Proverbs 16:9 (AMP) A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], but the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.
The year of 2025 I have dedicated to “Here I am,” listening for the God moments to change direction. This Monday, as I was at the gym, it was time for me to get on the track. For the past few weeks I have been able to jog some of the track. I am really excited about the progress I am making on my time. However, I was just not feeling too good. I was a little queasy and my head started hurting. Of which I thought was strange because I had not changed anything on my diet. I kept going on the track, but I walked.
As I am walking the track, I am listening to my worship mix and praying. Thanking Him for another day to glorify Him. Praying over my body to come back in line. Then I notice one of my older gentleman friends step out of his cycling class. He has his back against the wall and we smile at each other as I walk by. My next lap around and he is still standing there, we smile at each other and I walk by. The next lap another gentleman is talking to him, they are exchanging pleasantries, but I notice a change in his complexion, we smile and I walk by. I am done with my workout, but I am going to walk by just one more time. He is still standing there and his color is completely gone. I go up to him, touch his arm and said, “How about we go sit down? The color is gone from your face, so let’s go get you cooled off.” So there I am walking him to the bench, my hand inside his arm (as if he is leading, but my body in place to catch him if he falls back). To give you a picture of our contrast difference in stature, my friend has clearly got a foot on me and he is at the gym daily. He is older by a few decades, but is the sweetest man. However, I am ready to shield his head with my body if need be.
We make it to the bench and I go grab him a cold towel to put around the back of his neck. I stand with him and exchange small talk until I see the color come back to his cheeks. He can stand again and is much better. I make sure to linger talking to other patrons and talking pleasantries about their going on’s, while keeping an eye on my buddy. He is able to leave and I head out the door as well. All of my previous symptoms of head ache and nausea are gone and I praise God for slowing me down to notice. Then I remember the time Paul was kept back from doing good for better.
Acts 16:6-10 (AMP) Now they passed through the territory of Phrygia and Galatia, after being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor]; and after they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; so passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. Then a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from [the Roman province of] Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” And when he had seen the vision, we (including Luke) tried to go on into Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
What I love about this example is that Paul was in the process of moving when the Holy Spirit stopped him. All too often we tell God we are waiting on Him when we have stayed still. Paul went in another direction and yet the Holy Spirit stopped him again. In the movement Paul’s heart was still inclined to the voice. It is in our try that we can hear the voice of God, if we have ears to hear.
What if I had paid too much attention to my symptoms and decided to head back home? Before I leave the house every day I pray for God to give me an opportunity to glorify and honor Him that day. Looking for opportunities means I have to step outside of myself.
1 John 3:16 (AMP) By this we know [and have come to understand the depth and essence of His precious] love: that He [willingly] laid down His life for us [because He loved us]. And we ought to lay down our lives for the believers.
Eli and I were reading our daily devotion before he goes to school and this was today’s verse: “An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends,” taken from Proverbs 18:1 in the New International Version. An unfriendly person isolates theirself was the message of today’s devotion. That is not the message of Christ. If I only serve in church and my family then I have missed the message of Christ (this is for me because my kids are grown). I am still only pursuing what matters to self. I have limited God with my availability. I praise God for the interruptions. There was no other reward that I received other than that man felt cared for by someone that did not have to. Do you know what I go the next day when I saw him? A great big hug and thank you.
In the midst of my self care I was still available. I was the vessel to tell him that he was seen and that he mattered. God says that about each one of us. It is in the moments like Monday that it became tangible. Are we paying attention? I am glad I did not jog that day, I may have missed seeing what was most important.
Isaiah 6:8 (AMP) Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Father, thank you that we have eyes to see and ears to hear. You tell us the direction to go, we only need to be willing to move. Thank you for the interruptions to our plans for the better. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Psalms 90:12 (AMP) So teach us to number our days, that we may cultivate and bring You a heart of wisdom.
Monday I spent a little too long at the house before heading to the gym. Usually that was not such a big deal but I have been wanting to catch Aldi when it opened to see if there were any half priced meat. I also had to fill up on gas before going anywhere because the tank was just about empty. So there I am contemplating on what to do. I could walk the track for thirty minutes to say I showed up. Then I had another thought, what could I do in the thirty minutes that would give my body the most impact? I started with a pre-workout drink, then I hit the weight room. I lifted weights that would target the zones that I decided to focus on (chest and triceps). I decided to finish it off on the track, but I was not going to just walk it this time. A girl my age and size we have to be cautious of injury, but that should not keep us from getting better. I jogged some of the track and gave it my all. In the thirty minutes I was at the gym that morning, I did not just show up, I was intentional with my time.
God planted a word within me at that moment. What if the body of Christ was intentional when they sought me in my Word? So many just read to check it off their daily to do list or to get their streaks (if you have YouVersion). I have been listening to Hearing God by John Bevere and the MessengerX team. Two scriptures came back to my remembrance. The first is found in Hebrews.
Hebrews 11:6 (AMP) But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.
He rewards those who earnestly and diligently seek Him. What is the point in our quiet time with God? What is the end result of our time in reading His Word? What is the motive in our prayer lives? We should be seeking Him. Not just seeking Him for our needs or for answers. We should be seeking to behold Him. God is omnipresent, but He also desires to be more than that in our lives. The second comes from Romans and this in from the Message Bible.
