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 from a young girl that was a servant to Naaman's wife, he went to meet with a prophet named Elisha for help.

From the prophet Elisha, Naaman learned what he had to do to be healed of the leprosy.
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 one would say, “What’s wrong with Naaman?

The blessing is right in his face.

But doesn't this happen to us at times?

In 2 Kings we find that Naaman began to walk away angry until one of his officers stopped him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” ~2 Kings 5:13 (NLT)

Naaman finally followed the instructions from Elisha and immediately became healed.
You see, ‘Your blessing is in your obedience to God's direction!’

When you know what to do, are you willing to do it?

Even if it doesn't come in the form or package you anticipated in your mind.

What if your marriage is the very thing that you have been praying for to help you and your spouse. But the enemy has consumed you with the reasons you are unhappy in your marriage.

The marriage institution is a blessing and God uses it to change the most complex situations for the better.  But sometimes your situation seems so impossible it's hard to see the blessing in it. It's covered up by the hurt, disappointments and frustrations.

We just want to remind you that 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.

This is how your marriage will be healed.

Don't have a Naaman spirit before he decided to dip in the water!  You take the dip!
Take a leap in faith and watch God blow your mind.

We pray God’s strength on your journey in Jesus name!

Until next time, live in peace!

-Billy & Yolanda
​
P.S.- One of the key components that saved our marriage is our willingness to learn communication skills. Once we nailed down these skills in our marriage, instantly we started to see improvements. On Tuesday, December 5 we will be teaching these skills and we want to make sure you have a spot reserved. Join us at 8pm CST, for 5 Simple Ways to Instantly Improve Communication in Marriage. CLICK HERE to register NOW!

"I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” -John 17:20-21

When you get a chance read all of John chapter 17. Jesus prayed first for Himself because He was about to take the cup. Then He prayed for His disciples as they would continue spreading the gospel to a world that would continue to persecute them. And finally in His prayer He prayed for us; you and I. "...all who will ever believe in Me through their message."

Jesus prayed for our strength and endurance in our task in His name. You see God is in control. And part of that control is our purpose; what God created us to do. We all have our part in God's control in this world no matter what you think you see.

We want to remind you to be careful with your eye gates and ear gates. The devil is so busy trying to throw you off focus. Off the task God embedded in your spirit to carry out in this world. If you fail you are 'that' part of the body that fails to produce.

“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.” 13 "...we have all been baptized into one body by one spirit, and we all share the same spirit."‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We all cannot do everything; but there is one thing, one mission, God gave you that you will and can do, under His power! In other words you may be the 'hand' of the body and may not be able to perform the task of the 'foot'; but your task is just as important to the body of Christ.

You are VALUABLE!!

So don't ever think your journey or task is in vain. Don't grow weary and lose focus because that is what can make you quit. And if you quit the devil's influence would be successful. Let's not give him that victory.

Instead stay in the Word of God.  Pray for God's guidance in your role in the body of Christ.

Until next time, live in peace!
​-Billy & Yolanda
Like this Devotional?
Sign up below for our weekly devotional and as a THANK YOU,  we will send you our FREE eBook 14 Days of Powerful Prayers for your Marriage.  CLICK HERE to sign up!

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.” -‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:11-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Hey there, it's Billy in this scripture we see that it says 'He will give life to your mortal bodies.' Hmmm! 

Wow!

I know in my lifetime I have experienced 20+ years of hard drinking. Alcohol was a problem for me and I can't imagine what all those years of drinking could do to my body, the temple God created for me. Let alone what it did concerning my life.

I'm sure if I continued to live that way, death for me was certain. But God gave me a second chance through scripture, (Deuteronomy 30:15), exactly 4 years and two days ago. On September 11th 2013 He gave me a chance between life and death; prosperity and adversity.

In Deuteronomy 30:19 He nudged me in the right direction by directing me to, "...choose life..."
Ten days later, (September 21st), I was involved in a very serious motorcycle accident. Laying there on my back headed into surgery I remember yelling..."I choose life Lord!"
​
It was then I prayed for God's will to become my will.

