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Remember that theme song from the Beverly Hillbillies ... "The Ballad of Jed Clampet?"
The last weekend of May Grace & I were in O'Neill, Nebraska releasing the God, Gold and Glory spirit in a dynamic and hungry church by the name of Gateway to Glory Ministries. Pastors Terry & Keri Clevinger are precious leaders that are on fire for the Lord and desperate to see revival in the land. According to Pastor Terry the services were "over the top." God moved powerfully and everyone was blessed.
As it turns out that was the first time Grace & I were released to minister outside of California since our book God, Gold & Glory came out in January of 2010. We found out that God had a strategic plan. We came from the geographical center of California and found out we were at the geographical center of America. We also came from the center of the prayer move in California and that church received us as the spiritual center of America. We also found out that one of the worship team had written a song "A Line in the Sand," which is the theme for the Rose Bowl Gathering on 11/11/11 in Pasadena, Ca. Most of that church is now coming to the Rose Bowl and their worship team is going to lead some of the worship, including singing the theme song.
God knows how to hook it up!
Now, the day after the meetings were finished in O'Neill the devil was mad. That afternoon a violent line of thunderstorms started to spring off tornados all over the area. We had just returned to our hotel after touring a bit with the pastors when the siren started blasting. Two tornados were on the ground just a few minutes away and a large black cell centered itself on our town and started to spin right above us. The whole thunderhead was trying to become a huge tornado and take us all out. Pastor Terry, who lives there, said he has never seen anything like it. Everyone in the hotel ran for the safety zone as directed by management as we were all praying. After a bit Grace & I stepped out by the carport and pointed at that thing and rebuked it in the name of Jesus. The pastors, who were on the cell phones with us from a few blocks down the street, were outside the church blowing their shofars. The storm chasers were there and this storm was live on national T.V. on The Weather Channel.
That storm spun right down over us, but it couldn't land. Then it passed a bit to the east and a half mile away we watched it spit off 2 twisters that proceeded to move away from us. All we wound up with was a great show. Us California folks finally got to see real tornados.
I told you that story to tell you that as the siren was screaming and everyone in town was running for cover, I was thinking of the safety and peace of Mariposa, California. I was also thinking of a couple of sad prophecies about California that were going around and the humor and irony of it all.
A COUPLE OF SAD PROPHECIES
Many of you are probably aware that a couple of well known prophets have prophesied judgment by earthquake over California. One of them actually told everyone to leave California unless God told you otherwise.
Ironically right after that prophet released that word, in one night 26 tornadoes hit his state. Twenty three people were killed with hundreds injured and over 800 homes damaged. Soon after that much of the southeast went under siege. Towns were removed by tornados and major cities were devastated.
Question ~ where were their prophecies for that?
On top of that the floods from the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers have devastated entire regions from Wyoming & Montana to South Louisiana. Texas just experienced a huge wildfire (and is still in a severe heat wave and draught) and Arizona is currently fighting its largest forest fire in history. The tornados alone have caused more devastation recently than California has ever seen in its entire history. With all of its fires and earthquakes, California has never looked like what we are seeing elsewhere in America today.
Grace was born and raised in California and I have lived here fifty plus years and neither of us has ever experienced an earthquake crisis. On the other hand, we were only in Nebraska a few days and were praying for our lives. We actually had no fear and rather enjoyed the experience, (smile!) but, that was because of faith and not the disrespect of the circumstances. We knew we weren't sent to Nebraska to die, but to release the glory!
The Lord has directed our entire ministry recently to reveal to the church "the California that He sees," to stop the church from be-littleing and cursing the state, and to encourage the body that "you're in the right place at the right time." So, you can imagine our reaction when we first heard those misguided words. Jesus!
CALIFORNIA & EARTHQUAKES
Prophesying that California will have earthquakes is like predicating it will get cold in Minnesota next winter. Help me Jesus! Yes, California will probably have earthquakes, but it isn't judgment it will be the continental plates shifting, and all the fault lines that we have built our cities upon. But we can still pray for protection and blessing anyway.
CALIFORNIA IS BLESSED!
