God Heals Through Prophetic Art!

For my first ever prophetic art painting during worship at church, I painted a picture a silhouette of a mans face and the Holy Spirit like a lion roaring into their ear. The person was holding 'the harvest' and had a bracelet with life around their wrist. I remember at the time feeling that Holy Spirit wanted me to pain a wave of water going up and touching the persons ear. I felt that God was going to heal peoples ears.

After worship, I presented this painting to an elderly man named Earnest and he was prophecied over by another team member. Then at the end of the meeting A lady named “Gramma” who I had met at the front desk, came up and said that she suffered from Tinnitus and ringing in her ears.

So I released the testimony of a friend who had been healed of that condition and said “I think God wants to do it again!” As we began to pray, what was like a huge wave of the spirit, literally surged upon us and dumped on us! JUST LIKE THE PAINTING!!! It felt like a huge wave was crashing over us! I was holding the womans head as she arched back…(I have never seen a granny arch that far back!) I was getting knocked over too! She was like 65-70 years and arched back so far, that a teenager luckily caught her before she fell to the ground.

While she was down, God kept pouring over both her and me!. Then she got up, and I asked “how are you feeling?” she said “I cant tell until I go out of the room.” So I told her to come back and tell me if she hadn’t been healed because God wanted to heal her. She came back later to tell me “Guess what! I have been completely healed!” I didnt realise how cool it was, until I spoke to a few friends who told me that Tinnitus (ringing in the ear) is right up there with deafness as being incurrable and that people have suicided because of it!) Anyways God is AMAZING and he wants to heal today!

Zeke's Business & Trampoline Miracle!

Zeke came to me (Dave) during the summer and said "Daddy, I want to get some more toys!" So I said to him "Ok, well then you will have to start a business!". Zeke (3) looked at me with those big gaping 'Why' eyes and said "Daddy, what's a business?" So I told him how it worked and then he said "Daddy, I want a trampoline!" I drew up a chart (that he could colour in each time) and we made a goal of how much we wanted to make roughly. Then we proceeded to see what opportunities were around him to make this happen?

Zeke and I ended up negotiating with Mike and Bec (our amazing Aussie friends) for Zeke to move some wheelbarrows of bark (at the lucrative price of $1 per wheelbarrow) from one part of the property to the other, so they could plant turf.

So for the next 2 weeks roughly, Zeke and I got up early, had a quick bite for breakfast and headed out to aim to shovel 10 wheelbarrows (before the hot sun came out!) Zeke also managed to con-vince Mikes two kids to work for him. So the four of us shovelled (the kids used broom and shovels) After all of this, Zeke ended up shovelling 45 wheelbarrows, with the help of his cheap labour and dad!

Then we prayed for a miracle... and God came through! On Craigslist (a second hand on-line community selling website) we found a brand new trampoline (without a mat) for $45!!! This was an incredible price, as they retailed for $280 new with a mat (the mats were $90) So we grabbed this one... but then we had no mat.

Then a friend of ours Satch, dropped in one morning and announced to Taff and Zeke that his friends had heard the story and given him $150 for a mat!!! So Zeke had more than enough to buy a mat, pay his Tithe and his cheap labourers! Praise God that he is a generous God!

Zeke's Resurrection from the dead!

A friend of Dave's began to teach him about planting a vegetable garden. So Dave took up the challenge and made a garden with strawberries, basil, oregano, lettuce, tomatoes and a capsicum plant.

All of these went well, except for the lettuce seeds (which Zeke washed away in the early days!)

and the capsicum plant. It shot out 2 capsicums, but then died suddenly, withering into a yellow semi dry organism. Dave thought "Oh well! there we go again! maybe I am just not a gardener after all!" The plant was like this for weeks.

Then one morning while Dave was undertaking his usual ritual of watering the plants... Zeke came out in his pajamas. He then walked straight up to the capsicum plant, bent down and began to extend his hand and pray over the plant! Dave just stood there watering mouth gaping wide open! Then Zeke walked back inside! Dave said "Zeke did you just pray for the plant?" and he replied "Yes". Two weeks later the plant re-shot out of the top and has now produced two new capsicums and some more on the way!!! Praise God that He is a God who raises the dead! and does it through a child! Go Zeke!

life is relationships

I know that Dave has already shared about the power of community, but I (Taff) wanted to share about some of my personal journey with this.

Prior to coming to Bethel, I thought I was a fairly transparent person. I have since realised how much I wasn't. Rather, I was trying to fit into the idea of what I thought was expected of me - as a person, a friend, and especially a leader. I felt I always had to be strong; that despite tough times I could still keep it together. I felt I always had to have something to say, something to share or teach. But I've learnt that it's ok to show your weaknesses and allow other people to see what's going on in your life. It's ok not to have something to say, but to just be with people and share life with them. Let me try to explain more.

