Abiding

Worth Waiting For

Posted on September 8, 2012 by mcalmond

I emailed this to a Pastor friend in the Okanogan.

“A few weeks ago, I was in prayer when I saw a vision of a dam at the border of the Okanogan river valley (in Washington State) and Canada. That dam was holding back the blessings and a fresh outpouring of the Lord for the Okanogan river Valley. Hear this: this dam is about to break and there will be an overcoming of the whole of the Okanogan river Valley with the power, blessing and richness of the grace and wonder of God. Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!”

This day has been a long time coming, eights years to be exact. No, not the word above, but the how of this and other recent words of the Lord.

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Categories: A Simple Faith, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Anointing, Authenticity, Awakening, Changes, Dependency, Divine Encounters, Dying to Self Will, Genuineness, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Grace, Growing in Faith, Pentecostal Theology, Prophecy, Prophetic Ministry, Spiritual Barreness, Waiting on the Lord, Word of God | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Prayer, Communion, and the Word of God

Posted on September 5, 2012 by mcalmond

Acts 6:4 (ESV) But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

The Apostles here in this text are dealing with something that is important in the life of the Church. It is more important than simply who gets what. It has to do with the fair treatment of all and not just a few or even the many. There were a large group of Hellenists Jews who had converted over to the faith of Christ Jesus. There clearly seems to be a problem between them and the Palestine Jews or locals as it were. However, when you read this text you get the clear sense that the Apostles, yes, had to deal with the problem, but they made it clear that they were not going to carry the burden this problem. Others would have to do that. The reason for this was simply the recognition that they needed to walk as Jesus walked. How did Jesus walk? He walked in close communion in and with the Father God. He was a man of Prayer, of the Word, of Communion and Action.

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Categories: Abiding, Accountability, Anointing, Awakening, Calling, Character, Core Values, Dependency, Fear of God, Hearing The Lord, Holiness, Prayer, Preaching, Relationship, The Power of God, Word | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Dismantling

Posted on July 22, 2012 by mcalmond

Note: This is a personal post written by my daughter Dana Summers ***

I wanted to share with you that the Lord has been doing in my life over the last year and half.  This has been a trying year for us, as a couple, a family and for me personally.  The Lord began this year by revealing to me, by His mercy, what he was doing.  In January 2011, as I was sitting in a Bible study, I heard one word to start off my new year: “dismantling”.  “What?  I knew that this word was for me, however I hoped it was for someone else.  What does dismantling mean exactly?    The dictionary defines Dismantle as  1. to deprive or strip of apparatus, furniture, equipment, defenses, etc.: 2. to disassemble or pull down; take apart: 3. to divest of dress, covering.  He then gave me the rest:  Embrace the dismantling, Deal with fear of exposure, Remove walls of protection, Begin to see weakness as strength, Be thankful for the past, repent of regret & disappointment, Let go of expectations, Receive new directions, Receive new wisdom and  Restoration.

Apparently I had been holding on to some things and the Lord thought it was time to deal with them.  His timing is perfect, I had to remind myself of that over and over.  I am not going to lie, this has been a really difficult year/season for me.  The Lord didn’t have to let me in on what He was doing.  I am thankful that He did, but still do not have total understanding.  I have learned not to try to interpret what God is doing but to trust him in the unfolding, because it never looks like what I expected.

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Categories: Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Accountability, Anointing, Being a PK, Being Built Up, Belief System, Breaking Forth, Changes, Character, Christian Maturity, Core Values, Covering, Dependency, Divine Encounters, Encouragement, Family, Genuineness, God's Faithfulness, Hearing The Lord, Honesty, Humility, In Spirit and In Truth, Misplaced Dependency, New Beginnings, Prayer, Presumptions, Timing, Transcendence, Victory, Work of God | 2 Comments

No, It Isn’t Automatic

Posted on March 16, 2012 by mcalmond

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

John 15:8 (ESV) By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 10:10 (ESV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

The Lord knows the thoughts and plans he has for us, but are those thoughts and plans automatic?

The Lord has determined that those who serve him must bear fruit, fruit that will last, but is this automatic?

The Lord has come that we might have life, His life to the full, but is this automatic, here and now?

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Categories: Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Adoption, Alone, Being Built Up, Believer, Character, Church, Core Values, Dying to Self Will, Genuineness, Injustice, Ministry, Obedience, Process, Rest, Sacrifice, Steadfastness, Tenaciousness, Training, Vulnerability | Tags: , , , | 4 Comments

A Fresh Vision of Spiritual Covering

Posted on March 11, 2012 by mcalmond

Psalms 27:5 (ESV) For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

I want to share with you something that the Lord shared with me. It has to do with Spiritual Covering. While I admit that this phrasing has met with a lot of distortion and abuse over the years, I genuinely believe in the truth and principle of our need to cover those whom the Lord has given us. Covering has to do primarily with protection. It is in this light that I desire to share with you Spiritual Covering.

It was 1985 and my lovely wife was in Sacred Heart Hospital for surgery on a brain tumor. I had been with her for much of the time during her surgery and in recovery with very little sleep. So, I finally went to a nearby motel. As I was at the motel, I suddenly found myself under attack, spiritually. This attack was concerning things that I had long thought were taken care of. I began to cry out to the Lord concerning these things. My question was why I was suddenly vulnerable to these attacks. The presence of the Lord came and was powerful, precious and very comforting. It was then that the Lord began to grant me some clarity regarding that which I was crying out to him about.

