I waited a week to ponder, asked Dad (our Heavenly Father) a lot of questions. It became clear that the smart thing to do was to pull out. I called my broker and sold everything, except for two stocks. The Friday I pulled out, the market stumbled. Monday it crashed–I reeled! My resources were saved. I marveled at the goodness of our God. My broker, originally from India and of a Middle Eastern faith, asked how I knew. I respectfully shared that the only true God lives and speaks and would speak to him if he were to ask.

Many people lost great deals of money. Some lost it all and sadly, some people committed suicide. For months after the crash market gurus attempted to explain the cause with many explanations. It was pretty simple in my mind, our God holds it all in his hands!

My Struggle

There is more to this story, one of immaturity in me. When He mentioned he would drop the market, I wanted to short the market, which is a way to make more money by leveraging against a dropping market. When the crash occurred, I was angry, livid that His counsel to me was not to leverage. Within two days I could have been very comfortable with the profits. I would’ve been able to buy a home free and clear, a new car, have retirement and give to the ministry! Instead I was pacing in the living room of my townhouse rental fuming at God’s counsel to not short the market. It was not pretty.

In great care, that a Father can only have for a son, He took me into a vision. In this vision my face was up against a magnificent sculpture made of pure silver, translucent in its purity. It was very expensive, smooth and glassy as far as the eye could see. Then He began to pull me slowly away from the sculpture and then quickly to an aerial view over the sculpture. I was aghast! It was a fish hook. Then the Holy Spirit said; “This would have been in your jaw.” I knew instantly what was being said.

In my youngness and immaturity, I would have been drug away into the deceitfulness of wealth with the windfall. Please hear my heart–wealth is not bad, but it would not have been good for me at that stage of my life. What wisdom God has for our lives. I did not know myself as He did and He preserved my life once again. Many times His counsel has saved me from the wreckage of poor decisions.

Following His Leading

Wise investing is a kingdom privilege among God’s people. It just may not be the way you think it should be. I had given Him all of me which includes my money. Now He is taking care of what is His and mine to manage.

Early on in my walk with the Lord that was a big deal. I thought He would do it every time, keep me in plenty and care for me with increase. After I married, there came a day when in following His lead our family made a major move. It was His lead, yet we lost 80% of our resources. What happened?! One of the reasons we lost resources is I didn’t listen to my wife, Bethany’s, advice. My wife had insight I didn’t have from our heavenly Dad. You see, God can give resources to us, but can we steward it well over time? The answer is a resounding yes, providing we listen to the God-given voices placed in our lives.

Wise investing comes from God’s counsel. I have been aware of an increasing activity among the community of kingdom citizens upon the earth. God is preparing His people to hear and obey regarding money and its influence. Even more, its influence on the heart. It has been said that wealth is not what you have, its what you don’t need. When the heart finds release from sin, it’s journey into healing, freedom and fulfillment in Christ causes a radical shift in our needs and perception of needs. God is working, showing His Church that He can supply our needs and use us in His amazing plan to fund kingdom work on the earth through us.

God’s Goodness

I really think God is about the enjoyment of amazing His people with what He can do. Recently Dad asked me this question: “Didn’t I do good?” I chuckled when He asked that question. We were cut back by 60% of my income the past 14 months. After a major layoff, I was moved from full time to two days a week at work. It has been a nervous time for me. Not as much for Bethany. She had seen God come through time and again for her and her family growing up on the mission field in Africa. She has a gift of faith I believe. Not me, I have to work for faith. So, it was especially meaningful for Dad to ask that question.

He has done good providing for our major needs and surprisingly, even some of our wants. I started laughing when He asked me that question. I said, “Lord, you have done really good!” He loves to love us. I am convinced.

Abiding in Him

I have written this third blog regarding 2013 for this reason. I believe people of our great nation will be paying closer attention to Christians. I believe God’s people are going to show God’s goodness by how He provides and cares for us as our country experiences increase and then comes under greater strain in the days to come.

Even though it has already begun, there is coming a day when people will become greatly concerned over the US and her weakening position on the world theater, as well as the increasing cost of living and the dollar strength decline and more. The people of God will be demonstrating how good God is at taking care of His own. It will be easy to ask ‘won’t you consider becoming His own too?’

