Showing posts with label streams in the desert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label streams in the desert. Show all posts

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Take Courage! 3 Steps to Persevere!

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!   Psalm 31:24 

What are you facing today?  Is there a prolonged trial you are going through that doesn't see an end in sight?  

So many people are clinging to their hope in Jesus right now.  Many are in intense trials, long suffering, hope deferred on many levels and hanging on by a thread.  What do you do in times like this?  

Tuesday we got a call from the lady who has been so kind in storing our personal belongings for the past 3 years in her basement.  She told us that she had a mold test done and that there is mold, mold, mold in her basement and EVERYTHING must go!  She wants it out asap - like within a week!  Yikes!  This news put my mind in overdrive on what options we have or DON'T know about yet.  We have no place to go with this stuff other than storage or sell!  But how do we clean every single thing, throw out what we have to and sell or store within a week or so.  Not only are we hedged in on every side, the fire keeps getting hotter and the intensity more severe.  

Needless to say I didn't get to sleep Tuesday night - it was literally 6am-8am on Wednesday I finally got some sleep.   Before I fell asleep the Lord brought to mind this song again.  Earlier in the year a friend sent it to me and it really brought peace.  Music is like that!  It can really change the atmosphere and turn your emotions and thoughts into who the Lord is and what He will do!  

Kristen DiMarco
Take Courage 
Listen to it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r49V9QcYheQ

Slow down, take time
"Breathe in," He said
He'd reveal what's to come
The thoughts in His mind
Always higher than mine
He'll reveal all to come

So take courage, my heart
Stay steadfast, my soul
He's in the waiting
He's in the waiting
And hold onto your hope
As your triumph unfolds
He's never failing
He's never failing

Sing praise, my soul
Find strength in joy
Let His words lead you on
Do not forget
His great faithfulness
He'll finish all He's begun

So take courage, my heart
Stay steadfast, my soul
He's in the waiting
He's in the waiting
And hold onto your hope
As your triumph unfolds
He's never failing
He's never failing

And You who hold the stars
Who call them each by name
Will surely keep Your promise to me
That I will rise in Your victory

So take courage, my heart
Stay steadfast, my soul
He's in the waiting
He's in the waiting
And hold onto your hope
Watch your triumph unfold
He's never failing
He's never failing

So take courage, my heart
Stay steadfast, my soul
He's in the waiting
He's in the waiting
And hold onto your hope
Watch your triumph unfold
He's never failing
He's never failing

He's in the waiting
He's in the waiting
He's in the waiting



When I finally fell asleep Wednesday am, I had a dream.  It was similar to a dream I had before we had to move from the last home to the one we were in.  That dream was that there was fire in the ditch and around the entire perimeter of the yard/house.   Ken felt the Lord gave him an interpretation that though there was a definite need to move and get out of that house, we had time because the fire wasn't at the house yet.  Within a day or two our landlord had sold the house out from underneath us and we had to move asap.   

Well, the dream I had Wednesday was that Ken had just left for work.  Canyon, our dog, had to go out, so I let him outside.  I heard a bunch of noice and commotion but was too sleepy to worry about it.  I hear someone yelling in the front yard and then a fireman was pounding on the front door.  I went to the door and he said - ma'am you need to get out asap.  There is fire surrounding your whole neighborhood and even the entire area/town.  I immediately went to get changed out of my pajama's and started grabbing my purse, our laptops and was wondering what else I had to get that was important - and of course Canyon.  I woke up.   My sense was that the Lord gave me a similar dream so I could relate and understand that He is in this new circumstance we are having to deal with. I sense the firefighter was the Lord and that He would knock on our door and give us instructions.  And I believe me thinking to myself what else do I need that is important was clearly a sign to go through our things once again (remember we did this in March and got rid of 75-85% of all of it) and see what else we can give up.  

After I woke up, and feeling like the Lord gave me the interpretation I was reading my devotional Streams in the Desert.  Well actually, somebody had posted it on Facebook and I read it there first. 

