MERRY CHRISTMAS

We are so happy to have our daughter, Bess, visiting us in Redding. Rick just took her down to Turtle Bay so I could get my newspaper article done, and wish you all a Merry Christmas!

God has been so good to us. We thank you all for partnering with us in prayer during this year and we thank God for His provision through so many of you.

We are humbled, and homesick for you all.

We extend a welcome to any who would like to come visit us and attend some of the services, conferences, and healing rooms. It is a special place, with amazing people from all over the world. We are so honored to be able to study, work, and minister alongside them.

I just want to let you all know that God loves you more than you realize. He's a good God and wants the best for you. His dreams for you are your dreams. He's for you all the way. And so are we.

With all of our love in this special season as we celebrate Christ, the Son - in us - our hope of glory,

Rick and Chris

Healing, praise and prayer

It's early Saturday morning and raining in Redding. I'm curled up on the couch with a cup of coffee and cinnamon toast and my trusty laptop thinking of our friends in snowy, cold Colorado, and missing the warmth of a woodstove. (Sigh...)

Holiday Feast

Today, Rick and I are doing food prep and clean-up for the Holiday Feast at Bethel Church, where 1200 homeless people and people in need will enjoy a wonderful meal. Church families sponsor tables and bring their own china, silver and Christmas decorations to adorn the tables and guests are treated like royalty. The children get photos with Santa, there is entertainment, and afterwards, they are invited to take home clothing, blankets and sleeping bags, collected for them through the year.

Pastor On Call Team

This week, our Pastor on Call outreach team manned the office phones and called those who had asked for prayer during the last weekend at Bethel. Cards they filled out were distributed among 7 of us and they were from across the U.S. and Canada and beyond. People travel from all over to visit Bethel for a weekend, attending services and coming to the Healing Rooms. It was so fun to call them. They were thrilled to get a call letting them know their request had been prayed for and asking them if there was anything else we could pray about.

Blood count goes to normal

I prayed with a woman whose five-year-old son with Down's Syndrome received some healing for a leukemia blood count concern. He had leukemia when he was younger, but it has been in remission. Lately his blood count concerned doctors, and he was due to have a medical test to see if the leukemia was back. His mother brought him to the healing rooms, and when they returned to Washington and he had another blood test, his levels were normal - a change of 1200 points! We praised God together for this healing, and then prayed for him to be healed of Down's Syndrome, a hernia, and just prayed for her and the rest of the family.

A changed life

Another 56-year-old man had been to Bethel and had an encounter with the Holy Spirit that has changed him. He was so happy to hear from us, and said he was coming back for some inner healing.

Cancer in remission

A man Rick prayed with was from Colorado. He came all the way to Bethel to receive healing and was excited to get a followup call. He had Stage 3 cancer - lymphoma - and after returning to Colorado, everything that had been visible signs of cancer on his legs was healed. His doctor was astounded, and told him it looked like he was in remission. Rick shared Colorado stories with him and prayed for further healing.

Home blessed

Another woman I called has cancer through her body. I prayed with her caregiver - her sister - for healing, and for peace over both of them and the Lord's presence in their home.

In recent weeks we have prayed in people's homes and a local hospital for those who have called Bethel to ask for us to come to them. They've had such conditions as injury, H1N1,cerebral palsy, extreme birth defects, epilepsy, and depression. We have prayed not only for the patients, but their families and caregivers. Our team brings God's joy, peace and love into their atmosphere. It is quite an experience.

We feel so privileged to be able to do this kind of ministry. Prayer is so powerful!

We appreciate your prayers!

Although I have been working for the local newspaper, it is not enough to cover our expenses. Rick has been unable to find a job here. The unemployment rate is high and jobs are scarce. We are learning to trust in God's promises of provision. We know many of you are struggling as well, and we want to let you know we are praying for you and for our home county - Grand County - for new jobs, prosperity, and blessing!

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19.

More Praises!

(The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev. 19:10)

Jobs

Rusty, our son, who was laid off in November, will be starting a new job in January!

Healing

Chris, who has suffered from migraines for many years, has been healed of migraines, and back pain too. One day, Bill Johnson, senior pastor, called out a word of knowledge that God wanted to heal migraines - the kind that are weekly and tend to have something to do with allergies. I stood up, and when I did, I felt electricity moving up my spine. That day I had a migraine headache. It was gone in three hours without medication, and I have not had a migraine in 8 weeks now. I have also had much healing in my back. It's a process, but I'm believing for more!

Help

Rick and I have been able to keep up with homework. Yes!

They're growing!

