Having had pneumonia the first three weeks of those 24 days in Jerusalem was not expected.
Something one just never plans for, given the time we have in Israel doesn’t occur every day.
I guess I could do what comes natural and ask, “Why, God?” but then we don’t always need to know why, do we?
Have we not often prayed and declared with all our faith, “My times are in His hands!”
Have we not said, “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8, NASB
We pray for guidance and protection. We ask for His Holy Spirit to direct our every step. We seek to know His will and walk in it.
And then the unexpected happens; that sickness, that accident, that moment or lengthy time of the “this won’t happen to me” happens to me.
So, what do we do? Moan and groan? Complain? Yell at the Lord for “not being who I expected You to be” and keep me from all harm, injury, and difficulties?
We are here for a certain time. We are called to walk as we know to do, heeding His Word and listening to His voice.
Even after decades of doing just that, we are not “guaranteed” the life of a perfect life. No beloved of the Lord has.
We are guaranteed that He will always be with us and not forsake us.
We may not know why now. But someday we will. And in Him we shall trust everyday, until that day.
Until then we keep saying, “My times are in Your hands” and believe Him.
I laid in bed thinking about what all I’ve done in my life. I was a single mom who worked for other Ministries, eventually went into my own ministry, and even trained others for ministry. And now in my 70s, I said to God, “Now what?“
Do you know what He said to me? “That’s up to you.“
That was a mic drop minute for me.
At the end of everything is a new beginning. If we will allow ourselves to not quit, not feel sorry for ourselves, not give up, but to step into it, our life still has value and meaning.
We may be slower, but we don’t have to be done and over with.
Age does not equal stupidity. It equals experience.
When I was in the hospital, one person came around and was asking me my background. They asked my highest level of education, and I said I have a doctorate in theology, an associates degree in business, and a certificate degree in computer operations. She about flipped out. She said she had never before met a patient with a doctorates degree in anything, let alone to have two other degrees as well.
When she left the room, that caused me to feel pretty good about myself and my life. It got my mind off of my health situation and onto the fact that no matter what my health situation is, my life and education and experience is still worthwhile.
When we go through life-changing experiences, we have a choice as to what our life will change into. Will we sit and rot, or will we use the experience and life we have left for the good.
I developed a saying earlier on in my life and it goes like this, “If you let anything start stopping you it will never stop stopping you, so don’t let it start.”
So even though I can’t travel all over the country like I used to, I have continued to teach and minister and council utilizing Zoom and other means of communication.
You would be surprised as to how that works. Because you can be having a rough day and feel down on yourself, but when you give out what God has in you, the return is that it encourages you as well.
Other people can give up on you if they want to. That’s their problem. But don’t you give up on you.
Write articles and let them become books. Speak what is on your mind and let it become teachings for the younger generation.
My students at the schools of ministry that I teach at over Zoom have told me that the stories of my life encourage them to know that God is real and helps them to continue to press on in life.
I remember Rick Joyner saying that in the very areas where we have been wounded, once we are healed, we then have authority to heal others.
We don’t just wear scars. We wear badges of courage from days gone by. From the battles and victories we have experienced throughout the years.
In other countries, they value their elders. They know that they have wisdom to pass on to the younger generations. For some reason in America, they often throw the older folks away and forget them. How sad.
I love it when a younger person asks me for my advice. Even if it is just about cooking. Because I love to cook and I am a good cook.
When I lived in South Carolina, I would cook lasagna or meatballs or some favorite dish and put it into containers and give it away to the workmen in my apartment building or my neighbors. They loved it. So did I.
At Christmas time over the years, a couple of my aunts would bake Christmas goodie boxes of cookies, cakes, and candies and send them to me. Those became my favorite things to receive.
With platforms such as Instagram and TikTok and Facebook, your wisdom has a place to be shared. Whether it is about cooking or just life in general. Don’t let it go to waste. Use it.
So in answer to the question, “Now what?“ - the answer is, “That’s up to you.” and the question is, What will you do?
Do what makes you happy and what will make other people happy. Fill your days with good things. It’s up to you.
Love and Blessings to you!🙏
Joni
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JONI’s INFO
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Cash App: $joniames
Venmo: @Joni-Ames
Zelle: joniames@aol.com
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Joni Ames
P.O. Box 58026
Charleston, WV 25358
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Joni’s ministry bio
http://eepurl.com/jrq-ig
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To schedule a zoom meeting with Joni, email her at:
An encouraging word given to Steve Martin and David Lauka during our homegroup prior to our Israel trip September 2026.
