Fulfillment in Marriage

Yesterday I posted in FB some hard , but true admonitions for us husbands. Today, I am going to mentioned something that may be a challenge for SOME wives, but not all. Sometimes wives may get frustrated, angry or exasperated, because it seems like her husband is pouting because of the lack of attention, or  feelings that  he is not number 1 or simply because of the lack of sex. Some marriage experts believe that sex is the number one need of the husband, others believe that it's the second or third need in a husband's life. However, we must conclude that if it is a priority in a husband's life. There is a difference between having sex or being sexually satisfied. A wife's attitude towards sex - whether fun or cold or let's just get this over with or hot and heated makes all the difference towards your husband. In other words, your husband needs sex and he needs his wife to love sex with him. Leman said, " He longs to be intimate with the one person he trusts above all others and that's you. If he is fulfilled in his relationship with you he will seek no others." Leman goes on to say if a husband is respected, needed and fulfilled by his wife, he will make a much better husband and dad.
The dilemma that most wives face is juggling, their jobs, children, in-law relationships, friends, church etc with only emotional leftovers to give their husbands. Rather than saying to yourself,  " He is such a baby" realize that he is paying you the biggest honor or compliment by saying that you are the only one he wants to be intimate with. Remember, if he feels fulfill with you, he will seek no other. About 25 years ago I heard a woman of God, who had been happily married for 55 years , a pioneer in deliverance ministry say to wives as an admonition, A man can be tempted to leave a wife he loves for a woman who respects and admire him. Prayer is not a substitute for what I just mentioned. Praying about doing something that you know you should do is simply rebellion. Ladies, how you look at your husband, the tone of your voice, etc can  positively change the atmosphere in your marriage. I've been involve in marriage coaching for over 28 years and I have seen the regret in both husband's and wive's heart because after the divorce was filed they realized that if they had done the little things, or if they had apologized, or just said they were wrong, or got help from a counselor, or if they had not listen to foolish advice or if they just gave their mate more attention or if they had listened to the Holy Spirit they would be married and not living by themselves while raising children. Let me recommend the following for you: 1) Bishop Johnson and Ladies Carolyn series on " Blended Families or  their series on the Principle of Mutuality 2) Dr. Douglas Rosenau's " A Celebration of Sex for Newlyweds"; A Celebration of Sex: A Guide to Enjoying God's Gift; A Celebration of Sex After 50 3) Also, Dr. Douglas Rosenau's has a world renowned psychological practice committed to sexual health in the marriage in Metro Atlanat 4) 7 Things He'll Never Tell You- Dr. Kevin Leman

An Article on Why Words Matter Pertaining to the Proper Way to Address Both Genders with " One Word" in Publications

A Personal Story About Why Words Matter

Posted on December 30, 2013 by admin

Words matter. Words have meanings. In fact, I have often reminded people that before you can change a society, you must first change the language. This means two things. First,  we must fight for time-tested Biblical language in our daily speaking and writing. Second, we  must recognize the force of words being hard-pressed on society by modern and post-modern culture  and stand against this onslaught. Scott Allen has written on this here.

When the United States was founded, lexicographer Noah Webster produced theAmerican Dictionary of the English Language. Webster understood that a nation was shaped by its language and that a new nation needed to define itself. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary was consciously developed from the framework of a Biblical worldview and the principles of belief of the founding fathers who were, for the most part, confessing Christians. Webster’s definitions were contemporary with the nation’s founding documents: the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

While I know these things, unfortunately, I do not always act with wisdom. I do not consistently apply what I understand.  I recently learned a new insight from a professional wordsmith about the meanings of words: words have historic meaning that transcends cultures.

My book, Nurturing the Nations: Reclaiming the Dignity of Women to Build Healthy Cultures, was published in 2008. In this book I used “human beings” or “humankind” in place of “man.” I also alternated between the adjectives  “female” and “male” when writing about people in general. I have since come to rethink these vocabulary choices.

