Don’t let this day, May 23, 2010, or the privilege of this opportunity, Global Day of Prayer, pass us by. Please visit www.globaldayofprayermn.com for information, resources, and radio station coverage of the Twins Cities Global Day of Prayer Event, Sunday, May 23, from 5-8 p.m. at Trask Worship Center, Northcentral University, Minneapolis, MN. See also: www.globaldayofprayer.com for additional resources and prayer downloads leading up to this signficant event, beginning May 13, 2010. This is the sixth time MN will join millions across the globe, 220 nations, participating in repentance and glorifying the name of Jesus Christ!

Don’t let this day, May 6, 2010, or the privilege of this opportunity, National Day of Prayer, pass us by. The direction this nation is currently heading may not allow us to continue this precious freedom…but God!

Artistic Jewels: I Carry Gifts The World Needs
the arts express’d
Spontaneous Expression Of Creative Arts, Gifts, And Talents
Hearing And Seeing The Frequencies Of Heaven On Earth
Training In Playing and Singing Skillfully

His Kingdom Come And His Will Be Done

Practical Teaching Tools
• A Vocabulary of Life
You Are A Good Idea: A Letter From God
I Am A Good Idea: A Letter To God
• I Have A Gift Within Me: Practical Teaching Lesson For Kingdom Jewels
Our Spiritual Kingdom Inheritance
Kingdom Jewels
• I Carry Gifts The World Needs: Transforming The Seven Mountains
• A Model For Hearing The Voice Of The Lord: Adapted From Matthew 6:9-13
• Hitting The Mark
• The Open Door: The Third Heaven
• The Open Door: An Invitation To The Throne Room
• The Open Door: Singing The Scriptures
• The Open Door: Singing The Scripture References
• The Open Door: Kingdom Warriors
• The Open Door: Unity Is Key
• A Vocabulary Of Life Word List

*ALSO AVAILABLE: No More Orphans! Intercessory Piano CD.
No More Orphans! Piano CD Background Information
All songs copyright 2010 Tammy Sorenson/Jaran Family Ministries/the arts express’d

Blessed Are
The words of this song come from Mark 10:16, Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-26.

Lord, Your heart is breaking for the children…the hungry and the poor who cry in shame. Your Spirit is awakening Your people, who’ll tell them that You know each one by name. You’ve heard their cries for freedom. You’ve seen their hurt and pain. You love them as a Father and Your Son died for their gain.

Blessed are the poor and needy. Blessed are the ones who mourn. Blessed are the gentle and lowly, the Kingdom is yours. Blessed are the hungry and thirsty. Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed are the persecuted, the Kingdom is yours.

Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are those who work for peace. Blessed are those who seek Your heart, sharing Your great love throughout the world. Blessed are the children. Your heart is breaking for them. Blessed are believers when they share and every child receives.

I Am
This song was inspired by the words Jesus spoke in the Gospels.

I see every face on every single child that nobody wanted; the world threw them away. I see every tear on every single face of every broken heart needing someone to look their way.

I Am the only answer. Don’t believe the lies they say. I Am the only hope you’re all crying out for this day. How did we get to here and how do we get to where we need to be?  Jesus is My Name.

I see every child, hungry, sick, abused, crying for someone to take away their pain. I see every child empty and alone fearing that no one cares or knows their name.

I Am the love you’re looking for. I Am peace and so much more. I Am your way, your truth, your life, I Am. I Am the freedom that you seek. I Am your strength when you are weak. I Am your shelter from this storm…I Am.

How did we get to here and how do we get to where we need to be?  Jesus is My Name. Do you hear My voice? Do you know My Word?  Jesus is My Name.

Every Child is a Gift
This spontaneous instrumental song was inspired by Psalm 127:3. The message of the song is contained in my new book, also entitled, No More Orphans! Every child is a God idea, and is therefore a good idea. Every child has been sent to Earth as a gift, and as a carrier of gifts the world needs. Every child is invited to receive our Heavenly Father’s greatest gift of love and eternal life through the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ. The gift of Holy Spirit within activates and empowers both the infinite treasure of Christ Jesus and the specific gifts He has placed within each individual. These gifts are to manifest and be carried as an expression of Heaven on the Earth.

For the Orphaned
This song passionately expresses instrumental intercession on behalf of everyone who has been abandoned, rejected, discarded, or orphaned by tragedy. The spontaneous music reflects the daily questions and the unknowns in being orphaned: wondering if anyone cares, of survival, and of existence itself. It also carries the promise of Jesus in John 14:18 to not leave us as orphans.

“Does anyone see me? Does anyone care about me? I have dreams of being wanted, of belonging, of being loved. There are so many like me needing to know hope, needing to know purpose, needing to know we have a future, needing to know Love. Does anyone see me?”

For the Poor
This spontaneous instrumental song came from meditating on Luke 6:20-21. Jesus promises the kingdom of God to those who are poor and hungry in this present age. The music reflects the heart of the Father and His promise to fill them according to the riches of His eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

For the Sick
This spontaneous song was inspired as intercession for a precious family standing in faith on 1 Peter 2:24 and the healing of their husband and father. I dedicate this song to the Ted Landmark family, and give glory and honor to our Heavenly Father for this family’s overcoming testimony of faith. Ted is now eternally healed in the presence of Jesus. I pray this song will comfort and heal the hearts of those who must stand strong in faith and walk out the unseen.

