"HOLY HUNCHES BATMAN" - BV5

I woke up last night picturing a bat with big ears. Bats respond to vibrations much like we are to respond to the vibrations from the Holy Spirit. They’re in the realm of the unseen but we all have them.

I was very inspired by Adrienne’s response to my last post. She said: “God is ever present. Being mindful of this by actively listening for Him, is the key to walking by the spirit. Even minor changes in schedule—that show of humility—keeps our connection with God strong. We may never see the results of our obedience; like the car accident that doesn’t happen because of your obedience to be elsewhere. You may wonder how to tell if you are on the right track. The only way is to play it through and see what you get. Rejoice in the victories and when it doesn’t go so well, ask God how to do better.”

Those times when you “just feel like” you should wear a certain shirt, talk to a certain person, show up at different time—these nudges happen to all of us, all the time.

I think of soldiers, firefighters, undercover agents, 911 operators; they are trained to listen to their hunches and respond quickly. People’s lives depend on it.

God gives us Holy Hunches. He can’t make us listen and can’t force us to obey. We train ourselves on this one. “The only way is to play it through and see what you get. Rejoice in the victories and when it doesn’t go so well, ask God how to do better.”

In Luke 11:11 Jesus says if a child asks his father for bread, the father won’t give him a stone. When we’re asking for a more spiritual walk, He’s not going to give us a stone to trip over, but rather bread to nourish us and make us stronger disciples.

Love, Carolyn

Free download tomorrow (Thurs Jan. 30) thru Mon (Feb 3) Sample F: 6 chapters on our SUPERNATURAL POWERS. This and my other works can be found on Amazon under my name.

INSIDER TIPS FROM THE PROS

I was driving home from work, deciding the order in which I would do my errands. I thought the plan was good but I got an inner urging to switch around the order of things. Because of the change, I got to my bank later than I’d planned.

When I drove up, there was a police car in front and yellow tape around the entrance doors. As the policeman walked up to the door, I could see that it was ajar. I stayed back and watched for a few minutes and up drove three more police cars. I got out of there. Had I followed my original plan, I would have been right in the middle of a bank robbery! But the Lord kept me out of trouble by the insider tip.

Just yesterday I felt prompted to go to a different grocery store. When we came around the corner to the pharmacy section, my roommate just “felt like” taking her blood pressure. There was a woman standing there just idly looking at her receipt. We exchanged a few words and then as we continued to talk, the woman shared her concerns about a life-threatening health issue and we were able to minister real help to her.

Probably most of you have experienced similar promptings from the Holy Spirit.

But when it happens it’s kind of hard to describe in words. I’ve heard people say it feels like an urging or a niggling feeling or a stirring from within or an inner voice or intuition. The Message Bible beautifully describes it as “God’s Spirit touches our spirits” (Romans 8:16). There are several New Testament examples of believers getting these insider tips. In Acts 18 Paul describes a situation where he felt “pressed in the spirit” to go and talk to certain Jews about Jesus.  

Another example is in Acts 17 where Paul’s “spirit was stirred in him” when he witnessed certain things happening. He immediately began to take action to fix the situation.

These inner urgings, promptings and tips richen our lives. They help us to help others; and they keep us out of trouble. The Lord touches our spirits with these insider tips and wants us to be more receptive so that we can be more like Him.

Love, Carolyn

You can get any of my books on Amazon under my name. Look for the free downloads of my shorter books and sample books each Thursday thru Monday.

OVERNIGHT IN HIS ARMS - BV4

When I woke up this morning I was feeling kind of punkish. I didn’t really know if it was physical or emotional. I just felt like crawling back under the covers.

I didn’t, though. I got up. I still wasn’t feeling that great when the Lord directed me to read something I’d written in my WINGS book. It helped me and comforted me more thoroughly than getting back in bed would have done. So I’m sharing it with you for those times when you too may feel more inclined to hide than face the world:

“Psalm 91:1. ‘He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.’ I looked up the original Hebrew words to get a deeper understanding of this verse and I took the time to meditate on their meanings. The word for ‘dwelleth’ means to sit down with, remain with, settle down with, continue with, marry, be still with.

