"Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. 21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:20-21 (CSB)

When I was growing up, my grandmother had our ‘everyday’ dishes for our daily meals. But when we had company she would pull out the ‘good dishes’. This would be a great impression on our ‘honorable guests’. This was sort of a way to present to others, who would visit, a taste of our best.

That is what God does with us. When we are ready, He will present us as His best.

Some may look at the text and see, ‘wood and clay’ and automatically say, “That’s me…I’m just regular, nothing special.

That is my place in the world.” This is not true. God made us all for a purpose. And in that purpose we all have a distinct separate value. This value is in place to ‘set us apart’ from what the world may consider valuable.

Birthed from a quote by Italian sculptor Michelangelo, there is a story out about a sculptor who was asked about his famous statue carved out of stone; “…The statue was always there, I just chipped away the unnecessary pieces.”

This is God’s intent for you as you are going through that period in your life where you ‘wait’ on Him.

We often fall into grief, depression, sorrow and our patience is tested during our ‘waiting season’. Switch your perspective and use this time to ‘chip’ away all that is in you that is not of God.

If you are claiming to be ‘wood and clay’ then chip away at what is not needed in you so that you will become more valuable than gold and silver.

Chip away at your anger, addictions, sadness, doubt, worry, fear, selfishness, grief, unforgiveness and anything of you that is ‘dishonorable’ and not of the Kingdom.

When the time comes, God will present you to the world as the beautiful sculpture you have always been!

He will set you apart and reveal you as His “…special instrument…” No longer will you be hidden behind all the unnecessary personal and physical traits that were keeping you falling short.

You will be prepared for “…every good work…”

Prepare yourself for the special blessing God has just for you. It’s yours and no one else’s, but God will not give it to you until you are ready.

So get ready, chip away, ‘purify’ yourself and become a valuable vessel of God for the kingdom.

May God continue to allow His peace to surpass your thoughts and guard your heart and mind in Jesus name, Amen.
​
Peace & Blessings,
-Billy

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“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.” Matthew 5:11-12 NLT


​In this Christian lifestyle continue your journey in becoming like Christ.

As you do this you will begin to feel better but you may begin to walk, sound and even look awkward to others around you.

You’ll hear, “What do you mean you don’t eat that any more…you don’t drink that any more…you don’t wear that any more…you don’t go there anymore?” When you stay in the word of God and become God’s humble servant, the uniform you wear reflects The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit.

As people see you, they should see the Trinity in you. This means shedding places and things. Now people don’t necessarily have to be shed, BUT: if they remain in your life they must come where you are.

They must take up the ‘Cross’ also.  Otherwise your spiritual uniform will begin to wear and tear if you attempt to continue your old lifestyle traditions. When the conversation comes up with others remember Proverbs 26:4 “Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.”

Other followers before you have gone through the same. Even Jesus rebuked the devil. The key is staying in God’s Word and as you learn what NOT TO DO, train yourself in making that obedience a lifestyle.

May God bless you and continue to give you strength in your journey.
-Billy

P.S.- Did you catch our last Thursday night live video for 2019. Be sure to check it out now on Facebook by CLICKING HERE!

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I don’t like using the word ‘fear’ so let’s substitute that word with ‘issue’. I used to have an ‘issue’ with heights. Being up high and looking down brought out feelings and emotions in me that would sometimes cause me to freeze in my tracks. But even though I had this issue, I was always able to move forward in any task that was laid out in front of me.
One great example was what I did in the military. I was a crew chief on a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. This involved me not only performing maintenance, but also flying aboard the aircraft during missions.

When I did this, I would secure myself with a harness and hang out of the aircraft while in flight. I also went to Air Assault School where I learned to repel out of the helicopter over ninety feet in the air; jumping out feet and sometimes ‘head’ first. Now does that sound like someone who has issues with heights?  Believe it or not I did.

To this day I feel a little queasy going up in high places but I have control of my issue.  How?

God has given me the tools I need within myself to see my tasks through, no matter what my situations may be.

