We're almost ready!

John (William’s boss) gave us 4 retro, artistic type chairs for our gallery – it really fits the style.  I painted the cabinet and got that set up.  Now all we need is a cash register to set on it!

I’ve been having fun with the Hayes kids coming in different times this, and last week, including today.  They have been painting and doing some great things in here!

Ministering to others and being ministered to!

The weirdest thing happened to me this morning.  Last night at prayer meeting, Sylvia mentioned a couple prayer requests – one was a lady she met at college who had not only just lost her sister the week before, but a few weeks ago had gone through a botched hysterectomy surgery – she was trying to go to school, deal with pain from this botched job, and deal with recently burying her sister, so we prayed for her.  This morning, I had just gotten to the gallery, was putting things away and instantly I was doubled over in intense pain that felt like I had just gone into labor.  I broke out into the shakes and sweats, got extremely queasy, and couldn’t figure out what just hit me.  I ran to the bathroom thinking I was going to get sick, all the while taking authority in Jesus’ name, casting out demons of sickness, etc.  As I was standing over the toilet praying NOT to get sick, Jesus said to me that it wasn’t the demons causing this, but that I was to be an instrument of His healing for the one I prayed for last night.  He told me that was what that woman was going through and that He was in the process of healing her.  I started praising God in between praying not to get sick, and thanking Him that I could be used in this way to be a blessing and an instrument on behalf of others, and at the same time praying that it would all end soon!  The queasiness slowly went away, along with the shakes and sweating.  The pain lessoned, and before a half hour was up, all symptoms were gone.  I continued praising God for that lady’s healing and put on praise music to sing to.  That was the weirdest experience!  It reminded me of when I got healed of my back pain/problems.  I had been healed of several things in 2008, threw away all my medicines and even claimed healing over my back (3 ruptured discs, years of therapy, massive pain, eating vicodine @ 10 a day).  Even though everything else was healed (diabetes, high bp and cholesterol, asthma, etc), my back continued to cause me intense pain – but I no longer took the vicodine.   I praised God and thanked him for my healing through the pain – for 2 years.   November of 2010, William had gone to his mother’s and instantly fell to the floor in pain and paralysis.  He couldn’t move for 45 minutes and throughout that time, God told him to pray for my back.  He told him that was the type of pain I had been going through.  At that instant, I was healed of that pain and to this day, it has not come back.  After William got up off of the floor, I called him and said, “my back is healed!” and he says, “I know.”  So I guess God heals in mysterious ways!

Nikki and Ryan continue to work on the mural - Jesus is looking great so far!  These kids are such a blessing to us!  After prayer meeting last night, we borrowed 2 tables and 6 fold-up chairs from the church last night, for our grand opening on Saturday.

This afternoon, William went to the Habitat for Humanity Recycle store in CS and got some items donated to our ministry (they were so awesome to do this!): a countertop and cabinets (of which I’ll repaint forest green  to match our store), 6 fold-up chairs, and a brand new 8 x 12 carpet!!  That was so awesome.  As soon he got to the store with this, I laid out the carpet – it was perfect!  William also finished painting the window trim outside.  As soon as I finish that mural outside, it will be finished!

These were done by a 13 and a 15 year-old!! (Ellie and Sarah)

We got an apartment today!  I had been calling around for the past week, trying to find a place for us to rent – everyone wanted either $1,100. or $1,200 up front.  I finally called the apartments on the south side (in the slums, surrounded by boarded up hotels, liquor stores, etc.) and they had a move in special of $345!  So I took it.  Our apartment is on the back side (it used to be a motel) of the boarded up section.  We don’t get to me in until Tuesday, since they are fixing holes and cleaning it up.  It’s only $525 a month, but we don’t have to pay that until Oct.  God does meet our needs, may not exactly how we want, but just what we need.  This is the neighborhood that we have been praying for and the area that is near our storefront – the ones we want to minister to.  So God put us in the middle of living there as well as having the ministry there.

Psalms 73

We had an awesome study of Ps . 73 this morning.   I need to make sure I catch myself and not be envious of those who have everything they want and need – to not be wanting their prosperity; but rather, to be content with what I have and what I do get blessed with from God.   I need to remember to not be worried about what people think, but keep my eyes focused on what God thinks.  People are already looking down on us here because we came here with nothing, are trying to start a business with nothing much, and they seem to think that since we came to town without an abundance of money to invest and throw about, that we are less than they.  I’m glad for those who have come beside us and support what we are doing; they give us great encouragement.   I don’t always understand and know what God is doing, nor his plan for us here … I just know to be led step-by-step, listening to Him always, and to try to do as He asks.  He told us to come to Colorado and do this ministry, so I know He will supply everything we need!  Ps. 73:28:  “But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God.  That I may declare all Your works.” 

William had a most interesting dream last night.  He was plagued all night by 4 spirits.   He believes they are spirits over Fountain, and that we are to pray against them.  We already plan on holding a prayer/fasting time in our ministry house, praying specifically over it and the city of Fountain.  One of these spirits is one of death and murder, and another was the spirit of greed.  He didn’t mention the other two.  We haven’t looked into the history of this area yet, but William believes there is something over this city in regard to these.  Just like William was given the 5 spirits over the Rogue Valley and we prayed over that area specifically against those spirits (Insecurity and Inferiority rooted in Fear, Poverty, Apathy, a Religious spirit coupled with the pursuit of intellectual knowledge, and Greed.   

Nikki started painting Jesus on our mural – such an awesome start.  And Ryan helped me paint a bit on the outside mural.  He also learned to paint with oils today – he started his first oil painting!  I just got set up in a job, like I needed something else to do.  On Monday mornings from 9-11:30 am for 5 weeks, I’ll be teaching drawing and from 5:30-8 Monday evenings I’ll be teaching Music and Art History at the Sheppard Art Institute in Colorado Springs, starting Sept.  23^rd. The class is $60 per person and the average sign-up is 8 – so that’s good, but I hope more sign up.    I’m going to try to video each session as well so I can create an online class with these.   On Monday afternoons, I plan to start going to Neil’s for a painting class.  I’ve been wanting to do so for several weeks, but have been busy getting our Art Gallery/Studio and ministry house ready.  We open Aug. 31^st and will be open Tues. through Sat.   We will have prayer meetings on Tues. nights.  That’s all that we have set in stone so far … Wow, I’m already feeling overwhelmed … I’ll be busy this fall!!

Murals

I finished painting sign out front; Nikki painted mural inside; while I was out painting, a lady came by and asked what we were doing.  She’s an artist and is interested in putting up work in our gallery.  In fact, so many people stop by each day and talk with me while I am out there painting – kids, adults … some asking questions, some commenting on the painting, others needing prayer and advice.  I encourage them, tell them what we’re doing, pray for them, invite them to come in when we’re up and running - Aug. 31st is our opening day, in conjunction with the Annual Fountain Fall Festival, which will take place downtown and in the park.