Lack of knowledge or clear understanding of the truth causes God’s people to perish. My prayer is that this teaching will lead you to understand the depths of God’s love for you and that you would respond to His open heart to return to Him and be healed. Everyday we have a choice to turn to Him in thousands of little ways.  However, too often we don’t think through the outcome of choosing random “anythings”  that will turn our hearts away from the LORD.  We aren’t supposed to give our hearts away on a whim because they are valuable and precious to God but if we don’t guard them that is exactly what happens.

There is a song that goes, “Do you love Me? Do you love Me?  Do you love Me?  I mean really love Me?”

This is an important question I am posing to you today: Do you love God more today than yesterday? More this minute than last minute?  More this second than last second?  All the little things begin to add up in our hearts!  How in this corrupt world that doesn’t begin to know a thing about true love can you guard your heart for your True Love?  Listen closely because real love can be nourished and even flourish but it takes some guarding!  Let me share my heart for a minute:

Salvation means to be saved, healed and delivered from our sins. People tend to think that being saved is a neat little package that gives you salvation from your sins, healing from your wounds and deliverance from evil the second you open your heart to Jesus, walk down an aisle and that’s the end.  But opening your heart to Jesus is really just the beginning.  When you open your heart you receive the very seed of faith into your heart and that seed over time is watered by the Word and the rain of the Holy Spirit and it grows and grows and  becomes rooted and grounded in God’s love (the good soil) and then it blossoms and bears fruit – ALL through God’s gift – JESUS!

Two ways we can choose to respond to God: with a heart of obedience and desiring His will above all or nurturing a stubborn/resistant heart of stone – just living to have our own way! That stone will have to be broken sometime. You can ask the LORD to teach you His ways that you might gain a heart of understanding.  He will be the best teacher you could ever hope for and He will lead you through the messy maze of a world we are living in.  His ways lead to life and our ways may seem right in our own eyes yet they lead to death. (We have to stop and think before we make our life stink)! The LORD wants to help you and teach you to  surrender to His Holy Spirit. Because that is where the power is to live victoriously in this world!

Don’t lean on your own understanding or do what your mind says solely, because our minds are naturally resistant to the Spirit and they have to be renewed. Doing what you “think” apart from God renewing your mind with the Word  will only lead to the discipline of God in your life.  Discipline is always for our good to turn us back to Him and teach us what is right in His eyes. Discipline will always occur in a believer’s life because those whom HE loves,  He disciplines!  Spankings are good so that we do not continue on in our own destructive way!  It’s painful but it guards our souls from going to hell. We can choose to be babies all our lives or we can grow up and be Sons of the Living God full of strength and able to serve Him with pleasure.

I wonder… are we learning what makes the LORD happy or are we holding on dearly to what the world longs to destroy us with- the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and boastful pride of life?  GOD HATES when we value the opinion of others over obedience to His love and purposes and HE HATES the world system that eats up His people, chews them hard and spits them out.  Friend, the world will only embrace you for a second and then you are history.  If you are a friend of God you can not love the world but if you love God you will gain a friend who always sticks closer than a brother.

That’s puzzling because I thought that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes/trusts in Him will not perish but have everlasting life? Yes! Yes! and AMEN YES!  Jesus died for the people of the world but HATES the world system: lustful desire to do anything in my flesh as I please, constant craving for anything I see or want to be or that seems to look good to me when it’s full of worms in reality, thinkin’ my thinkin’ is above all and I can tell the whole world exactly how to fall but in truth I’m really nothing at all and people are watching me. I need some freedom to Really Be instead of all this silly make believe.

Let’s get some reality:

His glorious presence unfolding in you and me. The LORD is good just taste and see.

CAN I GET A SOUND CHECK?  IS ANYONE STILL AROUND CHECK?!

Faith without works is dead.

Have you missed  it?….Faith has legs and those legs better be walking you out of the dregs of darkness into His marvelous light…Healing light that shines from the center of God’s heart…JESUS CHRIST!  Yes! We have a part to play,  starting this very day – RETURN (RUN) to JESUS and Be Healed!

What are we doing…. just acting all cozy when nothing right now is looking too rosy?

The time is now to pray and seek and hear –  JEHOVAH is the only ONE to fear!

Can we see and hear the salvation of the LORD?