Romans 13:11-14 (MSG) But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!
We can squander our time. You may say that you do not have time to read the word for thirty minutes. How much time do we have to scroll on our phones or other devices to look at videos? It is ridiculous how many notifications my phone will give just so that I pick it up and look at it. I have to be intentional during my time with God that I put it away from me. Can you encourage your spouse to take time? That is something my husband and I do for each other. If we see that each other is studying the Word, but we want to talk about something, we will wait. We will take care of something for each other so that there are no distractions. When I am off focus, I stop, pray, and begin again. How long would you go without food for your belly? That is what it should feel like when we miss time in His Word.
James 4:8 (NKJV) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. I have to draw first. As believers we do the chasing. Again, it is not to get something from God. Do not be double minded in this relationship. If our motive is to seek Him to get Him to move in our lives then we will be disappointed when things do not happen like we think they should. When we dive into His Word, when we start to imitate Him, the desires of our heart starts to change. You will begin to know a deeper level of love like never before. Joy will not be something you cannot wait for, you will be clothed in it. Peace will abound in your life, especially in the times of struggle. Your attitude with start to change. Thankfulness will be just dripping from your lips.
After my workout on Monday, I felt the effects of it as I was leaving the gym. I lasted until the next day when I went again. For transformation to happen, I have to be consistent with anything. Just like I make it a choice to go to the gym every morning. I make it a choice to spend time in His Word daily. I make it a choice to know the person of the Holy Spirit. The joy of reading His Word is what I look forward to. The time in my daily studies is far better than the effects of my daily workouts at the gym. Both are necessary. One is better.
Lord God, our Jehovah, our Banner, You are more precious than all the riches of the world. You are Holy. You are Mighty. Thank You for Your Son, the Redeemer. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, He is our Teacher and Friend. Thank You for Your Word. We repent for the times we have squandered away moments that we could have in seeking after You. Your heart and face are what we long for. Holy Spirit, help us to be mindful of Your need for us. Your Word says that if we draw near to You, then You will draw near to us. We want Your kingdom expansion in the hearts of others, so that means we need to be prepared to share our faith with others. How can we do that if we do not know You? We choose to know You more. Thank You for leading us out of temptations of making this life about just our needs. We surrender daily to You. Thank You for knowing what we need and filling us to the full. Your desire if for us to be complete in Your joy. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose love today. We choose joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Genesis 22:1 (AMP) Now after these things, God tested [the faith and commitment of] Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he answered, “Here I am.”
We are eight days into the new year. A lot of times we like to hold onto scriptures about the new. For instance this one, Isaiah 43:19 (AMP) “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.“I love this scripture and even have it on our vision board for the church. However, we can get so caught up in expecting the promise that we forget about the God of the promise. We hold onto the promise. God in Genesis 22 was asking Abraham to let go of the promise. Would He serve God more than hold onto the promise? Ultimately, God did not ask Abraham to sacrifice what he was willing.
God, here I am. My arms are wide open. I am in the process of reading the Bible from beginning to end and have started with Genesis 1 on January 1. I read five chapters a day and this week I have seen “Here I Am” as the words of readiness. Jacob was visited by God in visions and with both responses he said, “Here I am” (Genesis 31:11, 46:2). Both times God instructed Jacob to move. Move from a land he had spent decades in. When he moved it was not like we have it today. He was moving people, possessions and live stock. It was caravans moving, not a moving van.
Isaiah 6:8-10 (AMP) Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not understand; Keep on looking, but do not comprehend.’ “Make the heart of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed.”
I was asked this question this week, what should we be praying for the church? That God becomes real to us. That we stop going through the motions and desire a real relationship with God. You can listen and not hear. You can look and not see. This will happen until you surrender your ideas. We have the luxury of doing so much research that we have not need to sit and listen for His voice. We have access to so many books and teaching online, that we do not need to read the Bible for ourselves. We read the Bible through the lens of experience and not really listen for His voice. We depend on scripture taken out of context and wonder why God is not doing what I want. It is not until we surrender that we will be rooted and grounded in Christ. This is where love starts. We cannot love each other when we are only worried about ourselves. Serving only those we want to serve is really self-serving. Only reading what we like is self-serving.
“Here I am” is a heart position to be all in. It is a response to God that you are sensitive to His call. It is a willingness to listen and to obey His commands. “And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him” (1 John 4:21). Seeking the best for others requires a lot of dying to self. That lines up with what Christ said we would have to do to be His disciples (Matthew 16:24-26).
So that new thing He is doing in me, has a lot to do with my surrender. God doing a new thing requires me changing. My husband works for a large car manufacturer. Every year they shut down at Christmas, and the processes change for the new car that will be made for the following year. Before the shut down occurred a training was done for the processes coming up. People got to leave their normal work stations and attend a class to learn what would be expected of them when they returned. Some paid attention, and some did not want to learn the new way (they figured they could use the old skills for this new build). That is not working too well for them. Just because you are in it a long time does not mean you will not face the consequences of not learning the new.
