The Battle is God's

Bible For Dummies 25.

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:14:39 GMT

God wastes nothing and He always finishes what He starts. That includes you!

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."- Philippians 1:6

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.'- Psalm 24:4

You may look at the two verses above and think that they have nothing in common, but I would disagree. God wastes nothing and uses everything to draw us closer to Jesus. Sometimes, He allows us to go through deep valleys that feel very dark and painful. But I have found that even there His presence surrounds us, and He gives us peace even in the midst of great sorrow or suffering. From there, we become stronger and rely more on our Shepherd's voice to lead us and guide us.

Then God uses those experiences as we walk through the fires of affliction to strengthen and refine us for our next calling. We emerge more prepared and more reliant on Him, so He truly does waste nothing. It is not fun or comfortable, but it does prepare us for our higher calling and purpose for which we were created, which truly gives our life meaning. So, my conclusion is the two verses are very connected and relevant as we work out our faith with fear and trembling for the glory of God. He uses all the experiences to lead us to finishing the work He has began in us throughout our lifetime.

#doughallmedia #thewell #GodfinisheswhatHestarts

Bible For Dummies 24.

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:50:52 GMT

The Bible contains the answers for what we are seeing and feeling on the earth right now. It is imperative to understand what God's word says to be victorious amidst the tension.

We all know something is very wrong in the world. We can sense it, we can feel it, we can see it. Everyone is walking around wounded. You can see it in their eyes. People feel let down, betrayed, disillusioned, angry, afraid and disconnected. The world is full of pain and suffering. We can feel the tension growing stronger. So what is really happening? The Bible tells of the increase in the intensity of the spiritual battle ( Ephesians 6:12 ) on the earth as the return of Jesus draws nearer. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 is very graphic in its description of what it will be like on the earth and we can see some of these signs right now: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."

What should our response be? Psalm 25:1 gives us a good place to start: "In you, Lord my God, I put my trust." Then take hope in knowing that God is awakening souls to His glory prior to the return of His Son. Habakkuk 2:14 says "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." Finally, tell as many people as you can about the hope we have in Jesus. "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."- Colossians 1:27

#doughallmedia #thewell #whatsreallyhappening

Bible For Dummies 23.

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:43:04 GMT

"The waiting is the hardest part-" Tom Petty

Waiting is one of the hardest things for me to do in life. I am type A and always in a hurry. However, the Bible teaches us that waiting is a very important tool God uses to teach us many valuable lessons. These are hard lessons but much needed, as I have reluctantly come to realize.

What does God teach us during waiting? Here a just a few lessons:

-Waiting is often used by God to mold us to be more like Jesus by ridding us of our selfishness and pride as He makes us stronger through patient endurance.

-Waiting forces us to remove any of our pre-conceived plans or stubbornness as He refines us through the fires of affliction by ridding us of our desires to run ahead of Him, which only leads to anxiousness. This looks like closed doors in my case.

-Waiting forces us to learn to accept God's direction. See Isaiah 55:8-9

-Waiting helps us learn to value God's timing above our own.

-Waiting prepares us to receive His blessings. God prepares us to receive a gift tomorrow that might crush you if released today. He uses the waiting to grow us in faith and maturity to be better stewards when the blessing comes.

-Waiting can strengthen our faith as we truly learn to lean on our faith and grow our trust in Him, and not on what we can see. See 2 Corinthians 5:7

-Waiting can be used to sift our motives and desires. He must align our motives and tactics with His heart and to achieve the purpose for which He created us. This is where all pride goes to die a final death. Very hard but cathartic if we are honest.

-Waiting finally helps us to repent and see the error of our ways.

"Delay never thwarts God's purposes, rather it sharpens His instrument."- A.W. Tozer

#doughallmedia #thewell #waiting

Bible For Dummies 22.

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:43:02 GMT

"Be Still and know that I am God."- Psalm 46:10

The Bible talks often about our need to get away to seek solitude and recharge. Jesus did this often, so if He did, how much more do we need to do this, especially in this always on, 24/7 social media fueled world. The world says busyness is a virtue, but often it leads to burnout and lack of fruitfulness. The Bible says there is much wisdom in seeking silence and solitude. The enemy of our souls satan loves the noise and chaos where emotions run high and people tend to be reactive and emotive rather than thoughtful and full of clarity. God loves the wisdom, worship and warfare that happens in the quiet places when we unplug from the grid and seek His still, small voice deep in our souls. Silence is golden and its never been more golden than today. We don't have to let the world drag us into the anxiety and noise of the media fueled chaos. We can choose peace and restoration, which brings clarity, through alone time in the presence of our Lord & Savior.

#doughallmedia #thewell #seeksilence

Bible For Dummies 21.

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 23:20:23 GMT

God is worthy of our praise. He loves us beyond measure.

To truly follow God, we must understand His characteristics and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is worth following. We must know that He is not jealous of us, but jealous for us, and so He wants us to know His character in ways that make us want to know Him more. So who is He? We get the answers that we can know directly from the Bible. Here are a few things we can know for certain that should give us confidence that He is worthy of being in 1st place in our lives above all else.

He is not just another folder in our lives, He is the filing cabinet that all other folders reside in: He is love. He is kind, patient, loyal, not judgmental, forgiving, long suffering, sovereign, omniscient, omnipresence, omnipotent and yet gentle. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. Finally in Romans 11:36 it says "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." That's the kind of God we serve. We is worthy of all of our praise indeed!

#doughallmedia #thewell #worthy

Bible For Dummies 20.

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:49:32 GMT

We need to remember God's past faithfulness to remove our doubt

There is a recurring theme in the Bible that we can all relate to and that is doubt. We doubt that God will come through for us, even though He has time and time again. Take heart the Disciples of Jesus, who walked with Him daily for 3 years, were the same way. They would see Jesus do miracle after miracle, and He called them into the miracles so they would participate, like when He had them feed the 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish in Matthew 14, and then a storm would come up and they would think they were going to die. Every time a new challenge or trial came up, they always forgot who Jesus was or what He had previously done right before their eyes. Heal the sick, the blind see, the deaf hear and the mute speak, but Jesus how are we going to make it to land in this storm?

Sounds familiar right? It is true in my life and I am sure in yours. Doubt thrives when we fail to remind ourselves of what God has done. We become too focused on our current circumstances and lose sight of who He is. So often, we suffer from spiritual amnesia when a new problem arises. We forget the Red Seas He parted or the giants He helped us face yesterday because we are so focused on the difficulty of today. But let us always remember our faith is fueled when we take the time to remember and meditate on the awesome deeds God has already performed in our lives. We need to take time alone each day away from the noise and just remember and praise Him. That will help a lot. #doughallmedia #thewell #doubt

Bible For Dummies 19.

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:13:48 GMT

Beware of pride. It has the power to destroy.

Because Jesus loves us so much, we wants to keep us from things that can destroy us. Pride is one of the items at the top of his list. In fact, the Bible mentions pride over 63 times, and usually in a context of stark warning. Proverbs 16:18 says "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Why is pride so damaging? Well, I could write for weeks about how much suffering I have incurred in my life as a result of pride, and more specifically false pride.

Jesus warned repeatedly about the severe risks of pride, because He knew it is one of the main tools satan uses to destroy humanity. In fact, the enemy uses pride to keep people from even knowing they need God at all. Pride says "I got this all by myself," when in reality satan has that person completely in his hands. Pride keeps us from repenting when we know we are dead in our sin, or have wronged someone with a prideful boast or a prideful lie. Pride keeps us from receiving the free gift of salvation through God's grace with an attitude of I will work for it on my own. I don't need God's grace, I will prove my worth through my own good deeds. Pride leaves us most deceived and unable to see the peril that is lurking right around the corner. 1 John 2:16 says "For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world." This means pride is of the devil and we need to be really honest with ourselves about the areas of pride we still struggle with in our lives.

Trust me, this is a lifelong battle and we need to check in regularly and ask God to reveal maybe even hidden areas where we're struggling with pride. I just did this last week, and it was revealing to say the least. It could be our achievements, our wealth, our vanity, our relationships, our careers or a myriad of other areas where we have allowed pride, or worse yet false pride, to take root. The only antidote is to agree with God and repent. Repentance is cathartic for our souls, so we need to do it fast when God reveals any area in our life that needs to be cleansed from pride. If we don't we are playing right into the devil's hand, and a mighty fall is near.

#doughallmedia #thewell #removepride

Bible For Dummies 18.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:40:54 GMT

God never does a small makeover, but rather a radical transformation, for those who seek Him through Christ Jesus.

God receives us just as we are. He meets us in our present condition, even if it's at our lowest point, and He welcomes us into His loving arms, but He loves us too much to keep us there. He wants to give us a new life built on His solid foundation filled with love, hope and truth. It is a radical change He's after, like a Caterpillar becoming a Butterfly, not some small makeover. He wants to give us a deep contentment that is not circumstantial, that can only come from walking in close proximity to him. He knows discontentment can make rich people poor, and contentment can make poor people rich. That is why He must begin a new work in you built around Him being at the center of your life.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

#doughallmedia #thewell #newcreation

Bible For Dummies 17.

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 03:20:46 GMT

God is looking for peacemakers on the earth right now- is that you?

Jesus taught many world altering lessons in His Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:9 He said "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Jesus put a high value on those people who sought to unite people rather than divide them. Boy do we need peacemakers right now on the earth.

Unfortunately, the media has become a tool that has been used by the enemy to deceive and divide the entire planet. Now is the time for action, to take Jesus's teaching to heart and to bring a message of unity and healing. We are truly not each other's enemies, but the media has created this division based on political affiliations and the fact that they are backed by huge companies who have a vested interest in manipulating people for their own financial gain and their affiliated political party's benefit. The news is no longer based on facts, but on opinions pushed for the very purpose of causing division through inflaming passions based on false narratives.

It is time for a new media that unites and heals rather than divides. It is time to speak life into people rather than to tear down and destroy with soul crushing agendas. God is looking for peacemakers who can begin the healing process. Could that be you?

#doughallmedia #thewell #peacemakers

Bible For Dummies 16.

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:47:07 GMT

The Bible is the prophetic compass you need to understand the times we are living in.

The Bible contains about 30% prophetic writings from Old Testament Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel and New Testament Books like Thessalonians and Revelation that help us understand in vivid detail where history is going and how God will restore all that has been lost and broken in this sin marred world. His promise is to reverse the curse ( Revelation 22:3 ) of what happened in the Garden of Eden. As part of this unfolding climatic event, Jesus promised to reveal himself in ever increasing glory and intensity as we get closer to his return. This is happening now as He is revealing himself to all people through a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit on the earth as Habakkuk 2:14 promised: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

Habakkuk 2:3 says that He is coming at the appointed time, and nothing can stop it: “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” Are you ready for His return? In the twinkling of an eye, nothing else will matter.

#doughallmedia #thewell #revelation

Bible For Dummies 15

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:34:40 GMT

When we see the pictures from Artemis 2, the awe and wonder of God's Creation should take our breath away.

When we see the breathtaking pictures being sent back to us from deep space by Artemis 2, it can be overwhelming to consider how vast our Universe really is. I mean Planet Earth is just a tiny blue dot floating in space that looks like the size of a bread crumb. If that is true of our planet, than how small are we? It's all very humbling to consider, but in some ways very helpful in reminding us to not take ourselves so seriously. We are infinitesimal beings living on a planet that compared to our Universe is a speck floating through space. The Bible also tells us our lives our just a vapor, a mist, like dust that appears for a few years and than is no more. That can be depressing in and of itself.

But then it tells us something even more amazing: God knows us by name and with such precision that even the hairs on our head are numbered. ( Psalm 139 ) He also loves us beyond comprehension ( John 3:16 ) and He has an eternal plan for us that includes a new body that will never get sick or die again. ( 2 Corinthians 5, 15 and Revelation 21-22 ) Now that gets our eyes on the promises of God that can take our stress away and truly help us to just live and be overwhelmed by the awe and wonder of all God has created. Then the pictures from Artemis 2 can just blow us away and help us remember our place in the world compared to God who Created it all!

Colossians 1:15-17 says "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Thank you Jesus!

#doughallmedia #thewell #aweandwonder

Bible For Dummies 14.

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:34:09 GMT

God's love is uniquely other worldly. It is life changing and freely available to all.

1st John 4: 8 says "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." It's important we understand this as it's the single most important fact that can change our lives for good. God's love is not like human love and can be hard for us to grasp because it is other worldly, and we have very little experience to draw from in our own lives. His love is so unique compared to the love we often see demonstrated to us in our lives. His love is patient, kind and not circumstantial. His love is based on His character and not on all on our performance. His love is enduring and unending. It never holds a grudge, it never blames, it never is lorded over us and it always forgives. What kind of love is this? It is a love that only God can provide for His children and it is freely offered to any and all who will come to Him. Come and receive His love.

#doughallmedia #thewell #Hisloveisgreater

Bible For Dummies 13.

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:29:15 GMT

God is abundant. We lack nothing if we trust in Him above all else.

The Bible makes it clear that God owns everything and that God is abundant. He is Jehovah Jireh, The One who provides and El Shaddai, the all sufficient One. When we put our trust in Him, we can be secure in the fact that He lacks nothing, so we lack nothing. He may not always give us what we want, but He will provide what we need if we put Him 1st in our lives.

We need to realize what a scourge the mindset of lack is to our ability to be content in any situation. Lack is an anxiety producing, fear based state of mind designed by the enemy to question God's goodness and His ability to provide. When God is our source, we truly lack nothing, as Psalm 23:1 says. We must always remember we have all we need in Christ Jesus as the Apostle Paul wrote about in Philippians 4:11-13 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” God has us, we lack nothing!

#doughallmedia #thewell #abundance

Bible For Dummies 12.

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:13:26 GMT

Faith is the essence of believing in what you can't yet see.

The very definition of faith is believing in what we cannot yet see. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says "For we live by faith, not by sight." When we trust in Jesus, we can be sure that He is guiding us on a path that is the best for us and the most exhilarating, even when we can't see how we're going to accomplish something. Surrender is required, and learning to embrace uncertainty is a must.

We must get used to the fact we won't always know the how, or often the why, but we always know the Who, and the Who is Jesus, the very reason for our faith. As we learn to rely more on Him, we begin to understand how important prayer is. It connects us right to the power source. It increases our wisdom and discernment over time, and causes us to be bold in our requests. We learn when we thank God after He answers our prayers that’s called gratitude; when we thank God before he answers our prayers, that’s called faith. God will make a way where there seems to be no way. He will make a way in the wilderness, as Isaiah 43:19 proclaims. Do you trust Him enough to follow Him? That's the very nature of faith itself!

#doughallmedia #thewell #faith

Bible For Dummies 11.

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:31:07 GMT

Money is a great servant but a cruel master.

Jesus talked more about money than any other subject other than the Kingdom of God. Why? Because Jesus knew all the complexities money brings. Money by itself is neutral, but how we treat it is of eternal significance. It's the #1 weapon satan uses to keep people from trusting in God. He deceives them into finding their security in wealth, rather than in Christ. The enemy even tempted Jesus by offering Him "all the kingdoms of this world" if He would bow down and worship him.

Unfortunately, many fall for that same deception. Here are 2 important Biblical truths about money that we need to be aware of and practice for our own protection and benefit: 1.Money is a great servant, but a terrible master. 2. Money can be a destructive idol if you allow it 1st place in your life before God. It will eventually smother your joy and make life all about more, with no chance for contentment and peace. However, money in its proper place can be a huge tool used for blessing others and bringing amazing joy into your life. It simply needs to be put into its proper place so it can be a great servant, rather than a cruel master.

#doughallmedia #thewell #moneytalk

Bible For Dummies 10.

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:26:54 GMT

You spend your time on what you value most.

There's 1440 minutes in a day. How many do you spend with God, either in reading scripture, praying or seeking Him in solitude? You can tell what anyone values in their life by how they spend their time, because we naturally spend time on things we love. Alignment in this area is critical. If you say you love Jesus and want to be his apprentice, does your time spent align with those words? He has all the power, wisdom, love, grace and mercy we need to truly live in a way that reflects His glory in and through us to a watching world that is desperate to know Him. His light shines brightly through those who have been walking in His presence. His peace will radiate out of you to a fearful world. Is that you? Will others know that you love Jesus?

#doughallmedia #thewell #howdoyouspendyourtime

Bible For Dummies 9.

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 23:27:52 GMT

The Bible gives us a roadmap for what's going to happen. We should pay attention.

The Bible talks a lot about the spiritual battles that take place in the Heavenly Realms that effect the happenings on the earth like in Ephesians 6:12-18. It is pointed out that our enemy satan hates us and wants to destroy us and keep us out of God's kingdom at all costs and he uses deception as one of his main tactics. He infiltrates the media (Ephesians 2:1-2) to distract us with false narratives and to keep us from hearing our Shepherd Jesus's voice.

2 Corinthians 4:4 points to this when it says “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Also, Matthew 7:13-14 says "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." These are chilling warnings that we best heed. The battle is real and it's intensifying- you can feel it. If you don't know, you can ensure your on the victorious team and remove mounds of anxiety by placing your trust in Jesus (see Romans 10:9-10) - the name that is above every other name. All knees will bow and every tongue confess that JESUS is Lord one day soon.( Philippians 2:10) No one's opinions or news headlines will matter. Remove the noise of the deceiver, who leads you astray and choose life through Jesus.

#doughallmedia #thewell #battleisreal

Bible For Dummies 8

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:09:57 GMT

Rest and solitude are a must to recharge our lives and stay in touch with our souls.

Many people I know are exhausted from the grind of this life and the invasion of technology into their lives that make it a never ending struggle to try to keep up and to "stay relevant." Social Media and now AI is a soul less sidekick that can weary our very souls. But we don't need to click and we don't need to respond. In fact, it is healthy to unplug from the grid as often as possible. We weren't meant to live lives of always being "on."

If Jesus needed to get away to seek rest and solitude to pray to the father, how much more do we? Busyness has become a badge of honor in our society, when in reality, it’s destroying us. Seek solitude and rest and you’ll be recharged and restored. Stillness is not laziness. It is a weapon to be used against the spiritual attacks of the enemy.

#doughallmedia #thewell #rest

Bible For Dummies 7

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:10:30 GMT

If God wants you to have a big platform He will it make it happen. Otherwise, be content with reaching people one on one. It's where real transformation happens.

Many people are seeking platforms on social media and elsewhere to gain large numbers of followers of people they mostly don't know and may never meet. They are affirmation vampires, but affirmation that satisfies comes only from Jesus. Jesus never sought large platforms, never spoke in large stadiums and generally tried to avoid large gatherings, except for when He did the miracle of feeing the multitudes with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish in Matthew 14:17-21.

Jesus taught us some valuable lessons. He taught mostly one to one or in small groups, often in rural places, and always for His Father's glory. His platforms were kneeling in the dirt with the adulterous woman, meeting the Samaritan lady at the well in the middle of the day, or teaching as He walked along dusty roads. Seeking platforms for self-glory can crush you under the weight of other's false expectations. Jesus taught us to seek obscure platforms for God's glory, to love those He puts in our path, and to honor God with our lives. This approach bears much fruit in both this life and eternal life to come, and it satisfies our need for affirmation deep in our souls directly from the King of Kings.

#doughallmedia #thewell #platforms

Bible For Dummies 6

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:11:52 GMT

The King will return in victory and restore all that has been lost and broken.

All of history is His Story. The entire Bible could be summed up with three statements: 1. Old Testament- The Messiah ( Jesus ) is coming. 2. New Testament- The Messiah ( Jesus ) has come. 3. Revelation- The Messiah ( Jesus ) is returning. The 1st time Jesus came as the Sacrificial Lamb of God, who died in order to save those who believe from their sins and to reconcile them back to God. When He returns, He’s coming as the conquering King, as the Roaring Lion from the tribe of Judah. He will be visible to all, He will be full of vengeance for the sin of the world, and He will be victorious.

Revelation 19:11-16 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords." Every knee will bow and tongue confess Jesus as Lord.

Bible For Dummies 5

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:23:04 GMT

You know what you value by how and with whom you spend your time. How much do you spend with God?

I am creating a new series called The Bible For Dummies. It is not meant as a condescending title, but rather an attempt to see deep biblical truths that are easy to apply to our lives for better living in a distracted and busy world. So many people feel stressed and overwhelmed. Many people are carrying heavy wounds. Jesus can heal and restore all. He's the only one. All of history is His Story. The entire Bible could be summed up with three statements: 1. Old Testament- The Messiah ( Jesus ) is coming. 2. New Testament- The Messiah ( Jesus ) has come. 3. Revelation- The Messiah ( Jesus ) is returning. The 1st time Jesus came as the Sacrificial Lamb of God, who died in order to save those who believe from their sins and to reconcile them back to God. When He returns, He’s coming as the conquering King, as the Roaring Lion from the tribe of Judah. He will be visible to all, He will be full of vengeance for the sin of the world, and He will be victorious. Revelation 19:11-16 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords." #doughallmedia #thewell #HisStory

Bible For Dummies 4

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:57:51 GMT

God can do extraordinary things with ordinary people

Bible For Dummies 4. Come as you are! You don’t need to get yourself cleaned up or made up. Jesus loves and accepts you just as you are. He’s the God of the fat chance, slim chance, no chance, the 2nd chance and the last chance. He loves to show his people who He is when the odds seem stacked against us. Just cry out to Him. Jesus help! He will! Just ask Gideon, Jehoshaphat, Daniel, David, Joseph, Joshua, Peter, Paul, Joseph and Mary and many other ordinary people God used to overcome huge odds to do extraordinary things.

"The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” -Judges 6:14-16

#doughallmedia #thewell #fromordinarytoextraordinary

Bible For Dummies 3

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:26:05 GMT

Give God your heavy load and He will give you the rest your soul desires.

Bible For Dummies 3: The tiredness you’re feeling is not from the weight you're carrying but from how you’re carrying the weight. You’re trying to do it in your own strength instead of in God’s strength and it's crushing you. Give it to God, put him first and He will give you rest for your soul.

Bible verses for application: Matthew 11:28 and Matthew 6:33

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."- Matthew 11:28

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."- Matthew 6:33

#doughallmedia #thewell #receivehisrest

Bible For Dummies #2

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 22:59:56 GMT

Anyone can be a Good Samaritan

The story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37 is quite simple yet incredibly powerful. Anyone can be a Good Samaritan. Only one thing is required: Be interruptible. Notice and see those around you who are in need. If you can help those in need out, do it. It could be a simple word of encouragement or a listening ear. The ones you would expect to notice often walk on by those in need. We need to be the hands and feet of Jesus and love our neighbor as ourselves. It is better to serve than be served.

#doughallmedia #thewell #Biblefordummies #GoodSamaritan

Bible For Dummies #1

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:15:50 GMT

God loves us, and satan hates us. This is critically important to understand in order to see what's really happening in the world. This is the root cause of the turmoil we see all around us. Everything else is a symptom born out of this ultimate truth.

Bible For Dummies: 1. God loves us and satan hates us. Pretty important to understand this. God created everything, satan wants to destroy everything. God loves us, satan hates us. God loves families, satan wants to destroy families. God sent Jesus to save us and redeem us back to Himself. The enemy satan wants to keep this from happening at all costs.

Scripture to read and claim over your life: John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

#doughallmedia #thewell #Biblefordummies

Deeper Trust

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:03:35 GMT

Time spent in the presence of God builds a deeper trust.

