How I Lead My Children In Worship

One of my favourite things about home education is having the time in our school day to include worship and prayer to our God. This is a significant part of our morning and one that I try not to let slip. If we do go a day or two without it, we cannot wait to get back to it!

I remember reading a devotional by Jeannie Fulbright several years ago that said this:

If I could tell moms only one thing that would help their homeschooling, 

having regular morning devotions would be it. 

Truly, nothing else has blessed our homeschool experience more.

(You can read the entire post here: First Things First)

I could not agree more. Having time in the mornings for time in the Word, prayer, worship and being in the Father's Presence is crucial to everything else we do and really, to who we are. We have learned and are learning to wait before Him (not always patiently), to press in to what He wants to say to us. And we have learned and are learning to hear His voice.

I thought I'd share what we do because I have had a couple of moms ask, out of curiosity or out of wanting some encouragement to do something meaningful with their own children.

We start out reading a chapter from the Bible. We do not always go in order, from Genesis to Revelation, but we happen to be doing so at this time. I pray and ask what book God wants us to read and hear from Him. Right now we are in Leviticus and I am reading it from The Message version. 

Then there are two email messages that I receive on a daily basis and I usually read both of those aloud to the children. The first one is The Spirit Of Prophecy by Bill and/or Marsha Burns. The second one is The Elijah List by numerous prophetic ministers from several different countries. Both of these emails are FREE. SOP comes Monday through Friday. The Elijah List is every day.

If there are any reports from our friends in Kenya, we read those, as well. If not, we continue on with our journal. I record items under the titles "Prayer" and "Thanksgiving", as well as any dreams anyone had the night before. (It's a great idea to document dreams, especially if you think they have a prophetic significance.) Our journals have served as a tremendous tool in reminding us what God has done in our lives and the lives of those we have prayed for, how He has spoken to us in specific situations and in showing us the themes that were present in the past. It is a great practice to look over our journals at all the "Ebenezers" (from 1 Samuel 7, meaning "the stone of help" which signifies a symbol of remembrance for how God provided, intervened, came to our rescue) and give Him thanks and praise for who He is and what He has accomplished.

After we record items under our "Prayer" and "Thanksgiving" categories, I turn on my Pandora app on my phone and we listen to several different worship songs, anywhere from 3-10.  I just click through until I find something that is fitting. It's just personal preference. We take time to focus on Jesus and worship Him. This can involve dancing, raising our hands, bowing before Him, sitting, lying on the floor, etc. 

There is no formula. 

Our goal is to worship Jesus and focus everything on Him and to be led by the Spirit in doing so. I truly believe this is the most important thing I can teach and lead my children in (and yes, academics are important to me, but I believe that being in God's Presence, praising Him and hearing from Him are crucial to daily living).

And then after we have spent a little time (or a great deal of time on some days) in worship and praise, we pray. Sometimes we are just voicing what we have written in our journal, other times we are just listening. Sometimes I just encourage the children to speak out whatever the Spirit puts on their hearts, which may be something we have discussed and written down, or not. 

One of the biggest things the Father has taught me, and the children, in turn, in the past 10 years or so is about spiritual warfare. I'll leave that subject for a whole other post, but we are very aware that speaking our prayers, our decrees and our declarations are a form of standing with the Father and against the enemy. We also speak directly to the enemy in our offensive strategy against him. We give praise to God and we stand firm against the devil. This is something we are given the opportunity to practice over and over. I consider these practices to be basic life skills and again, crucial to daily life.

I just want to close by saying that even though I am writing this from a homeschool mom's perspective does not mean that I think moms whose children are not homeschooled cannot or do not lead their children in worship. 

In fact, I'd love to hear from you. What does your worship and prayer time with your child/children look like? 

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,

for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

Psalm 85:15

A New Car for Onesmus

I learned of this story a few weeks ago, but our friend, Peb, is back in Kenya and learned the story first-hand. He relates it briefly here...


Many of you know that a man gave Onesmus a very nice car last November. It is a Subaru Forrester. The details of this gift are as follows. There is a man in Nairobi who worked 25 years as an engineer in Germany and he made much money. He contracted throat cancer and his wife got cervical cancer. They moved back to Kenya to die. However another woman who had been healed by the ministry in Machakos told this couple of Onemsus and they came. They were not believers. Both were terminal. The man could not talk and could only swallow small amount of liquids due to the mass. Onesmus prayed for both of them for hours. The lady had a fungating mass protruding from her body. As they prayed, a black mucous came out of the man's mouth and black masses of necrotic tissue came out of the lady. They both went unconscious and remained so for a time. Onesmus reminded the Lord that if they died, it would be a shame to the Gospel. They revived. They continued to anoint one another and pray for the next year. Within one year, both were cancer free. In gratitude, they gave Onesmus the car since he had never requested money for the ministry.

Via

I don't know what Onesmus' new vehicle looks like exactly, but I had to look one up to see for myself, because I'm visual like that. :)

I am so happy for him!

Please pray for Peb as he is there ministering and also continuing lifting up Onesmus, Esther, their sweet family and all of the ministry team as they continue to lift up Jesus to the hurting, broken and enslaved in Kenya. 

Rejoicing Over Kenya News

I hope you'll rejoice with me over this latest news from Onesmus in Kenya and the lives that are being changed there by the transforming power of Jesus!!!


Last week on Friday 2nd to Saturday 4th November, 2012, we had an Open Air Crusade at Gate (A) Market within Machakos Town. Before Crusade, Esther and I and the Intercessory Team had been praying and fasting and after arriving at the Crusade on Friday 2nd at 4pm, we went round the Market place praying and destroying every spirit of witchcraft, immorality, unbelief and possessing the area the way God directed Joshua to do in Jericho and Ai. After doing this, we went back to the venue ground and started the Crusade at 5:30pm whereby, many people attended the meeting. 

At 6:15pm, I started ministering to the many people who attended the meeting whereby, the Spirit of God moved to the place in a Mighty way at that time, 215 lost souls surrendered their lives to Christ Jesus and later filled by the Power of the Holy Spirit. We also had time for Healing and Deliverance whereby, all the people in the Crusade moved forward for healing and deliverance while lifting their hands up and before I started praying for them for healing and deliverance, a heavy rain poured down with thunders and lights and we couldn't manage to pray for these people. However, we took time to thank the Lord for the blessings of rain.   

On Saturday 3rd, we started the Crusade very late at 4:30pm whereby, many people attended the meeting. However, before went to the Crusade, all our praise and worship team and most of Church members were very sick and face attacks from the enemy. Esther and I managed to pray and anointed them with oil and after some few minutes they all received total healing and restoration through the Blood of Christ Jesus. When I started ministering to the large number of people, there was a heavy force and confusion from the witchcrafts who also attended the meeting whereby, they tried to kill me and stop the meeting not to continue. I sensed about this and I communicated with Esther through Spirit and she begun praying together with Intercessors for 40 minutes whereby, the 2 witchcrafts left the meeting and there was restoration and breakthrough of which 175 people given their lives to Christ Jesus.  

