Thursday, February 16, 2023

"The Power of God’s Intervention and Protection From the Evils of The Day"


☝︎

Today’s podcast is going to be, addressing what it means to have the Lord protect us, and save us from evil or harm that may come our way we learn to hear his voice when he tells us to go somewhere or to not go somewhere, or when he puts something down on the inside of us that is not at peace because we are supposed to be doing something differently.

 

One particular indication in our life, where the Lord protected us will be vivid forever for my husband Steve and I. It was the weekend of my birthday which is May 1, and we had traveled from where we were living at the time which was O’Fallon Missouri, to a town nine miles west of us called Wentzville. There was a restaurant called Isabella’s and we were having the fun of Steve’s parents who came to visit us from Belleville, Illinois to celebrate with us. We also had our two little toddler boys with us. 

We had a wonderful lunch and on the way home we had decided to stop by a church building that my husband Steve has been involved in helping to redesign the interior of and to adjust some architecture. We had texted to see if the pastor or assistant pastor happened to still be there and, the assistant pastor was there! When we went inside we were enjoying showing things to Steve’s parents and suddenly the power went out. 

The sky had been looking rather odd in the direction we were traveling, and if you know the area of Missouri where tornadoes can form, skies gets a strange aqua tint to them. While we were in the building, sitting down talking with the assistant pastor, the Holy Spirit prompted both Steve and I that we were to stay for a little while and not to travel just then, and the pastor himself said he thought it was a good idea if we all just waited a little bit. So, we waited 15 to 20 minutes and then we seemed to have a “go ahead” to travel. We bundled everyone back up into the car and began to travel down the road, which was parallel to a highway and was a wide frontage road.  

The sky to the North and east looked very ominous! As we began to take a curve around the bend in the road, I suddenly said to my husband, “Why is that road sign up in a tree?” And then we saw someone’s small covered work trailer up in a tree and realized there was debris to the right of us all along the grassy field area. As we finished coming around the curve, we noticed a man and a group of children standing like statues out in a grassy large front yard and behind them there were, some farm style buildings and a home that looked like they had no doors and windows on them. We pulled over and my husband and his dad went up the gravel driveway to see if they were all right, because we realized a tornado had touched down. 

The man was staring at my husband and father-in-law, and said, “God must’ve been with you people! I watched your car coming down the frontage road and then disappeared around the bend where I couldn’t see you anymore. The twister had dropped down in front our property a few minutes before you came around the bend, because it had just passed over our house and blew out the windows and blew the door off the refrigerator and everything out of the refrigerator, into the house.”  

Of course the more we looked around the more we realized how we would have been in that very spot when the tornado touched down if we hadn’t heeded the internal warning of the Lord to wait it out for a little bit at the church building! Our car could’ve been picked up and tossed just like all the things that were now obvious to us. 

We talked to the people for a little while to make sure they had someone coming to help them, and once we were reassured that they had assistance we got back in the car and quickly made our way home. 

Once we got home, the sky had turned an even more aqua color and the atmosphere was eerily still and muggy, so we went down into our basement to wait the storm out. We prayed together and asked the Lord to be a shield around us, and that he would surround us with angelic protection according to Psalm 91: 9-11, and it says this:

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 

No harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

 

We could hear the howling wind coming down our fireplace chimney, and there was an eerie glow from the strange sky color coming through the drapery in the basement windows, but we just simply talked and played with the children and waited until the sirens stopped blaring. About an hour later we went upstairs, and the sky was completely clear and dusk was setting in.

Everything was very quiet and yet we still had power in our house. People were outside sweeping up broken glass around the neighborhood and as my husband and dad in law went for a walk around the block, they were stunned! There were individual homes  that were completely wiped off the street, giant old oak trees picked up and tossed like play toys, and then there were homes left completely standing!

We knew that we had experienced the protection of the Lord two times that day, and the promise of being surrounded by his protective agents. 

Wow! What a Birthday that was! 

 

Dear Believers! We live in times right now where there is a tremendous amount of danger and uncertainty. There are a lot of desperate people, and a lot of people who are out of their minds on drugs and alcohol. It is at an epidemic level. When we bend our ear to listen to the Lord and ask him if we should be traveling or going somewhere, we are yielding our common sense and our way of doing things to the greater wisdom of God. 

