Philippians 1: 28: “Don’t be afraid of your enemies; always be courageous, and this will prove to them that they will lose and that you will win because it is God who gives you the victory.”

When the child grew she embraced her life by making herself invisible from the people who lived in her house.  She walked in the hallway with her back against the wall terrified that her older mentally ill sister would suddenly appear.  If she caught her she knew that the beating she would receive would be severe. Jesus knowing what was about to happen commanded Brenda to run as fast as she could away from her. Sometimes Brenda’s sister caught her and Jesus gave her the idea to curl up in a ball and cover her head with her arms to protect herself.  Jesus loved Brenda and He helped her by showing her the safe places in the top of closets. He even helped her climb a big tree to escape the daily evil she faced in her abusive home. He never left Brenda alone.

Philippians 1:29: “For you have been given the privilege of serving Christ, not only by believing in him, but also by suffering for him.”

Her parents were living their lives in a drunken stupor. They dragged the little girl to bars and left her to take care of herself for hours.  The little girl learned to play quietly under tables and in the bathroom.  Her parents were so consumed with living their lives that they ignored how unsafe the environments were for the little girl. Jesus witnessed her pain and gave her the courage she needed to live. He never left her alone.

Philippians 2: 1: “Your life in Christ makes you strong, and his love comforts you.  You have fellowship with the Spirit, and you have kindness and compassion for one another.”

Brenda loved to go to school and she excelled in every subject.  Her brilliants were recognized by the school and she was put in accelerated classes.  Jesus blessed her in everything she did. He taught her the difference between right and wrong and Brenda made choices to never be like her parents or sister. She was nice to her fellow students. She was compassionate when a child was hurt on the playground.  She encouraged another child when she was bullied by another student.  She learned to love others even when she was not loved at home.  Jesus was her teacher helping her to see that how she was treated at home was wrong. When Brenda was twelve she got sick and had to have her tonsils out.  Her mother dropped her off at the hospital and abandoned her for the next three days. She only came to the hospital to pick her up. Brenda was sick and alone, but Jesus never left her side.  He loved her even when her parents were too busy drinking to take care of her.  He used this time to teach her how wrong her parents were to leave her alone when she was sick.  Brenda learned lessons that helped her to decide to do the right thing even when the wrong thing was done to her.

Philippians 2: 14&15: “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be innocent and pure as God’s perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people.  You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky.”

When Brenda was sixteen and her sister was at college her mother had an operation.  Brenda stayed at the hospital and helped her mom.  When she came home to recover Brenda took care of her.  Brenda would never be like her mom. She would do the right thing even if her mother never did the right thing for her.  She had learned the lessons Jesus whispered in her ear as she grew up in a home where she was not loved.  She was a bright shining star for Jesus. When Brenda grew up she turned into a young woman with integrity and she had a determination to succeed.  She made choices to never drink.  She made choices to never abuse a child. She made good choices because she learned the lessons Jesus taught her from the suffering she went through in her childhood.  She went to college and became a Social worker and she helped abused children.  Later she helped patients who were victims of Aids. Many of them died from the disease and their deaths gave her a calling she never expected. Now she would dedicate her life to helping people who were dying.  As her career grew she felt a call from God to establish her own hospice business.  Determined to do God’s will she sold everything she had and began her own business.  She was very successful in everything she did because she loved Jesus.  The principles He taught her during her abusive childhood helped her to do the right thing for all the people she helped.  Brenda’s company became known throughout the entire state as a model for other hospices to follow.

Philippians 3:10&11: “All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life.”

Does God allow child abuse?  “No!  He hates child abuse.” We live in a corrupt and evil world where people have the ability to make bad choices that hurt children.  They hurt children because they choose to do what is wrong.  Jesus loves children.  He sends His Holy Spirit to help them survive the trauma of abuse.  He blesses those who listen to His voice and gives them a better life that lifts them up and turns them into better people.  They are the people who run businesses with integrity.  They are the children who make a choice to live good lives that become role models for everyone else.

“I know it’s hard to understand what it is like to be persecuted.” The minister began as he quietly cleared his throat. “We live in a society that is safe and secure and we have homes and jobs.”

This was the second time in two months I had heard this kind of message from clergy. I had to literally hold myself in the pew to keep from running to the front of the sanctuary and telling each pastor they were wrong! We are at War!  Lack of understanding about our world is spreading confusion through the church and turning many people away from God.  People do not come to church to find out how good they have it.  They come to church to find out answers as to why bad things are happening to them.