"For we live by faith, not by sight. "- 2 Corinthians 5:7

God’s movement doesn’t require your understanding, it requires your trust. Trust means you put God 1st in your heart's posture. He is not just another file in your filing cabinet, He is the filing cabinet that all other files fit under. Silence combined with action, rooted in trust, breaks the enemies power. You announce to heaven that you are ready for the revelation when you move before anything is evident to others. You don’t need to wait for their validation, you need to move before others can see it.

Movement can mean being still in His presence or stepping out in faith, but it always involves an uncomfortable level of abandonment to self and a deep Proverbs 3:5-6 like trust. Strength requires waiting, not worrying. Faith doesn’t need an audience, it’s usually a private test of obedience. What do you do when no one’s watching? Don’t let the urgency of your need keep you from enjoying the intimacy of God’s presence as you seek His will. He loves the alone time. It's when He prepares you for your destiny.

#doughallmedia #thewell #deeptrust

Fires of Affliction

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:41:21 GMT

God uses the fires of affliction to build resiliency in us and to refine and strengthen us.

"See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.”- Isaiah 48:10-11

God's ways are so much higher than our ways, and so much different and they can be hard to understand at times. God often uses the fires of affliction to build strength and resiliency into us . Each test we pass builds another level of strength that wasn’t there before the test. Although it can be incredibly painful and scary, the fires of affliction are building in us a strength and resiliency that cannot be easily lost. Our adversities build endurance that otherwise would not be formed. Pain well learned often leads to mighty influence.

Many may not understand what God is doing in us during our wilderness experiences or when He pulls us out from the spotlight to isolate us so He can pour Himself into us in a deep and powerful way. This is like Navy Seal training for Christians and what we do when no one is watching is often the key time of preparation for when God gets ready to launch us into our destiny. Think about when David was alone in the wilderness tending his father's sheep and keeping them safe from both the lion and the bear. This was God preparing David for his eventual battle with Goliath . All David had to rely on was God and that is when he learned all about God's strength being all he needed. Many people may ridicule or misunderstand these moments in your life, but we should never resent them for that. God works in such a personal way in each person's life that they can never truly know what fires God has been using to prepare His servants.

In the meantime, we are strengthened by scripture and through prayers that sustain us for when the preparation meets opportunity and destiny is created. "Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness the Lord will be my light.”- Micah 7:8

#doughallmedia #thewell #firesofaffliction

Receive the Free Gift

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 03:03:42 GMT

Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. Just freely receive it!

God freely gave us the biggest gift we could ever receive in his Son Jesus (John 3:16-17 and Ephesians 2:8-9) and yet many will not receive it. So instead, man created false religions that make us earn our way to God, which only enslaves us. Why?

In some ways it's human nature to feel like we need to earn something as amazing as to be loved by God. Man chose to create fake religions that make them feel better about themselves because they feel they earned their way to heaven by their own good works and good deeds. But you can never be good enough. God's word says "we are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23 That’s why those fake religions based on works only serve to enslave and shackle people. They are bondage because you can never be good enough to earn your way to God. You work hard to think you can earn His love, but it always leads to wondering 'did I do enough?" That's enslavement.

Instead, God already proved His immeasurable love for us when He sent us His Son Jesus to die for our sins. All we need to do is receive this life altering, eternal free gift, the greatest gift ever given, and we will be set free.. what are you waiting for? "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”- 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

#doughallmedia #thewell #freegift

Faith the size of a mustard seed

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:46:08 GMT

Is your faith strong enough to praise God before you see the answer?

"18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” -Matthew 17:18-20

Jesus taught many lessons about faith. He walked with His Disciples for 3 years, but still many times they didn't get it. Faith was found in believing in what God was going to do before they could even see it. In the scripture above, Jesus tells them that they couldn't do something they wanted to see accomplished because their faith was not worthy, He said if they only had faith "the size of a mustard seed " they could see mountains moved.

I read a great quote onetime that is important for me to remember. It says "when we thank Jesus after He has answered our prayers, that's called gratitude. When we thank Him before He has answered our prayers, that's called faith." How real is your faith today? Do you trust what you cannot yet see?

#doughallmedia #thewell #faiththesizeofamustardseed

One great friend is worth far more than gold.

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:56:08 GMT

A true friend will tell you the inconvenient truth, rather than a convenient lie.

A real friend will tell you an inconvenient truth rather than a convenient lie. He will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. In 2 Samuel 12:1-14 Nathan was that friend to King David. At great risk, he told David the harsh truth: David had committed some dreadful, sinful acts and there were consequences. However, through earnest, heartfelt repentance God would restore David. Nathan was a true friend to David in this moment, even though he knew it could cost him his life. He told David the stark truth in no uncertain terms. It was certainly not what David wanted to hear, but it was exactly what he needed to hear.

How about you? Do you have a good friend like Nathan in your life? A friend who cares enough about you to tell you the inconvenient truth, rather than a convenient lie that only keeps you in bondage to your sin? They are worth far more than gold because they truly have your best interest in heart.

"The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

4 “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

11 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ”

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.” 2 Samuel 12:1-14

#doughallmedia #thewell #onerealfriend

Knee mail

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:14:52 GMT

We need more knee mail, not more email. Prayer changes things.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says "pray continually." This verse is letting us know in know uncertain terms that we need more knee mail, not more email. We need to unplug from the noise of the digital fentanyl world and come into the peace of the presence of the Lord via prayer. Here's my prayer for today, I hope it blesses you.

Lord, when the storm is raging inside of me and all around me, bring your peace. When I am weary, Lord, bring your endurance. When I am weak Lord, bring your strength. When days seem long and joy is hard to come by, Lord bring your presence. Lord when I am distracted, which is often, bring your clarity. Lord, when I put other things before you or create false idols like money, help me rearrange quickly and help me break the strongholds in my life through the power of your word found in the Bible and through prayer. In Jesus mighty name. Amen!

#doughallmedia #thewell #kneemail

Gratitude

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:12:27 GMT

Gratitude is the attitude that lifts your altitude.

"He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."- Deuteronomy 8:3

One of the teachable moments from the Israelites 40 years spent in the wilderness is how God only gave them enough food, or Manna for each day so they had to rely on Him every day. He knew how easily their hearts could become proud, for they had a long history of such behavior, and so God wanted them to depend on Him each day for their basic needs. There is a certain rhythm and trust that is built up over time when we must depend on God each day for our wellbeing.

We quickly forget how much need we have for God if we happen to have a ton of abundance stored up for ourselves. We quickly think we can solve any problem with our wealth, and so God quickly gets put into the 'not necessary" file. God doesn't want to see this happen to us because He knows that when we try to do life without Him, we usually end up in bad places. Left to our own devices, we usually choose things that satisfy our flesh but not our spirit, the very sinful rebellion that leads to our demise. God is not a cosmic killjoy and He doesn't need anything from us, yet He wants us. He wants our hearts above all else. When we remember Him daily, and thank Him for meeting our needs and for providing our "daily bread" we tend to be more grateful and have hearts that are more at peace. David understood this when he penned Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." When you depend on and trust in the Lord, you will find that you truly lack nothing!

#doughallmedia #thewell #gratitude

Culture Wars

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:49:50 GMT

As the cultural wars increase, God's people are living in Resurrection Power. They will live in Resurrection Life. They will breathe fresh air and live as Co-Heirs with Christ.

There's a cultural war that is raging in this Country and in this world right now. We shouldn't be surprised because the Bible told us this is so in Ephesians 6:12 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." We are just feeling the physical manifestation of this spiritual battle as it gains in intensity as Christ begins to move in anticipation of the end times prophecies beginning to reveal themselves on earth. We see and feel the symptoms of the root cause which is an epic spiritual war.

But as Christians , we know we are on the winning team and we see God's people becoming bolder as their awareness grows to what is really happening on the earth right now. Deliverers are rising of all ages, male and female, and like in the Exodus God's children are coming out of bondage- in this case technological and free speech and free thought bondage-a technological Fentanyl that has been attacking our kids and our world with an evil and godless agenda. God's remnant church will not march to the menacing drums of cultural evils. They will not march to the feral voices of evil politicians and corrupt media agendas. They understand the diffuse, non-accountable world the enemy has put in place as part of his hostile takeover attempt- but like always God will take what they meant for evil and use it for good. See Genesis 50:20. God's people are living in Resurrection Power. They will live in Resurrection Life. They will breathe fresh air and live as Co-Heirs with Christ. The question before you is clear: Will you be a part of the victory of Christ or let the enemy pull you deeper into his cultural bondage? We have reached a point in time when casual Christians will become casualties. We are all being forced to choose who we will serve. Like Joshua 24:15 we want to be sure we serve the Lord!

#doughallmedia #thewell #culturewars

The Greatest Peace

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:46:56 GMT

God's peace is the most stable and enduring peace.

We are all looking for more peace in our lives. Who doesn't want that in a hectic and often unhinged world. I have found that relying on the promises of scripture in a deep and trusting way is the only secure way to find lasting peace. The world offers many versions of peace, momentary relief, distraction, comfort, or escape, but Scripture speaks of something far deeper. God's great peace. This peace is not fragile or easily interrupted. It is rooted in loving God’s Word, trusting His ways, and allowing His truth to shape our thoughts, decisions, and desires. When we anchor our lives in God’s Word, we gain clarity in confusion, direction in uncertainty, and stability in seasons that would otherwise shake us.

Here's some of my go to verses for peace and stability from Philippians 4:4-13

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”-

Now that is what deep peace looks like in my eyes!

#doughallmedia #thewell #truepeace

Following God

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 02:10:14 GMT

Following close to God has enormous benefits not just for you, but for those around you.

As we discussed last time, we as Christians should value our relationship with God above all else. There is a rather simple reason for this: When we walk close to God, our lives tend to go better. God is good and God is love, so being close to Him rubs off on us in ways that make others begin to see Him in us, and that attracts them to ask questions or to learn more about our great God. We want humility to know that we are always open to continuous learning. There's great benefit for us in wanting to walk closely with the Lord because we need to be able, for example, to quickly understand root causes of conflict. Wisdom and understanding allows us to navigate life with depth of understanding. But how do we really measure if we are truly walking closely with God in a very distracted and busy world?

Well, here are tell-tale 5 signs that you are closely following God:

1. Profound inner-peace

2. Heightened compassion and empathy

3. Clear sense of purpose

4. Resilience in adversity

5. Uncommon wisdom and insights.

These are all great attributes that we can agree on make for a better life. Check yourself from time to time and see how many of these are true of you and then use that reality check to make necessary adjustments and course corrections. You will benefit from it in ways that will make your life much more joyful and also be a huge blessing to others.

#doughallmedia #thewell #followingGod

Seek Him 1st

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 01:44:53 GMT

There's 1440 minutes in a day. How many do you spend in God's presence? Like any healthy relationship, time spent is a measure of commitment and love.

Matthew 6:33-34 says “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” As Christians we must put God 1st if we want to see Him really move in our lives. Our hearts must be postured towards Him in all we do. We seek His wisdom, discernment, peace, strength, love, above all else. This can be a challenging thought but it’s also instructive if we want to truly seek God 1st, above all else.

There are 1440 minutes in each day. How many minutes do we spend seeking Him in prayer, in quiet time, in reading scripture? Like any important relationship in your life, like with your spouse or children, the more time you spend together, the better your relationship will be. If you are honest with yourself, you can just start today and begin the journey of thinking of God more and begin the process of praying, listening, and reading scripture more. If it’s only 5 minutes a day at first then it’s ok. He will draw you to Himself and work in you to desire Him more and more. This can be as simple as worship music in the car and singing out your heart to Him. Seeing Him in the beautiful Creation all around you every day.

Noticing Him in all the ways He is holding you together when your whole life can feel like it’s falling apart. He is constant, He never changes and He is always available. How much time will you give Him? Let that both inspire and challenge you this week. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”- Jeremiah 29:13

#doughallmedia #thewell #seekGod1st

Graves Into Gardens- Song Lyrics

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 22:20:23 GMT

I searched the world, but it couldn't fill me. Man's empty praise, treasures that fade are never enough.

We can worship God through Bible study, through prayer, through generosity, through fasting, through seeking Him in solitude. But there's something about just singing our praise out to him through powerful lyrics. Graves Into Gardens, by Brandon Lake, is a song with so much depth and truth to it. Here are some lyrics below. i especially like the first stanza because it has been part of my personal journey:

"I searched the world, but it couldn't fill me. Man's empty praise and treasures that fade Are never enough. Then You came along and put me back together. And every desire is now satisfied Here in Your love. Oh, there's nothing better than You, There's nothing better than You Lord, there's nothing. Nothing is better than You. I'm not afraid To show You my weakness. My failures and flaws Lord, You've seen 'em all And You still call me friend. 'Cause the God of the mountain Is the God of the valley. There's not a place Your mercy and grace Won't find me again. There's nothing better than You Lord, there's nothing. Nothing is better than You. Oh, there's nothing better than You. There's nothing better than You Lord, there's nothing. Nothing is better than You. You turn mourning to dancing. You give beauty for ashes. You turn shame into glory. You're the only one who can. You turn mourning to dancing. You give beauty for ashes. You turn shame into glory. You're the only one who can. You turn graves into garden. You turn bones into armies. You turn seas into highways. You're the only one who can. You're the only one who can."

#doughallmedia #thewell #gravesintogardens

Hard Fought Hallelujah- song lyrics

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:36:57 GMT

God deserves our praise on the mountain top and in the valley. He is worthy of all praise.

We can worship God by being in His presence and having our heart postured towards him in many ways, but singing praise to Him is a great way to express our love for Him. Brandon Lake's song Hard-fought Hallelujah is raw and real and powerful and the lyrics speak right to our heart and soul: "Yeah, I don't always feel it Yeah, but that's when I need it the most. So, I'm a keep on singing 'Til my soul catches up with my song. There's times when my hands go up freely And times that it costs, oh-oh. There's days when a praise comes out easy Days when it takes all the strength I got. I'll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt, Been-through-hell hallelujah. And I'll bring my storm-tossed, torn-sail Story-to-tell hallelujah, oh 'Cause God, You've been patient, God, You've been gracious Faithful, whatever I'm feeling or facing. So I'll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt, it-is-well hallelujah,

Hallelujah (ooh, ooh), hallelujah. I've wrestled with the darkness But I'm tryin' to reach for the light. Yeah, the struggle keeps me honest And it breaks down the walls of my pride. 'Cause faith isn't proven like gold 'Til it's been through the fire, eh-eh. My head, heart, and hands are feeling heavy, But that's when I lift them just a little higher."

Wow that is a great song to scream out at the top of our lungs because it is filled with the honesty and glory of our struggle as Christians in this fallen world.

#doughallmedia #thewell #hardfoughthalleljuah

Your Grace Finds Me- Song Lyrics

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:13:49 GMT

God's grace finds us in all of the many facets of our lives. Are we noticing Him?

Song lyrics can lift our souls in worship and move us closer to God through their powerful messages. Matt Redman's song Your Grace Finds Me is one that always moves me in it's authenticity and power.

Here are the lyrics for us to contemplate: It's there in the newborn cry, There in the light of every sunrise, There in the shadows of this light, Your great grace. It's there on the mountaintop, There in the everyday and the mundane, There in the sorrow and the dancing. Your great grace, oh, such grace. From the creation to the cross, Then from the cross into eternity, Your grace finds me. Yes, Your grace finds me. It's there on a wedding day, There in the weeping by the graveside, There in the very breath we breathe. Your great grace. The same for the rich and poor. The same for the saint and for the sinner. Enough for this whole wide world. Your great grace, oh, such grace. From the creation to the cross, Then from the cross into eternity, Your grace finds me. Yes, Your grace finds me. There in the darkest night of the soul, There in the sweetest songs of victory. Your grace finds me. Yes, Your grace finds me.

This song is beautiful as it speaks to the reality of the ups and downs, the highs and the lows of this thing called life. We are all just passing through on our way to eternity for those who believe in Christ, so we might as well enjoy the ride and be swallowed up in the grace of our great God.

#doughallmedia #thewell #yourgracefindsme

What A God- Song Lyrics

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 01:35:40 GMT

Songs bring joy to our hearts and souls as we pour out our praise to God.

We can get so much joy out of a good song. If we listen closely to the lyrics, they can really speak to us. As we worship Jesus, our hearts are turned to him in thanks and praise, and the song lyrics can really speak to us. We will look at a few songs and their lyrics that speak right to my heart in hopes they bless yours as well.

Lyrics from song What a God by SEU Worship

“Who thought I'd find You at the lowest place? Who thought You'd feel me in the crowd? Who knew You make good of my mistakes? You're nothin' like I thought You were, You're better. What a God, what a God (whoa)What a God, what a God (whoa) What a God, what a . God. Oh, it's who You are. What a God, what a God. I thought You'd show up for perfection Cause what kind of God looks for the lost? They say it's over for a sinner, Although You say, "No, it's not, no, it's not You say, "No, it's not, no, it's not"

I love the two main truths this song is portraying. Not only does God not expect perfection out of us, He often meets us in our lowest places and in despair, and His love begins to heal and restore us. He forgives us in our sins and mistakes and He never stops seeking us out to show us His love. What a God indeed!

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."- Romans 5:8

#doughallmedia #thewell #whatagod

Parable of the Hidden Treasure

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:52:05 GMT

Nothing is worth more than God's Kingdom!

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."- Matthew 13:44

In the parable of the Hidden Treasure, we see a deep teaching from Jesus that let's us know that we should value nothing more highly than the pursuit of God's heavenly kingdom. Nothing can compare with the wisdom we get from seeking God 1st above all else, as Jeremiah 29:13 implores us, and the treasures of eternal life that are available to those who seek God above all else. Nothing is as valuable as knowing God and seeking Him daily.

Ronald Reagan said that "the answers to all of life's questions are found in the Bible, if only we would open up its pages and search for them." God wants to be known by us, He is not hiding, but we need to take the step of seeking Him. When we do we find treasures so valuable that nothing on earth can compare. So no matter the cost of following Jesus, we can know for sure that the eternal blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven are not worth comparing to any costs in the here and now.

#doughallmedia #thewell #hiddentreasure

Parable of the Fig Tree

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 03:38:37 GMT

Jesus used things in nature, like a Fig Tree, to tell stories with deep meaning so people could understand.

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."- Matthew 24:32-35

Fig trees are one of the few trees in Judea that lose their leaves every year. When fig trees began to grow their leaves, it was a sign that wheat was about ready to be harvested. Jesus is telling the disciples that the signs He gave them about what was to come (vs. 4–29) would signal that the end was upon them. Jesus often used nature to illustrate deep truths to His Disciples. Basically He is saying that we need to learn to pay attention to what's going on around us, just like we do in nature with something like a Fig Tree.

#doughallmedia #thewell #parableoftheFigTree

The Good Samaritan

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 23:05:56 GMT

Being a good neighbor starts by being interruptible enough to notice those in need around us.

As we continue in considering the parables of Jesus and how they help instruct us so much in how we should live, a shocking story is told in the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. We see a Lawyer ask Jesus a question many of us have wondered about in our faith- how do we obtain eternal life? Once it’s established that the whole of the law is summed up in loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself, the lawyer tries to wriggle out of the responsibility to love his neighbor by asking, “Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus responds by telling a story of a man who was robbed and left dying by the side of the road. 3 men walk by, two of whom were the religious leaders you would expect to help, a Priest and a Levite, who walk right on by and don't help at all, while a despised Samaritan is the one who not only notices the man, but also stops and cares for him and takes him to a hotel to recover and also pays the tab. Jesus confronts the lawyer then with this question: ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise’” (Luke 10:36–37).

Jesus shocks the lawyer with this parable because we don’t understand just how much Jews hated Samaritans. This hatred went back hundreds of years. To admit that it was the Samaritan who was a true neighbor to this man and not a fellow Jew would have been hard for the lawyer. Jesus was pointing out that we must notice those around us in need and take time to offer help if we can. Many are too busy or distracted to notice, let alone help. The application is that everyone is capable of being our neighbor—and we are responsible for being a neighbor to everyone. We can't let our own inconvenience of false assumptions get in the way of being a good neighbor. Jesus leaves the man stunned with the power of this lesson, and we are wise to heed the lesson as well. Love one another!

#doughallmedia #thewell #goodsamaritan

Parables of Jesus- The Parable of the Sower

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:43:11 GMT

Jesus teaches us proper alignment for maximum results and peace in our lives.

As we continue on with learning real life lessons through the Parables of Jesus, today we are looking at the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:3-23 which really helps us with alignment in our lives. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus uses the image of various kinds of soil to contrast different heart responses to the gospel: 1.The path: Hard ground where the enemy snatches away the seed of the gospel before it has a chance to take root. 2. Rocky places: Soil that is too shallow for the root of faith to survive 3. Thorns: Soil where there are too many allegiances vying for space. 4. Good soil: Ground where the gospel can take root, flourish, and reproduce and produce great abundance.

Basically, Jesus teaches that there are many things vying for our time and attention but not all of them are good. In fact, anything that is 1st in your life above the Kingdom of God is misaligned. Most people, including myself, struggle at times by getting things out of order. For most of us, focus on work and the chasing after temporary riches tends to kick Jesus to the curb. When this happens we need to realign the posture of our hearts and remember to seek Him 1st. ( Matthew 6:33, Jeremiah 29:13 )

Let the Parable of the Sower and Jesus's explanation of it guide you in how you allocate your time and energy and He promises you an abundance of blessings when you do.

"Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” -Matthew 13:3-9

“Listen then to what the parable of the Sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:18-23

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Parables of Jesus

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 21:58:23 GMT

Jesus is unfailingly patient with us.

As we look at the teachings in the parables of Jesus we see deep meaning and truth that we need to be able to apply to our lives in order to live successfully, with peace and purpose, understanding who we are and who God is.

Here is the 1st principle to apply: God never gives up on us even when we give up on ourselves.

God, You meet us in our lowest places and rather than condemn us, you welcome us back. In fact, you run to us and let us know how much you love us. Let these two parables below of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son reinforce how much you love us today.

“Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”- Luke 15:3-7

“The Parable of the Lost Son

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”- Luke 15:11-32

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Revival

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:59:48 GMT

God is deciding to move now so buckle up... It's going to get wild.

"So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known."- Matthew 10:26

There is an unfolding of all human history that has been taking place since the beginning of Creation, and it is accelerating towards a grand and climactic conclusion. God is revealing all things that have been hidden and Jesus himself is the biggest of those revelations. Habakkuk 2:14 promised this would happen thousands of years ago "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." God is making His glory known through Jesus.

Jesus was there in the beginning and He is being revealed to the entire world as we approach the end of days. Many will still reject Him, but the power of the Holy Spirit will break down the walls of pride in many hardened hearts and this leads to the Great Awakening and what some scholars have referred to as the Billion soul harvest. The mainstream media won't cover it, but people who are looking are seeing the signs of God's great hand of revival spilling out all over the College Campuses and Churches of America and globally. Especially relevant is that this Holy Spirit led movement is really accelerating with the Gen Z and younger generations, who were thought to be a mostly unchurched group of people. But God always works in ways that are different than what most expect, and often when the odds seem the longest. When He moves, He moves in an instant and it appears He has decided to move now. Buckle up, it is going to get wild... and I mean in the best of ways.

