SO WHAT HAPPENED AT PVC?
I attended a seminar at Pleasant Valley Church (PVC) in Georgia where we were taught how to minister to others and let others minister to us. As I sit here wanting to share the things I learned and experienced there, I’ll just share some of the things that impacted my life. A Pastor there, Anita, would say something after each teaching. "Take your peace." I finally got a revelation on that while I was there. And realized that everything that was taught was to get us to a place of peace. Jesus said, "My peace I leave with you, not as the world gives, give I unto you." (John 14:27) He bequeathed us His peace. And during this training, we were taught the kind of peace the enemy offers, a counterfeit to the real peace God offers. In order to attain God’s peace, we have to know what can cause us to lose our peace. This is called discernment, knowing the difference between good and evil. (Hebrews 5:13-14)
A scripture that was used that helped with my revelation in this area is found in II Corinthians 10:5 that says, "Casting down all imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
I have read this scripture over and over in my lifetime but never to this degree. I was taught that behind every thought is a thinking being. The thought comes from God, the Devil, or me, not just out of thin air. So now if a thought causes me to lose my peace, make me depressed, go into self-pity, become angry, confused, and heavy hearted, etc., I need to capture it and see what its origin is. More than likely if I felt this way, it’s either from me or the Devil and I right then cast it down. I no longer carry conversations in my head like I use to. It’s actually quite peaceful in there now. And I’m actually experiencing the peace that Jesus gives. It’s not fabricated by mind control methods, medicines, potions, or herbs. It’s real, and it’s free. I have been equipped with the Word of God to overcome.
I do want to share with you some wonderful news. On February 18th, while in Georgia, I was ordained into the ministry by Pastor Wright. He indicated that he wanted to help equip me to do the "works of the ministry" in California. What an honor! I was so blessed by this and even now sense a strong responsibility of what God has laid in my heart. I am really looking forward to what God is going to do through me here in my little town of Mt. Aukum, CA. I ask for your prayers that I am sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and that I am directed and lead forth to accomplish what He has called me to do.
Now that I’m home from Georgia, I have been exercising these principles in my life. So many things could have upset me but didn’t because I decided to believe the Word and apply the principles to my life. As I take every thought captive and throw out what is not peaceful, whether it is true or not, my life is being made more peaceful by the moment. Let me give you a couple examples.
I was driving to work feeling good, lighthearted and peaceful. But it wasn’t long until I found myself losing my peace. I realized I was feeling heavy and almost depressed. I decided to think about what I was thinking. I discovered I had been entertaining a conversation in my mind about a lady who owes me money. The more I thought about it, the heavier I got. Once I realized that, even if the facts were true, thinking about it driving to work wasn’t going to help a thing. So I took that thought captive and cast it down (out) of my mind. My lightness and peace returned instantly!
Another incident happened not long after that one. I was standing in line to register for an appointment when I heard someone say behind me, "You cut." I didn’t pay it any mind, because I didn’t think he was talking to me. When I got finished and he reached the window, he said it again; "Did you know you cut? I’m late for this appointment." I realized then he was talking to me and truly apologized but he wouldn’t accept it. It didn’t ruffle me one bit. A month ago I would have started shaking and thinking all kinds of things. I would have truly lost my peace, and may have even said more to him than I needed. But, there I was, as calm as can be, and sat down. There was nothing I could do. I learned that we do not wrestle with each other but what is in each other. I learned to separate the sin from the sinner and didn’t get upset at him because of what a spirit was doing through him. Separating the sin from the sinner is found in Romans 7. This too was a teaching by Pastor Wright, which has truly been monumental in attaining my peace and ability to walk in love toward others and myself.
As the months go on, I’ll share more things with you that I learned at PVC. Stay tuned for more "adventures at PVC."
A FEW TIPS ON CHRISTIAN LIVING:
These tips are things that I have learned and still continue learning that I thought may encourage you in your walk.
When we can trust God fully we will stay in peace. We won’t struggle, worry or become frustrated. If we cooperate with God right away, we’ll get through our trials much faster. Many don’t want to go through trials, but anyone who is a Child of God will experience trials. Trials are the means God uses to build in us integrity, truth, character and patience. And painfully, these trials come through people. Indicating to me to fully cooperate with God is to walk in forgiveness and love, this will bring you through your trial triumphantly and quickly! A person who trusts God is someone who knows God.