A little girl with hearing aids in both ears was sitting next to me in the church pew.  An elderly woman who could barely stand up during prayers and singing sat on the opposite side of the girl’s father. A man in front of me had a cold and was continually wiping his nose and covering his mouth when he coughed.  Another lady was so bent over from osteoporoses that she could barely see where she was walking when she went to the front of the sanctuary for communion. There was a woman sitting on the opposite side of the church with a turban wrapped around her head because she had lost her hair while going through chemotherapy. Another man was on crouches.  Another woman was suffering from mental illness. Grandparents behind me were beseeching God in prayer because their son’s family’s house was robbed and they lost many valuable possessions. A pregnant woman in the balcony just found out that her unborn child was sick. I was surrounded by people that were suffering and being persecuted from sicknesses, job loss and multiple problems that they were too afraid to admit to their friends at church.

Today’s church is longing to be fed the needed nutrition they need in order to hold onto God and believe that He is on their side. They need ministers to understand that even if they have a job and a home, they need encouraging words of help from the Bible. That is the reason why people go to church.  They need ministers that can interpret what is happening to them so they can receive hope and enough strength to keep going forward even when it is hard.

John 15: 18-20, “‘If the world hates you, just remember that it has hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, then the world would love you as its own.  But I chose you from this world, and you do not belong to it; that is why the world hates you.  Remember what I told you: “No slave is greater than his master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours too.’”

If you follow Jesus you will go through persecution in the world that will lead to human suffering. We are at War!  It is a war that tests us through every day life experiences. This is the reason that at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry He healed the sick, fed the five thousand, calmed the stormy sea and cast out demons. These were the problems the people faced individually. The people needed to know that God cared about them and that He would help them in their every day needs.

John 15: 5&6:  “‘I am the vine, and you are the branches.  Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me. Whoever does not remain in me is thrown out like a branch and dries up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned.’”

Jesus is the vine and Christians are the branches.  Jesus is explaining the cost of living in the world. We are in a battle between right and wrong and the only way we will survive is by holding tightly to Jesus.  An extraordinary thing happens when you follow Jesus, you bear fruit.  Fruit is growth on the vine. That means when we are persecuted by going through something bad, we gain knowledge from the trials and become stronger because of our faith in Jesus. This is the reason why a woman with faith who has cancer never gives up. She trusts her life to Jesus and believes He has a purpose for her going through cancer. A man who has just lost his job is not afraid.  He trust in Jesus and believes that He will help Him find a better job than he had before.  The opposite side of this coin is what happens when we let go of Jesus.  We become dead branches. Dead branches are used for firewood. These are the people who stop holding onto Jesus.  They allow their sicknesses to become a reason to believe in nothing.  The same thing happens when a woman loses her child to a disease. She is mad at God and refuses to trust her child’s life to Him. The people who let go of God die and become firewood.

We are at war!  This is the reason why everyone that is following Jesus Christ is going through something.  Satan wants to defeat us but Jesus wants to help us win the personal battles we face! Jesus wants to wrap us in his arms and comfort us. He wants to wipe away our tears and give us hope that we have a future life in heaven that is far better than our life here.

John 15: 7&8: “‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it.  My Father’s glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples.’”

Jesus is the Savior of the world.  He came to help us understand that when we go through bad things, He will be there with us. Following Jesus comes with a cost because we will go through many tests in the world. We must pray for His help.  We must listen to the Holy Spirit who is working in our individual lives.  We must hold tightly to our faith and pray for protection from Satan because when we commit our ways to Christ; we are at war!  This is the reason why we need to read our Bibles daily and pray to our heavenly Father.

Luke 3:16:  “So John said to all of them, ‘I baptize you with water, but someone is coming who is much greater than I am.  I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’”

We need God in our lives in order to win against the fire that is trying to consume our lives.  Fire stands for tribulations.  Fire is the persecution we come under when we are learning the lessons the world has to teach us.  The only way we can win is with the help of Jesus Christ.  This is the reason why Jesus came and died for our sins.  He came that we would have life in a world that is ruled by Satan.  This is the reason why bad things happen to good Christian people.  When we endure the fire and overcome the test, we win the victory over the world, because we are at war!

1 John 5:3-5,”For our love for God means that we obey his commands.  And his commands are not too hard for us, because every child of God is able to defeat the world.  And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith.  Who can defeat the world?  Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

As weeks turned into months she began to pray less for healing for herself and more for the people she met at her physical examination appointments.  She made friends with other heart patients and their family members, who were far worse off than she.  She became they’re encourager and an inspiration to those who thought that God didn’t care about them. Her fearless example of perseverance no matter how bad her heart condition became, helped them to let go of the words that echoed in their heads. “It just isn’t fair that I am sick.”

She realized as the months turned into years that she had lived her life for herself before. Even her service in church was all about the praise she received for teaching Sunday school and singing in choir.  Her illness saved her!  It had taken her down a different path she would have never chosen for herself and it turned her into a better person. Now she really cared and loved people, because she knew what it was like to be weak and scared.  This revelation brought her pure joy. She worshiped God and praised Him for allowing her to suffer with a terminal heart condition.

