​Deuteronomy 31:8 “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” ~NLT

A father takes his young three-year-old son swimming for the first time. The young child has learned to crawl, walk and run on solid ground up to this point. But now, he has come to a large body of water and the sight of it is scary to his young heart and mind. The foundation of this child’s fear is based simply on the fact that he has not ventured into this territory yet in his life. He is afraid of the unknown.

The father’s best attempt at calming this fear in his son is to go into the terrifying water before him and show him that there is nothing to be afraid of. The child’s father wades into the water and begins to smile at his son. The father stands in the shallow waters giving his young son the knowledge that he too will be able to stand in that shallow water. To the young son, the water is not as terrifying as he first thought. Then, the father spreads his arms and tells his son to come to him. The young child builds the courage to move forward toward his father. When he does and enters the cool water, the young son experiences a new thing in his life. And he discovers that this new thing is good.

As Christians, we fear change. We fear leaving our comfort zones. It may not be a terrifying fear, but it is fear strong enough to keep us from moving spiritually forward sometimes. It is during times like these we must heed the voice of God when He tells us to move. It may not be where we planned or even want to go, but it is a place where God chose for us to be. It may be around others who we may feel awkward or uncomfortable, but there is something there that God wants to do for all His children through us in that place.

No matter how we feel, we must know that God chose us and that place of destination for His purpose. As believers, that should be good enough for us. According to this text, when He calls us to a place, He has already gone before us and prepared that place for His miracle in us. This is why the text says that He will stand with us, not failing or leaving us, because He has chosen us to be used to show non-believers His existence.

Just as that young child observed his father go before him in the waters of the swimming pool, he was able to embrace within him, that new ‘thing’ in his life. There is a new thing God is calling us to as well. What is unknown to us is well known to Him. Like the little boy, we must join our Father in the calling He gave us. And then we too can witness peace, joy and spiritual satisfaction in a place we once feared to enter. A place where God has already prepared as a steppingstone for our elevation in the kingdom.

​May God bless and keep you healed, safe and loved as you journey in Jesus’ name.
 
Amen
 
~Billy

John 15:16 “You did not choose me. Instead, I chose you. I appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit that will last. I also appointed you so that the Father will give you what you ask for. He will give you whatever you ask for in my name.” ~NIRV

There are those of us who have been in a place in our lives where we were confused in doubt and suffered in our pain and struggle. Those times caused some of us to chase the desire to quit on our marriages, our loved ones, our children. Quitting because we were stuck and didn’t know what to do next. But then something happened. God touched us with His gift of faith. He chose us and we allowed ourselves to receive the blessing of salvation from Him, realizing that we cannot walk this journey without Him. He chose us and by choosing us, He saved us. Now, we have a job to do.

As Christians we can’t just receive Christ and wait on God. Living our lives in routine; going to work, coming home, eat dinner, watch TV, go to bed and get up to start all over again. Sunday is church day. We call ourselves Christians and live in that routine. But we were not chosen to just sit around and wait for the day of our judgment. We were given a task.

Now, all of us were not called to preach and teach the gospel as a minister in the pulpit. But we were all called to preach and teach through our actions. The way we live is a true testament to the existence of God in our lives. The way we walk and speak to and about others is important in showing, through actions, God inside us. Our actions toward others produce fruit that potentially nourishes others around us. This is what the scripture talks about.

For example, when children see their parents love, respect and communicate godly with each other, it seeds in them to grow and show the same actions toward others. This is the example of scripture when it says, “…bear fruit that will last…” Through our children we can build the fruit of Christian legacy. In this way, whatever is needed to sustain this fruit, can be asked for in Jesus’ name, and God will provide. We cannot walk this journey alone. But when we live godly lives, the fruit produced from that livelihood will feed and produce a legacy of spiritual living in our children and their children.

The perfect blueprint, should we fall short in our trials, is found in verse 17 of this text. God tells us His command, “Love one another”. Let this be the foundation of us bearing fruit that will last. Because this is why He chose us.

May God continue to bless and keep you protected as you journey in Jesus’ name.

​Amen

​~Billy

Proverbs 19:7 “When the way you live pleases the Lord, He makes even your enemies live at peace with you.” ~NIRV

As children, we can remember the times when we made good grades and were obedient in school. When we performed our duties around the house without being asked or told. When these things happened, our parents had no problem rewarding us. Whether it was a new toy, video game or money, they would give it to us. Not necessarily because we wanted those things, but because they were pleased with our actions. They wanted to instill in us what happens when you do the right things for the correct reasons.

