March 2008 – God’s Voice
Worldwide
From
Dr.
Mark Virkler, Author of How
to Hear God’s Voice and President of Christian
Leadership University
Mission:
To equip you to do everything as an outcome of your
daily conversations with God, and to train others to do the same.
| This
newsletter contains:
|
Bring a group to an upcoming seminar and
receive FREE books, free
admission to the seminar (maximum value $20), and $125
off your next Christian Leadership University course! Click
here to find out how.
|
Date
|
Seminar
|
Location
|
| Apr.
25,26 |
How to Hear God's
Voice |
Buskirk,
NY |
| May
2,3 |
How
to Hear God's Voice |
Tuscaloosa,
AL |
| May
16,17 |
Christian Dream
Interpretation |
Hephzibah,
GA |
| Jun.
27,28 |
How
to Hear God's Voice |
La
Mesa, CA |
Seminar details available at cwgministries.org/itinerary.
What
Being a Husband or Apostle DOESN’T Mean! –
Mark Virkler
I am the
husband! Does that mean I
make the decisions, and that I boss my wife and family around? God
has given me a wife who is smarter than I, more nurturing than I,
more intuitive and spiritual than I, and who has greater faith than
I (to mention just a few of her many fine attributes). Plus she has
passed on her brains to both our children, Joshua and Charity. So I
find myself surrounded by genius.
So the question is: What does it mean for me to be the husband in
my marriage? What does it mean for me to be the apostolic overseer
of CWG Ministries and CLU? Does it mean I
must discern the direction and steps we need to take and then get
the rest of the team on board to help implement this vision? Or,
instead, does it mean that I call together my wife and children and
other employees for a “heart-storming” session where I throw out
a question we are facing and gather input from everyone as to the
best way(s) to solve the issue?
I am running into too many “leaders” who think they need to
get the answers figured out FIRST before they bring their team on
board, or who are not seeking out and honoring the wisdom of their
wives or other team members! The Bible says there is wisdom in a
multitude of counselors. So personally, I don’t come to the board
meetings or family meetings with the solutions already in place.
Instead, I throw out the problem/issue we are facing and we talk and
we discuss possible solutions together and see what wisdom God
provides through the group.
I have seen many times that a man’s wife or an apostle’s team
has the wise answers the leader is struggling to find, but his view
of being a leader demands that he is the
one who must come up with the answer and present it to the group.
Thus he short circuits the fulfilling of his destiny by not drawing
upon the gifts of those God has placed around him. Please
don’t do this!!!
We have a new free downloadable file for you from a CLU student,
Susan King, who has just completed the course “God’s Release of
Women.” This paper is outstanding. Below is what Susan had to say
about the class, and here
is a link to her final paper.
| |
“Last fall I took the CLU class “God’s Release of
Women” taught by Professor Joanne Krupp. I cannot begin to
express how deeply that class has impacted my life.
“Initially, all I hoped for was that this class would
clear up my confusion about a woman’s role in ministry. As
someone who holds onto the inerrancy of Scripture as tightly
as I do life itself, I took a deep breath and prayed the class
would not undermine the Word and yet give me a sense that it
was okay to answer the call I knew God had on my life. What
this class gave me was much more than an ‘okay.’ It gave
me freedom!! I know the truth...and the truth has indeed
released me from the bondage most Christian women face.
“Professor Krupp has inspired and encouraged me to
continue the research, and I am currently in the process of
writing a book on this very subject. This class should
be a requirement for everyone involved in ministry --
not just women. For centuries the enemy has
undermined the strength and unity of our Lord’s Body by
holding the female half under false restraint. It is time for
the truth to be known in the church!”
Susan King
|
|
Course
of the Month – THE207 God’s Release of Women
During the month of March 2008, you can
request
a 25% discount off tuition of the CLU course THE207 God’s Release
of Women.
(Cannot be combined with any other price reduction or discount. If
you are already receiving financial aid, you may instead request a
10% discount off your already-reduced tuition.)