#doughallmedia #thewell #revival

Pruning to create room for new growth

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:28:18 GMT

Sometimes we must get rid of the old to make room for the new.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."- John 15:1-5

Jesus talked about the need to prune things in our life to make more room to create more abundance. In the short term, pruning is so painful but necessary to create room for future growth. God must prune away things you look to other than him for your security, for your purpose, or for your abundance. He knows exactly what you need and He knows what has to be cut back in order to create room for the new he is bringing. If there is an overt sin in your life that is hampering your ability to grow, He will make you aware of it and ask you to remove it. If you don't then He will create discomfort around it until you do. He wants to protect you, but you must be willing to play a part in protecting yourself as well. A bad relationship or habit must be done away with to make room for something better. It seems straight forward, but many people struggle with this because of their enjoyment of their sin above God's warnings about the consequences of it.

We must learn to understand that God is love, He wants what is best for us and He will never remove something from your life without replacing it with something better. This can be hard to believe when every door seems shut and everything we once counted on is being taken away, but that is part of the character building process that we must go through in order to build a deeper trust in God, so that we can bring him glory when he brings the blessings. Our roots must be strongly built in Him, so we can handle the increase when it comes.

Elevation cannot come without excavation. Old patterns, old habits and old obstacles must be uprooted and cleaned out in order to create room for new growth.

#doughallmedia #thewell #pruning

Freedom within

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 23:12:19 GMT

Freedom comes through healing, and healing requires forgiveness, often of ourselves.

Psalm 34:18 “ the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”

Is this you? If so, just know that healing and restoration is possible. But, We have a responsibility in our healing. Jesus asks the paralytic man on the mat in John 5:6 a penetrating question: “Do you want to get well?" It’s easy to play the victim sometimes but to get well is costly. We have to be willing to be vulnerable and do the work required for healing to take place. It’s tempting to play the victim and just lay there and anesthetize the pain rather than confront it. Playing the victim absolve you of all responsibility. You can get all the sympathy and it can be a comfortable place to remain. But it’s a false comfort, trapping you in a cycle of pain and stagnation. We can grow lazy in our response to pain. It takes an action step to move beyond that to face and address the pain rather than succumb to it.

Here’s the truth: We all have been wounded. Wounds create scars. Scars tell stories. Stories matter! God never wastes a wound, and every scar becomes a sermon. every heartbreak becomes a doorway to higher grace.! Our spiritual life begins with our acceptance of our wounded self. We must be vulnerable enough to admit our wounds. God never wastes a tear. He uses all of our tears to help others. Psalm 56:8 “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”- Nothing is wasted is God's Kingdom economy.

The key to freedom and healing is forgiveness. Forgiveness is warfare dressed in humility. Forgiveness isn’t surrendering the right to hurt or pretending it didn’t hurt, but it is giving it over to God and allowing him room to deal with it how He may. It's removing the burden from us and placing it with God. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

When we forgive, we opened the doors for heaven’s forgiveness to flood our own lives, and that sets us free. When we forgive, our scars become testimonies of God‘s transformative power. Rather than reminding us of pain, they remind us of healing and freedom that is taking place. They also serve as a testament to others who are struggling with similar wounds, showing them that healing is possible. Forgiveness triumphs over resentment.

Forgiveness is the key to healing

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 06:28:39 GMT

Forgiveness is hard but it is necessary for healing.

There’s so many people who are wounded in this world as a result of abuse, abandonment, or neglect from one or both of their parents. I have noticed so many young men I pray with have a deep father wound. Their father’s never had any time for them and either physically, emotionally or mentally abused them or just flat out neglected them. So as a result, in desperation to numb their pain, they use anything they can get their hands on. This can include substance abuse, alcohol, marijuana, sex, pornography, gambling, or anything else that gives them a momentary reprieve from the pain they feel deep in their soul. It’s the feeling of being worthless. I know because this happened to me, and from age 12 to 37 I struggled with feelings of worthlessness. When the one you trust in the most abandon's you, it's only natural to feel a lack of worth and you will do anything you can to not have to feel that searing pain.

But here's what I learned over time. Forgiveness is the only pathway to true healing no matter how hard it might be. Unforgiveness on the other hand is like drinking poison and hoping the other person gets sick. It imprisons you in your anger and pain, and it leaves no room for growth. I encountered Jesus at age 37 and He taught me how to forgive my father and that alone became the true path to healing that I was so desperate for. Trust in Jesus and give all the pain over to him and in return He will give you his grace and mercy and love so that you can forgive the one who has caused you so much pain. That’s where true freedom lies.

In order to truly heal, I had to get to the root of the problem, which was the anger I was feeling in my heart. Even though it might’ve been justified, until I dealt with it at the root level and not just symptomatically, I couldn’t get healed. But once I was vulnerable enough to let Jesus come in, with his cathartic scalpel and words of affirmation, I was finally able to find the peace I’d been searching for my whole life. Forgiveness is directly linked to freedom.

#doughallmedia #thewell #forgiveness

Total Transformation

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 02:54:39 GMT

When Christ authentically enters into anyone's life, they are transformed from the inside out.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”- 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

I think of transformation in Christ like I think of a Caterpillar becoming a Butterfly - a whole new being. Completely metaphorical in nature, old is gone and the new is here. Unrecognizable in reality like a Caterpillar becoming a Butterfly. Striving for the breakthrough- struggling in it's bondage as a Caterpillar and then in an instant bursting forth as a whole new creation, full of beauty and freedom as a Butterfly. Its impact is glorious for the short period of time that it is given. Transformation in our lives is a direct result of surrendering everything to God. He can’t give us what we’re looking for if we keep clinging tightly to what He’s asking us to release! When we do release what we cling to so tightly, in our fear, than He brings us into the freedom of the beauty that we were created to express in order to glorify Him. He alone deserves the glory!

#doughallmedia #thewell #transformation

New Beginnings

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 20:41:33 GMT

New beginnings are a chance to reset the things that don't work anymore to make room for new things. Let's go!

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.: -Isaiah 43:18-19

The God of heaven and earth is the God of new beginnings. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 ascribes this great and powerful truth and as we head into 2026 we should cling to His promises: "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

If we allow him to, He will take all of our pain and suffering and redeem it for his greater purpose. He will create streams in the desert. He’ll turn our mourning into dancing. He can turn Seas into highways and graves into gardens. He is always making all things new and one day the power of that will manifest in a way that no one can ignore it. Do you not perceive it? Do not sense it? He is coming back soon to make all things new. So as we exit the trials and tribulations of 2025, let us put our hope in new beginnings in 2026. The old has passed away. The new has come. Let’s make way for the God of the universe to speak new life into our hearts and souls. God knows, we are indeed ready for a new and fresh beginning. So 2026, let's go!

#doughallmedia #thewell #newbeginnings

Healing through forgiveness

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 21:05:59 GMT

Healing is directly linked to forgiveness.

We are all wounded in this sin-marred world. No one gets out of here unscathed. We are let down, lied to, deceived , manipulated, abandoned, neglected and hurt often in this world and in many ways. These wounds leave scars. Scars tell stories. Stories matter. They’re key to unlocking healing. Jesus taught much on healing and shared many stories or parables to make huge impact by relating life giving truths in ways people could understand and relate to. Here’s a big one: Healing is directly tied to forgiveness. Jesus taught us to remember how patient God is with us and how through Christ your sins are forgiven “as far as the east is from the west,” according to Psalm 103:12 but in order to truly be set free we need to forgive those who sin against us.

Jesus taught this concept with big impact in Matthew 18:21-35. We would be wise to follow His teachings in this area and truly learn to forgive from the heart.

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

#doughallmedia #thewell #healingislinkedtoforgiveness

Lest we never forget the real reason for the season

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 04:00:59 GMT

Jesus is the reason for the season and the only way to find the peace, hope, purpose, and joy we all desire.

It’s Christmas Day. Our Savior is born. It’s all so miraculously precise. God’s perfect timing. God’s perfect and only restoration plan. The Infinite One became an infant. Immanuel, God with us! He had to walk in our shoes so He could draw close and so we could relate! “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”- Hebrews 2:18

He came just in time. Then and now. His Kingdom has come and is still to come. The God who is, who was and who is to come. His first appointment on earth was as the sacrificial “lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” - John 1:29 When He next appears it will be as the Roaring Lion from the tribe of Judah where He will put an end to all corruption and suffering and injustice on the earth and restore all that was lost. All will be made new! “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”- Revelation 22:12-13

So yes, Merry Christmas! The weary world rejoices. Prophecies from long ago from Isaiah and Micah and all the Prophets have been fulfilled, just as promised, so our hearts are filled with joy, our minds with hope, and our souls are restored. Jesus is the Lord. All of Creation sings. Hallelujah!

The Infinite One became an Infant

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:37:34 GMT

God had a miraculous plan to redeem us through His Son. The awe and wonder of it all!

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah out of you will come for me One who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” -Micah 5:2

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin[d] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[e] will call him Immanuel."- Isaiah 7:14

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."- Isaiah 9:6-7

Can you feel it? It's Christmas Eve and the world is preparing to celebrate. But what are they celebrating ? is it the right thing, the real thing, or something artificial and fake? If we don't know the real story than consumerism and santa stories threatens to steal the power and miracle of the real reason for the season.

You see the real story is the fulfillment of thousands of years of prophesy has been made real. The infinite One became an infant to save us and rescue us from our sin, shame, guilt and fear. No one else could do it. There was no other way. God the Son had to become Immanuel, God with us, so He could experience everything we experience in this broken world, and He took on flesh to be like us. Oh the joy and wonder of it all. That is what we should contemplate today in preparing our hearts to receive the Messiah that was born into the world through a teenage Virgin girl.

The precision of God is shocking. No detail is too small, and yet so beautiful in it's humility. Micah new it would come to be in a nowhere, backwoods Judean village named Bethlehem that the Anointed One would come at the anointed time. The world continued on and very few even bothered to take notice of the wiseman who had proclaimed to the religious leaders of the day in Jerusalem that the Savior was to be born in Bethlehem. The Romans carried on with their toga parties and wild living. The noise drowned out the miracle of what was about to take place.

Isaiah had foreseen it almost 700 years before it came to pass, and had prophesied how it would happen and what it would mean. God had shared His plan with a few Prophets that wrote what they heard and saw in their dreams and visions. Just like today, many rejected or ignored them completely just as they ignore Jesus today. It is much easier to pretend this never happened, and that way we can feel like we are in control of our own lives and don't have to pay attention to the Omnipotent, Omnipresence and Omniscient God. But God the Father loved us too much to just leave us alone in this world without hope or a lifeline back to Himself. Jesus had to come. He had to be born and ultimately be crucified as payment for our sins, so we could be reconciled back to Him through His Son's perfect life and sacrificial death. This is all so miraculous. This is so all consuming, so joyful, so wonderful. Will you stop long enough to consider what has really happened. This truly is the most important event in History. The Infinite One became an infant, Immanuel God with us, to give us all a chance for eternal life if we will receive Him. He is the only reason for the season. Let our hearts sing and rejoice. Hallelujah!

#doughallmedia #thewell #TheSaviorisborn

Bright Light

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:03:24 GMT

As Christians, we must always remember we are not fighting for victory, we are fighting from victory.

Jesus is the Light of the world, as John 9:5 says, and scripture talks a lot about the power of light to fully engulf the darkness. This is also the metaphor for the battle between good and evil that we are all involved in as citizens on the earth right now. Here's something important to remember when reading these verses below: We are not fighting for victory, we are fighting from victory. Jesus won the war over sin and death on the Cross. Our job is to be His light bearers on the earth until He returns.

“For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’- Acts 13:47

“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”- Romans 13:12

“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.”- Ephesians 5:13

“You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”- 1 Thessalonians 5:5

“but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”- 2 Timothy 1:10

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”- 1 Peter 2:9

God is not hiding, and many now are waking up to the reality of the two kingdom battle. The two kingdoms are colliding with greater and greater intensity. The kingdom of light is encroaching on the kingdom of darkness, and it knows its time is running short. The day is almost here, and soon night will be over. The conquering King is coming and His Kingdom is so bright that there will be no need for the Sun. “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”- Revelation 21:22-23 Hallelujah!

#doughallmedia #thewell #walkinthelight

Scripture is food for our soul.

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 01:27:33 GMT

Just as our physical body needs food for nourishment, so our souls need communion with God through Scripture to fill us.

The NFL has a great youth program to get kids involved and passionate about learning the basic skills in football called Punt, Pass and Kick.

As Christians, we have the same opportunity to learn more and express our passion for Jesus through our own training program- I’ll call it PRW- Pray, Read and Write.

Just like football’s punt, pass and kick, if we practice PRW daily- pray, read and write, we will hone our skills and passion for Christ will flood through our lives to bless ourselves and those around us who need to know the truth! Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”

We need to "eat" from it daily to nourish our souls. Just as our physical bodies need food for sustenance, our spiritual bodies need the word of God to give life to our souls.

"Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."- John 6:35

We need spiritual food—that is to say we need the Word of God, we need to do the will of God, and we need Jesus Himself.

Food is vital for sustaining life. Without proper nourishment, the human body becomes weak and cannot function properly. People must take care of their bodies through proper nutrition. The same principle applies to one’s spiritual life.

Jesus emphasized the importance of spiritual food when He was tempted by Satan: “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, NET). Man is both physical and spiritual, which is why spiritual food is just as important as physical nourishment. This spiritual food is “every word that comes from the mouth of God” God has spoken to us in His Word, the Bible. His Word imparts life (John 6:63).

The Bible often speaks of the spiritual food we need: God’s Word provides milk (1 Peter 2:2); it is meat (1 Corinthians 3:2) and bread (Deuteronomy 8:3; Job 23:12); and it is sweeter than honey (Psalm 119:103). The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty” (Jeremiah 15:16). Scripture’s use of food metaphors demonstrates the importance of ingesting God’s Word, of making it a part of us. Scripture is not something merely to study or read but to be “eaten” by God’s people. We read the Word, but we then pause to “chew on it” a while, meditating and reflecting on the meaning and application of what we’ve read (see Psalm 1:1–3).

PRW is the spiritual answer to ensure our souls don't become malnourished. It is the food for our souls. Take and eat it on a daily basis!

#doughallmedia #thewell #foodforthesoul

Pride is the devil's playground

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:07:30 GMT

Be careful of pride, for it will surely take you down.

"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” - Luke 18:9-14

Pride truly is the devil’s playground. Pride doesn’t delight in having something, only in having more of it than the next person. Pride is selfish and full of deceit. Pride makes us think we are better than other people, and it is especially harmful in religiosity, like in the story above from Luke 18:9-14, when the Pharisee put himself on a peddle because of his perceived moral superiority over the despised tax collector. But Jesus recognizes and compliments the tax collector's humility while shaming the Pharisee for his prideful ignorance.

We must all be careful not to become prideful. We need to repent when we do so it doesn't take root, because at times we have all been guilty of this. Pride is a mind virus that needs to constantly be eradicated when it rears its ugly head, because it is surely a weapon of the devil that he will use for our destruction.

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18

Everyone is wounded. Stories Matter. Scars tell stories.

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 22:43:07 GMT

Our wounds create scars. Our scars tell stories. Our stories matter. Jesus cares!

Everyone is wounded. Our wounds create scars. Our scars tell stories. Our stories matter. Jesus has nail scars in His hands. They tell a great story of unequalled love, grace, mercy and forgiveness that lasts for eternity. Yes He loves us that much! The really amazing thing is He proved His love for us before we ever even acknowledged Him. In fact, Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." He loved us 1st, and He loved us in spite of our sinfulness and rebellion. That is life altering love. If you can't imagine that type of love, I understand. I was carrying a father wound that didn't allow me to feel it either. But one day, I asked Jesus to show me that type of love, as Matthew 7:7-8 invites us to, and He did and it changed me forever.

Because here's the real truth: Only God gives us hope in the hopeless, light in the darkness and joy in the chaos. Only He can do that. Trust in Him alone and your soul will come alive! he will not only heal your wounds, He will use them to tell your story to help other people who desperately need to hear it!

#doughallmedia #thewell #scarstellstories

Defeating Temptation

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 22:10:15 GMT

We can be victorious over temptation through the power of Christ.

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”- Hebrews 2:14-18

Jesus is our ultimate source of help when we are tempted. Because He knows how that feels. He had to withstand the devil’s fiercest temptations in the wilderness when He was weak, tired and hungry. We can learn from Him in that He refuted the devil by speaking scripture to him. Because He lived it, He not only empathizes with us when we’re tempted but He provides a way out. Contemplate on these two scriptures below and you will draw strength through trusting in the One who alone can bring you through any storm or struggle and clean you up when you fall! You can be sure in your life you will face temptations. The key to overcoming them is to not trust in your own strength or wisdom to overcome them, but to trust in Christ alone. Remember the acronym H.A.L.T. to protect yourself, which means never make big decisions when you are hungry, angry, lonely or tired.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”-1 Corinthians 10:13

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ Matthew 4:1-10

#doughallmedia #thewell #defeatingtemptation

Our need for control is leaving us exhausted

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 04:19:00 GMT

We must learn to embrace uncertainty rather than trying to control it.

As technology advances more and more and faster and faster, it can leave us feeling exhausted in trying to keep up with the oceans of information that bombard us on a daily basis. We are not meant to compete with computers who have no emotion or soul, and yet in many cases, whether subtly or overtly, that appears what many are attempting to do. I think in many cases, an epiphany is emerging and we have finally come to realize that our need to keep up with the joneses, to try and stay ahead of the information landslide and seek constant social media affirmation is leaving us exhausted. Our desire for control in trying to manage every outcome, every threat, and every decision is in fact debilitatingly exhausting. Simply put, we are exhausted from our need to control.

So what is the answer? How can we learn to manage our energy in a way that we don't feel exhausted in a world that seems to overwhelm us with information on a faster and faster pace? We must learn to live by a counter-narrative to the madness that only leads to exhaustion. We must learn to not play the game of life on those terms. We must be willing to trust what our soul is telling us and live life on more sustainable and enjoyable terms. How do we do this? We need to let it go of our need for control and turn it over to God as Matthew 11: 28-30 invites us to: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Our need for control is a shield that we build to try to protect ourselves in the unsafe environments and ever-changing circumstances of this world. But are we ever really in control of what really makes us fearful? Do we have any control of what the media is going to release to make us even more anxious or worried than we already are? They have figured out that we are controllable when we are always searching for information that makes us feel like we're in control. We are the subjects of their control experiments so they can get us to respond in a way that best suits their objectives.

How about this mindset instead of our need for control, we really embrace the idea that there is no certainty in anything but God and so we learn to not only embrace uncertainty but thrive in it. We learn to see uncertainty as a wild adventure that we enjoy rather than a risk we need to tightly control, which only leads to exhaustion. But to do so, we must learn to give up control to the One who truly knows the future. God is stable and His very nature is unchanging. He is love, He is good, and He is Sovereign over all. Our faith is not circumstantial. It’s stable because God is stable. He is not changing like the tides or the wind. By leaning into Him and His promises, we can then have the freedom to see every other uncertain thing through a lens of exhilaration rather than fear. This will change our exhaustion into vitality for whatever life throws our way. Try it- it works. God has us.

#doughallmedia #thewell #cureforexhaustion

Pruning is necessary for growth

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:21:51 GMT

Pruning is necessary because purpose is greater than comfort.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."-John 15:1-2

Pruning is so painful, but it is necessary to create room for future growth. God must prune away things you look to other than him for your security, for your purpose, or for your abundance, and this can feel very uncomfortable or even painful. But He knows exactly what you need and He knows what has to be cut back in order to create room for the new He is bringing. Pruning is temporarily painful but it creates room for new and healthier growth and removes cluttered areas that sap strength from the Vine.

God knows that your roots must be deep and firmly planted in order that you can handle the weight of what he is going to bring in the future. God doesn’t prune to break us, He prunes us to build us. He is the master craftsman, and He knows exactly what needs to be taken away, and what needs to be added.

This can be disorienting and confusing as God realigns the chest pieces in your life, but we must trust in his perfect will and his perfect timing, and this may lead to discouragement. But that discouragement will be replaced by intense purpose, and focus as things you used to rely upon our stripped away and only what you were created for remains. Things that rob your energy and attention will be replaced by things that bring deep peace and flow easily. You will be blessed to be a blessing and use whatever gifts you have been given for His glory.

The forging that takes place amid the fiery trials of affliction is what helps build the character traits needed to not only handle but sustain when the blessings come. Refinement through the fire is God‘s way of burning out all the impurities in our life and making us stronger to be able to handle what He is bringing in the future that is meant to bless others. This cannot take place in our comfort zone zones so the restlessness in the pruning process we feel is preparing us to get out of our comfort zones and to focus solely on God so he can lead us step-by-step through the path He has marked down for us. God doesn't allow pain without a much deeper purpose. Pruning can be painful, but the end result will be a stronger and more prepared you that is able to carry the weight of His blessings for His glory. Purpose is greater than comfort!

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”- Philippians 1:6

#doughallmedia #thewell #pruningbringsroomforgrowth

Healing the Root Problem

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 22:23:18 GMT

God wants to heal your deepest wounds. Will you let Him?

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9

Here's a truth we often don't think about or acknowledge: You will never know the depth of God’s love until you admit the depth of your sin. The need to repent of our sin is the cathartic place where true growth and healing can begin. God's grace and love is deeper than our sin and God’s love never runs out on us, but we must acknowledge the depth of our sin in order to begin the process of healing our deepest wounds.

Our wounds need to be healed to reach our true identity and purpose. God is Jehovah Rapha- God the healer. But in order to heal us, we have to allow Him in to those difficult areas of our lives. Usually these are deep wounds that we have tried to deflect by using something to numb or deflect the pain. It can be a myriad of vices like drugs, alcohol, sex addiction, or gambling that help us cope, but they are only temporary elixirs and eventually the pain returns. Often to cope we will create an image or a false persona that makes us more acceptable to a watching and judgmental world, but this also just creates more pain, because you can't trick your own soul.

To get complete healing, we need to get back to the root issue, which in most cases traces back to a traumatic event, often in our youth. It could be when our innocence was lost through abuse, abandonment or lack of affirmation. Or it could have been something more subtle. We could have had our kindness manipulated. People could have misunderstood our empathy. We could have been forced to remain silent to keep the peace even when our whole being wanted to cry out at the injustice we were witnessing. Whatever the root cause, we must be vulnerable enough to admit we can't heal it on our own, we can only manage it. God can and will heal it, but we need to stop running from Him and instead run to Him. Our sin is what usually prevents us from doing this. But His love is greater than our sin, and we need to do this to reclaim the true purpose for which we were created.

#doughallmedia #thewell #heelingthatlasts

Abundant Life

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 04:04:30 GMT

The mindset of God is abundance. The mindset of the enemy is scarcity. Which will you choose?

