Click notes to download the PDF with the original content Perseverance is one of those topics we like to talk about after the issue or storm. For a while now, I have felt like God has led me to share how I handle the valleys during the storms, and not just after. The last time I shared during one of these seasons was when I had the physical issues of masses in my throat and how the shalom of Jesus kept us going. As many of you know, right now our whole family is in a very difficult season of attacks during the waiting/ transition that God has us in. What a hard and dark season it has been! This season of attacks started after a few prophetic encounters we had 11 months ago today. It is not a surprise that Satan would want to discourage, distract, and get us to give up after an encounter with God. Satan wants to remove your focus from the experience God gave you, no matter how your encounter came (prophetic, impartation, healing, etc). When Jesus talks about His peace He gives us in John 14, He also mentions that He does not give as the world gives to us. If Jesus is talking about peace, and that is not what the world gives, then we can expect that the world gives troubles and fear. Jesus also states, "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid". So we should know and expect that Satan, who is of this world, will bring troubles and fear. We have Jesus, we have Holy Spirit, and we have Father GOD! WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD! Just knowing what we have does not make it easy to keep focused! You know the scripture from James, .. Count it all joy when trials of various kinds come. What? Joy? REALLY??? It is hard to count it all joy when I hurt my back, when my wife has had physical issues, when my children have been under many attacks, when our character is under attack, and when our finances drop to critical levels. All since the prophetic encounter 11 months ago. This picture above with the man pushing the boulder up hill just describes how we feel. It's like there are so many boulders in our way to where God has called us to go and we are just pushing all of them uphill. I know God is removing boulders and taking our burdens as we surrender them, but it certainly does not feel joyful. During these types of experiences, I like to think of Joseph. He had an encounter, and then the the attacks came. He experienced betrayal, slavery, prison, and attacks on his character. I wonder if he was just always joyful in the pit, in the desert, when he was sold as a slave, or in prison. I think "count it all joy" is not just putting on a smile and doing the whole grin and bear it thing we like to do. It's understanding that the testing of out faith will bring steadfastness, and when steadfastness is full, it will complete us! (James 1) We have to lean on the full word of God to understand where we are and what is going on in our lives. Even while I am typing this email I am very discouraged. The boulders look massive. The attacks are loud. My family and I feel very secluded in this season. I have to remind myself that God will work all things out for good and His glory if we can focus on Him. It is not easy. Remember what God has done! One of the biggest weapons we have is to remember what God has done! We need to keep monuments that remind us of God's goodness and our victories that have resulted from His goodness. It can be notes, a picture, or anything that will remind you of your encounters and victories in Jesus! I keep a cane I used to walk with right by my desk. It reminds me I once was disabled and now I am healed. The picture of the dove is a reminder that God is with me and for me. I took that picture in South Dakota about 10 years ago. I was working away from home, working 20 hours a day, and in a very stressful disaster recovery project. It had been almost 3 months since I was home with Brenda and our 3 children (under 12). I wanted to be home. This project had me managing over a few hundred employees, about 200 contractors, and the mayor (who was a very hands on client). I had very little time for anything besides work and sleep. I remember being very down and distressed when I asked God why was I there. Why I was not doing the ministry that He called me to and all the prophetic words spoken that pointed to my calling. Right after this simple prayer, at 2:30 am, I was leaving the office tired and knew I had a meeting at 6:00am. As I walked to my vehicle, I looked over and this dove landed on the car I was walking next to. This is not just a normal dove we see flying around. A pure white dove with feathers covering its legs. A beautiful sight in a dark season. I took the picture and almost touched it before it flew away. It was God showing me the He, Jesus, and Holy Spirit were with me. This gave me hope and strength to continue moving forward. God did some amazing things during this project that changed many lives. I just had to look where He was leading. This picture reminds me that He is with me and victory is coming! No matter what you are going through, God is with you and for you! We need to persevere with wisdom to know and understand God is working on our behalf. Be honest with God. Be honest with those who will pray for you and encourage you in the storm. We will pray for you. Let us know what you need prayer for! You can submit prayer request to: http://prayerrequest@lifestyleofmiracles.com
What is Street ministry? Street preaching or soapbox is what may come to mind when you think of street ministry. It is true certain people have used the “soapbox” approach. However, street ministry can take on many forms but the type I am talking about today is an encounter evangelism, type of street ministry, where we carry the power and love of God to a lost and hurting world through an encounter with Christ in us, the hope of glory. It is the reality of that encounter with God, through street ministry, that people feel the presence of God's love and their knowledge of Him becomes tangible through a physical healing, healing of the emotions, or being set free from oppression. By being touched, God becomes real to them through an encounter with his goodness. It is His goodness that leads to repentance. Where to begin your street ministry? In our metron, or sphere of influence and authority in which He has placed us. If you are not sure what your metron is, hopefully this outline will help kindle your thoughts to find it. It starts in your house, the house of the Lord. If you have children, you have a sphere of loved ones in which you have been called to nurture. They belong to you; you have the authority to pray over what they are facing. It is possible to grow in favor with God and man. This is based on personal growth and faithfulness in doing what the Lord asks of us. (Luke 2:52) The road to Street ministry starts with intension. If you set out with this in mind, you will find intention puts into motion opportunity as you move out, you will