Being Courageous

June 6th, 2025

It’s all about the Glory of GOD!

We must keep things in perspective.  As we walk in full maturity in Christ, we will glorify Our Heavenly Fathers in our words and actions.  Our light will draw all men unto HIM and bring forth Heaven to earth. 

It is written by The Holy Spirit in Isaiah chapter 60:

1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the Glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.

3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

And in Habakkuk chapter 2:

14 For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.

The end goal is for everything to be immersed, bathed, and baptized in HIS Glory.

How important is the glory that manifested the Presence of Jesus?

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 3:

23 for we all have sinned and are in need of the glory of God.

24 Yet through His powerful declaration of acquittal, God freely gives away His righteousness. His gift of Love and favor now cascades over us, all because Jesus, the Anointed One, has liberated us from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin!

The manifested Presence of Jesus was the initial target for every person alive, including creation, to be immersed in and live in this manifested Presence of Jesus and His Glory.

When sin happened, we fell short of that target.  But when Jesus forgave us, bought us, healed us, and delivered us, He restored us to the target which is still the Glory of THE LORD.

When you get courageous, you attract HIS Glory.

It is recorded by The Holy Spirit in 1st Samuel chapter 14:

6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.”

GOD is not limited by the size of what is set before us, by time, by numbers.  We are not to allow pressure to affect us because of numbers, time, or size.  The renewed mind is not impressed or intimidated with numbers.  It’s neither impressed or intimidated with the size of the problem. 

The renewed mind comes from the realm of unlimited supply.  It’s not fantasy or mind over matter.  It’s a reality that we abide in and live in.

Jesus spoke in John chapter 15:

7 If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Do you want to attract GOD’S glory?  Abide in Jesus, live in full unity with Him allowing His Words to live powerfully within you.  If you do, you will bear much fruit and glorify Our Heavenly Father here on earth.  Nothing will be impossible for you.  Why?  You live from the realm of abundant supply towards problems that arise.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Philippians chapter 1:

27 Whatever happens, keep living your lives based on the reality of the Gospel of Christ. Then when I come to see you, or hear good reports of you, I’ll know that you stand united in one Spirit and one passion—celebrating together as conquerors in the faith of the Gospel.

28 And then you will never be shaken or intimidated by the opposition that rises up against us. Your courage will prove to be a sure sign from God of the adversaries’ coming destruction

As doers of The Word, we are to be courageous and as we are, we will not be intimidated by any circumstance.  We will bring forth HIS Glory on the earth.

Letting Go And Moving Forward

June 5th, 2025

Bitterness develops because of suffering an offense from another person or persons!

Who would you rather correct an injustice against you, GOD or you?

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 18:

3 “Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable like a little child, you will never be able to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

4 Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this little child is the greatest one in Heaven’s Kingdom realm.

5 And if you tenderly care for this little one on My behalf, you are tenderly caring for Me.

6 But if anyone abuses one of these little ones who believes in Me, it would be better for him to have a heavy boulder tied around his neck and be hurled into the deepest sea than to face the punishment he deserves!

7 “Misery will come to the one who lures people away into sin. Troubles and obstacles to your faith are inevitable, but great devastation will come to the one guilty of causing others to stumble!

Jesus includes you and me as His Children in the above passage.  Until we are fully mature, we are as immature children subject to abuse by others.  We are to let Him administer justice on our behalf.  If we trust IN HIM, then we will not be offended when someone commits an injustice.  Our level of maturity will be reflected by how quickly we let go of the offense.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2nd Corinthians chapter 9:

8 And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.  AMP

FATHER gives us sufficient grace (enablement) to respond to every situation we encounter.  As we embrace the promise given to us in the above verse, we will not be moved by any challenge we encounter and, in many cases, we will provide the solution to those no matter what their need.  Those who offend us will not deter us from being fully led by THE SPIRIT.