From that moment on God began to heal me. After all that I have gone through....the Spirit of God, who lives in me, took away my addiction instantly, my cravings for the alcohol, healed my body, and there is no sign of any destruction that the alcohol may have caused!

God gave life to my mortal body so that I could continue on this journey in His name!  As the scripture in Romans 8 says I have 'no obligation' to return to my old ways. I say this to show you that the same Spirit in me from God that has brought me through, is also in you!  You may not have an alcohol problem but you have something that needs healing.

You have to submit to God and choose life. Allow God's Word to be impressed upon your heart to where it becomes your lifestyle.  We are heirs to His glory, and as the scripture speaks we must take the suffering with the glory. Verse 18 of Romans 8 says, "Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later."~NLT

I suffered, my marriage suffered for a long time, but when God stepped in and gave me a choice; I'll never turn from Him again. The blessings He has given to me and my family are great and I am grateful for God's strength in my endurance!

Will you be ready when He gives you the same choice?

The 'hard road' you anticipate is just the training time; the boot camp you will go through to receive the blessings of God's glory. These blessings were already prepared for you. Hang in there and continue to feed your spirit with the word of God. 

I continue to pray for God's strength in your journey my friend.Until next time, live in peace!
-Billy

P.S.- Discover how you can achieve a purpose-filled godly marriage in our new book I Thee Wed: A Couple's Journey to a Godly Marriage. CLICK HERE to grab your autographed signed book.

​Like this Devotional?
Sign up below for our weekly devotional and as a THANK YOU,  we will send you our FREE eBook 14 Days of Powerful Prayers for your Marriage.  CLICK HERE to sign up TODAY!

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. -Ephesians 1:11-12
 
What is your purpose? 

What exactly are you on this earth to do?  Why did God create you?  You may have asked yourself these questions or maybe someone has asked you and you stood there like….”UH, I am not exactly sure”. 

Right now let's check-in on your mindset about 'your purpose'.

• First, in this scripture we see God had His eye on you long before you knew Him.  
• Second, long before you ever heard of Jesus Christ, God had His eye on you.  This means that His design for your life; the path for you; was already determined and laid out.  Wow!  That is simply amazing!
• Third, God has prepared in advance ‘glorious living’ for you which means you were chosen to live good and be good. 
• Fourth, He has done this because you are a part of God's body.

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of
Christ. -1 Corinthians 12:12
Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.  If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. -1 Corinthians 12:14
But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. -1 Corinthians 12:18-19

Simply put, you are "...part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone..."

The questions for you are:

• 1) Have you accepted this truth?
• 2) Are you following your hearts unique design that God gave you; OR are you being who others told you to be; OR what your circumstances are forcing you to be?
• 3) Do you believe God wants to use you to make a difference in the world. 

I love this quote by Pastor Rick Warren:
What matters is not the duration of your life but the donation of it.  Not how long you lived, but how you lived. -Pastor Rick Warren

It is our prayer for you today that as you stay in God's Word, He will reveal to your heart, (if He hasn't already), your purpose.  We pray God's strength in you as He trains you for this 'designed purpose'.

Your life matters in the body!  God is ready to use you for the building up of the Kingdom. 

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

P.S.- Hey friend, we really want you to see God's purpose for your life.  So we have created this one-page quick resource guide "5-Minutes to Discovering Your Purpose" just for you.  This guide has the 5-key questions that will certainly help you to discover your purpose in just minutes.  Click the pretty red button below to download the guide and get started!

"Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."  -Ephesians 6:7​ 

​This scripture covers a lot. Including what we've heard growing up; 'Turn the other cheek'.  Today this is hard to do with all that's going on in the world. But remember, we are fighting the 'good' fight! A fight from victory because the battle has already been won.  Thank you Jesus! 

As much as your flesh attempts to pull you away from the 'fruits', (Galatians 5:22), you must allow the Spirit to guide your peace. 
That means you have to: 

• ​be nice in the face of anger and aggression; 
• give even when someone takes; 
• remain courteous when all around you may be threatening; 
• keeping your head when all others around you are losing theirs. 

Work, live, act, respond, love, speak, give and bless enthusiastically as if you are doing EVERYTHING for the Lord. Because, guess what, you are! You are a Kingdom Citizen and your actions should align with your beliefs.  

