Bread from Heaven

I watched the movie "Breakthrough" with friends. I saw so much of myself in this mother. However, it was my husband, Bishop Kenneth, that I was standing in faith for--against all the odds. We frequented hospitals every year from November 1989 to January 2015 when Ken decided--no more. Parts of the movie were so emotional (nothing new for me).  Since we saw so many more miracles before my husband passed, someday, I will write a sequel to my book, "Eyewitnessed, Believe What You Cannot See."  Somewhere in between that, I have to finish KaShanta's book, Ken's sequel to "Solomon"... Daddy was correct. I should have been born triplets. LOL!

July 31st is our wedding anniversary. We would have been together for a total of forty-eight years. Our bond became so strong, we could complete each other's sentences and sometimes speak one another's mind. We even dreamed the same dreams sometimes and once at the same time. We went through hell and the floods.  Several times as Ken was dying (just like in this movie),  he would hear my voice and fight--always came back.

The Friday before his passing, he called our remaining three children and told them that he wanted me to go to Hollywood as scheduled and wanted them to support me. He understood all to well that God has a purpose for it, but he also knew I was hesitant about leaving him. I'm convinced that was another reason he wanted to be in the presence of the Lord so quickly. He was placed on hospice on a Friday and left earth the following Tuesday. He was funny during those days, told all of us what he wanted us to do at his service, etc. He instructed me to sing, 'Going Up Yonder'! It was my first time, but I did it. One day, I'm going up yonder too, but we will all be coming back to reign on the new earth with Jesus. That's my comfort. I guess I'm chatty because of our approaching anniversary. I will celebrate it!

                                         (1956-2018)

Bishop Sims is now resting in the presence of the Lord.  In 2009, he had open-heart surgery.  His heart was still strong, but he had  leaky heart valves, both the mitral and tricuspid, which caused much of the blood to flow in the opposite direction.  It drained him of his energy and caused other problems.  The surgeon was able to repair it.

 

Before we left for Oklahoma City, I had a dream.  Danger pursued me, but I was determined that it would not catch me nor overtake me.  I ran faster than humanly possible, and pretty soon, I was in the air - defying gravity, flying above it all.  I zoomed over the enemy and beyond his reach - high above every threat of danger.  I felt free and relaxed and began to enjoy the sensational experience and thanked God for his divine protection.  What a breathtaking sight it was!  Although it was dark, there were lights everywhere in the city: the valleys, mountains, crevices, etc.  I never wanted to come down. 

 

When I woke up, I knew that we would have some dark times in the city, but the dream signified that we would rise above it all.  We did defy gravity in a spiritual sense.  

 

It was revealed to me that the body of Christ all over the nation was praying for us – they were those lights.  I felt so undergirded.  My husband shared this message:

“Thank you for your consistencies in prayer for my wife and me in our trying times.  God did most certainly bare me up on eagles wings during this dark hour of my life.  I felt the converging of the body of Jesus like I've never felt it before.  The mountains of denominations locked hands, and nothing else mattered but the will of our heavenly Father.  God is so perfect!” ~Bishop Ken Sims (2010) 

Isaiah 40:31 

The Lord reminded me that no matter what, I have to take the heavenly viewpoint instead of the earthly perspective, for we are seated in celestial places in Christ Jesus.  

Determined that we would not miss our assignments at the hospital, I ministered every day - sometimes for hours and even while in CCU with my husband.  It took two days for some of the side effects from medications to wear off, but when it did, he ministered to nurses when his pain level was off the charts.  He spoke slowly and quietly.  One nurse sat beside him for an hour and went to tell her friends.  Her actions reminded me of the Samaritan at the well.  Three more came in, so we continued to minister for thirty more minutes. 

 

Being hospitalized had many spiritual rewards.  My mind is indelibly marked by an experience with a woman named Jamie, who's mother was having heart surgery at the same time as my husband, Ken.  Her lungs were failing.  Jamie had been looking for me for four days and started crying when she found me.  Her mother’s condition worsened, and she stopped breathing. 