The Hebrew word for ‘secret place’ is defined as a place where you are covered, a hiding place, a place where you’re protected. ‘The most High’ is El Elyon, the highest, supreme, uppermost. There is no one and nothing higher.

The next word, ‘abide,’ is really interesting. It means to stop and stay, usually overnight, implying a more permanent stay, remaining and continuing. In the phrase ‘shadow of the Almighty,’ the ‘Almighty’ is El Shaddai, defined as the God of overflow, constant supply, and source of all sufficiency.

When I meditated on those definitions from the original Hebrew, and put it all together, this is how I spoke it to myself: ‘Carolyn, sit down a few minutes and make yourself relax. Settle down, be still and picture yourself snuggled up in the protected hiding place of God, up next to the One Who is the highest being ever to exist. He wants you there.

You can stay overnight, and then in the morning you’ll be right by His side and go where He goes. You’re close enough that you are in His shade, enjoying a constant overflow from Him.

This is where you are always protected and where the source of everything good comes from and it’s YOUR SPECIAL PLACE. No one and nothing bad is allowed to get to you here.’”

When I read this and let the words soak into me this morning, my whole body, mind and emotions felt at ease. I’m okay now. I hope you will remember to take a look at this the next time you’re feeling a little funky and need a big God hug, like I did.

Love, Carolyn

My books are on sale from Amazon under WINGS: A JOURNEY IN FAITH FROM THE EARTHLY TO THE HEAVENLY. You can get a free download of one of my sample books tomorrow (Thurs) through Monday. Enjoy.

THE CONTEST WAS ON AND I THOUGHT I WAS BELIEVING

I prayed all day but I had a bad feeling. The rules of the contest were if you completed your year-long goal, you had a chance at winning the money. I got an e-mail the night before and I was a little nervous: “Were you able to complete your goal?” (They remembered me. That’s a good sign, right?) I shot back: “Yes, I did.” The next day was the meeting and when they came to the contest part I was piqued.

But as hard as I had tried to see a positive picture of me winning, it just wasn’t happening. As the negative thoughts kept popping up, I’d force them away and I quoted victory scriptures instead. The announcer came up, “Okay, we have two people who completed the challenge. The winner gets $40 and free meetings all year long. “Oh good, only two of us.” When she drew the name out, it wasn’t mine! “Oh Nooo! What happened?!”

All that positive praying and I just couldn’t make the outcome be what I wanted. The truth is, I really knew it in my spirit but I just didn’t want to believe it. In this minor experience I was reminded of a much larger truth.

Sometimes the Lord’s messages to us are going to be negative and not what we want to hear. Instead of trying to force the positive result with scriptures, if they aren’t doing anything, then we need to stop pushing and just ask the Lord, “What’s going on?” He expects us to have that kind of relationship with Him. I was trying to muscle through with my own will, but it wasn’t to be. Next time this happens I’m going to be more sensitive to the situation and just ask, and save myself some grief!

My incident was small, but Ezekiel tells of a much graver situation. The prophets weren’t liking the messages God was giving about war. They decided to enforce their own will and preached peace instead. “Therefore the Lord God says: “I will destroy you for these ‘visions’ and lies. My hand shall be against you, and you shall be cut off from among the leaders of Israel; I will blot out your names, and you will never see your own country again. And you shall know I am the Lord.  For these evil men deceive my people by saying, ‘God will send peace,’ when that is not my plan at all” (Ezekiel 13:8-10)!

When we pray about anything or anyone, we go for the best and that’s a good thing. But if in our spirit we sense it’s honestly not to be, let’s remember to stop and ask the Lord what’s up. He’ll let us know. Honest raw truth from God is better than even the slightest bit of “positive thinking” that is a lie. The sooner we accept the “negative” message from the Lord, the sooner we can deal with it. Then we can move on with the assistance of the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us with what to do next.