Mark 2:22 (AMP) No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the [fermenting] wine will [expand and] burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the wineskins. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”
Galatians 5:25 (AMP) If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit].
Who is in control? It cannot be some of God and some of me. It has to be all of Him. That means I have to let go of the way I think it should go. That means I have to surrender even when I do not “feel” ready. That means I have to run when He says to run. That means I have to climb that hill even though I do not feel like it. To get in shape you have to submit to a good eating and fitness regiment. If you plan it, you get to take the breaks whenever you want. If you have someone else that you are accountable to, those breaks are not a part of the plan, and you have to submit to get the results. The “I will get there eventually” mentality has created slothfulness in the body of Christ. We have not taken the Word as real. We miss meals on the Word, but would not miss meals when it comes to our stomachs. Mark Batterson wrote, “If you are not hungry for God, you are full of yourself.” That is a heart check statement right there. Am I more hungry for God than the food on my plate? Can you put everything else aside and say “God, here I am.”
Abba, Father, we stand in awe of You. You are Holy. You are Marvelous. You are Righteous. Let this year be about getting our First Love back. Let us accept Your Son for all of who He is. That He came to make us Whole. That His Peace makes us Full. When we fall in love with You and we truly put You first, we will see everything else in it’s rightful place. When Your voice is first, all the other voices will fall away. When Your Word is first place in our lives, then all other distractions will disappear. When Your principles come first, then the promises of Your Word find their way into our lives. Let us get back to You first. Let us say “Here I am.” We repent for putting ourselves before Your Word, before Your voice, before Your leading. Let us open up Your Word and hunger for it like it is the best meal we have ever eaten. Thank You for Your forgiveness and that your Mercy is new every morning. We choose joy today. We choose hope today. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (AMP) All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
At the beginning of every year I pull out a stack of books to read. My intention is to read from the stack, but as usual I see a new book, and I have to buy it and read it right away. Included in my books are devotions, Bible Studies, and my Bible. In the middle of last year I slowed down my momentum as I had allowed a distraction to dwindle out my hunger. Thankfully I have moved out of it and started reading again. I also started reading a verse at a time in Ephesians and really digging into the greek translations of some of the words, as well as, getting into the context of what Paul was writing for that book. I hope to complete it in 2025 and will share some deep insights. Like last year, I have pulled out a few books to get you some of my favorites. Here is what I read in 2024:
7 Devotionals:
Life in His Presence by Sarah Young
Emmanuel by Ruth Chou Simons
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
From Faith to Faith by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland
Daily Devotions from Psalms by Joyce Meyer
Live in Grace, Walk in Love by Bob Goff
Be Joyful by Joyce Meyer
39 Books:
You’re Valuable to God by Terri Savelle Foy
Is God Speaking to Me by Lysa Terkerurst
Praying Circles Around Your Children by Mark Batterson
How to Pray by Joyce Meyer
Raised in the Pew by Re’na Garcia
Don’t Shrink Your Dream! Enlarge Your Faith! by Terri Savelle Foy
Humility the Joy of Self-Forgetfulness by Gavin Ortlund
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller
The Three Battlegrounds by Francis Frangipane
Break Up with What Broke You by Christian Bevere
Living in Absolute Freedom by Donna Parton
Victory Over Darkness by Neil Anderson
Breaking Intimidation by John Bevere
Testosterone Matters by Gary Donovitz
A Heart Like His by Beth Moore
Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore
Wicked Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler
The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller
Let it Go by Karen Ehman
It’s Not About You by Max Lucado
The Believer’s Authority by Kenneth Hagin
Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer by Dr. Myles Munroe
Unmasking the Jezebel Spirit by John Paul Jackson
Strategic Pastoral Counseling by David Benner
The Names of Jesus by A.B. Simpson
Do Yourself a Favor…Forgive by Joyce Meyer
Sheep Goats and Wolves by Mark Barclay
Good Boundaries and Goodbyes by Lysa Terkeurst
How to Always Reap a Harvest by Mark Barclay
Improving Your Performance by Mark Barclay
Six Ways to Check Your Leading by Mark Barclay
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Familiarity by Mark Barclay
Drawing Near by John Bevere
Finding God’s Life for My Will by Mike Donehey
Redefined by Arden Bevere
The Missing Read Letters by Mark Barclay
Are You Praying for the Wrong Thing? by Travis Greene
Supernatural Provision for Your Vision by Jerry Savelle
Raised to Stay by Natalie Runion
The Three Battle Grounds by Francis Frangipane: An in-Depth view of the three arenas of Spiritual Warfare: The mind, the church and the heavenly places. Spiritual Warfare is not some cookie nonsense. Now, there are some fruity some that Christians do that do not line up with the Word. First and foremost, there will be a constant renewal you will need to do with your mind. Your mind, will and emotions are what makes up your soul. Many Christians are still bound to what we call strongholds, there is freedom in Christ, but most Christians do not know how to access that freedom. “What men call “salvation” is simply the first stage to God’s plan for our lives, which is to conform out character and power to the image of Jesus Christ. If we fail to see our relationship to God as such, we will allow too many areas within us to remain unchanged. Pulling down strongholds is the demolition and removal of our old ways of thinking so that the actual presence of Jesus Christ can be manifested through us.” If we want to be effective in the body of Christ and bring Heaven down, then we need to start with some tearing down of some strongholds. The Battleground of the Church was very intriguing to me because of my love for the church. Here are the titles of the chapters in this section: The Lord Whose Sword is Drawn, Beware of the Stronghold of Cold Love, The Gift of Discernment, Eliminating False Discernment, Repairers of the Breach, God’s Army of Worshipers, Casting Down the Accuser of the Brethren. Here is what he has to say about those who claim they do not need the church, they just need Jesus. “To those whose attitude is, ‘I am content with just Jesus and me,’ I say it is wonderful that you have found Jesus. But you cannot truly have Jesus and simultaneously not do what He says. The outgrowth of love and faith in Christ is love and faith like Christ’s, which means we are committed, even as He is, to His people. You see, the kingdom of God is most perfectly revealed in our relationships with one another. To have the kingdom, we must be committed to one another as individuals and as churches.” We must also be aware of the Battleground of Heavenly Places. Remember we do not fight against flesh and blood, but no person should try to usurp control over your relationship with Christ. There are many voices trying to ring out, pay attention to the one that points to Christ. The anti-Christ spirit will hate conforming to the Word of God. This spirit hates when you talk about surrender. I spent a lot of time reading books on the Jezebel Spirit this year. I wanted to understand more. Basically, this spirit hates authority because they want to be in control. This is often birthed out of offense. All of this ties back into renewing your mind in the Word daily.