For the War-Torn & Persecuted
This spontaneous instrumental piece was inspired by 2 Corinthians 4 and Philippians 4:7. As intercessory music, it reflects the tension, the monotony, and the perseverance of victims who daily battle living in the midst of war and persecution. It is also a prayer for His peace in the midst their storms.

For the Unborn
This spontaneous instrumental piece is wholehearted intercession on behalf of the sanctity of life, and contains a layer of sound intended to reflect life in the womb. For the Unborn represents being a “voice” for those who cannot speak for themselves. The Lord promises covering and deliverance from evil in Psalm 139:13 and Galatians 1:4. Until His heart and will on behalf of these precious and innocent ones manifests on the Earth, a sound must cry out.

Isaiah 61 for the Abused & Slavery
The melody of this song comes from the Hebrew translation of Isaiah 61:1-2, also decreed by Jesus in Luke 4:18-19. Christ in us IS the hope of glory. We are given His Spirit to carry His anointing and set the captives free. The word of the Lord never returns void, and always accomplishes what He sends it to do. This song intercedes for the release and manifestation of the purposes of Heaven on behalf of those who daily contend with the victimization of abuse and slavery.

Uri Harel and the Center for Biblical Hebrew has developed a program entitled, Bible Music Writer. His ministry  has been given a revelation of mathematically converting the letters of the Hebrew alphabet from any Scripture passage to music notation, thus literally releasing the musical frequencies of the spoken Word into the atmosphere. I creatively added the harmonies, rhythms and form to the melody of the converted Hebrew Scripture, transforming the spoken Word into a musical Word. For further information contact: CENTER FOR BIBLICAL HEBREW, MUSIC FROM GOD, PMT 542, 5555 North 7th Street, #134, Phoenix, Arizona 85014, Email: info@c-bh.com, Phone: 602-48-BIBLE, FAX: 602-932-2831.

Not Forgotten
As I have prayed and played spontaneously for all of the fatherless on the Lord’s heart, I hear His Spirit saying, “you have not been forgotten.” In Luke 12:6, Jesus says, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Psalms 56:8 gives assurance of our Heavenly Father keeping record of all sorrow and collecting every tear in His bottle. Because of the good news of this revelation decreed in His Word, this spontaneous song reflects a light-hearted dance as the Father sings over each of His precious children.

These items are now available at www.theartsexpressed.com website store and on CD Baby! http://cdbaby.com/cd/TammyLSorenson

TO CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE:
www.theartsexpressed.com or www.jaranministries.com
jaranministries@izoom.net or 763-262-2607

I first heard this song, “When the Music Fades,” at an Awake America Conference at the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN, as led by Lyndell Cooley, back in the Fall of 1999. Matt Redman, it’s writer, and many others have since made it a familiar worship song to many. As a worshiper, a pianist and vocalist, the song gripped the depths of my heart. I played and sang it over and over for many years. Back then, I actually thought I understood what the lyrics meant. Ten plus years later, I realize how much I had yet to learn about the meaning of these words, and about the true worship Jesus spoke of in John 4:23-24.

Over the course of the past ten+ years, since first hearing the song, I suffered a major car accident and survived, not only the accident, but years of doctoring and dentists. The Lord has moved our family four times. Our biological children have grown from ages 6 and 9, to ages 17 and 20 (we have twin 17-year olds). We traveled to Guatemala and adopted three children in 2002, who have grown from ages 5, 8 & 10, to ages 12, 15 and 17. We spent much of these growing years trying to train up all of our kids for the Lord and His Kingdom purposes, equipping both their natural and spiritual giftings according to His Word and to the leading of Holy Spirit. Our oldest son graduated from high school and technical college with a degree in audio production. He is currently preparing to “leave the nest” and pursue his calling as a professional musician. Within two years, three more will prepare to leave and pursue their callings as professional musicians, graphic designer/artists, photographer, and missions.

As a family, we have ministered at camps and conferences throughout the upper Midwest, and have been involved in worship ministry and/or children’s ministry leadership at four different churches in the midst of our moves. We shared ten Family Destiny Conferences together. We also did a CD project to spontaneously capture our journey as worshipers, musicians, and family. There have been many other significant family, music, and ministry “events;” too many to list for the purposes of this article.

We have tried to be obedient to follow the Lord’s leading in such way that everything we have known and loved, with the exception of our marriage and our children, has come and gone…good friends, homes, church families, jobs, things we loved to do together, music, pets…to name only a few. When we moved to our current location, we were told that faith is spelled R-I-S-K, and that was what we needed to be willing to do, in order to follow the Lord wholeheartedly in His Kingdom purposes for our entire family.

