November 2008

CLU Student Newsletter

Intro
by
Dr. Karen Joy King

Since the following testimonies are fairly long, I won’t take up space with my comments. I hope you enjoy these and are encouraged by them.

My Christmas Presents From Jesus
by
Jeana Luttrull

I had a vision when I was accidentally awakened. Jesus was standing at my door and knocking. I said, “Come in, Lord.”

As He came in, I saw that He was carrying a cardboard box about 18”x18”x 18”. On top of this box, there were four smaller shrink-wrapped boxes taped to the lid. Jesus said, “Jeana, I have brought you your Christmas presents, would you like to open them?”

I answered, “Yes Lord, but how do I know it is really You and not some impostor of Satan?”

Jesus responded, “If My sheep know My voice, then My children know My face.”

“Yes, but Lord, how do I know that Satan isn’t lying to me? Your word has promised that by Your stripes I am healed, and I believe that. Yet my nose is still running when I have claimed Your promises.”

Jesus answered, “You have the discerning of spirits gift. Evil spirits bring you a feeling of fear. You have experienced the feeling they give you. Do you fear Me?”

“No Lord, I feel very much at peace.”

Jesus said, “Would you like to open, (or receive), your gifts?”

Jesus sat the box down on a table and handed me some scissors. “Open them so they might be yours.”

I took the scissors and started cutting the tape and removed one small box. It was wrapped in some kind of very stiff, clear, shrink-wrap, and the scissors would not cut it open. “Lord, I cannot open this.”

Jesus answered, “I know. This is an example of the religions of the world. Look through the plastic at what is inside.”

I could see that it contained a wonderful tool which could change forms. Sometimes it was a sharp two-edged sword, sometimes another tool which was unknown to me, and sometimes a Bible. I could see that it could be used to defeat Satan. It was the Word of God, but I couldn’t open the plastic and get to it.

Jesus said. “The religion of the world carries within itself My Word which contains every weapon anyone could ever need to use against Satan, or against any evil power; but the religion of the world denies the power thereof and won’t allow the children to actually use the gifts I have given. Keep this gift to put yourself in remembrance. It gives you all that you need to fight Satan. You must take traditional religion out of the way.”

“If this is all I need, then what are the other gifts?”

Jesus said, “Open the next one.” I took the scissors and cut the next gift off the box and opened it. It was the Bible and as I turned the pages, different verses had a light that came on under them and made them easier to read.

Jesus said, “This is to show you how My word ministers unto you. At different times, different portions will be what you need. As you study the verses, your need will shine brighter. They will make more sense to you and be more special to you.”

Jesus said, “Would you like to open another?” I took the scissors and removed the third box. It was a small, hard, black box about 3”x 3”x 3” with a hinged lid on top. When I opened the lid and looked inside, it was like a bottomless pit that went in all directions at once, and I could see no end to it. I closed the lid and said, “Lord, I don’t understand.”

Jesus answered, “This box contains all the universe, and has everything in it that you will ever need. When you have a need, come, open the box, reach inside, and pull out whatever it is that you need.”

Jesus continued, “Open another.” I took the scissors and removed the fourth box. It was full of wrapping paper, tape, and gift labels.

Jesus said, “These are so you can share your gifts with all whom you meet. Teach others that they have all gifts available to them and that they need to exercise their gifts. I have given the gifts to be used, not kept and saved for ‘special occasions’. You believe that I will not give you more than you can bear; believe also that I will not allow a need without providing a gift to answer that need. Don’t be afraid to ask for anything you need.”

Jesus said, “Open the last box.” I picked up the scissors to cut open the large cardboard box. The outside of the box was ragged, worn, torn, and stained. The lid was not taped shut, so I opened it and looked inside. It was empty. The inside of the box was shinny and new like waxed cardboard, as if it had never been touched by anything. I looked at Jesus and said, “I don’t understand.”
Jesus said, “The outside is worn and ragged because you have carried it with you all your life. The box has suffered all the things you have suffered.

Everything you have been through the box has been through with you. It is not sealed because I don’t want to keep anything from you. It is empty because you haven’t asked Me for anything. You will never actually see anything inside the box, because when you ask, your gift is given immediately. When you are ready to open the lid, you will have enough faith to receive the gift, therefore the box is always empty when it is open.”