God is a God of joy and fun. Two of our young students were out with their outreach teams, and witnessed legs being healed. One leg was shorter than the other and causing back pain. So the team prayed, and the leg grew out even with the other leg. The person was quite delighted and instantly felt better. This is so common in the healing rooms for people with back pain. These two young women - Steph from Kansas and Naomi from England - are beautiful and absolutely love Jesus. They are both rather short, and decided they would ask God to make them taller. They declared that over themselves and both have grown 2 to 3 inches. Steph laughed and said she can't wait to see her sister at Christmas because now she'll be taller than her.

The Blank Check

The Blank Check

As kids, many of us dreamed about being granted one wish. Solomon got the "one wish." When God appeared to Solomon and gave him that opportunity, it forever raised the bar of our expectations in prayer. The disciples were given the same "wish," only better. Instead of one blank check, they were given an unlimited supply of blank checks. And this gift was specifically granted in the context of their friendship with God.

Surrounding their promotion to friendship, Jesus gave His disciples this amazing list of promises. Each promise was a blank check they were to live by and use throughout their lives for the expansion of the kingdom. They are as follows:

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:7)

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." (John 15:16)

"If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John14:14)

"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Fatherin My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23-24)

In order for us to properly receive what Jesus has offered us in these verses, any robotic understanding of what it means to be a follower of God has to change. God never intended that the believer be a puppet on a string. God actually makes Himself vulnerable to the desires of His people. In fact, it can be said, "if it matters to you, it matters to Him."

While much of the church is waiting for the next word from God, He is waiting to hear the dream of His people. He longs for us to take our role, not because He needs us, but because He loves us.

From the book Dreaming With God, by Bill Johnson, Senior Pastor, Bethel Church

Football, knitting, walking

So - just so you know - it's not all studying and class time. 

Rick is watching Monday night football right now at the club house here at our apartments. We don't have a TV, and it's a short walk. I'm making chicken soup to nurse my bad cold.

We take walks along the Sacramento River (see photo!) and, until my bike was stolen a month ago (sob) I would enjoy sunny bike rides with a friend. 

Baking, knitting and reading awesome books are also part of my fun - along with sitting in the hot tub. We've enjoyed hiking in the mountains and visiting nearby towns, too. Here we are at 400 feet elevation and the air is thick. Our former home was at 8500 feet elevation, so that's quite a change for us. The roses are still blooming here, the days are in the 50s and 60s and mostly sunny and breezy. Redding is a pretty and clean town. The palm trees that decorate main street are covered in Christmas lights that wind up the trunk. They are so pretty. The grass is still green, and I understand if we have anything at Christmas, it will be heavy rain.

We miss our Colorado family and home and what we know will be a beautiful, white Christmas.

We won't be coming home, but our daughter, Bess, is coming for a week and we can't wait! We're going to see the California Redwoods while she's here, and maybe see Christmas lights in San Francisco.

Have a happy day! - Chris

Healing Rooms

Today, we went to the Saturday morning healing rooms at Bethel Church . First you fill out a form if you want prayer. Then you enter the "Encounter Room" which is filled with people who have come for prayer, as well as members of the prayer ministry team. There is a worship team that plays nonstop for about three hours - beautiful worship. There is a table with communion on it. There is a big tarp on the floor where children are playing. There are tables set up where adults and children can draw pictures and make collages on paper. Some are making pictures for others and use the pictures to tell others what God is saying about them. That's called prophetic art. There are easels with canvases and talented painters are making beautiful large pictures as Holy Spirit inspires them. Another corner has dancers - young women and girls who have pretty dancing clothes on and they sway and leap and dance for the Lord and they are beautiful.

I sit in this atmosphere that is so charged by the presence of God. One of the prayer leaders calls out words of knowledge as the Lord moves them. Someone has just been healed of a surgically altered femur that was damaged in a car accident years ago. She is pain free, and her leg and bone have grown out to match the other leg. She testifies she has also been healed emotionally. Another older man says his shoulder, which has been crackling with arthritic pain for years, has just been totally healed. That was after the worship leader had people in the room stand and form a conga line as we danced in worship around the room. Another older man in a cute hat is walking and doing a little jig to the music. He laughs and is full of joy as he greets people around the room. Other prayer ministry team members go to people who raise their hands when words of knowledge go out - like words for foot problems, knee problems, cysts, tumors, old injuries, and such. Last time we were here, someone was healed of multiple sclerosis. She was in a wheelchair and had very little time to live. By the end of the morning she was pushing her wheelchair and talking and moving parts she hadn't moved in years.

Many come to Bethel from all over the country, just to bring their sick and injured loved ones and friends to the healing rooms.

I've come today to get prayer for a lingering sinus cold - and Rick would like prayer for dental issues. Soon we're called out to the healing room and will get personal prayer there.

I realize that even just being in the encounter room, my cold has started to dissipate just from sitting and soaking and worshiping and being in this healing atmosphere. I also realize today that prayer I had two weeks ago when I was here was effective and I didn't think about it until now. They prayed for my back pain and when they called that out today, I checked my back and it was perfectly fine.