As of July 4, this past summer, 2009, Jaran Family Ministries officially ended: our music and our ministry. It was not at all what I had expected, hoped or dreamed, but we want the Lord’s will, not our own. He was clear that we were to pray over our children, anoint, and release them to do and be all He has purposed and called each of them to. We sold our ministry motor home, exactly when, where, how, and for the exact price the Lord prompted us. Now, at the onset of 2010, we wait on Him to lead and guide us into this next season; particularly for our kids’ individual callings, and His plans and purposes for the arts express’d (see www.TheArtsExpressed.com). I am currently working on a book, entitled, “No More Orphans,” subtitled: “I Am A Good Idea…I Have A Gift Within Me…I Carry Gifts The World Needs.”

I have spent the past twenty years parenting, homeschooling, teaching music, and serving the Lord in children’s/worship/house of prayer/and family ministries. Today I awakened to revisit the lyrics of the song that propelled us through these past ten years up to this juncture in life. I understand the meaning of the words, “When the music fades, and all is stripped away, and I simply come,” with very different eyes than I did ten years ago. I desire more deeply than ever to bring Him something of worth that will bless His heart in 2010, so I simply “come.”

“Lord, let everything in this coming year – in my life, in our marriage, in our family, in the lives of our kids, in this nation, in this generation, and in the Kingdom plans and purposes You desire on Earth as it is in Heaven – be all about You. It’s truly is all about You, Jesus!”

When the Music Fades – Matt Redman
Copyright 1999 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music

When the music fades, and all is stripped away, and I simply come;
Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless Your heart.

I’ll bring you more than a song,
For a song in itself is not what you have required.
You search much deeper within, through the way things appear,
You’re looking into my heart.

I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and its all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus.
I’m sorry, Lord, for the things I’ve made it,
When it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus.

King of endless worth, no one could express how much You deserve,
Though I’m weak and poor, all I have is Yours, every single breath.

I’ll bring You more than a song,
For a song in itself is not what you have required.
You search much deeper within, through the way things appear,
You’re looking into my heart.

I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus.
I’m sorry, Lord, for the things I’ve made it,
When it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus.

There are so many dynamics with all of that it’s difficult to know where to begin. The purpose of reflecting on all of this, however, is to narrow in on the giftings Father God places within each individual child. The Lord impressed in my heart early on in my teaching career (I taught elementary music in the public schools for almost 10 years (prior to having children of our own), and private piano and preschool music classes for 20+ years) to expect much from children because they would rise to the occasion. My daughter was just barely out of diapers when we started her on Suzuki violin. Her brothers were both four years old when they started Suzuki violin and mandolin, as well as piano. Out of the hours of practice, lessons and listening to much music arose exceptionally acute musical ears and skillful abilities that the Lord told me early on to teach them to use for His glory. We are blessed with three biological children whose natural giftings have been trained with excellence and whose hearts have been trained to live for Him (between the three children drums, electric and acoustic guitar, bass guitar, song writing, singing, keyboards and dancing are skillfully and enthusiastically going 24/7), and it’s time to let them begin solo flights on their own (mom’s having the roughest adjustment of letting go in this season – I will not know how to adjust to the literal quiet – but I know it’s the Lord’s will to launch them out individually to be more effective for His Kingdom).

Then there’s our three whose early years began in the fear and depravity of poverty in Guatemala, the brokenness of family, and orphanage life; not yet being able to experience all of the good plans the Lord had for them. When they arrived in our family they knew no English and that was probably the easiest adjustment, although by God’s grace none of it was ever really difficult. We have been blessed to be able to watch them receive Christ as their Savior, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and pursue a relationship with the Lord (as with our biological three) that is deep and solid. The Lord has bestowed on them supernatural giftings that Scripture exhorts us to pray and believe for. I know our oldest adopted daughter will live to see the Lord heal sickness and disease through her hands and her prayers. She is a worshiper and the Lord has anointed her to do greater works. She worships with her hands as an artist and crafter – her hands are always able to create the most beautiful works of art – sometimes out of nothing. The Lord has given her a heart to return to the country she began in as a missionary, in order to share with all of the broken children of that nation the healing love of Christ; to share what He has done for her with each and every one. Her younger sister will probably do her own version of that very thing, only with preschoolers in the U.S.. She has been blessed with angelic visitations, being able to see visions and have dreams, just as prophesied in Joel 2. Much of our family’s journey has been spoken through her lips from the Lord. She is good with words and the Lord is anointing that gift in song and poetry as I write. I also sense there’s a prophetic dancer in there that is waiting to be awakened…Our youngest has the charisma of an evangelist and the supernatural gifting to hear a kairos word from the Lord through Scripture exactly at the moment it’s needed. It took me three years to teach him to read (he still struggles with language) but the first book he learned to read was the Bible. He loves the Word of God and He knows it well, and he will forever be a student of God’s Word. He’s still working through the journey and not yet ready to fly, but when he is, I pray and trust he will do mighty things for the Kingdom of God alone.

As a rich and major chapter in my life is approaching its close (one that I have poured myself into by the grace of God for 19+ years), I know that the Lord is not done with me yet. I know that the “small beginnings” He told me not to despise (the days in the thick of cooking for eight when I truly dislike cooking for one, laundry, schoolwork, messy houses, disagreements, chauffeuring to all of the lessons, expenses that seem to never end, and all of the dynamics that come with a family of eight people being together 24/7, 7 days a week) are the foundations for not only their six lives and callings here on earth, but for preparing my heart to seek out those children that are on His heart the rest of my life.