On Sunday 4th, we started the Crusade at 4:15 whereby, many people from different Churches attended the Crusade ready to receive from God. I started Ministering from 5:45pm  and the Spirit of God led me to call first those who wanted to get saved and thereby, 190 lost souls came forward ready to get saved whereby, we prayed for them and they all surrendered their lives to Christ Jesus and were filled by the Power of the Holy Spirit. We later started Healing and Deliverance whereby, everyone who was there came forward and before I started praying for this people, there came 2 witchcrafts old Women who before reaching where I was, were slain down by the Fire of the Holy Spirit and they wake up and run a way whereby, I told them you better get saved and confess your sin to Jesus Christ or die and they refused to do so. Then the same night at 11:30pm East Africa time they all died and now there is peace and restoration in the market. I believe that, my call is to reach out to the people, preaching and teachings about the Kingdom of God, Healing every sickness and casting out the evil spirits among the people. However, we now that, the devil comes to steal, destroy and to kill, but Christ Jesus came to seek and to safe that which was lost. These 2 witchcraft Women were killed by the devil himself not me, if they could surrender their lives to Christ they could be able to save their lives and get saved through His Blood.

--Onesmus and Esther

The warfare is more intense and 'in their faces' than what we experience here (although we DO have spiritual warfare here). It is terribly heartbreaking when the enemy has such a hold on some of these individuals that they will not turn to Jesus. I pray for our friends in Kenya and that lives will continue to be changed and transformed by God's incredible love. May the Light of Jesus burn more and more brightly!

The latest from Kenya

Just wanted to take some time to share the latest in events from our friends in Kenya. Peb has just been there with another team. Here are a few excerpts from their email reports...


I want to let you know that we made it here intact with all luggage. The trip was a challenge and the enemy indeed tried to hinder our coming but was unable to overcome. To start, our initial flight out was delayed 3 hrs making our connection to Nairobi problematic. I was alerted to this when I awoke at 5am Weds and decided to check on flights. I called the airline and they were willing to put us through Atlanta. After arriving there, our next flight was delayed 2 1/2 hrs when the first plane was found unfit to fly due to the hydraulics controlling the landing gear found to be deficient. After arriving in Amsterdam, we had to wait 20 more mins for a gate. We ended up with 1 hr to change planes and all went well.  I sat next to a man on the Atlanta/Amsterdam flight who is from Nigeria and works for the World Bank as a consultant. He was able to tell me many things about how to make our work here be on a solid foundation and how to teach and train Africans in the way of good business. It was a divine encounter. So what the devil meant for harm in these delays, God worked for good and redeemed. So even though we were way behind leaving Atlanta for Amsterdam and under normal conditions not been able to connect to Nairobi, God gave us favorable winds the whole way cutting an hour off the flight thus making the connection smoothly. We traveled near 700 miles per hour the majority of our transatlantic journey. So thanks for praying.  - Peb



Like many before me I have been particularly struck by the children here. The weather has been cooler than usual so many are dressed in elaborate woolen hats with multicolored tassels and earflaps, accentuating the rag-tag assortment of American hand-me-downs. Old T-shirts; sports jackets, outlandish pixie-dresses, everyone in flip-flops.  Kids I've never seen before will smile and wave or come running to take my hand, gazing up with expressions so luminous and open-hearted,...they contrast tellingly with the look of menacing hardness you see in the faces of some adults walking down the main drag right outside the hotel. On our second day in town Peb and I took an ill-advised walk to the central market area, passing through downtown Machakos on our way. A deepening sense of blight and despair hung over the area. As we ascended a short flight of stairs into the market area we passed a dusty young man dressed in tatters tending a wound in his swollen yellow foot. Just inside the doorway eyes peered up from behind the baskets of muddy produce. The thought had just crossed my mind that I'd seen enough of this place, that there would be no good purpose served in venturing any deeper into the gloom, when a sudden commotion began. I looked down at my feet to see my passport and two hundred dollar bills lying in the dust at my feet. How could they have spilled from the money belt I wore secured around my waist? As I scrambled to reclaim my things a small crowd gathered. A man began tugging at Peb's shoulder, trying to draw us deeper into the market. We turned quickly and left. A minute later I realized the rubber-banded stack of shillings I'd brought for the trip was gone, a little over 600$. This was a tough blow early in the trip and yet the circumstances were so strange and strangely amiss. Living in a third-world country like Costa Rica, I am ordinarily hyper vigilant about thieves and pickpockets so it is unlike me to be careless about money and valuables. Although the weight of the shillings was considerable I never noticed anything falling from my person. Both Onesmus and Esther told me later that the market is a hotbed of witchcraft where spells aimed at causing confusion in the exchange of money charge the air.

Whatever it was that happened back at the market, there is little question that the line dividing supernatural agency from ordinary cause and effect is far more intermittent and unstable here than it is at home. A person in perfect possession of themselves, well-spoken in English, thoughtful and inquisitive, may in a moment be taken with fits and need to restrained to keep from harming themselves or others. We are clearly in a kind of spiritual war-zone with the forces of witchcraft, spells and imprecation on one side and the Holy Spirit on the other. Standing with Onesmus and Esther we are unquestionably on the winning side of the conflict and yet the battle is far from over. The sermon preached in church on Sunday was, accordingly, unlike anything I'd ever heard. In a vision Onesmus saw snakes on all sides and one directly in front of him that divided into forty. He is chopping furiously at them with his "panga" or machete when fire from heaven descends at last to consume the lot. The following day Peb called for a time of intercessory prayer after several hours of teaching the church leadership. I was rather expecting the mannered give and take I am used to at home, with each person adding a few words of thanksgiving and supplication in an orderly ceding of turns and little expected to find nearly everyone hitting their knees at once; in loud voices, in English, Swahili and other tribal dialects, some with tears, many praying in tongues, all laying siege at heaven's door for the power that binds this city to be broken. The din of their voices was something otherworldly, 'the voice of many waters'. The urgency bespoke the life and death struggle one sees taking place here.

On the television at night in my room I catch news of church burnings by Islamists in Mobassa or outbreaks of violence against women and children in recent tribal clashes. Anxieties are running high everywhere about the elections next year and the possible recurrence of anarchy in the streets. The violence of the 2007-2008 election cycle is still fresh in people's minds. Esther's kids, C and S, told me of days on end spent indoors because it was unsafe to go outside, of the air reverberating with gunshots and shelling. I cannot imagine what it would be like to raise kids in a place like this, having two of my own, ages 3 & 6. The strain tells in Esther's face when she talks about sending I away to boarding school next year at age 13, because it’s just not safe to keep her here any longer. The fear of poisoning is real and present danger to say nothing of the spiritual opposition from rival pastors and witchdoctors alike. Peril on all sides. That said, it would be hard overstate the resilience and good humor with which Onesmus and Esther face down the challenges of life in Machakos, Kenya. They are people of immense dedication and stamina. - David

Yesterday we traveled to Kibunga....as the name sounds, it is off the beaten trail.  Miles of red dirt roads with ruts and rocks. You find people living much as they have for hundreds of years in this place. However it seems that the Lord has not forgotten and may be preparing these places for a harvest yet to come. James is the pastor there. Ten years ago he was called out of a good job by God to go there and then given dreams of his future work. Within 1 month a arriving, the Lord had given him more people than could fit into his mud building. He has also been given dreams of preaching to many Muslim people and they are then saved. He also has seen himself with many bags of corn to distribute to these people. What is sense is that when things continue to get hot with war in the Middle East and Northern Africa as prophesied in the Bible, many will be forced south looking for protection and food. I believe that God is strategically locating His people in Kenya which will receive many of these folks. James is one of them as well as many others that we are connected to in this area. At that time, there will be a harvest of many Muslims into the Kingdom. In a way it seems far-fetched, but I don't think it is. The Lord has been moving miraculously in this part of Kenya and is stepping up the work by making more and more connections. He is calling people out of their normal lives and giving them no option but to go. James refused the Lord 3 times, but eventually was told that if he cared more for his life and his children’s' lives then the lives of His people who are dying in their sins, then the Lord would destroy him and his family. So he went. This is a pattern that is repeated over and over again here in Kenya. I believe that the Lord is preparing a harvest and is putting His people in place for that harvest. - Peb

Please continue praying for the East Africa Zarephath Ministry and especially Onesmus and Esther as they work and minister and persevere under intense spiritual conditions in Kenya. The warfare is real and intense, but Jesus is the Victor and we, as believers, have our victory in Him.

