When one comes to know the Lord through His Word, and the revealed truth concerning worship, how can a body of believers sing just one, two, three songs, and call it worship? Within the written pages of scripture the Holy Spirit reveals Gods desire for us to worship Him. We were created by Him, and for Him, and for His pleasure. (Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1;16; Revelation 4:11) He inhabits the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3) He surrounds us with Songs of Deliverance. (Psalm 32:7) Have you not read? Have you not heard? The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) Not only will God inhabit our praise, but He rejoices over us with SINGING!!!
If one looks beyond this world into eternity one will see the heavens declare His glory, all creation knows His name, unashamed they SING His praise! (Psalm 19)
Take a glimpse into heaven through the book of Revealtion, and hear the new song being sung, not only in the future, but in the present: "Thou Art worthy to take the book and open the seals thereof: for Thou was slain, and has redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nations; and has made us unto our God, kings and priest: and we shall reign on the earth. And I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beast and elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousands, and ten thousands of thousands; Saying with a LOUD VOICE, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessings. And every creature which is in HEAVEN and on the EARTH, and UNDER the EARTH, and such as are in the SEA, and all that are in them, heard I saying, " BLESSING, and HONOR, and GLORY, and POWER be unto HIM who sits upon the throne and unto the LAMB for ever and ever." And the four beast said AMEN. And the four and twenty elders FELL DOWN and worshipped Him who LIVES forever and ever! (Revleation 5:9-14)
So tell me, how can we gather together and just sing one, two, three songs, and a closing song then go about our own way? When the Father seeks us to worship Him.
But the hour COMES, and NOW IS when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Fahter SEEKS such to worship Him. God is a spirit, and they who worship Him MUST worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24)
2 Samuel 22:1-3
Then David spoke to the Lord with words of this song, on the day when the Lord had delievered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. And he said, "The Lord is my ROCK, and my FORTRESS, and my DELIEVER, the God of my STRENGTH, and my REFUGE, my SAVIOR, You save me from VIOLENCE."
Exodus 15:2
The Lord is my STRENTH, and my SHIELD; my heart trusted in Him and I am helped; Threfore my heart greatly rejoices, and with MY SONG I will Praise Him.
Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 100:4
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
I praise the One who lives forever! I praise the one who has put eternity within my heart! I prasie Him amongst the heavenly host, the sun, the moon and the stars! I praise Him who rides upon the wings of the wind, the One who has created all things for His glory and for His pleasure! I praise His name, for His name is above all names, and forever I will worship in the beauty of His holiness! My Lord Jesus Christ, it is with all my heart that I sing Your praise!!!
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I sing praise to my GOD while I have my being. (Psalm 104:33)
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
In The Year Of......
I’m in the process of telling my story to a published author, and in this process I’ve had to look back at my life, a child of poverty, a child of abuse, and a teenager captured by addiction, and lust, and my lost soul searching for some kind of substance to life, wanting answers to questions, and was never satisfied with what I knew life to be…..
In this process of recording events throughout my life, a converstion arose with the question, “How did I ever get saved?” and “How could I not be mad at God?”
I've never shaken my fist at God in anger…..I lifted up my eyes to heaven desiring to know Him, the Creator, who seemed so far away, but I had hope in my heart that He might see me, and rescue me.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
When bad things happen, unexpected circumstances, or things just aren’t going the way you think they should, the common response of most people is to turn to God with the question, why? In some cases, one shakes his fist at God in anger. There’s something in us that wants or needs to find someone to blame, we’ve lost a loved one to terminal illness, a freak accident or life is just not fair, when will I get a break in life, if I just had this or that or if things were different, and one might ask the question, where is God?
Psalm 3
Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
In the year of 2009 my dad was diagnose with stage four lung cancer, with six moths to live…during this time I took care of my dad, whom was never there for me as a child, I now find myself with him everyday, and in the final count down of his life, I held his hands, the same hands that greatly abused my mother, the hands that were unfaithful, the hands that choose alcohol, and women over his own children, I now hold, and bring words of comfort to his dying ears…within five months my dad died.
In the year of 2010, I buried my dad’s body. He was not with the body that died, because my dad rededicated his life to Christ, I say rededicated because during the five months I asked him a lot questions. Questions about life, not about his failure of it, but he shared with me about being “Born Again” when he was a teenager, going to church and playing basket ball with the church youth group….wow!
In the year of 2010, two months after my dad’s death, my little sister is diagnose with a “rare form of cancer”….my inturpration, they have no idea what it is….
