Marriage is one of life's greatest adventures, but it can also be one of its biggest challenges. When two people come together in marriage, they're not just joining their lives—they're merging two complete kingdoms, each with their own rules, boundaries, and ways of doing things.

Why Is There Conflict in Marriage?
The main source of conflict in marriage stems from a simple reality: two kingdoms are now joined together. For years before marriage, you've been the ruler of your own castle. You had your policies, procedures, and territories that no one dared cross. Now suddenly, there's another ruler in your domain. This merger brings up the crucial question: who is going to rule this new, combined kingdom?

How Do You Cooperate with God in Your Marriage?
The key to experiencing God's work in your marriage is cooperation. This means working with what you have right now rather than working against it with negativity, criticism, or dissatisfaction.

God will never force you to love, forgive, or submit to one another. He gives you the power to choose. When you choose to love, forgive, and be kind and patient, then God can do His part. When you do what you can, God does what you cannot.

When we talk about partnering with God, we're describing a cooperative relationship where His power works through our willingness to participate. This isn't about God needing our help—He's perfectly capable on His own. Rather, He wants our partnership because it's through this cooperation that we experience transformation.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead, that kept Daniel safe in the lion's den, and that protected the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace—that same power is available to work in your marriage today. This isn't just any power; it's nuclear-level, life-changing power that can overcome any obstacle.

What Does Cooperation Look Like Practically?
Cooperating with God in your marriage means making a daily choice to partner with Him rather than trying to handle everything in your own strength. It might sound like:
"Lord, I don't know exactly how You're going to handle this situation with my spouse and me, but I'm going to partner with You today. I'm going to die to my flesh and serve them."
This cooperation requires humility—recognizing that we need God's help and wisdom. It means choosing to respond with love even when we don't feel like it, trusting that God's power is working in us.

When we allow God to work in our present marriage—both individually and as a couple—the Bible promises that our days can be "as heaven upon the earth" (Deuteronomy). This doesn't mean perfection, but it does mean experiencing God's peace, love, and blessing in our relationship.

Sometimes God needs to work something out of us before He can work something in us. Just as the Israelites were taken out of Egypt but still carried Egypt in their hearts, we might need to let God remove negative patterns, attitudes, or habits before He can build something new.

The most important thing isn't seeing your spouse change—it's you partnering with God. When we stand before God, we'll give an account for our own choices and cooperation with Him, not our spouse's responses.

How Can Dead Marriages Come Back to Life?
The story of Martha and Mary in John 11 provides powerful hope for struggling marriages. Both sisters lived in the pain of "if only"—if only Jesus had been there, their brother wouldn't have died. Many marriages are haunted by similar thoughts: "If only he hadn't done that," or "If only she hadn't said that."

But Jesus met Martha and Mary's "if only" moments with a powerful declaration: "I am the resurrection and the life." This isn't just about eternal life—it's about His power to bring dead things back to life right now, including marriages that seem beyond hope.

God isn't waiting for some future moment to work in your marriage. He's not stuck in your past mistakes. He is the great "I AM"—present tense, working right now in your current situation.

Life Application
This week, commit to being an active partner with God in your marriage. Instead of focusing on what your spouse needs to change, ask God what He wants to work out of you and what He wants to work into you.

Start each day with a simple prayer: "God, I want to partner with You today in my marriage. Show me how to love, serve, and respond in ways that honor You."

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I trying to change my spouse in my own strength, or am I partnering with God?
• What attitudes or behaviors might God want to work out of me?
• How can I cooperate with God's desire to work patience, love, and kindness into my responses today?
• Am I remembering that I have a divine partner in my marriage, or am I acting like I'm handling everything alone?

Remember, God desires to work in your present marriage right now. He's not waiting for perfect circumstances or a perfect spouse. He wants to partner with you today to create something beautiful, one choice at a time.

Think of the times you have wrestled with a difficult choice. There comes a moment when the decision is finally made, and you realize you are committed to the outcome. One such moment changed the course of history. The fate of the world was decided in one hour in a garden.

The gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus agonized over His impending sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. I believe it was not only contemplating the physical pain that He would suffer, but also considering the enormity of the sin He would carry, that Jesus wrestled with. The perfect Son of God, whose divine nature had never once been contaminated with sin, would have to bear all the sins of the world upon Himself. And if that was not enough, He who had been One with the Father for all eternity would experience the separation from God that is the essence of hell. It was a staggeringly high price to pay for our redemption.

In that crucial hour of decision, Jesus prayed several times that the cup of suffering would pass from Him, yet He was determined to fulfill the will of His Father in Heaven. The strain of the decision caused great drops of sweat like blood to appear on His brow. And in that moment, Jesus chose surrender to His Father’s will.

Surrender. It’s a painful word. We associate it with defeat, giving up, being forced to concede that someone else is stronger, smarter, or better than ourselves. Human nature avoids surrendering our will and our choices at all costs. Yet, as Jesus showed us in Gethsemane, surrendering to the Father’s will ultimately leads to victory.

So many times, we think as Adam and Eve did in Eden, that God’s will is limiting, oppressive, and not in our best interests. But when we have our own Gethsemane moment and, like Jesus, choose to surrender to the Father’s will above our own desires, it brings peace and freedom.

Ultimately, His plans for us are for good and not for evil, though we may at times experience
suffering and pain. Mankind lost perfection, fellowship with God, and unending life long ago in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve rebelled against God’s command. But Jesus restored those same attributes for all of us when He chose to submit to the will of His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Paradise was lost in one garden, and Heaven was won back in another garden. The victory was achieved through Jesus’ surrender to His Father’s will, and we too can choose the victory that begins with surrender.