Deep in my spirit I see so many…I see them when I pray…I see them when I worship…so many who the Lord has only amazing plans and purposes for who are just waiting for someone to point them to their Heavenly Father…to the One who will never leave them nor forsake them; to the One who loves them perfectly and unconditionally; to the One who is always able to provide for every need; to the One who has placed creative and supernatural gifts and talents within each and every one that are waiting to be stirred, waiting to be called forth, and waiting to be identified, nurtured and equipped.

All are worshipers; some are intercessors; some artists; some musicians; some dancers; some poets and writers; some prophets; some apostles; some pastors; some teachers; some evangelists; some have the gift of healing; some the gift of helps…the fruit and list of Kingdom giftings and callings is infinite. I have prayed for many years for the Samuels…those who long to know and live in His presence and desire to hear and obey His voice…for the Davids, Daniels and Josiahs…who from an early age learned to be wholehearted, committed and to live for the Lord alone…for the Esthers, the Ruths, the Marys…I’ve prayed the Lord would send me to them to introduce them to their Heavenly Father and to the desire of Jesus as Lord of their whole heart, soul, mind and strength…to call forth, equip and nurture their natural and supernatural giftings for the glory of God that they would be mighty in taking this nation (or whatever nation they are currently in) back for the Kingdom of Heaven.

It’s all about teaching them to worship Him in Spirit and in truth…the Holy Spirit does all the work…He’s just looking for someone who’ll point them in His direction and be the vessel of the supernatural flowing through to the natural. “Here I am, Lord, send me…” is a prayer I’ve prayed so many times. “Where are the Samuels, Lord?”, another. Use me to mentor them in Your ways. They’re out there…they are on the streets, in broken homes, lost in the foster care system, in orphanages, in abusive homes, abandoned, neglected, desperate, alone…there’s at least 215 million known orphaned children…just for starters…needing to know Someone cares…needing to know their lives have purpose and meaning…needing freedom from the traps and only known cultural means and modes of survival…it’s too big to even get one’s mind around…that’s why I know it’s God and I know it’s something beyond the norm…it’s a supernatural, Spirit-empowered something…something I’m currently praying for vibrant revelation about.

I’m here…they are “out there.” In this next chapter of my life, beginning this year – my year of Jubilee – I have faith and hope that He will give me Heaven’s strategy for connecting us somehow, someway…anticipation of a supernatural Kingdom plan that is beyond my wildest hopes and dreams…one that my own children will somehow connect to and/or sow into in some way even as they leave the nest for their own ministries, callings and families…for such a time as this. Please agree with me in prayer concerning this new chapter the Lord has for every precious child.

Meditating on the truth inherent in this verse sheds interesting light on our society. I’ve had people apologize to me when I tell them I have six children and that five of them are teenagers (“You poor thing, I feel sorry for you”). I often hear people complain because their kids are home during a school break. When I tell them I homeschool my kids and they are home every day, the usual response is an apology or a sarcastic, “Lucky you.” There’s also the frequent “I can’t wait until they graduate” remarks.

On another level, nearly half of the kids in this nation are shuffled between divorced parents’ homes and all the “stuff” that entails (sometimes they are subjected to many broken relationships). Additionally, nearly every day there are children who ARE the daily news due to abuse and death from enraged boyfriends/girlfriends or ex’s of some dimension.

Let me now shift the focus to the 50 million aborted babies in this nation alone since the initiation of Roe verse Wade, excluding worldwide statistics. Will a generation ever come to the realization that every single aborted child was sent to Earth with the intention of being a gift from God, whose life and purpose contained only good and eternal significance? The horrific truth of abortion is always before the Heavenly Father and has continuously broken His heart since the very first one.

There is one additional topic, an extremely difficult prayer burden I battle daily, because the Lord has also broken my heart with His broken heart for the millions of children and youth worldwide who are victims of: 1) extreme poverty; 2) chains/slavery; 3) orphans of the street (current UNICEF report is 215 million); 4) pornography and the sex trade; 5) aids and plagues; 6) war-affected children; and 7) religious persecution (Must Read: Be A Hero: The Battle for Mercy and Social Justice by Wesley Campbell and Stephen Court. This book contains staggering statistics/details that are guaranteed to break your heart for the things that break the Lord’s heart as well. There are recent statistics available for research on any of these individual topics…the numbers will literally take your breath away). Every single one of these horrific, destructive issues and the countless lives they impact are the work of Satan, who comes only to lie, kill, steal and destroy individual lives in massive proportions. (Note: This list doesn’t even specifically address drug/alcohol issues children/youth (and many families) contend with, but it inherently crosses over a number of the categories.) Not one of these issues are part of the good plans or purposes that Father God intended for a single individual life, much less nations. This generation cannot continue to ignore these issues, pass them off as God’s will, nor blame God any more. The very prayer that Jesus used to teach all of His disciples to pray exhorts us to bring His Kingdom to come and His will to be done on Earth just as it is in Heaven. There is no evil or darkness of any kind in Heaven…only Goodness and Light. Therefore, a generation of Kingdom disciples should be pulling on Heaven daily on behalf of every single child and youth in the world not walking/not able to walk in the Lord’s will for their lives…regardless of the circumstances…a Kingdom generation becoming the vessels that receive and manifest the solutions the Lord has available for each individual life.

