A Good Spring Cleaning

The Sign in SHEPHERD'S WALK Reads:

Forgiveness is like the fragrance a flower gives off ~

when it has been trampled under foot.

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I posted this same sign last winter when snow covered the edges of the sign and the trees were void of their leaves. Forgiveness is for all seasons and usually if we are allowing God to cleanse us deeply in a good 'spring cleaning' we will find some unforgiveness behind some dusty bookshelf that we had no idea we had missed. Time to do a thorough cleaning. Jesus is doing the washing.

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John 13:6-17

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, "Lord, are You going to wash my feet?"
7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
8 "No," said Peter, "You shall never wash my feet."

Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me."
9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was going to betray Him, and that was why He said not every one was clean.
12 When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" He asked them. 13 "You call Me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.

15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master,

nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

[emphasis added]

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Jesus~

We are in desperate need for forgiveness of the things we have neglected to expel

from our own lives - especially that of unforgiveness toward another.

Help us this day to allow You to wash us,

and cleanse us so that we may go out

and offer that same forgiveness to another

this day.

In Your Holy Name,

Amen!

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

Dearest Prayer Warriors:

I Praise God for all those who prayed for Debbie last night at our prayer meeting as well as all over the country - in homes - in your car - in your own Bible studies and at your churches.
This afternoon when I went to visit her again - she still didn't open her eyes or respond to me. I sat on her bed for quite awhile and just read scripture to her, then prayed for her, then turned up the praise music that others had brought.

Then I got in her face and I began talking to her. I kept saying my name to her and asking her if she could hear me. I asked her if she could say my name. Her eyes began to flutter like she was really trying to open them. So I encouraged her to open her eyes. I said to her, "Come on Debbie, come back 'to the land of the living' and open those eyes for me. Can you say my name? Can you say, Stephanie?"

Then she opened her eyes and whispered my name. I almost jumped off the bed. I asked her about another friend, Kate. I told her that Kate was there earlier in the morning along with her other good friends too. "Can you say Kate?" She whispered Kate's name. Then she began to cry and talk with me. We cried together and talked as she fought her way back into the land of the living. By the time her husband came in - she was fully awake again and she ate almost two full dinner meals that were left on the tray for her and her husband. We got her up and walked her a bit too. After more than 10 days of being in that catatonic coma - God brought her back - through YOUR prayers!

She has a really long road ahead. Please keep praying that she does not go back inside herself. Pray for her family in the decisions that they have to make tomorrow about her further care.

Her other friends, Dee and another Stephanie really pulled together to get the prayer ball rolling in the last few days. We need to bathe her in prayer from now on.

Many of you have left messages and e-Mails wondering how she is. Her father brought her two young daughters to the hospital before I left and the reunion was a special time.

It was amazing to see how God's people have pulled together for this family in prayer and support to help them. God kept showing several scriptures over and over.
It was these:

Psalm 139 the entire psalm but these verses in particular:
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

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Psalm 63:7-8
7 Because You are my help,
I sing in the shadow of Your wings.
8 My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.

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2 Corinthians 4:16 [The Message]
16 So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.

Choosing Great JOY,

Stephanie
[JESUS - the One I Worship]

Prayer Meeting Tonight

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Isaiah 56:6-7

6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD

to serve Him,

to love the Name of the LORD,

and to worship Him,

all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it

and who hold fast to My covenant-
7 these I will bring to My holy mountain

and give them joy in My house of prayer.

Their burnt offerings and sacrifices

will be accepted on My altar;

for My house will be called

a house of prayer for all nations."

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Please join us here on the Blog Site if you cannot attend our prayer meeting in person tonight at 7PM [EST] in New Jersey. We are lifting up a dear sister in Christ along with some others. If you would like to leave a prayer here - please do so on the comment section.

We are praying for:

Debbie - in the hospital here in NJ in a Catatonic Coma. She is a young Mom of two girls with a husband by her side.

She needs prayer intervention this day and the Healing Hand of Jehovah-Rafa.

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Kenneth - in a Seattle Hospital - A young man who went into cardiac arrest and is in a coma. His parents are flying out there today from SC.

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Ron - suffered a possible mini stroke after other heart issues came after a surgery he had. He and his wife need prayer - for God's sustaining Grace!

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A Mom - in Germany - who is carrying a set of unborn twins and wishes to have them aborted. Pray for the sanctity of life and that this mom will know from God's Word how sacred these precious lives are to a holy God.

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Father God --

We ask for your intervention in the lives of these people. We ask for Your Hand to touch those who are suffering with a miracle of Your Holy Spirit's power.

Without pain or suffering ... there is no miracle. So even in the tough circumstances of our lives and those we love - may we rejoice that You can bring GOOD out of them - all for Your honor and for Your glory - and for Your kingdom purposes!

May the sanctity of life be held in the sacred holy estate that it is to You, Father. And may You grant restored life - in the land of the living today!

Bless the families of those who suffer too. Bless those who are praying, taking time from their day to lift up these prayers before Your heavenly throne. We acknowledge our frailty to overcome - but recognize YOUR ability to renew, rebuild and restore life to the full!

We ask for that very thing today - in line with Your will and Your plans! Give us hearts to pray in reverence to You! We pray all these things ... in the Mighty and Matchless Name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord!

Hallelujah and Amen!

HOLD US UP, LORD

Ezekiel 17

[selected]

5 " 'He took some of the seed of your land and put it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water, 6 and it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out leafy boughs.
7 " 'But there was another great eagle with powerful wings and full plumage. The vine now sent out its roots toward him from the plot where it was planted and stretched out its branches to him for water. 8 It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine.'

[emphasis added]
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There is a large Wisteria Vine here a Sweetbriar. It is holding up a dead oak tree. Its Vine is wrapped tightly around the tree and each year it gets higher and higher and blooms more and more. This season, the Vine is at full bloom and the sweet fragrance that the flowers give off are enough to renew the senses.

Do you ever feel like a dead oak tree? Worn out... by illness, physical pain, circumstances around you, family pressures, sick loved ones, wayward children, aging parents, job pressures, ministry expectations, broken relationships, perhaps just overwhelmed at times?

Jesus is the Vine that wraps His loving arms around us when we feel 'dead'. He causes us to bear fruit even in the tough times. He makes everything beautiful in its time! Cling to Him! Stay close to Him! Know and feel His Presence!

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Isaiah 27:2-5

(The Message)
"At that same time, a fine vineyard will appear.

There's something to sing about! I, God, tend it.

I keep it well-watered. I keep careful watch over it

so that no one can damage it. I'm not angry. I care.

Even if it gives Me thistles and thornbushes, I'll just pull them out

and burn them up. Let that vine cling to Me for safety,

let it find a good and whole life with Me,

let it hold on for a good and whole life."

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****** PRAYER ******

Jesus,

Apart from You we can do nothing.

Thank You for clinging to us even when we have weak arms to hold on to You.

Thank You that You cause us to bear fruit and

give off the fragrance of the knowledge of You.