| June 2008 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Greetings all who wrestle for the Kingdom.
Unremarkable
This was the word used by a reporter in London who went to hear D. L. Moody preach. He was unimpressed by the style content and delivery of Moody’s address. However, when he saw the results of the meeting and the changed lives that were evident from the testimonies he commented that this had to be God because Moody was so pedestrian.
How many times do we look at what we are doing for the Kingdom or what we are praying in response to God’s promptings and direction and it seems small and unremarkable. Frankly, apart from the power of the Holy Spirit working our efforts are small and limited. The only thing that gives eternal strength to our effort is the enduement that is only found in the same power that raised Jesus form the dead. With that presence comes supernatural results that are exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond what we can ask or think.
We who are part of the Wrestling Team and those who attend the “W” get to hear the testimonies that take pedestrian efforts and demonstrate remarkable results because we make space for them. If you do not get to hear back the testimonies from your prayer effort (those who labor in other churches as part of the Wider Wrestling Team) please do not let the enemies lies about your work find a landing zone. If you are praying as God directs it is by definition remarkable because He is remarkable and the fruit of His Word is remarkable and we are His servants who do His bidding and thus our work is … remarkable.
Remember what was said about Jesus’ appearance. He was unremarkable. We are in good company if the world’s assessment is the same for us. What was the testimony regarding Jesus? He was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power and went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38). Not bad company indeed.
So, thank God with us for these remarkable reports …
REPORTS: • A member of the WWT had a wedding last month and his daughter-in-law had ordered a very special paper for the programs they would be using on the day of the wedding. When they got the order it was short. They needed 90 pieces of paper and only had 66. They re-ordered but the paper was not guaranteed to arrive in time for the wedding. The day before the wedding they went to the intercessor’s office to print the programs and his future daughter-in-law asked him to pray so that at least the 66 they had would come out right. He stopped and laid hands on the printer and prayed. When they had printed she said “perhaps I counted wrong, we should make sure there are no more sheets left”. They opened the printer and indeed there was blue paper left. There were 25 more sheets above the 66 they had printed … a total of 91. They printed them up in excitement because of the miracle of loaves and fishes they had just experienced. The intercessor asked “why 91 when we only needed 90?” We say that God answered exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond what they could ask or think. • An intercessor was having lunch with family when her Mother-in-law began having the symptoms of a major heart attack. The intercessor prayed and by the time the ambulance came there was no pain and everything was normal. The hospital confirmed that nothing was wrong. Her brother-in-law saw her a week later and said “hey, I heard you healed Mom!” No, God heals but we pray expecting that the prayer of faith will restore. Thank you Father for showing us a different way to pray. • Last month a WWT person was praying about a job situation that could entail travel. As a fleece he told the Lord “If you want me to apply for this job then show me where my Passport is”. He had lost his Passport four years ago and could not find it. Shortly after that prayer he was in his basement and noticed an old backpack so he looked inside and indeed the Passport was in it. He gave the testimony at the “W” and another person heard it and said “hey, I lost my Passport over six years ago and have moved multiple times since then so I know I do not have it any more” he thought it would be cool if God would materialize it since that was the only way he felt it could be returned. Two days later when he woke up his Passport was sitting in the middle of the bedroom floor. Stunned he asked God “am I going to be traveling and that is why I need my Passport?” and God told him “No, I just wanted to bless you.” Father, You do indeed bless us. • A man who has begun to pray for healing at his church has begun to see results and last week told us that he was healed of Asthma himself even though the doctor had told him it was an incurable condition. God, nothing is impossible with you. • A man with migraines was prayed for by an intercessor that is part of the WWT. The man’s headache went away immediately and he has been free of headache pain for over four weeks. A week later he was at church doubled over from pain from a Hernia that was scheduled to be repaired surgically. The intercessor took him into the prayer room at his church for prayer. Two members of the board were there (who were very cautious regarding healing prayer) and as they prayed the man was freed from all pain. One of the skeptical leaders remarked “That was powerful.” Father, You are powerful indeed. • A member of the WT was working with a woman whose husband had been out of work for over a year with