I was correcting one of my children the other day and I was reminded of something I heard once. You know that random thought that you just know is from God cause it brings such conviction but excitement at the same time? Yeah, it was one of those moments.

"If we need to hear the benefits of obedience in order to obey, it's not really obedience."

Ouch.

So while I used it to alter the way I was instructing my child, I also started thinking about it in terms of my own life. Isn't that what we do sometimes to God? We need to hear what we will get out of it before we fully commit.

How many times have we filtered our obedience to God through our emotions or our own logic?

The danger with doing this is that serving God becomes all about us and what we get from God, not about our response to who He is.

But following Jesus isn't about doing what feels good. What a faulty foundation for a Christian to live by. This thinking will produce a believer who is up and down, serving God only when everything is good and going our way but who will walk away when things get hard ... when the cost gets too personal, too expensive, too time consuming, too...much.

We've said things like "God wouldn't ask me to give up something I love" "God wants me to be happy!" "God is a good God, He will give me the desires of my heart."

Matthew 16:24 - "If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me."

Deny means to lose sight of your own interests.

Yes, there are blessings when we choose to obey. Yes, as I tell my children, obedience brings joy. But what if the blessings are eternal, not immediate - will we choose to obey then? And what if those blessings come in completely unrelated ways. Shall we look at a few different ways people were blessed when they chose to obey?

Abraham: obeyed God by getting ready to sacrifice Isaac. His blessing came through the provision of the ram; and he got to bring home the very son he was asked to sacrifice.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: obeyed God by not bowing to other idols. Their blessing came when Jesus walked with them through the fire and they walked out unscathed.

Joseph: obeyed God by fleeing temptation of Potipher's wife. His blessing came when he went to jail. Wait, what?

You read that right. His obedience landed him straight in jail...for years. But the blessing did eventually come; not in the form of Pharoah coming and apologizing to him for wrongly imprisoning him...but something even better, in the form of the provision, protection, and ultimately the restoration of his family.

There are loads of more examples that we could take time to discuss. But the point is this. When we choose to obey God only when we agree, only if it lines up with our feelings, only if we understand it, or only if we will get something out of it. That's not really obedience. Instead, it's a rebranding, a repackaging of obedience into something that is less about God and more about ourselves.

Obedience is a learned behavior. Nothing has made me more convinced of that than dealing with toddlers for the last four years. It is not something they are born with, not something that comes easy - but every choice to obey today, gets them closer to obeying something tomorrow.

Even Jesus had to learn obedience. Not just to Mary & Joseph when they pulled the caravan around to take Him home, but when He was in the garden, praying "Take this cup from Me, nevertheless Your will be done". Jesus chose to be obedient, even to the point of death.

So let me ask you, what is God calling you to do in 2025? Are you willing to lay aside your dreams, your reasonings, your feelings, your own interests all for the sake of obedience? Are you willing to obey, even if you never see your rewards on this side of eternity?

I was 36 when it started. I can tell you the exact moment. I was standing in a little farmhouse in the middle of nowhere Ohio making breakfast for the youth group. I was getting up at 4:30 to make a hearty breakfast, pack lunches and clean up all before we left at 7 to start the day of painting and other manual labor. By the time I got back to the house, made dinner, cleaned up, and spent some time hanging out - it was anywhere between 10-11 at night before my head hit my pillow.

I was exhausted. I was running on fumes. I was sore.

Then it happened. That desperate yet glorious first cup of coffee.

It was there when I was up all night with a newborn. It kept me going when my kids were sick. It was my companion through the chaos of breaking up toddler fights, chasing after little buns to get them to actually sit on the potty, tackling mountains of laundry, days worth of Christmas decorating, and the countless late-night work sessions.

Coffee really is amazing isn’t it. The aroma. The flavor. The caffeine boost.

But there are so many popular sayings about coffee that aren’t accurate. They are all slightly different, but they all have the basic formula…..something about Jesus and and something about coffee.

They are humorous. We’ve all heard them, perhaps even said them - but it makes me wonder, when did we start adding to Jesus, like He wasn’t enough? When did he stop being our “all in all”?

Even looking back these past 7 years of parenthood, I wonder “Did I rely on Jesus to get through the day as much as I relied on caffeine?” Is caffeine the thing that makes me a better mother or was it time spent studying the Word? Did it really empower me for the day ahead - or did I condition myself to think I can’t live without it?

The problem with the “Jesus and (fill in the blank)” ideology is that we are doing the same thing as the children of Israel did when they began to make the golden calf. We are making for ourselves something … else.

Read Exodus 32. It wasn’t just the making of an idol that angered God. It wasn’t just the sacrifices and the worship. It was also that they attributed their miraculous deliverance and exodus from Egypt to a man-made substitute and not to God Himself.

Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images.”

How often do we start the sentence with Jesus but He doesn’t remain the subject. We add to Him. We give glory to God…AND to something else entirely that He had no hand in. God had no more hand in me loving coffee than he did with me choosing to wear a black t shirt today. Let’s not confuse God ordering our steps with showing the same reverence and praise in the same sentence as Jesus.

Please don’t think I have anything against coffee. I drank a cup of coffee this morning. For me, coffee was just that “thing” that I was adding to my daily life - I began to praise its effect on my life more than the effects of Jesus in my life.

Do I love coffee? Absolutely. Do I love my husband? Of course. Do I love my kids? Heck yes.

But do I love them more than or the same way as I love Jesus? No.

That’s a hard sentence to type out. But it has to be true. God demands it be true. At the end of the day, it isn’t my husband or my kids that fulfill me. It isn’t my family, my coffee, my house, my job, my friends, a hobby, going for that walk, my favorite musician, or even going to church. Jesus is the one who saved me, who healed me, who delivered me; He was the one who was with me when I was barely making it through the day, He was the one who was empowering me to be a better wife and mother. He was the one who was sustaining me. It was His strength that was made perfect in my weaknesses.

