The More I Seek You

Jerusalem Springtime
© horizon minitries

The More I Seek You

The more I seek You
The more I find You

The more I find You
The more I love You

I wanna sit at Your feet
Drink from the cup in Your hand
Lay back against You and breathe
Feel Your heartbeat

This love is so deep
it's more than I can stand
I melt in Your peace
It's overwhelming.

©1999 CFN Music All rights reserved.
International copyright secured.
CCLI song #4447991

God is Awesome

© 2006 horizon ministries


Shout joyfully to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious. Say to God, "How awe-inspiring are Your works! Your enemies will cringe before You because of Your great strength. All the earth will worship You and sing praise to You. They will sing praise to Your name." Selah


Come and see the works of God; His acts toward mankind are awe-inspiring. He turned the sea into dry land, and they crossed the river on foot. There we rejoiced in Him. He rules forever by His might; He keeps His eye on the nations. The rebellious should not exalt themselves. Selah

Praise our God, you peoples; let the sound of His praise be heard. He keeps us alive and does not allow our feet to slip.

For You, God, tested us; You refined us as silver is refined. You lured us into a trap; You placed burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us out to abundance. I will enter Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows that my lips promised and my mouth spoke during my distress....

Come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for me. I cried out to Him with my mouth, and praise was on my tongue. If I had been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. However, God has listened; He has paid attention to the sound of my prayer. May God be praised! He has not turned away my prayer or turned His faithful love from me.

Psalm 66

For Mom and Dad


Your browser doesn't support EMBED, but you can still listen to the background sound of this page by<a href="http://horizonministries.alivefaith.com/sound/Iwanttoseeyouthere.mp3"> clicking here.</a>
Ruth and John

 Grandma Ruth

Jost family

Ruth, John and Tina

Stu and Tom

Building a Habitat for Humanity house


































Tim, Katrina and Ruth Stu in Iraq

Duncan's graduation

















[to listen to the Sally Klein O'Connor song playing in the background or learn more about Sally: CLICK HERE]

How Deep the Father's Love for Us


Your browser doesn't support EMBED, but you can still listen to the background sound of this page by<a href="http://horizonministries.alivefaith.com/sound/fatherslove.mp3"> clicking here.</a> written by: Stuart Townend

Scotland, Highlands Church © Horizon Ministries
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr's, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

© 1995
Kingsway's Thankyou Music
CCLI# 1558110

A Holy God

The Lord often uses me as an encourager to the body of Christ. In fact, 2 years ago in December, I was seeking God for a scripture for the coming year for my life-as have have done for many years. He gave me Isaiah 35, especially verses 3 and 4.

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. ISAIAH 35:3,4

Little did I know I would be getting married and entering into full-time ministry in Israel and traveling to Uganda, 6 short months later. Last year the Lord told me to keep the same verse. That had never happened before, but given the tremendous need to encourage in this difficult place, it seemed quite logical. The body of believers in Israel, and in Jerusalem especially, gets so burdened and beaten down. Any issues you may find in your local body of believers, in your own church or relationships in other churches and between churches is multiplied many times over here in the spiritual epicenter of this world. My husband, Duane, and I spend the greatest portion of our time and energy counselling and encouraging. It's a rewarding but daunting task as there is constant drain of every ones spiritual energy.

[If you are ever inclined to pray, please remember to pray for the body of believers here in Israel-all of us-Jew, Arab and the many international servants the Lord has planted here- short and long term. I would also challenge you to put your finances behind your prayers as the Lord would lead. Contact me if you would like to direct your funds to a particular type of ministry-we have lots of connections.]

Encouraging people is not always easy. People are dealing with issues caused by despair, poverty or low self esteem; to just seeking God's will in a decision. Here, many live by faith, or on very low wages. Food is reasonably priced, but housing is very high, and many share living spaces. One way the Lord has used us is to see in the Spirit His blessing and anointing on individuals and then we speak the blessings and promises of His Word into their lives. If people just knew the Word of God better, then they could, as King David did, encourage themselves in the Lord.

Isaiah 35 continues with God's blessing and restoration-the fact that we are ministering here in Israel makes all this very real to us. Everyone is looking for the blessings. Some are acquainted with sacrifice and suffering, but we all seem to forget that our loving heavenly Father is a Holy and Righteous God! The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Numbers 14:18 For too long the body of believers has been seeking intimacy with God, seeking the Glory of God, seeking the signs and miracles, even the "manifest presence" of God. We have forgotten that Our God is a consuming fire! Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29

Until we understand and stand in awe, or rather fall to our faces in holy reverence, we cannot expect God's blanket blessings. We are sinful creatures in desperate need of a saviour. The blood of Jesus covers all-as we appropriate it. It is only the Blood on the mercy seat that allows us to come boldly before the throne of grace. It is the unfathomable love of a holy, righteous God that has sacrificed and provided the one thing that allows us access to God Himself. Even so, the Word of God teaches that when we stand before Him, all the dross in our lives-anything that has no value in the Kingdom of God-will burn up in His presence. What can remain? What have we given or done that is entirely without self-serving or self-gratification? Certainly that bigger house, or second car, or dinner at the fancy restaurant-while our brother and sisters are living in mud houses, drinking rain water from a rusty 55 gallon drum-can't fair too well in God's presence.