Thank you!

Four new lives!

I just received this update from Kenya this morning. I cannot stop weeping over these transformed lives. Thank You, Jesus! I just keep thinking of this beautiful passage in Colossians 1: For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son, he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (vs. 13-14)

Last Sunday 26th February, we had a Wonderful and Successful Healing and Deliverance Service in the Fellowship. However, we faced a great opposition from 4 young ladies who have been devil agents within Machakos Town and other parts of the Country for 6 years. They were sent to come to the Fellowship to bring confusion, to make the hearts of people in the fellowship not to receive the Word of God and to kill me.

When we started praying for the people for healing and deliverance, the Fire of the Holy Spirit of God came down strongly and Ministered in every one who was there in a Mighty way and many were slain down. Thereby, the 4 devil agents fell down and started vomiting blood, moving like snakes and barking like dogs. When I went to pray for them to get deliverance, the evil spirits which were in them, shouted saying, "we have been causing accidents in the 4 main roads of Machakos, and other parts of the country and drinking bloods of people after the accidents occur". The evil Spirits also said, for them to cause accidents, they turn their formal body to that of a snake and go to the roads so that, if the vehicle runs over them they eventually fall on the spot and they immediately start drinking blood. The evil spirits also said that, they normally bring hatred among the Pastors and make them ask for Money so that they can pray for the people for healing and deliverance and to continue preaching social gospel to the people.

The 4 devil agents continued saying that, they have come to stop all the meetings which have been in our fellowship and others which are coming in the Month of March this year and also make you not to come by bringing confusion and sickness to you.

We later prayed for them for Healing and Deliverance and they all got saved through the Blood of Christ Jesus. These 4 ladies who got saved will be among the new converts who will be baptized in the Month of May when you come to Kenya.

Pastor Onesmus & Esther
Machakos, Kenya E. Africa.

Please join me in praying for these precious young ladies. I am sure their decision to follow Christ will be opposed. May He surround them with His hedge of protection and angels and may they come to know His love on a deeper level with each new day.

Be blessed!

The rest from Kenya

Here are all the remaining reports from our friend, Peb, and the work God has been doing this past week in Kenya. It's long, as I got a little behind in posting, but it is worth every moment of your time...

Yesterday we visited some of the homes of the grandmothers in the hills surrounding Machakos. There was a grandmother whose roof as full of holes when visited in September. With contributions from one of the ladies on the team of September we bought new roofing material. However when it was attempted to place it on the building one of the walls collapsed. So, bricks and mortar were bought and the house is near completion. This lady was so grateful that she wanted to bless me and the way in which she does this is to spit in your hand. I got it twice. Interesting that what can be a curse in one culture can actually be a blessing in another. I still was quite eager to get my hand washed and cleansed from the spitting. There were 25 people saved in the open air preaching yesterday and 10-12 were delivered of demons of witchcraft.

Esther told us of how strict that the Lord has been on her concerning the affairs of the ministry. She had a few sacks of flour left over from food distribution last year and was going to use it in her home. The Lord awoke her 2 nights in a row and told her the flour was not for her and to remove it from her house. She had no peace until she did so. The Lord is requiring strict transparency in this work. We are all learning this.

Onesmus told us the other day that in the last 2 years that the pattern of the ministry has been this in terms of people coming and receiving help. In 2010, 126,000 people came through and in 2011 146,000 came through. Most of these came and got what they needed and moved on to their places proclaiming what the Lord had done. There has been no attempt to "hold onto" the people. Rather freely you received and freely you give. There is a core group of disciples who have grown in the Lord and in the power of His Spirit. These continue on in the work of the fellowship. The Lord Himself has been the director of the lives of these people. Many have come through and spread the word of their healing and deliverance throughout the region. Thus the Gospel is spread here and many get the help they need. Very different from Western thinking and procedure. We leave tomorrow for the bush to check on the fellowships there.

Thanks for your prayers.

Peb

It is Monday afternoon on Jan 30, 2012 in East Africa. Yesterday we went to Kibunga where James ministered. Was again challenged by his story. Told by the Lord in 2002 that he loved his family more than lost people and that if he did not go to minister for Him in Kibunga that He would destroy both him and his family. So at great sacrifice he went. It has not been easy but God has enabled him to do the work. At Kibunga, there was some restlessness noted in the service. I knew that I was speaking to a small select group that would have ears to hear. Many others could not hear.

I spoke on the power of the Holy Spirit through speaking in tongues. During the ministry of the Holy Spirit I scraped my leg causing some pain. I thought at the time that that was strange but just but some antiseptic on it and went on. Then during the night, it continued to cause some discomfort and I awoke around midnight and realized that the enemy was involved in this thing. I got up and prayed and anointed my leg with oil and clean water then went to bed. In a couple of hours, I heard a mosquito around my head which had gotten into the net with me. I got up and turned on the lights. I found him and when I caught him with my hand, he splattered in my hand and my whole palm was bloody. Now I have killed many mosquitoes in Africa and have never seen this happen. I realized again that the enemy was involved and began praying in the Spirit. I also looked for bites and found none.

This morning, Onesmus told me that he and Esther had both had either dreams or visions concerning me in the night. She had seen me bound with ropes and a noose around my neck. He had seen me chased by someone with a knife. In both instances, the enemy was trying to cause me harm and possibly death. I got little sleep and was not inclined to want to speak this morning in the new fellowship that we visited. However, I prayed in the Spirit all to way and by the time we arrived was revived and strengthened to speak. There was indeed victory although the enemy wanted to cause trouble and fear. It did not work.

We visited a place called Mariene. There was no road in. We went in on a literal trail of some sort and due to Wilson's superb skills made it. Could not drive up to the mud church but had to walk the last 100 yards in. We met a congregation that is full of peace and in an absolute gorgeous location....mountains in the distance and lush vegetation around it. The lady who began this fellowship is named Juliet. She had a dream and was told by the Lord to begin this. She has had much opposition from area churches. However she is seeing people healed and delivered. She was told by the Lord to go to the Kibunga area and find a short, very black man. It took her some time but she eventually found James and the Lord confirmed to her that he would be the one to connect with the fellowship and would help her. The Lord showed her where to build the mud church building and she must walk 4 hours to get to it. I again spoke on the Lord bringing things out of hidden places and the need to establish our lives and welcome the power of God into our lives by praying in the Spirit. Many were filled with the Holy Spirit and some were saved...including our driver named Wilson. Onesmus brought the salvation message after I spoke and it is always electrifying to watch him under his evangelistic anointing. There was a good harvest there.