look for and find opportunity will present to you in many ways you will learn to recognize when opportunity presents. In the beginning you may be immediately challenged with fear this is normal to run into this wall of fear and it has stopped a lot of Gods people from entering their promise land. However, you can get around fear by recognizing it exists as a possibility and predetermine if you will you let it stop you. Where fear and opportunity come together is where the rubber meets the road! You are in control, you are behind the wheel, you just need to navigate around or over this fear. When I was growing up hanging out with my friends, they dared me to jump down from a high place into a pile of hay like they did. I was afraid to do it and was stuck just looking down at them. I thought I could not do it, so to get me to do it they called me a "chicken", why? For not daring to jump. After several times of taunting me to jump and calling me chicken I knew I did not want to be a chicken that is not who I am. I told them I am not a chicken! Then I jumped and as it turned out there was extraordinary joy and thrill in jumping like that not only the jump (free falling) but the overcoming fear and taking a risk was fun. You see they all knew it after having jumped what it was like they each had experiential knowledge and I only fear until I jumped. I realize that fear was a catalyst for me to take a risk, a chance at uncertainty. I realize taking a risk stepping out can be thrilling. I call it "crossing the chicken line" you just do not know what is on the other side. You must take a risk in street ministry. Yes, there is a chance it may not succeed you may face rejection or fail to see the benefit of the risk at the time but it is a way for new growth in your life to emerge. It has been said: Success is The Crossroads where preparation and opportunity meet. Faith can grow as a spiritual exercise. Our faith muscles grow as a direct result of pressing against resistance. Lead with intent to go out and show the love of God by being an encourager. Just put one foot in front of the other and step out in faith. You will see that the Lord will use you right where you are at. Whether its the gas pump, grocery store, or everywhere you go, you carry the presence as ambassadors the Kingdom of heaven. You will not only bless others, but something will begin to happen to you as you grow in your influence and authority. “‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Luke 14:21b-23, NKJV)
What is a Giving Lifestyle? To me, a giving lifestyle is: 1) Identity rooted in Christ Jesus 2) Using your God-given ability to help those in need 3) Where your time, money, and talents come together to meet the needs of others 4) Something you can practice all year long Jesus said in Luke 6:38, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Giving is a biblical principle that when lived by, produces a rich harvest in our lives. Giving is not limited to simply our finances; it’s a lifestyle. When we live with the spirit of giving, when we give the Lord our tithes and our offerings, when we give to those in need, when we give of our time, our love, our resources, we are sowing seeds that God will make sure blossoms into a rich harvest! You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. – 2 Corinthians 9:11 At Monarch Ministries Intl. (MMI), our heart is to see everyone transformed into the royal priesthood that we are called to live in Christ Jesus! By pouring into the regions around the United States, MMI is dedicated to bringing the full Gospel of Jesus Christ. Your financial support is crucial to helping us advance His kingdom, and together, with your help, we can transform the regions together, sowing into what God is doing. Your partnership and financial support allows MMI to commit in the service of the Lord and fulfill the Great Commission. God desires for you to be the most blessed and most prosperous in the land, that we prosper in our homes, relationships and in health. Make sure you work with God and allow His door of favor and provision to open like a flood by putting actions to your faith through giving. And we don’t give to simply receive. The important thing is that we live with the spirit of giving. God is more concerned with the condition of your heart as you give, rather than the quantity. Winston Churchill once said, “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” Churchill was a great leader, and what he said about giving really drives home the point of what I think generosity can be a lifestyle. May the Lord bless you keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. -David Bennett
What happened to Thanksgiving?? Did culture cancel one of the most important reminders that we need to be thankful. Just look at the retail stores; as of November 1st, Christmas focus has taken over. You have to go to a grocery store to even notice some thanksgiving focus. Culture skipping Thanksgiving is a mirror of the heart of many people, including Christians. The focus is more on the lack, wants, or needs. We need to focus on these things, but it should not eliminate our focus on being thankful for what we do have. In this season, I find it interesting how the world’s views are also displayed in Christian views. Culture is leading the church and it needs to stop! If you don’t understand the importance of being thankful, just look at the Israelites and the complaining about the miracle of mana they received daily! (Read Numbers 11) We need to focus on thanksgiving EVERYDAY! Psalms 100 is clear that we enter His courts with thanksgiving and praise! What’s better than being in God the Father’s courts and presence?!?! We have become so off-focused that we don’t even appreciate our daily miracles. Let’s not focus on the storm, lets focus on where God is working. Even when going to church, many have stopped going to praise, to give thanks, and to hear the Word preached. The focus has become entertainment at church. This is sad. The gathering of the saints should not be the entertaining of the saints! If our focus turns to just God, how much more would we benefit when we gather together! What would happen if we would stop complaining and asking for more all the time and start focusing on being thankful and praising God our Father? I believe we would see more Christians living in their promise land and not walking around the mountain again. Let’s start with not skipping the Thanksgiving holiday season and use it as a time to reset; to start a lifestyle of thanksgiving. I would encourage you to start a gratitude journal. Take a few minutes everyday this month to write down things you are grateful for – big and small. When the storms come, you can always pull this out and be reminded of God’s goodness and faithfulness. Studies have also shown that maintaining a gratitude journal can help battle depression. What a wonderful form of worship for us to express during this season! -Marcus
