Sorry about the delay!

WOW! It has been a long time since I have had the chance to get online long enough to add to the blog! We do no have the capability to get online at the house, and while I do get emails on my blackberry, I have not been online long enough to catch up on the blog!

The picture at the right is the latest that I received of my youngest grandson. He is definitely growing! He is quite the personality. His older brother Jaxson and sister, Juliet, are doing well after a brief season of colds and flu like symptoms. Be sure to keep Jimmy and his family in prayer while Jimmy is in Iraq.

During the past weeks, Glenda and I have been blessed to conduct services in churches in the surrounding area. We have been blessed with testimonies of healing and deliverance. It is so exciting to have the opportunity to minister and see results in the altar. Please remember us in prayer as we continue to pursue the calling of the Lord that is upon our lives.

Yesterday was great as we had the opportunity to fill the pulpit for Jacob's Well, shere our oldest son, Shane, is pastor. Shane is in Guatemala on a missions journey this week. The altar was filled with hungry hearts seeking for the manifestation of the miraculous. We are believing the Word that came to us from the Lord that this year will be a season of the miraculous. Jesus declared that there would be signs that followed them who believe, and we have determined by the Spirit that this is the day for such miracles to happen among the hungry hearts of those who will receive.

If you would like for us to minister in your community, contact us by email at whetstone.r@gmail.com We would love to come and minister to you. This is a faith-based ministry reaching into communities and churches across this nation.

May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

CARRY ON!

The Loss of a Friend

During the years of my life, I have suffered the loss of people as a result of tragedy who were dear to me.  I remember a dear friend who was killed in Vietnam in the late 60's, with whom I had enjoyed great fellowship.  Another dear friend died in a tragic plane crash.  So through the years I have learned that life continues.  It is always painful to lose a friend.

Scripture teaches us that have a friend is good and in order to have friends, one must be friendly.  I have learned that there some people connect in a moment of time and become life long friends. 

There is a significant difference between a friend and an acquaintance.  Through the years of my life I have become acquainted with thousands of people in my travels.  Often I use the term, "I have a friend..." in reference to someone who I have had fellowship but really they are simply an acquaintance.  

Recently I visited with a dear friend in Tennessee.  We have been friends since we were in our teens.  In recent years, we have not been able to get together, but the moment we met a few days ago, it was clear that the relationship of friendship was still there.  We talked of things with one another that we could not rehearse with others.  And we understood.  He is afflicted with MS now and it was painful for me to see him sitting in a wheelchair.  But it didn't change the love that we felt for one another.  I know that I can count on him and he knows that whatever comes, I am here for him.

I have people that are very close to me that I share my joys, my dreams, my failures, and my heartaches.  They listen because they are friends.  They do not harshly judge me, they often tolerate me, I am sure.  But they are always there for me.  One thing you can count on from a friend is that they will be honest with you and treat you with the blessing of not guessing where they stand.  Even when they disagree, they give you the privilege of being wrong without abandoning you.

I work hard at being a friend.  I pray for my friends every day.  I stand in the gap before the Lord, interceding for their needs.  There are times that I disagree with my friends, but I work hard to not become disagreeable with them.  In other words, I try to be a consistent in my relationship.  I attempt to always be there for them in a crisis, either in person, or by phone, standing with them in the face of their situation without judgement, simply loyal to the individual.

This week, I lost a friend.  I didn't lose this friend by death.  This friend had been close to me, and vice versa.  But I came to realize that this individual had walked away from me.  It has broken my heart.  I have wept, done personal inventory, questioned.  But the fact remains....I have lost a friend.  I will miss their fellowship.  I will miss their laughter.  I will miss their tears.  I will always pray that somehow we can be restored.  

Keep the faith!

CARRY ON

   

The Secret Place...

It has finally warmed up to about 36 degrees today, and the ice is melting.  I have placed my Explorer in the garage to have some repairs this week so I am spending some time catching up on rest, paperwork, and time with the Lord.  The mechanic just informed me that he should have me going this evening or at the latest on Monday.  They are having to rebuilt the rear end and replace the axles on the front as well.

During this week, I have met with several people, done some ministry, shared with pastors in this area what the Lord is doing in Glenda and me, and most importantly, finding the time to spend some intimate time with the Lord each morning at the church.  WOW, what a blessing it is to sense the sweet presence of the Father as I sit at the keyboard and just worship. 

Yesterday, I became lost in His presence for well over an hour as I worshipped.  It was so refreshing to me.  We live about 14 miles from the church, and often it is easy for me to decide that I can do this at home.  But really, there is no place like coming into the House of Prayer to soak in the Presence of our Father God!  I had figured that I had cried all my tears on Thursday, but found that there was another fountain this morning as I worshipped.

The hour that I set aside, has become two in many instances.  It is better than Italian Cream Cake!

Please....take the time to spend in intimate worship with the Lord.  It will renew your faith as you come into His presence.

I received an email from Jimmy, who is in IRAQ, this morning.  He is having an issue with an apparent pinched nerve resulting in severe pain to his shoulder and thereby, difficulty in sleeping at night because of the pain.  Would you join with Glenda and me to pray for this need?  I would appreciate it very much.

We will be praying for you this week end in our services.  I am bringing a printed copy of the names of all those who are responding to me either by email or through this blog into the service for prayer.  If you have need for healing, deliverance, restoration, or any other need, please let us know.  We want to stand with you in prayer for divine intervention in your situation.

So....... whatever you do....