As Christians, there is a little bit more power in our reward when we act according to the Word of God. Living godly lives, speaking the right words, and performing the righteous actions not only allow us access to blessings of necessity and kingdom-led desires; but it also allows us the gift of the Lord’s protection.

God allows us to have His light shine so bright in us that others may see Him in us. Chaotic situations will bow down to us because our identity as God’s children will be recognized. The Word clearly says that when God is pleased with how we live, He will make those who intend harm, negativity and unrighteousness on us, cease those sinful actions and meet us with peace.

This is a power that comes only from Him. The reward comes when we are obedient and remain this way through the endurance of our trials and sufferings. We can have comfort in not being afraid of  those obstacles that try and keep us from our peace. Comfort in not being anxious of what others will try and say or do to deter us off our path of Christian livelihood. We do not fear because we know that God will fight our battles. When we live knowing that God will allow us the kind of peace that will make our enemies bow before us, He is allowing us to remain focused on His purpose for our lives. God’s peace is given to us as a gift. The power of that peace is measured by our obedience to His Word.
 
May God bless and keep you safe and protected as you continue your journey in Jesus’ name.
 
Amen

​~Billy

​1 Corinthians 10:23-24 “You say, “I have the right to do anything.” But not everything is helpful. Again you say, “I have the right to do anything.” But not everything builds us up. No one should look out for their own interests. Instead, they should look out for the interests of others.” ~NIRV

We live in a world where freedom of speech runs rampant. When it comes to social media we all attempt to set up platforms that display our belief and strong opinions. Most of the time the first thing that comes to our minds will be the first thing out of our mouth. Not caring how it will affect others, we are just focused on getting out how we feel and what we think about today’s situations.

When it comes to our voices we must remember two things. One: the bible speaks about our tongues wielding great power, (Proverbs 18:21). And two: that power given to our voice is to be used and directed by God and His will for that power, (Jeremiah 29:11).

In saying that, think about it like this: (Using this strictly as an example) If one is standing in front of another person, that individual has the ability and freedom to push that other person as hard as they can. Possibly causing them to fall and hurt themselves. But we know that this is not a godly action. In other words, just because we have the freedom and ability to physically put our hands on someone and push them, doesn’t mean that we should do it.

When it comes to our voices, the same idea applies. Just because we have the ability and freedom to say what is on our minds, no matter how it affects others around us, doesn’t necessarily mean we should speak it. The same harm from someone who is pushed and hurt can be the same pain and upset from words being spoken out of selfish pride and ego. It does not matter if the words are personal opinion or just strong accusations, as Christians we should not speak words that will result in degradation or insult towards another human being.

The bible says that our words and actions should be for building up instead of tearing down. As Christians we should not be selfish by only using our words to voice personal opinions for self-gratification. Rather we should seek to understand other's perspectives so that we can find the words that will help heal and comfort those who are seeking God’s peace in their lives. Verse 24 says that we should seek what is good for others before we do the same for ourselves. When we do that, the correct godly words will come from above. And the affects will result in God’s peace for all involved.

May God continue to bless and keep you in His comfort and in His grace as you journey in Jesus’ name.

Amen

Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds a house, it’s builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchmen stays alert in vain.” ~CSB

Marriages, parenting, relationships with friends, family and co-workers, will not reach their full spiritual potential without God at the head of it. Let us use marriage as an example. The world teaches us that marriage is hard. Statistics from the world show us that marriage failure is greater than marriage being successful. An even scarier look on marriage is that a couple that is incredibly happy in their senior years of marriage is extremely rare. Why is this?

It is because marriage is uncharted territory. A territory that is included in God’s plan for our lives. No one couple’s relationship is the same. This is why counselors for marriage do not have a secret blueprint for a successful marriage because there isn’t one. Counselors can only guide you to use what God has blessed you with to have a successful marriage. You see, marriage is God’s gift. It is uncharted territory because God has a different plan for every couple.

The foundation of marriage is God’s love, not the couple’s love. The couple’s love will fall during the tests and trials of marriage. The couple’s love is taught by the world to be based on money, worldly success and even built on a foundation of lust. Marriages based on these are doomed.

But it is that couple that finds God’s love in their hearts, for Him and each other, that will build the strong foundation in their marriage. Strong enough to weather all storms that may come. Strong enough to cease the yelling and anger in their arguments and find a calm that leads to God’s solution for their problems. God has the plan for us in our marriages. And when we embrace that, it becomes easier to handle other relationships in our lives.

