Our Nation's Crisis: Stand and Pray

This morning as I sought the Lord, I felt an urgency in my spirit to pray for President Obama. Yet, while I do pray for him daily, I also felt that my prayer was intercepted by my concerns with some of his policies and appointments. I honestly had to pray through my own disappointment to get to the "mercy seat" of God's presence. Later this morning I read Victoria Boyson's message. Victoria and her husband Steve are friends we have known for years; both have supported me in ministry at various times. Her word is a confirmation to the urgency I felt to pray for the president. Weigh this teaching for yourself, but also do not let your prayer be intercepted by a critical attitude.

Francis Frangipane

Our Nation's Crisis: Stand and Pray
By Victoria Boyson
(En Español)

Back in the winter of 2008, the Lord spoke to me and told me that our city, Cedar Rapids, IA, would flood. I took His warning in stride and thought, "Okay, we've flooded before and been alright. A few flooded basements and swampy yards, but we can deal with it." I prayed a prayer of protection over the city and thought nothing more about it. 

     Then, in June of that year as the melted snow and ice from Minnesota and Wisconsin starting coming down the rivers our way, it looked like a much worse flood than I'd anticipated. Cities north of us had bad flooding, so we began preparing for what we thought could happen to us. 

     But as the flooding reached our rivers, it started to rain, which greatly escalated the threat. It rained and rained and RAINED! It seemed like it hung over our city and just poured.

     Suddenly, the reality of the disaster that was occurring hit us - the rain just wouldn't stop and the river that runs through our city could not contain it. We began to pray and to take the situation very seriously: our prayers echoed the fear in our hearts. I felt the level of intercession in the city heightening. We were finally taking this threat seriously and, through prayer and intercession, the rain stopped and the flood began to recede. But it took too long for us to react.

      It flooded our downtown and many homes and businesses were destroyed. Those who could afford it, rebuilt, but many businesses closed for good. Thousands of people were suddenly left without homes, clothing and food, struggling for the basic necessities of life. 

I'll Die

(Just as physical attributes are passed on from one generation to another, so are spiritual. And just like Elisha, I have been blessed with a double portion anointing through my children. As you read this poem written by my son embrace this gift first to me--my double portion-- and now to the world.)

 

I'll Die

by Darryl D. Walker © 2006

In love with love even though I know with love I’ll die.

I try to find other means for my spirit to be revived.

But yet here I am again with love, my flesh feeling so alive.

But my spirit cries, “Why?”

‘Cause my soul can’t find any real sincerity behind loves eyes.

My flesh tells my spirit and my soul that what they see is a lie.

Feels like love, tastes like love, so it must be right.

Deny myself true intimacy, a bad choice I made,

Because I chose to love love instead of first choosing to love me.

A Love Song

 (Just as physical attributes are passed on from one generation to another, so are spiritual. As you read this poem written by my daughter, embrace this gift first to me and now to the world.)

A Love Song

By Kiera Walker 6/6/06 ©

I look at the world around me, and I am amazed at what I see.

Your detail is so intricate and so infinite beyond belief.

As the smell of each flower flirts with my nose,

I search the deeper things in life that I may see through the eyes of whom it was composed.

My eyes absorb light, reflecting the color of Your ways.

I so easily become enraptured with you- quickly falling into a daze.

I lean near Your ear to hear what I can hear.

Immediately I am consumed with the sounds of drums beating ever so clear.

The Gift of Woundedness

by Francis Frangipane 

(www.frangipane.org)

The world and all it contains was created for one purpose: to showcase the grandeur of God's Son. In Jesus, the nature of God is magnificently and perfectly revealed; He is the "express image" of God (Heb. 1:3 KJV). Yet to gaze upon Christ is also to see God's pattern for man. As we seek to be like Him, we discover that our need was created for His sufficiency. We also see that, once the redemptive nature of Christ begins to triumph in our lives, mercy begins to triumph in the world around us.

