It all began when I was praying during a meeting in a little mission in Winnipeg, Canada. I saw, in the spirit, a cheque made out for one thousand dollars! This was overwhelming, for we knew of no one who might give us a gift of that size. We two lady missionaries were out together holding meetings while our husbands were up in the far North (in the Northwest Territories, Canada). My son and the other missionary’s family were being cared for by an Eskimo girl. We could surely use a cheque like that, but I dismissed it from my mind as being too fantastic. The next two nights, during prayer, the vision was repeated. I spoke of it to my companion, and we decided to just leave it to the Lord to work it out if it were from Him.

Upon returning to Edmonton, Alberta, the Lord began to deal with us about a man in a nearby town who had owed us $l200 for quite some time. In the North, my husband had no vehicle, and had the burden of cutting and hauling wood for over half a mile by handsleigh in temperatures of 30 to 40 degrees below zero to keep two houses warm. The Lord began to deal with us that it was now time that he was to be delivered from this burden. He made me to know that if I went to this man who owed us the money, and asked for $l000, he would put it into my hands in order that we might purchase a vehicle.

Exactly ten days from the time I first saw that cheque in the spirit, I was back in the North, on the mission field, handing a cheque to my husband -made out to him - for one thousand dollars! Praise the Lord for His faithfulness.

What we were not aware of at that time, however, was that this was but the beginning of a long series of strange dealings from the Lord by which He would teach us of entering into the fullness of His Spirit. Many times we wondered why the Lord taught us in strange ways, as by parables, through the things that He leads us to do. But we do know that He has called us to minister to His Overcomers, those who are pressing on to possess their full inheritance as sons of God. The Lord witnesses to us that He desires to make His pathway so real to us that we would be able to encourage His children who are going through fiery trials and do not understand why.

With the money, we were led to purchase an old, dark blue three-ton truck, l954 vintage, for $600. It was nothing to look at, but we felt it would suit our purposes of hauling wood and also supplies from outside points. We called our truck the old Mogul.

On our first trip out to civilization with it, we had to cross a wilderness area of two hundred miles of bulldozed road through the bush. About half-way through this wilderness, our truck just groaned to a halt at the bottom of a big hill and refused to go any further. It just had no power to overcome the hills, and the rough wilderness road. The other missionaries were following behind us in their car, so we were able to ride the rest of the way with them.

The Lord laid it on the heart of a Christian brother to drive into the wilderness and fix up the truck enough to bring it out, but we knew that we would have to get  rid  of it and get something better. The Lord had shown my husband that our next vehicle would be red, although we did not know why the Lord should show us that beforehand. We looked here and there, but nothing opened up until one night in Manning, the Lord led us to go to a certain garage.

They showed us all their trucks but we were not satisfied. “Haven’t you  got anything else?” we asked. They recalled that they had another truck behind the motel. Sure enough, there stood a bright, shiny red truck, a l960 Ford one ton. In no time at all, the deal was made and we were on our way north in a nice red truck.

Oh, it looked so good to us after that dark old Mogul! We felt this was just about the best vehicle we could ever desire. It was so nice to look at, and it was almost new. We felt we could never want anything better.

In the midst of our rejoicing, the Spirit began to speak to us that we would gradually begin to see its faults and desire to put it away from us also. ”Oh  no,,” we thought, “this is such a lovely truck. We shall be quite satisfied with it.”  We had to eat our words after our first trip over the rough road. We realized that our tires were quite bald and our motor didn’t  sound as good as it should.

The Spirit of the Lord had previously dealt with us about the color red as being the color that stands for sin. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Little by little, He began to show us that this red truck spoke of His children walking in the flesh. Although they were born of His Spirit, yet they were carnal, and walked in their own fleshly ways.own fleshly ways.

Do you remember when you first received the Lord as your Saviour? Oh, you felt so clean and good! You felt as if you were all ready for heaven, and that you had received so much from the Lord that you could never desire anything more than this great experience of salvation!

Many of God’s children remain in that place and do not grow - they are born of God, but are still walking in the flesh,and have not entered into the ways of the Spirit. They are still being ruled by the old Adamic nature rather than by the Spirit of God within them. (Adam means red earth). They are children of God, but they are carnal. “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neighbour yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

The Spirit of the Lord showed us that our first dark-blue truck spoke of the darkness that we were in before we knew the Lord. Even as it had no power to overcome me; the obstacles in the wilderness, neither do we have power to overcome in our lives until we are born of God. As the Lord had said when He gave us this newer red truck, that we would gradually see its faults and desire to put it away from us, even so does the Spirit begin to reveal to us our fleshly ways as we follow on to know Him. Instead of that first feeling that we are perfect because we have been washed in His Blood, we begin to see so much of self that must be put off.

Eventually our red truck came to such a condition that it would no longer run. That is what is going to happen to the ways of our flesh--God is going to bring our fleshly ways and strivings to a halt, and whatever is done for the Lord shall be done by His Spirit, and He shall get all the glory.

We were led to come  out of the North to fellowship with different saints in the Dawson Creek area for a few months. Having no money and no  transportation, we had to hitch-hike to get there. We have to admit that took a big chunk of pride out of us.

As Christmas approached, we felt we were to go back on the mission field and bring our son Stephen out. We were beginning to feel a call to  minister to the ones and the twos throughout the land who were being called of God to enter into the fullness of the Spirit, even the spiritual Promised Land. When we told the Lord that we did not know where these believers were, He old us, “I will take you to their very doorsteps!” This He has been faithful to do . He also showed us that we would confirm to His people what He was speaking to them.

