I want to stand firm and be blameless and righteous
on that day.
I wanna be found faithful I wanna be found steady I wanna be found faithful until the end.
I lift up my eyes to the hills Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord The Maker of heaven and earth
While I was gliding in the air, enjoying the sunrise at the beach, and soaking in the creek, I was once again amazed by His creation and how we can enjoy what He's created--the earth! And He will let us enjoy Heaven for eternity! You are so magnificent and holy, Lord!
Johnny
ps. Paragliding was a great experience. Everyone should try it out once in a lifetime!
I will never forget Banning's word from last year's Jesus Culture. We need to dream big again! Yes, on the first day @ Yi Lan with many many family friends (17 of us total!), we went on a ferry, got to cruise by the famous Turtle Mountain Island right off the shore of Yi Lan, and hoping to see some dolphins or whales.
Too bad, the Lord only brought us some beautiful sky and cloud, and also some skipjacks (flying fish) passing by. Those were pretty spectacular--the fish jumps off the surface and flies for about 50 meters in the air before it dives back in! Nonetheless, it was pretty darn cool.
Got myself all wet from head to toe because during the second half of the ferry ride, we had to sail into a storm in order to get back to shore. I was out there while most of the people went inside to hide from the rain. I gotta say, God is such an amazing Creator! I even sang "Still" in that storm (I know...at such a moment, right?...I just had to, ya know.).
I'll be updating some pictures of my 2nd week in Taiwan. I love this land, and I praise the Lord for Taiwan!
Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters! -Genesis 1:2-
CHECK THIS OUT: Got bitten by thousands of fish today! Pretty cool, but it was sooooooooo itchy! This was really a once in a lifetime deal. Never have I got "eaten" by fish. Basically what they eat from our feet is the outer layer--the dead skin. It always has been ME who's EATING the FISH. Y'all should come to Taiwan and give it a try. Really fun stuff and you will never ever forget =)
He has polio since age of 2 after a crazy fever back in the 1960s. He has to use crutches since he has memory. When I heard that, my heart was broken. He kept on tell me how his condition does not allow him to travel far away nor get him a decent job with good pay. He told me that I really need to be grateful that I am so alive and well.
I, then, asked him "the question". And guess what? He has been to church before and had many people prayed for him! He told me that so many people have prayed for him back at church, but the prayers did not really work. I then encouraged him that I have faith to see him be so blessed today, for he was actually heading to a job interview!
The thing is, I wanted to pray for him, but I had to get off the bus!!! So I told him that I will be praying for him and he will experience God's favor and love and blesings when he starts to declare and have faith!
He has lived all his life on crutches. Jesus showed me yet another level of His heart. My heart was tenderized. This entire world needs the Lord so much. I wish I did not get off the bus and kept on riding with him and praying for him and chatting with him and sharing testimonies with him. But I know what I did is not in vain. The Lord listens tentatively to our desperate cries.
You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. -Isaiah 25:4-
My mom has been asking me to pray for my GMa's health and also my GPa's sister's husband-- whom I am so grateful for. My mom side's family really took care of me a lot when I was small! And I am so blessed to see them still up and running and happy. However, over the past 5 years, two of my GPa's older brothers passed away. Lord have mercy upon them for they had never heard the Good News!
Today, I prayed for a auntie who came to Visual Tech to be examined and she got a pair of glasses. Before she left with her family, my mom suddenly mentioned me and prayer! Found out that she has been having this weird pain around her ears (not inner ears, but the ear bones) when she sleeps. And no doctor can diagnose where the pain comes from. So I shared CHAD's testimony (I love that testimony), and all the coworkers of my parents were listening too and were so shocked and amazed by this testimony! Jesus I just praise You for opening doors!
