6-15-2004
Dear
Friends,
Once again,
I am both in awe at everything happening, and very much overwhelmed.....
OPEN HOUSE-
this coming Sunday after church, at the ranch! 21 Yellowpine lane, 5
miles up thorn creek road off of hwy 21, 7 miles before Idaho City (mile
marker 31). Come see the ranch as it stands (needing lots of work). Come see
what all the excitement is about. Bring a picnic lunch or dish to
eat and your own drinks. We will be potlucking it. Lunch at 2pm for
those of you driving up from Boise. Be forewarned though, that the place needs
LOTS of work, and what you will see is exactly that, a place needing serious
TLC, not something that is all nice and pretty already. Kitchen works though
:-). And yes, a donation basket will also be here.
Quick
overview..... then I will mention some of the specific things I have been
learning or that God has been showing me.
The truck
on ebay that was donated, did not sell for near what we were hoping for, and
thus the appraisal that we wanted to get is completely up in the air now. I
talked the appraiser and he said that the appraisal could cost
us as much as $4500. The truck sold for about $1300, and the fellow
still hasn't paid, so we might not even get that.....
I continue
to receive both strong encouragement, and strong naysaying, from other
believers, about building the children's ranch and conference/retreat center.
Kinda ironic, and sad.
The real
estate deal that I had going, to renovate that house in Emmett and sell it and
keep the profit, has completely fallen apart. In brief, poor
communication, differing expectations, and several other issues, all helped
kill the deal. Needless to say, I am disappointed because I really was
hoping for and counting on several thousand dollars from that deal to get
things going at the ranch here. Now I am walking in faith completely.
I'm actually kinda glad though in some ways to be free of that real estate
company, but now what?
Let's see,
what else?
Reid and
Jessica's ( I have mentioned them before as being partners in ministry and 2 of
my best friends) Bible study group is growing by leaps and bounds. They are
desperately looking for a big house with lots of bedrooms (do you know of
one?), so that they can start taking in unwed mothers and mothers-to-be, as a
ministry, a sister ministry to my own. They have already taken in one young
woman into their home (who is staying in their daughter's room), and their two
bedroom apartment is getting cramped fast... *sad chuckle*. God is totally using
their willingness to serve.
We had our
first retreat up here on Memorial Day Weekend. Neat God time. Reid and
Jessica and their Bible Study group came up Sunday evening and left Monday
afternoon. Sunday night, the Pastor and his wife from Robie Creek, and our
prospective staff shepherd, joined us for awhile also. We were up until almost
4am, praying, singing, worshipping, talking, and in general, just bonding as
Christian brothers and sisters. The next morning, we decided to tour the place.
And that's when things got interesting....
In one
building, that we have prayed over before and have had weird things happen in,
one room felt particularly cold. And then we felt evil there. Our flashlights
would not pierce the darkness of the room. It was very black, and very cold in
there. So we prayed over it yet again. And it instantly warmed up and light
began to shine in cracks in the walls where utter blackness had been before.
That was neat to us. So in excitement, and flush with victory over Satan, we
began to pray over the rest of the building, room by room. And when we were
done, we breathed relief. Except that the original room was utterly black, and
very cold, again. About this time I began to raise an eyebrow.....
So we went
back into that room, anointed the room with vegetable oil (simply symbolic of
ownership by the Holy Spirit) that God had conveniently provided us
earlier in the tour, joined hands in a circle, and did some serious praying and
battle. I asked God to show me what was happening, and it just kinda hit me
that something from Satan felt it had a right to that room, due to some past
sin or something that had been committed there. It was a doorway. And let me
tell you, that room was a good 10 to 15 degrees colder than the rest of the
place, and utterly black in there. Our flashlights would not pierce it. And no
light shining through cracks in the wall either again. And it just kinda hit me
also, that that room was the seat of power for the darkness that had pervaded
the air over the entire ranch and caused haunting like activity that I had seen
and dealt with and prayed about before. So the 4 of us that happened to be
there together, worshiped God, and in HIS name, broke the seat of power of
darkness in that room, and once again dedicated the entire ranch to God's
business. Then we sang. And oh how we sang *soft smile*. Worship songs, that
made every fiber of my being tremble with chills and sent tears of wonder and
joy down my face. It was very powerful. The room warmed back up to normal temperature,
the darkness dissipated, and we gave God the honor and glory. By the way, that
room has remained very normal feeling since then.