Enjoy the "now". Whether at work or whether at home. I found myself saying things like, "Can’t wait until it’s Friday." "Whew, it’s almost time to go home." "Can’t wait until my vacation." I was living for tomorrow, not for the day. I was loosing more than I knew with this kind of a mindset. We are to treat each day the same. Full of life, peace, joy, etc. The scripture that comes to mind is this: "I have learned how to be abased and how to abound, how to be poor and how to be rich." I’ll add, "how to be at work and how to be at home." Each day should be just as vibrant as the one before, no matter where we are.
Taking time for me. I have struggled with this somewhat because we are told to put ourselves last. That is true, but what I found is we never find the time for us, because we run out of it. There has to be complete balance here and we need to dedicate some time to ourselves. I don’t mean in a selfish way, but a spiritual way. Spending time with God, taking time out to attend a retreat, things like that. If we don’t’ do this we won’t have what we need to give to others. Taking this kind of time brings refreshment, peace, and joy. And if I’m at peace, it will affect all those around me. So really, when I take time out for myself, I’m investing in other people’s lives, positively. Clean the inside of the dish first, before cleaning the outside. (Matthew 23:26)
ISSUE of the Month:
Note: The conclusions to the dis-eases discussed here are based on case study, medical study, and scriptures, done by Pastor Wright’s team at Pleasant Valley Ministries in Thomaston Georgia. Over the past 20 years after ministering to individuals, a pattern was found in individuals that had the same diseases. It appeared that there was a specific root causing their malfunctions. And from then on, we have been ministering to those who come for help with these areas. Right now over 300 diseases have been identified as having spiritual roots. The medical society indicates that 80% of all disease is psychosomatic. In other words, it starts in the mind and causes REAL diseases in the body. Each month I share a dis-ease and explain the information we found to help you discover for yourself any spiritual roots that you may need to deal with. Pastor Wright authored a book called, "A More Excellent Way" of which I get the information I am sharing with you. You can own your own book if you like by contacting this ministry or accessing PVC’s website at www.pleasantvalleychurch.net and ordering it.
Important note: We do not promise healing. We minister the Word to you and it is up to God to heal. I personally can promise you this. By applying the principles of the Word of God your relationship with God, others and yourself WILL greatly improve. If you get well out if it, well that’s a benefit.
Depression
It seems that depression is so wide spread, even in believers. There are the same amount of non-believers as believers in doctor offices for the same problems. Proverbs 6:2 says that .." the curse cause-less shall not come." So when we get a disease, we need to see if there is a root cause. Depression is a psychosomatic disease brought by a chemical imbalance. So what people do is run to the doctor to get a "fix" to help them feel better. But what it does is simply give you what your body is not producing which is caused by fear and anxiety. When at peace within our heart (as described in my first article) a chemical is released called seratonin, to give us what we need to feel good. But if we are anxious and fearful, the body stops the secretion of this chemical causing the imbalance in our system. So the doctors try to give you something that will balance that out. However, even if it does work, now you have another problem. All the side affects. Now you have to take other drugs to counteract the drugs in your system, and you have more problems than when you started. This sounds like a dog trying to catch his tail.
Depression is a breakdown in relationship with your Father God, with yourself, or with others. These breaches have to be restored completely. Not only will it help in the area of depression; but it will also help those with extreme depression. Depression comes when we don’t believe anyone cares about us. When we don’t even think God really loves us. That is a breakdown in relationship and is a lie. We are "bewitched" when we believe lies. (Gal 3) That’s why it is so important to get the Bible down into our hearts. Then we can discern what is from God, and cast out any other thoughts that are not His. I Like what Pastor Wright says about his mission, to get people to think how God thinks. I have adopted that idea and in the process of doing the same. If we truly knew how God thought, we wouldn’t have a care in the world!
COMMENTS FROM READERS:
"Your book is awesome beyond words! I am so very grateful to you for the books! Most of all, thank you for allowing God to use you in such an amazing way to help the hurt and wounded...people like me. But I’m so thankful and joyous that HE does not leave us that way! I would love to know your counsel. You were so full of wisdom and encouragement when we spoke many months ago, and I thank you so much for all that you ministered out to me. May God bless you and pour HIS favor upon you and your families life!" (North Carolina)
ONE Liners
- If someone irritates you, it is for certain you irritate others
- If everyone told the truth, we wouldn’t need lawyers
SCRIPTURE OF THE MONTH
Mark 1:15 "And (Jesus) saying, the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the gospel."
