As I was telling you on Sunday, Saturday the 21st will be one year that we have been in business.  When we started this business, people were questioning our decision because as you know construction and real estate were already starting to slow down at that time.  However, I knew that it was God’s will for me to get back in business (this is a long story for another time).  The first three months were kind of discouraging because I was bidding a lot of work and not getting any jobs (or so I thought).  My partners were starting to wonder if we had made the right decision to start a construction company at this point in time.  I would tell them almost daily “God did not lead us here only to fail, but to succeed.”  I would also tell them that even though we were not seeing the results of our bids I had faith that God was working behind the scenes and that He would bring the work at the right time.

One day out of the blue an old friend who worked with the City of El Mirage called me and said that he had some emergency work that had to be done ASAP and if I would be interested in doing it.  Even though I had to bid against other contractors to get the work, the Lord smiled upon us and we got every job we bid except for one.

Thats when it all started to happen.  As we started doing the work in El Mirage, we started getting contracts in the mail from bids that I had been sending out.  No one had called us to tell us that we had been awarded the contracts (usually you are called and told to be expecting the contract so as to look it over) they just started showing up in the mail.  My partners were amazed at what was going on and asked me how I knew that we were going to to get all this work.  They asked me if it was a gut feeling or a hunch or what was it that I was doing different in the bids.  I told them this, “It’s not what I do but it’s what He does.  It’s not who I am but who He is.  The Lord said he would never leave me nor forsake me, and that includes every aspect of my life including business.”  To this day when we get a new job we say “The Lord has smiled upon us and has blessed us with another job, blessed be the Lord.”Â

This is not the only blessing from God.  We have had people literally come in off the street seeking us out with blueprints and work in hand to give to us.  They always say “So and so told us about you and gave you the highest recommendation.  They said you guys are honest and reliable, and that if you say you’ll do something you always follow through with it.”Â

While other companies are laying off people, we’re hiring.  When we are asked by other people what we’re doing different than everyone else our response is “Nothing, it’s just that we’re blessed by God and it’s to Him we give the glory.”  I can’t tell you how many people have rolled their eyes when I give them that response or how times they snicker and say “yeah right”.  But hey as they say the proof is in the pudding!

I don’t know how long it takes to become profitable in any other industry but in contracting they say on the norm it takes about three years to round the corner and start making money.  In less than a year we have not only become profitable but we have close to half a millon dollars in the bank and we are debt free.  Even our heavy equipment is completely paid for.  (Our fleet is worth about $600,000.00)  Even if we didn’t pick up another job, we could keep all our employees and give them a paycheck for a year with out having to lay off a single person.

One of my partners started to worry about the economy and what he was hearing in the news and asked what I thought was going to happen.  I remembered what you said one Sunday when you said “There is no recession in God’s economy.”  I proceeded to tell him that, and I also reminded him of what I used to tell him when we first started about how God did not bring us here to fail.  I told him that we are part of Gods economy and not man’s economy.  I told him that if he listened to what men were saying he was buying into the lie, but if he had faith that God would continue to supply he would see how God is faithful to his word and takes care of this own.  I told him “I don’t care what the newspaper says, I don’t care what it says on the internet, I don’t care what the TV says, I care what God says!”  Those few words have changed his outlook.

My wife and I tithe on every single dollar that we get in.  I know people will think “If I were doing as well as you I’d have money to tithe too.”  They fail to remember that it hasn’t always been this way, this business is only a year old.  There was once a time when we were living from paycheck to paycheck only two paychecks away from living on the street.  Ever since I learned from you what the tithe is and about the first fruits, we have always put God first in our, (no His) finances.  We have to remember that we are planting seeds and seeds don’t sprout overnight, it takes time for God to make it grow.  Thats where faith really kicks in you have to have FAITH that HE WILL MAKE IT GROW!

In Matt. 9:29 Jesus said “According to Your faith, be it unto you”  Jesus didn’t say, according to your need be it unto you; He said, according to your faith. That’s why it’s so important to have an attitude of expectancy every single day.