Many times back in Australia, we would joke around with our friends about 'living in community'. I always rejected the idea. Who would really want to live with other people? Sharing everything? Even the messy times? Not me! However, I eventually got to the point where I said to our closest friends that I could POSSIBLY live with them. Little did I know that these conversations were preparation for what we would be doing here in the US.

As we were looking for housing, Dave threw out the idea of having people rent with us to help cover costs. I didn't take to the idea initially due to the size of the houses we were looking at. When we found the house we are now in, I just knew it was perfect - and even perfect for having roomies! (Admittedly, the size of our house in Australia was not good for extra people so I think the idea of living with people in a small house really didn't gel with me!) So it was an easy decision (one that had a lot of grace on it) to have people live with us.

The first person to join our house was Tim. He and his girlfriend (now wife - yay!) were the perfect people to have around. They became amazing friends - and have had to put up with my transition into loving community! They've seen the good, the bad and the ugly - and they still seem to love me. They, and our other roomies, have endured the journey I have been on about being real with people and being ok with people seeing the mess in my life. They've also helped me to learn brave communication (openly talking about concerns etc).

We also have other amazing friends that have journeyed through this with us (me in particular). Our house became the place where people hang out - and we love it. Many of our close friends are Aussies - so good ol' Aussie humour was never left out at any gathering. At times I felt like some of my 'stronger and perhaps not so likable' characteristics became the brunt of many jokes. Ones that have been brought to my attention plenty of times over the years. After a while I had to check - was this really an issue or is it simply a joke (and I was a good bite :) )? I couldn't just hold it in anymore. I had to find out. This is where relationship really started...I began to open up and ask questions. I learnt that yep, at times I over stepped the boundaries, but I was still loved for who I was. I could be around these people, show my weaknesses, and still be accepted and loved. I didn't need to be strong and in control. We have learnt more recently in our Love After Marriage workshop, that when nothing is hidden - no secrets - that's when there can be a deeper relationship. I have taken this concept on as a strength for any relationship. I can share what I'm struggling with and know that I am only going to get support, love and prayer. I can speak to a person directly about a thought or issue I may have with them, and know that that friendship will only deepen and be stronger for it. I know that by me being open and honest, allows them to feel safe and do the same. People can relate to realness! They can relate to struggles. Then, they can celebrate with you when you have success! They become a part of the journey. Every relationship - even people I just meet - I feel like I can offer more of me (the good and the bad) which will help that relationship go deeper, even just a little. Not everyone in my life will be my best friend, and I'm not saying I share my deepest darkest feelings with a person I meet for the first time, however being real just makes people feel more important (at least that's what I think).

I now look for opportunities to go deeper with people. I get a little restless if the relationship feels stagnant. And I am constantly still learning how to make this a part of my life more and more. I just read 'The Shack' (yep, finally!) over the last 24 hours (hubby away on camp!) and it just confirmed everything I'm learning about relationships. I've been wanting a 'love encounter' with Jesus, and I think I'm in the middle of it - but it doesn't look like what I thought it would. Father has been showing me his love through people, through relationships, through life! I haven't been shaking or laughing or doing anything 'abnormal'. But I have felt the love of God through relationship with people. I feel so loved right now. I have amazing friends and roomies (now we have 2 girls - but that's another story) and I am learning not to try and earn God's love by doing what I am supposed to (cause I can't), but rather just capture his love for me by being in constant relationship with him, and learning to know the voice of Holy Spirit.

My only sad point is that I wish our close friends and family were all with us to be more a part of it! Skype (and time differences) make it very hard to catch up regularly and be able to share all that's going on. I now long for greater relationships with these people.

As for me as a leader, well that's still to be tested. I've just been given an opportunity to oversee the worship for the parenting group I've been leading worship at. There's only 3 of us at the moment, but I've got a lot to learn and practice so that's plenty for now! :)

We have the amazing opportunity to sit in a culture where everyone is learning similar things about their identity and relationships, so it does make it a bit easier. There is definitely a grace for that here. However, it's not limited to here. I don't intend to leave behind what I've learnt here either! Life is relationships. With people, and God (three in one). And life is so much better this way!

One Year On...

Today it is exactly 1 year since we first set our feet on American soil; and what an amazing year it has been! Following over 14 different messages from God (like visions, bible verses, prophecies coincidences and miracles) which told us to move our family to America, has been well worth it! Our minds have been renewed and transformed, our hands equipped with powerful tools, our hearts poured into with love, and our lives filled with friendship and blessing! It certainly has been a significant year of our lives, and we wouldn't trade it for anything.

Along with this, we have seen God miraculously provide through friends and community. Last year He provided over 30,000!!! which enabled us to not only live in a country in which we were not able to work, but we have also been able to give more than in any other year of our marriage gone by!

This year we are believing for God greater intimacy with Him, are praying that we live an even more supernatural lifestyle and empower others to do the same.

