IN THIS ISSUE:
Children Who Murder — Betty Miller
Covenant: Abram’s Vision From God — R.S. “Bud”Miller
Purpose and Vision — Ministry Information
Share and Tell — Testimonies From Our Readers
Spiritual Warfare — Striving For Victory
Exposing Satan’s Devices — The Devil: A Liar, Thief &Murderer
End Times — Overcoming Evil With Good
Prophetic Voice To The Church — Escaping “The DeathAngel”
Little Foxes (Little Compromises) — The Little Hole In The Titanic
The Tithe — Special Guest, Pastor Eddie Cude
Book Review — Possessing The Gates Of The Enemy
Poetry Corner — Abide in Me (Prophetic Poem)
Personal Word From the Millers — Ministry News
CHILDREN WHO MURDER
By Betty Miller
School shootings have been making the headlines in the U.S.A. at an increased frequency. Many in our nation are stunned by the recent happenings in our schools, as children have taken guns and murdered teachers and fellow students. Eleven people have died in four separate shootings in U.S. schools over a period of only seven months. Many more were also injured. What is happening with our youth?
Last October in Pearl, Mississippi, the first incident in a recent succession of violent acts in schools began and has been repeated three times since then. In Pearl, a young teen killed his mother and then shot several in his high school. This did not prove to be an isolated event, but was to be repeated in the months to come as parents and society watched the news in horror.
The second incident happened in December of 1997. Heath High School in West Paducah, Kentucky, witnessed a 14-year-old freshman turn a gun on his Christian classmates who were attending a pre-school prayer meeting. Three girls were killed while five other students were wounded. The press and law enforcement officials examined Michael Carneal’s (the killer’s) background for a motive. The incident has touched off debates on gun control and the influence of violent movies on behavior, as Carneal was reportedly influenced to kill by a movie he saw.
Next came the Jonesboro, Arkansas, slaughter in March as two boys, ages 11 and 13, killed four girls and one teacher in what police called a carefully planned ambush. The two boys were dressed in camouflage attire and shot a least 27 rounds of ammunition from stolen high-powered rifles and pistols. Nine other girls and one other teacher were also wounded in the attack at the Westside Middle School located in a quiet rural area just west of Jonesboro. It was not immediately clear what the motive of the suspects was, but fellow students said they were troublemakers and that one was angry because his girlfriend broke up with him.
Now the most recent shooting on April 25, 1998, has claimed the life of yet another teacher. This killing happened at Parker Middle School in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, but as of this writing there has been no motive established. The 14-year-old boy, Andrew Wurst, who committed this act was arrested. He reportedly was a fan of Marilyn Manson and told two other boys, “He hated his life, he hated the world and he hated school.” He also told classmates he wanted to kill people and commit suicide. One friend said, “He had a really sick sense of humor.”
Why so much violence among our young people? A Department of Education Survey which analyzed violence in U.S. schools reported that public schools nationwide experienced more than 11,000 fights in which weapons were used, 4,000 rapes and other sexual assaults and 7,000 robberies. Other reports from Time and Newsweek magazines tell us the suicide rate among U.S. teens has risen 120% in the last 15 years while drug use has risen amost 80% since 1992. The Bible tells us about a time that these kinds of violent deeds and rebellious acts will be committed by children all over the world.
BIBLE PROPHECY
2 Timothy 3:1-4: (KJV) “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”
Proverbs 30:11-14: “There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.”
Isaiah 1:4: “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.”
From these scriptures we see that the Bible speaks of a generation of youth who will be a curse to their parents. The youth of any nation are simply reflection of the parents of that nation. When sin is not dealt with in any society, the result of those sins will always produce violence. The generation living in the days of Noah was similar to our day. This is the time the Bible speaks of when Jesus Christ will return to this earth to judge the wicked and the righteous.
Genesis 6:11-13: “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”
Luke 17: 26-30: “And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”
EVIL INFLUENCES
How can we prevent our children from becoming corrupt? How can we protect our children from violence? What caused these children to commit these tragic murders? The Bible has the answers to these questions. I believe if all these killers were examined as to what caused them to become murderers, there would be a common thread running in each of them. Evil deeds proceed out of a heart that is fed by evil that comes through the mind. What can we expect when our TV shows and movies are filled with violence, perverted sex and murder? Children learn what they see and hear. If the human mind is fed a constant diet of these things, then the devil comes to tempt our children to act out what they have seen. The Bible tells us to guard our ear and eye gates so as not to let things in that are evil.
Mark 4:24a: “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear.”
Psalm 101:3-4: “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.”
Isaiah 33:15: “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high…”
Ezekiel 20:7: “Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”
DEMONIC ATTACKS
Satan sends his demons to enter and overpower those who are not covered with God’s protection. Humans are spirits that have a soul and live in a body. If we embrace evil things this is an invitation for demon spirits to oppress us. Likewise, if we embrace Jesus and the things of God, the Holy Spirit will come and dwell in us. As Christians, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit and when our temple has filth in it, demons are attracted to that filth. Just as in the natural a house that becomes dirty and is not cleaned frequently will attract flies, mice, roaches, bugs, etc; so it is with our spiritual houses. This applies to children as well as adults.