John 15: 11-14:  “‘I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My commandment is this:  love one another, just as I love you.  The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them.  And you are my friends if you do what I command you.’”

Dear Jesus, Thank you for allowing me to be sick.  Your loving care surrounds my life and blesses me every day. The joy of the Lord is my strength.

I Trust You With My Life   Part Six

John 15: 15-17: “‘I do not call you servants any longer, because a servant does not know what his master is doing.  Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father.  You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind that endures.  And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name.  This, then, is what I command you:  love one another.’”

Every hospital test and doctor appointment opened up her heart to the needs of others.  She loved the doctors, nurses and the members of their staff.  She prayed for them and encouraged them in the jobs they did.  She understood by her own experience how hard it was for them to lose a patient.  She consoled them and encouraged them to lean on God.  God would help them to endure the pain they felt from not being able to save a life.

The scriptures became alive more than ever before, helping her to see that no one in the world was suppose to live a life separate from pain.  Suffering changes a person’s character and makes them a better person.  Her limits that were brought on by her illness actually taught her more about God than when she had lived a perfect healthy life.

Even on her worse days when her heart was about to give out she reached out and found hope through her faith in God.  She no longer told herself, “It just isn’t fair that I am sick!” rather she praised God for finding her worthy to suffer for His sake.  She was His witness and her life helped others to not lose hope even when you are given a terminal illness.

Dear Jesus, Thank you for saving me.  Thank you for being the Lord of my life.  Thank you for giving me a mission of prayer.  Thank you for my family and friends. I love you, Lord.

She is Not Dead!  Part Seven

Dear Jesus, “You are my Savior!  Let my life be a living sacrifice to you, no matter where it leads. Let my death honor your sacrifice for me.  Thank you for allowing me to suffer for you. I give you my body, mind and soul. I love you!”

As she lay dying in the hospital bed she smiled at the nurses and aids that hovered around her bedside.  She had grown to love them so much and they loved her.  With her last dying breath she assured them that she was going to paradise to be with her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Three hundred people gathered for her funeral.  Everyone had a story to tell about how she helped them through their illness.  They were stories of how much she inspired them to never give up. They were words of encouragement to the families and even the hospital administration staff that God will never let you down.   Her eulogy was about a person who loved God and who refused to say, “It just isn’t fair, that I’m sick!”

Hebrews 2: 14&15, “Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature.  He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death, and in this way set free those who were slaves all their lives because of their fear of death.”

In this Easter season let us remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us. He died on the cross. He rose again. He became our Savior. Jesus did this all so we would have a better life in union with Him!

Philippians 4:13, “I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.”

The End

I repent   Part Three

Her friends were astonished at the severity of her disease.  In the past they had gone on outings of shopping trips to adventures that took them to beautiful Rocky Mountain walking trails and parks.  They were her confidants in relationships and work.  Now everything was different, it just wasn’t fair to see their friend so frail and weak.  In time each one went their separate way.  They no longer could find anything in common with her.

Now not only was she suffering from the disease of congestive heart failure, but she felt abandoned by her friends.  Even her family was moving on with their lives and calling her less and less frequently.  It just wasn’t fair!  She felt all alone, except she felt the Spirit of God beckoning her not to give up, but to live with the life that she was given.  In her aloneness she read her Bible and prayed.  She asked Jesus to help her through each day.

John 15: 5-7: “‘I am the vine, and you are the branches.  Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.  Whoever does not remain in me is thrown out like a branch and dries up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it.’”

Dear Jesus, Please forgive me for not trusting you with my life. I am your servant.  Please help me to overcome the burden of my condition. Help me to believe in you even when it’s hard.  I give you my life.

Confronting My Condition   Part Four

In agony she refused to give up and surrender to her heart condition.  She prayed for God to heal her; but God refused.  Determined, she walked forward into every doctor appointment with her head held high.  She felt a spiritual change come over her and a strength she had never experienced before. Her attitude of ‘why me’ changed to how can a serve Jesus? In her weakness she made a choice to be cheerful and encouraging to the patients who sat with her in the waiting room.  She would not give up and die and allow Satan to rob her of her hope that Jesus had a plan for her life that went far beyond the sickness she had to bare.

She didn’t have the strength to teach Sunday school anymore, but she could pray for the kids she once taught.  She didn’t have the breath to sing in the choir, but she could cheer them on every Sunday when they sang.  She may not be the same person she had been before with her family, but she could encourage them in their lives.  Her changed attitude created a life of purpose she had not known existed in her former life.

Philippians 4:6-8:  “Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.  And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.

In conclusion, my brothers, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise:  things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.”