Yesterday, David had prayed for James' oldest son who had had abdominal pain for a year. He saw a snake in his spirit when he prayed for him and when he commanded the demon out, he was completely healed of the pain. 24hrs later he is still healed. So what the enemy had planned for evil on Sunday and last night, the Lord turned around for good. Praise the name of the Lord! Tomorrow we go to another new fellowship that I don't yet know. This work is certainly being opposed...but we were promised that this would be the case. Through prayer and perseverance, victory is at hand. Thanks for praying! By the way, some of these things that happened cannot be proved in the natural realm, but in the realm of the Spirit you know that they are happening at the instigation of the enemy. However he is not prevailing.

Thanks

Peb

It is hard to describe the day. It is Tues, Jan 31st in the afternoon. We went to a new fellowship in the bush today. Kamothoro is the name of the place... I thought I knew remote. However this takes the cake for me. We came upon a narrow trail that was to be our road. Somewhere along the trail we came to a very steep drop-off full of rocks. It was so steep that our driver asked us to get out and he navigated the vehicle down the hill and we got back in. However soon we came upon a place in the road that he did not think he could pass and we hiked the rest of the way in.

On the way, I got a word that perhaps we were the first white men to visit this place. After arriving and beginning the service, the pastor there made the statement that many had not come today as they did not believe that white people would really come as no white man had ever visited this place since it was created. So indeed the word was validated. The Lord indeed is doing something in these bush churches. This pastor had seen James in a vision in 2010 and then went to a meeting of other pastors last year. At that meeting he saw James and knew from his vision that he was to be connected. James has become overseer of 5 or 6 of these bush fellowships and all have been connected by a dream or vision.

Only the pastor and one other had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, but we prayed for many today to be filled with the Holy Spirit and many began speaking in tongues. We then prayed for the sick. 4 women were crippled in the right knee or leg and Onesmus discerned that it was the spirit of witchcraft over this area. Even the pastor had been crippled in his right leg when Onesmus visited in Dec. Today all of the ladies were healed and could then walk freely. The pastor had been healed in Dec.

There was a blind man there who was completely blind. Onesmus prayed for him and he regained partial sight. He could see no light and after prayer could see light and make out some of the people. He was admonished to remain in faith so that the healing could be completed. It is clear that the Lord is connecting these bush churches together and to us. All are connected directly by the Holy Spirit by dreams and visions. God is doing a work in hidden away places because of His great concern, love and compassion for these people. To the natural mind, it makes little sense; but look at your calling that not been noble or wise were called. He calls the weak and foolish things of this world to confound the wise. Truly an interesting journey today and the Lord enabled us to get there and back with no problems with the vehicle.

Thanks for your prayers.

Peb

A quick update from Feb 1st. We heard back from Kamathoro where we ministered yesterday. The blind man is now seeing well. The people there who had been bootlegging alcohol were all arrested last night after we left the area. We went to Kanoa today and had a great time with the people there. The people are very excited to see the Lord remove the witchcraft and the curses that come from it from the area. We leave tomorrow for Nairobi and home.

Peb

Blessings over Peb and his family, Onesumus and Esther and their family and the beautiful Kenyan people. May God continue doing His marvelous work in Machakos and the entire country, in Jesus' Name!

Updates from Tuesday and Wednesday

The message that seems to keep coming through clearly here is that the Kingdom of God always and I do mean always is heralded by healing and deliverance. Look at Matt 9 and 10. This is how you know that the Kingdom of God has come.....there is healing and deliverance. Now you will notice in Acts that there were places were there were strong manifestations of deliverance such as Acts 8 and 19 and in both of these chapters there was also a powerful occult presence in the community. In others, the manifestations were not so pronounced. So there will be a variation of how the manifestations looks depending on local issues. However in all cases where Jesus ministered there were signs and wonders manifested by the casting out of demons and healing the sick. So it will be in our day as well. There has been nothing to change. The same authority He gave to His disciples then He gives to us now. The enemy has "dumbed" us down over the years to no longer expect or believe for these things.....however the Gospel of the Kingdom is manifested by these miracles. We must not be deceived on this point. Today in the afternoon we will accompany Onesmus to open air preaching in the streets. We met with people in the fellowship today and heard the testimony of a young mother who was healed of breast cancer 2 months ago in the fellowship. She had been told she must have a mastectomy....she came and was prayed for and when she returned to the doctor he could find no cancer. She went for a 2nd opinion and he could find no cancer as well. Others testified of God providing jobs and peace at home after prayer. The Kingdom is being brought here. So continue to pray for this work.

Thanks

Peb

On Tuesday, we distributed food to the grandmothers for the orphans. Always a humbling and moving experience. I am constantly reminded of how much the Lord loves the poor and especially the widows and orphans. Not that he loves them more but rather is moved at how evil has been the devil's grip on them in poverty and fatherlessness. We then went to Makutano Junction where there is a new fellowship. I sensed on entering that there were many held in bondage in the room. There was restlessness with babies crying and people moving...much like what it used to be in Machakos until more anointing came. So I turned it over to Onesmus early in the meeting to bring salvation and deliverance to the people. That is his anointing. After praying for salvation, then the room erupted in shrieks and even vomiting as evil spirits left. Many were saved and then delivered. At the end of this, there was a totally different atmosphere with peace and joy replacing the restlessness and torment. As I have mentioned before, one cannot understand Africa and it's problems even in the church without understanding and moving in deliverance. Quite striking. Today we have a healing and deliverance service here in Machakos and then open air preaching in the streets later in the day.

We leave on Saturday for the bush.

Thanks for praying.

Peb

Yesterday in the evening, Onesmus preached in the open air market near Machakos. Many children were there and some adults. Several were saved and healed and two were delivered. When these meetings occur on weekends, many come and are affected. This particular area is heavily dominated by witchcraft. As Onesmus continues to target this area, these strongholds are weakened. We will go there again today. During the day, we will walk into the hills to visit some of the orphan's homes. Onesmus told us yesterday of an encounter that he had over a year ago when a devil worshiper tried to give him money....400,000 Kenya shillings. He sensed a trap and refused the money knowing that a curse would come with it. A young pastor here in Machakos took the money and Onesmus warned him to give it back as there would come a curse with it. He refused and said it was just money. Two days ago he was killed in an accident on Mombasa highway in the vehicle that he used the money to purchase. As he pointed out, in this environment and really in any environment, one must stay clean and pure.

We leave on Saturday for the bush.

Thanks for your prayers.

Peb

Please continue praying...

This is an update from two days ago and I have more to report in a separate post...

Here is an update for the last two days.

On Saturday, we fed the orphans chicken stew. 80 chickens were killed to feed them. It was a very moving time. It was good to see the health of the orphans as they have improved in health since we started this program of feeding them. It was a good time of remembering how the Lord has led and provided for their needs.