There have been several times that I have gone to travel on an airplane with Steve or by myself, and we always pray the prayer that if there’s anything wrong with the plane Lord, stop it from ever taking off the runway.  We also had one time where we were both very unsettled about a flight. We just did not feel right getting on the plane, and as we boarded that intensity grew stronger. While we sat in our seats we began to pray, and we asked the Lord if we needed to get off the flight. 

We both immediately were impressed to pray that the captain upon final inspection of his plane, would spot what ever was wrong with it at would halt the flight

Sure enough as he did his walk-through outside, we noticed the captain stopping and looking at something near the engine. He climbed aboard the back stairs and went into the cockpit, and within a few moments he announced that we were going to have to deplane and wait for another plane, because there was something he was not comfortable and was not going to fly the plane until it had been addressed.

When you feel uncomfortable or uncertain about traveling or going somewhere, that is the Lord allowing you to be discerning about Divine protection. Each of us have experienced where we know the Lord has intervened and often there are angelic interventions that save lives. 

When our two boys were toddlers, we had a wall that we had put brackets and wood slat bookshelves up to store our library of books, and the three lower levels were to hold toys for the children at their height so they could pick them out and play with them. 

One afternoon I was in that space with the children and they were playing with their toys. They were both toddlers at the time one of the babies was under just 14 months old. 

I was strongly impressed to quickly move my boys away from the play area, and something nudged me in the shoulder to push me forward!  At the time I was so focused on moving them both at the same time that I wasn’t concentrating on the nudge! I scooped them up and pulled them away without alarming them and about the time I did this, the bookshelf broke free from some brackets and twisted, and hundreds of books fell down, as well as the wood shelves right in the very play space the boys had been sitting in. Of course I gathered my little ones up and held them close, and was stunned at how there could’ve been great harm done to them, and then I suddenly thought about what had pushed me forward in that very moment to get to them! 

I knew that the Lord had permitted angelic intervention to move me forward to get the boys in that very moment.  

Psalm 34:7 says, 

"The angel of the LORD surrounds those who fear him, and he delivers them." 

Of course, we never pray to angelic beings, and we certainly don’t try to turn them into some kind of "bizarre, supernatural guide".  Some self-styled “angel experts” instruct their followers to love their angels and to call upon them for health, healing, prosperity, and guidance. But angels are God’s servants, and all this attention and emphasis and glory should go to God, not His servants. 

God says, “I will not share my glory with another” (Isaiah 42:8). 

 

Scripture makes no mention of loving angels—only God, His word, and people. And, it never tells us to pray to angels, only to the Lord Himself. The church at Colossae had been invaded by false teachers, who were teaching a false humility and the worship of angels, claiming special mystic insights by way of visions in connection with their worship of angels (Co. 2:18). This was demonic because it was usurping the preeminent place and sufficiency of Christ as Savior and Lord. The claim was that Jesus was not enough for salvation and spirituality. So these people said you “needed” to worship angels, and so on.

These are the demonic, dark spiritual forces we’re up against today, and you can be assured that the enemy knows how to disguise himself as an angel.  His whole intent is to lead us into traps of destruction and to draw our worship away from God. 

Live aware my friends, and don’t be easily deceived. 

God promises to help us as we seek to honor Him and walk wisely in this life. 

We can trust that even when we’re unaware of our needs or impending disasters that lay before us, God knows the way. He is at work, sending words of hope, protecting his children, attending to our needs, bringing justice and mercy to our land, drawing us closer to himself, and encouraging us to walk wisely, be aware, and live fully for Him.

A wonderful story has been told by a Moravian missionary in connection with angelic protection!

An American missionary and his wife bravely went to their station, where, twenty years before, two missionaries had been killed by the natives. They said as they took up their work it seemed as if often they were surrounded not only by the hostile natives, but by the very powers of darkness. These powers of darkness were so real, that night after night they were forced to get up and strengthen their hearts by reading the Word of God. Again, they would pray.

One day a man came and said, "I would like to see your watchmen close at hand."

The missionary replied: "I have no watchmen; I have only a cook and a little herd boy. What watchmen do you mean?”