Theresa Harper speaks an encouraging word to Steve Martin and David Lauka during our home group meeting at the Martin home. David and Steve head to Israel Sept. 15, 2026.
What was spoken:
Proverbs 3:5-6: trust in the Lord, going to new levels, a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, need to acknowledge Him in all your ways.
“Noticer” - you will notice things but not just in the natural, to see people as He sees them.
Every step ordered by the Lord Yeshua.
Protected by a shield of the Lord, by the blood covering of Yeshua.
An adventure ahead with expectation.
We will receive words for the stranger.
He will take us to higher and deeper levels.
Confidence in Him with peace.
Yosefa also prays for provision, “Overflowing blessing”.
Theresa: “Jehovah Jireh provides. The Lord knows EVERYTHING. Will walk around with eyes wide open to see things as He sees things.”
“We must ask the Father. Ask and you shall receive.”
Video recorded by Laurie Martin
09.12.26 Charlotte, North Carolina
#israel #DavidLauka #SteveMartin #prophecy #TheresaHarper #propheticword word
Theresa Harper speaks an encouraging word to Steve Martin and David Lauka during our home group meeting at the Martin home. David and Steve head to Israel Sept. 15, 2026.
What was spoken:
Proverbs 3:5-6: trust in the Lord, going to new levels, a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, need to acknowledge Him in all your ways.
“Noticer” - you will notice things but not just in the natural, to see people as He sees them.
Every step ordered by the Lord Yeshua.
Protected by a shield of the Lord, by the blood covering of Yeshua.
An adventure ahead with expectation.
We will receive words for the stranger.
He will take us to higher and deeper levels.
Confidence in Him with peace.
Yosefa also prays for provision, “Overflowing cup blessing.”
Theresa: “Jehovah Jireh provides. The Lord knows EVERYTHING. Will walk around with eyes wide open to see things as He sees things.”
“We must ask the Father. Ask and you shall receive.”
Video recorded by Laurie Martin
09.12.26 Charlotte, North Carolina
#israel #DavidLauka #SteveMartin #prophecy #TheresaHarper #propheticword word
Full transcription of the 11 minute word using Google Gemini:
Here is the transcription (using Google Gemini).
Here is the transcription of the video:
He's knit your hearts together. I just got to get closer.
But you know, a lot of things, that's okay.
Um, because what we do in the physical sometimes, it does affect the spiritual.
And He's knit you together, you've been knit together, but this time it's a tighter knit. I sound like that when He's pulling that together.
But the thing that came to me was Proverbs 3:5 and 6.
Every, every line of this proverb, these two lines, these two verses is significant. The first starts, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." And that means all.
And I feel on this trip there's going to be times where you really have to trust the Lord. Okay?
I mean, but you're going to be in that place where it's not going to be hard. It's not going to be like, "Oh, God, no, no, no." It's a part of you now. It's like, "Okay, Lord, you know, here we go. We trust you, Lord."
Amen.
"We trust you."
He may take you, you may, you're going to have, I know you've got things to do.
But there's going to be times maybe where you're going in a certain direction because, "Oh, we're going to do this." And God's going to say, "No, no, wait a minute, we're going to do this."
So be open to that.
That's another thing.
He wants to open your spirit. And I feel like God really wants to take the both of you to a different level in the spirit.
It's not going to be same-old, same-old.
Thank you, Jesus.
Okay? It's a different level. It's going to be a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit that, not saying that you're not sensitive, but He wants to take you deeper. More sensitivity.
And so you're going to be walking in that.
And, uh, so trust the Lord with all your heart, "Lean not unto your own understanding." Don't try to figure it out.
Thank you, God.
If something even goes wrong or something like that, acknowledge Him in all your ways. And that means all.
If you're at the airport and there's a little glitch, right away, because I know Steve, He's going to try to figure it out as we do, where many of us are fixers. Right?
But right away, though, first thing, "Lord, what are you saying about this?"
Just, just pause for a minute because I'm going to tell you something, as you get closer to Him and the Holy Spirit's working more, you're not going to have to pause for a half hour.
You're going to know. But take that pause.
Acknowledging Him in all your ways. Bring Him into the situation.
And when you do these things, trusting Him with all your heart, lean not unto your own understanding, don't try to figure it out, don't try to think your way through it, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will, He shall direct your paths.
And that's what you're going to go on.
And I feel like also, I was sitting here,
And I heard the word "noticer."
There was a book I read a long time ago by Andy Andrews, The Noticer.