Awareness of/researching any of the preceding topics should be enough to make most people re-evaluate their definition of stressful…things deemed worthy of complaining about. Reading the verses from Psalms at the beginning of this article should also awaken a humble and thankful perspective with regard to the gift of the children one has been blessed with.

I’m at the other end of the spectrum where my teens are quickly approaching the age of flying away from our nest and pursuing what the Lord has purposed for each of their lives. Letting go of my blessings is one of those difficult things, even though I’ve always known they were only mine for a season to raise up for the Lord. I’m so very thankful for every year He has given me to be home with each one; nurturing and training them in every possible area, spiritually and naturally, for the glory of His name.

A word of advice for parents with young children and those stressful days when it seems there is no rest, no quiet, nothing is getting done, the kids are bickering, and life seems frustrating…as Tray Aikens sings, “You’re gonna miss this.” You blink and time is gone; time is something you can never recover. To parents who don’t understand the gift/the blessing of each and every child, whether a child recently conceived in the womb (planned or unplanned), or a child caught in the middle of a marriage relationship that’s seems to be going through difficult times for one of a zillion different reasons…meditate on the fact that each and every child is a gift sent personally down from Heaven just for you…a blessing from the Creator of the universe who loves you and wants to bless you…who loves your children and wants to bless them as much as He wants them to be a blessing to you and to others…a small reflection of His infinite love…intended to be a reward and to bring you joy.

We have reached a point on the timetable of history where it is absolutely necessary for us to cry out for the spirit of Elijah to be poured out on a generation. A generation whose “preaching will turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the hearts of children to their parents. Otherwise He will come and strike the land with a curse” (Malachi 4:5-6). A generation must be awakened and released who cares more about children and youth who are victims of major worldwide problems on the Lord’s heart and more about the sanctity of human life than they do about self-gratification. (In America we don’t really understand what need is in comparison to the issues millions of innocent children and youth around the world contend with hourly.)

These issues are too vast for anyone but God Himself, but He chooses to work through people. He’s looking for vessels He can use to manifest His love, His compassion, His protection, His provision, His plans and purposes, and everything else these millions of children and youth need. Each one is crying out for someone to care. Each one has been sent to this earth to be a blessing; not a burden, not something or someone to be ignored, not a statistic, not something or someone to be abused or violated in any way shape or form, but rather a blessing!

To every parent, the first thought of every day should be:

Psalms 127:3-5, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him. Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior’s hands. How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.”

To this generation, our daily cry should be:

“Dear Father God, make Yourself known to each and every child/youth who needs a perfect Father. Reveal Yourself to each and every child/youth who has no one to love them, protect them, provide for them, heal them, or teach them. Reveal the preciousness of every single child conceived in this generation.”

“Oh Lord, please send the spirit of Elijah through the fullness of Christ Jesus. Raise up and release a generation whose “preaching will turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the hearts of children to their parents” (Malachi 4:5-6). Raise up and release a generation whose hearts and minds are set on You, Lord, and on the things that are on Your heart. Raise up and release a selfless generation, Lord, who are about their Father’s business here on Earth, just as it is in Heaven and just as Jesus modeled for us when He walked this Earth. Raise up and release a generation who loves You with their whole hearts, souls, minds and strength and who loves others with Your love. Empower this generation by the power of Holy Spirit and with the authority and compassion of Christ Jesus to destroy the works of Satan (the thief who comes to lie, kill, steal and destroy – his works of poverty, slavery, orphaning children and youth, fatherlessness, broken families, abuse, pornography/the sex trade, aids/plagues, war, religious persecution, drug/alcohol addiction, and abortion…resulting in darkness, bondage, oppression and death). Shine Your light all over this world through a generation preparing to be Your Bride, Jesus, and glorify Yourself in us and through us. In Your Beloved Name, Jesus, we pray. Amen”

As our family pressed in to seek the Lord’s heart in worship and prayer, our youngest children received several powerful words from very different places in the Word (each member of our family listens to the Holy Spirit during these times for him/herself): Jeremiah 23:1-4; Daniel 12:1-5, and Haggai 2:6-7 (two of these passages were heard through our 11 year old, who only 6 years ago could not speak a single word of English; it took almost 3 years to teach him to read and one of the first books he was able to read was the Bible – total glory to God!). These passages all pertain to the people being deceived by their leaders and the Lord shaking things that did not bear good fruit according to His ways, replacing them with His glory through individuals He could trust to lead according to His leading.

