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Courage

cour·age
ˈkərij/
noun
  1. the ability to do something that frightens one.
    “she called on all her courage to face the ordeal”
synonyms: bravery, courageousness, pluck, pluckiness, valor, fearlessness…

 

We are in a season full of dreaming and pressing into the dreams God has placed in us.  A God dream is a big dream that only He can help accomplish.  These are lofty and can seem impossible.  They put fear in people and it takes a lot of courage to reach these dreams.  Courage, along with its synonyms, have been widely used by many in western culture today.  There has even been a film named Courageous.  I love this film, and it is Christian based with a very good message.  Songs are being written and sung about us, Christians, being brave and having no fear as sons and daughters of God.

Why would God want us to hear the word “courageous?”

As a good rule of thumb, I use the Bible as my plumb line.  This keeps me in line with His heart.  Anytime I operate in the prophetic gifting or receive prophetic revelation, I use the Bible as my filter.  In the past, I would have just said anything or believed anything that had “Thus saith the Lord…” attached to it.  As I have grown in this journey, I have found by using this filter the prophetic gifting will not be used in an abusive way.  The goal or desired end result of this gift is always love.

Joshua:  Moses is handing over the reigns to Joshua.  He is the one that will lead God’s people to the promise land.  It is interesting that Joshua is told not to fear and be courageous 3 times in this passage.  I have seen that if anything is said 3 times in scripture, PAY ATTENTION!!!  I can assure you that Joshua paid attention to these two words as he led the people into the promised land.
Deuteronomy 31:6-8
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” 
7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 
8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Joshua had to keep these words close to his heart in order to conquer the tasks ahead of both possessing the promised land and then settling/dividing the promised land.  This dream is from God and as we saw from the time in the wilderness, only God can accomplish this.
There are countless other stories in the Bible that demand for men and women to have courage to accomplish the things of God.  David, Daniel, Gideon, Abigail, Esther, Mary, the apostles and beyond.  It almost seems the entire Bible is a story about courage.
To take something you believe and then take the step in faith to walk it out does take courage.
The thing I like about the story of Joshua is that some in this generation were sick of not having what God had promised.  God likes to use the unsatisfied or  a.k.a. the hungry!
I believe people are hungry today.  Unsatisfied with not walking in the promise of God.  What promise is this?  The promise of Holy Spirit.  Having the Living God making His home inside of me to lead me in every step I take.
My definition of Courage:  for me to submit everything to God for His leadership without reservation or doubt
I believe it takes courage to hear God speak and act in faith.  I believe this is the piece of adventure that our culture today is crying out for.  This is the courage that God is shouting about through the arts and the prophets.  Time and time again Jesus told His disciples to not be afraid.  Jesus walked this earth and invited courageous behavior from His closest friends.  This was how He taught those learning from Him.  He desired to see His disciples to try things out for themselves.  He is the perfect Leader and we need to learn to lead from Him!  The disciples walked with Jesus who lead them in this way.  Jesus knew they needed Holy Spirit to guide them and is the reason He told them to wait in the upper room until He came.  Jesus imitated the Father on earth with them.  Holy Spirit led them in the same way, as He heard the Father.  This should testify to us today that these men needed Holy Spirit to lead them and His leadership was the same as Jesus’s leadership over them.  We need Holy Spirit to lead our every step and we need courage to do this!
In this picture of courage it speaks of fighting, failing, and then rising again to fight.  I want to encourage everybody that in growth we will fail.  It takes humility to walk with Holy Spirit.  He will tell you something for a person and it may be completely wrong.  Maybe you make a wrong turn or go through a wrong door.  There is a lie in pride that tells you that failure is not an option.  I want to expose this lie and let you know that failure will happen and that God is there with you to help pick you up.  I can testify to this in my own life.  I have failed countless times with hearing Him.  As I have learned to walk humbly, I have known Him to be faithful in always picking up the pieces and making them into something beautiful.  He will take these wrong things and make them right.  I recently heard Heidi Baker talk about how learning to follow His voice is very similar to learning a new language.  You will have both success and failure, but the more you work at it the more fluent you get in that language.  Remove from your mind the fear of failure.  Failure is not something we are to fear.  It is something to be embraced in humility, so we can be used by God and for His purposes.  It is also in this fear of failing that the fruit of being stagnant manifests.  Jesus always encouraged those following Him to keep growing and Holy Spirit does as well.  I have known many people who have been hurt by a religious spirit that will grab onto the fear of failure and disguise it one way or another.  The most common disguise I have seen is obvious and says, “I am not going to do that because I do not want to be religious.”  They fear being religious so much they will not try anything but being anti-religious.  This is sad because it prevents the growth of the person in love for Jesus, themselves, and others.  This is another reason courage is in great need.  Like Jesus and the disciples, we have to keep moving towards Jesus and not get stuck.
Another common fear in our culture is the fear of man.  What will they think of me?  Will they accept me?  I have seen that one of the fruits of the fear of man is having the idea that I have God on my terms.  Maybe it is only a Sunday and Wednesday relationship or some could even add 30 minutes in daily devotionals.  The rest of my time is my time spent for my needs.  I also see where religion is formed in this fear.  This has been a struggle for me. It began in my youth and has grown.  As I have received healing over the last decade, I have been able to overcome this fear.  It is paralyzing for sure.  Most people like to be accepted by others.  If you are not, one option is to change.  This is not how you were created and as I learned, you begin to “act” just to be accepted.  This is not a fun place to be and I can’t think of a person that has been through this that has not picked up other bad habits while living this fake life.  It did not take me long to figure out I could not live like this much longer.  The damage was done and I had picked up habits that were not good for me that I would carry with me until I received healing in this area.  I then was able to grow in hearing Holy Spirit lead me and not fear what others thought.  I still get scared sometimes and that is why I know that it takes courage to have God on His terms.
I choose what I do.  I choose to listen or not to listen.  I choose to act or not to act.  I do know that listening to His voice and then taking the action towards that word takes courage.  This is why I believe the Body in this culture longs and desires for courage.  This is why God keeps speaking have courage and all its synonyms.  I choose to trust His leadership and actively pursuing this language of love.  I see this as a great adventure and is exciting to me.
 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.  1 Corinthians 16:13