Love, Carolyn

Check out my blog for a great article, “DON’T GET CAUGHT WITH YOUR PANTS DOWN.” Also my book WINGS: A JOURNEY IN FAITH is available from Amazon. The new Windows 8 comes with Kindle as an app, so you can download my books directly to your device.

ON TARGET? OR BEING YOUR OWN WORST ENEMY? - BV3

When I heard him speak, it was exciting. I could really learn some good tips from this guy. He had a free class scheduled two months away and I felt in my spirit that I should go, but would I really make it?

The day came and I’d gone out to dinner with friends the night before and was really busy on the morning of class day. I could have easily stayed home and watched a movie.

But the pull was in me, so in spite of contrary circumstances, I made myself go. When I got there, I slid up to the table into the only seat left. The speaker began, “This is the first class of the year and I’ll be doing one each month through December.” I had no idea this was going to be a year-long FREE class on the very subject of my dreams—writing, taught in a fun way, by an expert in the field. I was thrilled to be there!

I encourage you to follow your dreams and when the Holy Spirit urges you to do something, go for it and don’t try to talk yourself out of it. We can be our own worst enemies when we don’t take the needed action toward our dreams.

I was so energized and excited after the first class. It was amazing! The Lord IS amazing! He will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4), and the way to get there.

If we think our dreams are something we’ll get in the long run, we’ll only achieve them if we’re willing to take one sprint at a time. Making myself go to class was one of my sprints.   

Love, Carolyn

You can download the HOLIDAY section of my book, WINGS –This Thursday thru Monday FREE on Amazon.

CONFRONT WORRY - ESPECIALLY ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN

I had my baby car, a 1990 Toyota pick-up, towed to the mechanic. When he didn’t call me back the same day, I started to worry. I can’t even imagine how you parents face the stress and temptation to worry over your little ones. It really starts to get to you and there’s only two things I know of to stop our minds from spiraling downward.

The first is... the Word of God. And it doesn’t take a lot of scriptures; it just takes the right ones. Isaiah 54:13 says: “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” What does that mean?

It means that the Lord is their teacher, whether He works through you or someone else, or circumstances or in any other way, He will do it if you can believe it. You are not their savior! God has entrusted them to you, but you have to pray for them, believing that the Lord is around them and with them every day to care for, guide and instruct. If I were a parent, I’d be praying this scripture every morning over my children and every night too. And the second half of the verse also: “Great shall be the peace of [my] children.”

I also suggest Psalm 91:11-12 “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Stones are in the physical realm, so this scripture is telling us that angles are available to keep your children (and you too) from being tripped up by physical things. You can name a great number of possible stumbling blocks, such as bullies, bad friends, bad habits, bad health, etc. Angels’ jobs are to minister for you, so use their abilities like the scripture says, to keep an eye on your children and keep them from tripping up.

Lastly, this verse is for parents (maybe I should have listed this one first!): “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). You can say, “God I give You my anxiety today because You care about me and You can take care of the stress. Thank you so much. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

I said there were two things needed to get rid of worry. The first is to believe what God says in the scriptures and pray the ones that work for you. The second important thing is to talk to your children. And I don’t mean telling them how much you worry. That will only enforce the negative. But instead, ask them questions about what’s going on in their lives. Listen with your heart to their answers. And be bold enough to pray with them.

I didn’t pray with my mechanic, but I did pray a verse I found in the gospels about transportation and then I called him and was totally at ease. My baby truck was going to get fixed. Your kids will be okay too, if you do the above.

Love, Carolyn

Lots of exciting Las Vegas stories – seeing behind the scenes of everyday events. Check it out in paperback or e-book from Amazon, WINGS: A Journey in Faith.