Isaiah 6:10  says, “Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Lest they SEE with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.“

Do you see that?  We need to see (with our eyes), hear (with our ears) and understand (with our hearts), return and be healed. What is it we need to see, hear and understand with our HEARTS  to return and be healed by the LORD? We need to see, hear and understand that Jesus paid for our junk so we could be clean and free from the chains of the enemy.  Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save it… that’s the News Flash that’s the Good News… Jesus loves you and He has made a WAY! Open up your heart to Him today!

To understand deeply what’s going on check out these two points:

1. God needs to remove our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh.

Ezekiel 11:17-21  ”Therefore say, ‘Thus says the LORD God, ” I shall gather you from the peoples assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered and I shall give you the land of Israel.”‘  When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it.  ”And I shall give them one heart, and shall put a new Spirit within them.  And I shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances, and DO them.  Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. “But as for those whose hearts go after their detestable things and abominations, I shall bring their conduct down on their heads,” declares the Lord God.

Do you BELIEVE this?  That God could recreate a new heart in our chest? The ONE who made us to begin withRight? Do you believe God’s WORD (JESUS IS THE WORD MADE FLESH)? I hope God’s WORD still lights a fire in our hearts – part FEAR of a Holy God and part LOVE for Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life and gave His life for yours and mine.  God’s Word is solid and perfect and it’s an anchor and a Rock that you can build your life on in a world without foundations.  Too hard to believe?  Listen, if anything or anyone is watering down the Good News of who Jesus is and what He has done then I would politely move out of their way so they can clearly find the ditch they are looking for – but as for you…Follow Jesus!  He is the real thing my friend.  He has never failed me. Who are you going to listen to?

Ask God to cover any unbelief  you may have because friend,  it is sin. The LORD has given me and many others I know heart transplants through faith and belief in His Word. There is Nothing He can’t do!  HE IS ABLE!

Unbelief is a blocker that your heart can’t live with.

Now, what is up and coming has brought me tremendous understanding and strength to continue to stand in this evil world…meditating on what Jesus took/suffered on my behalf…so I could for once really laugh! Jesus has bought me back!

2. The entire chapter of Isaiah 53 puts a tremendous spotlight on what JESUS endured to show us what it cost to buy back love (He loves us and died in our place to gain our love back).  This should wreck your life:

Jesus Christ was or understood the pain of being:

• despised
• forsaken/abandoned by men
• Man of sorrows (suffering or sadness arising from loss or disappointment)
• Personal knowledge of grief
• Men hid their face from Him
• Not esteemed/valued/held in high regard
• Bore our griefs and sickness
• Carried our sorrows
• Taken away by oppression and judgement
• Stricken/Wounded/Worn out
• Grievously afflicted by God
• Pierced through (even to His heart – where water and blood flowed out) for our transgressions (going beyond set limits)
• Crushed for our iniquities (wickedness or heinous sin) – ALL OF US HAVE BEEN WICKED.
• Chastened/disciplined/refined for our well-being
• Scourged/whipped/receiving vengeance for our healing
• Our iniquity fell on Him (imagine the weight of ALL OUR wickedness falling on Him who knew no sin)!
• Oppressed ( crushed, burdened, trampled down, a heaviness or obstruction in the body or mind).
• Afflicted  (Pain and mental distress) but didn’t open His mouth.
• Grave assigned with the wicked yet He was buried with a rich man in His death, because He did NO violence and No deceit (to trick or fraud) in his mouth.

THIS IS OUR GOD!  A HEART OF GOLD, STEADFAST AND TRUE TO GET THE WORK DONE THAT FATHER HAD FOR HIM TO DO!  THAT WORK WAS TO MAKE US NEW!

LORD, give me a heart transplant (a heart of flesh for this heart of stone) that I might understand that I need You more than life, that I might turn to You and find You right there waiting for me to receive Your healing LOVE in Your very heart of hearts…Jesus!

“But for you who fear My name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in it’s wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.

“And you will tread down the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the LORD of hosts.”

Malachi 4:2-3

The LORD asked me to share my bread with you today and an interesting story.

Last week our school had an auction to help raise money for children who would not otherwise be able to attend our wonderful school.  Well, my husband and I decided to bid on a ticket that potentially would have allowed us to enjoy the beach near the college our oldest daughter will attend next year.  Out of many tickets five people ended up on stage with a box with a star on top!  One of them was Epa! We were cautiously excited!  But excited!  One by one everyone opened their boxes and Epa disappointedly found a ladies watch in the box.  He steps off the stage and hands me the box.  I was thinking I would wait until I got home to see what it looked like but everyone at the table said “Let’s see”.

