The Doe Waiting for Her Adoption

Yesterday, the doe in my yard reminded me how all creation is groaning and waiting for it's redemption. WOW! To think that all nature and created things will be delivered from the bondage of corruption with the Children of the Lord. Are you a child of the King? Are you groaning and anticipating the Savior to deliver you from your bondage and waiting for the adoption and redemption of your body? This doe reminded me of this because I saw her eating in fear of danger, with no rest. Each time she put her head down to eat a blade of grass, she fearfully looked around to see if there was a predator coming to harm her. I believe this is part of that groaning and anticipation to be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God that the Bible talks about!

I have been so blessed to serve so many adopting families with their travel internationally, but I just realized as I was reading these verses, that I am waiting for my adoption too!  The Children of God are ALL waiting to be adopted fully and completely!  Did you realize that even we groan within ourselves, when we see the corruption of this world we are living in, we groan for the day when our adoption will be complete and we will be HOME with our Savior!!!

Rom. 8:22b  Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Are you waiting for your adoption to come through?  Let the Lord Jesus give you new HOPE today.  Let Him show you that you are not only waiting for an earthly adoption, but a Spiritual adoption that will be complete one day as you remain abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Without Him, we have NO hope at all!  

I can't WAIT for that deliverance day when we will be face to face with the Savior! In my heart, I groan for this along with this doe, to be totally free without any bondage of corruption, without any predators lurking to steal away the JOY of Jesus anymore! OH, how I LONG for that day!! Do you long for it too? If you repent of your sins and surrender your full faith in Jesus Christ, the Precious Lamb of God, He will cover you with His blood and you can walk in faith with Him all the way to Heaven! 

As you read these verses, remember the doe today who is longing for her deliverance and groaning for it. Won't you turn to Jesus today? Won't you join these saints who are waiting for their adoption day?  Jesus promises that if you come to Him, you will surely find rest for your soul.  The Spirit of the Lord is groaning too.  He is praying for us in our weaknesses, GROANING with us as we wait!  What a Precious Father we have, who sympathizes WITH us in our weaknesses.

Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[b] with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

God bless you as you seek Him today!

Be ENCOURAGED today!!!!

~Tabitha Lovell

www.cheapmissionstrips.com

Divine Encounter at the Lost River Cave

Yesterday was such a beautiful day with my sweet family!  We decided to stop off and look at the Lost River Cave in Bowling Green Kentucky, that we have heard about.  We have a "picture ministry" where we will ask someone to take our picture and then we will use that opportunity to share the gospel with them! So, we met a couple at the entrance to the cave, who we shared with for hours yesterday in Bowling Green. The wife is Jehova's Witness and the husband Muslim. We were able to show them from the Bible SO many things, exposing so many of the false teachings they are soaked with in these two man-made religions.  They were not in agreement in their own marriage because they are both holding on to these opposite religions.  It was sad for us to see this because we were thinking of that verse in the Bible that says "How can two walk together if they are agreed?"  Amos 3:3

We are praying for them now, that the two of them will be able to be ONE in the Spirit of the Lord, surrendering their religious ideas to Him and humbling themselves to the Truth of the Word of God.  I was able to share my testimony with the wife, because she said herself that she is not born again.  So, as we were walking back together to our cars, I was able to share my testimony with her.  She thought that the only ones who could be born again are the 144,000 in Revelation.  I just shared my testimony of how the Holy Spirit of the Lord came to live inside of me and how I was saved.  They did not have such testimonies, so I believe the Lord really spoke to their hearts.

When I talk to a Jehovah's Witness, I always see so much head knowledge, but nothing deep inside of their hearts to match what is in their head.  It is all just a man-made, false religion with absolutely no hope of salvation.  I am not afraid to speak to them anymore like I once was.  I was fearing that I would not have an answer for them.  But really, the answers are so simple!  We can share our testimony and share how we need to be BORN AGAIN or we will not enter the Kingdom of God.  Also, there are SO many scriptures about hell that they avoid.  They do not believe there is a hell.  So, we need to show them because IF they do not repent and trust in Jesus as their GOD and Savior, they will end up there, in the VERY place that they disbelieve exists.  

SO, I challenge you.  Look up all the verses about Hell and keep them handy for the next time you may meet one of these people.  It may be just what is needed for their false doctrine to be exposed and for them to see the LIGHT (Jesus) who is desiring that they be led out of that false religion and into His Kingdom!  

I encourage you to take a step of faith in this direction.  They need to hear your testimony and so do the Muslims.  They don't have a testimony of salvation and they do not have any hope of salvation or eternity in Heaven.  We really need to shine the Light and bring them this hope before it is too late!

God bless you as you seek Him!