 

Chaplains were available; however, she grabbed my hand and took me to her mom to pray for her.  I felt honored to be the Lord’s instrument.  Many were watching for the outcome.  Fortunately, I was able to continue building on the faith foundation that began four days earlier while in the waiting room.  I magnified the Lord by sharing some of our many testimonies.  Initially, her mother, Ms. Kathy, was not aware of anything, but when I started softly singing about the name of Jesus, she could not be still.  Jamie was thrilled.  We were at the heart hospital for ten days; Ms. Kathy continued to improve each day.

 

It was a hard fight to get clear of here.  This time was very challenging and demanding on our bodies, minds, and spirits.  Never-the-less, we stood and we overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. 

 

He is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals us!

Whether you have a physical heart problem as Bishop Sims did or if you have spiritual heart issues, you need a surgeon.  If our hearts are uncircumcised, we too have leaky valves and are unable to love and forgive like Jesus.  The lives we lead flow in the opposite direction of God’s preference for us.  We are drained of energy and are frequently faced with insurmountable problems.  

Jesus is the surgeon who will repair, renew, and remake your heart.  He will circumcise your heart so that you can be in covenant with him - he helps us to cut away the works of the flesh.  If you allow him, he will give you a clean heart so that you can serve him.  

This Train is Bound for Glory! That’s the song that my husband, Ken was singing this morning when he woke from a dream. There are several variations of it, so I’m unsure who wrote the version he knew.

 

In this dream, Ken witnessed to a man named Billy, who was moved to purchase his train ticket to heaven.  The train bound for glory came for Billy, but he would not release his ticket to the attendant.  Billy insisted on holding on to it because he was too attached to this world.  Jesus was standing in the back of the train sadly looking on - waiting for him to come aboard.  Ken was singing and crying because Billy was left behind. 

The Lord said to Ken in this dream, “There are many Billies in this world that are standing with tickets in their hand but will miss out on heavenly glory.  They feel that they have more time and fail to heed my beckoning call.”

As he relayed the dream, he was visibly disturbed; hard pressed in his spirit.  He felt his efforts had been insufficient in leading more people to Jesus.  Considering that he is a dialysis patient with diverse medical challenges, most people who know him are amazed at his accomplishments, in spite of his various diagnoses. 

Since our early ministry days in 1976, he has been accustomed to preaching in the streets and in front of nightclubs, as well as in the pulpit at church.  On several occasions, we safely stopped the car allowing him access to witness to someone in a raised median in the middle of the street.  (We don’t advise this, however.) 

Ken’s dream is significant of being ready when Jesus returns for you - either as an individual, or in the rapture with all the ready saints.  If your name is Billy and you do not have a relationship with Jesus, God is speaking to you.  If your name is not Billy and you are not born again, the Father is speaking to you also. 

Do not harden your hearts against the salvation that Jesus offers to you.  He died for the world, but specifically for you.  There is no other name that we can use to be saved.  It is of a certainty that every knee will one day bow to him and every tongue will have to confess that He is Lord.  It’s now or later.  Allow Him to come into your heart and change your life today.  Tomorrow is not promised.

Father God, I believe that Jesus is your son, that he died for my sins, and that you raised him from the dead.  Please forgive me of my sins.  I ask that Jesus come into my heart now.  I acknowledge and confess him as my Lord and Savior.  I believe your word that says whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; therefore, I thank you for saving me. 

It's time to press the reset button.  

While in a program on my computer, an error message flashed, "An unexpected lapse of attention!"  Lapse can refer to a passage of time, memory failure, collapse, or even an error in judgement.  I was pressing the back button in an attempt to take the program backwards at the same time that it was trying to move forward.  Therefore, I had to reset it and start completely over.  Pause and think about that.

Our Father in heaven desires to advance and expand us.  Expansion is the word that He gave me on December 21, 2017.  It is my theme for 2018.  He blesses us to be a blessing to others.  

Romans 8:1 declares, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  We can't move forward if we are weighted down.  

