It is NOT too late. Honest.

Here is a shift in perspective for you. A shift that powers down a particular attack of the evil one. First, how many of you have had distressing thoughts about time running out? How many of you have agonized over the thought that you are too old and its too late in life for you to be useful in the kingdom of God? How many of you are sad because you desperately wish that the truth you understand now is something you had understood back then (when you were younger)?You can put your hands down. Here is what the enemy is up to. He is pressing your buttons in order to get a painful emotional response from you: disappointment, regret, anger, self-hatred, shame and so on. Why does he bother pushing your buttons? He wants to suck down the life energy that flows from your heart when you are miserable (Proverbs 4:23).This “energy”—for lack of a less New Agey word—has been measured by scientists who call themselves neurocardiologists. Neurocardiologists call this negative energy emitted by the heart when a person feels upset a discordant heart sine. Let me suggest that this energy is what the adversary is seeking to devour. Consider that he is cut off from the life of God and stripped of all power. From where does he get life and power? Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 These same neurocardiologists call the harmonious heart beat that results when a person is at peace or grateful or in awe of something amazing and beautiful a coherent heart sine. I have set the Lord continually before me … Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices. Psalm 16:8-9 Let me suggest that the evil one is NOT able to prey upon the positive energy produced by a heart at peace. What does this have to do with the painful belief that the time you have left on earth is too little and too late? Let me answer that question. Such thoughts about the meaning and purpose of your life being over are not God’s thoughts. They are a ruse by the devil to produce in you the distressing emotions that result in negative energy. This prophecy came forth in Little Church a few meetings back. The one prophesying saw an old car on the side of the road and buried in weeds. From the look of things, this car was never going to be useful again, but then the motor roared to life (after a few cranks of the key) and a tow truck with a huge hook arrived and pulled that old car back onto the road. Here is the gist of the words prophesized: You thought it was over. That you have been sidelined because you are old and useless, but that is not true. This car may be an Old-s-mobile, that was abandoned on the side of the road, but now it is a priceless antique, a showpiece, restored and ready to go.Don’t be fooled by that roaring lion. God knew from the beginning the course of your life. If you have a day left on this earth, rejoice and follow the Lord. If you have 60 years left, rejoice and follow the Lord. Don’t let time sit on the throne of your life. Let’s pray:  Father, God, Creator of heaven and earth and time. Forgive me for listening to the lies of the devil. He tricked me into focusing on time instead of You. Whatever time on earth I have left Lord, doesn’t matter. Help me follow You. In the beautiful and majestic name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. (To learn more about Neurocardiology and the research that supports their findings, go to https://www.heartmath.org/research/science-of-the-heart/details/). Hugs and blessings,  Susan 205.556.4555 (Leave a message. I will call you back. We don’t answer unscheduled calls because of spammers). Send me your emails. thepool@thepoolministries.org  I love getting them. If this ministry has blessed you, please consider visiting the website to donate.  http://www.thepoolministries.org

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Can You Love God & Be Really Mad At Him Too?

