Merry Christmas!!!

Thank you for praying for the Deeper Still Ministry!  Merry Christmas from the Deeper Still Ministry Team!  We are so thankful for you!

Father, we thank you for these prayer warriors that you have enlisted to hold up the Deeper Still Ministry in prayer.  We ask for You to bless them, surround them with Your love, and fill them with Your supernatural peace and joy this Christmas!  We thank You for the precious gift of Jesus.  May our eyes be  focused on the miracle of Jesus and Who You are all year long.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.   

Across the Map

 "Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." 
Gen 28: 14,15

 Dear Lord,
Thank you that the “offspring” of Deeper Still (the Deeper Still Chapters) will be like the dust of the earth and they will be spread abroad to the west, the east, the north and the south. And that many families wounded by abortion will be blessed and healed through Deeper Still. Thank you that you will be with Deeper Still wherever they go and that you will not leave them until you have done what you have promised to Deeper Still. In Jesus’s Name, Amen. 

On the floor was a map of the world. The Deeper Still team encircled the map and began to pray. I stared down at the map; my feet nestled next to Antarctica. While praying, I asked the Holy Spirit if He wanted me to pray. My eyes focused on the folder resting on the opposite side of the map, at the North Pole. In this folder was a list. Only this wasn’t the list one usually thinks of being at the North Pole. This list didn’t consist of the names of girls and boys with their Christmas wishes. Instead, this list represented the abortion wounded hearts of women and men whose only wish was freedom.

The Holy Spirit nudged me to lay my hands on the folder and pray. I answered, “But Lord, I am at the South Pole and it is all the way at the North Pole. I don’t think I can reach it.” Then, He directed my gaze towards one name next to the folder on the other side of the world!

“Also, pray over that name.”

The only way for me to reach the other side of the world was for me to stretch my body across the map. So, I did. As I stretched across the map, the Lord spoke. “I will stretch across the world, to the North, South, East, and West. I will do anything to reach those who are in need of healing, I will go even to reach just one.“

God does not want His children to be in despair. His heart’s desire is healing for the hurting and freedom for the oppressed. Thank you for praying for the Deeper Still Ministry. Your prayers are bringing freedom to women and men across the map!

Healing the Land

“Ask of me and I will give the nations to you, the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession.”   Psalm 2: 8

Father, the blood of the nations cry out from the ground.  The ground longs for healing.  Lord, we ask for you to give us the nations.  You ask, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”  We reply, “Lord, here we are, send us.”  We ask for you to heal the abortion wounded hearts of the nations.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

“And He said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to Me from the ground.”  Genesis 4:10

Not one drop of blood goes unnoticed by our God. The voice of the unborn cries out from the ground.  However, there is One whose Blood covers and heals the ground tainted by sin and death. 

A friend of mine and fellow Deeper Still Team Member recently went to the site where death’s stench had grasped her long ago.  She is now free and went to the land where innocent blood was shed to pray healing over the land.  I saw a mental picture of the spiritual impact that was occurring as she prayed to heal the land. 

She knelt on the ground where death had once won the victory.  As she began to pray and weep, the tears that fell from her face penetrated the ground.  Once the tears pierced through the ground, the tears mixed with prayers became the Blood of Jesus.  The Blood of Jesus then began to cleanse the land and His Blood covered the blood shed of the innocent.  The Blood of the One pierced for our transgressions, pierced the darkness and light began to shine forth in the land.  Then, it spread.  The healing Blood of Jesus began to expand and move from city to city, state to state, and nation to nation.  It moved across seas until it covered the entire globe, healing all it touched.

This is the vision of Deeper Still.  This is the vision that encompasses “Until all are healed.”  The healing Blood of Jesus nullifies and cancels the debts of death we could never pay.  It cleanses and restores us completely, conquers sin, and reclaims the victory in Jesus Christ. 

Thankful

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.  Psalms 9:1

Dear Lord God, we praise you.  We give you all the glory and honor for the works You do through the Deeper Still Ministry.  Thank you from our whole heart.  We will tell of Your marvelous works!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Each time I come down off the mountaintop, my heart is bursting to tell of all the Lord’s marvelous works!  I want to shout it out for all to hear!  My words cannot begin to describe the magnitude of the Lord’s presence and glory that is experienced by the participants and ministry team at Deeper Still Retreats.  Today, I would like to share words from a participant who came in October.  Her words beautifully depict her profound experience with the Lord.

