Update from Jesse

After a weekend in the Carolinas, we're back in Springfield, Ohio with our tents pitched at Buck Creek State Park. Carolina was a bit of fresh air after the drudgery of staying in the same campground for two and a half weeks. The journey there was long and fraught with arguments, especially near the end when an uproar of opinions rose up over where we should stay that night. Most campgrounds were closed. The only one that wasn't had street names like Scream and Halloween and, well, wasn't really nice enough for it's price tag. In the end, we settled on a Motel 6 in Fort Mill, South Carolina, not really settling considering we hadn't slept in beds for a while. So that was a nice break for most of us. Mama, however, wasn't feeling very well and a bed was little relief. So prayer is appreciated on that point.







The next morning we packed up our begs and drove off to Ebenezer Park, where we quickly found a campsite and prepared it for living (set up is becoming a quick-fire routine after three weeks of this). Unlike the sites we'd been using in Springfield, this one had water and electric. So that was a bonus. Plus they had Wi-Fi, so we didn't have to drive off someplace to use the internet. That night (Friday night) Leah, Micah, Stephen, Chloe and I went to a free John Mark McMillan concert in Charlotte, North Carolina. If you haven't heard of John Mark, you should definitely check out his music. Most people know him as the author of "How He Loves," a song that's been covered by everyone from Kim Walker to David Crowder Band to The Glorious Unseen. But he's written plenty of other good songs. And he's been a huge inspiration to me and Micah. So we were excited, to say the least. The concert was awesome. A little band called Matrimony opened. They were cool. Then JMM and company took over. They rocked. I encountered God more there, singing those songs, than I have in all the church meetings I've been to (no offense meant to church people). So that was cool. After the show, Micah gave John Mark one of our CDs and we got some autographs and whatnot then left for the campsite.





The next day, Papa told me and Micah that he'd had a dream that we went to Morning Star (a ministry located in Fort Mill, SC if you aren't familiar with it) and that something was going to happen there at 1:00 PM. So the three of us and Chloe headed for Morning Star a little after 12:00. We wandered around the building for a while, checked out the sanctuary, stuff like that. We asked if something was planned for 1:00 and the answer was no. But obviously God had something planned for 1:00. At about five till we ran into a lady who was heading for the bookstore. We ended up talking to her. She needed healing in her right hip. We prayed for her and Papa spoke sonship over her. She cried. The Spirit was touching her. We didn't see a full manifestation of the healing but she said it felt better. She left. Then Papa prayed for a girl who worked in the lobby. On our way out, he noticed a girl who he recognized from his dream. So he went and prayed for her too. Then we left.











On Sunday the four of us went to the Morning Star church service. It was good. I didn't feel very connected, but whatever. They're doing what God's called them to do and I suppose God's called me to something else. Rick Joyner spoke on various things, including a dream he'd had and stuff like that. A lot of it had to do with the vision the Lord's given them for their ministry. A lot of big stuff. It's almost overwhelming to come into contact with something like that, that has such a wide-spanning focus. Humbling too. I'm struggling with vision for myself, let alone the world. So it's cool to see people who have vision for and connection with the wider body of Christ. Obviously our family has vision for the body of Christ but it's different. Not so governmental. Maybe that's not the word. Well, the means is different. Let's say that. So anyways, not a lot happened there. A lady there gave me a word, which was cool. And Papa prayed for a couple of people, one a man he recognized from his dream. So that was pretty much that. We spent the rest of the day at the campsite in 106 degree weather. And then the next day, Monday morning, we broke down camp and journeyed (fairly smoothly) back to Springfield, picked up our minivan from our friends the Bell's, and then set up camp at Buck Creek. So there you go: a rather long telling of the events of the weekend.