“Thank You, Lord, but I don’t understand. If I have enough faith to see You and to receive these gifts, then why is my nose still running?”

Jesus answered, “Go and write what you have seen in your journal, but your nose will run until you have finished writing down your vision. You are tired and your body would like to sleep, but your nose will not allow you to sleep until you have finished writing. When you have finished, claim your gifts and Satan will flee, and your nose will stop running for tonight. You are not yet ready to fully understand how I use your runny nose but soon you will.”

I got up and went downstairs to write. As I wrote, my nose ran less and less. When I finished, I went back to bed, was able to breathe, and slept well. “Thank You, Lord, for the gifts and all You have done.”

“But Now My Eyes Have Seen!”
by
Angelina Gibbons

My life has changed tremendously since I was first introduced to Communion With God. I was so excited to receive my course in the mail. I felt like Job when he said in chapter 42:5, “My ears had heard of the Lord, but now my eyes have seen!”

This course has blown my concept of God and “religion” out of the water. For years, I felt spiritually dry but thought this was a part of being a Christian, part of ‘my cross to bear’. I tried to grin and bear it with a gracious attitude but there was no hiding my despair! I felt I had a ‘form’ of religion without the power, and power was what I was seeking--power to live my life for Christ and power to make a difference in this world, or at least my neighborhood!

As I would read my Bible, I felt like I couldn’t bear to read it one more time. I knew the stories and the endings and felt they were just words on a page. I tried different versions of the Bible hoping to make it fresh again, but it didn’t last long. My heart was aching for something more, but what?

My mind would continually go down a list of things I could do to ‘feel’ closer to God, but having done all, I silently gave up until I attended a Ladies’ Bible Study showing the CWG course! Then, I realized that God really did love me, was still pursuing me, and was eagerly awaiting my response.

Though I was not raised as a Christian, I was taught in the churches I attended, that the tools I am now using, stillness, vision, and journaling, were clearly satanic. What a life-changing revelation to find that God not only endorses using these tools, but that HE CREATED THEM! To finally hear that God wanted an intimate relationship with me was amazing! I felt so honored, so loved, so significant, and so special to God! I felt like my life with Christ was brand new!

A lot of the time, I don’t realize or notice the changes until someone looks at me with surprise on their face because of something I just did or said which contained Godly wisdom. I’ve been able to see the ‘bottom line’ of problems (mine and others’), and get past the smoke screen of symptoms or negative behaviors being exhibited, thus helping me to have genuine compassion for the people in the situation.

This has helped me to not be as judgmental but more responsive to the needs of others. I have a confident assurance of God’s love and actually expect God to move on my behalf and to fulfill His promises. When I go through trials now, I go to My Heavenly Father and He tells me how His heart is breaking for the situation, too, and shows me how to pray. I now know that trials will not last forever and that God knew all about them yesterday. HE is in control and allows only the things that will make me a better person to come my way. I can stand back and ‘see’ what God is doing in a situation and be more open to change. I have a new boldness to speak God’s word and to share my experiences with others. Before, I was too fearful of their responses to me.

I am amazed at how God has changed my relationships through this course. My husband and I have really grown together in unity and have allowed God to do things in our marriage that He’s been wanting to do for a long time, but we would not cooperate. My husband has been so encouraged by my journaling that he has started doing it also. The changes I see in him are direct answers to my lifelong prayers! We are finally on the same page, praise God!

My friend Judy is now an inspiration to me and has been using these tools for years. Before the CWG course, I was leary of her because of her ‘weird beliefs and journaling practices’. The idea that God spoke directly to her and she would write it down was so foreign to me, I distanced myself from her so as not to get sucked into her ‘weirdness’. Now we share openly! God is so awesome in His faithfulness to us!

Because of the work done in my heart through this course, I now have a God Who is bigger than any of my problems. I have used vision many times to calm myself down when I am upset, or when I just want to visit Jesus and see what He is doing, or to go for a walk with Him.

Now I am able to taste and see that He is sooo good! When I awaken each morning, I am excited to see what my God has planned for me. I can feel His presence with me. I regret that I did not have this information twenty years ago, but I have to believe that God knows best and now is the right time. He’s taught me not to put my hand to the plow and look back. He chose me from the beginning of time for a time such as this. May God richly bless Mark Virkler and all the CWG crew who are transforming the world through this teaching.

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