To you who love us, pray for us and remember us before the throne in holy partnership I greet you and thank you in the name of Jesus. In a world of turmoil, it is good to know that somethings do not change; such as the Love of God who is "Our Father in Heaven".

“I was sifted like wheat”

After I sent the article of “Fighting Death to the Death” I was sifted like wheat as never before in my life. In deep anguish I called the army of the Lord to join Jesus in intercession and a rescue operation through prayer for me.

The bottom line: It could said of me that the words of our Lord Jesus to Peter are relevant for me in Luke 22:31-32   “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

My latest struggled had nothing to do with the fear of death for Ruthie or for myself. It was something worst than that. It has to do with our ministry and the zeal of His house consuming me. It required of me to completely die to self in a fresh way and absolutely surrender to God’s will and sovereign control.

I have experienced sweet deliverance seven days ago thanks to your prayers and the following words of encouragement:

“O King Eternal, the strife will not be long. This day the noise of battle, the next the Victor's song. Through days of preparation, Thy grace has made us strong, and now, O King Eternal, we lift our battle song.

My dear brother Gerry:
Prayers on your behalf are assaulting heaven's portals on your behalf.
Tighten the armor of the Lord, bend the knee in prayer, and then STAND with The sword of the Spirit in one hand and the shield of faith in the other and Do battle with the defeated foe.
We love you and stand with you in the battle.

Or as my daughter also said:
Dear Dad. Prayer is our weapon of choice. I do, and will continue to pray with all the saints for you.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” Ps 73:26

Hello my friend.... I trust that you and your bride are being carried along in His might hand. Blessings on you this day as you wait expectantly for His return. He is reducing you like a wonderful sauce, intensifying your flavors in Christ!! I have tasted the fruit of the Spirit in you and it is a good fruit! Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers this very day!

Is. 65:24 “I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking to Me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers.”

Many more letters and prayers like this have carried me through my valley of Baca. Psalm 84:6 "When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings"

The offer and the demand of our Ruthie's needs and the doctor’s Abilities are tilted against her in the visible world. But the scale is leveled just right to the eyes of our faith. Please pray for pain free nights. She has lost appetite and significant weight and is tired. Ruthie is not afraid but a little sad not to go on with the ministry. She longs for her lady’s group and the young girls she disciple.

“O if she were like in months past”

But we too “have decided against the Lord taking our lives”. “We have decided to give it to Him in a fresh way to help himself as and when he wishes”. Please pray that this freedom and peace may be abundantly available when the need comes. The rains have ceased, the ground is wet and muddy it is a calm afternoon in our lives and a double rainbow beautifies our horizon to the glory of our Lord.

My nights are long and I am writing to the wee hours of the morning Homilies for the Radio in the Andes. In a nutshell; let me use an oxymoron to express our situation: "We are having the worst yet best time of our lives as far as Fellowship with God and one another".

We are not laughing out loud, but the Joy of the Lord is our strength. Complaints? Regrets? Those pieces do not fit in our puzzle. Secret longing and desires? We are full of them and confident that our Lord knows them all. Might his will be done. We cast ourselves in his loving arms.

Gerry Gutierrez