Dear Jesus, I Don’t understand why this is happening to me, but I give you my life.  Help me to be a witness for you.  Let my life reflect the power of God and what He can do even when your body is weak.

A Calling I Didn’t Understand

Ten days later she was released from the hospital free from the virus, but chained to a terminal disease of the heart.  Her heart was irreversibly damaged. She would be under continued care by a doctor taking five medications twice a day to keep her from instantly dying from a heart attack.  Now she would have to monitor everywhere she went to protect herself from possibly being infected from a minor cold to a contagious flu that would rob her of her life.

A mind game began to play like a recording in her head making her question God as to why she was given such a hard burden to bare.  She seldom was sick before.  She had done everything that was recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle.  She ate the right foods and went to regular check-ups.  Everything she did to live the right kind of life was thrown away as if burned up in a fire of remembrance of what her life had once been. Now she was chained to continued doctor visits and medication that had side effects that made her dizzy and nauseated and deprived her of her strength.   “It just isn’t fair that I’m sick!”

James 1:12: “Happy is the person who remains faithful under trials, because when he succeeds in passing such a test, he will receive as his reward the life which God has promised to those who love him.”

Dear God, I never expected my life to turn out like this. Please help me to do this even though I feel like it isn’t fair.  I am your child. Save me Jesus!

The Test

The ambulance siren was blaring as it pulled up to the Hospital Emergency entrance. The patient’s heartbeat was erratic and her pulse was weak. Quickly the doctor shocked it back into a steady rhythm.  An echocardiogram was ordered followed by blood tests. Many more tests followed over the next few days. It was soon discovered that her heart was contaminated by an infection. Quickly a cocktail of antibiotics was ordered to stop anymore damage to her heart.

Family and friends gathered astonished that the flu had turned into a life threatening disease.  Now it wasn’t just a virus it was congestive heart failure.  The oxygen mask and the tubes running in and out of her frightened everyone and brought them to their knees in prayer.  They beseeched God Almighty to perform a miracle and to stop the virus before it spread into other vital organs.

Two weeks before she had just finished the 26.2 mile Boulder marathon. She was in the best shape she had ever been in and now a flu virus changed everything.  How could this happen to a vivacious woman who was so full of energy?  She was a good person who was a Sunday school teacher and dedicated to serving God.  Why would God allow this to happen to a person who was a shining example of what it is to live a Christ filled life?  “It just isn’t Fair, that she is sick!”

1 Corinthians 10: 13: “Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people.  But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.”

Dear Heavenly Father, I trust you with my life. Please help me to have the strength to take each day at a time. Please help me to past this test over my health.

But when He arrived He questioned if it was possible to go Home, “Father, can I please come home?”  He asked.

Jesus had just come from Galilee where they had warmly received His teachings and the wonderful miracles of healings, He preformed.  His family heard about what happened and they requested He come home.

Luke 4: 16-21: “Then Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath he went as usual to the synagogue.  He stood up to read the Scriptures and was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.  He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of the sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people.’

Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.  All the people in the synagogue had their eyes fixed on him, as he said to them, ‘This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read.’’

Jesus was excited to share the news that He was the long awaited Messiah. Instead the people only saw Him as the son of Joseph. He had come home to skepticism and ridicule from His hometown.

Luke 4:24-30:  “‘I tell you this,’ Jesus added, ‘a prophet is never welcomed in his hometown. Listen to me: it is true that there were many widows in Israel during the time of Elijah, when there was no rain for three and a half years and a severe famine spread throughout the whole land.  Yet Elijah was not sent to anyone in Israel, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the territory of Sidon. And there were many people suffering from a dreaded skin disease who lived in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha; yet not one of them was healed, but only Naaman the Syrian.’

When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were filled with anger.  They rose up, dragged Jesus out of town, and took him to the top of the hill on which their town was built.  They meant to throw him over the cliff, but He walked through the middle of the crowd and went his way.”

Jesus felt the pain of their rejection, but it did not diminish His determination to be the Savior of the World. He came to bring a new kind of teaching that focused on love and not judgment. Nazareth would no longer be His home. His home would be with the people who believed in Him. Together they would make a new home in the realm of Heaven.

Luke 6: 22&23: “‘Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you, and say that you are evil, all because of the Son of Man!  Be glad when that happens and dance for joy, because a great reward is kept for you in heaven.  For their ancestors did the very same things to the prophets.’”

As Jesus’ ministry grew, people flocked to Him.  He spoke with an authority they had never heard before.  He taught them about love and how to get alone with each other. He taught them about forgiveness and acceptance for each other.  His teachings touched the depths of their souls and many came to believe that He was the Messiah.