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing."- Psalm 23:1

We have such a loving and giving God. He always has been chasing us down and providing for us all the days of our lives, and He asks for very little in return. All He wants from us is to receive His Son, who has also freely given to us. In fact, God is a God of abundance and all we need to do is freely receive all He has prepared for us. The problem many of us face is we only equate abundance with financial means, which change from season to season and never truly satisfy. The mindset around money can make us feel like we lack if we don't have all we think we need, or If you have a lot we can think we don't need to depend on God as much. Both of these mindsets can be equally damaging in their own way. I have experienced both and it is a challenge to view all that God has done for us if we are looking at our lives through this very narrow lens, which is where most people judge the quality of their life. This is a very unstable mindset to have.

if we widen our lens, we can see that God's love is abundant and we truly lack nothing if we truly seek Him 1st, as Jeremiah 29:13 implores us. When we take time to remember all He has done for us, and as King David wrote above because God is our Shepherd we truly lack nothing. The enemy wants to give us a mindset of scarcity, but God gives us abundance all around. He gives us so much that we need for abundant life when we simply read Scriptures and pray. He gives us abundant peace, abundant wisdom, abundant patience, abundant grace, abundant growth, abundant beauty in creation all around, abundant sunsets and sunrises, abundant forgiveness and mercy, and abundant love as loving Father to His children. He has been giving of us His whole life, but have we been too busy or rebellious in our pride to notice?

The crazy world we live in with chaos and frenzy all around as we try to seek affirmation from all the wrong places, cannot satisfy and will never live up to the abundance God can provide. He has never left us or forsaken us, as Hebrews 13:5 says, even when we ran far away from Him or rebelled against His Sovereignty over all things. God gave us what cost Him the most, His Son Jesus, so we could pay the least for the sin debt we owed. All we have to do is say yes to Jesus. When we do, the abundant life will begin to emerge, one small miracle at a time.

#doughallmedia #thewell #trueabundance

Pay Attention To Biblical Prophesy -It's Never Wrong!

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:22:28 GMT

God's plan for humanity is clearly spelled out in the pages of scripture. It's incumbent on us to know it and to understand the times. This removes all fear.

"The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666."- Revelation 13:15-18

The Bible is clear that the world will face a final conflict between good and evil, when Jesus will return to earth as a Roaring Lion to make all things right and new and to put an end to the antichrist's 42 month reign of tear that proceeds Christ's return. The enemy is opposed to all things of God and he genuinely wants to destroy all of God's people. Jesus told us of many signs and wonders that would begin to occur and would accelerate as we began that journey towards the climatic battle of Armageddon. I believe the world is being prepared for the spirit of the anti-christ’s appearance in the not too distant future and technology is allowing for the rapid advancement towards the 1 world government and the cashless society and global digital currency that will allow that to take place. The anti-christ will enter the global stage with a mandate of peace and prosperity, and you can see already how prepared the world will be to accept that hook, line and sinker. This is the spirit of deception that is at work on the earth today that will allow this to not only take place, but to be seen as welcome. The rapid advancement of technology is leading us into an area where God may need to soon intervene with the rapture of His Bride, The Remnant Church, to protect His creation as people try to blend artificial with the organic.

Jesus wants us to be prepared and to look up when we begin to see the signs He mentions. In Matthew 24, He said like a woman in labor, the birth pains will grow more frequent and increase in intensity as we get closer to the end. Is that happening now? It seems so. The intensity around Israel, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount in particular is very relevant. Israel is the prophetic hour hand, Jerusalem is the minute hand and the Temple Mount is the second hand. Jesus will return one day in physical form to the Mount of Olives and complete the last assignment his Father has given Him. The tension and noise has dramatically increased around this geographical area and we should pay close attention.

In addition, it appears we have crossed some thresholds that have never been crossed before in challenging God’s sovereign authority around basic concepts like male/female biology and DNA. Father and Mother traditional marriages and homes are under attack. The family is being assaulted on every side. Doctors are talking about blending humans and animals. Cloning is a hot topic. All of these things are sinister as they point to a satanic fueled attack against the very sovereignty of God. Remember, the greatest warning from Jesus is about deception. People are under the spell of the enemy’s plan of deception and many are being led astray. Looking up is a good idea, and put all your trust in Jesus. Everything else is shifting sand.

#doughallmedia #thewell #beaware

We Were Made For Community

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 01:36:19 GMT

We need each other more than we know.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."- Matthew 5:9

Jesus taught unity in a world of division. He says “blessed are the peacemakers,” in Matthew 5:9. He came to help bridge a gap between Jews and Gentiles, between the rich and the poor, between religious zealots and common folks. His main message was tolerance and love, not anger and hate. In fact, He hated the haters! Well, here we are some 2,000 years later and the world is still divided today and so His message is still true today- We need unity not division. We need love and not hate! We need forgiveness and mercy, not condemnation.

The world has become like a giant Jerry Springer Show, where people are filled with anger and hatred for anyone they disagree with. There is very little civil discourse, and people are so dug into their positional foxholes that they would rather lose a friend than listen to an opposing viewpoint. This is so tragic. We must ask ourselves how did we get here? We have been the target of a constant, unrelenting manipulation from algorithms that are designed powerfully to manipulate us into a certain belief system, with little to no room for compromise. We are witnessing the end result of these campaigns, a total breakdown in communication around shared thought. History has shown this to be a very scary prospect. When people stop listening to others ideas, bad things happen. We need to all unplug from the grid from time to time to reflect on what is happening and how we can make a positive difference. Meeting with people face to face instead of on social media is a good first step. We are built for community and we need to be around each other in a physical sense, not ostracized in our social media cocoons. We don't have to agree to get along, but we should love each other enough to at least listen to someone else's opinions. God help us if we continue on our path of isolation and retraction from historical community interaction. We will all be worse off if that trend continues. Lord, remind us how much we were built for community and to a peacemaker wherever we are, each and every day. The world is desperate for Peacemakers!

#doughallmedia #thewell #madeforcommunity

Can't be Cancelled

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 19:35:50 GMT

In God's Kingdom, there's no such thing as cancel culture

Social Media Platforms can be divisive and destructive. The concept of cancelling someone you disagree with is satanic in nature. When Heaven crowns you, hell cannot cancel you. You are victorious through the power of Christ, who defeated death, and grave living in you. It is not based on emotion, nor is it subjective. It is absolute truth.

We must always remember that real power emanates from God’s throne where Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. Jesus claimed victory over sin and death through His resurrection from the grave and all power has been placed under his feet. Unlike social media platforms, He can never be cancelled or ridiculed.

The enemy tries to deceive, distract, divide and destroy us, but God is the Father over all, and His Kingdom has eternal glory that can never be overcome. Focus on God and His truths, through His Son’s victory and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and He will make your paths straight. Scripture saturation is the key to living the victorious Christian life and refuting the lies of the enemy who tries to cancel and deplatform God’s people through his lies and manipulation.

Here’s a great scripture to pray daily to remind yourself of the victory you have in Christ!

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”- Ephesians 1:18-23

#doughallmedia #thewell #cantbecancelled

Challenged and Inspired

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 03:09:10 GMT

It is great to be inspired and challenged through stretching your understanding of God.

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.- John Piper

"difficulty comes in when we want to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own ends.”- Oswald Chambers

As we continue to look at quotes that both challenge and inspire us, the two above from John Piper and Oswald Chambers definitely fit the bill. When we are most satisfied in God, it means we are looking for lesser things to satisfy us and so we do glorify Him in those moments. The problem is i often find it hard to rest in those moments or to stay consistent in the application of this very profound truth. I often veer off into directions of my own choosing, and they never satisfy as much as when I am totally satisfied in the Lord and what He offers me: peace, gratitude, contentment and joy that is not circumstantial. I do pray to make this more real in my life, to stop fading back to old habits and mindsets that only leave me feeling empty. God deserves all the glory, and he gets it when we are most satisfied in Him.

Oswald Chambers teaching is so provocative with its penetrating truth. The truth is we often create stress in our own lives, and we bring problems upon ourselves when we try to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own means. Chambers says "Whenever a thing becomes difficult in personal experience, we are in danger of blaming God, but it is we who are in the wrong, not God. There is some perversity somewhere that we will not let go. Immediately when we do, everything becomes as clear as daylight. As long as we try to serve two ends, ourselves and God, there is perplexity. The attitude must be one of complete reliance on God. When once we get there, there is nothing easier than living the saintly life; difficulty comes in when we want to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own ends."

"Whenever you obey God, His seal is always that of peace, the witness of an unfathomable peace, which is not natural, but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, tarry till it does or find out the reason why it does not. If you are acting on an impulse, or from a sense of the heroic, the peace of Jesus will not witness; there is no simplicity or confidence in God, because the spirit of simplicity is born of the Holy Ghost, not of your decisions. Every decision brings a reaction of simplicity.- Oswald Chambers

“My questions come whenever I cease to obey. When I have obeyed God, the problems never come between me and God, they come as probes to keep the mind awake and amazed at the revelation of God. Any problem that comes between God and myself springs out of disobedience; any problem, and there are many, that is alongside me while I obey God, increases my ecstatic delight, because I know that my Father knows, and I am going to watch and see how He unravels this thing.”- Oswald Chambers

Wow- these are amazingly deep thoughts to ponder to bring peace and clarity to our lives. I am grateful for people who challenge us and inspire us with their teaching. Lord, may you be glorified in all. Romans 11:36 sums it up well "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

#doughallmedia #thewell #inspire

Lessons for Life

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 02:11:10 GMT

Lessons are brought from all directions and we just need to pay attention to grab them.

Sometimes quotes from books you read really speak to you in the moment in a way that causes you to really pause and reflect at the magnitude of their conveyance. Below are three such quotes that I have been pondering and I wanted to share.

The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect, he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; the day he forgives himself, he becomes wise.

Alden Nowlan

I wish I had learned this earlier in my life when I had no guardrails around what I expected from my parents, other than perfection. I think we all think our parents are able to do all things, but we forget they are just imperfect souls like us. So, we need to be quick to forgive them when they let us down. Then, as we grow we also need to learn to forgive ourselves and this can be an even harder lesson. Self forgiveness requires emotional intelligence and grace, and it can be quite hard to apply to ourselves.

"Jesus promises those who would choose to follow Him only these three things: that they would be absurdly happy, entirely fearless, and always in trouble."- Gregg Levoy

This is so important to remember because the enemy of our souls has a way of turning following Jesus from a blessing to a burden. We must remember what a wild adventure we are invited into when we follow Jesus!

Whenever you obey God, His seal is always that of peace, the witness of an unfathomable peace, which is not natural, but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, tarry till it does or find out the reason why it does not. If you are acting on an impulse, or from a sense of the heroic, the peace of Jesus will not witness; there is no simplicity or confidence in God, because the spirit of simplicity is born of the Holy Ghost, not of your decisions. Every decision brings a reaction of simplicity.- Oswald Chambers

Are you following Jesus in a way that brings more peace? Of course, we live in a broken and fallen world, but peace is available to us if we truly put Jesus first, and pray often. It is not circumstantial. Philippians 4:6-7 says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

#doughallmedia #thewell #lessonsforlife

True Wisdom and Compassion Come From The Lord

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:49:23 GMT

God is in control, and we are not. That is a very good thing.

“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.- Proverbs 9:9

Learning more about God and ingesting His wisdom is a lifelong pursuit with great rewards.

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”-Romans 15:4

Endurance is required to run the race of life God has for us as there will be many obstacles.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”- Psalm 103:8

Compassion is one of God’s attributes for us, and we should share it with others who are hurting in this broken world.

Above are 3 great scriptures that we should learn to trust in and meditate on because here's the truth; You don’t change God, He changes you. You don’t influence God, He is all sufficient, but He should be influencing you. God doesn’t need our knowledge, God is all-knowing. God has no stress or worry, He created the Universe and He knows the future, so if you’re feeling stressed out, Are you trusting in His plans or yours? God made you for eternity, so He has a long term plan. Our attention spans are measured in seconds. How much of the 1440 minutes in a day do you spend in God’s presence?

Let these truths sink in deep and peace will begin to work in the areas of anxiousness in your life. I know this is true for me. I must constantly be shifting my attention from my circumstances to His promises and truths.

#doughallmedia #thewell #compassion

Our Stories Matter

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:06:41 GMT

Share your story with others. You never know who is dying to hear it.

“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story, those he redeemed from the hand of the foe.” Psalm 107:2

Everyone has a story and every story matters. God never wastes a wound. Every scar can become a sermon to help someone else. Every heartbreak becomes a doorway to higher grace. Our stories are God’s redemption plan! We need to share them, both for our cathartic purposes and for the good and benefit of others.

#doughallmedia #thewell #storiesmatter

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 01:32:43 GMT

Peacemakers are blessed because they change the narrative in a hostile world.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."- Matthew 5:9

We know from the Beatitudes that Jesus ascribes high value to those who are willing to be Peacemakers. The peacemakers are blessed because they live from peace with God. You can't have peace with the world until you have peace in your own soul. A restless heart cannot offer rest to others. This is not the result of our striving, but the fruit of grace. This is the freeborn out of our connection to the Vine. Peacemaking is an outward fruit of the spiritual life.

We cannot offer what we do not have. To be a peacemaker is not to manufacture peace out of human will. It is to participate in something already accomplished. The cross is the place where peace was made, once and for all, fully and finally. His truth sets us free. This is not just about spiritual tranquility. It is about restored relationship. We who were once far off have been brought near. Nothing stands between us anymore. We have been reconciled back to God at the cross.

We no longer need to strive for worth or to earn our identity or to fear judgment. Jesus said in John 19:30 "it is finished!" We must be sure we are living like that is true, and peace should be a natural fruit of that reality. You must return to that place daily. We must daily surrender so that grace can have the final word. The world‘s chaos must be replaced with peace and order. We make peace with God because he has already made peace with us. The peacemaker is one who knows they are already home. This is why they are called children of God. We make peace in the world because we are part of God’s cosmic reconciliation, and we must share that peace through reconciliation with other others. That is part of God‘s full circle restoration plan.

#doughallmedia #thewell #blessedarethepeacemakers

He is the Vine

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 01:32:39 GMT

Our job is to stay connected to the Vine of Life, who is God. That connection produces good fruit without struggle or straining

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."- John 15:5

Some people wear themselves out trying to prove themselves worthy of God's love. But here's the truth: God doesn't need more from you, He just wants more of you! Abiding in Him produces fruit, because we are connected to Him as the Vine of life and that connection provides us with much benefit. Like any healthy relationship, the more time spent together, the healthier that relationship becomes. God wants us to slow down enough to seek Him, spend time with Him and listen to Him. He doesn't need anything from us, He's the owner of it all, but He does want us! That is an amazing truth. He say's in Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." We can't be still if we are running all over the place trying to earn something He has already freely given us. Just slow down enough to let His rest wash over you. Abide in Him. That's what we all really need in this hectic world.

#doughallmedia #thewell #abide

The Sculpter

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 23:24:48 GMT

God is the ultimate Sculpter

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

Jeremiah 1:5 is a crazy, powerful verse in the Bible. God knew before he even formed us and He knows why we were created. Amazing! So our job is to surrender so we can make more space for Him to work in our lives to get us to our destiny. Like Michelangelo saw the David trapped in the marble and his job was to chip away at the marble until He could set David free, so God needs to take things out of our lives that we hold onto so He can truly set us free.

God doesn’t test us to break us, he test us to build us. He is the master craftsman, and he knows what needs to be taken away, and what needs to be added. This can be disorienting and confusing as God realigns the chest pieces in your life, but we must trust in His perfect will and His perfect timing. This may lead to discouragement for some. But that discouragement will be replaced by intense purpose, and focus as things you used to rely upon our stripped away and only what you were created for remains. We only need to be really right one time in our lives in order to reach our destiny. Until then, we are on a journey to find our way home. Embrace the uncertainty and buckle up. God never promised us a smooth flight ,but only a safe landing,

#doughallmedia #thewell #TheSculpter

Wait. Then Go.

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 23:53:07 GMT

We must get alignment right to be effective. Wait. Then go!

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” -Matthew 28:18-20

Order matters in the Bible and in our lives. When we get things in the right order, our lives tend to work better. In the Bible the same is definitely true. God tells us to seek Him 1st above things. But another thing we must get right is described in the verses above. God tells us that when He is calling us to do something for His Kingdom purposes, we must get the order right or the results will be disastrous. It is a hard thing for us to do. We must have discipline and obedience in order to get it right. It is very countercultural, especially in today's frantic, tech fueled world.

God tells us we must 1st Wait. Then Go! We must wait on Him for His power to come upon us through the Holy Spirit and then Go! Go doesn’t necessarily mean go 10,000 miles away and be a missionary. It might mean going 10 steps to your neighbor’s house and asking them if they need help with anything. It could mean serving at your neighborhood food shelter. It could mean telling someone who’s down in the dumps that they have high worth. It could mean listening to a child tell you their regrets and shame without judgement. But no matter what your “go” looks like, it will always include going with the power of the Holy Spirit if it is to make an eternal impact. Putting waiting on God 1st above ourselves is the posture needed for success, but then we must “go” in His power.

Alignment matters. We must wake up each morning with a mindset of putting God 1st or the world will swallow us up. Read scripture before scrolling, pray before planning, seek Him before seeking lesser things and over time God’s kingdom rhythm will begin to flow in power throughout your life. His presence will go before you, and His glory will shine through you. You don’t need to fight for it, you just need to make room for it! Wait, then go!

#doughallmedia #thewell #alignmentmatters

Transformation

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:49:30 GMT

Sometimes we are like Caterpillars that need to become Butterflies to reach our destiny.

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."- 2 Corinthians 3:18

When God is about to take us in a new direction, He often must transform us to fit the weight of the new requirement He is pulling us in to. Old habits many times must die, so new room can be created for the future endeavors. This transformation can be excruciatingly hard at first, but it is never to punish us, but rather to prepare us for what He has in store for us.

There's usually a gap between revelation and assignment as we begin to feel Him pulling us in a new direction. We may become restless or anxious. We are feeling the gap between exposure and empowerment. Many times the calling will seem over our heads, and we quickly realize we can't do it without His power. Think of Gideon in Judges chapter 7 when God whittles his army down from 32,000 to 300. But God reassured Gideon and He reassures us that the victory will be because of His strength and for His glory. His presence will replace our pressure.

God usually must shift us from performance, striving and achieving to silence, surrender and submission. God's plans are eternal, and so He will often hide His voice so we seek His face. What has been built on self must die so what is built on His Spirit can rise. This is not a loss of direction but a repurposing of a deeper us. Put another way, like John the Baptist said in John 3:30 "I must decrease so He can increase." Our ego and pride will push back often but they will be eventually swept up by the transformation that is occurring deep inside of us. I know 1st hand how hard this is, as I have been living it for the last few months. The battle between our flesh and spirit is intense, and I resist change and get scared at the thought of transformation, until I realize and remind myself that He is God and I am not. I don't believe He wants to punish me, but rather is preparing me for my eternal assignment for which I was created.

#doughallmedia #thewell #transformation

The Hope of Future Glory

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:04:51 GMT

Hold On. There is hope in the future glory that is coming.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God."- Romans 5:1-2

As Christians, we have hope that is not circumstantial but that is forward looking as we put all of our hope in the glory of God that is yet to be revealed. But we know without a doubt that one day it will be revealed, and so our task is to see above the noise and the chaos of this present world, and to see the hope of the glory that is yet to come.

Isaiah 40:5 promises "And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” When God speaks, nothing can undo it. It is a sure thing at that point! if He said it, you should believe it. This thought helps to remind us of how to move from fear to faith by rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 8:18 says "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Oh, how we need to remember this as we press forward towards that future glory, building endurance and perseverance through the obstacles and setbacks we face. We can win the race if we focus on God's future glory, and not on the deceitfulness, distraction and divisiveness of this present time.

Here's the headline that hasn't changed since Calvary and never will. God won and God always wins! We just need to keep holding on a little longer until we see all His glory face to face. 1Corinthians 13:12 gives me such hope as it promises "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." What a hope in that future glory we have as His children!

#doughallmedia #thewell #hopeinfutureglory

Remove the Goo Part 2

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 01:32:07 GMT

We must learn to ruthlessly eliminate distractions if we want to regain our peace.

To feel God's presence in our lives, we must remove the goo in our lives- the things that keep us from living in way that seeks God first above all else, with urgency and passion. We live in a world where we must be incredibly disciplined and obedient in order to not turn away to lesser things, things the enemy of our soul uses to distract us from reaching God's best. I know this is so hard, because every time I slow down enough to desire to spend alone time with the Lord, to seek solitude and even to just be still, as Psalm 46:10 exhorts us, I can guarantee an avalanche of things will come at me to try and steal that special alone time.

So what are some of the things I struggle with, and maybe yo udo as well? The clutter and the noise of an always on internet and communications flow is a big one. We struggle with the distractions of technology so much that it leads directly to fractured attention spans, kind of like an information attention deficit disorder, where we are so busy trying to process so much information all day, that we become very poor at being able to concentrate on just 1 thought, 1 conversation or 1 task at a time. We become such good multi taskers that we become lousy attention givers. This hurts our effectiveness and relationships across many different areas of our lives.

We also suffer from mixed motives that hinder us. We feel the weight and pressure of cultural influences driven ruthlessly by AI algorithms that wear us down over time. The result of this is often we say the rights things, while loving the wrong things. We get pulled with the tide even though we know we don't want to go where the tide is taking us. This is certainly not a new phenomena as the Apostle Paul wrote about it very succinctly in Romans 7:15 "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Only removing distractions with great intent can keep us strong enough in the Lord to stay on the right path and to follow His commands which are always for our good. We live in an uber distracted world, where we would rather scroll for hours, watching a puppy play a piano on our mobile device, rather than spend quiet time with God. But if we are to regain our sanity, we are going to need to fight to remove all the goo, and spend time alone with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He alone can restore our souls.

#doughallmedia #thewell #removethegoo

Remove the Goo

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 22:29:56 GMT

We must remove the goo in our life to make more room for God.

Letting go of control is so hard. We feel so vulnerable at the very thought of giving control of our life over to someone else, even if it's God. But letting go is a big key to discovering deeper peace. When we trust God above even what we can see, or what our circumstances say we should feel, we can catch a glimpse of what it looks like to be set free, at least temporarily.

The rhythms of His grace mean you don’t have to strive or strain, you just need to let go and let His presence guide you. But we need to find time to remove the goo. The goo is all the sticky stuff in the world that keeps us from truly feeling God‘s presence in our life. The things that distract us like social media and the news etc. He wants to take us into a more intimate relationship, expose us to what He had in mind when he formed us, what He had in store for us when he made us. But in order to hear his still small voice, we must remove all the goo, turn off the noise and be still in his presence.

He also seeks a removing of all the masks we wear to make ourselves presentable, so that He living in us can be more present and more palpable and obvious to those who encounter us on a daily basis. He wants to be seen in us in a pure form, not a contrived or manipulated way, but in the purest sense. We are awakened to be transformed, we're not being punished, we're being purified when we let His presence reign in our life.

When the Lord draws you deeper what can feel like emptiness is actually the absence of false fuel. I have experienced this firsthand and it can feel very frightening. His absence can rock us and leave us feeling so confused. i think He is doing His major work in our life when He allows this to happen. He removes all the temporary structures that fuel our ego, which must be brought down, so that only the real you, the stronger you will be left to stand. Silence, stillness, and surrender are replacing performance and approval seeking. What comes next will not rise from pressure, it will rise from His presence. God begins to wean us off of false promises, and rewires our soul. The old engine is dead. The new more stronger engine is being built. The Lord is not punishing us in activity, He is preparing our true identity. This is not the death of purpose, it is the death of performance. The beginning of true calling, and it does not arrive with the trumpet, but rather with a whisper. We must remove all the goo so we can clearly hear it.

