The New Year 2012

By Richard Spangler

      I am sitting in my chair, trying to decide what to write about the New Year. This is a problem for none of us know what the year ahead will bring. Will 2012 bring the end of the world as the Mayan calendar proponents are proclaiming?  Will there be an economic collapse or boom? Will the upcoming elections mean change for the better or for the worst?    Then on a personal level: Will I be able to lose the weight I want to lose this year? Will I get my first book published? Will I move forward financially?  What will it be like being a grandfather?

   Just one of these questions can lead you down the road of fear and anxiety if you allow them.  Put them all together and you have a mountain of uncertainty.  Many people are in fear and panic because of these questions, including many Christians. They are asking, “Is there hope? Can I survive? What, if anything can I do?”

  Yes, there is hope in God! In the Bible God Promises,“Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent”(Psalm 91:9-10 Amp).

God also states in Psalm 91 that He will cover you; He will give angels charge over you, no pestilence (no disease), no sudden death, nor any evil shall befall you. And the list goes on.

The key to these promises is found in verse 14, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]”(Psalm 91:14 AMP).

  As you determine with your mind to love God and set your heart to do so, you take the first turn of the key for the promises of God found in Psalm 91.

Many of you have taken that first turn of the key by accepting Jesus Christ into your heart. For those who have not, there is no better time than now. The next turn of the key is equally as important. It is getting to know God with a personal knowledge of His mercy, love and kindness. It is discovering Who God is, and not just by reading the Bible and praying.

This happens two ways. First, don’t just reading the Bible, but meditate on what you read. According to Webster’s Dictionary, Meditate is: to engage in contemplation or reflection: to focus one's thoughts on: reflect on or ponder over.

Secondly, it happens by making time for God, spending time with Him. Remember, God created man to spend time with Him. An example of this is in the Bible.

“And out of the ground the Lord God formed every [wild] beast and living creature of the field and every bird of the air and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them; and whatever Adam called every living creature, that was its name” (Genesis 2:19 AMP).

God would create an animal, and then bring it to Adam to name. God was interested to see what name would be given. I imagine that was some discussion of the creature’s design and purpose between God and Adam. This took time.

 Also, in Genesis, “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…But the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you” (Genesis 3:8-9 AMP)?

This shows God coming to spend time with Adam and Eve. This was not unusual, Adam and Eve knew the sound of God walking and would go out to meet and spend time with God. This is what God wants, for us to know Him. This is why Jesus came to earth, so that a way would be open for man to be able to spend time with God and know him again.

So, take time with God, getting to know him better. Meditate on His Word and all the promises in Psalm 91, and much more, will become yours. It will not matter what happens, good or bad, in 2012 for you will be hidden in God’s presence and protection.

Happy New Year!

©COPYRIGHT 2011 RICHARD SPANGLER

A Personal Christmas

My wife and one of my daughters had just left our home to go Christmas shopping, and I had the home to myself for the next few hours. I began to think about all the events that were coming up and the shopping I still needed to do. I'm going to need a vacation in January just to recover, I thought. My mental calculator was going into overdrive trying to figure out how to stay within the budget and still make everyone happy without breaking the bank.

 In the middle of this I had the thought … keep it personal at Christmas.

I thought this is strange, everyone knows that Christmas is a time of shop-till-you-drop and go until you can't go any more. But the thought of keeping it intimate and meaningful at Christmas persisted.

   I mediated on this thought of intimacy in the Christmas story. I soon realized just how personal Christmas truly was. First, we have a young girl named Mary, who has an encounter with an angel. After a brief discussion, she agrees to have a child by the Holy Spirit … and an individually private and wonderful thing occurs, she conceives (Luke1:26-38).

   Mary's soon to be husband, Joseph, has his own face-to-face visit from an angel of the Lord who informs him as to what has happened, and encourages him to marry Mary ( Matthew 1:18-25) .

  We all know the next part of the story found in Luke 2:1-18. There was no room in the inn; the place was packed with people, not a private place at all. Eventually a small, intimate shelter was found. It was a stable and there the birth of Jesus took place.

 Later, shepherds showed up, telling of an encounter with angels and they came to see what God had done. The thing I would like to point out is there were only a few shepherds, maybe as many as 12. In other words, there were a few personally chosen people who came to the stable that night.

   Then, in Luke 2:25-38, a great example of the affection and individual  relationship God desires with those who love Him takes place. Simeon, a devout and righteous man and Anna a woman who worshipped God day and night have a life-long desire fulfilled. They have their personal time with Jesus. This happened in the middle of the Temple, even though hundreds of people were going about their business all around them.

    Finally the visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12) who traveled from the east and they sought out the King of the Jews. When they found him, they had an intimate time of worship.

   So, here in the midst of one of the greatest events of all eternity, God takes time to be personal with His people, to those who had an intimate relationship with Him. God's desire for mankind is to have a close relationship with Him. He waits patiently for us. Take time in the midst of all the shopping, parties and events this Christmas season to spend some personal time with Jesus.

    Remember that Jesus wants to spend time with you. Just, take a few minutes, get still, and invite him to come as you wait on him. If you do this, you will find a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God. You will also find a truth in Christmas that will change your life.