I actually shared a 30 second Gospel to Mr. YA (his nickname), who is one of the two supervisors of Visual Tech, and he shared a little bit with me about what he believes in. He's really open, and I hope to share with him more! Btw, his wife just had a boy two weeks ago! I also shared with Serena, the supervisor of MPD(My Personal Design), my parent's other optical shop. She's only 24 and she's a great worker with an awesome attitude! My parents have been so happy that they've got these faithful workers and friends! I gotta keep on pressing in and praying for them! I believe blessing and favor is falling upon my parent's workplace!
Update on the Hendrickson Family: Their plane got delayed for a day. Nonetheless I think they arrived safely and right now in Tainan. They will come to Taipei for 5 days and get their eyes checked too! Keep them in your prayers!
Moreover, I'm signing up for ONETHING Taiwan! August 20~22. Pray for this conference too! I believe more and more lovesick brides will be awaken through this conference!
It's all about Jesus. He is so amazing. Every time I read the news about Lakeland, my heart melts and tears blur my sight. I want to go to Lakeland again. The glory of God is resting upon that city! And it's never going to leave! Oh how I want You to do the same thing in Taiwan, Lord! If no one goes, I will go! If no one speaks, I will speak! If no one acts, I will act! If no one prays, I will pray!
Read this letter below. It is long, yet historic:
LAKELAND OUTPOURING APOSTOLIC ALIGNMENT June 23, 2008 C. Peter Wagner
A warm welcome to those of you who are present in this tent and to you who are watching through GOD TV. You are about to witness an event which could well have historic implications not only for the Lakeland Outpouring but also for our nation and for many other nations of the world. Prophets have been telling us for years that God is about to launch an extraordinary spiritual awakening with signs and wonders, and for over two months Todd Bentley has been leading one of the more obvious fulfillments of those prophecies. This is an exciting place to be right now!
My name is Peter Wagner and I am President of Global Harvest Ministries based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I have served the body of Christ in apostolic ministry for many years, and currently I preside over the International Coalition of Apostles which brings together over 500 recognized apostles.
I have the honor of being assigned to preside over this momentous occasion, and I am humbled as I approach the task with an enormous sense of awe.
========================= Holy Spirit, I invite Your presence, Your power, and Your direction =========================
This is a ceremony celebrating the formal apostolic alignment of Todd Bentley. My first desire is to lay a biblical foundation for what we are about to do.
I will begin with a scripture that has been a central text for those of us who are in the stream of the contemporary apostolic/prophetic movement, Ephesians 4:11-12:
And He Himself [Jesus at His ascension] gave some To be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists And some pastors and teachers, For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry.
The word “equipping” is a translation of the Greek katartizo which literally means “aligning,” as in setting a broken bone or a chiropractic adjustment. It means putting things in order so that the body functions as it was designed to function. This is one of the responsibilities of apostles such as those whom you see on the platform, and that is the reason we are present tonight. For example, Paul wrote to Titus, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking” (Titus 1:5).
Speaking of Paul and Titus, their relationship is a biblical prototype of apostolic alignment. The same would apply to Paul and Timothy. The apostolic alignment of Timothy and Titus with Paul was a principal factor in allowing God to develop and fulfill His complete destiny in both of their lives.
But Paul himself was also apostolically aligned. Soon after he was called to join Barnabas and his colleagues in Antioch for the then controversial ministry of planting churches among Gentiles, he traveled to Jerusalem to bring a gift for famine relief and also to align with some of the apostles. I want to use the experience that Paul had on that occasion as the text for the protocol for tonight’s alignment and commissioning of Todd Bentley. It is found in Galatians 2:9 which tells the story of one of Paul’s visits to Jerusalem:
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, Perceived the grace that had been given to me, They gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, That we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
Todd is following Paul’s example by inviting to the platform three apostolic pillars of today’s church: Ché Ahn of Pasadena, California, Bill Johnson of Redding, California, and John Arnott of Toronto, Canada, Todd’s native land. They represent an apostolic network called Revival Alliance.