Many of the children who committed these grievous crimes have been exposed to evil and demons through sources that opened the door to the devil in their lives. Many parents do not realize when they allow their children to listen to hard rock music and go to rock concerts they are allowing their children to be exposed to possible demon invasion. Evil rock music is filled with themes of suicide, murder, witchcraft and sexual perversions. The musicians encourage the children to rebel against parents and authorities.
Other activities that also open the door to demonic attacks are certain computer and video games that have witchcraft and occultic subjects. Parents beware!! Do not allow your children access to every game room on the Internet. Many of these evil games will pervert your children’s minds and hearts. One need only preview the titles of the games that are being offered our young people and realize the danger to which they are exposed. The names of some of these games are Dark Forces, Blood, Dungeon Keeper, Battlezone, Quake, Total Annihilation and Diablo just to name a few. There are also board games that attract demons such as “Dungeons and Dragons” and “Ouiji Boards.” Even comic books and posters that have these same themes are dangerous for young people, as it draws them little by little into deeper levels of the glorification of violence.
WAR GAMES
War games in all forms are molding not only the minds of our children but adults as well. Children who have been continually practicing war games, embrace these evil thoughts and then are more susceptable to act out the murderous actions in real life. When we first moved to Arizona, there was a local group of people who went to the forest every weekend and played games of war with guns that ejected “bullets” containing capsules of red paint. We prayed and the Lord stopped this activity by denying them access to the forest. However, as we followed the reports of some of the people who were involved in this, they were later arrested for a cache of illegal arms they had hidden away. One of the saddest things about this was the fact that one of those who was in trouble with the law was a former pastor. He was deceived by the devil. First, he was led into the war games, then other deceptions followed. The devil robbed him of his ministry through what seemed like “fun and games.”
Our society has such an obsession with guns and war that even Christians are falling into the deception of allowing their children to play games of war too. In the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area I’ve been told the latest games for kids are called “Laser Quest” and “Laser Tag.” When they enter these local game rooms, the kids are first shown combat strategies on video monitors. Then, they are furnished with guns and are given protective vests. The firearms resemble machine guns that project laser beams from them. The kids are divided into teams that go through dark mazes of rooms trying to destroy each other by shooting one another down with their laser weapons. The most shocking news to me was that many of their customers at these game rooms are Christian youth groups that are going out for a night of fun. Killing one another–even in pretense–should never be a Christian endeavor. No wonder Christian youth are also receiving demon spirits that drive them to evil deeds.
SIN BRINGS DEMONIC ATTACKS
The majority of Christians today are totally ignorant of the nature of evil spirits (demons), and many would prefer that they were not even mentioned. They choose to ignore this portion of God’s ministry because they are fearful of things beyond their understanding. The result of this ignorance is that multitudes live in needless torment. One of the deadliest misrepresentations of the truth of God is that a Christian should not be concerned with thoughts that a demon could be their problem. This is taught within many churches and gives the devil a “field day” to bring fear, mental torment, jealousy, hatred, murder, suicide, lust, pride, self-pity, addiction, gluttony and many other forms of bondage, oppression, and defilement.
When anyone practices sin willfully or ignorantly, Satan eventually sends one of his demons that is compatible with that particular sin to dwell within them. Then each time they give way to that sin that spirit takes over. Since their personalities mesh with those of their victims, it takes spiritual discernment to detect them. We must remember that demon spirits are “invisible beings” with wicked intelligence that seek bodies through which they can express themselves. These spirits are emissaries sent from Satan having personalities and characteristics that make up an intelligent being. They walk, hear, speak, see, obey, seek, think, know and dwell in the body to accomplish their evil purposes (Matthew 12:43-45, Mark 1:23-24, 3:11). Each principal demon or “strongman” has a particular mission which we are able to recognize by its fruit or manifestation. We need to seek God and study His Word to find the truth about this controversial subject. As Christians we do not need ever to fear the devil or his demons. They are made subject to Christ and believers by the atonement, the name of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to this earth to give us the victory over Satan and his devils and through the power of the Holy Spirit we can banish them from our lives. What the Bible Says About Demons.
1 John 3:8: “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
There are three main identifying marks of evil spirits. They enslave, they defile and they torment. If a person has renounced evil and committed his life to Christ but still has not found peace, the problem is very likely due to the influence of evil spirits. The sooner one recognizes this evil force and accepts God’s way of being freed, the sooner he can go on to a normal, happy life.
Some children are born under a curse and have demons that cause their erratic behavior. Parents are in ignorance as to why some young children beat their heads on the floor in rages, scream and yell uncontrollably, bite themselves, or have continual nightmares. Many children do have demons and need to be set free. There is an account of this in Mark 9:20-21, “And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.”
Killing is not limited to our schools. Street gangs are fighting it out and senseless murders are taking place in our major cities every day. The family structure in our nation has been breaking down over the last few generations with so much divorce leaving children without the proper supervision and home environment to keep them safe. What is the answer to this national crisis? Most Christians agree that we must come to a national repentance that changes individuals, thus changing homes and society. Our nation stands on the threshold of a national judgment for the sin in our nation. Our national soul is perverted and sick by its indulgence in sin. Children who murder is only one of the symptoms of our national depravity. We must all repent and turn back to God to save ourselves, our children and our nation.
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COVENANT: GOD’S GUARANTEE FOR VICTORIOUS LIVING
By R.S. “Bud” Miller
Note: This teaching is continued from last month’s Overcoming Life Digest. See Table of Contents for Archives.