I hope that you don’t think that I am boasting Pastor, that is not my intention.  As a matter of fact I don’t really like  talking about finances with other people it makes me uncomfortable. It took a lot for me to tell you this on Sunday, but I know that you hear more negative than positive when people are talking about their finances. I just wanted you to know that God is indeed concerned about his people and I also wanted to share some good news with you for a change.

All that has been given to me is not by my hand nor by doing but by Him that paid the price for me.  As he blesses me & my wife I also try to bless others by that same measure, after all it’s not mine its His right?

I hope this will encourage others and show them that God is in control, and that he still works in behalf of his people.  God bless you!

Your brother in Christ,Â

 Wil

Hi Pastor Greg, 
Here is my testimony, of course use whatever portion you need since it is long ,you can use my name if you want. My brain tumor was discovered in December of 2006 when my husband and I decided to try for another baby. A month went by and no pregnancy which wasn’t normal for us so I thought it strange. I had also been having for months serious light sensitivity (having to wearing sunglasses even indoors) vision problems and sinus pain, but I thought I was getting ready to have a migraine. I went to the doctor and told her about not getting pregnant and we both decided it maybe was because I was older now so it would take more time ,so I left it at that, but only for another few weeks I just didn’t feel right. By now it was February 2007 when I went back to see her and this time she ran some blood test, that was when we discovered the I had a brain tumor. I told my husband that night he came home from work and we just began to pray. We were of course told to stop trying for a baby and the doctor said she wasn’t even sure we would ever be able to have another child or a normal pregnancy if we did conceive beacuse of the tumor. In a few days I was sent over to a Endocrinologist and was set up to get an MRI to determine the size to see what the best treatment would be. She said my options were brain surgery with or without chemo, or chemo along with medication if it was small enough to shrink with that. She told me quite honestly that the level in my blood and the symptoms I had indicated a larger sized tumor. That night I had a talk with the Lord and asked him to give me the strength to get through this. My family back home was also praying for Gods will and that he would heal me. The results of the MRI took two weeks so we prayed and waited. In church one Sunday before I got the results when we had prayer time for healing I felt an almost electric sensation that  split right down the middle of my head, then I heard the voice of the Holy Ghost say “you are healed”. I was amazed and I whispered to my husband what had just happened. Well when I went that week to get the results the doctor had a look of confusion and told me the tumor was gone. All that remained was an empty space the size of how big the tumor had been. She asked me to get another opinion that she was worried she missed something, she was not comfortable with treating me beacuse it didn’t make sense to her. In her list of options for me to get rid of the tumor she didn’t know about God’s options about his mercy and grace but she does now and so do I. I don’t consider the space in my brain to be empty it is full of God’s hope and love for all of us as his children. This story is not only mine but ours as God’s people, to give hope, restore hope and to renew our faith in our Father who loves us beyond our understanding. Through all this one of the many things I have learned is that we are not bound by the things of this world and we are strong because of Christ Jesus to stand and not be moved and not to just sit back and take what the enemy tries to do to us. Our prayer is effective!!!! In March 2007 I was put on medication that I was told I would have to take for the rest of my life, but God once again had other plans and in April the doctor stopped the meds. she said I simply no longer needed them. Then in May 2007 we conceived, but within a few days of finding out we lost that baby. We were heartbroken, but still we would trust in the Lord. Two months later we concieved again and in a couple of weeks from now our baby girl will be due. All glory to God, I will praise him in the good and in the bad. 

Toby

My name is Beverly, Walter’s wife.  I wanted to share with you what God has done for our 7 year old grandson, Tristan.  About a month ago, Tristan was spending the night with me and got an earache.  I took him to Next Care in the morning.  The doctor there noticed that one tonsil was much larger than the other.  He said that was a sign of cancer and we must get Tristan to an ear, nose, and throat specialist as soon as possible.  The specialist said that it very likely could be cancer and the tonsils had to come out as soon as possible.  We brought him up for prayer in church, and Pastor Marie prayed for him after church.  He had his surgery March 4.  It went very well, he didn’t even complain of a sore throat afterwards.  We finally got the lab results yesterday - the doctor said “no Cancer!”   I just feel that it was cancer before prayer, but God healed it. 
give God the glory!
 
-Beverly

Dear pastor Greg,

 Grace and peace from our God be with you.