The goal of the adversary is to keep us away from being a creative positive influence in culture and society.  If he can keep us dwelling on an offense of the past, becoming bitter, then our mindset will be distracted from being a blessing to others.

When we claim Spiritual realities, it must be measurable in the natural.

The Beloved Disciple wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st John chapter 4:

20 Anyone can say, “I Love God,” yet have hatred toward another believer. This makes him a phony, because if you don’t love a brother or sister, whom you can see, how can you truly Love God, whom you can’t see?

21 For HE has given us this command: whoever Loves God must also demonstrate Love to others.

This includes those who offend us.  Claiming an unseen reality must be measurable in the natural.  FATHER, forgive them for they know not what they do.  If I am bitter toward somebody and I forgive them, my behavior towards them must change.  It doesn’t mean that trust has been rebuilt, it just means that as far as it depends on me, I am living in peace and I am not being controlled or manipulated by the circumstance of being hurt, abused, whatever the situation might be.

We must not let the sun go down on our anger.  I am to start my day as a redemptive person, today, I am going to live as a forgiver and be a blessing to others.

The Poison Of Bitterness

June 4th, 2025

Bitterness destroys the vessel it is in!

Bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 4:

27 do not give place to the devil.

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

If we saw how undeserving of forgiveness we were when Christ forgave us, we would have no bitterness toward others.  How much more am I to forgive!  It doesn’t mean to trust again.  Trust must be earned, forgiveness doesn’t.

We receive forgiveness according to the forgiveness we give.

Jesus specifically dealt with this when He spoke in Matthew chapter 6:

12 Forgive us the wrongs we have done as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us.

This is one aspect of being The Kingdom of GOD to earth as it is in Heaven.  Bitterness has become empowered, accentuated, emphasized, and promoted in the political conflict climate we live in.

GOD’S anger is always aimed at whatever interferes with Love!

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 4:

26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

In other Words, don’t let the passion of your emotions lead you to sin! Don’t let anger control you or be fuel for revenge, not for even a day.  Don’t give the slanderous accuser, the Devil, an opportunity to manipulate you!

The emotion of anger is natural.  It is natural to rise up in anger when something in society is broken.  It just can’t lead to sin, resentment, bitterness, self-promotion, retaliation, or vindication.  Instead, we are to come to a place where we become redemptive solutions.  Being led by The Holy Spirit will cause those solutions to come forth, allowing us to take the proper action for the situation.

Bitter people lose trust quickly.  Everybody in society is looking for people to trust.  We vote for the most trustworthy people on the ballot.  This is true for the neighborhood we move to, the school we put our children into, and the advice we receive from others.  Who has our best interests at heart?  Bitter people are not trustworthy.  Their emotions guide their actions at the expense of others.

Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.  At the beginning of the day, I have determined to live redemptively and before I am sinned against and prepared to forgive as The Lord’s Prayer instructs. 

I am committed to living the life of a forgiving person.  It doesn’t mean that I accept lying, stealing, or abuse done to me is acceptable.  I am not going to be controlled by the sins of another person.  I am not going to let the spirit of bitterness dictate to me my thoughts and my feelings.  I will rise above these circumstances because I am going to be a contributor to society.

What happens when I am filled with bitterness?  I’m holding on to the past.  If I am holding on to the past, I cannot hang on to the present and bring redemptive solutions that will affect the future.  We are called to be problem solvers, not problem makers.

Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 23:

34 While they were nailing Jesus to the cross, He prayed over and over, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” The soldiers, after they crucified him, gambled over his clothing.

And Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 6:

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies and do something wonderful for them in return for their hatred.

28 When someone curses you, bless that person in return. When others mistreat and harass you, accept it as your mission to pray for them.

29 To those who despise you, continue to serve them and minister to them. If someone takes away your coat, give him as a gift your shirt as well.

30 When someone comes to beg from you, give to that person what you have. When things are wrongly taken from you, do not demand they be given back.

