Editor’s Note: As the new year approaches, numerous ministry leaders are seeking God to hear what He is saying to His people. This week and through the month of January we will bring you some of the words they are receiving. Today’s Prophetic Insight is from Barbara Wentroble, founder of International Breakthrough Ministries and Breakthrough Business Network (internationalbreakthroughministries.org), who is a gifted apostolic and prophetic minister. She believes God is calling us to take on the anointing of a reformer for 2009.

12:00AM EST 12/30/2008

The birth of Jesus was not about pine needles, eggnog, apple cider or cinnamon candles.

I associate Christmas with sensory overload: Colored lights twinkle, sleigh bells jingle and snow makes cheeks rosy, except here in Florida where we generate that frosty winter feeling with air conditioners. Then there are the holiday smells: Pine needles, cinnamon candles, spiced apple cider, eggnog, roast turkey and that musty smell of boxed ornaments that come out of the attic only once a year. Plus my favorite: White Christmas coffee, a strong brew with a tinge of coconut.

12:00AM EST 12/24/2008

Editor’s Note: The following prophetic bulletin was originally written by John Paul Jackson, founder of Streams Ministries International (streamsministries.com), in August 2008. He later released it publicly at the prompting of his board—not knowing how relevant it would be at that time. Jackson says of the bulletin: “When I first wrote it, little did I know the events that were soon to happen concerning Todd Bentley, the Gulf hurricanes, Russia’s invasion of Georgia, the trains that would collide near Los Angeles, Sarah Palin’s nomination and the stir that would cause, or September 15th’s stock market plunge. All of these are early elements of what the Lord called ‘The Coming Perfect Storm.’” We reprint the bulletin here in order to give it as wide a circulation as possible. At the end you can click to read Jackson’s comments about dealing with tough times and his list of six things you should keep in mind as you weather the storm.

12:00AM EST 12/23/2008

In its Dec. 15 cover story, the magazine tried to rewrite the Bible. Don’t believe the lies.

If awards were given for shock journalism, Newsweek would win the prize for its provocative Dec. 15 cover story. The headline, hanging above a simple black Bible with a rainbow-striped ribbon sticking out of it, reads: “The Religious Case for Gay Marriage.” With one big kaboom, writer Lisa Miller dropped a literary bomb on 2,000 years of Christian scholarship by suggesting that Jesus would have been OK with Matthew marrying Mark and Luke marrying John.

12:00AM EST 12/17/2008

Everyone has to deal with inconveniences, but when we do so, we must avoid a bad attitude.

Too many things compete for our limited resources of attention, energy and time. Do you experience days when nothing seems to get done except what you've added to your already-lengthy to-do list? Are you tired most of the time? Do you find yourself wishing for a simpler day?

I know all about feeling overwhelmed. I wasted many years hoping things would calm down. I used to complain to God about my schedule being absolutely insane. I'd cry, "God, how could anyone be expected to do all that I have to do?" 7:00PM EST 11/30/2008

This has not been an easy year. On the national front we’ve endured a divisive presidential campaign, a mortgage crisis, soaring gas prices, low consumer confidence, renewed tensions with Russia, bank failures, layoffs, selloffs, buyouts, bailouts and meltdowns—plus a storm that almost wiped Galveston off the map.

It has also been a tough year spiritually. Moral failures and divorces among Christian leaders have left many disillusioned. Politics has bitterly divided the church. Ministries have had to cut back because of the economic downturn. Some of my friends are joking about buying “I SURVIVED 2008” T-shirts. 8:00PM EDT 10/31/2008