Don’t
Dig Up the Seed –
Journaling
from Pastor Terry
Father, here I am again, needing confirmation as to Your call on my
life. Why do I seem to vacillate so much? Have I not settled the
issue inside? What do I need to do that I may proceed in whatever
way You desire with confidence? I can’t seem to press forward when
I’m not sure why.
And when I don’t see the things we do bearing fruit, I begin to
question the call, and then satan tries to put the old identity back
on me...and tell me I’ll never get out of this place…and will
end up like Pastor Bob, and that will be my plight in life...always
thinking someday it’s going to change…but it never does…and
then you become disillusioned and weary, and lose hope…I don’t
like what I sense and feel at that time…Help me to know for sure
what to do.
Terry, you keep digging up the seed to see if it’s growing.
Please, leave it in the ground. You know that I’ve called you here…and
you know this is where I want you to be. If that were not true, I
would have called you elsewhere. I would have opened up other doors
and moved you. But I have planted you here. Can you remain here? Can
you not believe Me for success?
How many times have I warned, yes warned, you to be patient.
To hold on. Didn’t My prophets tell you it would be a hard work?
But Terry, hard, doesn’t mean empty and futile. You haven’t yet
accepted the work I’ve given you to do. You are still looking out
there…waiting for the fruit…waiting for the visible
manifestation to decide whether this is true or not. I ask you, are
you in a better place today than you’ve ever been?
Yes, Lord.
Are you flowing in more of Me than you’ve ever done?
Yes, Lord.
Are you waging war in the realms I’ve told you to?
I’m not sure what that means at this time, Lord.
I have given you the messages about fighting the giants…was
that for your people only…or for you also?
I guess it was for me, too, Lord.
Then fight, Terry. Fight the good fight. Fight with Me. I
have your back. I have your front. I will protect…and I will win
the battle. But you must, you must, stay beside Me. You cannot get
off on your own and expect that I will protect you. Stay in My
covering. Stay with My plan. Stay with My agenda. And allow Me to
lead and guide you in everything. Walk with Me, Terry…
Where are we going, Lord?
I’ll show you… You see that? It is the ruined fruit from
those who have dug up their seed and allowed it to die because they
couldn’t wait for the growth and development of the fruit…and
they had to see it to believe it.
Where I am taking you is to a place where the fruit is not
seen for some time, and then, by My Spirit, I will make it suddenly
visible and all will see. Trust Me, Terry. Trust Me when it’s hard
to see, and hard to believe…Trust Me with the church…Trust Me
with your future…
Get close to Me, and I will direct you, and you will know My
will and purpose. And you will have confidence that no matter what
happens you are in the middle of My will and plan for you. See those
fields…they are yours.
But, Lord, there is nothing there…
Terry, there is nothing there if all you can see is what is
visible to your natural eye. But underneath is a wealth of seed,
waiting its time…germinating, growing…ready to spring to life…
But you must believe it’s there, and leave it there. Don’t dig
it up. Don’t spoil what we’ve done…Let it be…and simply
trust Me...
Love those whom I’ve given you…and take the time to build
what I told you to do so far…put together your plan for
discipleship…lay it out…design as I have told you. It will be
the path that I chose to work…and it is My desire in you…to
accomplish these things.
Take this time, before the growth happens, to organize and
develop this plan. Lay more seed, Terry... throw out more seed.
Plant more seed. And then wait...and water it with your prayer and
tears and fasting…and then watch…it will grow, and it will feed
thousands upon thousands…
Give it time…it is germinating and growing, and I’m not
done with what I’m putting together into this “stew”. It will
be good, and others will enjoy it…and you can be satisfied with
what happens…Trust Me…I will accomplish this if you will stay
put, and let Me do what I’ve said I would do…
New
Free Book for Downloading
A
Revelation-Based Approach to Missions & Evangelism
by Rev. Andrew Hardy from England. This book builds upon the
principles taught in
How
to Hear God’s Voice. We are excited to see
people take the key truths of hearing God’s voice and apply them
to various areas of life. We hope to be able to post more and more
of these kinds of articles to our website.
Get
Connected
Are you looking to tell people what God is speaking to you, or see
what God is saying to others? Check out the Forum at
www.cwgministries.org/forum
and register (completely free) today, and get the opportunity to
share and be encouraged!