When you find it hard to comply to this, pray the prayer found in:
Psalm 119:5-8 (NLT) "...Oh that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don't give up on me!"     

Don't ever do anything that will make you feel ashamed in the eyes of God. Your 'want' should be that you make Him proud, so that not only will He bless you more, but He will also assign greater missions to you in your ministry. 

Remember, the same way the world is attempting to torment you, it already tried with Jesus and lost. I'm so glad my Savior didn't give up. Let us follow Him and stay the peaceful course. I pray God's strength in you on your journey. 

Be blessed!

Questions for Reflection:
1) What have you found to be the best response when others do not agree with your belief or stand?
2) What is your current assignment for the building up of God's Kingdom?
3) How can you let your light shine even brighter in your marriage, on your job and in your community this week?

Until next time...live in peace!
-Billy

P.S.- Many couples have found that our new book "I Thee Wed: A Couple's Journey to a Godly Marriage" has increased their knowledge and understanding of the Word and how it relates to marriage today.  Pick up your copy and join us on this journey.  CLICK HERE to order!

​​Like this Devotional?
Sign up below for our weekly devotional and as a THANK YOU,  we will send you this FREE Guide 6 Simple Steps that Will Make the Biggest Impact on Your Marriage, Starting Now!

Matthew 5:11-12 "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."~NLT 

In your new 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 them ask; "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 any more...you think you too good?"

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 God in you. This means shedding places, things and some situations. Now people, don't necessarily have to be shed, BUT: if they remain in your life they clearly will notice the change in you and will either stay or leave on their own. They will either lay their life down and take up the Cross or not. (Matthew 16:24)  Your spiritual uniform will begin to lead those close to you toward making a decision.  
 
When this topic of 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." 
Here is another one, Matthew 7:6 (NLT) "Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy.  Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you."

We find in scripture that Christ followers before you have gone through the same persecution. Even look how they treated Jesus Christ!  Did you think your life would be any different?  You must HOLD FAST to your faith and keep pressing on.  (Hebrews 10:23)  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.

Until next time, live in peace!

Hey, how do you see God transforming you in your relationships with others?

-Billy & Yolanda

P.S.- Our new book "I THEE WED" is still blessing so many couples. Have you received your copy? Grab you copy TODAY and we will be sure to autograph it for you. 


Like this Devotional?
Sign up below for our weekly devotional and as a THANK YOU,  we will send you this FREE Guide 6 Simple Steps that Will Make the Biggest Impact on Your Marriage, Starting Now!

Have you ever prayed and prayed about something and still not get the answer or the breakthrough you so desperately need? 

You read the bible, you pray and even fast from your favorite food just to hear from God.  You can’t seem to understand why God is still not answering you.  Why are you still in this same place you were this time last year?  Everyone you ask about it just says “keep praying”. 
You are just like, huh! I just don’t get it!

Hey, this is not abnormal. 

How to pray effectively is a common question for some Christians.  The solution is found in 5 simple steps.  Many times, we take the first or second step in the process, but miss steps 3 to 5.  Then soon after, you expect God to open the floodgates and blow your mind with answers. 

But listen this will not happen if you miss a step.  Many of you are not clear on these steps because no one has sat you down to teach them to you or you have not studied what the bible says about prayer.  Remember the bible is our blueprint for life.  Your answer and direction is found in scripture.  We just make it difficult by attempting to mix the “world’s” perspective of prayer with what God says we must do. 

Now, grab a notepad and pen and take good notes.  We are about to share with you 5 Steps to Gett Your Prayers Answered. 

Are you ready?  Ok, let’s go.

The blueprint is found in Mark 11: 22-25.
 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

In this scripture, we find the 5 steps.  Do you see them?  Ok, let's walk through each one.

Step One: You must have faith in God.  Are you a believer?  Do you truly believe that there is a God who rules and reins?  Do you believe that you are a sinner who has been saved by God’s grace?  Romans 10:9 says If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  Your faith must be in God and not in “what” you are seeking God to do through prayer.

