Linda and Mike Schreurs
Happy May Basket Day!
What was in your May Basket on May 1st?!
I’m sure you’re aware of the traditional children’s custom of leaving a May basket on a friend’s door step, ringing the bell, then running off squealing with laughter at the ‘surprise’ left behind. O the delight of delectable discoveries in that basket! How much more so when your delectable delights come from feasting on God’s Word! It is great strength to your soul.
Some of you may be going through a tough time right now, but if you eat of the Lord’s good promises found in His Word, Psalm 22:26 will be part of your spiritual May Basket! “The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the Lord, and all the families of the nations will worship before Thee.”
My prayer for you is that this month you will experience big bouquets of abundant blessings! This can only come by way of delighting in God’s Word, His Living Manna!
Even if you only have time to take a few bites from the scriptures before work or at the end of a busy day, relish in its savoring nourishment. You just may find God multiplying that provision to you over and over again! He told the disciples in Matthew 14 to give the people something to eat. They, however, couldn’t understand what Jesus meant when there was only a few pieces of food to be found. There was no provision at hand to feed themselves, let alone a crowd of people! Everything appeared barren in the dessert place where they were. Does this sound familiar to your situation? Do things appear barren, depleted, exhausted?
You might be like the disciples who hadn’t realized that Jesus IS THE LIVING BREAD.
When they took hold of Jesus command by faith to feed the people, their few pieces of bread and fish in the baskets were multiplied to feed more than 5,000 people who showed up for dinner! That’s a huge May Basket blessing!
Take God at His Word! Believe Him and begin to call forth your basket of provision now! Jesus wants your baskets to overflow!
Linda Schreurs
Have you heard yet? Have you heard of the revival happening in Lakeland, Florida and how it has become contagious? You don’t even have to be there in person – you can just enter in by the Spirit of the Living God who is not confined to a place or space in time. Yes, He does open up portals of heaven in various areas, but there is an open access by the power of the Holy Spirit for those who desire to walk in it!
In March of this year, the Lord spoke to me saying, “The divine is already here! The victory is already here! Live daily in the supernatural life by the power (the engine, the thrust) of the Holy Spirit!” Then He put this thought in my heart and it’s been as a searing iron – hot, and ready to get rid of any ‘wrinkles’ in my life: If I were already walking in it (His power and glory), how would it look and feel. What would I do? How would I act? That, my dear friends, is where we need to be. It’s where we are now!
Do you feel it, sense it? Right now, are you walking it His power and glory? If not, why not? Each and every day as a believer in Christ Jesus, His eternal authority is available for any one of us. Nothing has changed on His part, but it has with us! Many have cried out for revival laboring for years in prayer and fasting. We are now reaping where many have sown. “Even now, take your stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest today?” (I Samuel 12:16-17a) This was the first verse the Lord gave me on my first 40 day fast years ago, and I’ve clung to it hard and fast!
But there is a caution in that chapter of Samuel that says we are not to desire any other ‘king’ but the Lord. Nothing, nor anyone else, will do! Therefore, honor and glory for this bursting forth of divine resuscitation by our mighty God, will be unto Him and Him alone.
Tornado!
I now see the reason why the Lord allowed me to drive through, a phenomena of a tornadic, swirling, snowy, windstorm in February of this year while returning from a seven day private hermitage with Him. It was one of the most alarming and yet amazing things I’ve ever witnessed in my entire life! It was a power I’d never seen before! It was not a blizzard per se, but a white, whirling wind that brought all traffic to a halt. I now believe this was a prophetic picture from the Lord for what He is now doing!
We are seeing the majesty, strength and awe of God in many profound healings and deliverances. I believe the Lord was showing me what Bob Jones prophesied earlier this year about the ‘winds of change’! Let us walk in it! Let us embrace it fully. Let us walk it out in our daily lives in the work place, our homes, our churches and every place the sole of our feet shall set. “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.” (Joshua 1:3)
Religious politics
We’ve begun to see revival in our Wednesday night Bible study group! We have felt as though we were swimming in deep, holy waters, being carried along by the tidal wave of the Holy Spirit! There’s been a different atmosphere and we’ve gone on longer than usual, hardly able to end at all! At times we’ll begin to pray, but end up on the floor weeping or laughing. It’s wonderful! It’s fun! It’s freeing! No religious paradigms allowed!
Amazingly, the Lord gave me a cautionary word this past winter which I didn’t understand then, but do now. He said: “Rebuke religious politics!” I now realize the Holy Spirit was forewarning me/us to not be overly concerned about denominational doctrines or worry about what certain religious establishments might think of this revival. The Lord Himself rebukes many of those who fail to “enter in” during times of Great Outpourings of His Spirit in his discourse from Matthew 23:13-39. He warns of the controlling religious spirit that was upon some of the scribes and Pharaisees of His day. Let us mark well His words from Luke 19:41-42,44, “And when He approached , He saw the city {Jerusalem} and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes…because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” This is only one of two times recorded in scripture of our Lord weeping! And this one was because His soul was greatly grieved that people would miss the move of God right in front of them!