The man asked permission to look through the missionaries home. Every corner of the house was carefully searched, and the man came out of the house greatly disappointed. Then the missionary asked the man to tell him about the watchmen to whom he referred. Here is the man's answer;

"When you and your wife came here we determined to kill you as we did the missionaries twenty years ago. Night after night we came to carry out our intentions, but there always stood around your house a double row of watchmen with glittering weapons, and we dared not come near.”

“At last we hired a professional assassin, who said he feared neither God nor devil. Last night he came close to your house-we followed at a distance and he was brandishing his spear. There stood the shining watchmen, and the killer fled in terror. So we have given up our purpose to kill you, but tell me, who are the watchmen?”

The missionary opened the Word of God and read: 

The angel of he LORD encamps around those that fear him, and delivers them. - Psalm 34:7 

Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him. - Deuteronomy 33:12

The Lord had hidden them.   - Jeremiah 36:26

 

God often works in ways we can’t fully see, sometimes behind the scenes or with unexpected timing, yet he’s always working on our behalf. 

Whether we realize it or not, there’s a spiritual realm constantly around us. 

May God give us eyes to see clearly that angels are among us and that God is working miracles, even today.

 

Let’s Pray Together For God’s Divine Protection

Father, I thank you for the great authority and protection you have given your children in the person of Jesus Christ. Even as we go out into the world, your promise remains true to us. Nothing shall, by any means, hurt us.

All authority in heaven and earth has been given to you, Lord Jesus, leaving none for the devil and his angels. Thank you for your divine protection and covering.

You have put your angels in charge concerning us, to guard us in all our ways. You have sent your angels down to your true loyal children to rescue us from danger. Your angels will lift us up and keep us from harm, as we choose to trust in you and obey your promptings and warnings in an instant!

Thank you, that by faith in the work you have done, we are protected and secure, everywhere we go! 

Amen!  

 

Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed, as long as the complete message, Website, podcast link and information for Mary Lindow is included.

Thank You! 2023

"THE MESSENGER"  - Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

www.marylindow.podbean.com

 

If you would be so kind and assist Mary helping her to meet other administrative needs such as website and podcast costs, or desire to bless her service in ministry with Spirit-led Love gifts or regular support:

 

Please JOYFULLY send your gift in the form of: 

► Personal Checks ► Business Checks

► Money Orders ► Cashiers Checks

To: 

His Beloved Ministries Inc. 

PO Box 1253

Denver, Colorado 80614
 USA 

 

Or feel free to use our send a tax-deductible gift with

Pay Pal   paypal.me/mlindow 

Under the name of - His Beloved Ministries Inc. 

 

ALL gifts are tax-deductible under

His Beloved Ministries 5013c non-profit status.

 

We are financially accountable and have been in full compliance since

1985 with Clergy Financial Advantage.

THANK YOU! 💟


 

Sunday, January 22, 2023

"THIS CURRENT SEASON OF DIVINE TENSION" - PULLED AND TESTED - STRETCHED AND RESTRAINED

 

☝︎ 

PLEASE CLICK THE PICTURE TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST IN AUDIO FORM

By the Holy Spirit through Mary Lindow

 

"Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.

For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,  though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him."

Ecclesiastes 8:5-6

 

NOTE: At the end of this podcast there is a short spontaneous song of the Lord that was recorded in a small studio several years ago. There were other wonderful and gifted percussionists and musicians joining in as the Holy Spirit moved through us all and gave me the beautiful melody and orchestral keyboard accompaniment. My hope is that it will stir your heart to worship and be even hungrier for the Presence of the Lord in your life. 


In all of our lives as believers, we face times and settings where there is a feeling of being pulled and tested, stretched, and restrained. Often, during these excruciating events, those who avoid personal character development tend to give unrestrained advice, spiritualized platitudes, and often, trumped up words of so-called prophetic inspiration to help us not suffer so!

As we begin to see the Lord's plan in all of this we also come to understand that if we are not first hearing His voice, His heart, His word in the matters that are straining us, nothing any man or woman says can bring the ultimate light of clarity and release! 


WINTER SPRING SUMMER AND FALL
 

We all face seasons of change that correspond much like the four seasons we observe yearly. Nothing is more surprising than to have an interruption of what we presume to be what is "normal" for an earthly expectation, in one of those seasons.