The saints at Dawson Creek were very kind, and held a farewell gathering for us at which they gave us a love offering. But we still did no have enough money to go home by plane. The bus route stopped 200 miles from our home by plane. The bus route stopped 200 miles from our home, so that was no help. At the Edmonton Bus Depot, we prayed and asked the Lord what we should do. The Lord spoke Manning into our hearts. That was a town 400 miles north of Edmonton. We had just enough money to go that far, with some small change left over.

We left for Manning, trusting that the Lord would make a way for us from there. Surely He sent His angel before us, for no sooner had we unloaded our suitcases from the bus, than a young lady came and said, “I was just driving by and saw you. Would you like me  to drive you to Grandma Parker’s? I’m sure she would love to see you.”

As the day was cold and snowy, we doubly appreciated the ride and Grandma’s hospitality. Upon hearing our story, she said, “I have plenty of rom. You are welcome  to stay here for Christmas.” We thanked her, but affirmed that the Lord was going to take us home for Christmas. She mused aloud, “Well, I sure hope He does, for your sakes. It would do my faith a lot of good too, if I could see the Lord do something like that for you.”

As we prayed, we felt impressed to go and stand on the bridge at the edge of town, and get a ride to the garage three miles out where we had bought our red truck. We planned to bring the truck out in January and trade it in, but the Lord had put it upon our hearts that He would give us a vehicle now to take us home. In the natural, it seemed impossible, for we had only fifty cents in our pockets, and a broken-down truck some 400 miles away..

We were picked up on the bridge as soon as we got there, and moments later we were explaining  our need to the two young owners of the garage. “We’ll see what we can do for you,” they said. “We have a l959 Oldsmobile here, with automatic transmission and power brakes, all ready to go.” A big car like that seemed simply out of our reach. It was much too good for us. We saw an older one being repaired in the garage that we felt would be more suitable for us.
 The day wore on, and we didn’t see the managers again for hours.

We decided to sit in the outer office and stay there until they had time to talk to us, and see if we  could  arrange to buy  that older, cheaper make of car. Eventually, they called us in and my husband said, “About that car your men are working on........”

“Oh, we sold it just before you came in! The only one that is ready for the road is that l959 Olds that we told you about. We’ll tell you what we will do. We can make a temporary agreement for sale, for thirty days, and that will get you home and give you time to bring your truck back. If you find you don’t want this car at that time, you can trade it for something else. How does that sound?”

It sounded wonderful to us, but what would we use for money? This Olds was worth much more than our truck. Surely they would  want a cash deposit. They looked at each other (not at us), and one said to the other, “What will we use for money?”

The other answered, “Oh, just write it down! We have to make some kind of a deal on paper.” They never even asked us if we had any money! It was the Lord’s doing, and it was marvellous in our eyes. On top of it all, they put 20 gallons of gas in the car without charging for it.

We set out for home with great rejoicing, and after two days of driving we were joyfully reunited with our little boy the day before Christmas. The Lord undertook for us and met our needs in a supernatural way during that trip, which is a separate story in itself.

When we  sought  the Lord about fixing up our red truck to drive it out to the dealers, the Lord dealt with us that we cannot fix up our flesh to make it pleasing in His sight! We must simply put it off. So, we sent the truck out, just as it was, loaded on a big truck, and the garage agreed to pay the shipping charges.

The Lord began to deal with us that this car which He had given us spoke of a transition period, of a change-over, from walking in the flesh, to walking in the Spirit. It was a bigger, nicer-looking car than we felt we deserved, even as the ways of the Spirit seem too great for us to possess. We would often settle for something less than His best for us, even as we felt the older, cheaper model would do.

Its power brakes and automatic transmission spoke of receptiveness to the Spirit - that we are to respond to the slightest touch of the Spirit upon us. The white top spoke of being overshadowed by the Spirit, and  the blue exterior spoke of the heavenly realm that we are to enter into by the Spirit. Although this car looked wonderful to us, yet we found many imperfections in it, even as the Spirit shows us the many weaknesses and imperfections in our flesh during this transition period.

After six months, the Lord began to deal  with my husband that we would be trading our car in on a truck again. I did not want to hear such a thing, for we had gone through enough trials with our several trucks, and I really enjoyed the comfort of this car. In reality, the car’s motor needed to have a lot of money spent on it, and a truck would be handier for pulling our trailer. “Well, Lord,” I said in my heart, “If You want us to get a truck, You will have to make it very real to us.”

One day He did just that! As we were in prayer, I saw in the spirit, a l955 Chevrolet half-ton truck, of a dull brown color, which was owned by a Christian friend of ours. Some distance away from it was a beautiful, new, white Valiant car. The Spirit of the Lord fell upon us, and He showed us that during the transition period, before entering into the fullness of the Spirit, there will be a time of humbling for God’s people. Even as this vehicle which He showed us was old and common, and nothing to be desired, so also would His sons pass through a time of being despised and rejected of men. That which they have of God would be counted as nothing to be desired, and they shall be as nothing in the eyes of the people. In spite of this, His own would know that during this time the Lord was doing a hidden work within them and would bring them forth unto perfection in His appointed time. Those whom He brings forth will be of that valiant spirit to enter in to His mighty promises.