So no. It’s not Jesus and. It’s Jesus. He is more than enough. He is my “one thing” and my only thing!

And nothing is or should be on the same level as Jesus. Period.

The meaning of fatherhood came home to me when I first held my newborn daughter in my
arms. She was so tiny, so beautiful, and so completely dependent on her mother and me for
everything she needed. From that moment on, my entire perspective on life shifted from what was best for me and my wife, and I began thinking and preparing for our daughter’s future. I was somewhat prepared for this change, but I was completely surprised when fatherhood transformed how I understood my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

It still amazes me that this is how God chooses to relate to His people: as a Father. Each of us is not merely one of the eight billion people alive on Earth today, He knows our names. He keeps track of where we go, just like dads keep tabs on their newly licensed-to-drive teenagers. He understands our thoughts, even the thoughts we are too timid or ashamed to voice aloud to others. And He responds every time we cry out to Him. Yes, the God who created the universe cares for his followers like a father shows unconditional love for his children.

God created fathers for blessing, for protection, and for guidance. In I Corinthians 4:15, the
Apostle Paul writes “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”

Here Paul is reminding the believers in Corinth of an important difference between teachers and fathers. A teacher’s primary concern is passing on knowledge to students. Once that information has been successfully transmitted, their task is complete; although, the most dedicated teachers can motivate students to excel in a particular subject or a talent.

But fathers are more concerned about shaping their children’s character and preparing them for the challenges of life. So they instruct children by their words and their examples. Fathers do not merely teach, they demonstrate godly living, over and over, in all situations. Fathers invest in the lives and futures of their children with the currency of time. Paul writes in I Thessalonians 2:8, “we loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s good news but our own lives as well.” In fact. fathers are so vital to our growth and development that God Himself promises to be a Father to those who do not have one. “Father to the fatherless, defender of widows – this is God, whose dwelling is holy.” (Psalm 68:5).

Let’s remember to honor and appreciate the fathers in our lives, both the natural and spiritual fathers, and be especially grateful to our Heavenly Father who has adopted all who believe in Jesus into His family and calls us sons and daughters.

Back when Jenny and I were newlyweds, we were in the car and driving back to Avis on Water St., in Lock Haven. We were listening to a worship CD in the car, and Jenny was doing fine. I, however, had the worst migraine ever. I was sick to my stomach, my head felt like it was about to explode, my vision was blurry, and I was driving… it was not a good situation. Then, in an outburst that surprised Jenny, I began shouting in tongues. When I had finished, my stomach had settled, my vision was clear, my headache was completely gone, and I felt well rested and refreshed!

Today, as throughout history, tongues has been one of the most attacked manifestations of the Holy Spirit. The enemy knows that it is a very powerful tool that every Christian should be using regularly. It is made-fun of on TV, labeled as babble by intellectuals, and persecuted by fellow Christians. Satan, it seems, will use anyone that he can to bully it out of existence. Even among churches that have been historically Pentecostal, tongues has become something that is little talked about, hidden, and seldom used. I’ve talked to individuals that grew up in such “Pentecostal” churches, and they have said that they only heard one person ever speak or pray in tongues! Folks, this should not be! Tongues is far too valuable to give up to the enemy!

Speaking in tongues is the ability of the spirit of a believer to pray in a language that they do not understand, by the power of the Holy Spirit. This can be in a language of men or angels (1Cor. 13:1). Currently, there are 7139 active world languages, 573 dead languages, and 24 fictional languages (so yes, Tolkien Elvish and Klingon are possibilities), and that’s not even counting all of the angelic language possibilities that we have no clue about. And, considering the fact that God can literally create meanings for any syllable that he wants…the possibilities are endless.

Tongues is so much more than many, in the modern church, think it is. It is a multifaceted gift that is intended to be used by all believers. Tongues is promised to, and expected to follow, all believers: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;” (Mark 16:17).

Scripture presents Tongues as a sign that one has received the promise of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

• “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4 NKJV) 
• “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word…For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.” (Acts 10:44,46 NKJV)
• “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:6 NKJV).

When acting as a gift of the Holy Spirit, it is used to deliver a message during a gathering, when accompanied by an interpretation.

• “...to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” (1 Cor. 12:10 NKJV)
• “If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret” (1Cor. 14:27 NKJV).

The Bible teaches that it is the prayer language of the spirit where the Holy Spirit uses our spirit to pray the will of God.

• “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” (1Cor. 14:2 NKJV)
• “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.” (1Cor. 14:14 NKJV)
• “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Rom. 8:26 NKJV).

Paul calls this praying in the spirit.

• “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." (1 Cor. 14:14,15 NKJV).

Praying in the spirit (in tongues) is an often forgotten part of the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18, and is to be used in spiritual warfare “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…” (Eph. 6:18 NKJV).

It builds up (edifies) us spiritually. This is a term that we would use when charging up our phones. When we charge them, we are edifying them.

• “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself,…” (1 Cor. 14:4a NKJV)
• “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,” (Jude 1:20 NKJV). 

In a scientific study by Carl Peterson M.D. (2011), it was found that speaking in tongues will boost our immune system by 35 to 40 percent. Another study by Lynn (2013), found that those who spend time speaking in tongues, will have a reduction of stress. And, in a study by Francis and Robbins (2003) they found that those who speak in tongues have greater emotional stability. So, speaking/praying in tongues will not only edify you spiritually, but emotionally and physically as well. What an awesome gift!