 I hope you are doing well. I am in deep move together with others brothers and sisters for preparing the biggest youth conference in this Balkan area. Almost all Churches in
Croatia are included, and they will send their youth to this gathering. For the first time in history wee will have Christian concert on main Croatian square in Zagreb. We have big job to do. Sometimes I am under heavy burden, and also all team, but our Lord strengthens us.

 Update! -We sent $1,000.00 offering to this event from our First Fruits – Pastor Greg

Pastor Sam,
 
Just wanted to follow up with you.  Diana and I asked for prayer concerning our rental house during our membership class.  Well, we did finish the repairs from the water damage, and Diana took photos of the remodel.  Then she made a flyer for me to take to work.  I am not allowed to put up flyers at work so they just sat on the corner of my desk.  Due to the nature of my job I do have a lot of people in and out of my office all day, and we had a renter after only 4 hours.  We have since signed a lease agreement.
 
Just as a info bit here, we would prefer to remain anonymous.
 
Thanks and God bless,
 
Jim and Diana

Pastor Greg,

 I just wanted to say Thank you for your obedience and the Word that you are giving to the Church.  Personally everything that you are saying and everything that Chuch Pierce is saying is right on with all that is happening in my life.  Even to the exact day!  The timing is amazing!   I don’t want to be long winded, but I was told 4 days ago that I will be deploying to Iraq this upcoming fall for about 6 months with 2 months of training begining in July.  I will be leading a team to support medical operations. That is about all the detail I can give.

But I am ready for it and I know I am supposed to go.  Two years ago when I graduated  from the Air Force Academy  (USAFA)I could not have said that and meant it.  I was a little bitter towards the military (probably because I didn’t really enjoy life as a Cadet).  God has been changing me since the day I left USAFA.  I never
 thought I’d be a person who would love the military.  But I have learnd that there is more to it than discipline, tests, politics, challenges,  competiveness etc..like I experienced at the Academy.   Through Skyway’s continued support of the military and people like John and Karen , Cloe, Jeanie , Charlie and Loraine , and many others…

I have learned the importance of the military in ways I would have never imagined.  I have learned that the “military life” is one of the most selfless lives a person
 can live.  Always being ready to fight, ready to move, ready to take on tasks that are far above your preparation/experience.  This is what a
 ”Troop” really is.  Someone who can do it all, do it very well, and keep a good attitude throughout.  God has definately made me into a Troop!  He has blessed me so much the past 15 months I have been at Luke AFB.  Huge tasks, programs, experiences, that
 are far beyond what I could have ever imagined.  I have had the privelage to travel many places, meet many people, work on Awesome projects, and I have
 been given many big responsibilities.  Through it all I have found success even at the National level (only by the grace of God).   Through it all I
 have learned to I love the military.  I love the challenges, the constant change, the fast tempo lifestyle, the people, the leadership experiences,
 and the responsibility.  

 Peace and grace
-Megan

Pastor Greg,
I just wanted your guidance and opinion on something. I attended Chuck Pierce’s service Friday night and I loved it.  It was the first time I have been able to attend something like that and it was great. 

Well, in the middle of Friday night I kept hearing the word “bechorah”.  It kept waking me up and I would repeat it and then think to myself that I would look it up in the morning.  I must have woken up about 5 times before morning, each time repeating the word.  When I woke up in the morning it was the first thing I thought of and I was very confused.  I started to think maybe it did not mean anything.  I also started to get a little angry because how was I to look up a word when I did not even know what language it was or how to spell it?  Well, I shared this with a friend and she was incredulous that I wouldn’t at least try to look it up.  She found the word Bechorath in the Hitchcock Bible Name Dictionary and it means “first fruits”.  It is actually a name found in 1 Samuel 9:1.  It also can mean “firstborn” or the “one who receives the inheritance.”

What I thought I heard was bechorah with an ah sound at the end.  We were talking about it today and we wondered if in Hebrew there is masculine and feminine forms of words? Do you know someone that speaks Hebrew?  I am so curious.  I have never had this happen to me before. 