©COPYRIGHT 2011 RICHARD SPANGLER

Christmas Fears by Wally Odum

http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/devotions/odum-christmas-fears.aspx

Dr.Caroline Leaf with Sid Roth-Toxic Thoughts

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D1xnw9vO8nhM%26feature%3Dresults_video%26playnext%3D1%26list%3DPLBDEF6E8941550402&h=HAQHDyVkFAQHx2Iw7I03YARqgVtvvo6Btd6IGlbfZZ6f1zQ

Being Intimate at Christmas

My wife and one of my daughters had just left our home to go and do Christmas lay-away shopping and I had the home to myself for the next few hours. I began to think about all the events coming up and the shopping to be done. I’ll need a vacation in January to recover. My mental calculator is going into overdrive trying to figure out the budget and how to make everyone happy without breaking the bank. In the middle of this God drops a thought, be intimate at Christmas. I thought this is strange everyone knows that Christmas is a time of shop to you drop and go until you can’t go any more. But the thought of being intimate at Christmas persisted.

   So, I began to mediate on this thought of intimacy. I began to take a closer look at the Christmas Story and I began how intimate it truly was. First of all we have a young girl named Mary having an encounter with an angel and after a short discussion she agrees to have a child by the Holy Spirit and an intimate a wonderful thing occurs she conceives Luke 1:26-38.

Mary’s soon to be husband, Joseph gets his own intimate visit, in a dream, from the Angel of the Lord telling him what has happened and its O.K. to marry Mary ( Matthew 1:18-25) .

  We all know the next part of the story found in Luke 2:1-18. There was no room in the inn; the place was packed with people, not an intimate place at all. But an intimate was found, in a stable and the birth of Jesus took place. Then, shepherds showed up, telling of an encounter with angels and they come to see what God has done. The thing I would like to point out is there were only a few shepherds maybe as many as twelve.  In other words, there was an intimate few who came to the stable that night. 

   Then, in Luke 2:25-38 comes a great point of intimacy with God. Simeon, a devout and righteous man and Anna a woman who worshipped God day and night have their intimate time with Jesus. This happened in the middle of the Temple with hundreds of people going about their business around them. And finally, the visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12) who traveled from the east and sought out the King of the Jews and when they found him, they had an intimate time of worship. 

   So, here in the midst of one of the greatest events of all eternity, God takes time to be intimate with His people who have a relationship with Him. God’s desire for mankind is to have an intimate relationship with Him. He waits patiently for us. Take time in the midst of all the shopping, parties and events this Christmas season to spend some intimate time with Jesus. Remember Jesus wants to spend time with you.

Just, take a few minutes, get still, and invite him to come as you wait on him. If you do this, you will find a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. You will also find a truth in Christmas that will change your life.      

   

©COPYRIGHT 2011 RICHARD SPANGLER

Wrong Worship from CBN 700 Club Interactive

http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/mp4/700Clubi_112911_WS

George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation

http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/vod/MV41v3_WS

A Charge to the Church

I was in worship on Sunday October 9, 2011 and I heard the Lord said, “Arise and take back what has been taken from my people. The church has been too long behind walls, which they have built. I DID NOT BUILD THESE WALLS, people built these walls. Tear Down these walls.I am calling you out, to go and take back what has been taken. I am calling you to take it to the streets.

Hear the Roar of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and it is time for you to roar as the young lions you are. Take back this nation, person by person, city by city, state by state until this nation is turned back to me. DO NOT say we will pray and only pray. DO NOT expect me to do the work I have called you to do. I WILL go with you as you go. 

Then go and take back Europe and North Africa and the Middle East. These places have been under a violent deception for too long.  

This a time to roar, a time of war in the Spirit and in the natural. No longer hide behind your walls, unite and go forth to war and roar as the young lions of Judah that you are. Your walls, that you have built will not protect you and will not keep out the evil that seeks to destroy you. It is only in Me and doing what I have called you to do, is there protection for you.

Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit is saying, Arise, Roar, and Take It To the Streets.

A personal note: I had a strong impression that if we do not tear down the walls ourselves, the walls will be torn down by some one else.

©COPYRIGHT 2011 RICHARD SPANGLER

Love God Part 2

By Richard Spangler

     We were discussing Matthew 22:37 And Jesus replied, “To love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.” And the fact that loving God is the key to everything in God. We see this again in Psalm 91 (Amplified Bible)

¹HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].²I will say of the Lord*, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! ³For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.⁴[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.⁵You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,⁶Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.⁷A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.⁸Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.

⁹Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place*,¹⁰There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.¹¹For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].¹²They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.¹³You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.

¹⁴Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore* will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].¹⁵He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.¹⁶With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

*boldness added for emphasis

We know this as the Psalm of God’s protection. We all like declaring God’s protection for us but it is easy to forget the keys to this protection. The first key is that our will is involved; we decide to agree with the Lord and make Him our refuge and our dwelling place then the psalmist says we gain the Lord’s protection. Then God responses in verse 14 stating “because he has set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him…” God’s key is our love for him and having a personal knowledge of him. When we decide (our will) to love the Lord and know him personally that we gain the protection we so easily declare.

  The devil knows this also, he knows if we declare without knowing the Lord personally, in an intimate loving relationship, that he (the devil) can just keep on attacking us. This why is many believers continue to be attacked, even when they declare the psalm over their lives. Then when we realize we need a closer relationship with the Lord, and decide to go for it with God, the devil uses life to distract us. There’s television, computers, cell phone and then there is finances and his stirring up our desire for more.

  This happened in my own life, when my two daughters were babies and there was always a need for extra money.  I started working a second job. I would go to work on my full time job at 5:30 a.m. get off at 2 p.m. and then be at the second by 3 p.m. and work to 10 or 11 p.m. This didn’t leave much time for a relationship with the Lord or so I thought. I did have breaks and down times while working but like most of us, I did not use them to build a relationship with God. Then, when I was not working it was family time or time for church or time for me (mostly sleeping). I was ignorantly happy but Father God wasn’t. He remembered my commitment to love him and to know him more. Then, it started, the Holy Spirit would wake me up at 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. and I spend a wonderful hour or two in the presence of God, experiencing his love and getting to know him. This happened every night for almost two weeks. It was great spiritually but physically I was exhausted. I finally, said to the Lord, “I love spending time with you, but Lord why are waking me up in the middle of the night when you know my schedule?” I heard the Lord say, “It’s the only time I can spend time with you.” After that I rearranged my schedule. I used my breaks and down times on my jobs to spend time with the Lord. Since that time, there have been no middle of night wake ups except to do intercession for someone and then after prayer I can go right back to sleep and wake up refreshed in the morning.