For the next seven months I am with my sister, traveling to the Mayo clinic, St,. Anthony’s in Rockford. Staying with her in her ex-husband house, taking care of her every need, physical, emotional and spiritual needs….and in the last three weeks of her life we were at the Serenity House in Oregon, Il…a hospice home for terminally ill people….in the year of 2011, February 26th. I watch my little sister, Barbara Marie Olson, she just turned 40 years old die as I sat at her side….
One would ask, where was your God?
In her fragile voice she asked me, Bonnie, when you pray will you ask God where He’s going to take me? I quickly listened for the Spirit of the Lord to speak, and immediately said, he is going to take you to Himself….
John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
In the years when I was a child I saw the Lord, and I began to search for Him!
In the year of my addiction and lust, I saw the Lord, and I knew the choices I was making was not pleasing to Him!
In the Year of my repentances, I saw the Lord High and Lifted Up, and His train filled the temple….this temple! Born Again, filled with the Holy Ghost!!!
In the Year of my dad’s death….I saw the Lord in all of His mercy, and goodness!
In the Year of my sisters death….I saw the Lord and His power to save!
In the year of my Children trying to find their own way…I saw the Lord’s mighty hand upon them to lead them to His grace!
We need to see the Lord as Isaiah saw the Lord! It was in the year that King Uzziah died. In the year of whatever it is we might be going through, we must see our need for God, and that without Him we can do nothing. We must see the ugliness of our own sin, our own ways, and see that this world and all that it stands for will never be enough. We must fall on our face before a Holy God, and when we do, may we experience the worship of heaven; the Lord sitting upon His throne, high and lifted up, His train fills the temple of our worship, of our prayers; May we hear the voice of the angles singing, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Host; the whole earth is full of His glory! The Sufferings of this present time are not worthy to compare to the GLORY that will be revealed in us! (Romans 8:18); May we know that the Lord will move heaven and earth to visit us; and when we see Him, may we worship Him in Spirit and Truth, that our eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Host, and desperately see our need of Him; Let Him touch our lips with the coal of His fire, and purify our hearts before Him; May we respond saying, Here I Am Lord, Send Me!!!
May we see with our eyes, and hear with our ears, understand with our hearts, and return and be healed in Yeshua/Jesus name!!!
Isaiah 6:1-10
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ “Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.”
Today:
In the year of your homelessness….See The Lord, High and Lifted Up!
In the year of your sickness….See The Lord, High and Lifted Up!
In the Year of your backsliding….See The Lord, High and Lifted Up!
In the year of Your Addiction, your oppression….See The Lord, High and Lifted Up!
In the year that your father and mother have forsaken you…See The Lord, High and Lifted Up!
In the Year of____________See the Lord, High and Lifted Up!!!
(you fill in the blank)
Hebrews 2:8-10
You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Psalm 121
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Acts 4:12-14
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
Spend time with the Lord Jesus Christ today: Through worship, prayer and let His Words dwell in you richly, Let your light shine so all men will see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven, knowing that He, The Lord of Host, works all things out for our good, because we love Him, and we are called according to His purpose!
Shalom Always,
Bonnie Kae Lentz
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The First Jesus House Christmas......
My childhood was filled with shattered ornaments, born into poverty with nothing but fragmented pieces of the lives of my alcoholic father, and my young naïve mother. A child who knew no love, and had no hope….and if there was ever a glimpse of hope with my family it would be found in December round a Christmas Tree…
Although Christmas was never centered around Christ and His birth, for in my home Jesus Christ was a curse word…but in the midst of the chaos I would loose myself within the movie ” It’s a Wonderful Life” asking myself, could there ever be a wonderful life for me? Year after year I remember unwrapping a “Monopoly Game” to which my siblings and I never finished….which should have been the story of my life, a child of poverty, a child of abuse, a child of addiction, an unfinished life was my destiny, as I grew older no longer did I find a “Monopoly Game” for now I had a “Ojai Board” to unwrap…this lead me in a direction of wanting answers to questions that lingered deep within my darken soul…
One day I heard the “Good News” GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, and ON EARTH PEACE and GOOD WILL TOWARD MAN! Peace, Good Will? These words were so foreign to my ears……and like the woman at the Well, this question echoed though my soul, “Are you the Messiah?
Yeshua/Jesus came to give light to those who sit in darkness, and to seek those who were lost. And His great light shined upon me, and I found a Living Hope in Christ Jesus, who not only knew everything I had ever done, but who loved me and had forgiven me of all my sin..