The Apostle Paul makes the declaration that he speaks in tongues often. “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all;” (1 Cor. 14:18 NKJV), and, through him, declares God’s will that we all speak in tongues. “I wish you all spoke with tongues…” (1 Cor. 14:5a NKJV)

Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit? If so, you have received from Him the ability to speak and pray in tongues. I urge you to use it often. Especially when you are feeling spiritually dry. It will charge you back up, and motivate you to do great things in His Name. And, never, never, never hide it or give it up for the sake of fitting in with those who do not understand the power of God. If you have never received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and have never spoken in tongues, I would encourage you to begin to ask God for this. Approach the leaders of the church, and they will pray with you. There are a great many people in our church that would be happy to stand with you in prayer, till you receive the promise of the Father, the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Till next time,
Jason

Touch screen, smart phones, voice activated. This is our lives today, a fast pace society when pushing a few buttons can put you in a conversation with someone thousands of miles away within seconds. Push a couple buttons and you can cook anything within minutes that use to take an hour. Push a couple of buttons and you are in the largest library in the world.

We have conditioned our lives to a life of ease and speed while enjoying all the modern conveniences of the times, all because of technology. Because of technology, we want everything in minutes and sometimes even faster, yes, every one of us. We hit the drive-through's for coffee, sandwiches, order anything in the world online because we are too busy to go shopping.

Though this is amazing and sometimes even fun, once again, we are conditioning ourselves to have everything done in Superman style, faster than a speeding bullet.

There is one thing you will never speed up in minutes no matter how hard man tries, and that is character. It has become a real problem within the Church. It’s that adage, everyone wants the product, but no one wants the process.

Jesus said in Matt. 10, "He that endures to the end the same shall be saved."

Endure= to stay under, to remain, have fortitude, persevere, patiently, bear trials, stand.

God is not a Jehovah Jeannie where you rub the bible and watch Him appear just so He can perform for you and grant all your wishes in five minutes or less. Many of God’s promises are not fulfilled overnight. In fact, Hebrews 11 tells us that there were so many men and women of faith who never saw the promises, but still believed. They went through extreme situations, trials and persecution still, they believed and continued. Even while they made mistakes, God was building character because they continued and kept believing.

My concern is today believers want the promises without the pressing and the product without the process.

You can buy a house already framed, wired, painted, and placed on your parcel of land but that is just a structure. When you begin to cook meals, do laundry, wash the floors, play games with the kids, then have a cup of coffee in the morning, well, that’s a home. You have embraced all the good times and bad times, the comfort and irritations of life.

Don’t feel bad if some days you prayed that God would make life easier because even the Apostle Paul prayed something similar, only he asked for deliverance.

2 Cor 12:7 "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

And there you have it. No quick fix. No rubbing the bible. No deliverance. In this case, God said, “I will give you grace, the ability to go through all the tough and long days and when you are through it you will see that you have become stronger.

I guess Paul then learned through that experience and many others that a few years later he said to the Philippian Church, (my paraphrased), “I don’t understand everything about life, but one thing I have learned and that is to let go of my past and all the difficulties life brings. I am now pressing forward and reaching toward the end of my race.”

One can only finish a race when one stays in the race. Whatever you are facing, even on your worse days, don’t give up. Keep pushing, keep pressing, keep persevering. It may be impossible in your strength but God’s grace is sufficient and will enable you to endure to the very end because ‘greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world’.

The enemy loves to attack when you have been believing God for something He has promised. Maybe it’s starting up a business, working toward restoring a relationship, or believing God for healing. Perhaps you have already experienced God’s power in many ways over the years; answered prayers, miracles, provisions, protection etc. But, now all hell seems to breaking lose and you find yourself gravitating to negativity or even thinking you have a right to be negative. You find yourself having panic attacks, feeling sorry for yourself, falling into a depression, and just waning to throw in the towel. You are losing hope.

Fear, pessimism, and negativity were just as much of a problem back in the days of Moses as they are today in the lives of believers. It actually kept the children of Israel from walking into their destiny God had promised them. Ever wonder what you may not be walking into or have missed out on because of a negative spirit?

The Bible says that our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Negativity is out to steal, kill, and destroy if you allow it.

When the children of Israel were coming to their final destination, their promised land, negativity had overtaken their hope. Twelve spies were sent to scout out the land, and were told, “Be of good courage.” Even before they faced the challenges, God wanted to equip them with courage. Whatever circumstances we walk into or are faced with in life we need to purpose not to set out in negativity, but with courage. Unfortunately, when the spies came back, 10 out of the 12 spies were discouraged. The Bible says, they returned with an “evil report.” This is what they said as they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there.”

10 people who chose to feed into negativity influenced an entire camp of close to a million people to weep all night. Instead of remembering all of the miracles and wonders the Lord had performed up to this point they chose to respond in fear, complaining & panic, refusing to trust the Lord to give them the victory. They rebelled against God and payed for it dearly. It cost them their destiny; the very thing God had promised and intended for them from the beginning of their journey.

Whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, we must choose not to respond in fear, pessimism, or negativity. As believers we are not supposed to be filled with hopelessness. No kind of information that we receive or we think has anything to do with the
kind of spirit that we need to intentionally take on. In order to have victory in our lives we must continue to fight that spirit of negativity. We must believe what God says and ignore the evil reports. So how do we break through? The remedy is found in one word. Expectation.

Are we waiting in expectation upon the Lord, or do we first need to see the victory before we can anticipate with excitement that He is going to move? We don’t have to see it or have it to get excited. We need to get past waiting for victory to unfold before we start expecting God to show up in power. I think of the childlike faith of children, who expect to receive
something for their birthday or for Christmas. You can feel the excitement and see the anticipation even before the gifts are in their hands. That expectation creates an atmosphere.