 I learned that spending time with Father God and it is the first and best thing in my life. Loving the Lord and getting to know Him in an intimate relationship is amazing.  Where ever I go, and whatever I am doing I can be in the manifest presence of Father God. Choosing to be in the presence of God also hides you in His presence, He becomes your refuge. The devil cannot come into the presence of God in fact he will to flee (James 4:9).

   This also means I can hear voice His voice and see when He wants to use me to minister to someone. My wife says, “It isn’t safe to take me anywhere because I almost always minister to someone.”   

Again, this comes from my willingness to Love and spend time with Him and build an intimate relationship with God. The good thing there is always more to learn and experience in God.

©COPYRIGHT 2011 RICHARD SPANGLER

Our Prayers are with the Navy Seal Community and others who also lost Family Members

‎31 lost, 31 unwanted visits, 31 doors receive that dreaded knock, 31 families with shattered hearts, 31 pairs of boots lined up with rifles and dog tags and helmets, 31 comrades remembered and grieved for, 31 funeral services, 31 names on newly made grave markers, 31 empty places at the table, 31 souls who gave all, whose lives leave a void, so let's take 31 seconds to pause to reflect on such a sacrifice as 31 gone forever. (repost from RIP Seal Team 6)

Atheists Want to Remove World Trade Center Cross

Here is the link from CBN News

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2011/July/Atheists-Want-WTC-Cross-Removed/

Is this going to far? I think, YES!!! What do you think?

LOVE GOD

By Richard Spangler

     Matthew 22:37 Sets the stage, for talking about the greatest commandment. The Sadducees have come to Jesus, remember they keep trying trip him up. They are so upset with him. They couldn’t see who they were dealing with, they were so wrapped with tradition and the law and trying to fulfill the law, which we all know you can’t do. They had literally lost sight of the love of God and their love for God. They were doing everything they could but they had lost their love for God. The Law and their traditions had become more important than God.

    Jesus puts its point blank when they ask, “Teacher which is the greatest commandment in the Law.” And Jesus replied, “ To love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.”  And we know the latter part, love your neighbor as yourself, all the Law and prophets hangs on these two commandments. I having been reading Practice the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence (1614-1691). This man had physical problems, what we would call disabled today, He had lot of issues. He was sent out to go buy provisions in the town nearby and also took his turn in the kitchen preparing food.

This was a hard thing for him to do. But he did everything with the attitude of love towards God. This book has challenged me. He states that with the grace of God everything becomes easy. Remember in those days they didn’t have wheelchair ramps, they didn’t have wheelchairs. Then he goes on to say, “that many to do not advance in the Christian progress because they stick in penance and in particular exercises while they neglect the love of God which is its end.”

   How many of us get so wrapped up in what we do, that we forget the love of God, of loving God, of taking time with him. I got to go sing in the choir, I got to go to do this or I got to go and do that, I got to be here at such and such a time. We got to all this stuff to do. Whether, it’s what we consider spiritual things or natural things, we get so busy doing the stuff we forget to take the time to love God. We know God loves us. Jesus is saying Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind. Brother Lawrence is saying, we neglect the loving of God. What we learning about the love of God and about Loving God is not a new thing. Everyone thinks that the Father’s love, loving God and soaking prayer and spending time in His presence is a new thing. It’s as old as Jesus. It changes the perspective on what happens when you do the stuff, not for the love of man but for your love of God.

There are a lot of organizations and people that do things out of the love for mankind. Many of these organizations started with a love for God and man, but they forgotten key, the real key for everything we do, is loving God. Whether you are in Wal-Mart buying chicken for dinner,  whether you are home being with your spouse or your children, whatever you are doing, you are to it with your love of God. As I was reading Brother Lawrence’s teaching, it is challenging me to say, “O.K. God I really want to love you more. I want to love you in everything I do.”  That’s challenging. 

Loving God is the underpinning key for every one of the Giftings of the Holy Spirit to operate. We say, “We don’t need to seek the gifts but to seek the giver.” But more importantly than seeking the giver is to love the giver.

 Being in His presence, I know a lot people say, “I don’t have time to spend time with God. I have my devotion in the morning, then I got to fix breakfast, I got to get the kids out the door, I got to go to work, I got to cut the grass, I got to watch television, I got to play on the computer for a while” What’s important to you, you find time to do. If it’s not important to you, it’s a struggle to find time to do it. If it’s important to you, you will find time to spend time with God and love on Him.

   That’s the beginning, everything we do we should do out of our love for God. Whether it’s what we call natural  things or spiritual things we should do them out of our love for God. It is out of love that we see things happen. As we love him, God pours out more than we can contain.

God gets excited; He gets overjoyed for we are loving him in everything we do. God responds by pouring out His love into us and all that He is and has is available to us. God says, “I love you so much, Here it is.” Taking time with God is not just doing bible study or reading through the bible in a year. Those things are important because you gain knowledge of the Word of God. But we all get so with the doing we forget to say, “O.K. God I am here just to love on you and spend time with you.” When we do that, we change, it is almost automatic, our attitudes change in how we deal with stuff and people. Whatever it is, it doesn’t seem as important as it did, because you are in the presence of God. When I am caught up in His presence, the cable bill doesn’t seem to matter as much. What’s for dinner doesn’t seem to matter. Physical problems don’t matter. The struggles of life don’t matter, for you are in place where you are loving God and He is loving you. Our little bit of love we give Him, gets overwhelmed by His love for us.