“What a wonderful blessing the weekend was to me. You have made the intangible, tangible to all of us. All of the amazing women who were called to council and love on us this weekend gave all of us the tangible with unspeakable joy. There was so much love displayed through my brothers and sisters in Christ it was almost too difficult to take it all in. Your approach to healing was amazing. You took us step by step, moment to moment through the fire and into the light and waiting the arms of Jesus. Unspeakable Joy! My sister and I are so alike in that satan kept trying to tell us that none of it was real. She wanted to leave on Friday and I was very skeptical. I believe that legion of angels were protecting, watching and Holding that Line so that we could be brought to the place of healing and restoration. Saturday was so amazing when ALL of my brothers and sisters were celebrating A NEW FOUND VICTORY over grief and death and wounded hearts. I felt the Spirit of God hovering over us as we all had the mother mantle placed around our wound bodies and souls. As we were praying, the amazing thing was that there were shots in the distance (I think they were shooting crows) where the Lord was telling us I AM PROTECTING YOU!!

The bunk beds that we slept in were to me, The Lord’s cradle, giving us rest for our wounded and exhausted bodies, and when sleep came it was sweet and deep. 

On Sunday, I just can’t fully describe how beautiful the scene was at the memorial. The crunch of the gravel under our feet as we headed into Zion, the beautiful angel singing as we approached, my brothers who brought us down to our sent, the words of God spoken as we listened, the back drop of the majestic mountains with the royal cross in front of it, and banquet table set and ready for all of us to partake and share in the body and blood of Christ, the smoldering fire that filled our nostrils as a pleasing aroma and sacrifice to the Lord, the benches filled with the redeemed and the restored, waiting and anticipating on what the Lord had in store for us, the roses, the tear jars, the royal adornments (scarves) the crown of glory and the anointing, the Lord’s Supper when we all shared the gift of the body and blood of Christ! 

Dear Brothers and Sisters who gave your time, effort and love, I love each and every one of you and appreciate all of your loving kindness and tenderness on such a delicate subject as abortion. I was given a little glimpse into what God’s love is like and would consider it a privilege to serve with all of you at some point in whatever capacity that you will give to me. 

Karen, I love you my sister for this, the task that you have taken on for the love of Jesus for the grieving and the broken hearted. We were all healed and restored this weekend. The tangible symbol of the bears gave me a place and a clear picture that my babies are in the arms of Jesus. I know that one day we will all be reunited with them in Glory!! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!!

Thank you Jesus for finally putting to rest any questions or doubts about my salvation!! Hallelujah!!”

Because of your prayers, captives are being set free!  Thank you for praying to free the abortion wounded hearts of men and women like the one who wrote this testimony.  We are so thankful for all the prayer warriors who hold this ministry up in prayer!  Happy Thanksgiving!  

Bring On the Firetruck!

“The Lord will guide you always;

He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.”  Isaiah 58:11

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you that you guide Deeper Still always and you satisfy all our needs and strengthen our frame.  We thank You that the ministry of Deeper Still is like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Judy Townsend, a Deeper Still Ministry team member and the head of the budding Illinois Deeper Still Chapter, shared a word the Lord revealed to her about the October retreat.  The Lord showed her:

“ water..moving water..it began as as small bubbling spout and then eventually moved to a geyser with powerful force and this was the "ammo" used to break the chains and fight the battle.” 

Water by itself it is just a puddle that varies in size.  However, when wind is mixed with water, it can become a force to be reckoned with on a grandiose scale.  The Holy Spirit is the wind that moves God’s people and brings the power to destroy the chains of bondage.

 

The ladies that came to the Deeper Still Retreat were sun-scorched.  They were in need of the Living Water that would revive their souls and flood their heart.  They were also in need of the Wind mixed with the water that would violently fight on their behalf and break every chain.

