Last year the summer of love journey ended in San Francisco and we spent many nights meeting at a Church that has been trying to push back darkness for a number of years.  The name of this church is called Promised Land.  The ministry called IHOP or International House Of Prayer is close by also and they are closely connected with this church.

Several of us cooked the one good meal that the group got while in SF where some of the team of IHOP called home. As you can see it is not the Hilton.  These young people come from all over the country and give a large portion of thier lives to pray day and night for the Kingdom of God to come to SF.

The one day that I got to go out with the team we were assigned streets to go to and worship the Lord.  Our assignment was the corner of 5th and Market. Very few people who passed by even took notice that day.

I said all this to give you an idea of what kind of young people that went down several nights ago to the streets of San Francisco and were viciously attacked by homosexuals in the area.  And they think we are guilty of hate crimes when we just speak our views.

When the people of CA made a stand for righteousness by voting that marriage was only between a man and woman it really stirred up the forces of darkness and hate and violence is showing it’s head.  Please pray for these young people and for Promise Land Church.  Below is a video of a first hand account of what happened to a group a few nights ago on the streets of SF.

November 18, 1996 Brittany Michelle Williams (our own BMW) was born into our family.  She is our second grandchild and first granddaughter.  She was born with an inner strength and perseverance and sense of adventure and yet has a very compassionate heart.

It is really hard to believe that our Brittany is one year from being a teenager and all that season brings. This year has been a little rough for her, bringing circumstances that were designed by the enemy to tear her down, but the Lord she serves will use them to build character.

She celebrated her birthday early Friday night with six girl friends. They first went to Brittany’s favorite Italian restaurant, then a trip to Bath Junkie, then off to Starbucks and finished at the candy department at Fresh Market.  Sounds like she made it to the teenage scene a year early.

My friends think she looks like me, but truth is she is much prettier and is much more outgoing and athletic than I ever hoped to be.  She has accomplished soccer, cheerleading, running and now is on to basketball. I expect any day now they will call and say she has joined the football team…nah.

Happy Birthday Princess Brittany.  PawPaw and Nana are very proud of you and love you so much.  You are a gift of God to our family.

While America struggles with the sub-prime and credit market crisis, Shariah Islamic Finance, also known as Shariah-Compliant Finance, is quickly infiltrating our financial markets – and bringing Islamic shariah law with it.  As one leading Islamic authority on Shariah-Compliant Finance has stated, it is “jihad with money.” In a new ACT! for America video, Joy Brighton, ACT! for America’s financial expert on Shariah- Compliant Finance, warns America of this chilling threat.

Colts 33 Texans 27                                      Giants 30 Ravens 10

I first heard this song last year on Josh Groban’s Christmas album and it has stuck in my heart ever since.  Periodically it comes back to me and today was one of those days.  Even when things all around seem to be shaking, even though we don’t see the sun shinning through the dark clouds if we look closely we will find we’ve got so much to be thankful for.

For the last few days I’ve been listening to all these “experts” give their opinion on the government bailout’s.  I kept thinking, “now how does a government bailout fit into a free market?’.  Free market means you are free to make it work or you are free to make it fail.  Either way the buck stops with you if it is your business.  Now I understand that it effects all those connected with that business, but everyone who goes to work for a company knows that their job basically is in the hands of their employer.

I even heard that a Bank back in my home state that is not having financial problems had applied for bailout funds: “Though the funds would come from the $700 billion federal bailout package, Trustmark’s chief executive said the bank remains healthy and simply wants to take advantage of attractively priced capital. ‘Trustmark does not need to do this. It’s one of the stronger capitalized banks and above the median of the banks our size in America,’ said Richard Hickson, chairman and chief executive officer.” Excuse me????

A puzzle to me about the proposed auto industry bailout is that it was reported that the plants that are not in Detroit are making money. The difference is they are not union. They don’t have all the benefit packages and pressure negotiations that the Detroit union workers do. Hum….  The union heavily supported the new president elect and so everyone is sure he with the Democratic Congress will scratch their backs with a huge bailout.

I sat on the couch with Chuck this afternoon and asked out loud to the TV why can Joe the plumber and most of us taxpayers see that this is our money being thrown down a dark hole when the people up there (Democrat & Republican, elected and appointed) in DC handing out our money can’t see it.  Then the answer also came out of my mouth. We don’t have anyone remodeling our house or padding our pocket to get us to see their way.  No, we pay for our house, pay for it to be remodeled and pay taxes so it can be used to satisfy someone’s greed.  The more I listened to these experts the more I got upset.

Suddenly this song came into my mind.

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.