At the same time, the Lord showed us both the vehicle that spoke of the humbling and the one that spoke of perfection (the white Valiant). He did this so that we could encourage those who are going through fiery trials and are being despised  by their brethren, to look ahead to that which awaits them - the perfecting of the saints, the fullness of the Spirit being made manifest in us.

The Lord gave us the name of a garage where we found only one l955 Chevrolet truck, identical in year and make to the one the Lord had shown us (except that it was green). We went for a ride in it and were led to testify to the salesman of the goodness of the Lord. When they examined our Oldsmobile car, they suggested that we just let the company have it back as it would cost too much for them to fix it up. We didn’t feel it was honorable to just give it back to the company, perhaps it would ruin our credit rating. This garage was a dealer with the same company and they insisted that we had had our money’s worth out of it, and had kept it in good repair so that there would be no blot against our financial record.

At the time we had only five dollars in our possession, so we said to the salesman, “If this is the truck the Lord wants us to have, you will not be able to sell it until we get the money for it.”

Upon returning home, I went through a real trial of my faith. It is not easy to be led and taught like this. Many times we don’t understand, but we have to obey. I was so sure that after the change-over from our fleshly ways to walking in the Spirit, we would enter right into the fullness of the Spirit. Now we see that this period of humbling must come first,  that no flesh shall glory in His presence.

I could not understand why the Lord should teach us in such strange ways, so I prayed, “Lord, I just want to be sure that all these dealings are of You. Now, You know we have not wanted a truck, nor have we asked  for one. Lord, I am not even going to pray and ask You to give it to us. If You provide for this truck without us even asking You to, and without us mentioning a thing about it to anyone, I will know for sure that You have directed and taught us truth in all of this.”

The Lord answered my prayer within a week. One of His children who hears His Voice sent us a cheque for five hundred dollars. She also put out a fleece before she sent it, which the Lord answered, so it was doubly confirmed  We let the comfort of the Oldsmobile go and entered into the old green truck which the Lord said spoke of a necessary stage of humbling for His people.

While driving this humble vehicle, we had an accident. Driving down the freeway, we slipped on a patch of ice at night and the truck veered into the median and overturned. I said just one word: “Jesus!” before we landed upside-down. I hastened to reassure little Stephen, “Everything is all right. The Lord is with us!” I felt His presence with us and a deep inner assurance that all was well. We crawled out of the truck and none of us felt any damage to our bodies so we stood in the snow and gave thanks to God. I had oil on my coat, but that did not worry me.

Soon cars were stopping to check us out to see if they could help. A doctor wanted us to go with to have a check-up. We declined with, “The Lord got here ahead of you, and we’re just fine. Thank you anyway.”

The only damage to the truck was one badly-bent door which let a draft in when we drove. In addition, the top of the cab was slightly dented in, and the back windshield had fallen out. The body shop said they would fix it for $l00, but the Lord never gave us the liberty to have it fixed even when we had the money.

We suffered reproach over this as we visited the brethren to minister, and they wondered if the blessing of God ha departed from us since we were driving such a poor-looking vehicle. It was not too long before we began to realize in a very real way what the Lord meant when He said He would put His own through a time of humbling and rejection.  During this time, the Lord continued to speak to us about entering into a higher realm of the Spirit as represented by the symbol of the Valiant car. He gave us Joshua l:6, “Be strong and of a good courage: for un;to this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.” The Lord is today exhorting His people too be strong and of a good courage (valiant), in order that they might defeat the self life and the enemy and possess the fullness of their inheritance in the Spirit, which is the spiritual fulfilment of the Promised Land.

When we pass over Jordan, we are not passing from death into heaven, for it was when they entered the Promised Land that the fighting really began. You won’t have to fight in heaven, for the battle will have been won;. We have had the firstfruits of our inheritance, the outpouring of the Holy Ghost with the gifts of the Spirit, but we have not yet gone in and possessed the fullness of our spiritual inheritance. The battle of the ages is nigh at hand, for the sons of God shall come forth in mighty power to possess their place in the heavenly realm which has been prepared for them. Press in, beloved, be of good courage and of a valiant spirit; faint not at the humbling and chastening of the Lord, for whom He humbleth He shall exalt in due time.

Truly, it is during this stage of our growth when we are being humbled and despised and rejected of men, that we begin to realize those spots, wrinkles and blemishes that are in us that must be removed before we can enter into perfection. Sometimes they appear so great in our eyes that we feel we will never make it. Either we count our weaknesses too great for the Lord to change, or we find the cost is too great to pay.

I experienced the reality of this one day when I was sitting in the huckleberry patch picking berries. The Lord began to show me that now was the time to purchase the white Valiant. Rather than being exhilarated by this, I was a little discouraged. We were managing just fine as we were. It would mean going into debt again and I wondered if it was really worth it.

The Lord faithfully encouraged us and provided the down payment. We went to order our first new car! The salesman told us that this year they had refined the Valiant, which he said had been a hybrid. They had purified and enlarged it, and were calling it the Dodge Dart. (I thought these were strange words coming from a salesman.) They were still going to have a Valiant, but it would be a much smaller car than before.

We prayed about which one we should buy and the word came, “The Lord abhorreth a mixture.” We ordered the larger one in white with blue interior. The white speaks of His righteousness, and the blue, the Truth of His Spirit within. The car itself spoke to us of perfection which is for those of a valiant spirit to possess. “Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware  unto  their fathers to give them.” The Lord is today exhorting His people to be strong and of a good courage to enter the Promised Land of the Spirit.

