A telemarketer called this evening. She said, “I’m calling about your timeshare!” I (Emil) said, ”We do not own a timeshare! “ She said “Yes, you do with your wife!” I said, “We have never owned one!”The Lord said, “Ask her if she dies tonight, will she go to heaven?” So I asked, “Can I ask you a question?” She hesitantly said, “Ok, sure,” so I asked her if she died tonight, would she go to heaven? I heard her conversing with someone quietly in the background and then she hung up!

Sometimes we just need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit because who else is going to talk to a telemarketer about Jesus? If they are telemarketers for worldly things, then we can be telemarketers for Jesus! Give it a try—you’d be surprised! I have led a couple of people to the Lord, simply by talking to them about Jesus!

Emil received a new assignment from the Lord last week in addition to the Roadside and our Friday night home group! He is preaching this Sunday and next Sunday for the pastor of two churches: Trinity UMC in Webb, about 10 miles away, and Faith United in Sioux Rapids. We have attended the Webb church off and on this year, when we aren’t on the roadside being the church on Sundays! He was asked last week by the pastor if he would consider being her back-up preacher, to preach every 4-6 weeks. She is a high school teacher in addition to her pastoral duties and so is extremely busy and rarely gets a weekend off. This will allow her to have some badly-needed R&R with her family. Emil was honored to be asked and accepted! We believe it will be a great partnership.

It’s so important to know what God is saying about everything in our lives! When we believe in Jesus and listen to Him, we can live in discernment. Emil and I have learned through the years to always ask, “Lord, what’s the truth about this [situation, person, decision, etc]?” After all, He IS truth! Once we get His heart and direction, we can walk in faith in what He told us and not be influenced by anyone but the Lord. We don’t want the world’s opinion, only His. In fact, when He set out the Free Prayer ministry to us 20 years ago, He said, “People don’t need another opinion, so you are never to give them your opinion. You are only to ask Me what I want to say to them. They will stop with a specific prayer request, but I have something to tell them that will set them free. That’s what I want them to hear.” We have seen incredible things over these many years because God ALWAYS goes directly to the heart of the matter in EVERY situation and heals it, setting people free to hear Him, believe in Him, be filled with His incredible love for them, receive their healing, whatever He wants to happen in that encounter with Him! He is so good and so awesome! Being led by Him, we walk in freedom!

The Holy Spirit led our Friday night home group! We always pray for His presence to intensify, and Friday night His presence was strong from the beginning and only got stronger as the evening progressed. There were miraculous deliverances and healings and the Lord had a specific word for every person there! Joy and praise went home with each person and continued to be shared with each other Saturday and into Sunday! God is so merciful and gracious. He sees us!

We were surprised to find our testimony of our new trailer published in the June Voice of the Covenant magazine! It was completely unexpected! One person read it and looked up the ministry on the internet, subscribed to our newsletter, and wrote us a very encouraging email because of it. Thank You so much, Lord!

Posted on Facebook January 16th:

Science says that we need at least 4 basic elements to survive.

1. Water
2. Air
3. Food
4. Light

And look what the Bible tells us about Jesus.

1. I Am the Living Water
2. I Am the Breath of Life
3. I Am the Bread of Life
4. I Am the Light of the World

Science was right, we need Jesus to live.

Jesus demonstrated His costly love by standing in the gap for us, trading places with us so that we can walk free! Not just in death, but many times throughout the New Testament Jesus gave living demonstrations of what He would be doing upon the cross: standing in the gap for the accused, re-directing punishment away from them and toward Himself time after time. Costly love is Jesus standing in the gap between us and our accusers, between us and danger, between us and obstacles to our pursuit of Him. Every time Jesus loved someone, it cost Him something.

The woman caught in adultery is a perfect example (John 8:2-11). The law said this woman was to be stoned. But Jesus shifted the Pharisees’ hostility, disgrace, and humiliation OFF the woman and redirected it towards Himself, shielding her from punishment and death. Jesus stood between her and the law and religion and stood His ground, armed ONLY with unconditional love. Jesus willingly bore her judgment to save her and give her life.

The enemy stands before the throne of God accusing US night and day. BUT Jesus holds a piece of paper in His hand. He has taken OUR penalty, OUR punishment, OUR Sin and borne it Himself. As they nailed His hands to the cross, He held onto that paper–in His hand–for us. Are we willing to exhibit costly love back to Him? To love Him in a world that doesn’t? To give costly love to another as Jesus did?