When a sudden ice snow storm blows in unexpected in the late spring in the Colorado fruit growing regions and encrusts the tender blooms on fruit trees and garden plants, we are devastated by the loss of not only the blooms, but also the fruit it could have produced. It appears as if there has been a cruel storm sent to cause crop failure.

 

WHAT IS THIS CURRENT SEASON OF DIVINE TENSION ALL ABOUT?

For many who are hearing or reading this message, you feel as if you have experienced a "Crop failure," perhaps several, and just can’t take one more aching disappointment. Many hearts have passed their tender agonies to me on paper, in emails, texts, and through the telephone.

 

ANGUISH HAS ITS OWN PERFUME 

I too have heard the whispers of the voices of darkness try to entice, with wearisome words of worry, paranoia and doubting!

"Give up!" they say! "What good is this time of shaking doing?"

"What possible good can come out of believing that there is something occurring that will bring a fresh advancement when all seems to have stalled or strained?”

And yet, another set of voices would tempt with words of esteem whispering;

"Make it happen! 

Proclaim mighty deeds and things to come with fervor, flair and well-honed words of impact!

Use it or lose it!

Promote, push, and publish! It is all yours for the taking!"

 

BOTH OF THESE VOICES COME FROM THE SUBTLETIES OF THE SOUL 

AND WELL OILED SPIRITUAL VOICES TRAINED BY 

THE PRINCE OF LIES AND FLESHLY IMPULSE.

 

But. 

In the midst of these strains and attempts to distract comes a clear undeniable "Divine Tension" that pulls and stretches the heart of the humbled believer.

It calls simply, firmly, and does not lack a depth of confidence and direction.

This “Presence” causes a clash with all that seems to be "the way of man" and will not relent.

 

THE EARTH IS IN TURMOIL


It doesn't take much to understand that the earth is in upheaval, rivalry, and chaos wherever we look. There is a tangible and penetrating "tension" in the events we are seeing unfold every day. Parallel to this explosion of pure evil and lulling to sleep of many, there is a Divine Course being laid out for those who have come to the end of them.

 

ETERNITY IS IN THE SIGHTS OF THOSE LOOKING TO A KINGDOM YET UNSEEN.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have been preparing a bride. 

This is done only through the shaping tools of heavenly choice.

The chisel and hammer have been at times brutal and unflinching, yet, when the soft hand of The Almighty begins to apply the oil of polishing, He does it with His own hand as well.

He makes it beautiful in His own timing, even though the “Divine Tension” seems as if it might cause us to "snap" under the pressure of His hand, smoothing away the roughness of our thoughts and soul's intentions.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;

Yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

 

HEARING, REFINING, HEEDING
 

The King of all Glory is training those who have been thrust on the altar of fire to hear from Him as one who strains to catch the song of a bird in distant meadow.

It takes the "spiritual ear" and training it to identify even the slightest note or sound, however distant, and to learn to silence the sounds and voices of distraction until the  "honing in" on the sound, the glorious sound of peace, finally directs and sustains us with all that we hear.

And then, having drunk deeply of the Voice of the Beloved and Divine Counselor, quickly, without mental filing way of instructions or overthinking, we move and heed His mapping out of plans for this appointed time.

 

RISING FROM THE ASHES OF THE REFINING OF GOD


So! Unto those who hear this word from heaven, claiming you are one of Heaven's very own, know that you are being formed and fashioned into sober, clean containers, prepared for infilling.

My Spirit will fall upon those who are not seeking to lay claim to My voice, but instead HEED My voice and SEEK My face. 

They shall be examples of purity in My Kingdom and will not strive among the self-promoting and “wordy". The broken will be safe in the arms of these who have passed through the current season of being pulled and tested, stretched and restrained and they will restore the devastated.

My "faithful hearts" will not be compelled to build agendas for Me and My Presence, because I will BE the Presence that creates the Manifestations of Glory and Might in the earth, without the fanfares of men.

YOU HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO DESPERATION IN ORDER THAT I MIGHT RESTORE YOU TO INSPIRED LIVING, IN FULL FELLOWSHIP WITH ME.

