HamSanCity

When you draw back your bow with a powerful prayer that aims for right between the devil’s eyes, don’t be discouraged when someone says, “And if that doesn’t work, do xyz.” The faith you have that powers that arrow, partnered with God’s heart and love to set that person free, heal them, or deliver them is enough. No prayer returns void. Don’t let doubt and unbelief empty your quiver or wet the match you light the arrow on fire with. Go boldly before the throne and pray! God is listening.

This morning I was on my first prophetic Zoom for the Spiritual Intelligence Institute. The activation was to listen to a song, to see what the Holy Spirit showed us.

I saw Jesus as a chef in a restaurant. He made us huge portions of food. There was so much, and even when we ate a little, our whole bodies filled with Light. He gave us each a to go box, and we took it with us back to our communities. The food multiplied, and God showed me a world map, with each of our communities glowing with His Light.

Someone else had a vision of a ballerina, dancing through a forest.

Someone else had a vision of a ballerina dancing in front of an orchestra, with the crescendo building into a beautiful cacophony of sounds.

Someone else had a vision of two people practicing for warfare in a forest.

Someone else had a vision she was in a train, and traveled by a marketplace where people were eating in an outdoor restaurant and a ballerina was dancing in the square. She also traveled through a forest.

The last person saw an orchestra, and a ballerina dancing really fast.

My heart burst! I shared my testimony from a Bethel activation where we floated up to heaven to receive a gift from Jesus. I floated up, and He had an Amazon box waiting for me. He told me not to open it just yet. He told me to tell Him the story about when I was five years old, and in ballet class. It was my last day of class, as my diagnosis of FOP meant that injuries would cause a flare up, and bone to grow from healthy muscles, creating a second skeleton and encasing me in bone. But at age five, I was still unaffected aside from my neck. So I danced a series of perfect pirouettes across the dance floor. I knew I nailed it. I felt it in my soul. I also knew by the look of awe on my sister, Esther’s face. She was impressed and in shock a little. It was the best! So after I told that story to Jesus, He told me to open the box. In it were ballerina slippers! He said that He wants me to feel confident like I did that day in everything I do. From writing, to posting, to praying for people, to sharing His love with all. I am currently bedridden for twelve years and healed from seventeen years of painful chronic pain.

Soon after I shared, breakout rooms ended, and we were ushered back into the main group. Our teacher, Samuel asked if anyone had anything to share from our session, focusing on whether there was repetition in our individual visions, or any patterns or similarities. A woman for our group said that there were a lot of similarities to the visions we had in our group, and that one person in particular was especially touched by the collective vision.
He asked who it was, and whether they minded sharing. I jumped right off of mute and shared the whole story with the larger group. Then two people from a different group unmuted and said that they, too saw a ballerina. The woman said she had an abundance of joy and hope. The guy said that when the ballerina was dancing, he saw the word, “Freedom” over her.
Right as we transitioned from the small group back to the big group, God told me He also wants me to have that same confidence in my healing! Whoa.
So then a man prayed over me for my healing to manifest.

I told the first nurse I met that Jesus loves her. She said she almost quit this morning because most of the patients are so angry and take it out on her. Then she said her mom told her that she’s doing it for the Kingdom of God, and she adjusted her focus and didn’t quit.

I asked my paramedics if they knew Jesus, and they both said yes. One said he’s excited for a friend to get baptized this weekend and that he meets Jesus every day in people who love and serve Him.

I told my doctor that Jesus loves him and he perked up and said, “Thank you!!”

I prayed with the ultrasound tech and she said prayers are always welcome.

I thanked the janitors for their hard work, and they were so happy and blessed me back. I prayed for two out of the three and they were beaming.

I prayed for the three people who gave me my CT scan and told them Jesus died for their sins. One guy said something about five and I said He died for all five sins. He said oh but there was a sixth. I said He died for that, too.

