Dear Ones,

A word from our new president, Lucy Phelps:

“My name is Lucy Phelps, and I’m honored to introduce myself as the new President of Lightbearers Ministries, stepping into the role my dad, Kevin, has faithfully carried for so many years. I’ve had a front-row seat to the way God has used this ministry, and as I look ahead, my heart is full of expectation for what He is doing across the globe. I believe we are in a time where the Holy Spirit is awakening hearts and stirring up the gifts of the Spirit, and Lightbearers is meant to help raise up a generation that is equipped to walk in those gifts and boldly utilize them to advance His Kingdom in their everyday lives. My desire is to see believers not only know God’s Word, but also recognize, develop, and faithfully use the gifts God has placed in them—hearing His voice, stepping out in faith, and partnering with Him in what He is doing on the earth—and I’m excited for all God will continue to do through Lightbearers in the days ahead.

Love you! Lucy”

RM and I are thrilled that Lucy and her team are taking Lightbearers into the next generation. I know you will be blessed. Bless God forever! KRP

GOD’S RIVER OF FAVOR

You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it. You water its ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth. You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance. Ps 65:9-11 NKJV

Have you ever stopped to consider all the ways the Lord seeks to bless and protect you? When we lived in Santa Clarita CA, we lived virtually on top of the San Andreas fault. There was a spot outside of town, called Vasquez Rocks, where the fault had pushed whole sections of rock up at almost a forty-five-degree angle. This made the area seem ‘otherworldly’ and indeed, scenes from movies like STAR TREK were filmed there (part of the fun of living in SoCal was recognizing the areas in scenes of movies as you watched them). But the great San Andreas fault also released massive destruction in our area, like in the 1994 Northridge earthquake that destroyed buildings and freeways and caused much death and destruction. When that quake hit, I was in bed early in the morning and my bed ‘swam’ around the room! But we were safe. It’s a threatening world out there, but God makes provision for every one of His children to be protected, healthy, happy and flourishing in all circumstances!

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Rev 22:1NKJV

When we remodeled our home, I had my office built with a private bathroom and shower in it. The showerhead was centered right over the top of the shower. When you stand under that thing its like a waterfall that immerses you. But if you stand two feet outside of it, there’s no waterfall, no immersion. The blessings of God are like that waterfall. Every river has waterfalls, but if you stand outside the waterfall, it doesn’t help you or immerse you. Here is the secret – the blessings of God flow constantly like a river. How we position ourselves with regard to the waterfall determines the blessings we receive. God is not arbitrary. He doesn’t have ‘good days and bad days,’ days when He is working and days when He is not, nor does He have favorite people or people He ignores. He is just, and He could not be just if He did any of those things. He is just all the time about everything even to the minutest detail. He is, in the highest, purest sense, mathematical. A = B, and sometimes A = B+ or B+++, but B is never less than A. You position yourself under the waterfall (A), you receive the promises of God (B, B+, B+++). Do you see it?

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (B+++), according to the power that works in us (A)… Eph 3:20 NKJV

Another thing to understand, and this might throw you off a little bit until you grasp it, is the different wills of God. God sets His perfect will, then He reaches down to us to try to draw us up to that perfect will. For instance, the Lord wanted to be King over Israel. He wanted to rule Israel directly through revelation. But the people, being afraid of ABBA, said that they wanted a human king like all the nations. So, God chose Saul, and had Samuel anoint him to be king. Was Saul the king by the will of God? Yes! But was Saul being king the PERFECT will of God? No, not even close. Even David as king was not even close to the perfect will of God. Man does not reach up, God reaches down. God sets His perfect will, but then He also reaches down to man to just above where man is at, to try to draw him up gradually to the perfect will of God.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Rom 12:2 NKJV

Recently, a dear pastor related to me how his son came to him in bitterness and said, where’s the fruit? In all things he was suffering because, as a preacher’s kid, he saw his father serve his ministry at the expense of his family. What may seem like an isolated incident is actually a tragic story told over and over. We must learn even as servants of God how to position ourselves and our families under the waterfall of the river of life!

In all things we want to set our sights on the perfect will of God. In just one example, healing is the will of God, but health is the perfect will of God, at all stages of life, first breath to last. Getting you out of debt is the will of God, but continuous financial stability is the more perfect will of God. Deliverance from depression is the will of God, but the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, etc. – is the perfect will of God. We rejoice to receive one will, but we joyfully strive for God’s whole enchilada – for ourselves, but especially for the people ABBA has given us! So, let’s begin to see how to position ourselves under the waterfall. Now, positioning yourself under the waterfall may take you out of position for other things. Here in the first Psalm we start to get positioned correctly…

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. 

3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season,

whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. 

4 The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the ungodly shall perish. Ps 1NKJV

You can easily see who is in the waterfall – the position of blessing – and who is outside the waterfall – the other position. The man who delights in the law of God and meditates in it all day long, that man is going to be planted under the waterfall, and bear great fruit. He won’t quit bearing fruit, and whatever he does shall prosper. Compare Psalm One with Colossians Three…

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Col 3:16-17 NKJV

It’s so simple to position yourself to receive God’s blessings – let the word of Christ dwell in you richly! People say, the Bible is boring! It’s only boring because you don’t believe what it says. When you believe it, and start to receive it, the sun gets brighter, the day fills with joy and you want to kick yourself for all the unnecessary suffering you put yourself through because, remember, the waterfall doesn’t move, only you and I do!

I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 1 Cor 14:18 NKJV

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 1 Cor 14:14-15 NKJV

Recently, a dear brother told me he quit believing in speaking in tongues. I think he was just trolling me to my face, but I didn’t bite, didn’t argue with him (you’ll win most arguments by never saying a word!). But, if he truly succumbed to the devilish lies about tongues he has cut himself off from a great source of God’s blessings. Everyone quotes Romans 8:28 out of context, but it is in the context of prayer and intercession in the Spirit – speaking in tongues on behalf of others. AND – the first word in verse twenty-eight, ties it into verse twenty-seven and six. The more you speak in tongues, the more you go, and the people you pray for, from victory to victory…this is how the early church reached the then known world!

Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And (AND, AND, AND -do you see it? Its AND) we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Rom 8:26-28 NKJV

So, how do you position yourself under the waterfall of the river of life on a daily basis?

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. Mark 1:35 NKJV

Always realize that prayer is not a monologue, it is a conversation. You start it first thing in the morning. ABBA wants two things from you – open ended time and your undivided attention. There is nothing that says ‘I love you’ more than your undivided attention. You start that conversation in the morning, then you carry it on all day long, open ended time. When you are praying in the spirit as you are driving in the afternoon, you are just carrying on a conversation that started in the quiet of your bedroom or study that morning – open ended time. Jesus said, couldn’t you give Me one hour? (Mk 14:37,38). I’ve proven that when believers give an hour to praying in the spirit especially first thing in the morning, life just gets better and better. You can even read the Word while you are praying in tongues, because you are praying with your spirit and reading with your soul. Your bossy soul will always try to interrupt the conversation with other things, but you tell it to be quiet. Under the waterfall of the river of life, you will find answers, you will find provision for the best ABBA has for you, and you will rejoice in the more abundant life. Amen? Love you!

Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…