I opened the box and immediately began to laugh because it looked almost exactly like the same watch I was already wearing and had bought many years ago!  Everyone I showed the watch to at the dinner table was amazed!  I thought, “I wonder what the LORD meant by this?”  Well, it’s a week later and we just had a very important presidential election.

As I was preparing for company and vacuuming (a much needed distraction), the Holy Spirit suddenly reminded me of that watch.  And I asked the LORD “What is it He was trying to tell me?”  Then it hit me like a ton of bricks “THE SECOND WATCH”!  I ran to my Bible and looked it up….

Luke 12:35-40  Parable of the Expectant Servant

“let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.  Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.  Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.  And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

Therefore you also BE READY, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

The LORD is still on His throne but the question is are we serving the LORD by watching over our homes (our hearts and those we love)?  Prayer is key!!!

I’m expecting Jesus any time but I’m praying for more opportunity to share the Good News!

So in the meanwhile I’m going to set my heart to serve Him the way He deserves from this day until I see the flames in His eyes!

Be strong and of good courage God is with us!

Kiconco

I am sorry Lord for allowing the pressures of this world to push my heart into eruptions of growls of frustration towards You, my family or fellow man. This world is overwhelming but I don’t want to become like the world.   I want sweet water to flow from my heart and mouth. I want to be a vessel of God’s life giving water so I can help others and not hurt others.  I don’t want to cause others to stumble but to find freedom to be all the LORD created them to be in Christ!  LORD,  I know that “old me” is dead but when I start to fear what I’m seeing in the world I panic and my flesh starts to take over instead of trusting that YOU ARE IN CONTROL!  I long to be unmovable and strong in Your Spirit today.   Help me to remember I can not grieve ( injure or harm) Your Holy Spirit and see any victory in my life.

Teach me to obey Your Word.  I am a new creation in Christ Jesus.  I don’t have to growl and turn on others even if I’m treated that way.  I have life, light and love pushing me to finish the course with strength and dignity.  I have the One who coaches me how to overcome not to be overcome with evil.  I will lift up my eyes to the hills where my help comes from. Psalm 121. I have great hope because the prize is getting closer.  Keeping my eyes on the evils of this world  just paralyzes me.  I must keep my eyes on the prize. I run to win for Jesus, for my family and for me. I want to hear “well done my good and faithful servant”.   I’m in this world but I’m clinging to Jesus – the ONE who is the same, yesterday, today and forever! He will never change and He will never turn on me – Never!!!

I want to walk daily with You my God and allow You to teach me Your ways, teach me Your love. Today, I will choose to allow You to circumcise my heart  (removing the callouses preventing me from loving You and others) and I will receive by faith the cleansing of  my heart, mind and body with the precious blood of Jesus! I do not want a heart of stone… I want a tender, loving, kind and content heart. A heart that hears God and is able to receive NEW things today and everyday!  I want a new song in my heart everyday sot I may breathe out praises to my wonderful LORD!  I want my cup running over so my family and anyone who needs refreshing will receive a cup of Living water from me.

LORD You strongly reminded me today that THANKSGIVING or GRATEFULNESS towards You (and others) is the soil for LOVE to be able grow beautiful things in my life.  I want beautiful things blossoming in my life – evidence that You are at work in my life!

1 Chronicles 16:8-11 Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.  Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;  Speak of all His wonders.  Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.  Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.

Psalm 100:4-5 Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise.  Give thanks to Him; bless His name.  For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, And His faithfulness to all generations.

HALELUJAH!  Thank You LORD for Your glorious truths that lead us to life!  Thank You Father for sending Your Son (the Truth) to undo the works of the devil.  As I walk in the Truth and love I will overcome the enemy in my life and many other lives will be saved from this corrupt generation.   LORD, help me to walk by faith day by day – believing Your Word and igniting your people to RUN with the GOOD NEWS!  It’s such an honor to serve You!

Thank You LORD for never bailing on us – for being STRONG and FAITHFUL!

YOU are ALIVE and STRONG and I long for others to know Your resurrection power in their lives!

Your ways are perfect and Your LOVE never fails, never gives up, it hopes all things, it bears all things and so much more!