In Isaiah 54 God is allowing Israel to know He loves them and, “…will not become angry or rebuke…” (Isaiah 54:9), them again. He is allowing them to know in the above text that He has angels at work in creating the weapons needed for His will to be done. Some of those tools were created within all of us who believe for that very purpose.

It doesn’t matter what your issue may be in any given situation, God has given you the tools to overcome it. The enemy will gladly use ‘fear’ to stop you on your journey in Jesus name. Remember, this issue comes from the enemy’s influence, (as he does not have any power), and we have the strength, through the power of God in the Holy Spirit, to overcome this influence of fear.

Like my issue with heights, stand in defiance of your issue!

Show the enemy that what God has given you is stronger than what the enemy has given you from the world! (1 John 4:4) Use that weapon God has created in you.

You will find that it is “…suitable for its task…”
May God continue to bless and keep you on your journey in Jesus name.

Peace & Blessings,
-Billy

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“…Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.” -Luke 7:7 (NLT)
Today, at this very moment, how strong is your faith?
I mean right now in the midst of what is going on in your life, how strong is your faith?
​
You may be facing financial issues; your children may be giving you some issues or maybe your spouse is acting in a certain way where you feel your marriage is doomed.

​In other words, you may be facing things today that you feel are impossible to overcome. I am here to tell you that God loves you and wants you to have your heart’s desire in Jesus name. We must live our lives knowing that God loves us. And that He wants to bless us with abundant living!
That means financial stability; Godly marriages and strong families. He has prepared that for you and wants you to have this. The first step in receiving this blessing is believing in it; having the faith that God’s word is final and true.

In the text above a centurion soldier sends some respected Jewish elders to ask Jesus to heal His slave. The story continues in Luke chapter 7, that Jesus went with the men but just before they arrived at the house the soldier sent some men out to stop them. He sent the message to Jesus that he, the officer, was not worthy of Jesus coming into his home. He said that he was not even worthy of the honor of meeting Jesus and merely asked if Jesus would, “…say the word from where you are…”
I love Jesus; I need Jesus in my life every day; but here is a man who could have met Jesus face to face but deemed himself unworthy. And in his humbleness, he asked Jesus to ‘…say the word…’ The soldier had faith that his prayer would be answered. That was his faith on that day.

Again, I ask you how is your faith today?

The text continues with Jesus’ response in verse 9 as He turned to the crowd and said, “…I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all of Israel!” The text says that when the officer’s men returned to the house, his slave was completely healed.

I live my life feeding my faith with the Word of God every day because as a child of the Most High I want Jesus to be pleased with my belief in His sacrifice.

I pray and ask in thanksgiving because I want God to know He has a prayer warrior, testimonial preaching and faith walking servant in Billy Jackson! The light that comes from that in me trickles down on my family and from them to the community they encounter. So from now on when you are asked the question,

“How strong is your faith?” You can reply, “Centurion Strong!”

We may not be worthy, but we are believers. And as believers, we were given gifts from the Most High; the gift of faith, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the gift of His saving grace. Don’t let the enemy take the power God has given you to use those gifts. Believe and receive that God gave them to you so that you will have victory in this life.

May God’s peace surpass your thoughts and guard your hearts and minds in Jesus name.
Peace and Blessings,
-Billy
​

"…I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes. I want you to turn them from darkness to light. I want you to turn them from Satan’s power to God. I want their sins to be forgiven. They will be forgiven when they believe in me. They will have their place among God’s people.”
-Acts 26:17-18 

​My son watches everything I do. Not only my actions toward him, but how I raise his sister; how I love his mother and how I act around others. I pray these actions plant seeds of spiritual growth in him. 

​For my prayers to be answered, my life must be directed by the word of God, not by my emotions and self-desires. I say this because any given day I decide to let my spiritual guard down and act out in my own way, the enemy will prop my son up for a front row seat. 

This will present a false way of life as my son will see his daddy acting in ways that are not of God. In order to keep the enemy away from my family, I continue to live my faith out as God intends; submitting to God so the devil will flee.

