From the desk of Steve Shultz:
The past few years have been among the hardest of my life. Memories from the past surfacing, the economy, and a few health issues. It's just been a rough AND joyous season. Yet in the past few weeks, when at times it felt like all hope was lost (let's be honest, most of us go through a time like that at least once in our lives), I suddenly started laughing. My own pastor was praying for me a few days ago and suddenly I started laughing. He said, "What's so funny about that?" I said something like, "Nothing! That's the point. God is just doing this laughter thing with me at times."
I think he understood. He's a lot like me! I've seen my pastor Denny Cline go into this same kind of laughter.
This last couple of weeks I've laughed harder than any time I can remember in my life. Any time! Okay, I laughed so hard I "snorted." I've never snorted when I laughed, as far as I can remember.
But this I know?God sits up in Heaven and laughs at His enemies because HE knows their time is coming. Look it up in the first few Psalms.
When the renewal broke out around 1994, it became another manifestation of many seasons in Church history when the Body of Christ found themselves suddenly laughing?with God. It is not without reason that there is a saying that "laughter is the best medicine."
Yet I can remember a time at a conference with John Wimber I attended, when laughter simply broke out and yet God chose THAT TIME to suddenly cause a soberness to come over me. God chooses, at times, our emotions?not us. Other times we choose.
So, it's not that laughter is the best medicine, but it's what God is doing with YOU right NOW that is the best medicine, be it laughter or tears. Scripture tells us to weep with those who weep, and rejoice (or laugh) with those who laugh.
It's now clear to me that we can't just make this happen, or TIME it for WHEN it happens. At that conference in 1986 in Seattle, when John Wimber told us God wanted to have a party, God must have decided it was time for me to weep with those who weep at that exact time?instead. It was ALL God's doing, I believe.
Here are some great resources on praying and laughing and everything in between. We often forget that our emotions come from God. Sometimes our emotions need to get fixed. Other times, God helps fix them by opposite emotions than we would think He'd give to us.
Enjoy this word and these resources!
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Blessings,
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Steve Shultz
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Bill Yount:
While Laughing Uncontrollably, God Told Us, "You've Just Entered the Highest Realm of My Glory!"
"...Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee...And now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves...And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me."?John 17:1, 13, 22-23 (emphasis added)
We hadn't planned on this. We just wanted to get together for fellowship over a meal. Just a few couples, and one we hadn't seen in years. I am sort of a caveman when it comes to getting together with people for fellowship. Being tired and feeling I needed a vacation away from planet earth, I forced myself to go, since we were invited.
I wasn't feeling spiritual and I wasn't in the mood to hear how God might be blessing others when I felt so spiritually dry.
"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you that your joy may be full...if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."?1 John 1:3-4, 7 (emphasis added)
"Our 'Downs' Became Our 'Ups'"
It seemed to begin at the table right after we had eaten. There came such freedom to share our ups and downs in our life as well as in ministry. Even as we shared our discouraging times and even the bloopers we made in ministry, something began to take place...A joy unspeakable and full of glory began to descend upon us!
Such a freedom to share our hearts and become real people to each other seemed to untie heavy yokes that had somehow wrapped around us through everyday life and the mundane stuff that goes with ministry. This joy began to trickle down from on high and, amazingly, our "downs" became our "ups" as the joy of the Lord began falling like an avalanche! I sensed the Lord saying, "You have just entered into the highest place of fellowship with Me!"
I Saw Us Inside a Huge Washing Machine Being Washed in Laughter as the Gentle Cycle of "MERCY AND GRACE" was Being Pushed!
"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."?1 John 1:7 (emphasis added)
It was dawning on me the power of being in fellowship not only with God?but with one another! I believe there is a cleansing stream that is released as we fellowship one with another in the Body of Christ.
In the old days, they used to have to wash one piece of clothing at a time with a scrub board. The clothing got a rough washing and that one piece of clothing could be seen getting washed by everyone. I am learning late in life that even in ministry and having God in my life, I better not be alone but connected in close fellowship with others so the Lord doesn't have to wash me by myself where others can see my dirty laundry! We will get dirty at times, for we live in a fallen world. But God's plan to wash us is so different.