I was impressed in my spirit that many people in this nation have been deceived by leadership in every area of our society, including the church; one can only go as far as the leaders can lead (if the leaders are deceived (by those leading them) or delight in deceiving others, everyone under their leadership suffers). I also know there is a Body that has been wholeheartedly seeking the Lord: His heart, His will, His Kingdom and His ways; learning to trust the One in whom there is no deception – only truth. This past season, however long that may have been…I’m willing to say at least 10-12 years for many, has been a very difficult season of trials and tribulations, of training and preparation in the wilderness, for those who want to live for the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth. I believe there are many who would be willing to do whatever it takes to live under the blessings of the Lord if they understood the truth about the journey; unfortunately, they have not been taught the whole truth.

The Bible is not just a history book irrelevant to today and the times we are living in. The Bible is not subjective to man’s interpretation, nor is God limited by anything man does or doesn’t do, believes or doesn’t believe. Neither are true Christians conservative religious biggots who are intolerant and politically incorrect (and yes, there are people who call themselves Christians who have not accurately represented Christ…we are all a work in progress). Our nation has been on a downward spiraling path of pushing God out and teaching the next generation numerous deceptive ideologies and worldviews.

Contrary to the teaching of many, we can’t have it both ways. We are either living wholeheartedly for the Lord and His Kingdom or we are living according to the ways of the world and our flesh…there is no middle ground or fence that allows us to dabble in both (it’s simply an untruth to believe one can confess Jesus as Savior for the sake of getting to Heaven someday, but then live your life as you see fit while you’re here on earth contrary to the teachings of Scripture and not in a living daily relationship with Him). Yes, Jesus died for our sins, and no, none of us is perfect; only the Lord Himself accomplished that on our behalf. Therefore, repenting and forgiveness will be a necessary part of our journey on earth. However, if one is truly walking by the leading of His Spirit, the grip/lure/appeal of temptation and sin continuously decreases and victory breaks through one day at a time. Jesus says we must believe and obey…not just believe…the obedience part is just as important as the believing part. God says He does not change (Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17). Every word in the Bible is living and absolute truth and provides necessary instruction/standards relevant for today. Every word He has spoken will come to pass; His word never returns void.

Creationism verses evolution, abortion (God is pro-life – Psalms 139:13; see A Letter from God on this site), divorce and broken families verses covenants (fatherlessness will never be God’s idea – Malachi 4:6; see No More Orphans article on this site and on www.TheArtsExpressed.com), homosexuality (God loves homosexuals…but He still hates the sin…being fruitful and multiplying the earth would be very difficult in that context, and the truth of His word does not change – this doesn’t make those who believe His word religious biggots…rather it motivates us to pray for, love on and reach out to those who are deceived by the culture), purity verses the sexual perversion pervading our society…the list is endless and we all know the issues. The truth of His Word will reveal itself and it will stand.

The bottom line…unless the Lord builds the house it’s all in vain. There’s a shaking that has already come to our nation…it began to manifest on 9/11/01 and it will continue to increase, just as it has this past year in the economy. Everything and everyone who has built their life on the sand (Matthew 7:24-27 – this is not just a cute story they teach kids in Sunday School) is subject to the shaking. As the shaking continues to increase, the Father is going to reveal His Kingdom people/the Body of Christ, who are wholeheartedly in love with Him, are completely committed to His ways, and will love others with His love (the world will not find a religious people consumed with their buildings pointing judgmental fingers). This nation will soon meet a people who have learned how to walk in the fullness of Christ and have built an unshakable life in Jesus, the Rock; carrying Christ’s love and desire to reach out with compassion to care, share, provide, point people to the Truth, and come alongside those who desire to no longer be deceived, but rather desire to know and walk in the only truth. We are entering a season where we will reap what we have been sowing (as well as reap what we sow in 2009+).

Praise God it’s not too late to sow the things of His Kingdom: it’s not too late to sow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Praise Jesus it’s not too late to receive His wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear of the Lord. Praise the Lord that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to all who will seek Him…that all of His promises are true, yes and amen!

Purpose in 2009 to seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Unlike the world, He will never deceive you; He will lead you into the only truth because Jesus is the Truth; He is the way and the life. His word changes not and His ways are the same yesterday, today and forever. If your world has been/is being shaken, or when it does, call on His name. When you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. He will provide you with everything you need because He is all that you need…it all belongs to Him (Psalms 24:1). He will build your life on unshakable ground…He will bring you into the abundance of the unshakable Kingdom that He is building…you can take that to the bank!

I AM
I SEE EVERY FACE ON EVERY SINGLE CHILD
THAT NOBODY WANTED
THE WORLD THREW THEM AWAY

I SEE EVERY TEAR ON EVERY SINGLE FACE
FROM EVERY BROKEN HEART
NEEDING SOMEONE TO LOOK THEIR WAY

I AM THE ONLY ANSWER
DON’T BELIEVE THE LIES THEY SAY
I AM THE ONLY HOPE
YOU’RE ALL CRYING OUT FOR THIS DAY
HOW DID YOU GET TO HERE?
HOW DO YOU GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE?
JESUS IS MY NAME

I SEE EVERY CHILD HUNGRY, SICK, ABUSED,
CRYING FOR SOMEONE
TO TAKE AWAY THEIR PAIN
I SEE EVERY CHILD EMPTY AND ALONE
FEARING THAT NO ONE
CARES OR KNOWS THEIR NAME

