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Talk Show Zollywood

Our aim on "Talk Show Zollywood" is to bring you face to face with everyday Australians and their beautiful lives. We hope to profile some amazing, funny and inspiring men, women and children and their incredible testimonies.

Ordinary people living extraordinary lives. Share with us the precious lives of these anointed people doing his will. People like you and me.

Please e-mail your beautiful testimonies to talkshow@zollywood.com

Charlotte, North Carolina Here I come.

In September of 2002 I received an email from a friend suggesting I look at the Proverbs 31 Ministries web site. www.proverbs31.org. Nothing grabbed my attention so I waited until I had some spare time to have a really good look. I then noticed a small graphic saying "She Speaks." I then emailed them about this and found out about a wonderful conference for women called to the pulpit. I was excited so I began emailing them about details.

I became discouraged when I realised the conference was in Charlotte North Carolina. So I knew then that it was out of the question. There was no way a mother of seven still breast feeding would be able to get to a conference across the other side of the world. I continued on with life as usual.

In April of 2003 I happened to be at our local Christian radio station giving my books for a mothers day competition coming up when I met a lovely lady with an American accent. She gave us a tour of the station and then sat at an office desk. I handed her my books.

She then began to speak, "I feel very strongly to tell you about a ministry by the name of Proverbs 31. Have you heard of them?" My husband and I nearly fell off our chairs.

I said," Had we heard of them? We have been praying about me attending a conference of theirs."

She asked, "Where is the conference?"

"In a place in America by the name of Charlotte." I answered.

"Charlotte!" she exclaimed. "I'm from Charlotte."

I was amazed. Out of all the people in the universe that we were to meet on that precious day it would be a beautiful woman residing in Australia all the way from Charlotte. God in His incredible grace decided to arrange this divine appointment to show me that if He wanted me to take a radical step of obedience, that He had made it clear.

My husband and I were astonished at Gods sovereignty but decided to ask for one more confirmation - money. Within two weeks we had been given $1,500.00. I knew I had to stop breast feeding and get ready for a trip to America in June. It was incredible how it all came together. I attended the "She Speaks conference" in Charlotte North Carolina not fully understanding the whys or hows, just knowing without a shadow of a doubt that this was a God ordained appointment. What a mighty God we serve.

What Have We Allowed In Our Life ?

Approximately seven years ago the Lord lead me through a time of repentance brought on by Jeremiah 3:13 [Only acknowledge your guilt-- you have rebelled against the LORD your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me,'" declares the LORD.] Much happened after this scripture became life to my being. One particular thing was the ability to hear Gods voice clearly and without any shadow of a doubt. I sought the Lord about every major decision I was facing - including divorce, single mother hood, remarriage etc. The Lord gave me answers speedily and with faith I believed what the Holy Spirit lead me to do.

During this time I joined a single mothers group that dealt with healing,bitterness and forgiveness. At one of these meetings the leader mentioned the recompense of the Lord. I felt the Lord tell me to really take notice of this word and to believe for this. One verse in particular was Joel 2:25 'I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten-- the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm -- my great army that I sent among you. So I began to ask the Lord for the years that had been stolen through shame, sin, rebellion, pride and circumstances. I knew he was going to restore back to me those years (and he has). Then at this same group I also heard a Joyce Meyer tape on forgiveness and the Lords Recompense. There it was again that word 'recompense'. I learnt that it meant to be compensated for loss or to be repayed in full. I believed for my life and my childrens life to be recompensed.

Since that time we have experienced amazing healing and restoration. We have been compensated incredibly and are so thankful for all that we have been through and are still going through. The Lord has proven himself faithful in all of our lives. But we are now at a different place. I am married happily to York, we now have six children with number seven due in 10 weeks. We have moved beyond single motherhood, divorce and abandonment. We have moved state, established ourselves in Queensland and are hopefully doing the Lords will for right now. So why after seven years has the Lord once again spoken the same word to us from Joel 2:25 ? How much more recompense is there? The last six years of our life have been wonderful and incredibly blessed, so what could the Lord want to repay?

As I heard our pastor preach on Joel 2, I began to question Gods heart. I reminded the Lord of the last seven years of blessing and fulfillment of promises, I questioned whether I had gone backwards, was I once again in rebellion, did I have major issues that needed to be repented of ? Then the Lord began to quieten my spirit and talk to me about where our family is at right now.