The Pharisees were jealous of Jesus and they plotted to kill Him. Yet even when Jesus knew about their plans He continued to teach the people.  He healed the sick.  He cast out demons.  He fed the hungry.  Many thousands were baptized and placed their faith in Him.

The Pharisees did everything possible to stop the people from believing in Jesus.  They persecuted the believers by threatening to throw them out of the temple.  They plotted to kill Lazarus who Jesus raised from the dead. Some of the Pharisees believed in Jesus but they were so afraid of the Sanhedrin that they hid their faith for fear of being excommunicated.

Luke 14: 26&27:  “‘Whoever comes to me cannot be my disciple unless he loves me more than he loves his father and his mother, his wife and his children his brothers and his sisters, and himself as well.  Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.’”

Throughout history the simple fact that following Jesus would lead to persecution became a badge of honor to His disciples. They were Christian soldiers fighting for Jesus Christ. They were people who knew that to follow Christ was to give up their earthly homes.

Hebrews 11:33-38: “Through faith they fought whole countries and won.  They did what was right and received what God had promised.  They shut the mouths of lions, put out fierce fires, escaped being killed by the sword.  They were weak, but became strong: they were mighty in battle and defeated the armies of foreigners.  Through faith women received their dead relatives raised back to life.

Others, refusing to accept freedom, died under torture in order to be raised to a better life.  Some were mocked and whipped, and others were put in chains and taken off to prison.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword.  They went around clothed in skins of sheep or goats-poor, persecuted, and mistreated.  The world was not good enough for them! They wandered like refugees in the deserts and hills, living in caves and holes in the ground.”

“Father, can I please come home?” Jesus knew that Nazareth could never be His home. He made a choice to die on the cross to save people. He became the risen Savior.  His home would never be here!

“Father, can I please come home?” Jesus called out to His Father in Heaven.

God answered. “Yes!”

Hebrews 12:1&2, “As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us.  So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us.  Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.  He did not give up because of the cross!  On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God’s throne.”

“Father, can I please come home?” cried the children of Jesus Christ.  They ran the race which God had planned for their lives.  They fulfilled their life purpose. They never gave up and now they are ready to claim Heaven as their home.

With a resounding voice God answered. “Yes!”

“Father, can I please come home?” the people asked.

Jesus replied. “Throw open the gates of heaven and let my people come home!”

Revelations 21:3: “I heard a loud voice speaking from the throne:  ‘Now God’s home is with mankind!  He will live with them, and they shall be his people.  God himself will be with them, and he will be their God.’”

Linda C Dipman author of I WANT TO KNOW MY FUTURE http://lovinghandsministry.com  presents I WANT TO KNOW MY FUTURE   it will put you on the edge of your seat as you read each vivid detail. You will feel terror and experience love like nothing you have ever read before. Find out what happens when God fights for you!   5.0 out of 5 stars a powerful and very much recommended read.  Midwest Book Review: I Want to Know My Future   With nothing left, not even family, God may be the only thing left. “I Want to Know My Future” is a Christian memoir from Linda Dipman who ponders her rough journey when she was thrown in jail and forgotten by her church and family. When all seemed lost she relates how God was still there for her and she hopes her story will help other readers remember this important fact. “I Want to Know My Future” is a powerful and very much recommended read. The Christian Author Radio Show http://www.wnbnetworkwest.com/WnbAuthorsShow-LDipman.html

Tori and I had gone to church to pray for healing over her heart. Her doctor warned her that she was endanger of suddenly dying of a massive heart attack. Urgently we had come to church believing that a miracle was her only hope of survival. We sat down in the sanctuary and I placed my hands over her heart. A supernatural warmth flowed into our bodies and ignited my hands turning them red and hot.  I felt a trembling within and suddenly I felt the Holy Spirit take up residence inside my body. The Spirit came lovingly and created a healing power that flowed within Tori’s body putting her heart into remission.

Over the years I have recalled many times the day I met the Holy Spirit.  It was a time when God’s will became my life purpose. I wanted to know my Heavenly Father and I actively pursued knowledge through my Bible and religious history books. I was changed into a different person who put God number one in my life. In my pursuit to learn about God I read stories in the Bible of how the Holy Spirit worked in people’s lives.

            Luke 1:13-15:  “But the angel said to him, ‘Don’t be afraid, Zechariah!  God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son.  You are to name him John.  How glad and happy you will be, and how happy many others will be when he is born!  He will be a great man in the Lord’s sight.  He must not drink any wine or strong drink.  From his very birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,’”

            John was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth because his ministry would proceed the coming of Jesus Christ. I learned that the Holy Spirit filled John on the inside and gave him messages from God to tell the people to make their lives better.  People were cleansed from their sins through the ritual of baptism.  And when Jesus came He was baptized just like everyone else.