#doughallmedia #thewell #removethegoo

Be Careful of Deception

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 22:38:30 GMT

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."- 1 Peter 5:8

"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."- 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

The Bible says that satan's greatest tool in capturing souls is deception, and that many will be deceived in the last days because they refuse to believe who Christ is and instead they turn aside to myths. 2 Corinthians 4:4 powerfully makes this point as a warning to us all: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." The devil is so full of deception that he even "masquerades as an angel of light," according to 2 Corinthians 11:14 So unless you are truly anchored in the word of God, you are a sitting duck for the deception of the enemy.

So what can you do to help yourself? Simple really: Ask God to help you! Read His living word in the Bible and pray and seek Him, and He promises in Matthew 7:7-8 that if you do you will find Him. Tell him how much you need Him, repent of your sins and ask Him to forgive you for your prideful rebellion against His sovereign authority over all His Creation, which includes you, and seek a new, more secure future in Him. Reading the Bible and knowing it is really the only true antidote against the malicious and deceptive attacks of the enemy.

#doughallmedia #thewell #deception

An Insatiable and Infinite Appetite

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 22:50:47 GMT

God is the only One who can fill the longings in our soul.

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" -Psalm 42:1-2

Our hunger is infinite, and nothing less than the infinite can satisfy it. All finite things leave us restless, but in Christ, the fullness of God has come to meet our longing.”- Hans Urs von Balthasar

As we see from the Psalmist above in Psalm 42:1-2, we all have a thirst and a hunger that only Christ can fill. The longing deep in our soul is unquenchable apart from Him, though we sure do try to fill it in other ways. In fact, if we're being honest, we often try to fill it in any way other than God! What's the result of that effort on part to self satisfy apart from God? Not exactly contentment. In fact, while today we have more choices to entertain, or distract us, right at our fingertips, the amount of anxiety and depression people are feeling has never been higher, according to much research on the subject. The truth is God truly knows what we need to satisfy us way more than we do, because He created us in our Mother's womb, according to Psalm 139:13

So maybe, just maybe we should learn to seek God out and trust in His plan for us. He alone can satisfy our deepest longings. We do have an infinite desire in our souls for something more, something greater than we have experienced and recognizing that need is the 1st step in discovery. But don't beat yourself up, this longing for finding contentment apart from God has been going on since the beginning of time.

Let the Prophet Jeremiah tell you about what God thought of the people of his ancestors in Israel who kept turning their backs on God: "This is what the Lord says: “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’ I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable." "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water." Jeremiah 2: 5-7,13 We do have an infinite and insatiable appetite for more and like the Deer that pants for streams of water, so do our souls long to be quenched. Ask God to do. He is the only One who can.

#doughallmedia #thewelll #infinitelonging

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 22:05:19 GMT

Can you slow down enough to notice?

If the mercy of God does not humble you, you haven’t understood it. And if it doesn’t make you merciful, you haven’t received it.”- Tim Keller

What a powerful and profound truth the quote above from Tim Keller speaks. Mercy received from God needs to flow through us to others. This is the power of God's kingdom in action. We have received unending mercy from our Lord and so we should easily pass it on to others who are desperate to receive mercy instead of judgment. The world is so quick to judge, buy God is quick with mercy. James 2;13 says "because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment."

Mercy must slow down, in a busy world. Mercy sees what others ignore. Mercy flows from the ones who remember what it’s like to be on the side of the road. See the story of the good Samaritan in Luke 10. That is what Kingdom mercy and compassion look like. We as followers of Christ should be quick to pass it on.

#doughallmedia #thewell #mercyoverjudgment

Light vs Darkness

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:31:04 GMT

Jesus Is the Light of the World. We need Him in our battle with the darkness.

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”- 1 John 1:5

If we’re being honest, we all struggle with the battle between light and darkness. It is a rough fight, as in our souls we really want the light, but the darkness keeps pulling us down.

“I’ve struggled with the darkness, but I am trying to reach for the light.”- Brandon Lake

Brandon Lake’s lyrics from the song Hard Fought Hallelujah, strike a cord with all of us. We have all struggled with the darkness and yet something within us is always reaching for the light. Jesus Christ is the light of the world, he’s the one that our soul is trying to reach out to. We have an infinite need in our soul that can only be satisfied when we meet with the infinite One himself. That is just an irrefutable fact. When we fight against it, that is what leads us to be pulled back down into the darkness. We must learn to release our need to try to figure things out in our own way, and instead surrender to the plans of the One who alone knows the best path for us because He created us.

The path to find the light is filled with peace and freedom if we can get there, but in order to get there, we have to stop compromising and allowing the darkness to pull us back down. And in some respects it is a daily battle. But God has all the power that he has given us through the Holy Spirit who lives in those who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. If that’s you, you don’t need to fight. You just need to rely on the Holy Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 says so: "‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty." You + the Holy Spirit = a majority. Never forget that in your battle against the darkness. Even the darkest cave can be illuminated by a single match. When Jesus walked into any situation, the darkness had to flee, because He is the light of the world. So if He is living within you, then the darkness has to flee. Remember that as you go about your daily struggle. The light living within you overcomes any darkness around you.

#doughallmedia #thewell #lightoftheworld

Everything Other Than God is Shifting Sand.

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 02:58:21 GMT

God alone is the solid rock upon which we can stand.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”- Matthew 7:24-27

Most people live a life of quiet desperation. Why? I believe because in our pride, we try to find security in anything other than God. When in fact, God is the only place we can find true security. Everything else is shifting sand. God is the only one that is secure through all the storms and valleys of life. He is the one that sustains us, He is the one who holds us. Everything else is fleeting and will make us feel unstable. Only God alone can give us the true stability that our souls long for.

The enemy wants to occupy the promises for your life that God has for you. You must defeat the enemy with praise and worship and prayer. It could be a stronghold of sin, it could be an idol. It could be a habit. It could be bitterness. It could be a wound. It could be a discouragement. It could be something from the past, whatever it is, this is your Dome of the rock -the thing that most exemplifies spiritual warfare because the enemy doesn’t want you to achieve what God has for you. But the spirit of the Lord has all the power and so as long as you praise, pray and worship him the enemy has to flee and the Lord will bring all of that to fruition. When we spend time in God’s presence, we discover the joy, peace, wisdom, strength, security, and blessings of being with Jesus and we will be prepared for life's difficult challenges.

#doughallmedia #thewell #shiftingsand

Contentment That Is Not Circumstantial

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 21:03:05 GMT

God has a deep contentment waiting for us if we will simply receive it.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.- Psalm 23:1

True contentment always comes from within and is rooted in abiding in close relationship with Christ. The world says the next "shiny object" will satisfy you but it never does and it never will. Only God can give you that. The world will try to convince you that contentment is always within your reach. It's within your power. If only you had the next car, boat, plane, business then you would be content. If only you had more money, more relationships, more sex, more, more, more than you would be happy. It's always in the future, and it's always contingent based on the "if, only" lie of the enemy. It's all an illusion, a game we play. We reach out to grab it, and it never satisfies because it never can and it never will.

Pure contentment comes not from our striving but from our abiding in Christ. It comes from a deep and pure love and trust of God. Knowing that because the Lord is your Shepherd, as Psalm 23:1 says above, you lack nothing. True contentment is internal, it is not circumstantial. It is much deeper than our circumstances, which are constantly changing. It is above fear and uncertainty. It is an unshakeable belief in who God is, and who you are, because of who God is. It's knowing how much you are loved in spite of the mess you have made, in spite of your sinfulness, in spite of your rebellion against Him.

It's knowing that nothing in your past or future can separate you from the love of Christ as Paul writes so passionately in Romans 8:35-39: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

That is where true contentment comes from. That type of love and certainty is the only thing that can truly change us from the inside out and gives us the deep contentment we all desperately want, but search for in all the wrong places. We must stop striving to try and find that contentment in our own way, and simply receive what God wants to freely give us. That's the only way to remove ourselves from the world's hamster wheel living of constantly striving to be accepted and prove our worth, which leads only to exhaustion. God showed us a transformational love through His Son Jesus who died to forgive our sins and set us free. Resting in that love is the only place where true contentment exists that is beyond our circumstances and our striving.

#doughallmedia #thewell #truecontentment

Get out of the Boat

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 15:47:54 GMT

Real life happens when we leave our comfort zones behind and get out of the boat like Peter did.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

For God to really use us and give us the most exhilarating life, we have to be courageous enough to leave our comfort zones and step out in faith. This is so hard because in our flesh, we love the idea of comfort. But here's the real problem from a Christian perspective around the idea of comfort: Nothing great ever started in comfort. Jesus can't use us to fulfill our destiny if we are solely focused on our comfort. It’s not about safety. It’s about stretching. Comfort keeps you in the boat, like the 11 disciples who stayed in, but stretching let’s you walk on the water like Peter did. he may have been ridiculed by the 11 when he began to sink but at least he experienced a life changing moment; he walked on the water!

Comfortable people don’t change the world. Comfort squashes you’re calling. Greatness is always one uncomfortable decision away. One courageous decision away because it is way easier to choose comfort. I know because this is always my natural inclination. Yet God is speaking to me: "You’re calling is meant to be forged in fire, it will require faith, not comfort." It will bring you to your knees in prayer- but maybe that is a very good thing as it draws you closer to God. It will be greater than anything you can imagine. You weren’t created to stay in the shallow water of your comfort zone you were created to head into the deep water where you must live by faith. Don’t chase crumbs when God has prepared a kingdom. You can’t receive more when your hands are still full of what’s less. Let go and let God lead you where He destined you to go. I won't be comfortable but it will be life changing. I pray this for myself, and for you. Let's get out of the boat so we can be used by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords for His glory and our deep fulfillment.

#doughallmedia #thewell #getoutoftheboat

Alignment Power

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 23:22:26 GMT

Goods power moves mightily in alignment with our obedience.

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."- Jeremiah 29:12-13

God wants to bless us more than we know, but we have to be intentional about seeking Him above all else, and then He has to prepare to handle the weight of His blessings so they don't destroy us. When God moves in blessing because or our obedience and seeking of Him, it is unlike anything we can ever hope or imagine. The multiplication effect of God's Kingdom kicks in and supercharges our efforts, so that there is no doubt about who deserves all the glory when God moves. 30, 60 and 100 time returns become the fruit of a heart abiding in Christ and postured towards doing good deeds in His name.

Heart alignment, purpose, alignment, and character alignment are all necessary before God will begin the acceleration process. Otherwise what he would give you would crush you. He must make sure you can handle the weight of what he’s bringing. The space you clear in obedience and surrender becomes the runway God uses for divine acceleration to touch your life in an unimaginable way.

#doughallmedia #thewell #alignmentpower

Meekness is not Weakness

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 19:01:46 GMT

Jesus taught a radical message about what it means to be meek. Here's a clue: It's not weak!

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."- Matthew 5:5

What does this mean? Let's take a deeper dive into this teaching by Jesus. Meekness- a natural outcome of poverty of spirit and mourning. Meekness is not weakness, but it means strength under control. Meekness is not the absence of power but the absence of independent self assertion. It is the refusal to grasp but to entrust oneself entirely to God.

This is so countercultural but it’s where deep freedom comes from. Culture teaches the strong take what they want. Only the loudest voices get heard. The ones who push, fight and dominate seem to inherit the earth. Might makes right. Force is the key to securing one’s place in the world. But Jesus says the opposite. His is a very different reality. The meek will inherit the earth because they’re the ones who trust God to give it rather than trying to seize it by force. Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey. His Kingdom was clearly from another world. But Jesus’s meekness was not weakness, it was the ultimate show of strength. To surrender when you can conquer takes more courage than to fight for your own way. To trust yourself to God rather than force your own future is a great act of faith. That is why meekness it is not weakness, but it is a deep inner strength that comes from knowing who you are in God and trusting him enough to let go of control.

Meekness is power under control. When Jesus says the meek will inherit the earth, we must really understand what inheritance looks like. Inheritance in scripture is never about human striving. It is always about divine gift. Inheritance is about trust. It means waiting on God to give what he has promised instead of seizing what we think we deserve. Our job is to receive what he has already prepared for us. This sounds easy, but in reality it is incredibly challenging, because we must tune out all the noise of the world and all our fleshly impulses that tell us we must strive to achieve what we want. In Psalm 37:4 we see that “delighting in the Lord leads to giving us the desires of our heart.” The meek who wait patiently for the Lord are the ones who receive what will truly endure. This is a radically different vision of what it means to flourish. The world rewards ambition, Jesus blesses restraint. The world celebrates dominance; Jesus honors those who yield. The world defines success by what you can claim; Jesus defines it by what you can receive. Revelation 21 promises that the meek will not inherit a broken earth, but rather they will inherit the Earth renewed. The kingdom is not the reward of the ambitious; it is the gift to those who’ve been shaped by trust. This is why meekness must follow mourning in poverty of spirit . Only those who know their need and grieve their sinful disposition in the world‘s brokenness are ready to live with open hands.

Meekness is not passive. It is not weakness. It is the ability to act but the restraint to do so wisely. Meekness is not merely the absence of aggression. It is the presence of a deep strength that does not need to control, does not need to dominate and does not need to be recognized. The meek person is free to trust, free to serve, free to let go. The meek person does not need to force outcomes. They do not panic when things do not go their way. They do not manipulate circumstances to gain advantage. They walk with open hands, knowing that they are already held by a greater hand. “Powerful is the person who does not need power, secure is the one who does not seek security, blessed is the one who lets go for they will be held.” Henri Nouwen- The Way of the Heart. This is why meekness is liberating. When we no longer need to fight for our place in the world, we are free to love, free to serve and free to give. We are free from the exhausting task of managing our own reputations. We no longer need to grasp for control because we trust that God is good and just and that he is in ultimate control . Meekness leads to peace but anxiety is what happens when we believe that our well-being depends entirely on our own effort. Meekness is what happens when we trust our well-being depends on God. “the Meek rest in knowledge that they are already loved, already secure, already held. And because they know this, they do not need to fight for what has already freely been given to them.” - John Wesley this is why meekness is so closely tied to peace. Those who are constantly fighting to secure their place in the world will never know rest. But those who surrender, who play down the exhausting need to prove, to control, to defend, will find that they inherit the Earth, not because they took it, but because they were free enough to receive it . Jesus’s promise in this beatitude is two fold: it is both already, and not yet. And in a spiritual sense the meek will inherit the Earth because there are content in God.

#doughallmedia #thewell #meeknessnotweakness

Sermon on the Mount

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 21:19:58 GMT

God's ways are so radically counter-cultural. But they lead to real life.

The sermon on the mount is the best teaching sermon of all time about what God’s kingdom is really all about. If we master it, we will become free and filled with peace. But it is so counter cultural that it requires complete surrender. We can’t serve man and God. We must put all of our chips in on God and His ways, which bring radical transformation to anyone who is able to implement them into their lives. It is not easy to do, but boy is it worth it if you can.

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”- Matthew 5:1-12

#doughallmedia #thewell #sermononthemount

Be wise with money- it requires wisdom.

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:35:09 GMT

Money has the power to bless or destroy. We need wisdom to handle it properly.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."-1 Timothy 6:6-10

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." 1 Timothy 6:17-19

The scriptures can be both liberating and challenging at the same time. We see scriptures like from 1Timothy 6 above, and we must admit that in this present time and age they are so counter cultural that they can even seem a little offensive to us. After all, success in today's world is often measured by wealth and accumulation of assets. But in reality, it this has always been one of satan's greatest weapons in keeping us distracted from God's presence. After all, if we can solve any problem we face on earth with our wealth and resources, do we really need God at all? This is a great deception of the enemy and a perilous trap if we don't know how to navigate it.

Is God saying money is bad? Absolutely not! But He is saying if we make it an idol, and put it 1st in our lives ahead of Him, that it has the power to destroy us. It is also can keep us from trusting in Him above all else, which is critical not just for this life but for all of eternity. We must remember two important things from these scriptures God gives us about money: God wants us to remember He ultimately is the owner of all things, we are just temporary stewards of what He gives us, and He wants us to use His wealth for eternal Kingdom purposes. What does that mean? It means we have the heart of Jesus and we use our wealth to help others around us who are less fortunate and to be actively seeking ways to use our wealth to grow His Kingdom. It can open doors to tell others about Jesus, when we show the heart of Jesus with our generosity. That is how we keep money from becoming an idol, and we keep God 1st in all things. Challenging? You bet! But also liberating as we put money in it's proper position and keep it from ruining our lives and our witness for God's kingdom.

#doughallmedia #thewell #keepmoneyfrombecominganidol

Hang on

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 21:03:57 GMT

Storms produce endurance so hang on!

We wear ourselves out, trying to depend on man, who can never provide for what our soul longs for. One of the things we need to do is stop trying to get people to believe in us and believe in yourself, the way God believes in you. God doesn’t need a committee to bless you, and he doesn’t need permission to elevate you. When he determines it’s time, he will bring it about. When you stop asking man for what only God can provide you step into a new level of provision, peace, and purpose. You stop striving and start seeking him with all your heart. A resume opens doors in the natural, but an anointing moves mountains in the spiritual. You don’t have to announce your anointing or seek others approval of it. People feel it when you walk into a room because it’s supernatural.

You’re created on purpose, and for a purpose. God’s favor often skips the line. You go from forgotten Shepherd boy to King in an instant like David. God’s timing is so much different than ours, when he moves, things change in an instant. God can turn your mess into a message and your test into a testimony and your pain into a purpose. God doesn’t need our résumé. He just needs our yes. What seems insignificant today might be the platform that God uses to launch you into the provisions and blessings of tomorrow. When God is about to elevate you, he must first agitate you. That is what gets you out of your comfort zone. God‘s not looking for a perfect résumé, he’s searching for a willing heart.

God isolates before he elevates. He set you apart before he pulls you above. Pain intensifies right before the birth, the same way the spiritual attacks intensify right before the breakthrough.

God allows the storm so he can show you your need for His strength. God often turns pressure into purpose. He allows the storms not to break us, but to strengthen us. faith untested is a fragile faith, but faith that has been through the storms and been ravaged, but still survived is an enduring and strong faith. So hold on. He may be about to change you and your circumstances in a mighty way!

#doughallmedia #thewell #changeiscoming

What a contrast!

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:51:47 GMT

God's love is so radical.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

What a contrast we see in John 10:10 above! God creates and brings abundant life while satan can only destroy, steal and tear down. We see both in real time every day of our lives. God can create beauty out of the ashes in our own lives, but yet He also holds the entire Universe together and keep planets from colliding or the sun from exploding. He is in the biggest things of science, yet in the smallest details of our daily lives.

The enemy on the other hand sows division, destruction and chaos through his deception and is opposed to everything God loves. The enemy cannot defeat God so he goes after what God loves, mainly His people and His Creation. He tries to steal our joy and destroy our family's. We must pray for God to protect us and bless us everyday and keep our focus on Him.

God is worthy of all our praise because He loves us in every detail of our lives, even when we make a mess of it! We can't fully fathom on this side of eternity how deep His love is for us, and how much His patience and grace cover us, but He paid a huge price in having His Son die for us to try to show us. Remember that when life is hard, you are infinitely loved!

#doughallmedia #thewell #infinitelove

While we were yet sinners..

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 21:39:53 GMT

God's love is so different because it is unconditional and always eager.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:1-8

Romans 5:1-8 is so powerful. It reminds us that Christ didn’t wait for us to get our act together before He saved us, but rather he was desperately pursuing us while we were still sinners. That is amazing grace and love in action. Let the truth of God’s love penetrate deeply into your soul and let the power of that love remove the hardness of your heart of the walls that you have created to protect your false beliefs. Jesus is love and He doesn’t wait for you to clean yourself up before He seeks you! His love is unconditional! He wants to walk with you through the storms of life, and He alone is your biggest advocate for finding peace and purpose in your life. Will you trust Him and let Him guide you?

#doughallmedia #thewell #unconditionallove

Love Poured Out!

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 15:59:48 GMT

God is love and he chased us down to prove it!

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."- Colossians 1:15-17

I love that God chose to draw near to us through His Son Jesus. He came to walk with us in the mess of this world and our lives, to comfort us in sorrow, to bless us with his grace and mercy, to forgive us in our sin and shame, and to love us in a way that no one else can. He can relate to our sufferings because He also experienced them personally and in the flesh. Hebrews 2:17-18 is a great reminder of how Jesus knows what we feel, because He felt it also in his humanity "For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

God came down to us wrapped in flesh so He could dwell among us. He isn't some cosmic, abstract being that we can't relate to. He is the epitome of love and His pursuit of us through Jesus and then our ability to be in constant fellowship with Him through the indwelling Holy Spirit shows us how much He loves us, and how valuable we are to Him. He wants us to know Him, and in Jesus He made a way. We are His prized creation, no matter how much of a mess we have made of our lives. Never forget He proved that on the Cross, when His love was poured out on us, as Jesus absorbed the penalty of our sin and shame so we could be set free for all of eternity!

#doughallmedia #thewell #lovepouredout

What's Really Happening

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:31:43 GMT

God is being revealed on the earth in increasing measure.

So much confusion and deception exist on the earth right now. In order to live victoriously we must understand what's really happening at the core level. We often talk about the symptoms , like cultural and political divide, violence and evil rising, chaos and disorder everywhere. But the core issue is a spiritual one ( see Ephesians 6:12 ) lead by satan himself who is the master deceiver. He is rereferred to as many things in the Bible, but John 8:44 says it succinctly that he is the father of all lies: "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." He uses lies as his weapon of choice to deceive, divide, distract and destroy and we see that all around us.

But there is really good news to report as well. As evil is rising, so is the Holy Spirit being poured out on the whole earth. Christ is orchestrating all revelations and He himself is the greatest One and the Spirit is moving on the earth to draw people’s attention to it, leading to a great awakening. There are several key areas of focus: The spiritual battle between light and darkness ( Ephesians 6:12-18 ) the promise of all things that were once hidden being revealed (Matthew 10:26 ) Acceleration towards the dramatic and climatic conclusion of human history, from Genesis to Revelation, as the “curse will be reversed,” from Genesis 3 to Revelation 22:3. God is looking for His people to be Peacemakers ( Matthew 5:9 ) and His instruments for teaching and speaking truth into a deceived world ( Jeremiah 15:19-21 ) Transformation begins in the heart and scripture in conjunction with the Holy Spirit is the path God uses to change hearts and to bring awakening to the soul. That is happening now, and in increasing measure.

And people need to know who Jesus truly is in order to be transformed. Many souls are tired from the deception, and Jesus is awakening them to the truth. People need to be taught and instructed in the way they should go ( Proverbs 22:6 ) and that makes it possible for anyone to understand what is happening, and scripture is the backbone of that revelation. Spending time in God's presence through reading the Bible, praying, mediating, fasting and unplugging from the noise of the world long enough to hear His still, small voice is the key to successfully triumphing over the evil in the world. Anyone can do it and be victorious. But like anything, it takes discipline to make it work.

#doughallmedia #thewell #whatsreallyhappening

Living Water, Not Broken Cisterns

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 21:42:37 GMT

God knows what we need better than we do- we need to simply accept His free gift.

Jeremiah understood man's proclivity to trade in what's best for what is less. We want things we can take credit for, and we don't value the things of God as much, even if we know they are better. God’s supply never runs dry, but we keep turning back to broken cisterns, or to dry wells. Why would we deny what never runs dry, and turn back to what can never satisfy? Jesus is the living water, and He never runs dry!

"Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols. Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,” declares the Lord. “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”- Jeremiah 2:11-13

God gives us what’s best, and in our foolish pride, we don’t want it because it didn’t come from us. So we take control and create something of our own doing that can never satisfy. We trade in The Creator for created things, like when the Israelites traded in the glory of God and instead worshipped a golden calf, an image of an animal that eats grass. Likewise, we trade in Jesus who is the Living Water, the only One who can satisfy our soul, for a broken cistern that cannot hold water, a metaphor for something incapable of satisfying our soul. Why? We don’t need to. We just need to accept God and let His love, mercy and grace wash over us! God's ways are better and that should be a reason to celebrate, but in our foolish pride we often don't like it very much because we want the glory that is rightfully His for ourselves.

#doughallmedia #thewell #livingwaterthatneverrunsout

No fear

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 22:38:48 GMT

God made us to "fear not." We do we need to surrender to get there?

God swallowed up death with Christ's victory over the grave. That is why the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:21 that “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” In Galatians 2:20 he said “ i have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.”

That kind of freedom of fear of death makes you bold and courageous in any situation. When you have a reverent fear of God like that, you fear no man. God has made us with eternity in mind. If we can keep our focus on that simple fact, then we can let go of and release the things that so easily bind us on earth, like fear, greed, lack and other debilitating emotions. The Apostle Paul put it this way in Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Indeed, the eternal power and purpose in our lives comes directly from God. We must surrender our fears and doubts to him. It can be dauting, but we must realize the power to do so comes to us freely through the Holy Spirit who lives in all believers. Zechariah 4:6 says "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord God wants us to live bold and courageous lives. This comes only by living for the Lord and in His strength, not letting the fear of death or anything else stop us from being warriors for Christ. Now is the time He needs us most on earth to live in power, speaking truth through love. Let's go!

#doughallmedia #thewell #nofearofdeath #boldandcourageous

When a Martyr dies

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 20:49:59 GMT

God is about to do a new thing- can you perceive it?

"Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”- John 12:24

When a tyrant dies, his reign ends. When a martyr dies, his reign is just beginning. Charlie Kirk died a martyr for his Christian faith. His impact will be 100 times greater in death than it was in life because God‘s kingdom is a kingdom of multiplication. You cannot snuff it out, you cannot stop it. The enemy thought he had won when Jesus was hanging on the cross, little did he know that three days later he would walk out of the tomb and give us everlasting life and send us his Holy Spirit, which made his impact which had been contained to a 20 mile region in Israel into a global kingdom. The gates of Hades cannot prevail against the power of our God. God is a storm of righteousness and He is about to unleash it on the Earth. I believe we are on the cusp of the biggest revival the world has ever seen, and God is about to do mighty things. Yes, we can see evil rising, but we also see revival rising even faster, especially in the GenZ young adult category that Charlie Kirk was so intent on reaching. The attack on our youth has gotten God's attention and He is beginning His plan to restore truth through His unmatched love via revelation that will lead to global revival. You can feel it in the air.

"“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions."- Joel 2:28

#doughallmedia #thewell #charliekirkmartyr #revival

Soulless

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:16:05 GMT

Two things can be true at the same time: Evil is increasing on this earth and so is revival. As it gets darker on the earth, Jesus's light shines brighter.

This is a message of despair for what our children are being exposed to on social media. As a father, my highest calling is to protect my children at all costs. No child should see the gruesome video of the pure evil that took Charlie Kirk‘s life. The ramifications of children seeing that video will last a lifetime. That is disgusting and no one should have to see that, let alone a child. God have mercy on anyone who’s forcing a child to see those videos.

The desensitization of violence in this country and in the world is shocking and disturbing. Even if you dislike a person like Charlie Kirk to the core, if you have no compassion for his wife and his children who are left behind, I have questions if you even have a soul. If you are celebrating the death by assassination of Charlie Kirk, I know you have no soul. You are soulless. The enemy of your souls, satan, has captured you ( 2 Timothy 2:26 ) and you are less than human. But having said that, if you still have time on the clock, there is always a chance to repent, to look in the mirror and be repulsed by what you see, and say I want to start a new life. I want to repent of the evil living in me And I want to invite Jesus into my life to be my Lord and Savior. The Bible promises if you confess Jesus is Lord and Savior with your mouth and believe it in your heart, you will be saved, (Romans 10:9-10) and when we say “saved” we mean for all of eternity.

Your soul has only one of two destinations: it’s either heaven or it’s hell. People make light of what hell is, and in their fear they mock it or say they're rooting for satan, but Jesus never sugarcoated how awful it be for those who choose to go there by rejecting Him and His lordship. He says it is a dark place full of questions and no answers, where there will be eternal, unending weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is a choosing of darkness over light. Even if you just go into a dark cave for one night and stay there, you’ll get a glimpse of what spending every day for the rest of your existence in the darkness would feel like. I pray for your soul that you would turn from your wicked ways, repent and Jesus will hear your prayers in heaven and the cries of your heart and He will forgive you, rescue you and save you. That is how deep the grace of our loving God is. We are living in very dark times, in times when evil is encroaching. And this means that Jesus is very close to returning. You don’t have much time left. There should be urgency to your salvation. Don’t wait another day. Turn from the wickedness, evil and darkness and protect your kids as best as you can from the horrific violence they are being exposed to on the Internet. Pray for God to have mercy on our country and on our souls.

#doughallmedia #thewell #soulless

Where do we turn when evil strikes?

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 23:08:34 GMT

God is our refuge in times of great peril.

Where do we turn for truth during difficult times? We need look no further than the Bible to understand the times we are living in and what is going to happen in the future. The Bible is about 30% prophecies, and is batting 1,000 % accuracy on past and future events. Jesus will return one day to rapture ( harpazzo in Greek ) His church and then all of those who deny Him will be left to live in a world of complete chaos and lawlessness that they desire. When you argue with God and His word, you lose 100% of the time. You need to change, not God. But the good news is God is in the heart transformation business and as long as there is time on the clock, it is never too late. Don't squander God's immense grace and patience. Take him up on His offer out of love to save your soul and redeem your brokenness , which leads to a transformed heart and a much happier life.

We all agree I think that we are living in perilous times. 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 talks about the increase in evil as the proximity of Christ’s return draws nearer: “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.”

But revival is also increasing as God pours out His Spirit on all people as we get closer to His return as mentioned in Joel 2:28-29 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” i have seen this firsthand at the marvelous church I serve at. There is a revival and a passion for Christ in the Gen Z population that is remarkably powerful and hopeful.

So two things are happening at the same time that are in complete contrast to each other: evil is increasing and the Holy Spirit’s presence is increasing leading to a new and greater revival. Will you choose the winning team by laying down your pride and accepting the free gift of salvation through Christ’s mercy and grace, or will you stubbornly follow the spirit of lawlessness that is present on the earth to lead you into the abyss, where the Bible says there will be “eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The choice is yours.

#doughallmedia #thewell #turntoGod

Blessed are the peacemakers.

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 18:41:21 GMT

As violence increases, so does the need for us as believers to be peacemakers.

God highly values peacemakers. He says “Blessed are the peacemakers

for they will be called children of God.”- Matthew 5:9 My question right now for all the earth is Where are all the peacemakers?

The systematic violence we see on the earth right now, such as the killing of Charlie Kirk yesterday by assassination, shows that the spiritual battle between God and satan as outlined in Ephesians 6:12 and Galatians 5 is raging and people are getting caught up in it. We have lost track of our emotions and humanity, and we are being manipulated online to hate anyone we disagree with. We are supposed to love one another as Jesus taught, but 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 and 2 Timothy 3:1-6 talks about the spirit of the antichrist that is alive on the earth right now that is leading to chaos and these horrific tragedies.

“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming”- 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”- 2 Timothy 3:1-5

We must turn from violence, and turn to love. God is moving on the earth right now and there is a great juxtaposition happening: evil is increasing and so is revival, as God is pouring out His Spirit on all people, as Joel 2:27-28 says. Let us cling to Christ and share His love with those that the enemy "has taken captive to do his will." as 2 Timothy 2:25-26 says. Let's be the peacemakers this earth desperately needs.

#doughallmedia #thewell #peacemakers

Freedom from within

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:12:59 GMT

Freedom from within comes from asking God to help us heal our shame and woundedness.

We all have sorrow, and we all have wounds. In order to get healing, we need to be vulnerable enough to admit that we have sorrow, and we are wounded, and ask for God's help. God can heal them both but we may need to learn to forgive, even forgive ourselves for the mess we have made of our lives, in order to receive the freedom from the shame or wound we are carrying. The famous Theologian and Philosopher Augustine once said “in my deepest sorrow, I saw your glory and it dazzled me.” We all need that glory to smother our pain, shame and woundedness.

God's Kingdom truly works in mysterious ways, but it does hold eternal truths that are applicable to anyone's life who is willing to come to the Lord and receive Him as Savior. The virtuous cycle of being forgiven, and then forgiving others, is what truly sets us free. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says “where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.” I have found this to be so true in my life. I was shackled and held hostage by unforgiveness. I was letting the pain of a broken relationship with my father imprison me, and it was squeezing out and choking the life inside of me. It wasn’t until I forgave him that I was truly set free from my wounded sou. Then I learned how to teach others how to forgive.

When we receive Christ’s love through the power of the Holy Spirit, that is the beginning of the reconciliation that we so desperately need deep in our soul's. CS Lewis in his famous book, “Mere Christianity,” spoke of God‘s presence as “a great fountain of energy and beauty spurting up at the very center of reality. If you are close to it, the spray will wet you; if you are not, you will remain dry. Once a man is united to God, how could he not live forever? Once a man is separated from God, what can he do but whither and die.” How could we not want to get drenched in the spray of God's love and grace? It is the only thing that can truly set you free.

#doughallmedia #thewell #setfree

God's best often requires us to wait, and it is very hard to do.

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 04:47:41 GMT

God never wastes our wait.

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."- Habukkuk 2:3

Waiting is so hard. I hate it. Not many I know like it. But God has a bigger purpose when He asks us to wait for something , and we don't want to miss out on His best. We can substitute good for great if we get ahead of God's appointed time. God has a big plan for our life if we will trust Him above all else.

Don’t chase crumbs when God has prepared a kingdom. You can’t receive more when your hands are still full of what’s less. You can’t move forward when you’re still looking backward. You can’t receive kingdoms, when you’re still settling for crumbs. Sometimes you need to say no to what looks good in order to wait on what’s from God. just like Joseph went from prison to Palace and David went from Fields to the throne. Your story is still unfolding. And in God‘s timing everything can change in an instant for those who remain faithful even when they cannot see. "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! "- Psalm 27:14

#doughallmedia #thewell #waitontheLord

Don't chase the worlds mirages

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 21:07:22 GMT

Where do you turn when you reach your "there" and find out there is no
"there" there?

I have gotten to "there" only to realize there is no "there" there. I had all the world told me would fulfill me, but I still felt empty. I had tons of friends, but still felt lonely. Where do you turn when this reality slaps you across your face? Most double down, try harder, or think the next $10 million or whatever your number is will make you feel better. A faster car, a bigger house, more toys, more women but what about the emptiness in your soul that runs so deep you can't even sleep at night? Where do you turn then? Well, I finally in desperation turned to Jesus, and to my surprise He made me never feel lonely, even when alone. He gave me joy even when my circumstances were not great. He gave me purpose and peace when I had none before.

So what mirage are you chasing? The world will give false narratives that never satisfy. They will make you chase something elusive that never satisfies. When you reach your “goals” and they don’t satisfy where do you turn? What is the cost of chasing the world’s illusions? Many people leave a trail of destruction in their wake, chasing money or fame, only to find they don’t satisfy the longings in their soul. The world will lead you over a cliff, and no one is there to catch you when you fall.

God gives us a much more solid foundation on which to build our lives. God 1st, family second, work and everything else after that. Why? Because only God can satisfy the deepest yearning of our heats and soul. His word in the Bible is His treasure for us, filled with wisdom and power. It is a firm foundation we can stand on when the storms of life come, and they always do come. God gives us strength and love to know we are valuable and our lives have deep meaning and purpose. He gives us the tools we need to find deep contentment and joy, even when are circumstances may not warrant it. He in the anchor and the rock on which we can stand.

Psalm 37:4 says “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Who doesn’t want this? Everything else is shifting sand. Trust in Him, and not in the world's mirages.

#doughallmedia #thewell #realpurpose

Eternal perspective is needed

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 21:49:05 GMT

A shift in focus from here and now, to there and then is required to make sense of this broken world. God has all of eternity to work things out.

“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:1-8

God has made us for eternity, according to scripture like Ecclesiastes 3:11 and many others. This perspective is critical if we are to trust God and His sovereignty. We see His character on the Cross so we can trust His love. But unless we see things through his eternal lens, nothing makes much sense. The news highlights all the tragedies in the world. Every day we can feel despondent and depressed if we only look at things through the lens of current events that the media pushes on us. But the Bible says that the enemy is the prince of the air and his purpose is to deceive. distract divide and destroy us.

When you look around, you can see he’s doing a pretty effective job. But God is sovereign above all that. God is a god of love and of peace. He calls us to be peacemakers, He tells us that we are each other‘s friends, and that we are to love one another. We should listen to what the Bible says more than what any local news channel says. The agendas are quite different. God is love and He will work all things out in his eternal timeframe. You were made for a purpose, and your purpose is to become more like Christ. What does that mean? It means you must become more compassionate, more selfless, more loving. You must trust him more and trust yourself less. You must live by the spirit and not by the flesh. You must put others before yourselves and seek to help others. The world would call that foolish and insane. But that's why so many are so unhappy- they are hyper focused on only themselves and narcissism is a cruel way to seek happiness.

We all have lessons to learn in this life, and they will be used by God for eternity. Our souls are eternal, while our physical bodies are temporary. But God promises one day He will give us a new heavenly body that will never get sick, never die, and He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. He will reunite our soul with our new heavenly body, and we will live with him in eternity forever. That is a hope that cannot be influenced by the negative news cycled that is led by the enemy of our souls, "the prince of the air," as satan is called in Ephesians 2:1-2.

#doughallmedia #thewell #eternalperspective

The Great Awakening

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 05:40:46 GMT

God is moving on the earth to reveal all that has been hidden or lost and there's no stopping it. All will be redeemed that the enemy has stolen.

I believe something very exciting and powerful has started on the earth right now, and it's gaining momentum. It is the Lord revealing himself to many people through His Holy Spirit working all over the earth to reveal mysteries and ancient scriptures that are being revealed right now, and in real time, and it's gaining speed and traction as people share on various media channels what they are witnessing. Some refer to it as the Great Awakening; others say it's the beginning of the Billion Soul Harvest, God's last great revival before Jesus returns to wrap it up on the earth.

I believe it is Spirit led, and nothing can stop it, or even slow it down. Zechariah 4:6 “So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. Indeed, the Spirit must be leading it for it to have any real impact or staying power, and I believe there are indeed signs He is leading this.

If the Great Awakening is indeed happening, than it is incumbent upon us who are aware to tell as many as possible who are unaware about where we are in real time of redeemed history so people can know. It is like we are the sports broadcasters for God’s greatest climatic victory and a wrap up of all things so the new heaven and new earth can be revealed. ( Revelation 21 ) The Overarching story is like Star Wars - the battle between darkness and light. God is revealing all things, orchestrated by Jesus for the appointed time- Habakkuk 2:3, on the way to final revelation and reversing of the curse ( Revelation 22:3 ) where Jesus declares final victory and all of redeemed history is restored. Grab your popcorn and get ready. This is one epic mystery adventure you surely don't want to miss.

#doughall #thewell #greatawakening

Tough lessons but worth it all in the end.

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 23:10:43 GMT

Perseverance is required in order to receive God's best for your life.

There are many tough lessons in the Christian Faith, and often we must come to our wits end in order to finally be ready to receive them, because our faith must be tested like gold so it can be refined and proven to be of worth. This often requires some pain and leaving our comfort zones. But God wants to take us where He desires us to be, and we can't usually get there in our own understanding. Here are a few things I have learned recently that I hope help you as well: Don’t chase crumbs when God has prepared a kingdom for you. You can’t receive more when your hands are still full of what’s less. You can’t move forward when you’re still looking backward. Sometimes you need to say no to what looks good in order to wait on what’s from God, just like Joseph went from prison to Palace and David went from Shepherd's Fields to the throne. Your story is still unfolding. And in God‘s perfect timing, everything can change in an instant for those who remain faithful even when they cannot see.

Another tough lesson is to stop trying to get people to believe in you and believe in yourself, the way God believes in you. God doesn’t need a committee to bless you, and He doesn’t need permission to elevate you. When He determines it’s time, He will bring it about. When you stop asking man for what only God can provide you step into a new level of provision, peace, and purpose. You stop striving and start seeking him with all your heart. A resume opens doors in the natural, but an anointing moves mountains in the spiritual. You don’t have to announce your anointing or seek others approval of it. People feel it when you walk into a room because it’s supernatural. We must stop shrinking to try to fit in the spaces that were never meant for our power. God has bigger and better plans for us than we can ever imagine.

Psalm 46:10 says "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” One way this happens is when God takes our ordinary and adds His extraordinary to bring about results that are disproportionate with our abilities . Then people know for sure that God deserves all the glory.

#doughallmedia #thewell #toughlessons

Receive the free gift

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 16:51:21 GMT

We don't need to earn God's love, we just need to receive His free gift through His Son Jesus

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”- Ephesians 2:8-9

God already achieved everything that needs to be done for you to inherit eternal life through His Son Jesus. All you have to do is receive it. You don’t need to strive or contrive ways that you think will satisfy God. How exhausting is that? God did it all through His Son who was slain as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world- as John 1:29 says.

Jesus took your sins upon himself on the cross once and for all. You don’t need to do something else. It’s already been done. That should be so liberating and exciting, yet so many people struggle with receiving a great and free gift of this magnitude. They would prefer to grind themselves to a pulp trying to earn it in their own way. We like the idea of being responsible for our salvation, like we are for our success in the world. But you can’t add anything to what God already has done through His Son Jesus.

When He resurrected Jesus from the grave, God defeated sin and death once and forever for all who would believe. There is no other religion that claims the resurrection, but they all make you feel the weight of incredible guilt and shame of having to be personally responsible for trying to have to earn you way to God. Does it ever end? Have you ever done enough? How do you know? Is there ever any true freedom or stability in that mindset? God set the standard and took all the shame and guilt away from us all and placed it on His perfect Son, because He knew it was impossible for anyone else to ever live a sinless life. Just accept that life changing grace and be set free! Everything else will only lead you into despair!

#doughallmedia #thewell #acceptthefreegift

Coming Soon

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:26:36 GMT

When Jesus returns, it will either be the best day or the worst day of your life. But here's the good news: You get to decide.

"Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail[a] on account of him. Even so. Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7-8

Revelation 1:7-8 is both incredibly hopeful if you’ve already received Christ and terrifying if you haven’t. Jesus is coming back and nothing we say or believe or post on social media will stop it. It is a powerful reminder that God is sovereign over all of redeemed history, and He will one day soon come to redeem all that has been lost or stolen from His creation due to the ravages of sin. Revelation 21:4 says “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Christ’s coming back as the roaring lion from the tribe of Judah. This will be very different than his 1st time on earth when he came as the “lamb of god to take away the sins of the world,” as John 1:29 says. For some, this will be the greatest day in human history; for others it will be the worst. The choice is totally in your hands,

#doughallmedia #thewell #comingbacksoon

Freedom Within

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 19:06:09 GMT

God wants to conform us to the image of His Son. To do so may require us to leave our comfort zones.

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self ?”- Luke 9:23-25

One of the hardest transitions in the Christian faith is moving from our desire for comfort to allowing God to pull us out of our comfort zones. When we fully surrender our plans for His, then joy and peace rush in. But dying to our plans is hard!

The only way to do this I have found is one day at a time and even one prayer �� at a time. We have to fully trust that God’s plans are better than our plans, as Isaiah 55:8-9 says. When we find areas that block this trust, we must pray through them and allow the word of God to demolish the strongholds that keep us captive and hold us back from total surrender. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

This verse tells of the obedience required to win this battle between our need for comfort to feel as though we are in control, and our longing to be truly set free by the power of the Holy Spirit to fully follow and embrace Christ with 100% abandonment. For as 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 says that is what leads to real deep and lasting freedom: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

#doughallmedia #thewell #freedomwithin

Weakness to strength

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 21:21:40 GMT

We must admit our limitations in order to get to the place of seeking God for our salvation.

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I had a father wound I couldn’t heal. I tried to run from it for 25 years. I tried to numb it with all kinds of illicit methods but that was just dealing with the symptoms and not the root cause. Then in desperation I gave Jesus my life. He healed me.

The world says to fix yourself and deal with your pain in your own ways. But what happens when your own ways don’t work? What happens when we are so burdened by our pain and brokenness that we feel like we’re just going through the motions, or even worse like we’re suffocating? Where do we turn? I tried everything the world told me could help me: business success, money, a house on the beach in S California but none of it satisfied. I tried to run from my pain, use drugs and alcohol to cover it or hide from it, but when the buzz wore off I was only worse off than before. I tried to satisy my flesh through sex but it felt empty without true love. In fact, it was impossible for me to feel love because I felt worthless, like I had no value, because the affirmation and affection I sought from my dad was absent, then abandoned when he chose another family over his own.

Pain and suffering are real. The world says they are weakness, but in my weakness I found the courage to ask Jesus if He was real, and if so if He could help heal me. To my surprise, He did. He spoke deep truth into my life about how much He loved me, about how He was always with me and how He still had a great plan for my life. He taught me how you forgive my father, how to love him even when his actions made me want to despise him, and how to set me free from the toxicity of unforgiveness, which is like drinking poison and hoping the other person gets sick.

Jesus is real, He is God and He loves us. I was shocked but so glad He came to my rescue just in time. The world will say that I was weak, but if the goal is truly being dependent on God, then when I am weak, I am strong indeed, because I know in my weakness how much I need a Savior. Jesus is the only One who can truly save us. just ask Him to reveal himself to you, and He promises He will, as He did for me. What are you waiting for, your whole world is about to change with one bold step of confession and trust!

#doughallmedia #thewell #weaknesstostrength

Finding fruit in a season of dryness

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 20:29:40 GMT

God alone can refresh us in seasons of dryness.

I have been walking through a dry desert ever since covid-19 unexpectedly struck our planet in 2020. The things that used to be a part of my world have dried up. The business I used to thrive in has gone away. The mindset that things will return to normal have been replaced with the stark realization that they never will. The encroachment of technology into every day living makes people more isolated and insulated and hardened in their viewpoints, which makes life miserable for an extrovert like myself. Yes, the past 5 years have been very dry years, and every door closed can wear us down.

However,, this has also been a glorious time in the sense that I have seen and relied upon Jesus more than ever before, and He is the rock upon which my foundation has remained firm. He has refreshed me by His Spirit in these dry times, and I have never felt closer to Him. When I have needed Him most, He has not disappointed. When the world seems very dry and mundane, He brings life and restoration, and new hope. Here's what I have found: Only Jesus can satisfy the longing in our soul for internal freedom. Only Jesus can heal our deepest wounds. Only Jesus can mend our broken hearts. This world leaves us scarred, and barren, but Jesus turns our scars into testimonies and our pain into purpose. In dry seasons of life, when nothing seems to work, God’s presence alone can sustain us and ultimately refresh us. Without Him, we just shrivel up and die. With him, all things are possible!