What would you do?
So let’s walk it out! Let us not falter any longer in our holy calling of living the supernatural life ordained for us by Jesus as the natural way of living the Christian life. It’s exactly as Bill Johnson from Redding, California states, “It’s the higher reality!”
Think about this: How would you get up tomorrow morning if you knew you were under the canopy of God’s power and glory? How would you eat your breakfast? How would you commute to work? How would you do your job at work? How would you conduct yourself? How would you use your mind, eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet and heart to glorify the King of kings? Might your whole life change? Of course it would! It’s because you’d have no desire to go bar hopping, or for watching bad movies or TV shows. You’d have no desire to slander a brother or sister, no desire to cheat the company you work for, no desire for any kind of behavior contrary to God’s Word. The list goes on and on for ways you’d walk it out in your daily life.
You couldn’t help but walk, talk, live and breathe, with every action motivated from being soaked in God’s Presence. (Acts 17:28) This is how Enoch walked with God! (Gen. 5:21-24) Think of it. You might start getting up in the middle of the night, early in the morning or late at night just to be with the Lord! You’d commume with Him while walking to your car in the parking lot, while running errands, sitting at your desk, or doing laundry. Who knows what, where, when and how?! You’d be so consumed by the powerful Presence of God resting upon you, that you could not think any other way - than the way of the Lord, the HIGH way! His way! The holy way! “And a highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way.” (Isa. 35:8)
Jump in!
So jump in! The waters are warm, wonderful and beckoning! (Ezk. 47) It’s time to live in the glory. It’s time to live in the supernatural. It’s time to see your body healed. It’s time to see your family saved. It’s time see your long awaited prayers manifested! Walk out your divine destiny by the power and Presence of God through His Word, through praise and worship.
Your today can change. Your tomorrows can too. Your healing, provision, restoration and deliverance is right in front of you. Take hold of it once and for all! “And they went out and preached everywhere {your righteous living preaches louder than words!}, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by signs that followed.” (Mark 16:20a) Walk it out!
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
By Guest Columnist: Craig Leaming
Craig and Diane have been married 28 years, have 5 children, 6 grandchildren. Craig is the man who literally walked across America a year ago, repenting for the sins of the nation. See his website at: www.acrosswalk.com.
On July 4-6, 2008, the national prayer walk is coming full circle as host and sponsor families are being invited back to Des Moines, Iowa for a national worship and prayer gathering. Although the event will honor the participants, it is open to everyone! There will also be a workshop on listening prayer. The weekend will be highlighted by releasing a national destiny into the Body of Christ. Schedule of events are available at Lutheran Church of Hope, which is the location for this gathering: 925 Jordan Creek Pkwy., West Des Moines, Ia. 50266; Phone: 515-222-1520; directions found at website: www.wdmhope.org.
How did we get here and how do we stay in this great anointing?
We are living in a very significant and exciting time. End time prophecy is manifesting at a rate that has become hard to keep track. God is talking to everyone who has an ear to listen. Torment, sickness and death are yielding to the powerful name, Jesus the Christ, Son of the living God. Revival is breaking out in magnitudes never seen before. God is publicly getting credit for the good that is happening in even the worst of situations.
We have been moving in the wrong direction for so long. You have to be asking yourself, how did we get here and how do we stay in this great anointing?
God’s first commandment is, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Ex. 20:3) Moses told God’s chosen ones, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deut. 6:5) The last sentence of Exodus 20:24 says, “Where ever I cause My name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.” All of these quotes are God’s word. It is true and it is alive forever.
The manifestations of end time prophecies are making it a proven fact to those who were once non-believers.
So how did we get here? First of all, God’s word said we would be exactly where we are today. Secondly, God has caused His name to be honored and now He is coming to us and blessing us.
God awakened thousands upon thousands of prayer warriors across this nation and world. He has taken His rightful place in their hearts as their Father. He has showered them with royal love and they have all fallen in love with Him. God gave them eyes to see, ears to hear and their abounding love for Him caused them to honor Him and listen to Him. God has taught them the words to use and the exact prayers to pray. Sound familiar? Jesus said, “I only say what my Father has told me and only do what He does.” This, my beloved, is ultimate wisdom and was left for us by our savior Jesus.
The anointing we are currently in, according to God’s living and perfect Word, is only the beginning of the extravagant outpouring that is to come. We will not be able to hold back our praise day or night. If we did, the rocks themselves would cry out.