Luke 3: 21&22: “After all the people had been baptized, Jesus also was baptized.  While He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit came down upon Him in bodily form like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my own dear Son.  I am pleased with you.’”

The Holy Spirit came into Jesus’ life in the form of a dove and the voice of God.  Jesus immediately began His ministry. The power of the Holy Spirit gave Him the ability to heal the sick, cast out demons and to feed the hungry. It was a Spirit inside of ‘Jesus the man’ that taught people all about God and how to surrender their lives to Jesus as their Savior. Jesus talked many times during His ministry about the Holy Spirit and the purpose of the Spirit. He assured his disciples that when he left them they would never be alone, the Holy Spirit would come into their lives and live with them. The Holy Spirit would then teach them God’s will for their lives.  The power of the Spirit would give them the ability to heal the sick and do even greater things than Jesus. Most of all the Holy Spirit would give them the strength to overcome the evil’s they would face in the world.

Acts 2:2&3: “Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.”

The Holy Spirit revealed Himself in supernatural abilities to speak languages the disciples and their followers had never learned. They were languages of Praise to God.  The Holy Spirit came with a mission to aid the children of God.  It was a mission that would help them win the battles Satan would fight against them.  It was a ministry that would teach God’s children their life purpose.  It was a new way of understanding the world.  It was a knowledge they would need to know in order to win the battles against evil they would face in the world. 

When you study the works of the Holy Spirit, you are amazed at how versatile the Spirit can be. In the Old Testament Moses experienced the Holy Spirit in the burning bush that spoke to him.  Immediately Moses left everything he owned and went to Egypt to free Israel from slavery.  He was given the power to perform mighty miracles before pharaoh that destroyed Egypt.  Moses who was known to stutter became a great leader because the Spirit taught him what to say.  Moses taught the Jewish people the Laws God wanted them to know.  He led them into the Promised Land and gave them a home forever. His life became an example of what the Spirit can do when you surrender your life to God.

 The Holy Spirit has shown even a sense of humor when He stopped Balaam a prophet from cursing Israel.  The Holy Spirit entered into his donkey and it spoke to Balaam like a man, stopping the prophet from his madness. Samson encountered the Holy Spirit through his hair. He was the strongest man alive, but when his hair was cut the Holy Spirit left too. David met the Holy Spirit when Elijah anointed him with oil when he was only fourteen years old. David was given the power to slay Goliath the philistine giant with a small stone. He became the greatest king of Israel, because the Holy Spirit made him strong and gave him victory over the enemies of Israel.

It has been over twenty-five years since the Holy Spirit entered into my life.  The Spirit has stayed with me as I have faced countless battles that taught me valuable lessons of what is right and what is wrong in our world.  I cherish and love the Holy Spirit. He has given me supernatural strength and a determination to do what is right even when the world says I am wrong.  The Spirit is my best friend.  He has rescued me just in time when it seemed there was no hope.  Ask Jesus to let the Holy Spirit come into your life. The Spirit will change you from the inside out and change you into a better person.

Who is the Holy Spirit?  He is God the father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all wrapped up in one.  When God is in your life nothing you face in this world is too hard for you to accomplish.  The Holy Spirit will give you the power to overcome the hard things we will go through in the world.  The Holy Spirit is God. Let Him in and He will change your life forever.

Linda C Dipman author of I WANT TO KNOW MY FUTURE http://lovinghandsministry.com  presents I WANT TO KNOW MY FUTURE  It will put you on the edge of your seat as you read each vivid detail. You will feel terror and experience love like nothing you have ever read before. Find out what happens when God fights for you!   5.0 out of 5 stars a powerful and very much recommended read.  Midwest Book Review: I Want to Know My Future   With nothing left, not even family, God may be the only thing left. “I Want to Know My Future” is a Christian memoir from Linda Dipman who ponders her rough journey when she was thrown in jail and forgotten by her church and family. When all seemed lost she relates how God was still there for her and she hopes her story will help other readers remember this important fact. “I Want to Know My Future” is a powerful and very much recommended read. The Christian Author Radio Show http://www.wnbnetworkwest.com/WnbAuthorsShow-LDipman.html

            Matthew 23:1-5a: “Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples. ‘The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees are the authorized interpreters of Moses’ Law.  So you must obey and follow everything they tell you to do; do not, however, imitate their actions, because they don’t practice what they preach.  They tie onto people’s backs loads that are heavy and hard to carry, yet they aren’t willing even to lift a finger to help them carry those loads.  They do everything so that people will see them.’”

            Another thing I noticed about these righteous book reviewers is that all of them came together and gave me a three star review or less.  Yet they all said the book was well written.  It wasn’t surprising when two of the reviews got the facts wrong about Eric.  He is not a minister. His father was a minister.  If they can’t remember one of the main characters job descriptions then it must be too much for them to understand scriptures that state that God is love! 