How will this happen? It is all about abiding. Think about this: our place is to abide in Him, to be in Him and see through His eyes about living life from heaven to earth. This is a game changer if we get this. No more wondering if He cares, if He wants to pull through for us. If we are in Him, He is causing us to be like Him and talk like Him. Our God rides on the wings of our confession. Our wonderings become removed as they are displaced by His very essence, presence and intentions. I believe His intentions for us are to prosper according to our needs and surplus. Our God is not impoverished. Look at your own life, has He skimped using a limited budget regarding His heart and dealings with you? Absolutely not! He is lavish in compassion for us because of His riches!

Time to gather into barns

We will see increase for this season largely for the sake of gathering into barns. When Joseph gathered during times of increase, it was for the coming drought in Egypt. A respected author recently wrote: “We are in times of gathering and God is giving creative solutions for increase.” I agree. We are not to be ruled by increase, as I could have. We are to be sober in our being led with increased resources. Now is the time to learn how to hear and be lead by the precious Holy Spirit. Scores of Americans will be watching because our country has lost her way and needs kingdom citizens to show her the way back, to show them how it is done. Here we go!

Ways to wisely invest your time:

1. Family/relationships – Your loved ones want your time, not a fancier car. Disneyland is a dream come true to a child, but only if you are there. Last night Bethany pulled out photos of a family sailboat cruise we took when our son Deryck was 2 years old. There were priceless moments spent wisely. Time never given again, yet returning invaluable benefits.

2. Presence of God – A major key to wisely invested time is being where the precious Holy Spirit is working. Go where God is working. Where is God pouring out His presence? Go there. It will calibrate your mind to that of proper priorities.

Young Samuel made his bed where the presence of God was represented by the Ark. Samuel began and ended each day in the presence of God. This heart attitude led Samuel to invest his time wisely. As a result, he was properly postured to hear God calling him.

With this in mind, I encourage you visit our Sought Out events and home encounters. The recent Sought Out Global event called, “The Rising” was a place where God was working. It was powerful and life altering for many that night. People reported not being able to sleep that night after experiencing a significant level of God’s presence. Some mentioned they have “never seen that before”, another reported it being the best service in 10 years. Though we appreciate the encouragement, we are not looking to perform another service as we are desiring a climate that stewards God’s presence for the sake of His glory and the benefit of people.

Another wonderful report came from a women who bent low under the powerful presence of the Lord and took to her knees under the weightiness of God’s holiness. She shares later she does not kneel due to an artificial knee and a deteriorated other knee. She arose from under God’s presence bewildered as she was on her knees and without pain!

Go where God is working. It is important to not squander your most valuable commodity–time. Arise from time in God’s presence and do what He says. God will multiply your wisely invested time from being where He is working to touching other lives for their sake. Now we are finally talking about wise investing in 2013!

As Herb Marks began to pray about this year, he felt like God told him four specific things regarding what this year will look like and he has decided to share these insights with you. Herb is addressing the forth point in Part I of this blog and will expound on the additional points in the coming weeks.

THE RISING – Part I

This year 2013 is the year of the Rising…

It will be a year of blessing.

 1. This year we will need clear discernment by the precious Holy Spirit.

2. We will need to be Holy Spirit led in how and what to invest in financially.

3. We will need His counsel regarding how to invest our most precious asset–time. God will multiply your service this year, so make sure it is not a good idea, rather a God idea.

4. And foremost, The Rising is beginning. For the next three years there will be a new insurgence of those coming to Christ and those returning as prodigals.

America’s excesses are being trimmed off. Our country will not have the deep reserves it once enjoyed because America is hemorrhaging. One of the many reasons America is weakened fiscally is from giving too much of her resources away with hopes of favor internationally. Many countries will turn away from the US as financial support wanes. Some countries will look upon us as an opportunity to be taken advantage of. “Take down the great giant,” will be their cry. France will be less friendly and our allies will be nervous, some will become offended. Others will think it strange America is weakened, losing respect on the international theatre. Relationships will be strained by the shift of diminishing dominance and influence. Watch the dollar.

