Dying to Self Will

Is The “What” All We Need To Know?

Posted on March 1, 2013 by mcalmond

Very often when we are seeking the Will of the Lord, we are thinking of “what”; what is the Lord’s will? However, when we come to believe that we have heard and understood the “what” of the Lord, we fall into the trap of assuming the answers to the vital questions of the “when” and “how” of doing the Lord’s Will. Truly to know the will of the Lord, is to know all three of the answers to these questions: What, When, and How.

I have had to learn this truth through life’s many trials and tribulations. Yes, sometimes these times of difficulties were simply because I thought that since I knew what the Lord was saying about some point of direction, ministry, plan, etc. That my knowing His What, was in itself a release for me to move forward in the manner and timing of my own choosing. My being so eager to go forth and do the work of the ministry often led me to simply leap ahead and not wait for anymore from the Lord regarding the matter of His Holy Will. I was simply too impatient to wait for any more of His understanding, His insight, His information, only to discover, to mine and others dismay, that I had gotten way ahead of the Lord. I had failed to discern His timing.

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Categories: Absolute Dependency, Accountability, Authenticity, Boundaries, Core Values, Dying to Self Will, Empowerment, Exhortation, Following Through, Grace, Hearing The Lord, Honesty | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

I Finally Did It!

Posted on February 28, 2013 by mcalmond

Well, I have finally bit the bullet, as it were, and deactivated my Facebook account. This seems like it was a long time coming and there was a very real struggle involved. The draw for me and I assume so many others, was getting in touch with and staying in touch with friends and family that are so far away in time and miles. It is this that I genuinely struggled with, the having to give up these connections, in my deactivating my account there.

I came to so distrust the Facebook developers, who incessantly were changing the program, rules, privacy issues, etc. I finally had had enough of it. Even now, having deactivated my account, nothing has changed on Facebook regarding all of the data that I put on there over the years. Everything that I had posted remains on their servers and I am told that I can go back any time and pick up right where I left off. I have no idea what they intend to do with that data of mine. Only the Lord knows. However, I finally came to the point of saying, “no more, I am done, finished, etc.”

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Accountability, Being Built Up, Deliverance, Dependency, Distractions, Dying to Self Will, Following Through | 6 Comments

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

The Rising Tide of Resurrection Life

Posted on September 3, 2012 by mcalmond

Revelation 20:4 (ESV) Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

We’re speaking of an ever-increasing pressure to live in a very compromised manner within this world. As believers, we also find ourselves under this ever-increasing pressure from within and without the so-called Church. The pressure to compromise will increasingly show itself forth with consequences to match, for those who refuse to submit to the power of compromise and tolerance. However, where sin abounds, God’s grace much more abounds.

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Categories: Accountability, Awakening, Body of Christ, Breaking Forth, Christian Maturity, Dying to Self Will, New Beginnings, Persecution, Political Correctness, Prophetic Revelation, Resurrection Life, Separatism, Steadfastness, Visions, Word of God | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Gathering Storms, Now!

Posted on August 3, 2012 by mcalmond

Please Note: I received this word from the Lord, Sunday am, April 29th, 2007 and thought that it was time to post it here.

*****

I realize that this is rather intense and most assuredly and briefly to the point. I really believe that this is simply reflective of the urgency and immediacy of the hour, moment and reality of the times in which we are living. Please do not simply shrug this off because it isn’t what you want to hear or to presumptuously dismiss this as too over the top. If we are only willing to listen to the positive, encouraging and wonderful words of the Lord Jesus Christ, what then does this genuinely say of us. At the very least there is the need for each one of us to search our hearts, lives and souls, in and before the Lord Jesus Christ, in spirit and in truth.