Taff & I are going to be involved in the following ministries:

• Love After Marriage Course (18 weeks) our vision is to grow our marriage into a supernatural one!

• Leading the YMCA youth mentoring program weekly.

• Serving in the healing rooms on Saturday mornings – Taff leading worship and Dave praying for the sick.

• Feeding the poor on Saturday afternoons in South Park Redding. Taff and others will be doing some live music.

• Running a prophetic home group – teaching people the power of prophecy and intimacy with Father God.

• Travelling with Bethel leaders – activating places around the world in prophecy, healing, evangelism and revival culture.

• Resourcing Australian families and churches for revival.

Taking on another year does come with its new challenges. Again, we face another year of no full time income. Dave is still able to work 1 day a week for SU Victoria as a resource writer, which we are so thankful for, however this doesn't come close to covering all our expenses here. The start of another year brings in quite a few large expenses also. School fees, travel insurance, missions/ministry trips, car rego, month to month living expenses etc. Now we are at a place again where we are trusting God to provide the finance for the big expenses we mentioned above. We don't like to ask for money, however we feel God wants us to show you our areas of need so you can either pray or contribute. As mentioned above, there are 3 main areas that we are in need:

1. School Fees

Dave's school fees are required to be paid in full prior to his commencement on September 7th. Already we have had a generous donation of $1000 towards this! Wow! That means we still need another $2700 to cover the remainder of his tuition fees. On the left of our blog we have listed a website that you can go to to give directly into this. (Just type in David Harvey when you're in there). Every dollar that is given through there is put directly towards the fees. However, be aware that there will be international exchange fees added to your total from your bank. If you want to avoid this, you can put money into Dave's Bendigo Bank account (also listed on the left) and we can make a transfer of a larger sum of money which limits the fees :). If you choose this option, you can send us an email or mark it on the transaction what you want the funds to be put towards

2. Missions/Ministry Trips

This year Dave has the opportunity to travel with Bill Johnson, Kris Valloton and other leaders from Bethel on Ministry Trips. However these trips cost money, for travel, accommodation and food etc. The trips he is hoping to go on will bring healing, revival and Gods power to countries around the world, as well as give Dave incredible training and mentoring with some of the worlds best travelling ministries!

3. Daily Living Expenses & Travel Insurance.

Our monthly living expenses are around $2500. We have been given enough donations over the last year to cover our daily living expenses and we are truly grateful! This is another area that you can help us with if you feel led in the coming months. Also, our travel insurance covered us for one year in the USA. Now that year is up, we need to renew our coverage ($1400 for another 12months.)

Again, please do not feel under any pressure to give. We just want to give you the opportunity to pray or sow as you feel led, knowing exactly what you are giving in to.

We keep hearing stories of people reading our blog updates and passing it on to other people to read because they are so encouraged by it. Our prayer is that over the next few months, we will be able to write about how good God has been so you can be encouraged and believe him for all your needs also! We like to release testimonies to build your faith.

Thank you again for supporting and loving us! Keep writing to us to tell us what's going on! We miss people dearly! So we like to hear about what's happening in your life! Please let us know how we can support you too - what can we pray for? how can we resource your or show you more about what we're learning? Whatever we learn, we want to pass on to you!

The Power of Community

Recently we had Banning Liebiesher (Jesus Culture) preach at Bethel on the subject of the Power of Community. He talked about how Westerners read the bible through an ‘individualistic’ mindset. We looked at the bible as a list of promises and quotes to help us. But he challenged us that the bible was a ‘story’ and multiple ‘stories within stories’ of communities living with s supernatural God. Then he began to challenge us that the gospel was never designed to be worked out between ‘you and God’, but it was always designed to be worked out between ‘you, God and community’. He said that “the dreams that God has for my life and yours, are soo big, that we cannot do them by ourselves, even with God. But in order to receive the supernatural grace required to do all that God has called us to do, we need to live in community!”

Our victories are in your hands, your victories are in our hands. He went on to tell how he and his wife had been in a restaurant on ‘date night’ and were talking about his wife’s mother who had been having a difficult time at work for months. As his wife was sharing about her mothers recent battles, a spirit of faith came over Banning, and he said, “Honey, I feel like we have been given favour right now to change the atmosphere over your mothers workplace.” So as the waiter brought out the bread they began to take authority in prayer over the mothers’ workplace. Two days later, his wife called her mother, and asked “how is your workplace going?” She said “Its really strange, but two days ago, it was like the whole atmosphere changed!” God works through Community.

Your breakthrough, and mine, are in the hands of friends and family in a restaurant somewhere. As we share our loads with one another, God’s grace is poured out. Not me and God, but God, me and others.