He gathered all the shattered pieces of my broken life, and by faith I was made whole through the power of His name. With a new heart, I could see Christmas as it truly was meant to be:
I remember my first Christmas celebrating the birth of God’s Son, my husband and I were poor, but joy filled our hearts. Not able to buy a Christmas Tree, We would walk around the neighborhood looking at all the Christmas lights, and low and behold to our surprise, some one had thrown a Christmas Tree to the crib, so we looked to the heavens and asked, Lord, can we have it?” we drug it home and decorated it with big red bow’s…..
My second Christmas was even more beautiful, little did I know what the Lord had planned as my husband and I decorated a white sheet that simple said “Jesus” we wrapped it with Christmas lights and hung this sign on our front porch, and behold the name of Jesus was in lights….the poor, the lost, the down trodden began to knock on our door, As I not only read the story of Christ and His birth, but also His words about the Kingdom of God….
Matthew 25:34-30
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. And this would be the very first Christmas of the Jesus House, December 1987 and 24 years later it continues today declaring “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, and GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN!”
You shall call His name YESHUA/JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. And I continue to stand in awe of my Savior’s birth….Wise men offering gifts, shepherds bowed, angels proclaimed His birth, as heaven and earth rejoiced and prophets lived to see this baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, one day to bare a rugged cross for all the world to see, the salvation of the Lord!
Although Christmas was never centered around Christ and His birth, for in my home Jesus Christ was a curse word…but in the midst of the chaos I would loose myself within the movie ” It’s a Wonderful Life” asking myself, could there ever be a wonderful life for me? Year after year I remember unwrapping a “Monopoly Game” to which my siblings and I never finished….which should have been the story of my life, a child of poverty, a child of abuse, a child of addiction, an unfinished life was my destiny, as I grew older no longer did I find a “Monopoly Game” for now I had a “Ojai Board” to unwrap…this lead me in a direction of wanting answers to questions that lingered deep within my darken soul…
One day I heard the “Good News” GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, and ON EARTH PEACE and GOOD WILL TOWARD MAN! Peace, Good Will? These words were so foreign to my ears……and like the woman at the Well, this question echoed though my soul, “Are you the Messiah?
Yeshua/Jesus came to give light to those who sit in darkness, and to seek those who were lost. And His great light shined upon me, and I found a Living Hope in Christ Jesus, who not only knew everything I had ever done, but who loved me and had forgiven me of all my sin..
He gathered all the shattered pieces of my broken life, and by faith I was made whole through the power of His name. With a new heart, I could see Christmas as it truly was meant to be:
I remember my first Christmas celebrating the birth of God’s Son, my husband and I were poor, but joy filled our hearts. Not able to buy a Christmas Tree, We would walk around the neighborhood looking at all the Christmas lights, and low and behold to our surprise, some one had thrown a Christmas Tree to the crib, so we looked to the heavens and asked, Lord, can we have it?” we drug it home and decorated it with big red bow’s…..
My second Christmas was even more beautiful, little did I know what the Lord had planned as my husband and I decorated a white sheet that simple said “Jesus” we wrapped it with Christmas lights and hung this sign on our front porch, and behold the name of Jesus was in lights….the poor, the lost, the down trodden began to knock on our door, As I not only read the story of Christ and His birth, but also His words about the Kingdom of God….
Matthew 25:34-30
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. And this would be the very first Christmas of the Jesus House, December 1987 and 24 years later it continues today declaring “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, and GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN!”
You shall call His name YESHUA/JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. And I continue to stand in awe of my Savior’s birth….Wise men offering gifts, shepherds bowed, angels proclaimed His birth, as heaven and earth rejoiced and prophets lived to see this baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, one day to bare a rugged cross for all the world to see, the salvation of the Lord!
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| "The First Jesus House Sign" |
Friday, September 2, 2011
THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD!
The Next time you pick up your Bible to read, stop for a moment and reflect on the blood that was spilled, and the lives that were martyred to freely give us the Word of God today. The Bible is not just a collection of religious history, it’s not just a book of literature, Jesus said, “My Words are Spirit and Life” …King David wrote in Psalm 119:161 & 89 “My Heart Stands in Awe of Thy Word; It is Forever Settled in the Heavens” Then continue to read your Bible with this prospective: His Word WILL NOT return to Him void, but WILL accomplish all that He has purposed!
Ask yourself, does a man or woman die the death of a martyr for just a book? Or did they know something many of us lack in knowing today? Jesus said, I have come in the volume of the book that is written of me, to do Thy will O’ God, and in the end His name is called the Word of God…..John 1:1 In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD is GOD.
Isaiah 66:2
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at MY WORD.