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ABRAM’S VISION FROM GOD
Genesis 15:1-7
“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.”
The covenant between Abram and God was not cut until Abram reached the point of trusting God enough to be ready for a closer relationship with Him. After years of wandering through Syria to Canaan, and through Canaan to Egypt and back, Abram had a vision (Gen. 15:1). By this time, he had been blessed materially. He was very rich in silver and gold, in addition to all of the herds of cattle and sheep (Gen. 13:2).
However, Abram did not yet have the one thing he desired above all others — a son. He must have wondered about that every time the Lord told him his seed would inherit the land of Canaan and would be “as the dust of the earth” (Gen. 13:14-17). In the natural, Abram probably was too old to have children by the time he left Ur. Yet, he obeyed God as if he already had many children.
When Abram had this vision, he had just won a great battle and rescued his nephew Lot out of captivity (Gen. 14). On his return from war to Hebron where he had settled, Abram met the King of Salem, priest of the Most High God, and offered up the first tithes on record, setting the pattern for God’s people from then on (Gen. 14:18-20).
In his vision, God told him not to be afraid, that He was his “shield and great reward” (Gen. 15:1). Abram had refused to take any of the spoils of war, saying that it was God who had blessed him–not any man (Gen. 14:23,24). So when the Lord said He was Abram’s “exceeding great reward,” Abram must have thought it was time to be bold before God.
He asked God what He was going to give him, since he had no children. His heir was his steward, Eliezer of Damascus (Gen. 15:2), who had been born in his house. He was assured by God for the first time that he would have a son out of his own loins.
To illustrate the magnitude of the great promise He was making, God brought Abram outside, showed him all the stars in the vast expanse of the heavens, saying: “So shall thy seed be!” (Gen. 15:4,5).
Stars literally lit up the sky in those days without light from earth to obscure them. Can you imagine the awesomeness Abram must have felt? What is even more amazing, was that he believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness (Gen. 15:6).
The Apostle Paul wrote about Abraham’s attitude in Romans 4:18-23:
“…Who against hope believe in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”
Abraham set a standard for all those following who would enter into a covenant with God. The standard is this: Do you want to be in covenant with God? The first thing you must do is trust Him and believe Him to be good to His word. Abraham believed God with all of his heart and did not let circumstance or length of time discourage him. This is a basic characteristic of all those who are in covenant with God. God’s people will not stagger in unbelief, but will be strong in faith, because they know the One they are in covenant with! Hallelujah!
(Excerpt from the book entitled: COVENANT God’s Guarantee for Victorious Living by R.S. “Bud” Miller)
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PURPOSE & VISION
THE OVERCOMING LIFE DIGEST is published for the purpose of strengthening the Body of Christ by furnishing teaching literature and a prophetic voice to the church in these last days. CHRIST UNLIMITED is helping and working with all Bible-believing Christians regardless of their church or denominational affiliations in promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. CHRIST UNLIMITED believes the hour is late and we must fulfill the great commission. We, as Christians, desire to cooperate with the Lord in breaking down denominational walls, for a united front line against the kingdom of darkness and setting up the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
CHRIST UNLIMITED MINISTRIES, INC. and CHRIST UNLIMITED PUBLISHING provide such tools through literature as to enable the saints of God to take the Kingdom and walk in the overcoming life as promised us in John 10:10 & Revelation 21:7.
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CHRIST UNLIMITED PUBLISHING
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SHARE AND TELL
“O Give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.”
Psalm 105:1
We have just completed a Testimony Page for those that would like to read some of the letters we receive. They have really blessed us and we pray they will bless you too.
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SPIRITUAL WARFARE
By Betty Miller
Striving For Victory
In II Timothy 2, Paul says in verse 5, “And if a man strive for masteries, yet he is not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” Consider one application of this Scripture: we cannot preach or teach a truth that we’re not personally walking in, or striving for by His rules. If I were to teach on how to gain Christ’s victory but not apply it to my own life, then I would not be striving lawfully. I would be hypocritical. Good soldiers lawfully obtain their blessings according to God’s pattern. We cannot expect God to bless us when we’re not doing things His way. We must be obedient to Him and His principles if we’re to obtain spiritual blessings. As we prove obedient, God gives us greater responsibilities. With the greater responsibilities come greater privileges. These are needed to offset the extra time required by our duties. So God gives us favor and help. If He asks us to do something more, and we think, “No more; I can’t possibly take on anything more,” He’ll make a way. He may lighten our load in another area or provide us with additional help. God will never require of us more than we can handle.
If we think we’re unable, we can pray, “Lord, You called me to this, but I don’t feel qualified. I need Your help and strength. Either do the necessary work in me, or send someone who can help.” Often homemakers feel burdened with the challenge of spending the necessary time to raise their children, along with their household duties. But God will lighten their load as needed. We can trust Him in all these things. God is so good. One of the enemy’s major deceptions is fooling most people into thinking that God is mean, that serving Him and battling for Him will be so difficult that they’ll never be able to overcome. The enemy has people thinking, “Only those saints in leadership can overcome, not I.” The truth is that God has made it possible for all of us to be victorious.