Isaiah 61

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

Because the LORD has anointed me

To preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim freedom for the captives

And release from darkness for the prisoners,

To proclaim the year of the Lords’ favor

And the day of vengeance of our God,

To comfort all who mourn, 

And provide for those who grieve in Zion

To bestow on them a crown of beauty

Instead of ashes, the oil of gladness, 

Instead of mourning,

And a garment of praise, Instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

A planting of the LORD

For the display of his glory and splendor.

 

Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed, as long as the complete message, Website, podcast link and information for Mary Lindow is included.

Thank You! 2023

"THE MESSENGER"  - Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

www.marylindow.podbean.com

 

If you would be so kind and assist Mary helping her to meet other administrative needs such as web site and podcast costs, or desire to bless her service with Spirit-led Love gifts or regular support:

Please JOYFULLY send your gift in the form of: 

 Personal Checks  Business Checks

 Money Orders  Cashiers Checks

To: 

His Beloved Ministries Inc. 


PO Box 1253


Denver, Colorado 80614
 USA 

 

Or feel free to use our send a tax-deductible gift with

Pay Pal   paypal.me/mlindow 

Under the name of - His Beloved Ministries Inc. 

 

ALL gifts are tax-deductible under 

His Beloved Ministries 5013c non-profit status.

 

We are financially accountable and have been in full compliance since 

1985 with Clergy Financial Advantage.

THANK YOU! 💟

 


Friday, December 30, 2022

"The Timing of God and His Impeccable Attention To Details"

 

👆

PLEASE CLICK PICTURE TO LISTEN TO THIS AS 

AN AUDIO STORY FORM WITH SOOTHING BACKGROUND MUSIC

By Mary Lindow

Today’s podcast is one that I am going to share with you about “another wonderful story” of how the Holy Spirit can prompt us to do things for others at the most uncanny times, and as if they were perfectly orchestrated years and years before hand. 

And, of course, the Lord knows the hearts desire of every one of his children, but he often uses his own children to help bring about the heart’s desire for many other people by being obedient and acting when the Holy Spirit in first Corinthians says, “Don’t you know that your body is a temple that belongs to the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, lives in you. You don’t belong to yourselves.” 1 Corinthians 6:19

 

IT WAS NEAR CHRISTMAS TIME, and a local Women’s Aglow group, which happened to be a good sized chapter was having a Christmas ladies luncheon and asked if I would come in and be their keynote speaker. The room was decorated beautifully and of course the tables were festive for the holiday!

As I was sitting at the table next to the team members and the president of the group, there was a conversation about the beautiful table settings. I was just listening and enjoying hearing them talk about how they went about getting everything ready, and why they wanted to make it so nice for so many other women that were coming, because many of them worked full-time jobs and didn’t get a chance to come and partake of beautiful things during the holidays because they were also busy mothers.

 

ONE OF THE LADIES BY THE NAME OF BILLY WAS SHARING WITH EVERYONE THAT SHE HAD JUST GONE SHOPPING WITH HER DAUGHTER A FEW WEEKS AGO, and they had picked out Wedding China for her daughter and her husband, because her daughter was going to be married in the spring. She went on to say that she never did get to have Wedding China as a young bride and wanted her daughter to have a beautiful experience and opportunity to have a beautiful table.

 

I THOUGHT, "WHAT A WONDERFUL THING THIS WAS THAT THIS WOMAN WAS GETTING CHINA FOR HER DAUGHTER, AND THAT SHE HAD NEVER HAD WEDDING CHINA HERSELF." She went on to mention that she had picked out a special pattern herself as a young bride, but that it was just not possible for her family and friends to get give wedding china at that point, because it was a very frugal wedding, and other wedding gifts were more important.

I sat there and wondered about how wonderful it was for her as a mother, to be so concerned that her daughter would have a beautiful table to set with beautiful things, when she herself had never had any. Now it was time for me to get up and share my Christmas message so I did and afterwards told her how beautiful her story was to me about her daughter and proceeded to go home for the day.

On my way home, I began to remember that I have been given an entire set a Fine China from a dear friend, whom I had come to know while I was in Bible College. Hmmmmm... 😉

 

NOW, THIS IS WHERE IT GETS INTERESTING! 