York and I have let things of our past, our upbringing and our fears rob us of all that God has for us. We have been held captive to mindsets and issues that have stilted our growth, marriage and children. These things are simple things that have crept in, such as intimidation, procrastination, lack of communication and we are reaping the fruit of it. Not only have York and I been reaping the last six years, the children are too. We have made decisions based on fear , we have not confronted when we should have and we have allowed this in our lives. We found that the same few issues kept raising their ugly heads every so often and it would produce division and strife between us. But we didn't know how to deal with these things, we kept praying and talking but it never seemed to be fixed. Until Now.

After hearing the message of Joel 2 we had to repent of all those things the Lord was showing us. The Lord showed me that we had been on a tread mill with these particular things and that we were to step off. So York and I declared that we will not get back on that treadmill again. So now when these things come up we are aware of the Lords word to us. We are accountable for not stepping back on as we have repented and now need to walk out our repentence, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Whats to follow - the recompense. We are anticipating a fantastic future full of blessing, refreshing and good fruit. Not because of anything we have done but because of Gods wonderful grace and love toward us. For He has promised in Joel 2:18 - 27 Then the LORD will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people. The LORD will reply to them: 'I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations. 'I will drive the northern army far from you, pushing it into a parched and barren land, with its front columns going into the eastern sea and those in the rear into the western sea. And its stench will go up; its smell will rise.' Surely he has done great things. Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice. Surely the LORD has done great things. Be not afraid, O wild animals, for the open pastures are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches. Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 'I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten-- the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm -- my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.

York and I believe this is the beginning of some of the promises that are yet to be fulfilled in our life together. Another thing, I attended a meeting approximately three weeks ago and was given a Joyce Meyer tape. You guessed it the exact same teaching from seven years ago. There is no such thing as coincidence in God. All of our steps are directed by the Lord.(Prov 20:24) Praise God.

Conviction to Give !! By Carmen

York has lost his job. At this present time he has been unemployed for 5 weeks. We have a 13 week waiting period for any government assistance and we have a bit of money in the bank to keep us. However time is passing, the bills need to be paid, the house payments, groceries and tithe. So what else is there to do but pray. I have to keep my eyes on the Lord so that I don't become anxious or worried.(Phil 4:6 - 7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.)York has a peace about it all and a word from the Lord to stand on.Baby number seven is due in approximately fifteen weeks. So what do we do during this unsure time?

Give.

Not just tithe or a little here and there to missions etc but give, amounts of money that seem almost irresponsible to give - especially when unemployment has set in for a time. So... we 'give'.

Each amount of money, we believe was an amount showed to us by the Lord. Also who the money was to go to was made quite clear. When it came time to actually give the money to the appointed people I began to think, "We can't do it, we have no money coming in, I feel scared." Then I recognised where that thought came from and became even more determined to do it.

When we moved from Sydney to Brisbane we became almost a bit stale with our giving. We didn't know where to put our money so we only gave our tithe. For sixteen months we have struggled with giving. We love to give and have an incredible desire to be 'big' givers, so we have had to wait until now, when it seems the most ridiculous or unwise time for the Lord to bring back our most favourite of convictions.

Even the receivers of the gifts were a little unsure and were saying that they found it a little hard as they know York is unemployed. I quickly reminded them that Gods ways are not our ways and that being in financial difficulty is the greatest time for us to give. I have to say that each time things have become a struggle we are more determined than ever.

Within a couple of days we were given such an abundant amount of food that we gave away a whole esky full of fish, groceries etc to a beautiful single mum. One of our bible study members also made her a huge pot of soup. Our freezer was full and so was hers. We also received some unexpected money when we were believing for another larger amount to give. Provision even before our money had left our hands ( however it had already been settled in our hearts.)

I also want to stress that our giving is not only money. 'Prosperity and generosity' is in giving of our time and resources ( Deut 28:1 - 14). We also have a second car that we have lent out since the time York became unemployed. When we have a resource that can be used we need to 'sow' it, even for a season.

Be encouraged to give !!!!!!! The word promises in 2 Corinthians 9:10 - 15 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Our gifts have increased others faith and have added to their testimony of Gods faithfulness.

Remember:

Proverbs 11:24 - 25 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Job 8:5 - 7 But if you will look to God and plead with the Almighty, if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your rightful place. Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.

BE GENEROUS. BE REFRESHED. THANK GOD FOR HIS FAITHFULNESS.

