Category: Article History

Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson

Dry places.

There will be many of them in our walk with the Lord. They often represent rocky valleys, deserted roads, long stretches of highway and lonely places in our lives – meaning, they are bone dry, free of people and all other outside influences. Mostly, they are viewed negatively by those walking through them, and primarily from the perspective of immense hardship.

The bottom line is this: There are many different kinds of dry places relayed to us in the scripture – some brought on by sin and others resulting from warfare. Then, there are the kinds of dry places that we seek out – because we recognize our need for a deliverer. The incarnate Yeshua presented this valuable truth to us in his three and a half year ministry in the old Jerusalem.

Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson

(This post is primarily geared toward scribes who have asked for counsel from others concerning their scribal projects. Then, when they receive the advice released in love, they dismiss it. The purpose of this article is to encourage listening so that we can produce work that is pleasing to God in all areas.)

Proverbs 15:22 CJB says, “Without deliberation, plans go wrong; but with many advisers, they succeed.”

One of the most difficult challenges I have encountered in scribal ministry revolves around providing constructive criticism to prophetic people. It is as if there is this mindset that declares: “God told me how to do it, so I’m going to do it like this anyway.” And sometimes, that “anyway” is a very, very bad representation of their prophetic vision.

Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson

While many people are celebrating 4^th of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day or New Year’s Eve with fireworks, bazookas, gun shots, laser shows and other over stimulating activities, my son JJ is generally up all night vomiting, sweating, shaking in fear and experiencing sheer terror and massive anxiety attacks in the midst of all the “loudness” from festivities in our neighborhood.

Up until our family received the diagnosis of autism concerning him, we were oblivious to its impact and its effects. It is human nature not to concern ourselves with a thing if it doesn’t affect us directly. JJ’s life in God has miraculously changed ours.

Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson

For quite a while, I held on to my obsession with hardcover and paperback books as a self-published author. Recently, although much later than most, I’ve stepped out into the deep and began positioning myself to compliment my publishing endeavors by eventually distributing all of my printed books electronically.

Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson

Introduction

Gaslighting is a sophisticated manipulation tactic that certain types of personalities use to create doubt in the minds of others.[1] It is classified by psychologists as a form of mental abuse “in which false information is presented with the intent of making a victim doubt his or her own memory, perception and sanity.[2]

In my personal ministry experiences, I have found it to be the most common tactic of spiritual abuse and emotional warfare used among the congregation. It walks hand in hand with “The Spirit of Rebecca: Master Manipulator.” Even the most mature believer can be affected by this demonic influence.

Skilled and experienced gaslighters are masters in passive aggressive behavior. Perhaps their greatest area of mastery is their ability to twist actual events, words and situations into well spun lies. The truth is so intertwined that their victim completely misses the “underlining” lie. (Read this excellent article on “Passive Aggressive Behavior.”)