My children have seen me weeping and concerned for loved ones of late who are struggling with their walk in this life, as the enemy of their soul, who sees the prophecies, who sees the calling and the gifting, reaches out and tries to destroy them before they can fulfill the life the Lord has spoken over them.  

     When they asked me about it, I told them the story of a man who was once an alcoholic and one day his wife could not take it anymore.  She told him, "You can choose to live with Jack Daniels or you can choose to live with me, but you can't have the both of us."  That wife was Laura Bush and at that time, the Devil was trying to destroy her husband, yet he had a wife who was interceding.  And George W. went on to renew his walk with the Lord, and go to church, teach Sunday school, go to Bible studies, and God raised him up to fulfill the prophetic promises over his life, as he became the president of our country and the leader of the free world.  

     He chose the right path.  There was another path - a path of despair.  Yet, somehow the Lord gave him the grace and the strength to leave the old ways behind and begin life anew.  Many of us, too, have destinies and promises over our lives.  May we stand on the side of God and believe that he will bring forth that, which he has promised, as we walk the paths of righteousness.

     My husband gave a prophecy recently where the Lord talks about us doing our ministry unto him everyday, that it never stops; we are always ministering whether we know it or not.  That encouraged me, because I recently went back to school teaching in order to help pay for our kids tuition and I was thinking, "Lord, this is not where I want to be and yet I am willing to pick up sheaves, like Ruth, so that my children may eat of the good of the land and be in godly schools surrounded by godly teachers who are praying for them."  

     Yet my job is in a secular school and a secular atmosphere, but the Lord really encouraged me as two people came up to me recently - and one is my employer - and they both said almost the same thing:  they are so very happy I am here; they have someone to talk to; they are able to make it through this year because of my being here."  I didn't know I was ministering when I was being a friend or just being me, and  yet even our very presence can usher in the Lord's angels as they accompany us into the workplace.

     Someday again, I believe, the Lord's healing power will rest upon his chosen vessels to such a heavy extent, that even as they would walk through the marketplace, through the hospitals, through the schoolyards, that those with illness and disease will receive a touch from the Lord as his healing power for both inner healing and physical healing flows like a river out of his Spirit and into our spirits and out to touch a hurting and dying world.  

     I believe that the releasing of the Lord's healing mantles are at hand.  The Lord was showing me in Romans recently that he bought not only our Salvation, but he bought for us righteousness and holiness, and that will be the requirement for those chosen to wear the mantles of healing - a walk of holiness.  And it is possible, for did not the Lord's disciples walk this walk?  Did not prophets of old walk this walk, for their shadows and very bones still contained the healing virtue of our God. 

     Those who will be at the forefront in this next move will be ones who walk and breathe and live a holy walk, a pure walk.  And it will be not of ourselves or of our own strength, but He who lives within will cover us in his glory and just as we have seen our country's Commander-and-Chief rise to the occasion.  Our spirit man will rise to the occasion to receive the mantles of the Lord. 

     They will not be gifts of healing, but walks of holiness and purity.  They will require much, much sacrifice of the flesh and self and earthly desires, but shall it not be worth it to see the pure anointing of the Lord visit this earth once again as we become love slaves unto Him, our Lord and Savior?  May we live to see that day of his river again overflowing - a river of love, a river of joy, a river of peace, a river of health and healing unto the hurting people of the world.

God's Love is like a River   God's love is like the ocean Reaching far as the eye can see Healing men in all the world Transforming lives eternally   His love is higher than the mountains Deeper than the deepest sea Flowing from his throne above Into our lives, into our dreams   Oh Love of God, sweet love of God Touching men's hearts and setting free Oh love of God, sweet love of God Now touching all humanity Inside your love

God's love is like a river Flowing forth through you and me Reaching men in all the world With hope of life eternally   His love can heal all the nations Wars will cease through Jesus' Name Peace will reign on earth abroad  When Jesus comes to be the King   Oh Love of God, sweet love of God Touching men's hearts and setting free Oh love of God, sweet love of God Now touching all humanity Inside your love ©  Bonnie Franklin 1988