It came to light on Saturday that Machakos as a town was founded by a witchdoctor named Masaku thus the name Machakos. The 1st building in the town was built with a foundation that included the blood offering of witchcraft....thus the foundation of this city is a blood covenant with the enemy. So you see why so much poverty and witchcraft in the city. This city is more intrinsically poor than most in Kenya and there is no intrinsic wealth here. Also there is much more witchcraft and demonization than in other parts of Kenya. The Lord had told me in my spirit several days ago that we should have communion together with Onesmus and Esther. I then received a text from Angela M. that the Lord had spoken to her in Cincinnati at a 3am feeding of her baby while she prayed in the Spirit that it was important for us to take communion and meditate on the power of the blood of Jesus. So on Saturday night we did that.

The Lord began to stir me then about the blood covenant this city through it's founder has with the enemy and that this covenant needs to be renounced and the New Covenant in the blood of Christ put over this city. So that was the message on Sunday morning. It moved the people and we as a people did repent for the evil the founders of this city had done and we proclaimed the stronger covenant in Jesus' blood. I told the people that this would not be easy and that the enemy would fight to keep his territory but that Jesus' through His blood would prevail.

In the evening we had a healing and deliverance service where about 30 people were saved and then many began to shriek and writhe in demonic manifestations....one even vomiting up blood as the demons left. Again we were reminded that in both Luke 11 and Matt 12, Jesus made clear that if we do not stand with Him in casting out demons then we scatter and are not with Him. This is a crucial element of the Kingdom. He says that the way you know that the Kingdom of God has come upon a place is that the finger of God casts out demons through initially Jesus and now us in His name. This is how you know the Kingdom has come. The Kingdom of God is not is word but in power. Healing and deliverance are essential elements in the Kingdom of God.....you cannot have God's Kingdom without this.

In the evening, we discussed the day with Onesmus and Esther. It seemed to us that in order for there to be a proper renunciation of the demonic blood covenant underlying this city, then it would be good to have the leadership of the city to renounce the old covenant and ask the Lord to cover this city in His blood and blood covenant of the cross. Then I believe we would see even more power of God and restoration over this city and area. There is also the need for more intensive discipling of the leaders here and from the bush churches. So it may be necessary for me to return in March at which time I have asked that Onesmus and Esther begin to pray and fast that we receive favor with the civil authorities and invite them to a meal at Onemus' house. At that meal I would discuss with them the power of the Blood of Jesus and the need to renounce as a city the old covenant that has allowed witchcraft, poverty, disease and other bondage to prevail here. Onesmus says that he has favor and that they will come. We will keep this as a matter for prayer and then see how the Lord opens the door. We will also try to include other leaders from the churches that have opposed us.

When I am here new stories emerge that give me even greater appreciation for the work. Onesmus told me that last January he was taking 79 bibles we had bought into the bush to distribute them. It was a time of rain. So no vehicles could move. He walked 7-8 hours into the bush with these bibles on his back for 2 hrs and then paid two people to help him carry them the remaining 5 or 6 hrs. This really impressed me and I asked him why he had not told me before.....he simply replied that you do not have to know everything and that this was nothing....just his duty.

Esther told us that during the time before I came the first time and they were having so many problems that she had at one time packed up all her things and was going to return to Meru away from Machakos. Onesmus said he would stay and preach. She got a certain distance and then the vehicle would no longer go toward Meru and would only go towards Machakos. So she knew that she had to return to Machakos and could not leave. God was determined for this.

There will be 3 days of open air preaching this week....Weds, Thurs and Friday as well as more healing and deliverance services. Food will be distributed to the grandmothers on Tues.

Thanks for praying.
Peb

News from Kenya!

Our friend Peb is back ministering in Kenya. Here are the first two updates from him...

We landed in Nairobi last night and are now in Machkaos. This is what I can say regarding the trip so far. It is opposed! On Tuesday, this was the day of departure, I had a noon flight out of DFW. Virtually every road into Dallas going the way of the airport was either blocked by a wreck or was delayed due the backup from the shutdown of I-30. So we chose to go through McKinney and even on that road there was a wreck causing some delay. However had left early and made the flight okay. After arriving at the gate I heard from David in Cincinnati who is traveling with me that his flight was cancelled....no real explanation. However he received favor from the gate agent who was able to reroute him and he and his luggage made it. Here in Machakos, Onesmus tells me that as soon as he announced that we were coming, many pastors began to pray against this trip and even that I would be cut off from Africa. Some even prayed from my death. This is due to severe jealousy. Over the past few weeks, the Lord has been instructing me concerning praying in the Spirit i.e. praying in tongues. He has shown me the power that this releases around and through us. So on this journey; I have been praying in the Spirit a lot even on the airplane. Time and time again, I have seen how this has sped us on our way. I connected through Atlanta and there was an issue of rain/thunderstorms there on my trip. I prayed in the Spirit the whole time on the way there and in the airport. No rain occurred until we got to the runway to take off and then it started but did not affect us. Again, the lesson here is in our daily lives, we must be praying without ceasing in the Spirit as I think this is what Paul meant. It will release God's power in our lives and will cause Romans 8:28 to work for us. That is what I am learning. I am expecting God to do things here on this trip and it will be put into effect as we pray without ceasing in the Spirit causing us to be built up in our most holy faith...Jude 20. We are now in Machakos, and we have our first meeting tomorrow for healing and deliverance. As David and I walked the streets today, as you are sensitive to the Spirit, you see the demonic oppression and even possession that is an everyday occurrence due to witchcraft. One cannot understand Africa and its problems with understanding deliverance ministry....the casting out of demons. In this context, Jesus said clearly that “he that is not with me scatters”....in other words, in the context of deliverance, if we are not with Him on this, we are scattering according to the context of this word. It is spoken in context of casting out demons. There are many churches over here whose theology came from the US that does not teach nor practice this and the people are not helped. So pray for us while we are here that we will have the power necessary for this vital work of healing and deliverance as we pray for the people.

Thanks for praying!
Peb

We had a meeting today for healing and deliverance. As we met and as prayer was being offered, many who were demonized began to scream and writhe on the floor with some spitting and gagging. Many had to be taken out of the meeting hall to finish the work of deliverance from the demons. Of note was a young man who had been in prison and had often visited witchdoctors. As the demons began to come out, he began to foam at the mouth and then repent of going to the witchdoctors. It took a while as one of the demons became stuck in his throat, but he eventually became free. There was a young girl who until one week ago had been normal, but then she was cursed by a witchdoctor and had not walked since. She was about 4 or 5. After prayer and anointing with oil, she slowly regained the ability to walk and walked out of the service free of the curse. Some of the people had walked here from far. Some had walked for 5 hours. Many were not a part of the fellowship, but had heard that healing was to be found in this place. Today was very significant for deliverance from the demons. The Lord is indeed doing a work here and is setting people free. In the service today also there were about 40 or 50 people who were saved and then prayed for to be Baptized in the Holy Spirit. So the fruit of the service today was healing, salvation and deliverance. Thanks for praying for us. Continue to pray for the freedom of the people of Machakos and East Africa.

Thanks

Peb

Praise the Father for all He is doing in Kenya! I am excited to read more in the next few days!

Update from Kenya, too

I thought you might enjoy reading the latest news coming from our dear friends in Kenya.