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

It is on our hearts to journey with community and see the Gospels power released in people’ s lives. If you have would like to enter into community with us and others, we would love to hear of any situations we join with you in prayer for. Please email us on davetaff727@att.net and we would love to pray the prayer of faith and see breakthrough.

Miracles are for Today!

“As He is, so are we in this world.” This Scripture echoes the heights to which EVERY Christian or Christ filled man or woman is created to soar! It doesn’t say, “As He was”… even if it did, that would be an incredible improvement on all of Christianity today! But it takes it even further… “As He is”… Risen, Victorious over the whole earth, over all sickness, over all death. Nothing is in His way, all things are under His feet. Complete Dominion. This is how we are called to live “in this world.” Not when we get to heaven, but our position in Christ has bought for us an authority and power to bring Heaven to Earth in every circumstance, every time. Here are just a few of the miracles we have seen over the Summer as we have pursued Him.

House Purchase & Sale Miracle!

I was praying with a friend from Australia in his car (while we waited for our Chinese to cook). He was wanting to purchase a house in the US. All of a sudden, I felt faith arise and I said “God we ask you for a house within 3 days!” (it felt weird but right). Anyway within 3 days they had found a house! Which they later purchased!

Then He came to me and said, “I need to sell a property in Australia, can we pray again?” So we prayed and within a few hours he had a phone call from Australia, His house was sold!

Internet Man & Knee Healed!

We had a man from AT&T (phone company) come over to fix our internet which was playing up. While he was working on our router, I was looking after the kids, and all of a sudden I realized that I was having the words “he has a sore right knee” flash across my minds eye. So I ignored it… but it stayed with me for 20min! I realized God was wanting to heal this man, so I said “Hey, do you by any chance happen to have a sore right knee?” He turned and mouth agape said “How did you know?” I said “Oh God told me, I think he wants to heal you! Can I pray for you!” He said “Sure!” Then he opened up about how he’d been the ‘salvation target’ at an all Christian company and that he was an Atheist. I said “Hey that’s ok, lets just see what Jesus does.” So Taff and I prayed for him, and he said “It feels much better! It feels much better!” He left and thanked us soo much for praying for his knee!

Back Instantly Healed in Australia!

Recently we had some friends from Wollongong Australia visit us in the US. The wife began to share one morning that her husband was suffering from a really sore back, and was having to do lots of sitting and travelling which was causing him great pain. She asked if we could pray. So we did. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit as people prayed.

2 days later she was on the phone to her husband and she asked him about how his back was going. He said “Yeah, it has been great, ever since a few days ago!” His wife asked him what day it was, and it was the exact day that we prayed! Praise God!

3 Girls Prophecied Over on a Bench!

We were out on a “Treasure Hunt” (where you ask the Holy Spirit for clues and then go out onto the streets to look and pray for the people you have been given clues for) We were drawn across the Sundail bridge towards a group of three girls sitting in the bushes overlooking the river. After talking with them, we realized that we’d had their clothing “black shirt” and “pink shirt” on our treasure map. Another clue we’d had was depression, hopelessness, giving up on life etc. Then I felt God ‘highlight’ the girl in the pink shirt, and so I asked if we could prophecy over her. She said “Yes sure”. So I prophecied as God gave me, and she said “You nailed it! Everything you said was right on!” Then she said “Can I give you a hug?” So I did. Then we prophecied over the other two girls and they were incredibly blessed too! The girls were beaming when we left, we knew that God had done something powerful in their lives.

Wedding Party Miracles of Provision…

Recently Taff and I worked out our bills and bank balance, we only had a few days before we had to pay rent and utilities and we were $100 short. So we prayed and declared God’s favour over our lives. Within a few days, some incredible boys from a mates Wedding party emailed us to tell us to look in the top drawer of Zekes wardrobe. In it was $340!!! Then we had other people dump a whole lot of food into our cupboards, and then a friend asked if he could store 50lbs of Alaskan fish and seafood in our fridge saying “help yourselves to it guys!” God truly is our source and support!

Tennis Elbow…long term healing!

I had suffered with Tennis elbow for over 2years in Australia. The doctors couldn’t tell me what was wrong and all they could do was give me a cortisone shot, which only covered the pain for a few months. Anyway I went to the healing rooms when we first arrived a year ago. But there was no improvement initially. Just recently, tTaff asked me “How is your tennis elbow?” I had to think about it, and said “I think its better!” God hears every prayer we pray, and every prayer goes to work to bring heaven to earth.

Black Man & Woman Holy Spirit Encounter…

Recently we went to South Park in Redding to feed the poor with Bethels Saturday outreach teams. I met a man in a wheelchair named CW, who needed to take a meal back to his wife Beatrice. I said “I will walk with you” On the way I asked if I could pray for him and his wife. He said “sure”. So when I got into his little run down unit, I prayed with his wife. The presence of God filled the smelly little house and his wife began to cry. God touched both CW and his wife powerfully and now they want to come to church!