This way of life is also true for all who are around us. God wants to use you as His vessel. So that when he allows certain people around you, He can bless them through you. He says in the text, “…I am sending you to them…” We often think others are crossing our paths, when God is actually allowing us to cross theirs.

And when He does this, it is an opportunity to show others God in you!
That is a great honor!
I think about it often, the Lord allowing me, despite everything I’ve done in my past, to represent Him!
So, what do you do with that type of representation?

Oh yeah, it’s easy to be a vessel under good circumstances. Like when you say hello to a stranger or allow someone in front of you in a line. But what about showing up and representing Our Father when your path crosses someone angry or someone who doesn’t respond with a kind word or even someone who has hurt you or has caused discomfort in your life?

This is when we must meditate on the scripture when it says, “…sending you to open their eyes…” Your actions, your Christ-like personality will show them something the enemy tries very hard to keep them from seeing every day. But because you are in their presence, God’s presence is there also. His touch, His words are present to transform those He allows to cross your path.

Don’t ever worry about what you will do, God will do all the work. You just have to be present in Jesus name. God wants all his children to have the same chance you have at salvation. That is why He wants you to, “…turn them from darkness to light…from Satan’s power to God…”

God says in His Word that He wants, “…their sins to be forgiven when they believe in Me.” That belief in Him will come to them in how you act, respond and speak.
So live, my friends, with great godly intentions in your actions.

NO MATTER THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS: always respond as Jesus would. Allow your response to be pleasing to God.

And speak to everyone, no matter who they are or how they speak to you, with the intention of spreading the gospel of peace against the chaotic words of the enemy; as he whispers conflict in their ears. 

When you do this, you are allowing God to use you, to transform those He places in your path. So that, “…they will have their place among God’s people.”
I pray God’s strength, wisdom and guidance on your journey in Jesus name.

Peace and Blessings,
-Billy

​P.S.- We have decided to open up to our community one of the training modules in The Marriage Roadmap to Living in Peace. Yep, you heard it right. Now is the time for you to jump on this limited time offer and gain the insight you have been praying for in your marriage.  We have ONLY 50 spots open! The Masterclass is next Tuesday, May 28 at 8pm CST.
CLICK HERE to learn more and register: bit.ly/communicationmasterclass

At the end of the day, I just wanted peace in my life!
I didn't do the "work" just so Billy would stop drinking and lying to me.
I did the "work" for me! I simply needed peace.
I was the one who was frustrated!
I was the one who felt as though I was hanging on by a thread!
I was the one who no one seemed to understand.
Yep! I had enough and the only way I knew to get some relief was to do my "work".
And you know what? I did just that.
Not only did it transform my life but it SAVED my marriage.
WHO KNEW?


I realized for the first time that my life was worth it. I started to believe that God really had something greater for me.  I faced my truth and realized that no one ever taught me how to do "marriage".

No one ever sat me down to explain the position of a wife.  No one ever explained how to get out of the cycles that kept bringing out the worst in me...and my husband!

I just didn't realize that I was doing it all wrong!
Who taught you how to be "married"?

The truth is...most of us don't have a clue. It's not taught in school. Maybe you can learn about it on the streets...like most of us learned about sex. Even though my parents have been married a long time. I still didn't get it there!

It took me a short time to realize that I didn't need Billy to do THIS "work".
I only needed me to SHOW UP!
Yes, I was committed to it and now I am so grateful that I didn't give up too quickly.

Now, you can see the fruit of my "work".
Now, you can see that through this focused intention...my husband did his work!
Today, we share our testimony and proven strategies to living in peace and purpose everyday.

I want you to know that YOU...yep YOU can single-handedly save your marriage. Once you start showing up differently...your spouse will start responding differently.
When this happens, everything in your life starts to change.
Creating this shift in your life, CAN be learned! Remember, marriage is a skill set.

We have done the heavy lifting for you. We have pulled together all of our best life-tested resources and laid them out in a simple, easy to implement step by step process. We are convinced that our new Marriage Roadmap to Peace is the ticket for our community to get the most effective results the fastest in their life.

