This evening she had fried venison, prepared purple hull peas, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cat head size biscuits,

Visitors were at our table almost nightly, this was no exception

Dad turned thanks and we dug in

We ate and laughed then finished the biscuits off with cane syrup and sour cream

Later a couple a neighborhood boys came by

They told John and I that Santa had been seen heading our way, pointing to the northern sky,

We stood in the freezing cold till our small hands grew numb

Our eyes became blurred from searching and squinting at the starlit sky,

After what seemed forever we went inside and warmed by the pot bellied heater

Dad told some hunting stories as we sat on the floor

We strung popcorn together to go on the Charlie Brown Christmas tree Dad had cut

We kept watching the door thinking Santa might burst through any moment

As the evening drew long

We drank some cocoa and our company left

Dad read the story of Jesus birth

We sang “Silent Night”

Mama sat out a saucer of cookies and some milk for Santa,

Then it was time for bed,

I was too excited to sleep,

I lay there under piles and piles of quilts thinking what the morning would bring,

Somewhere in the night I dozed

It was still early when my eyes popped open

The house was dark and still

I slipped my feet from the covers

I winced as they touched the ice cold floor

And shivered as I went to the other room

I approached the milk and cookies to see if Santa had come by

One was gone the other a bite taken, the milk only half gone

My heart was pounding as I looked under the tree

I wondered what Santa had left for me,

A pair of cap pistols, a package of green army men, a fruit and nuts in my stocking

Puzzled I thought, Santa must not have gotten my letter.

Through the years we’ve had to hand make our gifts,

There were times of leanness and others of plenty,

But nothing is better on Christmas:

Than a home cooked meal around mamas table set with love

Than a moment of Daddy’s earnest thanks

Than a visitor enjoying our bounty as though they were part of us

Than popcorn, cocoa, the cookies and milk of hope

Than excited anticipating hearts

Than children still filled with the wonder and hope of life

Than a family full of siblings, laughter and stories by the fire

Santa hasn’t always gotten me what I’ve wanted

However, the Lord has always met my needs

He showed up when I couldn’t save myself and gave His life for me

He’s forgiven my transgressions

He delivered me from my iniquities

He’s given me a wonderful wife, children, and grandchildren,

He answers my prayers!

Thank you Lord for our family and our friends

For your goodness to us through the year

Thank you for those watching from heaven

And for the additions and babies you’ve given us,

Keep us all in the year to come

Bless you for the gift of your son

Amen

Merry Christmas to all!!!

Ezekiel 8:7 - 12 (NKJV) So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall. 8 Then He said to me, “Son of man, dig into the wall”; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door. 9 And He said to me, “Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.”  10  So I went in and saw, and there—every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls. 11 And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. 12 Then He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’”

Ezekiel 8:12 (KJV)  Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery?  for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

Approximately 75 men were gathered and it was time for worship to begin.  I watched as the leader dropped his head and rested his hands on the strings of his guitar.  It was almost as though time began to slow down.  He started to pray, in a measured, deliberate tone taking time that would normally have been relegated to his musical gift.  I asked the Lord, "What is he doing"?  The Spirit of the Lord immediately responded, "He is worshipping".   That satisfied my mind and  I moved deeper into the prayer with him and listened intently. 

Suddenly, he began to weep and confess that he, a married man, had taken an interest in a young woman, that wasn't his wife.  There had been no prayer but his, no preaching, music, invitation, coercion, or etc. Yet because of his integrity toward the Father, this brother had to get free … before proceeding.  The "Fear of the Lord" and the Holiness of God left this brother with only two options;  “Repent, and do it now” or “Stand in the strength of your gift as a pretender and usurper”.  He was faced with the reality of the “Living God” and the embarrassment of his admission.  Yet, he made the right choice.

In these moments everyone at meeting was confronted with the integrity of this brother’s heart.  The "Spirit of the Lord" had defined to me what he was doing, "He is worshipping".  As soon as his public confession and prayer ended another brother moved to the front.  He confessed that he had battled pornography since a child of 4 when he had been exposed to a Chick porno track.  With weeping and sobbing the brothers confessed their iniquities and then asked me to come and lead the group in a prayer of deliverance.  

As an innocent child I was immersed in a world of perversion by the older and stronger.  All through my teen years I battled the dark wickedness brought on by yielding to youthful lusts.   I was so conflicted between the knowledge of right and this dark way, I considered suicide regularly.  Ephesians 2:4 - 6 (KJV)  4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  I don’t understand God’s love for me.  He loved me when I could not love myself. 