How will we recognize revival when it comes? Behold, here is the awakening we seek: men and women, young and old, all conformed to Jesus. When will revival begin? It starts the moment we say yes to becoming like Him; it spreads to others as Christ is revealed through us.

BY HIS WOUNDS I AM HEALED

by Gloria A. Walker

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:1-5 NIV)

The three walked into the city of Jerusalem. Strange! They were told this was a busy metropolis teaming with people of all races, creed and color. Where is everyone? They stopped to ask a local merchant why the city seemed emptied of all of its citizens.

"You must be new in town. Everyone has gone to see a crucifixion."

"The whole town?" asked the first. "Isn't it a little unusual for the whole town to want to see a criminal executed?"

"This is no ordinary criminal,' replied the merchant. "He claims to be King of the Jews!" 

SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY AND THE THINGS WE LOVE, PART II

By Francis Frangipane (www.frangipane.org)

As wide as our sphere of love, to that extent we have spiritual authority. We see this in the mother who loves her child. Such a woman has authority to protect, train, and nurture her offspring. She has authority to protect what she loves. The same is true of the husband over his family. His authority is not merely to rule but to establish in his home the life of Christ. True spiritual authority is born of love.

The individuals who love their local congregation have authority to build up that congregation. Their authority is not extended, however, beyond the boundaries of their love. If we love the entire body of Christ in a locale, our authority touches the lives of those in our city or region, either through the burden of prayer or through teaching or outreach and service.

SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY AND THE THINGS WE LOVE--PART I

By Francis Frangipane  (www.frangipane.org)

While the doctrines of Christianity can be taught, Christlikeness can only be inspired. By their humble and holy lives, this next generation of leaders will inspire multitudes. They will truly walk in Christ’s love; they will be granted great authority.

The Church has many administrators, but few examples of Christ; many who can explain the doctrines of Christianity but few who walk as Jesus walked. Indeed, while many stand in leadership today, not many function in the higher realms of authority that Christ purchased for His Church. However, a new badge of authority is coming to the Church. It will bring deliverance on a scale unprecedented; in some cases, entire cities will be turned toward God.

What is spiritual authority? It is nothing less than God Himself confirming with power the word of His servant. Moses exemplified spiritual authority when he warned unrepentant Pharaoh. The Spirit of God confirmed Moses’s judgments with power that broke the pride of Egypt. Jesus manifested spiritual authority when He confronted demons in people, silenced storms, healed diseases, and then fulfilled redemption in resurrection power. The Father let none of Christ’s words go unfulfilled.

THE ART OF COMMITTAL

THE ART OF COMMITTAL (An excerpt from the book “Come Away, My Beloved”

By Frances Roberts)
 
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)

O My child, lay your heart in My hand, and let Me heal it. Yes, let Me gather up your tears, for they are precious to Me (see Psalm 56:8). You have not been suffering alone, but I Myself have been near you all along the way. My heart has felt all that you have felt. You do not have a high priest who is not able to sympathize with your sufferings, but one who experienced every grief and human emotion common to all people. In the midst of these painful experiences, He did not sin. Therefore, He is one who is able to help you (see Hebrews 2:18).

ALL THAT GLITTERS

All That Glitters

by Ruth Harms Calkin

I love our big church with its tall steeple

And impressive white pillars

You know I do, Lord.

But sometimes I get the impression

That we're running a sort of perpetual marathon

That keeps everyone gasping and gulping for breath.

Lord, I can't quite believe

You applaud all our frantic effort

Or demand each time-consuming activity

Or encourage our continual attempt

To function at galloping speed.

The Master's Call

The Master's Call

by Gloria A. Walker

My spirit now is quiet

Resting from the storm.

My heart is mending slowly from

The ache which left it torn.

In quietness I hear Him.

At rest I fell Him near.

He soothes my heart where it mends.

His calm now mask my fear.

JUST COME HOME

Just Come Home

by Ruth Harms Calkin

God, You are so good!