Last weekend, we had an Open Air Crusade at Tumba Market within Machakos area starting from Friday 15th to Sunday 17th July, 2011. This time, we had a very successful Crusade because, Esther and I together with 5 Intercessory Team Members had been in Prayer and Fasting and gave us Favor, Grace and Breakthrough to touch many lives of people and bring them back to the Kingdom of God through Salvation, Healing and Deliverance.

On Friday 15th September, which was our day one of the Crusade, 65 people surrendered their lives to Christ Jesus and among them, 2 were thieves who have been a threat to the villagers by stealing and killing for a long time in the area. They have also been scaring people thus making them fear all the time. At that time, we prayed for a man who has been deaf for 4 years whereby, he received instant healing and started speaking and hearing as before.

On Saturday 16th which was our day 2 of the Crusade, 112 people gave their lives to Christ Jesus and among them, 2 women who had blood pressure and diabetes for a long time also received instant healing through the Blood of Christ Jesus. Out of those who got saved, there a young boy of 14 years who had a problem of both kidneys and has been visiting to different hospitals without success and after praying for him, he received instant healing through the Blood of Jesus Christ and he is now doing well.

On Sunday 17th, we had a successful Service which started at 10:00am and before 12:30pm as we were worshiping, there came a Woman who before she got in the Fellowship, was slain by the move of the Holy Spirit which was controlling the service. Thereby, she started vomiting blood while speaking to herself. When Esther went to pray for her, the evil spirits started speaking from her with a loud voice saying that, "I was send from the hell to come and kill Onesmus and bring confusion to the Leaders and in the Fellowship", and when Esther asked why? The evil spirit said that, Onesmus and this Fellowship has been a threat and have no peace in the hell. At that time, Esther prayed for her and she was delivered from the powers of darkness and later, I prayed for her to be saved.

At 4pm, we went to the Crusade which was our 3rd and last day of the Crusade. we met many people waiting for us and we immediately started praying, worshiping and praising. I started ministering and later 124 people surrendered their lives to Christ Jesus and were filled by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Among those who got saved, a young girl of 13 years who has been short sighted for 5 years she received instant healing after praying for her and she is now seen clearly through the Power of the Holy Spirit. PRAISE BE TO GOD!

I am rejoicing over this beautiful news!!! Praise to His Name!!!
Blessings!

More from Kenya

Our friend Peb has a team in Kenya right now. There have been amazing reports and I wanted to share the latest (from yesterday)....

What is most interesting about the last 24 hours is the rain. It has been very dry all over Kenya since November. The crops are withered. There is little food in the field for the people who must grow crops to eat. Yesterday, we spoke on faith and began to believe with the people for rain. It began to lightly rain exactly as the service ended. We all felt that this was a confirmation of the Word just spoken. It then rained all night here in Meru and really over almost over all Kenya. That made for a very difficult trip into the bush this morning. We went to Kanoa. Many of those people had been with us yesterday to hear the message on faith and speaking to the mountain to move...in this case it was drought. So they saw the result of this immediately with the rain that fell all night. Today in Kanoa, we met a people who really want to walk with the Lord. We spoke today about the Kingdom. We spoke on the need for unity in the Body to establish God's Kingdom in this area. This brings up the need for humility, community, forgiveness etc. The people responded very positively. It was such a blessing to be with these people. It was also such a blessing to see God confirm His Word so quickly with the rain. We go tomorrow to Ithitwe. It also seems that finally sickness has been done away with in our group. So, thanks for praying.

East Africa Zarephath Ministry

Thank You, Father, for moving the mountain!

Blessings.

Prayers for Kenya

I'm sorry I have not even been on here in the past few days to say Happy December! It's been colder here and we have had snow flurries almost every day but no significant accumulation yet. We are doing very well, other than a cold I have been battling. I have several things to share, but this came in today from Peb (a.k.a. Perry) and I wanted to pass it on right away so that you can join us in praying.


This is an update concerning some of the recent events in the Kenya work in Machakos. There have been two tragic deaths of women who because of their faith have been rejected by their husbands and in one case severely beaten because of this. This is not an unusual story there. Witchcraft is real and the enemy exploits every situation to bring as much destruction and confusion as possible. In all warfare there are casualties. This war is no exception. However you will remember what the Lord tells us in Rev 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death." I am reminded of these words as I think on the price paid by these two ladies because of their faith.

I send you these accounts so that you can be in intercession for these families and now orphans and also so that you can be in intercession for the fellowship there in Machakos so that their faith does not fail and they can indeed overcome in the midst of great difficulty. When we as His disciples begin to move to bring the Kingdom of Light, the domain of darkness does strike back. However, Greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world. So I just ask you to stand in the gap for this fellowship and for these families who are paying a high price for their faith.

I ask you to disregard the need for money in these letters. This has already been met. It is an African tradition for the fellowship to cover funeral expenses. This seems strange to us in the West, but as I meditated on that this morning, I realized that this is the way that the Lord meant us to operate....as a family. In Africa, they need one another more and they take care of each other better than we do. It is closer to the concept of having all things in common. This is something that we have not grasped. So I ask you to pray for these situations.

Peb


Dear Brother Perry Smith,

I regret to inform you that, one of our ushers in the fellowship passed away at Machakos General Hospital on Thursday 2nd this week at 5:30pm. Her name is Jane and we believe you know her. She was one of those we have been using to pray for the people in the fellowship during our week days deliverance and healing services. This attack came after we finished our open air crusade at Mwanyani market within Machakos area last Month. When we went there, many people got saved and the witchdoctors and witchcraft reacted against me and my family whereby, they send to me their witchcraft in the form of snakes which I saw in my dream and because, of that I was in prayer and fasting, I rebuked them and covered my family, the Fellowship and you with Blood of Christ Jesus.

So Brother Perry, pray for us during this time as we are preparing for the burial which will be next week at Mwingi South District about 220 Kms from Machakos Town. We would require a coffin, a vehicle to take us to the place and to pay mortuary charges. Jane was left by her husband and was living with her 3 Children. So, pray for us so that we may get enough money to take care of all these expenses.


Dear Brother Perry,

We have another woman from our fellowship who passed away last week on Sunday 5th at the hospital in Machakos town. The Death of this Lady occurred when she was been treated by the doctors in the hospital. She had been seriously beaten by her husband and 4 ribs on her left hand were broken. She had internal bleeding and after 2 days she died. Her name is Florence, we believe that, you know her because you baptized her last time you were in Machakos.

Brother Perry, Continue praying for us because of these situation so that,we can overcome and have victory. All these deaths would require amount of Money to meet the burial expenses of each body to their rural home. These 2 ladies had been chased away from their home by their husbands because of believing in the Power of the Holy Spirit.

According to your previous email concerning the cost of the burial,we would require Ksh: 52,500 to meet the burial expenses for the 2 bodies. The Money will be needed to purchase 2 coffins, mortuary expenses, vehicles to take each of the bodies to their different rural homes.

Jane has left behind 3 Orphans who do not have somebody to take care of them. Florence has left behind 2 Orphans.


Please,keep us in prayers.
Pastor Onesmus & Esther

East Africa Zarephath Ministry

Blessings in Jesus.

Prayer Update

Friends,

Thanks for praying for the outreach on the McMaster Campus last night. Some of us debriefed after the event. Lowest attendance in recent memory for this outreach, but some Kingdom seeds were planted in several folks. Keep praying for breakthrough here in Hamilton.