Impressions – Streams in the Desert 10/19

God does give us impressions, but not that we should act on them as impressions. If the impression be from God, He will Himself give sufficient evidence to establish it beyond the possibility of a doubt.
How beautiful is the story of Jeremiah, of the impression that came to him respecting the purchase of the field of Anathoth. But Jeremiah did not act upon this impression until after the following day, when his uncle’s son came to him and brought him external evidence by making a proposal for the purchase. Then Jeremiah said: “I knew this was the word of the Lord.”
He waited until God seconded the impression by a providence, and then he acted in full view of the open facts, which could bring conviction unto others as well as to himself. God wants us to act according to His mind. We are not to ignore the Shepherd’s personal voice but, like Paul and his companions at Troas, we are to listen to all the voices that speak and “gather” from all the circumstances, as they did, the full mind of the Lord. –Dr. Simpson
“Where God’s finger points, there God’s hand will make the way.”
Do not say in thine heart what thou wilt or wilt not do, but wait upon God until He makes known His way. So long as that way is hidden it is clear that there is no need of action, and that He accounts Himself responsible for all the results of keeping thee where thou art. –Selected
“For God through ways we have not known,
Will lead His own.”
This really spoke to me because I feel both having to get our stuff out and the dream were impressions that something is definitely changing.  For the past 48 hours I have racked my brain, talked to the storage facility here, talked with friends about potential options and I still have NO answers on what we could or can do about this.  

What I do know from our history with the Lord - is that when He opens the door, it's swift and sudden.  And even though there might be work to do with the shift, it's non-striving, and much easier than us trying to figure it out.  Our hope is in Him.  Our peace is that He is leading us and will show us the way!  

When I went to do devotions on Wednesday morning, I began to read 10/18 an it was not the one I just wrote above nor the one posted.  That one was actually 10/19's.  I think God wanted me to see it because it was further instruction to "wait" on HIm.   However, reading the actual 10/18 one - spoke to me for this season and I believe for ALL OF YOU who have been going through hard times, this one will speak to you as well.

Delayed

When the sun went down, Abram fell sound asleep, and great terror overwhelmed him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. They will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. But I will execute judgment on the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will come out with many possessions.—Gen 15:12-14 NET
An assured part of God’s pledged blessing to us is delay and suffering. A delay in Abram’s own lifetime that seemed to put God’s pledge beyond fulfillment was followed by seemingly unendurable delay of Abram’s descendants. But it was only a delay: they “came out with great substance.” The pledge was redeemed.
God is going to test me with delays; and with the delays will come suffering, but through it all stands God’s pledge: His new covenant with me in Christ, and His inviolable promise of every lesser blessing that I need. The delay and the suffering are part of the promised blessing; let me praise Him for them today; and let me wait on the Lord and be of good courage and He will strengthen my heart. —C. G. Trumbull
Unanswered yet the prayer your lips have pleaded
In agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail? Is hope departing?
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your prayer;
You shall have your desire sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet? Nay do not say ungranted;
Perhaps your work is not yet wholly done.
The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what He has begun.
If you will keep the incense burning there,
His glory you shall see sometime, somewhere.
Unanswered yet? Faith cannot be unanswered,
Her feet are firmly planted on the Rock;
Amid the wildest storms she stands undaunted,
Nor quails before the loudest thunder shock.
She knows Omnipotence has heard her prayer,
And cries, “It shall be done”—sometime, somewhere.
—Miss Ophelia G. Browning

and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:13b


Here is what I believe we are to do and what you can do to continue persevering:

1.  Keep your focus on the Lord -not on your circumstances.
2.  Stand firm - take courage!  He's in the wait 
3.  Remind yourself often - God is faithful to bring forth the promises He has spoken to you!

"Perseverance is continually realigning your heart with the leadership of Christ in the face of pressure". Mike Bickle


Prayer Requests:

Please be in prayer for Ken's father.  He went into the hospital earlier this week with a blood infection and then had tests for his heart as well.  They were concerned his heart valves were infected - but thankfully not.  He had heart valve surgery previously.  He will get out the hospital Thursday 5 days but have to do daily I.V. outpatient antibiotics still.  He just had his 84th birthday.  

Ken - to find the needed strength for this task.  Also that God would provide additional work (after this task is done) to meet our monthly financial needs.  
Michele - for energy and ability to help Ken w/o any mold effects. I have huge issues w/mold.  Ongoing prayer for complete healing to manifest and to be able to sleep!!!! 
Canyon - He is definitely getting weaker daily.  We know it's soon.  Please pray for grace and peace and to know the perfect time.  
Ministry - that God would open the doors and provide all that's needed to step into destiny.



