The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Jesse Birkey's picture

picture of frustrationThe thing about transparency is that you have to be willing to be transparent.  Not just in the good times but also the bad.  Maybe even the ugly.  But I've found that God can do amazing things when we share our failures.  Sometimes it’s our ugliness that helps people in the ways they need most. 

It was late one night when the phone rang.  Not too late, but late enough.  My wife picked it up and I didn't hear anything else for a while.  I was working on producing the Life Resurrected audio book and getting frustrated with the software. 

Suddenly my wife was at the door telling me that one of our friends had called asking if we would come and pray for her mother who was in the hospital.  We had no idea what was wrong and she didn't tell us.  We didn't even know her mother was in the hospital. 

My reaction was less than…well let’s just say it was terrible.  I was angry.  I was angry that it was late and we had to go to the hospital.  I was angry because everything I had planned for the night was ruined.  The kids were staying overnight at their grandparents which gave me another reason to be upset.  It was looking like a quiet, relaxing evening but not anymore.  I complained all the way down the stairs and into the car.  My wife was just shaking her head at me as if to say, “Are you seriously throwing fit because someone asked us to come and pray?”  I was.

About 5 minutes into the 25 minute trip I was still venting.  My wife was just being silent, patiently waiting for the Lord to get a hold of me.  Then it happened.  I heard the soft voice of Jesus tell me that there were many times in which he stepped away from what He had planned so that He could minister to those who came to Him.  He allowed Himself to be repeatedly interrupted because He loved the people so much.

I spent the next few minutes repenting for my ridiculous and childish attitude as compassion filled me for the person we were going to see.  It was then that we began to ask the Lord to show us how to approach the person we were going to see.  He responded by showing us a vision with an accompanying message.

We arrived at the hospital and our friend escorted us up to where her mother was.  My wife and I explained the vision we’d seen and gave her the message we’d heard.  It ended up being a word of knowledge for her medical condition and the message spoke directly to her heart.  Then we spent time praying for her healing, physically and spiritually.

That night God touched her heart in a special way.  He also touched her body.  We received word the next day that her heart efficiency had increased by a significant percentage and there was no plaque buildup like they were expecting.  She was discharged a couple days later.

I learned many things that night.  Things I didn't expect to learn when we received the call.  God is so faithful.  He doesn't give up on us when we react poorly.  He gives us the chance to embrace the opportunities He brings to us.  But we have to choose to get over our sense of inconvenience.  I had to give up my anger and frustration.  It was the only way I could have a chance to hear from the Lord and be a part of the amazing things He did that night. 

Blessings,

Jesse and Kara Birkey

www.reflectministry.com

[email protected]

twitter.com/JesseBirkey

http://www.facebook.com/reflectministry

View the Trailer for our new book, Life Resurrected, Extraordinary Miracles through Ordinary People Here!

Click Here to find information on an exciting new documentary called DeadRaiser releasing in October!

 

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4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 305 Pages | Retail: $16.99

Have you ever wished you could just sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? Wouldn't it be wonderful to move beyond having a theology that states that God loves you to actually hearing Him whisper words of love into your heart? When you're worried or confused, wouldn't you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond?


Price: $14.95

Dialogue with God

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 296 Pages

This top seller for 30 years from Bridge Logos provides a narrative, right-brain presentation of the principles of how to hear God's voice. Especially enjoyable for personal use, it makes a great gift for introducing a loved one to the voice of God. This book teaches the four keys to hearing God's voice in readable style, and also devotes two entire chapters to moving samples of people's journaling (i.e. their two-way dialogue with God).

Price: $17.95
Hear God's Voice Guaranteed Package

Hear God's Voice Guaranteed Package

9 Books | 10 CDs | 10 DVDs | Save Over 20%

Have you ever wished you could just sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? Wouldn't it be wonderful to move beyond having a theology that states that God loves you to actually hearing Him whisper words of love into your heart? When you're worried or confused, wouldn't you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond? When things don't seem to be going your way and your prayers aren't answered the way you had hoped, wouldn't it be great to hear Him tell you where He is in the midst of it, and what He is working out in your life? Are you ever just a little bit jealous of others who say with such confidence, "The Lord said...."?