My heart is open to YOU today…I am GRATEFUL!

I love You LORD.

Kiconco

This past December, my husband and I took a much needed get away.  It was time to recharge our batteries and spend some time alone together seeking God’s face and refreshing.  It turned out to be one of the best and most powerful getaways we have ever enjoyed.  It wasn’t the beautiful farm land, the golden leaves or the singing brooks that made the trip memorable.  It was what the LORD told us to do.

As we did a lot of talking/unloading and listening/understanding(or trying hard to) the LORD gave us an unusual but powerful idea…..

“Burn your disappointments.”

The older I get the more clearly I see my heart is extremely valuable to the LORD and to the people I love the most.  It is of utmost importance that I guard it from anything that will cause corrosion and blockages when it should be overflowing with life giving water that causes our hearts to sing for Jesus.

Proverbs 4:23 Watch over your heart with ALL diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

Click here to hear the singing brook

Could disappointments in my life be causing some heart trouble?  This was a new idea to me.

Webster’s defines Disappoint: To defeat of expectation or hope; to fail to come up to the expectation of; also, to frustrate; as one is disappointed of a thing not obtained, or disappointed in a thing obtained. -Syn. Fail, balk, baffle, thwart.  -Ant. Satisfy, please

Enlightening to say the least.  And I found it was more than easy to make a long list.  Epa and I both started our lists and decided two day’s worth of disappointments would be our stopping point. It’s truly amazing how God knows our hearts deeply and when we can handle it He politely diagnoses the problem.  Burn the disappointment or the disappointment will burn/hurt you.

We made our lists with things like:

• Being disappointed in ourselves
• Health problems
• Death of loved ones
• Not being able to live up to another’s expectations
• Expecting too much of others
• Losses spiritually, physically, financially
• Dreams not realized

These are just scratching the surface but it really felt good to share with each other what was underneath the surface.  It has helped us to understand each other’s hearts at a deeper level and how to encourage each other in those areas where our hearts have been wounded.  They need a bandaid until the LORD heals those areas in His wonderful timing.  As we shared, our hearts went from heavy heavy to lighter than a bubble!

No longer feeling controlled by things we couldn’t control… we took our disappointments that cozy winter afternoon and prayerfully placed them in the fireplace.  Ashes in seconds.  It was shocking really that so much hurt could go up in flames just like that.  Disappointment became Hisappointment to show how much He understands and loves us.  The LORD was removing our deepest disappointments so that He could give us something much more than we might ever imagine…..more of Him  and more of His hope and even renewed faith that He could grow something beautiful from the ashes of our lives.

Isaiah 61:3

To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning.

Did you know one of the definitions for a garland is a song?

A song of praise to God most Ancient of Days, the ONE who causes light to break on one where light has never shone!  To Him my heart will sing alone.

Sincerely your friend,

Kiconco

“He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”    John 14:21

This is one of my favorite scriptures because it has helped me to understand clearly how to show God that I adore Him and desire to keep the flame in my heart burning! Just a few years back as I meditated on this verse I realized telling Jesus “I love You!” was nice and sweet but He was speaking to me that He was desiring a deeper kind of love.  God says in His word, “They honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me.”  God was interested in my heart and mouth being in sync and flowing with life and love not just lip service but action.  Somehow my love for God was not as deep and intimate as I had thought.  The gracious Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see a key to joyously walking with the LORD and regaining my first love.

Knowing God’s commandments and keeping (practicing and cherishing) them makes Jesus’ heart leap for joy!  Because when we act on God’s word then Jesus knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that we love Him.  He is the Word so it makes sense we should set our hearts to obey Jesus (the Word made flesh).  James 1:22 Says, “ But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”   Deception is something to run from and the cure for deception is the Truth of God’s Word in ACTION.  If we choose not to DO God’s Word (when we read it and the Holy Spirit later brings it up in our hearts) then we miss the power and reality of God working in our lives.

When we don’t obey what He is putting in our hearts to do, we are telling Jesus “my will is more important”.  However, the instant we start actually doing God’s Word a tremendous change occurs in our lives!  That is when our hearts come alive through our faith (faith without works is dead) and the Holy Spirit makes our heart, mind and body to carry out that which is powerful and effective exploits through God!

When you obey God you begin to walk in the LORD’s wonderful resurrection power!