Oh how we need a holy reverence of God’s Word restored within His people. Lord, may our heart’s stand in awe, our lives become one with Your Holy Word, that we may reflect Your love, and Your truth, Your Light, in a darkened world.
In the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ as He prayed in the Gospel of John chapter seventeen, Sanctify them through thy truth: THY WORD IS TRUTH!
Psalm 119:130
The entrance of THY WORD giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
The Bible you and I read today, is the Bible that men, women, and children have and continue to sacrifice their lives for, because they believe in the very Words that God has spoken to us…. Isaiah 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a WORD behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Isaiah 34:16 Seek ye out of THE BOOK OF THE LORD, and READ: Why? Because they are SPIRIT and they are LIFE!!!
Ask yourself, does a man or woman die the death of a martyr for just a book? Or did they know something many of us lack in knowing today? Jesus said, I have come in the volume of the book that is written of me, to do Thy will O’ God, and in the end His name is called the Word of God…..John 1:1 In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD is GOD.
Isaiah 66:2
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at MY WORD.
Oh how we need a holy reverence of God’s Word restored within His people. Lord, may our heart’s stand in awe, our lives become one with Your Holy Word, that we may reflect Your love, and Your truth, Your Light, in a darkened world.
In the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ as He prayed in the Gospel of John chapter seventeen, Sanctify them through thy truth: THY WORD IS TRUTH!
Psalm 119:130
The entrance of THY WORD giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
The Bible you and I read today, is the Bible that men, women, and children have and continue to sacrifice their lives for, because they believe in the very Words that God has spoken to us…. Isaiah 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a WORD behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Isaiah 34:16 Seek ye out of THE BOOK OF THE LORD, and READ: Why? Because they are SPIRIT and they are LIFE!!!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
A Glimpse into the evening of August 1986.
August 18th, 1986 I give thanks to my Father, who has delivered me from the power of darkness, and has translated me into the Kingdom of His dear Son: in whom I have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: it was 25 years ago, I encountered the presence of the Living God. I was Born Again, baptized with the Holy Spirit & Fire. His Word is like a burning fire in my bones & I can't help but preach the gospel of my Lord Jesus Christ!
(Colossians 1:12-14)
I can still remember the evening of August 18th. 1986. After months of being asked by this couple to join them for a Bible study I finally said yes. I'll share a little history with you so you can understand the extreme encounter I had with the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, I was raised in a dysfunctional family, and by that I mean we put the capital “D” in dysfunctional. Anyway, I never knew what a Christian was until I became one. My dad was an alcoholic and abusive to my mother, and my two older brothers. For some reason he never abused me or my little sister, well, at least not physically. My mom became a mother at the age of 17. I don’t need to go into details because I think that says enough about my mother.
The environment I grew up in was filled with alcohol, drugs, domestic violence, and sexually perversion within the midst of poverty. When I was five years old I was sexually molested by a older female cousin. I faced many challenges growing up and had many obstacles to overcome. I was a lost, confused little girl in a great big world that I didn't understand. The schools I went to were of no help, as far as my emotional needs. I was born at the old St. Joseph Hospital on Bloomington’s west side. The west side of town embraced the blue collar workers, and carried the reputation: “That nothing good could ever come out of the West Side” This carried over into the school system. It was always westside vs. eastside and I didn't’ fit in anywhere. It seemed like there was no one who noticed me. I was this invisible girl that was being tossed around like a ship on a storming sea. And there was no life jacket to rescue me, there was no Light House shining it’s light to show me the way. I was completely empty, lost and alone.
(Psalm 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up)
I was a baby in the 60’s and grew up in the 70’s and I embraced the mystical, experimental drug era. At a very young age my mind was filled with questions. I remember asking my second grade teacher about life and how it came to be. How did all the animals get their names kind of thing, and her answer still echoes in my memory today: “It’s just the way it is, over a period of time man just named everything” and for a second grader, I just was not satisfied with that answer. I asked my mother one time about death and what would happen to me when I died. She mentioned something about heaven. I had no idea what that was. There was a knowing down deep inside of me that knew there was more to life then what I was being offered. Life had to be more than this. Surly if was not just about being born to live, hatred ,crying and then dying. I knew nothing about love. It was not a house hold word, and I never heard the words “I love you” in the midst of the screaming and fighting that went on behind the closed doors of my family home.
