Sound from Heaven Ministries |
from the heart
Many are held back in this hour by their own "underestimation" of what can be done through them. We watch what's currently going on in the world and wonder "what can one man do"? If we take a very brief look at recent history - we can see what "one man" can do:
(1) Hitler - under his rule, we see that over 11 million people were killed during the holocaust. That's the equivalent of dropping a massive bomb on both New York City and Los Angeles and killing every person there. ONE MAN had the ability to take away 11 million people's destiny (not to mention the family members and friends that survived who were forever affected by this). (2) Martin Luther King - Because of his willingness to lay down his life for freedom to come to his generation, many are free today. ONE MAN was able to see a change in culture and a nation even in the midst of great opposition. (3) Jesus - Yes He is God but also fully man, born of a virgin into this natural world. As He laid down His life, He was highly exalted, destroying principalities and powers. ONE MAN was able to deliver the world through His sacrifice. (4) YOU - what is going to be said of you? Did you know that greater is He that lives in us than he that is in the world? So everything that is going on right now, all of the evil that is being done, has been destroyed by the power of God....and that same power is IN YOU! Did you know that Jesus Himself said "Greater works shall YOU do"? So you say, I'm too young, I'm too old, I don't have enough money, I'm not well enough, I need to get some things in order, I need to wait until I'm in a better financial position. I understand - I've heard all of these same things playing in my mind throughout the years. But, I have news for you: "TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION". TODAY IS YOUR DAY. THIS IS YOUR HOUR. NOW is the time for you to rise up and achieve all God has called you to achieve. Did you know He is waiting on you? Many think they are waiting on God, but God is actually waiting on you - to change, to make a move, to trust, to obey, to surrender, to yield. God has appointed something special for you, for me, for all of us. WILL YOU OBEY THE CALL? And, if you are already obeying the call, will you come up higher - for the sake of the harvest? Will you go to another level? In order to see what you've never seen before, you have to do what you've never done before. You can't keep doing the same things over and over and expect a different result. Now's the time. We don't know what tomorrow holds. We have to live in the moment NOW. We have to run NOW. We have to rise up NOW. We have to allow this river of living water that God has entrusted to all of us, to flow out to a lost and dying world. Now I ask you - what can one man do? It depends on how much that one man will yield. It's not about being "special". It's not about being the best or knowing the most. It's simply about how much one is willing to yield. What can God do through you? Do you believe that He is the savior, healer, deliverer, helper, strengthener? Because, He lives in you - you become all of those things - when you yield. Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him. But He has shown it to us by His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. Now I ask, what can't one man do? One man, by the grace of God, can do anything, if that man is willing to believe & yield! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---CURRENT UPDATE--- ***This month we helped with a local inreach in Maui and saw over 1500 people pack out a church where several hundred packied out an altar call. ***We were able to minister at 4 different churches and 1 after school program on Maui and see people saved & filled with the Holy Spirit. ***Chris is currently in Yakima, Washington State Area ministering for 2 weeks in several different churches. STAY CONNECTED WITH US THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA "FACEBOOK" "Christopher Blair" "Victoria Alyse" "Sound From Heaven Ministries"
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This song will always have a special place in my heart. I remember listening to this song and crying out to God for the past 4 years, as we travelled in our car from state to state.