31 The way you want others to treat you is how you should treat everyone else.

There is no fruit of bitterness in His command.

Correct Wrong Thinking

June 3rd, 2025

Bitterness and jealousy masquerade as the need for justice!

The biggest battleground we face is the mind.  It’s in our thought world.  Bitterness refers to a deep-seated resentment, anger, and negativity, often stemming from feelings of being treated unfairly or wronged. It’s a destructive force that can corrode relationships and hinder spiritual growth.  We see ourselves as victims who want justice.

James recorded by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 3:

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of Wisdom.

14 But if there is bitter jealousy or competition hiding in your heart, then don’t deny it and try to compensate for it by boasting and being phony.

15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17]But the Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Wrong thinking is where the demonic hides.  Jealousy is the desire for what someone else possesses and is a form of idolatry.  One thinks that they should have what the other person possesses and is viewed as not being fair or just.  We must root out this subtle form of idolatry.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2nd Corinthians chapter 10:

3 For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with Divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide.

5 We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.

6 Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion, as soon as you choose complete obedience.

Paul also wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 4:

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,

18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the Life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak Truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

27 nor give place to the devil.

28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

If you are dealing with bitterness, resentment, or jealousy, you need to repent and confess your sin.  You must not give place to the devil but instead, be forgiving just as Jesus forgave you.  We need to succeed in feeling GOD’S Heart for the person in question.  The opposite of Love is not hate, it is indifference.  We can’t know another person’s heart and motives, only FATHER can.  We must let HIM deal with any perceived injustice as we walk in Love and forgiveness.

If you will wash another person’s feet, you will find out why they walk the way they do.  Think about it.  We are to serve and Love people as Jesus did.

It’s All About The Process

June 2nd, 2025

Why is there such emphasis on patience?

We all have trials and how we deal with them determines the final results.  GOD’S process is slow because HIS interest isn’t in the outcome, it’s in the process.  Maturity doesn’t happen overnight.  Seeds planted don’t produce fruit all at once.  Our society encourages impatience by developing our mindset to focus on how fast versus how complete and how excellent.

James recorded by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 1:

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

In other Words, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

As I wrote yesterday, patience will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.  How joyful it will be to walk in full maturity in the areas you were formally walking in immaturity!  Maturity occurs in the journey.

Could you be patient for forty years?  Joshua and Caleb were, and in the end, they received their reward.

It is recorded by The Holy Spirit in Deuteronomy chapter 8:

1 “Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers.

2 And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every Word that proceeds from the Mouth of the LORD.

4 Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. 5 You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD Your God chastens you.

6 “Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD Your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.

7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills;

8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;

9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.

FATHER has to chasten us so that we will walk in maturity and be good stewards as we walk in the power and authority of Jesus Christ.  HE will not give such power to the immature who would abuse the privilege.  Patience is required to achieve such maturity.

Unwavering patience develops complete trust in THE LORD.

King David recorded by The Holy Spirit in Psalm chapter 21:

7 For the king trusts in YAHWEH, and he will never stumble, never fall. The forever-Love of the Most High holds him firm.

As kings and priests, we should walk in the same mindset as David.

We all like the breakthrough when it happens.  Will we walk in joy while we are in the midst of the process of maturing?  What we are in the journey is what THE FATHER values.  It’s the day-by-day decisions to renew the mind to fully trust IN HIM for the outcome.  It’s the day-by-day decisions to put the Word of THE LORD in response to what we are confronting.  We guard our hearts with HIS Word expressed through declaration, confession, praise, and worship.

It takes nothing for GOD to take Israel out of Egypt and just plant them in The Promised Land, but they don’t have the character to stay there.  They will wander out.  If they don’t go through a journey to get there, the maturity developed in the journey is what keeps them there.

For you and me, it is the process that enables us to steward the wealth of fulfillment of the process.  The delay is to help us to see what is hard to see otherwise.