As we discover and build a strong relationship with our spouse, we can automatically build those same strong foundations with others in our lives. Our children, our family, our friends, our co-workers, and yes, even strangers that may cross our paths on a daily basis.

Unless we allow the Lord to be the builder of our lives, we will have a foundation that will fall in any season of struggle. With God, we will have a foundation that will stand the test of opposition and time.

May God continue to bless and keep you as you journey in Jesus’ name.

Amen

1 Peter 1:13-16 “Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy…” ~CSB

The hardest part for Christians is living righteously in this dark chaotic world. For example, we know that three of the Fruits of the Spirit, (Galatians 5:22-23), are self-control, patience and kindness. But the energy in our actions become weak when the world hits us with its influence. Influences like when someone cuts us off in traffic. You see, on Sunday our outward religious appearance looks good, but we compromise with the world’s standard when we do not exercise self-control, patience and kindness. We handle the traffic incident in the world’s way instead of God’s way.

At that moment in church where the Holy Spirit turns on. That point where the choir had just sung a song that we may have heard before, but not the way it was sung that morning. The preacher preached a sermon from a familiar verse, but we have never taken the perspective on that verse like it was preached to you that day. We are brought to submission when the morning has allowed the tears to well up in our eyes because of the reception of God’s love, power and healing.

This happens because today, we have prepared ourselves to receive power from on High. This is the day the revelation of Christ has taken root in our soul. In the text, Peter tells us to be ready. When we put ourselves in a position to hear the Word of God, we now must ready ourselves by clearing our minds of all that is not necessary for worship. Put aside the pain and struggle in our hearts so that we have room to receive the blessing of wisdom and strength from the revelations of Christ. In other words, that godly movement of that morning’s worship service has moved us from the side of just knowing a little something about Jesus; to the side of knowing Christ on a whole other relationship level. 

With this feeling of revelation we must take on the responsibility of obedience. This action on our part will flow and form a transformed mind and a vision of God’s holiness. From this point on, we must not fall back into what is not of God, but to live lives that are pleasing to Him. Because He is holy, we must be holy in everything we do and speak. Holiness is a response to God’s call and character.

May God bless and keep you covered and protected in his love as you journey in Jesus’ name.

Amen
 
~Billy

Judges 2:6-10

Children grow up watching their parents. From toddlers to teenagers, their parents’ actions are seeded in them and no matter how much that child attempts to grow up differently than their father or mother, in time the seeds instilled in them, eventually bring out the good or bad characteristics of what they have been raised around. 

When a child grows up with parents with a good marriage, in other words a father and mother respecting, loving and caring for each other, something incredible happens. The son grows up observing how a man should treat a woman. The daughter knows what to look for in a man who would be suitable for her. Like her dad is to her mom. Those parents have instilled those good seeds, not just by verbal communication, but by their actions as husband, wife, mother and father. That is fertilization for those seeds in the next generation.

When parents live and represent the ungodly lifestyle, their next generation will create a different way of life. Seeding into a version that is not pleasing to God. This is what happened in the generation after Joshua. In Judges, we find that Joshua’s generation lived by what they witnessed and knew about God and His miracles in their lives. But in verse 10 it says that after Joshua’s generation, “… another generation rose up who did not know the Lord or the works He had done…” The godly way of life was not performed in front of that next generation of children. And because they did not know, observe or even hear about what God had done for His people, they began to look to other worldly things to worship and believe in.

Because they did not learn to have faith in what they could not see, they learned to depend on what they could touch, see and smell. They never learned the true meaning behind the real power of God, so they depended on doing things under their own power. When the next generation never learned to have faith, they left themselves open to compromise and submitting to the world and its ways.

As Christians we should always allow the testimonies we have of God’s power in our lives to be shown and seeded in our children. So that they may carry the history of God’s work on to the next generation. This will seed into the next generation allowing them to live out new testimonies from their lives in what God has done for them. It is our duty to keep what we know as witnesses alive in our children. So that they too can live their lives experiencing God’s miracles. 

May God continue to bless, keep and protect you as you journey in Jesus’ name.
 
Amen
 
~Billy

John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.” ~CSB

My wife and I have found that in raising our son, we are able to seed in him better when we tag team. Not necessarily ‘Good cop/Bad cop’, but we recognize the strength in each other. When having a serious conversation with our son on any given occasion, either my wife’s voice or word is stronger than mine, or other days it will be me who would have the stronger seed.