Excerpt from the book Personal Spiritual Warfare
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EXPOSING SATAN’S DEVICES
Betty Miller
THE DEVIL: A LIAR, THIEF AND MURDERER
A description that identifies the devil is that of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The motive of the wolf is to steal, plunder, and destroy. The Lord describes Satan as just that kind of character. The Pharisees were attempting to discount Jesus’ ministry by boasting of Abraham as their father. Jesus went to the very heart of their allegiance in John 8:44 when he said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
The devil is a liar, a thief and a murderer. John 10:10 says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
REBUKE THE DEVIL
Satan is described by Jesus as the robber and the thief. We must be reminded of this and protect those things God has given us from his devices. When we receive anything from the Lord, Satan stands ready to rob us of it. When we are saved, Satan immediately tries to convince us we really aren’t saved, or if we receive a healing from God he will try to talk us out of it. We may go for a month or longer without a symptom from whatever we were healed of, and then Satan will give us a symptom again to try and convince us that we have lost what the Lord has given us. We must learn to stand on God’s Word, not our feelings in the matter, as we can be robbed of our inheritance if we do not continue to stand against the enemy’s lies. We are to rebuke the devil and claim the promises of healing. By trusting and believing God, we will find our health and peace of mind restored. This is the manner in which we should deal with the devil when he comes to rob what the Lord has given us.
If we have never received our healing to begin with, we need to seek God and fellowship with Him until we come to that place where we are able to receive His healing. To rebuke symptoms when we have not yet received a healing is futile, as we need to be delivered from the root cause of our sickness before the sickness will leave permanently. We can find this root cause by seeking God with our whole heart and by laying down our lives before Him to use as He desires.
Excerpt from the book Exposing Satan’s Devices
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END TIMES
MARK OF GOD OR MARK OF THE BEAST
Betty Miller
INTRODUCTION
Much has been said on this subject of the mark of the beast, but little said about the mark of God. Will there be a literal mark tattooed on people’s foreheads and/or their hands in these end times to make it possible to buy and sell in a one-world monetary system that is being set up by an antichrist?
We can certainly see the possibilities of this becoming a literal reality in our day with the technology of laser beam tattoos and our president speaking of a “new world order.” Even now, pets can be tracked by tiny computer chips about the size of a grain of rice which have an identification number programmed into it that can be injected under the skin with a hypodermic needle. A special scanner generates a radio signal that reads the number through the skin of the animal when it is found.
This book is not disputing the possibilities of a literal tattoo, but rather exposing the spiritual implications behind that plan of Satan. How will this come about? Will it be one of the above new technologies or something yet to come? We don’t believe men are going to be tattooed or branded with a literal set of three sixes on their foreheads or hands, any more than we believe the letters J-E-S-U-S will be on the foreheads of God’s servants as spoken of in Revelation 22: 3-4: “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.”
How will the beast mark those who follow him, and what is the mark of God set upon those who follow Christ? Let us begin with the mark of the beast, then look at how we are to receive God’s mark which protects us from destruction in these end times.
Throughout the Scriptures, the word beast refers to a system, and not to a man. The beast is a system that rules the world; it’s an antichrist system. Daniel 7 speaks of beasts and identifies them as earthly kingdoms. So the beast in Revelation is a beastly system that’s ruling the world (it’s a dictator beast). This beast is not just one human being, rather it is a system that has infiltrated every area whether it be politics, medicine, art or science; the beastly system is everywhere. This system is typically overseen by a powerful government with those in power making decisions that perpetrate the worldly system throughout mankind. When Revelation 13:1 speaks of the beast rising up out of the sea, what is meant by the sea? The Scriptures speak of the sea as “masses of humanity.” This beastly system is rising up out of humanity, out of all the people on the earth. When John, the author of Revelation, stood upon the sand of the sea, he was standing upon that which could not be numbered, among all the people of the earth.
Overcoming Evil With Good
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). The majority of the earth has worshipped and is worshipping the beast. The only ones who have not worshipped the beast are those whose names are written in the book of life, only those who haven’t followed after the beastly system because they realize what it is. They have discernment to see it’s the devil. “If any man have an ear, let him hear” (Revelation 13:9). Whenever this phrase appears in Scripture it means we’re going to have to listen with spiritual ears. What’s being taught is not something literal, so we won’t understand it unless our spiritual ears are open.
“He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword” (Revelation 13:10a). This tells us that those who do battle with the flesh are going to lose. We cannot fight a spiritual enemy with fleshly tools. If we take the sword, we’ll be killed with the sword. If we try to deal with the devil in the flesh, it will simply cause us more problems. We reap what we sow (Galatians 6: 7). “Here is the patience and the faith of the saints” (Revelation 13: 10b). We overcome the problems in our lives through faith and perseverance, not through fleshly means, not through the sword, not through taking things into our own hands, not through using the world’s system. We overcome through faith and perseverance. Romans 12: 21 says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
(Excerpt taken from the book The Mark of God or The Mark of the Beast)
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PROPHETIC VOICE TO THE CHURCH
As some may not be familiar with prophecy in the church, we want to share this short explanation of Biblical prophecy before we share an actual prophecy from God.
First, what is Godly prophecy? It can be summed up as words that are spoken on behalf of God. A prophet or prophetess is one who is a spokesman for God. It is a divine utterance that comes from the Holy Spirit. (Note: Just as there are prophetic words from God, there are also false prophecies that the Lord warned us about in the Bible. In Matthew 7:15-16 Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits….” We must prove the source of prophecy before accepting it as coming from the Lord).