Our Family Reunion 2001

For the first time in 21 years my husband's family was reunited. We had them all here with us in Brisbane. There were 23 of us. One family flew from Trinidad, two from England and York's parents from Adelaide (Carmen's Dad came from Sydney too). The following information may be interesting for many of you to know.

Our family consists of the following mixes stemming from six different nationalities.

One: Full Blooded Swiss.

Two: Quarter Australian, Quarter Swiss, Quarter Indian and Quarter African.

Two: Half Indian, Half African.

Two: Full Blooded British.

Two: Australian.

Three: Half Australian, Half Korean.

Three: Half British, Quarter Australian and Quarter Swiss.

Three: Quarter Swiss and Three Quarters Australian.

Four: Half Swiss, Half Australian.

MY HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE (Sent to us and written by our lovely friend 'Eagles Wings')

I went in Monday 29th October for a posterial repair, The op you have when your babies were BIG and you didn't do your pelvic floor excerises , also my 52nd Birthday. I am at present at home recovering (feel like I have just given birth to a 10pounder!!!!!!!!). Yea your right, I'm feeling sore and sorry for myself .....just a tad! The great thing is I've just found out that you actually don't have to hang from the light bulb or stand on your head to elliminate the bodies waste products, if you know what I mean! Now that it

is all were God originaly put it, it's so easy!!!!! I guess that's a good lesson isn't it. We put up with so much complication in our lives that we forget it's meant to be much easier if only we go back to what God originaly wanted us to do it. HMMMM.

The water works were a bit of a problem too!! For a while there, the plumbing only worked with hot water on my back in the shower. I couldn't imagine life consisting of asking were the shower was instead of the LOO!!!!! God showed me through this little excersise that when one part of the body does not perform, then the rest of fthe body suffers, as it does with the body of Christ.

You know what? I haven't been to hospital I've been to school!

Oh just one more thing. I had to have an attitude check this morning. I was promised meals from church for when I got home and they didn't come and the night I got home 2 days ago the microwave blew up and my hubby isn't that good a cook in a pressure situation. This morning I was having a winge to Jesus and feeling very let down. About an hour later my hubby called to tell me that neals would be supplied tonight and the rest of week. Actually, I think we are going to have an abundance, which makes me feel very humble and repentent and wishing I could be more generous in my attitude. I want to be more like Jesus, but it seems to take so long.......

REBELLION IN THE HOUSE

"I don't want to go to church anymore, there's something missing and I am not going anymore" How does someone who loves Jesus heaps, has been a Christian for 22 years, really enjoys church (attends Hillsong Church - one of the best churches in the world) get to the place where they do not want to go to church anymore? What

circumstances lead to this decision, where church held no meaning anymore? Let me share the downward spiral and I hope that this testimony will help save people making the same mistakes.

Eight years ago my children and I moved to Rockhampton. We had a good life, made good friends and settled into church there quickly, felt accepted. We had a good life full of promise.

I found out that my eldest daughter had been caught up into prostitution in Sydney. I panicked - my best friend had left Rocky to return to her family at this time. I felt too frightened to stay in Rocky without someone I knew well. I felt terrified for my daughter and was in tears on the phone with her. She said "come home Mum - I will help you" in four days we had packed and were on a train to Sydney!! I wanted so much to see my daughter free of prostitution.

FIRST MISTAKE:

I didn't get any Godly counsel from anyone. Did not discuss with my pastor or ask for prayer covering - JUST LEFT!

SECOND MISTAKE:

When I arrived in Sydney I had a falling out with my daughter and she refused to help us. I knew in my heart that I had made a mistake and should have returned to Rocky. BUT I had left owing rent on our house and to go back would have exposed this. I would have had to admit my mistake. MY PRIDE WOULD NOT LET ME ADMIT MY MISTAKE AND WE STAYED IN SYDNEY.

