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February
16, 2005
Cliff Bell Family Ministries
Dear Friends,
Dianne and I thank you for praying for our family during our time of transition.
If you remember, the Lord sent us our nephew and niece (Adam and
Rose) to live with us in mid November. God is answering our prayers!
I have some great news to report and a lot of updating on the ministry.
In this update:
- What could top
a white Christmas?
- Grace for every
day
- A Prophetic Sign
for the Rio Grand Valley
- Sounding the trumpet
for strategic prayer!
- Hungry for the
Word of the Lord
- Taking hold of
miracles!
- Testimony from
last November's APT
What could top a white Christmas?
It hadn't happened for over 100 years. But on December 25, 2004
it snowed in the Rio Grand Valley! (The first white Christmas on
record!) We got about 3 to 4 inches of the white stuff! I
know... It's hard to believe it snowed here when the temperatures
here are already back in the upper 80's. Never-the-less, my
kids were thrilled to see snow and made their first snowman. Fresh
out of top hats, we opted to dress him up with a sombrero. He was
quite an impressive sight to behold with his snow dog at his side.
The snow dog's large floppy ears were made with small banana tree leaves
that hadn't yet wilted from the cold. My kids said the snow
made it our "best Christmas ever!" God sure does
know how to do it up right!
But what topped even that was the next day Adam and Rose gave their
hearts to the Lord! Yes! It was the best Christmas ever!
Thank You, Jesus! Thank you for praying.
Grace for every day
Dianne and I are grateful to the Lord for working on the hearts of Adam
and Rose. Our family is slowly adjusting, and we are blessed at the
steps forward. Life is not yet easy, so we are believing God for
grace for every day. Children cannot just be birthed into the Kingdom.
We have to raise them up and train them. So we appreciate your continued
prayers for strength, wisdom and much grace. I've been staying
closer to home lately to help our family through this time. I've
been ministering more in churches in this local region. But soon
I'll be traveling more again.
A Prophetic Sign for the Rio Grand Valley
Going back to the snow for just a moment... I am convinced this
was not just an unusual weather event. Think about it.
Think about the timing. Christmas day represents the arrival of
King Jesus! And the snow represents the purity and holiness with
which He wants to cover this region that has been marred by so much
violence and chaos. Even in recent weeks there has been an increase
of violence, murders, kidnappings, etc. In the last six weeks,
local news reported 41 deaths in the drug war between Nuevo Laredo and
Matamoros. In Matamoros, six prison guards were found tortured
and killed execution style - assumedly by mafia (drug lord) forces. It
seems almost every day more murders and violence are taking place in this
area. Not all is drug war related. Some of it is gang
activity, and some is a family feud gone extreme. There have
been lots of news reports lately on alleged murders by family members. As
the pure white snow covered the Rio Grand Valley with glistening beauty,
God has given the believers here a picture of what He wants to accomplish.
Sounding the trumpet for strategic prayer!
Now more than ever before, the believers here and in Mexico need to rise
up and hear the sound of the trumpet calling us to war! A lot of
Christians pray, but only a few pray effectively or strategically.
That's one reason I am promoting Target 7, a great prayer strategy
the Lord gave Laurrie Huffman to bring about transformation in communities
and territories (view Target 7 at www.borderprayer.net ).
This is apostolic and prophetic prayer, praying for God's Kingdom to be
established in the seven gates of our communities. That is, the
seven areas of control and influence. The devil has been controlling
these areas, but it is time for the Church to possess these gates!
The believers in Reynosa and Matamoros are rising up to the challenge
despite the violence in their cities. In Reynosa, three churches
with approximately 200 intercessors are praying regularly.
Soon it will be more as Methodist Superintendent Fernando Fuentes has
asked me to share Target 7 with the whole district which covers the entire
state of Tamaulipas, and portions of San Luis Potosí and Veracruz.
This kind of strategic prayer, combined with teaching to hear God's voice
and receive revelation to know specifically how to thwart the devil's
plans and advance God's Kingdom are key for Mexico's future as a sheep
nation.
Hungry for the Word of the Lord
In January and the first part of February I have ministered in a number
of churches in Reynosa, Matamoros, Nuevo Progreso, and also in some on
the Texas side of the border. I was able to minister prophetically
to a group of pastors and leaders in Matamoros. They stayed for
hours waiting their turn to hear the word of the Lord. The
same thing happened when I ministered to a regional Methodist youth meeting
in Reynosa. They were so hungry for God and ready to go out
and fulfill God's call upon their young lives.
At Emmanuel Methodist church in Reynosa, the service lasted from
10 AM till 4 PM! I kept checking with the pastor, but he wanted
me to keep ministering, so I did. The people didn't mind waiting
and I didn't mind minsitering to them. I have already received
word from several that God's Word is being fulfilled in their lives.
This particular pastor was one I ministered to in January of 1999.
He reminded me of that time and told how God has fulfilled His prophetic
Word.
Taking hold of miracles!
At this same church, I led the people to pray for one another for healing.
Those who were well prayed for those who were sick. I like doing
it that way, because it takes the focus off of me and places it on the
Lord. I don't want them to look at me as their source. Every
time I do this God shows up and brings healing to His people. One
man in particular was rejoicing because he had been suffering from testicular
cancer. He is a young man, married, and desired to have children.
God immediately healed him. He and his wife were thrilled as now
their desire for children can be realized.
Testimony from last November's APT
The other day I received a call from a young man named Humberto from Monterrey.
Humberto is active serving the Lord in his church and studies at
Christ For the Nations. He attended our prophetic training seminar
there in Monterrey last November. He reported that the seminar had
really changed his life and ministry. He said the gifts of the Holy
Spirit are flowing through him now and he is constantly amazed at what
God is doing. That reminds me of several young men who testified
right after attending the same seminar. They shared at their
church the next Sunday how they learned to better hear God's voice and
the importance of be led by the Holy Spirit. They said they would
never go back to their old way of mediocre Christian living. They
understand and value the Written Word of God, but also that it is the
Spirit that gives life!
I also recently received an email from a young prophetess named Ana Bustillo
from Colombia who came last year to the seminar we held. Ana also
attended some of the classes of the prophetic school and gleaned all she
could during her visit. She wrote, "God has opened my ministry
as a prophet, and I am being recognized (by the local churches).
I will never forget that God used you to help me step out in this beautiful
ministry."
Your Servants,
Cliff & Dianne Bell
February 16, 2005
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