  Jesus is saying, “to love God with all your heart, all your soul and all of your mind.” I we think of the heart as the spirit, the soul is a place of the emotions and the mind is a place of your will. In other words, you are to love God with all that you are. It is an act of your will, it is your choice to spend time with and to love God. Concentrate on loving God with everything you are and with everything you do.

©COPYRIGHT 2011 RICHARD SPANGLER

The Mountains of Refreshing Part 5

By Richard Spangler

Climbing up the path of one of the Mountains of Refreshing, I looking back down to give a last wave of good-bye to John, but as I do I see he has already returned to position sitting on the edge of the Foundation of Signs and wonders. I also see some else lying on the ground, glowing with the power of the Holy Spirit. My own curiosity wants to go back down the mountain and see who it is but the Spirit is urging me to move upwards.

 As I turn and start up the mountain, I hear a roar off in the distance and roaring is getting louder and louder, then suddenly I see a great cloud of God’s Glory racing towards me. It’s height and width is infinite (as far as I can tell). I am quickly engulfed by the cloud and find that the Cloud of Glory is more like the ocean than a cloud. I am soon picked up off my feet and I am carried along by the powerful currents flowing in the Glory of God. I have the freedom to move this way and then back another way, it is like swimming and skydiving at the same time. The love and power I feel flowing all around me is amazing. I this point I feel like the currents are moving me downward and I soon see the ground coming from below. I touch down like superman in the movies and start calmly walking up the mountain again.

  The path winds upward and comes to a place around on the side of the mountain where I can see the view. The beauty of the panorama before me is breath taking. I see off in the distance, great mountains, going far higher than the one I am standing on.

Some of the mountains look like they are made out of pure gold, others out of silver still others look giant diamonds, others like rubies and still others like sapphires all glistening in the sun and seemly giving off wave after wave of the Glory of God.  Then, I look down to valley below and realize that it is the Valley of the Foundations of God stretched out before me. Forgive me for being a little slow it is then it dawns on me that the Glory had sweep me up and me perhaps hundreds maybe even a thousand or so miles up the mountain. As I stand there trying to take it all in I hear a familiar voice saying, “Having you been waiting for me?” I turn around and standing there is Katherine Kuhlman with a beautiful warm smile and the Glory of God surrounding her. I am speechless. She says to me, “You are right, the Glory of God and the Spirit have carried you up the mountain, but they will carry you only as far as you are willing to go. I learned this long ago before I came here to be with the Father, in His house. Then, I say, “But, we are outside not in house.” Then Katherine says, (in a lovingly beautiful way) “Stop thinking in earthly terms of a house, Father’s house encompasses all that there is, in both the physical and spiritual realms and beyond. And before you ask, Yes Father’s house even encompasses those places, the evil one thinks are his and yes there are realms beyond the physical and spiritual that you cannot even begin to understand, now.

  Learn as much as you can about the Father’s Love, learn how to express your love for him in all you do, let him teach you who truly are and are called to be. Then mediate on what you learn and spend time with God. Get to know Him; that is the secret to all. Teach others to do the same.”

 Then Katherine gave me a loving hug, turned walked away and was gone. I hear the roar once again and see the Glory coming down the mountain towards me. I am again, caught up in the cloud or the tidal wave of the Glory of God. This time is different, I not only feel and see the glory all around but I feel it flowing inside me as well. I feel myself racing up the mountain, to next encounter. Before I can realize it, I am set down once again. Waiting for me there is a woman, sense I that I somehow know but I do not recognize her. She has a great authority around her.

   She begins to speak, I am Aimee Semple McPherson, and there is not much time before the next wave, so just listen. I preached, living a holy life before God and God blessed me with many signs and wonders in my day. Learn that holiness does not the outward things you say or do. Holiness has been imparted to you, into your spirit by the Father, release the Holiness of God from within you, and it let flow out like a mighty river. Many have learned that the Love of God flows out of you and yet they try to impose Holiness from the outside in. It is the same for God’s Holiness just as it is with God’s Love. God’s Holiness is within you, given to you at salvation and it must released from within you, out to the world that so desperately needs it. Anything else is dirty self-righteous that does no good and only causes harm and destruction. Release God’s Holiness from within you. Now Go.” 

With that I am Swept up again by the Glory of God, this time I feel myself becoming one with the Glory and Spirit of God, somehow flowing together as one, yet separate. Which I can no more describe than I can trinity; the three being one yet separate, flowing together as one, yet flowing separately.  I come to rest on the peak of the Mountain of Refreshing, I look around and all I see is mountain tops and other mountains reaching up skyward and out of sight, I look down, and cannot even see the valley below. I have learned much and there is much to mediate on yet I feel totally and completely refreshed. I hear the voice of the Holy Spirit within me saying, “It’s time to go”

©COPYRIGHT 2011 RICHARD SPANGLER

The Mountains of Refreshing Part 4

The Mountains of Refreshing Part 4

By Richard Spangler

I as walk towards this beautiful fountain, I hear a sound almost like singing. As move closer to the fountain, the sound gets louder. At first I think it coming from the fruit trees surrounding the fountain, but it is not coming from them.