Many Americans will become disillusioned as America changes. Divided lines will become increasingly contrasting. People will go harder after the ailing American dream and the sad cost will be the delusion of their souls. Yet there will be a rising of those that will once again look to God for their answers. A cross section of Americans will wake and rise to seek God.

Of that rising, many are prodigals fallen by the lures of pleasure and American security. They will come to their senses and seek the God they had forgotten once again. But, not as before. There are some incredible churches out there, and these awakened seekers will gravitate away from churches that coddle and helped them fall asleep and be drawn to churches that speak truth and life. They have had their fill of soft talk, softer action and powerless kingdom building. The gospel they experienced was neutered and ensued with boredom. In their returning to God, they will swing far away from these experiences. They will drive hard after truth, destiny and power. This power is ignited by love, promised by the precious Holy Spirit to those who know they are bankrupt in their soul without Him. If it costs them, all the better. They have no more time to waste; they have already done that. They want action and it needs to be authentic. They will need patience and love with heavy doses of Gods presence for the sake of assurance that they are on the right track.

The risk is, they can be taken advantage of. If anyone says they have Gods presence in their midst and it is only a whipping up of a song and dance, they will leave again, with great mistrust. This can never be! If we don’t love well how can we host the God of love? If we don’t discern His lead well, how can we understand His counsel and wisdom for proper stewarding of His presence of power and love? They will leave as quietly as they came. Oh that the church will heed the call of the cornerstone of the church to maturity for those that are about to come through our doors.

Read Part II

Parents will hold dear the last moments they had with their child. I’m sure that they will recall that last hug, last words shared and the last time they kissed their children’s cheeks. Those last moments…priceless.

When Jesus was with His disciples for the last time, His last remaining moments, His last words He would speak promised to be priceless. He would choose them carefully. We find Jesus’ last words in Acts 1:8-9 where Jesus instructs His disciples to receive the Holy Spirit. One of the ways Jesus describes the Holy Spirit is by referring to Him as the comforter. Of all Jesus could have said, these were His parting words. There is none who can comfort better than the presence of the precious Holy Spirit.

With all that Christmas stands for, the families in Connecticut need the comfort of one who by experience understands their pain of intolerable loss. He too lost His son, the one who was born in that stable. This same personal God, acquainted with grief can best bring comfort to those in unbearable grief.

We remember to pray for those families and there loss this Christmas. Only God can bring comfort when comfort seems impossible. This is what God does best for He is the God of the impossible. We are with you.

I know that for many of you it has not been the easiest year. There have been many challenges to face this past year and much grief that our nation and maybe you have even felt personally. You may have not experienced a massive tragedy like in Connecticut, but maybe you have experienced your own personal loss or disappointment. As we close this year and prepare to begin another, I would like to encourage you to look back at this year and see where you can find the hand of God in your life. Consider the many blessings that God brought into your life and be grateful for the growth that comes from challenges.  Take time to thank God for your loved ones that you get to embrace this Christmas and let go of some of those things that did not come through this year. May you have a divine moment where you can remember all the times that God held you this past year and may it bring you hope and encouragement for the year to come.

While many of us have time with our families this holiday season, commit to affirm your children this year–whether they are 10 or 55.  Say those words that you want to be ringing long after they are said.  We never know when they will be the last.  Perhaps, someone is thinking, “If only I had said…”  Don’t let those be your thoughts.  Each of us need value and words have so much impact.  Value, love, significance and joy are some words that easily come to mind with our children.  Tell them how you feel.  Have a Merry Christmas!

Herb Marks and the Sought Out Global team.

 Why does God do this?

 One of many reasons, I am sure you will agree, is to simply remind us of Jesus’ love for us. He loves us like crazy! His character towards us demonstrates how He has our very best in mind. We would do well to grasp this realism.

Another reason is to expose His people to His power and authority, “on earth as it is in heaven.” A moment in His presence will often mess with and properly adjust perceptions and paradigms of our thinking–how we view God.