no jobs in sight. The WT member asked if they had prayed and asked God to give them a job. The woman said “no, if it is God’s will we will get one”. The WT member asked if she could pray with her for a job to be released, the woman agreed. The next morning the husband was called in and got a job as a supervisor that was better than his previous job. As they wept for joy later that day the woman declared “I never knew we could pray this way”. Father, teach us to pray. • A woman in Africa with a tumor the size of a grapefruit was prayed for by the Offringa’s and Nelu (part of our “W” family home on furlough). The testimony came back later that the tumor was completely gone and so was the cancer. Yes and amen. • A woman was having panic attacks. The prayer team loosed Shalom in her mind and spirit and broke off a spirit of fear and she was freed right away, the panic left and has not returned. Bless our Healing Lord. • A story came in from a member of the WWT who was prompted to chat with a young man at the gas pump. The conversation led to the young man praying to receive Christ. Father, Your sheep hear Your voice and follow You and You allow us to see Your work. • The crew at the Bridge Street House of Prayer opened up a free coffee shop and community center called the Pavilion on the NE side of GR. They have had coffee donated every month since they opened but recently were down to the last scoop again. They had been praying all along that God would supernaturally supply the needs of the ministry. While looking at the office next door to possibly expand the ministry base they notice a bag of Fair Trade coffee in the basement of the vacant office. They asked to owner about it and he said “I have not been in that basement for over two years; it must be from the last tenant so feel free to have it.” Adonai Jireh, provision is Your name and we bless you. • A woman with hair loss was prayed for at the “W”. There was tremendous fear in her life. We saw her last week and she has a beautiful full head of hair and a calm peaceful spirit. Father, You heal to the uttermost from the inside out and from the outside in. • A woman with a cancerous tumor reported back that it is completely gone. We bless you God for taking the curse away.
Many of you know Beth Vander Kolk who teaches first grade at The Potter’s House here in GR. She does an economics project every year with her kids and the past two years the class has been a published book. This year the book is bits of wisdom from her class called “Between the Raindrops” and a short video of her kids reading some of the quotes from the book can be seen on YouTube at http://youtube.com/watch?v=6zaeVcQ2KIs. It is really cute. Well done Beth.
Here are some additional things to be aware of as WT members;
OPPORTUNITIES: · The summer schedule begins soon @ Mars so please pray for the staff and workers to rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit as they do the work at Mars Hill. · Please pray for the staff, leaders and volunteers at Mars Hill as there are many transitions in process. Change can be disruptive. · Pray for the Annual Business Meeting in June. New Elders will be affirmed and continuing Elders re-affirmed at that gathering. · We welcome Tammy Rappuhn and Joseph Workman to the WT but we still need people for the Sunday time periods …. o So … · For those interested in IHOP style prayer & worship Lou Engle is coming to Michigan this summer; o The Call's Nazirite Uprising Conference o For more info go to www.TransformMi.com · Please continue to pray for our ministry opportunities outside the walls of Mars Hill as well; o June 12-13 Ted will be doing four workshops on Healing Prayer at the Empowerment Conference in Columbia, SC. This is put on by the Church Prayer Leaders Network and is co-sponsored by Pray! Magazine. For information or registration go to http://prayerleader.com/content/blogsection/2/5/ o August 15-16 Ted will be the Keynote speaker for a Regional Conference of the CPLN in Terre Haute, IN. This will be teaching sessions on Healing Prayer and registration can be found at the site above. o There will be a three week worship and teaching series at First Reformed in Byron Center with the OMWB and Ted in Oct/Nov. Dates to follow.
By the way, interesting research on Placebo/Nocebo effect has come to light recently. I saw an article on it on Dr. Mercola’s site. Placebo effect is when a person is given a sugar pill (placebo) instead of real medicine during a drug trial. Over 30% of the people taking sugar pills have results equal to the medicine simply because the “believe” they are getting new medicine that will help them. Nocebo effect is when you allow negative thoughts to impact your health in the same way. You can end up with symptoms that are real but are the result of your belief that you are ill not because you are ill. Lord free us from lies and thoughts that do not line up with Your Word.
You are appreciated and prayed for often.
Ted and Claudia Kallman Wrestling Coaches
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: (From the Hollywood Prayer Network Newsletter)
PS Ted lost his drivers license last month for a day due to his cataracts. In a series of miracle appointments he got it back in one day and told the story @ the “W”. Last week we got a letter and someone anonymously donated cataract surgery for both eyes for Ted. He begins the process on June 10th. Thank You Father for Your gracious provision. |
