Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2016!!!

 

From our home to yours
Merry Christmas… and a very blessed New Year!
Mark and Debbie and family

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, a very average young couple gave birth to a healthy baby.  Nothing much different here.  And that birth might have passed as your garden variety normal birth, if it hadn’t been for the shepherds and wise men who began to show up.

 Even though Mary had been pondering all those ‘crazy’ visits from angels, can you hear her asking, “What’s compelling these people to come see our baby?”

 But what she may not have understood at the time, is that every person wants see a real expression of God in their world.  So when the wise men and shepherds saw the supernatural indicators (star and angels) faith rose in their hearts and desire compelled them.  They believed that they could have an encounter with Him for themselves.

 Wise men and women still seek Him… and find that He’s always been closer than they ever expected. 

“I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.” – Prov 8:17

Thank you for your love and care for us!  We’re so proud of your courageous lives and the testimonies you share.
A blessing: May brand new and exhilarating breakthrough be yours this 2016 New Year!

And here’s something just for grins:

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SP True Stories: Unexpected dividends

True stories of supernatural provision:

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Supernatural provision… what does that mean?  Let me give you an example.  

I went to Sam’s Club two days ago.  My membership was expired.  I didn’t have the money to renew it, so I left.  

I came back to pay my renewal fee tonight.  I went to the counter and gave the man my credit card and my Sam’s card.  He went to take my payment and told me that my membership had been good to me this year.

I said, “I don’t understand.”  He said, “You’ve earned $240.”  I said, “What does that mean?”  He said, “That means you don’t have to pay your membership of $100 and we’re going to give you $140 cash on top of that.” 

I was able to pay for everything I had in my basket; my membership was paid, and I walked out with $42 cash.  

Praise the Lord!!!!!  I can never stop shouting about His goodness!

JR/MO
12/15

SP True Stories: More Money from Heaven

True stories of supernatural provision: 

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A good friend needed glasses and her budget was tight.  Her adult children pooled $160 for an eye exam and much needed glasses.  The price ended up being about $250… $90 more than she expected.  She felt badly about the extra expense… both for her children’s sake and because of the added pressure on the budget.

But as she wrestled with the idea, she heard the Lord reassure her that if she needed glasses, He was going to take care of her.  So literally, with a clap of her hands she exclaimed, “It’s settled.”

At that, she phoned her husband to tell him her experience.  He said, “You’ll never believe this.  I was just leaving the bank when something fluttered in the wind in front of me… it was a $100 dollar bill.”

They were both amazed at the crazy cool way, money just ‘came out of heaven’.

M&J/CA
6/15

The Meaning of Christmas…

In some circles there seems to be some confusion as to what Christmas is all about?  But even Charlie Brown knows the meaning of Christmas.

Fifty years ago ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ was first broadcast on American television.  Some network executives thought it would be ignored, while others worried that quoting the Bible would offend viewers.  Some wanted its creator, Charles Schulz, to omit the Christmas story, but Schulz insisted it stay in.  The program was an immediate success and has been rebroadcast every year since 1965.

When Charlie Brown, is discouraged by the commercial spirit of the holiday season, he asks if anyone can tell him the real meaning of Christmas.

Linus recites Luke 2:8-14 including the words, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Then Linus says, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

Jesus, it’s all about You!  Thank you, so much!

(Video less than 2 mins long)

— MLH

“Adam’s mind was switched from love to fear”

Classic religion has given us a jaded perception of God’s heart.  But it really came from Adam’s original fallen perspective.  He fell out of love… and into fear.  Fear made him hide… and believe that there was a distance between God and him.  

But good news is that God is restoring our perspective… He’s giving us back our original ‘love lens’ through which to view Him and ourselves.  We’re being switched back, from fear to love.  We’re seeing His love as immensely pervasive and unrelenting… and this love “casts out all fear” – (I Jn 4:18).  Our hearts are being restored to not only a theological one-ness with God, but to a very real sense of experiential one-ness with Him.  We’re realizing that His heart has always been motivated by love for us.  This is beginning to make us unafraid.  And when fear is removed from our hearts and minds, we can begin to love Him back so much more freely… and love others so much more freely.  Then ask yourself this question, “What would we do… what could we do, if we weren’t afraid… of God or man?”

Mel Wild is a good friend of mine and has been mining out some amazing gold about the nature and intentions of God… and about our identity in God’s eyes.  This excerpt is taken from his most recent post on his blog.

“God desired the affectionate intimacy between a Father and a son, but Adam’s mind was switched from love to fear.  I wrote about this here.  So Adam hid.

And we’ve been hiding and God has been seeking us out ever since.  We either hide through our prodigal preoccupation with our counterfeit affections…or through our religious elder brother attempts to perform for Him.” – Mel Wild

Please read the rest of this post here.  And for more inspired writings by Mel check out his blog, In My Father’s House.

— MLH

 

SP True Stories: Those Annoying Letters

True stories of supernatural provision:

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It started with those annoying letters – I thought they were junk mail.  I left the company in 1996 and moved my retirement account to an IRA a few years later.  But the letters kept coming.  

Last week I called them to complain.  They said I wouldn’t be receiving letters if I didn’t have a pension.  I didn’t know I had a pension!  When they told me which form to look at I found it was over $26,000.

Talk about God’s timing – I only had 4 days left to move it to an IRA.  I filled out the forms in the ‘junk mail’ and mailed them. 

It was just last year that I mentioned to God that my retirement account needed a big bump.  Well, a generous God and a perfectly timed phone call made a big bump!!! 

I wonder what next year will bring!
 