When my wife washes our dirty clothes, she tosses them all in together into the washing machine. As they are being tossed around inside the washing machine, you can't really tell one piece of dirty clothing from another because they seem to become one as they become meshed together. No one piece of clothing can point to another and say, "You are dirtier than I." Likewise, we are all being washed and cleansed together. This often happens through fellowship without us even being aware of it. God's love in us for one another is perhaps the most powerful cleansing agent on earth besides the Blood of His Son, for "love covers a multitude of sins."
"And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'"?1 Peter 4:8
It's easy to judge the dirty laundry of others when you are standing outside of the washing machine. But beware, for the scrub board may be on its way to your ministry and doorstep! "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12).
Even Two Are Better than One
"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."?Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity...for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."?Psalm 133:1-3
As an earthly father I am so blessed when love flows freely between my children and me. But my joy is complete when I see my children loving one another and having a great time. When they are loving one another they are actually loving me, since they are bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh! The closer they become in their relationships, the closer they get to my heart. For my heart for them is to love each other.
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Bill Yount
Blowing the Shofar Ministries
Email: theshofarhasblown@juno.com
May 31, 2009 (10:30am)
Church of the Living Christ
220 W Allegheny Road; Imperial, Pennsylvania
Contact: 724-695-7188
June 7, 2009 (10am)
River of Life Family Church
12312 Ore Bank Road; Clear Spring, Maryland
Contact: theshofarhasblown@juno.com
June 26, 2009 (7pm-10pm)
Isaiah 61 Ministries
Mt. Zion Methodist Church
1643 Churchville Road; Bel Air, Maryland
Contact: 410-679-3953 or 410-679-5947
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Ray Hughes |
God Wants You to Fulfill Your Destiny WITHOUT APOLOGY!
by Ray Hughes
Ray teaches in his funny yet enlightened style that God is wanting to release a new sound, language, authority and grace over this generation. He defines this NEW GRACE as a divine infusion of God's enablement in your life so you can fulfill your destiny without apology. God is redoing our understanding of who He is, because when we know who He is, we start to know who we are. Listen to this uplifting message and let Ray help remind you who you are, or can be, when you let Jesus demonstrate His power through you.
Larry Randolph |
If You're Not Sure What to Pray, Just Pray
"Help!"and "I Love You!"
by Larry Randolph
Larry delivers this message with humor and entertains us while teaching a compelling message about God's nature. God is an instant miracle worker, but His nature is that of a Farmer, a God of process and development. Larry teaches on the process of time, prayer of distress, and the pursuit of His Presence and does it in a way that will have you laughing throughout the entire message. This is a timely, weighty message that will minister to you from start to finish.
Bobby Conner |
God Doesn't Give Assignments Without Anointing!
by Bobby Conner
This teaching is full of anecdotes and wisdom that will make you think and cause you to laugh!
Join Bobby Conner as he shares from his amazing journey to truly know God and demonstrate His image. Did you know that God's original intent was to create a people that He could manifest His authority through? Are you interested?
Change your prayers from pleas to proclamations, as you discover what God has promised?and agree with WHO He says YOU ARE!
.... (more)
You May Also Call Us With Your Order- 8am to 4pm- Pacific Time, Monday-Friday
1-866-354-5245 (USA) -OR- 1-541-926-3250
(Outside the USA) |
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C. Peter Wagner |
You like to laugh! You want to laugh! So laugh!
"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Proverbs 17:22).
Laughing makes your heart happy. But laughing is more than something we like to do. We need to laugh. Laughing brightens our perspective, improves our health, and lightens our fear and depression. Let's Laugh will release you to laugh and teach you how to make others laugh as well.
No matter whether your "audience" is a room full of executives, coworkers, or family around the kitchen table, you will learn how laughter will change any situation into one that makes people smile every time they remember you.
Not just another "book of jokes," Let's Laugh is a collection of experiences and laugh lines from a teacher and presenter who has enjoyed bringing smiles to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds.
.... (more)
You May Also Call Us With Your Order- 8am to 4pm- Pacific Time, Monday-Friday
1-866-354-5245 (USA) -OR- 1-541-926-3250
(Outside the USA) |
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