As I drove into The River Church for the first time on Sunday evening, August 21, 2011, I knew I was driving into destiny.  Revival for bible school was to start the morning of August 22, 2011 and I wanted to get a glimpse of what was to come.  God had been preparing me all of my life for His work but I didn’t realize it until a few months prior when I heard about the River Bible Institute.  I had no plans to attend bible college, I worked for a banking corporation for over 7 years here in Florida and prior to that I worked for an entertainment company in New York City.  The Lord spoke to my heart back in March of this year and told me to quit my job because I didn’t belong there but I didn’t have a clue at that time where He was leading me.  As I prayed and was seeking direction, the Lord started showing me the River Bible Institute and opened the doors for me to attend.

In these past three weeks I have realized that life is not what it appears to be, there is so much more that I need to learn and understand.  I’ve realized that the Lord loves us very much; we were made in His image and purchased with a price.  God doesn’t desire anyone to be lost, sick or in despair, He wants to show us the way and Jesus is the only way.

And guys, we check out at this point. There’s no parallel to that feeling of being kicked from the inside, not gas, not angina, not heartburn, nothing can take the place of that.

He also told me that in my natural mind some of the things he’s spoken to me on I can’t even grasp, but to take a step back and see them from a spiritual perspective and they all make sense. And when I did that very thing I literally was at a loss for words of how good God is. He continues to leave me speechless and just when I think I know him he goes even deeper.

Thursday morning when the spirit of giving broke loose in the morning service The Lord told me to give my promise ring away. That was my Alabaster Box, the most beautiful gift given to me by my father when I was 13 years old when I made a covenant with him to remain pure. A gift that I never took off my finger and never compromised on. Giving it away meant more than anyone could imagine, and I fought with God on it. But when I did what He told me to do I felt such freedom. And God promised me from that day forward that I would never lack, I would always be taken care of, and he would meet my needs beyond what I can comprehend and I firmly believe it.

I know that God has called me here, and I know this is just the beginning of the great things he is going to do. If we just yield to Him and place our life in His hands, it promises us a life of promise. It promises us a life of supernatural blessing and favor.

I won’t live in lack, I’ll live in excess. And in that excess I’ll bless those around me with what he has given to me. And I won’t stop telling people about Jesus. Because just like Acts 20:24 says, “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus–the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” I promise to live that scripture through until my last breath.

Thank you Pastor Rodney for being such a blessing to me and my family. Your vision has impacted my life and imparted into me such great things and will continue to. You truly are a Man after God’s heart and I love you for that.

And the woman will say, “Feel my tummy!”  “Feel my tummy” and I would feel and I could feel it, “Oh!” and he does somersaults and half-gainers and flips and everything and he’s going back and forth or she’s going back and forth and then it progresses and then one day labor began.

When I first heard about The River School, I thought to myself I have to go. I wanted a change and I knew this school was perfect for me. Right when I started the school from day one I noticed a change in myself. Throughout the days I was always walking in the spirit all day long. Starting my mornings with worship, prayer, and teachings definitely impacted me. I feel like I am always connected spiritually and that is how I wanted it to be. Even though I have my church that I go to three times a week and I am very involved and I was raised that way, I still felt like I was still being renewed.

Awesome feeling! I felt the knowledge and wisdom pouring into me each morning I came to school. It changed my attitude in some things and the way I thought. It was and is an eye opener each day I come. This is just the beginning and it has made such a difference in my life. I always wanted to feel the spirit of joy and when I started coming to this school I finally experienced it. It was such a blessing! I also had to go out there and preach the gospel and save some souls, something I never saw myself do. Now I love doing it. I love talking to people about the word of God and what he has done in my life and that there is a God out there whether they want to believe it or not.

This school has broken fears in me I never thought I had. I’m so blessed to be able to come to a school that helps me know God more and teaches me how I should be in order to please the all mighty God. I definitely can’t wait for what’s in store for me for the next few months in this school. God is and always will be in control in my life.

And I believe that labor is appropriately named, don’t you? Said that when a woman goes through labor it’s like taking your bottom lip and stretching it over your head (laughter from audience)

Where to begin…… I have been touched by the Holy Ghost many many times and love the Lord so very much, but had never actually felt the burning heat of the fire of God. I want it ALL to where I am beside myself.   Therefore, I am determined to press in. So I told the Lord I want more, I need more, give me ALL you have for me. My goal is to poured out so He can fill me, burning in me to flow out of me to touch and transform others!

Then, as I have taken care of areas  that God has spoken about and continue to open my heart, I have started to receive the actual fire.   As Pastor ran around the church  and passed by  where I was sitting on Sunday morning, the fire started to fall on me and has been increasing.  Glory to God!

In January at the winter camp meeting, God had spoken to me to give my husbands wedding ring.  I gave it to my daughter, Danae.  She came over to me the other morning and told me she was giving his ring to the Lord.  That broke me, as I realized I had given it to her to keep it.  He then dealt with me to give my wedding rings.  Why? So I’m not holding onto the past. It’s freedom!  What happened in the past is that, you remember but not hold it or let it hold you.

I have always been concerned by the finances, even though God has always supplied for us.  Have been being released from the concern and the battle in my mind. All that I have, even all of my needs are given to Him…..Marjorie W.

Labor lasts on an average of two to twelve hours. I’ve been there, not in labor myself, but I’ve felt that way with my wife. Labor happens, then the delivery!

Now, however, I welcome it. The feeling of a bigger purpose is back in my life. And this school is exactly what my life needs: discipline and the anointing.  It’s also a good feeling to know I’m going to complete what I started.  When I was unable to continue in the internship 1 1/2 years ago, the attack that came against my thought life was intense. “Hope deferred makes the heart grow sick…” (Proverbs 13:12).

The greatest message ever preached contained three words: “Never give up!”  I know at times I go the long way around life, but God proves Himself to be faithful when I don’t give up.  “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…” (Isaiah 40:31a). “Now faith is…” (Hebrews 11:!).  Faith is now.  Faith is today.  It is hope activated.  Being back in Bible school has caused hope to rise up in me again with a determination to run the race the Lord has set before me.

The entangling of sin in one’s life truly is clever and deceitful.  It simply takes what’s right in your life and subtly adds a little extra weight here, and a little weight there.  You don’t recognize the added “burden” in your life until symptoms appear. I thank God for this opportunity to be here.  In these short few weeks, clarity of mind is back, weights are gone, and the crooked path has been made straight….Margaret W.

And guys, for those who’ve been in the delivery room and have watched the birth of a baby. You’re talking about an overwhelming experience!