 

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To be for something…

What is it to be for something?

Today we live in a crazy world with so much darkness.  It is so easy for us to see and even focus on.  But what are we to do with this darkness?  Shovel it out the window?  Or maybe build a wall so we do not have to see it?  Form a petition to boycott it?  All of these could work…

To be honest, I have tried them all.  They do work, to a point.  Each and every one will tire you out quickly though.  My personality is very good at being against darkness.  To me there is black and there is white.  I do not see any shade of grey.  There is light and dark.  There is a clear division line with me.  This truth about who I am has never changed.  The thing that has changed is my heart and how I react to the two sides.  Rather than just discerning light vs dark, I have grown to understand that light will dispel the darkness.  I can focus on the light and the darkness cannot understand it.

I recall during my inner healing and deliverance training with Prisoners of Hope in Kansas City, the struggle and the growth.  I am not sure if everyone goes through the same stages as they are trained in deliverance or not.  There is this intense stage I went through and I have known others who have as well.  This deep desire for justice comes in to play and wrong things have to be made right.  I would see the bad and immediately want to go into action to kick the bad out either physically or spiritually.  This has gotten me into some difficult situations from time to time.  I remember going into the prayer room, which is an amazing place of continuous worship to King Jesus, and being able to see darkness in the spiritual realm.  People were coming into this place and were trying to stop the worship.  I am sure some of these people knew this is what they were coming in to do, but many did not.  There was seduction, and perversion, and mocking and the list goes on and on.  I would see this and it would make me furious.  I would talk with Holy Spirit in the back of the prayer room asking Him what we should do.  Do we kick them out of the prayer room?  Do we go pray for these people?  Honestly, there was a lot of me asking Him questions in this season.  Very few answers from Him.  This was the Guide taking me through a season of learning discernment.  One day He spoke!  “Why do you focus on the dark?”  My response at first was, “Huh?”  I humbled myself and began to posture myself to just receive.  I knew this was a key.  I looked up and saw a man that was being influenced by a spirit of seduction.  So I just asked Holy Spirit, “How does Father see this man?”  He began to speak to me of how he is an evangelist and called to tell  people about Jesus.  He was masking his insecurity with this seducing spirit.  This young man had been hurt and so he was taking the gift that God created in him and using it for his own benefit.  He told me more of his life and about his calling.  I asked Holy Spirit, “Do I go and tell him this?”  He replied, “No!  Father wants you to see His children as He does.  I show you this for you to pray not against the darkness around him, but to pray for the light that is hidden within.”  From this time on the time I spent in the prayer room was drastically different.  As I would feel Holy Spirit leading me, I would stand in the back and scan the room for the darkness.  I then asked for the truth and began to partner with Creator God about the light that was within.  Some call this the treasure that God has in each person.  It is there in each and every person.  No matter the depth of the darkness God designed each person for light.  I go to church today and still do the same.  I do not have to go to the back wall as I did in the prayer room.  That was a place Holy Spirit was revealing truth to me.  I go to eat or WalMart and see it.  Holy Spirit has allowed me to speak this truth to some, but mostly He has in the place of agreeing with heart in prayer for them.  One more side note to this season.  The question from Holy Spirit about focusing on the darkness has layers.  I was to be in the prayer room to worship a King.  He deserved all my focus.  So in this part of my learning phase, I began to learn that the main focus of the darkness was to get my attention of the Source of the light.  As I learned to focus on Him and worship Him, discernment became easier and easier.  It also became fulfilling.  Darkness will drain you where the light will continue to fill you overflowing.  This is a much happier place to live in!

The darkness around a person, a region, or a situation is easy to discern.  True discernment is to discern the hidden treasure and light within this person, region, or situation.  There is most likely much more into the gift of discernment.  I am continually growing and want to stay in this posture of learning.  I will say that I believe the gift of discernment to be a gift that is extremely needed now and in the days before Jesus returns for His Bride.  I encourage you to ask for this gift and position yourself to learn and grow.