 

One participant wrote at the end of the retreat:

“The wreckage of my past had left my life in flames.  I was trying to put it out with water guns.  Last weekend, the fire truck arrived!  There may be small areas still smoldering, but the water is still flowing.”

Just as the Lord showed Judy, the water started small but then gushed forth mightily to quench the flames ignited by past wreckage.  The Living Water never runs out and those who drink of it will never be thirsty.  May it continue to flow in the lives of these ladies, making them a well-watered garden whose springs never fail.  

Operation Destroy

“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds.  The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, “Destroy!”  Deuteronomy 33:26-27

Father, I thank you for all You did for all the participants at the Deeper Still retreat last weekend.  There is no one like You. Lord, I thank you that you rode the heavens to help.  Thank You that You are the refuge for the participants and team members.  Thank you for thrusting out the enemy from before us and commanding every chain, every bondage, and every dark place to be destroyed!!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I am still elated by what happened at the October Deeper Still Retreat!!!  This verse talks about God riding on the clouds.  I think every team member is still riding on the clouds after all that happened! Two beautiful young ladies met Jesus for the first time and were SAVED!!!  Woot!  Woot!

 

The retreat location is beautiful.  It is at Eagle Rock in Maryville, TN.  From our view, the clouds are actually below the mountaintops in some areas.  

  

 God gave me the verse above for the retreat. 

“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun.” 

I did a little research on what “God of Jeshurun” meant as I have never heard this term used before I read this verse. 

“Jeshurun” is a symbolic name for Israel (God’s children) describing her ideal character.  It is a tender and loving name for the people of Israel. 

God rode on the clouds last weekend to reach down and touch His sons and daughters in a real and personal way because He knows their ideal character.  He is tender and loving and sees them as who He created them to be.  He provides a refuge for them where He can reach in with His everlasting arms and grab hold to protect them from any schemes of the enemy.  Then, He thrusts out the enemy from before them and commands His angelic armies to DESTROY the chains, the darkness, the lies, and the strongholds that have held them captive.

 

The verse that follows sums it up beautifully:

“Then Israel shall dwell in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone.  In a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew.  Happy are you, O Israel!  Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord.  The shield of Your help and the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, and you shall tread down their high places.”  Deuteronomy 33:28-29

Oh prayer warriors, I so wish you could have been there with us to see it!  Thank you for being with us in the Spirit and praying.  Your prayers paved the way for 2 girls to get saved, the darkness to be held back and destroyed and for 19 lives to be forever changed!  These participants are now dwelling in the safety of the Most High, in a land of blessing and newness.  Their springs are overflowing with Living Water and fullness of joy!  THANK YOU!!! 

Please continue to pray for these 19 who were radically transformed and given new life and Deeper Still.    

The Robe of Righteousness

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord.  My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness."  Isaiah 61:10

Father, we do greatly rejoice in You!   Father, we pray for every participant coming to the retreat this weekend to throw away their rags of bondage and put on the new clothes you have for them! We pray they would put on the garments of salvation and Your robe of righteousness.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.     

During the worship service Sunday, I sang praises to my King with hands held high.  My eyes were closed tightly as to not let a moment of envisioning being with my King escape from sight.

As I sang, I had a vision. I stood in a great throne room.  Jesus walked toward me.  He came into view holding a mantle whiter than any freshly fallen snow and brighter than the most brilliant of stars.

When Jesus reached me, He looked into my eyes and placed the mantle on my shoulders.  He said, "This is your robe of righteousness."  Then, He led me by the hand to the throne of Grace.  All I could do was fall on my knees and weep at His goodness, grace and mercy.

The King of Glory then lifted me up and embraced me.

Wow.  This King of ours is so awesome.  What an amazing love!

This vision reminded me of a stanza in a song we sang at our last Deeper Still prayer meeting to prayerfully prepare for the retreat coming up this weekend.  The verse was from the song, "Cornerstone" by Hillsong.

"Dressed in His Righteousness alone, faultless stand before the throne." 