-Amey

Pastor Greg,

Thank you again for being obedient to the Spirit. I don’t often get to come to the service but I did last Sunday. I find God amazing that He can talk to so many different people about the same things. If I may give you some background as to why I am saying this… 

Recently, I started making declarations; from Cindy Trimm’s book, from Pastor Marie, from Hope Hoffman and some others and I have started receiving those confirmations and blessings. I have been given the Word that God is changing our business and He has been changing me. I feel led to increase my service to the Lord. 

We recently filed bankruptcy, have given up a car and our home will be foreclosed on within the next 3 months. Finances are very much on my mind.Your word on Sunday about finances was so useful to me this week because I found a house to rent that was 2300+ sq ft, in a great location, and only $1050/month. Had I not been where I am right now I would have probably given in to the temptation to take our First Fruits money for the down payment and tried to do things myself, again(incidentally, that’s how we got in this mess to begin with). When the thoughts of giving away God’s money came into my head, they sounded  foreign to me,when before I would have embraced them, do you understand? Anyhow, I rebuked those thoughts because I need to give God his money and He will bless me. So, had I not made it into the service I may not have been equipped to deal with that situation.

So, thank you so much. 

Betty

Dear Pastor Greg,
I have been watching last Sundays service over and over.  I am in awe of what God is doing in our church and how much is rapidly changing.  It is awesome to see!  Each time I watch the service the Holy Spirit comes upon me in a different way, in a new place or time of the service.  I keep getting new revelation! I want you to know how truly honored, humbled and incredibly blessed I feel to have my family be partakers in this wonderful movement of the Lord.  I thank you and Pastor Dawn for being open vessels of His mighty spirit and passing the annointing on to your congregation.  I want to YAWP from the rooftops how thankful I am to my Lord, how much I love Him and how grateful I am to be part of what He is doing among us.  

Many thanks,

Kristen

Dear Pastor Greg,

I came back to Arizona 4 months ago and I have seen God’s favor and his mercy in my life.

I had no money, no job, I owed 6 months of mortgage and 6 months on my equity line and 6 months on Home Owner’s Association fee.  I knew that I was coming back to try to take back what I allow the enemy to steal due to my ignorance, mistake and responsibility.

I was broken in spirit, I came like the prodigal son.  I struggled with worry, anxiety, doubt, fear, insecurity, failure, reasoning, asking God why? all this was going on.

When I arrived, I felt that I had a divine appointment with God and that I would fall at His feet and repent for my disobedience for not trusting in Him.

My neighbors who I have known for many years helped providing some furnishings, accessories, and food to get me started because I was going to start my Childcare business.

When I came to Skyway, you had just challenged the congregation and you pointed the finger and said, “YOU! come to this altar if you need a miracle.” That’s when I opened the door and I walked quickly to the altar.

In March the Lord directed me to Sister Charlotte to pray specifically for my marriage, business, and my house which was in foreclosure.

For the first time, I agreed with her in prayer as she challenged God and said, this time tomorrow, Lord may you provide an increase in Janet’s business and she would not lose her home.  I just kept on saying that I believe because I was struggling so much and I asked the Lord to help my unbelief.  Well, the next day came and I received to new clients and an employer called me for an interview.

I was a little child again, I was broken in spirit and I had enter into a state of beginning again and finding my first love.  I started fasting and praying and the Lord put in my heart to double in my tithes.  I told the Lord everything I have is yours anyway.  I begain to double in my tithes and God began to prosper. 

You began to teach on first fruits and you mentioned about the woman that gave one cent.  I gave that day the best tithe that I could give and God began to pour out his favor.  Meanwhile, to me as I gave it was definitely a worship to God because I was deeply moved with a broken heart and the tears would come down my cheek knowing that I gave everything.

Anyway, a week ago I was looking for an advocate to help get my home back and the person was very negative.  The communication was cut off and then my lender called letting me know that I qualified for a new loan Home Saving Advantage.  If I would agree to this it would spare my home and they would pull it out from foreclosure. 

This was the greatest miracle.  This is why I came to take back what the enemy stolen and let God restore me.  Just yesterday I rec’d the papers and everything is under way.
I praise God for Skyway because here is where I found the love, mercy and grace again from the Lord.
I took Deut. 28 to heart because that was the scripture that God gave me in 2005.
It pays to be obedient to God.

God bless you richly,

Pastor Greg

Janet