Here are several ways (there were many more) heaven came in October and November during our home encounters:

• A man experienced a wind blow on his face and chest as he sat in his seat.  At that moment fire started in his belly. It began to elevate up through his chest, throat and head, leaving out through the top of his head. After this experience he reported feeling lighter with a sense of freedom. The buildings lights had also become brighter in that moment.

• A woman seated on the front row smelled a sweet oil, mixed with spices come by her two times. The second time the fragrance came by her, she was healed of all back pain. She had been in pain up till that moment.

• A tall gentleman experienced a pressure deep within his being which began to surface. With a rush it came up and out of his body in a loud voice. In a moment it was gone. He had a life altering trauma as a young teenager. Decades later and now retired, his mind is free, quiet and at peace for the first time.

• A woman had a knot or hard calcified lump on the back of her neck from a car accident dating back to the 1970’s. During the gathering, she discovered she was not able to remain standing in the presence of the Holy Spirit’s power. When she was able to regain her strength and stand to her feet once again, the solid knot in her neck had instantly disappeared including decades of neck pain and/or discomfort.

• A man tells of experiencing electricity going through his body yet “without being shocked.” During this mans encounter with the precious Holy Spirit and His power he experienced heat, electrical current and the inability to remain standing in His presence.

• Two 12 year old boys and a 10 year old girl at a Sought Out Home Encounter were taken into visions. They had never experienced anything like this before. Detailed and meaningful, the presence of the precious Holy Spirit was leading children into new dimensions. Later that evening the girl experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit with a new personal prayer language. A day later her younger sister asked to receive what her older sister had received and was also baptized in the Holy Spirit in their home! Grandma reported that revival has begun in their home!

Why does God do this?

Those observing and those touched by God’s power agree that God is amazing in his love! That is why God does this! He desires for us to know Him and experience Him. His invitation to know Him and meet with Him is unprecedented to mankind. How should we respond? First, Hebrews 11:6 says we must come in faith that He exists which pleases God and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Therefore our response to His invitation is surely “Yes Lord!”  We are stunned at the thought of Your invitation and come with great expectation!

 How do we invite these types of miracles into our lives?

Here are a few tips:

• Be expectant.
• Know that God is good
• Trust His Holy Spirit
• Be patient
• Be looking
• Hearts clean (Ps 24)
• Receive His goodness His way
• Love Him back not only for what He has done, but for who He is

Come join us as we meet with Him expectantly!

Her mother then stood to her feet and removed from her purse a note. It had been written by the lady I was prophesying to and given to her mother for safe keeping. She had entered the church just prior to the start of the service during which time she was taken into a vision. In this vision she saw a clock that read 3:50pm. The word that came with the vision was telling her that at this exact time today God was making a shift in her life. Her mother then said for all to hear, “What time do you see on the clock?” I responded “At this moment the clock is reading 3:50pm.” The church fell silent. A holy moment. Then I asked the people, what are the chances of this happening?! The precious Holy Spirit had been moving in our midst for more than 2 hours.

People had been healed, encouraged by numerous prophetic words of knowledge and insight and some received imparted annointings. There were some who trembled by His power and others who experienced profound heat in their bodies by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Many had stood for times of prayer and ministry. A lot happened in those two hours, yet God made sure that this woman did not miss her moment. What amazing orchestration of perfect timing.

We were amazed at how precise God can be. What are the chances for such perfection and precision to coordinate a gathering of the human condition into a time lock of exact proportions? It was exactly 3:50pm, not 3:51, not 3:49. He holds time in His hand and miracles for His people. His timing is impeccable; leave your worries in His care. God is never late if you trust Him for your yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). This is a wonderful reminder of how He watches over us with a loving and watchful eye. Place your trust in Him, He holds nations in His hand and determines our times and even where we are to live (Acts 17:26)!

Calling to Prayer!

I believe the Lord is inviting us into a period of prayer lasting until the end of this year, 2012. It is a sobering and exciting call to prayer. As we answer this assignment, there will be help sent from God that will accompany our times of prayer. God will increase the effectiveness of our prayer as if by placing a megaphone on our mouths. I observed by open vision a megaphone being placed upon the lips of praying people, I believe God is listening intently, our voices magnified to fulfill His call to prayer for His church and America’s destiny. With this call to prayer there will be an acceleration of answered prayer. Ask what you will and it will be done.