   The fruit trees themselves are larger than the ones surrounding the Healing Fountain; they are almost as large as oak trees. The fruit on them is the size of round watermelons and have a gold and silver color to them with stripes of red mixed in. I am hungry, so I pick one of these watermelon size pieces of fruit. Immediately, as I picked the fruit and beautiful bloom, having the same markings as the fruit, appears. As I am looking at bloom, there appears in the center of the bloom a very small miniature of the fruit I just picked.

I sit down and begin to open the watermelon, to my surprise it opens easily and it’s full of seeds. As eat the meat of the fruit, I begin to feel the love and compassion of God flow all through my body, soul and spirit. The love and compassion overwhelm me. I begin to think of all the hurting people in the world that need the love of God. I begin to weep and pray for them, this was similar in experience to when I was praying, many years ago, asking God to show me His heart, and He did it while I was driving a trolley along the oceanfront during one of the many summer festivals we have here in Virginia Beach, Va. It was a life changing experience for me then, and actually prayed Lord please lift the experience from me because I couldn’t take it anymore and the Father did lift it. Then God spoke to me and said, “I had not even scratched the surface of His heart and His love and compassion for all His children.” I was truly changed forever by that experience and now what I am feeling is a thousand times more powerful than that experience.

  After what seem like hours, the power of love and compassion seem to begin to subside but I could still feeling it flowing powerfully inside me. I rose up and moved to fountain and found the sound I heard was coming from the water in the fountain. It seemed as if the water was inviting me drink and I was thirsty, but after the experience with the water of healing, I carefully took a little sip. Instantly, a surge of Holy Power raced through my body and I was overcome again.

   I open my eyes, and once again I am looking up at the sky. I raise up I notice a man sitting on the edge of the fountain. See me and comes over and helps me up. He introduces himself, “I am John and no I am not beloved, for he sits as one of the elders around the throne of God.” I ask John, “What foundation is this?” He replies, “It is the Foundation of Signs and Wonders of course.” Then I say, “I would think there would many more people here at the fountain, for there are many that I know who want to see signs and wonders in their lives.”John responds, “Yes, that is true, but they are not willing to pay the price. They must be willing first, to seek an intimate relationship with the Holy One and then must be willing to eat of the Fruit of Love and Compassion of God, then and only then can they drink of the Fountain of Signs and Wonders. Instead, they seek only the gifts of the fountain and of the other fountains of God and not God himself and are unwilling to eat of the fruits that God provides. It was the same in my time, people coming for the healing and signs and wonders, and not for a deep intimate relationship with God.” I sadly agreed that this so, even today, that many of God’s people are the same way. They seek the gifts and experiences and the giver of the gifts.” John speaks again, “And seeking the gifts and experiences only, they will never become what God has called them to be on earth. You are called, as you know, to teach God’s people who they truly are in Him. Take what you learn and have learned and teach it to the people. All that you experience here is not just for you but for all God’s people. God desires for all to have an intimate relationship with Him. Now it is time for you go, follow the path up the mountain.”With this we say our good-byes and I start up the path.  

                      

©COPYRIGHT 2011 RICHARD SPANGLER

Independence Day-Let Us Pray

Our nation celebrates it's 235th birthday today with parades , fireworks and cook-outs with family and friends. But how many of us have actually read the Declaration of Independence http://www.constitution.org/usdeclar.htm and understand its beginnings. This nation was founded 404 years ago when English colonist came ashore at Cape Henry (what is now Virginia Beach, Va.) planned a cross and dedicated this land to the Lord Jesus Christ and to the preaching of the gospel to the world from the shores. This came directly from the Reformation that was sweeping northern Europe and changing the face of nations and planning the seeds of freedom. The Reformation brought an end to the old feudal system of society and gave freedom to the common man.
  The Great Awakening in the colonies in the mid-1700's played a major role.It's message that Jesus Christ came to set men free in this life as well in the life to come let to the preaching that all men had rights given to them by God and that no other person or government had a right to take those rights away. It was in the churches that the American Revolution began long before the first letter of protest was written or the first shots fired or the writing of the Declaration of Independence. ( I do realize this a shorten version of what happened but it would take and has taken volumes of books to study these events in detail.)
  The founding fathers clearly called upon God, specifically the Lord Jesus Christ for guidance in these matters. They repeatedly called the colonies to days of prayers and they themselves at critical points would stop and pray asking for divine guidance.Yet today when a governmental leader calls for prayer, just as Texas Gov. Rick Perry recently did, he is criticized and told he should not call for prayer, see link http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/07/perrys-planned-prayer-event-draws-condemnation/ It is amazing that we have gone so far from our foundations that we now call public prayer meeting to seek God's forgiveness and wisdom and guidance wrong.  Here is the declaration http://governor.state.tx.us/news/proclamation/16247/.

It is time for us to fast and pray, the nation is divided, the economy is not growing, with high unemployment, there floods, there have been massive and destructive tornado outbreaks and wildfires across the nation. What this means for food prices, no one is talking about, most of these have effected farmland and will effect everyone else soon. There are Islamic terrorist who out destroy this nation, and kill everyone who will not submit to their political/religious system. Some government officials are now saying they don't have the answers.
  Yet we continue now the same path we have traveling, where it is not politically correct to say anything about sin, or the reality of what we are facing except when some one calls for prayer then it is O.K. to attack them as wrong, backwards thinking and a person who is out of touch.
 
WE MUST STAND FIRM, WE MUST PRAY AND WE MUST SPEAK OUT  AND STAND UP FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. It is time, like no other to pray, to repent and ask for forgiveness of our sins both personal and as a nation and ask once again for our Lord Jesus Christ, for wisdom, and understanding and guidance. So please join me on August 6,2011 and pray for this nation. God has promised if we do this He will hear from Heaven and heal our land.