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Categories: Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Anointing, Awakening, Calling, Covering, Empowerment, Family, Genuineness, God's Love, Hearing The Lord, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Seeing, illumination, In Spirit and In Truth, Inner Healing, Intimacy, Paradigm Shift, Prayer, Testimony, Thanksgiving | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments

The Compelling Work of God’s Grace

Posted on February 14, 2012 by mcalmond

1 Cor 9:16-18 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. ESV (cf Acts 20:22; 2Cor 5:14)

Paul did not choose his life course, it was chosen for him. The Lord chose this course of life and ministry for him and as a result, Paul was compelled by the Lord to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He does not do this out of his own will, but rather he is constrained to do this, faithfully as the Lord’s servant, as a steward of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit of God.

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Categories: Abiding, Authenticity, Benefits, Calling, Confidence, Dying to Self Will, Encouragement, God's Faithfulness, Grace, His Chosen, In Spirit and In Truth, Ministry Motivation, Prayer, Repentance, Selflessness, Simplicity | Tags: , | 2 Comments

A Dam, A Loch and His Victory

Posted on February 2, 2012 by mcalmond

While ministering in beautiful Scotland, there were a couple of days wherein an American couple (Richard and Susan) and I went to the Highlands. After spending the night in a B&B, we arose to a new a beautiful new day, setting ourselves to go forth and face the day that the Lord had prepared for us. As for myself, I was excited to get on with it and wondered what awesomeness of the Lord Jesus Christ I would be blessed and privileged to partake of. Finally, after breakfast and some pictures, we were off. We headed out to find a road, we were told would, take us further up into the Highlands.

We had, had an urging that we believed to be from the Lord Jesus. We felt Him setting our agenda. So, off we went. It wasn’t long before we found the side road we were looking for and immediately began our assent further up, ever up, into the Highlands of beautiful Scotland.

This terrain was simply awesome. I was so excited to see more of this nation that I had been coming to for so long now. After a brief stop at a park like area, we discerned that we were to continue along the road we had begun. So, we no sooner got out of the car than we were back into it headed along the road and across the Highlands.

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Categories: Abiding, Angels, Anointing, Celebration, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God Faith, Growing in Faith, His Praise, His Worship, Holy Spirit Seeing, Obedience, Open Eyes, Prayer Walks, Prophetic Revelation, Spiritual Warfare, Standing in Faith, Training, Transcendence, Victory, Waiting on the Lord, Work of God | Leave a comment

Are You Hearing His Word For You?

Posted on December 29, 2011 by mcalmond

There has always been conflicting voices in the earth. There have always been other voices than the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. And there remain many voices in the earth all claiming to be speaking the words of the Lord Jesus Christ! Yet, in the end we must discern the true voice of the Lord Jesus Christ and obey His voice and not the others, the many, many others. It is true that the Lord maybe speaking many different things to many different people, but are you hearing His voice to you and are you obeying what He is saying to you, today?

John 21:18 (ESV) Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”…Vs19…. “Follow Me”

John 21:21-22 (ESV) When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Christian Maturity, Church, Holy Spirit Hearing, Knowledge, Mentoring Men, Mentoring Women, Mentoring/Discipleship, Ministry, Noise and Distractions, Now Word, Obedience, Open Ears, Readiness, Separatism, Training, Work of God | 3 Comments

Crossing A Point of No Return

Posted on December 10, 2011 by mcalmond

How does one cross a point of no return? First of all, one would need to know that there was such a point and where that point was. I was confronted with just this reality for myself on a Saturday evening, May 5th, 2007, when I was fellowshipping with other believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, while in Scotland. The Lord had spoken so clearly to me about the weeks of ministry ahead in Scotland prior to my coming and shortly after my arrival. Right after I had  arrived in this wonderful nation, the Lord Jesus revealed to me my first insight for which I was to be ready for. It was simply this: He showed me that I would come to a point, a line, in which I would have to make a decision, a decision that carried the weight of crossing over a point of no return.

I had no clear idea when, where, how or at what point this moment of decision would come across my path. All I knew was that this would in deed take place, that it was important. Therefore I needed to be ready for it. Immediately I began praying into this forth coming event in my life.

In His timing, this point of decision did come to pass. The Lord Jesus, in a way I could not have imagined, brought things together, with such clarity, power and yet such subtly, that I knew I was at His specific place, time and moment, the moment of my decision. Would I cross over, or would I choose to play it safe, staying where I already was?

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Categories: Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Angels, Anointing, Being Built Up, Boundaries, Breaking Forth, Calling, Changes, Confidence, Divine Encounters, Following Through, Genuineness, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God's Love, Grace, Growing in Faith, New Beginnings | Leave a comment

What Really Matters

Posted on November 13, 2011 by mcalmond

There is within the verse found in Ecclesiastes 4:8 a question that is posed. It is a question that has nagged me positively over and throughout the years; “For whom am I toiling…?” It is an important question. It is a question that helps me look beyond myself or situation and discover my genuine heart and motives in any given circumstance. I find that when this question arises in me, I must be careful to not answer it hastily or presumptuously. It is a question that the Lord Jesus is using to probe and expose what is going on inside of me, truly.

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Categories: Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Authenticity, Belief System, Breaking Forth, Calling, Christian Maturity, Dependency, Growing in Faith, Humility, Intimacy, Obedience, Pastor, Prayer, Presumptions, Priorities, Reflections | 2 Comments

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