Do You Speak In Tongues?

• Some people don't have a clue about what this is.
  
• Others have heard of it and wonder.
  
• Some think people who do this are looney.
  
• Others think it's totally normal.
  

I confess to you that I fall into the last category. Speaking in tongues is an enormously helpful part of my prayer life. You've heard the commercial, "Don't leave home without it!" That's how I feel about this. It is vital, even  essential to my being an effective Christian. 

What is Speaking In Tongues?

Well it is a supernatural gifting of the Holy Spirit to speak fluently in a language you've never learned, yet still without understanding what you're saying.

Why Would I Ever Want To Do That?

#1 Because Jesus said so! 

• Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 
  Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 
  Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 
• If Jesus said that as a believer, I would speak in new tongues then He must have had a reason. I have found that He did...
  

#2 Speaking in Tongues let's me deliver a message from God to the church which is then interpreted by someone for the church's encouragement or to build them up. (See 1 Corinthians 12 & 14) This has happened to me a few times. It was awesome. Plus I've heard this many times in our church and others.

#3 Speaking in Tongues let's me deliver a message from God to someone of a different tongue who hasn't heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (See Acts 2) This has happened a few times to me. People of another language have informed me that something I said in tongues was something they understood.

#4 Speaking in Tongues helps me to pray effectively for myself and others. This is the way I use it most.

• Rom 8:26  In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27  and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

So, here the Holy Spirit is praying God's perfect will through me. I have seen so many miracles happen because of this kind of prayer it is amazing. I'll share more on this later.

#5 Speaking in Tongues builds up my faith (See Jude 20)

#6 Speaking in Tongues helps me to get wisdom from God. I pray with my spirit then I pray that I might interpret what was said. (See I Corinthians 14) When I interpret it I often get great wisdom from God. Oral Roberts testifies that this is how he found out from God how to build a University.

#7 Speaking in Tongues was and usually is the first evidence of someone being filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2, and many other places in the Book of Acts.

If you'd like to learn more about this, you can listen to my message on it at:

http://www.familylife.cc/node/155

I also recommend Andrew Wommack's teaching on this topic at:

http://www.awmi.net/extra/audio/1040

God bless you

Joe

29015

Encouragement At The 1/12th Mark

Well we're almost done with our first month of this year.

How're you doing?

Are those goals getting any closer?

Take this as a reminder to stay on track:

• go back and refresh your goals, 
• write up some posters about your goals and put them on the wall
  
• make a little progress every day toward your goals
• trust God to help you
• ask Him for help

God loves you my friend and the Bible says that He does not want us to live unproductive lives.

Let's keep going.

Love ya

Joe

28977

Time With Family or What?

Hey Friends,

Who're you spending time with? 

Obviously right now you're on the computer. But who do you spend most of your time with?

• Your cell phone? 
• Your iPh0ne? 
• Your computer? 
• Your TV? 
• Your HDTV? 
• Your friends?
• Your kids? 
• Your spouse? 
  

All of us have relationships that we must manage, maintain & cultivate. But I found that if I have an unpleasant conversation with one of my relatives(spouse included) that in comparison, time with my computer can be more pleasant. My computer doesn't argue with me; it doesn't challenge me. Now human nature is such that, like electricity, it wants to take the path of least resistance. 

But that's not always good. If I end up spending all my time with inanimate things rather than real humans, then I don't grow. I don't become stronger. Think of human relationships as if you were a boxer. If you only box with those who are weaker than you, you'll never improve. If you never have conversations with people that challenge you deeply you'll never grow.

Studies prove that money does not bring lasting happiness, relationships do.

Before my parents got married in the late 1940's they went around and asked people what brought true happiness. The answer from all the couples they interviewed was the same: "having children."

This shows from voices of experience that learning to relate to others is the shortest path to happiness. So I encourage you: is there someone you should call right now? Or email? Or visit? Maybe it's somebody right there in the room with you or in the next room? Try it out. Go invest in a relationship. Happiness is waiting.

Blessings

Joe

28918

Are You Generous?