I AM THE LOVE YOU’RE LOOKING FOR
I AM PEACE AND SO MUCH MORE
I AM YOUR WAY, YOUR TRUTH, YOUR LIFE
I AM
I AM THE FREEDOM THAT YOU SEEK
I AM YOUR STRENGTH WHEN YOU ARE WEAK
I AM YOUR SHELTER FROM THIS STORM
I AM

Copyright 2009 Tammy Sorenson/Jaran Family Ministries

We give each family member choices of eating out one fun meal and participating in one fun activity each day, whether it would be going to a movie, sledding, bowling, going to the community center to swim, play basketball or workout, etc.. My husband and I each prepare a daily teaching, the topics often sought through prayer and fasting prior to the conference. This year we plan to focus on Psalms 127 and The Arts Express’d. We are launching a new ministry, a vision from the Lord revealed over the past seven year season: The Arts Express’d (see www.TheArtsExpressed.com). We want to ensure that He is the One building the ministry exactly as He has prepared and purposed in and through us. We desire to be vessels He can build His Kingdom through as a family and as individuals within our family who will be launching out over the next 2-5 years with ministries of their own.

This nation is at a critical juncture and it is so important for families, regardless of the individuals who make up your family unit (husband and wife, single mom and kids, widow, grandparents with kids, etc.), to take time as 2008 comes to an end and 2009 begins to unfold before us: spend time seeking His heart, His purpose, His will for each family member; pray; fast; worship; study His Word: for each family, for the city or region He has placed you in, for the Church, and for our nation. His Word promises that when we seek Him we will find Him. We have dear friends at a church in the Cities who spend the first 7 days of each New Year 24/7 in the church to pray, fast and seek His face. Regardless of how much or how little time you’ve spent seeking Him this past year, make time this week. Seek Him early in the A.M.. Seek Him late at night and during the midnight hours. Purpose to set aside time during the day’s busyness and distractions to seek Him; to hear His still, small voice and what He’s speaking to you for 2009.

2008 has been a difficult year for our nation and for many people. 2009 holds the manifestation to many unanswered problems and unfulfilled promises. 2009 will be a year of great change. 2009 will also be a year in which God reveals that He sits on the throne of this nation and on the throne of each heart that has said/will say, “Yes” to the Lordship of His Son. 2009 will be a year of God revealing His amazing glory and love throughout the world. Purpose to do your own Family Destiny Conference this week, however that looks for your individual family, with whatever time you can make available (even if you don’t have any free days, He will honor whatever time you give to Him). You won’t be disappointed…that’s a promise you can count on! I would like to conclude with the words to a song the Lord dropped into my spirit this week.

I AM
I SEE EVERY FACE ON EVERY SINGLE CHILD
THAT NOBODY WANTED
THE WORLD THREW THEM AWAY

I SEE EVERY TEAR ON EVERY SINGLE FACE
FROM EVERY BROKEN HEART
NEEDING SOMEONE TO LOOK THEIR WAY

I AM THE ONLY ANSWER
DON’T BELIEVE THE LIES THEY SAY
I AM THE ONLY HOPE
YOU’RE ALL CRYING OUT FOR THIS DAY
HOW DID YOU GET TO HERE?
HOW DO YOU GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE?
JESUS IS MY NAME

I SEE EVERY CHILD HUNGRY, SICK, ABUSED,
CRYING FOR SOMEONE
TO TAKE AWAY THEIR PAIN
I SEE EVERY CHILD EMPTY AND ALONE
FEARING THAT NO ONE
CARES OR KNOWS THEIR NAME

I AM THE LOVE YOU’RE LOOKING FOR
I AM PEACE AND SO MUCH MORE
I AM YOUR WAY, YOUR TRUTH, YOUR LIFE
I AM
I AM THE FREEDOM THAT YOU SEEK
I AM YOUR STRENGTH WHEN YOU ARE WEAK
I AM YOUR SHELTER FROM THIS STORM
I AM

Copyright 2009 Tammy Sorenson/Jaran Family Ministries

A clear example of the absolute bizarreness of this deceptive agenda would be the media’s deliberate failure to address the following issue: their liberal candidate called health care “a human right,” yet doesn’t even value the sanctity of human life, to the extreme of supporting the murder of an aborted baby who “happens” to be born alive…where’s the justice in that…where’s the human right in that? What about their candidate’s version of justice and human rights for the family who wants to play an active role in their kindergartener’s education and doesn’t want their child exposed to the homosexual agenda? (Yes, it’s an agenda and parents’ rights will be taken away with the liberal candidate’s “plan”!)