Asking for a friend

So, here is the question. Can I love God and be really mad at Him too? Is it even safe to voice that question out loud where other Christians can hear me? Since it probably isn’t safe to voice that question, let me qualify it by explaining the kind of rage I am talking about. I am NOT talking about the rage of an infant left squalling in a crib for too long. If you are an infant, you should feel rage when your needs are not met in a loving and appropriate way. Screaming your lungs out because your needs are being ignored is age-appropriate behavior when you are little. It is not age-appropriate behavior when you are 40. At some point in your adult life, God expects you to get out of the crib and use that free will of yours to make some maturity choices. It is good for you. Immature anger misdirected toward God is not good for you and is not what I am writing about. I am writing about believers who find themselves in a desperate situation. Those of us with a sick child; those who are desperately lonely; those who can’t conceive or carry a pregnancy to term; those with a crazy spouse or chronic illness. I am writing about believers who have worked hard to mature; who have stood in faith; who are willing to do whatever God asks them to do, because they LOVE Him. Feeling like you have gotten a raw deal—one that God could resolve easily if He would just do so—isn’t a comfortable place to be. If you are like me, connecting and reflecting upon those strong emotions feels very unsafe. Especially if you have distanced yourself from the ugly, angry you. Especially if you believe that the ugly, angry you isn’t acceptable to God; that the ugly, angry you is the reason God isn’t answering your prayers and, thus, must go far, far away. I had a weird dream recently. I’m pretty good at interpreting other people’s dreams but terrible at understanding my own. And the icing on that cake is this: none of my friends and family are able to interpret my dreams either. If I get an interpretation, it is from God or I get nothing. Not sure I want to examine the why on that, but there it is. So, I had one of my let’s-baffle-everyone dreams. Let me give you some context. Sam and I used to own a children’s entertainment business. As part of that business, we offered high-quality princess and super-hero characters for parties and events. I was completely obsessed with providing the most amazing characters and experience possible. Here’s the dream. Sam was in the background putting tremendous pressure on me to costume myself as Beauty from Beauty and the Beast in order to entertain at a children’s party. Setting aside the fact that I am in my 60s, even on my best days I do not look anything like a Disney princess. But I felt compelled to comply with his demands, even though I knew I would be a disappointment no matter how I tried to convince myself that I could fool the kids. But I HAD to perform. On top of that, I was late and the arts and crafts were not ready. Typing that out makes me realize that a dream could not be more obvious; nonetheless, it was days before the Lord explained the dream. Hidden within my heart was the belief that He required me to be the perfect princess in every way before He would heal my son. Since I believed that, I had sent away the “not princess” part of me, the angry and frustrated me, the mad-at-God me that I thought had to go because “she” didn’t have faith. Let me be clear that nothing I do will ever make me into princess material. (Here is where everyone reading this agrees with me lol). All my efforts to hide my anger and frustration from God; all my efforts to become the perfect believer did not trick God into answering my desperate prayer. As a matter of fact, my crazy just got in His way. Are you twisting yourself into a perfect YOU in order to get your prayers answered? Might as well stop, dear one. It doesn’t work and isn’t required by God. Here is why it doesn’t work as I understand it. You and I will never become perfect enough to deserve God’s blessings. We will never be a good-enough Christian. It just isn’t possible and that is OK, because our savior Jesus is perfect and we are in Him (Colossians 3:3). AND (take a deep breath) God’s blessings are not earned. Look at these scriptures: Freely you received, freely give. Matthew 10:8 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Romans 8:32 we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God … 1 Corinthians 2:12 Don’t be like me! God’s blessings are free! Stop trying to earn them by putting aside your honestly confused and frustrated self. Instead, I want you to embrace that part of you. If anyone needs love and acceptance, it’s the ugly you. Oh! One more scene from the dream. I kept looking into the mirror, thinking I don’t look like a princess, but at the same time I looked better than I expected. Maybe the ugly me is really the hurt and scared me? Maybe I just need a hug. So, don’t bother twisting yourself into a prince or princess. It DOESN’T work and actually gets in the way of God’s blessings. Why? Because bribing God with good behavior is actually manipulation. I think the Lord wants to answer our prayers, especially our most desperate ones, but if He responds to our manipulation (no matter how unconscious), we will come away believing that our manipulation got our prayers answered. We would probably teach other people how to manipulate God into answering their prayers. (I am NOT saying be bad! I’m saying be real, be honest and let that grow into an intimate relationship with God. Godly behavior will flow from that). So, let me answer my question: Yes. I think you can love God and be really mad at Him. I think it is OK, because the truth sets you free. So hug tight the ugly you that is angry and have an honest talk with God. I have done it and it makes things better. and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. John 8:32 Hugs and blessings,  Susan 205.556.4555 (Leave a message. I will call you back. We don’t answer unscheduled calls because of spammers). Send me your emails thepool@thepoolministries.org I love getting them. If this ministry has blessed you, please consider visiting the website to donate.  http://www.thepoolministries.org