Thank YOU so much for your ongoing support, prayers, love and care for us and our ministry.  We are honored to be able to pray for those who reach out to us.  Please let me know if you have any prayer needs.  

If you have been blessed by this ministry or feel led to support what God is doing through us - financially, below are a few options.  Your generosity and your prayer support is greatly appreciated and needed as we continue to walk in faith and God's calling. 

Megablessings  - 
Ken & Michele Cole
http://www.wantinsight.com
michele@wantinsight.com, ken@wantinsight.com

Tax deductible & non tax deductible donations can be made: 
1.  Checks made payable to Sonlit Fields, PO Box 371, El Dorado Springs, MO 64744 or if you prefer anonymous giving - you can give through our Donor Fund 

2.  Non tax deductible donations can be made directly to us by:  THIS IS THE FASTEST WAY TO GET MONEY TO US FOR DAILY USE. 
 Paypal - www.paypal.com  (michele@wantinsight.com) 

3. Donor Fund - Contact National Christian Foundation - Ken & Michele Cole - Want InSight Fund -   Tax deductible 
    7171 W. 95th Street, Suite 501
Overland Park, KS 66212
    Phone: 913.310.0279

    Fax: 913.227.0254     www.nationalchristian.com 

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.  


Wednesday, August 16, 2017

4 Things Waiting Can Look Like?



ministrylift.ca

I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.  Psalm 40:1 NIV


Who likes to wait on anything?  Waiting can be difficult.  

Let's look at the definition of wait! 
wait

VERB


  1. stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or until something else happens: 
    synonyms: hold on · hold back · bide one's time · hang fire · mark time · stand by · sit tight · hold one's horses · await · anticipate · look forward · long · pine · yearn · expect · be ready


    • (wait foron) 
      stay where one is or delay action until (someone) arrives or is ready: 

    • remain in readiness for some purpose: 
      synonyms: stay (put) · remain · rest · stop · halt · pause · linger · loiter · dally · stick around · hang out · hang around · kill time · 
    • be left until a later time before being dealt with: 
      synonyms: be postponed · be delayed · be put off · be deferred · be put on the back burner · be put on ice

If you're like me - certain words jumped out - DELAY! STOP! KILL TIME!  Those all seem to make it seem negative.  

What about looking at the words - REMAIN IN READINESS, REST, PAUSE!  I like those as they bring about a positive feeling.    

As most of you know the house we rent sold on 7/29 - unexpectedly and without advance notice.  Well if you count 2 days notice, then we got notice.  Patiently for the past 2.5 weeks, but who's counting, we've been waiting on the new owner/landlord to connect and discuss us continuing to rent here.  

Wednesday, he did reach out.  He sent a lease for us to review and sign, but there were quite a few concerns with it.  We sent it back with the items we wanted to have changed and then began the wait again.

For whatever reason, we were stressed out over it.  Me more than Ken.  The enemy came in like a flood with every possible negative scenario.  I prayed and asked God to please settle this lease issue.  I asked Him to give us favor and that all the items would be addressed to our satisfaction.  And the next morning a new lease came over and each and every item was corrected to our liking!  Praise God!! He heard my cry and He answered.  Though it was less than 15 hours in waiting for this resolve, it was a very long 15 hours.  I didn't sleep a wink.   

P.S.  So Wednesday night our new landlord came over to have us sign the month-to-month lease.  We had a great visit, shared our vision and he was excited for us.  He even told us that God told him to take good care of us!   How's that for God's favor!  Very exciting!!

Have you ever had a situation like that?  That all you could do was think, what if??

Ken and I have been believing and waiting on God for a very long time to step into the destiny He has for us.  We have been seeing some definite signs and progress on many levels but yet the reality of it has not come to pass.  The only hinderance is finances!  God keeps promising us and reassuring us that He will make it happen.  We have had confirmation after confirmation.  

Here's a few things I've learned and what waiting can look like?  