In the last few years, I have seen the opportunity to be against darkness escalate.  There are many things for us to be against and not support.  I have noticed a common theme for our family over the many situations that have come up.  We have not needed to start supporting a business for their position on light because we already were supporting them.  We also have not needed to sign a boycott for businesses because we were not supporting them at the time.  We have taken the position to be diligent in our actions and not be in a place to have to defensively react.  We take light and shine it before the darkness sneaks up on us.

Who are you for?

This is about relationship!  The things we buy and talk of have a person or persons attached.  Who am I helping?  The answer to this question has helped our family be positioned rightly in all the corrupt situations that have come at us over the years.  We have asked the Lord for discernment in  who we should support.  The answer to this question has also kept us from getting caught up in the small issues that the media wants to push and look deeper into what is being hidden.  There is so much darkness and deception today.  Take a moment and look at who you are supporting!

I do not remember who spoke this or where it came from, but it has stuck with me for years.  “You will know who your family and friends are by their support they have for you.  If you have a business or a product, these are the people you can count on to support you and to brag to others about you, even if they do not really need what you have.  They support you for you.”  Unknown

The thing that struck me about this statement is the light in it.  It is the relationship behind the product or the business.  Today, we have become so fearful from the agenda of darkness that we have forgotten that being for something is more powerful than being against something.

In Romans 8 we are given a promise that if God is for us, WHO can be against us!

FOR!  God is FOR you.  God does not fear or worry about the darkness.  He is so FOR the light that the darkness cannot understand this.  The darkness gets so confused it runs away.  Jesus loved His disciples.  He could have gotten so mad at them so many times.  He was always steady and always looking for moment to teach on His Fathers ways.  It is a different kingdom and mindset.  It is a mindset of being for the success of people that are doing what they are called to do.  It is hearing a vision or dream that God placed in a person and looking to support them.  Jesus came to serve, but He was also an offense to many.  He was so FOR showing the world the ways of His Fathers kingdom, it offended all darkness and confused them.

We all have a platform.  Another way to say this, is we all lead people.  It may be your child or position at work.  It could be a blog or even a few friends on Facebook.  My platform is small in this season and I am not going to complain.  I will use this small platform to spread a message of hope and life.  I will support those close to me and their dreams.  I will speak life into those dreams and not death because it seems farfetched or crazy.  I know that if God has placed it within a person, He is for them, and I want to be on His side!

I want to share with you about a small company that has big dreams for Jesus.  You pray and decide how to or if you desire to support them.  I do not use the products, because I do not need them or want to use them.  Others in my household do and will use them.  Therefore, I am not going to talk to you about the product much since I do not have personal experience with them.  I want to let you in on the heart of those behind it.  As in the quote above, I desire to support kingdom people, not a product.  We are not in a place we get to hang out with the couple that has founded and produces this product that many use daily.  We do have a lot of conversations with them and we do pray for each other a lot.  The Lord has revealed to me His desire to bless this dream he placed within this family.  He placed this in their hearts .  This couple longs to serve a need at an affordable cost.  Their heart behind this is to love people well.  I personally believe they could at least double the price.  I have heard people try the product and rave about it.  BUT that does not fit in the vision the Lord gave them.  They are willing to be obedient unto the Lord and what He has called them to.  This family is faithful!  The heart of loving others well goes beyond their company and into their daily lives.  They love each other well!  They love their children well!  I have seen them be extremely faithful to what the Lord speaks to them.  They hear the voice of the Lord with clarity and are faithful to follow through on what He speaks.  They have developed an intimacy with King Jesus.  They have a gifting of praise!  They are called to lead others into the throne room through worship.  This is going to be an organic overflow of worship from within their home.  I do not know who this is going to look, but I do see this gift in them.  I know the time restraints of having a family.  I know God has breathed on this dream of their heart because they are able to sustain a business while being mom and dad.  They are consistently in the Word of God and pray.  In a busy life with business and family this is not easy to maintain, but they do!  It is evident in the fruit and overflow of their life and business.  To receive a product that is amazing and prayed blessing over as it is formed, can only make you love the product more.  They are a legacy and are leaving one.  I personally know her parents.  They have blessed us so much and I cannot say enough good things about them.  They live a life hope and spreading the fame of His name in all you do.  They also love their children dearly and are sowing into them.  We have been blessed to come alongside of this amazing family of God.  They have Sarah to help market the product for them.  Sarah’s experience in cosmetology and love for revealing the beautiful creation of God in each person has made for a perfect fit in marketing this amazing product.

Who would not want to support this awesome family of God?

How can you support them?

Their product is mineral makeup that they make by hand in small batches and cover each product in prayer as they make them.  The company is Purely You Minerals.  Their website is PurelyYouMinerals.com or find and like them on Instagram or Etsy.  To make a purchase go to their Etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/PurelyYouMinerals?ref=search_shop_redirect).  If you have questions please let us know and Sarah will help you.  We are so honored and blessed to come alongside Danny and Joy in seeing the dreams of God come to fruition in their life.  If you can use the product awesome.  If not please join us in praying for the business and tell others about this amazing family that they can support.  I know it is simple to support a large retail store because you already go there for other things, but I bring it back to this, who you are for?  If you are not already supporting a friend or family member to see God’s dream within them come to fruition with makeup, I encourage you to go and look and try the product.  Share the Etsy page, the Instagram and Facebook pages.  As sales and products show up on your feed share them.  I ask you to tell others about Purely You Minerals that might struggle finding makeup that works for them.  The heart behind this is to serve and love others.