Surgery and Your Spirit

Two dear friends of mine recently underwent surgery: one had a knee replaced and the other a shoulder. Before their procedures, I called them, and by phone, engaged with their human spirits for the purpose of securing the best possible outcome for their surgeries. I am happy to report that from pre-op to post-op and through recovery everything has gone splendidly, so much so that the shoulder replacement doc cried when my friend reported on how well she was doing. (Which is kinda weird, but I guess he doesn’t get much positive feedback at that point in the recovery process). Last night another friend asked me to give this information to you because she has also used it with good results. So here it goes. I learned this powerful strategy for improving surgical outcomes from Arthur Burk. I have modified what he teaches to suit my style. You can find his teaching at https://theslg.com/content/your-spirit-surgery-video. Instructions taken from Arthur Burk and modified by me.  If you are the one facing surgery have someone else instruct your spirit for you. If that is not an option, do it yourself. Don’t let any perceived shortfalls hold you back from moving into your dominion and authority as a child of God. Ideally, start instructing the spirit three days before the surgery. I wasn’t able to do that for my friend whose knee was replaced, so I combined step one and two.He did fine anyway. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Here we go =) Day 1: Secure a Clean, Safe Place.  (Name of person), I call your spirit forward to engage with me. Spirit, I bless you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are wonderfully and fearfully made in the image of the one true God. He has packed you full of everything you need for life and godliness. The Lord knew before you were placed in the womb that you would face the challenge of this surgery, and He put within you everything you need to bring about His will and His healing in this situation. So, I release you to do just that. (Psalm 139:13; Genesis 1:26-27; Zechariah 12:1; 2 Peter 1:3; Jeremiah 1:5). Spirit, you are a joint-heir with Christ. This means that you have authority in every area of the hospital that you go. I want you to command any evil spirits and any other hostile or interfering spirits to wait outside of the hospital. Tell them that they are not allowed to be in any place you occupy during pre-op, surgery and post-op. Command them to do no harm while they wait. Only humans and those the Lord has appointed to help you are allowed to function. As a joint-heir with Christ, you also have authority over the angels. So, command them to actively guard you. (Romans 8:17; Hebrews 1:13-14; Luke 9:1; Mark 16:17-18). Day 2: The Spirit Has Oversight.  (Name of person), I call your spirit forward to engage with me. Spirit, you are not subject to anesthesia. The soul and the body will go offline, because the soul is dependent upon the body to function, but the spirit exists with or without the body and will remain online. You have dominion and authority and the ability to monitor everything. You will do so, and you will intervene in the event there are any issues with the procedure, the surgeons and any caregivers. You will direct things so that your person receives the best of care. You will not settle for anything less.  If you have to, you will shout at the caregivers until they hear and heed you. (Proverbs 20:27). Day 3: The Spirit Can Direct Recovery.  (Name of person), I call your spirit forward to engage with me. The body is naturally traumatized during the surgical procedure. It will want to recoil from the surgery site. You will not allow this. You will command your body to vigorously accelerate repair of all blood vessels at the surgery site, especially the capillaries. This is so that all waste products may be quickly removed. Spirit, command your body to rapidly repair the nerves so that there is a minimum of pain. Command all involved tissue to be restored. And cleanse the body of all anesthesia as soon as is safe. Psalm 139:16 states that every day is ordained by God. So, he knew that this day would come and has packed into you—spirit—everything you need to walk joyously and successfully though this challenge. Now go ask Holy Spirit to unpack all the information and skills you need to accomplish what I have charged you to accomplish. In the name of our healing Lord Jesus, I bless you and release you into your dominion and authority. Have fun! And please let me know how things turn out for you after applying this spiritual pre-op approach to surgery.

Hugs and blessings,  Susan205.556.4555 (Leave a message. We don’t answer unscheduled calls because of spammers).Send me your emails. I love getting them.Visit the website to donate.  http://www.thepoolministries.org