And what he, what he wants, I could see you guys walking here and there on Ben Yehuda Street maybe and all that. But He's going to cause your eyes, not your physical eyes, because our physical eyes, "Oh, that's nice," you know, "and that's nice."
He, no more I'm not saying that you're, but He wants to take you to this higher level of things aren't going to be casual.
Things aren't going to be a feeling.You are going to notice things, even things that might look in the natural like, "Well, that's nice," but no more of that.
The Lord's going to open your eyes and you're going to see it the way He sees it.
You're going to see people the way He sees them.Pay attention. Amen.
You're, that's, that's all I can say on that. He's going to open your eyes and you're going to become "noticers."
Not just walking here and, "Well, we got to get to there." "We got to, oh, we got to get to there." No, you're going to notice.
He's going to open your eyes.
And then He's going to give you the words. He's going to give you, you might notice someone, you've never seen them instead of, and people are going to come up to you, too.
But I think He's also going to cause you to go up to people.
Because you're going to see something, you don't know what it is, and you're just going to engage in conversation and boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
Thank you.
The main thing is you want to do every step you take, you want it ordered by the Lord.
Yeah.
Every step.
Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Father.
Not just, "Well, we can do this."No.No, no, everything.
Different level.
Different level.
So, I thank you, Lord.
Thank you, God.
Thank you, Lord, for your protection.
Yes, Amen.
Yes, Lord.
Your supernatural protection.
I apply your blood, Lord, the precious blood of Yeshua over Dave and Steve. It's like a shield. I see it like a shield.
Okay?
And it's going to keep out the things of the enemy. And every day, I don't know if you remember, when we went on our little our this 9 by design, and sometimes you ask me to pray or something. First thing I did is I applied the blood over us.
And I do that every, every, every morning, every day of my life.
And I see it as a covering. It's a shield.
And it's not only going to protect you, but and and and, Joseph, you'll separate.
Pray about sickness and all that.
No sickness or anything can, can survive under the blood covering.
Amen. Amen.
And nothing from the outside can come in because of the blood covering.
Thank you, Lord.
And I'm praying, Lord, that you're going to give these two men of God a revelation of the blood of Yeshua like they've never had before.
That's going to be a part of your, you're ministering too to people.
It's about the blood, the blood.
And so, Father, I just thank you for the adventure that you have ahead for them.
Amen.
Thank you.
And I know they're excited, and they should be. But they're also expecting, their hearts of expectation.
And Lord, I and you have plans for them. You have plans even for CFI and everything. And I just pray whatever you want to put into their hearts, give them wisdom. Lord, there may even be, um, hitting a block or something there at CFI.
Well, what do we do next or how is this going to happen? Well, I just pray that you use Dave and Steve, that you're going to give them wisdom, you're going to give them a word.
Amen.
That's another thing I'm seeing. He's going to give you words even for the stranger.
They're going to know it's from God and not from you guys.
I'm telling you, expect this. This is not a trip as usual.
Right.
Amen.
Not saying that God didn't use you before to get you.
But He's, He wants to take you to a higher and deeper. Isn't amazing how He can take us higher and deeper at the same time?
Level.
So, thank you, Lord, that you are going to accomplish great things through these two men of God.
Amen.
And Lord,
And he talks about in quietness and confidence. Confidence in Him
shall be your peace, your heart peace.
And, and you're going to walk, and and even Joseph said about light,
He's in you.
You're in Him and He's in you. And He is the light. He is the way and the truth and I know He's the life, but I always say the light.
And people are going to see that in you.
Just walking down Ben Yehuda Street or something.
Yes, Jesus.
And His favor, Lord, your favor over these two men.
Lord, that they would wear your favor like a cloak.
That they would wear your favor like a cloak.
And people are going to see not them, but they're going to see Yeshua.
And they're going to wonder.
They're going to wonder.
But you're going to give these two the answer to whatever it is they're wondering, whatever it is they're made. Anoint their hands. Healing, healing in their hands.
Wisdom.
Hallelujah.
A heart that your heart in them.
And that's what's going to draw the people.
And I just thank you for that, all that you are doing, for all that you're going to do.
And in Jesus' name, Amen.
Yosefa: “Father, bless them with provision.
Yes.
Takes money to go, Father. And I just thank you, Father, that you have that overflowing cup blessing, overflowing cup blessing, overflowing cup blessing, overflowing cup blessing, overflowing cup blessing, overflowing cup blessing, overflowing cup blessing, overflowing cup blessing.
Hallelujah, Lord, going to do some supernatural provision for you guys.