Jesus has made it possible for us to move forward.  He pressed the reset button when he died on the cross of Calvary in our stead.  His resurrection gives us another chance.  

Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy every aspect of your life, but the son of God has come to give you zoe (abundant) life.  Take it!  This is a perfect time to start anew.  

I had a dream on January 8, 2018 that ministered to me so I will share it with you here.  Please understand that God does nothing by accident.  He places emphasis on numbers, days, and times because He is the author of them.  However, I don't get into the world's system of numerology.  Remember that the devil tries to copy everything that God does and perverts it.  That being said, the very fact that my dream took place on the eight day of 2018 was significant,  "Why?" you might ask.  Some biblical meanings of the number 8 is NEW BEGINNING, RESURRECTION, and REGENERATION. 

  

When I awoke that morning, the Spirit of the Lord spoke to my heart saying, "Living waters can’t flow through clogged pipes. Release forgiveness because unforgiveness will make you its hostage."  

Jesus said in John 7:38, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."  Rivers of living water can't flow through clogged pipes.  Clogged Pipes are still pipes but are useless if the water necessary to sustain life is unable to run through them.  

In my dream an old man finally apologized to a young woman that he wronged many years ago.  I, actually, know both of them.  Her unwillingness to forgive resulted in a sad countenance, melancholy life, and vulnerability to the adversary’s continous tactics against her.  It wasn't so much that she did not want to forgive; she was just still very hurt and found it hard to do so.  The old man had taken advantage of her naivete'.  It was obvious to me that she also needed to forgive herself.  

The question on the floor is, how do we forgive?  You have to confess it with your mouth by saying, "I forgive you for hurting me."  Sometimes it's just that simple.  Other times, you will have to confess it often just to believe it.  Faith comes by hearing.  Eventually, you will be able to say it because it will be true in your heart.  If the scar remains, you will no longer feel wounded.  

Even if the person you need to forgive is you, do so.  The Holy Spirit also spoke to me these words:  "Don’t hold grudges. If you hold a grudge, the grudge will hold you - making you its captive."  Unforgiveness makes you susceptible to sickness and disease in your total man.   

The word of God in 1 John 1:9 states, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Jesus came to reset us.  He led CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE so you can be FREE from everything that thwarts your progress.  Since He paid your ransom, accept your gift.  It's up to you to go free.  

2018 is an opportunity to begin again.  The past is called the past for a reason.  Leave those things that bind you, and every weight that so easily besets you,  buried in the past.  

The unexpected lapse of attention is on our part, not His.  Nevertheless, He restores our soul.  So flush out the clogged pipes!  Press the reset button!  Move forward!  Advance the Kingdom of God!  He has given you gifts to complete His purpose for you.  

Seeing pictures of my granddaughter's prom last night stirred up memories from forty-eight years ago when I was in the sixth grade.  Middleton Attendance Center was an all black school comprised of first thru twelfth graders - massive.   Each year, every grade level voted for a princess with a twelfth grader as the reigning queen.  I voted for my friend, Sherry, because she was clearly the most beautiful girl in all of elementary with locks that hung magnificently down her back, shiny white teeth, pleasant smile enhanced by dimples to live for - always dressed nicely. Did I say she was also one of the most brilliant?  

To my surprise, Sherry voted for me and so did, apparently, most of our classmates because I won.  SHOCK and AWE - for real!  I had no expectations - was not even in the running.  How could they make a terrible mistake like that?  I was a keen student but in my opinion, not even pretty. Honestly, I was rather homely looking.  My mother dressed me nicely, but bless her heart; she could not do hair - that didn't help. She was so horrible at it that I started doing it myself in fourth grade - at nine years of age.  LOL!  It still looked terrible but was an improvement and got better over time.  