Listen to me folks ... yes, California has some real issues that need prayer and repentance, but it also produces more spiritual fruit then any place on earth. More world-wide ministries have been launched out of California than any other place. Furthermore, the California body is responding to the Lord in a very positive and uncommon way right now. Prayer moves of all kinds are on a dramatic increase in this state. Grace & I have had the opportunity to be connected to prayer groups all over this state and we see it happening. The church is rising up! They know that a spiritual war is raging in the heavenlies for this state and that it is time to cross that "line in the sand" and give it all, and many are doing it! California has more Houses of Prayer, sacred assemblies, apostolic/prophetic roundtables and just plain on-fire intercession groups in spirit-filled churches than any state in the union.
God doesn't judge that, he blesses it!
THE REMNANT PRINCIPLE
All through the Bible God has allowed a small remnant of believers to turn away God's judgment. Every revival I have studied began with a very small handful of desperate prayer warriors. In Nehemiah chapter 1 he stood alone praying and repenting for Israel. Nine chapters later the whole nation was standing with him having church.
Isaiah 65:8 says "the new wine is found in the cluster ... destroy it not, for a blessing is in it." We not only make most of the natural wine here but the "new wine" (Which speaks of His presence) pours out of California like a mighty river, so don't speak destruction ... bless it!
The Lord showed me that when the church gets encouraged it gets empowered ... when it is empowered and sees the spiritual gold it is sitting on it will start coming in agreement with what He is doing instead of what the devil is doing ... when that happens they will speak blessing with a passion. Consequently an encouraged church speaking the blessing over this state with a passion in their hearts puts it right where it needs to be ... in God's hands!!
California holds a huge "cluster" (remnant) in her bosom which is the church. So Californians, be encouraged. God loves California. Bless this state with a passion and encourage the brethren.
A CALIFORNIA PRAYER OF MERCY AND PROTECTION
We also need to pray for these prophets of doom. They missed this one so bad that it could do great damage to their ministries. They need us right now more than they might think. What they did is dangerous. Like Grace said to me one time, "the church needs a fresh dose of 'the fear of the Lord' and 'the goodness and the severity of God.'" It is dangerous to curse what God has blessed.
"Lord, we hold these men up to you and ask for your mercy. Reveal to them the truth. We believe that they are truly men of God that simply made a mistake. They spoke out of their uninformed soul, not your Spirit. Forgive them Lord and keep your hedge of protection about them. We bless them in Jesus name. Amen."
ANOTHER TUNE
There is a line from another old tune sung by Al Jolson back in the 20s that I believe as intercessors we need to re-fire prophetically. I think I heard Jesus singing it the other day ... Grin!
It goes like this ...
"... that's why I can hardly wait ... open up that Golden Gate ...
California, Here I come!"
So folks, don't run from California ... run to it ... its safer and it's blessed.
God is on the move in the Golden State!
Shout amen with me somebody!
Well, that's our take on it around here ... we hope it encourages some of you.
May the good Lord take a likin' to ya!
We love you Jesus style !!
Henry & Grace Falany
P.S.
GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN NOW HAS GOD, GOLD & GLORY!
On May 19th Grace & I were privileged to be honored as guests at the California Prayer Breakfast at the capitol. This annual event was formerly very secular and it was called the Governor's Prayer Breakfast. The name was changed because the governors hardly ever attend. But this time it was truly a spirit-filled "Jesus event" and Governor Jerry Brown came. (And when he did his short greeting he said that we need the Holy Spirit to help us in California .. PTL! I admit I had to repent a bit ... and obliged to do it! Grin!)
During the meal I had the opportunity for a brief chat with him and shared that I had written a book on the spiritual history of California. To my surprise he immediately expressed a sincere interest in reading the book. So I went back to our table and got a book, and, without him seeing us, everyone at our table laid hands on it and quietly prayed Acts 19 (aprons and handkerchiefs) over it. I wrote a blessing in it to him and signed it then went back to his table where he gratefully received the book. Later several folks said they saw him reading it several times during the breakfast. "Lord, we thank you for touching and blessing Governor Jerry Brown!" Nothing is impossible with God ... the heart of the king is in His hands!! Can I get one more amen?
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