I’ve prayed over everyone who crossed my path. Joy bursts forth when you love with abandon. I thought my appendix burst a few hours ago, and was in so much pain. After I asked for prayers, and prayed, too, God answered and I started to feel better. They ran a bunch of tests, and It turns out it was a partially blocked colon. Thank God it wasn’t my appendix or a burst cyst which is what it felt like.

The morale in this place was in the pit, and blocked, too. The atmosphere was changed with the love of Jesus, and the janitors, nurses, CNA’s and doctors have had an encounter with the love of Jesus that made a difference in their day.

When I first got here, a man was moaning so loud, you could hear his jaw vibrating his vocal chords and making the sound uncontrollable, he was in so much pain. I prayed for God to show up and heal him and He did. And He turned his moaning into a soft whimper. This was a divine appointment.

I prayed for my second nurse, and she stopped what she was doing and held my hand. She said I made her night and that it was a sweet prayer. She came back a little while later and said that was such a great prayer, it’s going to last her a whole week. I told her that God is with her always, and it’s His love she’s feeling.

Right before I left, there was a guy screaming and cussing at one of the nurses. She was yelling back at him and trying to explain that they were treating his back injury and Covid. There was a disconnect and he wasn’t understanding. They continued to yell at each other. Finally, I prayed for God to send angels to calm him and shut his mouth. I told my nurse and she laughed. There were a few more attempts at yelling, but then he completely changed his tune. The yelling stopped and he was being kind and reasonable. Total shift. The argument got shut down.

As I lay here in the hallway, joyfully greeting and praying for everyone who passes me, joy abounds and the manifest presence of God fills this place.

Then on my way home, my medical transport worker was named Raquel. I asked her if she knew Jesus. She said yes, and it was only through Him that she’s alive today. I invited her to church, and she was making a mental map in her head. I told her caddy corner from the DMV. And she said, “Oh yeah! On that street with America in the name!” I said yes right behind the Autozone.
She said yes she knew it. Then she played worship music on her phone and started worshipping. When she dropped me off, I told her I hope to see her at church sometime. Not today, because I didn’t get home until after 2:00am, but one Sunday soon. She said okay!

I say all this to point to God. That we have the power to change hearts and lives for Him. Grow where you’re planted. Love and grace.

1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of my favorite memories is not expecting gifts, and focusing on Jesus, and then being surprised. My dad was a bartender for thirty one years before he passed away in 1997. My mom stayed at home for most of the years, raising us ten kids. Things were tight sometimes, but he would sacrifice and send us to private schools. We had God, each other, and lots of love to go around. God always provided! He built us a house when i was twelve years old. Every year for as long as I can remember, he would tell us that we weren’t getting presents and that Christmas was about Jesus, not gifts. So, we prepared our hearts for Jesus. We’d plan Jesus’ birthday party, and get excited for the tree and decorations. We’d make a cake for Christmas Day, and sing Jesus Happy Birthday! We’d also go look at lights all around the city. We’d sit in the living room every night and each read a paragraph section or two of the Bible. We would also sing worship songs. But this was every night, not just at Christmas. But we’d watch Jesus of Nazareth and we’d call being the characters. My sisters and I would always want to be Mary, my brothers, Jesus. Whoever called it first got to be them, and then we’d each call the next character in some descending order of appearance. Once that was settled, we’d each imagine ourselves as being that character in the movie. It was so fun! And we’d watch the Sound of Music every Christmas and also choose those characters. Growing up Catholic, my sisters and I would always want to be Maria- nun turned mom. We all used to sing along to the TV. So on Christmas morning, at about 5:00am, I’d wake up to the Christmas tree my dad had probably bought Christmas Eve when they were practically giving them away. He’d proudly tie it to the top of our station wagon and bring it home like a trophy! He never paid full price for a tree! My dad would painstakingly put icicle tinsel on each pine needle, making the most glittery, sparkly trees I’ve ever seen. So I’d plug it in at 5:00am, while it was still dark outside and dark in the house, and see the piles of gifts around our living room and fireplace room. Piles and piles of gifts, one pile for each of us, each with little tags in my mom’s handwriting that said-Love, Jesus. I would get so excited and lay down on the couch and wait for everyone to wake up, and each get excited! I remember that time when it was just me, just looking at the beautiful tree and being grateful and happy. My parents would drag themselves out of bed to come join us. The rule was nobody opened anything until everyone was together. So then we’ d tear through our gifts and get happy when we got toys, and meh when we got clothes. Our stockings always had an apple and an orange in them like the book, Little Women. We’d watch that as a family every year, too. And every year, my dad would convince us there would be no presents, and every year we would posture our hearts towards Jesus. Every year, we’d be surprised!
Talk about managing ten kids and our expectations, and teaching us to prioritize Jesus.