COVERT PUBLIC SERVANTS - BV.no.2

From my friend Vicky Van Allen:

“I've also been compelled by God's spirit to utilize the help of angels. Recently, my dear 92-year- old charge his last night on earth ‘awakened.’ We were alone (in his home, per his wishes). I was holding him. Rather tearfully I asked for angels to minister.... Dick SAW them and asked me, ‘Who are those people?? What are they waiting for?’ I hugged him tighter. ‘Are they nice?’ ‘Oh yes (in a little boy’s voice). Can I go home soon?’ I stroked his sweet bald head and told him, ‘Yes. Don't be afraid, just let yourself relax and go back to sleep.’ ‘Do I need my pants and shoes?’ ‘No my dear, you're just perfect.’ Tears streaming down my face, I kissed him goodnight one last time. We were both comforted. My own Father passed away 30 years ago and I didn't get to do this for him. My heart was so joyful and comforted. It changed my life. Yes I BELIEVE IN ANGELS.”

In Hebrews 1 angels are called ministers. The Greek word says they are public servants, worshipers of God and benefactors of man. Revelation 5:11 says: “The number of them is ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands”—plenty to go around. We don’t pray to them and we don’t turn into them after we die, but they are probably the most neglected ministry we have today. However, as we learn more and hear more, I pray that we will be more open to the ministry of these covert public servants.

I’ve known Victoria for many years. Her faith is strong and she continues to minister in unique and wonderful ways and is willing to share her wisdom if you’d like to contact her on FB. I’m so thankful she thought to share this wonderful story with me. If you have a story of angelic intervention or assistance and would like to share it, send it to me via e-mail or FB private message. Of course I wouldn’t share anything unless I had permission.

Love you, Carolyn

FREE Starting tomorrow (Thurs thru Mon) Part4 of my book WINGS will be available from Amazon to download onto your computer or device. Part4 consists of 8 innovative, challenging stories with spiritual concepts to apply for stronger living in 2014.

FREE Starting tomorrow (Thurs thru Mon) Part4 of my book WINGS will be available from Amazon to download onto your computer or device. Part4 consists of 8 innovative, challenging stories with spiritual concepts to apply for stronger living in 2014.

DON’T GET CAUGHT WITH YOUR PANTS DOWN

Yesterday morning we prayed, “Lord, as Jane goes out today we send out angels to help her with this new insurance thing. According to Psalm 91:11 and 12 ‘He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.’ A stone is a physical thing so don’t let her get tripped up by any physical thing. Prosper her way like it says in Genesis 24:7 and 40: ‘He will send his angel before thee and prosper thy way.’ We pray this in Jesus name, Amen.”

This is what happened when the angels went to work:

Jane: “I went down to the hospital pharmacy to check on my prescription. When I got to the special parking, all the spaces were taken and one car even parked in two spaces, so I had to go in the front, which wasn’t my plan. I walked past admission and I got an urging to go in. As I went in, Debra, the Health Care rep for the hospital, was right there talking to a man about the insurance issue. I stopped to wait for her. While waiting, I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around. It was a woman from my weight loss group. She’s a financial insurance specialist at the hospital. I knew at that moment the angels had set up the no parking space and the whole thing.

I asked her if she knew about this new insurance thing. She looked me right in the eyes and said, ‘I can help you. Follow me.’ She took me back to her desk, told me what I was missing. Then Debra came in and between the two of them I found out exactly what I needed to do and also that I’d already been given extended insurance and I just needed to go pick it up.”

This is the ministry of angels. We need it. Hebrews 1:14 tells us “they are all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for [us].” Psalm 103:20 says they do God’s commands by hearkening to the voice of His Word. When we speak God’s Word, we are speaking God’s voice and angels hearken.

In Hebrews 2:1 God commands us to “give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard [about angels, in the previous verse], lest at any time we should let them slip.” We’ve let the ministering of angels slip and we’ve been caught with our pants down in many situations unnecessarily!