With that being said; I started my spiritual journey. A road that would lead me into the depths of darkness. I became dependent on drugs, because it made me feel different about myself and that was a good thing at the time, so I thought. I hated alcohol because of what it did to my family, but I drank to fit in with my so called friends. I opened my heart up to demoniac activity through the philosophy of new age and mysticism. Embracing tarot cards, palm reading, communing with spirits of another kind. I knew there was life after death, and I was determined to find out the truth before I crossed over into it. I began to walk down a road of deception believing in re-carnation, and I thought I had arrived to my final state of Christ Consciousness, (nirvana) that when I died this time I would enter a “god state of consciousness” I thought I had arrived.
(Prov 14:12 & 16:25 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death)
In the midst of my search I met my husband, Thomas James Lentz. It is really a very long detailed story on how all this played out, let’s just say that the sovereignty of an Almighty Loving God had everything to do with it!
Here I am 21 years old. I'm an addict, an adulterous woman in bondage to lust and my mind is deceived with lies upon lies upon lies about myself, about life and death, about God. My eyes were blinded by deception and I was dead pretending to be alive. Yet, knowing inside I was controlled by a power of darkness, but I thirst for freedom, I longed for truth and I knew there was a God out there some where I just didn't know how to get to him.
(John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber)
(John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me)
I was reading books on New Age, Buddhism and Mystical Experiences and everyone of these books mentioned a man named Jesus, who was a prophet, a good teacher. Growing up the word Jesus Christ was a curse word in my house, I never knew there was substance to His name, That He was an actual person who lived on earth. Now, I'm intrigued by this name. There was something different about this name. I was being drawn by this name. I was taught by my “spiritual mentor” that I could cast out demons in His name. I didn't even know who Jesus was at that time. I was beginning to see that this man Jesus and His name had some kind of power that I knew nothing about.
Tom and I had quick visit to Los Angels, Ca. Again, it is a really long detailed story, let’s just say, God, the creator of the heavens and the earth got my attention.
(Ps 19:1-3 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard)
We lived in LA for a summer and moved back home for many reasons. We went to the Chicago area, then my grandmother had a heart attack and I drove to Springfield to be with her and my mother. For the first time I picked up a Gideons Bible in the waiting room and began to read the First chapter of the book, Genesis wow! I loved the creation story, but I was completely lost after that. For some reason as a child I had a Bible. I never read it, I never even opened it , but I knew there was something special about this book and I kept it in my closet. Anyway, The days and weeks in the hospital I didn't read much of the Bible because I couldn't get pass the first few chapters of Genesis, so I put It down. My grandmother passed away. I was in the room with her at her passing from this life into the next, and all I can say is that she left her body, she was no longer in the hospital room and I wanted to know where she went. I was sensitive to the spirit realm, and there was a presence in the room that was unknown to me.
(Jer 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.)
My search to find out who God was and where did this man named Jesus come into play. I’m still holding unto my mystical ways. Now, I’m reading the last chapter of the Bible “Revelation” I heard that it told the future, not only about life after death, but the end of the world. I was really interested in this topic, because I was convinced that the end was near, and it still might be (Rom 13:11-12 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light)
As I read the book of Revelation, and I read about this woman named Jezabel, I saw myself with that same spirit and I saw what my end would be if this book was true.
On to the night of August 18th, 1986 I had taken Tom to work. He was working until 11:00pm. I came home and did my rituals of candles, burning incense and altering my state of mind through drugs & meditation. I waited for this couple to pick me up. I have to give a little more history here, you see my husband Tom, was raised Catholic, but was far from his childhood faith when we met. November 24th. 1984 He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, we were not married at this time. He was concerned with how I would react to his conversion, he choose to keep quite about it. The only thing he knew from his Catholic upbringing is that living together was a sin. A very detailed story shorten within a few sentences, He asked me to marry him. I never wanted to get married, and had no plans on marrying anyone. I was a free spirit and no one was going to control me. Well, on December 26th. 1984 I said yes, and we were married. My husband had no idea the hell we were about to go through. Let’s just say; the summer of 1986 my husband prayed a prayer very similar to this; with just his Catholic upbringing again he knew that divorce was wrong and he'd go to hell for it, so he prayed: “God save her or get rid of her” Well, I’m so glad that the Lord listened to the first part of his prayer and not the last. Tom was a new believer with very little to no fellowship. Anyway, the Bible study was on the second floor of a store front in downtown Bloomington. When I walked in, it was like walking into a very bright room. There was a presence there that was familiar to me. It was the same presence I knew from my grandmothers passing. The chairs were set up in a circle around the room. I knew no one except the couple that had invited me, and they never witness to me. They just seemed happy all the time and wanted me to come to their Bible Study. He worked in the same building as I did. I didn’t know them well, mostly because I had a huge thick wall round me, and I would not let anyone come behind that wall, not even my own husband. We are all sitting in this room, and they are singing songs about God. I watched the wife of the guest speaker that night and she was communing with a spirit, I could see the worship alive within her. I was drawn to her and there was a stirring in my spirit as I began to long to know or encounter what she had. The end of the night there was an alter call, now at that time I knew nothing about alter calls. All I know is that something or someone picked me up and I found myself standing in the middle of this room, in front of a bunch of strangers not knowing what to expect. The same woman I watched that night is the same woman who came over to me and prayed with me. As she prayed for me there was a light from heaven that shinned upon me.
(Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
(Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.)
I saw the ugliness of my sin and my need for salvation. (Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.) The power of Satan was broken off of me and I was taken from darkness into light. I fell at the feet of a Holy God who had forgiven me of all my sin and washed me in the precious blood of His son. I was filled with the Holy Spirit of truth and every lie of satan was removed from my mind and I was free!
It was like a crystal clear burning light that shinned around me and through me. I could feel the weight of sin falling off of me as I was being lifted up. I had no knowledge nor prior experience to anything like this before. All I knew is that I had found Him, the one I had been searching for. I knew I had just encountered the creator of all things. I was dead in my sin and in a moment I was alive in Christ. Now at that time I didn’t know or understand what happened to me. I knew I was changed in the presence a Holy God and I would never be the same. My heart was captured by His grace and His mercy was my sweet embrace. Well, I picked Tom up from work that night. He knew I was going to this Bible study. I was so filled with the Holy Spirit I felt like a light bulb was turned on inside of me. Tom and I instantly became one in our marriage, in purpose and have been preaching the gospel every since that night. The Lord of Heaven and Earth has blessed us with two wonderful amazing kids, who are now adults. The Holy Spirit taught me how to love and be loved through my children.
There’s so much more I could say, and so much more details I have left out, but I will share this with you. Christmas 1987. Tom and I hung a sign on our front porch in an apartment in downtown Bloomingtom, on the westside of course, this sign simple said “JESUS” Many people were drawn to His name just as I was and many lives have been changed through the preaching of the gospel at the Jesus House. The First Jesus House at 401 W. Monroe street to the second Jesus House at 724 W. Washington St. And by the grace and mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ we will continue to run the race, living by faith as we press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
(It didn't take me long to discover that the Bible is 66 books and I didn’t have to start at Genesis to read it….. lol)
(Colossians 1:12-14)
I can still remember the evening of August 18th. 1986. After months of being asked by this couple to join them for a Bible study I finally said yes. I'll share a little history with you so you can understand the extreme encounter I had with the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, I was raised in a dysfunctional family, and by that I mean we put the capital “D” in dysfunctional. Anyway, I never knew what a Christian was until I became one. My dad was an alcoholic and abusive to my mother, and my two older brothers. For some reason he never abused me or my little sister, well, at least not physically. My mom became a mother at the age of 17. I don’t need to go into details because I think that says enough about my mother.
The environment I grew up in was filled with alcohol, drugs, domestic violence, and sexually perversion within the midst of poverty. When I was five years old I was sexually molested by a older female cousin. I faced many challenges growing up and had many obstacles to overcome. I was a lost, confused little girl in a great big world that I didn't understand. The schools I went to were of no help, as far as my emotional needs. I was born at the old St. Joseph Hospital on Bloomington’s west side. The west side of town embraced the blue collar workers, and carried the reputation: “That nothing good could ever come out of the West Side” This carried over into the school system. It was always westside vs. eastside and I didn't’ fit in anywhere. It seemed like there was no one who noticed me. I was this invisible girl that was being tossed around like a ship on a storming sea. And there was no life jacket to rescue me, there was no Light House shining it’s light to show me the way. I was completely empty, lost and alone.
(Psalm 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up)
I was a baby in the 60’s and grew up in the 70’s and I embraced the mystical, experimental drug era. At a very young age my mind was filled with questions. I remember asking my second grade teacher about life and how it came to be. How did all the animals get their names kind of thing, and her answer still echoes in my memory today: “It’s just the way it is, over a period of time man just named everything” and for a second grader, I just was not satisfied with that answer. I asked my mother one time about death and what would happen to me when I died. She mentioned something about heaven. I had no idea what that was. There was a knowing down deep inside of me that knew there was more to life then what I was being offered. Life had to be more than this. Surly if was not just about being born to live, hatred ,crying and then dying. I knew nothing about love. It was not a house hold word, and I never heard the words “I love you” in the midst of the screaming and fighting that went on behind the closed doors of my family home.
