Your opening your house up to me – to me was a miracle. Your sweet love and openness was/is beautiful I needed to know God loved me and in so many ways He was trying to show me. First, the invitation to The Upper Room. Second, the open arms that greeted me. Third, a little dog named Joshua. As I poured out my heart and hurts to Peter – Joshua crawled in my lap and licked each tear that fell.

I sat in The Upper Room where I was sure God would meet me. I waited to be overwhelmed by His love – but it didn’t happen (at least not the way I expected). I didn’t recognize God’s love the first day – or the second – not until day five. I wasn’t seeing His love because it didn’t appear in feelings but in visible signs instead.

As I write this I am sitting in God’s lap – AND IT IS SAFE. Never has a father’s lap been safe before. Never has a father’s love been trustworthy before. This is all so new to me! I don’t know what to expect from a father, especially a loving Heavenly Father. I just want to be held tight. Tight as in safety – not at all tight as in restraining. It will take a special God to know my needs – without exceeding my defensive boundaries. The God that I saw in a loving light for the first time today is just Who I need. I had always tried before to earn – somehow deserve – His love. I’ve lived for God for years but not until I had nothing to give did I realize His love is free. It doesn’t matter if I am the busiest person in the church or so discouraged that a crowd of people scares me … God is the same and so is His love.

I have experienced many disgusting things and I was sure that no Holy God could even look on me – let alone love me. I keep forgetting He knows who is to blame – what’s under the blood and my involvement. I may not be able to see things clearly enough to love me or accept me, but God can. Thank you Father, for not doing things my way.

Thank you for your love and support. Even though I was a tough one, thanks for waiting it out with me!

I love you all,
Christa Whitener

As a little, unruly girl being held by her mother, she said, “Why don’t you give me to my Father and see what he can do with me,” I say, “ Father, here I am – do something with me.”

“My child, have I not filled you with My love and my Spirit? You have My power. To keep these bountiful gifts will only puff you up – like constantly taking in food.

“Give of what I give - for my supply knows no measure.

“Reach out to the lonely. Was I not alone in the garden? Did I not hang on the cross alone? Was I not thinking of you? My heart was breaking enough to die for you.

“Reach out to the sick. If I truly am in you, then you are the Balm of Gilead. Apply it my child. I will replenish your oil. Expect miracles, for I am the God of Miracles.

Reach out to the afflicted – those whose burdens are too heavy to bear. Do they have enough food and clothing? Do you care enough to seek such as need your help? Don’t wait until tomorrow. Help them and they will become the Church.

“As I died out to self on the cr5oss, you too must die out to self! Do it now!

“Don’t wait for others. I’m asking you to help me care for those in need. I will supply yours.

“Sunday has come – I’m alive! Let me quicken you by my Spirit so that, not only will you have life more abundantly, but others will have life everlasting because of your obedience. Obedience – then sacrifice. Joy Follows!

“Be prayed up and read up. I go before you.

“Come, child, rise up out of your own wants and desires. You will be fulfilled as you reach out to others.

“Hold my banner high. Keep your sword sharpened and march on to Victory in My Holy Name – Jesus.”

- through His handmaiden -

Marian Moreman

P.S. Thank you, Peter and Rebekah, for a wonderful, refreshing time. I feel loved! I know God has bottled my tears and scattered the remains of my Berlin Walls. It has been thrilling to meet new friends – to bless and be blessed.

My prayers are that God will shower you with blessings - truly they will overflow to others.

Cliff & Billie Barrows prayed in the unfinished Upper Room in the Summer of 1987.
They have continued to stay in touch with us ever since.

After Billie died of cancer and Cliff married Ann, we continue to hear from them.

First thing I wish to say is how much Cindy and I appreciate you both in sharing those brief and precious moments in the “Upper Room,” truly the love of God and his most skillful healing hands flow through the dwelling of your home and his loving servants. Peter, Cindy and I feel led to be a part of God’s Upper Room. And as God has poured out his blessings unto us, may we continue to share this blessing with others. Use this as God sees fit.

Both you and Rebekah are in our hearts and in our prayers that God will increase your love and strength as you both go forward into battle for Christ Jesus, Amen. May we decrease and God increase in our quest for Him.

As this was the first time to meet you both, it was as if I had known you all my life and had seen a dear friend after a long journey and been welcomed home with arms of love, joy and compassion. I pray that all the ones you meet and the ones God brings to your doorstep will be met with the same.

Well, we made it home safely back to Amarillo. We suffered a slight sinus cold when we came back. I guess we should have stayed – ha – ha! It becomes increasingly hard to leave your country. But I know we must complete our tasks wherever God has sent us. Sorry we weren’t able to help with the firewood; it would have been a grand time of fellowship. We look forward in seeing the both of you again and with more time. Hope we didn’t inconvenience you with your other plans that day.

Peter, I ask you both to pray for us as we strive to take up our cross daily. I feel God has a purpose for us in a fulltime ministry and as you shared, that as we open our gift, that we would not tear his wrapping.

May God bless you all,
In Christ, John, Cindy & Jonathan

Joshua 1:8 & 9

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt medidate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersovever thou goest.

O, where to begin …

For years I have watched and listened to all the women Vi has brought here to the Upper Room. And I have ached to be the next one invited; I have longed for God to say, “It’s your turn, Lee.” I have had to guard my heart against jealousy over those who have come before me, and resentment that Vi didn’t ask me next. But I have always prayed, after every story, after seeing each transformed face and life, “Please Lord, sometime, when it is Your time, send me!” And this was His timing and my turn!

This has been the culmination of an amazing journey; agonizing, suffering, petrifying, exhilarating and full of anguish, as well as victory.

The Lord’s work of healing in my sick fragmented, anguished, wounded, broken soul started in October 1991. Out of each part of healing I too, like you and Peter, ministered out of the pain and woundedness.

I have not much ministered from a position of wholeness and continuing joy and victory. But that time has come (I say this on shaky legs, because of its newness and unknowness, but with confidence because it is Christ in me, the hope of Glory!

I love God so much. I hunger for Him; I pant after His Presence and long for His Glory (though that in itself is terrifying because Moses was only allowed to see Glory’s back!), and passionately desire to attain and apprehend my beloved Jesus! And I love to meet people of the same spirit. And you are that kind of people!!

Thank you for being obedient to our Savior and joining Him in creating this wonderful Hiding Place! O, God can accomplish so much through us when we are obedient! Isn’t He wonderful?! Praise His Holy Name! Amen.

I will continue to pray for Father’s Day weekend; and I look so forward to seeing you again!

With warm affection and God’s overwhelming love,
your sister, Lee Blue

P.S. I’ll try to email you about mine and Ed’s coffee & pecan sandy communion!

To be continued by folks who visit “The Upper Room”
First posting of letters: November 13, 2011