Peace To You! (Re-post)

This is a picture that I took the first time I went to Israel back in 1981...the morning that we were leaving to return to the U.S., I got up early and walked out on the balcony of my hotel room before I started packing, and saw this beautiful rainbow over the city of Jerusalem...

It had rained during the night, and in the light of dawn this colorful sign in the heavens became visible...I grabbed my camera and snapped this...it's been a favorite of mine for years...very meaningful and symbolic to me at the time, and even more so now...I had lost it for the longest time, but the other day while was looking for something else, I came across it, and posted it on Facebook (for those of you reading this on FB, this is a feed from my blog which can be found at www.bloginthenow.blogspot.com)...

On many levels it was significant to me that I found this 30 year old picture when I did...the pursuit of peace is very important to me right now...the Scriptures say to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and indeed we should, now more than ever before...but this picture means more to me than the obvious...as you look at it, I pray for peace in your life...peace over your troubled circumstances...and I also post it as a reminder to you that God keeps His promises...shalom!

PEACE TO YOU!

Hey bloggers...

Thanks so much for the great comments on the last post...your words are very much appreciated...

I'm out of town right now, but I'll be back for Body Builders on Wednesday...still trying to get some writing done...



This is a picture that I took the first time I went to Israel back in 1981...the morning that we were leaving to return to the U.S., I got up early and walked out on the balcony of my hotel room before I started packing, and saw this beautiful rainbow over the city of Jerusalem...

It had rained during the night, and in the light of dawn this colorful sign in the heavens became visible...I grabbed my camera and snapped this...it's been a favorite of mine for years...very meaningful and symbolic to me at the time, and even more so now...I had lost it for the longest time, but the other day while was looking for something else, I came across it, and posted it on Facebook (for those of you reading this on FB, this is a feed from my blog which can be found at www.bloginthenow.blogspot.com)...

On many levels it was significant to me that I found this 28 year old picture when I did...the pursuit of peace is very important to me right now...the Scriptures say to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and indeed we should, now more than ever before...but this picture means more to me than the obvious...as you look at it, I pray for peace in your life...peace over your troubled circumstances...and I also post it as a reminder to you that God keeps His promises...shalom!

“Peace I leave with you; I’m talking about My own, personal sense of peace, wholeness and well-being; I’m actually transferring it to you. You see, My peace is unlike the peace that comes from this realm...the peace that is reactionary and temporal, dependent on outward circumstances to determine its strength and presence. My peace is other-worldly – settled, absolute – causing you to be in harmony with your whole life – past, present, and future – and ultimately with the whole of creation. It will empower you to refuse to let your heart (your inner world) become troubled, agitated, or upset, no matter what is happening around you, and you can be fearless because you will be at peace with the Father, with yourself, and with the universe."
(John 14:27 - John In The Now)

BE BLESSED!

Hey bloggers...I missed being at CITN yesterday, but we had a great time at Impact Church with Pastors Don and Leesa Hughes...the title of my sermon was "A Holy Ghost Stimulus Package"...I especially enjoyed having the opportunity to speak into the lives of their newly appointed Care Pastors at a special luncheon after church...then we got back on the road so that I could be home in time to see the Oscars (I'm really happy that Slumdog Millionaire won best picture!)...I'm sure the services at CITN were awesome (I'll watch the DVD)...there's new stuff everywhere here...the AYTIN blog (DEVOTIONAL) is very much in the flow of WHERE2OR3RGATHERED (PRAYER REQUESTS)...there you can find updates on the progress of Pastor Dony McGuire...write your own requests while you're there...besides a new 20/20 post, and a new AW4W post, I also added John Legend's beautiful song, If You're Out There to the Now Ministries blog...BTW, I really enjoyed your anwers to the 20 Questions...here's a blessing that I posted nearly a year ago...I thought it was worth a re-post...