Price: $175.00

How to Hear God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 317 Pages

We recommend that you order the newest revision of this book titled 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice. It includes 95% of the content of How to Hear God's Voice but is reorganized so it fits perfectly with the 10 DVDs on this subject by Mark Virkler. In addition, it gets you started using the four keys earlier in the book and gives you more journaling samples and exercises. Since we have removed the large margins, it is a smaller and less expensive book.

Price: $24.95

Prayers That Heal the Heart - Revised & Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 320 Pages

Prayer counseling that breaks every yoke! Everything you need to experience deep healing of your soul and spirit.

Did you know that you don’t need to be continually plagued by negative thoughts, feelings, pictures or memories?

It is not part of the "human condition" to feel the constant nagging of doubt, insecurity, or anger. No matter what sin you are trying to overcome, what lie you think you’ll always believe, or what traumas your heart has suffered in the past, you will receive total freedom and restoration by praying these prayers in faith. 

Price: $19.95

Twelve Weeks to Spiritual Mastery - Group Coaching

A group coaching experience with Mark Virkler

Because I could not find a Spirit-anointed teacher/coach, I spent ten extremely frustrating years seeking to hear God’s voice!!! Suggestions offered did not help me, things like: “You just know that you know. It is a still small voice. He speaks from your heart.” No one could give me the answer I needed which was: Hearing God’s voice is as simple as quieting yourself down, fixing your eyes on Jesus, recognizing His voice as spontaneous, flowing thoughts and writing down His flow as it is coming. Test what you have written after the flow is done, NOT while it is occurring.

Price: $1,200.00

Counseled by God

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 146 Pages

Have you ever been defeated by negative emotions such as anger, fear, guilt, inferiority, condemnation or depression? Have you tried to fight them off unsuccessfully? Is there an answer that is deeper than simply trying to mentally reason yourself out of these emotions? Is there a way that Jesus can speak a word of life into the depths of your emotional despair and bring healing on a deep level? Is there a form of Christian counseling that begins and ends with the movement of Christ within your heart, rather than simply with the words of man?

Price: $10.95
Hear God Through Your Dreams Workbook Cover

Hear God Through Your Dreams Workbook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 92 Pages

A newer book has been released that accompanies this workbook: Click here for Hearing God Through Your Dreams by Charity Kayembe and Mark Virkler (featured on Sid Roth's "It's Supernatural", with almost a million views just on YouTube).


Do you often wake up feeling there was a significant message in your dream, but you’re just not sure what it is? Like Daniel and Joseph, do you long to be able to help others understand their own dreams and win them to Christ as you explain His night messages to them? Wouldn't it be nice if you could receive mid-course corrections from the Lord while you sleep? Do you wish you could be receiving divine inspiration, creative solutions to problems, and direction from the Lord during that third of your life that you’re “just” sleeping?

Price: $11.95

Hearing God Through Your Dreams

by Mark Virkler and Charity Virkler Kayembe | 292 Pages

Learn How to Hear God’s Voice, Even When You Are Sleeping

It is always fun to be on the winning team. Well look what God has done with Charity's new dreams teaching. It has taken off like a rocket with a live TV interview on Cornerstone Network and her Sid Roth interview which has almost a million views on YouTube!

Price: $16.99

Everyday Angels

by Charity Virkler Kayembe and Joe Brock 289 Pages

You can partner with Heaven’s angelic hosts!

Do you have guardian angels? Does God want you to know them? Find out what Scripture reveals and how YOU can interact with the company of Heaven!

The supernatural realm permeates our natural world! Therefore, experiencing angels should be an everyday occurrence–we simply need to open our spiritual eyes to their reality and role in our lives.

Price: $16.99

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