Enough is Enough

We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God  Acts 15:22b

Have you been experiencing an unbelievable amount of trials recently?  

Are you feeling the heaviness of the load?  

Is your cross becoming overwhelmingly daunting to carry?

Can you take one more disappointment? 

Have you found yourself saying “enough is enough”? 

idioms.TheFreeDictionary.com defines Enough is Enough  

1.  This situation needs to stop

2.  That is enough, and there should be no more.; Stop! 

3.  People say enough is enough when they think that something, usually something bad, should stop.

4.  No more will be tolerated.

Last night we received an email - and to say the least it was a door slamming shut.  It brought discouragement, hopelessness, confusion, doubt and much second guessing ourselves.  

This morning in my quiet time, I found myself grieving, weeping, and crying out to God, enough is enough. I told the Lord I don’t know how much more disappointment I can take.  After several minutes of this, I found myself travailing for many others who are in this similar place.  I was naming them one by one and saying Lord - enough is enough!  

I’ve shared this before - but years ago when I was at my worst - I was in my bed, lethargic and near death, unknowingly.  I was crying out to the Lord and before my eyes, I saw Jesus kneeling at my bedside.  He had his hands folded in prayer and was weeping.  He looked up to heaven and said Father, enough is enough.   I was sure at the moment, I would be healed. I wasn’t.  I was devastated.  Why would Jesus cry out to the Father and they are one - and not honor that prayer?  Why would the Lord allow me to continue in health issues?  

Why is it that a significant number of Christians are finding themselves under incredible intense pressure and circumstances?  Why is it that one thing after another continues to “attack” a good number of the Body of Christ?  Health - sickness, chronic pain, chronic insomnia, lack of finances, the inability to find work, family issues, things breaking down or wearing out, strife, divorce, death,  These are just a few of the long list of “trials” a bunch of our friends and acquaintances are going through.  Many are “all of the above”.   It’s unbearable!!!   

Why does one experience so much hardship?  Here are just a couple of reasons that come to my mind.  

1. The enemy is doing everything in his power to turn us against our beliefs and even try to turn us away from God. If he can be successful in either of these, we become useless to the Kingdom of God.  That is Satan’s plan!! End of story. 

2. The Lord may be allowing our circumstances to shape us and grow us into a mighty army, a fortress and also ultimately the pure spotless Bride of Christ.  Our sufferings are for the good of the Church and the glory of God if we look at from an eternal perspective. 

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

If our eyes are fixed on Jesus we can rise above our circumstances and persevere. 

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

This evening, I saw this by Matt Gonzales on Facebook and it strikes a chord.

”One of the marks of our maturity as sons and daughters of God is not how much scripture we can quote, how many miracles we have seen come to pass, or how well we can prophesy, but rather how much pressure or resistance can we be under before we abandon our core beliefs and convictions?”

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.  Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. 2 Corinthians 4:1-2

I believe the only thing we can do is keep our hope in Jesus and draw near to Him.  He is beckoning us into a deeper intimacy and relationship.  He is preparing us through the fires of affliction.  

Are you willing to carry the cross He has chosen for you?  

Will you stay committed to the Lord despite the intense pressure?

Ask the Lord for extra grace and mercy so that you can endure to the end!  

Quitting is not an option!  (Though it is often a temptation) 

But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  Matthew 24:13 

A friend wrote this poem for Ken & I in June last year.... continues to be applicable.....still waiting, still weary...but wanted to share with you..... 

I love you dearly
For your hearts I see
I know the roads been weary

Just hang on to me.

Michele and Ken this message
It is heartfelt, that is true
Just keep looking upward
For my promises are true

The wait is nearly over
Your journeys to begin
Those dreams held deep inside you
It was I who put them in.

Just hold on a little more
The wait is nearly through
The three of us hand held in hand
Are walking out the door

This new life is a starting
With smiles upon your face
I see the mountains straight ahead
Go! Help my human race

Prayer Requests - 

Ken - find additional work - peace while finding peter to juggle peter to pay paul - LOL  

Michele - sleep, healing - peace and continuous reminder that God is faithful

Ministry - we are seeing some amazing fruit from our work here - continued connections to minister to.  

Also - Tuesday there are about a dozen of us getting on a video conference call to pray for us - for our ministry - for breakthrough - and whatever the Lord leads.  Would you also if you're available around 630pm = please be in prayer.  Thank YOU!  

Blessings,

Ken & Michele Cole

ken@wantinsight.com, michele@wantinsight.com

We are thankful and blessed by those of you who support us financially from time to time.  Would you please pray for us to have consistent, regular donors to help fund what God is doing in us and through us?  Any amount is truly a gift from the Lord.  Thank YOU!   

Here are three ways you can give:

1.  Non tax deductible donations can be made to:
     Ken & Michele Cole, PO Box 371, El Dorado Springs, MO 64744.
     This is the only way currently we can use funds for our personal needs at this time.

2.  Tax deductible options:

     Checks payable to Sonlit Fields, PO Box 371, El Dorado Springs, MO 64744
     This goes into our ministry account to be used for outreach and saving towards our vision.

     Donor Fund - The Signatry - Ken & Michele Cole - listed under Want InSight Fund.
     7171 W 95th Street, Suite 501, Overland Park, KS 66212
     Phone 913 310 0279
     www.thesignatry,com
     This is an option to keep gifts anonymous - again for outreach and savings toward our vision.

Vision

God has given us a vision to build a retreat property along with ministry equipping center.  

The retreat portion of our ministry is to provide a safe place for pastors, lay leaders & other ministry folks to come and be refreshed & encouraged through prophetic ministry (if wanted).  We will offer private cabins with kitchens & full bathrooms, and plenty of places to roam on the property to get quiet with the Lord. 

We will offer other specialty retreats - marriage, healing, prophetic teaching & activating people into the world & health and wellness retreats and more.  

The Lord has graced us with the desire to come alongside the Church - to bring healing, deliverance & freedom to new/newer believers.  We are not wanting to replace their church, but better help them be ready to serve in their church. 

In our community building - we will eventually have a 24/7 prayer room, healing & prophetic rooms and a place for community worship services for those on the property.  

Our passion is to minister to a lost & hurting world.   To equip the saints to do the same and to be a blessing to our community and surrounding areas.  Our hopes are that we can pour out God's love in a mighty way to bring more and more souls into the Kingdom, get them discipled, called into their purpose & destiny and released to do God's business!!!!  We also have a passion to give generously to help those in need and to help others launch into their God given destinies.