In a special school assembly, the winners were all escorted to the stage wearing our glamorous gowns, long white gloves  - arms resting on the arms of our escort.  For this special ocassion, my parents took me to the salon to get my hair done, but mama, unfortunately, allowed daddy to take me shopping for my shoes.  I'm not sure what possessed her to do that.  I could not believe my eyes. Daddy bought me penny loafers.  Who does that?  PENNY LOAFERS - to wear with my elegant teal gown that mama bought.  The two of them were total opposites.  The suits hanging in daddy's closet were from forty years prior - no fashion sense whatsoever.  On the other hand, mama had a great fashion sense. Even though fashionista was not a word back then, she was definitely the epitome of it. Showing my displeasure to daddy would not have been to my benefit so silently,  I suffered embarrassment and hoped that my formal dress would distract from my black loafers.  That was going to be a little impossible ascending the stairs to the stage, which seemed to rise forever.  With no other options, I had to smile and bear it.  

Homecoming night, they chauffeured us to an illuminated football field.  Since mama took me shopping for this one, I was pleased with my outfit.  

To this day, it's mind-boggling that the classes voted for me.  I remember seeing Sherry's face and the biggest smile radiating from it when the announcement came. I can't say it was a dream come true because I never dreamed of it. However, it was a rewarding experience and a pleasant memory in spite of the 'walk of shame' down the aisle in loafers. 

In life, we will experience many 'walks of shame' with many regrets - wishing that we could rewind and start over.  The good news is when we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we can start fresh and new.  He experienced the greatest 'walk of shame', 'The Via Dolorosa' - the painful way.  His grief was the most painful and shameful of all as he struggled through on the street in Jerusalem - carrying his cross for his crucifixion.  He was hung up for our hang ups.    

   

We may not always completely forget the embarrassing moments whether minor mishaps or major sinful regrets; we still have the covering of the Lord who casts our past away from us when we throw our lives at his feet.  He suffered shame, so we don't have to.

Sherry and I reconnected the year my daughter passed in 2015.  She found me and was very comforting - even more so when I learned that she met my daughter, KaShanta when she worked as a beauty consultant at the mall while attending college.   I never knew that.  Before passing, she started The KaShanta Sims Foundation which will help cancer victims look and feel beautiful in spite of their diagnosis.  

My classmate is just as beautiful today - inside and outside - always smiling - speaking an encouraging word.  She is a fulfillment of the scripture.  In my estimation, she so deserved to be the winner, but she preferred me over herself.  I'm still humbled by the experience.  I felt so undeserving of the gift that was so freely given to me.   

What a wonderful world it would be if we all adopted the attitude of Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.  

That is exactly what Jesus did.  He preferred our freedom over his agony so much so that he laid down his life so that we could pick ours up.

Every thing that we see with our natural eyes came from a realm that we cannot normally see into.  There are things about the spirit world that we would rather not acknowledge but that will never make them go away.

If you have ever experienced terror from things that go bump in the night, this broadcast is for you.   This is the third interview that I've had with our dear friend, Rob McConnell, Executive Producer of the 'X'Zone Show, an internationally syndicated program heard around the world.  You will learn how you can gain the victory over these tormenting entities. 

An unfamiliar long distance number rang at our house this morning. On the other end was an apologetic manager, who gently approached me regarding an unfortunate incident that took place revolving around our now deceased daughter, KaShanta.  It happened on the morning of the day she passed.   

I knew on June 11, 2015 that it would be an inevitable trek down 'forgive them lane' so I did - by faith. Periodically, I would be tormented by reliving the incident and being unable to suppress it.  Retreating to my prayer closet in worship and praise would lift me up for a season.  However, my inner conflict continued unresolved. Another two months would go by and I would be confronted with it yet again.  

Finally, on February 11, 2016, I started writing a letter in hopes that it would act as a systemic cleansing for me and I would no longer be haunted by this ghost of my past - figuratively speaking.  At the time, I was unaware that it had been exactly eight months since KaShanta's death.  That unveiling came after the letter was sent. I believe numbers are of significance to God.  On numerous occasions, He has used them to confirm and reveal things to me.  According to my studies, the number eight is for new beginnings.  It was definitely indicative of a new beginning for me.

The director, of the same company, called an hour after the manager did to apologize for the agony that our family was experiencing.  There is really nothing that they can say that will change anything, but at least, they showed genuine concern, which spoke volumes to me.  