During a later book project (Emancipating the World: A Christian Response to Radical Islam and Fundamentalist Atheism) I consulted Dr. Timothy Friberg. Timothy and his wife, Barbara, are linguists and Bible translators living and working in Southeast Asia. They are founders and managers of the Analytical Greek New Testament project, an electronic tool to aid students, pastors, and translators in their interaction with the original Koine Greek text. I asked for, and received, Timothy’s input about a Greek phrase from Matthew 28:18-20. To thank Tim for his counsel, I sent him a copy of Emancipating when it was published.

After reading the book, Dr.  Friberg wrote a friendly critique on some of the pronouns I used: “I would like to comment on your vocabulary choices as forced on you by political correctness and women’s liberationists.” Friberg pointed to three related instances where I had illustrated this tendency.

Sometimes into your text you insert a wholly unexpected “she,” deferring to the pleasure of those that decry the standard generic pronoun in English for one of its less controversial substitutes. The problem with “she” is twofold.  … generic means generic and “she” is specific for feminine in English at this stage of its development. There are quite a few strategies for expressing generic identity found among the world’s 6000 plus languages, but never among them is the feminine pronoun used, as far as I know. That says something significant about the psychology of communication. Whereas I am far more egalitarian than complementarian, I defer to the inventory of possibilities for generic referent expression and eschew “she.”

I had chosen to use the feminine pronoun to avoid raising red flags with readers who might take exception to masculine language. This decision was made as a layman, and I was very interested to read the critique of a linguist. But I realized how clearly Friberg had spoken the truth when he said that my choices were “forced on me by political correctness and women’s liberationists.” I had to admit that if I had been writing thirty or forty years earlier, this dilemma would never have emerged.

Dr. Friberg convinced me that it is mistaken to substitute a specific (feminine) pronoun for the universally generic (masculine) “he.” From there he continued.

Sometimes in your text you say “he or she” or again “his or her.” That is clearly an effort to please all parties. But it breaks a cognitive rule that impedes communication. In particular, these “choice phrases” are normally used following a “somebody,” “anyone,” “everyone,” “nobody,” or “a certain individual” (or its many possible equivalents), but these latter are incontrovertibly referring in context to a single unique individual (whether his identity is known or only hypothesized or denied or whatever). So when a single person has been introduced and then you present your reader with a choice, you are introducing cognitive dissonance into the communication. The effect of that is actually to slow the reader down on a point of communication that should be fully automatic. You do your communication purpose a disservice by so doing.

Once again, his point was compelling. If I want to write clearly, I cannot use a singular term (someone, anyone, et al) with a plural phrase (“he or she”). From there he went on.

Most frequently you have a sentence structure of the type “somebody lost their way.” The plural pronoun is the most viable candidate for the generic pronoun if “he” is ever to be dethroned. Interestingly, there is at least a two-hundred year history of “they” trying to unseat “he” as the generic singular pronoun in English. That “he” is never really displaced (language is always in flux and “he” is as likely to change as anything else) probably means that “they” is perceived as inadequate, at least in thoughtful writings (and speech). Incidentally, over the decades I have trained myself to say “he” as generic and thus to carry on a solid history.

Clearly if you have to abandon “he,” “they” is the most viable candidate. However, I would argue that for believers communication is too precious a commodity to use anything but what is unambiguously what it claims to be. My informal surveys over the past decades seem to indicate that no one except card-carrying feminists is offended by its use. And more important, people understand “he” to be the generic singular as well as “masculine singular.” It seems that the most derogatory evaluations of steadfast users of “he” as generic singular is that they are bookish, scholarly, or intent on saying what they mean.

I responded to Tim, expressing my thanks for writing so clearly. I added that

I am an unapologetic complementarian and yet have bent over backwards to communicate and not burn bridges unnecessarily.  I struggled over the use of language as I wrote Nurturing the Nations.  I wish I could have had this discussion ten years ago; it would have been invaluable. …

On a similar level would you use the word “man” to refer to all human beings;  or would you use “humankind “ or “human beings?” In the modern world, I have tried to train myself to use humankind or human being. But even these expressions cannot get away from human. I have never been completely happy, nor, I am afraid, consistent.