Step Two: You must not pray with selfish motives or ambitions.  What is your heart’s desire?  Will it only bless you, your spouse and your family?  James 4:3 says When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.  For example, if you are praying God, please help my spouse to be more active in church, join a small group, find friends, learn to cook…. then our marriage would be better.  This example is not considered bad prayers, but it is what YOU want.  You are putting God in a box.  A better way to express this in prayer is to desire what God has for your spouse.  God’s plan and purpose for your life and your spouse is so much greater than we can even imagine.  God knows what your spouse needs and what they can handle.  Isiah 55:8 says “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.  And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”  This means God knows best!

Step Three: Your prayers must be for the building up of God’s Kingdom.  Will your prayer benefit God’s people? Does your request align with God’s purpose for your life?  To build up God’s Kingdom, you must be obedient and surrender to God’s Word.  That’s where you will find direction.  John 14:21 says “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”  May God’s will be done!

Step Four: You must not hold a grudge with others.  Have you forgiven them?  You can’t come to God with your request if you have not forgiven your spouse or anyone else who has wronged you.   Forgiveness is a process where you are accepting the reality of what happened and finding a way to live in a state of resolution.  Forgiveness is not something you do for others.  It is a process you do for yourself.  Ephesians 4:32 says Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Step Five: You must pray with specificity and not doubt.  Do you know what the Word says about your request?  Praying with specificity builds your faith and confidence in God’s Word and will for your life.  If you believe and know what the Word says about your situation then your prayers become ignited with great power.  Review the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-14 to gain a better understanding for praying with specificity.  James 1:6 says, but when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.

Following these 5 Steps will get you on the right path for your prayers to be answered.  Be sure to study the scripture lessons we have mentioned and ask God for wisdom as you pray.
 
Until Next Time, Live in Peace!
-Billy & Yolanda

P.S.- Want to engage with like-minded couples?  Connect with the community of Kingdom Power Couples HERE!  Kingdom Power Couples have one focus in mind and that is reverse the stigma of marriage as the "world" sees it and radically exemplify how God has ordained it to be.  Kingdom Power Couples are committed to living out their God-given purpose and making BOLD audacious moves for the Kingdom.  While exemplifying the true essence of a godly marriage.   Join the movement and become a Kingdom Power Couple TODAY!
 

The clock strikes 6:00am and you roll over reaching for your phone to turn off that alarm.  You find yourself waking up to another day with the same task ahead of you.  You know that you must get yourself out of bed because “responsibility” in the package of little children are depending on you.  If you don’t move, they won’t move.  You look back and see that your spouse is still sound to sleep.  They get an extra 30 minutes of snooze time because their morning task are very much different than yours. 

Your feet hit the floor and you begin stand to stand up and barely sigh “thank you Lord”.  You are grateful for seeing another day, but as you make your way into the bathroom for your morning rituals you find yourself thinking how long will this continue?  How long will my life feel this way?  You are too busy to give it much thought or wait for God to answer you. 

So, you rush to brush your teeth and get on your robe to rush in and wake the kids for summer camp and day care.  Still not a peep from your spouse!  After three calls to the kids and knocking on doors to wake them up you make it to the kitchen just in time to get the coffee brewing and some oatmeal ready.    Now you begin to hear the sound of rumbling feet from the kids and suddenly they are yelling “hurry up”, get out of my bathroom.  You sigh again and then hear your spouse stepping in.  Stop it you two.  Brush your teeth and get your clothes on.  It’s almost time to go.

As you pack their lunch for the day and let Pettie (the dog) out to potty.  You check emails to see what may have come in and a quick dash down the Facebook Timeline.  You realize, oh I go to go.  You drop your phone and yell for everyone "breakfast is ready".    

The kids dash to the kitchen to eat; while you finish getting dressed.  As the tunes of Tasha Cobb play in the background you get a little more pep in your step.  That ‘Break Every Chain’ song always gets your spirit moving.  As you give your spouse a quick kiss on the cheek and good bye, you swiftly jump in the car ready to hit the morning traffic. 