With that being said; I started my spiritual journey. A road that would lead me into the depths of darkness. I became dependent on drugs, because it made me feel different about myself and that was a good thing at the time, so I thought. I hated alcohol because of what it did to my family, but I drank to fit in with my so called friends. I opened my heart up to demoniac activity through the philosophy of new age and mysticism. Embracing tarot cards, palm reading, communing with spirits of another kind. I knew there was life after death, and I was determined to find out the truth before I crossed over into it. I began to walk down a road of deception believing in re-carnation, and I thought I had arrived to my final state of Christ Consciousness, (nirvana) that when I died this time I would enter a “god state of consciousness” I thought I had arrived.
(Prov 14:12 & 16:25 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death)
In the midst of my search I met my husband, Thomas James Lentz. It is really a very long detailed story on how all this played out, let’s just say that the sovereignty of an Almighty Loving God had everything to do with it!
Here I am 21 years old. I'm an addict, an adulterous woman in bondage to lust and my mind is deceived with lies upon lies upon lies about myself, about life and death, about God. My eyes were blinded by deception and I was dead pretending to be alive. Yet, knowing inside I was controlled by a power of darkness, but I thirst for freedom, I longed for truth and I knew there was a God out there some where I just didn't know how to get to him.
(John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber)
(John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me)
I was reading books on New Age, Buddhism and Mystical Experiences and everyone of these books mentioned a man named Jesus, who was a prophet, a good teacher. Growing up the word Jesus Christ was a curse word in my house, I never knew there was substance to His name, That He was an actual person who lived on earth. Now, I'm intrigued by this name. There was something different about this name. I was being drawn by this name. I was taught by my “spiritual mentor” that I could cast out demons in His name. I didn't even know who Jesus was at that time. I was beginning to see that this man Jesus and His name had some kind of power that I knew nothing about.
Tom and I had quick visit to Los Angels, Ca. Again, it is a really long detailed story, let’s just say, God, the creator of the heavens and the earth got my attention.
(Ps 19:1-3 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard)
We lived in LA for a summer and moved back home for many reasons. We went to the Chicago area, then my grandmother had a heart attack and I drove to Springfield to be with her and my mother. For the first time I picked up a Gideons Bible in the waiting room and began to read the First chapter of the book, Genesis wow! I loved the creation story, but I was completely lost after that. For some reason as a child I had a Bible. I never read it, I never even opened it , but I knew there was something special about this book and I kept it in my closet. Anyway, The days and weeks in the hospital I didn't read much of the Bible because I couldn't get pass the first few chapters of Genesis, so I put It down. My grandmother passed away. I was in the room with her at her passing from this life into the next, and all I can say is that she left her body, she was no longer in the hospital room and I wanted to know where she went. I was sensitive to the spirit realm, and there was a presence in the room that was unknown to me.
(Jer 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.)
My search to find out who God was and where did this man named Jesus come into play. I’m still holding unto my mystical ways. Now, I’m reading the last chapter of the Bible “Revelation” I heard that it told the future, not only about life after death, but the end of the world. I was really interested in this topic, because I was convinced that the end was near, and it still might be (Rom 13:11-12 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light)
As I read the book of Revelation, and I read about this woman named Jezabel, I saw myself with that same spirit and I saw what my end would be if this book was true.
On to the night of August 18th, 1986 I had taken Tom to work. He was working until 11:00pm. I came home and did my rituals of candles, burning incense and altering my state of mind through drugs & meditation. I waited for this couple to pick me up. I have to give a little more history here, you see my husband Tom, was raised Catholic, but was far from his childhood faith when we met. November 24th. 1984 He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, we were not married at this time. He was concerned with how I would react to his conversion, he choose to keep quite about it. The only thing he knew from his Catholic upbringing is that living together was a sin. A very detailed story shorten within a few sentences, He asked me to marry him. I never wanted to get married, and had no plans on marrying anyone. I was a free spirit and no one was going to control me. Well, on December 26th. 1984 I said yes, and we were married. My husband had no idea the hell we were about to go through. Let’s just say; the summer of 1986 my husband prayed a prayer very similar to this; with just his Catholic upbringing again he knew that divorce was wrong and he'd go to hell for it, so he prayed: “God save her or get rid of her” Well, I’m so glad that the Lord listened to the first part of his prayer and not the last. Tom was a new believer with very little to no fellowship. Anyway, the Bible study was on the second floor of a store front in downtown Bloomington. When I walked in, it was like walking into a very bright room. There was a presence there that was familiar to me. It was the same presence I knew from my grandmothers passing. The chairs were set up in a circle around the room. I knew no one except the couple that had invited me, and they never witness to me. They just seemed happy all the time and wanted me to come to their Bible Study. He worked in the same building as I did. I didn’t know them well, mostly because I had a huge thick wall round me, and I would not let anyone come behind that wall, not even my own husband. We are all sitting in this room, and they are singing songs about God. I watched the wife of the guest speaker that night and she was communing with a spirit, I could see the worship alive within her. I was drawn to her and there was a stirring in my spirit as I began to long to know or encounter what she had. The end of the night there was an alter call, now at that time I knew nothing about alter calls. All I know is that something or someone picked me up and I found myself standing in the middle of this room, in front of a bunch of strangers not knowing what to expect. The same woman I watched that night is the same woman who came over to me and prayed with me. As she prayed for me there was a light from heaven that shinned upon me.
(Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
(Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.)
I saw the ugliness of my sin and my need for salvation. (Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.) The power of Satan was broken off of me and I was taken from darkness into light. I fell at the feet of a Holy God who had forgiven me of all my sin and washed me in the precious blood of His son. I was filled with the Holy Spirit of truth and every lie of satan was removed from my mind and I was free!
It was like a crystal clear burning light that shinned around me and through me. I could feel the weight of sin falling off of me as I was being lifted up. I had no knowledge nor prior experience to anything like this before. All I knew is that I had found Him, the one I had been searching for. I knew I had just encountered the creator of all things. I was dead in my sin and in a moment I was alive in Christ. Now at that time I didn’t know or understand what happened to me. I knew I was changed in the presence a Holy God and I would never be the same. My heart was captured by His grace and His mercy was my sweet embrace. Well, I picked Tom up from work that night. He knew I was going to this Bible study. I was so filled with the Holy Spirit I felt like a light bulb was turned on inside of me. Tom and I instantly became one in our marriage, in purpose and have been preaching the gospel every since that night. The Lord of Heaven and Earth has blessed us with two wonderful amazing kids, who are now adults. The Holy Spirit taught me how to love and be loved through my children.
There’s so much more I could say, and so much more details I have left out, but I will share this with you. Christmas 1987. Tom and I hung a sign on our front porch in an apartment in downtown Bloomingtom, on the westside of course, this sign simple said “JESUS” Many people were drawn to His name just as I was and many lives have been changed through the preaching of the gospel at the Jesus House. The First Jesus House at 401 W. Monroe street to the second Jesus House at 724 W. Washington St. And by the grace and mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ we will continue to run the race, living by faith as we press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
(It didn't take me long to discover that the Bible is 66 books and I didn’t have to start at Genesis to read it….. lol)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Ecclesiastes State of Mind
If God made everything and saw that it was good - then why do we live life with such emptiness? Is it possible to find purpose in the mist of vanity? I have seen the high and mighty filled with such ugly selfish pride and the poorest of poor filled with the SAME ugly selfish pride. Yet, God has put eternity within our hearts and has created good works for us to walk in them. Jesus who went about doing good and healing ALL who were sick and oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him. For this purpose the son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. Where is purpose in the mist of all this? The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 1:15-16; It pleased God who separated me from my mother's womb and CALLED me by His Grace. To REVEAL his son IN ME, that I might preach Him. We are separated and called by his grace, His favour and his divine influence upon our hearts, to reveal Jesus in us. Christ in us the hope of glory. I wake up in the mist of vanity, where I find His mercies are new every morning and as I acknowledge Him - He leads me by His Holy Presence. I find purpose, when I find myself in Christ. To know Him in His sufferings and the power of His resurrection.
Ecclesiastes Sate of Mind: there’s nothing new under the sun, it’s all vanity, yet, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven…..SELAH!
Shalom Always,
Bonnie Kae Lentz
Ecclesiastes 3:10-12 (NIV1984)
I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.
Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
1 John 3:8 (KJV)
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Colossians 1:27 (KJV)
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Acts 10:38 (KJV)
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Lamentations 3:22-24 (KJV)
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Proverbs 3:5-7 (KJV)
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Philippians 3:7-10 (KJV)
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Ecclesiastes Sate of Mind: there’s nothing new under the sun, it’s all vanity, yet, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven…..SELAH!
Shalom Always,
Bonnie Kae Lentz
Ecclesiastes 3:10-12 (NIV1984)
I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.
Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
1 John 3:8 (KJV)
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Colossians 1:27 (KJV)
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Acts 10:38 (KJV)
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Lamentations 3:22-24 (KJV)
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Proverbs 3:5-7 (KJV)
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Philippians 3:7-10 (KJV)
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
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