THIRD MISTAKE:

Every now and then Rocky would come up and we would discuss all aspects of it. How happy we had been there and all that we had walked away from. I always told my girls "Its too late, we can't go back now" It would have been too hard to go back. FOR EIGHT YEARS WE WANDERED IN THE WILDERNESS. BUT ON FRIDAY 13™ JULY 2001 GOD BROUGHT ROCKY UP BEFORE MY FACE AND I NEEDED TO LISTEN, REPENT AND DEAL WITH. I was at the last night of Hillsong conference and was talking to the woman in front of me before the session started. I felt that my walk with God was in pretty bad shape and began to feel very convicted as the woman shared what God was doing in her life. The woman gave me a word from the Lord "The Lord can't hear sinners and I was disobeying God" That certainly gained my attention! When the speaker got up to speak he used the scripture John 9v31 "God can't hear sinners" God REALLY had my attention. There was only a short sermon on worship and then we worshipped for ages. During the worship the woman in front of me put her hand on my back and prayed for me. My back/chest was burning and I knew that God was doing/wanted to do a BIG THING. God mentioned Rocky - I had left in rebellion and I was carrying a stone in weight for every year I had been away (8). It was awesome. The Lord told me to fast for 3 days, Rocky, Bible College and something I have forgotten. I guess God will show when it gets closer. The anointing stayed with me when I arrived home and went to bed. I began to talk to God about going to Rocky to "fix things". THE NEXT MORNING I WAS A " MESS AS THE GRIEF OF LEAVING ROCKY CAME UP. I had loved Rocky, locked the grief inside. I was able to repent of rebellion and pride, of robbing my children of all the blessings of Rocky. I asked my children for forgiveness for taking them away from Rocky.

For 3 days I walked through the grief and spent time in bed. Let God do what He wanted to do. I needed my relationship with the Lord to be restored. I took two weeks to "feel" better and went back to church again. I knew that something had been broken off us and that we were different. 17th July I rang my pastor in Rocky and made arrangements to go back. He was wonderful and arranged for me to stay with a lady from the church. I wasn't sure whether God wanted me to go back to live or just go back for prayer - but knew that I needed to be obedient. I went to Rocky and it was an emotionally draining time. My pastor prayed for me, released and blessed me. While I was in Rocky I knew that I wasn't going back there to live. God had something else in store for me.

Psalm 66v 16-20

VI 6 "come and listen, all of you who fear God and let me tell you what He has done for me" On 7/9/97 I had written alongside these verses "what a testimony of God's goodness" God promises restoration of the years the worm has eaten (Joel 2v25) and these are the things I believe God has promised to restore to me.

Relationship with Himself

Ministry of intercession

Children's lives back on track

Finances

A job

A husband

A home

My figure (yeah)

HOW DO YOU GAIN THESE BLESSINGS?

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of sin before God

REPENTANCE of sin before God and people

RESTITUTION - going back to "fix up" mistakes where possible

FORGIVE YOURSELF for mistakes and go on with what God shows you.

ACCEPT FORGIVENESS from people and God. Allow God's love to flow and accept this forgiveness into your heart.

THE DEEPER THE REPENTANCE THE DEEPER THE RELEASE AND THE BIGGER THE BLESSING

God bless you

Provision For Our Son By Carmen.

Our son Buzz heard that there was an exchange program happening in September 2001 with a school in Japan however it was only being offered to years six and seven. Buzz is in year five.Buzz said he was interested in going if it was possible. He felt disappointed that the trip was only offered to the senior classes,but quickly forgot about the program. A few weeks later, he mentioned it again but this time saying that it was now available to year five students. Unsure as to whether it was true I went to see the Japanese teacher the following Monday.

It was true the exchange program was a little short on numbers and therefore was now offered to year five students. Buzz was really wanting to go. The Japanese teacher then explained that the deposit of $400.00 had to be in by Friday." Friday !" I said , "That's four days away." It was kind of impossible to take that amount of money from our account at that time. So my response was that if God wants Buzz to go we will have the money by Friday. Now you must understand I was a little unsure about Buzz really going as he is the kind of child who wants to come home when sleeping at friends houses. But he seemed determined.

That afternoon I talked to York about my conversation with the teacher. We both prayed that night with Buzz and spoke to him about the money being a bit of a problem. We also talked about the enormity of being in another country and culture and that he would not be able to just come home if he felt scared. Buzz was still sure he wanted to be involved.

The next day Buzz brought home a note and permission form with all the expenses on it. The note also said some of the places in Japan that they would be sightseeing and visiting. The exchange program was to run for twelve days. I placed the paperwork on the counter wondering what the right thing to do would be. I rang my father about lending us some money if we felt Buzz was meant to go.

Wednesday came, two days until the deposit was needed. Around lunchtime a package was delivered to our front door. When I opened it there were some chocolates a thank you card and another envelope. I put the chocolates up high, so the babies couldn't get them and read the lovely card. I then looked into the envelope. There was a letter and a cheque for $480.00. I rang York at work and told him about the package. At first I wanted to not accept the cheque because the precious young couple that had sent it to us were newly weds, surely they needed the money. But as I thought about it I realised the Lords provision for Buzz's trip.The couple had no idea of Buzz's desire to go to Japan, it was a God ordained provision.