Drawing Near: A life of intimacy with God by John Bevere: I love reading John Bevere’s books. I also recommend getting the app MessengerX, it is free. There are so many courses you can view and podcasts to listen to. I was attracted to this book because my heart’s desire is to have a lifestyle of intimacy with God. I want to minister through the overflow. As we mature in Christ we learn the balance of works and worship. “Many well meaning believers have fallen into the trap of replace time with God with busy Christian lifestyles. This can also include the deceptive and continuous labor in ministry.” God dwells where we reverence Him (a healthy fear of the Lord) and we are within the realm of humility. We are still fighting our flesh here and one of those areas we have to fight against is the right to self. We should not be first place in our lives. I do not want to live that way anyways. It is too exhausting. James 4:6-10 (AMP) But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].” So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people]. Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom. Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose]. The closer you live this way, the less you live for yourself. The opposite can also be found in us when we live for ourselves, we will be found in rebellion and pride. The defense of self is rooted in pride. Do you desire peace in your life? Get a hold of what God’s definition of humility is. I am so serious about wanting to get over this area that I also read two other books on the subject, Humility the Joy of Self-Forgetfulness by Gavin Ortlund and The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller. They are in my reading pile again this year.
The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Timothy Keller with Kelly Keller: Every year my husband and I do a message for Love Sunday, which coincides with Valentine’s Day weekend. This is one of the books I read to prepare for in 2024 and am still going back to some things in 2025. Do you want to know what the number one killer for a marriage is? Self-centeredness. Many go into a marriage thinking it will make their lives better. Spoiler alert. Marriage is a greater way to serve. When we look to anyone other than Christ to fulfill our every need, then we are going to be disappointed. Whether you are the husband of the wife, you are not to sacrifice for yourself but for the other. Ephesians 5:21 (AMP) Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. How we treat our spouse is a direct reflection of our reverential fear of the Lord. “Serving your spouse also means showing that you are committed to his or her well-being and flourishing. This kind of love is given when you seek to help your spouse develop gifts and pursue aspirations for growth. There is no greater way for Christian spouses to serve one another than to help each other grow spiritually. This means encouraging each other to participate together actively in church, in Christian community.” While traditionally marriage was for status, social duty and stability now it is seen as a way for personal fulfillment. Neither of these are completely wrong, but they are not completely right either. Ultimately if the gospel has not changed your mind and heart, you will not be successful in your marriage. This year my husband and I will be discussing the importance of your spouse and you being the best of friends.
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Familiarity by Mark Barclay: I actually read six books of his this year. We have access to as many books of his as we would like because he is a father in the faith to my husband. Pastors need pastors and Pastor Barclay is one we have called on. He shoots straight and is Word only. If it is not found in the Word then he will not preach on it. A pitfall of familiarity is the equalizer. A prime example in the Bible was Aaron and Miriam in the Bible. Read Numbers 12. Really it is a form of pride in our lives. This books is talking about familiarity in relation to our pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelist and apostles. Here is what he has to say: “If you do not esteem someone more highly than yourself (someone you consider more important than yourself, some you respect as much -if not more- than yourself, someone whose teaching and lifestyle you admire), then you will find yourself sitting at your own feet to learn. You will become your own teacher. That’s dangerous because the next step is that you become your own advisor; then you become your own counselor. The Bible states that only a fool thinks he is right in his own mind. It’s of utmost importance that everyone, including leaders, has someone whom they look up to. It’s a healthy relationship, not an abnormal one. The abnormal relationship is quite the contrary. When you thing more highly of yourself than you ought to think, you’ve made yourself your own leader in the Lord. You’ve set yourself up in a form of pride.” Familiarity will bring judgement and you will become critical. You will even lose confidence in those that are to speak into your life. This is an area of our life that is easy to fall into, Jesus even had to deal with it with His disciples. It will cause you to not believe the Word. Be careful. You do not have to stay in it. There is always hope and restoration. Miriam was restored.