God had continually showed up for the children of Israel performing miracle after miracle, provision after provision, answer after answer. He was faithful to meet them every time; but instead of saying, God did it for us before so I know He will do it again, they responded with
faithlessness.

If you take a look at Luke 3:15 the Bible says that, “Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon.” Another translation says, they were, “on the tiptoe of expectation.” We
need to get on our tiptoes and expect God to do the impossible, the miraculous, answer our prayers, believe what His Word is saying now before we see it come to pass. If God is going to move, He will be looking for the people who are expecting Him to show up.

The people in Luke 3:15 had not heard a word or message from God in 400 years. They were hungry and waiting with great expectation that the Lord was going to show up.

Expectation is what positions us to receive from The Lord. Matthew 5:6 tell us that, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Now take a look at Acts 3:5. This lame man expected to receive something from Peter and John. He thought they were going to give him money, but God gave him exceeding abundantly above what he expected. The man was healed. Nevertheless, it was expectation that positioned him to receive from God. Expectation is the breeding ground
for miracles.

In closing, there is still hope. It is not too late. You can still receive from God. Miracles, answered prayers, provisions, protections. He will still show up when you simply start responding to Him with expectation instead of negativity. God is not done with you yet.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him. Keep going. Don’t quit. No matter how dark it looks, how big the failure or devastation, or how challenging life has gotten continue to believe that God is still going to show up, move, and there will be more miracles.

That is the power of expectation.

Luke 12:32 - "So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give
you the Kingdom."

All that we receive from the Lord is through a personal relationship with Him. Once we have
been forgiven and our sins have been cleansed, we become the sons and daughters of God. That means we are able to come to God as our Father.

As a father myself, I know my children’s desires well. And because I love them, I will provide
for their needs, sometimes before they are even aware of them. Both of my sons love bananas and eat them just about every day for breakfast. One morning, I realized they had eaten the last ones, so I drove to the store, bought some and dropped them off at the house before heading into work. Before my boys were even aware of their need, their father provided for them.

So we can pray with assurance, knowing that all good things we have need of are being provided by a perfect Heavenly Father. Matthew 6:8-9 “…For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father in heaven…’”

Here’s another illustration of what I mean: there is an entire multi-billion dollar marketing
industry that exists to convince us to purchase goods and services. Years ago, I took a business marketing class in college and learned about some of the strategies marketers use to get us to spend our money: ideal product placement, the best labeling, branding, and pricing strategies. Additionally, there are thousands of professionals whose sole occupation is to create the perfect ad to get shoppers to buy their product. Most times, those strategies aren’t successful, at least on me!

But now I have children, who only have to come up to me and say, “I love you Daddy!” and I’m ready to give them whatever they ask! They don’t have to use proper grammar or even the correct words to describe what they want. Why? Because we have relationship! It gives me joy to give them the things they ask for.

Matthew 7:11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

*The following is based on a true story that I once heard as a child from a visiting
minister. I now attempt to retell it to you, as my memory serves me. Names have been
changed, not to protect their identity, but because I don’t remember them.

The pastor, of the small country church, sat in the front pew, in a nervous sweat. This Sunday, his friend and colleague, a well respected missionary, had returned from Africa, and had requested to speak to the congregation. The pastor was not concerned over the message, or the fact that he was a missionary. In fact, the pastor got nervous whenever anybody new visited the church. The reason was not that he didn’t want the church to grow, for he strongly desired to see revival. The reason was Sister Agnes.

Sister Agnes was among the older saints of the church, and was very well loved. In fact, one could not find a better or more sincere prayer warrior. Sister Agnes was filled with the Holy Ghost and could be counted on to deliver a message in tongues, almost every Sunday. And, being a Pentecostal Church, this was not the problem. The problem, for the pastor, was the manor in which she gave that message. For, when the Spirit moved her, Sister Agnes would raise her right hand in the air, swing it around back, down along her side, and back up again, all while sounding a terrifically loud, WOOOOOOOO!!! She sounded like a fire whistle going off in the quiet little church. To this, the strongest men flinched, the children giggled, and the sleepy awoke in alarm. The pastor, however, got embarrassed. The message was fine, and the interpretation was fine, but why did she have to make that awful noise while swinging her arm every time?

Now, as his missionary friend sat next to him, the pastor silently prayed that the Lord would NOT move on Sister Agnes today. And, to his surprise, there was no outburst from Agnes during either the worship or the offering. And, now that the missionary approached the pulpit to give his message, the pastor began to feel at ease, knowing that Agnes would not interrupt the message. For, although she was loud, she always did things decently and in order. Then, just as the missionary said his closing amen, that arm went swinging…WOOOOOOOO!!! The missionary’s face turned white and the pastor’s face turned red. After the message and the interpretation, the missionary stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity to the pastor. Finally he spoke. “Sister,” he said, speaking directly to Agnes, “I was greatly surprised today by your message in tongues, and especially by how you started it. In the little tribe in Africa, that I just came from, this is the exact manner in which they give God their highest exclamation of praise, and no other tribe does this. God has truly revealed Himself through you today.”

The pastor, feeling both relieved, and a bit ashamed, learned that he need never to be embarrassed of Sister Agnes ever again.

Do you find yourself being timid when it comes to using your gift in public?
Do you feel inferior to somebody else and their gifting?
Do you find yourself reasoning away the urging of the Holy Spirit, in order to excuse yourself from doing something that He wants you to do?