Colonoscopy and the Fear that Everyone Wants to Hurt Me

So, I have avoided submitting to the dreaded colonoscopy well beyond the recommended age that the screening is supposed to take place. For my international readers, all Americans are encouraged to be screened for colon cancer when they are 50. My husband went under the gun; I mean invited this home invasion; I mean was screened against his will and at the insistence of his doctor some years back. I am happy to report that he survived the procedure and entertained his caregivers with an overflow of hilariously unrestrained friendliness while recovering from the anesthesia. On the other hand, I have strenuously resisted all attempts to convince me that such a screen was in my best interest. Have you noticed that telling God no is a surefire way to activate his “Oh yes you will?” Back in the day—waaay back, I am happy to report—I told God that I would never quit smoking pot; that he was wasting his time even going there. Pot smoking was the first of my heathen bad habits to go away. It went so far away that even the thought of being in the same room with pot gives me the willies. Email me if you want the details. Yes! God can change a mind. After telling the Lord “no thank you” to a colonoscopy; that I would take my chances with colon cancer, every single commercial on TV was about screening for colon cancer. Every Single One. Friends began sharing colon cancer stories. Colon cancer stories popped up on my FB news feed. One friend, whose mother had just been diagnosed via a colonoscopy, asked why on earth was I not getting a screening? To which I had to respond that I was scared out of my wits! I asked for prayer. Here is what the Lord showed me. My heart believed beyond a doubt that Everyone Wants to Hurt Me. Are you aware that your heart is designed to believe absolutely without question? Once your heart settles into a belief, it is there for good unless some intervention takes place. Blessed be the name of our God, I know how to intervene. I broke all vows to Never Forget that Everyone Wants to Hurt Me. I sent all attached evil spirits to the feet of Jesus to be judged there. And I firmly instructed my heart to stop believing what it believed. Instead, I directed it to believe this: All bad things happen because of the fall, not because everyone wants to hurt me. I then directed my heart to believe that No One Wants to Hurt Me (realizing the devil does but so what to him). A few days later, I made a doctor’s appointment and will be scheduling my lovely home invasion screen soon. I feel no fear AT ALL. I don’t think all of us have my heart belief, but I think many of us do. So, let’s pray together and break it. -In Jesus’ name, I break the inner vow I took to Never Forget that Everyone Wants to Hurt Me. I break the assignments of any evil spirit attached to that vow. I send all evil spirits to the feet of Jesus to be judged. -Heart, from now on you will stop believing that everyone wants to hurt me. Instead you will root and ground me in the grace and love of God. -Lord, God, please heal all the hurts that have resulted because I believed in my heart that everyone wants to hurt me. Amen. The above prayer may surface some hurts that need addressing in the presence of the Lord. I pray for you that you will be saturated in his love as you work through painful heart beliefs. … it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace … Hebrews 13:9 I may—or may not—report on how the colonoscopy goes 🙂 Hugs and blessings,  Susan 205.556.4555 (Leave a message. We don’t answer unscheduled calls because of spammers). Send me your emails. I love getting them. Visit the website to donate.  http://www.thepoolministries.org

Strategic Freedom

A Quick Helpful Prayer Strategy

Good news! I have finished my book (Yay!) and I will be meeting with book agents June 7 and 8. Prayer that the Lord’s will be done is very appreciated.

Prayer Strategy: Cutting Free from the Future

The need to not only heal, but to cut free from the past is recognized among prayer ministers pretty much across the board. But there is also a need to cut free from ties to the future.

These ties can be a prophetic word that you are waiting to come true. Prophetic words about the future can keep you from living today. AND they can cause you to feel distress when your present life doesn’t look anything like that word.

Fear of what the future holds or hope in the future (instead of in Christ) can pull you into anxiety. Anything that causes you to live future-focused and not present-focused is a potential weapon in the hands of the evil one.

Now, let me clarify. A wise person plans for the future. But it is not good to anxiously live there. Instead, live your best present because the Lord has your future well in hand.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Prayer for Cutting Free from the Future

In the name of Jesus, by His blood and by His Word, I cut myself free from all ties to the future. My future belongs exclusively to the Lord. He is fully capable of managing it.

Lord God, please bring all of me into the present where I am supposed to live. Please bring to death any habits I have of living in the future. Amen.

Blessings upon you and those you love,

Susan

Send me your emails. I love getting them.

205.556.4555 (leave a message)

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thepoolministries.org

Pray for USA’s Intercessors!

My dear intercessors, in the event you haven’t noticed, you are being intentionally targeted and attacked. The purpose of this deliberate assault is to shut you down, so that you will stop praying for our president and our nation. This attack goes beyond the usual annoyances of the evil one. If it were just his usual stuff, you would recognize the working of the evil one and brush it off. This is more subtle. It is coming in on three fronts. 1. Exhaustion that is really oppression. 2. Discouragement through a flood of bad news. 3. Self-examination that is really a distraction. Are you feeling extremely heavy and no amount of rest resolves it? That’s not exhaustion, that’s oppression. Is the reported behavior of our president troubling you more than before? Does it feel like the evil one is gaining ground? Do not allow the shredding of the president’s prayer cover. Cover him back up. Are you experiencing a cascade of painful memories and regrets? Even those you have resolved? Does it feel like a painful introspection is being forced on you? I am not, in any way, suggesting that you avoid inner healing. For goodness sake, inner healing is my specialty. But this current deluge of painful memories and regrets, this introspection the enemy is directing at God’s intercessors, is not inner healing. It is a distraction. This is not the time to engage in senseless painful self-examination or allow the enemy to flood you with the shame of your past. As Isaiah 54:4 states: Fear not, for you will not be put to shame; And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; But you will forget the shame of your youth, And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. Please intercessors, do not give up. Please do not stop praying for our country. Do not stop asking the Lord to shatter the strongholds that have taken the nation captive. Press in and preserve. We need you! Isaiah 59:19 says that “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” You, dear intercessors, are God’s standard, representing in the earth His Son the Ultimate Standard! Please do not allow the enemy to trick you into believing that you are too weary or unqualified for this work. Don’t believe the lie that the work you do in prayer isn’t feared by the enemy. If your prayers are not mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds, why would the enemy waste energy targeting you? This is a call to all believers to share this information and to pray. Pray for our intercessors. Pray without ceasing. Here is a sample prayer. Father God, Creator of all, strengthen those who have dedicated themselves to praying for our nation and for our president. To all those you have called to this great work give the protection of Your greatness. Refresh them in Your peace and joy. Reassure them that their prayers are vital because the battle is first of all spiritual. Pour out blessings upon them in this life and the life to come. We command the evil ones to stop this attack against our intercessors. There will be no more devouring. It is forbidden. Holy angels, we send you to destroy this evil scheme. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Please continue to cover the intercessors as they cover our nation. If you are not American, feel free to apply to your country as needed.