Several months later we were on the train for Windsor, Ontario to pick up our new car. Our dealer gave us every assurance that it was ready and waiting at the plant there for us. Can you imagine our dismay when we arrived in Toronto and phoned the plant only to have them tell us they had no record of our order! There was no car waiting for us, and no record of our having ordered a car to pick up at their factory. What a trial! We had no choice but to go home without the vehicle the Lord had promised us. We began to realize that we had enough money to go home by car, but not enough to buy two more train tickets back. We were virtually stranded!

It is at times like this that you learn that there is a price for being led of the Spirit. Some have thought that those who are led of the Spirit are highly favoured of God. Not so! They have been willing to pay the price of being led! And the price often includes being made a fool for Christ’s sake.

We had learned, the hard way, that when we reached an impasse and did not know what to do, it was time to do nothing but seek the Lord. To run around seeking advice from this one or that would be futile. We might receive plenty of advice, but it might not be the word of the Lord for our situation. It is time to be still and know that  I am God.

That same day a car dealer in Toronto called us to persuade us to drive a car back to Alberta for our dealer to sell out there. This just added confusion to the issue. Had the Lord sent us all the way down East just to drive a car back for our dealer? It just did not make sense!

The Lord is always faithful to lead when you refuse to make your own way. He instructed us not to take the way that man had provided, for He had something else for us. It took a while for us to be able to hear what it was, for we had to get our spirits quiet, and to shut out all doubts and fears, and the opinions of the people with whom we were staying. Much to our amazement, the Lord showed us that we would be driving back a school bus loaded with fruit.

This was a most puzzling word, but He made it real to us that before those of our generation could enter into perfection, or the fullness of His Spirit, He was going to pour our His Spirit upon the younger generation and many of them would enter in with us. A school bus speaks of youth, and we would drive it from East to the West across the land, as His Spirit would move throughout the whole land. (This was in l966, and we have seen this come to pass. )

 We set out to visit a friend who did caretaker work for - of all places - a school bus factory. We enquired if they needed someone to drive out West for them. They had no order for a bus, but said they would contact Edmonton. Many hours we waited while our faith and patience were tried. At last they called to say that we could come right over and pick up a small bus to drive west and they would pay for the gas plus some extra for expenses along the way. (We need to remind ourselves that HIS NAME IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE).

On the way to Toronto we stopped to visit Christian friends who insisted upon picking fruit for us from their orchard, even though it was already dark and raining. They literally loaded our bus with fruit, as the Lord had show us would happen. “Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” James 5:7,8.

To further confirm what He had said about pouring out His Spirit upon the young people, we were led to pick up a hitch-hiker, a young man of about seventeen. He also was heading west so fit well into our party. When I felt like praying, I would move back a few seats and pray in tongues for some time. I never tried preaching to the young man, but I prayed a lot on our five-day trip.

On the third day of our journey, I was praying when the young man suddenly dashed back to where I was and started to say in tones of anguish: “I’ve just got to have Him! I’ve just to have Him!” I was so taken aback that I didn’t know what he was talking about. I asked, “What do you want?”

He cried, “God! I’ve just got to have God!” His frame fell in a heap, weeping at my feet. You could have bowled me over with a feather at this sudden outburst. I had no idea that the Lord was moving on his heart at all. It did not take long for such a hungry soul to find peace with God, and when he said he wanted all that God had for him, I told him about the Holy Spirit, and he received this part of his inheritance also.  He stayed with us for several weeks after we arrived home.

We settled down to await the arrival of our car. The company was mystified to know how our order could have been lost when it was supposed to have been ready. We could not tell them that our Father had a few more things to teach us before we possessed this car.

Several months passed by and once again our enthusiasm waned until we found ourselves counting the cost and wondering if we were still willing to pay it. You may feel that you are fully surrendered to the Lord only to find that there are still many times of heart-searching, of reconsecration, of building new altars of sacrifice along the way. Yesterday’s consecration is not always sufficient for today’s trial, so we must make a fresh commitment.

At last, the long-awaited call came that our perfection car had actually arrived at the dealer’s. My husband was not home to pick it up, so I arranged to drive to the city with a group of young Christians . The Lord indicated that a certain young man should drive the car home. On the way home we stopped for hamburgers for the gang, but the young man and I could not eat, for the presence of the Lord was so mightily felt in that car. The others marvelled at this, for this lad was not one to refuse a free hamburger! It would seem, by these dealings, that this present generation has a special place in the present move of God.

After some years of excellent service from our Perfection Car, we became aware that it was not what it used to be. Increasingly, some little thing would go wrong, or some piece would fall off. One evening I was thinking about the car and wondering why I was not happy with it any more, and wondered what the Lord would have us to do, if anything.

Suddenly, the word MONTCALM came into my mind. I did not know if that word applied to a car, for I had no idea what the word meant. Then the Spirit spoke to me, ever so softly, that we were coming into the Mountain of Rest. I seemed to feel green as the color of a new day. Green speaks of new life. I had thought that the dealings with cars was all over, and I began to wonder what the Lord now had in mind for us.

We began watching cars as they passed. Five days went by and we did not see one with the name Montcalm on it. I began to wonder if I could have imagined the word when I saw one right in front of us! Bill had thought it was a small sports car, but we found it to be one of the large, expensive models.