I heard a cool testimony this morning! Chris Overstreet was in church during worship. The song lyrics were, “I just wanna be where You are!” The week before, God kept highlighting an address to him, but he paid it no attention. So while in worship, God said, “Do you really want to be where I am right now?” Chris said yes. God told him to go to that address. So Chris left, mid worship, and drove to that address. Standing there was a guy in a hoodie. Chris introduced himself, and told him that God had sent him to tell him He loved him and had big plans for his life. That he was supposed to preach the gospel. The guy was stunned. He asked him if he just said his name was Chris Overstreet. Chris said yes. The guy then told him that when he was a kid, his dad got arrested for a drug bust because both of his parents were dealers. Then the guy, Jared I think his name is, was sent to Bethel Christian School. During his time at that school, his grandma prayed for him and got a word from the Lord that Jared was supposed to meet a guy named Chris Overstreet!! After that divine appointment with Chris, Jared told five hundred people about Jesus in three weeks! He rented out a hall in Redding, and is having an outreach there this month. He’s on fire for Jesus. It is in our obedience where God moves most.
🔥🔥🔥
Overstreet led evangelism at Bethel for eighteen years and now has his own ministry-

God is such a gentleman. He is letting me get used to being whole and healed by peeling off my pain first. To get me used to living in that freedom. I think if I got up and started walking right now, I’d need a minute to wrap my head around Him doing the impossible! He’s a gentle lover. Preparing my heart and perception to know what this feels like first. So intentional with His plans for me. For now, I will stay firmly tucked under the shadow of His wing as I adapt to my new reality. He really loves us. His timing is perfect.

Hello! My name is Tisa Caruso, and I’d like to welcome you to my first sermon! I’m a recent graduate of the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. I have been diagnosed with a very rare muscle and bone disease called FOP, that Jesus healed on the cross. Today is Pentecost Sunday! I wanted to talk to you about the impact of the power of the resurrection after Jesus rose from the dead. I’m going to take you on a timeline of some of the events after the tomb, and learn how we are joint heirs with Him, how He wants relationship with us, and how He shares His power with us!

Our first stop after Jesus busts out of the tomb, is when Mary is at the empty tomb weeping. Jesus says her name and she runs to Him and tries to give Him a big hug.
In Verse 17: “Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’

The resurrection of Jesus was now accomplished, making it possible for all who believe to become brothers/sisters and joint heirs with Christ. 

In Galatians 4:7 it says, “You are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” 

We are children of God, we are redeemed from the curse, and we are co-heirs with Jesus. He immediately wants to share His kingdom with us!