Jeremiah penned a similar heartfelt message in Jeremiah 17:7-8. It's what makes the Bible so powerful, and so relevant. Even though it was written a few thousand years ago, it spoke directly to my heart in my current situation. I hope it will do the same for you. let it's promises refresh and renew you and put a new countenance in your step.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.”- Jeremiah 17:7-8

#doughallmedia #thewell #fruitindryland

Light vs darkness

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 17:13:37 GMT

There is an epic battle playing out between light and darkness. But take heart, Jesus is the light of the world, and He has overcome the darkness.

2Corinthians 4:4 says “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

The Bible talks about the overarching story of darkness vs light throughout its pages in a way that is reminiscent of the great battle depicted in Star Wars. It is a battle of good vs evil, truth vs falsehood, and light overcoming the darkness.

We see in the scripture above, darkness covers the eyes of unbelievers through deception and in their hardened hearts they are unable to see the truth of who Jesus is. For us to be able to see who Jesus truly is, we must have a heart posture that allows us to do so, and this means that the walls of pride in our mind must come crashing down. Only through the process of dying to our pride can God have access to our hearts where all real transformation must take place. Why? Jeremiah 17:9 tells us: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

We have wicked and deceptive hearts that need transformation in order to become more like Christ, so His light can shine through us to a dark world. That is how we become His hands and feet. That is why when the disciples asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment, in Matthew 22:36-37, He starts with loving the Lord God with all of our hearts. Notice our mind is last. This is very telling. This lets us know that God wants to work on changing our hearts above all else because our hearts are full of envy, jealousy, anger, rage, lust, unforgiveness and many other things that need cleaning up. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? ”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

Throughout scripture we see the Light of Jesus revealing the darkness or evil that resides in human hearts. His light is penetrating and it brings our darkness into the presence of His light, which is a very good thing if we acknowledge it and repent of it. What is hidden or denied cannot be healed, it must be brought into the light. Then we can repent of it and be made clean, which provides more room for Christ’s light to shine through us. Shine on mighty warriors for Christ.

#doughallmedia #thewell #lightvsdarkness

You are wonderfully unique

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 04:32:10 GMT

We are each given unique gifts for Kingdom purposes that revolve around love.

"when we fear God, we fear nothing else. When we don’t fear God, we fear everything else.” - Oswald Chambers

When God is in His proper place in your life, meaning He is 1st, you don't have to try and prove yourself to others. His power flows through you because of your reverent fear of him. You don’t have to announce your anointing or seek others approval of it. People feel it when you walk into a room because it’s supernatural. We all have been given unique gifts and we shouldn't be ashamed of using them, nor should we try to beat people over the head with them, but honestly I have been guilty of both of those in my life. Not intentionally, but still I am aware of the consequences of my actions and they are not great. Even if our motives are good, our wrong methods can do some damage.

But even still, we must stop shrinking to try to fit in the spaces that were never meant for our power. When we speak, we pierce not with our words, but with what God speaks through us. His words shatter strongholds. We are not created for job titles, we were created for kingdom purposes. So, stop trying to get people to understand you’re calling, they never will and they can’t because it’s just between you and God. It is very personal. Just love people where they're at and try to use your unique gifts to help them if it is a fit. Easier said than done sometimes, but God's entire Kingdom revolves around love. Love is patient, and it shouldn't be forced. Help us to love more like you love us Lord every day of our life.

#doughallmedia #thewell #uniquelygifted

No map provided

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 03:43:30 GMT

God often doesn't provide us a map, only a promise to walk with us on our journey.

Walking with God often means we will be rejected by man. This can be very painful as we may lose dear friends who simply don't understand we are under new management. Alignment with God means we often must walk alone. Others may not walk the path God has chosen for us. When God called Abraham in Genesis chapter 12, He didn't tell him where he was going, only to trust him. It must have been a little scary but Abraham obeyed God. "The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you." Genesis 12:1 Then God gave Abraham an incredible promise, one that most likely took much of his fears away as he focused on the promise and not his ever changing circumstances: "I will make you into a great nation,

and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." genesis 12:2-3

Likewise, Christ is interested in shaping servants and the more God wants to do through you the more work he needs to do in you. God often gives us, like he did Abraham, a promise but not a map. He wants to test our obedience. He’s preparing us for a future leadership position or legacy that can be established. Will you trust and obey Him?

#doughallmedia #thewell #nomap

Transformational change

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 02:53:08 GMT

Real change is internal, not external, and it begins in our heart.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”- 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

We must tear down the walls of pride in our minds to allow God the room He needs to transform our hearts. God’s transformational work always goes through our hearts. The place can change, the message can change, the pastor can change but until our heart changes, nothing really changes. The transformation of the heart is what Christ came and died for- that sacrifice should change us forever from the inside out.

#doughallmedia #thewell #realchange

Do it again

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 02:44:17 GMT

God is bigger than your problems. Sometimes it just takes a song to remember.

Song Lyrics can powerfully capture our mood. They can move us deep in our soul. They can restore our hope in something or just uplift our mood. That is the case for me from the song "Do it again," by Elevation Worship. They lyrics remind me of God's power and His faithfulness. He is greater than my problems and He created me for His purposes. How about you? Do these words move you? I pray they do.

"Walking around these walls, I thought by now they'd fall, But You have never failed me yet. Waiting for change to come, Knowing the battle's won, You have never failed me yet. Your promise still stands Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness. I' m still in Your hands This is my confidence You've never failed me yet.

I know the night won't last, Your word will come to pass, My heart will sing Your praise again Jesus You're still enough. Keep me within Your love, oh My heart will sing Your praise again.(Oh, yes, it will) Your promise still stands, Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness. I'm still in Your hands This is my confidence You've never failed me yet.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,." Ephesians 3:20

#doughallmedia #thewell #doitagain

Only One can satisfy

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 02:44:14 GMT

God's love transforms us into a new creation.

Finishing up our series on great song lyrics that bring inspiration and hope, I am not sure there is a more powerful song than "What a God, What a God," by SEO Worship. These lyrics touch deep in our soul. Let them penetrate to any hardened areas and let God do His cathartic work through them.

"If the highest place I reached is at Your feet, Then I've done it all. If the best thing that I've seen is Your glory, then I've seen it all. Your love has changed my life, forever satisfied God, You are my everything. If one word is the only thing You speak, then I've heard it all.

If I feel Your heart and never see Your hand, I still have it all. There is no treasure of this life that could ever satisfy (you're the one). You are my everything. God, You are my everything. God, You are my everything.

This is such a powerful reminder that nothing else can ever satisfy like the love of Jesus Christ. Everything else is shifting sand. His love is what our soul desires. We are all broken, living in a broken world, and He alone can affirm the value we have in Him.

#doughallmedia #thewell #realcontentment

Searing truth that leads to revival

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 03:52:28 GMT

God is calling us to the last, great revival

The American church has been weakened by its own apathy. In many cases, the church has substituted comfort and complacency for conviction, they have substituted reassurance for repentance. They have tried to fit in rather than to stand out. Thus, many churches are wide and shallow, instead of narrow and deep, having lost the power that comes from the true gospel. We have switched from pleasing the king to pleasing the crowd. The light of a city on a hill has been dragged down into the valley of cultural acceptance, and thus been stripped of all of its power.. False teachers preach a crown without a cross. There is a cost in following Jesus, but the cost of rejecting him is much higher. We need revival based on the searing truth of the real Gospel. When it is rightly preached, the Holy Spirit does all the needed work in people's souls.

#doughallmedia #TheWell #revival

Turbulence

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:13:10 GMT

Following Jesus isn't always easy, but it is always a wild ride.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

Jesus never promised us a smooth flight, only a safe landing. So buckle up and enjoy the ride. It will have many twists and turns. It will be exhilarating . It will be scary. At times, it will feel lonely and more than you can handle. But Jesus will never leave you or forsake you, and you will look back and say what a beautifully wild adventure it has been.

#doughallmedia #thewell #wildride

I can only Imagine

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 02:09:11 GMT

Can you imagine what it will be like to meet Jesus face to face?

As we continue to consider how song lyrics can uplift our spirit and move us emotionally, today let's consider the song I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me. This song is a song of awe and wonder about what it will be like to see Jesus face to face for the 1st time in Heaven. We get a glimpse of this directly from Scripture in 1 Corinthians 13:12 when it says "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

Wow, what an exciting prospect for us to consider. But Mercy Me's lyrics are equally riveting when it anticipates what it will be like when it says, "I can only imagine

What it will be like When I walk by Your side. I can only imagine What my eyes would see

When Your face is before me. I can only imagine, Yeah, Surrounded by Your glory

What will my heart feel? Will I dance for You Jesus Or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in Your presence Or to my knees, will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine. I can only imagine. I can only imagine, When that day comes

And I find myself Standing in the Son. I can only imagine When all I will do Is forever, forever worship You. I can only imagine, yeah I can only imagine.

What a great thing to contemplate, how glorious it will be.

#DOUGHALLMEDIA #THEWELL #ICANONLYIMAGINE

Graves into Gardens

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 21:54:24 GMT

God has power to do the unimaginable.

Continuing our thoughts on the power of song lyrics to speak right to our hearts and souls, the lyrics below from Elevation Worship from the song Graves into Gardens does just that to me. It humbles me, it strengthens me as it reminds me of God's endless grace and power, and it gives me hope, joy and peace. What else could we want out of a song?

"I searched the world but it couldn't fill me. Man's empty praise, and treasures that fade,

are never enough. Then You came along and put me back together, and every desire Is now satisfied here in Your love. Oh, there's nothing better than You. There's nothing better than You. Lord, there's nothing, nothing is better than You.

I'm not afraid to show You my weakness. My failures and flaws Lord, You've seen 'em all and You still call me friend. 'Cause the God of the mountain, is the God of the valley. There's not a place your mercy and grace won't find me again. Oh, there's nothing better than You, there's nothing better than You. Lord, there's nothing, nothing is better than You.

You turn mourning to dancing. You give beauty for ashes. You turn shame into glory. You're the only one who can. You turn graves into garden. You turn bones into armies. You turn seas into highways. You're the only one who can. You're the only one who can."

#doughallmedia #thewell #Godturnsgravesintogardens

Hard Fought Hallelujah

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 03:52:26 GMT

Song lyrics can powerfully capture exactly how we are feeling in a moment of time.

“I’ve struggled with the darkness, but I’m trying to reach for the light. The struggle keeps me honest, and it breaks down the walls of my pride. Cause faith isn’t proven like gold, until it’s been through the fire. My head, heart and hands are feeling heavy, that's when I lift them just a little higher. I'll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt been through hell hallelujah. I'll bring my storm-tossed, torn sail, story to tell hallelujah. God you've been patient, God you've been gracious, faithful whatever I'm feeling or facing.”- Brandon Lake from the song Hard Fought Hallelujah

Sometimes song lyrics can speak the exact truth your heart and soul needs to hear. The song lyrics above did that for me recently. The song is such a powerful reminder of the intensity of the battle we face in our Christian faith. It is certainly not easy, and sometimes it's downright difficult, but God always works through the fires of affliction we face to refine and both grow and strengthen our faith.

Sometimes it feels like we're a sailboat that has been through a vicious storm and we barely survived with just a torn sail left. That is the little bit of hope we need to keep going. But eventually we get to calm waters and we find out that the journey has strengthened us. God promises "He will never leave or forsake us," in Hebrews 13:5 so we need to press on in the midst of the storms of life. Eventually we will be able to look back and see His hand was on us the whole time.

He sees you!

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 21:01:03 GMT

In a digital world where we can often feel unseen or unknown, it's important to remember God sees you and He cares for you!

'For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”- Jeremiah 29:11-13

We often get exhausted seeking affirmation from places other than in Christ. But the reality is affirmation from other people is fleeting, and often still eaves us longing for more. So many people feel unseen, and unknown. They feel empty, lonely and depressed. But God not only sees you and knows you but He is crazy about you. Look up! His love is pouring down on you but you need to seek Him to find Him and you will be filled! God cares about every single person on the earth and wants us to have " the desires of our heart," according to Psalms 37:4, but we need to turn to Him and away from thinking other things can provide what only He can.

Isaiah 40:28-31 sums up both the exhaustion we feel from struggling in our own power through life and the promises of God to restore us> Trust in Him alone, nothing else will ever satisfy. He knows us, He sees us and He loves us. Live in His strength and power. "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.""

Reverse the curse

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 22:08:22 GMT

God will redeem all that was lost in the Garden.

C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity wrote what I think is one of the most impactful insights ever penned in Christian Literature when he said " God's presence is a great fountain of energy and beauty spurting up at the very center of reality. If you are close to it, the spray will wet you; If you are not, you will remain dry. Once a man is united to God, how could he not live forever? Once a man is separated from God, what can he do but wither and die.

Jesus said in Revelation 22:1-5 that there is a day of great restoration coming, when the original curse of the Garden of Eden will be reversed. You want to be part of that forever. So don't let the enemy pull you away from the truth of the Gospel and what God is doing.

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."- Revelation 22:1-5

King of kings and Lord of lords

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 03:00:45 GMT

One day we all we kneel before the one True King and all of our opinions won't matter

We shall all come to acknowledge this one day and on that day none of our opinions will matter. The ones who received Jesus for who He is, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, will pass through into His eternal Kingdom. The rest will be cast out into eternal darkness “where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Why would you chose that path to destruction? Just acknowledge Him for who He is and you will be saved.

“ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”- Ephesians 1:18-21

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”- Philippians 2:9-10

“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords.”- Revelation 19:16

“13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. “- Revelation 22:13-14

“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”- Matthew 22:13-14

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. “- Romans 10:9-10

What did they know?

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 17:39:50 GMT

God isn't hiding but we are often denying what we know is true deep in our soul.

Are you willing to die for what you believe in? They say follow the blood if you want to know if something is true. Every one of Jesus's Disciples except for John, died a gruesome death. Boiled in oil, sawed in half, crucified upside down to testify to what they knew and saw about Jesus. Anyone of them could have said it was all a hoax and spared their own life: none did!

So what did they see? The Bible says repeatedly in Acts 1 that Jesus revealed himself to His Disciples. Also in John 21 and and Luke 24 we see this again as Jesus revealed Himself in many ways, even allowing Doubting Thomas to put his hands in Jesus' side in John 20:27 "Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Of course, the famous Damascus road conversion of Saul to Paul in Acts 9:5 is a powerful story that propelled Paul into His ministry and writing of about 70% of the New Testament: "Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied " John 21:14 says Jesus met His Disciples while they were fishing out at sea and had breakfast with them on the shore. "This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead." So basically the Disciples had seen Jesus post crucifixion and knew without a shadow of a doubt He was alive. He had conquered sin and death and therefore they had nothing to fear at all. In fact, Paul was even given a glimpse into Heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 and it was so inexpressibly beautiful that he said they were no words to describe it -" I was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell."

So do you believe their testimony is true? They were willing to die for what they saw and believed. Does that change your outlook of fear and death? Are you willing to live fearlessly for Christ? If not, where do you lack trust? That is the subject matter we must all grapple with.

No Fear

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 23:57:33 GMT

When you know Heaven is real, there is nothing left to fear.

Are you willing to die for what you believe? They say follow the blood of you want to know if something is true. Every one of Jesus's disciples, except for John, died a gruesome death to testify with their lives what they knew about Jesus. Anyone of them could have said it was a hoax and been spared. None did.

What a cost Jesus's disciples paid to follow Him. Why would anyone do that? The only possibilities that exist is because they were lunatics, completely out of their mind, or because they knew He was the Messiah, the chosen One of God who had been resurrected and had appeared to them many times after his crucifixion which meant they knew that this life was only the beginning of our existence. Heaven was real, and so death was not to be feared. How liberating is that? All fear had been removed!

The Living Word

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 19:18:54 GMT

God's word is the greatest treasure we've been given for successful living.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”- 2 Timothy 3:16

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”- Hebrews 4:12

The Bible is alive and active- it’s the Living Word of God, and that’s why it is able to speak into any situation you’re facing in real time. I find it so ironic that people say the Bible isn't real when it was written over 1500 years by 40 different authors on 3 continents and maintained perfect literary alignment. Try writing 1 chapter on any subject with 1 friend who is not in your presence and see how it turns out. You will quickly see it's probably a mess. Yes, the Bible is indeed the Living Word of God and we should read it daily, because it is God's treasure trove to us.

Demolish Strongholds

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 01:36:30 GMT

God has what's best for our life.

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

The enemy wants to occupy the promises for your life that God has for you because the enemy doesn’t want you to achieve what God has for you. He accomplishes this by distracting you with lesser things so he can gain a foothold in your life.

It could be a stronghold of sin, it could be an idol, it could be a habit. It could be bitterness. It could be a wound. It could be a discouragement or it could be something from the past. You must defeat the enemy with praise and worship and prayer.

Good roots, good fruit

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 01:36:28 GMT

Good fruit can't come from bad roots

"If my life is fruitful, it doesn’t matter who criticizes me; if my life is fruitless, it doesn’t matter who praises me" C.S. Lewis Our life only provides good fruit when it comes from good roots. At the core, we need to stay connected to the One source of truth- God himself. He’s the Vine, we are the branches. If we stay connected to him, we will bear much good fruit because he is good. But if we ignore God, eventually, we will not bear good fruit because we do not have a firm foundation, and our roots are not based on deep truth.

If the root is bad, the fruit will be bad no matter how many times we desperately try to change the fruit eventually the bad root will overcome it. So for real lasting change, we need to eliminate the roots that weigh us down. What are they in your life? We need to extract the roots of sinfulness usually born out of our emotions, such as anger, jealousy, bitterness, unforgiveness, worry, fear, and greed. The key is to have our roots firmly planted in the truth of who we are, because of who God is. We are lavishly loved and intimately known, and we can trust in the One who holds all of time in his hands.

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - John 8:32

Security is found in no one else

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 00:19:11 GMT

Jesus is the solid rock on which I stand, all other things are shifting sand.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”- Mathew 7:24-27

Day 4- Practical Christianity is the ability to apply Biblical truths to your life in a way that helps your life function with more contentment. Today let's consider that God is the One true source of our security. Most people live a life of quiet desperation. Why? I believe because in our pride, we try to find security in anything other than God. When in fact, God is the only place we can find true security. Everything else is shifting sand. God is the only one that is secure through all the storms and valleys of life. He is the One that sustains us, he is the One who holds us. Everything else is fleeting and will make us feel unstable. Only God alone can give us the true stability that our souls long for.

Trust in God

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:23:41 GMT

Trust in God alone. He alone is worthy of our praise.

In a world that’s constantly changing, it’s nice to know you can trust in Jesus who never changes. As Hebrews 13:8 says he is the "same yesterday, today and forever." We need to find stability in an unstable world, and Jesus gives that to us. We need certainty in an uncertain world, and Jesus provides us with that. Let’s trust in Him. Who else are you going to trust? Trust Him- He won't let you down.

“ Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.”- Proverbs 3:5-6

God isn't distant or unavailable.

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 22:32:24 GMT

Like any other relationship, the amount of time we spend with God will determine the intimacy we get from it.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you"- Matthew 7:7

Day 3- Practical Christianity is the ability to apply Biblical truths to your life in a way that helps your life function with more contentment. Today let's consider that God is not some distant being that is impossible for us to communicate with. In fact, in today's verse above in Matthew 7:7 we see Him inviting us to have a relationship with Him. It is like any other relationship in our life; The more time we spend in their presence, the better off it will be. With God, we can communicate in 3 main ways: Through reading His Word in scripture, through prayer and through seeking and listening for His responses. This sometimes requires us to "get away" or "seek solitude" like Jesus often did so he could hear his Father's voice. If He needed to, how much more do we?

One of my favorite verses in the Bible that gives us confidence that Jesus understands us and what we deal with in this broken world is Hebrews 2:18 which says "Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted" Jesus indeed gets our suffering, and understands the sinful temptations we face on a daily basis. He wants to help us gain victory over the areas of our lives we struggle with. Will you let Him?

Always with us

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 23:51:00 GMT

People leave us all the time but God never does!

Day 2- Practical Christianity is the ability to apply Biblical truths to your life in a way that helps your life function with more contentment. In Hebrews 13:5 God promises to "never leave us or forsake us." This is great news for us because people will let us down all the time. Nobody gets out of this life unscathed and everyone has wounds they carry. Wounds of abandonment, betrayal, and false promises are just a few that most carry with them at some point. It is so uplifting to remember that you have a God who is not like that at all. He is steadfast, trustworthy and dependable. When others hurt you, remember God never will. You can take your pain directly to Him and ask for His healing hand to be upon you. He will not leave your side in the midst of your wounded soul.

Practical Christianity #1- Financial Alignment

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 20:05:22 GMT

Align your life by applying Biblical truths and life will be filled with more contentment.

"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." - Proverbs 22:7

Practical Christianity is the ability to align your life by applying Biblical truths in a way that helps your life function with more contentment. Who doesn't want that? Today's verse speaks to a time-tested financial truth: The borrower is the slave to the lender. This means we should avoid going into debt if at all possible. The opposite of slavery is freedom, so if you want to avoid financial slavery, don't borrow money. The interest and repayment plans always work to the lender's advantage. If you are aligned with this basic principle of finance, you will not be enslaved and will have more financial freedom to chase your goals. Apply this truth and you will have more contentment.

The enemy is leading the whole world astray

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:36:35 GMT

Be aware, be prepared.

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light

and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."-Isaiah 5:20

"The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." -revelation 12:9

In the two verses above, we see God speaking of two things that are happening now: The world is so confused it calls good evil, and evil good and the devil is leading the whole world astray. The evidence is all around us. The enemy has so turned this world upside down that he’s got people thinking we are each others enemies, just because of political differences or different cultural backgrounds, race, or sex. What a deception!

But the real battle is between God and satan and billions of souls are at risk of being deceived, distracted and destroyed by a ruthless enemy. satan uses deception to create chaos and leads the whole world astray. We must understand that the Christian life right now on earth is not a playground, but a fierce battleground. How should we respond? Jesus needs Hos people to show what real life looks like. He wants us to be peacemakers, as He said in Matthew 5:9. Jesus also said in John 14 to “ love one another.” That is how we are to respond, by trying to bring some light into a very dark world.

Get out of the boat

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 22:15:44 GMT

Yes, Peter began to sink, but at least he got out of the boat and for a moment he experienced the thrill of walking on the water.

The decision to grow always involves a choice between risk and comfort. Fear will never go away as long as I continue to grow. Fear will never leave as a follower of Jesus. so the main decision we must make is to renounce comfort as the ultimate value of our life. Why? Because God cares much more about our character than our comfort, and He wants us to become more like Jesus every day. That way, people will see the fruit born of our proximity to walking with Jesus and know that He is the one who deserves the glory!

Besides, when you think about it, everything is risky. Life is full of storms and challenges that can either grow us or destroy us. We must learn to focus on the Savior instead of the storms. Peter only began to sink when he looked away from Jesus and saw the storm. Any time God wants us to do something for Him, we will have fear. But we can trust his competence and his character. We can safely place our destiny in His hands. Courage must be accompanied by wisdom and discernment to be complete. Your boat is whatever represents safety and security for you apart from God himself. Will you learn to get out of the boat like Peter did? Yes, it was risky but it was also exhilarating. The rest of the Disciples chose safety and remained boat potatoes. God calls us to be courageous. Let's go!