...In the name that is above every other name, I want to command a blessing on you today, whoever you are…just because you logged on here…because I am thinking about how appreciative I am for all of you who participate in BLOGINTHENOW in any capacity…for all that this cyber-community is NOW…for all that it is becoming…as each one of you bloggers “comes out of the tent” and “looks up and counts the stars”, I believe that you are moving beyond old limitations today…and by the Christ that is being revealed in you as individuals and as a network, I say that you are allowing yourself to express His nature freely and creatively in the earth, and in cyberspace…

...I speak a blessing of grace over those of you who are currently in transition in your life, whether you came to this site intentionally for inspiration, or just happened upon it as you were surfing the web…remember that life is about change, and so I say, in faith, that you are able to adapt easily to the new...and I also would like to add that I don’t believe you came to this site by accident…

...I prophecy over you that you are able to choose to allow all your experiences to be joyous and loving today…that you are really able to embrace, once and for all, that all things are working together for your good…that the Lord is perfecting that which concerns you…that something really good is about to happen to you, if for no other reason than that you logged on here today…

...Walk in the Spirit today, and as you manifest the peace that passes understanding, relax into the flow of life and let it provide all that you need easily and comfortably...Jesus said that to those who have, more will be given, and I say that you “have”…

...I bless you to forgive yourself and others…you are logged onto BLOGINTHENOW…it’s all about the NOW!…so release the past and move forward with love in your heart...go fearlessly into the next “glory” with a VISION for a brighter future…and if you happened to log on to this site to be critical or antagonistic in any way, I forgive you…and if you have written and posted unkind or untrue things about me on the internet, I forgive you, too…and if you are someone in my life whose reputation and online publicity has negatively affected my reputation, I forgive you, as well…I speak life and light to every broken relationship, and I release the mercy of God to flow right through cyber-space, right through your computer, and right into your heart!

...Know that God loves you just like you are, so you have permission to love and approve of yourself, and to be at peace with His plan for your life, and with your own feelings…stand tall and free today because you are not just a part of a cyber-community…you are part of a MOVEMENT…

...BLOGINTHENOW bloggers (or “Bloggers In The Now”), you are strong…great in number…capable…a loving and lovable segment of the Body of Christ…free…giving…united…active…powerful...

...the revelation knowledge that you post here today and in the future is going to be awesome…there will continue to be a free expression of love and synergy on this site…and you will receive a word from the Lord through the expressions of other bloggers that will enable you to enjoy your life as you allow the Holy Spirit to flow through every part of it…

...I am enthusiastic about this blog site…every part of it…I love seeing this vision of communication and restoration unfold every day of my life…each day gets better and filled with more energy, vitality and passion, article by article, post by post…

...I extend my love to all the citizens of this “cyber-city set on a hill”…you are being led by the Spirit today, so accept Divine guidance, trust the process of life, and believe that you are always safe, secure and protected in the Secret Place of the Most High...rest securely knowing that my God shall supply all of your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus…only right action is taking place in your life today, and all details take care of themselves…

...Be blessed today and every day…visit here often, whether you agree with the things I say here or not…I may not always publish your posts for various reasons, but your opinion is still valuable to me, and I appreciate you even taking the time to participate, whatever your motive…

...if you live in the metropolitan Atlanta area and are looking for a spiritual home, please come visit us at Church In The Now…if you live somewhere else in the world, become part of our cyber-congregation at www.churchinthenow.org, and if you are already a part of the miracle that is CITN, know that I love you more than I can say!

Live and move and have your being in Him today…and again I say, BE BLESSED!

Tea or Coffee?

Hey bloggers,

I like these two cartoons, and wanted to post them because I think that they are relevant right now for several reasons...they may or may not speak to you...

Hope you're having a great day...today's AYITN is from the chapter I used for Sunday's sermon (even though the entry is in a different flow from the word that came forth)...but I think it's a good one...check it out...

Pastor Varner's wife, Joann, was at Apostle McCurry's funeral Saturday, passing out copies of the book (which is still my/our best seller) to some of the people who were there ...she and Kirk Talley both keep introducing it to new audiences, which is awesome...

I've been invited to Korea to speak for an ILC/GPF in a few days, and my dad has been invited to go with me...he can't find his passport (which is expired, anyway), so be in agreement that we can get one for him in time...

On second thought, just be in agreement for the right thing to happen, because if we can't get one for him, Debye will go with me, instead, and he'll stay and preach on the Sunday I'm gone...either way is cool with him (and us), but I think that he'd really like to go, and I think it would be good for him...he and I haven't gone on a trip anywhere together for over 25 years...