There are two steps for us to consider. 1.) Our Posture: Purity! Our preparation for the assignment of prayer. 2.) Calling: Pray! Engaging the three areas of focus.

1.) Our Posture: Purity!

This portion of the word came with force. We must be clear in our affections for our Savior.
There came a clear concern in God’s heart that He find faithfulness in the church at large. Therefore it is our privilege to audit ourselves before the Lord.

We are to guard our affections in the following three areas as presented by this word:

- Possessions. That we own our stuff, rather than our stuff owning us. At any time we are emotionally free to give away what we have. Our hearts are easily led by Jesus rather than by what we possess. Are we possessed or do we possess? (As in the case with the rich young ruler in Luke 18:18-23.)

- Pleasure. God has made us for pleasure. Be sure He is your pleasure instead of pleasure seeking. One way to examine your heart is to consider this, what you think about most is what pleases you most. If it is not Jesus then it is called idolatry.

- Positioning. Do not seek mans approval. Don’t volley for position. Ministry is expressing all that God has wired you to become, not a ministry position (Isaiah 50:11).

Caution: Responding to the call to pray without taking seriously our privilege and responsibility of the three above heart audits could harm us in the long run. We need to understand we should not access His power without first asking the Holy Spirit to work purity in our lives. This is not about works, rather a heart that gives our kind Heavenly Father access to remove areas of concern and compromise. This too was emphasized during the prophecy/dream.

Calling: Pray!

There are three areas of focus within this 4th quarter call to prayer. They are:

1. Holiness within the church. Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3-5).

2. His bride lovingly, with humility, being uncompromising regarding purity and power  her visibility to the world. Do everything without grumbling or arguing,so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life (Philippians 2:14-16).

3. Crying out for America’s destiny. Pray for her conscience and to turn back to God, which includes the elections. If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

The call to prayer during this final quarter of 2012 is for the sake of the church at large being pure in her affectionate passion with God. Wisely, lovingly with humility reaching for a nation waking from its slumber.

Outpouring: God’s Love Surprises! A Shift in perception

During this time of prayer, His touch will visit for healing, deliverance, freedom, etc. For example, you will come to church one way and leave different. Some of you will say “I think different, I feel different, I talk different, I want different. I even walk different, I love different, I expect different, I work different, I spend money different. I love my spouse different.”

God is aligning your thoughts and perceptions to the culture of heaven. He is at work changing your views by His invading presence. God’s love will surprises you while you worship or listen to the Word preached. It will happen when you least expect it. Driving your car, cooking in the kitchen or while at work. Something will be different. God’s ‘love surprise’ will make things different, for the better in your life.

In the midst of one heavenly reunion, there was another miracle brewing. Bethany noticed that grandma’s caretaker seemed to be in pain. Her hips hurt so bad she couldn’t walk in a straight line. She said her coffee would spill out of her cup if she tried to walk. This kind caretaker helped grandma day and night. Lifting and moving her, had left grandmas caretaker in a lot of pain. Imagine grandma in heaven, leaning up to Jesus and asking Him to heal her. After all, her daughter, who was her caretaker, had done so much for her over the last several years. Bethany asked if she would welcome prayer. An immediate answer was yes. As she sat in a chair I lifted up her feet and noticed one leg was shorter than the other. The one leg grew out to meet the other and the pain in her hips left in the same moment. She now walks a straight line without spilling her coffee! She is ecstatic! Now it is three weeks later and her doctor has confirmed the healing.

This is the same miraculous stuff. What is in heaven touched earth. Grandma was transported to her new body where she walks the streets of heaven that are closer than you think. So close that when we prayed for her caregiver here on earth the Kingdom where grandma is touched her.