If you are ready to experience irresistible love, passion, and peace in your life. Then we invite you to jump on a complimentary "Journey to Peace" Strategy Call. This is where real transformation starts. We understand that God has graced us with a growing community and its just us, so our space is very limited.

But just like every worthwhile journey...it all starts with your "YES"!
Grab one of these sessions TODAY!
Here is the link below to book NOW:
liveinpeace.as.me/journeytopeace

Chat soon,
-Yolanda

P.S.- Your story is still being written, now it's time to take back the narrative. Book your session now: liveinpeace.as.me/journeytopeace!  Your life could start shifting right after this call.

​“But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with a message. “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”
-2 Kings 5:10 (NLT)

In the Old Testament there was a man named Naaman.
Naaman was a warrior who had great admiration from the king he served.
But in all his greatness, Naaman had leprosy!
Following advice, he went to meet with a prophet named Elisha. From the prophet, Naaman learned what he had to do to be healed of his condition.

The instructions in the text above are clear and the actions required are simple. But as simple as they are, Naaman became angry and refused to follow the instructions. His claims were that Elisha wouldn’t even come out to see him in person, and that the water in the Jordan River wasn’t suitable enough for him!

Looking at this text I say, “What’s wrong with Naaman? This blessing is right in front of him!”

But how often is the answer, the solution to our healing right in front of us and we choose to refuse. I remember when I weighed 285 pounds. My blood pressure was high and I had ‘sleep apnea’. The doctor’s even said I was boarder line diabetic. I was told, what not to eat, what not to drink as well as what would benefit me as far as nutrition.

Just like Naaman’s situation, the answers were right in front of me.  I knew! I had the knowledge but what was I willing to do?  Did I listen?

My flesh was strong and I couldn’t give up the foods that were bad for me. I mean when I had a choice between a nice salad versus pork chops in gravy with onions and mushrooms, I couldn’t do the right thing where my health was concerned. I was shortening my life span. I knew what to do, but my wiliness to do it was weak.

In 2 Kings we find that Naaman began to walk away angry until one of his officers stopped him and said, “If you were given instructions to do a ‘great thing’, you would have done it. How much more should you do it when he tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’? ~2 Kings 5:13

Naaman does it and becomes healed.

He understood, and became willing to do what needed to be done. You see, ‘Your blessing is in the middle of what you are willing to do!’ As you read, meditate and live in God’s Word. Be mindful of His instruction and feed your spirit so that you are willing to do what God has instructed you to do.

When you know WHAT TO DO, what are you WILLING TO DO?

You have the power to change your life! May God continue to bless you with His strength and wisdom on your journey.

Peace and Blessings,
-Billy

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“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
~2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT)
I used to run long-distance.
There were a few times that I enjoyed a good run; especially in unfamiliar places where the scenery was new.
But honestly, I never looked forward to the long run on most days. No, it was the ‘comfort’ after the run that motivated me to run.

While running the miles of hills, switching from asphalt to soil, speeding up and slowing down; in my heart and mind I would know that what I was doing would soon come to an end. And at that end I would be able to catch my breath, sit down and give my legs a break. I would be able to enjoy the ‘comfort’ after the run.

In all we have been through as Christians, we should look forward to the ‘comfort’ after our trials. We know this ‘comfort’ will come because the text says, “…God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.”

We should stop and shout a praise on that text alone!  In fact, this scripture starts off giving praise to God!  We should wake up in the morning and go to bed like that! Giving praise! We do this because we are thankful for what God has done for us in our lives.

Thankful for the ‘comfort’ he has brought us after enduring the trials we’ve gone through. Remembering that comfort allows us to endure through troubled times because we know God loves us and will fight our battles for us.

Often times we let the present troubles and trials take away our memory of these miracles that have happened in our lives. We need to remember; not only for our motivation but for the motivation of those God places in our path.