But we are to seek His presence. There is fullness of joy and a taste of Zoe-everlasting life-just being in His presence. Read Psalm 119-the Word of God brings the presence of God and the blessings of God into our daily lives. His presence is not to be taken for granted. He is with us not just because we did or did not do something to please Him, but because of our relationship with Him. I love C. S. Lewis' line from the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe allegory; "He's not a tame lion." Such a relationship requires reverence and immediate repentance when we see anything in ourselves that would be displeasing to Him in word, thought, or action. If we look at the world through His eyes, we will value the fatherless and the widows far above those who stand in positions of renown.


The righteous, holy God who created the universe wants to tabernacle-take up His abode-with you and me. Amazing! ♥

Who is in control?


Your browser doesn't support EMBED, but you can still listen to the background sound of this page by<a href="http://horizonministries.org/sound/Thedesperationtoknowyou.wma"> clicking here.</a> A little girl only 2 or 3 years old stands before the big blue glass ornament in the center of her yard. She can see the tears on her own face when she looks at the pretty ball. Her face is distorted in the spherical blue reflection. She automatically looks down and then sees the snapdragons and daisies, other flowers she has no idea what they are called. They are pretty, and it distracts her. She has come many times to sniff the pretty flowers. Some don't have any smell, but today she doesn't care, she is sobbing silently.

Little girls don't understand things like puppy dogs that run under cars and then have to be "put down" in mercy. Little girls who feel all alone in the world don't run to their favorite adult for comfort and explanations that don't make sense at the time. The hugs speak more than words but she doesn't understand. This little girl would refuse any lap in the pain that confronted her knowing her daddy had killed her puppy, Moochie. If she spoke, her words would have been, "Leave me alone."

This little girl grew up but maintained this sentiment for her entire childhood. Alone even when she was at her own birthday party. She felt no one understood or cared. The pain was something to learn to live with. She decided she would grow up enough to take control and not be subject to these feelings. A sad goal, as she could not see that there was One in control all the time. A loving, living Saviour reaching out, watching her, crying with her, saving her tears to redeem each one.

She didn't see the Lord Jesus that day at the garden. He wanted to comfort her, but she would not. So the Lord spoke quietly that He would comfort her in the flowers that she loved and would touch and smell. And that He would always be near. She grew up with a love for growing things. She even loved hoeing the long rows of corn and weeding. Mowing the delicious green grass so that it looked like a luxurious carpet. There weren't any nice flower gardens to enjoy at her house, but she loved to visit any she got a chance to.

She met the Lord as a teenager and the Lord began to heal the wounds and redeem that fragile life even as she lived through ensuing difficulties and tragedies. She didn't think she was suffering, she grew in her trust for Jesus until one day in her 40's the Lord brought her back to that day, just to let her know He had ALWAYS been there for her. He even provided a wonderful sister in the Lord to take her in her arms and just hug her and hug her. Forty years of tears and refusing to be comforted melted away in this woman's embrace. What a gift the Lord has given people like her!

The little girl was me. She is an image that is so faint to me, it's as if it was someone else.


I love flowers! To this day when I see flowers, it always reminds me of God's unfailing love for us. He loves us where we are at, as we are able to receive Him and His love. I now realize that it was the Lord who was always in control, not my situation, not my emotions-certainly not me! My expectations that my parents, or a husband, or a pastor- someone should fix things- have all now fallen to the side. This realization allows me to be free to blossom and grow much like a beautiful flower.

A garden is my favorite place to pray because God feels so close. I pray that you will know God as your protector and friend as well as your Heavenly Father through all of life's challenges and joys. The closer we live to Him, the more comfort we are able to receive. My favorite picture of Father God is me cuddled up on His lap, as if I was His favorite little girl.

Victoria Boyson: "THE POWER OF BLESSING--WILL PUT OUT THE FIRES OF HELL"

(This was received through the Elijah List on Nov. 1- It is the best I have encountered written on the subject of the power of the tongue to bless or curse.)

"A part of giving birth to your destiny is bringing life to the destiny of others."

"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" (Proverbs 25:11).

A Story of the Power of Our Tongues

I once knew a young girl who seemed to have much going for her, but consistently failed in many areas of her life. I could not understand why--she seemed to choose failure over a successful, happy life. She was beautiful, talented, and intelligent, but it was obvious that she did not esteem herself. And she continually made bad choices.

For years, I could not understand why she did not see her true value as a person--until I met her mother. Her mother saw her as the biggest failure ever born and told her so. She would vomit out her many objections about her daughter to anyone who would listen to her. With her daughter present, she would declare to a roomful of people what a failure she was. It did not take great discernment to see why the girl struggled so. Why should she like herself when the woman who gave birth to her did not see any good in her?

As soon as she was old enough, this young girl ran away from her mother and began living with an older man. Unfortunately, her life was poisoned by the many seeds of destruction and self-hatred her mother had been planting in her since birth.

