Author: Iris Godfrey

Well, push has come to shove. I must complete the grading of my spring institute course. My dear students have been exceeding patient with me and my travel schedule, but now I must complete the stack of lessons, papers, and finals. Those of you who read here, rejoice, I have completed half of them — did that yesterday! So now I will try to finish today.

I always enjoy what the students write, and never know why I drag my feet in grading. I love to teach on the Institute level, and enjoy all who are my students. Their creative insight into the Scriptures always blesses and amazes me. Each one is so very different from the other.

In our Bible Institute we grade according to a students ability — not on a curve in reference to others. Our students’ background education has been from a high school diploma to a doctor’s degree and all in between. So it would be totally unfair to grade the one with the high school education with the same expectations of those with higher degrees. It works well for all — this watching of student progression. That is what I watch for, are they progressing in their knowledge of the subject, and in their relationship with their Lord. With out that second part, the Institute would not be doing its appointment in our Lord Jesus. I could hire someone to grade for me, but then I would not be able to see these two things easily.

We have completed 7 years of night school. I am so blessed by the Lord’s faithfulness. This summer we are offering one course — New Testament Survey — for those who have begun to study with us. This fall we will offer (if all goes as expected) a course in Acts (I will be teaching that one) and a course in the first 100 years of church history based on the New Testament (Fr. Bob Hackendorf will be teaching that one).

Our courses are presently accepted for transfer by several other Institutes. If any of you have a question about which ones, just ask. It is on an informal basis, so I do not advertise the specifics. Our students are reflecting excellent scholarship. The Institute is primarily designed for lay people. We are inter-denominational, and not affiliated with any denomination. Our purpose is to teach what the Bible says — not necessarily to insist on a specific interpretation of it. However, all teachers are charismatic, so there will, of course, be a slant that direction.

Our courses are available by extension, and you may read about all of them on our web site: www.psalm19ministries.org .

O.K. now I must stop talking about it and get to the work of grading these wonderful (truly) writings of my students.

Well, I have spent a very frustrating few hours discovering that “Free” really doesn’t mean “Free.” On the side-bar of this blog, there is an Intercessors Sign up place. I began using a “free” newsletter service (under 50 contacts) to develop a scheduled Weekly Update. It is a dandy little program and since we are not “big potatoes” with a small number to send, it has been free. However, shortly they will begin charging a monthly fee, for all. The fee is not large, but I really did not want to be plugged in to paying for 30-40 emails. Later, when our numbers climb, well of course, and that is the way it was set up. But now they are changing the rules.

It is Spring and the time for flowers! I took this picture this past week-end in the Nazareth, PA area. What a precious example of our Lord’s attention to detail. When we have forgotten where we planted them, (sometimes, we just threw them off to the side of the road), yet, come spring there they are, flags and then these precious delicate flowers. Nothing special really.

Most of us would consider ourselves to be nothing special, really. We have ordinary (or less than) beginnings, not nearly enough of whatever, whenever, and our tendency is to count ourselves of little worth when it comes to doing something special for our Lord Jesus.

Yet, here the daffoldil stands as an example for us. Nothing special really — just a daffodil, yet they bloom for all their worth, and add such value and beauty to the scene — where ever. . . in their hour and in their time. We are like that. Just because we are His, we have value and add beauty where ever we have been “thrown,” or were we instead planted? He never forgets where, and we bloom in season, always.

Lord, may we be ever so patient with time, and allow You Your season in us deep in the quiet dark before the time of sun blooming. It will come.

The picture is of a precious sister in the Lord, Lois. She is one of the people I have watched learn and use in her life the awesome Presence of the Lord. She has learned the secret. What you see in the picture is real.

We often love the “feeling” of the presence of the Lord, without realizing its deep and intrinsic value for our lives. As we gather to worship, His presence is felt, is known and is enjoyed. This is wonderful. However, the work that Presence wants to do can most generally not occur in a corporate worship service. We can “feel” Him there, and learn what that is like, but what our hearts must have in order to change and move into healing, forgiveness, hope and life above our circumstances will not be known in the few times a week we might be with others to “feel” that blessed Presence.

If we, however, are intent on Him, focused on Him, concentrated on Him and His word, we will find that same Presence meeting us daily in our time with Him, and it is there that over time wonders in our interior person occur.

Recently I was struggling with an emotional response that I needed deep release from. I needed to not respond as I was responding, and to move into peace with the circumstance that was creating the emotional reaction. I had prayed, I had worked, I had repented (we often need to repent of our emotional reactions to people and events — must be another post — not this one). But it all seemed to no avail. Then I just reached to my Lord, and trusted His Presence to descend in manifest form, for He was really all I needed. What happened then was absolutely awesome.