 If you are going join in this Day of Prayer August 6,2011, Please post a comment saying "Yes, I will pray."

                          ©COPYRIGHT 2011 RICHARD SPANGLER

The New Adventure Part 12 (The Mountians of Refreshing Part 3 )

The Mountains of Refreshing Part 3

By Richard Spangler

   Someone from behind me says, “It is the Fountain of Healing.” I turn around and I am surprised to who is talking to me. “I am Brother Reinhard”the man says. “I know, you are the…”he stops me in mid-sentence, “Those things are not important here. What is, it is your relationship with the Father. Learn all you can, spend as much time with him as you can.

  As I said, this is the mountain of Healing, many people come here and receive healing from the Lord, but they don’t go beyond this fountain. I come here often, but there is so much more. There are other valleys and other fountains and then there are the Mountains of God, where the manifest Presence of God flows and where you meet with the Father.

    I urge you to explore all that God is and develop a deeper relationship with Him. It is in relationship with Him, that you can understand who you truly are and what He is calling you to do.” I say, “I know, I have learned so much already.” Reinhard says, “This is true, but there is so much more. Don’t get satisfied where you are. Go beyond where you are, God wants you to know Him more. He also, has more for you than you imagine.

 

I must go now, I have work to do.” I thanked him for the words of encouragement and I asked, “Will I see you again?” Brother Reinhard says, “Perhaps” gives me a wave of his hand and walks away and vanished.

   I walk around the Fountain of Healing and there is a path, which I start down. I notice, immediately that this is not near as wide as the one leading to the Fountain of Healing. The path goes up a number of hills and crosses several streams. The fruit trees begin to change from those that surrounded the Fountain of Healing to another type of tree. These new type of trees are even more beautiful and their fruit is larger and taste absolutely amazing.

    I come to a clearing and come to a complete stop in awe of what I see. There before me is a beautiful fountain, at least twice the size of the Fountain of Healing and the water in it seems to glow with the power of God. I also, notice, there are far fewer people around this fountain, than around the Fountain of Healing. I begin to walk towards the fountain.

 

                    ©COPYRIGHT 2011 RICHARD SPANGLER

The adventure Part 11 (The Mountains of Refreshing Part 2)

The Mountains of Refreshing   Part 2

By Richard Spangler

As I come down the side of the mountain, I began to realize that the valley is far larger than I believed. It seems to stretch for 100’s of miles in every direction. It is absolutely beautiful, with streams flowing throughout and fruit trees everywhere. As I walk down the path, I come across one of the streams; I dip my hand into the water and take a drink. The water is refreshing, but the Power of God nearly knocks me down. I hear laughter from behind me, I turn around there stands my friend Gene, laughing and saying, “You should know better than to drink from a stream in the these high places unprepared, for these streams flow from the fountains of the Father and the water in them is directly from the throne of the Father and power in the water is pure power of God.”  We both laugh and embrace and head down the path together, talking about the things of God and wonders we have seen. Then, we come to a fork in the path, I feel the Spirit urging me down one of the paths but Gene feels the urging to go down the other. So we agree to go our separate ways and to meet at the roundtable on earth.

 

 I come around a bend, there before me is a large fountain. The fountain is as tall as the Empire State Building and the circumference is equal to its height. All around its edge are fruit trees, all bearing the same type of fruit. There are also thousands and thousands of people around the fountain and even  more© thousands coming and going. Someone from behind me says, “It is the Fountain of Healing.” I turn around and I am surprised to who is talking to me.   

   ©COPYRIGHT 2011 RICHARD SPANGLER

The New Adventure Part 10 (The Mountians of Refreshing)

The Mountains of Refreshing

By Richard Spangler

  Jesus and I turn and start walking away from the edge of the mountain. The beauty of this place is overwhelming. There are flowers and trees everywhere, yet there is a perfect order in this place adding to its beauty.

  We are walking beside the river, that flows clean and clear. The trees are all fruit bearing, it is absolutely amazing. The air itself is alive with the Spirit of God. As we round a bend, the land unfolds before me. The view is wonderful and interesting. Off in the distance are high mountains that rise up into the Glory Cloud of the Father’s presence and disappear into it. The mountains are dotted with various buildings, some look like beautiful homes, others look like governmental buildings and still others look like storehouses of some type. All of these buildings are beautiful, having the glow of the Glory of God and even from this distance they are massive.

 Then from time to time, the Glory Cloud of God’s presence would roll down the mountain like a tidal wave, covering everything in its presence. Then, it would roll back up the mountain. When the glory rolled back up the mountain, everything on it glowed brighter than a summer sun at noon and I have to shield my eyes from the brightness.

   Then I look out to valley, stretching out before me. To my amazement there are 1000’s and 1000’s of people, going and coming (as I witnessed before in the Throne Room of God, coming and going, is appearing and disappearing). At seeing this, I think, I thought this was to be a place of refreshing. Jesus begins to speak, “This is a place a place of refreshing. On earth, man thinks that refreshing and rest is doing nothing for extended periods of time. Yet, they are less rested and refreshed after these times. Have you not experienced this?” I answered, “Yes.” Jesus continues, “Here refreshing comes from doing the Will of God.

 You have also experienced this when you ministered to my people. After hours of ministry, have you not felt more energized and refreshed than when you started.” I just nodded in agreement. The lord continued, “This happens as the Spirit of God flows through you and out to my people.   

  The Spirit of God is life itself and as the Spirit flows through you, the Spirit deposits life in you. This is something that my people must learn when you minister out of your strength and spirit, it is life draining and wears you out, but when you allow the Spirit of God to minister out of you, the Spirit will refresh and give life to you as well as those who you minister to. Remember, I am the vine, you are the branches, when you are connected to me there is life.

