2 Corinthians 3:18 “We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” ~CSB

The first thing I love about this scripture is, “…with unveiled faces…” This means that we have submitted to God and He has allowed us to see Him and His glory that surround us daily.  In other words, at one time all we could see was the disappointing world around us; our financial situations, our family issues, the doctor’s report that said our health was failing. 

But with ‘unveiled faces’ we remember what God has done for us.  We remember when we didn’t have any money for mortgage but out of nowhere the mortgage got taken care of. The doctor told us we were in a situation and with a touch of God’s hand we were doing better!  And that family situation turned well as perspectives changed toward each other. Despite what we are going through we are able to see God’s grace, mercy and miracle work through everything the enemy is trying to throw at us.

The next miracle of this text comes with the statement, “…from glory to glory…”  How many times have we been in that spiral lifestyle where we witness things go so well, then things fall apart?  Things go well again, then eventually fall apart again.  We get stuck in believing that ‘good times don’t last’.  This text is telling us that as we live and look in the mirror at the glory of the Lord, ‘…and we are being transformed into the same image…”, that spiral lifestyle will change from ‘up and down’ to ‘up and up’, to “…glory to glory…”

Yes, we will still go though trials, but instead of looking at the trial as ‘falling short’, look at the trial as a workout, a training, a design to make you stronger and train you to be qualified for the blessing that is about to come to you! Then you will see, with ‘unveiled’ eyes, that you are about to transition from one glorious point in your life to an elevation of another glorious point.  Stronger than you were before. Each blessing requiring a little bit more strength than the last blessing.

With the veil on, we see up and down.  With the veil off, we see up and up!  God loves us so much that he did not want us to live lives of 'up and down' because God is in control.  Part of that control is what His will is for our lives and that will does not include 'up and downs'. It includes us living our lives to glorify Him. And because we love Him, He will glorify us, “…this is from the Lord who is the Spirit."

May God continue to bless and keep you in His grace, mercy and protection in Jesus’ name.
Amen

Blessings, 

Billy

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” ~CSB

Many of you right now are receiving blessings. Even those of you who think you are not, you are.  Just take a breath, calm your thoughts, and open your spiritual eyes.  It could be as big as a financial breakthrough, a dream home just purchased or a family member that has come home seeking forgiveness and shelter.

Or it can be as small as having gas in your car, having your favorite meal prepared, or just being able to enjoy the outside air.  Embrace the small as you would the great! If you don’t embrace, love and be thankful for the ‘small’ blessings, you will not be able to receive and handle the great blessings.  God has an order, and that order must be followed.

When you open your eyes to the blessings and realize what you are missing, it strengthens your will to wait on the Lord. Picture God holding on to something awesome for you.  He’s holding it right now, but He is waiting on you to receive His gifts leading up to what He has for you now.  Waiting on you to be humble enough to appreciate what He is already doing for you. 
 
That great gift He is holding on for you is yours, but you must be in the right Spirit in order to receive it.  Through the ‘small’ blessings you will recognize it is God who is with you during your ‘wait’.  Realize that He will never allow you to be alone during your times of struggle. It is only then that you will be able to hold on to those ‘great’ gifts.

And know that these blessings are a major part of your transformation as a child of God.  Your waiting period is God being patient with you while you ‘get’ what He wants you learn and become.  He loves us so much that He does not want, “…any to perish but all to come to repentance…”

May God bless and keep you covered in His peace as you continue your journey in Jesus name.

Amen

Joshua 6:3-4 “March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the ram’s horns.” ~CSB
 
After my accident, I didn’t think about the long road ahead.  The reason is because I was so happy to be alive.  God allowed me the chance to live and start my life new and I trusted Him to heal me. I knew He had a mission for my life, and I was ready to endure what I needed to endure, no matter how painful. There was a ‘wall’ in front of me that I could not see past, so I put my faith in God. I knew only His power could carry me through that ‘wall’ to what was on the other side.
 
This is the kind of trust the Israelites had as they were about to take a city that took refuge behind the impenetrable walls of Jericho. God told them that He was, “...handing Jericho, its king, and its soldiers...” over to them. They were given specific instructions in order to receive the miracle God had in store for them. Imagine the thoughts some of the Israelites had when they heard the task they would have for the following week.
 
March around the city one time, each day for six days.  First, I can’t I imagine how much I would have to psych myself up to walk around the city of Nashville, one day let alone six!  But on the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times. When they heard the sound of the trumpet blast, they were to give a mighty shout then the wall would collapse.  The Israelites followed these instructions and God granted them victory.  Tony Evans says in his Commentary, “…this victory was granted and included their involvement.”  
 
