Ghost In The Graveyard

Okay...well, this post may not be exactly what most of you were expecting. This is a special "Halloween Edition" blog post about my "ghost hunting" experience, but with a spiritual twist. Please, read on!

I can tell you that I once was a ghost hunter, back in 2000. I was a part of an organization called Fox Cities Ghost Hunters, founded by my ex husband, 4 other people and myself. We got our thrill out of it until things started taking a bad turn for most of us in the group. We figured it had to do with our seeking the dead. We never knew what that meant spiritually but we got the idea that it was just good to stop. I know that most people may take this type of thing lightly but it is in fact serious and even dangerous.

We use to go to local graveyards and other haunted locations to investigate and gather proof that there are ghosts...whom we thought were innocent souls caught between the realms. We sometimes thought we could just talk to them and try to help them. Once, we were offered to do an interview for the local paper, but my ex refused. I want to share as much as I can but I want to keep the emphasis on God as much as possible. In hindsight, what we did was acutally something that God speaks highly against. I don't recommend that anyone starts doing this. There is a very real evil out there and one you definitely don't want to mess with. Hopefully after reading this, you will know why.

For one thing, we are here because God put us here. If you read the very first book in the Bible (Genesis), note how Eve was deceived by the serpent (the devil). Sadly, that moment she even took time to talk with him, she gave in to the terrible temptation to eat the forbidden fruit, thinking it would make her wise. As did her husband. They both became spiritually bankrupt because they exchanged the truth for a lie. They had a glorious walk, freely with the Lord God....right up to that moment. The whole human race became bankrupt because of this tragic event. The devil deceived Adam and Eve and he is out to deceieve you just the same. Satan wants you to go down with him and he is out to get as many to go down with him as possible. There are many schemes the devil uses to keep people from the truth about God. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He would like you to believe that your loved ones are parading around the world as ghosts, so that you just may find comfort in the idea and be offered a very false hope. And why would we need God if we can just roam as ghosts? Well, the Bible tells us this: To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Sadly, those who do not receive Christ do not go to heaven. As you can see, these words come straight from the Bible. When you become a true follower of Christ, your name is then written in the Book of life. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). So to wonder where you might be at if you were to die now...that is between you and God. If you are not certain where you will go...then I would go with that instinct. You need to get right with God! These are God's words and as much as we would like to think otherwise and believe whatever we want, it will never alter what is true. We are all going to stand before God one day and if God isn't a part of your life now...what makes you think you will get to heaven? So many people die and regardless of all the good they have done...if it wasn't for God or with God...it was all for vain glory. Being a ghost on earth after you die is not an option. Some people might think that Jesus came back as a ghost, but truthfully, he came back in flesh and bone...alive and well. He is alive right now!

Anyway, I must say that we did have some interesting times in the graveyards. We collected pictures of ghostly looking human and not so humanlike figures, we heard voices on our EVP recordings, and we felt creepy presences. I am just thankful that I know the truth now. You may think I am just some hyped up super Jesus freak and that is fine. I just come to testify of what I have seen and what I know. Your soul is very valuable and it is my hope that you will receive this well and see that you do need God. We all do! I hope you aren't going to be one of those people who regret they didn't listen. You can go out in the graveyard and ask any spirit if they are real and if they are, to talk to you. You can also ask God to reveal Himself to you and He will. A lot better than the devil ever will. And trust me, to seek God is by far more worth it. I use to be like most of you and didn't care about God. I thought I was okay because I didn't kill anybody. Hah. Well, you know what some of the Ten Commandments are (Have you ever lied? Stolen? Used God's name in vain?). Do you live up to God's standard? Most likely not. No one (besides Jesus) has ever kept these commandments to be found not guilty of breaking God's law. You will one day be judged by Him. If you receive Jesus (He died on the cross for you!), you will be free from the penalty of death. Your soul is precious to Him and this gift is yours now to receive. It is better to receive, than to be deceived. So please take this into deep consideration.

Below is a pic that my ex husband and I captured at Oakhill Cemetery. We were by the veteran graves at this time and he says aloud, "If anyone is here, stand up now." Sure enough...there is a soldier skeleton figure standing up in the center. This is the only picture that was preserved on the internet. However, just know...this is a demon!