This dear, godly, lovely man would take on students to help with jobs or different kinds of projects in his home or, other derelict properties that he would buy, and train them and also pay them so they could pay for their Bible college fees. He had been in the military with a high clearance type of job, and although he had wanted to marry, he knew that he would never be able to be home enough to justify caring for a bride. At 63 he began to take students into his home for meals and storytelling, and developing them for skill sets. He had been a trainer for all kinds of business components of the military.

WHEN I MET HIM WHEN IMMEDIATELY HAD A BOND because he was also a gifted musician, and had a love for Fine art and Fine China. He would go to the thrift stores or take me along and different places where very wealthy Texans would drop off Crystal and China and dishes and silver that they were no longer using. So he was forever scouting out Havilland china pieces or different kinds of China to add to his collection. I went on to meet my husband and marry him later and we moved to Illinois. (That’s where my husbands from.)


THIS LOVELY MAN BY THE NAME OF ALAN would occasionally sent boxes of pieces of things that he would find to add to a side of China for me, and I did have wedding China of my own. At one time we had three full sets of Fine China and I wasn’t sure what to do with all of it! Then came two boxes that he had found of a 1950s china pattern that he thought was exquisite! I had opened the boxes and noticed there were eight place settings, eight cups and saucers, eight salad plates, eight serving plates, and also a creamer and sugar set as well as a large serving bowl.

 

SOMEHOW, I NEVER FELT LIKE THESE WERE TO BELONG TO ME, and I really didn’t have storage for them. So, I put them away in a cupboard thinking that someday if we moved and I had a China hutch for them, I would use them as spring dishes. They had a platinum rim, they were white and off to the right side there was a spray of flowers that had a lot of teal and a little bit of touch of pink and a hint of orange, and of course soft green.

 

STEVE AND I WERE THEN CALLED TO GO HELP PIONEER A CHURCH IN MISSOURI, so we packed everything up and moved those dishes and everything else to Missouri. And understand these dishes have been shipped from Dallas Texas to Illinois. Now they were taking a trip to Missouri!

 

ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER STEVE AND I DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO MOVE BACK TO DENVER, COLORADO BECAUSE THE LORD HAD PROMPTED US TO DO SO. So once again, we packed everything up and moved to Denver. There I was in Denver speaking at a Women’s Aglow Christmas banquet luncheon and I hear this woman-discussing find China for her daughter.

 

NOW! BACK TO ME ON MY WAY HOME.

The thought came to me, (prompted by the Holy Spirit) “Why don’t you give that set of China to Billy? What a wonderful Christmas gift it would be to gift to her, and she would have a lovely set of China for her own home.” 

I was absolutely thrilled to think that this would belong to someone else, and that the Lord would want me to give it to them. But I wasn’t sure if it was a pattern she would want or not.

 

BUT THE PERSISTENT NUDGING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT…

… WOULD NOT GO AWAY!

 

I went into our basement storage area and found the two boxes and everything was still pristine and in great condition. I wrote a quick card, and told her that I felt like the Lord wanted me to give these to her after listening to her conversation about buying China for her daughter and then that I just wanted to bless her with it so she would have a beautiful table at Christmas time. I did get a hold of her telephone number and called and told her that I was having my husband and two little boys run some boxes by, just a little something for her. Would she be home? She said of course she would and she said she was “quite intrigued”.

I BUNDLED UP THE BOXES AND HELPED MY HUSBAND GET THE TWO LITTLE BOYS INTO THE CAR AND OFF THEY WENT TO DO THE DELIVERY. I was downstairs folding laundry, and just thinking about how much I hoped it blessed her, and that she would be tickled that the lord thought of her.

 

 NOW COMES THE MOST EXCITING PART! 

The phone starts ringing and I went upstairs and I missed it. (This is back when Cell Phones were way too expensive for everyone and we still had a landline with a long cord!)

Then the phone started ringing again, so I quickly answered the phone, and on the other end, there was the sound of someone gasping and crying! Now. Being a pastor's wife, we often received calls from people who were in distress or who were needing prayer, so, I began to saying, “Hello? Who’s there? Can I help you?” Finally, the person on the end of the line was able to clear their throat and gather their emotions, and it was Billy the lady who Steve had dropped the China off to.