I believe this is what Proverbs 14:1 is talking about when it says, "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." The physical house of the girl's mother was in excellent condition, but the heritage she passed down to her child was devastating and led to her daughter living a very destructive lifestyle.

I have counseled with many people over the years who have struggled with terrible feelings of self-hatred. Usually, in the course of speaking with them, I discover that these feelings began when they were a child, and many times originated with words spoken over them by a parent or other people in authority in their life.

The Tongue of the Wise

Years ago, my husband and I attended a church where the pastor thought he could help his people by continually telling them what was wrong with them. He found fault with us, and of course, found fault with his entire congregation. It was no surprise to anyone that membership dwindled down to just a few people, and eventually he had to close the doors of his church entirely.

When we left that church, we were left with an ominous, oppressive sense of failure. It felt like a dagger had pierced our hearts. We struggled through life for a few years afterward, enduring one failure after another. We felt as if we were living under a curse--and, indeed, we were. The words of that pastor sowed seeds of destruction that acted as a curse over our lives.

Words are very powerful, especially when they are spoken by someone in authority over you. They can either be words of praise that breathe life into your life, or words of criticism and judgment that erode away your sense of well being. "The tongue has the power of life and death...." (Proverbs 18:21).

Once we realized that the effect of this pastor's words over our lives was acting as a curse against us, we sought out ways to release ourselves from its grip. We prayed many prayers, but still this feeling of failure hung on.

It was only when we were led to another man of God who was a true shepherd that the curse was at last broken. Without knowing any of the words that had been spoken over us, he spoke the exact opposite of what had been said. He made us believe in our destiny again. He spoke life into our spirits. And through the anointing that he carried, he broke off the words of failure and planted seeds of life and destiny in their place.

The power of blessing brought life to our dreams, setting us free from the power of death and destruction. Satan could no longer keep us from our destiny in God. The power of blessing blasted the power of cursing.

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" (Proverbs 12:18).

When We Choose to Curse

God has a strange way of working the curses of others to our advantage. He uses them to refine us and shape us, and then He heals us through the power of His blessing.

Many people in the Bible lived what some would consider cursed lives for a period of time. David, for instance, was chased by King Saul, Joseph lived for fifteen years in prison for something he did not do, and Moses was chased into the desert by Pharaoh after living a life of luxury and ease. These are only a few examples.

Actually, God used this destructive period in their lives to shape and refine them. He promised them great blessings, but allowed them to go through the process of refining to prepare them for their destiny.

In order for Christ to fulfill His destiny, He had to suffer betrayal and be given over into the hands of His enemies. But He said in Luke 22:22, "The Son of man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays Him." We may have to endure a period of cursing for a time, but woe to the people who curse us.

In Psalm 109, David speaks about the man who cursed his life. "He loved to pronounce a curse--may it come on him; he found no pleasure in blessing--may it be far from him. He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil" (verses 17-18).

When we choose to curse others and speak negatively of them, we are really only hurting ourselves. A part of birthing our own destiny is bringing life to the destiny of others. God wants to use us, but He wants to use us to bless others. Any jealousy we harbor towards the destiny of others will actually sabotage our own destiny in God.

Speaking Life

Our mouth is a very powerful weapon, and we can either use it to bring a blessing or a curse onto others. When we speak negative words about people, those words act as a curse over them. Even if people never actually hear the words we speak about them, our words still have power and can cause them to experience oppressive heaviness. However, words of blessing can lift them up spiritually.

One day I was feeling exceptionally low. All of a sudden I had this wonderful feeling shoot through me. I felt a tremendous surge of pleasure, and I knew everything would be all right. Later that day, a friend of mine called and said that she and her husband were talking about our family. She went on to tell me all the wonderful things they said about us. I asked her what time it was when they had this conversation and it coincided perfectly with the time I had experienced the surge of pleasure. That, my friends, is the power of blessing!

The Blessings of Heaven

One of our greatest weapons against the enemy is the words we speak. There is no question, then, as to why the enemy seeks to gain access to our words. He wants to use our mouths to destroy our own lives and the lives of others.

"The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell" (James 3:6). We can either use our mouths as a passageway for the fires of hell to gain access to earth, or use them to put out the fires of hell the enemy has lit in the hearts and minds of others.

You can be God's fire extinguisher. You can put out the flames of hell with the blessings of Heaven. And wherever you go, you will be like a fountain of blessing that brings healing and life to the nations.

Instead of giving hell's fires access to the earth, you will bring to earth the very river of life that flows from the throne of God. People will be drawn to you like magnets because of the great power of grace and mercy that radiates from your spirit. And with only a few words, you will destroy the curses of generations.

This is the power of blessing. This is your destiny in God.

Please pray this with me:

Dear Father,
"I repent of speaking negative words against others, and I ask You to stamp out those words and cause them to be ineffective. I receive Your forgiveness and mercy for my sin. Make me a fire extinguisher with power from Heaven to destroy the seeds of destruction in the lives of those You love. Help me to walk in my own destiny...by blessing the destiny of others."


Victoria Boyson

Speaking Life Ministrieswww.speakinglife.net

Email: victoria@boyson.org

Visit The Elijah List Home Page: http://www.elijahlist.com/