What you will notice is a surprising boldness to share that you love Jesus! You’ll have a burning desire to reach the lost.  You’ll find yourself constantly praying and actually enjoying it and then seeing answers to your prayers as your heart begins to line up with His heart.  Oh and you’ll be able to forgive and move forward because you are no longer stuck in bitterness because you are in LOVE with Jesus!  You won’t be able to stand for anything to get in the way of His LOVE!  This will lead you to change your mind and turn back to God quickly when you make a wrong decision.  Obedience means joy unspeakable and supernatural strength to handle very difficult trials.  (He didn’t promise us a rose garden – that’s heaven).  It means fire will consume the impurities of your life to be able to serve the Holy Living God.  It means God’s word unfolding like a treasure chest of wisdom and understanding whose depth has no end! It means knowing a God who is tremendously wonderful and who desires to be sought after.  The LORD gives us many important keys to entering into this beautiful intimacy but the starting key is OBEYING HIS WORD.

The Ten Commandments are life giving and life keeping, and Jesus told us the Commandments in a nutshell are to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength. Then topped it off with loving your neighbor as yourself.  Piece of cake right?

The Good News is that the Holy Spirit is waiting to assist us in all these areas.  A powerful personal assistant to do God’s will! It is overwhelming to our minds and to our flesh to accomplish this but Jesus would never ask us to do something that couldn’t be accomplished.  It can only be done through His resurrection power! God’s word says “It is not by might nor by power (our own measly striving and effort) but it is by My Spirit says the LORD! “  We don’t do a thing apart from Christ but when we ask Him to help us and fill us with more of His Spirit then the impossible becomes very very possible.

One big change for anyone willing to take up the challenge will be that you will be getting far more spiritual fitness than physical.  You will gain spiritual muscles as you excercise your faith 24/7 and allow the Spirit to teach you and lead you into what you need to know daily to be able to seek God’s Kingdom.  God’s will  for us is to have a strong inner man. Not double minded or tossed with every wave of the sea.  Jesus is STRONG and was able to love Father even to the obedience of death on a cross.  Obedience will make you grow strong and it also sends a Valentine card to Jesus that says: “Truly Yours”!

What happens when we really start acting like we love Jesus by cherishing His every word?  Heaven rejoices because they see real love for King Jesus that will change the world.  The world He died for.

The thing is, we start loving Jesus and all of a sudden we get the Father’s love coming our way in a hurry.  Why? Because His Son is His Beloved Son and Father is well pleased with Him. We will begin to experience the unconditional, satisfying, and deep love of ABBA (Daddy) God.  It’s awesome and it is what Jesus couldn’t wait for us to experience while He was here on earth and as He returned to the Father!

Would you believe it continues to get even better….

Jesus says “and I will love you and manifest (reveal) Myself to you.”  Yes, Jesus loved me and you with ACTION – He suffered all the way to the cross for us and then He chose (by an ACT of His will) to die for us.  That tremendous ACT was the foundation of His love and His powerful resurrection make all things possible!  When we love Him and cherish Him by ACTING on His word the depths of His love for us are revealed in marvelous and personal ways.  I’m talking personal love notes from God because He knows your heart and He knows exactly how to make you smile. Most importantly, Jesus gets the adoration He deserves!  Oh how I love Jesus!  Oh how worthy You are……

Some may say that keeping God’s commandments is like going back under the law.  But Jesus said Himself, “Do you think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets?  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill them.” Matt. 5:17   Jesus also took the Commandments to a greater level – straight to the heart.  For example He says if you are even angry with a brother you are committing murder.  Help us Jesus!  Never fear He will – He didn’t come to condemn the world but to save it! The King of Kings has complete unrestricted access to our hearts and wants them full of His Spirit and goodness.  He wants to give us the power to live a victorious life. Show Jesus you LOVE Him and get your spiritual /heart muscles pumping!

Sincerely,

Kiconco

I have a strange confession to make…..  I like pennies a lot.  It’s a really long story why, but it’s mostly that they serve as a reminder to me that our big God watches over little things and can use little things to change big things.  Pennies also remind me that the things we easily pass by or consider completely worthless in this world more than likely have great value to God.