We should never be embarrassed of the gift that we have been given to use for God. And, we need to resist the urge to compare our gifts to those of another. God has given you these gifts for a reason, He knows your strengths and weaknesses. You and your gift are part of His plan. We are warned by the Apostle Paul to not get caught up in comparing ourselves to others, “For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body? And if the ear should say,” Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.” 1 Corinthians 12:14-18 NKJV

You might be thinking, the church already has someone with the gift of healing, tongues, or prophesy, etc., and they are better at it. Great! Go learn from them, practice it, exercise it, and use it wherever God leads, (especially outside the church, where it is needed desperately). Church is our training ground. (Ephesians 4:11-13).

The enemy will do whatever he can to stop us. He knows that we have both the authority and the power to do great things in Jesus’ name (Luke 10:19). So I encourage you to step out in faith, use that gift, grow in it, and try some other ones also. You may have gifts that you don’t even know about yet. Don’t worry about looking like a beginner. We all have to start somewhere. No better place than among friends and family. And, even if you feel like you don’t know what you are doing, remember that God always does. He’s been around for quite a while, and helped people in all walks of life…I’m sure He can help you too.

Till next time,
Jason

Ever since Elijah placed his mantle upon him, Elisha followed Elijah everywhere, and when Elijah was about to leave, he asked Elisha if he wanted anything before he left. Elisha in a show of tremendous ambition requested a double portion of Elijah's spirit. In other words, he wanted to be twice the prophet that Elijah was. Elijah's last act as a prophet, before his departure, was to declare that Elisha would receive his request if he would see him when he left.

Immediately after Elijah left, the promise of the prophet began to be honored by God through the miracles done in His name. One after an other, over and over, the miracles kept stacking up. Soon, Elisha's miracle count surpassed that of Elijah, till it came close to being double. Would he make it? He was getting older now. Would he indeed be twice the prophet Elijah was? Only one more miracle remained. But before this miracle took place, Elisha died, and was buried. It had appeared that he had not made it, and that God had not honored the promise. Had Elisha angered God in some way?

After Elisha died, when winter was over, the Moabites invaded the land. At this time, another man had also died, and when he was about to be buried, a band of Moabites was spotted nearby. Being fearful, the men took the body and placed it into Elisha's tomb. As soon as the man's body touched the bones of Elisha, the man came back to life! (2Kings 13:21). Now I have heard some say that this was due to a great anointing that had soaked into the bones of the prophet, but this is not the case, and those who insist on this, miss the great truth of this story. Many have gone into error by this, and have put their trust in old dead things, instead of in the living God.

Instead, this is a tremendous testimony to God's faithfulness to keep his word. See, Elisha was promised twice as much, and God keeps his promises... even to a dead man.
As a believer, reading through the Scriptures (especially the New Testament), take special note to all the promises in it, and claim them for yourself. Whenever we lay hold of these promises of God that He has declared in His Word, we do not need to question them. For God has already answered them before you even thought to ask.
If He had it written, then He means it, and will stand by it. All that remains for us to do is to simply trust in God that He will keep His word, and then be moved to action by that trust.

Till next time, keep trusting in God,
Jason

We have been given the privilege of storing up treasure in heaven through prayer. Prayer is only something we can do here on earth for a short season. Our life is compared to a mere breath. Nonetheless, prayer is an investment of our lives, that has the power to grab God’s attention & make a powerful difference. It is through prayer that the landscape of lives, families, cities, nations, and circumstances are changed. 
It is through prayer that we grab the attention of God Himself. Revelation 5:8 talks about the golden bowls that are full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. These are treasures to the Lord. He literally collects our prayers. I know that the things I collect are of
great and precious worth to me. How much more the things God collects. He wouldn’t collect anything frivolous. Only things that are eternal, of value, and mean something to Him. I have heard it said that the prayers of faith are filed away in heaven, never forgotten.
And here is why our prayers are so valuable to God; the golden bowls that are full of incense are the true odors; the heart prayers of God’s children from the agonizing heart, to the struggling heart, to the triumphant heart. God hears every sob, groan, sigh, song, thanksgiving, and rejoicing.

The Bible instructs us, “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” The Apostle Paul said, “While we have opportunity, let us do good to all
people.” One of the greatest opportunities we have as believers is to reach the heart of man through prayer. We all know someone who is lost, needs the Lord, or who has backslidden. See, the secret of reaching men is to know the secret of reaching God. We cannot reach men in our own strength. Our fight is not against flesh and blood. (Ephesians 6:12)

1. George Mueller, who was considered to be a prince of intercessors with God, began to pray for a group of 5 personal friends. After 5 years one of them came to Christ. In 10 years, 2 more of them found peace in the same Savior. He prayed for 25 years, and the fourth man was saved. For the fifth, Mr. Mueller prayed until his death, and this friend came to Christ a few months afterwards.
2. There are hidden groups of people that have been unreached by the gospel over the years, but because of the cries of God’s people that number has plummeted. In 1980 there were 16, 000 hidden groups of people who had never heard the gospel. In 2018 that number dropped to only 7,000, because of prayer

Going back to James 5:16, it says "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." We need “fervent” in prayer more than ever before. This next generation needs the fervent prayer of the righteous. This nation needs our fervent prayers. Our families need fervent to be seen by our children. Our neighbors & co-workers need fervent prayers to be
lifted up over their souls. I have heard it said by a great man of God that the more that goes up, the more will come down.

As we pray those golden bowls are filled up with incense, which are the prayers of the Saints. God, in His perfect timing, will mix our prayers with His power and pour them back out upon the earth to bring the answer, resolve, and change from those prayers that we have been invested in.

This is why we never give up on prayer. It is a guarantee in God’s Word and people are depending on us! Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened."

How much treasure in heaven are you storing up?