We only need to stay humble and give God the glory for all the wonderful things He is causing around us. Humility is the foundation that will cause us to listen and hear only God’s voice in the frenzy of our times. Then we can truly say only what He says, and do what He does. This will honor Him and He will continue to bless us.
God gave my son these words in a song, “How I got here is who I am.”
WASHINGTON DC
PROPHETIC PRAYER
CONFERENCE
By Guest Columnist, Mike Schreurs
This conference was held on Capital Hill on April 17-19-2008.
Washington, DC – strategic capital of the nation and certainly one of the most important cities in the world. A beautiful city at this time of year – cherry blossom time. This was the place Rev. Pat Chen’s First Love Ministries had scheduled Linda and I to be a part of its annual three-day conference.
On the first night, I had been asked to pray for the President of the United States. (No, he wasn’t there. But, we all know the power of prayer.) I hadn’t really focused on this important responsibility until shortly before the event. In prayer, I asked the Lord how Ishould lead a prayer for this man who has defended our land from terrorist attack, and in his second term, fallen to the lowest recorded levels of approval in opinion polls. The Lord took me to Isaiah 55, which happens to be a favorite Scripture of mine. Verse 4 describes David as ‘a witness, leader and commander,’ just the same as our President, George W. Bush. The Lord reminded me that, despite mistakes, we can all receive of the eternal covenant promise of ‘the sure mercies of David,’ and live out our destinies in Him. Isaiah 55 also speaks of ‘Going out with joy, being led forth in peace…’ But also that God’s Word does not return void, but accomplishes the purpose of the Father - which I then proclaimed over the remainder of his term.
Linda and I also visited and prayed at other key places – the Supreme Court, the Capitol, the war monuments, as well as at the church where the conference was held, just blocks away. I sensed that I had been at this exact area of the city some 25 or 30 years earlier. While I hadn’t been there, I believe it was in the spirit and this was somehow a time of fulfillment.
We also served on a panel discussion of gatekeepers across America. The moderator asked the question: “Are gatekeepers strictly pastors?” Of course, we believe pastors are gatekeepers, but it also includes others, who may not be theologically schooled, but are called by the Lord. They too are indeed gatekeepers of cities, states and nations. We shared of our earlier inner city Prayer Patrols and our Iowa Prophetic Prayer Journey to county courthouses – the places where justice and righteousness are contended every day and need to be proclaimed from heaven to earth.
We were blessed to make new friends from coast to coast. Believers who are hungry for the next great, epic move of God!
REPORT ON
ADORE TO BE ADORNED
WOMEN’S CONFERNCE
It’s not surprising when you step out in obedience to the Lord that the enemy will try to abort God’s will. This conference was no exception! Of anything I’ve done in my life, this was probably the one thing that seemed to have the most warfare! Why? I’m not totally sure, but one thing I do know - the enemy did not want this message to get out, as it’s rarely, if at all, even preached in most churches!
Purity in the Bride of Christ, which of course, includes men and women, includes even the clothing we wear. It’s a statement to our inner life. Promiscuity can be a result of a lack of a good and godly self-image. It shows a lack of knowledge that we’ve been made in the likeness of God which means we are called to be holy, as He is holy. (Lev. 11:44-45)
I’ve addressed this aspect of holiness and purity in past IWG Journals, as well as in last month’s issue so I won’t go into all of that in this context, but suffice it to say, I didn’t see a lot of interest for this conference. Let me bear my heart before you for a moment if I may? Was it my fault? Was I disobedient? Did I hear wrong? Was it untimely? I believe the answer to those questions, are a resounding, “No!” I do have to say however, it did sadden me, not for my sake, but for those who missed out.
Most of us are aware that at Jesus’ Second Coming, He’s looking for a Bride {the church} without spot or wrinkle – that includes what manner of dress we adorn ourselves with. Deep adoration of God brings an ever deepening intimacy with Him, causing righteousness, holiness and purity to spring forth. We are living in an age in which we are constantly inundated with unholiness. It surrounds us almost every minute of our lives through music, TV, movies, magazines, etc. We need to begin to take the HIGH way of holiness or be lost on a dead-end, detour of our own pathways. Its God’s way or no way!
Vision of the message
Every time our ministry team met for planning and prayer, we were taken up by the Presence and power of God with weeping and rejoicing. It was amazing! So we do have a vision of where the Lord is going to take this message. Hallelujah!
Those who gathered that Saturday, April 12, 2008 at the Crown Point Conference Center in Johnston, Iowa, were the hungriest of the hungry – wanting as much of God as they could get! Bless their beautiful hearts! They even came in spite of an unexpected one inch snowfall the night before. That put a damper on our planned outdoor picnic!