~Tabitha

www.cheapmissionstrips.com

Wickedness All Around

Last night, I awoke from a dream that felt so real.  I want to share it because I believe it may be something the Lord is going to use to encourage the Body of Christ in these days we are living in and the days ahead of us.  In my dream, I was in an urban neighborhood, possibly in Louisville, but somehow in my dream it felt like this city represented all of the cities in the United States.  There was wickedness all around.  Everywhere I looked, there were people robbing and homes being destroyed.  People were in a panic, wondering around on the streets, feeling vulnerable, like someone was going to take from them.  There was a sense of deep poverty that had brought many homeowners to a place of complete desolation.  Their homes were without electricity and people were using some sort of a massive type of bubble wrap to insulate their homes all around in order to keep out robbers from breaking their windows.

My husband and I were in a back yard for one part of the dream and there was a flying saucer type of instrument in the sky that fell into the back yard where we were sitting.  This flying saucer was radiating with some type of harmful radiation coming out of it.  Kevin immediately hurled it away from the area we were in as far as he could throw it, but someone in the government had placed this into the atmosphere to harm innocent people with the harmful radiation waves inside of this.  In my dream, there was an overwhelming sense that perilous times are ahead and we need to prepare ourselves spiritually for these times, by drawing deep roots with the Lord now, so that when these perilous times come, we will be sound in our faith.

In my dream, there was a spirit of suicide that seemed to be lingering around.  It seemed that the way that the world and those who were not abiding in the Lord were dealing with the pain and poverty and destruction, was to kill themselves.  Aside from the spirit of suicide, it seemed that people's hearts were failing them all around because of the wickedness that they were encountering.  There was no love, no comfort anywhere, only desolation and absolutely no peace.  There did not seem to be any safe place to turn in the world anymore.  All that people were holding onto seemed to be stripped away, almost overnight.  There was no longer television to soothe and comfort the pain.  It seemed that everyone was each man for himself, and no one was looking out for the needs of anyone else.  There was a sense that each person was in a survival state of mind and they were willing to kill, steal, and destroy in order to survive.

I woke up from this dream with two verses on my heart very strong.  I think it is healthy to have a fear of God in our hearts.  Even the Bible tells us that we should fear the One who can cast our bodies and souls into Hell, rather than living in the fear of man.  However, in the last days, the love of many will grow cold because of the wickedness all around.

Matthew 24:12  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

This was the first verse on my heart which caused me to fear the Lord when I woke up.  I say this because we will be tempted when perilous times come, to forsake the Lord and walk in sin like the rest of the world, but we must not obey the devil when we are tempted, we MUST obey the Lord and walk in His will for us no matter what evil may befall us.

The second verse on my heart when I woke up was that if we endure to the END, we will be saved.  This gave me so much hope, yet fear coupled with it as well.  I have this fear of the Lord in my heart that keeps me close to Him.  I fear walking away from Him and His incredible love for me, and not finishing the race.  I fear taking my eyes off of Him when all I can see is evil all around.  I can not imagine that this would not be a temptation if my eyes ever beheld anything this terrible on the earth.

I just realized that these verses are in the same passage just now as I write this!  WOW!  The Lord is good.

Matthew 24:13  But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

I am so encouraged now to share the gospel more and more.  Jesus is our only Hope during perilous times.  I have had some adversity in my walk with the Lord, and I believe that we can never leave Him.  He is our only  Hope and we can never abandon His Love no matter what we will face on this earth.  Let us go forth with bold love for our Master with a heart like Peter who said, "Where would we go, Lord?  YOU have the Words of Eternal Life!"  Let us keep this ever before our hearts and continue to take even more earnest heed to those things we have learned, so that we do not fail in the day of adversity that lies ahead.

Here is an encouraging passage to encourage our hearts to trust and obey our Precious Lord in the time of tribulation to come.

“He who would love life and see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,  and his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." 1 Peter 3:10-17


God bless you as you seek Him~
Tabitha

BBC 4-26-11

BBC 4-26-11

Ticket to Heaven

Do you have your ticket to heaven yet?  This is a really easy question you could ask someone who does not know about the Lord.  It is really not too hard to share the gospel with someone.  Maybe some people will think you are crazy, but maybe......just maybe.......your question could open up a door for the gospel to go forth and for someone's soul to be saved for all eternity!

I recently heard a message by Keith Green who passed away that stirred up my heart.  He was saying that he would rather have a lot of people hate him and know that he cared about their souls than a whole lot of friends who he just tried to keep them as friends, but never shared the gospel with them in fear of offending them. 

What could possibly be more important than a soul being saved from hell for all eternity?  Nothing!!!  Nothing is more valuable than a person's soul.  In fact, Jesus said in Mark 8:36, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

The whole world and all that it contains, can not equal the value of one human soul.  What could you spend your money on that would be more important than a soul?  Do you give to missions work?  Do you help those who are reaching the lost?  Where is your treasure?  Are you spending your resources and using your earthly possessions to reach the lost around you? 

I was looking at photos of Dubai in the United Arab Emerites today and was shocked to see how much money is being spent on their extravagant buildings and tourist attractions to attract visitors from all over the world.  I was absolutely shocked to see how much money is there.