But that's
not all..... When we went outside, several people instantly remarked how
peaceful the sunlit afternoon air felt. Then we walked down by the swimming
pool where there were BATS flying around. Now don't get me wrong, but I hadn't
seen a single bat the entire time I have been here (either before or since -
and I have been in that room both before and since), but when we broke the seat
of power in that one building, these bats showed up and started flying around.
So 1.) I have never seen bats here before, 2.) they were flying around in the
daytime, 3.) several times, one of them almost HOVERED about 10 feet in front
of me as though he was looking at me -bats don't hover, 4.) I found one of the
bats dead on the ground in front of the house 2 days later. Kinda sobering. But
it sure makes me glad that I know who I serve, and that the darkness also knows
who I serve, and that in Christ, I have victory over all things. *whew!*
But God
used that experience to really start waking up several members of the Bible
study. Between that and several other things that happened, several people in
that group have rededicated their lives completely to God and His service.
So in the
time since Memorial day weekend, I have spent quite a bit of time down in Boise
with various people and Reid and Jessica's Bible study group. Spontaneous
prayer meetings have been happening at their place, several nights a week,
prayer meetings that last all night. I kid you not. The Spirit of the Lord is
moving in a mighty way, and lives are being changed. And when I say all night,
I mean all night. They have been typically lasting till 3 or 4 in the morning,
but one of them I was at last week lasted till 6:30am. More and more people are
coming to them also. People are getting saved. People are rededicating their
lives. This past Sunday night's spontaneous prayer meeting after church in the
evening, lasted till 4am, saw one man find deliverance from homosexuality,
another woman touched by God in the middle of her pain that hurt so deep
that tears were flowing freely from her eyes - she found comfort, and
support - and another woman was healed of a seriously bad cold,
after at least one person prayed for her silently, and she stepped
out in faith praying for the individual struggling with homosexuality. As she
prayed for a Christian brother, with no thought for her own
sickness/discomfort, not even realizing that someone else had already prayed
for her healing, God touched her and healed her. It was very like wow.........
*soft smile*.
But they
say that some of the marks of a revival is spontaneous all night prayer
meetings breaking out, people being delivered, and healings happening -
spiritual, mental, and physical. I am seeing all these things
happening. God is sooooo amazing. I am walking in a new awareness of him
myself as well, and my own walk has deepened. I am truly feeling excited *big
grin*.
And there's
more..... *chuckle*.
I went
to someone else's Bible Study on Friday, where in prayer, 2 separate
people were delivered of some very specific spiritual bondages.
I met with
another family with the intention of helping the family find healing and
be reunited with their child. We prayed. I also met with the child, both before
and after. As did other Christian brothers and sisters. And God has brought
restoration to them. I was just one piece of the puzzle, but it was good to be
even just that.
I picked up
a hitchhiker on my way to Idaho City the other day, and ended up praying with
him, leading/challenging him into renewal/rededication with Christ.
I fixed a
pastor's computer, and ended up having several delightful and very God
centered/educational conversations with him.
I had my
daughter Vanya with me all of last week too, and she thoroughly enjoyed tagging
along with me, meeting people, playing with friends, and spending time with me.
And I enjoyed her. I miss her when she is not with me.... *sad shrug* . During
the summer, she alternates weeks at each house. She cried yet again when I told
here she had to go back to her mommy's house this week....
What about
the ranch here?
Last week,
through divine appointment, I met two young men separately, who I have asked to
move up to the ranch also and help me get the place set up. I believe both of
them will come. One of them had had a dream all of his life to work at
someplace like this. We have agreed that as part of their moving here, I would
also be mentoring them. Kinda exciting :-)
I spent all
day today working on the power. Still isn't working. Am trying to get a
small hydro setup up and running. Making progress. Hoping for power out of
it tomorrow maybe. Started fixing the wire to the one cabin that is almost
livable too, but something is shorted out there, and I had to stop working on
it. Getting the hydro working is first priority.