            Matthew 23: 13-15:  “‘How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees!  You hypocrites!  You lock the door to the Kingdom of heaven in people’s faces, but you yourselves don’t go in, nor do you allow in those who are trying to enter!

            How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees!  You hypocrites!  You sail the seas and cross whole countries to win one convert; and when you succeed, you make him twice as deserving of going to hell as you yourselves are!’”

            I wrote a very controversial book about what happened to me.  It told of how the Southern Baptist Church rose up to fight against me and how they took away my children even when I was proven in court to be the better parent.  It was a book that had much more than the homosexual lifestyle in it. It presented the world as a complex game of life.  It is a life game that teaches people the difference between good and bad; love and evil; God against Satan. I wrote this book to help Christians to look at their lives differently.  I wanted them to not judge what they didn’t understand.  I believed that if they were educated about the correct scriptures concerning homosexuals that they would stop the hate and love.

            Matthew 23: 23: “‘How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees!  You hypocrites!  You give to God one tenth even of the seasoning herbs, such as mint, dill, and cumin, but you neglect to obey the really important teachings of the Law, such as justice and mercy and honesty.  These you should practice, without neglecting the others.’”

            Homosexual teenagers are killing themselves because of the persecution they go through in school and church.  Homosexuals are giving up church altogether because the churches they went to in childhood refuse to acknowledge their long time partners.  Homosexuals are being denied justice in the courts. Their children are being ripped from their arms.  They are being persecuted and mistreated by people who are denying them the ability to lawfully marry.

            Matthew 23: 29-31, “How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees!  You hypocrites!  You make fine tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of those who lived good lives; and you claim that if you had lived during the time of your ancestors, you would not have done what they did and killed the prophets. So you actually admit that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.’”

            God called me to write this book.  He held my hand and gave me the strength to stand up to those who took away my children and made my life a living hell.  Everything I owned was taken from me. I was jailed and homeless. I was persecuted for being the person God made me to be.  God loved me and my family when no one else would.  I am afraid for the book reviewers and all Christians who refuse to believe my story.  When you refuse to believe because it is easier to hold onto the popular belief that homosexuality is wrong then you become unteachable. Good people are killed, like Martin Luther King. Without him African Americans would not have the rights they have today. Susan B Anthony would have never been given a voice to free women and give them the equal rights they needed in order to survive in a man’s world. 

            Matthew 23: 34 & 35a:  “‘And so I tell you that I will send you prophets and wise men and teachers; you will kill some of them, crucify others, and whip others in the synagogues and chase them from town to town. As a result, the punishment for the murder of all innocent men will fall on you,’”     

            Education comes from reading stories that make us think differently.  We must be open minded so we are teachable.  We don’t want to be the persecutors. We need to be the followers of Martin Luther King when society believed he was wrong.  We need to be the Susan B. Anthony’s that brought about a better life for women when society believed she was wrong.  We need to read and not judge before we even open the book to find out why persecuting homosexuals for love is clearly wrong. Dare to take a stand for what may be unpopular in many churches today.  Dare to read: “I Want to Know My Future”.  Do not be an unteachable Christian!

Linda C Dipman author of I WANT TO KNOW MY FUTURE http://lovinghandsministry.com  presents I WANT TO KNOW MY FUTURE   it will put you on the edge of your seat as you read each vivid detail. You will feel terror and experience love like nothing you have ever read before. Find out what happens when God fights for you!   5.0 out of 5 stars a powerful and very much recommended read.  Midwest Book Review: I Want to Know My Future   With nothing left, not even family, God may be the only thing left. “I Want to Know My Future” is a Christian memoir from Linda Dipman who ponders her rough journey when she was thrown in jail and forgotten by her church and family. When all seemed lost she relates how God was still there for her and she hopes her story will help other readers remember this important fact. “I Want to Know My Future” is a powerful and very much recommended read. The Christian Author Radio Show http://www.wnbnetworkwest.com/WnbAuthorsShow-LDipman.html

            It was the loudest thunderstorm the world had ever heard when Satan was thrust out of heaven and became the god of the earth.  Satan took a third of all angels who had pledged their allegiance to him.  They were demons and evil spirits that filled the world with every kind of depravity.  Their mission was to deceive people and separate them from the love of God. They did this by convincing them to sin. The sky quickly filled with ominous clouds that spewed lightning bolts of demon angels all over the earth to perform their evil missions.

            As quickly as the sky blackened, the Messiah pushed through the darkness of Satan’s evil lies and shone like the brightest star the world has ever known. Jesus brought the truth of God so that men would have the power of the Holy Spirit to help them know what is right and what is wrong when they go through the hard tests they will face in life. His angels fought against the devil’s angels and the war of the gods was played out in the lives of men!