My prayer is for every participant coming to the retreat this weekend to have a revelation of His glorious mercy and grace.  I pray for them to exchange whatever rags of bondage they come in wearing for the pure beauty of the robe of His Righteousness.  Thank you for praying for the upcoming retreat with us!  Setting the captives free!!  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLxZEU02uI

Gates and Doors

“Who is this King of glory?  The Lord strong and mighty,  the Lord mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, O you gates!  Lift up, you everlasting doors!  And the King of glory shall come in.  Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.  Selah.”  Psalms 24: 8-10

Father, You are the King of glory.  Lord, we recognize that You are strong and mighty in battle.  We lift up our heads and ask you to enter into the gates and doors of Deeper Still.   Let Deeper Still reflect Your glory.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  

Judy Townsend is heading up the Deeper Still Chapter in Illinois.  She emailed me recently with some very insightful wisdom that the Lord had shared with her that echoed a post from last week.

She said:

“We should not venture anywhere if He is not in it and working it.  I was reading the Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis…pursuing glory is highly desirous and pleases the Lord.  But, we should not ever feel like we have found it end of story, or substitute the vehicle that the glory comes in as the glory itself.  C.S. Lewis describes it as constantly pursuing a beautiful song playing in another room, or searching for a flower giving off a beautiful scent or longing for a country we have never visited.”

She also shared something Beth Moore once said:

"When you touch the glory, you lose the power".

In 1 Samuel 4, the Israelites went to battle with the Philistines.  They took the ark of the covenant into battle with them thinking that it would win the battle for them.

They said, “Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.”  (1 Samuel 4:3)

They did not pray and did not fast.  Their hearts were reliant on the box, the material figure of the ark, and not on the power of God.  They thought they were touching the glory, but the power needed to be ignited by their “cry outs” in prayer.  They lost the battle.

If one thinks he has touched the glory, he will stop seeking His glory.  Once someone has stopped seeking His glory, the power fades. 

The Lord is the one who does the work.  He is the healer.  This only happens when we have come to the end of ourselves and cry out to Him to do the work. The battle is His. 

 

There is only One King of glory.  Who is this King of Glory?  Jesus.

Oh, how we need your cry outs in prayer to entreat the power of God.  There is no power without His glory.  We are but gates and doors.   Thank you for your heart felt cries for His glory.  

Desperate for Hem (or Him)

“When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, ‘If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.’  Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.”  Mark 5: 27-29

Father, we thank you that the Deeper Still participants will push through the obstacles and hindrances in front of them to come to the Deeper Still retreat to reach the hem of Your garment.  Father, we thank you that when they come, desperate for Your healing touch, that Your power always flows and heals.  We pray they would receive Your healing as they come.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

In Mark, Chapter 5, is the story of the woman with the issue of blood who pushed through the crowd because she had heard about Jesus.  She was desperate:

Desperate for healing. 

Desperate for the Healer. 

How desperate was she?  She dealt with this issue of blood for twelve years!  She went to many doctors and was not better, but rather grew worse!  I can only imagine her desperation.  Someone had told her about Jesus, about the Healer and she only knew she needed to get to Him.  No thronging crowd was going to stop her from receiving her healing! 

The women and men coming to the retreat are no different.   Some of them have lived with their affliction for twelve years or more.  Some may have even been to counseling or tried medication in hopes of being free from their issues.  They may not have an issue of blood like the woman above, but the very hope of finding freedom is indeed an issue of the Blood!  The Blood of Christ has covered it all.  Their righteousness, healing, and freedom has already been bought!  They just need to push through the crowd, reach out, touch the hem, and grab hold of it. 

“He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well.  Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.’” Mark 5:34

As the women and men touch the hem of his garment and receive His power, He gives them a garment: a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  His garment makes us well, full of peace and healed.  They press through to receive healing and go out in peace, healed of their affliction. 

Thank you for praying that no obstacles will keep them from coming to touch the hem of Jesus. 

We Cry Out

“Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us do not bring us up from here...

So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”

And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.” Exodus 33:15, 17-18

Dear Heavenly Father, El Shaddai, we cry out to you.  You alone can heal.  You alone can save.  Father, we don’t want to go anywhere if you don’t go with us.  Father, we thank you for your mighty Presence.  We know we can do nothing on our own.  We ask for You to show Your favor, grace, and healing power through the ministry of Deeper Still.  We ask for more of You.  We ask for You to show Deeper Still Your glory.  In Jesus’ Mighty and Holy Name, Amen.