Emmanual: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always by Ruth Chou Simons: I love doing a devotion just for Christmas. This year I started decorating my house on November 1st. It is still up will be coming down sometime next week. I believe that as much as we talk about the miracle of Jesus with us at Christmas should be talked about all year long. This devotion was divided into four sections: Our Posture, God’s Promise, Our Response, Our Messiah. Our posture and our response has a lot to do with receiving God’s promises in our lives. “Jesus is more than a baby, more than a beautiful miracle in a harsh world. He is more than a familiar figure sung about in festive tunes. Jesus is God with us – Immanuel, just as the angel of the Lord told Joseph.” What do you treasure? That is the whole message of this devotion. Yes there is a call to repentance in it. There should never be a time in our lives that we do not surrender. Is Christ your ultimate treasure? Psalms 16:11 (AMP) You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. A life transformed, Emmanuel, God with us. We can now abide with Christ. I dwell with Him as He dwells within me. I am forever changed.
It is hard for me to just pick out a few books, or just a couple. I love to read. Why read books like this? I desire to glean as much revelation as possible. When I read my Bible, He will bring back to remembrance other things I have read. My desire is to be in His fullness. What will I do with these books now that I am done? They are going back on my shelf to be read again at a later time. I already pulled out a couple to reread again this year. I want to grow deeper in His Word every year. I want to be a doer of His Word. People are important. I want others to grown deeper in God too. That is why I make time for discipleship. I want to be available for the opportunities to enlarge His kingdom this year like never before.
Lord of Lords, Kings of Kings, Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, You are who reigns above it all. You are Worthy of Honor and Praise. No other Name is above Yours. Thank You for sending Your Son to be the Lamb, the Root of David, the Word made flesh. We are walking in righteousness because of You. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit now dwelling in us. We now can walk in the fullness You created us in. We repent for not standing on the truth of Your Word. We have fallen in the trap of lusting after our own gratification. We choose to surrender to Your Word, Your Will and Your Ways. As we read Your Word, let it be a Light and Beacon of Freedom. We choose to walk in Your statutes and precepts. We are casting off any exalted thought that does not line up with forgiveness and has misaligned us to take on jealousy, envy, bitterness, resentment and anger. We choose freedom this year. We choose joy this year. We choose hope this year. We choose love this year. Grow Your Love in us, so that it is all that flows out of us. We choose surrender this year. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Luke 4:21 (AMP) He began speaking to them: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing and in your presence.”
We are in the Christmas season. I did not teach my children about Santa. I focused on the story of Christmas as centered on Christ. My oldest son has a vivid imagination. We had a guest speaker come into the church, when Ari (our son) was about seven, and that guest speaker got a new name. The speaker had black hair, a mustache and wore fitted suits. My son was convinced that man was Tony Stark, the Iron Man. We have referred to him as Tony Stark since then. I did not want my kids to question God being real to them, although God chooses to make Himself real to all of us. I never wanted to be that stumbling block.
As I was reading Luke 4 this morning I had a thought about belief. Jesus went to His hometown and read from the scroll of Isaiah.
Isaiah 61:1,2 (AMP) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and commissioned me to bring good news to the humble and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up [the wounds of] the brokenhearted, to proclaim release [from confinement and condemnation] to the [physical and spiritual] captives and freedom to prisoners, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
He stopped in the middle of the second verse, rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and proclaimed, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing and in your presence.” First let’s dig into what the favorable year of the Lord is and back track the rest of the scripture from there. The favorable year of the Lord is also known the year of the redeemed, or if you like to be traditional, The Year of Jubilee.
Described in the book of Leviticus. A “Year of Jubilee” is a special year occurring every 50 years in the Jewish tradition, as described in the Bible, where slaves are freed, debts are forgiven, and land is returned to its original owners, signifying a time of liberation and renewal; it is considered a time of sacred rest and a reminder of God’s mercy and providence (source Google AI). Jesus said He fulfilled it. Did they believe Him? Absolutely not. It actually made them upset to hear this proclamation. Their intent was to throw Him off of a cliff because of those words. We know that did not happen.
