I think I've told this story before but at my age, you are allowed to
repeat.  Bob Mumford, who, in my opinion, is probably one of the most
practical Bible teachers I have ever heard, told this true story.  He said,
when he was thirteen years old, he was walking home from school when he
found a duck.  The bird was covered with oil and axle Greece so couldn't
fly.  He picked him up and carried him home and place him in the bathtub.
He had to fill the tub several times as he washed and scrubbed and soaped
the duck but eventually, the duck was as clean as a whistle.  Bob was so
proud of his involvement with the life of an animal the Lord had made so the
very first thing the duck did in appreciation was bit him.  I don't know if
you know this or not but ducks can freaking bite hard.  Bob told this story
and then said this was a picture of the ministry.  He prayed and prayed and
begged God to use him in the ministry and once he was in the ministry and
got used by people, then he realized what life was all about.  Sometimes,
those in ministry work, can help people all the way and even make loads of
progress but we shouldn't be surprised when we get duck bit.  This happened
to me today and I was totally unprepared.  I should have known better
because this is the second time it has happened in recent months but I can't
help myself because I love people.  It is who I am.  I get bitten once and
awhile and what do I do?  Go back for more.  This time, however, it hurt
pretty bad so naturally I am going to be a lot more careful.  Did I say this
the other day?  I don't recall posting this to echurch but if I did, forgive
me for the repeat.  I was praying on my swing out on the deck a few nights
ago.  I pray much differently than the average Christian because I mostly
think my prayers.  That is, I don't pray out loud.  The Lord taught me this
method of prayer many years ago and I have learned more from the Holy Spirit
this way than any other way of praying.  When I do spiritual warfare for
people, I pray in tongues.  Forgive me for those of you who don't believe in
the gift of tongues but it is what I do anyway when conducting spiritual
warfare in the behalf of others.  Some of you on this list are some of those
for whom I pray so you'll have to take it as it comes because I'm not
changing now.  Anyhow, I have learned to pray by thought alone and as I was
doing this the other night, hardly aware I was doing it at all, I suddenly
heard the Holy Spirit speaking very clearly.  "You are never demonically
attacked without my preier knowledge."  Wow!  I thought.  I always knew this
theologically, at least I thought I did, but now I heard my own human
recreated spirit saying amen to what I had just been told and I knew I
believed it was the truth.  Then I heard, "And nothing will ever happen to
you that I am not aware of first."  thank God!  I knew this, too,
theologically and Scripturally but when you hear God say it in your spirit,
it is like engraved in stone and can never be erased.  Of course, I knew
this also meant something was about likely to happen.  Sure enough, two
things immediately occurred within a day or to and I was so thankful I can
thank God He already knew about it.  Yes, I cried.  I even suffered physical
pain and yet I could thank God He already knew about it.  I very likely have
lost a friend in the process, too.  Maybe this isn't all that earth shaking
to you but after walking with the Lord for 47 years and learning eternal
things that make my relationship with the Lord more intimate is worth
testifying about.

Phil.

I Flew Kites With Jesus
www.SafePlaceFellowship.com