During the Deeper Still Team meeting this past week, Karen Ellison said something to the effect of:

“If the Lord isn’t in it, I don’t want to do it.  I don’t want to do anything without the power of God.” 

How true.  

Moses refused to go out if the Lord’s presence was not with Him.  In the same way, we don't want to do anything if the Lord is not in it.  Nothing of eternal value can happen without the Lord’s power at work in and through us by His Holy Spirit.  We have no power to heal, no power to love, no power to bring freedom.  Only Jesus can set the captives free.  We need El Shaddai, God Almighty. 

Ever since I was a little girl, I have been drawn to the name El Shaddai.  I remember singing the song “El Shaddai” by Amy Grant often as a girl and feeling the power of God in it.

Kari Jobe has a song out called, "We Cry Out".  Every time I sing the name El Shaddai in that song, again I sense my ever-present God in a powerful way.  Oh Lord, how we rely on Your name.  You are so mighty and worthy to be praised.  Thank you for your all-surpassing power. 

God Almighty.  Lord Most High.  El Shaddai.

  

Thank you for praying this with us today.  We know His power is at work.  We need Him.  We cherish your prayers.

"We Cry Out" by Kari Jobe

Battlement

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory;  no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly."  Psalms 84:11 

Father, we thank You that You are our sun and shield.  Father, we thank you that you give grace and glory to the Deeper Still Ministry Team and that You do not withhold any good thing.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

This was my son's memory verse this week and I love it!  "The Lord God is a sun and shield."   I did some research on the word "sun" and it can mean brilliant, shining, or battlement. 

Battlement?  Huh?  What does that mean?  I googled it. (Gotta love Google!) A battlement is the top part of a castle with indentions in the walls that outline the upper portion.  They were used as protective agents during attack.   On towers or building tops, the flat roof is used as the protected fighting platform.  How awesome is it that our God is our battlement as we fight for freedom?!

The Lord God shines brilliantly and surrounds us as a battlement and shield to support us and protect us especially during battle! 

Thank you for joining the Lord in surrounding us in prayer as we go to battle.

Thank you for praying this verse with us today.  Praying the same for you,  Deeper Still prayer partners.  

Thank you, Lord, for these prayer partners you have brought to support Deeper Still Ministry in prayer. Lord, I thank you that you are their sun and shield.  Thank you that you give grace and glory and withhold no good thing from them as they walk uprightly with you.   In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

Fat Cows for Jesus

"But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves."  Malachi 4:2

Father, we fear Your name.  We are in awe of You.  Thank you that Your Son, the Sun of Righteousness arises with healing in His wings and spreads His loving wings over the ministry of Deeper Still and over the participants (past and future).  We cry out to you for healing.  In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Karen Ellison signs her letters: 

"Until All Are Healed"

Isn't that beautiful?  Isn't that the Lord's heart?  Everywhere Jesus went, he healed the sick and oppressed (Acts 10:38). 

Last weekend, we had the Deeper Still Training.  Thank you to all who prayed into it.  It was AMAZING and HEALING!

After the retreats, we have the participants share how God healed them over the weekend.  We could do the same after the training or after prayer meetings.  This ministry is all about doing the Lord's work and healing. 

"But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings..."

I entered the training with a heavy heart in need of healing from a recent wound.  I left the training free again and healed with no more heaviness!  Only God!  When we are surrounded and overtaken with the presence of the Lord and His Word, healing follows.  The Lord covered the training with His Sun of Righteousness and His Healing wings touched all those under His covering.  

"and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves."  

Now, I know we wouldn't normally consider it a compliment if someone tells us we are fat like stall-fed calves.  

However, this is great!  The people who came to the training left healed and went out with their spirit-man fat like stall-fed calves.  We want our spirit-man to be fat and well fed with the Word of God.  

In other words, we could say, we want to be fat cows for Jesus!  

Last weekend, people came from all over the U.S. and were equipped to go out and be the healing hands and feet of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the Healer.  We know it is all Him, but He needs the saints to go out, heal in His name, and be full of His glory! 