1. Waiting can make you look foolish!  Maybe we are! John Wimber quotes "I'm a fool for Christ, whose fool are you?"   We'd rather continue to pursue what God is showing us and believe than stay stagnant and status quo in our walk.  We are here to please God and faith pleases Him!  Mark 9:23, if you can said Jesus, everything is possible for one who believes. As the definition above says - we are to remain in a state of READINESS!! 

2. Waiting can give you the REST you need just as the definition above implied!  Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles' they will run and not grow weary, they will and not be faint.  I want to soar!  I want to run and not get weary!  As much as I hate to admit it, this long season of waiting on God has been good for my physical health and my soul. My adrenals need rest to heal.  If I was busy busy day in and day out, I would never get well.  It has allowed me to hit the PAUSE button of life and grow more in the things of God.  It has enabled me to spend quality and quantity of time with the Lord!    

3. Waiting can leave you isolated. Some people's faith doesn't allow them to understand you and your dreams so they avoid you.  And that can hurt.  Romans 12:3b each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.  We don't expect you to completely understand our walk, it's not your walk, it's our walk!  (Heck, we don't always understand - but we do the best we can walking out what we feel the Lord is showing us.)  However, God also is so good to bring new people or some old friends alongside you - who will help you get to the next step.  Thankful for that.  

4 Waiting can bring great rewards!  It builds character, faith, deeper trust in the Lord and His favor. Who doesn't need improved character and a deeper richer faith?  Look at all the people God used in the Bible.  They waited a lot longer than we have been waiting.  I hope we don't have to wait as long as they did....but if we do, then we know God has a reason for it.  

This devotional seems to hit the mark quite often this year, so I wanted to share it with you.  


Streams in the Desert Devotional August 15, 2017 

L.B.E. Cowman

In waiting, I waited, for the Lord Psalms 40:1-6

Waiting is much more difficult than walking. Waiting requires patience, and patience is a rare virtue. It is fine to know that God builds hedges around His people--when the hedge is looked at from the viewpoint of protection. But when the hedge is kept around one until it grows so high that he cannot see over the top, and wonders whether he is ever to get out of the little sphere of influence and service in which he is pent up, it is hard for him sometimes to understand why he may not have a larger environment--hard for him to "brighten the corner" where he is. But God has a purpose in all HIS holdups. "The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord," reads Psalm 37:23.

On the margin of his Bible at this verse George Mueller had a notation, "And the stops also." It is a sad mistake for men to break through God's hedges. It is a vital principle of guidance for a Christian never to move out of the place in which he is sure God has placed him, until the Pillar of Cloud moves.
--Sunday School Times

When we learn to wait for our Lord's lead in everything, we shall know the strength that finds its climax in an even, steady walk. Many of us are lacking in the strength we so covet. But God gives full power for every task He appoints. Waiting, holding oneself true to His lead--this is the secret of strength. And anything that falls out of the line of obedience is a waste of time and strength. Watch for His leading.
--S. D. Gordon

Must life be a failure for one compelled to stand still in enforced inaction and see the great throbbing tides of life go by? No; victory is then to be gotten by standing still, by quiet waiting. It is a thousand times harder to do this than it was in the active days to rush on in the columns of stirring life. It requires a grander heroism to stand and wait and not lose heart and not lose hope, to submit to the will of God, to give up work and honors to others, to be quiet, confident and rejoicing, while the happy, busy multitude go on and away.

It is the grandest life "having done all, to stand."
--J. R. Miller


Praise/Prayer Requests
-We were so blessed this week by several people.  A total stranger got my name from a local friend and brought me 4 boxes of fresh tomatoes (and a couple green peppers).  Another friend brought us a bag of apples just picked off the tree.  Another brought us 10 dozen farm eggs - that's probably over 100 dozen free eggs this year.  We of course, enjoyed some ourselves, but also have shared with many here who have need.  Had another friend from KC bless us with a visit and generosity.  Another friend gave me a beautiful stock pot - thought I could put to good use as we are using our hospitality gift often.  And another sent me a bottle of Mexican Vanilla recently.  And even another purchased an online course for Ken & I to grow deeper in hearing God!   God is so good and faithful to meet our needs & wants!  