I don’t need the fruits of THE SPIRIT if I don’t have others in my life.  Those who are mature are intended to minister to those who are not.  Instead of complaining about the immature, we are to minister life to them.  I assure you that it will take patience on our part.  If we don’t learn patience, we will live a frustrated life.

Confront Your Challenge

June 1st, 2025

We are to confront our challenges with joy!

We all have trials and how we deal with them determines the final results.  Without the proper approach, the problem will constantly bind us in fear

James recorded by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 1:

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

In other Words, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

FATHER is inviting us into freedom.  We are to profit from our trials.  It’s not mind over matter freedom nor is it hype.  It’s not to psych yourself up.  The substance of liberty is at the end of this verse: patience will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.

The end result of “count it all joy” is that you are perfect, complete, lacking nothing.  The implication is that if I don’t count it joy when I face certain trials, I am incomplete, immature, and I will always be lacking.

How do you extract the nutrients or benefits from a trial?  There are a lot of people who are in all sorts of trials, and they are not becoming more like Jesus.  When you can give thanks in the midst of a trial, you have just tapped into how to extract out of that which the enemy designed to destroy you, and THE LORD reverses the effect so that it actually becomes the thing that sets you up with maturity, stability, and complete total provision.

Because THE LORD can see the end from the beginning, HE can come to you and minister joy at the beginning of your trial, knowing that in the end, you will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  You start choosing joy and start offering thanks in the midst of trial.  In doing this, you are going to cause the effect of that thing that was designed to destroy to be the very thing that promotes you into completeness, maturity, strength, and provision!

There is provision in the trial.  It isn’t just to help you endure.  Yes, endurance is important, he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22, 24:13, Mark 13:13).

In this particular case, there is an invitation for triumph and an invitation for open vindication.  What is meant to take you out and cause you to lack is actually your point of access for personal gain and abundance in all areas of your life.

That problem that is so intimidating to you is actually breakfast.  Consider what Joshua and Caleb said by The Holy Spirit in Numbers chapter 14:

6 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;

7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.

8 If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’

9 Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.”

An expression of faith comes from two guys that have refused to live in fear.  As far as they were concerned, the inhabitants of Canaan were toast!  They saw the giants that terrified a nation, they saw them as breakfast.  Bread nourishes.

A lot of people are spiritually fasting, they are not devouring the enemy.  We are to confront our trials head on with great joy knowing that THE LORD has set us up to utterly overcome and destroy the enemy.

Embrace your challenge!  If you are seeing through THE LORD’S Eyes, you will see with His promise.  He gives promises because He sees differently than we do.  This is why He called it The Promised Land.  If you don’t know HIS promises for a situation, you cannot properly embrace your challenge.

The destiny of every believer is to live in a liberated place of promise.

Take Responsibility!

May 31st, 2025

We are individually responsible for strengthening ourselves in THE LORD!

Whatever appears to be the most dangerous, cluttered, distracting, abusive, whatever it may be, is actually my finest moment Because Jesus prepared the table for me to feast. 

David recorded by The Holy Spirit in Psalm chapter 23:

1 The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want (I will lack nothing, possessing more than enough: spirit, soul, and body).

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His Name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

It is the table of nourishment, the table of fellowship, the table of intimacy, the table of tenderness, the table of genuine friendship.  Jesus prepared the table and makes the devil watch!  The enemy can do nothing about it.

David was prophesied to be king, yet David was rejected by Saul.  He was rejected by Israel.  He was rejected by the Philistines.  And now he’s rejected by the guys that owe him their life.  That will make you question the prophecy.  Did he hear right?  The case was being built stronger and stronger that the Word given to him was not right.

He spent 13 years being chased by a crazy man named Saul.

And it is written by The Holy Spirit in 1st Samuel chapter 22:

1 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

David entered the cave alone.  However, 600 men finally came to support him but they were in a state of distress, in debt, and discontentment.  Ultimately, he would lead them out of the darkness they were in.  Later, their commitment to David wavered.