In His mercy He sent someone who wasn’t afraid to address the dark issues of perversion.  He called those dark things by name and led us in a prayer of confession and taking authority over those things in the name of Jesus.  Then we commanded those things to release us and to go from us in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  All praise be to my Lord Jesus, I was set marvelously free of the bondages and the shame that had tormented me.  For 30 plus years I have enjoyed the freedom that I could not attain by discipline or will power or even by prayer.  I learned what it meant to draw near the Lord and cry out for mercy and He heard me.   I learned that man cannot free himself neither can he keep himself.  He can only be kept in the center of the will of God by the wonderful grace of the Lord.  That is the reason it is imperative to have a living relationship with Him and to draw near daily. 

I asked Him once what to do about some things in my life that I knew needed to change.  He said, “Son, Draw near to me”.  I said, “But what about these things in my life”?  “Son, draw near and I will deal with those things.”  I did and I learned what the scripture meant “Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit says the Lord”.  Freedom for me was found in the “manifold wisdom of God” brought to me by a brother in the Lord.  However, the ability to live free and maintain a productive spiritual life is found daily at the feet of Jesus.

I moved to the front of the group with the consolation of my freedom.  There is nothing concealed that won’t be brought into the light.  What we think is well hidden is still visible to our God.  I addressed the abominations that the elders of Israel did in the “chambers of imagery”.  God knew right where they were and all they did in secret.  If what we do remains in the dark it has power over us.  The hidden things have power to control us.  However, “if we walk in the light as he is in the light …..

1 John 1:5 - 9 (KJV) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Isaiah 26:13 - 14 (KJV) O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.  14 They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. 

Ezekiel 8:7 - 12 (NKJV) So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall.  8. Then He said to me, “Son of man, dig into the wall”; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door. 9. And He said to me, “Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.”  10. So I went in and saw, and there—every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls.  11. And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up.  12. Then He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’”

Ezekiel 8:12 (KJV)  Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

Luke 17:20 - 21 (NKJV) Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;  21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Romans 14:17 (KJV) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 

What is reaching for us?  What are the things that have us?  That which is well concealed is still visible to God.  The Lord is reaching for the hidden things of our hearts and minds.  You may allow yourself indulgences of the “Lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, or pride of life” but the Lord knows.  He is aware of our thoughts and is conscious of the unholy tolerances we afford ourselves.

Our society is saturated with sexual content through television.  Soap operas and sitcoms expose us to unethical and unprincipled lifestyles that oppose healthy spiritual life.  “Who done its”, de-synthesize us to death and the sanctity of life. 

The computer/internet has created ready access to some of the darkest perversions of man.  The amoral, immoral, depraved, and the ungodly are available through this media. When accessed and allowed these things become painted on the “chambers of our imagery”. 

Be wise children of God.  An unintentional event can become the snare of your life.  And the occasional indulgence will strip you of your honor and holiness.  You will find yourself sitting in a stupor while others are being blessed by the presence of the Lord.   You will find yourself filled with shame and feeling unworthy of anything from God.  You will find your spiritual effectiveness and “Kingdom” destiny placed on pause unless this door is shut deliberately and quickly. 

Social networks and email are portals of opportunity to the dissatisfied and wandering heart.  How harmless sharing the details of our lives with one another seems.  Clear bounds and restraints must be kept in place.  Otherwise, unholy alliances and ungodly soul ties will develop.  Just as romance novels nurture unrealistic views of love.  The person who is writing you can take on any form they choose.  Flattery is as cheap as words and as deadly as porno.  Comparing the wounds of one’s heart can become spiritually lethal.  Even sharing the depth of our spiritual journey can become a doorway to the enemy.  Don’t be deceived if you need help ask for it.   We must shut the door to these toxic venues.  They are death to us.   

The “Kingdom of God” isn’t all about what is seen on the surface.  It has to do with the inner workings of our hearts.  The Lord is reaching for the hidden things of our hearts.  He is ready to help us clean up and become vessels of honor.  One of the best means of doing this is by us bringing our sin into the LIGHT.  1 John 1:8 (KJV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

I’ve found that God is willing to do surgery on and bring healing to the things I bring into the light.  I’ve also found because the Father loves us, He will not allow hidden sin to remain hidden forever.  Many times men won’t come to the light for fear of the consequences.  Better are some consequences and healing within, than role playing and pretending for the rest of our lives.  Better to take a whipping deliberately than to be exposed publicly for deep wickedness.  I have also found our Father to be tenderly gracious when I humbly cry out. 

We had better learn how to receive and help one another without judgment and rejection.  No one is immune to the temptation of man.  The hand that is reaching to us may be the hand that is able to reach for us in the hour of our need.

