Realize Your Dreams Midterm

Randall Q. Lawrence
Faith Bible College
Realize Your Dreams
Sis. B
6/27/2011

Midterm: How do your dreams fall in line with the plan that God has for your life?

The dreams that have been important to me include having a Christ-centered marriage and family, becoming a prophetic minister of the Gospel and anointed preacher of integrity, being a teacher and leader/founder in a prophetic, Spirit-directed school.

I believe that I have already expressed about my simplifying of my baptismal and discipleship covenant with God. We are called to “love the Lord thy God with all of thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself.” (Luke 10:27, Deuteronomy 6:5). My covenant with God is to do what He asks me to do in relation to His dreams desires and give my wants and dreams into His Hands. I have never achieved any of my dreams or desires through my own strength. After giving my dreams to God, I have not had any failures. (I am not saying that I have not made any mistakes—just that the secret to success in my life had been in complete partnership with God.)

I have had the desire to be married most of my life. I knew that I did not want to be single. I had to go through the heartbreak and mess of two failed marriages to learn to put this most important of decisions completely in the hands of God. I knew that I would not get married again without the full endorsement of God. My wife knew that years before that I was meant to be her husband as the Holy Spirit told her “Go get him….That’s your husband…” (April 2007) It took me longer. I began my classes at Faith Bible College (January 2010) and had a vision (almost like a “day-dream”) of getting married there developing in me over time. With the endorsement of Abba Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit (6-25-2010) during a church camp experience, I then felt free to get married to my best friend and beloved Peggy. Peggy has been with me each step of the way (besides a 2 week mission trip to Mexico in 2009) and has done the most, after God, to help get my life on track to achieve my dreams that fit into the plans of God. Getting married with God’s endorsement (“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”-Genesis 2:24, Matt. 19:5) has been such a blessing to my life and has had God’s hand and the Spirit’s work all over the development of our friendship, our marital relationship, and our ministry together as prophetic intercessor/preacher (me) and intercessory prophet/seer (Peggy). I am so thankful for her in my life and the central role of Jesus in our marriage and ministry. It has made all the difference.

For many years, I have wanted to go back to school. I am a student and scholar at heart. I love to learn new things and “dig” into things that I do not understand or only know a little about. This is on the wall when you come into Faith Bible College—“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). I am so thankful to have been directed to Faith Bible College. I was actually accepted as a student at IHOPU (International House of Prayer University) but then did not have all the money to be able to attend. God had other plans which blessed my best friend Peggy (now my beloved wife) also—closer, cheaper, Spirit-filled, mentoring, and family relationships.

I began school at Faith Bible College in January 2010. On the 39th day of a 40 day fast, Holy Spirit gave me a question for Dr. Nichols—“What would you do with revival?” He did not have to answer me, but his answer endeared him to me even more as he desired to further the Kingdom of God and to save souls rather than build a religious monument or giant church or school. I realized his heart as a “true man of God”. I am blessed with a Spirit-filled mentor and “spiritual father” (see 2 Timothy 1:2 where Paul calls Timothy “my dearly beloved son”) and “spiritual mother” in Dr. Nick and Dr. Eva respectively. For awhile, Peggy and I had been looking and desiring this kind of relationship to aid in our development as ministers of the Gospel and becoming ministers of integrity and anointing with the Holy Spirit.

My final dream which I will be addressing involves the founding of a prophetic “school of the prophets” or “school of the Spirit”. I have graduated with my Master’s degree in Ministry of the Prophet at Faith Bible College (Class of 2011). Many persons have asked me what I am going to do with the degree now that I have achieved it. I usually end up telling them that it is only a beginning step and that I need to keep going with my first doctorate (first of many)-Class of 2012. I have been told that God is also developing me to be a yielding vessel and an instrument in His hands for the Kingdom. I would like to see a school that is completely Christ-centered and Spirit-directed and anointed that would be a “sister school” to Faith Bible College. This school would concentrate on Restoration Movement groups (Community of Christ/RLDS, LDS, Remnant, Restoration, Temple Lot, and more) but would be open to all seeking a deeper relationship with God and Christ.

My dreams fit very well into the plans of God in my life. My ministry and God’s plan for my life are very important, but my “anchors” in the midst of the storms and changes in my life will be my wife and our marital relationship centered on Christ, my family and church family—brothers & sisters in Christ, and my own personal development with the calling of God on my life—“…he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love”—Ephesians 1:4. I have had God’s calling on my life for a long time which is why I wear a ring on my right hand on the 4th finger—Luke 15:22 ring with “GOD-LOVE-WAY-TRUTH-LIFE-SERVE” (based on John 14:6, 1 John 4:7-12, John 13, and many more). I put this ring on my finger in college to signify my adult commitment to Christ. Jesus Christ had always been faithful even when I have not. He also has been faithful to prayers that I have prayed many years ago and putting me in the right place at the right time in order to achieve those dreams that match His will.