In chapter 30:

6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD His God.

There are times when you and I will have no one fully supporting us in our individual challenges.  We must strengthen ourselves in THE LORD.  Let us always go to THE LORD to be strengthened and encouraged.  We are never truly alone.

We learn the ways of THE LORD when we review our own histories of dealing with lack and when we were in abundance.  What was it that brought breakthrough?

In my own life, I did three things:

I go into the Word of GOD and read Scriptures.  I immersed myself in the Heart and Mind of GOD in the area of my situation.  It is impossible to expose yourself to the Heart and Mind of GOD and not experience change.  It may be little by little at first, but change is occurring.  I like the “and suddenly” of GOD more that the “and slowly” of GOD.  I keep reminding myself of the Heart of THE LORD.

I worshipped THE LORD.  There is something that takes place in HIS Presence.  Worshipping HIM includes dancing.

It is written by The Holy Spirit in 2nd Samuel chapter 6:

14 Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.

15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

David wrote by The Holy Spirit in Psalm chapter 33:

3 Sing to HIM a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

I chose to rejoice IN HIM regardless of the absence of joy, my breakthrough would come.  The willful act of joy is often the fastest way out of the cloud of oppression and difficulty.  This may be the greatest expression of faith.

Thirdly, having fellowship with other believers who will share with you what GOD is doing in their life.  You don’t need to share your problem, bringing attention to yourself.  You allow The Holy Spirit to work and minister to you through them.

Take responsibility for your own strength!

How To Deal With Fatigue

May 30th, 2025

Fatigue gives birth to unbelief!

Fatigue creates a jaded heart and causes us to lose enthusiasm.  We are tired and can become disillusioned in many aspects of our lives.  We learn just to live in the routine. 

We become accustomed to activity in the place of a relationship with THE LORD.  This doesn’t happen overnight, it is a gradual turning.  However, we allow a distance to be formed in that tenderness, that intimacy with THE LORD.  We get in the mode of doing rather than being.  We become too busy.  We become resistant to the very things that we are crying out for.

Let’s look closely at a well-known Psalm.

David recorded by The Holy Spirit in Psalm chapter 23:

1 The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His Name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the House of the LORD Forever.

When the enemy is loud and harassing me, Jesus responds.  HE prepares a place to feast in the presence of my enemies so I can be nourished from the meal that’s in front of me.  GOD intentionally prepared a banquet so that the enemy could see.

When things look dark, turn your head to the Light!  In HIM, there is no shadow.

James wrote by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 1:

17 Every gift God freely gives us is good and perfect, streaming down from the Father of Lights, Who shines from the heavens with no hidden shadow or darkness and is never subject to change.

18 God was delighted to give us birth by the Truth of His infallible Word so that we would fulfill his chosen destiny for us and become the favorite ones out of all His creation!

Jesus spoke in John chapter 4:

34 To clarify, Jesus spoke up and said, My food is to do the Will of Him Who sent me and bring it to completion.”

This is the table set before us… to do His Will and fulfill our destiny.  There is something nourishing about being in the center of what GOD is saying and doing.

As I remove my focus on what’s working against me and I turn my focus to Who is working for me, I no longer see what is before as a dark moment.  Instead, it will become a training and preparation encounter.  It could be a health scare or a financial crisis, but we are meant to overcome the issue by focusing on Our Provider and Healer.  Pretending that it is not there doesn’t help, but not letting it rule my heart does help.

Real faith doesn’t deny a problem’s existence; it just denies the problem a place of influence!

Kids In Need Update

May 29th, 2025

Bob, 

We are ending this year with a bang, and I had to share with you! Every quarter, elementary teachers submit a student from their class for an award called Sensational Citizen. This is a student that has demonstrated exemplary behavior and modeled the school’s core values of Respect, Responsibility, and Readiness. It’s not uncommon for the same kids to receive the award year-after-year through their elementary career. And while they are very deserving and work hard for this honor, it always stands out when someone unexpected receives the honor. 