 

SHE BEGAN SAYING, “OH MARY! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!” And of course I didn’t, and I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing, but I could tell that she was overcome! She then began to tell me that when the boxes arrived, she was tickled to think that someone thought of her, and my husband said my wife wanted to give these to you and wish you a Merry Christmas. But, when she closed the door and went to open the packages, she reached in and pulled out one of the dinner plates that was in a slotted cardboard area. The China pattern was the EXACT China pattern that she had wanted as a young bride, but never had. It had the platinum rim that she had desired to have on her pattern! And there were eight place settings, just enough for her Christmas table and her family that was coming to feast. Also, she was able to set a beautiful place setting and table, for the Mother of the Groom, who was going to come and visit.

 

THIS WOMAN WAS WEEPING AND LAUGHING, AND COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE LORD WOULD HAVE HELD ONTO THIS CHINA FOR HER ALL THESE YEARS. I told her that they have been given to me and shipped from Dallas to Illinois to Missouri to Denver. Imagine! The Lord had shipped those dishes, and had me move them “strategically”, until they got into the hands of the woman that he had planned to bless them with!

 

MY FRIENDS, GOD KNOWS THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS even down to the simple things like Fine China, and he knows that soft and beautiful things, in specific times of our life are so necessary, to show us how lavish and beautiful his care and love for us is.

 

THE STORY GOES ON BECAUSE MANY OF HER FRIENDS THEN BEGAN TO HEAR THE STORY ABOUT “THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE CHINA”, and they began to give her serving pieces that matched, or Silver pieces or Crystal, and one friend even gave her a set of family silverware to accompany her beautiful table. Everyone wanted to get in on the beautiful moment!

 

WHEN STEVE CAME HOME, WE JUST PUT OUR ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER AND LAUGHED AND CRIED at the joy of knowing the Lord had those dishes, literally moved and sent on his behalf, to this darling woman.

 

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO NEVER, EVER, MINIMIZE THE FACT, THE HOLY SPIRIT ASKS YOU TO DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE. 

It could be something as simple as giving them a beautiful scarf that you are no longer wearing, or perhaps you have tools in your garage that you’re not using.

IT’S IN THE ACT OF GIVING 

THAT THE PRESENCE OF GOD COMES DOWN 

AND TRANSFORMS WHAT WE ARE GIVING, INTO HOPE.

 

 

GIVING IS NOT THE NATURE OF THE DARK WORLD! Taking and grasping and hoarding is from the dark part of the world. But we as believers are to give freely because we have freely received everything we could ever need to save us from the doom and darkness of this world.

When Christ himself came and gave his life as a lamb, as a child, he gave his life to us in the form of an infant so that when his day to die up on the cross came; he could truly say that he experienced life like we have, from cradle to grave.

 

AS WE ALL BEGIN TO DE-CLUTTER AND PUT AWAY CHRISTMAS ITEMS, I would encourage you to look at through the lens of what you have, and ask the Lord, Is this something that I need to be sharing with someone else?”

Is there another set of silverware in your house that you are not using that another family might need?

Do you have several pairs of sports tennis shoes that you purchased and realized you don’t like them and they’re practically brand new?

 

FIND A FAMILY, FIND SOMEONE WHO NEEDS THEM.

And yes, you have to look for them sometimes, but the Lord will direct your path because you are led by the Holy Spirit and you belong to Him, and the Holy Spirit wastes NOTHING!

 

WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHERE THE BODY OF CHRIST 

IS BEING CHAMPIONED AND CHALLENGED TO LEARN 

HOW TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND MEET ONE ANOTHER’S NEEDS 

SO THAT NONE ARE LACKING. 

There’s no place in the Bible that talks about hoarding or keeping everything to us. None whatsoever. But it does talk about sharing and at times, “sacrificial giving to others” so that they may know the love of Christ.

I encourage you to go through your canned goods to look at your bedding, sheets, extra coats, and by all means that dozens of Bibles that we all have sitting on our shelves in abundance! There are those who would give anything to have a new Bible or perhaps a warmer winter coat.