Our second stop on the timeline is when we catch up with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. We see two dudes, Caiphas and his buddy Simon walking along. And Jesus strides right up next to them. Out of the blue. Like all of a sudden Jesus is just there, walking around like His grave don’t stink! It didn’t! Hear me by the Spirit!! They obviously weren’t paying attention because not only didn’t they know He came alongside them, they didn’t recognize Him as Christ. And Jesus asked them what they were talking about? He knew obviously, but He wants that connection. He wants that relationship with us where we engage Him and talk with Him like we would a friend. So they’re telling Jesus all about His trial, crucifixion, and death. And how they thought He was coming back but nobody has seen Him yet.
Then Jesus gets a little annoyed with them. He’s human, ya’ll! Fully man and fully God. So I picture Him throwing His arms up in exasperation. He says, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”
So then right after that, Jesus continued right on walking after they turned towards their house. I think He was a little frustrated that they weren’t seeing the big picture. Scripture says, “Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.” Luke 24:28 So then they invited Him to stay for dinner. Jesus went because there’s healing in community. He didn’t take offense. He shows us how to get over it and stay in community even if it doesn’t look exactly how we see it. As long as there’s love and honor, we are supposed to stay engaged and love one another. Jesus picks up the bread and breaks it, gives thanks then He disappears. You see, at the last supper, it read a little differently. Before the tomb, In Matthew it says, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26:26-29.

In Luke 24:30-32, after Jesus got to Emmaus we see the same scene repeated but without the wine this time.
“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
His glory is revealed in Communion. When we remember He is there for us, wooing us by walking alongside us and showing up when we least expect it, it brings Him joy! And don’t we get so upset with ourselves when we hear that still small voice that we know is from the Lord, but we don’t fully realize it until after the moment passes? The symbolism of giving thanks and breaking the bread before His crucifixion versus after is interesting because prior to His crucifixion, Jesus also says to drink the cup of His blood, but not after because He won’t drink the new wine with them again until their in the kingdom together with the Father. In Emmaus we just see Him breaking the bread. I find it an odd juxtaposition that Jesus drank wine before He shed His blood but not after. It’s because He is the new wine. His holy word is there for us to feast on every day, the bread of life. But if we are not intentional about our relationship with Him, we miss out on the Kingdom wine! We miss out on the fresh revelations from having a conversation with Him. We should come boldly before the throne as it says in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Jesus wants that relationship connection with us. I mentioned in my intro that I have the diagnosis of FOP. It’s a very rare disease where muscles turn into real bone, forming a second skeleton. I wasn’t supposed to live past age twelve according to doctors at the time. I had met Jesus at age five, around the same time I was diagnosed. I overheard the doctor tell my parents I wouldn’t make it past twelve. This seriously messed with my head a little bit. Coming up on my twelfth birthday, I thought I was supposed to die. I thought if I wasn’t dead by my birthday, I’d beat the disease to the punch and do it myself. Jesus called out, “But Tisa! I LOVE you! I don’t want you to die!!” And just like when I met Him at age five, and so often since, God’s love filled my heart to overflow. Relationship. He is invested in our lives. He values us and thinks we’re worthy. He pours His love into us! The enemy saw my value and tried to take me out. God wanted more for me and had bigger plans. That day, I promised Him I wouldn’t be cranky and that I would save myself for marriage. Both promises were kept. I guard my heart by keeping purity a priority in most circumstances. God healed me on the cross, but not because of anything I did. Because He loves me THAT much! It was prophesied over me twelve years ago that my healing would come in increments. Over the last twelve years, I have experienced this. Some of my limbs have become more mobile, more supple, and my pain is minimal. It used to be very severe. He healed that, too! He thinks about us as often as there are grains of sand. That’s love.

Our third stop on the timeline is when Jesus shared the power of the Holy Spirit with the disciples, and essentially us, on Pentecost. Pentecost means, “Fiftieth Day.” We celebrate it fifty days after Easter. Two promises are fulfilled on Pentecost. One promise is in the Old Testament – Joel 2:28, which says “I will pour out my Spirit on all people”, and one in the New Testament, where Jesus says he will send another Counsellor, the Spirit of truth (John 16: 5-15).
He shares His power with us! We’re all people.
In Acts 1:8, we see Jesus promise,
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”

Acts 2:1-4, and 12-13 says,
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Then down to verse eleven-
“we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”
So then a bunch of people from all over started recognizing their own tongues. The scripture continues in verse twelve-

12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
New wine! There it is! And they’re still mocking Jesus because they still don’t understand. He wants to make us brand new! He released heaven on earth!

