FROM THE HEART OF DR. REXELLA VAN IMPE

They Shall Mount Up With Wings

All of us at some point in our lives have had traumatic experiences. Life has a way of forcing us to cope with difficulty, pain, sorrow, and stress.

Some people seem to come through every test stronger… and rise above every tumult. Others appear to be in danger of drowning in their sorrow …of being totally overcome by seemingly insurmountable circumstances.

What makes the difference?

I believe a large part of the answer is a matter of perspective… the point-of-view we have of life and its challenges.

Let me share with you a beautiful experience of Dr. Van Impe’s and mine which helps reveal the way I feel we should look at life’s problems. It happened when a special friend of the ministry called and asked if we’d like to ride in his hot air balloon.

Of course we said yes. And Mr. John Raya, of Father and Son Construction Co. in Rochester, Michigan, set a time for us to meet him.

So on a glorious afternoon, we climbed into the passenger basket and looked up at the beautiful blue-and-white balloon billowing fifty or sixty feet above us. My pulse was pounding with excitement …and I have to admit the tiniest bit of apprehension gripped my stomach.

But not for long! With a blast of flame from a propane burner above our heads, additional hot air was pumped into the balloon… the crew turned loose of the basket… and we took off — up, up, and away!

What a sensation! What a thrill! If you’ve ever gone up in a balloon, you know what I mean — it’s an unforgettable experience.

Ballooning is nothing like flying in an airplane, enclosed by glass and aluminum. Instead, you begin to feel like a free spirit — there is a distinct sense of physical disembodiment as you feel yourself floating upward, leaving the earth, rising higher and higher.

A new way to see!

First of all, I was astonished at what I could see. There was more sky than earth! Once above the walls and enclosures of man-made structures, a panorama of incredible beauty and unlimited space unfolded all around me. I remember thinking that this must be like seeing things from God’s viewpoint.

In their now miniature size, things that appeared so important on the ground seemed somehow insignificant. Dented car fenders, a burned-out house, rushing traffic — everything seemed to blend into a much larger background. The walls and fences separating people diminished before my eyes and faded into mere lines in a magnificent tapestry of soft color and interwoven patterns.

I began to see a bigger picture of life itself. Suddenly I understood as never before how even events that seem like disasters close-up can actually disappear into the perfect pattern of God’s master plan for our lives. And rather than being overwhelmed, it is possible to accept each circumstance as a purposeful part of God’s will… of His greater good for us!

How good it is to develop our spiritual sight in faith. If only we would make it a practice to allow the Holy Spirit to lift us above ourselves and see our situation from God’s viewpoint.

A new way to hear!

The second thing I discovered up in the balloon was that in addition to a new way to look, there was also a new way to listen.

As a musician, I am very conscious of sound — of voices, cries, music. Floating hundreds of feet in the air, I discovered there was no noise — no traffic roar, no barking dogs, no ringing telephones, no blaring radios or TV sets. There was only the soft sigh of the wind… and the silence. It was so quiet I could almost hear my own heartbeat. I actually had to get used to hearing nothing. And in the soothing, uninterrupted silence, I felt a healing, restoring power washing out my brain and smoothing down the wrinkles in my inner being.

With crystal clarity, I sensed a message of reassuring love being whispered inside my heart in a still, small voice. I recognized that Voice! And suddenly I thrilled with new understanding of what my Heavenly Father meant when He gently commanded, Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).

On that crisp autumn afternoon, drifting quietly above the patchwork quilts of the earth and under the brilliant blue of the heavens, I knew God afresh and anew.

Satisfied!

The Lord ministered to me through all my senses on that special day. In addition to being blessed through seeing and hearing, I became so aware of God’s presence that I could almost reach out and touch Him — I’m sure I felt Him touch me!

And smell — the air above our beloved Michigan homeland was so pure, so unpolluted at that height. I’ve never smelled anything so clean. It was like the very breath of God… exhilarating… delicious!

I distinctly remember being aware that my senses were totally filled up — that I wanted nothing to be satisfied. I had no need for food or drink. I could cry out with the Psalmist David, O taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).