Thank you again for all your prayers!  Let's abide under the shadow of His healing wings, get our spirit fat like stall-fed calves, and pray..."Until all are healed."

Calling All Warriors

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness, in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand...

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."  Ephesians 6:11-13, 18

Father, we stand against powers of darkness in the Name of Jesus.  We pray for Karen and all the Deeper Still volunteers and staff as they prepare and do the training this coming week.  Father, we pray for you to strengthen them with might through Your Spirit in their inner man (Eph 3:16).  In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

Darkness loomed all around me as I contemplated sharing my abortion story with my church family.  There was a heaviness on me.  Nausea overcame me at the thought of sharing my "secret".  The medium was harmless enough.  I wouldn't have to speak.  A flat piece of cardboard would be my voice. However,  that small brown rectangle would contain words that could forever alter my world.  The front read:

"Abortion at 19, locked in a prison of shame and guilt."  

How could a little paper box top be so heavy?

Trying to get this decision off my mind, that night we decided to watch the movie, Narnia, for family movie night.  As I watched the movie, I realized it was no coincidence we were watching this particular movie this particular night.  We came to the battle scene at the end and I saw clearly what was happening:  There was a fight going on in the heavenlies.  There was a battle raging.  Forces of darkness fighting to keep me silent while angelic forces were fighting for my freedom.

After the movie I knew I had to share my testimony.  I knew it might not be easy and honestly, that little piece of cardboard was too heavy for me to bear on my own.  Thankfully, the weight was lifted as my Lord and Savior, Jesus, carried the load for me.

I turned the cardboard over.  On the back read:

"Forgiven and set free by the blood of Jesus."

As I turned it over, the cardboard became light and a weight was forever lifted.

There was a battle--one side wanting to keep me bound in chains and the other side wanting me free.   The battle continues for countless more and we need all warriors.

Next weekend is the Deeper Still Training.  There is a battle raging and we need all warriors to pray.  Karen and all the volunteers need our prayers.  Please pray for strength, stamina, and protection for Karen and the volunteers and their families this week as they prepare and train a new set of warriors.

Also, please share this on your social media pages to spread the word and call more warriors into action!
Thank you!!!

Praying in the Laborers

"Then He said to them, 'The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'" Luke 10:2

Dear Heavenly Father,  we know the harvest is great.  So many men and women need healing and freedom from their past sin of abortion.  They need to be free to worship you, free to serve you, free to be all your created them to be, and free to minister Your love to a lost and hurt world.  Father, we pray for You to send out laborers into Your harvest.  We pray for those you have called to come to the Deeper Still Training to become equipped to go out to the harvest fields to free abortion wounded hearts.  In Jesus' name, Amen.  

They are coming.  August 23 and 24th, new laborers are coming from Tennessee, Illinois (my old home state!), North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, California, Georgia, and even Ecuador!

About a year ago, God was working on my heart to attend the Deeper Still training.  I didn't know why I was suppose to go, but I knew God said "go" so I said "yes".  God can do so much with 3 little letters--YES.  

Please pray for all the attendees coming to the training, for their hearts to be open to hear from the Lord and say "yes" to all He wants them to do.  

Please be in prayer for us as we equip these saints who are coming to be laborers of the freedom harvest!  

Ripple Effect

"The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow."  Deuteronomy 28: 12

Father, we thank you that you open your good treasury and that you give us rain in its season.  I pray for you to bless all the work of the team members of Deeper Still's hands and that Deeper Still would be able to lend to many nations the healing work you have given this team and that through the ministry of Deeper Still you would reach the hurting abortion wounded hearts of the world.  In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

Karen Ellison was given a night vision a couple nights ago.  There was a song playing in the background while Karen slept called "Scared Little Girl".  It is a beautiful song that is played often at the retreats.  The lady who wrote it actually wrote it because of Deeper Still.  The last two lines of the song say,

 "see what I'll do with your ashes, I'm bringing forth beauty, see what I'll do with your mourning, I'm bringing forth joy."