We need to learn how to get angels working for us now in 2014. I send them out every day and you can too. Look up the scriptures where the word “angel” or “angels” is used and start to use them. You’ll be blessed and amazed to see how things go so much better for you.

Love, Carolyn

My book, WINGS: A Journey in Faith from the Earthly to the Heavenly will help you see the spiritual background to why certain things happen in our lives and how to address them in God’s way. Get your copy in print or e-book on Amazon.


 My book, WINGS: A Journey in Faith from the Earthly to the Heavenly will help you see the spiritual background to why certain things happen in our lives and how to address them in God’s way. Get your copy in print or e-book on Amazon.

Articles for 2014

Hope you are enjoying the first few days of the new year. I know I am. I'm back at home and it's great to be here, looking forward to all God has for this year.

Update:  If you have any older kids, family members or friends who you think would like to get the preach letters via e-mail or snail mail, let me know and I can add them to my list. 

Also, I will continue to publish them on my personal FB page, Christian writing Facebook page, and my two blog sites:  http://wingsajourneyinfaith.wordpress.com/ and
http://spiritualgrowthchristianity.blogspot.com/ so you can let your friends, kids and family know about these additional outlets.

This past year I was committed to doing two articles per week, Sunday and Wednesday, and I will continue this schedule. If you would prefer to look at the articles on one of these other sites, please let me know. I'm praying for all God's best for you this year. If you have any prayer requests, let me know. One of my goals this year is to spend more time in prayer, especially for the things concerning you who have connected with me through these articles.

Love you, Carolyn

WE ALL GET BARF BRAIN - Beneath the Veil no.1 2014

I got to the airport and started eating: sandwiches, salad with lots of spicy dressing, sourdough bread, cookies, carbonated grapefruit juice and coffee. I didn’t even get to the sidewalk in front of my house before I threw up --- yep, right in the middle of the street! There’s a verse that says we’re to “purge out the old leaven” but I don’t think that’s what it was talking about. So….

I looked it up. First Corinthians 5:7 “Purge out therefore the old ...leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” Then verse 8 fit perfectly for this New Year’s Day, “Therefore let us keep the feast [New Year’s], not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

The Lord will always keep us honest with ourselves and others, if we let Him. We stockpile too much filth in the brain and need a good purge every so often. I do an exercise at the end of each year for just this purpose. It clears me up so I can start the year clean, fresh and new. It’s a great brain cleanse!

Step 1 – Make a list of every grief, major and minor, caused by others to me.
Step 2 – Add to the list any lingering ones from the past.
Step 3 – Go through the list and categorize it. Some of my categories this year were: people not telling the truth, people trying to make others look bad, people not receiving help when it was offered, people ignoring my desires, people not standing up for themselves, or God or the truth.
Step 4 – (And this one is the real kicker!) Look at each category and ask yourself, “Have I acted this way toward the Lord?”

When I had to admit the answer was “Yes” every time, I knew I was an even bigger sinner than those I was mad at. I know that God forgives me so I have no right to withhold forgiveness. I don’t have a right to think I am any better than anyone on my list. It is much easier to forgive when I know what the Lord has forgiven me for!

In Matthew 18 the man who was forgiven wasn’t willing to forgive, resulting in his being tormented until he paid all. Doing the exercise now, will set us free from emotional and mental torment quickly. We all will be required to forgive one day so we might as well do it now and be free to start this New Year clean and clear, right?

We tend to forget some of the important things that went on in the past year. Keeping a separate calendar, not for appointments and birthdays, but to record important personal evens as they happen, has really helped me. I record mental, emotional and spiritual events. Then at the end of the year I can easily see where I’ve been. Maybe you’ll want to do this for 2014. Enjoy a great start to the year.

Love, Carolyn

My book, WINGS: A Journey in Faith is a great spiritual booster. You can get it from Amazon in paperback form or as an e-book to download on just about any device.