I encourage you to not be so busy that you do not have the time to know what or whom you support.  It is easy to get caught up in the cares of this life that we do not have time to be diligent and seek out kingdom people and businesses.  Word of mouth is still a great form of advertisement.  As you find something amazing share it with others.  Share the light!

I believe there is so much power in shining the light!  We have so many ways we can do that today.  Let us use the platforms we have to shine light.  It may only be a Facebook account or it could be a million people under you in your business.  Let us throw our energy into shining light rather than shutting out the darkness or shoveling it out.  I promise this does not drain you.  It gives you life.  The more life I give, the more life I receive.  This is how Jesus promised His kingdom works!  Find the people of God you can support and as issues like Target and Hobby Lobby come up you will find yourself on the side of the kingdom of God and not having to react.  Maybe the most important point in all of this is to support your family and friends.  The fruit of not supporting them is not good.  It hurts and causes division.  Jealousy tries to take root, especially as they see you support others that are not close to you.  We should be intentional on supporting those closest to us.  The fruit of this is so powerful.  It reveals that you believe in them.  That you are for them.  We are adopted into God’s family and He is for us.  This is powerful.  We need to display this Fathers heart to our family and friends in our support of them.

 

 

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Is McDonald’s all bad?

On a day full of snow and cold I am reminded to slow down! As most everybody can and does in the world today, we get as much done as we can in our time. It is like I live by the slogan “Life is short, do as much as possible as quickly as possible.” I do this and forget to enjoy the now! So I appreciate days like today that I can enjoy the season God has me in right now!

Today I am remembering how bad my feelings are as leader. It was only 4 months ago I was loving where God had us in our life. We just bought a beautiful home, my family was happy and having fun, and I was enjoying my spiritual surroundings with a great Church family and an amzing job working for Jesus full time. In short my life was going great! If there was something lacking it was my one on one time with Sarah. Not that we were having any problems at all. I do believe you are either moving closer or further apart and that there is no in between. My connection with my wife was diminishing at a slow and gradual pace and we knew it was over that last few years. There were some roadblocks in spending that time together dreaming and pursuing each other. We always have been big on dreaming together with the Lord. We had yet to do that over the last few years and this created a disconnect between us. The Lord’s ways are always better than ours! As soon as we saw this and asked the Lord to help things fell in place for us to go to the mountains in Colorado. The very moment we were alone the dreaming started to take place. It was as if we both had dreams but hadn’t shared them yet. Then as soon as the ice was broken the water (dreams) gushed out. At this moment I knew the Lord was telling us about a change coming, but my feelings were saying no it is not. I was happy where I was and with what I was doing. I (my feelings) did not like this new change the Lord was speaking. I do know that my feelings are not a good leader of the decisions I make. I learned that a long time ago. As a young youth pastor in my college years I was once told by a leader that peace is what helps lead your decisions. As you FEEL peace on something go for it. Needless to say, for the next 5 years of my life my feelings led me down a path I would rather not have gone. I felt peace about making money over going to school. I felt peace about a lot of things I knew was not in my value system. This value system or standard should have held my feelings in check and kept me going the path the Lord set for me. In the scenerio of this summer my standard is my marriage is the single most important earthly ministry I have on this earth (besides to the Lord). If I would have been led by peace I would still be in Kansas City today. Instead I was led by His voice and the standards He has helped me to set in my life. So what about the peace? After my experience in following His voice I know that I know my feelings will soon catch up with my standards and letting Him lead. It is a little over 2 months in Texas and my feelings are starting to catch up. I am receiving revelation as to what it is He is doing and why we are here for this season. There are things that are happening that we would not be able to be a part of. We are needed in each of these situations. He has blessed us with a great place to worship that has a little bit of each part of our DNA (spiritual makeup) over the course of our journey. He has blessed Sarah and I with the opportunity to dream on a weekly basis for now. So today I thank You for being a good leader. I thank You for teaching me that I do not have to feel like doing what you say. I thank You that You are a good Father, Shepherd, and Leader and that I can trust You fully with my life and my families life. In this season of thankfullness I am extremely thankful for You and that I feel so safe because of Your leadership.