Emil shared little-taught facts about the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) last night at our home group and made it come alive! The sound of the violent wind that filled and shook the house was like the roar of Niagara Falls, like massive amounts of water being released! The Passion Translation says the sound was “so overpowering, it was all anyone could bear!” People came running from all over Jerusalem to find out where the sound was coming from! The Greek word “puros” is translated, not “fire”, but “lightning!” Can you imagine, rather than the little flames of fire usually pictured over each head, a divided flash of lightning going back and forth between the flames like electricity! Jewish families gathered from all over the Roman world in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost witnessed this scene that day–120 people in the streets with flames and lightning flashing over each of their heads and the thundering roar and shaking going on! Not to mention hearing their own languages spoken by “mere” Galileans! Can you see it? Can you hear it? God’s presence is no small thing. When He chooses to reveal Himself in all His power, it cannot and will not be ignored!

We sing the song, Child of Love. The Lord says, “Do you believe it? Do you receive it? You didn’t sing, ‘I’m a love child.’ You sang, ‘I’m a child of love,’ meaning you were wanted, you were planned, you have a purpose, you weren’t a mistake. Can you believe and can you receive that what the enemy tells you is a lie? Can you believe and can you receive that what I tell you is the truth? Can you believe and can you receive that what the enemy says I think about you is a lie? Can you believe and can you receive that you are the apple of My eye? Can you believe and can you receive that I have a plan and a purpose for you? Can you believe it and can you receive it? Can you reach out and can you take ahold of who I say you are? Of who I made you to be and of the path I have set before you? Can you believe and can you receive that I think about you all the time? Can you believe and can you receive that you’re not as bad as you think you are? Can you believe and can you receive that I am so in love with you? You are My child in whom I am well pleased. You are my son, my daughter, my friend, my bride-to-be. I do not make mistakes. Walk in my plan and my purpose for you. Lift up your head. Put your shoulders back. I have given you a hope and future. You say, ‘Where is it?’ Well, it’s a hope and a future. Some of the things take steps. Some take time. But I promise you, My child, if you can believe and if you can receive, it will all come to pass. And when it does, it will be wonderful and you will say, ‘Ah, now I understand.’ Let Me be God and let yourself be My child. Let Me be your Dad and let Me be your guide. You will not miss the mark. You will not walk off the path. Soon and very soon you will see My plan and you will say, ‘It is wonderful!'”

March 24, 2023 The Lord gave Emil this word:

You are My children and I am your Dad. I’m not just your friend. I’m not just a light in the darkness, but I’m your Dad and you’re My kids. When you were an infant, you first learned to stand and balance and pretty soon you started walking on your own and talking, a few words here and there to start. You’d take a step and fall and you’d get back up and pretty soon you were walking fast and then you wanted to run. Then you weren’t happy with just running. You wanted a tricycle and you got a tricycle and you’d zoom around the block. Pretty soon, you said, “I want more!” Then you got a little bicycle with training wheels. You’d get on the bike and slowly pedal around. Pretty soon you wanted to go faster, so you took off the training wheels and for a short time, someone held the seat as you pedaled away until you had it mastered and you were able to balance and to ride with the wind. Then you began to make it your own. Remember when you put the little streamers on the handlebars and the little license plate and the bell and the light. Pretty soon, “I want more!” You graduated to a 10-speed and pretty soon you were shifting through the gears with ease. “I want more.” You set your sights on a motorcycle, on a car. As you learned how to drive—yeah, there were scratches, yes, there were dents but you made it your own. You hung things from the mirror and played your kind of music.

That’s how My Spirit works. First you learn how to stand, how to speak My language, how to operate and balance with speed. Then I tap you on the shoulder and say, “There’s more.” You say, “Lord, I want more.” Then I take off your training wheels and you start moving in the Spirit. “I want more!” and I say “Yes, there’s more.” So don’t be afraid…Is operating in My Spirit something that comes with ease? No, it’s a learning curve, but I’m willing to hold the seat. I’m willing to hold you up. I’m willing to teach you how to talk and how to walk and how to balance and how to take your step. I’m willing to help you maneuver through the things of My Spirit until you are comfortable  and you make it your own. But never assume you can just do it on your own. I’m your Dad  and you are My children. And I will always take care of you, I will always walk with you, I will always be with you, I will always teach you, and I will never let go of you.

IF you’re willing, this year will scare you because My Spirit is going to move in a swifter way than ever before, and all I’m saying is TRUST ME! Are you willing to step out? Are you willing to open your hands? Your mouth? Your eyes and ears? Your mind? Your heart to the things I have prepared for you? It’s a year of “Yes! Yes! Yes, Lord!” for this year you’re going to see great and mighty things you’ve never known before and you’ve never seen before! I am your Dad and you are My kids. Trust Me!