Blessings upon you and those you love, Susan 205.556.4555 (leave a message) Send me your emails. I love getting them. Visit the website to donate. thepoolministries.org

My Greatness Is Your Shield

Have you been feeling overwhelmed by the seemingly unending corruption in the world? Just when we swallow one more horrid story of another depravity, here comes along something even worse. And if you don’t accept one more twisted abomination, candy-coated in false compassion; if you stand up for God, then you find yourself condemned and attacked. It is Isaiah 5:20 come to life. Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Here is what is happening in the spirit realm. The devil has a kingdom called darkness and captivity. Ephesians 2:2 names him the prince of the power of the air. Communication (sound) travels via air waves. He is manipulating communication so that his message of rage and despair is always in our ears. I call this the Corruption Channel and, more than any others, the devil wants Christian ears tuned in. What grows in the believer when he tunes into the Corruption Channel? Fear and unbelief grow. We forget how mighty God is and, through our fear, enthrone the wicked ways of the evil one. We talk among ourselves, amplifying the horrors being normalized in the world. We post them on social media and read the posts of others. I am NOT saying that we should be unaware of the condition of the world. I am NOT saying don’t vote or run for office. I am saying STOP bowing down in fear and unbelief to the shenanigans of the devil. Last night I woke up with my spirit tuned to the Corruption Channel. It was calling me to be afraid. It was declaring that the devil is greater than My God. Has that been happening to you? Your joy and peace compromised by an unending flood of bad news. Even in the night when you should be, and need to be, resting in the arms of your Lord? I asked God what to do. How do I resist this particular scheme of the devil? He responded with this: My greatness is your shield. Have you noticed that much of the worship music coming out of where ever it comes from is focused on the individual’s relationship with the Lord? Not trying to be critical here, but singing about God’s love for me isn’t much of a weapon against the current attack being launched against the body of Christ. He is a good, good Father; He will guide us through the oceans of life. That’s all good, but He is also the Mighty One, our dread champion! We need to be singing Psalm 91 back at the Corruption Channel. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked. Psalm 91:5-8 I remember as a young believer singing scripture songs that elevated the greatness of God. We need to be exhorting each other about the greatness, the awesomeness of our God and STOP amplifying the kingdom of darkness. Laugh instead! That is what God does. Oh! He is great and greatly to be praised! Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!” He who sits in the heavens laughs … Psalm 2:1-4 Two prayers follow. One is for the body of Christ; the other for the nations. Prayer for yourself: Creator God, Father, in Jesus’ name we approach You, repenting of falling for the devil’s lies. Forgive us for entertaining unbelief and fear as we gazed upon the kingdom of darkness and its evil deeds. Establish us firmly in the Kingdom of Light. Fill our mouths with the sound of Your greatness. Cause Your glory to pour forth from us as we go about our days, telling others the good news: They are forgiven. They are loved. They can come home to You because Your Son Jesus has defeated the evil one. Prayer for the Nations: Mighty God, Everlasting Father, I ask you to shatter the strongholds that have taken our governments captive; our media captive; our entertainment captive. Release those who have been enslaved by these strongholds. Release those taken captive by the stronghold of abortion; homosexuality and pedophilia. Destroy the evil spirits that live within those strongholds. Restore to the captives their rational minds and free will. In the name of our Lord Jesus I ask. Amen.

Blessings upon you and those you love, Susan 205.556.4555 (leave a message) Send me your emails. I love getting them. Visit the website to donate. thepoolministries.org