In the Book of Mark, Jesus watches as a widow comes into the temple and willingly drops in two mites (copper coins worth less than a penny) as her tithe to the LORD.  Jesus quickly calls His disciples to his side and says, “Truly I say to you (Now would you look at This!), this poor widow put in more than all the contributors into the treasury: for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”

It’s as if the poor widow hits the heavenly jackpot by giving her “ALL” (her very last penny to God)!  This unusual action instantly draws Jesus’ attention (who then draws this widow’s action to the attention of his disciples)!  Her action has an immediate effect on the Kingdom of God – she is drawing Jesus’ AWE!  She wins Jesus’ full attention and accolades!  The poor widow may not find out until heaven the true riches she just stored up!  Jesus is not just pleased because she gave Him her last “two cents” but because of her whole hearted display of love and trust in God.  This story really highlights the childlike nature of the Kingdom of God. The widow who loved and trusted God much like a little child wanted to bring her all to the One she loved and trusted.  Doesn’t that sound wonderful to have simply love and trust?

Now that’s one lady I want to be like – Oh help me Jesus!  I want Jesus to know I love Him with all my heart and I want to capture His attention through “ALL” the actions of my heart.

This summer God made our family vacation special in multiple ways!  I’m going to share with you a personal story or two from our summer vacation to New York City – The Big Apple!  It was truly a marvelous trip in every way!  I’m more of a beach gal and not so much big city but I was willing to go along with something new that my girls and husband wanted to do.  Before we left home as I was getting packed up the LORD spoke to my heart (in His soft spoken way-just an impression in my heart) “I have a special appointment for you and your family in New York”.  My eyes lit up and I cheered back in my heart “Alright LORD that sounds good to me!”

Well, we headed out for our nice five day get away.  We enjoyed riding bikes through Central Park and going around the oldest carousel in America.  We viewed the Statue of Liberty on an evening cruise boat and we ate many a nice meal.  On Sunday, we were honored to worship at the Brooklyn Tabernacle. The service was so great it was hard to leave!  The presence and love of the LORD was thick starting with the first note of the choir.  It was also lovely to be with such a diverse group of people. Just like heaven will be – people from all nations praising the One true Living God.

Well, I had sorta forgotten or just put it in the back of my mind about that “special appointment” the LORD had in store for us.  But God was not about to forget!

One morning over breakfast I had this funny unction to say, “I want to go to Istanbul!”  And my family immediately looked at me as if I’d lost my last marble.  This might not sound strange if you know your geography well and love to travel to exotic places suddenly.  But the thing is, once I told my family “I want to go to Istanbul” I followed it with the question, “Now where is Istanbul?”  My husband laughs……..”It’s in Turkey!”  We all were chuckling  and wondering why Momma would say such a thing.

Well, all day long I felt this unusual little desire to go to Istanbul in my heart and I would occasionally voice it.  Which usually brought silence or laughs. To add to that, we went back to the hotel for an afternoon rest and God gave me a dream.  In the dream we were in a hotel apartment and this mother duck was squawking and carrying on in a bedroom.   I crossed  the room to where a big footstool sat against some curtains.  I pulled the footstool  back and there were three tiny little ducklings.  Then one of the ducklings darts out the bedroom door, and I yelled to my daughter Bailey for some help.  We get the little thing cornered and when I look at the duckling, it’s no longer a duck but a tiny little horse and the other two ducks were tiny horses too, with big thick manes!  That was the dream but I had no idea what it meant at the time.

By the way, the Spirit of God is very real and limitless in His way of leading us right into the center of God’s will.  The many gifts of the Spirit are very real and God’s word says in the end times He will pour out His Spirit on all flesh who will then prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions (Joel 2:28-29). I doubt I have many who don’t think these are the end times but I bet some people are having a fit over believing God’s word.  We need the resurrection power of God friends and that is found in the Holy Spirit.  More on this later…

That night we saw a show and decided to leave a minute early to beat the crowd that would be flooding Times Square.  We headed out the doors and every sort of taxi imaginable was waiting for its customers.  Epa says, “let’s grab two bike taxis (one guy with a covered two-seat for us to sit behind him) the girls can go in one and we in another”.  So we jump in and get going down the street and I casually ask the guy where he was from.  He says, “Istanbul”.  Of course our mouths both dropped open and I whispered to Bub “I think this may be the special appointment”!  I was beyond excited and laughing in my heart at the humor of God to lay Istanbul on my heart.  However, once we got to the hotel which was only a few blocks away, the guys demanded we owed an astronomical fee for the ride.  My heart dropped because there was no way the gospel could be shared in the face of the “love of money”.  It was so deflating really.  Epa paid a fair wage and let the guys depart.  We were so puzzled if we had missed God’s will.  We dejectedly went upstairs and prayed for the two guys from Istanbul to come to love Jesus more than anything, especially money.  God gave us His wonderful peace to trust Him with this encounter.

