November 2007

CLU Student Newsletter

Seeing Jesus in Prayer

The Testimony in the July Newsletter ‘A Fool For Christ’ made a deep impression on me and changed my outlook on prayer and ‘seeing’ what Jesus is doing. This is my testimony of how God encouraged me to practice ‘seeing’ what He is doing.

Our little grandson, Gregory, was born 8 months ago. He is a little miracle from God since the chances of the parents having a baby without help were very slim. Yet God intervened before our daughter and son-in-law started treatment. Gregory was born with a small swelling in the roof of his mouth, and although the doctor did not think it was anything to worry about, he suggested that a pediatrician check it out. While waiting for the appointment at the hospital, we were all praying, but nothing changed.

Since the young family was planning an overseas trip, an appointment was set up. I was with my daughter when the doctor decided that he wanted to do a biopsy with full anesthetic. That was a big thing for a little baby. Even though there still was no real concern, he wanted to do it before their departure, which was to happen in three weeks.

I decided to ask the Lord what He was doing in the situation and how I was to pray. As I was focused on Jesus, I saw Him holding Gregory’s head and looking into his mouth. Then, with a smile, He handed the child back to his mother. It was a lovely picture, but I did not really understand what it meant. However, I knew deep in my heart that I should believe there would be no biopsy. I shared this vision with a couple of my friends but received no encouragement from them. They kept trying to prepare me for the biopsy, but I continued to pray while keeping the picture of Jesus in my mind and thanking Him that He was in control.

The day arrived to take Gregory to the hospital. He was put under anesthetic. The parents were amazed when the surgeon came out a very short time later. He told them, after having a good look at the swelling, he didn’t think a biopsy was necessary. It was wonderful news, and Gregory recovered very quickly!

Through this incident, my confidence in ‘seeing’ what the Lord is doing has grown. We have such a wonderful God Who longs to communicate with His children. I am praising God for giving me the opportunity to join CLU, for the work He has done, and is still doing in my life.

Little Dandelion Fluffs from How to Hear God's Voice
By Kathy Abbott

Yesterday on the set of an Esprit print shoot, I had several children, most of whom were rollerblading and skateboarding. The shots were of children doing physical activities in Esprit clothing. For several hours they played, did a little schoolwork, and posed for the shots.

One little six-year-old girl did not like her hard, hot, heavy rollerblades, even though they were a bright pink. So the photographer had her sitting on the sidelines, watching. She was quiet for now but had been a little pistol, bossing her mom around and being oppositional.

So I sat quietly down beside her. After we had chatted a little, she noticed my iPod nano and asked what it was. I had loaded How to Hear God’s Voice on it and had the earplugs hanging down outside my sparkle shirt. I told her it played music or words, and I had words on it. Would she like to listen? Her eyes lit up, and with a big smile, nodded enthusiastically.

I put the ear bud into her ear and turned on Mark’s voice. She listened. And listened. And listened some more! After what was an unusual amount of time for a child her age, she handed the ear bud back to me and asked, “Who is Jesus?” “He is the Son of God,” I answered.

Satisfied with that answer, her attention went back to the other six-year olds who were rollerblading. Her close up shots were next, and she was beautiful!! What a wonderful story of how God plants seeds and sends them in the wind like little dandelion fluffs.

As a California Studio Teacher, I am mandated by the state to teach children who cannot go to school because they are performing in entertainment industry projects such as commercials, TV, and movies. I am on set with them and their parents for a full day supervising their learning and entire environment for their protection.

There are about 200 of us who hold a California license in Child Labor Law and teaching credentials for both elementary and secondary school levels. We are in every project that comes from California, wherever it may be filmed in the world. I have unique opportunities to influence show business from the ground up for His glory.

As a CLU student, I am gaining from the course REN503 CWG a whole new, rich, exciting life that is only beginning to unfold. It's what I have been waiting for all my life! Below are examples of the changes before and after hearing and reading the first three chapters of Mark’s book, How to Hear God’s Voice.

The Before
Several months ago, the Lord called me to begin my mornings with exercise on the treadmill as soon as I arose from bed before I went to work. This could be anywhere from 4:30 AM until 7:30 AM daily. I started with two minutes.

Soon thereafter, He injected prayer into the exercise time, and the initial tough 2 minutes grew to a much easier 20 minutes. He took my mind off the attitude I had toward exercising my body and replaced it with heavenly prayers.

Then He named this prayer time “The Commander’s Meeting” because it became a time to set the direction for the day, just as a general would. I did what Paul told us to do and prayed for all the leaders of the nations, and the leaders of America’s schools, churches, courts, media, business, churches, and charities. I also did what Jesus told us to do and asked the Father to send out laborers to bring in the harvest from the fields that are white and ready. Then came all of my family requests followed by my taking authority over satan in Jesus’ name, binding him, and casting him out of all the same situations. Now, “The Commander’s Meeting” is a daily meeting to which I look forward and see as a privilege.

The After
After being exposed to the wonderful truths of Mark’s teachings in CWG, my spirit opened up to delightful visions and experiences I had previously shut off. One morning, the Lord awakened me about an hour before it was time to get up and go to the treadmill for the Meeting.

He showed me the conference table in His throne room that I usually visited with just my logical mind. It was a large table, and I had not seen anyone else there before. This time, I sensed Jesus and our Father in the room, along with the table being filled with other people, who were commanders taking care of daily business. Only now, the “business” was not so much “business” as it was entertainment!