It’s time for people who call themselves Christians and believe they’re going to Heaven to wake up! It’s time to stop living for self and start living for the Kingdom of Heaven on earth…the Kingdom is at hand…it is now…it’s not just for someday after we check off this planet to go float on a cloud somewhere with our white wings as so many have been led to envision! Oh, God have mercy on us for teaching such a shallow Gospel! The sins of this nation have opened wide the door to a massive cloud of deception; a masterfully woven web of deceit, by the master of deception himself, Satan, and he is using the media and our schools to drive it home (the agenda in our public schools and universities is for another blog). As long as the people of America don’t understand this; as long as people allow themselves to be blindly led forth in a spiritual state of stupor (“see to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy” Col. 2:8), it won’t matter what candidate runs against the liberal media-choice candidate, because it won’t matter what the candidate stands for – especially if it’s for good. There is nothing good about or in the kingdom of darkness – only lies, death and destruction.

As our family prayed about the elections, the message of Rick Joyner’s book, “The Torch and the Sword,” was quickened to my spirit. We are truly walking out the times he wrote about in the book (it’s worth your reading time). It is critical that every person in Christ (from the youngest to the oldest) pick up the the Word of God (the sword of the Spirit), be filled with His Spirit, and begin to carry His light out into the world. If we are loving God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength, and others with His love, His light will shine brightly in the midst of the darkness. It is critical that we stand our ground and by His leading take back the ground that has been lost to the kingdom of darkness over the past 40 years. As families, it is more important than any other time in history that we take the time to worship and pray together every day. We need to worship the One who truly can turn all circumstances to good; the One who is faithful and true. We need to pray with His leading in order to bring His perfect will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven; that perfect will embodies justice for the sanctity of human life and for the sanctity of marriage and family as defined by the Word of God. We must pray for justice on behalf of the unborn children who cannot speak for themselves.

“Father God, we pray that Your Spirit will significantly increase on every single family, on every man, woman and child, who calls You by name; that You will pour out Your revelation, Your wisdom and understanding, Your counsel and might, Your knowledge, and especially Your fear in greater measure, for such a time as this. We ask that You would reveal Your ways, which are higher than man’s ways. We ask that the entire world would know through this election that you are the God of this nation, that You raise up the leaders (not the media or man), and that you are still on the throne of the United States of America, and on the throne of the hearts of Your people. We ask this in Your powerful, mighty and holy name, Jesus!”

The response in my spirit to the question, whose report will you believe, for every poll, for every liberal commentator and/or person in a position of leadership who clearly swayed this election and thus our nation into a deeper, darker place of deception in living for self: WE SHALL BELIEVE THE REPORT OF THE LORD! His report says, “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. We have to pray in faith and believe that He has raised up many voices who are hearing this call and are being obedient to repent on behalf of the sins of our nation, and to cry out for God to make us a nation under Him again.

His Word says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain” Psalm 127:1. We have to pray and stand on the Lord’s report, that those of us who have let Him build our houses will watch Him be strong on behalf of the unborn; on behalf of the family; on behalf of our children; on behalf of education; on behalf of our freedom to worship our Lord; on behalf of our marriages; on behalf of our protection and provision. We have to pray and believe that the foundations of the liberal media and the liberal, atheistic, Marxist, humanistic agendas, that are built on “love of self, love of money, boasting, pride, abuse, disobedience, ungratefulness, unholiness, lack of love, unforgiveness, slander, lack of self-control, brutalness, not lovers of good, treachery, rashness, conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than loversof God, having a form of godliness but denying its power” are laboring in vain (2 Timothy 3:3); that they have been built in vain even in the midst of this election’s results.

We must understand the times we are living in. We must keep our eyes on Jesus. We must worship Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We must worship our Father in Spirit and in Truth and declare who He is. We must worship and pray together as families, with our children, in order that the hands of a mighty God can use His arrows;“that we will not be put to shame when we contend with our enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:4-5). Whose report do the people of the Kingdom of Heaven believe? We shall believe the report of our Lord!

As the Body of Christ, it’s time to mature and walk in love with one another. It’s time for us to truly put Him first in our lives in every area, especially our time; in His presence He will reveal every strategy for every daily need. It’s time for the family of God to unite hearts, minds, souls and strength to the heart and will of our Heavenly Father, and through being “in tune” with the heartbeat and strategies of Heaven (seeing and hearing the Father’s heart and will, just as Jesus modeled), bring Heaven to be manifested here on Earth for all to see, that He would be glorified and exalted.

It’s time to put all of our personal and individual differences aside, stand unwavoringly and uncompromisingly to the principles and truths of Scripture, and unite as the family of God. It’s time to see and understand that our battle is with powers and principalities, not people. It’s time to put every fiber of our being in to loving God and loving others; uniting our hearts to the One who sees and knows all things, and obeying what He reveals so that we can defeat the real enemy (Satan and His kingdom of darkness); one revelation at a time, one day at a time. It’s time to move beyond just knowing we are children of the King, and let Him lead us into the manifestation of being children of the King for all the world to see. It’s time for us to let Him draw others unto Himself through our every thought, word and deed, that the world would also come to know His infinite love and amazing ways; His Spirit, His peace, His healing, His provision, His wisdom and understanding, His counsel and might, His knowledge, His goodness, His faithfulness, etc., etc…etc…all good!

It’s time to be the Church that Jesus spoke of when He walked this Earth. It’s time to live for and advance the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, for it truly is at hand. It’s time family of God…it’s time.