HE CAME! The Word says, “The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.” John 14:21 (HCSB) It was marvelous. I have never in my life felt such peace and the situation in my heart was settled. The circumstance did not change, but I was changed. An impossible (in flesh) thing occurred inside me. I actually felt the movement inside and it was done and has stayed done. No new information was given to me, no new anything — just His awesome, marvelous Person in Presence form — a feel-able, knowable Presence.

I want to encourage you to learn (as I am learning) to allow His Presence in that manifest form as promised in Scripture, to be a part of your daily time. Just think how He could and will change us in His glory. He so loves us.

Violet over at “Promptings” (www.vnesdoly.blogspot.com) has given me the “Thinking blogger Award.” Thank you Violet. I am encouraged to keep writing. Your sweet responses to what I scratch out here are a deep, deep encouragement. Thank you. Now I am to give it to five more bloggers.

I send it to Better Bibles blog at www.englishbibles.blogspot.com, and although they may choose not to participate in the award, they really bless me with their daily insight into the language of the Scriptures.

Then to Rev Abi at www.vicarofwadley.blogspot.com for she always thinks through problems and issues with the heart of Jesus Christ and even though I might not always agree with her, she blesses me with her gentle spirit and her thinking.

To Candy at www.candyinsierra.blogspot.com, who like me is infrequent with her posts, but they are always worth reading and enjoying and then to Bonnie at www.macroments.blogspot.com. Her gentle musings and stunning photography are always soothing to me.

I know I could do 5, but most of the others I read already have been tagged with this at some point, so I will just do these four.

You all bless my life almost every day! You are from all over this continent, yet you reach into my life with goodness as you share your heart in Jesus with me. Bless you one and all.

To award winners:- Install the graphic somewhere on your own blog.- Now if you like you may pass the Thinking Blogger Award on to five more bloggers.

If you wish to listen to the sermon I preached April 22, 2007 at the Church of the Resurrection in East Syracuse, NY, go to www.churchoftherez.org and click on the link to This week’s sermon. It is the 5th one listed and has my name and Matthew 6 beside it.

Hope it works for you and thanks for listening!

This is a little different from the last picture I posted. This past week-end I was ministering in Florida, and I took this picture in the yard of my host family. What beautiful flowers they had. Of course, just out of CNY, any flower would do, but I thought these were absolutely lovely.

Spring is always a lift to the heart. After moving to the North East many years ago and experiencing my first winter, I finally understood what spring is all about. When you live in a climate that has warm and hot as its temps, it is a bit difficult to understand what the big deal is about spring time. However, all it takes is one good winter in the North East, and then you know; I mean you really know. Spring is felt as much as seen. It is a lift to all the things inside a person, and allows the Lord to teach us that His spring time is the best of all and we can have that at any moment and at any time.

One truth that is often overlooked about the Holy Spirit, is that He is felt as well as seen. He is an intimate part of us and of our Lord, so He too is felt in order to truly know. When we read the Scriptures without the understanding that I will “feel” as well as understand, then it becomes something to grasp intellectually, but does not have the needed impact on our moods and therefore on our lives. This is often the objection of non-charismatics. The non-charismatics do not like the “emotional” expression that charismatics are so prone to express. Quite frankly, without the “feeling,” the fruit of the Holy Spirit comes very slowly in a life.

I lived 37 years of my life as a “non-charismatic.” I was riddled with periods of depression and many body illnesses. However, once I bowed to the Lord in my desperateness, than even though I could not grasp His doctrine with my intellect, in the bowing came the avenue of healing. It is hard to explain. But in my unwillingness to “feel,” the gospel and my choosing to stay in my “English” reserved nature, I had chosen to have a life of up and downs and in and outs.

Mood consistency has come as I have allowed His mood to be mine. It is a grand exchange. It is truly a death to my nature, but I have been empowered to life in a Spring time atmosphere. What a joy He is. I would urge all who read, do not refuse Him in any dimension who is the empowerment of life at each and every level.

Well, this is the way it looked in Albany this past week-end. It was an exciting time in the Spirit anyway. Our groups were small, much smaller than anticipated due to the storm, but very open to what the Lord would do among us.

Lauren’s leading of our worship was sweet in His presence, and the reception of the scriptural understandings very warm. I am constantly amazed at the love our Lord shows us through His people. Each of the groups was interdenominational, and that made for a rich sweetness in belonging. Really a heart blessing.

Well, this Thursday, I fly to Florida for a church conference there on the Tabernacle of Moses and the multidimensional nature of our Lord’s revelation there. I will post when I return — just wanted to chime in and let those who read know I am well and so appreciate their prayers as I travel.

Blessings to all. (Photo by Diane H)