What have I been doing on my snow day? Watching home videos from the 1980’s. Life has sure changed a lot from that time. Things are so much faster today than then. Media can rule our life and has shaped our time in so many ways. I know I feel like I have to fill the “empty time” so I don’t miss out. I need days like today to remember the testimony of my life in God. I need to be reminded to slow down in this fast megabyte world I live in and to enjoy the now. I know this is “the most busyest time of the year,” but take time to slow down. In between one of the segments of vhs video a show had been recorded over, but the gap showed a commercial. I am not a big fan of McDonalds food, but a McDonalds commerical from 80’s was in this gap. A snow man was built by a child. Ronald then shows up and says “great job but you are missing something.” The little girls looks a bit funny at him and he blows some Ronald magic dust and appears another snowman. The voice over comes on and says,”this Christmas season, do not forget what is most important, RELATIONSHIPS!” I do not know where McDonalds stance is on Jesus, but that message was much of the message I see Jesus spreading to all in His time walking on the earth. The greatest commandment is to love God and others. Relationship is the value or standard this Man spread to all the earth. He came as a world changer. He spoke to all saying it is not about upholding this law but about upholding relationship. Love each other. Yes, the standard or value system He gave us to change the world is that of love. In my studies this time of year is one depression and anxiety is most prominent. Could that be because of hurt in relationships? I think it is a root cause. We sometimes so hold the standards of our beliefs that we forget about the people we are called to love. I am by no means saying to drop your values or standards, but do want to encourage everybody to value the relationships you have over the standards you uphold. The standards are what you live by. You stay strong in those, but do not forget to love. In a season that Christ is placed in stores, streets, and homes all over, we have to remember how He changed the world. Forgiveness can often be an almost forgot about subject within the church. I encourage you now, if you need to forgive somebody do it now. Reach out to them. Let the world changer inside of you come out and love others. I want to encourage everybody to not get caught up in all the hassle of doing things just perfect for the holidays, but to remember that which is of most importance. As in the words of the McDonalds commercial, “do not forget what is most important this Christmas season, relationships.”

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June 2012 Newsletter

Dear Beloved Friends,

 

Gideon has arrived!

 

After years of prayer and crying out to God we are now a family of 4.  Sarah was placed on bed rest for 2 weeks because of high blood pressure.  It stayed down until May 18th when it spiked again.  Sarah and her midwife made the decision it was best for Gideon and her to induce.  After 29 hours of labor after the induction, Gideon came!  Sarah took no medication and was simply amazing.  The presence of God filled the room at 9:14 and we could feel angels rejoicing over Gideon Jordan.  He continues to be strong and is eating well.  Sarah is doing great, better than we all expected.  Jamin is full of joy and Libby is a great help, loving having a brother.  She did beautifully in her dance recital and graduated pre-K.  We could not be more grateful for all God has done in May of 2012.  Ministry has not stopped for us.  Jamin has been able to take time to be at home, but has also been praying for new team members.  We have a guy very interested.  Please continue to pray for discernment for Jamin as he looks to build his team.

 

We love to be able to bless you and give each of you thanks for partnering with our ministry and IHOP-KC.  The big difference in our new ministry is we deal with fewer people, but have a huge impact in their lives.  This young lady wanted to thank you for helping her gain freedom through Jesus, using us and many others within Prisoners of Hope.

 

“I am 20 years old and just graduated from… Prisoners of Hope. I cannot, and would rather not, fathom what life would be like if Jamin and Sarah did not express to me what God had laid on their hearts for me…that I have wounds that need healing…and that I can officially begin the journey to my desired ministry. They had opened up a couple invitations to me to have me at their home and they signed me up on the waiting list to receive healing ministry. I postponed their suggestions twice, but when I finally came, I could feel the peace in their home and that peace comforted my faith and belief in my own healing. I watched their family grow and knew it was a safe place to be. I began learning the lifestyle of missionaries and…thought of partnering with the idea myself. Jamin and Sarah believe the Lord is the provider who gives His heart to other people and for them…as our Father always wants the best for us. The verse Exodus 14:14 comes to mind, “The Lord will fight your battles for you. He asks that you be still.”  As they took me in with open arms, knowing the Lord provides for them and would provide for even me to live with them without me being able to pay rent or for my own groceries was a total faith movement in my own life! In November, I began receiving ministry from Prisoners of Hope, the day after my 20th birthday, May 30th, I graduated from it with a restored hope, confidence, and understanding of my identity in Christ. I am so thankful for the peace and the support the Hacker family gave to me before and after I started and now as a graduate. They’ve shown wonderful example of a lifestyle in peace and understanding the Lord is who He says He is. Provider, Truth, Hope, Faith and Creator who provides for even the small sparrows.

 

I want to thank you for your heart to listen and obey the Lord as He moves your heart to provide for the Hacker family. Thank you for trusting the Lord with your own finances as you’ve given your own earnings away to a family in missions. I bless each one of you for blessing the Hacker family who have and continue to bless me.

 

Love,   K”

 

Because of you, this is possible.  We want to thank you for making this possible for us and all those being ministered to!  You are a blessing!

 

With Love,

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May Newsletter

Dear Beloved Friends,

 

Springing into new growth!

 

Our household continues to see new growth.  As Gideon grows and prepares to make his debut into this world, excitement grows daily.  The garden is in and the rain continues to fall preparing the way for a great harvest.  Jamin has completed his training and is now focused on training other men so they can begin to minister to the broken men within the IHOP community.  This has been a wonderful season for him to be able to be in the Prayer Room for longer periods of time and receive a greater understanding of His heart for Prisoners of Hope men.  Sarah has now paused her ministry times and hair to focus primarily on the arrival of Gideon.  We had an amazing shower and  were showered with gifts and encouraging and loving words over Gideon and our family.  Libby graduates pre-k this month and will have her ballet recital.  She had her first dental appointment and was told she had to stop sucking her thumb.  She did cold turkey!  We were blessed with tickets to Jesus Culture (it was amazing) and our last family vacation as the 3 of us, to the Great Wolf Lodge here in Kansas City.