All too soon our balloon ride came to an end, and it was time to descend back to earth. Almost reluctantly we left the sky and stood once more on the ground.

But I’ll never be quite the same again. How much I learned about Christian living through what I experienced that day up in the balloon.

I’m told that in stormy weather, that greatest of birds, the eagle, does not seek a shelter or place of refuge. Instead, he flies high into the sky, turns into the wind and sets his wings so that the very force of the storm lifts him safely above it.

Surely it is no coincidence that God’s Word declares —

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

A CLASSIC MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE

What You Have In Common With Paul, Job, and a Host of Others – part 1

The Bible is very fair in recounting the stories of those who experienced suffering. These portraits of pain reveal much. We come to better understand that affliction is the common lot of mankind and is something to be expected. If we will allow these accounts to teach us, we will also be better prepared to relate to others facing similar experiences. And, we, ourselves, will be better prepared for what happens in our lives.

Don’t ever let anyone tell you that by becoming a Christian and living the Christian life you will be guaranteed immunity from trouble. No one is promised anything like that. We are promised comfort, strength, and help, and we are given hope and God’s grace, which is sufficient for our every need.

On the other hand, don’t ever let anyone put a guilt trip on you. Don’t let them throw accusations at you like Job’s comforters did (read the Book of Job in the Old Testament). Oftentimes these people will infer that some sin, some prayerlessness, some lack of faith has brought on your calamity. Don’t believe it.

Job as Mentor

Job’s experiences can serve as a good teacher. His replies to those who sought to “comfort” him can shed much light on the struggles we have when affliction strikes us.

Job has been described as a good man who feared God and stayed away from evil. That description fits many a godly man, both in this present age and in preceding eras of time.

Job had a large family – seven sons and three daughters – and was immensely wealthy, employing many servants. He was considered the richest cattleman in the area where he lived.

One day Satan, the accuser, approached God, scoffing. He suggested that the only reason Job feared God was because God had always protected him, his home, and his property. In effect, Satan said, “No wonder Job ‘worships’ You! Take away his wealth and he’ll curse You.”

Let’s look at what happened after that. God allowed the following things to happen:

• The Sabeans – enemies – came.

• They raided and drove away Job’s animals (oxen and donkeys).

• They killed all the farmhands except one messenger. Fire fell from heaven.

• It burned all the sheep and the herdsmen except one messenger.

• Three bands of Chaldeans came.

• They drove off all his camels.

• They killed all his servants except one who escaped. Job’s sons and daughters were feasting.

• A mighty wind swept in from the desert, engulfing the house.

• The roof fell in on them, and they all died, except one messenger who escaped.

What was the response of Job to all of this? He tore his robe in grief. He shaved his head. Then he fell down on the ground and worshipped God. Is that what you expected would happen? Most people can understand giving way to grief, but the rest? Is worshipping God what generally happens when people are confronted with bad things?

Notice, also, Job’s verbal response:

Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21).

The Bible has a comment to make on Job’s reaction. We are told that, In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly (v. 22). Oh, how much we can learn from this man when life heaps more upon us than we think we can possibly bear!

However, don’t think of Job as some “super saint” who didn’t have feelings or anything to say. Let me point out that Job was very human, very much like you and me. He did voice some perplexity, some anguish of heart. He suffered deeply, and in his humanity he did cry and express his feelings. Job did ask some “Whys?” (See Job 13:24.) I think it is safe to say that God who made us, who endowed us with our emotions and feelings, doesn’t expect us to remain stoic -unflinching under pain and suffering. We should not consider it weakness or sin when we give way to the throes of emotions that come over us in times of trouble or when we are confronted with death.

Out of all this tragedy and the accusations of his friends, Job was still able to maintain his integrity (see Job 2:3). God vindicated Job, stating that Job had been harmed without cause. But Satan doesn’t give up easily. “Touch his body with sickness;” he told God, “and he will curse You to Your face!”

Job’s friends looked for reasons why all these things were happening to Job. Isn’t that often the case with us? We seek answers. We wonder why. We imply that there must be some “secret sin” or sins. This is not to say that we won’t pay the price when we abuse our bodies – whether through drugs, alcohol, smoking, overindulgence, or immorality. We do pay for such indulgences. It is the old law of sowing and reaping: Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7). But such was not the case with Job.