God is raising up many prophetic voices in the earth today. His gifts of prophecy are basically of two types. One is the “simple gift of prophecy” which every believer can express under the unction or direction of the Holy Spirit after they have been filled with the Holy Ghost.
The other is the “office gift” of the spirit which is given to a prophet or prophetess who is called to the “five-fold” ministry office as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:28 which says “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”
Ephesians 4:11-12: “And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
The basic difference between these two types is, the simple gift of prophecy is given to all spirit filled believers as spoken of in 1 Corinthians 14:31, “For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.”
It is for the purpose of edification, exhortation and comfort as spoken of in 1 Corinthians 14:3, “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”
The “office gift” of a prophet or prophetess is given to speak to the body of Christ at large. The ministers who are called to the office of a prophet or prophetess will deliver messages which include edification, exhortation and comfort, but their messages can also be directive in nature and futuristic in content as well (Ephesians. 4:11-15).
Presently God is leading His people with prophetic preaching and teaching. A prophetic movement is taking place in the world.
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PROPHECY
Escaping “The Death Angel”
Prophetic Word given to Betty Miller on April 11, 1998
Today, as Passover is celebrated, it is a time to think about what I did as my people Israel were in bondage to the Egyptians. I gave Pharaoh numerous opportunities to let my people go. Each time he refused, until the night that “the death angel” passed by and all the firstborn of every household in the land died. Only those of my people who obeyed My instructions to place the blood of a lamb over the doorposts were spared. Because of the blood, “the angel of death” passed over those households (Exodus 12).
Even so today, as judgements in the world are claiming lives through evil and destruction, I will “pass over” those who claim the blood protection of Jesus Christ. The only safe place is in the shadow of My wings; obeying and doing My will.
I am pleased with those of you who are seeking me with your whole heart. Because you have been faithful to fast and pray about the violence and wickedness that is in your land, I am now going to speed up the workings of My Spirit. I must bring more judgement upon some of the evils around you, as I have exhausted my mercy and grace. Because many of my people have insisted on going their own way, they will now begin to reap what they have sown, as My word says, “If you sow unto the flesh, you shall of the flesh reap corruption.” This is NOT My will, but man’s own stubborn pride of refusing My way. My way is to pardon, to cleanse and to bless.
I am also going to begin My rewarding in a greater way to those that have been faithful to Me. I will bring you out of the bondage where the enemy has held you captive and restore that which the enemy has robbed from you. I want my people to be free of all that would hinder them. I have a mighty work prepared for them in this hour of the great Harvest.
For all of those who will totally commit to Me and obey Me, I will show them My power and My greatness. I not only will free you spiritually from evil habits and weaknesses, but from the financial bondage the enemy has sought to destroy you with. My people are called to be givers, and as they obey Me fully in this area, they will begin to see my hand in releasing them from the pressure of indebtedness. I will supply for and completely pay off all their debts, including the dwellings where I have placed them. You must not limit Me in this. Remember, I own the whole earth and the fullness thereof. Men are only stewards over what they claim as their own. They will give account of their possessions to Me.
Some have failed in their stewardship, and because they are not doing My will and not living where I would have them live, nor listening to My voice, they will suffer the loss of all their earthly possessions. This is NOT My will. I want to bless My people with the good things I have created for them, but so many have become indulgent and lustful. They have failed to serve Me as I have instructed. They cannot hear My voice because they have hardened their hearts to obeying Me.
For those who are obeying and following Me, this is the time for redemption. Do not limit Me! Expect miracles! Forgive and cancel all debts where others have failed you. As you do this, it frees Me to bless you. I will bring monies to you from a different source than from the one who owes you, if you will forgive their debts. Remember My word, “Give to every man that asketh of thee and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.” (Luke 6:30) Do not be fearful to release all to Me. As you do, I will restore and bless you another way. My restoration will also come in areas of broken relationships, as you love and forgive one another.
Troubles will increase in this world, as My coming is drawing nigh. Then enemy has increased his efforts to destroy. However, their is a way of escape in Me. Stay close to Me and you shall escape the hour of destruction and “the death angel” shall pass over you and your family.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. John 16:33
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LITTLE FOXES
(Little Compromises That Cause Big Problems)
By Betty Miller
Song of Solomon 2:15 says, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” Foxes sometime in search of food would enter into the grape orchards and devour the grapes and spoil the crop. However, the little foxes were too small to reach the grape bunches so they would chew on the vines and it would kill the whole vine. Instead of the farmer just losing his crop, he would lose his vine which was more disastrous. Spiritually some things we do or allow that we might think is little or insignificant can also be disastrous for us.
THE LITTLE HOLE IN THE TITANIC
The “blockbuster” movie, Titanic has generated much interest in the circumstances surrounding the sinking of this ship. We can learn some spiritual lessons from what happened on the maiden voyage of the Titanic back in 1912. The British Empire took tremendous pride in this ship that they believed to be unsinkable. They were also prideful of the position they had attained in world stature. The scripture says in Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
The Titanic had been the largest ship in the world up to that time. It was 882.5 feet long, with a gross tonnage of 46,328. No one was prepared for that fateful night when she struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic ocean in just under 3 hours. The sea was calm that night, most of the passengers were surrounded in luxury; all were warm and comfortable. No one realized they were approaching some very dangerous waters as they cruised along at top speed. The band was playing and the people were enjoying the party. No one was prepared for what was to follow.