 

Joseph Company is a ministry of the International House of Prayer seeking to, restore God‘s purpose and vision for the marketplace, equip marketplace believers in prayer, develop passion for Jesus in the marketplace, have prophetic understanding of the times and seasons in relation to God‘s plan for cities, nations, and the marketplace. We define the marketplace as any arena of life outside of the walls of the Church.  We believe the Lord is calling for those who are like Joseph of Genesis 45, who will preserve life, store wealth (and food), and help establish cities of refuge.  Holy Spirit is raising up forerunners in the marketplace who are cultivating a life of prayer, intimacy with Jesus, and prophetic insight into God’s strategies. Gone are the days of the marketplace being viewed as secular and devoid of God’s presence or purposes. It is the great mission field for which God is raising up His servants to express the kingdom.  We have a conference June 7-9.

God loves to show us his goodness!  Knees have been a big theme this month.  Jamin was able to pray for a few men for physical healing and each had significant pain in their knees leave instantly.  One of the young men also had daily headaches and had one before we prayed.  His headache was gone after prayer.  Go God!

 

Specific prayer requests:  we are starting a Prisoners of Hope minor team that will minister to those under 18 here on the missions base, Jamin to hear clearly as he works to establish the foundation of the mens ministry team in Prisoner of Hope, the birth and health of Gideon and Sarah, and for more please check our website as we are learning to update it regularly.

 

We want to thank you for your faithfulness in partnership.  You help to make it possible for us to minister to the broken, bound, and oppressed.  May the God of Peace richly bless you and your family!

 

With Love,  The Hacker Family

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He loves restoration!

April 21st of this year marked the first time since 2007 this day fell on a Saturday.  This date in 2007 was a day that sent our family into a season of a ton of change!  

Saturdays for us now are usually busy.  This day was no different.  We had dance for Libby and then I (Jamin) needed to go Isaiah 61 teaching (which is always awesome).  Today Stephen told his testimony and how we are told to “remember what God has done.”  So many of us can recall all the wrongs done to us.  We could hold offense against God for taking our comfortable lives away from us with a tornado 5 years ago.  This was a home He gave us!  We offered over $10000 less than the asking price and they accepted it.  It was a beautiful home that we could spend forever in!  Sarah’s almost dream home.  Most today would be upset still and bitter as well.  Most people would help us justify the wrong done to us on that Saturday.  That Saturday we had planned to go to church but did because of storms and the job I had (could have easily been called in to work- electric company).  So…..Stephens teaching has sent me on a journey to the past 5 years.

My mindset has changed drastically! (healing has come through this well)

We were in the basement (Sarah was down there for at least a good hour with Libby and Cushette-our dog).  Boom!  A train sounded like it ran over us.  Wow!  Dirt comes flying in!  Libby and Cushette still have not made a sound!  How many angels were in that basement with us ministering to us?  One day I will ask!  I, a 27 year old man, was scared!  I wanted to scream!  I was scared to go up the stairs!  I remember talking to my brother and Dado on the phone (they let me know when it was ok to step out).  We sat down there, asking, what is left?  It was a mystery.  We KNEW this was a time of change!  But how?  For what?

Libby was 5 months old!  She did not latch on well so we were bottle feeding her breast milk.  Sarah was pumping all the time.  We had a good storage for this milk.  By us staying home that day, we were able to salvage this food for Libby and get the necessities for taking care of her.  Cushette was also with us and would have been home alone (in her kennel) if we were not there.  God, in His love and mercy, kept us home in this event, and protected us!

How were we protected?  

I (Jamin) have seen thousands of tornadoes growing up.  I saw the track of this one.  It had hit Olton Texas (approximately 45 miles from us) and stayed on the ground with a path to the north of us.  I was watching this tornado and it was on the ground but on the other side of the grain elevator (opposite side of the highway from us).  I knew it would miss us.  But I wanted to watch!  Sarah yells, “Jamin, get down here!”  So I did.  BUT…..I forgot to shut the metal door!  The tornado hits us shortly after.  We had a huge Mulberry tree in our back yard.  It was gone!  But the tornado lifted.  I did not know there was more than one tornado on the ground in that storm.  There were 3!!!!  The one I saw missed us.  One did not though!

The next few years were not easy.  The next few months were not easy.  Many many hard decisions made.  Many people left without answers.  Most things just did not make sense to our (mine maybe most of all) small human minds.  All we had was a still small voice and a yes in Sarah and my heart.  “Will you trust Me?”  