Opening the Prophetic Gifts Midterm

Randall Q. Lawrence
Faith Bible College
Dr. E.
Opening Prophetic Gifts
3/8/11

Midterm: how you get in the Spirit…
• Seeker—I hunger and thirst for knowledge. Peggy calls me a “sponge” when it comes to try to understand something whether it be prophetic gifts, end-times, tongues, Pentecostal movement, revival/endowment. I am not satisfied until I, at least, have a basic understanding.

• Preaching—used preach from a written sermon, then nothing written, and now an outline. I have felt a call to preaching for years and years. Enjoy looking at my audience and making eye contact and flowing with the Spirit in encouragement, challenge, and sharing about Jesus.

• Fasting—tried this in college with limited success. God has grown me from 3 day fasts to even a 16 day and 40 day fast as he has called me to them. I know that it is by His Grace that I am able. Fasting has put me on a quick learning curve for the prophetic gifts and prophetic understanding. IMO, it is absolutely vital for a walk with Christ and being in the Spirit.

• Tongues—I love this gifts—has “turbo-charged” all my other gifts—prophecy, dreams, healing, intercessory prayer, and more. Really enjoy using this gift. Now, I understand my prayer tongue as Navajo with God’s calling on my life to be a “code/wind talker” (intercessor, preacher)

• Dreams—very significant in my life….

• Healing—very important to me as an RN—realize God’s healing is way better than modern health-care system

• Intercessory Prayer—Randall—prophetic intercessor, Peggy—intercessory prophet—way we tend to mesh very well and powerfully especially in car, but also other places—learned that prayer needs to go on all the time—in line at post office, grocery store, in car, walking, etc. (except for God—prayer is strongest resource/power available)

• Worship—appreciate this more and more for getting focused and being in the Presence of God

• Prophecy—love sharing words of encouragement with others as God lays things on me to share

• Compassion—connecting with the Heart of Jesus for others and enlarging my heart to match His…

• Service—something important to me and also fitting with the heart of Jesus—need humility—understand it as a Supernatural calling of Helps

• Witnessing—sharing the gospel—often about being rather than doing—being an overflowing cup which God uses

Opening the Prophetic Gifts Book Report

Randall Q. Lawrence
Faith Bible College
Opening the Prophetic Gifts “Book Report”
Dr. E.
4/19/2011


Process of reaching this point and calling in ministry:

We had Holy Spirit fall on our class. The word of knowledge given to me was “You already know.” This was very true, but it almost made me laugh with joy because it was further confirmation that I am in the right place with the right persons at the right time and in the right way—“Christ as the Way” (John 14:6)—continued growth as a Faith Bible student, mentoring as Dr. Nick’s armor-bearer. My graduation on May 7, 2011 with a degree of Master’s in Ministry of the Prophet is the culmination of a number of steps and God-incidences (God blessed coincidences) and God-encounters leading me to this point.

This was not an easy journey. I grew up in church as a 6th generation RLDS member. I heard stories about my great-great grandfather Charles Cramer speaking in tongues and giving interpretation. I experienced God- & Spirit-encounters in connection with church camps and other similar experiences in college, but these experiences were few and far-between. One of these experiences involved a two-part dream with the first part focused on spiritual warfare with a devil/phantom stealing person’s faces and second part with me being vulnerable to a girl in school-I am naked from waist down (in the dream). I definitely have the gift of dreams because I’ve had other dreams in two prophetic parts that have guided me.

After failing in U.S. Air Force as a nurse and with my first marriage, I was in numerous jobs to attempt to get my life on track—mostly nursing jobs for the better pay though I was never really happy or fulfilled in my job. I went through a lot of personal issues—failure of a 2nd marriage, loss of last nursing job, loss of “being a Dad” (father-figure to stepson), loss of house, and more. All the doors closed in Ohio so I put a “fleece” (like Gideon—Judges 6:33-40) out about coming to Missouri. Despite numerous difficulties, I moved to Missouri, moved in with some new friends including Peggy, and began the slow, long process of re-building my life. I got involved with an inner city ministry called H.A.R.T. (Healing And Restoring Together) Ministries and began to take back some of my life as a I sought healing, refuge in the Lord.