On the road, just us and God - all of our cares fading away as we enter into His presence and God took us on a great journey. It was life-changing. I had the privilege to preach this past Sunday as Chris was away in Washington DC preaching there. Little did I know, God was setting me up! I am now preaching in this church for the next 3 weeks as Chris is here doing a few revivals in other churches. We do not EVER set it up this way, but this is something God is doing right now. I feel like God is taking me to a new level. So, as I was praying about what I should share for this past Sunday, I flipped this song on. As I did, I felt like God was going to help me put into words, what I had been feeling for the past 4 years as I cried out with this song. And I decided to share a little bit of that here. As I began searching the scriptures regarding the "deep" things of God, I realized that many of my favorite scriptures actually talk about it - and I didn't even realize it! God wants to take us all DEEPER! In Psalms 42:7, my foundation scripture, the psalmist writes: "Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All your waves and billows have gone over me." NKJV Holman Christian Standard Bible Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and Your billows have swept over me. International Standard Version Deep waters call out to what is deeper still; at the roar of your waterfalls all your breakers and your waves swirled over me. NET Bible One deep stream calls out to another at the sound of your waterfalls; all your billows and waves overwhelm me. Aramaic Bible in Plain English The Deep to deep calls The Voice to the voice of the waters of your fountains. All your storms and your waves passed over me. Deep calls unto deep. God, calling unto us. See Christ called unto us, before we ever called unto Him. "D"eep - with a capitol "D". He was reaching out to us before we every tried to reach out to Him. There's a deeper place God wants to take us. He wants to take us to higher heights and deeper depths in Him. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. - Psalm 42:1-2 This is yet another example. As the Holy Spirit draws us, and God calls out to us, our spirit begins to thirst for Him and cry out unto Him. I love what one of my old youth pastors used to say, “As much as you want from God is as much as you’re going to get”. I believe He said this every service for an entire year. God used that as a seed into my heart that has produced much fruit. You see, many think they are waiting on God, however, God is waiting on them. You say, how? Lord I'm ready, I've been crying out for you to do it. But He is saying, well I've been trying to stir in you to make the change. To go deeper in God there are some decisions and things that you need to do and change. There are things that need to go from your life and other things that need to be allowed into it. As believers, one of the biggest things we cry out to God for is His voice. "Oh Lord, if I could just hear your voice". Oh Lord, please speak to me, speak to me, speak to me Lord. And He is saying "I'm talking but you're not listening!" This is one of my favorite scriptures: 1 Kings 19:11-12 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. You see, we are always looking for God in the big things. Jesus, please won't you send prophet dudad to prophesy to me and tell me what to do. Let him know my name, age, weight and birthdate and then I'll know it's really you telling me to step-out. Oh God, if you would just cause all of the cereal boxes on aisle 12 to drop to the ground, then I'll know you want me to witness to that girl over there. Jesus, if you would just bring in all the money I need tonight to go on this missions trip, then I will know it's you telling me to go. I've got news for you - Jesus always said "go". Jesus already said "step out". Jesus already told us to "be a witness". I want to let you know, that no matter what area you are believing God for in, if you do not begin to make the changes in your life that need to be made, the ones that God has already been speaking to you about in your heart, in that "still small voice", you will never experience breakthrough, you will never see the fulfillment of what God has promised you. You are not waiting on Him, He is waiting on you. Listen to that "still small voice". So God wants to take us deeper, but we have to get past the basics to go any farther. Take a look at this scripture in Luke 5: "So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him." Isn't it interesting that Jesus told Peter to "Launch out into the deep"? If you want to go with God, you are going to have to do the same - you're going to have to get deeper then you've ever been before. And please consider this, GOD ALWAYS GIVES YOU A NET BREAKING, BOAT SINKING LOAD OF FISH. He doesn't ask you to step out, forsake all, obey in this area or that (which requires sacrifice) to not see something supernatural. He always has something greater in mind for you then what you have for yourself - or even what others have in mind for you. Another one of my favorite scriptures: 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”[c] 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 Once again, the "deep things". God is constantly trying to get us to go deeper. There's some things we can't see or even partake in until we get in over our heads! Our Pastor (Rodney Howard-Browne) preached an entire week of meetings, morning and night on this one scripture. And it has stuck with us ever since: Psalm 107:23-24 (NKJV) 23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, 24 They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep. You want to see His wonders in the deep - go deeper - get deeper - He is waiting for you there!
We are His precious bride. He loves us. He is jealous over us. He doesn't want us running after idols, gods, etc. He just wants us all to Himself. Yet many times we don't comply, we don't care. Not just when we were unsaved, but even now, as born again believers.