If Hebrews 13:8 claims “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever” would that include now? If now, then that is The City touching earth because Jesus is seated at the right arm of His father in Heaven, the great City of God. On earth as it is in Heaven? Of course. If you are a citizen of that Great City, miracles are available. So go get some. Share it with others! Scripture says the Kingdom of God has come to you when you pray for people. The flip side of the coin is the sobering verse Luke 17:20, which explains that the Kingdom of God will not come to you if you casually observe. Which are you? The simplest thing to do is pray and obey. The Holy Spirit will take care of the rest! Bring on the Kingdom!

As people came, several were noticeably shook up by the experience, probably a first time experience for them. The precious Holy Spirit gently met the people who came. One man succumbed by the Holy Spirit became increasingly weak. As he leaned against the wall, he labored for breath as tears streamed down his joy lit face. Several could not remain standing as the Lord healed and blessed them. Another let out a short shriek as an adversarial hold lost its grip.

Why does God do this? Many reasons could be shared, but the main reason is simply because He loves us. God is good, so very good. A touch of His kingdom came visiting in an uncommon way. The culture of the Great City of God became a manifest presence in our midst for a moment. Being we are citizens of the Great City, perhaps it is not a bad thing we become more accustomed to the City of our destiny… and what about angles? Hebrews 1 tells us they are ministering spirits sent from God to us. The breeze or movement of air? Air movement can be symbolic of the Holy Spirit present in power like it was in Genesis 1&2, Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 12 or angels in Hebrews 1:7.

When the Holy Spirit is moving, He is bringing life and order. The Hebrew word “Ruach” means, that which gives life and order. Life found only in Jesus, order by the Holy Spirit. This is the government of God and His kingdom. We need both–life and order. They are packaged and sent to us in many ways. This morning as we worshiped, one of the ways God sent His love was preluded with angels. Why? Because God is good, so very good.

Don’t you find that it is easier to believe for someone else rather than for yourself?  I think everything is on the line with God if He doesn’t respond with what I’m asking for.  It’s about knowing God in the path seldom taken.

I was not able to get pregnant, but almost every person I pray for who desires to get pregnant, gets pregnant.  I have learned to ask God, “Is this someone I can pray with You and contend for so that she can get pregnant?”  And then I trust Him with whatever the answer may be: yes or no.  I trust God and His timing.  He has eternity in mind for everything that comes our way.  So isn’t it interesting that I had the very same confidence in God when believing about my own babies, but didn’t carry to term?  It is that very same faith in God’s best that somehow changes things in other women’s lives; by talking with and believing in God and His character.  I have stories of women with miscarriages that had their first child, ladies who had never gotten pregnant with that smile on their faces, now pregnant. I always celebrate with them, sometimes, with tears afterwards.

So, what is it about God!?  Will we ever understand why He does what He does?

We all love the stories we hear.  Ok, sometimes we wonder, “Could that really have happened?  I wish I was there to be sure.”  But those amazing stories!   A family whose car should have been hit, but the other car went right thru theirs—a miracle!  No other explanation.  “Why not me, GOD?  I want to be sure of You!”

I remember an incredible movie I saw just the last few minutes of.  It was about the Holocaust.  A group of men were sitting in the barracks and doing the Jewish debate about God.  “Does He hear us?”  “Does He care?“ “He can’t!  Look around us.”  There were men taking all sides in a seriously dark place where pressure is so strong no one can avoid the wrestle.  “I no longer believe He exists.” says one man.   “We have to trust His character when nothing makes sense!” another contends. “Life is life, then it is over” was a response.  Right then the guards came in and the men started lining up to leave for the gas chamber.  But then they all began praying together in Hebrew, in the middle no answers–there was God.

I may not know “why” until I look into His eyes, face to face, cheek to cheek.   Then His love will eradicate every doubt I ever had.  Oh, but the journey!  I have learned to trust Him no matter what I think.  “His character!”  in spite of all the evidence blowing whirlpools into my vision.  The here and now can consume you, but we must look from an eternal perspective.  Cling to Him in the wind!  His character, nothing less!  Ask for miracles.  When that very first one comes your way, you will have already been changed—forever .  God is always the same.  He is for us and not against us.  HE IS AMAZING—BEYOND WORDS!  Run!  Run to Him even when you cannot answer the why’s.

- Bethany Marks