This ministry with addicts, alcoholics, and homeless was something of a culture shock to my middle class and Ohio town upbringing. Yes, I had done some service work with Circle K (Kiwani’s) in college in Toledo and student nursing at a homeless shelter, but this was still something of a shock. The friendship between Peggy and me blossomed as we worked together often 5-6 mostly volunteer (very minimal pay) days/week in this ministry. We did everything from cooking, security, dish-washing, preaching, praying, deliverance, service planning and presiding, and more. Some highlights included a wedding for friends thrown together at Christmas using children dressed up for pageant,, baptizing a homeless guy named Willie who was recovering from a gunshot wound, and befriending another homeless guy James who played guitar as I preached plus looked out for Peggy when I worked at Benilde the first time. The leadership of HART Ministries favored others over Peggy and me (despite our dedication and work) and allowed a practicing homosexual to preach and minister against our opinions and feelings. Also God revealed of “familiar spirit” through discernment of the spirits. We were really not getting the mentoring we wanted so we decided to leave and take a break. We cut all ties.

During the same time as HART Ministries, Peggy helped to introduce me to CCM-Contemporary Christian Ministries—charismatic wing/group of Community of Christ (former RLDS). I found a lot of friends, “family”, support, and healing in this body of believers that still believed in the Gifts of the Spirit, sought the Presence of the Lord, and loved to be enthusiastic in worship. They also had a number of leaders who challenged my discipleship and walk with the Lord, gave prophetic ‘words of knowledge’ encouraging and stretching me, and helped to pointed my life more in the right direction. It was difficult being so far away from my family (3 states away) so CCM’ers became my family. I found out that I loved being around expectant, enthusiastic believers who yielded to God and flowed with the Gifts of the Spirit including healing, miracles, prophecy, anointed teaching, and more.

This kind of gives my background and covers the previous years up until the last several years (2009-2011). Peggy and I were looking for regular mentoring (week-in & week-out)—not just part-time mentoring (one week and number of weekends a year) as with CCM. I was also involved with a group (Hill Cumorah Expedition Team) that did mission/exploratory-archaeology trips to Mexico. I wanted to go on the trip in 2008 and could not so I asked God what He wanted me to do—lead the prayer coordination effort for the trip was the Godly inspiration given to me. We came up with prayer cards that we gave out and added congregations to the support of the group. This was quite a time of learning as I fasted, prayed, dealt with a spiritual attack (fraction of a second of pure hate, spite, anger), and was given a direct “word of knowledge”—“you will go next year”. In 2009, I did go on this trip to southern Mexico and was challenged more in my faith and discipleship walk. Peggy supported me in all of this as my best friend and co-worker and coordinator of the prayer effort in my absence in 2009..

Our friendship continued to deepen and grew. The 2009 CCM Leadership Summit with the guest ministry of Evangelist & healer Frank & Nephtali Seamster along with borrowing a “Finger of God” Deluxe Edition DVD from friend/CCM leader-Derek Sanders proved to be life-changing. Despite being voted a Community of Christ World Conference 2010 delegate and attending a MC conference with divisive (homosexuality) issues, we also attended this CCM retreat in Excelsior Springs by driving back and forth. I watched these Finger of God DVD’s and began to walk in a prolonged anointing with faith for healing (for Peggy) and giving ‘words of knowledge’ to other CCM persons. Peggy got a tremendous healing on her ankles and feet—laughing and screaming in delight with a healing for which she did not have faith. She was able to take steps up and down like a normal person—had never done that around me.
In the Summer 2009, I had applied and been accepted at IHOPU for an Intro. to IHOP-KC internship for Fall 2009. I had needed $900, but I only had $2-300. I figured that God would provide—Jehovah-Jireh (Genesis ). It did not happen and IHOPU later withdrew my acceptance since I could not sign their belief statement. At first, it was somewhat confusing why the door opened, but the means were not provided.

Our best friend Dan Enix then decided to visit Faith Bible College. He spoke with Dr. Eva (I thought that he spoke with Dr. Nick) who I visited a number of times before enrolling for the Spring 2010 term. The confirmation came when Dr. Nick prayed over me going to school there, the Spirit rested heavily, and money for IHOPU from Scripture class was given back to me for Faith Bible College classes. Peggy and I began to attend on Friday nights with Ebony & Ivory Ministry and some Sunday’s. I quickly realized that this was the place/people that we were looking for—cheaper, closer (within walking distance), and getting the week-in/week-out, regular mentoring in the prophetic/Spirit-filled walk. In addition, Peggy was blessed, taught, encouraged even before starting classes on her own. On Palm Sunday 2010, our prayer languages opened up to us. Shortly after starting classes, I had images in my head of Peggy and I getting married even though we were still just best friends. We began to meet with Dr. Nick every week for counseling and got “secretly–engaged” (just telling Dr. Nick & my parents) in May 2010.