You prepare a banquet for me, where all my enemies can see me; you welcome me as an honored guest and fill my cup to the brim. I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life; and your house will be my home as long as I live. Psalm 23:5-6

This familiar passage from Psalm 23 describes the banquet table that God has prepared for His people: an opportunity for fellowship and relationship, and a place where we find rest and are refreshed. This is because our Heavenly Father’s desire is to be close to His children. The image of a feast in this Scripture is intentional – describing a long, drawn-out meal where conversation flows, and the partakers open up to one another. It is certainly not a rushed drive-thru meal experience!

But all too often, it is easy to get caught up in the busyness of daily life: our family, our work,
our responsibilities, our hobbies. And we neglect the invitation we have received to draw close to our Savior.

In Luke 14, Jesus told a parable about a similar banquet: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses.” What is interesting about the excuses listed in the parable is that they are all perfectly legitimate reasons. Specifically, Jesus identified material possessions (“I have just bought a field”), business and career goals (“I have just bought five yoke of oxen”), and relationships (“I have just gotten married”). It is important to remember that while none of these things are wrong of themselves, each of them served to distract the guests from the more important banquet. Jesus was addressing our tendency to prioritize material things above spiritual treasures.

Our Heavenly Father desires ongoing fellowship with us. Many times, and I am guilty of this
too, we think God is most concerned about our service, the things we do for Him. But He isn’t. Most of all, He desires to dwell with us, to abide with us. In Luke 10:38-42, we read about two sisters who invited Jesus into their home. Martha busied herself with serving, but Mary lingered at the table in the presence of Jesus. And Jesus said that Mary chose the better part.

Today, you and I have another opportunity to respond to Jesus’ invitation to draw closer to Him. Don’t miss out!

As one reads Scripture, there are many people within its pages with which we can identify. Perhaps we are Abraham in Genesis pleading with God for a loved one that is stuck in a bad place, or Moses, facing off against an unjust and unholy world. Perhaps we feel like Job, when everything seems to be going wrong, and you can’t find a reason why.

But, what about the New Testament? When we are reading the Gospels, with whom do you identify? Is it Peter, the one who acts first, and thinks later (not always a bad thing)? Or Thomas who doesn’t believe everything he hears (also not always a bad thing)? Perhaps you are having difficulty publicly proclaiming Christ before others, like Nicodemus. There are even bad guys in the Gospels, but if you are identifying with the Scribes and Pharisees… well… I think we should probably have a talk… soon!

So, as disciples of Christ, when we read the Gospels, with whom should we seek to identify with? There remains one overarching fact throughout the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, that many often overlook. None of the disciples had experienced salvation yet! None of them were new creations! None of them were filled with the Holy Spirit! Jesus, alone, was as we are now. Being the first of many brethren (Romans 8:29), He was the beginning of the New Creation. Whereas, before the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was only with us and not in us, but now, as it was with Christ, the Holy Spirit is in us. (John 14:17). So then, the only one with whom we can genuinely identify with in the Gospels, is Jesus Himself. He has been made an example to us in all things (Ephesians 4:15).

Now, go read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and take special note to Christ.

Focus on what He said, how He said it, what He did, and how He did it. Then go and
do likewise. Step out in faith first, and let God meet you there. Don’t worry, He’s the same Holy Spirit... He remembers what to do. “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1Corinthians 1:11 NKJV)

Till next time,
Jason

One of my favorite aspects of spring is seeing new life emerge after the cold, dark season of winter. Leaves and blossoms form on trees, grass blankets the ground with a fresh green carpet, and flowers burst into yellow, pink, and purple blooms. The memories of bitter cold and gloomy, grey skies are forgotten as the warmth of the new season melts away the snow and ice. Despite having witnessed the transformation of spring many times, I’m still filled with excitement each year as this season approaches.

Perhaps that’s because every spring, I am reminded of the inner transformation that Jesus brings to our lives. It is no coincidence that Christians celebrate Easter Sunday and the resurrection of our Savior during this season of renewed life bursting forth. After all, this is why Jesus came to Earth and died and rose from the grave, so that we too could experience new life!

Without Him, our own hearts are hardened by sin, as cold and frozen as an ice storm in January. Our future is bleak and gray, with no hope of permanent change coming from our own strength or willpower. The power of sin, the chains of addition, the destructive behaviors that we repeat over and over are too strong for us to break on our own.

But winter is not intended to be permanent. The moment we are willing to surrender our lives to Jesus and give Him everything that is dead and broken in our lives, He comes to destroy the power of sin and bring us into a fresh new season! Jesus is the Life Giver, the Life Restorer. He transforms our hard hearts and makes us truly come alive.

The apostle Paul, once a relentless persecutor of all who followed Jesus of Nazareth, personally experienced this transformation when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. This man who tirelessly pursued and imprisoned the saints was converted and became the most unlikely apostle. In a letter to the Corinthian church, Paul writes, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (II Cor 5:17 NLT). Paul no longer identified with who he was before Christ. That person was gone forever. He only recognized that he was entirely different, with a new purpose and calling.

You too can experience that transformation, when you put your trust in Jesus Christ and receive His forgiveness for your sins. He is willing to give you that brand new life, right now, and the promise of eternal life. He is ready to tell you, “Behold, I make all things new.”

Are you ready for that new life to begin?

David

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” (Mark 11:23 NKJV)

Let us take a closer look at this passage of Scripture:

• Assuredly - In the original language, this is actually the word “amen”. When it is placed at the beginning of a passage, it emphasizes the truthfulness of what is about to be said. Jesus is thus saying, for us to pay attention, because what he’s about to say is absolutely true.

• Whoever - This is something that applies to everybody: the mature believer, beginner Christians, and even the barely saved. The exercise of faith is something for which everyone has equal standing.