 

WE CANNOT LOOK DOWN ON THOSE WHO ARE SLIGHTLY IMPOVERISHED OR IMPOVERISHED,

BECAUSE THERE’S NOTHING "MORE GODLY" ABOUT BEING WEALTHY, THAN THERE IS ABOUT BEING POOR.

 

GOD JUDGES THE INTENTION OF OUR HEARTS,

NOT THE ABUNDANCE OF OUR WALLETS.

 

THERE ARE THINGS AROUND YOU THAT THE LORD HAS PLACED WITHIN YOUR REACH and maybe even you have moved from state to state or move from one house to another that you could easily ask him about and ask him to prompt you to show you who is this to go to.

You may be sitting in a restaurant and hear someone talking about something they need and you may be prompted by the Holy Spirit that you are the one that has it.

It takes simple listening.

It just takes simple listening!

It doesn’t take a Herculean effort.

But love acts

 

ONCE WE SECOND-GUESS OURSELVES and never stop and buy that cup of coffee for the person in front of us that seems downtrodden. Or, we wonder if that $20 towards someone’s grocery bill in front of us makes any difference, then we miss out on the blessing. But you see it’s not for us to question the amount or the moment! It’s for us to act in loving grace and humility and kindness, and in that moment change the world!

 

HEAVEN COMES DOWN AND MEETS THE NEED AND KISSES SOMEONE’S HEART WITH HOPE, AND HE USES US TO DO IT.

 

I wish you all a beautiful week as you prepare for this up-and-coming year.

My message after the first of the year is going to talk about, 

“Peace in the midst of chaos” because the world is becoming more chaotic and unfortunately the world is covered with a gross darkness right now. 

Believers need to be strengthened encouraged not to quit, not to hide, and certainly not to hoard!

I BLESS YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND I PRAY NOW THAT HE WILL TOUCH YOU AND GUIDE YOU AND SHOW YOU WHAT TO DO WITH THE THINGS THAT YOU DO HAVE THAT YOU CAN GIVE FREELY. And, perhaps there are things that you are feeling a tug at your heart that you need to give but they’re going to cause a little pain to give away. That’s OK! The Lord does love, sacrificial, giving, and above all, he loves a joyful giver!

 

THERE IS NOTHING MORE JOYFUL THAN TO SEE THE ABSOLUTE SURPRISE AND DELIGHT ON THE FACE OF SOMEONE THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED IN KINDNESS, AND WITHOUT FANFARE.

 

Have a beautiful and Happy New Year, but above all, pray that the Lord would show you what he has to say to you in 2023 specifically for your life  and what kind of assignments he has for you.

 

THE CHURCH IS BEING CALLED UP TO BE THE FULL ARMORED BODY OF CHRIST, AND MY FRIENDS THAT MEANS YOU AND I. 

Goodbye for now! Please go to my website at www.marylindow.com where you can listen to this podcast directly there or you can read and listen to other things that I have posted there and a few videos.

I say thank you to all of you who have been so gracious to send beautiful Christmas cards and little notes in the mail and also emails with encouraging words, sharing what these podcasts and stories I’ve been doing mean to you.

And I thank those of you who have been prompted by the Lord to support this next year of ministry. Your response has been a bit overwhelming and I thank you for your help, and also I think you more than anything for your prayers for I truly do feel them.

God bless all of you.

 

Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed provided that complete article, podcast and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You!

Copyright © 2022 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow

  www.marylindow.com

www.marylindow.podbean.com

 

If you would be so kind and assist Mary, helping her to meet other administrative needs such as website and podcast costs, or desire to bless her  ministry service with Spirit-led love gifts or regular support:

Please JOYFULLY send your gift in the form of: 

 Personal Checks ► Business Checks

 Money Orders ► Cashiers Checks

To: 

His Beloved Ministries Inc. 
PO Box 1253
Denver, Colorado 80614
USA 

Or feel free to use or send a tax-deductible gift with

Pay Pal   paypal.me/mlindow 

Under the name of - His Beloved Ministries Inc. 

 

ALL gifts are tax-deductible under
His Beloved Ministries  501(3)c non-profit status.

We are financially accountable and have been in full compliance since 

1985 with Clergy Financial Advantage.

THANK YOU!