You can go to church, know all of the right things to say, do all of the write actions, and still be broken, empty, and running after other things. It is only the power of the Holy Spirit that is able to break every chain of sin, deliver from every distraction. Paul tells us to throw off every weight and the sin which so easily besets us - but not in your own strength, in the strength of God that is on the inside of you. And when you get into His anointing, His presence; not just standing there physically, but actually yielding and pouring your heart out before Him, He comes and cleanses you, frees you, forgives you. There really is nothing like His presence. In His presence is fullness of joy, peace, love, everything you need. And Yet, knowing this, we can be a disobediant people, just like the chilcdren of Israel, who, after God showed Himself strong on their behalf with deliverance, provision, blessing, fruitfullness, love, still repeatedly turned their backs on Him. I want to encourage you today, me, all of us, to look into our hearts and lives. Are we making time for Him like we should, or are we just going through the motions. Are we loving Him like He deserves to be loved, or are we loving other things. Are we running after Him whole heartedly, like the day we fell in love with Him, or have we become complacent and nonchalant, not even realizing and acknowledging His presence when He is in the room? Did you know that everything, every need, every want, every desire, God wants to fullfill. He isn't trying to take anything from us - He is trying to get things to us. Make a decision today to love Him like you've never loved Him; run after Him like you've never run after Him. Acknowledge Him as a person like never before. Be with Him in the midst of the business, and cares of life. Make time for Him. He wants to be with you, love you, run after you and be there for you in the midst of all the struggles. Let Him in today. I also want to encourage you, a very good series that I have listened to many times - is called "Knowing the Person of the Holy Spirit". This is a campmeeting from my pastor, Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne. It is life changing. It will help you get closer and go deeper in God. Thank you for reading - please post any comments below. Blessings & Love! Victoria McKaskle P.S. Take a moment right now and be with Him. Listen to the song below and get into His presence!
"Pieces" song by Steffany Gretzinger.
Lately, this is one of my favorite songs. I find myself listening to it over and over again. It just reminds me that everything God says is true - all of His promises are "yes, and amen". God does not promise one thing and then dish out something else, or not come through with what He says. Why do we struggle with this? Why do we get excited when we hear the word of the Lord, but as time passes, talk ourselves out of the word that He has given. I believe circumstances, situations, thoughts, lies, people's opinions, doctor's reports, hard times come to all of us, to stop the plan of God from coming forth. To trip us up. To keep us back from that "perfect will of God" for our lives. Jesus illustrates this point in Mark 4:14-20 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” This explanation of Mark 4:3-9, is powerful. Some may read Mark 4 and think "well then, the outcome is already decided for me. I don't have a choice. I either am good ground, or I am not." But I want to let you know that you do have a choice. YOU DECIDE which type of ground you will be. When the enemy comes with lies, YOU DECIDE if you will let the "circumstances" choke out the word God gave you. YOU DECIDE how much root you will have in yourself - by meditating on and sowing the word in that area that you are believing for a miracle in. YOU DECIDE everyday if you will yield to the cares of life and deceitfulness of riches, over the plan and word of God. In each one of these instances, it isn't that everything is already decided and "predestined" for you. Jesus is painting a picture for us and showing us that these situations come to all of us; and, because we know that, we have the upper hand if we prepare correctly. And even if we didn't prepare before we heard this word, when the situation is happening we can make the adjustments and corrections in our life to overcome the circumstance, situation or thoughts. We don't have to give in or yield to it. "God does not give His heart to us in pieces - and He does not hide Himself to tease us". This is the truth, the reality. He gives His whole heart. Everything He says is true. For those of you who have children, how much do you love your children? Are you willing to give your all for them? Do you go out of your way to meet their desires, wants and needs? Well, consider this; we have a heavenly father whose love for us is so great that we cannot even comprehend it (Eph 3:19). If God loves us that much, don't you think that as His children, He will go out of His way to do what He said, to give you the visions and dreams and desires that He has placed in your heart? What has God promised you? What visions, dreams, desires are in your heart that He placed there? Just remember, if He said it, He will do it. We just have to make sure we are walking in obedience to Him, everyday, and walking towards the goals. Even with setbacks, breakthrough is still inevitable, if you do not give up. Remember this from Galatians 6:9 - "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. " Keep sowing, keep going, keep singing, keep worshiping, keep giving, keep loving. Do not give up. What He says is true and it will come to pass! |
Victoria McKasklePassionate about Christ - wanting the world to know and experience Him! Archives
August 2016
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