I love you Church,
Bro Cleve
My Website

As David reminisced at the end of his days a particular phrase really caught my attention, "Your gentleness has made me great".  This old warrior was referring to the very "gentleness of God" as the factor that made him great.  As a young preacher I was full of war and at times my hands were covered with blood.  Not just with the blood of my enemies but sometimes with the blood of perceived enemies.  When I saw this passage, I began to go to my porch daily and pray for the gentleness of the "Lord" to come on me.  The journey to this gentleness I found had much to do with me learning to die well.  Dying to self is never easy but it is necessary to walk in the "gentleness of the Lord".  The more I have learned to handle even "enemies" through blessing them and kindness, and the more I have learned to handle my brothers and sisters with gentle love the more blessing and grace rests on my life.  It seems that the power to break the heavy yokes rests in the hands of the gentle.  Let us all remember we were once dumb and foolish but along the way and yet the Lord drew us with gentle chords, band of love and manifestations of "His goodness".   Let us follow this example and may the "Gentleness of the Lord" make us great to the "Glory of our King". 

2 Samuel 22:36 (NKJV) ³⁶    “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;     Your gentleness has made me great.

2 Timothy 2:24  (NKJV) ²⁴And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,  ²⁵in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,  ²⁶and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Hosea 11:4 (NKJV) ⁴    I drew them with  gentle cords,     With bands of love,     And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck.     I stooped and fed them.

Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) ²⁸Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  ²⁹Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  ³⁰For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

James 3:13 - 4:1 (NKJV) ¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.  ¹⁴But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.  ¹⁵This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.  ¹⁶For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.  ¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  ¹⁸Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

Titus 3:1 - 3 (NKJV) ¹Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,  ²to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.  ³For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 

1 Thessalonians 2:7 (NKJV) ⁷But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.  ⁸So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 


I love you Church
Bro Cleve

Strategic Messengers concerning “Next Things”
I saw in a vision two orders of angels standing, encircling the congregation of the Lord.  There were warring angels, watchfully alert, ready to guard and protect.  And there were others that carried scrolls in their hands.  I asked the Lord what these angels were.  He said, “These are messenger angels, which bring strategies of  “Next Things”.   I asked the Lord, “Why are the messenger angels idle”?   Immediately the scene changed and I saw the faces of the people, even leaders, turned toward each other, striving and quarreling.

Thoughts on this vision  

• Stife is the great destroyer of fellowship and covenant with one another
• Striving with one another blocks our ability to hear from the Lord
• The Father is willing to release strategies that inform, equip, and empower us to handle "Next Things"
• We are not waiting on heaven
• Angelic messengers are in place to discharge  this heavenly insight  
• Heaven is waiting on us!
• Internal conflict with each other in the body of Christ has destroyed our ability to focus on the Lord
• In order to receive we must resolve our issues with each other and turn our  minds and hearts to Him
• Only Then will we receive the stratagem needed to deal with and cope with future things

I dreamed that I was preaching to a mass of people sitting in bleachers.  I was handling the Lord Jesus and the precious word of the “Kingdom of God”.  There was a group sitting in the front on the bottom rows that were casually talking and sharing current events with one another.  They were turned toward each other and simply ignored what was being shared while being engrossed with their conversation.  My heart was grieved yet I continued. 

Then I found myself high among the people.  Just below me there was a whole group of people dressed in pure white.  As I continued the discourse concerning the ways of the “Kingdom” they would occasionally look back at me and smile.  It seemed that certain words were rather palatable to them while others were just simply ignored.  It was almost as though they were cherry picking the word. 

At this point I became terribly grieved and I fell to the ground weeping.  As I was lying on my right side weeping, I cried out to the Lord.  “Where are those that will hear the word of Your Kingdom?   Where are those that treat your word as precious dear Lord?  Where are those that have a heart for you?” 

Suddenly the bleachers went away and I saw a remnant of people standing in a sort of twilight.  Their eyes were shut but their faces were toward heaven.  Their faces glowed and it seemed they were oblivious to the things around them.  With their hands lifted they shook and trembled under the presence of the Lord.  

Recently I've heard of a ramping up of Militias and people are buying guns and ammo like crazy.  Well brothers and sisters take a look at this next passage.

1 Peter 4:1 - 2 (KJV) ¹Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;  ²That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

1 Peter 4:1  TMSG:

¹Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. ²Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.

The above passage I've commited to memory out of the Message. This is a word I have carried to the "Church" for many years.  We judge God as unfaithful because we bear some hardship.  We often are "tyrannized by what" we want.  God forgive us all for being so shallow.  True believers are proven/seasoned/equipped in the seasons or events that take place in life.  We haven't always handled things right but somehow the Lord has got us through.  We have found our hides getting tougher while our hearts are still pliable, willing to love and continue to follow and sacrifice. 

Examples:  One brothers personal failure causes 15 families to leave the fellowship.  My kids are deeply hurt at the hands of "believers".  A brothers choice with money causes me to lose my house.  My grandbaby is still born due to the stubornness of a doctor.  etc. etc. etc.  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors.  Not theoretically - "For Real" 

I love the Lord and His Church more today than ever, and yes, even my enemies, and have learned how to pray for and bless those that dispitefully use me.  Cindy and I have sold everything and followed the "Word of the Lord" from the hiding place of anonimity to the shore of the great City.  We are tremendously blessed and have found the sufferings of this present season the preperation of the ground for fruitfulness in days ahead. 