The next day we had an opportunity to examine one fairly closely, and felt it was quite out of our range, for our tastes do not run to anything that luxurious (nor does our pocketbook). But, it seemed we could not shake the idea of a Montcalm. Bill was not too happy with the idea of a green car, for his favourite color is blue. I have never been too fond of green either, so I agreed with him that if it was important to what the Lord was saying, He would surely make it more real to both of us.

I often prayed on our long drive to work each morning, but this particular morning I started to study the notes on my real estate course I was taking. To my surprise, the Spirit spoke within that He desired me to spend this time with Him. As I worshipped the Lord, I became very conscious of His presence and began to weep. Throughout my weeping I was aware of Him speaking within that His people are looking heavenward - to the blue realm - but the Kingdom of God s coming down to this earth: the green!

How this spoke to my  heart! I thought of how the majority of Christendom is waiting to be rapture into the blue, out of all their troubles. They do not yearn for God’s Kingdom to come upon the earth, as the Lord has promised and taught us to pray for its coming. Long have their eyes been looking heavenward for release from their multiplied bondages, and they have looked to heaven as the place of their rest.

Not so! Our rest is in HIM, in that spiritual realm where He is; where we walk in His Spirit and in the consciousness of His presence at all times. While Jesus walked this earth, He spoke of Himself as being in heaven! “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” John 3:l3. His spirit was in heavenly places even while his feet were upon this earth. This is where He longs for us to walk with Him.

One evening we felt to go to the For dealer and look at Montcalms - just looking, you understand!  To our surprise, there were no new models in green. Upon walking around the lot we discovered one, just exactly as we had felt it would be - white vinyl top and metallic green body. We started to get excited about it when Bill noticed the hub caps were mottled and didn’t shine like they should. I noticed a tiny bruise where a rock had hit the body. Eventually we noticed the tag that told the story. It was last year’s model.

The car had been leased out for the year. We had assumed that we were to get a new car. We phoned all over and we could not locate another green one. Most of the models for sale were a bronze color. Then the Lord spoke this scripture strongly to our hearts, causing us to seek Him diligently. “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” He spoke to us further:

“Does My Kingdom come unto that which is already perfect? Nay, I say unto thee - it cometh upon that which is worn and weary and upon those that have labored to enter into rest. I send My Spirit forth into a bruised and torn world to redeem it and to bring it unto the Mountain of Rest and to its God. Look at thyselves, My little ones, and at My children round about the and know that thou seest no perfection in thyself or in them. The scars of the battle, even long and weary, are upon thee and upon this war-torn world.

“I have promised to pour out My Spirit and to give them rest. I have said My blessing shall distil as the dew and as the early rain upon the green herb and new life shall spring forth, even everlasting life, even the life of the ages. Fear not to possess that which has been used and bruised, for it surely is of Me, for that is the state in which all creation is in and surely it is time for My Kingdom to come in thy midst. The promise hath tarried for a long time but it is steadfast and sure and My Kingdom shall come in thy weary, heart-broken vessels of clay,. for this I have purposed afore time and I shall perform it.”

At this time in our life we were in Edmonton taking training in selling real estate. I personally was not too happy with this involvement with the world, but I knew it was the will of God for me to learn this along with Bill. Little did we know that the Lord was preparing us for an undertaking which would require the knowledge that we were now gaining.

The Lord showed me, in the spirit, a warrior with shield and spear, and bows and arrows by his side. The word was, “They have given you the weapons. I will show you how to use them.” Little did we realize that the Lord would take us through a real estate dealing that was utterly impossible for us to perform in the natural. (See our book Possess Your Inheritance).

We found truly that all things are possible to them that believe (and are led by His Spirit). The Lord spoke further to us: “The things that I shall do in thy lives and cause to come unto thee, even for good, or for seeming ill, shall be all part of My perfect plan for thy lives - not only for thee alone, but for My people.  I have many lessons to teach them and many ways in which to establish them  that I shall do through thee and that which thou dost experience, for My people have identified themselves with thee.

“Even as thee, they do fear the unknown, even a new way, the way of the Kingdom. On one hand, they speak oft of it and desire it to come, yet they are not fully ready to walk in it, for they have not fully entered into My rest - even a place of perfect trust in all that I allow to come into their lives.

“Even now thou hast come to a place where thou shalt have a foretaste of kingdom principles as I shall loose thee from the bondage of servitude to man and shall cause thee to know that I shall direct thee in all of they ways. This shall no longer be only a hope unto thee, but thou shalt make the  promise steadfast and sure, for thou perceivest that there is no other way for thee.

“An ensample of faith shalt thou be to My Own, even though thou hast been weak in faith and hath trembled at that into which I have thrust thee. Are not my people thus? desiring to be strong and steadfast in faith, but not knowing of a surety that I am able to lead and direct in every area of their lives - even in that which is not spiritual - that which is of Babylon, and of which they have said I would have no part!

“But I dwell within thee and go whither thou goest and confound all the dark places that surround thee. Walk forth joyously with this assurance and every barrier shall have to melt before thee, and My favor shall stand. Rejoice at this thy new trial, for I have purposed to bless thee and no man can disannul it, neither bring it to pass.”

 Bill had phoned a ninety-mile radius of Edmonton to find a green  Montcalm, with no success. He was feeling that the car would be found and purchased soon when he noticed an ad from a car lot that was clearing out their l975 models to make room for the l976 ones. Amazingly, there was a For dealer who sold the Montcalm! We had missed him in our search.