The Titanic sighted the iceberg just before the crash, but it was too late to avoid it. Witnesses said the people hardly felt the impact as it felt only like a little vibration under their feet. The full extent of the damage was never really accurately assayed until 1987 when the Titanic was discovered in her grave on the bottom of the Atlantic ocean. It was always thought that a 300 foot gash in its hull was the cause of its sinking. The salvage crew made an astonishing discovery according to a recent Dateline news report. They discovered that there was only a small hole, just 12 square feet (the size of an average door), in the 90,000 square foot hull. The 300 foot gash was actually only a crack the width of the size of your finger. This crack happened as the rivets on the side of the liner were popped off as the iceberg grazed against the side of the ship.
A small hole and a narrow crack brought the grand White Star liner down, (just as the little foxes spoil the vines). There were not enough life boats for all. There had not even been a life boat drill by the crew. Only about a third of the people would survive because no one had prepared for an emergency. The band quit playing her party music and was playing the Christian hymn, Nearer My God to Thee as the doomed passengers and crew of the Titanic were sinking slowly to their death.
Some of the spiritual analogies we need to see from this tragedy perhaps will prevent some of us from sinking with the judgements that are now happening in the U.S.A. First, we must repent of our pride and self-sufficiency. These sins cause us to feel we are “unsinkable” and thus we may fail to make preparations for the difficult days ahead that the Bible warns us about. Sometimes there are small things that we need to do so that we might prevent a great tragedy.
Another seemingly little thing that perhaps could have prevented this catastrophe was the request from one of the crew members who was a watchman on the deck. One of the ship’s officers had received his request for a pair of binoculars but the requisition came along with a large pile of frivolous entreaties from passengers and it was disregarded. Had he been given the binoculars, he would have seen the iceberg in time to avoid it. For the lack of a $50.00 pair of binoculars, the greatest and most expensive ship that had ever been built at that time was doomed. Spiritually, we need to see how apparently little things when ignored can lead to big problems. Lack of daily prayer and Bible study can be some of those little things that bring about the loss of blessings in our lives.
Zechariah 4:10: “For who hath despised the day of small things?”
There are several lessons we can learn from the calamity of the Titanic sinking. Here are a few of them:
1. We must stay humble before the Lord. Pride leads to a fall. Proverbs 11:2: “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”
2. We must prepare for the days of trouble that lie ahead. Proverbs 22:3-4: “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.”
3. Small sins or “cracks” in our spiritual armor can lead to our destruction. We must ask God to deliver us from all known sin and remain watchful so that the enemy does not sink our ship. Mark 14:33-37: “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
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SPECIAL GUEST
The Tithe
By Pastor Eddie Cude
What is the tithe? It is the “gateway for the believer into the covenant of blessings.” In the Hebrew “maaser” or “maasrah,” is translated tenth, or tenth part, and in Greek “apodekatoo” and in both, it means a payment or giving or receiving of the tenth.
The tithe is that tenth of our income that we give to God, which enables Him to move on our behalf in the area of blessings. The Bible records numerous accounts of man tithing to God. God is the creator of everything that exists. He owns everything and we are simply stewards of what we have been entrusted with. The tithe principle is this; “He gives unto us, we give back to Him one-tenth of all that He has blessed us with.”
Abraham tithed unto Melchizedek, Isaac tithed, His son Jacob and many others also even before the law was given. Many Christians do not tithe because they have been taught that they are not under the law, but under grace. While this is a true statement, God did not institute the tithe to bring us under the law, but to get blessings to His children. Abraham tithed before the law, and God blessed him supernaturally. We’re under grace that we might establish the law; not turn from it. Jesus said that He didn’t come to do away with the law, but to fulfill it. Because He fulfilled it, we are to establish it. His Words are forever settled in heaven, therefore we establish His Words upon the earth.
Matthew 5:17: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Tithing According to the Law as Given by Moses
Leviticus 27:30 “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.”
This scripture states that all the tithe, whether it be seed of the land, fruit of the tree, or one tenth of all that you earn, is holy unto the Lord. Deuteronomy 14:22-29 states that one-tenth of all that comes into your possession, belongs to God. This was God’s plan to instruct His people as to the way of blessings that He had for them. God is a multiplier by nature, and He could not multiply that which was not entrusted to Him. When the children of Israel were obedient to give back to God that which was His, increase was guaranteed. Scripture states, It’s better to be obedient than to sacrifice. When the children of Israel were obedient, blessings came; when they were disobedient, they had to sacrifice. Many Christians today are wanting God to honor the covenant that He has with His children, but disobedient children cannot receive the same reward as the obedient.
1 Samuel 15:22: “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
The strongest chain is only as strong as its weakest link. When we fail to tithe, we become that weak link. Statistics show that approximately 20% of Christians tithe. That means, 80% of Christendom is not in covenant with their God, but are like beggars and thieves looking for handouts and what they can steal from Him.I have said many times, it would be better to rob the First National Bank than to rob the bank of Heaven. I’m sure most Christians don’t see it this way, because most Christians steal from God. Malachi 3:8 asks the question “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.”
