INTIMACY WITH GOD JOURNAL
Written by Linda Schreurs
SEPTEMBER 2011
Opening Article - Heat Wave
Passion - What Get’s You Up in the Morning?
SE QUAD OF IOWA COUNTIES MEETS SAT., SEPT. 24, 2011. Spiritual CPR revival meetings! (Christ Performing Resuscitation) See Announcements for details.
Women’s Fall Hermitage coming up fast! Check Announcements ASAP
Mike and Linda Schreurs
(Pic taken by 4 year old grandson)
HEAT WAVE
O for joy! We decided to take the grandkids to the zoo on one of the hottest days of the year. It was only about 102 degrees that day, with a heat index of 118! There’s certainly not much air conditioning at a zoo! Everyone was scrambling to find shade wherever they could, animals and people alike. Even though a ‘good time was had by all,’ we were more than happy to get back to our air conditioned car and beginning cooling off.
I am reminded of the intense heat that is soon to come upon the earth. It won’t be about global warming either. No one will be able to escape this deathly heat except those who have accepted the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross for their salvation. 2 Peter reveals much about the waning days of earth’s existence. In Chapter three, verse seven he states it this way: “But the present heavens {skies} and earth by His Word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” This planet will not last forever. Might we be cognizant of that and live our lives differently?
Man’s limited knowledge
There’s a saying we are all familiar with, “Nothings lasts forever.” It’s so true – except for the Word of the Lord and those who reside in His Love. (Isa. 40:8) Living in Iowa, we welcome the heat of summer knowing that winter will be upon us all too soon and our longing will go back to those hot days. So we try not to complain too much. Everyone needs to keep in mind that God has a plan for His earthly things and earth dwellers. All creation, every plant, animal, sea, forest, mountain, etc. are actually groaning for the release of the sons of God and for the Day of the Lord. (Rom. 8:19-22) I find that incredible! It makes me think of what I should be doing to live in high expectancy of what the Lord is doing right now in my life, and in the lives of those around me.
Here’s the crucible of the heat waves and strange weather that have beset various places around the globe. Be informed, O people, not by man’s limited knowledge, but by that of our Most High God. Note 2 Peter 3:10-12 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and it’s works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat.”
I don’t know about you, but I fear THAT kind of heat more than anything else. Isn’t it time we give our amazing Divine Creator God all the glory and honor He deserves by living righteously according to His Word? Earth will not last forever, but with Him, we will!
PASSION
Passion drives the human force. Passion can be good or bad. Passion is hot!
Passion will cause you to do things out of the norm, out of the ordinary – again, for good or for evil.
Profound, godly passion is what drove the apostle Paul. He writes in Philippians 3:14 that he had to keep going, keep moving forward, keep moving onward and upward in the high calling of Christ Jesus. He said he was pressing toward the goal for the prize that is found in our Lord.
Passion drove Paul to preach the Gospel at any personal price he may have to pay. He paid dearly. He went through imprisonments, beatings without number, often in danger of death, scourged five times with 39 lashes, beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked three times spending time floating in the sea. He relates these trials in 2 Corinthians 11. He went on to say how he had been on frequent journeys with dangers from rivers, robbers, countrymen, Gentiles, dangers in the city, in the wilderness, and even dangers from false brethren! He went through sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food in cold and exposure. He goes on to say how he had endured all these things with the additional burden on his soul of the daily pressures of all the churches he’d planted.
It seemed all the world was against Paul. But look at this guy’s passion, it’s almost beyond explanation! Most would give up with just one or two of the things he had to endure. Can we now come to an understanding of how the Lord’s sacrifice on Calvary is oftentimes referred to ‘The Passion of Christ’? Let us ask ourselves if we emulate Paul in our passion for our Beloved Savior.
What gets you up in the morning?
What drives us to get up every day and face the battles that may be waiting in those 24 hours? The number one motive must be to bring glory, praise and honor to our Most High God. He is worthy! It’s not ALL about us, it’s ALL about Him. However, sometimes it’s not easy to get up and face another day that may be filled with an on-going heartache or health issue. But when we reside in the Lord’s bosom, in His divine presence and power, we are consumed in Him. We are lost in His divine love and that kind of passionate pursuit of His glory will cause breakthroughs to come! We do it all for Him!
The Apostle Paul had the book of Isaiah as do we. After all these years, it’s still a powerful book because it’s the Word of God! I’m wondering how many times Paul may have turned to Chapter 40, verse 29: “He {God} gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.” Verse 31 is familiar to many of us and it has these words of encouragement: “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary.” But you might be saying, “I still get tired. I still feel weak. I don’t feel any strength.” Then let passion arise in your soul! Keep on, keepin’ on, as did Paul. Take the next step, and then the next one. Some days it may seem like taking baby steps, but each one takes you further and further! Papa Abba will hold your hands any time you may wobble. He’s there for us every step of the way. (Ps. 23:4)
Several years ago I was battling a rare disease and I can tell you, there were many days I could only take it hour by hour. Some days are inch by inch. I’m sure when Paul was afloat in the open sea, he cried out to God just as we do. But these things only made Paul stronger not weaker. Passion for God drove him. It must for us as well.