Keep the faith!

CARRY ON

You can have a song....

Scripture tells us that He gives us songs in the night! One of the most difficult things to do is to get through the night when you are unable to sleep. It seems that often the night is when our mind begins to play tricks upon us.

When you are struggling in the night, I encourage you to get out an old song book, put on a CD with worship music, simply serve notice on the enemy that you are going to praise the Lord anyhow!

I have often thought of the struggle that Leah went through knowing that her husband Jacob had not chosen her to be his bride. She was sure to have felt the rejection. But, she loved Jacob and bare children to him. The fourth son, she named Judah! Leah learned to praise the Lord anyhow!

No matter what you are facing, you can press through the darkest hour with praise. I have learned to praise Him when I feel like it, and to praise Him when I don't. I praised him Sunday for a beautiful day, and I praise Him today in the midst of a gloomy, rainy day! I praise Him when a new child is born, and praise Him when a loved one draws their past breath! Sing the song of praise!

Thanks to those who have responded recently and touched my heart with their words of encouragement. I praise God for you!

CARRY ON!

"Blessing after blessing keeps on following me...."

Don't you just love the words to that old chorus of praise? Glenda and I went to the mall today just to look around and as we walked we saw someone who was a paraplegic. And we were able to walk unassisted for a couple of hours through the mall! I am so grateful for the blessings of the Lord.

A dear friend passed away this past week. Glenda and I will be doing the music and I will be officiating at the memorial service for this precious saint of God! This wonderful lady had spent many years serving alongside her husband to various South American nations. The stories that they shared with me always encouraged me to trust the Lord in all things. I was honored that their granddaughter asked us to participate in this homegoing celebration.

I have more that I would like to share, but will need to save it for another time, because I have run out of time today. But keep this in mind: God loves you more that the devil hates you! You are the blessed of the Lord. SO.....Keep the faith!

CARRY ON!

Miracles...

This has been a powerful week with several significant testimonies of God's power of deliverance being manifest.  This past Sunday afternoon, during the service here at Jacob's Well, Guest Speaker James Nesbit organized a Prayer Tunnel.  Glenda and I were part of the team that ministered for the next 90 minutes to needs of those who came.  There were several testimonies of those who received blessing.  One young lady received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  A young boy named Noah gave his heart to the Lord.  One man was overcome by the presence of the Lord and was slain in the Spirit for quite some time.  His response to what the Lord had done was awesome.  Several gathered around a prayer cloth for a child who was seriously ill in a local hospital.  The doctor was concerned that this precious child may not survive her illness, but the Lord ministered deliverance to her and she came home from the hospital after having been hospitalized for several days.  The doctor was amazed at the results!

Last evening, Glenda ministered in a Women's Meeting at Good Shepherd A/G in Evansville, IN.  After teaching the word of the Lord, Glenda ministered to those present with awesome results of the manifestation of God's delivering power.  It was a great evening even though the storm was raging outside.

Last week, during the conference in Toronto, God ministered to me in a very special manner, helping me to release several years of frustration, and the unforgiveness that had tormented me for some time.  It was refreshing to walk in the freedom of the Lord as He used several people to minister to me.  It was so exciting to have people who I had never known come to me and share with me words of strength and encouragement.  Pastor Shane prayed for me on Tuesday evening and the Lord healed me of an injury that has caused a great deal of pain to me for over 12 years.  There has been no pain since!  PTL!

As I ministered to those people in the prayer line on Sunday, the gift of the word of knowledge and the gift of prophecy were stirred up and for the first time in several months, I had liberty to flow in the manifestation of the Gifts of the Spirit.  The hunger of the people was astounding as we worshiped together.

I believe that we are on the move toward a greater anointing during 2008.  I hope that you will be encouraged to allow the Holy Spirit to draw you to Himself and enable you to overcome the powers of the enemy.  "Greater is He that is in you!"

Whatever you do, seek after Him with all of your heart, and allow your spirit to be more sensitive to Him during this year of new beginnings!  We love you!  We look forward to hearing from you from time to time.  Be blessed!

CARRY ON!

This is the last day.....

This is the last day of the Pastors and Leaders Conference here in Toronto. It has been awesome to rest in the arms of the Father for the past three days. The message of the TACF is to return people to the knowledge of the FATHER'S Love in a personal encounter. Many things happen here that may or may not be of interest to others, but the sense of the very fact that God loves me and despite all my failures and successes, I AM SIMPLY HIS CHILD!

Being a father to three great kids, has given me an insight into the father's love relationship. It is comforting to know that the father's love never ends! And it is not performance connected! HE purposes to love me!

As I write this, tears are running down my cheeks. It has been so long since I have felt of value to Him. He is beginning to restore the fire within my spirit to fulfill the ministry to which He has called me. The greatest responsibility that I have is to love the Father with all my heart and to surrender all to Him. Of course that entails the responsibility that I have to my wife and my family. But the fact remains that HE IS PRIMARY!

I encourage you to check out the TCAF website for resources that will help you to hear the heart of God concerning His Love toward you. John Arnott's teaching on forgiveness is powerful, and while it is , for the most part, things about which we have knowledge, it comes together to impact you deeply. http://www.tacf.org/Default.aspx
I love you and I have prayed over a long list of people this week that you would recieve the Father's love. Not just come to the Lord in a salvation experience, but experience the totality of the Father's love.

The real world is ahead, tomorrow. I will wait..., and bask in His arms today!

CARRY ON!