Also, KEEP INTERCEDING for the work in Kenya. Onesmus sent this update today:

Since the time we started praying and pulling out all the strongholds and
the Spirit of witchcraft within Machakos Town and the surrounding areas, all my chickens have died completely and no one has left. Also last night, one of my baby goat have died and the rest are very sick.

Please, stand with us in prayer. We know, this is an attack but, we are
still standing firmly in the Word of God. We will not give up neither
compromising. We will reach all the villages within Machakos area, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Pastor Onesmus & Esther



Report from Peb

As you can see, going after the stronghold of witchcraft in Machakos is not
without its cost. Also as you see, he is willing to pay the price. I would
ask you to intercede for him and his family and home as he battles the
stronghold in the area that has kept the people bound in fear and darkness.

Thanks

Peb


Thanks,

Bob Royce

Prayer Letter

Dear Friends,

I want to ask for prayer for an outreach tonight on the McMaster campus from my good friend, Chris Kovac, with the Navigators ministry. Here are the details from Chris:

On Tuesday night we are hosting an event entitled "Do All/Any Religions Lead to God?" The conclusion of the presentation will be that religion is not
sufficient to get you to God. A gospel presentation will follow. We posted
75 posters on campus, handed out 4000 personal invitations, and launched a Facebook invitation. Could you take a few moments before 7 p.m. on Tuesday to pray for this event? We would appreciate prayer for the speaker (Ragnar Oborn). Prayer that the Spirit of God would be present in a powerful way moving in the hearts and minds of those in attendance. Pray for me [Chris] as I am presenting the Gospel at the end of the presentation. Ask that I would speak with boldness and power. Most importantly, pray that Jesus Christ would be glorified in all that is said and done.


Also, I wanted to give an update from a recent outreach in Machakos, Kenya, where our friends, Onesmus and Esther, serve. This came in today from
Onesmus via Peb Smith, who directs East Africa Zarephath Ministry.


Dear Brother Perry Smith,

We thank you so much together with the people for the prayers you prayed for us because of the Open Air Crusade that we had at Katebe Market within
Machakos area which started on Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd October, 2010. The Crusade was successful and the Holy Spirit of God Manifested and took charge of the meeting and many people got saved, healed and delivered from the Powers of darkness, witchcraft and unbelief.

On Friday 1st, the first day of the Open Air Crusade, the Lord brought a lot
of people to the meeting and 86 lost souls surrendered their lives to Christ
and among them was a witch who had be-witched many people in the area.

On the second day, Saturday 2nd, the Holy Spirit of God moved in a Mighty
way in the meeting whereby, 62 people got saved and filled by the Power of
the Holy Spirit. Before the meeting ended at 8pm East African Time, I made
an altar call for those who needed to be saved. 36 people came forward to be
prayed for Salvation, Healing and Deliverance and among them, there was a
woman who had a spirit of both witchdoctor and witchcraft and she has made people to fear her for 9 years. When she came forward, the Holy Spirit
revealed to me that, she has a spirit of witchcraft and that I should not
pray for her before she repents. When I asked her to get saved, she refused
and threw to me things which the Lord confirmed to me that it was
witchcraft. Then I told her to repent or she dies. When she refused, the
evil spirits which she had threw to me and to bring confusion in the
meeting, we returned them back to her and the same day at 11:30pm, she died. When we went back to the Open Air Crusade on Sunday at 4pm, her relatives and the villagers informed us that, the witch woman had died the previous night. This is a Miracle which God revealed to us without any respect of man.

On that Sunday of 3rd which was the last day of our Crusade, people attended in large numbers whereby, 145 people gave their lives to Christ Jesus. Many of them were testifying that, that they were afraid of the witch woman who has been scaring them for a long time.

As you know Brother Perry, in the City of Samaria, when Simon the Wizard
refused to repent and get Saved, he brought Money to Peter so that he may be prayed for and be laid hands on so he may receive the Power of the Holy
Spirit, thinking that the Spirit of God is received by exchange of Money.
But Peter looked at him and told him (Simon the wizard) that, you and your
Money perish.

The Witch Woman had come to me to lay my hands on her so that she may
receive the power of the Holy Spirit without repentance and Salvation. When I rebuked her, the evil spirit which was in her reacted and killed her. So on that Sunday 3rd, we got a breakthrough and many people who had been fearing her got saved.

We know this kind of miracle is not possible without prayer and fasting and
making an agreement with God so that, whatever we do for His Glory may
happen.

All those who got saved at that Open Air Crusade, we will meet with them on
Wednesday 6th and 8th this week so that, we may pray for them for Healing,
Deliverance and Restoration and later, they be put in Discipleship and the
Teachings. We shall make proper arrangements so that, when you come in
January next year you may baptize them and also meet with them for
discipleship.

Please, pray for us again because we shall be having another Open Air
Crusade at Kathemboni Market within Machakos Town on Friday 15th to 17th October, 2010. We believe on that day, God will touch many lives of people and gave their lives to Christ Jesus.



Thank you for interceding for the outreach tonight here in Hamilton and for
celebrating with us how Jesus is building His kingdom in Kenya. I say this
a lot, but it is a real privilege to be involved in Kingdom work here in
Hamilton, in Machakos, and wherever else around the world the Lord invites us to be involved. Thanks again for your partnership with us!

Joyfully,

Bob and Scarlett Royce

Fasting

This particular update on fasting has really been replaying in my mind...

I had known that this trip would be more about watching and listening than about doing. I got more of that last night at the evening meal at Onesmus and Esther's house. Both Onesmus and James told us that they would be in overnight prayers that night. They would start at 9:30pm and finish at 6am. They both do this once per week. When asked why, they told us that this was their way of taking authority over the strongholds in this area and drawing closer to God. Onesmus told us that before he goes to the next open air meeting he will pray and fast 3-5 days for the power and authority to confront successfully the witchcraft in the area. I then began to contemplate my own life and the powerlessness that I feel many times over here in confronting obvious powers of darkness. Onesmus told us that he knows after periods of prayer and fasting that the enemy will obey what he says...no doubting. I then began to realize that if we in the USA want to bring this kind of authority back to the Church, then the answer is in our overcoming with both prayer and fasting. We all have been so comfortable and have not been willing to labor in prayer either for ourselves or the Body of Christ or the lost. There were many nights that Jesus prayed to His Father all night. I remembered His Garden praying and His asking His disciples to pray with Him and to watch that they might not enter into trial. They failed but He succeeded and even had an angel come to Him to strengthen Him. He still had to face the cross but overcame. In Paul's description of spiritual warfare in Eph 6, we often say that the only offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit but that is not true. He ends by instructing us to pray with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. This is also an offensive weapon. Jesus instructs us in Matt 17 when confronted with a stronghold that doesn't move to pray and fast. Many modern translations have left this out, but I think it is essential. There can be no substitute. Paul tells us in 1 Cor 9 that he buffets his body to keep it in subjection. How often do we follow that example? I am speaking to myself on all these points and my flesh absolutely rebels at the thought of this. The Africans are seeing the results of this kind of prayer and fasting. They are seeing the witchdoctors either repent or die. This kind of authority is true NT authority that we are to walk in. How many of us are willing to pay the price? I must admit that it has given me much pause and even angst as my flesh does not want to do this. However, I am feeling increasingly compelled to conform to what I see in the Word and to follow the examples of Scripture. I hope that some of you will be able to track with me on this so that more and more of His power can be manifested in the US. -Peb


Wow. There is so much to contemplate in this message. Bob has been involved in several long periods of fasting, as well as shorter times of giving up food to spend time with God and hear from Him. I have fasted several times in my life for certain situations or certain people. I know that God does special things during these times. Prayer is a big part of my life, but I don't include fasting often enough or on a regular basis. I am asking the Father to show me when and how I should fast in the next week.