Today was that day. I was quite honestly shocked when I heard this student’s name called because I know some of the struggles his teachers have gone through in the past with him. And then his teacher sent out a message to the staff that said: “I need you all to know that I have not lost my mind, but this boy right here has had a complete and total change, and has truly done what is needed to earn this award this last quarter of school! He has overcome so much! Love on him if you see him! I hope and pray it carries into his future years.”

I wish I could describe the way his face lit up when he heard his name called. This is a kid who NEVER expected to be honored like this. As I kept thinking about it throughout the day, I realized that he was an original Villager. Mrs. Kirkpatrick and I each had specific kids in mind when we dreamed about The Village program, and his face is on that list. He has not always been easy to love.  When we say “It takes a village,” there are no words more true to describe his elementary career so far. So many people have provided emotional and physical support for this kid. Thanks to Servias Ministries, he has received 2 winter coats, shoes, lots and lots of clothes and probably hundreds of dollars of snacks and food over the years! But one of the things I will never forget is when we gave him and his brother bicycles. His Villager picked one out for him, you ordered it, our maintenance staff assembled it, and those boys were so excited that they rode their bikes down the hallway and out the doors of the building because they couldn’t wait to get on them! 

There are so many kids that we give everything we know to give. We lose sleep over these kids because we feel like nothing we can do will ever make a difference. A lot of times we never get the privilege of seeing the rewards. And then sometimes, after 4 long years, we see the Light and it makes it all worth it. This is a kid that I’m not sure we would have been able to reach without your support. His teachers would have loved him and cared for him, but I truly believe that he learned to trust us because we were able to meet him in tangible ways. 

Confront Adversity

May 28th, 2025

Resistance and adversity are invitations for breakthroughs and advancement in The Kingdom!

As overcomers, we must change our mindset to embrace adversity.  We tend to see adversity differently than THE LORD does.  If I am not positioned well in what I am willing to speak, confess, and declare over my life, then I can actually partner in thought and in conversation with the enemy’s reason for sending the adverse winds.  I actually empower what the enemy meant for evil, and it will suddenly have the effect of destruction.

The enemy has no authority over you or me.  We have the authority, and we are not to give the enemy authority by our words, confessions, or declarations.  Don’t bow your head to adversity, do not accept defeat!

King David wrote by The Holy Spirit in Psalm chapter 24:

7 So wake up, you living gateways! Lift up your heads, you doorways of Eternity! Welcome the King of Glory, for He is about to come through you.

8 You ask, “Who is this King of Glory?” YAHWEH, armed and ready for battle, YAHWEH, invincible in every way!

9 So wake up, you living gateways, and rejoice! Fling wide, you Eternal doors! Here He comes; the King of Glory is ready to come in.

10 You ask, “Who is this King of Glory?” He is YAHWEH, armed and ready for battle, the Mighty One, the invincible Commander of Heaven’s hosts! Yes, He is the King of Glory! Pause in His Presence

Jesus is The Lion of Judah, and a lion doesn’t cower when challenged by an adversary, neither should we.  We need to be ready for battle.  King David was made ready for battle against Israel’s adversaries even as he tended sheep.

It is recorded by The Holy Spirit in 1st Samuel chapter 17:

26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the Living God?”

David was not intimidated by Goliath, and neither should we be intimidated by our own Goliaths who appear bigger than life.

David reflects back on his past challenges with the lion and bear.

36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the Living God.”

37 Moreover David said, “The LORD, Who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”

We should refer back to past deliverances and expect Our Heavenly Father to deliver us as we face our current challenges.

King David also wrote by The Holy Spirit in Psalm chapter 34:

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Joshua, as well as David, was a type and shadow of an overcomer.

THE LORD spoke to Joshua in Joshua chapter 1:

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

We are to take ground for The Kingdom no matter what resistance or adversity we encounter!