The last stop on our timeline shows another revelation of Jesus’ power after resurrection through His disciples after they are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Peter and John go to the temple to pray, and a lame man asked for alms. Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I give thee! In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk!” And he went walking and leaping and praising God!
When everyone is tripping out about his healing and talking about it, Peter says they healed him in the name of Jesus who the people had just crucified. Peter said of the healed man, “Faith in His name has made this man strong.”

Jesus said in John 14:12,

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

I want to invite you to come boldly before the throne of Grace right now! If you haven’t asked Jesus into your heart before, or you have but never realized how much He loves you and wants to get to know you, ask Him now. Believe in your heart that He not only died on the cross for our sins, but for our diseases, too. Repeat after me, “You are Lord of my life!” Welcome to eternity. Dear Jesus, Thank You for making us coheirs of Your kingdom. Thank You for communion. For shedding Your blood and for being new wine. Thank You for sharing healing power with us. We ask You in this moment, God, to reveal Yourself to each person now. Fill our hearts with Your perfect love and peace. Download into our hearts one word for this next season. Holy Spirit, we ask You to guide us on our path, speak our name, and never let us forget that You love us so much! We ask for a healing touch right now, Lord. You live outside of our construct of time. You healed all of our diseases on the cross. Manifest that healing now for everyone listening and for their loved ones. Covid has no authority. Cancer has no authority. Diabetes, depression, FOP, shame, anxiety, and fear have no more power! I decree and declare that anyone listening now or on the replay will feel the manifest presence of God permeate every cell in your body right now! That the fire of the Holy Spirit will rain down on you in this moment and heal, save and deliver you. Thank you, Jesus for Your faithfulness and for being good at your job. Thank you so much for your time. All God’s blessings on your day!

I was just sitting here thinking about stuff, and an event with a friend crossed my mind. I made a mistake, and was cringing. I know this person forgave me , but even if they didn’t, I have to forgive myself, too. So just as I was cringing, Romans came to mind when it says, “Now, therefore, there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.” And that scripture replaced and healed my cringy thought! This is what it means when it says in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to hold every thought captive. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Psalm 119:11 says, “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee!”
The Psalms and Proverbs hold such wisdom. The parables of Jesus are so rich in their simplicity. Having scripture pop up like a notification to overcome bad thoughts is such a treasure! What an exquisite craftsman is He who loves us and thinks of us as often as grains of sand!
“How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand —
when I awake, I am still with you.”
Psalm 139:17-18

My year end assignment to sum up my Bethel journey- a poem.

You are the only place I
Know
Where Pure water catches fire

Intimacy precedes Your face
And draws us in
To an embrace like no other

The invitation is just a formality
God is already here
Singing, dancing, and rejoicing!

I see His face when I look
Into my mirror
He is the mirror
I am one in Him

His thoughts about me before time was our wedding announcement
When I met Him
baptized in fire,
our ceremony
Our honeymoon was Bethel

Oh how I learned to crawl up into Your lap and let You love me!
I learned how to abide in You
I learned how to speak words of knowledge and prophesy
I had the confidence to tell everyone I met how much You love them!
I learned to snuggle up close and praise You
I grew closer to Your heart and You increased my tent and my territory
You spoke words through my new friends who look like You, too
Thank You for Osofo Peter and his beautiful heart that I watched bloom for You
Thank You for all our Student Mentors who brought their own flavor and fragrance
For our teachers who have Your own heart
Thank You for wisdom
Thank You for love
Thank you for releasing heaven over us!

When you ask

If you can have just

A little bit

But not

All

You want the

Fruit without

The Vine

You want

Me

But not

My Source

It is all

Or nothing

You cannot

Dull the sun

Why would you

Ever

Want

A dull me?

I only know

How to give

All

He gave

His All to save us

Greater works

Are mine

That is

All