Now to the important stuff. One of the things we've been going through is struggling about whether or not we're supposed to stay in Springfield. Various ideas have sprung up: let's go mobile, let's go back to Washington, let's go find a cave in Africa. Stuff like that. But over the weekend God has made it clear that we are supposed to stay in Springfield. Who knows what will come of it? Maybe we'll live in tents for the next three years. Maybe God will provide a house. We'll see. But we believe this is where we're supposed to be right now. Already God has accomplished great things: in our relationship with the Bells, in our hearts, in the way we relate to people, even with our vainglorious ideas of what moving to Springfield would look like. So, yes, God is doing things, and I trust He will continue to do things. After all, His primary goal is to conform us to the image of Christ. And what does that mean really? It means hardship. Testings. Failures. Disappointments. Scourgings. (That last one was a half-joke.) It means foregoing comfort for the will of God. And learning to rejoice in all circumstances. As I write this I am sitting in a canopy at a picnic table in a campsite at Buck Creek State Park. It is raining. Birds are chirping. I can feel the water dripping on my back. And (you know what?) there's no place else I would rather be.

Jesse

Quick update from Leah

The reason we haven't been keeping the blog updated the last few weeks is that we've been without internet. As of the 21st of June, we have been camping. Living in tents like Abraham. After almost three weeks of this, we are pulling out of the campground today and heading to North Carolina for the weekend, but we will be back in Springfield on Monday. We are at a point where we need some clear direction about what our next step should be. Please be praying for us.

I miss you guys.

Leah

Update from Leah

So it's been a while since our last update. And the reason, quite honestly, is that no one has felt much like writing one. The situation we are in right now is well beyond our ability to handle. I am frustrated and confused, but I am trusting in what I know God has said to us. The only verse that has kept coming to mind tonight as I write this is:

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

We are at a point right now where we need God to come through. I fully believe that we are exactly where God wants us to be at this moment in time. That is beyond doubt for me. But we need some serious divine, supernatural breakthrough in our circumstances right now. We need a house. We need clarity in direction. And frankly, we could use some encouragement from the Lord.

I will not shrink back, and I will not submit to whatever wants to rob us of the message and calling God has placed in our lives. The opposition we are meeting is being used for God's purposes, and we are in the place of victory, in the right hand of the Father.

We really need some back up in prayer right now. You guys are with us and you have been such a source of encouragement. I miss you all more than I can possibly say. And I know you hear the Lord. I trust Jesus in you guys.

Leah

Update from the boys

Hey everyone. It's been three months since our CDs arrived in the mail. We're still giving them away, as well as selling a few. As of now, they are available to buy on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby. If you have any friends or family you think would be interested in our music, we would greatly appreciate you spreading the word. Here are the links to the above mentioned websites:



Amazon

As always, thank you for the love, support and prayers. Grace, peace, love and blessings from your brothers Jesse and Micah (aka Like A Child)

P.S. Here's the link to our myspace: Like A Child

Greetings from Springfield Ohio, also known as Champion City, a place where many firsts were birthed. Many more to come! Hi this is Duke. How's everyone doing? I look forward to hearing from you!



"Burn open their eyes with the fire of My love", the Word of the LORD came to Maureen. Oh Lord burn open our eyes with the fire of your love! I was reminded of something the Lord spoke to me almost 15 years ago, when I walked the beach on Whidbey Island; As I was walking, the Lord said, "I'm going to take you to the place of my anointing" I got all excited and said, "Yes Lord take me to this place!" A little bit later He said, "The place of My anointing is My Love!" I would like to say that I am there at this place now, but like the rest of you I am still being processed. I would like to make a confession; first to let you know, I heard the Lord awhile ago say to me, "Just because you see, doesn't mean you be" In other words, sometimes the prophetic gifts of seeing can puff us up and deceive us into thinking that seeing is being. Only to find out that knowledge puffs us up and blinds us, but love, His love builds up and brings life and sight.