This is important because this may have a lot to do with why your process may be in pause. God may have given you instructions to do something, but you have not acted on it yet.  It could be anything; watching your words, getting help for an addiction, or even forgiving someone you cannot bring yourself to forgive.  Whatever the instruction, this must be done before you receive the blessing of victory in your situation.
 
God may not have let me know that the accident I was in would be the beginning of my transformation, but the journey after, I was led by the Word in my endurance and after the suffering and the pain, the miracle of a defeated addiction was that victory.  I was in a place I thought was unattainable for me. I trusted God then and now I move in the direction He sends me without hesitation. No matter how high, durable, and impossible that ‘wall’ in front of me is.
 
Next time you are in that place where you just don’t know, remember the faith and trust the Israelites had in God when they were standing in front of that wall.  That wall that fell under the pressure of some marching, horn blowing and shouting.  Trust God follow His instructions and watch the walls in your situations fall.
 
May God bless and keep you covered in His power as you journey in Jesus’ name.
 
Amen

Blessings ​
Billy

Philippians 1:9 “And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment…” ~CSB

Early in our marriage, I would attempt to show my love for my wife by performing actions I thought were the best representation of my love to her. I ‘thought’ I knew best how to please my wife, because I was doing what was successful for me in past relationships.  But what I didn’t know was that God’s anointing of our marriage placed a different seed of love in my wife’s heart.  I was not open to learn my wife's heart, instead I forced her to ‘take’ all I knew as 'love' which was the same I had given to others. Sounds crazy when I put it like that, huh?

Just think about it. When we get married, we come with our best ‘game’.  But it is only the 'game' the world taught us.  In the anointment of marriage, it is time to learn the correct way to love. The way according to the Word of God.  For example, with my wife I finally got it right, I learned our love language.  Mine is ‘quality time’ and my wife’s is ‘acts of service’.  When I learned what her love language was, I realized I had been going about showing her love the wrong way.  It wasn’t about my love language it was about hers and I began to perform the actions of ‘acts of service’ and our relationship grows strong every day.

It is the same with God’s Word.  We must allow the word of God to guide us in our daily walk in learning how to love the way God intended for us to love.  Tony Evans says in his Commentary Bible, “Love must be more than sentimental emotion; it must conform with the truth of the Word of God. Our love must be authentic and whole, not merely emotional and full of cracks.”

We must continue to grow in knowledge and distinguish mentally God’s love as it relates to how we love each other as well.  In conversation with my wife, I have learned; “if I won’t say it to God, I will not say it to my wife.”  If I will act on a command given to me by the Lord, I must live and recognize as distinct or different, when my wife brings a request of me to the table.  Her request very well may be from on High. But none of this can be done without our love being conformed with the truth of the Word of God.

I know this may be a lot to hold onto in one reading. But that is what this devotional is for.  Allow this word of truth to sit in your soul and allow the Holy Spirit to fertilize it. In time this message of hope will grow and you will receive the blessing of wisdom and guidance on the path God created for you long before you were born. 

May God continue to bless and keep you on your journey in Jesus name.
Amen

Blessings, 
Billy

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” ~Matthew 20:16 CSB

In the book of Matthew Jesus tells the parable of some vineyard workers.  A landowner goes out early one morning and finds individuals to work his land for an agreed price of ‘one denarius’.  The landowner went out later at nine in the morning and saw others standing around and offered them the same money for the same work.  He did this again at noon, three and five o’clock in the evening.

When ‘quitting’ time came, the landowner told his foreman to call everyone in to get paid.  He said in verse 8 to pay them, “…their pay, starting with the last and ending with the first.”  Those that were hired at five o’clock being paid the same wages did not sit well with those who had been hired in the morning and worked the land all day in the burning heat.  They began to complain to the landowner about being paid more because they were hired first.  The landowner simply told them, that they had agreed to work for the amount they received.  The landowner also said that it was his money and that he had a right to be generous with it.  “So the last man will be first and the first will be last.”

Tony Evans says in his Commentary Bible: “Through this story Jesus was teaching that God is both fair and generous. While the Jews expected better treatment from God because of their background as God’s people, the Gentiles would be objects of His compassion as well.”

Salvation was always in place for God’s chosen people. Because of Jesus Christ, that same salvation has been made available for everyone.  If you are one that has just started your journey in Jesus name, do not compare yourself to someone that has been in the Word all their life.

The bible says in Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  This is the beginning of the same wage in salvation from God and His gift of a unique, custom made blessings for all of us.  Like the landowner, God is fair and generous with His gifts. Accept them and be forever grateful for the awesome God we serve. 

​May God continue to bless and keep you grounded in faith and love on your journey in Jesus name.
Amen.