Then after a full day’s work you fight the same old traffic giving yourself just enough time to pick up both of the kids.  Get home and what you planned for dinner no longer sounds that great.  Oh well, it’s too late to change plans.  Dinner is ready an hour later and your spouse hits the door from work greeting the kids with enthusiasm while giving you a short “hey” with barely in eye contact. 

Then it happens, the silent treatment.  Not one single sentence from your spouse.  But without hesitation, you decide to engage with conversation anyway.  “Hey Honey, were you able to speak with your boss today about the vacation time?”  They reply, “yes babe” as they continue flipping stations on the television.  Not for one moment do they extend eye contact or even look in your direction or even explain their answer further to you.  Deep down in your heart you know if you asked another question it will trigger the same old arguments and you just don't have the energy for it any longer.  No matter what you say or how you say it, they are not interested.  So, you just join the silence. 

This is the routine each and every day.  When will it get better you ask?  Why does my spouse seem content with this life?  Is there something else going on that I don’t see?  Do they still love me?
These are the questions in the mind of a spouse who is wanting more from their marriage, but receiving no help in return.

What can you do?

Here are 3 tips on what you can do when your spouse is pulling away: 
First:  You must realize that in marriage you will experience peak and valley moments.   This doesn’t mean you have married the wrong person.  It’s just the affects that life presents during your journey.  The key is identifying the season of your marriage and approach it with the mindset that “this too shall pass”. 
Second: Identify what your marriage needs now.  There six simple steps to having a more thriving and fulfilling marriage.  These steps are

1. Tilling the Ground
2. Planting in the Ground
3. Watering the Ground
4. Fertilizing the Ground
5. Pulling Weeds from the Ground
6. Harvesting   

Third: Commit to the process.  In many cases we must allow time for the pain, hurt and emotions to process themselves out; while the good infiltrates itself in.

The issue most married people run into is that they don’t want this change bad enough.  They settle and soon become content in the dysfunction until one day they just can’t take anymore and the only rational option in their mind is “I’m out”.  Let us inform you now, that this is a dangerous place to be.  A wise person once said that “the grass is not always greener on the other side, its greener wherever you water it”.  Meaning that a great marriage is not going to happen magically, there is self-work and discipline to every great marriage. 

You must wake up and recognize the signs and step out beyond you to seek the support and help that is needed in order to break-free from this vicious cycle of an unfilled marriage.
Who wants that anyway?  Not us and we know certainly not you!

To quickly identify what you need to do in this season of your marriage connect with our community of Kingdom Couples and you will get our FREE guide “6 Simple Steps that Will Make the Biggest Impact on Your Marriage, Starting Now”.  Right in your inbox, you will learn this simple six step process that will give you extra insight to know what to do and when to do it in order to break-free from what’s holding your marriage back from thriving.    

Here's to your breakthrough!

Until next time.
Live in Peace!

Your Marriage Breakthrough Coaches,
-Billy & Yolanda

P.S.- Kingdom Couples are married, engaged and seriously dating couples.  We have one focus in mind and that is to reverse the stigma of marriage as the "world" sees it and radically exemplify how God has ordained it to be.  We are committed to living out a healthy, whole and spirit-led marriage so that our families, careers and community will be impacted.  CLICK HERE to grab the FREE Guide!

When someone makes you angry, boy oh boy.  It can lead to so many unwanted behaviors and actions.  Anger is the one emotion that can take you places that you can’t get back.  You look up and wonder, how did I get here?

According to the Blue Letter Bible Dictionary.  Anger is the emotion of instant displeasure on account of something evil that presents itself to our view.  Anger in itself is an original character trait of our nature, just as love is and is not necessarily sinful.  It may however become sinful when causeless or used excessively.

In other words, when you hold onto it (harbor it) for long periods of time or act out in a negative way that harms others.  It will cause you to sin.

The bible teaches that “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,- Ephesians 4:26

The bible doesn’t tell you that you shouldn’t feel the emotion of anger.  What matters is how we handle the emotion of anger.

Important to Note: When your holding on to anger.  That anger begins to turn into hate and hate puts you in a place of suffering.  Some of you are suffering right now, because you have not dealt with your anger issues.  Your walking around with it like its serving a great purpose in your life.  

It has no purpose! 