Trust is something that grows in a safe place!  A place that is secret and intimate.  I still tear at the song “Beautifully Broken” by Jeremy Riddle.  I remember driving around alone with this song cranked up and singing to the top of my lungs and then just crying!  I did not understand what was happening.  I was learning to hear His voice!  I was learning about TRUST!  Like David, when he was running from the man (King Saul) who he thought was going to be his mentor.  This man who he so loved and looked up to.  But this man betrayed him and longed to murder him!  This man that was so jealous of David’s anointing.  Davids story is one that fascinates me.  No matter the cost, David would obey His voice.  He made mistakes in his weakness, but was truly a man after God’s heart.  

God is love!  When we love God, His response is more love!  I want more!  So much more!  To get more I reveal more love to Him.  

Out of a single event that is usually seen as tragic and horrible, He has restored for His glory and for ours as well.  God is so good!  

‎”The enemy wants you to use your circumstances to challenge God’s goodness. No! You should take His goodness and challenge your circumstances! It doesn’t matter whether the situation is good, bad or ugly; it cannot separate you from the goodness of God.” Graham Cooke

I can go on and on.  God has moved in our lives so many ways.  More will come later!  

 

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April Newsletter

Dear Beloved Friends,

The adventure with God continues on!

It is an exciting season for us. Over a month has passed since the trip to Ghana and the ministry position change for Jamin. It has been an up and down month for us. Sarah is now about to step out of ministry and hair to be mom and take care of herself. Libby is loving the warm weather and is getting so smart. She is loving ballet and dancing in the GPR as well. Jamin has been working hard to help in the “nesting” season and learning about spiritual warfare, healing and deliverance. He is building a team of men to minister to sexually broken men. There are over 40 applicants to receive ministry here on the missions base. IHOPU and the internships are now attracting a more diverse group of young people and the need for healing is growing as fast.

God loves to show us his goodness! In Prisoners of Hope we have been contending to see physical healing as well as the emotional and spiritual. We have seen some breakthrough in this over the last month. One of our girls, was running and sprained her arch. She was at service and received prayer and was healed. Jesus loves to restore and heal.

Forerunner Evangelism is a department within the IHOP-KC missions base that focuses on training and equipping evangelists. They have weekly events to go minister at various locations locally. They also have specific outreaches at major events. Here in KC we have a large party for St Patricks day. This department ran a large outreach with 2 school buses and many shuttles. One of thousands of testimonies is one young lady was walking in a lesbian lifestyle after falling away from God. After a few questions she was convicted by Holy Spirit she was in sin, repented and came back to Jesus! We have a training intensive for those who want to grow in eveangelism. Our Forerunner Evangelism Intensive (FEI) is a training program designed to raise up evangelists to call the lost to Jesus Christ.

With all the new changes, finances have changed as well. The Lord has continued to show Himself faithful providing for all of our needs. God has blessed us with Sarah being able to do hair, but with Gideon coming soon, we will be losing this help for a season. She has averaged about $500 a month. Also with budget cuts at IHOP-KC we have lost another $500 monthly. We want to ask you to pray in this season for our finances as we believe the Lord wants us to minister freely without working in the marketplace as well. We thank you so much for your faithfullness in giving and in prayer.

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Recap of Ghana, while in Ghana

I wanted to take some time and recap some of what God has done while it is fresh.  I will also try and recap a little later when the dust has settled and the Spirit leads me.

To start with, the plane ride was interesting.  No sleep and sitting for over a half of a day.  Then we get out and run to a taxi van and drive 3.5 hours.  I was tired and honestly unsure what God was really doing with me here.  I don’t really think I had much of a culture shock but there was a little.  It was not as I expected it for sure.  I still had that YES in my heart for whatever God had for me here.  We get to Ho and relax in the hotel, which was nice!  I finally got me a good nap, then we went to eat the meal we had the most possibly while here, chicken and fried rice.  It was good.  I then crashed only to wake up at 5 in the morning here.  God knew what He was doing.  I worshiped and prayed for 2 hours before getting ready and going to breakfast.  It was just what Jesus ordered for my spirit.  Loft Sessions by Bethel was the theme track for me while here.  Come to Me blows me away still today.  It reminds me of a song Sarah would sing!  She is such a beautiful singer with a powerful spirit and voice!  I thank God she has had many people helping her and God has given her a lot of grace as well.  Two days then we had the conference at Ho.  God showed up big time.  We made great connections and got see Gods heart for the Volta Region.  God confirmed that the prophetic/revelatory giftings needed to be biblically understood in the region!  Much hurt and manipulation were being used by the people operating in this gifting.  Then we went to the villages on Wednesday.  Beautiful places I have to admit.  Sad the way they live but they live that way and are happy with what they do have and are very grateful for even a lifesaver mint!  They beam with joy over the smallest things!

The market was fun!  I man that had some mental disorder followed me all around town.  He only wanted to talk to me.  It was very interesting and brought many laughs.  We also got to see a sewing shop and bakery that Rivers of Life International has helped get funding for training for women.  We then had along drive and traffic was crazy.  We came to Accra and the hotel was nice and the owners are from Boston.  He was a Methodist pastor for many years and came here to retire and bought this hotel.  Accra was surprising to me.  I was shocked at how people were living here.  The church we were speaking at was basically off of a road that became a dump ground.  People lived here.  It is sad.  But the Spirit of God can show up anywhere!  Especially in a place like this.  And He did just that.  Doors opened wide for things here in Ghana for Rivers of Life, Ghana pastors, and me.  I have opportunities to get messages out on radio, teach or help instruct a coarse in a Bible school and preach in places all over Africa.  Above all of this I made some really awesome friends!  Genuine people who know how to love!  I am excited to see where God is going to take this!