My Hiding Place

Are there times in your life when you wish you had a hiding place to go to and get away from it all? I know it may sound silly to some. It is unlikely for us to just get up and leave our lives when times get tough or we just need to get away from all the noise. My son and I are currently residing with my parents. Unfortunately, it can be hard to have quiet time unless everyone is gone...or when it is late at night when they are asleep. I've been learning to just go to a quiet room and spend time reading and praying to get away. The Lord is faithful to provide times like that when we desire to spend time with Him. I just added a new wallpaper to my laptop that has pretty lavender in a field...on it reads Psalm 32:7 and it says, You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. I also have some soft music playing - Hymnscapes. It is just nice to be here now. This music is very reflective and it is easy to pray with in the background.

As I consider how the Lord is my hiding place. I think about how my life is hidden in Christ. Colossians 3:3 say, For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. It is also sweet to be reminded of how I am constantly being cleansed by Jesus' blood. When putting your trust fully in Christ and what He has done...you become His child. Your past, present and future sins are forgiven and washed away. You can know that your sins will never be held against you and you can enjoy new life.

I am enjoying a beautiful season of closeness to the Lord. My hours at work have not picked back up yet but they will soon and so I am trying not to take my time for granted. I recently read 1 and 2 Samuel. Currently, I am reading the book of Daniel. So, on the side of God being our hiding place, and our lives being hidden with Christ in God. I like this verse, Daniel 2:22 "It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him." We can hide in Him but we can't hide from Him. Jeremiah 23:24 says, "Can a man hide himself in secret places so I do not see him?" declares the Lord. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" delcares the Lord. It is interesting the way 'hiding' is used differently in each passage. I hope these speak to you.

Well, the days are getting dark earlier once again. It can be hard to adjust to little daylight and stay motivated. My son and are getting ready to move again soon. I can't even explain how difficult this last year has been, but it is amazing to look back and see how God has carried us through. It is nice to be able to blog about my experiences and journey with God. There is no other place I would rather be, than walking right along side of God. All my worries and cares that come with the world just fade away and my spiritual vision stays clear. I've been more prayerful and more willing to put away what the flesh wants. It doesn't offer anything good or eternal that I can carry with me later. It is still a struggle but our faith is like a muscle. The more we learn to hate evil and love what is right, our faith becomes stronger. The ways of God and His desires start to become more natural. That is something else I find pretty cool about being a child of God. It isn't natural to be a part of the world anymore. It is natural rather, to grasp our identity in Christ. Not only that, but there are people He places in our lives that we can find love and acceptance. You won't find that in the world. You can be who you are with God and He will remake you...but wayyyy better. My life before Christ was so empty and void of anything true. He adds depth to our days. Don't you want that? Speaking to those who are reading this and haven't yet made the decision to follow Christ. You can start new right now. Don't be afraid...just believe (Luke 8:50). Then of course, pray!

TESTIMONY- Joe Fischer

Friends! This is the testimony of my good friend and pastor Joe Fischer. I pray that you will be greatly blessed in reading it and that you will see the goodness of our Lord Jesus.

In 1985 after my first year of college, my high school sweetheart told me we were going to have a child. I opted to remove myself from college and sought work to care for my family. Five years and three children later, we were headed for divorce. I was a sports fanatic and had little idea what it meant to be a husband and father. My then wife had had enough and found someone else to fill the gap. She filed for divorce and it was finalized in December of 1990. At the mill I was working at, I starting dating a woman who also was going through a divorce. Ironically, we were divorced on the same day. Eight months later we were pregnant and getting married. As I would find out later, she was a born-again Christian who had turned from the Lord because of the abusive marriage she was in. God would use me as the Assyrian in her life.

During this time I had developed a serious drinking problem. It was my way of hiding from the problems I had. My divorce was bitter and it was a fight to get to see my children. We went to court to fight for the child custody and eventually got custody of the children for every other two weeks. With my wife’s two children full time and my three and our one, we were up to six and number seven was on the way. My wives divorce was nasty too and added to the already stressful household. I turned to drinking more and more until I was drinking a liter every two weeks.

To add to that problem I was also a sex addict. When I was young I was exposed to pornography by older teens in the neighborhood. I was also a victim of two different men who tried to sexually exploit me. Through the combination of these two footholds, the perversions increased and became strongholds. I had given myself over to the evil one, and was inhabited by a demon. (On one occasion, I saw this demon in me as I looked into a mirror). Especially during bouts of drinking, fantasy and reality were skewed, until the point where my perversion had led me to breaking the law. I was sickened and suicidal. I committed to my wife that I would not drink again, but was unable to stop. During this time, she had talked me into going to a Lutheran Church in the area and I agreed. We had a Pastor come over, and we went through the classes so I could become a Lutheran. Perhaps the seed of Gods word was planted in my heart, but I just didn’t get it. Sometime later my wife asked me to go to a Pentecostal church on a Sunday night. I remember the thought, “she must be crazy, and I already put my 45 minutes in that morning”. She and others had been praying, and I agreed to go. That night I heard the gospel and understood it. I was a sinner in need of a Savior. I thought the Pastor was talking just to me. He made an altar call, and I went forward and received Christ. For the next three months I would go to the altar and again ask for forgiveness.