In other words, we know when to decrease and allow the other to increase because the message we are both attempting to send to him will be received better when we don’t try to stand in front of each other to be heard. In the text, John the Baptist tells everyone that he has come before the Messiah so that he can prepare everyone for Jesus. Now that Jesus is here, he will now decrease so that the Messiah can increase.

This is the same in our walk as believers. We must have the same decerning for decreasing. You see, Jesus has allowed us the counselor. He advocated to God on our behalf for our helper, the Holy Spirit, to walk with us in guidance. It is our job to recognize and react by decreasing in our own power. We must allow the Holy Spirit to increase in us so that we say the right words, so that we walk in the right direction and we receive the wisdom we need for God’s purpose in our lives through the Holy Spirit. Decreasing keeps us from getting in our own way.

This week, practice decreasing in situations when we don’t know what to do. Practice decreasing in situations where we don’t know what to say. And definitely practice decreasing when we begin to fail at showing God’s love to others. Practice it. And watch the power of the Holy Spirit increase and experience the true victory in God’s purpose for our lives.

May God bless and keep you protected and provided for as you walk in Jesus’ name.
 
Amen

Matthew 14:23 “After He had sent them away, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. Later that night, He was there alone.” ~NIRV

In the text above Jesus went by Himself. It says He went “to pray”. He didn’t leave or dismiss the crowd because He was overwhelmed, He simply had to be with the Father. The Father is not only the Source of His Son, but He is also who Jesus intercedes to on our behalf. It is God who grants the mercy and miracles.

Jesus tells us that we must stay in the Word and walk in His image. We do this by knowing who we really are. Yes, we are God’s children. We also must always remember that we are His 'creation'. He created us for a purpose, His purpose. Just as God used His Son to feed the 5000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish, God has every intention of using all He created, those of us who believe, for similar important miracles.

This is why we must, like Jesus, dismiss some things in our lives and go be by ourselves and pray. Dismiss distractions like certain conversations, some old places, or social media. Leave the things that may feed bad spirits in our lives and go sit with the Lord and His Word. When we do this, not only will we find God’s peace, we will also find our direction from the Lord. As His peace calms us to the point where we can hear Him.

In the scripture, Jesus had just performed a miracle in front of the people. He went by Himself to be with the Father to receive peace and guidance. As needed to recharge and prepare. Romans 8:34 tells us that Jesus intercedes for us. He does this full time.

If God blessed us to know Him through His Son, He wants us to also be a full-time intercessor for others. To humble and tame our human emotions, we will sometimes need to spend quiet, ‘alone’ time with God and let Him empower us, just as He did with His Son.

May God bless and keep you under the umbrella of his love, power and protection in Jesus’ name.
 
Amen

​~Billy

Nehemiah 8:10 “…So don’t be sad. The joy of the Lord makes you strong.” ~NIRV

One way to understand God’s love is to know the difference between being happy and being blessed with God’s joy. Happiness is based on ‘happenings’. For example, young George is happy because he has just saved enough money to buy a car he saw on sale at the car lot down the street. He is happy because he has pictured himself in that car and has told everyone about it. But when George gets to the car lot, he finds that the car has been sold and is not available anymore. He is no longer happy. His happiness has been taken away just that quickly. It is because his happiness was based on a material object. One he can touch, see and smell. When that object was no longer attainable to George, his happiness disappeared.

It is in ‘Joy’ where God’s power in our strength, comes from. And His power has a greater effect on us, than just being happy. With joy we can be content no matter what is happening around us. Joy from the Lord is knowing that He is in charge. It is with this joy that we begin to see others differently. It is with this joy that we learn to love others instead of judging them. Joy is the foundation for us being called to love deeply, and sincerely, reflecting God’s own love. If George went to buy that car with joy in his heart instead of happiness, he would have realized that he may not have gotten that car because God had something better for him.

In life we are where we are, because God has something better for us and those around us. The world my be showing us its worst, but God has us in place to present His best. We receive joy from the Lord. And we know this gift is powerful because the devil tries to steal, kill and destroy it. But we must protect our joy because Nehemiah 8:10 says, “...the joy of the Lord is your strength.” It is in God’s gift of joy where we can overcome all obstacles. And continue to move as servants for the kingdom.

​May God bless and keep you protected, healed and loved as you continue to journey in Jesus’ name.
 
Amen