That afternoon I went to see the Japanese teacher. Buzz's teacher is a christian so I testified about the cheque and handed her the permission form. We were so excited and Buzz was experiencing the Lords provision in his own life. The question I was asking was," We only needed $400.00 why was there $480.00 given to us? " A while later I knew. Buzz needed a passport. With getting the photo's and paying for the application it was almost exactly eighty dollars. Wow, even the passport was taken care of.

The following months seemed long and sometimes difficult but we knew that the door had opened for Buzz to walk in something totally new in God. We kept paying the amounts needed and sometimes we struggled but we were expectant and thankful. Finally we made the last payment a few weeks before their scheduled departure date. What a blessing, we had done it. There was only one more thing he needed for the trip - spending money. The program coordinator said they should take approximately $500.00. We thought that it was abit excessive for a ten year old but later costs were explained to us.

After finding out how much Buzz needed we prayed for the Lord to help us have the spending money he needed. One evening just as the children were all going to bed we had a phone call from a friend. She asked about the preparations and I shared with her about the extra spending money Buzz would need. A few days later our friends 22 year old daughter said that she would give Buzz $200.00 towards his spending money. How amazing is our God!! That week we had the money deposited into Buzz's account.

We felt a bit relieved and organised with my dad again to help us out if we needed to borrow the remaining $300.00. It was finally the week before his departure and we decided to just trust the Lord and take the extra money out of our account. On Wednesday I went and exchanged the $200.00. The bank had no more yen so I was unable to exchange any more. That night Buzz received a phone call and was given the extra $300.00 he was needing. Thursday I spent the day going from bank to bank finding Japanese yen. After going to six banks I finally went to a friends house. She rang her local bank and to our surprise they had lots of Yen. That afternoon we had it all. The full amount of spending money needed totally provided by the Lord. Friday morning the group departed.

Buzz went to Japan and had a wonderful time. The Lord opened all the doors and provided $980.00 towards his trip. Buzz visited about five different cities, went on the bullet train, experienced Japanese culture through staying with two families and finished his exchange program at Tokyo Disneyland. The scripture that comes to mind is Matthew 7:7-11"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! AMEN !!

Is God Faithful ? by Carmen.

During 1998 the Lord began to seriously deal with our faith concerning His provision in our lives. We were expecting our fifth child and needed to do something about our sleeping arrangements as we owned a three bedroom home. Buzz and James Bond shared a room, Blossom had her own room and Mickey was in with us.York and I began tossing around ideas about putting the three boys in the main room and we would go into a smaller room.We also considered adding a sun room to the front porch of the house and a larger sunroom at the back of the house, which would take away quite a section of outside play area. We began praying and at the same time began getting quotes for the rooms we were considering. If we were to build on the two glass sunrooms it would probably cost around $21,000.00.

Prior to our bedroom concerns the Lord had shown us His miraculous provision. We went to a furniture showroom one Saturday morning to look at lounge suites. We found a few lovely ones but decided we could not afford $1,000.00 right now. As we were walking back to the car park I heard the Lord say, "Where's your faith?" I turned to York and said, "The Lord just asked me, Where's your faith?" "Oh !" was Yorks response and we immediately turned around and went to the counter to purchase a sofa bed on credit. We were experiencing a level of faith we had never experienced before. We left the shop excited but also kind of bewildered. Our prayer was simple, "God if that was You we believe we have obeyed and believe for your provision." One week later we received a $1,000.00 cheque in the mail. The sofa bed cost exactly $1,000.00. We were so excited and testified to our church of the Lords provision.

Another thing that happened during that time was that we decided to give away $100.00 per week extra on top of our tithe. It was a stretch too of our faith but we wanted to be obedient. Remember the Lord was teaching us of His provision. We knew also that 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35b) One day a lady walked up to me in church and handed me a brand new sewing machine still in its box. No one knew I had a desire to learn to sew. But God did.