My question is, what do you believe? Jesus said that He was sent to bind up our wounds, to proclaim release from captivity, to set the captives free, and that it is the year of the redeemed. When is it? Now! Are we living that way? Or have we taken the bait of unbelief and are awaiting for something else, still looking forward to the Year of Jubilee. Are we still looking for the new year for something to change in our lives. Is 2025 going to be my year? It is already my year. It is already the year of the redeemed. If you are made new in Christ, everything that Jesus accomplished through His life, death and resurrection is available to you right now. Jesus even gifted us with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Joyce Meyer wrote “God anointed Jesus to bring the good news and to set the captives free, and it’s important to receive the freedom He has provided for us. A battle takes place in our mind when we choose freedom instead of remaining in bondage. The devil puts thoughts in our mind, thoughts that disagree with God’s promise of healing, but we can choose to cast down those thoughts and imaginations and believe God’s Word. We will choose to listen to one voice or another, and our deliverance depends on that choice. If we listen to Jesus and believe Him, deliverance is not only possible, but it will become a reality in our life. Jesus came to open prison doors and set the captives free. You and I can be set completely free as we choose to trust God and obey Him.” (from an excerpt of The Battlefield of the Mind Bible)
Lord, Abba Father, El Shaddai, You are so Wonderful. Thank You for sending Your Son to be the anointed One. Through that anointing we have been set free. Forgive us for our unbelief and for not allowing the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to bring us to the fullness that You desire. We repent for listening to any voice that makes us feel shame. You have set us free from the power of shame and feeling inferior through Your Son. We desire to walk in the fullness of everything Christ restored to us. Now is the favorable year of the Lord. We are the redeemed. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose love today. We choose joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Galatians 4:31-5:1 (AMP) So then, believers, we [who are born again—reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free woman [the supernatural].It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].
It is the season to start visiting family for the holidays! Thanksgiving week and most homes in America have been cooking for big gatherings of people. I started earlier in the week. Even though it looks like we may have focused on food, it is the people that matter most. I was praying about how I could honor God this year and this scripture is what He brought to my remembrance. Even if someone brings up my past, I have been set free from it. There is no defense needed.
From talking to other born again Christians, they dread family gatherings. They have even resorted to closing themselves off and only being with those within their homes. Friends, I am here to tell you that is not the answer either. I have learned that meekness takes great strength in Christ. Can you hear things about how others perceived you and not say anything to defend? Can you also not take it to heart? I think Paul gave the greatest example of that.
Galatians 1:13 (AMP) You have heard of my career and former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to hunt down and persecute the church of God extensively and [with fanatical zeal] tried [my best] to destroy it.
He did not deny who he use to be, but he did not live there. Light does not run from darkness. God does not place us in caves to dwell. He never has called us to the cave, but He will let you go there if you so desire. To me the cave is where I am still in control. I control who comes in and who goes out. I can shine the light in places that only I give permission to. That is not freedom. A cave is a natural response to keep ourselves safe. It is not Christ empowered.
How can I honor God in this season? Remember who you are in Christ and walk in it. We are not to be haughty or think we are better than others. The gospel matters more than anything else. Christ has set us free for freedoms sake and no one or nothing can make you go back into that bondage. Here is a little bit that Paul wrote to the church in Philippi. Meditate on it. Do not just read the first part and take on the countenance of a victim, because we are not. Read on and become zealous for the gospel.
Philippians 1:29-30, 2:1-4 For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake, not only to believe and confidently trust in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, [and so you are] experiencing the same [kind of] conflict which you saw me endure, and which you hear to be mine now. Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ]. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
I can either choose to live as if still born as the slave and my natural life would be validated. I can also choose to live free, reborn from the free (supernatural), the freedom that Christ set us free.
Father, Abba, Creator, we stand in awe of You. We desire to glorify and honor You during this time. Thank You for Your Son who set us free. Thank You for the gift of the person of the Holy Spirit. We can now live supernatural and no longer bound to our past. We repent for the shame we have allowed to overtake us, and responded with living in a cave instead of the freedom You desire for us. In Your Word You call us a royal priesthood and a special people (1 Peter 2:9). We will proclaim Your wonderful gospel, that Your Son called us out of darkness and into His marvelous Light. We will no longer run from the darkness. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (AMP) Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
I have chosen to read a letter of Paul’s over and over each week. The first one was the letter to the Philippians. A reminder to be joyful at all times. The second week was the letter to the Colossians. A reminder to focus on Jesus no matter what. This week I am in 1 Thessalonians. A letter to a group that would have every excuse to run, but are encouraged to stand firm. He ends the first letter with the encouragement to rejoice and remain thankful to our God. No matter what is going on, can you still thank God?
What do you do when things do not looks so good? As a pastor, when attendance is at an all time low? How about when half the church just stops giving, and/or given up on the tithe? We do not receive a salary, so it is not like any of that matters as to why we are showing up and serving every week. Are we still proclaiming the Gospel? Can they find Jesus in every message? Are we growing in our spiritual maturity as a body? Those are the questions that I choose to focus on.
Philippians 4:4 (AMP) Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!
Ephesians 6:18 (AMP) With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.
Galatians 6:9-10 (AMP) Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).
Here is what I am choosing to do, I am not going to quit and I am not going to run. I am persevering, because there is an enemy out there looking for those he can devour. I am battling this spirit of oppression that has infiltrated the body of Christ and I am calling them back to the joy of the Lord. The enemy has lied to them long enough. Joy is their’s. It is a promise of His great love. The devil wants us to quit on the precepts of God. He wants us to believe that God picks and chooses who He will bless. So many have lost heart and are just going through the motions. That is not how we should be living. What can shake the body of Christ from this bondage of lethargy and apathy?
Ephesians 3: 16-19 (AMP) May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].
I want you to know the fullness of God. I want you to know that He sees every struggle. Is Jesus more than enough? That is the biggest question we should ask ourselves. If so, rejoice! I pray you are filled with the love of Christ, that you can rejoice again. In Him is fullness of joy! Even if it is a sacrifice right now, especially if it is a sacrifice right now. Do you want your freedom? Go get it! Jesus has already paid the price for it, now receive it with your whole heart.