While I do not yet see the people at the table, I do see their rides. By their ‘rides’ I mean the wondrous animals that bring them to the table. My animal is a very large pink/blue/white opalescent horse with a comic attitude. He has very large eyes with long eyelashes, large nostrils that breathe visible air fonts in and out, and when he comes to a stop at the table, he puts on his ‘brakes’ and skids to a hilarious stop. He stands behind my chair during the meeting, as do the other animals.

White giraffes, large fluffy lions, sleek cheetahs, and even elephants stand behind the chairs of the other participants. They are of all colors with the colors changing from one brilliant shade to another. They move gently and posture as they wait. With such a wonderful spectacle going on how can we be sober and solemn in our petitioning? We don’t need to be! Mark’s references to the little children came into my thinking. Children mix play with everything they do – schoolwork, games, imagination, dreaming. As little children we can mix play with prayers, too.

Here I am now, feet on the treadmill, but spirit soaring in the throne room enjoying our Father’s wonderful menagerie … the Commanders are children playing and praying in the presence of Jesus. What was once “business” is now excitement, thrill, and experience! With my tiny little glimpse into the joys unspeakable, I am enraptured.

The same prayers go forth, but now they are transformed into the sweetness of laughter and pleasure, like the tender kind of communication you have with a completely open, innocent child. The desires of God’s heart are joined with the desires of my heart. It is His pleasure to answer these prayers.

Thank you, Mark, for encouraging me to do what God has wanted me to do all along – to open the eyes, ears, and hearts of our spirit. Prayer is now an experience, not just a thoughtful ritual. Thank you, Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, for creating us to share life with you! Thank you, Dr. Karen, for inviting me to share this journaling.

Jesus in Tattered Blue Jeans?
By Barb Hicks

For many years I have been praying and longing to know God better. I would read books such as ones by Madam Guyon, Beth Moore, Brother Lawrence, When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson, etc. I would try their ideas. These are all good books and I love them, but they just said what, not how. Now I am learning how through the Communion With God course!

I didn’t know that a person could visualize a Bible scene, or that I could use it myself as a way to “prime the pump”. Now when someone reads out loud from the Bible, I try to visualize it. My love for God has grown and grown through this course. It is exciting for me to learn that God loves me even more than I could ever imagine.

I took the Brain Preference Indicator Test in the How to Hear God’s Voice book and now have some understanding as to why I couldn’t hear God. I scored 4.6 and have discovered that I am a left-brained person. Even though I have been a Christian for 35 years, I have never heard of most of the information in this course!

One day I criticized my husband for wearing jeans with a hole in them, a t-shirt with a spot on it, and dirty, white shoes. He has a closet full of clean ones he could wear. I said, “People will think that I don’t wash your clothes.”

Later when I asked the Lord how he wanted me to view my husband, he showed me a picture of Jesus wearing a t-shirt with a spot on it; jeans with a hole in them, and dirty, white shoes. He said, “Do you love Me any less?” I was convicted to the core. He said, “When you see something that you have criticized your husband about in the past, pray for him and think of some way that you love him instead.”

Every now and then when I come to visualize Jesus, He will be dressed in a t-shirt with a spot, jeans with a hole, and dirty, white shoes. He continues to remind me that He loves my husband just the way he is and that He wants me to also.

(Journaling) “Thank you so much, Lord, for answering my prayer to be closer to you far beyond what I could ever have imagined. You have given me new hope and new life. Thank you for being good and for telling me why I have not been able to get closer to You. It is because of rationalism.

“Thank you so much for how much You love me. Thank you that when this course is over, it is not the end! There are other courses to look forward to! In the past when I would read a good book on getting closer to God, I would have success for awhile, but when I finished the book, I would go back to the way I was before. Now because of this course and practicing it, I find that I can still come to God and visualize and journal.”

“Just keep listening for My voice. Just remember when the thoughts come that ‘you can’t do this,’ that it is from the enemy. Just tell it where to go. Listen for Me as I truly am speaking to you all the time. Remember to give Me all the negative thoughts as they keep you from hearing Me. They are sent by satan and are designed to keep you from growing in intuition, imagination and vision. Don’t give up. Keep on keeping on. I have many treasures for you. But you have to search for them. I will not just drop them into your lap. You have to search for them like any treasure.”

The Lord took me to the throne where there were peals of thunder and lightning. Then He took me to the back of the throne where it wasn’t so bright. There was a door on the back of the throne. We went in and down some stairs. There were many rooms. The first was full of jewels. The second was full of pearls.

“These are treasures for you as you continue to come to Me. Each time you forgive, you will receive a gem/seed that is love. This love will grow in your heart. It is a process. Do it for Me. I love you. This is one way you can make Me happy. I will turn your unforgiveness into love as you forgive. Do it right away. Don’t let it grow and fester. Forgiveness is more powerful than bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness. Remember satan cannot go there. You will find bliss, joy, and happiness there. This is the Secret Place. This is The Place to be!”

I have discovered that looking at a picture of Jesus or a spiritual picture is very helpful for me. Since I am a visual learner this is a great help. I was having a hard time hearing from God one day so I went to each piece of tabernacle furniture and visualized myself kneeling down and praying at each piece. By the time I reached the Holy of Holies, I was hearing from God!

Music also helps me a lot. However much of the time, journaling and visualizing are still a struggle for me. I have to really put forth effort and determine to sit down, focus on Jesus, tune to spontaneity, and write. When I do, it works. Sometimes my visualizing is very faint. But this course has taught me that I can visualize. It is more than I have ever done before, so I thank God for sending this course to me.