  

The vision Karen had was of a lake with what appeared to be rain drops falling down on the lake at first glance.  Karen then realized these were not rain drops, but tear drops.  These drops would hit the lake forming ripples that spread into shapes of butterflies.  The butterflies would then float up and fly away.   The Lord was showing Karen and us a visual of the last two lines of that song.  As Karen explained, "He redeems our tears and turns them into joy--like butterflies."  

All over the world, tears of women and men with abortion wounded hearts have been shed.  And tears that need to be shed, have not been given the freedom to fall.  Without the freedom to fall, there is no ripple effect.  There are hearts that need permission to grieve and permission to mourn.  

Deeper Still shows these men and women the freedom that Jesus bought for them by His precious blood. He wants us to bring our ashes to the Cross, so He can bring forth beauty.  He wants us free to mourn, not so we can remain sad, but so He can take our mourning and turn it into joy!  Oh dear Lord, how you have turned my mourning into joy! 

I also see these ripples as the hearts of those touched by the healing hand of God in turn going out, touching others, and sharing His love and healing with others.  I see this rippling and spreading on and on until all the world knows Jehovah Raphe, "God, Our Healer" and has the freedom to fall and the freedom to soar as butterflies full of joy.  

Thank You!

"You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessings granted us through the prayers of many." 2 Corinthians 1:11

Oh Father, thank you that you have given us, your saints, the gift of prayer.  Today I join my prayers with the prayers of many on behalf of Deeper Still.  Grant them all the blessings and provision they need to carry out their mission.  I believe that our prayers make a difference.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

We are still in awe of all God did during the retreat weekend of July 12-14.  No words can describe the power of your prayers that weekend.  Prayer is vital to ministry.  We can feel your prayers as you partner with us and intercede on behalf of broken, weary, and burdened souls.  

There is a beautiful banner Karen Ellison has that simply says: 

 "History Belongs to the Intercessor"   

Just think, you are affecting history and the outcome of future generations by your prayers.  Prayer is no light assignment.  It is overwhelming and humbling to think our prayers could make the difference between life or death, blessing or cursing, and freedom or bondage.  

One life transformed can influence thousands of generations and reform the course of family history (Psalms 105:8).  When you pray for one woman who is coming to the retreat, you are also praying for all of her descendants.   

Thank you for your faith-filled prayers from the depths of our hearts at Deeper Still.  We thank you, the women impacted thank you, history thanks you, and the unborn of future generations thank you.  

      

Where Are Your Accusers?

"Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.'"  Revelation 12:10 

Father, we thank you that the shed blood of our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ overcomes the power of our accuser.  We thank you for the 11 women who were set free and transformed this past weekend by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. We thank you that the accuser no longer has any hold over them and that they will not listen to the voice of the accuser any longer.  We pray that Your beloved will know Your voice and follow You only.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

The commentary in my Bible states the following:  "The angels did not overcome the Accuser alone, the saints were in partnership through prayer-warfare; the angels were God's means for administering the victory, which prayer enforced."  Thank you for your prayers!!!  We felt them and lives were changed this weekend through them! 


In John, Chapter 8, we meet a girl caught in sin.  Dirty. Ashamed. Beaten. Accused.

Her accusers pushed her face down into the dust in front of Jesus.  Their true motives were to test Jesus seeking to accuse Him and defraud His identity.  The only problem...no one can defraud the reality of the identity of Christ.  How did Jesus respond to these accusers?  "Then, Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear."

The finger of God came down to defend His daughter and He shunned the voice of her accusers.  

I often have wondered what Jesus wrote.  Did he write a note with words of loving forgiveness to the woman?  Did he write a scripture about God's mercy?  Did he write a list of the accusers' sins or perhaps the names of their girlfriends?  Jesus stood up and firmly said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."  Hmmm...funny.  No one raced to go grab a stone.  No one eagerly stood up in response to His challenge. 

Instead, they left.  One by one her accusers left until she was alone with Jesus.  "He said to her, 'Woman, where are those accusers of yours?  Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord,' And Jesus said to her, 'Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.'"   

Our accuser would like nothing better than to defraud the name of Jesus.  Jesus doesn't accuse us.  When the enemy can get us to agree with him that Jesus condemns us, he is indeed seeking to disprove Jesus and claim that He is our accuser.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Jesus defends His daughters and raises them out of the dirt.  He carried away our shame on the cross. He was beaten so we could be made whole and healed.  He was accused so we could be acquitted.