There was one Sunday when we were on our way to church and we stopped to take our tithe from the ATM machine near church. When York walked out he looked a little worried. After taking out our money we would be short $200.00 on our mortgage payment. We both decided that being faithful in our tithe superceded our house payment and continued on to church. As we gave our tithe we blessed it and asked the Lord to take care of our needs.Malachi 3:10 says "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." We believed this promise and trusted God's word. After the greeting time I noticed York walking towards the baby room with an envelope in his hands. When he came in he handed me the envelope. It contained $600.00. We were amazed. The floodgates of heaven were opening to us.We had the money we needed for our mortgage payment plus more.

We knew that God was teaching us a wonderful principle. He is faithful. He honours His word and He will provide. So with our new found faith we decided to trust the Lord for $21,000.00 for the sunrooms. A couple from our church had just added a room by faith to their home, so we spoke with them one Sunday about their step of faith. York and I decided that we too would trust the Lord for His provision. We decided that we would ring our bank about an extra loan and some time soon get to a show room displaying the rooms we were looking for.

We knew our faith had risen and we were really stepping out. But things can happen unexpectedly. God does greater things than we can ever imagine. Answer to prayer surprises and amazes us when we should probably expect as we would from a Father. It was Wednesday lunchtime, the children were resting and I walked out to the letterbox. There was a letter containing these words," The Lord has placed it on our hearts to pay for an extension on your home." I was so shocked I ran next door to my neighbour and through tear filled eyes read her those words. I then rang my husband.

Our two sunrooms turned out to be five bedrooms, fully ducted air conditioning, furniture for the additional rooms, one bathroom and an ensuite. We were given in total $100,000.00. No strings attatched, no questions asked, just given!! That was in December 1998. By May 1999 our three bedroom home with one bathroom and extra toilet had become a six bedroom home, with rumpus room (we knocked out a wall between the existing two joined bedrooms), three bathrooms and four toilets. We would have been content with two sunrooms but the Lords desire for us was more.

The Lord is faithful and does provide all of our needs not some of them all of them! Our life was blessed far greater than we would have ever thought. The Lord has shown us over and over that His word is true. Giving is a key to blessing. Tithing ten percent brings great blessing on the remaining ninety percent and if we are faithful the Lord will 'pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.'Be encouraged to give. Touch peoples lives with Gods love and blessing. Believe and don't doubt. Don't be discouraged when things aren't changing instantly. Your life will be changed, your life will be blessed and you will be a blessing. We are blessed to be a blessing!

A Vision Of Heaven

We have a beautiful young friend ( Julia Stiles- zollywood name ) that at the age of about ten years had a vision of Heaven. She is now seventeen and on fire for the Lord. This incredible vision is Julia's testimony.

One night I had a dream. I was standing in front of the gates of heaven, and they were huge. Golden, 12 feet high, and stretching for as far as the eye can see. And waiting at the gates was Jesus, with a welcoming smile and a twinkle in his eyes. He hugged me and led me inside the gates, and straight away I sensed an overwhelming feeling of peace and happiness. There was a cobbled stone path ahead of me that was golden, leading up a mountain to the throne of God. The River of Life was running beside it, and although it was as deep as the oceans, I could see clearly to the bottom. The water was clean and pure. Many huge trees were growing on the banks, with all the fruits of the spirit on them. As the fruit was picked, another grew and replaced it's spot.

Flowers that were bigger than my hand were growing everywhere, and had a smell that was almost overwhelming. There was a brightness and music that filled the streets, people were dancing and praising the Lord. As we walked and talked, the Lord showed me many people that had been in my life on Earth. They were not a physical being, but a spiritual one. You could tell who they were by their spirit. I saw many houses, and they were all small, simple, but beautiful. A man had a big paint brush and a can, and as he dipped the brush into the paint, he pulled up jewels and gems and they were put onto the houses with the paint. They sparkled very brightly.

The Lord brought me to my own house, that is being prepared for my arrival. It was under construction and did not have many things on it, but the Lord told me that as I grew in my Christian walk, doing things unto the Lord, so too would my house grow. It would be made of a good and strong foundation. At the throne, I sat on God's lap and just rested in his arms, relishing in the fatherly love and security. Many angelic spirits were playing instruments around the throne, giving glory and praise to our creator and King. There were animals, just wandering freely like they would have in the garden of Eden. My favourite was the lion, it was lying in submission with many smaller animals around it.

Then it was time to go. We walked down the mountain to the golden gates, Jesus told me he loved me very much and then he waved me goodbye.

When I awoke in the morning, my mother asked me what I had been dreaming about. When I questioned her, she told me she woke up in the night to check on me, and I had the biggest smile on my face while I was sleeping. It was one of the most pleasant dreams I have had!!!