The next day was our last.  That night we had a late dinner at a nice little Italian restaurant.  At the last minute, we decided to get dessert at Juniors in Times Square.  So we took a taxi into Times Square which was hustling and bustling for 10 o’clock on a Monday night!  My dream from the day before popped back into my heart and I said, “I wonder how three little ducklings turn into three little horses!”  The girls and I were giggling and totally full of the joy of the LORD.  The taxi stops in the middle of a crowded area. Epa jumps out the front and the girls and I jump out the back of the taxi. But at the very last second a copper penny on the back floor board caught my eye.  I picked it up (of course) but wrestled with whether or not I should give it to the taxi driver.  I thought “Well, it really belonged to the person who was in that back seat so I guess it is ok to keep it.”

We started down the crowded sidewalk and I was still lagging behind thinking about what to do with the penny!  I looked over and there was a guy leaning against a newspaper stand.  Before I knew what I was doing really I asked the guy if he would like a penny.  He says, “Why would I want a penny?  I said, “Well, I’m a Christian and as a Christian we know that everything is from God and even this penny that doesn’t hold a lot of value is a gift from God.  But even more valuable is your life because Christ loved you and died for you.”  The young man (30ish) listened very closely then said, “I am a Muslim from Istanbul.”  (I then waved to my husband ahead of me to come quickly).  This fellow eagerly tells us “I have read the Bible three times through and I know Jesus is mentioned in the Koran more times than  Mohammed.”  I was impressed he had read the Bible more times than most people but he seemed to have a lot of head knowledge and little heart knowledge of God.  He was quick to say “Ramadan had just started and he was starting his fasting and reflecting that day”.  He seemed very proud of his self-discipline.

Honestly, we had a very good conversation with a lot of listening on both sides for quite a while.  I felt in my heart the only way I could make Jesus tangible to him was to share a bit of my testimony.  I shared, “You know why I love Jesus so much?  Well, I had parents who were alcoholics and I grew up under a lot of chaos BUT Jesus never forgot me and He gave me hope and took me out of a pit and set my feet on the Rock – Jesus is that Rock!”  He said, “I appreciate you telling me this.”  I told him,”Jesus is the KING OF KINGS and LORD of LORDS – no one comes close.”

His intellect seemed to override his heart as he didn’t want to receive that Jesus needed to die for him.  Even though for the time being we came to a stand still I believe the LORD was doing some major watering with the Holy Spirit in my Istanbul friend’s life. We shook hands and I said I would be praying for him.  I felt sky high because I knew this was the special appointment Jesus had led us to.  I felt satisfied. The fruit was in the LORD’s hands – it wasn’t my job to seal the deal (that would be in God’s timing).

Our family made it’s way to dessert but the Holy Spirit tugged at my heart that this new friend was asking God if He was real to send us back his way.  I told my husband and he said, “We have to pass back that way anyway, but it’s doubtful he would still just be standing there.”  We  walked back to where the newspaper stand was and didn’t see him and we didn’t see the penny either.  Then I see this guy just a small way down the sidewalk doing art and drawing a crowd.  It was our new friend!

We stood there for awhile as he did this cool picture and I whistled and called out his name to let him know we were there!  I’m sure God cheers us each on and I felt compelled to encourage him this way.   It felt funny walking away not knowing if I’d ever see this friend again.  But then again, why would God specifically take us to the Big Apple to share His love with one man who was really seeking the True Living God!  I’m placing my bets we will meet again in Heaven!

Ok, to wrap this up….. we walk down the street to get a water at a store before heading back to the hotel.  There in front of the store is a man asking me “would you like to buy a purse?”  I said, “No thank you.  Your accent sounds African where are you from?”  He and his friend who walked up about that time said, “Senegal”.  Still pumped from my last divine appointment I said, “Did you know that Jesus loves you and He died for you?”  He softly says,” I am a Muslim, I know Jesus from the Koran but I did not know He loves me and died for me.”  The LORD’s presence was tangible and heavy and I didn’t feel like I needed to say another word.