-Ken is still getting some additional painting work - about 20-25 hours a week plus his part time job at Dollar General.  We hope this continues - but please pray for his endurance as he is working 6 days a week - and often works back to back both jobs - making for long days. 

-I am still struggling with sleep, had a big adrenal crash this past week. With Ken's extra hours, it's meaning more household work for me.  I can do it, but then I pay in pain and fatigue. Exciting news -  I had 2 friends out of the blue message me and say they felt God spoke to them and told them my healing was coming very very soon!  I believe it!  God has been speaking to me that my healing is coming synonymous with our shift into destiny.  I hope so and I hope soon!!!!! 

-Canyon is definitely showing signs of the end and I am struggling more than ever.  I'm asking God for peace and perfect timing to put him down.  It's probably already that time, but I just don't have the peace yet.  Please pray that God will take him peacefully and with no trauma to him or us.  

-Ministry - Wow!  Definite God signs and specific answers to prayers continue to make us think it's soon..... it's like a wave of excitement, then a lull, then a wave of excitement....etc  Please continue to stand with us for the perfect timing and God's amazing provision to come forth! 

----
Thank YOU so much for your ongoing support, love and care for us and our ministry.  We are honored to be able to pray for those who reach out to us.  Please let me know if you have any prayer needs.  

If you have been blessed by this ministry or feel led to support what God is doing through us - financially, below are a few options.  Your generosity and your prayer support is greatly appreciated and needed as we continue to walk in faith and God's calling. 

Megablessings  - 
Ken & Michele Cole
http://www.wantinsight.com
michele@wantinsight.com, ken@wantinsight.com

Tax deductible & non tax deductible donations can be made: 
1.  Checks made payable to Sonlit Fields, PO Box 371, El Dorado Springs, MO 64744 or if you prefer anonymous giving - you can give through our Donor Fund 

2.  Non tax deductible donations can be made directly to us by:  THIS IS THE FASTEST WAY TO GET MONEY TO US FOR DAILY USE. 
 Paypal - www.paypal.com  (michele@wantinsight.com) 

3. Donor Fund - Contact National Christian Foundation - Ken & Michele Cole - Want InSight Fund -   Tax deductible 
    7171 W. 95th Street, Suite 501
Overland Park, KS 66212
    Phone: 913.310.0279

    Fax: 913.227.0254     www.nationalchristian.com 

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.  








Thursday, June 29, 2017

Focus!


 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”  Mark 4:35-41 NIV
In this passage - didn't Jesus say, get in the boat and let's go over to the other side?  When the storm hits, are you looking at the storm or are you eyes fixed on Jesus and His words?

The waves are crashing in.  The enemy is prowling around looking to devour.  BUT GOD!

This devotional is a good reminder of who God is for us in this season.


Streams in the Desert June 27th.
The Lord hath sent strength for thee (Ps.68.28, PBV).
The Lord imparts unto us that primary strength of character which makes everything in life work with intensity and decision. We are "strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man." And the strength is continuous; reserves of power come to us which we cannot exhaust.
"As thy days, so shall thy strength be"—strength of will, strength of affection, strength of judgment, strength of ideals and achievement.
"The Lord is my strength" to go on. He gives us power to tread the dead level, to walk the long lane that seems never to have a turning, to go through those long reaches of life which afford no pleasant surprise, and which depress the spirits in the sameness of a terrible drudgery.
"The Lord is my strength" to go up. He is to me the power by which I can climb the Hill Difficulty and not be afraid.
"The Lord is my strength" to go down. It is when we leave the bracing heights, where the wind and the sun have been about us, and when we begin to come down the hill into closer and more sultry spheres, that the heart is apt to grow faint. I heard a man say the other day concerning his growing physical frailty, "It is the coming down that tires me!"
"The Lord is my strength" to sit still. And how difficult is the attainment! Do we not often say to one another, in seasons when we are compelled to be quiet, "If only I could do something!"
When the child is ill, and the mother stands by in comparative impotence, how severe is the test! But to do nothing, just to sit still and wait, requires tremendous strength.
"The Lord is my strength!" "Our sufficiency is of God" (2 Cor. 3:5. from The Silver Lining


Our only hope is trusting in the strength of our Lord.  We have to keep our focus fixed on Jesus, our trust has to stay on His promises and His Word - He will see us through!