Dr. Friberg responded:

Yes, I would use Man as generic of all human beings, though that one specific usage has virtually been pushed off stage. That is, “Man has made a mess of taking dominion over the world.” So even I might say, “Humans have failed the trusteeship given them by God–from the word go.” Personally, I would never say “humankind” for that is an artificial hybrid meant to sound inclusive. “Mankind” is fully adequate for me. But then I purposely withstand political correctness, especially in language. For me, postman and spokesman, as well as seamstress, adulteress and actress are fully functional words in my language.

Note the irony of an egalitarian challenging a complementarian to use “man” as inclusive for both sexes!

It is a reminder that I need to be objective in my use of language and not seek to be politically correct. Too often we who follow Christ have ceded the language (consider “gay” or “quality of life”), but God is the first communicator, the speaker. Christ is the Word.

Words matter.

-          Darrow Miller

Prophetic Dream \ Vision Activation Seminar

If you are interested or involved in prophetic ministry on any level this seminar is designed with you in mind. For the last year the Lord has been dealing with me regarding conducting a prophetic seminar. Yet, I kept putting if off to another time. I knew in my heart that it needed to happen prior to 2014.  I felt impressed by the Holy Spirit to gear this seminar in the following areas:

1. Equip emerging prophetic gifts, intercessors, prophetic- seer gifts with the emphasis the Lord wants to make in 2014

2. Equip entrepreneurs, song writers, inventors regarding a particular spiritual gift that God will highlight in 2014. How to develop and nurture this crucial spiritual gift.

3. Provide insights regarding key disciplines that the Holy Spirits wants to emphasize in prophetic gifts in 2014

4. The Holy Spirit desires to break many of his servants from " holding patterns" in their development. These are areas that many leaders do not want to talk about. Some are in holding patterns because of God's sovereignty and wisdom. Some are in " holding patterns" because of other reasons that will be shared in this seminar.

5. Profound revelations, strategic keys for territorial conquering, etc are going to escalate in 2014. However, there is a vital need to grow in discernment and operate in " the gift of discerning of spirits". All dreams and visions are not from the Lord.  In God's wisdom, some believers  have not been released in their ministry or promoted in their business because there are certain seeds in their hearts that must be dwelt with before they are released in the convergence level of their ministry or business. In fact, some leaders have received defilement via dreams and visions that have brought havoc in their ministry and family.

6. A significant portion of this seminar will be devoted to prophetic development in dreams and visions.

7  We are going to share prophetic insights regarding Atlanta, Georgia and the United States that will help you start the year off right

We are going to provide some personal ministry at this seminar as the Holy Spirit leads.

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/prophetic-dreamvision-activation-seminar-tickets-9736854193?aff=estw#

Word of the Lord For Intercessors

An Invitation to Intercession

God is stirring His people to pray. God is raising up houses of prayer, prayer movements, and ministries who realize the great need for prayer and for having foundations of intercession firmly established before ministry takes place.

People are bowing their knee in reverence to our Holy God, believing that He gives more when we simply ask. God set it up that way – that we would be co-laborers with Him, joining Jesus the Great Intercessor. We are simply to ask – knowing that God is listening and answering our simple prayers (Isaiah 64:4).

The revivalists of old were men and women given to prayer. Before a Word was preached, the Heavens were stormed with prayers and petitions asking God to come, to act, and to move. We are now entering a new era – for never before in history has God moved on the hearts of people worldwide with such an invitation to intercession.

Across the nations of the earth, men and women, young and old, are giving their lives as a fragrance before the Lord in day and night prayer. Houses of prayer, prayer movements, and praying churches are arising worldwide with the revelation that God moves when His people simply ask.

A Great Greater Awakening

I heard a fresh cry exploding out of Heaven – an invitation for the nations to become part of the prayer movement that is blowing across the face of the earth like an unstoppable wave leading to a Great Greater Awakening.

