and the engine ran perfectly after the fuel was replaced (it could have cost $15K to repair the engine). God, You are our provision at times even when we make mistakes. • A woman’s sister was having Alzheimer’s symptoms and she was prompted to pray, binding a specific spirit. The next time she saw her sister all the symptoms had left and she was normal and had her full memory back. Yes! • A man was convinced that God had told him he should build a pole barn in his back yard so he began the project. His 75 year-old Mother was helping him. They were lifting 6” by 6” beams when his Mother felt her knee give way and she started breathing shallow and was in severe pain and could not move. He thought “God, You called us to do this task so I do not receive this as being from You but as an attack”. He went up to his Mom and laid hands on her knee and began to pray. He began his pray “Dear Heavenly Father …” and did not get any farther because he felt her knee move. She looked up and said “all the pain is gone and my knee feels fine”. Father, You move even with short prayers. • A man was prompted to fast and pray for a friend with schizophrenia. Another friend was prompted to do the same thing and they later found out that they had both started and ended a fast for this man on the same day. He called the friend last week and he was in his right mind and cleaning the house and planning for the future. What a mighty God we serve. • A man came to church a few weeks ago and was still drunk and dealing with residue from a fight at a strip club the night before. We prayed for him and he left. He came to the “W” but only stayed for worship and then went to an AA meeting next door. He came up to me last week at church to thank me for praying and to let me know he had not had a drink in three weeks and was feeling good. We bless you Healing Lord. • A story came in via Facebook. An intercessor was fighting severe back pain so he called for a “cyber swarm” of prayer to combat the ailment. Within a few hours of requesting prayer all of the pain left and he slept that night for the first time in days without pain. Father, You use many tools and techniques to minister Your healing and we thank You. • An intercessor that is a part of the WT asked for prayer regarding his shoulder being in pain. We saw him a week later and he has been pain free since we prayed. Nothing is too difficult for You Lord. • A woman in her 70’s was prayed for at the “W” for problems with Cataracts and she called last week to report that she no longer has any Cataracts. Very cool. • A couple came down front for prayer for their marriage a week ago and the intercessor prayed a fairly short prayer over them. They came back a week later wanting to know how the intercessor had known exactly the right things to pray. They had seen a miracle of healing in their relationship and had had the best week they could ever remember. John 16 tells us that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. This includes the truth of what to pray at the point of need. Thank You Lord for these insights and showing us what to pray. • A woman was fighting off severe depression and was prayed for at the “W”. She gave the testimony recently that the depression lifted after prayer and has not returned. Our hope is in You Lord. • A man who is friends with one of the intercessors from the WT had lost a foot due to an illness that was threatening the other foot as well. The intercessor prayed for him and the report came back “healed” and no need for any additional surgery. God, You are awesome. • A woman who was fainting was diagnosed with blood clots that were causing the condition. She was prayed for at the “W” and all of the clots, inexplicably, have disappeared. I think we can explain it. • A woman was prayed for prior to a surgical procedure and had to go through the surgery. She reported back a supernaturally fast recovery that shocked the Doctors. Father, You are supernatural to the extreme. • A man who was unemployed asked for prayer at the “W” and within a few days found work in his field. Provision is Your name. • A woman had blood work that showed definite cancer cells and it was an aggressive type of cancer. She was prayed for via the box and the report came back that the biopsy came back clean and the blood work now shows no cancer cells. We bless you Healing Lord. • A woman had her Retina detach in multiple places and with this type of event if you are operated on within 7 days they can re-attach the Retina and the prognosis can be very good. She was unable to get in for surgery for 9 days and it was a very complicated situation. It ‘just so happened’ that she was able to get into the UofM hospital and that the premier eye surgeon who deals with the most difficult cases ‘just happened’ to be on site and available when she came. The Surgeon remarked a week after the procedure that he was “stunned” with her progress and how well her eye was doing. Nothing stuns our God and we give Him the glory even for the ‘just so happens’ of our lives. Here are some additional things to be aware of as WT members;
OPPORTUNITIES:
* There will be a “W” Thanksgiving week (tonight for anyone paying attention) * There will not be a “W” December 29th as Mars Hill will be closed that week for the Holiday’s. * Please continue to pray for the staff and workers at your church. * Please continue to pray for Ted and Claudia and the OMWB as they speak and minister; > November Claudia and Etta (our daughter) begin the Distance Learning MDiv program at Western Theological Seminary in Holland MI. Donations to assist them can be made to 8th Reformed Church in Wyoming MI. > Nov 28th Ted will be teaching an evening session at Remembrance Reformed Church. > Dec 15th OMWB will be doing worship @ Bethany Christian Services Christmas Breakfast. The December team leaders for the Sunday Wrestling Team activities will continue to be Steve and Ruth Zwierzinski. They will be “on the ground” before and during the services to assist with any questions or prayer needs that might come up.
You are appreciated and prayed for often.
Ted and Claudia Kallman
Wrestling Coaches "The problem with communication is the illusion it has occurred." George Bernard Shaw “There are two theories to arguing with a woman ... Neither works” Will Rogers “Every act is an irrevocable selection and exclusion.” GK Chesterton in the book Orthodoxy “It is time we gave up looking for questions and began looking for answers.” ibid |