The Old Testament records two other tithes; one tithe was called the “festival tithe,” when they came to Jerusalem three times a year for fellowship. The expense for the festival, (travel, food, etc.) was taken from this tithe. The third tithe was given in the third year and was a tithe holy unto the Lord. It was a tithe of almsgiving for the poor and needy. All of these tithes were brought to the storehouse, and the priest oversaw the distribution of same. The first tithe was for the upkeep of the priests, since they had no inheritance. All of their income and portion was to be given to them by God’s people. This tithe in and of itself, is not considered an offering. It is the minimum requirement for all of God’s people.The reason God instituted the second and the third tithe through Moses, was that His children needed to give above and beyond this tithe. It is these tithes that God is referring to in Malachi 3:8 where His people have robbed Him in tithes and offerings. In verse 10 of Malachi 3, you will notice that it states “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
I am convinced that when people see the tithe as an instrument of blessing they will not be looking for a way to give less, but a way to give more. God will help them so that they can be generous on every occasion.
Tithing Establishes the Law
Tithing after the law does not do away with the law, but establishes it. Are you honestly blessed to where you can give generously on every occasion? Or are you like so many that can’t give the way they would like to be able to? I’ve come to the knowledge that most Christians are looking for the truth, so they can be set free. Just because you’re a child of God, does not mean you are a “mature” son of God. A mature son or daughter of God will not be found robbing “daddy” God. Revelation 3:18 gives us good counsel on how to re-establish right covenant with the Lord. Jesus’ advice to those of us who have become lukewarm is to buy from Him gold that’s been refined in the fire. He tells us to do this so that the shame of our nakedness will not be revealed.
Revelation 3:18: “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”
How do we buy gold from the Lord? Hebrews 1:7 states that His ministers are as “flames of fire.” In Matthew 25:9, Jesus makes a statement concerning the five foolish virgins to go and buy from those who sell. What they needed to buy was oil. Oil symbolizes the Spirit. Those who are in the five-fold ministry (apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists and teachers) have a command from the Lord to receive tithes (Hebrews 7). These tithes are not given, but paid, because the tithe belongs to the Lord. Malachi 3:3 states that the Lord will sit as a refiner, purifying the sons of Levi (those in the ministry) purging them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness. I repeat, Jesus did not come to do away with law, but to fulfill it. Our job is to establish it.There are those who say that the tithe is not covered in the New Testament, but in Hebrews 5, 6 and 7, one of the main subjects spoken of is the tithe–who receives it and how to become mature through paying it. In Hebrews 5:11-14 it states “…that you’ve become dull of hearing and that you should be teaching the first principles, but instead you have need of milk, and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the Word of righteousness, for he is a baby.” This is preceded by the statement that Christ himself has become High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. In Chapter 6, it goes on to state that once you have been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift–once you have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good Word of God–if you still fall away it is impossible to be renewed again to repentance, seeing that you crucify again for yourselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame.
What is this good Word of God? This Word is “rhema” which means, the spoken or revealed Word of God. His Word has been revealed to you concerning Jesus as High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, meaning that Jesus has become High Priest over the tithe, (and your life) forever (vs. 20). Chapter 6 further states (vs. 9-19), that God blessed Abraham by saying “With blessings, I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” He also promised immutability (unchangeableness) of His counsel and confirmed it by swearing an oath that by these unchangeable things, we might have strong consolation and lay hold of the hope set before us. Verse 19 states that this hope we have is an anchor for our soul (mind), both sure and steadfast. I am convinced these two unchangeable things are both God’s promise to bless us and our promise to tithe back to Him. Chapter 7 states in verse 8, “Here mortal men receive tithes, but there He receives them of whom it is witnessed, that He lives.”
Chapters 5-7 deals with the ministry of Melchizedek and that Jesus is the priest forever according to Melchizedek. We know Abraham gave tithes of all that he possessed. We know in the Law of Moses, tithes were commanded. After the Law, Hebrews states that Jesus is the Lord, not just of the past, not just of the present, but forever. Hallelujah! He is the Lord of the tithe, forever.
Seeing that Jesus is the Lord of the tithe, is He our lord? If He is, there should be no question that we tithe unto Him. I can just hear someone saying, ” If Jesus was my Pastor, I would tithe,” but Hebrews 7:8 states “that men (subject to death) receive tithes on this side; but on the other side, Jesus Himself receives them.” Why should we look for ways to excuse us from what we know we should be doing? Let’s be about establishing and not doing away with His Words. The tithe was, and is and shall ever be holy unto the Lord.
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Eddie Cude and his wife, Bobbie, pastor a church in Palacios, Texas called Palacios Faith Christian Center. He is an anointed servant of God in the five-fold ministry who is blessed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit operating in his ministry. Eddie is an outstanding teacher of the Word. Palacios Faith Christian Center is strong in evangelism and they labor as a “Sister Church” with us in the Internet Ministry of prayer and counseling. Eddie can be reached via e-mail at: faithful@wcnet.net
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BOOK REVIEW
Possessing The Gates Of The Enemy
“A Training Manual For Militant Intercession”
By Cindy Jacobs
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Genesis 22:17-18
“That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”
Possessing the gates of the enemy might seem to be an unusual title for a book on intercession. However, this powerful promise was given to Abraham for his seed. We, the Church, are Abraham’s spiritual seed and so this promise to possess the gates of the enemy pertains to us today. The gates of hell will not prevail against a praying church!
