"Prophecy" to benefit orphans

My book, Thirty-One Thoughts on Prophecy, was just released and is available both in paperback and on kindle. 100% of proceeds from the sales of this book, from now through December 2, will go directly to support J127 Ranch, an orphanage in Taraz, Kazakhstan.

This is from one of the book's reviews: 

"The gift of prophecy can be a confusing and controversial topic. I highly recommend Emily Tomko's book, Thirty-one Thoughts on Prophecy, both for those who are new to prophecy and those who are seasoned in this gift. It is clear, balanced, scripturally sound, and full of great personal examples that will help you understand and desire the genuine gift of prophecy in your own life."

Enjoy!

When Deception Occurs

Two weeks ago, my neighbor Carol called and we got to talking about the prayer I was hosting in Sunday evenings in my home. "I think that's so wonderful you're doing that," she said. "If ever we needed to pray for our nation, it's now."

I agreed, and invited her to join us, as I know Carol is a Christian. Then she said something that totally took me aback. "After all, we don't want women to lose the right to choose what they can do with their bodies, or anyone dictating who we can marry."

Shocked as I was to hear Carol, a believer, profess her pro-abortion, pro-(so-called) gay marriage agenda, and later to see the Obama signs in her yard, she is not the first Christian I've known to hold these views. I have another friend who is a Bible teacher and Christian author and asserted the notion of separation of church and state for why she voted Obama. Such beliefs are nonsensical because of their complete incompatibility with what the Bible states.

As we gathered for prayer shortly after my stunning conversation with Carol, I specifically prayed over deceived Christians and asked God aloud, "How is it that so many believers are in the dark?" After a moment, a friend said aloud, "Deception creeps in when areas of the life remain unsurrendered to Christ.

Joel Rosenberg articulates the breakdown of Christians who voted Obama into office this election and how devastating that was (I would direct readers to his writing on the subject as it it is both thorough and succinct). The point of reflecting on all of this for me is that if Christians are deceived by such polarizing, diabolical issues as governed this election, and if this indeed is a result of a compromised life (which I believe it is), then I am very concerned about how their faith will survive in these ever-darkening days until Christ returns. For it is going to quickly get much more difficult to be a Christian.

My concerns are particularly deep because of a family member who falls into this category. As the institutional church is separated from the true Bride of Christ, I am persuaded of the need to pray for the body of Christ all the more, that our faith may not fail.

America's Current Civil War

I had a revelation that others likely also have come into, that the United States really is in a civil war right now. That regardless of who wins the election, the country is bitterly divided and is at the tipping point. In the 1800's, civil war broke out in the physical sense primarily because one faction of the country said, "We will no longer submit to the rule that has formerly been in place." One of the key components of their rebellion was the insistence on being allowed to operate in the business of slavery. 

Today, a growing faction of Americans are saying, "How dare anyone tell us we must submit to a Higher Authority. We won't even regard the higher law and uniform code of morality that has kept order in civilizations for centuries. We're going to continue in doing what we want, whenever we want." And the outcome is again slavery. Except this time, it is they themselves that are unwittingly insisting upon their own bondage. 

May we as the church awake to the gravity and depravity of our day, and step into our designated regiments to take up all the spiritual arms in our arsenal - love, righteousness, faith-infused prayer, worship, and truth (speaking it without fear of being labeled a hater or judgmental, because it's guaranteed to happen). Unless we realize and begin to act out of our place of God-given authority, we have no future in this nation.

At the White House

Saturday afternoon after two-and-a-half hours in the car, we made our way down Constitution Ave, past street vendors selling various Obama 2012 tee-shirts and trendy moms pushing equally trendy babies in trendy strollers. A prime parking spot had opened up almost immediately after we'd prayed for one. We were on the White House Ellipse - and we were worshiping!

A friend of a friend told me about David's Tent DC, and that is how I came to discover that a group from Texas had a vision to worship for 40 days and 40 nights in the nation's capital - worship without ceasing in the manner of David bringing back the Ark of the Covenant - leading up to the election. It was only after they resolved to do this that they found out that the first day of worship coincided with Yom Kippur.

As they began to put the details of doing this into place, they pondered "How cool would it be to get the White House Ellipse as a venue for worship?" But, being a Christian organization they figured they'd likely be regulated to somewhere outside the District of Columbia. When Parks and Recreation issued them their permit, without even being asked, it was for the White House Ellipse!