CLU
Around the World…
From current students of Christian Leadership Seminary
Middle East (in Kuwait) submitted by Rick
Kerr
These Bachelor degree students have just completed the course “How
to Hear God’s Voice.”
Lydia (working on her Bachelor in Christian
Counseling) writes: “It was the title of this course that caught
my attention. I used to sense God speaking to me but would then
quickly reason it all away as to why He was not speaking to me. I
joined this class and now know that it was God speaking to me all
along during those intimate times.”
Theresa (a Bachelor student in Worship Ministry)
writes: “I’m convinced and stirred up to do what I’ve learned
in the course ‘How to Hear the Voice of God.’ I thank God for
showing Mark Virkler the way to deepen my relationship with Jesus. I
give God the credit! It’s spontaneous!”
Rengini (a Bachelor in Divine Healing student),
journaling on changes in her prayer life... writes: “I used to
pray when I had free time. Now I have a regular morning time to
commune with God. He recently told me, ‘Don't worry, the past is
finished. Catch My hand and walk with Me. You are never alone, I
will take care of you.’ The course ‘Hearing the Voice of God’
has transformed my life completely.”
From Pastor John Chirwa in Malawi
“Your free books and articles have helped me become a better
preacher in my congregation. These books are not just for education
or academic excellence but for practical ministry. I used to preach
on topics that could not touch my heart, but these days whatever has
touched my spirit when I am reading the Bible alone with my God is
what I share with my congregation, has been benefiting.
“These books has taught me how to get the most from my Bible
and put them on paper, these same notes I write during prayer and
contact with Jesus is what I use for my sermons. I do not jostle on
Saturday how to get a message to preach on Sunday Morning because I
have full information in my journal. I preach something current from
the throne of God to my members of the church…”
Learn more about Christian
Leadership University
Cut
Glass Crystal Vase – A Vision Given through Jeana Luttrull
The Lord showed me you as a beautiful, lead crystal, cut glass vase.
You were sitting in a window and the sunlight sparkled and danced as
it hit you. I said, “Lord, why did this person suffer so much? It
just breaks my heart. They think You didn’t protect them, love
them, or value them.”
The Lord answered, “The deep cuts in their soul were what started
the beautiful pattern in the glass.”
Then I looked closer at the pattern cut into the glass and there
were very deep cuts in a spiral pattern around the glass. They ran
from the bottom to the top and circled the glass and they laid out a
pattern that all the other cuts and etchings followed.
Time shifted backward and I watched as the vase was new and plain
and had no cuts in it at all. Jesus, the master craftsman, turned
the vase around in His hands. He planned in His mind the pattern
that was to be cut into it. He took into account all that would be
necessary to accomplish the finished product and calculated the
value and beauty according to the end result.
He recognized the difficulties involved in the pattern with such
deep guiding cuts. He sized up the plain vase and decided that the
extreme effort required, on both the parts of the vase and the
craftsman, was worth the end result. And so He began the work.
I saw Him make marks on the glass with a felt tip marker as you went
to church, the marks were not permanent, but they were guide lines
that would be followed. I puzzled over the method He used, but it
was not a decision that was mine to make. Neither was it yours; it
was His.
Then I saw the deep spiral cuts appear in the glass as fragments of
glass flew into the air with such tremendous force that they
penetrated Jesus’ hands. Shards of glass flying through the air
cut Him deeply and droplets of blood dripped from His hands as He
held the vase and eased the pain of the cutting. It seemed as though
only the touch of His hands was keeping the vase from breaking
apart. By the end of this step, deep guide line cuts spiraled around
the vase in uniform beauty. Gently they encircled the vase and laid
out a pattern for the rest of the process to follow.
Next, I saw this vase as it went to school and an intricate leaf
pattern was lightly etched into the glass. Then it went to work and
a deeper flower pattern was gently cut into the glass. Then it moved
into marriage and a baby was born and with her a bold rose in full
bloom was cut into the glass at precise intervals. Then another
child was born and buds were cut around the open rose.