Hey Friends,

If you're a Christian and you've been taught that you "have to" give or you "have to" tithe, I have a question for you:

What if there was no expectation on you to give? 

What if you were never taught to give?

Would you give?

Would you be generous?

God Himself is a giver. Since you've become a believer have you let His nature rise up on the inside of you?

Commune with God. Let His desires rise up on the inside of you. He'll put a desire in you that He wants you to follow through on. If it's to give something somewhere; be encouraged: DO IT! You'll be so glad to have followed that desire. 

But make sure you give what you really desire to give, this will be so rewarding to you.

My wife, Nancy, is a real giver. She has it so strong in her heart to give. Earlier today there was a lady who stopped by. Nancy just couldn't let her leave without giving her something. She looked around and all she could find was a big package of paper towels. So that's what she gave her. The woman was blessed. So was Nancy. I believe God was blessed too, because someone trusted Him. They trusted that His provision would continue to come and they gave, which is very close to His heart.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world 

that he gave 

his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish 

but have eternal life.

Blessings

Joe

28901

Encouragement

Hey Friends,

Do you need some encouragement?

Well, know this:

God Himself made you!

He looked ahead and saw your life and saw the world as it would be during your days on this planet and He made you special; He filled you with all the gifts necessary for you to become a great blessing to this planet and to the people in your life. 

You are potential embodied. 

You are full. 

Now go be a blessing to someone. Go do something with that gift that's on the inside of you. 

If you can't think of anything else to do, just go make someone smile. Your effort will be rewarded.

Blessings,

Joe

28864

Your Prayers Work

James 5:16  

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 

1Ti 2:1  

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone 2  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  3  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 

Jer 29:7  

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." 

My Friends,

God wants us to pray. Pray for those in authority. Let's pray for America to prosper under Barak Obama's leadership. The word tells us to do so.

Thanks

Joe

28846

Encouragement to Tread New Ground

Hey Friends,

Here's something the Lord spoke to me last night. I hope you're blessed.

Joe

28751

Son, fear not. The days ahead are strife and trembling throughout the earth. You’ll see shaking, quaking & pain. Don’t let this shake you. Be firm in me. Firm in my love. Firm in my word. You’ll see my glory overtake pain in people’s lives. Let my glory flow through you. You’ll see it. You’ll see it.

Don’t walk where others go. Walk where my spirit leads you. Watch my hand. Watch my eye. My spirit is leading you. Go where I send you. Go where I lead you. That’s the only place you belong. I have not called you to follow a man, but to follow my spirit. The way may seem unenlightened and untrodden but this is why I gave you an imagination so you could see what does not exist. You must see it and see it clearly. This comes in prayer, meditation and imaginations led by my spirit. I will paint the picture for you to walk in. you must see it. Then you can walk in it. This will be fun, because you’ll see me create things that don’t exist just so you can accomplish my desires.

Who's Your Best Friend?

Hey Friends,

So, who is your best friend? Do you even know? How did you come to the conclusion that they were your best friend? Did you make a decision on a certain day? 

Well even if you know who your best friend is, do they know? Have you told them that you think more of them than anyone else? Do you spend time with them more than anyone else?

The Bible says:

Proverbs 18:24  ... there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. 

I have a Friend. He means more to me than anyone else. But for some reason I don't always show it. I sometimes sense Him waiting. He's quiet. He waits. But I don't always come running to Him the way you'd think I should. But He waits. When I do come to Him He's always there waiting for me. He's always got something to say. He always encourages me. He also tells me the truth like a good friend should. The truth doesn't always feel good when just anyone tells you; but with my Friend, even when He tells me a hard truth, one that would normally bite or sting, it doesn't hurt. I actually feel peace in my heart. It's so good. He's so good. So I need to go spend some time with my Friend. 

He's waiting.

Do you know my Friend?

God bless you

Joe

28714

Remember Summertime?

Hey Friends,

Last night as I was driving through the snow I heard a commercial for an awning for your back patio or deck to protect from too much sunshine. A summertime commercial in the middle of winter. How strange.