Streams in the Desert June 29th 

"There we saw the Giants" (Num. 13:33).
Yes, they saw the giants, but Caleb and Joshua saw God! Those who doubt say, "We be not able to go up." Those who believe say, "Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able."
Giants stand for great difficulties; and giants are stalking everywhere. They are in our families, in our churches, in our social life, in our own hearts; and we must overcome them or they will eat us up, as these men of old said of the giants of Canaan. The men of faith said, "They are bread for us; we will eat them up." In other words, "We will be stronger by overcoming them than if there had been no giants to overcome."
Now the fact is, unless we have the overcoming faith we shall be eaten up, consumed by the giants in our path. Let us have the spirit of faith that these men of faith had, and see God, and He will take care of the difficulties.
--Selected
It is when we are in the way of duty that we find giants. It was when Israel was going forward that the, giants appeared. When they turned back into the wilderness they found none.
There is a prevalent idea that the power of God in a human life should lift us above all trials and conflicts. The fact is, the power of God always brings a conflict and a struggle. One would have thought that on his great missionary journey to Rome, Paul would have been carried by some mighty providence above the power of storms and tempests and enemies. But, on the contrary, it was one long, hard fight with persecuting Jews, with wild tempests, with venomous vipers and all the powers of earth and hell, and at last he was saved, as it seemed, by the narrowest margin, and had to swim ashore at Malta on a piece of wreckage and barely escape a watery grave.
Was that like a God of infinite power? Yes, just like Him. And so Paul tells us that when he took the Lord Jesus Christ as the life of his body, a severe conflict immediately came; indeed, a conflict that never ended, a pressure that was persistent, but out of which he always emerged victorious through the strength of Jesus Christ.
The language in which he describes this is most graphic. "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed, always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be manifested in our body."
What a ceaseless, strenuous struggle! It is impossible to express in English the forcible language of the original. There are five pictures in succession. In the first, the idea is crowding enemies pressing in from every side, and yet not crushing him because the police of heaven cleared the way just wide enough for him to get through. The literal translation would be, "We are crowded on every side, but not crushed."
The second picture is that of one whose way seems utterly closed and yet he has pressed through; there is light enough to show him the next step. The Revised Version translates it, "Perplexed but not unto despair." Rotherham still more literally renders it, "Without a way, but not without a by-way."
The third figure is that of an enemy in hot pursuit while the divine Defender still stands by, and he is not left alone. Again we adopt the fine rendering of Rotherham, "Pursued but not abandoned."
The fourth figure is still more vivid and dramatic. The enemy has overtaken him, has struck him, has knocked him down. But it is not a fatal blow; he is able to rise again. It might be translated, "Overthrown but not overcome."
Once more the figure advances, and now it seems to be even death itself, "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus." But he does not die, for "the life also of Jesus" now comes to his aid and he lives in the life of another until his life work is done.
The reason so many fail in this experience of divine healing is because they expect to have it all without a struggle, and when the conflict comes and the battle wages long, they become discouraged and surrender. God has nothing worth having that is easy. There are no cheap goods in the heavenly market. Our redemption cost all that God had to give, and everything worth having is expensive. Hard places are the very school of faith and character, and if we are to rise over mere human strength and prove the power of life divine in these mortal bodies, it must be through a process of conflict that may well be called the birth travail of a new life. It is the old figure of the bush that burned, but was not consumed, or of the Vision in the house of the Interpreter of the flame that would not expire, notwithstanding the fact that the demon ceaselessly poured water on it, because in the background stood an angel ever pouring oil and keeping the flame aglow.
No, dear suffering child of God, you cannot fail if only you dare to believe, to stand fast and refuse to be overcome.
--Tract
I close with an amazingly anointed song a friend sent me last night.  This really spoke to me and I pray will bless you too. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnyVz1u-6yM&feature=share