Water is
still not working either. Community water supply apparently isn't functional
(at least I couldn't get any water through the valves from there), and the
spring line is also broken. That is also on the list of projects to work on
this week before the open house on Sunday. Anyone have time to help me with
this on Saturday? Up to now, I have just been hauling 5-gallon buckets up from
the creek for everything. And let me tell you, that is getting old fast.
And my
finances are behind yet again. I have not been paid on a big project I did for
someone, and that has hurt. Maybe pray about this if you get a chance. I will
have to also spend time this week trying to get some other cash flow
going so I can pay bills.
Oh, I have
had several meetings this past week with other people also interested in what is
happening with the ranch here. I always enjoy sharing the dream and vision, and
all the ways that God is working to pull it together *big smile*.
Several
people continue to make sure I am always well fed. They are SUCH a blessing
*grin*.
I continue to
help lead worship at Mountain Meadows, the church in Robie Creek. I am very
much enjoying that, and God is blessing it, and several people have commented
on it, that God is in it. That is satisfying to hear, and makes me happy.
Reid and
Jessica have started a house cleaning business in order to support the new
ministry to unwed and single mothers that they have started. Do you or anyone
you know need house cleaning services? They do professional work, and are
bonded. Call them at 378-9157.
Something
that God showed me several weeks ago, was simply how rich I am, in Him. I have
true friends and family that love me, peace in my heart, and a project to
work on for Him. I literally have all those things that the world so desperately
searches for and yet never finds. Money can't buy these things. And yet because
God has chosen to use me, and I have offered myself up to Him, I now have all
those things that make life worth living. I am a rich man *soft smile*. It was
an amazing realization to me, and one I thanked God for. Kinda cool.
By the way,
if you call me at the ranch and I do not answer, since power is not functional
yet I do not have an answering machine, just keep trying the number. Or email
me. thanks. Please note my new phone number below.
If you want
to help out with this project, I went ahead and listed some things below that
you can either pray about, or help out with if you were so inclined. Just
for your information.
1.) People
to pray for the revival beginning to happen
2.) People
to commit to financially supporting me and this ministry
3.) For
Vanya and confusion. She has regressed some since to the divorce, and I am
frankly, concerned about her.
4.) For me,
freedom from discouragement, to clearly hear God's voice, and the strength/will
to immediately obey when He directs
5.) Money
to get the appraisal done so that we can get a lease option into place so that
we can really start working on things here and raising funds to buy it.
6.) Staff
and work parties to get this place at least semi functional.
7.) Baby
items for the new home/ministry that Reid and Jessica are starting for unwed
and single mothers.
8.) A BIG
house with lots of bedrooms for Reid and Jessica to move into as they take in
more single/unwed mothers.
9.) That
I find the time to finish up some projects for several people that I have
previously committed to.
10.) Wisdom
on how to proceed with the offer to buy, permits and licenses needed here,
non-profit status stuff, and other paperwork things.
For the
power system:
1.) working
12volt car (or deep cycle) batteries
2.)
inverters (12volt to 120volt)
3.) Candles
(for when the power is off)
4.) High
efficiency light bulbs.
5.) Any
12/24/48 volt solar panels that you can find
For the
water supply:
If we
cannot get the spring system working again.....
1.) A
large clean water tank to put on the hill above this place to provide
water and water pressure.
2.) Lots of
black plastic pipe. 2 inch diameter or bigger. I need to run line to
the aforementioned tank on the hill
3.) A good
sediment filter and UV/blacklight unit to kill germs in the water
4.) A ram
pump to fill the tank from the creek below ( I may build one myself though).
Sincerely,
and in Christ.
It's not
about me...... (rather, it's all about God)
-Tim
Benedict
Thorn Creek
Youth Ranch and Conference Center
21
Yellowpine Lane
Boise,
Idaho, 83716
208-392-6723