Well, I thought I'd give you a taste of summer in the midst of this arctic cold:

                  

Don't worry the winter won't last forever!

God bless you today!

Joe

28673

Knee Time

Hey Friends,

Yesterday I shared a message with the church that the Lord put strongly on my heart. It was  about the need for humility in prayer. If you have about 12 minutes you might take a listen.

Here's some of the key points:

• Of all the things that stop progress in your life most of the blockages are inside of you.
  
• Pride is one of the biggest
  
• God resists the proud
  
• Get pride out of the way
  
• Humble yourself
  
• Kneeling down is a method of humbling yourself
  

Dan 4:37  "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride."

1Pe 5:5  You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. 

1Pe 5:6  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 

Dan 6:4  Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.

Dan 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. 

The Lord spoke to me to especially encourage the men of the church to do what Daniel did: kneel down and pray, it's a humbling thing. But it's better for us to humble ourselves than for God to do it for us.

God bless you
Love ya
Joe

28624

Merry Christmas????

Hey Friends,

Well for years we've been trying to do a Christmas letter. It has happened once or twice, but I'm not sure we had any kids then. 

Well it finally happened. Not in time for Christmas, but I hope you enjoy reading it.

This is what we looked like a few years ago.

Click here to see what we're doing now.

Blessings on you

Joe

28531

Fresh Bread

Son, my Spirit is with you. 

Rely on Him. 

He’ll never fail you; never let you down. 

Look to Him. 

He’ll guide you and show you what to do and how to do it,
all through the day. 

Receive it. 

He is such a gift to you.

Bless you friends, hope this word from Him helped you today.

Joe

28501

Gotta Stay Steady

Hey Friends,

Heb 12:1 ...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  

It is so easy to get side-tracked. It is so easy to get knocked off track. But you don't have to let that happen.

Discipline yourself to go back to the things you wrote down. Those things you wrote when you were being inspired. The things that make the road before you clear.

Emotional storms may come. Go back to what you wrote.

Fear may come. Go back to what you wrote.

Uncertainty may come. Go back to what you wrote.

But Joe, I haven't written anything yet.

Well, if that's the case, I think you know what you need to do.

Blessings,

Joe

28454

Time To Get Away

Hey Friends,

Nancy & I are getting away for a few days to pray and seek the Lord. There is so much coming up in this new year we've got to have the Lord's direction.

The church is going great and so are things with the family. We are starting a new ministry called Joseph Barlow Ministries. The focus will be on:

• Music 
• Ministry
• Missions

There is so much that God has put on my heart to do, I'm excited to see the future. 

Keep us in prayer.

Keep Joseph Barlow Ministries in prayer.

The Lord showed me the first thing to put in place is the prayer structure.

So I want to recruit some people to commit to pray for me.

The Lord will provide the right people.

Blessings on you all.

Jesus loves you

So do I

Joe

28431

Missions Are So Cool

Hey Friends,

Here's some cool videos about a certain method of missions.

Check this out. There's two videos, total of about 16 minutes.

I cried.

Joe

28392

Prayer

Hey Friends,

I've been noticing something interesting in the media (news, movies & shows). I'm sure you know this but they don't make any room for God. 

So many shows are about the badness or goodness of mankind. They depict a world in which God does not exist, has no voice or doesn't matter. 

But this is a lie. The portrayal of this world view is a lie. It does not tell the whole story. 

God is present. He is real. 

Many don't see Him because they reject Him. 

Many don't see Him because they've never heard the Gospel. But God is real. He is present. He is available to all who call.

He has made a way to be active in your life. He doesn't like to barge in. He likes to be invited.

Give God an invitation to move, work, act, speak in your life today. 

The Bible says that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

His name is Jesus.

Simply pray!

28365

Are You Ready For This?

Hey Friends,
Take a look at this video and let me know your thoughts. 

Just post a comment below.
Blessings,
Joe

28353

Love Will Flow

Hey Friends,

Happy New Year!

Here's a song I wrote about Jesus coming back.

I hope you enjoy it.

Joe

28335