Nonetheless, we saw it as a blessing as many remarked how wonderful it was that the Lord had confirmed and anointed the day in this magnificent manner. He had indeed, ‘covered us/ clothed us’ with His glory – all in WHITE! The color of purity! He had downloaded His message in an awesome way! Not only that, but it was so much fun to gather around the fireplace for our lunchtime, having fellowship with one other. Saints, we can make our plans, but we must learn to step aside, go with the flow and allow the King of glory to come in!
Small things/big things!
It’s pure joy to love and serve our God! He is so delightful! Another interesting way He confirmed the conference was when one of the women on our ministry team was going through a big canister of book matches in her basement. She was searching for them in order to light the candles in our prayer room. She’d bought the canister at a garage sale from a couple who used to travel the world. They were mementos of their trips.
The first two book matches she pulled out read: ‘Crown Point’ and ‘Eagle Ridge.’ Of course, Crown Point was the location of the conference, and the other - the name of the housing development we live in! Ironic? Probably not! God is a God of design, destiny and purpose.
So what is your destiny? What is your purpose? You must discover it and begin to walk it out!
A boo boo
Have you ever done anything stupid in your life? I have! Probably too many to count! I committed a boo-boo that day. One of our models for the fashion show had not been to the dress rehearsal and was not aware of the proper attire I’d stressed so strongly. I made a public outcry, but moments later however, I also made a public apology for embarrassing her. Graciously, she accepted.
Wonderfully, another dear heart from our ministry team emailed me the following day to say that someone there probably needed to learn the lesson of humbling themselves and asking for forgiveness, or granting it to someone who’s asked it of them. God is always showing us His HIGH way to holiness!
May I share a photo journey of the conference?
Carla Kaiser, to the right, who was also one of our speakers, is pictured here dancing with her 73 year old aunt. This was beautiful and so powerful!
These were some of Mariah Johnson’s fashion designs. (Notice the snow through the window in the background!) Mariah’s two grandmothers were also present. There were three generations in attendance!
Donna Johnson, who was MC for the Fashion Show, is shown wearing one of her daughter Mariah’s designs.
Anointed worship by Stephanie Berger
from Omaha
Is this not a cute outfit modeled by
Diane Leaming?!
A casual, yet elegant outfit modeled by
Pally Haag.
No men allowed! Oh, we did let in several of our speakers! This is Bill Butler sharing his vision about the garment business called, Thomas Lift, that he and his wife have begun.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, we do not have photos of our climatic conclusion of our Women’s Conference, which was our Fire/Prayer Tunnel! Many were touched in mighty ways as they passed through the arch-like tunnel where our team prayed for each lady passing through. They entered the tunnel or archway where our intercessors had their hands raised over their heads (as in the childhood game of ‘London Bridge’). As each, precious lady began the journey through the tunnel, a prayer shawl with a painting of angels’ wings on it was waved over them. This created a wind-like atmosphere as they prophetically felt the brush of angels’ wings and God’s messengers of fire around them. “For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” (Ps. 91:11; See also Ps. 104:4; Heb. 1:7)
In the middle of the tunnel, we had a Jewish, Messanic Prayer Shawl from Israel that was waved over them. Psalm 122:6 is an exciting promise for this! “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may they prosper who love you.”
Exiting the arch, each one was touched with a prayer cloth that had been dipped in the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee and the Pool of Bethsaida in Israel where many healing miracles took place during Jesus’ ministry on earth. This was a banner of healing as intercession was made for restoration and deliverance. It was like Paul’s handkerchief that was used as a conduit for ‘extraordinary miracles’! (Acts 19:11-12) One lady actually got out of her wheelchair and walked through the whole tunnel – by herself! Later on, I realized this was a foretaste of the revival that’s begun to break out! Thank you Lord! Praise you Lord!
So all ended on a happy note and the devil was defeated once again! The Lord was lifted up and magnified. To Him be all glory and honor!
ARMAGEDDON BRIDE
By Linda Schreurs
This is the title of my first published book by Creation House/Strang Communications which will be out the end of June.
It’s been endorsed by Jill Austin, Shampa Rice, Pat Chen and Dr. Don Polston.
This book is an intense and passionate look at where the Bride of Christ, the church, is headed in the End Times, especially as it relates to purity. The global issue of attempting to redefine marriage will be the epic battle ushering the Lord’s soon return. He said He was coming back for His Bride who would be without spot, wrinkle, compromise, contamination or lukewarmness. She will be a red-hot lover at all costs, which may mean martyrdom. What condition will our hearts be in at the sound of the last trumpet? Who will stand for truth with the heavenly Bridegroom and His eternal Word?
Those who order NOW, will receive an autographed copy! The cost of the book is $14 plus $3 shipping and handling = $17. Order your copy at: Intimacy With God Ministries, P.O. Box 1294, Johnston, Ia. 50131-1294.