Next level of glory
Did you know that passion may very well be the catalyst to take the church to the next level of glory? It’s very exciting!
A few weeks ago, while in the middle of the night spending time with the Lord, I had an ‘incident’ that really shook me! While sitting in our screened-in porch that night with passion for my Holy Beloved flooding my soul, I began journaling as I often do during those intimate times with Him. Some of what I wrote that evening was this: “I want to know You again ~ in more joy, excitement and anticipation. I cannot go on as I have. I’ve got to have more! … Someday…” {as I listened to crickets, bullfrogs, etc.} “…I’ll trade these nighttime sounds for glory sounds of heaven. How long, Lord? Can a human really make a difference on the earth? Can my life really count for anything for Thee? Let me know Thy will, that I may obey it fully. I want nothing more than to please you. Light the fire and the passion in me once again, Lord.”
Boom! Suddenly, out of nowhere, a very bright, white light - round in shape like a huge ball, exploded in front of me in the night sky. It was very close above and in front of me. It was a very quick flash and from the center of that light there were tiny pieces of brilliant white lights that streaked out from it as a result of the intense explosion! It’s extremely hard to describe. But it was so intense, so sudden and so bright, that I ducked for cover! I didn't know what happened. It seemed almost like a FIREWORKS display. It wasn't frightening, but rather beautiful. Then I began to perceive in my spirit that it was a heavenly vision. I sat in utter amazement for some time trying to drink this in and figure it out. It was so very real!
Word from the Lord
I wanted to imbibe and reside within this warm and wonderful Light of glory. And for one brief second, I thought I might be taken up with Him, it was that powerful! I spent a considerable amount of time trying to absorb what had just happened. But I was more speechless and wordless at that point, only engaging in listening. It wasn’t long before the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart with these words:
“I am bringing explosions of my glory! It will be as when Elijah called forth fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. Passionate love is fiery love and nothing can stop it! This is not an uncontrollable burn, but one controlled by My Spirit,” says the Lord. “It’s not a wild fire out of control ~ it’s My fire of glory. It shall illumine your path by day and by night. My pillar of fire is swirling and raging across the earth to places calling out to Me. I shall answer them! Now is not the day of fainting, but of fiery passion for Me.” (See Ex. 13:21; 1 Kings 18; Isa. 60)
Since then, Jeremiah 23:29 is enlivened to my heart more than ever: “Is not My word like fire, declares the Lord, ‘and like a hammer which shatters a rock?” Oh yes, God’s Word is full of fiery passion and can shatter any stronghold in your life!
Suddenlies
I went back to bed and the next morning....or rather, a few hours later, upon rising for the day, one of the things the Holy Spirit showed me was that breakthroughs are going to begin happening quickly as when this ‘light’ came very swiftly. Watch for the ‘suddenlies’! Stay alert. Stay the divine course for your life as instructed in God’s Word. Do not be discouraged, but encouraged. Let Mark 13:35-36 keep you awake and sharp spiritually. “Therefore, be on the alert – for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, at cockcrowing, or in the morning – lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.” The ‘suddenlies’ are upon us, even as all the earth seems to be groaning for the release of the sons of God. (Rom. 8:22)
May our hearts begin to soar knowing that some things we’ve been praying for, perhaps for many years, may very well be imminently forthcoming! God’s timing is always right on schedule. O mighty men and women of God stay the course and you will see! His spectacular Word declares to us in 2 Chronicles 29:36, “Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.” That’s an exciting verse! Watch for the ‘suddenlies in your life. One 24 hour day could change everything!
Light
The Holy Spirit reminded me afresh that Jesus is our LIGHT. You and I simply cannot not walk in darkness, gloom or doom no matter what our circumstances if we’re truly abiding in the Lord’s astounding Presence. If we’re trying to mix light with darkness in our lives with lukewarmness and compromise, we’re living in a gray zone, a colorless, powerless, dangerous zone! (Rev. 3:16)
You and I are called to be just as passionately on fire for the Lord as was Paul, and he had troubles everywhere! Trials in no way should ever stop us in our tracks. For “Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.” (James 1:17; my emphasis) The Lord has a lot of good things He wants to bestow on us. Instead of complaining, let’s start praising Him, more and more! He is worthy!