Last week, I was gathering information for The KaShanta Sims Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, when I heard the Spirit of the Lord say, "Forgive!"  I stopped typing, repeated the word, "Forgive" and said, "Yes, Lord, I do".  At the time, I wasn't aware that he was not speaking of forgiving others, but of forgiving myself.  

Many pray according to Matthew 6:12 without understanding what it means. We are really telling the Lord not to forgive us if we don't forgive those who wronged us.  No one has ever suffered the things that Jesus did in His body, soul and spirit - at the hand of men.  Yet, He humbled himself, forgave His creation, and prayed for them.  As the greatest example who ever walked on the planet, inhabited the heavens, or descended to the depths of the earth, He has earned the right to tell us to do as he has done.  

Forgiving does not mean that you will forget everything.  Nor does it mean that you now have to become bosom buddies with the perpetrator.  It does mean that you will be set free.  When you hold unforgiveness in your heart, ironically, you become the prisoner.  Furthermore, when you forgive, you set yourself free. 

I thought I had forgiven all who injured my daughter and myself.  Nonetheless, I found out today that I was holding myself captive with.  I was so overcome with guilt, shame, and regret that I did not realize that I blamed myself for several things that happened - many of which were really beyond my control.  

The Lord has such a sense of humor and wanted so much for me to be free that He even showed me a picture of KaShanta doing something silly that only her sister, daughters, and I could appreciate because we have all been targets of her practical joke.  Once clarified, I realized she would never have wanted me to be tortured by the past - no matter what.  I started laughing - all by myself.  In my minds eye, I saw her smiling face and her action as she was accustomed to doing.  Later I shared it with her sister, Milia, who agreed with me about the conclusion that I finally arrived at. We took turns crying and then laughing together - giving ourselves permission to be human beings.

Included in our daughter's obituary was a poem she penned.  The last line reads, "My morning is finally here".  Indeed, her struggle with HER2 triple negative breast cancer was over at age 38.  She is free from all torment that was ever inflicted on her - be it mental anguish or physical trauma.  Today, I can say, "I forgive myself. My morning is finally here"!  

Psalm 30:5  ...Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

  

The BLITZ is designed to come against our marriages, our families, to destroy our children, our nation, friends and loved ones. It is designed to cripple the unity in the body of Christ and to stop the advancement of the Kingdom of God on this planet. 

So what is the blitz?  Adolf Hitler used the term blitz, which means relentless attacking and bombardment.  Hitler’s Luftwaffe, a generic German term for an air force, bombed London in World War II.  It was one of the most tenacious, most advanced, and most battle-experienced air forces in the world.  Although, the aircraft that were to serve in the Luftwaffe were technically superior to that of most nations, Winston Churchill encouraged the citizens of London to make it their finest hour.  They endured and survived Hitler’s onslaught.

Football is another arena where the term blitz is used.  It means to rush the quarter- back and put pressure on him - to crush him.  This technique involves several defensive players.

Satan has called the BLITZ.  He wants to kill you.  His purpose is to stop the mandate that God has assigned to you.  He’s bent on destroying as many souls as he can.   Get ready believers, the pressure is coming - stronger.  We must be devoted to both resisting and preventing aggression.  

Idle believers pose no threat to the devil.  Actually, he has a fetish for lukewarm Christians and enjoys toying and manipulating them.  When one is lukewarm, he knows they are not serious enough to suggest a threat to him, because they are too involved with the world, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.  Many will suffer because they were unprepared.

Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The Word of God tells us to stand; having done all, ‘STAND’.  It’s time to make a solid front - one that cannot be breached.  We must lock arms.  Lock and load regardless of our denominational backgrounds.  Satan has monopolized division in the body, and has succeeded in the art of divide and conquer.  To break this yoke, we must sound the alarm.  The trumpet must be heard in the Church.  The world is asleep in the dark.  Leaders must fall on their faces before God.  Christians must awake in the light.  Let us make this our finest hour!