Thank you all for your support and for following me.  As much as I loved this trip I am excited to be with my amazing wife and beautiful baby girl and strong son.  God is so good and I thank You Lord for all You are doing!  Thank you for good friends back in KC as well that are helping Sarah and especially for coming to get me with Sarah!  Rewards are going to be great for each of you that sowed into this in prayer and finances.  I hope you get a chance to come here and meet people like I did!

Much love!  In His grace, Jamin

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Ghana update!

Glory to God!  He is so faithful and gave me so much grace!  Yesterday was a very full day.  We went to teach at the church and then went to a church that evening.  We drove through traffic for a good hour and a half in hot humid weather.  I was a bit sweaty upon arrival.  Debbie and I shared  a small portion of our hearts.  The church was on a 21 day fast for growth and oil.  I exhorted them to press forward that it is worth the pain and headache.  I felt led to talk to them about the Global Bridegroom Fast from Matthew 9.  I was asked some good questions after and many said they would join in with us.  How amazing would it be if it truly was a GLOBAL Bridegroom fast for hastening the return of our Bridegroom King?  I cannot imagine what would happen in the spirit realm.  We got in the hotel around midnight Ghana time.

This morning we got up and the conference began with a breakfast meeting.  We had tables that were in rectangular shape facing each other and were able to talk.  It was formal but casual all at the same time.  It was a feeling of freedom!  Richard and Debbie forgot their notes so Edam ran to get them for them.  So I went first.  I thought it was perfect (Holy Spirit always leads it perfect).  I had a handout of the prophetic notes so I went into some more examples and testimonies.  In Ho I was not able to do this and got through all that I could.  But in Accra, with them having the notes, I was able to expand certain areas that Holy Spirit led and asked them to read the rest.  They also recorded each session ad I am hoping to receive the recording.  We made many great contacts and God willing I hope to bring a team here to minister more on the prophetic and go deep into training as well.  There are some doors open so we will see what God does.  We then got to sit down, eat and chat for lunch with the leaders of the conference.  It was really good to hear their heart.  Really great people!  Then Apostle Daniel took us to a shopping mall to get Richard a phone and I was able to find Libby a cute dress.  In the market I struggled to find one her size.  The size is different here so I just told age and when they would show me the dress I knew it was too small.  Tonight we are going to relax (we are all tired) and tomorrow we go to Apostle Daniel’s church and get to experience a Ghana’n service fully receiving.  We will then pack up and prepare to get on the plane!  We leave here at 9:30 Ghana time so 3:30 CDT.  I understand snow may be headed the direction of KC.  Will be different as I am in 90 degree heat now.  I am praying the snow holds off until later on in the day Monday so it gives us no issues.  Please join me in prayer declaring the snow be pushed back.

I look forward to getting to talk to many of you and share many of the works of God that are going on here in Ghana!  Thank you all for your prayers and support through this.  Much love from Ghana!  Jamin

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Ghana update #4

Yesterday was a lot of driving.  Traffic is nuts around here.  If I had road rage when I get back home, I won’t any more.  LOL.  We did not get to go to the orphanage like I hoped to.  We prepared to give all 3 messages today and then tomorrow was to be Q & A only but that has switched.  Blessed are the flexible for they won’t be bent out of shape and will learn to trust God with all the details.  This morning we found out that there were 2 messages today and 3 tomorrow, with one tonight at another church.  So I taught on holiness again and loving God wholeheartedly.  Tomorrow I will talk on the Prophetic.  Accra is a run down place.  We are in a large Muslim populated area.  You can feel the darkness but you can also tell others can see the light radiating from within me.  It is almost like they know Jesus is the better option or something.  We are in a nice hotel and the owner are from Boston.  They were Methodist ministers that have retired and are now running a hotel that is their ministry.  Great people!  I will try and get some pictures up if I get some time before we leave this hotel Sunday.  They have wireless internet access that has been a blessing.

Please pray that we have more and more grace.  We are teaching a lot and it can get draining.  It is very humid so physically we get worn down pretty quick.  90 degrees plus Houston humidity is fun!  I walk outside and want a shower.  If you didn’t know already I sweat a lot and that has not changed.  So I am drinking tons of water!  (bottles of course)  Today in my message I talked quite a bit on the bridal paradigm as well as my marriage.  It made me miss Sarah even more and did not realize that was possible.  So pray for grace on that as well.  Thank you all for all of your prayers.  Believe me when I say I have felt them.  I know I am not going in just looking into they eyes of Jesus with His escort but also with all you continuing to back me up in prayer.  It is like all the fans when you are on the road and you know they drove a long way to see you and support you.  Though you are not physically here with me you are here in Spirit.  I can feel it!  Many blessings from Accra Ghana!