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Cindy Parton and her husband Bob have hosted weekly “soaking” meetings in their home in Fort Worth, Texas for over 12 years. “Soaking” is the modern term for the ancient Jewish form of waiting before God and allowing Him to immerse, saturate, and drench us in His presence. It is a time of intimacy with our Heavenly Father where we become “filled up” with His Spirit to the point of overflow.

In 1995, Bob and I were in the midst of a desperate time in our lives. Our youngest daughter, who was 17 and a junior in high school, had just left home in total rebellion. This situation caused us to cry out, “God, we have to have You! We must know what You are going to do in this situation and what we need to do!”

Two months later, John and Carol Arnott brought the “Toronto Blessing” revival to a city near us. As we were lying on the floor in God’s presence during the ministry time, God touched us in a dramatic way. We decided we had received something very special from God, and to maintain it we had to continue meeting and keep staying in His presence.

On Labor Day 1995, we started a weekly meeting in our home. We didn’t even think about how long we would go or how many years it would last. We didn’t have any set programs or agendas; we just knew we had to have the presence of God. As we began meeting in our home every Monday night, He would show up and do miraculous things. People began to receive words from God, see visions, and get healed. Marriages were restored and people’s lives were radically changed.

During this time, Bob and I received healing in our hearts. As our daughter saw how God had changed our lives through soaking, she was drawn back into right relationship with Him.

When we started soaking over 12 years ago, we had no idea that God was going to use soaking so powerfully. At that time, we were completely burned out on church programs, agendas and activities. We were desperate to have an encounter with God, to have our own experience, and to know God. We were not content just to hear about God. It was such a peaceful and rewarding experience to enter into His rest and not to feel threatened or that we had to compete with others. We learned to relax in God’s presence and receive His infilling rather
than to strive in prayer.

God began to make Himself real to us. We started to see Him and know Him in a different way, to learn how much He really loves us. Anything that concerns us, concerns Him. We saw ourselves growing spiritually and saw our gifts being developed. We learned how to recognize each unique gift that God has given to every individual. We began to flow as a team, realizing that each gift from God is exceptional and that we do not have to compete with others. This removes all pressure from performing.

When we started soaking in God’s Presence, we were committed “ it was our appointment with God and we didn’t miss it. We plan our schedules around our Monday night soaking. It is the most important part of our week. WE LOVE MONDAYS!!

We began to see the results of our soaking immediately. Lives were transformed right before our eyes. Joy and laughter replaced sorrow and tears. Hope was restored in people who had lost all hope. People’s hearts were softened as they had their own encounter with the Holy Spirit.

We were as overwhelmed as anyone else and humbled that God would come
to our home in such an incredible way.

Heaviness was being lifted and people began to experience divine encounters with God. We found that when we became still and quiet before God, He imparted to the people visions, words, poems, songs and pictures. New revelations were coming every time we met together. God gave us a genuine love for Him. We wanted to be so filled up with the Holy Spirit that the anointing would flow onto everyone we met.

We found a love for people that we had never experienced before. When our hearts are healed, we are in better condition to help others. We cannot give away what we do not have.

I recently asked our group to identify some of the benefits of soaking that they have experienced. The following is what they shared with me:

Freedom, joy, happiness, strength, victory, peace, deliverance, grace, experiencing the love of the Father, excitement, encouragement, equipping,
new boldness and confidence, hope restored, physical, mental and emotional healing, and a change in countenance. People are more in love with Jesus than ever before. They are able to recognize the Father’s voice and receive clear wisdom and revelation. More prayers are answered, because as you soak, God gives specific instructions on how to pray.

There have been countless stories of lives changed. One couple had struggled with marriage problems for years and had tried several marriage counselors. Finally, one counselor recommended that they go to our soaking meetings as part of their therapy. They have been attending now for almost two years. God has totally restored their marriage and their family. The husband shared the other night that, through soaking, he has become even more aware of his children’s needs and how to be a better father to them. As he soaks, God shows him what to say to each one of his children.

God has been faithful to show up every Monday night. We have learned that all we have to do is provide a safe place for everyone to come and to receive more of God and trust Him to do the rest.

Here’s how we do the weekly soaking meetings at our house. First, I tell everyone to get in a comfortable position. Some lie down on the floor, others sit. We play worship music in the background. Then we simply say, “Holy Spirit, come. Do whatever You want to do here today.” And we wait on Him. We give Him permission to search our hearts and lives and to give us what He knows we need the most. We welcome the Holy Spirit and have learned that He never disappoints us.