You may explore as much of the mountains and the valleys of refreshing as you like. Enjoy what I have prepared for you.” And with that Jesus was gone. I stand there in awe and wonder for the longest time, and then I begin to move forward into the Valley of Refreshing between the Mountains of Refreshing.

©COPYRIGHT 2011 RICHARD SPANGLER

From CBN NEWS:David Wilkerson's Wife Still Recovering After Crash

Rev. David Wilkerson's wife, Gwen Wilkerson, is making good progress at a skilled nursing facility, more than a month after surviving a car crash that killed her husband.

An update on the World Challenge website Monday said the orthopaedic surgeon working with Gwen is "very happy" with her recovery thus far. The family has continued to ask for prayer.

"The incredible outpouring of cards, calls, letters, emails (and) blogs on behalf of Gwen is so deeply heartwarming. The Wilkerson family thanks you," the June 13 post said.

Rev. Wilkerson and his wife were involved in a head-on collision with a tractor trailer April 27 in Texas. Pastor Wilkerson was pronounced dead on the scene.

After the crash, Gwen stayed in the intensive care unit of a local hospital until May 12. She underwent surgery to repair a broken hip during that time.

Gwen's son Gary urged prayer for her physical and emotional strength.

Earlier this month, Mrs. Wilkerson was released from an acute rehab center and placed in the current facility.

A May 25 update from the family revealed she was "doing very well overall" but asked for continued prayer.

David Wilkerson was laid to rest in Tyler, Texas, May 2. A public memorial was held for him May 14. He is survived by his wife, four children, and 11 grandchildren.

Transformational Experinces

CBN.com has run my devotion Transformational Experinces again today, here is the link: http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/Devotions/Spangler_Experiences.aspx Enjoy and has always comments are welcome.

Planned Prayer Events Riles Critics

This Article is from Foxnews.

 

Perry's Planned Prayer Event Riles Critics

By Stephen Clark

Published June 07, 2011

| FoxNews.com

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Texas Gov. Rick Perry with his hand over his heart during a joint session of the Texas Legislature to honor fallen Texas servicemen in the House Chamber on Saturday, May 28, 2011 in Austin. (AP)

Texas Gov. Rick Perry's latest call for a day of prayer is being met by a chorus of boos from critics who say the potential presidential candidate is showing favoritism toward Christianity and violating the separation of church and state.

Perry has ordered a day of prayer and fasting on Aug. 6 to “seek God’s guidance and wisdom in addressing the challenges that face our communities, states and nation." It is part of what is being described as a non-denominational, apolitical, Christian prayer meeting hosted by the American Family Association at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Perry will participate in the all-day event that encourages people to bring a Bible and a notebook. Perry has invited every governor in the country to attend, and he is urging them to issue similar proclamations.

"Given the trials that beset our nation and world, from the global economic downturn to natural disasters, the lingering danger of terrorism and continued debasement of our culture, I believe it is time to convene the leaders from each of our United States in a day of prayer and fasting, like that described in the book of Joel," he said in a written statement.

"I urge all Americans of faith to pray on that day for the healing of our country, the rebuilding of our communities and the restoration of enduring values as our guiding force," he said.

But the Secular Coalition for America, the national lobby for secular and nontheistic Americans, has called on all elected officials to reject Perry's invitation, saying the event favors Christianity over other religions and beliefs.

"The last thing our officials should do in times of national struggle is promote a divisive religious event that proposes no real solutions to our country's real-world problems," said Sean Faircloth, executive director of the organization.

"Calling upon all Americans to embrace Perry's personal belief system is an insult to the millions of upstanding citizens who practice religions other than evangelical Christianity, as well as the millions of secular Americans who contribute to society without pushing their views on others," he said. "Religion should be a private matter, especially for elected officials in a secular government."

The Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of Interfaith Alliance, said Perry's call "raises serious concerns about his commitment to the boundaries between religion and government."

"It has been my experience that when elected leaders invoke religion in this way, it almost always has more to do with furthering a political agenda than a religious one," he said.

Perry's office brushed off the criticism.

"The governor has made it clear that this is a nondenominational, apolitical event. It is a Christian event and there are many Americans that believe this to be an important issue – Americans of all faiths," Perry spokeswoman Catherine Frazier told FoxNews.com. "And the governor believes in the power for prayer and believes it is important that we as a nation join together and pray for wisdom and guidance in finding solutions to the problems that we face."

Frazier added that no taxpayer money is being used to sponsor the event.

It’s not the first time Perry has sanctioned a day of prayer in the state. In April, he called on all Texans to pray for rain for three days as the most of the state battled an extreme drought that led to massive wildfires that scorched more than a million acres this year, claimed the lives of two firefighters and destroyed nearly 400 homes.

He also joined three other Gulf Coast state governors – Bobby Jindal in Louisiana, Haley Barbour in Mississippi and Bob Riley in Alabama– last year for a day of prayer more than two months after the BP oil spill.

All that praying has infuriated supporters of religious freedom, who say that his calls for Jesus’ help go beyond what is acceptable.

So far, though, not every governor is listening to the criticism. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback plans to attend the August event, and three governors – Rick Scott in Florida, Nikki Haley in South Carolina and Christine Gregoire in Washington – will declare Aug. 6 a day of prayer in their states, Frazier said.

The Texas Democratic Party slammed Perry's motives.

"Gov. Perry is the last person who should be talking about what's right for our country," spokeswoman Kirsten Gray said in a written statement. "When campaigning, he claims he will fully fund our schools, protect the elderly and balance the budget, but the ... state GOP budget broke every one of those promises. A budget is a moral document about our priorities, but it's obvious the governor is a shameless opportunist whose real priority is whatever furthers his own career ambitions."