These are going to last longer. You'll walk in good health. Prosperity is coming as physical as spiritually because the Father knows your your needs. And He is a good Father and He provides. He's El Elyon.
Theresa: “Lord, see, He knows and He provides. So, He's not going to withhold, um, anything from His sons or daughters. We bless you in the name of Yeshua. And Jehovah Jireh, the God who already sees ahead and provides.
He's already gone ahead of you.
Just like with Abraham and all. He's already saw it even before they were climbing that mountain.
He knows, you know, that's another thing. I know this is a simple thing, and we've learned it in Baltimore Catechism 101, you know, in Catholic church, we learned all about God, right?
Right.
We know God knows everything and all, but I'm going to tell you, in my latter years, God really showed me one day,
I know everything.
I know that's a simple thing, but when ain't God in? He knows everything. He already knows what's to come and everything, and He's already making preparation.
And it's perfect timing.
Yes.
Yes.
Hallelujah.
The biggest thing was the eyes.
You guys are going to be walking around with spiritual eyes.
Eyes wide open.
You are not, is it really?
And you are not going to, He's not going to let you miss anything. But you're going to see things in a whole different light. You're going to see things as He sees it.
Thank you.
You're going to see people the way He sees them.
That's, that's all I can say on that. He's going to open your eyes and you're going to become noticers.
Not just walking here and, "Well, we got to get to there." "We got to, oh, we got to get to there." No, you're going to notice.
He's going to open your eyes.
And then He's going to give you the words. He's going to give you, you might notice someone, you've never seen them instead of, and people are going to come up to you, too.
But I think He's also going to cause you to go up to people.
Because you're going to see something, you don't know what it is, and you're just going to engage in conversation and boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
The main thing is you want to do every step you take, you want it ordered by the Lord.
Every step.
Not just what we can do this.
No.
Now, now. Everything.
Different level.
Different level.
So, I thank you, Lord.
Thank you, Lord, for your protection.
Your supernatural protection.
I apply your blood, Lord, the precious blood of Yeshua over Dave and Steve. It's like a shield. I see it like a shield.
Okay?
And it's going to keep out the things of the enemy. And every day, I don't know if you remember when we went on our little 9 by design, and sometimes you ask me to pray or something. First thing I did is I applied the blood over us.
And I do that every, every, every morning, every day of my life.
And I see it as a covering. It's a shield.
And it's not only going to protect you, but and and and, Joseph, you'll separate, pray about sickness and all that.
No sickness or anything can, can survive under the blood covering.
Amen. Amen.
And nothing from the outside can come in because of the blood covering.
And I'm praying, Lord, that you're going to give these two men of God a revelation of the blood of Yeshua like they've never had before.
That's going to be a part of your, you're ministering to the people.
It's about the blood.
And so, Father, I just thank you for the adventure that you have ahead for them.
And I know they're excited, and they should be. But they're also expecting. They have hearts of expectation.
And Lord, I and and you have plans for them. You have plans even for CFI and everything. And I just pray whatever you want to put into their hearts, give them wisdom.
Lord, there may even be, um, hitting a block or something there at CFI. Well, what do we do next or how is this going to happen? Well, I just pray that you use Dave and Steve, that you're going to give them wisdom, you're going to give them a word.
That's another thing I'm seeing. He's going to give you words even for the stranger.
They're going to know it's from God and not from you guys.
I'm telling you, expect this. This is not a trip as usual.
Not saying that God didn't use you before to get you, but he's he wants to take you to a higher and deeper. Isn't amazing how he can take us higher and deeper at the same time?
Level.
So, thank you, Lord, that you are going to accomplish great things through these two men of God.
And Lord,
And he talks about in quietness and confidence. Confidence in Him
shall be your peace, your heart peace.
And, and you're going to walk, and and even Joseph said about light,
He's in you.
You're in Him and He's in you. And He is the light.
He is the way and the truth and I know He's the life, but I always say the light.
And people are going to see that in you.
Just walking down Ben Yehuda Street or something.
And His favor, Lord, your favor over these two men.
Lord, that they would wear your favor like a cloak.
That they would wear your favor
like a cloak.
And people are going to see not them, but they're going to see Yeshua.
And they're going to wonder.
They're going to wonder.
But you're going to give these two one the answer.
To whatever it is they're wondering. Whatever it is they're needing. Anoint their hands.
Healing, healing in their hands.
Wisdom.
Hallelujah.
A heart that your heart in them.
And that's what's going to draw the the people.
And I just thank you for that, all that you are doing,