We went over to look at their selection. By this time, we had almost given up on finding a green one (new life). It was drizzling rain so were standing in the showroom looking out at the lot. The salesman was extolling the beauties of a beautiful glamour blue Montcalm. While he was talking, Bill noticed a two-tone green car outside. Hesitantly, he asked if it were a Montcalm. The salesman looked surprised at his question and told him that it was. He said the keys were in it as it was being used as a demonstrator model. He gave us permission to drive it around.

The interior of it was also a beautiful shade of green. We just sat in it feeling awed. We drove it a bit in the parking lot. Bill wondered if we should look at the other Montcalms, but we found them all locked. This was the only one that was open. The salesman left us alone so we had freedom to pray in the car. This word was given: “This IS thine inheritance - to enter into rest!” Then this song came bubbling up from within:

 Through shady green pastures so rich and so sweet
 God leads His dear children along.
 The water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,
 God leads His dear children along.
 Some through the water, some through the flood,
 Some through the fire, but all through the blood.
 Some through great sorrow but He gives a song,
 In the night seasons, and all the day long!

 We felt very calm, rather than anxious, which is unusual when facing a big decision. the Lord reminded us we were in the Montcalm, which spoke of entering into rest, and said, “You  shall also be a demonstrator to My people in this day, to speak to them of My rest” “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” Heb. 4:9-ll.

Bill’s Mother had promised to leave him his “inheritance”, a portion of the sale of her home, but this was long delayed. We had come almost to the end of our “barrel of meal” and wondered how the Lord was going to supply this car. The Lord spoke to our hearts:

“My people will have come to the end of  their own ways, even as thou hast come to the end of thine own way. They will not know from whence shall come their deliverance. They shall look here and there for their help, but the arm of flesh shall fail them, for their help cometh alone from the Lord. It shall be needful  for the;m to look up unto Me, knowing that I truly care for them and love them and have promised that My people shall never be ashamed. For I have brought them to such an hour where their all-sufficiency shall be in Me, for it shall seem as if all talents and natural abilities shall fail, for what I have given I would have wholly surrendered unto Me, that I might be all in all in the lives of My own.

“Let not this season of the culmination of the harvest pass over the without making a greater effort to possess that which I have promised thee. Thou seest the time that it is now, so be thou willing to pay the full price of that which I have committed unto thee as a sign unto My people. The price is all that thou hast, but I shall recompense thee greatly and thou shalt know that I have been in it and have ordained it all. Possess the land, even  this  mountain, and thou shalt be glad, for it shall be a token unto thee that I shall bring to an end all striving in thy flesh to do those things that are appointed unto thee.”

We found we were able to get an advance from the office on our sales which would be sufficient for a down payment. There was no problem getting a loan for the balance. That very day we went to pick up the Montcalm! What a wonderful feeling! As we admired our new car, we noticed that the light green seemed almost to have a yellow gold hue to it. This color was new to us and we really liked it. As the papers were being prepared, we sat in the car, basking in its beauty and the wonder of what the Lord was teaching us.

Bill tried the radio, and we sat there stunned by the words that issued from it: “There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.” This song was followed by another one all about peace. We just looked at each other and laughed with joy. It was as if the Lord were speaking directly to us, confirming His Word to us!

When we had, in faith, spent all that we had to purchase the Montcalm, Bill’s inheritance was released unto him. The timing of the Lord is incredible. He is never a moment too late! This same day the Spirit of the Lord spoke this word to us: Isa. 65:l3,l4--“Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.”
 
 

 A few years later, Bill felt the big car was no longer practical for us. We were out of real estate and into keeping pure-bread goats and needed something in which to haul goats or lumber. We asked the Lord to make His will clear to us in the matter and we felt free to look for another vehicle. We walked very softly before the Lord as we looked at a number of vehicles one day.

The following day as we sat together to pray, I said, “Now, let’s not pray about vans or trucks at all. Let’s just seek the Lord.” Bill agreed to this, and didn’t tell me that he simply could not get his mind off a certain new silver van that we had seen. Even when he prayed it remained uppermost in his thoughts.

Shortly after we started to pray, the Spirit brought before me the same silver van and spoke to me about silver being a type of redemption in the scriptures. I wasn’t too thrilled with that, for, firstly, I felt the Lord should deal with Bill, not me, about any vehicle, and secondly, I was not looking for salvation, as typified by silver. I had salvation; I was searching for the divine nature (gold) of the Lord to be inworked into my life. Why was the Lord speaking to me about salvation?

When I had finished all my objections and got my flesh silent before the Lord, He spoke two words into my spirit which quelled all my strivings and caused my spirit to be uplifted in rejoicing before Him. They were: “Full redemption.” Now, that was quite a different matter! Full redemption, or salvation, is, “to wit, the redemption of our body” Rom. 8:23. Have not we, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, been groaning within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body? Indeed we have, and all creation travaileth together in pain with us as we together await the manifestation of the sons of God.

The Lord showed us that our Montcalm was to go at this time, for we ha learned the lesson of which it spoke - of coming into His rest, and ceasing from our own works. One must enter into rest before he an hope to possess the fullness of his redemption. The rest flows into and is a part of the fullness.

The Lord undertook on our behalf in working ut all the details of the transaction. We were not offered much of a trade-in on the car, so Bill advertised it for sale privately. He held a certain sum before the Lord which he felt was reasonable, and the first person who came to look at the car, paid it outright without any quibbling.