Frazier countered that Perry "is proud of what Texas has done to balance its budget without raising taxes."

"Voters made it clear in November what they want their elected officials to do and they made it clear they want the government living within its means," she said, adding that the governor has funded "necessary programs."

"That priority is what keeps Texas creating jobs and keeps our economy strong to provide opportunities for citizens," she said.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/07/perrys-planned-prayer-event-draws-condemnation/#ixzz1OmokQjrt


 I for stand with Gov. Perry and will joint with him on August 6 praying for this nation, repenting for my personal sins and the sins of this nation, asking for God's forgiveness, wisdom and guidance. I call upon every believer in this nation to joint us in prayer. I also call upon believers in other nations to do the same for their nations.
  I also ask the Governor of Virginia Bob McDonald to support Gov.Perry and declare the same for Virginia on August 6,2011.

The New Adventure Part 9 (The Land of Closed Gates Part 4)

 I am coming into the next oasis. This one is different than the other oases. The buildings and the streets are well kept. It is a simple place, almost like those small towns in 1950’s American television. It looks too good to be true. The people are very friendly and are willing to talk with you.

  I began to talk with a middle-aged man about Jesus. He quickly cut me off and said, “We don’t talk about Jesus.” I asked him, “Why not?” He said, “We don’t want to offend anyone.” This happened again and again, every time at mentioned Jesus or the Power of the Holy Spirit. They would say please don’t mention that, because it might cause trouble and they didn’t want any trouble or to offend anyone. Others firmly asked me, to leave their town before I caused trouble. This is truly an Oasis of Denial. Everyone there new about God but, denied Him and His power, so as not to offend anyone. I left this oasis with a great sadness in my heart for the people living under this deception.

   I continued down the trail and as was my custom I ate and drank as I went. It was only a few hours and I was entering the next oasis. There were lots of people moving about and there was a lot needing to be done. Some of the buildings were half finished, and others needing repair. There were weeds everywhere and the fruit trees were in a word, a mess.

 I talked with many of the people, they all knew what needed to be done but, all said, “Someone else would do it.” There was a complete lack of responsibility.  No one would even take the responsibility to pick up a piece of paper, because someone else would do it. This was true in spiritual matters as well. It was, someone else will witness, someone will pray and someone else will study the Word of God. I was glad to leave this Oasis of Irresponsibility behind, but I was very sad for the people there.

  As I left the oasis, I noticed a strange darkness on the horizon. As I moved down the road, the darkness grew larger. I stopped and ate and drink from my provisions, I sensed that I would need all my strength. I moved into the darkness and it hours to reach the oasis. As I entered the oasis, the darkness became greater and heavier on me. Most of the people moved away from me when I approached them. The fear in this place is so strong you can almost taste it. The few people I could talk with all had various fears and hopelessness. There was the fear of rejection, fear of destruction, fear of the devil, fear of failure and even the fear of success. This is the largest of the oases. The closer I get to the center of the oasis, the more fear presses down on me. I drink more of the water and eat more of the fruit I have with me and I am strengthen.

  The darkness of fear is pressing in from all sides. The darkness is so close that I can only see a foot or less in front of me. Yet, I continue to push forward. My strength is fading fast. Then I heard a voice saying, “You are not going to make it.” I had heard that the same voice in 2007, saying the same thing when I was about to have quadruple by-pass surgery. It was wrong then and I determined it would be wrong now.

  Then, I heard a voice from deep within my spirit, “Turn the Robe inside out.” I immediately stopped and turned the robe inside out. The loin on the robe begins to glow; I feel the fire and the power of the Holy Spirit in me (I did not realize how weak I had become). I bring the Shield of the Faith in front of me and it also begins to glow.   I pull out the Sword of the Spirit and it lights up like a torch. With all the light around me I can see the gate leading out of the oasis. I move down the road until I am well clear of the darkness. I kneel down and praise the Lord for getting me out of the Oasis of fear. Then, I prayed for those trapped there and in all the oases of deception.

  After prayer, I realize it is still daylight, which was surprising to me, I felt I had been in the Oasis of Fear a long time. I continued down the trail. The mountains were now close and trail moved into the mountains. The walls of the mountains now towered on each side of the trail. Suddenly, the trail ends and before me is a thick forest.

 I knew I could not go back, so I pressed forward into the forest.  I pull out the Sword of the Spirit and it seems the trees separate. I pull the sword away the trees seem to close together. I pull out the sword and move forward. As I move forward the trees are moving apart in front of me, I look behind me and the trees have closed behind me. Moving forward again, I hear the sound of a mighty waterfall. I step into a clearing and there is the waterfall. It is beautiful and stretches skyward until it disappears in the clouds. There is a lagoon and the water is crystal clear. The other end of the lagoon there appears to be a river flowing out of it. There is life everywhere.

    I sit on a rock and watch this beautiful and refreshing scene. I decide to move over to the waterfall. The spray is wonderful, it is then I decide to step in to the waterfall. An amazing thing happens, I begin to rise upwards. The water under me is forcing me upwards, the water above me parts as I rise. The water around me continues downward with tremendous force.

   As I look outwards, I see the entire Land of Closed Gates and over to my right I can see the River of the Spirit and the beauty of the land around it. Soon I am passing through the clouds and finally I reach the top of the mountain.  I step over onto the land, I look up and there stands Jesus smiling. Jesus says, “Welcome to the Mountains of Refreshing.”

 

©COPYRIGHT 2011 RICHARD SPANGLER