The 11 women that came last weekend found out who Jesus was first hand.  They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.  I praise the Lord for the healing power of His Holy Spirit this weekend.  His angelic forces fought on behalf of His daughters and your prayers joined their forces to gain the victory.  His glory rested on us and these 11 women left Sunday...

Redeemed. Beautiful. Rejoicing. Radiant.

Turning Shame into Radiance

"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, 

And delivered me from all my fears.

They looked to Him and were radiant, 

And their faces were not ashamed...

The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him 

And delivers them.

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"  Psalms 34: 4-5, 7

Oh Heavenly Father, I thank You that when we seek You, we find You and You hear us and deliver us.  Father, I pray for the 11 women coming this weekend, that they would seek You with all their heart, soul and strength.  I thank You, Lord, that You deliver them and You turn their mourning into dancing and that You turn shame into the radiance of Your glory.  Thank you, Lord, that Your angels encamp all around the women coming and the Deeper Still Ministry Team.  Lord, I thank You that You are good and we are blessed because we trust in You.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.  

Last week I took one of my children to a local amusement park.  I promised this child I would not share the details surrounding this event with anyone, so I will be vague on purpose.  This child did something...well... embarrassing.  So much so that we left a line of a much anticipated ride so we could deal with the incident.

We sat on a bench while I contemplated what the consequence should be for this action.  I prayed, "Lord, what should I do?"  I looked at my child's face.  Tears ran down sweet cheeks that were filled with smiles moments before.  My child was looking down and I knew if I reacted wrongly that shame would set in and it might set in deep.  Suddenly, my child looked up at me with tear filled eyes and said wholeheartedly, "I am so sorry. I will never do that again. Please forgive me."  Immediately, my heart melted.  I knew my child was truly sorry.  The answer to my prayer--Grace.  

I embraced my child and smiled.  I replied, "I know you are truly sorry. I can tell. Thank you for telling me you are sorry. Let's pray and you can ask God to forgive you too.  And then, it will be like it never happened.  Do you know that when we ask the Lord to forgive our sins and we are truly sorry, He forgets them and removes them as far as the east is from the west?"  So we prayed and I told my child we would forget this happened and enjoy the rest of our day.  

Do you know what happened after my child sought the Lord and prayed for forgiveness?  The shame that was setting in on my child's face disappeared and instead beamed with radiance.  "They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed."  Oh, how the Lord wants our faces to be radiant with His glory!  He doesn't want His glory hidden under a mask of shame.  Grace, truth and forgiveness unleash us to be the person He created us to be.  He created us for His glory!  

He wants to say, "Dear child, I remove your sins as far as the east is from the west.  I want to replace shame with the glowing radiance of My glory.  And I want you to enjoy the rest of your life bringing glory and honor to Me." 

Nothing to Fear

Deut. 31:6  Be strong and courageous.  Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you.

Dear Lord, I pray that the Deeper Still participants will be strong and courageous, that they will not fear or dread their enemy but will be confident that  it is the Lord their God that goes with them.  He will never leave or forsake them.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday night we met at Two Rivers Church in Knoxville, TN for a evening of prayer to cover the retreat coming up in only a week in a half!  It was a beautiful time of entering into the Lord’s presence.  During the meeting, we prayed that the participants would not fear.   As a participant in the past, I remember being anxious about going.  I knew God wanted me to go to the retreat, but I didn’t know why or what awaited me there.  I was afraid of what would happen when those old wounds were reopened.  I left them closed for a reason—it hurts to open a wound for further healing.  However, now looking back, I realize that I had nothing to fear.  God is good.   His only desire is to meet these women where they are and bring comfort, peace, restoration, and healing. 

After leaving my retreat in April, I wasn’t sad.  I wasn’t distraught.  I wasn’t burdened.  I wasn’t hurting. 

I WAS FREE!!  I was excited, happy, elated, and beaming with joy! 

  

Oh, to know Him more, to know more of His unfailing love.  That is what awaits these participants—more of Him and His love!