Hebrews 13:15 (AMP) Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.
Abba, our Father, our Creator, we are so thankful for being the God who covers us with a Banner of Love. Thank You for sending Your Son, so that we know the fullness of Your love. Thank You for sending us the Holy Spirit, so that we may be filled at all times. Thank You for the revelation of You through the written Word, as inspired by the Holy Spirit. We repent for becoming lethargic, for the apathy of our hearts, and for going back into slumber when you have called us into Your glorious Light. We surrender our hearts, minds, will and emotions to You. We desire to do all that you have commanded with joy. First, to love You will all of our hearts, with all of our soul and with all of our mind. Second, we will love our neighbor as we love ourselves, in the fullness of love that we received through Your Son. We choose to forgive what we beliefs, unwarranted expectations, on thoughts of how You should treat us. You have never mistreated us and we are repent for ever feeling this way. We are rejoicing in Your mercy and lovingkindness. We are choosing love today. We are choosing hope today. We are choosing joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Philippians 1:21 (AMP) For to me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] and to die is gain [for I will be with Him in eternity].
What are we living for? Paul had his answer. He wrote about it over and over again. Many times we like to quote the old prophets (the laments of Jeremiah and Elijah). I like Paul. He had the answer, “to live is Christ.” Who are we lining up our thoughts with, the before Christ people, or the life with Christ people? Paul talks a lot of the joy of Christ, while he was in prison. Have you lost your joy? Well Jesus will help you find it.
I have decided, that for the rest of the month of October, that I am going to read all four chapters of Philippians daily. I have posted on my personal page about it, and have invited others to join me. Why Philippians? I see the lack of joy in your eyes. I see the lack of care, an apathy, for the body of Christ. You have been satisfied with the salvation message, but have not received the fullness of who Christ is. It is time to live in Christ. Philippians shows us how to do that.
What are we focusing on? Is it the economy? Is it the raise in our utility bills? Could your marriage be in trouble? How about wanting to buy a house, but you think you are stuck renting? May I ask you, who is Christ in your life right now? With Christ in our lives, those problems become less worrisome. The solution to the problem has been here all along. Actually, I have found that the solution showed itself before I knew there would be an issue. Christ is my source.
Philippians 4:11-12 (AMP) Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances. I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need.
What is the secret of facing life? It sounds like Paul has not a care in the world. He sounds pretty secure. It sounds like something we could all use some of. Verse 13 is often misquoted. Put into context Paul is not talking about an independent life. I believe you cannot have verse 13 without verse 14: “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.] Nevertheless, it was right of you to share [with me] in my difficulties.“
I am fully sufficient because of Christ. However, it is not just me and Jesus out here. He planted me in a body of believers (Ephesians 2:19-22). Paul is writing to a group of people and saying that he has great joy this life with Christ, and Christ added to that joy with the people that joined him in spreading the gospel.
All my prices have gone up too. I even have the expense of a high-schooler playing two sports, in a 7A school. There is something I cannot give up on, and that is who Christ is. I have to choose to live in Christ daily. I have to choose to love His body daily. When I start loving myself above everything else, even Christ, then I lose my joy. The fruits of the Spirit grow in us more when we understand the position of love that Christ has for us. That is why Paul says, “to live is Christ.”
I am going to take the first few verses of Philippians 1 and pray this over you today:
Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in every remembrance of you, always offering every prayer of mine with joy [and with specific requests] for all of you, [thanking God] for your participation and partnership [both your comforting fellowship and gracious contributions] in [advancing] the good news [regarding salvation] from the first day [you heard it] until now. I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]. It is right for me to feel this way about you, because [you have me in your heart as] I have you in my heart…. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus [whose great love fills me]. And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight, so that you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent [identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences], and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [actually living lives that lead others away from sin]; filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God [so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized].
Has joy been missing from your life? Make Christ your life and He will help you find it.
Romans 14:23(b) Whatever is not from faith is sin [whatever is done with doubt is sinful].
This past weekend I had the privilege of taking a couple of ladies from my church to the Joyce Meyer Conference in Atlanta. She started out the night talking about faith. This part of the verse really stood out to me, “whatever is not from faith is sin.” How many of us do not give ourselves wholly to faith?
2 Corinthians 4:18 (AMP) So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.
Faith never quits and it never gives up. If God showed us everything, if He gave us everything, would that be of faith? He did just that when He gave us Jesus. It is through faith that we receive salvation (Romans 2:8-9). So many just stop right there is their faith. The same way we receive salvation is the same way we need to live this life.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMP) for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]
Did you know that the church you are planted into has a part in your growing in faith? This is not for just fellowship or a social club. We lack so much in the body because we do not take this part of our faith seriously (Acts 2:46-47). We claim it is not important and we can do without it. I want to show you a couple of verses and then explain.