The band was phenomenal but the number of worshipers was sparse compared to what I'd expected for a beautiful Saturday. Probably only about a hundred people sat in and around the tents, although new ones kept coming in while others left. It struck me that the multitudes were thronging the fence in the distance, snapping shots of the White House, while we were thronging the White Throne. And while our numbers were significantly smaller, the passage from 2 Kings sprang to mind, when Elisha prayed over his servant, "O LORD, open his eyes that he may see!" and suddenly the servant saw that the place was full of horses and chariots of fire all around him. I was very conscious of Heaven taking note of our sacrifice, and of the angels and saints in chorus with us.

With the stark sense of our forefathers all around, it was very special to be there - offering up praise to the Holy One of Israel, with a direct view (if we opened our eyes) to the Executive Mansion. Worship is warfare. I'm inspired to continue it now that I'm back at home, day and night!

The Wedding

My favorite miracle in the Bible is probably the first one that Jesus ever did, when He showed up to a wedding celebration and came to the rescue of an earthly bridegroom. I wonder what kind of honor Jesus was given at this wedding he attended in John 2, with His mother and some of His disciples? Was He seated at the right hand of the couple? Cast in a corner? Was He mingling with the crowd? Talking about the Father? Eating? Drinking? Dancing?

After spending a week meditating on John 2:1-12, Jesus once again just blows me away. There are layers upon layers to this story, but here are some thoughts skimmed from the top:

(v. 5) Jesus' mother recognized His authority, and though she'd never seen Him do a miracle, she was prepped for something awesome. She likewise prepped the servants for something spectacular. Though He was in submission to His earthly parents, doubtless there were there things she had observed for thirty years around the home that inclined her heart to seek His solution.

(v. 6) the water cisterns were to be used for purification, which was how cleansing happened under the Law. Jesus' blood, represented in the wine, would be the new means of purification (1 John 1:7)

(v. 7) the stone vessels were filled to the brim at Christ's command. Not halfway, not most of the way, but completely sufficient - more than enough.

(v. 10) "You have  kept the good wine until now." Jesus not only turned water into wine, but He made it top shelf. The very best. Jesus was revealing Himself in this miracle. Jesus IS the best wine. The new wine that had been saved for the end. Those who had old wineskins, including most of Israel, could not handle Him. They hadn't kept their spirits pliable with water and oil, and so Jesus was too much for them.

My own mother made a remark about this passage. "I am not a wine connoisseur, but people who enjoy wine talk of its nuances," she said. Indeed. Jesus has subtleties that can be enjoyed on a variety of levels and in different ways. He evokes a different response at different times, and from different palates. Jesus calls forth the essence of what we taste in life, for there is no life besides Him.

Radio Personality

My stomach did somersaults as I approached WJTL's radio studio for my morning show interview to discuss my book College Bound: A Pursuit of Freedom, but I confidently clutched my two pages of script and meditated on scripture. After meeting the cast and crew and declining coffee, which I felt would only have made me jumpy, I was told by the station manager (with a smile) that we'd not be using my notes. "Sounds too canned," he said.

Gulp.

So, I winged it. The show was a blast. The two hosts had me laughing so hard that I didn't have time to be fearful. Even with my carefully prepared notes tossed out the window, I answered the questions they sent me pretty easily, I think. And, we gave away two books in the process, plus the one I gave to a fellow guest's teen-aged daughter.

All in all, I had so much fun on the radio that I can't wait to publish another book, just so I can have an excuse to hang out with them in the studio again. 

Here are the two, two-minte clips (introduction not included): 

part 1 http://media.rnltech.com/audio/Author%20Emily%20Tomko%20Sep%2025%20Part%201.mp3

part 2 http://media.rnltech.com/audio/Author%20Emily%20Tomko%20Sep%2025%20Part%202.wma 

(If these don't open, go to WJTL.com, go to"casts" and choose from "September 25 Emily Tomko.")

And on another note, this was the same day - a year ago exactly - that I was baptized. Above is a photo from that wonderful day.

Get Up and Go!

I'm thrilled to be a guest on WJTL's "Get Up & Go Show" this coming Tuesday. We will be discussing the serious trend  of young people falling away from their faith, particularly after graduating and leaving home, and as it relates to this, my book College Bound: A Pursuit of Freedom. The show will begin at 7 a.m. EST, broadcast on FM 90.3 Lancaster, or at http://wjtl.com/