It wasn’t until I had heard the song “Amazing Grace” that I had heard so often as a Catholic growing up. This time I heard with spiritual ears, that is I understood that I was that wretch and I was truly found, I was blind, but now I could see.

I was baptized several weeks later, affirming outwardly what had happened on the inside. I had died with Christ, and now was born again, a new creature in Christ! There were sinful things that God took away immediately, like my cussing, but I was still struggling in sexual sin. For eight months, Gods Spirit would prompt me to come clean about the harm I had caused others. I resisted and God brought my sin out into the open. On occasion, I would drink, tempting the Lord. I thought I could handle it.

The Lord used my wife to make an appointment with our then Pastor. I reluctantly went along and confessed my sin. He brought me down to the police station and I confessed again. Eight months later, I went before a judge for sentencing. The prosecuting attorney was asking for a year of jail with Huber privileges, followed by a time of probation. My attorney and parole recommendations were alike - six-month jail sentence with Huber privileges followed by probation. The judge disregarded all advice and declared to me and the court that he would make an example of me. He gave me six years of state prison followed by 10 years probation.

I was escorted to prison and there remained for two and a half years. (I was released in September of 1997) God knew what I needed. A time away where he would purge me, strengthen me and teach me how to walk in victory. God showed me great favor, both with a discipler, a friend of kindred spirit, and plenty of men lost but searching for the way. The Lord blessed me with a job in the chapel, where I learned to facilitate small groups, then larger groups, and eventually would lead a group of fifty men in a gathering likened after Promise Keepers. My wife divorced me one and a half years into my time, and I was broken. Through it God gave me new fervency to serve Him, and an understanding to be content in whatever circumstances I was in. God would eventually restore what the locust had eaten. First my wife and children, and eventually a release from probation, even though I had nine of the ten years left. He has been so faithful!

From 1998 until 2007 I attended Calvary Chapel of Appleton with my wife and children. Starting in 1998, I taught and facilitated small home groups.

In 2004 I was part of a church plant in Auchwitz, Poland. In 2005, I took part in a school of ministry at Calvary Chapel, looking to be part of a church plant in the area. I also began teaching Sunday mornings at a local nursing home. In 2006, I taught and facilitated a "college group" in our home. In July of 2007 through 2010 I was part of a church plant in Freedom, Wi. In January 2010, my family and I left for Fond du lac to begin a church plant. Through many toils and snares we left Fond du lac and returned home in December of 2010.

In March of 2011, we started a bible study in our home. Eventually because of space issues we began to pray for another meeting location. The Lord lead us to the Menasha community center where we continue to meet as “Simply Jesus” church.

What a wonderful journey, what a faithful God we serve!

Pastor Joe Fischer920-843-2301 Call anytime

Beauty In The Fall

I apologize once again for my long absence. I hope you are enjoying this beautiful Fall season and remaining close to the Lord. A nice cup of coffee with Warm Cinnamon Sugar Cookie coffee creamer accompanies me as I engage myself to a laptop, determined to share what God has been doing. This laptop is an pain when it doesn't work right. Ahh, but I am just so thankful for this opportunity once again to write and I do have a lot to share.

In my last blog post, I spoke about a guy who was in touch about his latest conversion after coming to know Christ. We are in touch from time to time and He is doing well. I do have another God experience to share. It is about a guy I wrote to when he was in jail with my brother a few years ago. I would write letters to my brother and he would tell me about his cell mate and the icky coffee they had there. I figured I would start writing to him as well. And of course I would share the gospel and the hope found in Jesus. My brother still hasn't come around to the whole God thing but his cell mate did. He got in touch after his release and attended my church in Freedom for a time. He was introduced to some of my friends and we had some nice gatherings at my apartment. He was starting to move in the right direction. However, after a while, he stopped coming around. A lot of us were trying to find him and get in touch. I didn't know what to think but I did think the worst after about two years or more. I continued to pray though. Amazingly, about 3 weeks ago or so, I get a response from him on facebook. He said that he was away for a while but is back now and 'ready to be right'. He attended my church that following Sunday. The Sunday after, he wanted to check out the church from Freedom (that I attended before he went away). He is now wanting to attend the church I am currently at. I remember how hard it was to discover where God wanted me after I got saved. This has been quite the testimony and I am encouraging him to write about it so that people can read it. I'd love to share it on here. I am so thankful for God's faithfulness in keeping His children safe and leading them back to solid ground!