It was not until after we had purchased the new Mystic Silver van that we noticed that silver seemed to be the new, popular color for that year. That really spoke to us, for the world so often portrays the things of the Spirit if we have spiritual eyes to see and to hear. To be honest with you, we were much surprised at this dealing of the Lord. Luke 21:28 was quickened to us: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads: for your redemption draweth nigh.” We had thought we needed another vehicle for practical purposes, but it seemed the Lord was not yet finished with the strange dealings in vehicles to teach us of the various stages of spiritual experience that we must pass through.
 
 

 After several years of country living and many goats later, the Lord led us to move to a small village and set us free from all obligations so that we might travel extensively among His people (This was in l980). We felt like Moses who had been so long on the backside of the wilderness. He felt he needed someone else to speak for him!

With travelling in mind, we were much aware that we needed to camperize our van so that it would be more suitable for our use. Every time we saw a camperized van we sought an opportunity to look inside to see how it was fixed up. We weren’t thinking of buying a new vehicle already camperized, for we had only 20,000 miles on ur present van.

Off and on during one week I saw in the Spirit the interior of a van and it was a reddish-wine color. I was not shown the outside of the vehicle so had no way of knowing if it were our present one or if it were another. Every time I saw this, the Lord also brought to mind a certain experience that I had had earlier.

I had seen myself being nailed to a cross and the Lord made it real to me that it was not until we had died out to self, our soulish life, that we would be clothed upon with our priestly garment and enter that realm of being kings and priests unto Him. At that time the Lord impressed Bill to buy me a wine-purplish long robe as He spoke to us about these things. Now, every time I saw this wine van interior it was related in the Spirit to the dealing of the robe and our ministry as kings and priests. (Wine is a dark, purplish red, the color of royalty and kingship). I hid these things in my heart and said nothing to Bill at this time.

A week later, we were in a nearby town on a Sunday and we decided to peek into some new vans on the dealer’s lot to get some new ideas for camperizing. The first one we peeked into had this new dark glass all around so we had to really press our faces close to the glass to see what it was like inside. To my amazement, I saw that the interior was done in the wine material that I had been seeing in the Spirit! It had a fully-raised roof providing an overhead sleeper and it seemed to be fully equipped in all respects. It was beautiful!

The next day I went to pick up Grandma Cook from the bus and Bill was alone. He walked up and down and prayed about the van we had seen. He had been much impressed in his spirit over it although he did not tell me. Finally, he phoned the dealer and asked about it. Yes, it ha air conditioning, a furnace, sink, fridge, running water, a toilet enclosure, and many more features than he could think of asking about. That sent him back to seeking the Lord. After a while he found himself speaking to me in his mind, “As far as equipment, there’s no use asking. Whatever you might ask for, it has it!” With this thought expressed within, the anointing of God fell upon him in a mighty way and the Lord brought back to him a song I had sung just that morning:

“Yea, truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” (Numbers l4:2l)

We were so thrilled by this dealing that we could hardly sleep that night. I had wondered what could be greater than full salvation of which our present silver van speaks. Could there be anything greater than that? Yet, this other one was also a silvery gray with slight dark streaks along the sides. Bill was impressed with the mixture of dark and light as in the dawning of a new day. It spoke to him of full salvation and the glory of the Lord.  Whereas our present van is empty inside, this one is furnished with a full provision of all that we would need, furnished in good taste and beauty. It was so real to us that in the realm of the glory of the Lord, as kings and priests unto Him, we would lack nothing as He would be our complete source of supply.

Pondering these things, Bill said, “Here we are, enjoying this new thing that speaks to as the glory of the Lord, and yet we have only peeked into it. The door has not even been opened for us yet to step inside to see it clearly It was like we peeked into the kingdom through that dark glass, as it says in I Cor. l3:l2: “For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I now in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” By faith we begin to possess the kingdom and that realm of glory of God as we get a glimpse of it from day to day. Then, one day the door is opened unto us; it is unlocked, and we fully possess all that we have apprehended by faith. Glory to God!

We still could not understand why  we should sell our present van when it was still like new. Shouldn’t we keep it until it was worn out? Bill saw this: “Full salvation is still new to you when the glory comes. “ At that time the Lord gave us Acts l:3, “To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs,  speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” We were blessed in knowing that He was indeed speaking to us of the kingdom in a manner in which we could relate to His glory.

In ourselves, we would have been quite content to fix up our van to make it liveable, but ur ways are not His ways. Our ways can encompass only half of what the Lord wants to do in our lives. For example, Bill had considered putting in a raised roof only half-way along. It seems we are willing to go only half-way with the Lord, for too often we limit His power and glory and cannot fully comprehend the glory that He has in store for those who love Him.

This new G.M.C. VAN DURA is professionally finished all the way. It has power in reserve--a gas tank holding double that of an ordinary vehicle. There is no lack, as a double portion of anointing. There is provision for 25 gallons of water, an abundant supply. The fridge has a three-way connection so that it could operate on electricity, propane, or battery. The unit is completely self-contained.

How the joy of the Lord filled us as we rejoiced over this beautiful silver and wine van and the way in which the Lord was speaking to us of entering into His glory. Throughout the dealing we were impressed that it speaks of full salvation plus the glory of the Lord. When we prayed about how to designate it, we were given Isa. 40:5, “And the  glory of the Lord  shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”

A week had passed by and we had not yet indicated to the dealer that we were interested in buying this van. We were confident that the Lord would keep it for us until His appointed time. But we went the next Sunday for another peek at it, and lo and behold, the van was gone! We were somewhat mystified and crestfallen at this turn of events. . I said to Bill, “Possibly one of the staff has taken it out for the weekend.” And with that thought, ur peace returned and the Spirit witnessed that it was the truth.