On another note, about six weeks ago, Pastor Bill Johnson called out a word of knowledge during one of our classes for someone with migraines that come once a week and have to do with allergies. I stood up, received it, felt a tingling up and down my spine, and have not had any more migraines since that day. Whenever I feel like one is coming on, I just say "no, I'm healed," and let it go. Seems I have had to be prayed for several times for these things, but the healing comes in a process. Some people are healed instantly, some over the coming days and weeks. I think I'm going to go to the healing rooms every Saturday just to sit in the atmosphere there. It's so fun! Rick loves it too. We're learning a bunch just observing.

Just some of what we are up to...

Last night during worship services, we had a "prayer meeting" like that in Acts 4, asking for more of God, evident in the signs and wonders he wants to do through us to bring his children to Him. The message was: our prayers move God in Heaven thus bringing Heaven to Earth. It was a mighty time of personal and corporate prayer with many words of knowledge being called out for healing.

Rick and I drove to beautiful Weaverville - about an hour from Redding - today to find a coffee shop in an old building and to study in different surroundings. We have a book report due tomorrow on Jack Frost's "The Father's Embrace." Also assignments for Bible reading and Bible study courses. I am also taking a book writing course, and I'm sure there is homework due, but that is for those who know what they are writing about - and I'm still wondering what my book will be about. I have so many stories to tell, yet can't connect them for a book yet. Hopefully it will come soon!

We have signed up to help serve a Thanksgiving Dinner in a Redding neighborhood known as one of the poorer sections here in the city. It ought to be fun! We are also helping with the annual Holiday Christmas feast on Dec. 12, where hundreds of homeless people and  people going through hard times are fed a beautiful feast with family china and in a very wonderful atmosphere at Bethel.

Our outreach class has taken us to the home of two very disabled individuals. We pray for healing and for God's kingdom to touch them - and we pray for the families. Oh, I want so much to see a miraculous healing! We are learning that every time we pray, something happens. We cannot pray without releasing the kingdom. And...love is always the motivation we must have for praying for someone.

Settled and studying in Redding, California!

Praises for our new baby granddaughter, born Oct. 27 - little Mesa Leigh Toft. We were so happy to be able to meet her and the family on a short trip to Colorado last week!

Hello Friends,

So many of you have asked for updates. Some of you have received long e-mails from me. A few have gotten hand-written notes. Others phone calls. Still others are waiting and wondering what is happening with us.

I thought this blog would be the best way to reach most of you, and I plan to update it with new posts frequently - so I hope you keep checking back!

We are learning so much and it's taking a while for us to get used to being students again.

It's a full time schedule with 25 required in class or in church hours, and about 21 hours of reading and homework every week. Book reports, tests, written assignments and much reading are all part of the experience...and we are loving every minute of it.

I'll share book titles and authors in future blogs for those of you who want to know what we're reading and read along.

It's hard to know exactly what to put on this first blog because there is SO MUCH. So, I think I'd like to just start with the basic lessons I am personally learning. With all the book work, prayer, intercession, prophecies, worship, soaking and listening, and reading, reading, reading the Bible, history books, text books, books on revival, books on how to study the Bible, books on intercession, and books on the Father's love, and workbooks on knowing ourselves and Him better - the message boils down to two key areas for me that I am still trying to wrap my heart and spirit around:

1. Understanding who I am in God. The daughter of the Creator. A princess! Royalty. Friend of Christ. Co-heirs with Christ - with all the authority and power that comes with that station.

2. Understanding the pure, awesome, unconditional love of Father God for me. It's a relationship and a love that requires no performance from me. He loves me so much more than I can even know. He created me. No matter what I do or don't do, no matter what I do wrong...he loves me fully and desires a love relationship with me. He loves me exactly as I am. I do not have to strive, work, or get everything right to earn His love.

In coming posts, I'll fill in the blanks about our destiny, our place in God's timeline, what He is calling us to, and more. By "us," I mean His children - but more specifically, I hope to reveal what Rick and I are experiencing with this.

It is so exciting, We have met so many people. There are more than 800 first year students, half of whom are from other countries around the world. All have stories of how they came to Bethel. Most are young adults, but many are in their 40s, 50s and 60s. I'll be sharing some of those stories, too.

For now, know that we are praying for all of you as I know you are keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how we can pray for you. Rick and I need prayers for brains that can hold all this information!  God has been so amazingly good through our church and friends. But we still need to find jobs that will help with expenses and allow us to work around our school hours so as not to take away from what we are trying to learn as that is our first priority for the next six months. I have had some writing and editing work and hope to get more. We are thankful for the jobs Rick had last summer that allowed us to re-settle and re-group. He is hoping to find part time work soon.

Love, Chris