• Says to this mountain - As followers of Christ, we are told here to command the mountain. Don’t get me wrong, God is always willing to listen to us about what is on our hearts, however, many Christians spend their time asking God to do something that He has most likely already done His part to provide. Our part, however, is to take up the authority that God has given us to vanquish the enemy on His behalf (Luke 10:19). 

• Does not doubt in his heart - Notice that it says “heart” and not head. You can have doubt in your head and not ever have it touch your heart. In fact, this is one of the tools the enemy uses to get believers to back off of a situation. He will put doubts in your mind, in hopes that you will adopt them as your own and make you feel inadequate. If his tactic works, the believer will soon stop fighting him, and will accept defeat. This is only in the head, and not the heart. The heart involves relationship with God and settling in your spirit, once and for all, that God’s word is absolutely true and that every promise in it must be fulfilled, because of His faithfulness.

• Believes…those things he says - Be confident. Settle it in your spirit, and speak it boldly. Regardless of the current facts, the word of God remains the Truth. Be forceful if you have to, this will also help to cement your faith and give you the fight to push through. Sure, it may seem silly, but do it anyway. Get alone, get serious, and get loud. Let the devil know you mean business.

• Will have whatever he says - Be careful with what you are saying. This can be both good or bad. Both “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). For example, if you believe that you will get sick every October, and you repeat that…guess what? You will get sick every October. If however, you believe that God will provide for your every need, and you repeat that, then it will go well with you. Another tool of the enemy is through the media and in others’ opinions. If he can get believers to believe that the economy will tank, or that society is getting worse and worse, and if he can get them to say that with confidence, then it will be done. Let us therefore seek to always repeat the word of God.

Is there a mountain in your way, blocking the will of God for your life? Is there a sickness or an addiction? Is depression or anxiety attacking you or a loved one? Speak to that mountain with the authority of Christ, get yourself a fighting buddy among the brethren and battle together against the enemy until it submits to the will of God.

For some really cool examples of commands in action read:
Mark 4:36-39 . Mark 11:13-21 . Acts 3:1-8 . Acts 13:8-11

May you ever be valiant in the Lord,
Jason

In just a few short weeks, we will celebrate Easter, the most celebrated day in the church. We of course should celebrate; the death and resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our Christian faith. Paul said if there was no resurrection then our preaching is in vain and we are not forgiven of our sins. It was just before Jesus died, He cried, “it is finished”. To you and I that would mean, that’s all, nothing more to do. We begin a project and look forward to its completion. When we are done, we sit back, prop up our feet and take a breath because it is finally finished.

Jesus had a different thought. Words were the same, but the meaning so different. I am not an English major, in fact, I was an average student in high school but in my studies, I found that Jesus not only spoke dramatically different than us, but also grammatically different. When He cried “It is finished” He was saying that “now that this part is over, I can begin to build My Church…what I just experienced will bring about future results.” The future result was written in Hebrews, “…oh for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross…”

I so love that verse because the joy was not in Him suffering or dying, but rather the joy was seeing you and me and all those who trust in Jesus and receive His forgiveness. The fact is, He’s not done yet. The work was finished, but the results are still taking place. All over the world hearts are being changed, lives being transformed, alcoholics being delivered, addictions being broken because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Many projects are works of restoration, whether an old home that needs restored or a family heirloom that needs refinishing. Restoration is an action or a process where something is returned to a former owner, place or condition. But with Jesus, He doesn’t restore us back to our original condition, but restores us into a place that is even better than we were. A place where we have hope. A place we have peace. A place where we feel the Father’s love. A place of healing and deliverance. A place where we are not bound by tradition, addiction, or religion, but into fellowship with a loving God who said He would never leave you nor forsake you. This is how I know that He isn’t finished with us yet…He is always with us, working on us, working through us, working for us.

You may be facing the worse of days. Maybe even today, you think things are done, or that God changed his mind about you – that this is your lot in life, or your fate. But He is not done yet! He still has things to do in your life, to see ALL His plans and purposes fulfilled in your life!

I’m sure everyone has seen the clips on tv how different countries have their armies lined up across the streets, row after row, driving their tanks and hauling their missiles to show the world their military strength. Each day, they perfect their weapons, their skills, spending hours after hour of practice so when an enemy attacks they are prepared and ready to use that weapon.

As a believer, you have been given weapons to fight the attacks that come against your life;
attacks against your physical well-being; attacks against your state of mind; attacks against your family. The weapons are through prayer, praise, the word of God, to name a few. One weapon in our arsenal is called grace. Grace is not a warm fuzzy blanky that comforts you
when you are having a bad day, but a powerful force to bring you to victory.

• Grace is an enabling force that will give you a kick in the pants
• A force that will give you a push forward and not dwell on the past
• A force that will say no when you want to give up
• A force that will remind you it’s not about you, but about God and about others
• A force that will lead you to your denying of yourself
• A force that will help you forgive even when offenses do come
• A supernatural force that enables the believer to stand and fight the good fight of faith and that you can finish your course with joy.

The grace of God does not come from your pastors. It does not come from your LIFEgroup leaders. It doesn’t come from your husband or your wife. It doesn’t come from the newest book. But it comes from God, only God, and nobody else but God.

When we allow Grace to work in our lives we can say as the apostle Paul said, “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”  All that Paul did was because of the Grace of God. The focus here isn’t on ‘I am what I am’, but rather He is who He is because He is the GREAT I AM.

Therefore, we can accomplish all that God calls us to do and we can be who we are because of God’s enabling grace and because of His power we can overcome sin....we can overcome temptation! Because of His grace we can love the way God loves, forgive the way God forgives, be kind, be gentle, patient, forbearing, live for husbands, love our wives as Christ loves the Church...the list really is endless!