Today’s praying Church is rising up in militant force to possess the promised land of our nations. Possessing the Gates of the Enemy is a training manual for God’s prayer army. This manual is needed because a tremendous spirit of prayer is being poured out — worldwide. Intercessory prayer groups are springing up across the nations. This book will assist in giving earnest intercessors biblical instruction in spiritual warfare. Not only is it informative, but compassionate as well, directing God’s prayer warriors in the proper way to engage in spiritual battles.
A whole new breed of intercessors is emerging, says Cindy Jacobs. They are on the move worldwide, “invading” countries, covering them with prayer and engaging in spiritual warfare. Christians everywhere are waking up and routing the enemy from strongholds we must no longer allow him to dominate. This book of strategy will guide everyone who wants to join in the battle. It even includes guidelines for starting and leading prayer groups in the local church. Whether you are a beginning “pray-er” or an experienced intercessor, you can learn to pray concerns about matters that are on the heart of God — and possess the gates of the enemy.
Dr. C. Peter Wagner of Fuller Theological Seminary says of this book, “I know of no other book like this one”.
We highly recommend this book for all intercessors. — Betty Miller
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Cindy Jacobs, president of Generals of Intercession and on the executive council of the National Prayer Embassy, travels widely and teaches on intercession. An intercessory participant in the Lausanne II Congress on World Evangelism and coordinator of the first 24-hour intercessory prayer team for InterVarsity’s Urbana 1990, she lives with her husband, Mike, and two children in Colorado Springs, Colorado. . Cindy can be reached at this address:
Cindy Jacobs
Generals of Intercession
P.O. Box 49788
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80949-9788
(719) 535-0977The book, Possessing The Gates Of The Enemy, is available in paperback priced at $9.95 in our Chapel Bookstore catalog.
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POETRY CORNER
ABIDE IN ME
A WORD FOR THOSE WHO ABIDE IN ME
Prophetic poem given by the Holy Spirit through Evangelist Shirley Holland Knoche
November 1992
Listen My children and you will hear,
My words becoming ever so clear.They will keep you alive morning, noon and night,
As you now enter the End-Time fight.So begin now, putting them deep, deep within you heart,
For the great battle is beginning to start.Remember now, take heed and let your ear hear,
Then, My precious ones, you’ll have nothing to fear.My words will go forth out of My mouth,
And nothing will touch you, not even the drought.My words will go forth like mighty waves upon the waters,
Take heed now, Oh sons and daughters.You have entered into this battle with Me —
And you must stay alert, pray aloud upon your bed,
You’ll not see destruction, but My salvation instead.So put the sword of My word deep, deep in your heart,
For the End-Time battle is about to start.You’ll speak forth and render powerless many a dart,
For My words that go forth, like a spear will hit their mark.You are indeed a holy, royal seed,
I will cause you, My voice to heed.I will cause you to keep the covenant we have, My sons and My daughters.
Be ready — be prepared — to walk on the waters.————————————————————
Shirley Holland Knoche is with Hearts United Ministries. She can be contacted at:
1718 Adelyne Lane, Santa Maria, CA 93454
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PERSONAL WORD FROM THE MILLERS
Dear Internet Friends:
We have been very blessed from the response of those who have written this month desiring to be a Partner. We really appreciate all of your letters and comments. The Internet exposure keeps our mail box full. We would love to write you each one of you personally but we know you understand. Please accept this letter from our hearts. We do pray personally for every prayer request. We are trusting the Lord to meet each one of your needs. The Lord is beginning to expand this ministry and we need additional prayer also. Thank you for remembering us in your prayers.
Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us, we do have a praise report. We have been blessed of the Lord with the help of some new people who are computer technicians. They are currently working on the CHAPEL BOOKSTORE to update it and make it more “user friendly.” They are working on adding a SHOPPING CART which will make it easier for those of you who would like to purchase books and Bibles online. We already are equipped to take credit card orders as we do have a SECURE SITE with the availability of encrypted transactions, however with the new SHOPPING CART it will expedite your orders.
Our plans of expansion for the CHAPEL BOOKSTORE will include a much greater selection of Bibles, (and Bibles in foreign languages) as well as many more outstanding Christian books. For those who are interested in music, you will be able to purchase cassettes and CDs. We will also have a Gift Shop with t-shirts, ball caps, etc. A lot of the young people would like a t-shirt. Please pray for us as we are working on this project.
Mercy, our associate editor and secretary, is a wonderful help in the ministry. Please remember to pray for her too. Mercy and I (Betty) went to Phoenix recently to take a one day computer course in FrontPage so we will be able to be more efficient in getting more teaching material completed and on the site. Soon we will be adding more topics to the BIBLE ANSWERS link.
We are enjoying a lovely spring here in Arizona. With all the rain over the winter from El Ninó everything is green early this year. The tulips, daffodils and grape hyacinths are in bloom. It is really beautiful! We thank the Lord for creating so much beauty in the earth to bless us. May you be blessed as we all strive to serve our Lord this year in a greater way!
Love and blessings to each,
Bud & Betty Miller
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