"Thank you, Parker, for helping us out with the groceries! You know, the scriptures say that when you bless a widow, all the works of your hands are blessed!" "I didn't know that", he said happily! "You helped two widows tonight, so you are doubly blessed!" I had chatted with Parker about miracles as we had walked to the car and so I knew he was open to receiving blessings. "Put your hands out, Honey" as I demonstrated with my palms up. With that, I began to slap his hands while saying, "Blessings! Blessings! Blessings! Blessings! Everything you touch will be blessed, Parker!" Now Parker's eyes are big and his smile even wider as he announces he was going back inside to spread the blessings around!
I love making the Word of God come alive and real to individuals! I was releasing Deut 14:29 to Parker in a practical way and he received it! Then he left the parking lot to slap the hands of others (literally) and release blessing like he just received! As we daily make the Word a part of our lives it will just ooze out of us.
Listen to what Hebrews 4:12 says from the Amplified translation: " For the Word that God
speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart." God speaks to us through the scriptures, through times of prayer, through our dreams and through others. We need to always check it out with the scriptures as the final authority being sure it's not just a "pizza dream"! I love that His Word is alive and energizing! It is effective and is operative! It will work and not return to the Father void or useless if we will just agree with it! It will divide what is just of mind, will and emotions and what is of the spirit. It will even reach into our marrow to bring health to our bodies!
Joseph hung onto two dreams through which God spoke to him after he was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. The dreams spoke of promotion, but his circumstances said the opposite. He continued to live a life of integrity even when he was slandered and misunderstood! Overnight God took him from the prison to the palace! (Gen 37) What a promotion! All the other years were preparation and a time for him to remain faithful.
What promises has God given you in His Word or through dreams or during prayer? Don't give up! Agree with His Word daily and stay faithful!
God has called Anna's Gate to empower widows of all types including death of spouse, divorce and by circumstance. We have His "Word" on that! Jesus bore our grief and sorrow, God heals our broken heart; He hears the cry of the widow; He is our defender; He will sustain and fortify us; He is our Husband and will establish our borders! (Isa 53:4; Isa 61:1; Ex 22:23; Isa 1:17; Ps 146:9; Isa 54:4,5; Pro 15:25) That's a message that needs to get out! One of the ways we use is our "He's My Valentine Banquet"! Please sponsor a widow or table of widows to come to our Widows (and ladies alone) Valentines event! Widows register with Anna's Gate to come! It's the 1940's theme and you can dress the part if you'd like! We will honor the Veterans and pray for our nation! God hears our cry! There will be entertainment, inspiration, a wonderful meal and handsome ushers!! Now you can't beat that! Whether you are sharing the Word in the parking lot or enjoying the hearts and veterans, God's Word will bring life!
Would you like to visit the '40s and honor our military? February 16th is our 9th annual "He's My Valentine" ladies' luncheon for widows and singles! You have an opportunity to dress up like the '40s if you wish, as we celebrate the Lord as our ultimate Valentine!