Job admitted that he had impulsively cried out in desperation over his condition. He was struck with boils from head to foot, an extremely painful condition. He even expressed a death wish, a longing to die. Again, this is for our instruction. Though Job questioned God, he never lost his faith in God. Such patience and perseverance! We hear about the “patience of Job” (see James 5:11), and it truly existed.

Job never gave up on God. He was terrified and admitted it. He had a faint heart, and everything seemed so very, very dark, an impenetrable darkness. He searched, crying and reaching out to God. Yet, his honesty reveals much about the man. Finally Job could say, But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10). This testimony of faith has been called by some, one of the greatest found anywhere in religious literature.

To those who say that God doesn’t deal fairly, is not in control of all things and events, and is not a just God, I point you to the Book of Job. Job showed courageous faith, and God rewarded him for it. But even if God hadn’t rewarded him on this side of heaven, you can be certain God’s grace would have manifested itself on the other side: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation [testing]: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him (James 1:12). The final tally is never in this life for the one who entrusts himself to the God who made him and sees the end from the beginning.

Through suffering God is giving us opportunity to trust His sovereignty, just as He did Job. In the end, Job said that he knew God could do all things and that no plan of His could be thwarted (see Job 42:2). This is the response which is so becoming to the one who believes in God and has entrusted himself to His grace.

You and I are going to experience hurts in life. There is no question about it. Sometimes we may lose our perspective on things because suffering does strange things to us. Someone has suggested that in our afflictions what we really need is not an explanation from God but a revelation of Him. We get that from the Bible.

We will look at the suffering of Paul in our next newsletter.

CHANGED LIVES-one at a time

Thank you, Rexella for your teaching Yeshua’s gospel.  I have learned so much from you over the years.  I pray God’s blessing over you and your ministries.

Denene M.

Dear Dr. Rexella,

I have been listening to your teaching for about 20 years now.  I have learned so much.  I am looking forward to the Rapture because of your teaching.  I praise the Lord for you.  I am very excited about meeting you someday here or in heaven.  Thank you for being such a warrior of the Faith.  I love you so much, I also know Jesus does too.  Keep up the good work.

Michael W.

HIGHLIGHTED MINISTRY OFFERS

60 Days of Prophecies

ARE YOU SEEKING INSIGHTS INTO
TODAY’S WORLD EVENTS?

The Bible has plenty to say about the end times — but it can be challenging to apply those statements and principles to the real world.  New York Times bestselling author Dr. David Jeremiah gives you 60 prophecies you should know and how they relate to today.

Events unfolding in our world can be unsettling, confusiing, and frightening. From political divisiveness and global instability to armed conflicts and lightning-speed technological advances, we face a variety of challenges that can leave us feeling overwhelmed.  The prophecies given in the Bible can provide guidance and clarity — to all these things.

Understanding how biblical prophecies affect our lives can feel like a lot to take on.  So let Dr. David Jeremiah be your guide to discovering and clarifying these 60 key prophecies found in the Bible.  Each day you will learn:
 

• about a specific prophecy.
• how it relates to (and helps explain) our world today.
• a key takeaway or Scripture verse to help you remember and apply what you’ve learned

This DayReader format, designed for seekers of knowledge with limited time, takes a deep dive into 60 core Bible prophecies and provides you with practical application to enrich your understanding of the world.  It’s not a mere synopsis; it’s a journey of discovery with takeaway values to make you better informed and less fearful as global events race forward.

Counting Down to Armageddon

The countdown is on –

The clock is ticking –ARMAGEDDON is almost here!

Dr. Rexella Van Impe and her team have condensed Dr. Jack Van Impe’s teaching to trace the truth about Armageddon through the Scriptures and give you a complete view of earth’s final battle —

• How soon will it take place? The prophetic timeline is far advanced — it could be much sooner than you think!
• Where will it happen?
• Who will be involved?
• Will Christians be there for this divisive conflict?
• What about the Antichrist?

Get the answers to all these questions and more … including the blessed hope you can have as a child of the King!