Are you one who has made fasting a part of your life? What direct results have you seen God do in you or bring about because you were obedient in fasting and prayer? I would love to hear your stories.

Blessings in Jesus!

News from Kenya

Our friend, Peb, is back in Kenya and has been sending some incredible updates on what the Father is doing there. The Holy Spirit is moving in incredible ways and peoples' lives are being changed, some quite dramatically.

Here is one update on their time with the orphan caregivers ("grandmothers")...

Just a quick note concerning Monday afternoon. We did distribute food to the orphan grandmothers. As always it is a humbling experience to see these women. At least one who looked to be in her late 70’s had walked 20 km which would take up to 4 hours was there. They all then loaded the food upon their backs much like a pack animal would be loaded down and began the long trek home. I estimate that many were carrying up to 40-50lbs of food on their backs. Most required help just hoisting the sacks of grain and rice onto their backs. But they were smiling and were grateful. Most must walk at least 1-2 hours but some up to 3 hours home and most must walk uphill on narrow and uneven paths. Those of you who have been here can easily understand what I am describing. So thanks for your help and prayers. God continually reminds me that He wants us to understand as Americans that He is granting us a privilege to be a part of this, as this is His heart. It is not so much that we are helping them, but that He is allowing us to participate in His heart.

To read more of the reports, go to East Africa Zarephath Ministries and click on reports.

I am going to share another message from Peb in my next post.

Blessings!

Kenya News

Our friend Peb is in Kenya once again and has a team of three other men with him. Here are some exciting reports.

These are from Friday...

I am completely recovered from the illness that struck on Wednesdays night. Thanks for your prayers. There is not much news to pass along today. We will minister today to a group of folks. Tomorrow there will be a baptismal service followed by feeding the orphans goat stew. Will pass along more information as it happens.

Peb

Today in the fellowship we saw victory. We saw many saved and we also saw many healed. One young man who was completely bound and unable to walk or extend his arms was healed. Another older woman was healed of pains in her back, abdomen and legs. Another young woman was healed from pelvic pain. She had been diagnosed with a pelvic infection this week and after prayer was free of pain. We have seen 3 Islamics saved this week. At least two are to come to be baptized tomorrow.

One of our own team has had major deliverance. He came home to his native Kenya to be freed from the generational spirits that had bound him. He got free indeed.

Blayne was excited to slaughter the goat for the orphans meal tomorrow. It has been captured on video. After all of the difficulty of the first few days, we now have victory and joy in all things. God has indeed delivered us and redeemed us from the hand of the enemy. The Lord has prevailed.

There were many others that were healed that I don't have the report on. Many Catholics have been saved and many will come to be baptized tomorrow.

Thanks for praying.
Peb



And from today...

It is now 4:30pm in Machakos. We had the baptism this morning in which 168 new converts were baptized at the swimming pool. Some of the converts were from yesterday. It was a good service with much joy.

This afternoon we fed the orphans goat stew using the goat the Blayne slaughtered yesterday. It was indeed moving to see these kids together with their guardians. They seem to be much brighter than they were 1 1/2 yrs ago. Esther does a good job with them. We saw Faith who is the little girl with HIV and TB of the spine. In Feb she had such deformity in her back that she was going to go to Nairobi for surgery. However, after we prayed for her in Feb, she began to heal. Now the deformity in her back is hardly recognizable. We prayed for her again for the rest of her healing. We also prayed for a little boy with HIV and manifestations in his skin from the HIV. It was amazing to see these children worship as they were led by Esther. It was indeed moving to be a part of this vision that came to Esther from God. We just get to participate in something that He planned and orchestrated. Thanks to all of you who have been involved in this work either by praying, coming to Kenya or giving. There is fruit here. Video and pictures of the day have been taken and if it is possible, I hope we can put some of the video on the website for viewing. When we get home, we will certainly put up the pictures.
Peb


Tears of joy and praise to our Father!

Rejoicing Over Good News!

Faith is Healed!!!!!!!!

Peb received this update today from Onesmus and Esther:

Today in the Morning at 9:30am,Esther visited the family of Faith, a little girl who is a daughter of Siloam. She found that, she is going on well and the growth on her spinal chord from TB is healed. Last Month of February, her Mother had planned to take her to Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment, but after all she never went there. Afterward, God healed her from the painful growth and now she is doing well. Esther told me, when you visited her with Bob, you prayed for her for healing and deliverance. Praise the Lord for the Miracle.


You may remember I first mentioned Siloam, Faith's mom, in this post.

And I had this report from Bob's trip last month.

Praise to our Father and Healer!!!
Blessings in Jesus!

Faces of Kenya

I apologize for not getting these on here sooner. I am realizing that there aren't actually any pictures of Bob in the bunch. I guess he was photographer the entire time. I will check with him to see if he has others on his computer.

I know you will be blessed to see these faces and scenes.

This is the boy who was deaf and after asking for healing in Jesus' name, is healed and can now hear! Bob said they watched him after he was healed and he could speak and even started singing with them. *happytears*
I just had to start with him!

Machakos school at recess


70 or so orphans in Machakos lining up to receive their meal. Esther runs this ministry and provides a good meal and then sends food home with the orphan caretakers every 3 weeks.

Preparing the feast.

Orphans and caretakers waiting for food in Machakos

Waiting to eat.

Phyllis, who is full of joy, in spite of being in a wheelchair. She is a caregiver for one of the orphans.

Onesmus and Esther's daughter, Irene, who is full of life!

Goat stew, cabbage, beans, rice and chapati!

Irene and a friend dancing with joy at a leadership training.

John and Monica, along with their children. They are strong leaders who are starting a home group in their area where there is much witchcraft, fear and bondage.

Dancing and singing in the bush [Kibunga].

Pastor James and his wife in Kibunga.

Pastor James [Kibunga], Grace [Ithitwe], Peb and Onesmus. The Holy Spirit told Grace to go find Pastor James so he can help them start a fellowship. They had never met before. One of many connections that the Lord is supernaturally putting together much like in the book of Acts.

Relaxing in Grace's banana grove.

Grace with her husband. He is blind.
Bob G., on this trip, had a vision to pray for rain in Kenya while he was there. The clouds rolled in and it poured several times. The rain usually doesn't start until April or so...very out of season for February.

HIV orphan

Stephen, one of the key fellowship leaders in Machakos

Machakos home fellowship

And this precious soul has stolen my heart...

Oh, isn't she just gorgeous? I don't know her story. Just that she is an orphan. I cannot get her out of my mind and am praying for her and her caregiver.

I have more catching up to do and will be back later.

Blessings in Jesus!