Notice that the apostles in Jerusalem “perceived the grace that God had given to Paul.” “The word “grace” is charis, the root of charisma, meaning “spiritual gift or gifts.” In Paul’s case it was the gift mix necessary to carry the gospel to the Gentiles. In Todd’s case it is the gift mix necessary to lead the Lakeland Outpouring.
I have a question for the three apostles: Do you perceive the grace of God given to Todd Bentley as an evangelist to lead the Lakeland Outpouring? [Answer: “I do.”]
I have a question for Todd Bentley: Do you recognize the apostolic authority of these three men in your life and ministry, and do you desire to establish an apostolic alignment with them and with Revival Alliance? [Answer: “I do.”]
With this affirmation we will move to a formal commissioning, equivalent to “offering the right hand of fellowship” as the three apostles did to Paul in Jerusalem.
This commissioning represents a powerful spiritual transaction taking place in the invisible world. With this in mind, I take the apostolic authority that God has given me and I decree to Todd Bentley: • Your power will increase. • Your authority will increase. • Your favor will increase. • Your influence will increase. • Your revelation will increase.
I also decree that: • A new supernatural strength will flow through this ministry. • A new life force will penetrate this move of God. • A government will be established to set things in their proper order. • God will pour out a higher level of discernment to distinguish truth from error. • New relationships will surface to open gates for the future.
Che Ahn: It’s a miracle that all of these distinguished apostles would all be able to make it all together… with our international commitments, that’s a miracle in itself.
Bob Jones prophesied that this Outpouring (and you Todd) would go to a whole different level on June 22 and this is the 23d.
Isaiah 22:22: God is giving the keys of David. He is opening doors that no man can close.
I also think it is significant we have 3 generations coming together. God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You know, Todd, we're old enough to be your dad and Peter Wagner is old enough to be your grandfather!
Recognizing that God has chosen you and appointed you to bear much and lasting fruit in this Lakeland revival, and revival around the world; recognizing that He has called you as an Ephesians 4 evangelist and a revivalist, moving in signs and wonders; knowing that you have walked in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Jesus in every way; bearing fruit in every good work; and growing in the intimacy and knowledge of God, we as your brothers and your friends who have a deep love for you, Shonnah, your whole family, just esteem you.
We are here to support you. We are here to commission you in the Name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit -- with special oil from Chuck Pierce. It's called "revival oil." Chuck could not make it but he sent this Fed Ex for you (he's in Africa).
So, we anoint you, and commission you in Jesus Name. (Todd falls under the power of God… the three apostles lay hands on him on the floor)
John Arnott: We bless you today, Todd Bentley. You're a friend. You're a man of God. You're a man of prayer. You're a man of the Spirit. You love the anointing. I would say that it's not just the Lakeland Revival, but the whole world goes into revival. And your leading an amazing charge. Multitudes are getting in behind you and saying, "Come on. I'm going to go with you." And so we bless all of that.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for raising up this young man to lead such a mighty charge around the world, and to partner with God TV and all that has happened here in the last several months now. We bless it in the Name of Jesus. We stand with you and we encourage you, and we honor you.
Bill Johnson: When David wanted Uriah killed, he sent him into battle and then withdrew from him. As a company of people, we refuse to do that. Many revivals throughout history have been cut short of their intention of God's destiny and attention over individuals because of jealousies and fears that get stirred up in the people of God, and we refuse to do that. We shape the course of history by partnering with you, giving honor where it's due.
You welcome the glory as well as anybody I have ever seen in my life. I long to learn from you in that and I bless you. I pray with the rest of these that the measure of the glory would increase. That Moses would no longer be considered the high water mark when the glory shone from his face, but instead, the revelation of the goodness of God would change the face of the church, and that He would use your voice, He would use your grace, your anointing to alter the face of the church before this world. That the goodness of the Lord would be seen once again. I pray this over you in Jesus' Name.
Transcribed by Rhonda Boyer Edited by Pastor Stephen Strader *******************************
Jesus, You messed me up again. I want nothing more than to be with You.
