When Jason Crabb was with us recently, he sang a song that is so “me” that it was like someone reached right down in my soul and pulled out the very words! That’s the way it is with spiritual songs and songwriters and singers who are led of the Lord. A spiritual song will always speak to the deepest part of you. It’s like the scripture, “as deep calls to deep” (Psalm 42:7). READ MORE
Grateful for You All
I was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude by the responses to my most recent blog “For the Sake of the Call.” You can’t imagine how much your encouraging words mean as we endeavor to stay faithful to the call of ministry.
The truth is that spiritual warfare has increased and is increasing every day – for everybody. John Paul Jackson was with us last week and we talked about many of the reasons we are all experiencing increased warfare. If you didn’t get to see the live stream, be sure to watch the regular programming schedule for when the shows will air. READ MORE
For the Sake of the Call
Being completely open and transparent, I have to tell you that there are days that I have been ready to ‘throw in the towel’ so to speak. These days usually come on the heels of exhaustion or after I’ve read or heard the umpteenth unkind remark about something Jim and I are doing in ministry. It seems that no matter what we do, there are those who are more than willing to criticize and condemn it.
While many see us as modern-day Josephs, bringing a welcomed message of preparedness in a very chaotic world, there are those who gnash their teeth at us for having the audacity to preach that there will be Times of Trouble just before Jesus comes again. READ MORE
Foot Washing – Ultimate Act of Love, Service and Humility
When I was a new Christian and a student in Master’s Commission, I remember when the leaders washed our feet. I was so uncomfortable, but I knew I had read it somewhere in the Bible.
In John 13:1–17, the Bible mentions Jesus performing this act. Specifically, in verses 13:14–17, He instructs them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” READ MORE
A Disciple of Christ
What Easter Means to Me
On Easter Sunday, 1989, I wandered into a wonderful church and heard the pastor tell me that I could be forgiven and saved by grace; I didn’t have to do it myself. That day my scarlet sins became white as snow. And for the next ten years, I went through God’s training program, conducted by the people of the church. Little did I know that God was preparing me to speak to millions of women and that I would be an instrument to help heal their scars from abortion, drugs, and sinful living. Nor did I know that He was also preparing me to be the wife of Jim Bakker. But I’m beginning to learn that broken and wounded people make the best healers. READ MORE
“End of construction – thank you for your patience.”
Recently, we were in Charlotte, North Carolina where we visited the Billy Graham library and placed flowers on Ruth Bell Graham’s grave. As most of you know, Ruth and Billy Graham were valley-walking friends with Jim when he went through some very tough trials.
Billy Graham visited Jim in prison several times, and Franklin sponsored him when he was released. The very first week Jim was released from prison, Ruth made it possible for Jim to attend her church and sat with him in a very public display of love and support.
To say that the Graham family has been a friend to us is an understatement.
The Bible says that the spiritual people restore others when they have fallen: “Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1 ASV
Jim and I attended Ruth Bell Graham’s 80th birthday celebration and the program that evening presented her life through music and drama, using her own writings, and it was very moving. PBS was there filming a documentary on her life.
That evening, when Jim introduced us, Ruth Graham reached up from her wheel chair and cradled my face in her hands.
“You’re so beautiful,” she said. “God hand-picked you for Jim.”
I was so touched by her words, I nearly cried. I managed to thank her for what she had done for my husband and for being such a great example of a woman of God.
Ruth Graham had much to be proud of in her accomplishments in life, but instead of pride, Ruth exhibited the ultimate humility by recognizing her life as a work in progress all the way to her home-going, her meekness engraved in her self-chosen epitaph:
“End of construction – thank you for your patience.”
“I Pray and I Obey”
Sometimes it’s hard to get our priorities straight but it doesn’t have to be. One of the greatest leaders of our times, Paul Youngi Cho of South Korea who has a church of over one million members, simplified the way he conducts his days by doing two things FIRST.
Every morning, Cho prays for five hours before starting any other work. Many have asked him how he can find time to pray that much. He answers, “You don’t understand. If I don’t pray for five hours, I don’t have enough time to do everything. But when I do, then God does everything I need.”
What a simple, yet profound TRUTH in this statement! Jesus’ life was one of constant PRAYER! We can read in the Bible where many times that Jesus went up into the mountain to PRAY – Matthew 14:23 & Mark 6:46 & Mark 1:35 & Luke 6:12. Jesus removed all distractions and focused on communion with God. Even though He was God, Jesus prayed and so should we!
Since Jesus, who is the Son of God, understood the need to be in constant prayer, we should do the same. Jesus heard the Voice of the Father, and then He obeyed exactly what He heard the Father say!
This is a time like never before in the history of the world. This is a time that we should be in constant communication with the throne room of God so that we can hear His voice and DO what He tells us to do!
Lord, remind me to PRAY and OBEY every day so that I can be sure that what I am about to do is what You have said to do with my day!
Amen!
Clay in the Potter’s Hands (Pt. 7)
STEP 6: THE SECOND FIRING
With raging intensity, the second fire starts to burn through the kiln. Quickly you move from separation into a time of death. There are impurities within each clay vessel that only the fire can purge.
The Lord and His angels shut down the dampers on the kiln, cutting off the flow of oxygen and filling the kiln with carbon dioxide. Black soot along with heavy smoke and flames consumes every vessel in the kiln as it becomes a black fire, your personal Gethsemane or dark night of the soul.
Abandonment, isolation, and death itself are all around you. The fire is so intense that you can’t hear or see the dear friends who have been your comforters and intercessors for so many years. Everyone you love seems to leave you as you die in the blazing inferno.
You say, “Lord, the fire! I’m dying in the midst of it! Everything I’ve built and loved my whole life is being consumed!”
Your heart breaks as your reputation and your walk with the Lord are condemned. Competition, position, jealousy and pride are driven out of your life by the purifying flames.
You feel as if you’re going to explode under the ever-increasing pressure. The Lord tenderly explains, “My child, in the midst of the black fire, a mystery takes place. Brilliant color is pushed deep into the body of the clay vessel.”
“My mysteries and My revelations are revealed in the tremendous pressure of the high glory fire. This is a hidden time when the most beautiful colors are formed in the earthenware vessel. The richness and depth of color come from the darkest hours of agony and grief, just as diamonds, rubies, and emeralds come from hot fires inside the earth. In the midst of the second firing, My glory is being released into the depths of who you are.”
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This is the hardest imaginable step to go through. Has it ever gotten so hot you thought you were going to die? I have. This is a step you can only speak about in whispers because it is so intense.
Clay in the Potter’s Hands (Pt. 6)
STEP 5: THE GLAZING ROOM
Something deep inside you stirs—that first call, that sense of destiny you felt as a new believer. “Lord,” you cry, “I don’t want to just sit in the back pew and die. You made me to be a lover of your people and to go out and find broken vessels and bring them to the Potter’s house.”
“I know it won’t be easy,” you continue. “I know I will pay an incredible price for the anointing I will carry for You. But, Lord, I want to become Your bride.”
So the Lord takes you into a huge glazing room filled with tables. Angels are moving pitchers from one table to another and placing them with cups on other tables in preparation for the high firing. The soft sound of weeping is heard as vessels that have been together all their lives are being separated.
God is sovereignly moving His different vessels to prepare them for His Great Commission. Some will be staying home while others will be going to different cities and nations. The angels continue to carefully pour, paint, and brush glazes onto each vessel before carrying them into a large kiln.
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Have you considered the cost of the anointing? When you say, “I surrender all” to the call of God, you will be immediately put through the processes of God and I can promise you, it will not be easy… but it will be worth everything!
