Let the Weak Say ‘I Am Strong’”
We all are guilty of unbelief at times. Often we face yet another struggle and allow the enemy to discourage us. We might develop feelings of inexplicable loneliness or, experiencing a sense of total inadequacy, we become convinced the Lord does not hear us. A cry erupts from our hearts, “God, where are you? I pray, I fast, I study your Word. Why won’t you deliver me from this?”
We go to the secret place of prayer but we don’t feel like praying. Our souls are dry, empty, exhausted from our struggles, yet we don’t dare accuse the Lord of neglecting us in our condition. So we just weakly approach him in what we perceive as humility. Head down, we say with discouragement, “Lord, I don’t blame you. You’re good and kind to me. I’m the problem; I’ve failed you so much.”
Wait! That is not humility. On the contrary, it is an outright insult to a Father who adopted us with a covenant promise to love and support us throughout our lifetime. When we tell him how bad we are — how weak, empty and useless we are to him — we despise all that he has accomplished in us. This grieves our heavenly Father.
Whenever we become discouraged in our faith, the Holy Spirit will speak to us in no uncertain terms. “Enough of this self-pity. Get up! You are loved, called and chosen, and I have blessed you with my Word.” We must discipline ourselves to recall all that God has brought us through. We are to rejoice, knowing he is pleased with what he has done for us.
You may have been tested time after time. Now the time has come for you to make a decision. God wants faith that endures the ultimate test and he gives you his Word to enable you to triumph. If he commands you to do something, he will supply you with the power and strength to obey: “Let the weak say, ‘I am strong’” (Joel 3:10). “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).
January 31st I hit the wall! I was at a point of not being able to cope one second longer with all the difficulties in our lives and circumstances! Done! Finished! Failed!
I made a decision with God's help to take a sabbatical from everyone and everything. I decided to stay with friends both in Springfield and in KC where I could be somewhat isolated and in solitude with the Lord for the majority of the time. I have been getting some wonderful ministry from different places - to overcome all the yuk associated with long term "suffering", we'll call it that for lack of a better term.
In just 10 days, I have had a major transformation in my heart, mind and soul. And even in my body. Headaches are gone, kidney pain gone, I've lost 11 pounds, tmj improving and more...... and last night I slept 7.5 hours before I woke up to a text coming in...but then rolled over and slept 2.5 more hours until the next text came in. That is the first time in 15 YEARS that I have slept a normal nights sleep. I am believing this will continue! I have averaged 2 or less hours most nights for 15 years, but occasionally get up to 5 hours I feel fantastic today. My spirit is lifted and my heart is leaping with hope again! I feel so alive and can't remember the last time I felt this good!!! I am discovering me!! God has told me that I won't recognize the new me, but I'll love the new me! I already am seeing this!!!
Oh and for those who know me well, know that I have dealt with fear issues for a very long time. I have had some progress over the years, but just a quick story. Last Wednesday night staying at a friends in Springfield, Mo. She was gone for the night. I was alone. I had decided to sleep on the couch instead of the basement where I had been staying just because stairs are difficult for me. As soon as I laid down to sleep, the tornado sirens went off. No, seriously! I had NO fear. I calmly grabbed my purse and computer and went to the basement silently telling God, I guess you wanted me in the basement after all. Ha! I clicked on the weather and saw the house I was in, was in the direct path of the tornado. I checked Facebook and saw that someone 10 minutes down the road had posted they saw a roof being torn off by the storm. I calmly prayed Psalm 91 and then said God, I leave this in Your capable hands and went to sleep. Profound Healing!!!!!!!! And the other thing is I had ministry just the week before about fear about being in basements because of some stuff that happened to me as a child. And here I am sleeping in a basement with NO Fear!!!!
GOD IS GOOD!!!!
Also - on this sabbatical, my car's heater stopped working. Single digit temperatures! Snow, freezing rain & wet streets. No heat, no defrost!! My windshield wiper pump quit - so not able to clean windshield off. I've had to stop at gas stations often to clean the front and back windshields! And the car is still leaking oil and will require an oil pan gasket replaced. I'm pretty well stuck not being able to go places. All this would normally send me into despair...because of lack of funds to do anything about it. Well, not this time DEVIL. I am in God's gracious loving hands and I know HE will take care of this..... that's also a big transformation in my heart, mind and soul. I actually believe this for the first time in the deepest parts of my being!! I've always believed in my head - but never completely in my heart! God is faithful!
If you are in ministry, I highly recommend a regular consistent retreat or sabbatical to help you refresh, reboot & restore. Ken and I realized we have not had a vacation or time alone away from it all since 2010. That is far too long! It is no coincidence in my mind why we are going through this right now. It is the very essence of what God is calling us to do. To build a retreat center for pastors, missionaries and lay leaders to come and escape from the daily grind, to be renewed and refreshed! We have to experience it first - so we can truly have the compassion, empathy and ability to understand their needs.
If you are going through a difficult season as so many are, take time out and away if possible, press into the Lord and He will bring the restoration and redemption your soul longs for!
I want to thank all of you who have been praying for us and for my health. I am so thankful. I do have a couple prayer requests if you would be so kind.
1. Pray for provision. We need to find additional work somehow. I am looking personally for small business owners to do social media marketing for. I'm not a pro - but have been able to really increase business in the ones I've done in the past. I guess I would ask that you pray specifically for "paying" social media jobs - as the past ones I've done ended up being "ministry" and I did not get paid as thought.
2. Pray for my complete healing, still some spots I need a touch in- I believe it's coming soon. I am having some new pains because having to drive and especially long distance - right leg and knee. And I think I twisted my foot on the ice this morning - and it is hurting bad.
3. Pray for God to provide the miracle for my car (and Ken's too - his is in bad shape just different issues). We feel God has told us a while back to start praying for new vehicles!
4. Pray for the vision to manifest soon. There are some potential indicators it may.
I'll end with this song by Shannon Wexelberg - all her music has been ministering to my heart... but this one really is good! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8tjqtJA_xU&feature=share
Love Came for Me
If You had not come, Tender baby King
And humbly left Your throne to reach someone like me
If You had not walked upon this broken ground
Where on earth would I be now?
If You had not come
If You had not come to seek the sick and lame
To set the captive free, to break the prisoners chains
I’d still be in the dark, grappling for the door
Longing for some way, somehow
Love came for me, Love rescued me
Love called my name, Love took my place
Sweet Lamb of God, I’m bowing down
My eyes have seen
I’m finally free
Love came for me
If You had not come, willing, spotless Lamb
My sin would be too much for You to take me as I am
But, oh, the blood of Christ that washes over me
Flowing from Your hands and feet
Don’t have to worry where I’d be
(repeat chorus)
This manger King
My everything
Love came for me
Blessings,
Michele Cole
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. or through PayPal.Me/micheleacole
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.
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