It caused me to think about how little money is being given to missions work all over the world.  One day in eternity, those who have given all to their Master will be rewarded and will have crowns to lay at His feet!!!  I can tell you that all of Dubai and all of the world and all it contains can not compare to the glory of the Lord and all of Heaven for all eternity!!! 

I want to encourage you in your missions journey to continue to be spiritually minded, and look for opportunities to share the gospel even in the airport, not just when you reach your destination across the world.  Your rewards are not in the people that you see turning to the Lord, your rewards are with the Lord in heaven.  He is the one who will reward you for all that you do out of love for Him.  Can you imagine?  One day in heaven, looking across the sea of faces, and seeing some of those who you invited to be there? 

I want to see this one day.  Do you?  I challenge you to try to find some solid gospel tracts to give to people you meet.  A great resource for finding these is www.pinpointevangelism.com and they are very reasonably priced.  You can take these with you on the airplane and in the airports while you travel to your missions destination.

Oh, the JOY in heaven when one sinner repents and turns their heart to the Lord Jesus Christ!!!  Is anything more important than this?  Allow the Lord to search your heart to find out if there is any wicked way in you and lead you in His way everlasting!!!

I am so honored to be a part of the work you are doing in reaching the lost with the gospel.  We provide missionary airfare to get you there and will be praying for you during your trip!!! 

www.cheapmissionstrips.com

God bless you as you seek Him!

Your Prayer Agent,
Tabitha

Depending Upon the Lord

Today it was impressed upon my heart how much I need to be dependent on Him.  We live in a country where we see people parading around their independence in different ways.  I used to be one of them.  Now, the Lord has transformed my heart and I am no more the person I once was.  By His grace, I am totally dependent upon Him and this is where I find my truest peace, joy, and fulfillment in life.  This is contrary to what most people understand, but I am urging you to seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near.  Let the wicked person forsake His sins!!  Jesus will abundantly pardon you today, just as He has done for me.

I watched a movie of a woman who inspired me this week.  It was called Forevermore, and is the story of Karla Faye Tucker Forevermore and it shared the story of a woman who loved God and was totally consecrated to Him as her husband.  You will see the power of God to totally transform a life.  This woman was a murderer on death row, but was radically changed by the Lord Jesus Christ when she repented of her sins and became Christian, a lover of Jesus.  I cried from beginning to end on this movie.  I was reminded of the life I lived before the Lord saved me and the death penalty of Hell that I deserve upon my life. 

But Jesus, My Precious Jesus, gave me something that I could never deserve.  It is His unfailing Love.  Now, I am consecrated to Him, betrothed to Him.  I depend upon Him for everything now.  He is the Lover of my Soul, the Lilly of the Valley, and the Fairest of ten thousand.  Yes, I love Him now more and more as He continues to be my Rock and Fortress, my Strong Tower of Refuge against the enemy each day.  Let us exalt His Name together, the precious Name of Jesus, more and more and live to glorify Him more and more each day with our lives.

I remember the old me and how I used to glory in the things of this world.  Well, now I boast in the Lord Jesus Christ and all that He has done for me, setting me free and giving me a brand new life.  People who knew me before may not understand the person that the Lord has made me now.  But I know that it is supernatural, so in order to understand, you must first seek the Lord to help you.  He can transform your heart too.  There is so much hope in the Lord. 

The enemy will come with his lies to your heart, saying that this pill will ease your pain and lull you away to sleep and you will never wake up again.  But the Lord desires you to know the truth.  If you take that pill or attempt to obey satan and overdose your way to "sleep", you will wake up in eternity in hell.  This is not God's will for your life.  God's will is that none should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance.

My prayer for anyone reading this is that you seek the Lord and listen for His still small voice to your heart, calling you to be His Bride, calling you to a life full of HOPE and a future full of JOY!!!  Only He could take a worthless, hopeless, death sentenced life and transform it into something beautiful, full of HOPE!  Just take a moment next time the sun is shining, to find a butterfly and remember where it came from.  It was once a caterpillar, crawling on the ground, but is now soaring on beautiful wings of hope, free from the struggles below and the cares of this world.  And remember, this butterfly can be YOU!!

OH, do not let sin and the cares of this world hold YOU down.  Look up!!  For behold, the Lord, the Bridegroom, is calling you to a deeper place.  He is calling YOU to come away with Him and be His Bride for all eternity.  Oh, today is the day to repent.  Today is the day to seek His face while there is still time.  Today is the day of salvation.  Don't leave this blog and harden your heart.  Jesus wants to be the lifter of your head.  He wants to transform you into something beautiful.  Won't you let Him do what He does best?  Give Him your ashes.  I promise, better yet, HE promises to give you beauty for the ashes of your life if you turn your heart to Him fully today.

God bless you as you seek Him,
Tabitha