While meditating in my easy chair, I heard the words, "Death Valley Days." I remembered that was the name of a program on TV when I was a child, but knew the Lord had more meaning in it than that.

I then heard the familiar scripture, "Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou are with me. Your rod and staff comfort me." Then the following message began to unfold...

There are many in the Body of Christ who have been and are truly experiencing a walking out of "Death Valley Days." These are days of walking through the valley of the shadow of death in many, very real ways. Many others have walked in that spot before us...

For Abraham, all that the Lord required was a symbolic acting out of giving up his son, and he got him back, and so much more.

For Job, it meant that he was tested when he lost everything...his home, all that he had worked for, his family and finally even his friends. God didn't "do it to him," but He tested him through it.

Just as it meant something different for those two men, it will mean something different to each of you who read this.

But the one thing you all have in common is that you are to know this: this valley you are walking through is fruitful, and very precious and fertile ground. This valley is a spiritual marker in your life that you will look back on and know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the Lord walked through it with you.

This world is about to step into some of its most trying times, and THIS IS JUST A TEST.

Ecclesiastes 3:18 says: I said in my heart, "Concerning the estate of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like beasts."

The Lord tests us; He doesn't tempt us. He allows us to go through these tests so that WE might see what is in us. He already knows the beginning from the end! And in this testing, we are seeing things we didn't know was in us - both good and bad - and will emerge from this as sanctified, clean vessels, fit for His use.

You will be able to say as it says in 2 Timothy 4:17: "But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me so that the message might be preached fully through me that all might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion."

For truly, "this too shall pass" - and just as Hebrews 6:15 says, "And so after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise," it shall also be said of YOU! - "For, our God is a consuming fire!" (Hebrews 12:29) - And truly, this is a baptism of fire and purging process that we are walking through.

In the process, we must not allow ourselves to judge our circumstances by that of another. This testing of our hearts is different for each of us.

Some are being tested through the loss of title, jobs, finances, friends, reputation, position, material belongings, having to 'die' to life long dreams, losing businesses - while others are being tested through abundance.

Am I saying that God is making this happen? No. But the testing of our faith is occurring through what is happening in our lives.

America has been blessed by not having war on our shores, and suffering the losses that other countries have. But we need to examine our hearts. We need to ask what would happen if all we had were gone in a flash. Would we shake our fists towards heaven and curse God or would we "arise and shine" and let the glory of the Lord be manifested through us in such dark times?

The Lord IS going to have such a church, and we will be a part of it. A people that will exude His Glory, manifested in and through us, "for such a time as this."

Let us endure any chastening, for the father is dealing with us as sons (Hebrews 12:7-10) And remember the following verses: (11) No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been TRAINED by it. (12) Therefore STRENGTHEN THE HANDS WHICH HANG DOWN, AND THE FEEBLE KNEES (13) And MAKE STRAIGHT PATHS FOR YOUR FEET, so that what is lame may NOT be dislocated, but rather be HEALED.

Let Us also be cautious of how we treat others who are also "in process." Let us not judge, and thus be judged accordingly. Instead, let us.... (14) Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. (15) Looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.

This is truly a time of purging for us all. Let's look into our own spiritual mirrors and heed His voice in taking care of what He speaks to us about... (25) See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall WE not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven. (26) whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven."

The end result will be that He removes those things that have been hindering us... (27) Now this, "yet once more" indicates the REMOVAL of those things that are made, that the things which CANNOT BE SHAKEN may REMAIN. (28) Therefore, since we are RECEIVING a kingdom which CANNOT be shaken, let us HAVE GRACE by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (29) For our God is a consuming fire.

Be encouraged! It is the SHADOW of death; but to you, a well spring of LIFE! For, though gross darkness is about to cover the earth, YOU, Dear Church, WILL rise and SHINE, and the Glory of the Lord WILL be seen upon YOU!!! (Isaiah 60: 1 & 2)

Joni Ames P.O. Box 10808 Rock Hill, SC 29731 E-mail: JoniAmes@aol.com Websites: http://members.aol.com/joniames And: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JoniAmes