Our God is a fun God. He wants us to have fun being in His presence. Soaking has taught us how to be childlike in our faith, to know that we can trust God for everything.

One of the exciting ways that God shows up for us is to give us visions or, as we have come to describe them, “prophetic symbolisms.” You have heard that a picture is worth a thousand words. When God gives you a picture, it is worth even more because of the many lives that it will touch as you share with others.

God tells us in Joel 2:28 that “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” I encourage you to ask for visions and dreams. Pray that God will pour out His Spirit and then the signs and wonders will follow. We want to see miracles, we want to experience His glory.

We have experienced “revival” in our home every Monday night since Labor Day 1995.” What we believe God has taught us through these experiences is that soaking is what brings revival and soaking is what keeps revival going.” A touch from God is good, but a life change is so much better.” Soaking changes your life forever.” It is a constant, continual change that keeps us refreshed and revived daily to be about our Father’s business.

If you are ready to start “soaking” in God’s presence, pray the following prayer and then just be still and wait on Him to come. He will be faithful to you just as He has been to us.

Heavenly Father, I invite You to come right now. I want the Holy Spirit to minister to me. I am hungry and desperate to be in Your Presence. I am no longer satisfied just to hear about You. I want my own experience and encounter with You. Change my life. Turn my world upside down. I ask You to reveal any areas of my heart that need to be healed. I choose to forgive everyone who has hurt or offended me in any way. I release them from this debt; they owe me nothing. I choose to let them go free. I ask You for physical, mental and emotional healing. I want to be filled up and overflowing with the Holy Spirit so that I can minister to others and love them the way that You do. In Jesus” Name, Amen.

Come Holy Spirit and FILL THEM UP!!

Dear Mishpochah,
I recently interviewed Bill McKay, a Hollywood film producer, about his DVD documentary entitled, Against All Odds. He investigated miracles that occurred during the wars fought by modern-day Israel.

Bill tells of an amazing miracle at the start of the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Israel was caught by surprise. All the Jewish people were in the synagogues praying during this high holy day. In one strategic location, there were only five Israeli tanks to resist over 100 Syrian tanks. At first, the Israeli tanks withdrew in fear. But at that moment, the Israeli tank commander heard the voice of God. Against all odds, he held off the Syrian tank armada for two days. This bought enough time for Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir to contact the U.S. for help. If America did not send military armament, Israel would not survive.

The U.S. Congress had instructed Golda to work through Henry Kissinger, the U.S. Secretary of State. But Kissinger had rebuffed Israel again and again. After turning Golda down for the last time, Kissinger said to the media, “It is time to let the Jews bleed a little.”

It was against protocol for Golda to go over Kissinger’s head and appeal directly to the President, but she was already making plans for defeat and a government in exile. Golda called Richard Nixon on the “hot line” in the middle of the night and pleaded, “Mr. President, we are going to be wiped off the face of the earth. We need help!”
President Nixon had been prepared for this moment as a child. His mother, a devout Christian, had told him, “Richard, some day you will be a man of great influence and power and at that moment the Jewish people are going to need your help. You must do all that you can do to save the Jews.” As he listened to Golda’s request, Nixon recalled his mother’s admonition and he knew what he had to do. In spite of the fact that this action would likely cause Congress to accelerate his impeachment, Nixon gave the order to ship a massive amount of U.S. weapons to save Israel.

President Nixon made up for all of his mistakes that fateful evening as history was changed.
The other miracles documented and re-enacted on this DVD (at top Hollywood levels) are of the magnitude of Moses parting the Red Sea. Please order this unique DVD, Against All Odds, by clicking here.

Many people are suspicious of miracles. However, Bill McKay’s intensive investigative reporting of these miraculous events will melt the greatest skeptic’s heart. God’s intervention is the only reason for modern-day Israel’s survival.

As Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) approach, we Jewish people greet each other by saying “LeShanah Tovah Tikatevu!” (May you be inscribed [in the Book of Life] for a good year). Because of your partnership in this ministry, we will see tens of thousands of Jews inscribed in the Lamb’s Book of Life. This is God’s moment for mercy on Israel. Jesus will say to you, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Shalom and Love,

Sid Israel Roth

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright ©1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.