As time passed little things were etched into the glass, but they
all were laid out following the pattern of the deep cuts. The over
all effect of the work was extremely beautiful. It was unique and
one of a kind and held a place of honor in the window.
Then a day came that the sun stopped shining through the window and
I wondered what would happen next. In the darkness a tragedy struck
and with that came a deep cut that was so deep that Jesus turned
down the lights so that it would hurt less. Yet, it was necessary to
complete the unequaled beauty of the piece.
When the sunlight returned, I saw the stem of the rose had been cut
into the glass. It was complete with thorns; it caught the sunlight
like no other part of the piece. It seemed to run at an angle to the
original deep cuts, it changed the direction the piece would follow
forever.
Rainbows of light danced from the thorns at almost all times. It
seemed that no matter what angle the sun shone, at least one of the
thorns caught the light. Like a string of twinkling Christmas lights
the thorns sparkled with light. The beauty was multiplied many times
over what it had been before the lights went out. It took my breath
away. It was exquisite.
People began to stop and stare at the beauty of the piece and wonder
at its worth. But Jesus had put a sign below it, “Not for sale,
personal property of the craftsman.” It was the showpiece of the
display. As I turned and looked around the whole room was filled
with unique and wonderful pieces of handmade lead crystal, all
designed and hand cut by Jesus.
Your vase stood in the window where it could catch the rays of
sunlight and the beauty of the thorns and roses could be most
appreciated. I thought it was wonderful. It brought tears to my eyes
as I looked. It made me value you in a new way and to love you and
see you as Jesus does. It touched my heart.
“My child, Jesus didn’t fail you or ignore you. He trusted
you to be able to withstand the pain of the deep cuts in your soul,
even as a little child, and to still trust Him and love Him. He
allowed the cuts to order your steps. They sent you to school, to
your mate, to your job and to your home. They took you to all the
places in your life where beauty has blossomed. They brought you
your children - the blossoms of yourself reproduced.
“They taught you strength, courage and the ability to endure
hardship. The reserve strength you learned as a result of them,
guided you when tragedy struck. They will always be a part of your
past, but they need not be a painful part any longer. The order has
been established and now they can be a treasured part of the
foundation that made you unique, beautiful and who you are. Without
them, you wouldn’t be the wonderful person you have become.
“Recognize them as a shaping force, which Jesus allowed, to direct
you to a place of great beauty and accomplishment. Understand that
He didn’t neglect you or fail you; He trusted you to become who
you are, and to still love Him for who He is. You are a treasure of
unparalleled beauty and unique value to Jesus.”
Humor
Heals – Origin of the Human Race
A little girl asked her mother, “How did the human race appear?”
The mother answered, “God made Adam and Eve and they had
children and so was all mankind made.”
Two days later she asks her father the same question. The father
answered, “Many years ago there were monkeys, from which the human
race was developed.”
The confused girl returns to her mother and says, “Mom, how is
it possible that you told me that the human race was created by God,
and Papa says they were developed from monkeys.”
The mother answers, “Well dear, it’s very simple. I told you
about the origin of my side of the family, while your father told
you about his side.”
A
Great New Bible Map Program
Available for free at www.biblemap.org.
New
Translation Posted – Spread the Word to Those Who Could Benefit!
A special thanks to Delphine from Burundi who has
translated
the Four Keys to Hearing God's Voice into Kirundi.
We have received offers from individuals around the world to
translate our books into various languages, and we now have free
material available on our website in 30 different languages (plus
English!). We appreciate each and every person who has given of
their time and talent for this work. If you would like to volunteer
to translate any of our materials, please contact
Mark Virkler.
Start
a Lamad
Encounter Group in your home or church today!
E-mail: mark@cluonline.com
Websites: cluonline.com
and cwgministries.org
Enroll in Christian Leadership University: cluonline.com/apply
Mark’s speaking itinerary: cwgministries.org/itinerary
Online shopping for books by Mark and Patti Virkler: cwgministries.org/catalog
Ordination opportunity: cluonline.com/network
Establish a church-centered Bible school: cwgministries.org/college