I was told in the dream to study and look back to the 1700s and the first Great Awakening – for this is our story. We are invited to say "yes" to prayer – we are invited to all become part of the story.

I saw that many intercessors have grown weary and have become dull; therefore help from Heaven was sent to strengthen the heart of the intercessors, the prayer movements, and the houses of prayer that a glorious people would arise in unending prayers.

We are in a Revelation 3:1-2 time frame, "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain..."

God is inviting us to join His Son, the Great Intercessor, in prayer to birth His purposes on the earth. He is inviting us to be a part of the storyline of the ages. We are to be vigilant, to keep careful watch over His promises and purposes through intercession, to set our hearts towards Him, and to turn resolutely in the direction of agreement with His Heart for these days.

I Had An Impacting Dream

I was in a deep sleep and the dream started with the President of our Bible College singing an old hymn called, "I love to Tell the Story." His voice was like a mega phone awakening my heart to the old, old story. I had not heard this hymn in years since singing it as a young girl in the Methodist Church. He was wearing a blue suit and holding an old hymnal. His voice was loud. His voice was strong. He never stopped singing this old hymn throughout the entire dream.

As he was singing, these words and this melody awakened my heart all throughout the dream. It was as if the hymn was the backdrop to the entire dream.

Suddenly, I stepped into a scene where I saw seven ambulances all in a row with their lights flashing. They were lined up one in back of the other. There was great alarm in my spirit when my eyes beheld such a scene.(Photo courtesy: ABC News)

I noticed there were people on the sidewalk who were not that interested in the ambulances. Everyone was continuing to have their coffee and were talking – they were not looking at what was happening. People were just doing their thing and not bothered by the alarm that I felt in my body by the flashing lights. It was as if they did not even notice they were there. They were laughing and talking and having coffee, going about their day-to-day schedules.

Still the Song Was Arising

I love to tell the story. 'Twill be my theme in glory. To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

I went and looked in the first ambulance and heard the attendant say, "I cannot find a heartbeat" and I saw someone lying still on a gurney. I saw tiny, thin, and feeble legs. The attendant looked at me and said, "It's the intercessors. We are trying to revive the intercessors."

I looked in again and it was as if the eyes of my heart were opened and I could see on the inside, and their hearts were failing. For the promises of Revival were so long in coming, it was as if the promises became too long to wait for and they were giving up and their hearts were failing. So I ran to the next ambulance and the same thing was happening. I looked in and the attendant said, "I cannot find a heartbeat."

As I peered into the ambulance I noticed that these attendants were not mere human beings; they were heavenly beings sent from the Throne of God. They were tall, they were large, they were glowing as if lit from the inside with fire. Could these be the messengers of fire we find in Psalm 104:4? It gave my heart great hope to know that God has sent His angelic help to restart the hearts of the weary, the tired, the hopeless, and the feeble. These were the intercessors who have fallen asleep, those who have stopped contending because it became too long to contend.

Suddenly, one of the attendants from the seventh ambulance at the end yelled, "I have a faint heartbeat, but it's dull." With those words, all the attendants leaned out of the back doors of the ambulances and they all shouted, "What did you do?"

The attendant in the last ambulance said, "Tell the old, old stories. For, as I began to tell the old, old stories, I found a faint heartbeat." So the attendants of the other ambulances began to tell the old, old stories, and I began to listen to these stories.

Tell the Old Stories!

These stories went back to the 1700s. They began to talk about Count Zinzendorf and the Moravians, John Wesley, George Whitfield, and Charles Spurgeon, and many others.

Suddenly the atmosphere was filled with shouts of, "I found a heartbeat, but it is dull." I ran to another ambulance looked in, and this time I saw a faint movement. Suddenly, this Heavenly attendant gave an order, like a command, saying:

"Tell the old, old stories because the old, old stories are YOUR storyline, they are YOUR history, back as far as Count Zinzendorf and the Moravians, John Wesley, George Whitfield, Charles Spurgeon...