MD/MN
11/15

SP True Stories: God’s will is God’s bill

True stories of supernatural provision…

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In April 2012, after reading a copy of Supernatural Provision that I gave to my daughter Joanna and son-in-law Ben, they understood that God was calling them to move from Elk River, MN to Redding, CA so that Ben could attend BSSM (Bethel Supernatural School of Ministry at Bethel Church).  By August, God provided for their needs in such amazing ways that at months end they left with their two little girls.  Ben is now in his third year as a worship pastor intern and God continues to supply their needs in wonderful ways.

My wife Leslie, and I first visited Bethel Church in 2009 for a Leaders Advance with other leaders from our church.  We are amazed at what we experienced and only in our wildest thoughts did we think we would be able to come to Redding and be part of God’s activity here.  As we watched Ben and Joanna grow in the Lord during their time at Bethel we began to think and talk about this for ourselves.  On Sunday in October 2014 during morning worship at our home church, God spoke to Leslie that it was time for us to go to Redding.  As we talked and prayed about it, God began doing amazing things to provide for us to move and attend BSSM.

We said “Yes” to God to make the move before we had the funds to do it.  We trusted in His provision and by the time we needed to pay for our tuition for the two of us, Leslie received a very timely family inheritance.  That money, along with some help from our church and friends, made it possible for us to move to Redding in July and be ready for 1st Year BSSM in September 2015.

After arriving in Redding, I found that I really wrestled with the idea that I hadn’t contributed one cent to this venture.  I wasn’t busy bringing home the bacon, like I had done all my life.  To top it off, all the busy days of getting our home ready to rent out for the year, packing and moving had now come to an end.  I found myself without anything to do but… rest in the Lord and enjoy our time together.  During this time God pointed out that it was “inheritance” that brought us to Bethel.  Not just the financial inheritance but our spiritual inheritance in Father God.

We have been here for 5 months now, and the Lord continues to amaze us with His love and care.  From watching the Lord’s provision for our family, ourselves and hundreds of Bethel students, we now know for sure… God’s will is God’s bill.

HG/MN
11/15

DPM Update – 2015 December

Dear Friends

The Adventure
Wow, it’s been awhile since we’ve sent a DPM update.  Lots has happened.  In fact, this Summer and Fall has been one of our busiest.  We’ve served at a WYAM DTS and 3 or 4 area churches for about 10 days near Calgary, Canada, have been to California 3 times, to the Nordt country (WI & MN) several times, to Morningstar and many day-trips around our home region… we even led a several night meeting in my two home towns (Dallas City and Pontoosuc, IL) in August.  That was so much fun… after being gone for 40 years.  You can find our past and future itinerary, here.

One of the reasons you haven’t received many DPM updates is because I’m posting more of my inspirations and updates on my blog, ‘Beyond The Map’.  I’ve given it that title because ‘normal’ can sometimes feel very predictable… so I must commit to living Beyond The Map.  That’s what keeps me alive.  In other words, if I only do what I did yesterday, then I don’t grow… because my faith muscle never get exercised.  So I’m learning to live dependent, not upon what I know, but on His leading and His empowerment beyond my knowledge or ability.  This is wildly fun territory, filled with the richest of rewards.

Testimonies
We’ve collected some really cool testimonies along the way.  To read of healing, life transformation and supernatural provision stories, click here.

Supernatural Provision book
To get your own copy of Supernatural Provision, click here.  We fulfilled the original contract of 5000 books and are well into the next contract.  All the books have been given away free gratis (except for sharing the cost of shipping).  Of course you can always purchase it in hardcopy or kindle format on Amazon, or from any of the online bookstores.  I’m totally amazed at how God has supplied the necessary funds for us to purchase and give them away.   But He’s just that GOOD… and more!!!  If you would like to follow SP on Facebook click here.

Beyond the Map – my blog
I’d like to invite you to subscribe to my blog, Beyond the Map.  You’ll find several hundred posts of insights, testimonies, quotes, family matters, audios, etc.  There’s something for everyone… just search by category… or by a specific word.  And like our DPM Updates, we have never asked for money.  Our hope is that our communications would never ‘take from you’ or even ask from you, but rather, create inspiration and give encouragement to you, making you feel empowered to fulfill all of your God-given dreams.

Sign up
To follow Beyond The Map blog, click here.  Then add your email address to the “Follow” box on the right side of the page… OR… click on the red “RSS – subscribe” icon.  You will then receive every new blog post.  And of course, if this doesn’t interest you… or you just don’t have time for another email in your Inbox, then just ignore this invitation.  I totally understand.

Home for a while
Debbie and I have no plans for major travel through the whole month of Dec and most of Jan.  More grandkids times… and friends, discipling, day ministry trips, etc.  It’s just so good to ‘flow’ with the seasons of God.  His yoke is easy and His burden is light… and He knows when we’re to run and when we’re to rest.  He’s the best administrator and booking agent.   If we move with Him… it’s ‘easy peasy, lemon squeezy’.   🙂

You are Champions!
Thank you for each and every testimony of your valiant overcoming lives.  We sincerely thank you for your love and care for us.  You truly inspire us.   You are an inspiration to many more people than you know.  And you are more dynamic than you think you are.  Not only is heaven lovingly watching, but your friends and neighbors are watching and wishing that they had the ‘guts’ to do what you are doing.  You are making Jesus proud!!!!   We declare much grace to you and yours!

Lots of love
Mark and Debbie

PS  Web locations where you can find us:
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Dwelling Place Ministries
Hendrickson
11011 Olive St
KC, MO 64131
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DPM home: www.dpmkc.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/marklh
Blog: www.marklhen.wordpress.com
Mark FB: www.facebook.com/marklhen
SP book FB: www.facebook.com/spforu