The Blessing of Motherhood

This testimony is my friend in Sydney who would affectionately like to be known as Ma Kettle. (I love it) Ma and her husband (Pa, I guess ! ) had eight children when we met. They have a conviction from the Lord that Ma is very passionate about and I felt important to share. They are an inspiration and their testimony is wonderful. Ma is a great mum and copes wonderfully with her soon to be ten blessings. We also know another lovely lady with ten children in Sydney, plus we have just met a family here in Queensland with ten. York's cousin has eleven but lives in Canada. I find these families incredible, they are all fulfilling the conviction of God on their lives beautifully.

Where does one begin to share about God's blessings in one's life? Well, by far for me is the blessing of motherhood. When we were married 18 years ago, both believers, we had the usual plans of saving for a few years and then starting our family which would probably consist of 4 children.

After six months of wedded bliss, my husband had lost his job and while still living in a caravan in our parents backyard, God began to put this burning desire within me to have a baby. Well who can fight God effectively? Nine months later we had our first blessing a beautiful son.

Slowly our financial situation began to change and now we were renting. Two and a half years later our lovely daughter was born, and now our family and friends thought our family was complete and we were both only in our early twenties.

In order to redirect my maternal convictions (I'm not sure why I felt I had to) we became foster parents. We fostered over 40 children and teenagers and all the time God was preparing us for His plan.

We went on to have our next two blessings, two more sons. While in hospital when my fourth was born I cried for days. I finally realised what the problem was, I was heartbroken to think this was the last time I was going to do this (no it had not been an easy delivery, far from it.). That is when we decided we needed to seek God's guidance in this matter. When we read God's word we slowly began to realise that we were fighting against God's calling due the pressures of the world. We don't really realise how much we conform to this world because so much around us has become acceptable. We now feel we need to have so much in life and so choose to limit the size of our families and don't realise what a disservice this is to God who from the beginning commanded us to multiply and fill the earth. Christians are more willing to submit their finances or ministries to God but draw the line at their wombs. How else is God going to increase his army if women say no it's too much sacrifice. Where would we be if Mary had closed her womb to God? God wants submissive vessels that he can fill with his blessings. Ever thought that children are the only blessing that Christians will limit God in. We never say no to good health, more money, a new house or any other gift, but children no thanks God and just in case you get any funny ideas I'm going to make SURE you don't give me any more.

My fellow Christian, I would urge you to examine God's word with an open heart and allow God to show you how he is grieved by our spirit of disobedience and selfishness and hopefully be convicted to be a part of his plan for this world. God will not bless our disobedience. Look around at our society, what has happened to the biblical family? We have traded our God given calling for that of the world and we wonder why we are suffering.

I never thought I could mother ten children, but that was when I didn't have ten children. God never gives us anything that we can't handle and his grace is poured out anew every day. For me to go on to tell of the many ways God has and is continuing to bless us would require a book. Suffice to say that obedience to God is never fruitless nor in vain. Disobedience on the other hand has dire consequences some of which are too painful to recollect.

So again I urge you to prayerfully consider the issue of your fertility while there is still time!

http://www.quiverfull.com/

God Opens Doors! By Carmen.

I have a great desire to preach. York and I had been asking the Lord to help me attain the tools I needed to be able to preach. We started looking into a couple of possibilities on the net or by correspondence when it was announced at church that a preaching course would be started through the bible college. We were excited. It was Sunday however and the course would be started the following Friday. If it was the Lords will for me to be a part of the course everything had to fall into place. I needed child care or baby sitting for our three, two and one year old children. I also had to be accepted into the course.

Monday morning I began making the calls. We had placed Mickey's name down in a couple of child care centres when we first arrived in Queensland but were told that the lists were extremely long. I rang one of them anyway. I needed to be able to get him in on Fridays. As I spoke to the director she was quite sure that there was nothing available but that she would ring me back. A few hours later I received the call from the director, they only had one vacancy and it was a Friday if I was interested !! My excitement grew. I knew the doors were opening for me to do the course. Mickey was taken care of. Now what to do with my babies? I decided to try the Family Day Care Centre. It's not a centre as such, it's home based care. They too had to get back to me.

In the mean time I rang the college. The preaching course was a second year subject which meant to enter as a credit student I needed to have done a year of bible college.

My heart sank but only for a moment because I had done a year in Sydney. The college then said I should be able to enroll, by Wednesday.