...For the baton was passed from generation to generation. The prayer movements of this day are the answer to the prayers of those in the great storyline of the ages. There is a timeline of Prayer Generals from generations past and their prayer was that the Generals of prayer in 'these' days would arise; the prayer movement of 'these' days is the answer to their cries.

"You are in the storyline of the old, old story for their prayers begat your prayer. Put yourself in the timeline of the old, old story because the old, old, story – when told – will ignite the heart again.

Though it will start as a dull beat, when EACH person will see themselves in the timeline of the old, old story, that dull heartbeat will begin to get stronger and stronger. For these are your ancestors – the prayer warriors of the ancient days – who lifted their cry for 'this day and this hour' that a people of prayer would arise in the earth to welcome back the King of kings."

Renewal in itself will not awaken dull hearts. But if you see yourself in the old, old story – the more you listen and put yourself in the history of the great storyline of prayer and revival – you will see yourself as THE ANSWER.

You are the continuation of their prayers. For the intercessors God is raising up today – the prayer movements in the earth today – are the answer to the prayers lifted up generations and generations ago taking us into the greatest awakening – the Great Greater Awakening.

These are Your ancestors. YOU become the story, the plan, the answer, the Revival for today – then you will never go back to dull hearts.

And the Attendant Spoke Again

"Tell the old, old stories. Remember the old, old stories and see yourself in the storyline of Count Zinzendorf and the Moravians, John Wesley, George Whitfield, and Charles Spurgeon, and many others who were great men and women of prayer – Charles Finney, Maria Woodworth-Etter, Smith Wigglesworth, Aimee Semple McPherson, Kathryn Kuhlman..."

You are IN their story. Their History is YOUR history, for you are the answer to their prayers: for a glorious and praying people, a shining and praying Bride, would arise in the earth who love prayer; and this cry of prayer will birth the Great Greater Awakening to welcome Him back.

I Could Still Hear the Song Being Sung:

I love to tell the story
'Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love

It was almost as if I could hear prayers that were prayed centuries back – crying out for those who would take the baton to begin to cry out again until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You are a part of the story. We are a part of the story. It's almost as it we are the answer to the cries of prayer throughout the ages. (Photo courtesy: freehymnal.com)

Cries that said, "Let a people who love prayer welcome Him back." Let a praying people lift their voice for revival – let a billion souls come into the Kingdom.

This is our story. This is our history. This is our season to take up the baton and pray, and then, watch revival spring up. We are in their storyline and they are in ours.

Aimee Semple McPherson's life was marked by unprecedented boldness that said, "Let's not waste our time quarreling over methods and doctrines.". She accomplished what no man had been able to do and build a temple that seated 5,000 people and filled it four times on Sundays and twice weekly. This temple became the envy of Hollywood theater owners. She also ministered at highly sought-after healing services. She reached the unreachable and opened doors for Christ through which no man had gone before through the media. It is interesting to note that in the same year Aimee was launching her radio station, Kathryn Kuhlman was just beginning to preach as a teenager, and Maria Woodworth-Etter had just breathed her last breath at 80 years of age.

This is our story. This is our history and the joy of the journey ahead through prayer; and we put ourselves in the great storyline of the ages to welcome the Great Greater Awakening and to welcome Jesus the Coming King.

I Love To Tell The Story

Text: Katherine Hankey, 1834–1911
Music: William G. Fischer, 1835–1912

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, because I know 'tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story; 'tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God's own holy Word.

I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
'Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

That was my dream...