Yet, we were a little uneasy about someone else having our van. They would b sleeping in our bed before we did, and using all the appliances, and they might possibly scratch something. When I expressed my little fears aloud, the Spirit quickened to Bill that the kingdom is something to share. It is not something to keep to yourself. The church realm was the keeping-to-yourself realm: “our pastor”, “our church”, “our sheep”, “our doctrine”. In the kingdom it is all the Lord’s, and it is shared with everyone alike - there are no barriers, and the reward is to those who press in to possess it.

The Lord indicated that we were not take out a loan to purchase it, but were to pay for it in full. He said, as pertaining to His realm of glory, “It is fully paid for, but thou must wait My appointed time to possess it.”

The day arrived when we were led to put a deposit on the van and to purchase it, although we would not pick it up for another month. (Up to this point, we still had only peeked in the windows that one time). It was a cloudy day and the rain was pouring down. Actually, it rained off and on for two days. The Lord spoke to us about a cloudy and dark day as in Ezekiel 34:l2, “As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek ut My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.”

Then the Lord spoke to me, “My judgments shall rain upon the earth.” I found this thought expressed in Ezek. “And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.”  (A picture of judgment). “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

I knew that the rain was not a tribulation to us, or to His Own, for it is during these troublous times that w will enter in and possess our full salvation and the glory of the Lord. The Lord spoke to my heart, “Though it be a cloudy and dark day I would not have My people minimize the glory that shall come unto them.”

The prophet Amos illustrates a profound ruth when he speaks of rain. “...I cause it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon and the piece whereon it rained not withered.” Amos 4:7. A city typifies a certain type of people. For example, the redeemed are referred to as Zion or Jerusalem. This world’s system in all its wickedness is called by the name of that ancient city of Babylon.In this context, can you see that those who are in the holy city of Zion shall be spared the rain of God’s judgment in that day? They have already yielded themselves to be judged and are resting in His righteousness that He has inworked in them. Zion shall receive the harvest rain that brings maturity and fullness whereas Babylon must receive the rain of judgment.

As we went to the autotomotive dealer’s, we realized that neither of us had a cent on us. My purse was empty and so was Bill’s wallet. Usually, one of us will have some cash on hand if the other one runs out. The Lord showed us that there was nothing in us - it was all of Him (our possessing full salvation and the glory of the Lord). How we rejoiced at that!

When we finally stepped into the new silver van with the wine interior, we felt that the half had not been told us of its glory and beauty. There were delightful little surprises everywhere--screens on the windows to keep out the insects, a thermostat for the furnace, swivel seats that also tilt back, a lock that locked each door at the push of one button, to mention a few. Wine velvet curtains covered the windows and they had snaps to hold them back when not needed. What really blessed us was a cassette player to pass the time on the long road.

At first I could see no cassette attachment so I asked the salesman if there was room to put one in. He old me that there was already one there in the tiny slot just above the radio. It automatically closed up to keep out the dust after the tape was inserted. That was why I could not see it. How we were blessed by each and every facet of the beauty of the van’s design. How much more shall we joy over all the love gifts that Jesus has in store for us - even hidden things yet to be revealed!

We are not purchasing this van personally, but through our company, for the glory of the Lord is prepared for the company of His sons, even His corporate Body. Although His glory is possessed individually, yet it is a corporate dealing, for a company of prepared and chosen ones who seek not their own glory, but His and desire to share His glory with all.

We arranged to pick up the van in time for by brother Bill and his wife Glenda to use it on a little trip they were taking. The Spirit showed us why they were to use the new van first. It was because Glenda loved much. Her constant prayer was, “Lord, make me Your love.” He made it real to us that those who walked in His love would be first to enter that realm of full salvation and the glory of the Lord.

When they came to pick up the van, I told Glenda this and she could hardly receive it. That week she had suffered great reproaches from those upon whom she had bestowed much love. She had been crying unto the Lord, “Does love matter, Lord? Does love matter?” The Lord answered her cry in this unusual way, showing that though love suffereth long, it is of utmost importance to our entering in.

Recently, the Holy Spirit whispered into my listening ear, “The shadows are coming closer to the real.” With that, my heart was full as I thought of all His beautiful expressions of truth to His Body through this array of vehicles over the past twenty years, and of the dealings of Faith Melodie (told in The Church Age Passes). My spirit leapt when I realized that the shadows would someday pass away and we would possess that eternal weight of glory of which they spoke. We purposed in my heart that with the Lord’s help, we would be willing to go through whatever was necessary to pay the price to enter into the glory of the Lord.

 “Yea, truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.”
 

l. Old, dark vehicle - walking in darkness, not knowing the Lord, having no power to overcome.

2. Red vehicle - born of God, but still walking in our own fleshly ways.

3. Blue and white car - transition period, a changeover, walking partly in the flesh, and partly in the spirit.

4. Older, common truck - a time of humbling, of rejection

5. New, white Valiant car - entering into perfection.

6. New green Montcalm - entering into the Mount of His Rest; new life.

7. New silver van - speaking of full salvation

8. New silver conversion van - full salvation and the glory of the Lord.