Before I was saved, I met such a man who was walking in this anointing of His Love. I was working at Chubby and Tubby's, a crammed ma and pa hardware slash clothes and shoe store on Aurora avenue in north Seattle. One day a big burley looking man came to me and asked me to help him in the shoe department area; even though he smelled of alcohol, he said he was a Christian; I don't know all that was going on but I began to open up to him and confess my frustrations and feelings of hopelessness; he didn't even preach to me; he just listened and at the end of my confession, he simply said, "You give me hope for young people!" In remembering this moment I recall thinking something like this, "What is wrong with this guy, I'm a mess." But after he spoke this, he came up to me and gave me a big bear hug--to this day I don't know if the guy was an angel or a man--but once he hugged me, there was a release of the power of God's love that so touched me and shook me to the core--talk about being messed up. I was so freaked out and shaking that I couldn't function or work; so I went to my boss and said I have to go home. My life was never the same after this encounter. And the guy didn't even bring a message; he was just a man packing the anointing of the Father's love. I so want to walk in that kind of anointing. So as I said I would like to make an honest confession; so here it is. I told the Lord, I am sick of the prophetic; I don't just want to see or hear stuff, I want to be; I want reality here and now. Oh Lord take us and establish us in this place of your Love. Thank you, I feel better now.




Sometimes, we are not aware or are blinded to areas in our own life or heart--especially wounds from the past. First, I would like to say honestly I don't know or can't explain all that is going on within me, but something is happening to me--change and transformation; something deep in His Love. As the Lord has said to me, "You are no longer under the tutor of rejection", He is taking me through a process of stripping me of the old, the past, old ways of thinking, triggers and reactions shaped by years of rejection and woundedness. He is healing me. My co-worker and treasured brother Stephen had been carrying a word in his heart for me ; He said he was pregnant with it and for a couple days was in warfare and intercession with it. When the time was right, he delivered the word. It was a vision of Jesus kissing my heart! So Stephen in obedience to the vision literally kissed my heart. Even now, tears flow. The next day while Chloe was playing the piano and praising, I was thinking about my heart being kissed by Jesus, I realized it is the Mother heart of God--so tender, so sweet, so gentle, so healing. Like a little kid when he gets a scrape or cut, Mama kisses it and makes it all better. "All better now," she would say. Jesus kisses my boo boos and makes them all better!



Thank you for your patience with me. In this process Jesus is taking me through, He is making it clear, I am not to stand or act alone again. Together is a big word these days. Jesus is building His church, people fitted and knitted together in His righteousness (right relationship); In him we are joined together...In him we are built together...to become a beautiful expression of Himself on this earth. I need you and we need each other. Only together will we see the fullness of Himself. This is not normal for me; thank you for supporting my family both in prayer and money; if the Lord is calling you to support us in prayer or bucks an address will be forwarded to you; along with our phone #. Thank you.



Still more. We were directed of the Lord to visit the serpent mound approximately 2 hours from Springfield. The Serpent Mound is an ancient effigy almost 3000 years old. There is still some question and uncertainty as to it's purpose; we walked the grounds, prayed and decreed as the Lord directed. We felt and sensed a great shift in the atmosphere. Jesus is Lord!



Finally, The Lord says, it is imperative as his children that we have fun! He has been pounding this home to me a lot. I know many of you will be shocked, but I met my match. His name is Brock, a two and half year old. When we first arrived in Springfield Rob and Jenny Rue, a family we strongly feel called to connect with, invited us to dinner. They have 4 awesome children; Zach, Lydia, Brock and Rachel, all under 5 years old. I'm telling you Brock at two and half years old is packing with the Spirit of God. Brock and I were in the living room on the floor wrestling around and I started praying in the Spirit with my hands on his chest. Brock immediately returned the favor and aggressively put his hands on my chest and yelled out, "Goochy, Goochy, gwah!" The Lord touched me with such joy, laughter and fun. Goochy, Goochy, gwah is a cry of freedom over Springfield and our lives. And the Lord giving us permission to have fun. So, the Lord has made it clear, I need Brock in my life, not only as my young brothrer, but as reminder that we are Papa's little kids and He desires for us to have fun. Even in the midst of challenges and difficulties, have fun in JESUS name!

Love from D-love your brother Duke

Update from Maureen

The other morning I was woken out of a sound sleep with the words "Burn...their...eyes...open". What ? "Burn their eyes open". Then, "With the fire of my love". Woah. "Burn their eyes open with the fire of my love. " I woke Duke up and told him about it. I knew it had to be the Lord. I was just minding my own business (as my friend Suzanne would say), actually I was asleep, and I heard those words as plain as day...words that I had never heard put together in that way before.