With love in Christ,

Kiconco

Beloved Friends,

Kiconoco’s Korner is a new venue that the LORD has been stirring in my heart for a good while now.  The main purpose of these posts will be to share teachings and promptings that God has given  me to strenghten, edify and build up the body of Christ. My desire is that people will come to know, love and serve Jesus and to bring Him great glory on earth as it is in heaven. I have had confirmation and encouragement from God, my husband and Pastor Emmy to move forward with this new outlet and so by faith I will step out to do it.  From time to time we will have others share what is on their hearts too. I want to say that God desires all of the body to be mature and built up where they can hear from Him and obey Him it’s not just for leaders or others. All God’s promises are wrapped up in Jesus and the treasures of His love are for you! God  is still working on me and I don’t feel quailified to share really – BUT GOD through Christ says I can do all things and He has taught my heart a few things that I believe will help others.

Today you will be hearing from Pastor Emmy after he sent us an important email regarding Matthew 6:33 – the EXACT scripture God had me meditating and sharing with others this week!Folks, we are 8,000 miles from each other and haven’t talked in weeks!  The Holy Spirit is Awesome and highlighting God’s heart.  Not to mention He has our FULL attention!

Matthew 6:33  ”But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Right before this scripture, Jesus was speaking about wealth and His wisdom on how we should invest in heavenly treasure.  The kingdoms of this world are being shaken but the Kingdom of God is faithfully unshakeable!

Let’s think our priorities and expectations through:

Where are we really putting God’s kingdom in our lives?  Do our feet hit the ground running every morning in expectation of being used by God to bless Him and others?  When we take time to receive truth from His word and PRAY those scriptures back to God then we will start to feel God’s heart for the lost.  From there, your will see the LORD direct your steps for His glory to the special appointments He has for you to impact the Kingdom.  It’s never work, forced or striving but it’s righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.  It’s a lot of fun because you get to see God’s powerful love working through your life – talk about addictive (God’s love is great!) and seeing people’s eyes light up when they hear “Jesus loves you and He died for you” is priceless.

Now, most people say I can’t share etc… and I agree if you are trying to do it by your effort and ideas and not by the Spirit.  But, WITH GOD NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! Ask the LORD to help you please Him and not people and He will take away your insecurities in Jesus’ name and give you boldness and love through the Spirit to share.  God gets all the Glory that way!  Oh, and you will LOVE JESUS even more because He becomes more and more real in every area of your life!

Sadly, Christians are not verbally sharing their faith hardly anymore.  Yes actions are important but so are words….. JESUS IS THE WORD!!! Jesus said “Go and make disciples and I will be with you”  and “Open your mouth and I will fill it!”  Our hearts are to overflow with the beautiful love of God so people will be drawn to the Giver of Life!  Our mouth is made to bless, edify, encourage and reprove (correct).  The key is LOVE and that never fails.  But the Kingdom is about justice and speaking up too for the poor and needy in all walks of life.  A child of God will speak up for the TRUTH.

The Bible says “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” Romans 14:17

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12:28

Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world, therefore if we are seeking this wonderful kingdom of God in the world system we will never find it.  We have to seek it in God’s heart – Hint: take a good hard look at Jesus and how He lived His life on this earth – study, study and like a child step out in faith to do what He did.

How do we seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness?

The question is endless really because the LORD is infinitely working to make disciples, find His lost sheep and set captives free.  The fields are extremely ripe so just look right where He has planted you!  As far as righteousness – it’s all found in Jesus and His sanctifying blood in our lives!  Before Christ our righteousness was like filthy rags.  With the LORD’s righteousness (a gift He gave us by dying for us on the cross) allows us to be set apart (Holy) for God’s service.  We have freedom to boldly go before the throne of grace and enter into Father God’s presence!  WoooHooo! That is good news folks!  God loves us and desires us in His presence!  That’s where the end of this verse comes into play because if you are seeking Father’s heart He is going to add in all the good things He longs to give you. He gives us so much already – let’s remember to be thankful.

Get lost in God’s love and get busy shoveling out God’s love and just watch what your God will do!  We are blessed to be a blessing!

All Praise to King Jesus!

Kiconco

Here is Pastor Emmy and the important word the LORD is burning into his heart for us regarding:

Seek ye first the KINGDOM of God and His Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you Matthew 6:33