            Hebrews 2:11-13, “He (Jesus) purifies people from their sins, and both he and those who are made pure all have the same Father.  That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them His brothers.  He says to God, ‘I will tell my brothers what you have done; I will praise you in their meeting.’  He also says, ‘I will put my trust in God.’ And He also says, ‘Here I am with the children that God has given me.’”

            When Jesus rose from the dead, he was given the power to fight every bad thing Satan did to people.   He appointed Christians to know His will and to fight for God’s truth.  He gave them His commandments and laws so they would know God’s will. He was a commander that knew some of His Christian soldiers would die, just like He had died, but their sacrifices would be rewarded with eternal life. 

Revelations 12: 17 & 18: “The dragon (Satan) was furious with the woman and went off to fight against the rest of her descendants, all those who obey God’s commandments and are faithful to the truth revealed by Jesus. And the dragon stood on the seashore.”

            The battle of the gods was set in place. Jesus, the lover of people and the Savior of the world fought against Satan and his followers. The world was thrust into a battle of good versus evil.  It would play out on earth in people’s lives.  People were given the opportunity to follow Jesus Christ, yet many denied Him just like Cain did at the very beginning of time.

            Genesis 4:7: “If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling; but because you have done evil, sin is crouching at your door.  It wants to rule you, but you must overcome it.’”

            Cain was the first son of Adam. He turned away from God and made a choice to follow Satan. He murdered his brother Able.  He began to develop the world by building cities so that people would be led astray and indulge in every kind of earthly pleasure. His descendants were the ancestors of all tools that were used to build kingdoms and make weapons for war.

            Genesis 4: 17: “Cain and his wife had a son and named him Enoch.  Then Cain built a city and named it after his son.”

            Adam and Eve had a son that replaced Able, who Cain killed.  His name was Seth.  Seth made a choice to follow God and from his descendants came the Son of God (Jesus Christ). 

Genesis 4: 26: “Seth had a son whom he named Enosh.  It was then that people began using the Lord’s holy name in worship.”

            Now the battlegrounds were set. It was Satan’s children against Jesus Christ’s followers.  It was the battle of the gods.  It was the fight that would lead people to understand the difference between good and evil; love and hate; truth and lies. God’s children would be given jobs on earth specifically designed to stop Satan’s corrupt practices and bring love into the world.  They would become the peace makers that opposed war. They would be the good teachers and ordinary men who choose to do what is right. They will fight for what is right even if it means they must give up their lives. They will fight diseases and be examples to others of God’s great love.  They will stand up to those who persecute them and turn the other cheek. They will feed the hungry and take care of the poor. Their love for all people will prove they are Christians, because they will make a choice to do what is right.

            Satan and the evil children of men will be pitted against Jesus Christ and His followers.  It will be the war of the gods, but Christians will be victorious and win eternal life. The world will end. Satan and his followers will no longer exist and they will be thrown into the fiery pit of hell. 

            Revelations 22: 12-17: “‘Listen!’ says Jesus.  ‘I am coming soon! I will bring my rewards with me, to give to each one according to what he has done.  I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end.’

            Happy are those who wash their robes clean and so have the right to eat the fruit from the tree of life and to go through the gates into the city.  But outside the city are the perverts and those who practice magic, the immoral and the murderers, those who worship idols and those who are liars both in words and deeds.

            ‘I, Jesus, have sent my angel to announce these things to you in the churches.  I am descended from the family of David; I am the bright morning star.’

            The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ Everyone who hears this must also say, ‘Come!’

            Come, whoever is thirsty; accept the water of life as a gift, whoever wants it.”

            The stage for the war of the gods is set on earth. The victory is given to Jesus Christ and His followers!   We must forget ourselves in this world, because it is a temporary world.  Satan is the evil god of this world and that is the reason why bad things happen to good people. Call out to Jesus Christ and He will give you the power to win the victory over the world.

Linda C Dipman author of I WANT TO KNOW MY FUTURE http://lovinghandsministry.com  presents I WANT TO KNOW MY FUTURE   it will put you on the edge of your seat as you read each vivid detail. You will feel terror and experience love like nothing you have ever read before. Find out what happens when God fights for you!   5.0 out of 5 stars a powerful and very much recommended read.  Midwest Book Review: I Want to Know My Future   With nothing left, not even family, God may be the only thing left. “I Want to Know My Future” is a Christian memoir from Linda Dipman who ponders her rough journey when she was thrown in jail and forgotten by her church and family. When all seemed lost she relates how God was still there for her and she hopes her story will help other readers remember this important fact. “I Want to Know My Future” is a powerful and very much recommended read. The Christian Author Radio Show http://www.wnbnetworkwest.com/WnbAuthorsShow-LDipman.html