Therefore, (for a few things) arm yourselves with Faith that believes when all evidence is contrary,  Hope that sees the good and the God in everything and anchors your soul, and Love out of a pure heart fervently in face of hatrid and harshness, and Thankfulness in everything and for everything but most of all for the privelege of being His. 

2 Timothy 2:3 (KJV) ³Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 

2 Timothy 2:10 - 12 (KJV) ¹⁰Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  ¹¹It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:  ¹²If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 

1 Peter 2:19 - 20 (KJV) ¹⁹For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.  ²⁰For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 

I realize that what I'm sharing here will not get any of us on Prime Time but it nevertheless is the "Word of the Lord".  By the way I am not a doom and gloom preacher.  I am a "Quit whinning and lets grow up and get it right".  There is a generation following that's gonna fall into the chasm of the hypocrisy we leave ... or cross into the Kingdom of God because of the faithful lives we've lived in pursuit of Him.

Blessing Bro Cleve   

Waiting on Cindy to finish for the day, I sit quietly now.  What a beautiful sunny day.  Flags are flying and people coming and going into the court house annex.  Sometimes I want to keep my mind real busy.   The tide of financial hysteria has found its way into my life.  I don’t have a lot but with the largest day single loss on Wall Street yesterday even I am a little nervous.  One young man looks to be seventeen just passed me.  He’s overweight with a scruffy beard and a real mean or maybe no nonsense look on his face.  I use to be much more serious as a youth.  Kids were placed under constant restraint by the elders of our house.  Seen and not heard, around but not noticed.  Well I’m a little more lighthearted now.  I have decided to love with the love described in the Corinthian letter of Paul.  That seems on my mind these days.  Love is kind it says. 

Doesn’t it just make your day when someone goes out of their way to be courteous or kind?  I remember being in line at the little General Store in our town.  I wasn’t feeling good and the task was quite a labor because of high blood pressure and high sugar count.  Because I was extremely overweight I rarely could stand more than 5minutes before I began to tremble and sweat profusely. 

So, I quickly gathered what I needed and made my way to the single check out line.  As I rounded the corner to my dismay I saw two people already in line.  The young black lady in front of me had a buggy full of all kinds of stuff.  I walked up behind her resolved to wait.  I didn’t think I was weaving or breathing hard when suddenly the young lady turned to me and offered for me to go before her.  Politely I told her, “No, that’s ok.  I’ll wait my turn”.  She looked at me and said, “I insist” took her basket and promptly moved behind me. 

The gesture almost overwhelmed me.  I checked myself before I began to cry and softly asked the Lord, “How can I bless her Lord?”  The Lord immediately responded, “You know how to do that, just open yourself to my Spirit.”  I immediately began to pray in English and unknown tongues under my breath and listen to the inner voice.  I walked out to my red Dodge pickup and continued to pray.  I rolled down my window to speak to the young lady.  As she came out of the store I motioned with my hand for her to come close.  She looked surprised but then came to the passenger’s window.  I said, “Young lady since I was in line I prayed for you and I believe the Lord told me to tell you, ‘You are suppose to go back to college and much of it will be accomplished by online schooling.  You are not to worry about your child the Lord is going to help you with that too because He has ordained to bless you to finish your college.” As I finished her eyes had become wide as saucers.  She stepped back from my truck in amazement exclaimed, “My pastor told me that Sunday morning”.  I thought, “Thank you Jesus – you have proven yourself to be so real to this child of yours”.  

Two years went by and I didn’t see Shannon again.  I thought about the incident from time to time and always with some joy at her response.  Then this morning Cindy and I had pulled up at Sonic to get a drink at the drive through.  When I pulled up to the window to my surprise there was Shannon.  She smiled at me and went about her work.  Of course I was thrilled to see her.  No one was behind me in line so I decided to ask, “Say do you remember me?”  She laughed and said, “I will never forget that day.”  I continued, “Did you ever go back to school?”  She grinned and said, “I sure did and I am about to graduate from college with a double degree.” 

We exchanged names and numbers and she promised to contact me with graduation information.  I pulled away from the window crying with thankfulness to the Lord for a day of little kindness that had changed someone’s life.  What does it take to do good, to prefer someone ahead of you?  What does it take to step out of your need and your life to consider someone else’s need?  Perhaps, just a little thoughtfulness, a prayer to bless, or an act to obey the inner unction of the Spirit.  Sometimes you have to make yourself vulnerable to help others.  Remember, one act could change a persons life forever.