I was still waiting to find out if I could get child care for my babies. I didn't hear from the Family Day Care Centre until Tuesday. To my surprise when the lady rang she too said that they only had a Friday vacancy and that the carer was less than a kilometre away. Everything was taken care of, God opened all the doors for me to obtain the tools needed to preach. I have dropped my credit though and am just an audit student now. My family time (and the website updates) was being taken up by a pressure I didn't need (assignments etc.). With things back in order I just say, "Thanks God for organising the course and everything else. You are mighty!!"

Car On Fire!

A friend of ours had a little car that was completely burned. The only thing untouched by the fire was a Jesus sticker on the rear.

Carmen's Story Part 1.

PSALM 40:2. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

I sat in my granny flat very stoned and surrounded by a few friends, all of them flaked out on the floor or draped over the furniture. I thought nothing of it, that's how life was. We lived for the moment no thoughts of successful futures or dreams fulfilled not even of long lives, our thoughts were for the next wrought or where we would score.

I had forgotten that it was Sunday when suddenly there was a knock at the door and there was Meg a friend from work. I had told her during the week that I would go to church with her. So I put on my ugg boots and out the door I went leaving the others behind. I had no real ideas about church, the only time I went was with a friend to a Catholic Church and our aim was to take the money as the basket was passed around. I had seen churches on lots of street corners but thought nothing of them.

I had no expectations of what was lying ahead, my mind so dulled; I was just along for the ride. I remember walking into the church; my first impression was that these people were alive. We went to a seat close to the front when the worship started, I can't explain what happened or when it happened but I was straight. The influence of drugs had disappeared and tears of pain, trauma, joy, hope; life, were streaming down my face. I had no control over this sensation and physical reaction but it was happening to me.

I wanted so desperately to dance in that first church service, so I did - others were, so it had to have been OK. I kept looking around the building and everywhere I turned there were hearts going up from the praises of the people, through the ceiling. These people had love. I knew it! I could feel it and I was in awe of it. There is a God is all my mind could contemplate, this is real and there is a God.

I knew that October in 1986 that God was real, I don't remember if I went out for the altar call, I don't remember much of 1986 at all for that matter. However I knew after that church experience that my life needed to change and I wanted it to change. I had been searching for too long and I knew some how I had found what I was looking for.

There were a lot of influences in my life that made the changing process more difficult than I realised. I had a past that haunted me, I was injecting speed and anything else I could find and I was gripped by fear and I had pain; not physical pain, emotional and psychological pain that ruled a lot of my decision making and choices. When I came to Jesus I was living in a pit of destruction. Self destruction. I knew I needed help but where would I go? Who could I confide in?

The first step I took was to stop taking drugs. It was so clear that the Lord was with me and He would do it, and it happened, no horror story no big bang. I made a choice and the Lord honoured that choice. I was drug free. But the drug lifestyle was what I knew, how I went about my daily routine was like being trapped in a pit, it had no way out and it ensnared my mind. My thoughts were criminal and my intentions were for evil and not for good.

The months following October were long and difficult there was a battle within me and I could feel it around me. My spirit knew a life of darkness and suddenly the darkness was more intense. I feared for my life. The demonic world was very real and the lies I had listened to for years seemed also to intensify. Yet as I read my bible my world began to transform. I would sit and read out aloud as though I was reading to the demons themselves.

As time went by I found that the truth in the word of God was setting me free from major fears and issues that had arrested my entire being. I was able to sleep at night, suicidal thoughts disappeared, I began to face my past and the decisions I had made, my opinions and beliefs were also challenged as the Lord increased in my every day living.

PSALM 139:23-24. Search me O God and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

The first time I read the above Scripture I was in the lunchroom with Meg and read it over her shoulder, it was like a hit in my spirit. I remember saying to her that I never realised that the bible was about life.

That Scripture was the key to my mind and habits beginning to transform. My life with drugs had no purpose but somewhere inside of me in the innermost parts of my heart I knew I hungered for good and I knew that God could see that. My hunger for the truth was so great that I would sneak out of work to read my bible, being spiritually fed with every word I read.

I had searched for answers, I knew there had to be a reason for life and yet in all the books about psychology, eastern religion, reincarnation, magic and self help that I read, I still had no answers and yet this bible held all of life's answers.

When I look back the time it took for me to see people without hidden agendas was around two years. God knows I wanted to stop the suspicious and paranoid thoughts and learn to trust.