Here is what I received as I was in prayer and a vision of gathering storms clouds overhead unfolded before me:

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Accountability, Awakening, Body of Christ, Breaking Forth, Commands, Covering, Darkness, Deliverance, Dependency, Disobedience, Dying to Self Will, Prophecy, Repentance, Spiritual Desperation, Visions, Wind of the Spirit | 1 Comment

Thoughts About Age and Changes

Posted on April 14, 2012 by mcalmond

Change comes hard for most of us and as we get older, change seems to become even more difficult. It may simply be because of our age or it is simply because when you have spent a life time moving through one change after another, change just gets harder, more difficult and seems to require more of you than ever before. The motivation, energy and drive required for these changes seems to wane and not be as sufficient as it once was, to see you through these seemingly essential changes.

The truth is however, that true change is hard, risky and is always stressful whatever its ultimate fruit and our age at the time.

As a pastor or one who has spent the majority of his life in the ministry in one form or another, I find myself in such a season of life. The real question arises for me, regarding my need for change, is simply, is it worth the effort, difficulty, stress, etc? I have experienced a lot of changes in my life, from one move after another, from one church or ministry organization after another, from one home to another, one state to another, from one ministry crisis to another and even from one job after another. So, yes, the question arises, is this change worth all of the effort, stress and hardship it requires of us to accomplish this change and the promises that these changes hopefully contain?

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Absolute Dependency, Being Built Up, Breaking Forth, Changes, Christian Maturity, Dying to Self Will, Fear of God, Genuineness, Grace, Hearing The Lord, Holy Ghost Burdens, Hope, Jobs, Mentoring/Discipleship, Ministry Motivation, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Spiritual Fathers/Mothers, Timing, Word of God, Work | Leave a comment

Life Is All About Growing Forward

Posted on March 20, 2012 by mcalmond

Proverbs 29:18 (ESV) Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

The word “vision”, can be translated revelation, the illumination of the Word of God, God given directives that come to us prophetically by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I have come to see both the truth of not having God’s prophetic revelation in ones life and the fruit of having the Lord grant us this revelation. Let me share with you a critical time where His prophetic revelation made it possible to turn a very significant corner in my life.

There was a time after the Lord had delivered me from an almost certain car wreck on the freeway at night while on drugs, saved me from an overdose death a little later, and various other significant steps of getting my attention and helping to turn me back towards the Lord Jesus in my life. I wasn’t yet married but I had finally become desperate enough to want to get cleaned up and straightened out with my heart, life and relationship with the Lord Jesus. But I discovered early on that it wouldn’t be a quick and easy road to restoration. I had heard how the Lord had done this almost instant deliverance from drugs, etc. for others, but for me, well it was another matter. I would have to learn to walk a different path, a much slower path, a path that was conquered one little step at a time and from revelation to revelation.

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Categories: A Simple Reminder, Absolute Dependency, Authenticity, Being Built Up, Benefits, Changes, Confidence, Dependency, Dying to Self Will, God's Love, Holy Spirit Hearing, Open Ears, Prophetic Revelation, The Power of God, Work of God | 4 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

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

The Night of My Calling

Posted on January 7, 2012 by mcalmond

Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. Joel 3:14 (ESV)

I was up in the beautiful Cascade Mountains at a church campground. We had been there for several days. The evening meetings had been unusually powerful that week. One night after the service, I had gone down to the altar for a time of prayer and of seeking the face of the Lord Jesus Christ.

At some point, I laid down on the dusty plywood floor and ended up on my back with my hands extended up to the Lord Jesus. As I lay there praying and seeking the Lord Jesus, I began to have a vision.

At first I saw the Lord Jesus on the cross. He turned his head and pierced my heart and soul with his very eyes. He asked me what I had done with what I had been given? I knew the answer was nothing.

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Categories: Anointing, Calling, Calvary, Celebration, Darkness, Death on the Cross, Dying to Self Will, God's Faithfulness, Grace, Hell, Holy Ghost Burdens, Last Days, Mercy, Ministry Motivation, Obedience, Priorities, Prophetic Revelation, Repentance, Work of God | Tags: , , , , | 4 Comments

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