Things were not going so well on my end for a while. It has definitely been a time of growth though and I am happy to finally be able to share about my latest struggles and the way God delivered me again. I started focusing on the world again and what I thought it had to offer. Little by little, my focus moving toward myself and not on God. I can't really explain it but everything was feeling off base. I was becoming sad, angry, hurt, and a lot of times just reacting in ways I normally don't. It was more like I was disillusioned for a while because nothing made sense, nor was it clear. I became so discontented because of this that I abruptly quit my job at the coffee shop. I was convinced that a better one had come along and I took the advice to just 'do what I want'. I don't want to say much more than that because it was just so out of character for me. This happened only a couple weekends ago on Saturday, so it is all really fresh. I managed to make it to church that Sunday and of course talked about what I did. It didn't take long for God to open my eyes to see that I did something terribly wrong. That in the process, I didn't just hurt myself, but those around me. And there was no way God would bless my efforts since what I did was wrong and didn't honor Him. I didn't wait in my attempt to make things right though.

Continuing on to what God did in the process: I cried so much that Sunday. God spoke to me through my pastor. It was very humbling but I am thankful he spoke the truth to me. I am good friends with Pastor Joe and his wife Carrie. They've known me since I got saved so they understand me quite well. My son and I were invited to spend that afternoon at their house which I was so thankful for. Seriously, it didn't take much to set me off into tears that day and I needed that. I was so broken, I felt lost and I didn't feel the least bit worthy to be used by God after what I had done. My pastor's wife Carrie, my son and I were just hanging out in the kitchen. Joe was getting ready to watch the game but he came into the kitchen to encourage me. He was talking about how God knows these things before they happen and that He sees our every day (I can't remember exactly what along these lines). I then started to think about Psalm 139. God saw our every day before even one of them came to pass. Joe then, left the room. I asked Carrie if she minded that I read Psalm 139 and she said "Sure!". So I did. When I had finished, I could tell that she was moved. She told me that dad had passed away many years before and that psalm 139 happened to be his favorite psalm. In addition to that, it would've been his birthday that day. She said "See, God is using you!" I couldn't help but cry. God does work in mysterious ways. I was then reminded of Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. This encouraged me so much!

And there is more! I know this is long but please bear with me.

During this time, I had turned down this other job offer because it didn't seem right to me. I knew I had to reconcile with the hotel and coffee shop. I am so thankful that the general manager is a Christian and that he understood what I was going through spiritually and that sometimes we just do the wrong thing. I met with him last Friday actually. That was also the day I had left town with a small group of women from my church for a Fall Women's Retreat. I can't tell you how perfect God's timing is. I needed to get away and it was truly a blessed weekend. We returned on Sunday so we weren't at church for service. I got home and after settling a bit, I check my facebook. I spent the week off for a time of fasting but returned that day. After watching a video of Lucrae's testimony that someone had posted, I watched Brian Welsh's testimony. He is a musician from Korn. I've seen another video of his testimony and it is just awesome! I can't explain it but I had this incredible urge to start a group called God Stories. A place where people can share their personal story about how God came into their lives. Only two people have joined this far and I am the only one so far who shared. This is the fun part! The next morning, I check my email and see a message from my pastor. He said that his son had come across my post about God testimonies. He said he had to smile and wait till I listen to Sunday's message. I couldn't wait long to listen to it. It just so happens it was about how if we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have a God tesimony and he encouraged us to tell it. That sermon was out of 1 John 1:1-4 which says, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." I am so so totally amazed by this. God had brought me revelation and this was Him confirming it. I was filled with smiles, tears and laughter while listening to this message. God used this difficult time to reveal more of Himself to me. My desire to experience more of Him has grown.

I don't think a lot of people are fully aware that there is unlimited access to knowing and experienceing God more. My pastor was praying for us at our church, that we would experience more of God. I know I have and I am excited to tell about it. I am happy to say that after a lot of prayer, I will be resuming my job as a barista at the coffee shop. I know that is where God wants me right now and I will not move until God tells me to and I will do things the right way.

We are so prone to fall...and we will. We are not automatically made perfect when we become a Christian. God takes our broken lives and He restores us to make our lives beautiful and whole. He takes each and every ugly circumstance, using it for the good. I hope and pray you get to experience that for yourself as well.

Till next time...