I think I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I’ve been praying for
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.

Look all around, there’s nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothing but blue skies

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.

Now where in the world did that come from? The news all looks dark and gloomy.  It does not look like bright, sun shiny days.  Matter of fact it has been a dark cloudy day here and has been raining today.  Do I think the circumstances are going to suddenly change in America, I kind of think not.  Do I think things can change in our lives for the good outside of what happens to America, I am pretty sure it can.  Those of us that are in this world but not of this world are part of a Kingdom where there is no corruption, where truth reigns and where there is no lack.

Look straight ahead, nothing but blue skies.  OUR GOD REIGNS!

Well, here it is 11/11/08 which is 7 days since the American Elections that promised change.  Prior to the elections I prayed with people who cried and some wailed before the Lord repenting for our nation and asking for mercy.  I had no tears for some reason.  I sure was grievous for my sins and the sins of my nation, but for some reason there were no tears.  I pondered that and wondered if there was something lacking in me, likely there was.  This continued up until the elections were over.

As I mentioned before I was weary with intercession and was looking forward to the elections being over and yet I ignored the thoughts that kept coming that the battle would not be over with Nov 4th.  Days after the elections the flood gates opened and I cried for 2 days.  I was not angry, I was not feeling defeated and I was not without hope.  I was, however, very grieved.  The word says “where your treasure is, there your heart is also”. It appeared to me that the heart of the majority of Americans had been revealed and that was grievous to me.

The election of a black man into the office of President of the USA is a huge victory that I agree is long over due.  However, this victory possibly came with great compromises and sacrifices.  It certainly came with ignoring the 1,500 black babies a day being sacrificed on the altar of abortion.  That is a overwhelming price to pay.

I have been pretty tied to my bed the last week fighting what I guess is the flu.  So I have had time to listen and read many opinions or what is proclaimed to be prophetic words about what happened.  I also have my own thoughts as you who know me can imagine.  My head has been in a tailspin with all the different words that go around and around in every direction.  Some make me angry, some make me sad and some make me laugh(and I don’t mean ha, ha) while a few encourage.  I have cried out “Lord, what is really going on?’   Did I get an answer? Well, I could say I have the word of the Lord but then I would just be another voice to add to the whirlwind. You know God is not schizophrenic, he does not confuse. But He does look at things from an entirely different perspective, would you say He has a clearer vantage point. Truth is we really don’t have the big picture yet. Many of these words, though they sound different, may be true.  We just have to take up our sword and hold ground and wait on the Captain of the Hosts.

A week before the election I heard a prophetic man that I respect and feel is very balanced say that no matter what happened on Nov 4th God’s ultimate purpose for America would be fulfilled.  Her choice was whether she did it the easy way or the hard way.  Yesterday a friend called me from St Louis all excited because her daughter had been in Kansas City, MO Sunday and Rick Joyner was preaching.  He told how God had revealed to him that we were entering into the day of the Glorious Church, the church without spot or wrinkle, the church for which Jesus will return.

We both shared excitement that this is the day that we have been praying, longing and waiting for so long. Birthing or bringing forth of this Glorious Church will be like any birth, it will come with much pressure, pain, moving of structures and shedding of blood.  We all know that a Glorious Church won’t come out of ease and prosperity.  We as humans would not seek out the Glory of God and His power when we are comfortable. The Glorious Church will be refined by fire and come about out of great cost.

So, today I feel like when God told the Israelites Moses is dead.  Well, they knew that because they had been grieving for 30 days.  But it was God’s way of saying what’s done is done and you have got to go forth and conquer the land. We can sit down and concede defeat or we can brush ourselves off and take up the sword of the spirit and conquer the enemy.

I am praying that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah walk the halls of the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court and roar.  I am praying with that roar the fear of God will grip every heart and they will even change or run.  I have seen Obama’s heart in the Lord’s hand.  We must declare that the will and purpose of God alone will be done in our government as it is in heaven.  Let God arise and His enemies be scattered!!

**Note:  After I finished this and walked away for a minute my Pastor, Peter Wyns, sent me this website where some Elementary and High School Children are singing the Battle Hymn of The Republic.  It was recorded by a father of one of the students.  Please listen and hear the sound to battle.  Battle Hymn

This morning I woke up at 5 with this “Once upon a time” story rolling over in my head.  I got up and started typing some of the story as it came to me and I heard the ping that my computer makes when email comes through.  You know I am too curious to just ignore that ping, so I checked it out.

My friend, Lisa, had sent me a video that is a “Once upon a time” about a father’s unfathomable choice.  Please get a tissue and watch The Bridge.