For example: because I have gone through addiction which put my wife, (and others around me), through troubled times as a result of it; I now have the gift of that knowledge of pain. Because God allowed salvation and the saving of my marriage with His power through a submitted, obedient, praying, standing-in-the-gap wife; I also have the knowledge of forgiveness, mercy and healing.

This is the ‘comfort’ given by God that feels so good! It is this ‘goodness’, this ‘comfort’, that must be shared with those who are presently going through the same struggle we have overcome.

What we have gone through and been brought through, must be used to save another. That way, the text continues, “…we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” ~NLT

May God continue to give you strength, wisdom and direction on your journey in Christ name.

Until next time, live in peace!
-Billy & Yolanda

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​

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.”  ~Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)

From 1990 to 2013 my blood pressure always registered high.
In 1993 I almost missed entry into the Army because of my blood pressure.

When my youngest was born in 2008, the spirit began to speak to my heart about taking better care of myself.

I have always been able to work out and take care of my ‘outside’ appearance, but I had never taken care of myself on the ‘inside’.

For this I had to learn what was good for my body and what was not. What was digestible and healthy; opposed to what would eventually turn toxic inside me.

I had to learn to eat my foods with less salt, without being cooked in pork and grease. All the things that made food taste great to me at the time, had to go.

The bible teaches us in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “…I am allowed to do anything…but not everything is good for you…I am allowed to do anything but not everything is beneficial…” ~NLT

Reading this scripture I realized what may taste good to me may not be good for me. That meant researching what was good for me, regardless of the taste.

Now take this same concept and apply it with God’s Word in your life.  The world would have us live ungodly, think ungodly and act ungodly.  The ingredients are in us to lie and deceive.  The ingredients are in us to be selfish and abusive.

Our appetite for anger, sexual sins, impure acts and wild living is strong. Our palate is marinated with the juices of hatred, fighting, and jealousy. These inner traits will become toxic in us and lead us into certain death.

But if we prepare for ourselves a ‘New Taste’, we can allow ourselves a new hunger. No matter what the world has shown us, we begin to seek what is good. James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from God.” ~NIRV 

We begin to seek the good in God’s Word.

The Word can teach us to become kind and forgiving. To love, have joy in our hearts and find peace during our struggles.

As we grow in God’s Word, we begin to hunger for more of God’s love. And when we thirst for Him, He will fill us.

This new healthy intake feeds our spirit. And when the Spirit within us grows strong, it will help us fight the desires of the flesh. 

Righteousness is digestible in the temple God created for us. It is the fruit that allows us life. Prepare your taste for what is good.

What is good comes from God!

May God continue to give you strength, wisdom and direction on your journey in Christ name.
​
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​“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord had done for us. 2 Because of our faith Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”
-Romans 5:1-2 NLT
Often times we wake up in the morning and our problems slap us in the face.

No good morning, no hot coffee, just a ‘slap’ in the face.

The world has taught us to accept its ways. In this acceptance we not only tell ourselves , “…this is the way life is…”, we tell others the same thing.

We say, “…Grow up! Stop complaining this is the way the world is!”

But we never stop and think once that God did not create us for this type of unacceptable, depressing lifestyle of settling for the world’s abuse.

Instead God wanted us to have so much more!

In the second part of John 10:10 Jesus tells us He came so that we may have ‘life’ and, “…have it in abundance.” ~HCSB

If we know how God feels about us; if we know what God’s intent is for us; then we would never be depressed. We would cease to be awakened in the morning by the ‘slaps’ of the world’s situations.
The scripture says that by faith we have been made right in God’s sight.

This has been done because of what Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of Jesus we ALL have the authorization to be ‘brought’ into a “…place of undeserved privilege…” 

When we KNOW all of this to be God’s Word, we will NEVER fall short because of doubt, worry and fear.

We will have strength in God’s gift of faith because we will, “…stand and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”

His promise to us.

God and His promise is the same today as it was yesterday and will be tomorrow.

May God continue to give you strength, wisdom and direction on your journey in Christ name.
​
Until next time, live in peace!
-Billy & Yolanda

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