As Duke and I talked about it we were reminded of words spoken by our friend Stephen. He said, "Duke, Your plum line is always going to be God's love." That's it. It's more important even than the message the Lord has put on Duke's heart. It precedes the message. Any one who has had a conversation with Duke in the last year knows that the message is "You're my son, and I love you"! (That goes for daughters, too, by the way!) But we realize it's not just about spewing out the message, but about the love of God penetrating into people's hearts. That's what brings about change.



Romans 2:4 says, "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"
May I never forget the kindness that God has shown me in bringing me to repentance!

Much Love,
Maureen

Update from Jesse

Well, here we are in Springfield, where the sons of God are going to spring up from the fields of harvest. As the waters cover the sea, so the increase of His government will know no end. Saints and sons of the Father are going to spread through out this city like blood through veins, giving life flow to places of darkness. With the joy of the Lord in our bones, we are ambassadors of Christ to this nation, representatives of God to this city. And may the Holy Spirit have dominion as we go about the work He has sent us for. Amen!

There is a general air of excitement over here, as the Lord begins to peel back the veil of fear and break the chains of insecurity. Freedom has been on my mind a lot lately. The glorious freedom of the sons of God, which all the earth is groaning for. And the thing is: I am just starting to know this freedom. I sing about it, thinking of others. But I need it just as much as anyone. More so. The Lord has been illuminating the amount of fear and insecurity there is in my life. And He is beginning to release freedom.

The day after we got here, Papa and our friend Stephen were out in the yard talking. Soon Micah, Stephen and I joined them. We all prayed together, clasping arms as a picture of the joining together of living stones. Friend Stephen asked me if I had a freedom song to sing. I didn't. But I felt like we were supposed to dance. If you know me, you know I'm reserved. Even the fact that I'm writing this blog is amazing. I normally prefer to hide myself from people, both out of fear and selfishness. But the Lord said dance. So we danced. It ended up being kind of a tribal, warfare dance, with clapping and singing and stuff. And it was right in the front yard for all to see. It was a prophetic declaration, not only for us, but for the city, as the Lord is going to be releasing a freedom so profound it will be seen right out in the open, with no shame.







That night we spent some time together in prayer. The Lord released more freedom, specifically for my dad. The word of the night was "uncorked." Well, we're getting uncorked. It's a gradual process, but it's big. I've felt very much corked for at least the last year, kind of wandering around in a desert. Well, thank God for the wellspring that is He beginning to pour out! For me, it began in Kansas City when our new friends John and Sarah prayed for us. When they prayed for me, I cried. I'm not ashamed to say so. I like crying, because it reminds me that my heart still works, and that there is still a receptivity in my spirit. So that was the first wave. And there are many more to come. Right now the desire in my heart is intimacy, relationship. The Lord has revealed to me that I have nurtured an identity in performance, specifically music. If I can't write a song, I feel like a failure. But not anymore. My identity is in Christ and Christ alone. And I long to know him (yada) as I've never known Him before. I have a hunger to be hungry, a thirst to be thirsty, a desire to desire Him.





Freedom! Oh there's such a freedom we've never known. Praise Jesus for the work of the cross! We are seated with Him in the heavenly places, with every spiritual blessing! Oh the riches of His glory, the riches of His grace! Riches! Take a second and ponder over that word. His grace is boundless! Hallelujah! And I am just beginning to know it! All of you have so much going on in your lives I almost feel silly to be writing this. David's in Mexico (Praise Jesus!). Aunt Pat is living the life of a saint. People are working and living and seeing to their calls. Some are suffering. And I pray for healing, and for the love of God to be poured out in a way that is immeasurable, but tangible! Oh thank you Jesus for all of these wonderful people! Forgive me for ever taking you for granted, brothers and sisters. You are a part of me, and I love all of you. May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ grant you grace and peace in this time of changes! God bless all of you.

Love,
your brother Jesse