Ephesians 2:19-22 (AMP) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 6:16 (AMP) Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Shields of this time period were much larger than the ones depicted in medieval times. Roman shields were usually about two and a half feet wide and four feet tall. They were wooden and covered with multiple layers of animal skin. Before battle they were dipped in water to ward off the flames of the fiery darts. Roman soldiers did not go into battle standing an arms link apart, they did it linked arm in arm. Those behind them would hold the shield over head. Now picture a group and the fiery darts are coming. We all have thoughts (fiery darts), if I am left alone from which direction will those darts come at me. The whole structure being joined together (your church), they are watered by the Word, they are being build together as a dwelling place of God, you have the protective shield of faith. I like this translation, because it says, “above all.”
If asked what you value in life, how many would you say you value God, your family, your jobs? What about your church? This is why the devil hates you falling in love with the people in your church. This is why he fights you having any real genuine concern for them. We use the excuse that people have hurt us and we are just protecting ourselves. What a lie! What the enemy has done is disarmed you from fullness of the shield of faith. I am saved through faith and I live by faith. I do not take account of a suffered wrong. I believe the best of people. Love always hopes and faith does not quit. So stop quitting the church and stop quitting people. Add the body that you are planted into to the list of valuable things that are in your life. Build into each others lives through faith.
Father, Abba, Creator, Marvelous God, we want to honor You today with everything that is within us. Thank You for Your Son Jesus. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your Word. We repent for not seeing the church (Your Bride and Your Body) as valuable. We repent for going by our feelings, our emotions and our thoughts on how we should live this life. Your Word says that anything not of faith is a sin. You have free reign to clear out all of the areas of our life that is not of faith, including how we have viewed Your church. Let us take up the shield of faith. Let us join together in growing into Your Temple. We are not called to be alone. We repent for this mindset and we surrender to Your ways. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. We choose hope today. We choose joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Titus 2:7-8 (AMP) And in all things show yourself to be an example of good works, with purity in doctrine [having the strictest regard for integrity and truth], dignified, sound and beyond reproach in instruction, so that the opponent [of the faith] will be shamed, having nothing bad to say about us.
When did it become okay to be dishonest in the church? Part of my reverence for God is how I speak. Some say, ‘well I do not cuss’. But are you honest? Do you skirt around the truth to make yourself look better? The lie could be so you do not hurt someone’s feelings. Paul tells us to act in a way that is beyond reproach. Why is this? So that the opponent of the faith will not have anything bad to say about us. We are giving the world an excuse to say, ‘why should I follow Jesus when there has not been a change made in that person’s life, they still lie, they steal?’ Do you know how many times that I know that I have been lied to? They will never know. I will not shun or cut them off, but I do know where the boundary of my trust lies. Love always hopes. I do not give up on them. Why? I would not want anyone to give up on me. God never throws us away, just look at Peter.
1 Peter 2:12 (AMP) Keep your behavior excellent among the [unsaved] Gentiles [conduct yourself honorably, with graciousness and integrity], so that for whatever reason they may slander you as evildoers, yet by observing your good deeds they may [instead come to] glorify God in the day of visitation [when He looks upon them with mercy].
Is it better to say you are going to do something or to actually do that something? This is another issue we have is that we do not keep our word. Integrity is what we should be known for. If I tell someone they can count on me to be there, baring an illness, I am going to be there. It may be just me. It may not be. I want to be known for someone that people can count on. Why? It shows that I care about them. Paul exhorts Titus in 2 Corinthians 8:7, “But just as you excel in everything, [and lead the way] in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in genuine concern, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gracious work [of giving] also.” He is talking about how he gives but he talks about Titus having genuine concern for the body. Do we have genuine concern for those in the body of Christ? Maybe it is my pastor’s heart. I would hope that it is not for a select few that have a genuine concern for others. When did this start in me?
1 Timothy 4:12 (AMP) Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity.
There is no age limit, no maturity level, that should keep us from having a genuine concern for those in the body of Christ. Either you do or you do not. It is a faith issue. “If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit] (Galatians 5:25).” It takes faith to live a surrendered life to Christ. I have made mistakes, but a person of integrity will go back and apologize and say that is not how I want to have acted.
Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
My unselfish concern for others cannot be limited to just a select few, for example, just my family, or those that are just in my church. Where ever I go, I want people to know that they are valuable, that they are cared for. Is that not the example that Jesus lived? I cannot physically be there for every person, that is why I believe it is not for a select few that genuinely care for others. That is why I think they enemy fights the body of Christ from this revelation. That is why there is not true unity in the body. We are still out for ourselves, instead of having a genuine concern for others. What are some traits I can look for in myself? Truth and integrity. When I lie, it is all about me. When I do not keep my word, it is all about me. Do not be fake about it either. Be genuine.
Father, Abba, Banner, Creator, You are more Marvelous than our words can ever express. Thank You for Your Son. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your Word. We repent for making everything about ourselves. We repent for not having genuine concern for others. We repent for not speaking with integrity. We repent for no thinking our conduct really matters. Make within us a clean heart. We choose a life of surrender, so that we choose to do things Your way and not our way. Let us walk in the Spirit and do as the Spirit leads. Let us be genuine in our faith and in our love. Let us be known for our lives that point back to why Your Son came to redeem us. Let us live lives changed for Your Glory. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. We choose hope today. We choose faith today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Desiring for More 