And be in agreement for the direction of the United Rockdale Summit meeting today...I was going to go hear B. Tommy speak at Beulah Heights University this morning, but I think I'll go to the meeting today, instead...lot's of important things to discuss...

Thanks to those of you who tithed for the first time (or for the first time in a long time) last Sunday...I command a blessing on you...

Anyway...be strong today...keep a good attitude...see the big picture...count your blessings...seek first the Kingdom...walk in love...and blog something...

Bye

Sunday's Blessing

Today, on this beautiful Sunday in October, I speak a blessing over you...over every blogger and blurker...over all of CITN and cyber-CITN...over every believer, and even over every non-believer...over every man, woman, boy and girl...even over every Democrat and Republican...I speak into your life with hope for the future, because God has said, "I know the plans I have for you"...regardless of what is happening in the material world, you have the promise that God will not fail you...

All of the promises of God are YES and AMEN, and the same God who, in the ancient world, put a rainbow in the cloud to show Noah that the nightmare/storm was truly over, will watch over His word to perform it for you in the here and now...

I speak a blessing over your dreams, as the colors of the rainbow remind you of all the possibilities available to you...


I speak joy to you...joy unspeakable, and full of glory...Kingdom joy that confirms your righteousness and your peace...joy in the Holy Ghost...the joy of the Lord which is your strength...

His word will not return to Him void, and His promises are now simply statements of fact...a revelation of what is already yours...an unveiling of the mysteries of God...an understanding and realization of what you already possess...

You are blessed, in spite of what is happening in the economy...and you will continue to be blessed, regardless of who ends up in the White House...no matter what you hear, the world - God's amazing creation - is still a beautiful place...

Keep looking up...there are signs in the heavens, and the heavens are delcaring the glory of God...

Put on the garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness...His burden is easy, and His yoke is light...the sun is shining, and the rainbow is clear and brilliant...hope is everywhere, and the atmosphere is charged with faith...all things are possible...

Arise and shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you!

Peace Blessing III

This is the day the Lord has made...

(Scroll down and pause the playlist first)



P - lace

E - very

A - nxiety on

C -hrist

E - ntirely



Hey bloggers,

Love everything you wrote yesterday...thanks for your words to my son, Jared...very busy day today, to say the least...keep us in your prayers...

I love you all very, very much...

You are all so important to me...

Peace to you (again) today...

Peace Blessing II

Hey bloggers,

Today is 8/8/08 (new beginnings X 3)...Happy Birthday, Jared (yeah, we finally heard from him). As most of you know, we're in Washington for the GPF...all is well...very exciting things happening here (Debye did great in her interview on the local ABC news last night)...thanks for the support and words of encouragement...I (we) feel your presence here with us...our unity is real!

Today's AYITN is this:

CHILL OUT!

"Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."
(1 Peter 5:7 – AMP)

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22)

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:6, 7 – AMP)

Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I believe the word of God that tells me that I possess supernatural peace, given to me by Jesus Himself – in fact, it is actually His own, personal peace that He desires to share with me!

(I speak a blessing of peace over you again today...you have the peace of Christ...the peace that enabled Him to sleep in a boat during a terrible storm...you have that ability today, regardless of how violent your personal storm is right now...)


Today I will not worry about tomorrow. The Kingdom is in the NOW (Matthew 6:33, 34).

(By faith I call your mind into the now...the peace of God causes you to enjoy the awesome beauty of this day, without any distraction concerning the worries of tomorrow...you have nothing to dread...you have nothing to fear...)


Today I will relax, casting all of my care on Him.

(Let not your heart be troubled...no regrets...no worries...you are loved...you are forgiven...you have favor with God and man...it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...)


Today I will believe I receive when I pray. I can't worry and believe at the same time.

(Be at peace in your prayer life...the peace of God under girds your faith to make you realize that you are stronger than you think you are!)


Today I will let go of the stress and pressure. The government is on Jesus' shoulder.

(I speak the peace that drives out stress to you...)


Today I will respond to whatever comes my way with these three words: "It's all good!" God is perfecting that which concerns me so I know that everything will always, ultimately, turn out all right with His help.

(Peace to you...IT'S ALL GOOD...peace to your heart...IT'S ALL GOD!!!)