CCM Celebration (family reunion) 2010 “Greater Things” became quite a God-encounter for Peggy and me. I was not even planning on going and felt the Spirit wanting me to go to help with the older (Sr. High) youth so I went even though Peggy had to work part of the week. I assisted—acting as an “armor-bearer” (catcher, supporter) with “fire tunnel” (double prayer line). I did not even go through myself, but I was blessed with insight of supporting the rising generation as they support/mentor the really young/new generation (each generation being greater in the Spirit than the one before). The Spirit rested on me about getting some “junk” out of my life—“don’t you dare leave with others getting completely free”. First time did not work at all—tug of war with demonic force(s) that was choking off my prayer language. I then spent the next day in fasting and prayer. Second time involved my best friends Dan and Peggy. I confessed to Dan and Peggy. Dan then offered prayer which became a prayer which became a prayer of unity for the two of us in the sight of God. He had insisted that the Presence of the Lord Jesus was with us prior to this prayer, and being free of something that had bound me for more than 3 decades had a tremendous effect with experiencing an “open Heaven” to the Father. We then went into an intercessory prayer round, first me, then Dan (each prayer building) then I insisted on praying again (claimed a “house of prayer” at Graceland University and 3-fold cord joining of the Restoration Movement-Prayer & Prophetic Movement-Pentecostal & Charismatic Movements) then Peggy “belted” out “Amazing Grace” and finished with powerful prayer. With this experience, we felt “married” in the “eyes of God” so decided to quickly get married on July 16, 2010, my 41st birthday.

On January 18, 2011, the Holy Spirit rested on me following work, and I awakened Peggy when I got home so she could anoint me with all the oils that we had. I then went into an extended period of time of “imagining our life 10-15 years from now” with the Spirit. While I spoke, Peggy actually saw what I described. This experience made it clear that I was free to develop and promote P.F.I. Z. (P.rayer F.urnaces I.n Z.ion) program—multiple 24/7/365 worship & intercession among the Restoration Movement groups in Independence, MO and more.

Our journey has deepened and grown more Spirit-filled with us both being Faith Bible College students and soon to be teachers, us both being part of the ministry team, us both having more God encounters, more Spirit-filled worship and Gifts manifesting. I could do a whole paper just on Ebony & Ivory Ministry and what it means to us and just on the Furious Love Event that we just attended. I will end here for now.

Dreams, Visions, Nightmares, and Meanings Book Report

Randall Q. Lawrence
Faith Bible College
Dr. E




Book Report: Dreams Interpretations Guidelines: Christian Dream Symbols by Brenda McDonald













Dreams, Visions, Nightmares & Meanings
11/29/2011

I really liked this little book. It matched what we learned in class about seeking the interpretation first and foremost through God and Holy Spirit. The author states, “I truly trust with all my heart, as we seek the Lord in these matters of supernatural encounters, whether it is His dreams, His parables in the night, or in our waking experiences with Him, He will show us ‘His way,’ to receive godly inspiration and direction from the Holy Spirit.” (p. 19)

The ultimate source of dreams and their interpretation is God as we have learned in class though Christian brothers and sisters can be used in confirmation and increased understanding of dreams and their meanings.

Brenda McDonald also supported the fact that dreams even with others are generally with a message for us at the time. This also matched what we learned in class. It was interesting to have the author point out possible meanings of differences in perspective: if observing, then it (the dream) may be for someone else vs. if participating in the dream, then it (the dream) is probably for us (pp. 76-81). This was an interesting characteristic and possible insight into whether the dream is for us personally or for someone else.

The author also emphasized the difference between dreams from God that match up with the Word of God/Scriptures and can be life-transforming and edifying vs. dreams “from the dark side”—nightmares used by the enemy to try to undermine our walk with the Lord. She goes into the characteristics of each. This is something else that we discussed in class—disposing and casting down nightmares, temptations, and attacks from the devil (2 Cor. 10:5) while “digging” into, seeking the interpretation, carefully looking at Scriptures, praying, and asking with dreams from God (Job 33:14-16, 29).

Overall, I thought this book was a sound introduction to dreams, discernment between godly/good dreams and not so good dreams, principles of dream interpretation, and a little glossary of meanings and symbols. [My only criticism is I thought it could have been organized a little clearer with chapters and page #’s with table of contents and needed a proof-reader; otherwise, it matched well with class.]