These are the first words Jesus spoke in the Gospel of Mark. It has significance that I never saw before and wanted to share this insight with you. Jesus said the time is fulfilled - meaning that He has come to complete the work God sent Him to do. But the second part of this scripture is what truly blessed me. He said to repent and believe.
For the past five years I have been helping individuals come into the knowledge of the truth that is able to set them free. But the first thing I would do is help them to "recognize". First we need to recognize the sins in our lives. Once we see the sin, we can then repent of those sins. Once we get cleaned out from some of our sins now we can see to believe. It doesn’t say believe then repent. It says to repent and believe. I do believe it works hand in hand but I have found through my own experience that many things were preventing me from believing. Now that I have recognized those things, repented and cast them out of me, now I am free to believe. Things are systematically being removed from my mind and my heart and my spirit, causing me to believe without any effort! I have seen this over and over again. So if you have a hard time believing, ask God to reveal to you what is preventing you from believing and confess, repent, renounce and receive the forgiveness of those things. Hey, Why not?? The Bible says that we have not because we ask not.
MOTIVATE vs. MANIPULATE
Motivate and Manipulate are closely paralleled but two different things. When we motivate - we are encouraging others to do what is good for them. When we manipulate - we encourage others to do something that is good for us.
VISION vs CONTENT
Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision the people perish." I was in a point of my life that I was maintaining the things I was doing in Life Application Ministries, but not really having a vision for anything else. I believe this was causing me to feel lethargic. I really can’t explain it, but there was no excitement in me any more. I had become complacent in my life and thought that was contentment. Of course, I had been learning to be content where I was, but my problem was, I wasn’t having any vision nor did I set any goals. The proper balance here is to be content where we are, yet have a vision to keep moving forward.
After attending PVC and getting some personal revelation for myself, one of the areas that God was dealing with me in was fear. I had conquered so many of the fears already, and yet didn’t see I had a big one yet to face. It was in the area of my future. I didn’t have vision because I didn’t "think" I had any future. The truth was, I was fearing war, I was fearing being incarcerated for being a Christian, I was fearing choices I would have to make in the future as a believer, and so on. So I shut down inside.
I had known scriptures that say, "There will be wars and rumors of wars, but the end is not yet." The truth was in me, but the enemy was yelling in my ears too, and I was listening to him. No more! Because now I know how to cast down imaginations and anything that causes me to lose my peace, identify negative thoughts and separate myself from the lies, I am looking forward to walking in more freedom in the years to come and helping others to do the same.
Once I learned that the enemy was putting his own fears on me, which was that he has a short time, I confessed my sin of fear and was cleansed. My attitude about life changed and a floodgate of ideas began to come to me. My vision was restored have many plans to move forward in the Lord.
Out of this revelation, I wrote this poem. I hope it blesses you and encourages you if you had the same fears I had.
THERE IS TIME
The thief comes but to kill, steal and destroy
But Jesus gave me life
I had believed the Devil’s ploy
Now I want to set things right
As I received hours of teaching
from your servants at PVC
You opened my understanding
and now I’ve been set free
I didn’t know I was listening
to the mindset of my foe
I didn’t know I was believing lies
that he had spoken, so
But today something happened
something was made clear
That the enemy was chipping my life away
through the principality of fear
But now I have the knowledge
and understanding in my heart
‘Cause Jesus is eternal
and each day IS a new start
See I had been worrying about the future
so I wouldn’t start a task
Thinking that if I did start one
I wouldn’t see it come to pass
But it is you Devil, who is running out of time,
this I clearly see
No longer will I be stopped from experiencing
all God has given, free
My life IS eternal,
I have more time than I know
and to prove it lying spirit
I’ll walk through every door
I do have time to go to school
time to build a church
time, even, to go to the bathroom
and time to visit the place of my birth
time to spend with Jesus
time to ride my bike
time to spend with others
and yes, time to climb the pike
So to conclude my little story
I will tell you with these words
My relationship with Father God
has been miraculously restored.