When at last I called to You

From my prison without Exit

You did not exact from me

A solemn promise to do better.

You did not insist

That I adhere to an endless set of rules

To guarantee Your acceptance of me.

Nor did You say with frightening sternness

"Stand on your own two feet."

Kingdom Preparation

KINGDOM PREPARATION (An excerpt from the book “Make Haste, My Beloved”) By Frances Roberts

My people, hear My word: This hour is exceedingly strategic. Every move you make needs to be directed by My Holy Spirit. Every action performed can tell for eternity if you are doing those things that I put on your heart to do. And that which is omitted of the things I ask you to do and say grieves Me, because only I know how much more would have been accomplished for My kingdom if you had been faithful and obedient.

A Love Song

A LOVE SONG

My soul is dry and thirsty,

Blasted by the sun of despair,

Bruised by winds of destruction,

Burned by the sandstorms of care.

As I crawl through this barren wasteland

Surrounded by sweltering heat,

I yearn for a safe Oasis,

A refuge, a place of retreat.

The God of the Mountains and Valleys

The God of the Mountains and Valleys  
By Francis Frangipane

The battles we face are often intense times of weakness, distress, and confusion. If the events of our lives were charted, these would be the lowest points. Yet God is no less with us during difficulties than at other times. In fact, these valleys are often as much the plan of God as our mountaintop experiences.

There is a story in the Bible that speaks plainly to this truth. Israel had recently defeated the Arameans in a mountain battle. In 1 Kings 20, we read: "Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, 'Go, strengthen yourself and observe and see what you have to do; for at the turn of the year the king of Aram will come up against you.' Now the servants of the king of Aram said to him, Their gods are gods of the mountains, therefore they were stronger than we; but rather let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they." --1 Kings 20:22-23

Refiner's Fire

REFINER'S FIRE

Forged in the flames of adversity.

Welded in the cruicible of pain!

Tried in the furnace of affliction.

Birthed in the heat of the same.

Parched for God's Holy Presence.

Thirsty for His healing rain.

Yearning for dew drops of mercy

To quench the heat of the flame.

Love Never Fails

When I woke up this morning I asked, “What shall I wear?” I looked in my closet and there was a garment called Love. Love whispered to me, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” (Col. 3:12).  So I dressed myself in Love and stepped out into the world and was compelled by the Love I wore to go into the highways and byways. There I saw all manner of infirmities and felt overwhelmed by the need. But the Love that embraced me reminded me, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13).

Release Your Tensions

RELEASE YOUR TENSIONS (An excerpt from the book "On the Highroad of Surrender") By Frances Roberts

 

"The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever."  [Isaiah 32:17 (NIV)]

 

The path to holiness is strewn with many heartaches. I bring you through victoriously, but I do not promise that you will escape suffering. It is not by outward joy that the soul is strengthened, nor by physical comfort that the heart is consoled. The reward of righteousness is health and peace; and the self-sacrificing spirit reaps eternal joys.

 

A Rain of Fire

"Being led of the Spirit I will share with you my favorite writers as well as some of my own writings. Please note that this writer is the "first partaker" and as such, has to, of a necessity, digest this word and allow it to become an integral part of my being. I am sharing with you that which is born out of intimacy with the Spirit. Please join me weekly as we seek fresh revelation from the Lord."


A RAIN OF FIRE (An excerpt from the book "Make Haste, My Beloved" by Frances Roberts)

O My children, it is a rain of fire that is falling. It is a rain of judgment upon My house; for the Scripture says, if judgment must begin at the house of God, what shall be the end of the ungodly and the sinner? (1 Peter 4:17). It is My people whom I am purifying now, and I must purge out the dross...the chaff of indifference, the impurities of self-seeking, and the rottenness of rebellion.

My house must again become a house of prayer and a place of worship. My temple must be a place where My children seek My face and give Me their devotion. My altars must be a place for the confession of sin, and your tears must be tears of repentance.