We cannot stumble and fumble when we’re walking together side by side with our Holy Beloved. So if discouragement has assailed your soul, let your passion for Him cling to the hem of His garment and see what happens! “…And they began to entreat Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.” (Matt. 14:36; Matt. 9:20) He will guide and protect us just as the pillar of brilliant fire led the Israelites through their own desert experience. Precious friend, your dark night of the soul, your personal desert experience, is about to end! Oh what a heavenly, glorious light He is!
The morning of this amazing vision, I began reading the scriptures where I'd left off the day before. I was in Isaiah 4, one of the shortest chapters in the Bible (just 6 verses). But it's powerful in addressing the remnant of Israel. Of course, we've been grafted in, so it's for us too. (Rom. 11) In this chapter of Isaiah, verses 4-6 it speaks of the “spirit of judgment, the spirit of burning...the Lord will create a cloud by day...and brightness of a flaming fire by night...for over all the glory will be a canopy.” It goes on to talk about the 'shelter, refuge and protection from the storm...' Take courage! He’s got you covered!
But note as well that ‘spirit of judgment’ which is to sharpen us so we can subject ourselves unto righteousness, purity, holiness, etc. It’s intended so that we maintain a clean and pure heart before this Holy, Living Light of revelation, comfort, joy, strength and so much more! Rest in Him, abide in Him.
To have passion in your life, embrace fully John 8:12, “Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Light is warmth. Darkness is cold. Jesus desires to give you His warmth of heavenly light and glory. Let passion for Him soak your life. Everything will be different!
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PRAYER WARRIORS ARE MARCHING ACROSS IOWA!
click ‘Iowa Map’
IOWA QUAD STATE TOUR CONTINUES THIS FALL
Spiritual CPR Meetings
Christ Performing Resuscitation - Revival!
(Copy the announcement below and send to your own e-lists so everyone can know!)
FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S PROPHETIC PROMISES IS NOW!
Since our book, Words Aptly Spoken, was published after our prophetic prayer journey to Iowa’s 99 county courthouses, the Holy Spirit has been calling us according to Acts 15:36, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”
Therefore we are calling churches, prayer groups, ministries, intercessors – all those concerned about the fulfillment of God’s purposes and plans in your area of Iowa to gather for a one night spiritual CPR meeting! The Lord is about to fulfill some amazing things that Iowa has never seen before! Go to our website at www.intimacy-with-God.com to see the schedule. Click onto the current ‘Journal’ for more information. Then click the ‘Iowa Map Tab’ to register to be an intercessor for your county. Please pass this information on to your own lists! See you soon!
SCHEDULE FOR IOWA QUAD STATE MEETINGS
NW and NE Quadrants have already taken place.
SE Quadrant of Iowa will meet SATURDAY, Sept. 24th – Counties
from that portion of the state will gather at Trinity Friend's Church, Richland, Ia.
Host: Rev. Tim Hadley. Speaker, Randy Bixby.
SW Quadrant will meet at HHOP in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Friday, Oct. 14th. Hosts: Jim and Teri Kohl.
THE GRAND FINALE of the Iowa Quad Tour is scheduled for 11-11-11 and is our 4th Statewide Worship War Room! It’s a spiritual CPR Revival Meeting! (Christ Performing Resuscitation) It’s being held at the Foxboro Conference Center on 86th St. in Johnston, Iowa.
*The renowned prophet, Kim Clement, prophesied recently there will be a shaking that will take place on this date, and it will open up the heavens! Go to: hope@kimclement.com to see the entire prophetic word given. Make plans now to attend this strategic and anointed gathering of saints from all across Iowa (and beyond)!
* More details will be forthcoming upon each upcoming meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Iowa Quad State Tour: For more information see the current issue of IWG Journal at: www.intimacy-with-God.com
Women’s Fall Hermitage: Oct. 6-9th. This is an anointed time alone with God in your own private, one-room cabin in the woods. Please begin to make plans now to join us on this holy adventure into solitude and silence by contacting us today to reserve your place. It’s life changing!
LINDA’S BOOKS:
Armageddon Bride
This book is more pertinent than ever as the fight for true, covenantal, intimacy of marriage will be the fight at the End of the Age! Endorsed by Lou Engle, the late Jill Austin and others, it speaks of the moral issues of our day that are playing havoc in many societies globally. Who is the true Bride of Christ? Will she stand up for truth at all costs? ($14, plus shipping & handling)
Words Aptly Spoken This book was the precursor for the Iowa Quad State Meetings currently being held. Iowa is a key Midwestern state that has a divine destiny the Lord desires to fulfill! Endorsed by Francis Frangipane, it is about IWG Ministry’s prophetic prayer journey to Iowa’s county courthouses declaring righteousness and truth to come into these places of governmental decisions on various issues. All the states of America ought to do this very thing for the area in which they live. May our prayers shake America for revival! ($20, plus $4 shipping & handling)