Today I will choose the good part and sit down with "laid-back Mary" at the feet of Jesus, instead of working up a sweat in the kitchen trying to help "stressed-out Martha" get her dinner ready! I don't have to worry about preparing a meal because Jesus is the Bread of Life – the Manna from Heaven! Today I will walk in the peace that passes understanding, and today I will live in the now!

(Don't feel overwhelmed by today's responsibilities...you'll get it all done...the peace of God helps you manage your time...decide right now to walk in peace, and you'll have a great day...)

Father, help me to keep it all in perspective today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Check back later today...I may or may not have more...

Peace Blessing

“Peace I leave with you; I’m talking about My own, personal sense of peace, wholeness and well-being; I’m actually transferring it to you. You see, My peace is unlike the peace that comes from this realm...the peace that is reactionary and temporal, dependent on outward circumstances to determine its strength and presence. My peace is other-worldly – settled, absolute – causing you to be in harmony with your whole life – past, present, and future – and ultimately with the whole of creation. It will empower you to refuse to let your heart (your inner world) become troubled, agitated, or upset, no matter what is happening around you, and you can be fearless because you will be at peace with the Father, with yourself, and with the universe."
(John 14:27 - John In The Now)

Hey bloggers,

We’re in Washington through the weekend for the ACLC Conference and the Global Peace Festival on Saturday (we’re flying out Sunday morning, and will be at church with a great word!)…

I probably won’t be on the blog for the next several days, but I want to speak a blessing of peace over you, and hope that you’ll keep the conversation going while I’m a passenger on the peace train in D.C…


In the name of the Prince of Peace, I release a blessing of peace to your spirit, your soul, your physical body, your family, your household…peace to your past, your present, and your future…peace to everything that you are, and to everything that you are becoming…

…I speak peace of mind to you through the power of the Holy Spirit, and by faith I say, in the same way that Jesus stood up in the boat and commanded “Peace! Be still!” to the storm, that you experience an absolute calmness coming to the stormy waves of your mind, and that everything that is causing unrest in your thoughts will quell down.

…May you embrace and enjoy real peace of mind today…the kind of inner peace which is the companion of the silence of the mind…He will keep you in PERFECT PEACE as you keep your mind stayed on Him…

I pray/say that you manifest peace of mind, not by thinking about it or imagining it, but by finding the entrance to the secret place of the Most High…and that you are fully able to relax the restless mind under the shadow of the Almighty…

You are made in God’s image, so your true nature is actually absolute peace. You are not the mind, but you possess the Mind of Christ. As rivers of living water flow from your innermost being, you will find a way to silence your mind…through concentration and meditation, you will discover the peace of the Spirit that you are, and have always been.

As peace flows like a river through your spirit/heart, you can let your thoughts go, and can close the windows and doors of your mind…“casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God”…

Inner peace creates outer peace…out of the heart are the issues of life...so right now, all the stress has to go, the pressure is released, and you can exhale and deeply relax…

By my words I create the possibility that you can find some quiet time today. The mind is like a room that is always full of stuff...cluttered with unimportant things…there is no free space there. When you get quiet, however, and the room of your mind becomes vacant, peace of mind prevails. It’s a natural flow…

Give your brain some rest…stop over-thinking everything…in fact, you should stop your thoughts, altogether, for a little while, but stay awake…in that state you will become aware that you are filled with the Spirit, and you will experience the great ocean of peace beyond the mind.

True peace of mind is not dependent on circumstances. It comes from the inside.

The wind causes waves to arise on the sea. Restless thoughts are the winds that bring waves and storms into the mind. Learn to calm down the winds of your mind, and you will enjoy great inner peace.

In faith I charge you to calm your storm…worries, fears, desires, restlessness, and nervousness drive peace of mind away.

Negative feelings and negative thoughts keep peace of mind away…truth, beauty, love, grace, forgiveness, surrender, unity…think on these things…

God is good. You are loved. You are blessed. Everything is going to be all right…relax…cast all of your care on Him because He cares for you…let it all go…let go and let God…your kingdom rights are righteousness, PEACE, and joy in the Holy Spirit…

I speak this blessing on you…have a peace-filled day, and enjoy every minute of it…

And wherever you go today, and whatever you do…CREATE PEACE!

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God…