When you don’t deal with your anger, you are actually aborting your life’s purpose.
Then your walking around trying to figure out what am I here for?  What’s my purpose?

• When you're angry you can’t hear from God.
• When you’re angry you can't see what God is doing
• When you’re angry you think everyone around you is hating on you when in reality they could be the one God sends to help you.
• Anger causes you to lose your spirit of discernment.
• You don’t know who is right or wrong.
• Who is for you or against you
• Anger causes you to be blind

Here is the good news:
The spirit of the Lord says, I have your assignment; but I need you to release the anger. 
If you find your self mishandling your anger, simply follow these steps:

First step: Confess

• I confess that I am angry.
• I have not forgiven them as I should

Second Step: Repent

• I repent from my sins now
• I will turn from this negative thinking and behavior not to revisit it again

Third Step: Make it Right

• Get back what the enemy has stolen from you
• Seek to forgive yourself and others

Fourth Step: Worship God

• Worship God in Spirit and in Truth

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. -Psalm 55:22

Once you release the misuse of anger, you will feel more of God's peace and joy in your heart.  Try it today!  Just let it go and let God fight your battles.

Until next time!

Live in Peace,
​-Billy & Yolanda

P.S.- There is still time to see us LIVE in Nashville during our Summer Marriage Series.  Get your tickets today!  Click HERE to Register!

​

John 13:34-35 “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other.  Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Love is a word that is said, used, taken for granted, taken out of context, misunderstood, misrepresented, abandoned, abused, I could go on.  But Jesus had one intent for it; it wasn’t advice it wasn’t a recommendation nor was it meant to represent any of those terms, no it was a command. A simple command with directions: “Just as I have loved you, you should love each other”.

          The story I’m about to share with you is still very clear in my mind even though I was around seven years old at the time.  My sister and I lived with my Grandparents in Montgomery Alabama on  Hutchinson Street; it’s where I spent my first and second grade years. 

          There were two sisters that lived down the street from my Grandparents home, Ms. Marie and Ms. Sadie Mae Lewis.  They were very close friends with my Grandmother.  They were both very nice ladies but Ms. Sadie was the more outgoing of the two.  One Christmas Ms. Sadie came to our house and I remember she showed great interest in how Christmas went for my sister and me.  I remember her asking, “Is this what Santa brought you?  This is nice!  What is this?  OHHH now I know you are going to have fun with this!”  Everything Ms. Sadie said or asked me, I responded with a quick, “yep”. 
I remember this experience like it was yesterday.  A few years later Ms. Sadie passed.  As I got older, remembering my response to her kindness started to weigh on me. 

         The more I found peace in my heart; the more I learned about respect; the more my actions on that day began to make me “feel bad”.  Then when I learned about Christ’s intent for ‘LOVE’ my spirit was convicted and forever changed about how I treat others.

          The bible teaches us in 1 Corinthians 13:5 that love “…does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs.”  Then it goes on to say, 1 Corinthians 13:6-7 “Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

          I began to realize, that the gift of the Holy Spirit was working that scripture in my soul:  “…LOVE rejoices in truth…”, “…bears all things…” and “…LOVE does not act improperly…”  In truth, that woman was an angel that was teaching a young man at the age of seven how to be kind, how to show love and how to act properly. 

        The Holy Spirit allowed me to carry this memory, bear the ‘wrong’ found in my actions for this woman who was kind to me and allowed me this so that in time I would put it together.  Through my life’s experiences God knew that I would come back to His word.  And when I did He knew that I would relate and receive the lesson He had for me through Ms. Sadie Mae Lewis. 

       It’s time for God’s people to know ‘love’ for what it is and not as a term of cliché or term of endearment. Unlike Beta Max, Atari, black & white television, LOVE is never going out of style.  The way we use it and view it at times, we may take away from its true meaning but the value of it will remain long after us.

True love never fails!

Read more about how to love God's way in our new book "I Thee Wed" and be inspired to keep on keeping on in love!  BUY NOW

Peace and Blessings,
-Billy

P.S.- Have you reserved your seat for the Summer Marriage Series?  Don't miss this experience.  Just click here to REGISTER!