The King Is Among Us
Elevation Worship
All our fathers saw in the days of old
Would you do it again
Do it again
All the stories told
All the miracles
Would you do it again
Do it again
You said “Consecrate yourselves to me
And you will see amazing things”
We need Your revival
Holy Spirit fire
Burning ever brighter in our souls
Kings and kingdoms falling
Hear your people calling
King of Kings, we need a miracle
There’s a time to sow and a time to reap
Would you do it again
Do it again
There’s a time to heal and a time to build
Would you do it again
Do it again
You said “Consecrate yourselves to me
And you will see amazing things”
We need Your revival
Holy Spirit fire
Burning ever brighter in our souls
Kings and kingdoms falling
Hear your people calling
King of Kings, we need a miracle
We need Your revival
Holy Spirit fire
Burning ever brighter in our souls
Kings and kingdoms falling
Hear your people calling
King of Kings, we need a miracle
The King is among us
And His glory surrounds us
And His fire is falling as we sing
The Savior is for us
And His love is victorious
And revival is rising in His name
The King is among us
And His glory surrounds us
And His fire is falling as we sing
The Savior is for us
And His love is victorious
And revival is rising in His name
The King is among us
And His glory surrounds us
And His fire is falling as we sing
The Savior is for us
And His love is victorious
And revival is rising in His name
The King is among us
And His glory surrounds us
And His fire is falling as we sing
The Savior is for us
And His love is victorious
And revival is rising in His name
Oh, oh, we see His revival is rising up
We see His revival is rising up, oh
The King is among us
And His glory surrounds us
And His fire is falling as we sing
The Savior is for us
And His love is victorious
And revival is rising in His name, oh, God
And revival, You are rising
You are rising
The Savior, oh, God, He is right here
He is rising up in His name
So waking up, He is waking up
We all see the problems all over the world
So waking up, oh, waking up
'Cause we all know, 'cause we all know our Gods
Oh, glory surrounds us
And our Gods, His love is among us
We stay with His victorious
This place, full of fears and coming down
This place, full of tears, broken down
The King is among us
And His glory surrounds us
And His fire is falling as we sing
The Savior is for us
And His love is victorious
And He is rising in, He is rising
The King is among us
And His glory surrounds us
And His fire is falling as we sing
The Savior is for us
And His love is victorious

Praise & Prayer Requests -
God is good!  He is faithful!  Thanking Him often for those who reach out to bless us with prayers and support of what God is doing in and through us.  Words can't express the humble gratitude I have for your ongoing friendship.

Ken - strength & endurance for his job - both physically & emotionally.  Still only part time!
Me -Healing and SLEEP - back to 2 hours or so.
Canyon - is still hanging on - but seeing more signs the end is getting closer.
Ministry - the Lords will be done.  We want to step into what He has called us too!!!

P.S.  There's a show on Netflix we saw awhile back- its called The Kindness Diaries. If you have the ability to watch it, please do.  It is so inspiring!  The guy who made the show, Leon Logothetis (you can like his page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/leonlogothetis/) has these postcards that you complete every time you do a kind act for someone.  You mail them in and he will send a book to a child.  I asked him to send me several hundred.... so that is a goal I have - is to be able to complete at least one a day.  Kindness is Contagious!  

Thank YOU to those who email me prayer requests. It's been awesome especially this past month, the many I have received!  
If you have been blessed by this ministry or feel led to support what God is doing through us - financially, below are a few options.  Your generosity and your prayer support is greatly appreciated and needed as we continue to walk in faith and God's calling. 

Megablessings  - 
Ken & Michele Cole
http://www.wantinsight.com
michele@wantinsight.com, ken@wantinsight.com

Tax deductible & non tax deductible donations can be made: 
1.  Checks made payable to Sonlit Fields, PO Box 371, El Dorado Springs, MO 64744 or if you prefer anonymous giving - you can give through our Donor Fund 

2.  Non tax deductible donations can be made directly to us by:  THIS IS THE FASTEST WAY TO GET MONEY TO US FOR DAILY USE. 
 Paypal - www.paypal.com  (michele@wantinsight.com) 

3. Donor Fund - Contact National Christian Foundation - Ken & Michele Cole - Want InSight Fund -   Tax deductible 
    7171 W. 95th Street, Suite 501
Overland Park, KS 66212
    Phone: 913.310.0279
    Fax: 913.227.0254     www.nationalchristian.com 

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.  





What's Next?

  1 CORINTHIANS 16:9 “For a wide door for effective work has opened to me  FIRST AND FOREMOST - I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR LIFT...