Mother Webb's 80th Birthday Celebration

"Her children rise up and call her blessed"

Two peas in a pod...

This is Leslie's 2 month old, Milleigh Anna. What a doll!

We're so blessed to have her!

Why Fast?

After Jesus was baptized, He was "led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And He went without food for forty days and forty nights..." (Mt. 4:1)

I believe fasting is necessary for face to face combat with the enemy.

There are two places in Scripture, one in Matthew and the other in Mark, where it says, "this kind comes only by prayer and fasting" (my paraphrase). In both passages, Jesus has just come down from the mountain of transfiguration (an intimate time of communion with God; face to face; a fixed focus on His heavenly Father - all of which are the purpose of seasons of fasting). In Matthew, a man comes to Jesus and asks Him to have mercy on his son, for he has epilepsy and suffers terribly. Then the man says he brought his son to the disciples, but they were unable to cure him. Jesus scolds the "unbelieving generation" and calls for the boy. He then rebukes the "demon" and "it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly." Later the disciples asked Him privately why they couldn't drive it out and Jesus said, "because of your little faith...for nothing is impossible to you...BUT this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

In Mark, the situation is very similiar. A father brings his son to Jesus because he has an evil spirit and Scripture says he couldn't speak. Again, the father says he brought him to the disciples to drive it out, but they were not able to do it. Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit and commands it to come out of the boy and the boy was delivered. Again, the disciples asked Him privately why they were not able to drive it out. And Jesus replied, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting."

In both cases, the problem was demonic (Jesus rebuked the demon or the evil spirit) even though it evidenced itself through a physical ailment (disability). Who did the enemy target? The sons...the children...the next generation. Jesus performed the miracle (He was a man of prayer and fasting), but rebuked the disciples because they should have been able to do it.

I heard a pastor on a program Tuesday night as the Lord has so graciously put things before me this week to teach and guide me to a greater understanding of His plan of fasting and prayer. This pastor said if there is a "this kind" there has to be a "that kind." Basically meaning there are some battles that can be won through prayer alone, there are others that require more. In other words, the greater the opponent the more strength needed. Or you could say, the greater the desire to win the more you train.

Take that to the football field. If you know me you know I'm not a big sports fan, unless someone's on the field by the name of Ben, Tyler or Caleb! But, I do know that LSU won the National Championship last Monday night against Ohio. Now, these two teams trained all year and played game after game of the season, but this game was different. This was the National Championship! The two best, toughest, hardest teams to beat were going at it, face to face. What do you think they did from Thanksgiving to last Monday night? Of course, they trained. And I can imagine they trained harder and longer putting more focus and determination into it than ever before. They were facing their toughest opponent AND they REALLY wanted to win!

So, that's it. More intense training...in the Face of the Trainer. He says, be still. Intensify your focus on Me. Do without what your flesh desires long enough to know what I desire. Let that hunger pain remind you to pray for the millions who are starving across the earth. And not just for physical food. Let that headache remind you of those in excruciating pain from the withdrawals of trying to break free from the chains of darkness. Hear their cries. Feel their need. Cry out to Me, so I can heal them.

Is there a "this kind" in your life? In your family? In your church? In your community? In the world? I have so much more to learn, but I do want to learn how to conquer "this kind!" It IS possible. All things are possible with God!

"We are MORE than conquerors through Jesus Christ!"

Prayer & Fasting

Thank you to all who will join in united prayer and fasting today for the orphans across the earth. James says, "pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." How much more powerful and effective when many join together to petition the Lord on behalf of injustice. Today through Wednesday has been set aside by America World Adoption Agency as a time to pray for countries like China, Russia, the Ukraine, El Salvador, India, Bolivia, Rwanda and others where children are waiting to be placed in homes. We're praying for governments and officials in charge of the adoption procedures, for the caretakers (or lack thereof) in the orphanages and foster homes, for the needs of the children and infants to be met supernaturally, and so much more. Please join us in the cry for orphans. May God powerfully move in these days...

Powerful to Endure

"For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently." ~I Corinthians 10:13 (Amplified Bible)

Need I say more?

Happy New Year

For me, 2007 ended with a word from the Lord from the book of Hebrews that became our last Sunday School lesson for the year on the "Kingdom of God" entitled Endurance in the Kingdom. It says near the end of chapter 10 that we have need of endurance (or perseverance, patience). The word combines hupo, "under," and mone, "to remain." It describes the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with a passive complacency, but with a hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat. (That deserves a "selah"-pause and let that soak in...) A form of that word endurance is used a little earlier in the chapter when it talks about remembering how we have endured struggles in the past. To endure means to tarry, abide, not recede or flee, according to the New Testament word study dictionary. It is the Greek word, hoop om en 'o. It's really defined again in the last verse of the chapter, "we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." To believe is to cleave (or cling) to, trust in, and rely on God through Jesus Christ!

So, if I am going to hoop om en 'o in 2008, I must abide in Christ (John 15). I must remember all He has done for me in the past. I must keep a hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat. And all of this can be mine if I will cling to, trust in and rely on the Lord. That's what I want! I don't know what this year may bring forth. Neither do you. But, if you are reading this post may the Spirit of the Lord speak His hoop om on ay (endurance) over your life today as I ask Him to do the same in mine.

"Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done!" ~ I Chronicles 16:11,12a