Julie Meyer

Specific Word for the Southeast

The Lord is about the break the hindrance to praise and worship in the southeast, especially in Florida and Georgia. There has been a governing apostolic mantle over Florida and Georgia in the arena of praise and worship for many years. Because of the lack of spiritual discernment and proper government certain principalities and powers have hindered the maturation of this mantle. I saw the Lord releasing  a new  mantle of creativity upon key churches, key pastors , key worship leaders. These people will flow in various genres of music, but the healing anointing, prophetic anointing will flow through their music. I hear the Lord saying, I will fill the air ways with this new sound. I will grant platforms to men and women whom I can trust to make My praise glorious in the earth. I will cause My church to sing, what is being song in heaven and mighty releases of my presence will break forth. Yes a new sound shall flow through My church in this region. Many of these voices and teams will win hundreds and thousands into my kingdom. They will not be married to the systems of this world, nor will they seek a name for themselves, but they shall make My praise glorious in the earth. They will be jealous for My name and My kingdom. New Builders are coming , the builders are coming, apostolic builders who will build in the center of their infrastructure 24 hour prayer and praise before Me. Some will start with an hour block and move to 3 hour blocks and move to 6 hour blocks and move to 12 blocks and eventually 24 hour praise, worship and intercession according to the grace I release in them. The face of My face of My church will change in the Southeast. I will erase the racial bigotry that his separated My church. I will do it among the young. It's already happening. As racial bigotry is eradicated out of My house, the natural weather patterns will normalize and you will see productive crops and resources

Men and women carrying the gates of certain cities

Two weeks ago, while I sat waiting, the Lord carried me into  a brief vision  I saw the Lord raising up men and women who like Samson, who were  tearing down the gates of certain cities and carrying the gates on their shoulders. I saw men and women carry immensely heavy city gates on their shoulders. It freaked me out because I thought that God was anointing people with the strength of Samson. But as I sat still, I heard the Lord say, there are men and women of great renowned who are being prepared to be vessels that bring the release of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to certain cities. Some have gone through great hardship and about to give up on their calling because things have gone completely opposite of what the Lord showed them in " visionary encounters with Him many years ago." But these men and women are being groomed by the Holy Spirit to bring an outpouring of extraordinary signs and wonders and some of them will preach with an unction that will cause people to topple over in great conviction for their sins. Some will preach in the streets but crowds will gather around them because of the power of the Holy Spirit. This will only be the beginning, because equipping power evangelists  will release this anointing to every willing vessel in the Body of Christ who desire to be used by the Lord. No longer will be there be a few moving in the power of the Holy Spirit. When these men and women who possess an anointing to  bring breakthrough into cities begin to emerge, there passion will not be to make a name for themselves, but to preach Jesus Christ and His kingdom. Jesus will be the center of their message. This move of God will reintroduce Jesus as being the Head of the Church. The gospels will be preached and great revelation will flow from the synoptic gospels about Jesus Christ  and His Kingdom. The Holy Spirit will converge everywhere Jesus is glorified because the message of the Kingdom of God will be united to the proclamation of  Jesus Christ. Men and women shall arise who will carry the city-gates upon their shoulders. 

Prophetic insight regarding our nation 30-40 years from now

I heard the Lord say, your nation is very young and many changes are being orchestrated beneath the surface, hidden from the eyes of most people While praying, I saw a time in our future where division will be so great in our government that I saw our nation being divided into the three nations. In fact, the seeds for the this level of national division are incubating. Some will see this division as a move for economic recovery, but something sinister is at work. Then I heard the Lord say, that if the church in America begin to seriously intercede for this nation according to His word, there will be divine intervention will either delay or abort the strategic division of our nation.  Intercession by the church in many localities  has been fractured because of party-line allegiance being stronger that allegiance to God's vision for His kingdom in the United States. I saw several natural disasters that will move the church in America to pray : flooding, quakes, new fault lines rumbling, solar problems plaguing communications, even threats of higher than ususal tides from the ocean, wild animals attacks in " city zones,  etc. Somethings for our nation are being held in the balance ,but if the church would rise and pray according to the world of God, what the enemy has planned will turned around.  There are plenty positive things on the up rise for America, but the church must gather in this season to birth a move of God that will  release an unprecedented power evangelistic revival in more than 15 locations  that will fill auditoriums and possibly stadiums  and a new level of  holiness that will transform  the face of America. The winds will blow mightily in the coming months naturally, but the wind of the Holy Spirit will be felt in area where the church is praying corporately. A renewing of territorial spiritual warfare  by the church in certain areas under the auspices of the Holy Spirit will begin to stir in the fall months throughout 2014.  There is a blessing in reading the book of Acts at least 7 times in this season.