Let Go!

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 05:18:19 GMT

God has a better plan than we do. We need to let go of ours so we can trust in His.

“difficulty comes in when we want to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own ends.”- Oswald Chambers

We must learn to hold things loosely, but we do give the enemy ground when we cling to things too tightly- he searches around for our vulnerabilities and then likes to exploit that if we’re clinging into anything too tightly, he has a way to exploit that .

I find that one way i allow this is when I am so worried about controlling my circumstances and getting God to bless my plan in my way even using manipulation in my thought process, which is so futile. We create anxiety that doesn’t need to exist. If instead, we trusted his plan his way and knew that it ultimately that was the best plan , then we can walk in present joy each, and every moment of our life, knowing that He is good, his character is good, even when our circumstances are not.

"My questions come whenever I cease to obey. When I have obeyed God, the problems never come between me and God, they come as probes to keep the mind awake and amazed at the revelation of God. Any problem that comes between God and myself springs out of disobedience; any problem, and there are many, that is alongside me while I obey God, increases my ecstatic delight, because I know that my Father knows, and I am going to watch and see how He unravels this thing."- Oswald Chambers

Trust Him

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 23:08:01 GMT

What areas do you lack trusting God in?

There are many lessons we can learn from the journey of the Israelites as they were led out of bondage from Egypt. They wandered around the desert for 40 years for a trip that should’ve taken two weeks. Why? Because God needed to teach them many lessons, and they were very slow learners. They had to learn to trust him, to depend on him to learn from him, and to believe His promises over what their eyes could see.

But many times, just like us, they were hard hearted, obstinate, foolish, untrusting, whining complainers, and prideful. God would not relent until they learned the lessons they needed to learn before they could enter into the Promised Land. What lessons is God trying to teach you that you are making it harder than it needs to be? For me it’s always been about loosening control, and trusting Him with all areas of my life, not just the ones that are convenient for me. What about for you? God is good, and God is faithful. But he needs to teach us lessons so that we can continue to grow in our faith and trust Him more. What areas in your life are you not trusting Him in? Ask him to help you, to seek his strength, power and wisdom to lay it down. He will remove the thing that’s kept you in bondage, and provide even greater freedom than you could ever imagine. It always comes down to the same question: Do you trust him?

Stand Firm. Be Strong. Be courageous.

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 22:13:14 GMT

Jesus warned us that in the last days, the persecution of the church would grow stronger. We are in those days.

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong"- 1 Corinthians 16;13

Persecution isn’t the enemy of the church, it’s often the refining tool God uses to separate the Lambs from the Goats, the committed from the comfortable, the on-fire believers from the lukewarm believers. The Truth of the Gospel cannot be compromised ever!

God said the persecution of the Church would increase in the last days and that many would fall away. He warned of false teachers who would come to speak falsehoods to let people feel better about themselves “and to speak what their itching ears want to hear”- 2 Timothy 4:3-4 rather than preach the truth of the Gospel that leads to repentance of sin. Stand firm is a term the Apostle Paul often used to tell us to not compromise the Gospel. This is in contrast from those who wanted to fit in rather than stand out for their faith, but Jesus warned in Revelation 3:16 that “He will spit the lukewarm believers out of his mouth.” Be strong, be courageous and stand firm in the faith!

Get wisdom.

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 01:17:46 GMT

Information without wisdom is at best useless and at worst can be destructive.

The internet is filled with information, but that doesn't come with a guaranteed dose of wisdom. In fact, information without wisdom can be downright dangerous. The Bible implores us to "get wisdom." In fact Proverbs 4:7 says "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." There is an urgency there. Wisdom is what allows us to take information and use it for constructive purposes. On the other hand, information alone without wisdom can lead to destructive traits like pride and arrogance.

I recently tried a social media fast for a few days to see how I would react to missing even a few days of "news" or "information." It was shocking to me how hard it was to not click on stories or not want to know the news or not want to check stock quotes. It made me feel unsettled to not know.

All I can say is it made me realize how distracted we are from knowing God when we have so much information just waiting for us to click on each day. It really does take discipline and focus to choose God. It seems like the enemy has set it up this way to make us constantly distracted, so that we cannot hear God‘s voice. We must be very intentional about choosing alone time in order to seek him to find him to hear from him. The level of anxiety in my system of the need to know was shocking.

My quick conclusion was we need Information to feel like we’re in the “know." Maybe this is how in someway, shape or form we seek affirmation? But this is not how we were meant to live. It is hard to trust God above all else when we have so much information readily available at our fingertips. It’s easy for us to make Google God, rather than Yahweh God. The distractions are everywhere. We truly must seek wisdom in order to seek and find God. Otherwise, the deluge of information will drown out His voice.

God is into restoration and redemption if we will invite Him in.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 17:17:36 GMT

Let God in to heal and restore your pain, and then He will use you to bless others. This is a virtuous circle of redemption.

In my recent book called Scar Tissue: Overcoming Parental Wounds Through Faith, I talk open and honestly about dealing with my father wound and how God helped heal me and now how I want to use my story of redemption to help others. In confronting the past

I don’t shy away from sharing the raw journey through emotional scars, abandonment, and the impact of growing up without the affirmation I longed for. My hope is that by opening up, my story will serve as a beacon for those searching for understanding and clarity in their own lives.

In Scar Tissue, I blend personal experiences with biblical insights to show how faith has the power to break chains and transform lives. My work in global humanitarian efforts and my compassion for others have deepened my belief in faith’s ability to bring peace, and I hope to inspire you to find that peace, too. Healing Through Faith is possible but we need to take the 1st step. That means being vulnerable about our wounds, confronting our attempts to run, hide or anesthetize our pain, and finally learning to ask God for help. What is denied cannot be healed.

i wrote this book as a roadmap to renewal to help others who have been broken because of parental wounds. This book isn’t just my story—it’s a guide for moving forward. I share practical steps that walk you through life’s unexpected challenges, understanding grace and justice, and embracing vulnerability. My goal is to offer a clear path toward true restoration. I know God can heal you and use you to bless others because He did it for me.

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."- 1 Peter 5:10

Time for reflection

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 23:08:03 GMT

Time for reflection is always a worthy use of our time.

As we come upon the 249th birthday of America, I am feeling a calling to reflect on many things. I am grateful for our Country and the freedoms we have, including most of all the freedom to worship God in an open and public way. Many Countries prohibit worship of God, instead they want their political party or leadership to be the center of the citizenry's adoration. Thankfully, that is not the case in America. So with that, here are a few thoughts of reflecting upon who God is and what that means for us as believers.

REFLECT- With all that’s going on in the world do you take time to reflect on lessons from the past and blessings in your life that are worthy of praising God? Let’s look at some benefits of reflection:

R= Remember the past faithfulness of God. “For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”- Psalm 108:4

E= Encourage one another. Times are tough and people need encouragement. “that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”- Romans 1:12

F= Forgiveness of others as Christ has forgiven us. This removes us from spiritual bondage. “But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”- Psalm 130:4

L= Learning more about God and ingesting His wisdom is a lifelong pursuit with great rewards. “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.- Proverbs 9:9

E= Endurance is required to run the race of life God has for us as there will be many obstacles. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”-Romans 15:4

C= Compassion is one of God’s attributes for us, and we should share it with others who are hurting in this broken world. “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”- Psalm 103:8

T= Trust in Him when you can’t see a way forward. Trust in Him above all else. “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”- Psalm 91:2

Awaken!

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 18:02:17 GMT

God is trying to get our attention but we are sleep walking like Zombies.

I was thinking the other day when walking down the street and seeing everyone staring at their phones with such intensity, that they literally had no idea where they were going, that the world has never been more lost. It was literally like watching a zombie movie. People are in a daze, and fear seems etched into most people's faces.

It got me to thinking that one of the main problems in the world today is the failure of the Christian Church to stand up for the truth, and to guide people towards the light and out of the darkness. When the attacks against the sovereignty of God, whether through political parties or satanically fueled media companies, sow so much confusion and deception, the Christian church needs to respond. It needs to be bold to be powerful! That is how you refute the craziness of men thinking they're girls, the killing of the unborn, the thought of communism being a better system than capitalism ( just look at N. Korea as an example of a world without true hope or any personal rights ) and the demonic forces that are tearing our country and the world apart.

The Church cannot be timid . It cannot take a step back in the face of persecution. It should not try to fit in , it should try to stand out from cultural insanity and depravity. It must speak the truth of the Gospel and not worry about popularity but speak about salvation and sanctification. The church in many cases is wide and shallow. It should rather be deep and narrow. Jesus is coming back for His remnant church- His Bride, not a watered down and culturally pleasing gospel. The Lukewarm church has no chance as foretold in Revelation 3:16

The signs are everywhere from Matthew 24 that Jesus taught that we are accelerating into the end times, the times of great deception, as mentioned in Revelation 13:14 and 20:10, when satan leads the whole world astray. We must be compassionate to those who are so caught up in politics and cultural conflict and confusion, walking around like real life zombies, that they are missing their need for a Savior. The Bible is clear Jesus will return in an instant, like a thief in the night, as mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:2, and all the money in the world won't save those who have been slumbering, and are sleep walking in despair . The church needs to wake up, so in turn the inhabitants of the earth can be awoken.

The battle is real. We need God in order to win.

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:32:29 GMT

There is a spiritual battle raging in the Heavens and every single person is caught up in it.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms"- Ephesians 6:12.

According to the scripture above in Ephesians 6:12, there is a fierce spiritual battle that’s taking place whether we acknowledge it or not. It is a battle being waged for our very souls. In Galatians 5:16-17 Paul talks about the battle being between the flesh and the spirit when he says "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want."

We must understand that we have a ruthless enemy who seeks to deceive, distract, divide and destroy us. So what is the antidote for this? In order to not be deceived, we must read the word of God daily. This truth will keep us from being deceived. We must be aware that as we continue towards what the Bible refers to as the end of days, the deception of the enemy will increase, and the Bible says this will cause many to fall away from the truth of the gospel. Don’t let this happen to you. The enemy will try to distract us. He will use all kind of tactics to keep us out of the presence of God. He will use comfort, convenience, wealth, status and power to name just a few that will keep us distracted from realizing how much we need the Lord. The antidote for this is to seek alone time in the presence of God and to pray. That’s why in Matthew 6:33 it says we must seek him above all else.

The enemy wants to divide us. You can see how he’s using the media to accomplish this goal. He’s dividing us across all kinds of categories, including politics, gender, sex, race. The antidote for this is unity. Jesus said on the sermon on the Mount blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God in Matthew 5:9. We must be peacemakers in whatever situation we find ourselves in. Finally, the enemy seeks to destroy us. He literally will do anything to capture our soul, and to take us into his kingdom of darkness, which the Bible refers to as hell. It is a place of all questions and no answers, a place where you can see the glorious bright light that heaven provides, as seen in Luke 16, but you have no way to get there. It is a place of utter hopelessness. The antidote for this is to place your hope in Jesus Christ as Romans 10:9-10 says “Confess with your tongue and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and you shall be saved.”

We must realize that the battle were in is fierce and it’s raging and it’s only gonna get more intense. Our only choice is to surrender our life to Jesus he will give us the strength and the peace we need as the days get harder. Be blessed. Amen!

In search of Peacemakers

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 22:47:59 GMT

The world is in desperate need of peacemakers!

In Jesus' most famous teaching ever, the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5:9 He says "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Do you think the world can use some peacemakers right now? If you're like me, you probably have wondered how you can be a peacemaker? After all, only a few people hold political office that make decisions that truly effect geo-political situations or global peace.

However, what I have come to learn is that we can all be peacemakers right where we are planted. Whether in a home dealing with our family, in an office dealing with employees or in a myriad of social situations we encounter, we can be used by God as instruments for peace. We can be peacemakers by the tone we use when talking with others, by being good listeners, by allowing for and encouraging different opinions, and by not allowing emotions to degrade into personal attacks or divisive or destructive behavior.

The truth is the world is being fueled by divisive, deceitful and destructive voices speaking in and through media for their own agendas that is tearing us apart. The world desperately needs peacemakers who can sow unity out of division, truth out of deception, purpose out of distraction and hope out of destruction. Are you willing to be a peacemaker? Jesus promises you are blessed if you will be one in a world desperate for them.

Do we trust Him enough to change us even in tough circumstances?

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 22:47:56 GMT

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Come as you are

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 22:47:54 GMT

God wants you to come to Him as you are; In all your brokenness and suffering, pain and regret. Let Him begin to heal you!

Many times we say we are waiting on God, when in reality He’s waiting on us. He’s waiting on us to seek Him more, trust Him more, pray to Him more. So what are you really waiting on- Him or you? I have found it’s usually me. God’s timing is perfect! We can come as we are, He never expects perfection, only vulnerability and availability. There's no earthly pain that Heaven can't heal. So bring your hurts, bring your broken hearts, and come to Him. Psalm 55:22 promises "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." 1 Peter 5:7 says "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. So do it! Bring it all to Him and let the healing process begin.

From Worry to prayer

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 19:21:15 GMT

Prayer is the antidote for worry. Surrender is not giving up, it's giving it over to God!

It's been said that worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair; It gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere. Worrying never solves the problems of tomorrow but it steals the joy of today. That is especially true in our faith walk with God. Worrying shows a lack of trust in God's ability to deal with our problems. It puts the focus on our weakness instead of on God's strength.

This isn't to diminish the very real problems we are facing, but rather to acknowledge our need for God to help us find peace in the midst of the struggles. The antidote for worry is prayer. Prayer is a sign of trusting in God's provision. It shifts our focus off of us and on to Him. It allows Him room to move in our circumstances. So every time you find yourself worrying, stop and pray. It can be as simple as "God please take this burden off of me. I need your help Lord. Help me feel your peace in the middle of this storm. I need you Lord." Try it. I promise you more peace.

Seek Solitude

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 16:58:49 GMT

We all need to seek solitude in a noisy world.

Rid yourself of things that fill your calendar but empty your soul. Divine disruption is a reordering of your very being. You must become still enough to hear him. God removes all the noise and distractions so He can speak to you and you can hear Him. This may require you to get away and seek solitude but don't be dissuaded, even Jesus needed to do this: "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."- Luke 5:16

We should never deny our soul's yearning for peace and quiet, and to be still in the presence of the Lord. This recalibrates us, and renews our energy and focus. Sometimes, we allow ourselves to get so busy that we couldn't hear from God even if He wanted to get our attention. This is why seeking alone time and solitude are so important. Quieting your soul in a noisy world is a key to being content and finding peace in your days.

Remove The Mask

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:34:54 GMT

We must remove our masks and let God in to heal our deepest wounds.

We all wear masks from time to time to protect ourselves and to hide from our pain. These are the structures we create in our life to make us more acceptable to others. This includes the image management, the addiction to being needed, the fear of disappointing others.

In my case it involved not dealing directly with the root cause of my pain for 25 years, which was a lack of self-acceptance and a feeling of worthlessness stemming from a broken relationship with my father. But then I encountered God and found that God is not interested in reforming the mask, He wants to resurrect the soul, but to do so He must first let every false structure fall that we have built up to hide behind. These are the scaffolds that held my ego aloft, but they weren't my essence.. and the essence is what God came for. I was focused on presenting my usefulness to a watching world, but God wanted my yieldedness. To get there, you have to endure a season in the wilderness, a scary but necessary place, where God must strip you bare of the false structures in your life in order to rebuild you in His image.

This is the beginning of your rebirth. It is a place of formation. Can you still love God when all you have relied upon from Him is removed and you don’t get the answers you desire? You must allow Him to dismantles every idle in your life. Only then can you begin to walk in the peace He desires for you, a place of deep contentment where the mask is no longer needed. Let God remove your need for a mask, and see yourself as He does: A beloved and chosen child of God who can rest in His love and not have to prove themselves to others ever again. There is freedom in that space that our souls are longing for!

Not another file in the filing cabinet

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 18:26:41 GMT

Alignment matters!

God can’t be just another folder in our filing cabinet along with work, money, relationships, sex, hobbies and athletics. He needs to be the Filing Cabinet that all those files fit in. He must be 1st and we must be 2nd- that alignment leads to abundance!

Proper Alignment leads to God’s abundance in our life. He must increase, and we must decrease according to John 3:30. That is where peace and provision come from! We can’t just give God our scraps and leftovers. Jesus warns against being lukewarm in Revelation 3:16 ("So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.") and proper alignment keeps that from happening. This is not easy but it is necessary.

Don't fear failure; learn from it.

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 21:32:12 GMT

If we are always learning, then we never truly fail.

So many young adults I pray with at our church each week have a huge fear of failure. But when you dig a little deeper, it's more about a pressure they feel to present themselves in a certain light, mostly on social media. It is like a mask they are wearing that they don't want to let people see behind. This is a highly pressurized mindset.

Failure is not to be feared, but to be used as a tool to help us grow by learning what doesn’t work to find out what does work. This is true in relationships, business, athletics and almost any other personal endeavor. Fail forward and you eventually will land on success. Michael Jordan once famously said that getting cut from his High School freshman basketball team was the impetus that drove him to success. It was literally the fuel in his engine that ignited him to higher places. Thomas Edison "failed" over 3,000 times at creating the lightbulb, but he never viewed it as failure but rather as just another feedback loop in learning what would eventually work. We can fail forward by learning from every experience.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Look at how even Jesus had to "endure" the Cross. In the world's eyes, on the Cross they would have thought Jesus had failed. But we know that in fact He had defeated sin and death and 3 days later the tomb would be empty and Jesus's endurance had led to the greatest comeback victory in recorded history. Don't fear failure, learn from it and keep failing forward!

Ask Him

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 02:27:10 GMT

Always be seeking, always be asking.

We should always ask questions as part of any learning process we embark on, but this is especially true when it comes to our relationship with the Triune God of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Many people let their lack of understanding or fear of approaching God paralyze them in fear. But Jesus himself often invites us to ask questions and to seek Him in Matthew 7:7, Matthew 6:33, and in the Old Testament Jeremiah 29:13, Zephaniah 2:3 and Deuteronomy 4:29.and many other places. We should take hm up on that offer ever chance we get. When we don't understand, we can ask Lord, what are you trying to teach me? When we go through seasons of doubt in our faith, we can ask Lord, please help me to know you more and trust in you more deeply. Jesus show me where you want to lead me has been a question on my heart for a few years. Jesus help me, Jesus teach me, Jesus guide me, Jesus strengthen me should all be common positions of our hearts.

Then, we should remember to not look to other sources for our answers but to go directly to Jesus himself, as he says in Matthew 11:28 " come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest." God invites us in Matthew 7:7 to "ask, seek and knock," and we should definitely take Him up on His offer. He is a personal God and He loves us so much that He invites us into a two-way communication thread to help us grown, and to strengthen us in our journey. Let's bring it all to Him like a little child would to their parents. Jesus, hear our prayers!

Destiny is in reach

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 20:53:23 GMT

The God behind you is bigger than any problem in front of you.

“as far as the east is from the west so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” -Psalms 103:12

We only need to be really right one time to reach our destiny. You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. Jesus has paid your sin tab in full. You are set free to reach the purpose for which you were born. Be bold, be brave and move forward knowing the power of God behind you is greater than any problems in front of you.

Chaos all around, but God is Sovereign

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 19:24:26 GMT

God wins, God won and God will wrap it up soon.

Scripture always captures the truth in the most succinct way. As we see the chaos spreading all over the world, we know that the enemy is the great deceiver and the one causing the chaos and division, while people blame each other or opposing political parties. This is how the enemy operates to deceive, distract, divide and destroy unity. God has the only answers, and he won the war with Jesus on the Cross- giving us eternal life, but in this fallen world the skirmishes still remain. These 4 scriptures paint a clear picture: 1.We are in a spiritual battle.- Ephesians 6:12 2. The enemy is the father of all lies.- John 8:44 3. God asks us to intercede and pray. - 2 Chronicles 7:14 4. God blesses peacemakers.-Matthew 5:9

"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."- John 8:44

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."- 2 Chronicles 7:14

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."- Matthew 5:9

Mindset Matters

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 22:23:12 GMT

Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the ability to go forward despite it.

Psalm 23:1 says “The Lord is my Shepherd. I lack nothing." This is the power of choosing a mindset of faith over fear. God is with you even in the deepest valleys, as He was with David when David penned the heart felt and powerful Psalm 23. It was a time of fear for David but he chose to focus on His God rather than His problems. When you let the Shepherd lead, lack loses its power. God is all sufficient and we simply need to let the thought that provision is tied to purpose, and abundance flows out of alignment be our guiding mindset.

Broken Pieces

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:02:05 GMT

When life hurts, hang on! Help is on the way!

Broken pieces everywhere! Sometimes our life seems like a broken mess. Nothing seems to work and we can get stuck in dark and deep valleys. Lonely, sad, frustrated and angry can be hard to shake companions. But this is exactly when we most need to let God in. God shows up in unexpected ways when we reach the end of our rope. But we need to run to Him and not from Him. Scriptures like Colossians 1:17 remind us that even when everything seem to be falling apart, He holds all together. In fact it might be things are falling into place instead of falling apart. Hang on a little longer, help is on the way.

"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."- Colossians 1:17

Restoration

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 19:19:03 GMT

Will you let God restore you?

God wants to meet you in your deepest place of need so He can begin His authentic restoration plan in your life. The big question is will you let him?

God is not interested in reforming the mask, he is resurrecting the soul, but to do so he must first let every false structure fall that includes the performance based Christianity, the image management, the addiction to being needed, the fear of disappointing others. These were the scaffolds that held your ego, but not your essence.. the essence is what God came for. Not your usefulness but your yieldedness. The wilderness is the womb of your rebirth. It is a place of formation. Can you still love God when all you have relied upon from Him is removed and you don’t get the answers you desire. It dismantles every idle in your life.

1984?

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 18:29:21 GMT

Was Goeroge Orwell prescient- only 40 years early?

In George Orwell‘s classic novel 1984 the state uses three slogans as their mandate orders to control the masses:

WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. The State then sets up an enemy named Emmanuel Goldstein as head of the opposition brotherhood to deflect the attention of the masses away from the failures of the state and their totalitarian agenda onto Goldstein- the enemy. This is a giant PsyOps operation intended to completely control the population and destroy individual rights and freedoms. Is today’s media doing the same thing using Donald Trump as their personal Goldstein?

The Bible warns of the 1 world government in Revelation 13 that is set up prior to the arrival of the anti-Christ so he can quickly assume total control. One of the main tools he uses is the infiltration of the media, according to Ephesians 2:1-2 and 2 Timothy 2:25-26 when he takes people captive to do his will. Matthew 7:13 warns about following the masses over the cliff to destruction. Pay attention!

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”- Mathew 7:13

Tower of Babel days

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 03:28:17 GMT

We have gone backwards to the Tower of Babel days.

In our age of radical humanism , we have gone back to the days of the Tower of Babel where we think we are truly in control. We get it so wrong about our relationship to God, as if we can dictate to Him. Then even worse is when people commit horrific acts against their fellow man, and then blame God for “allowing it.” What a derranged and depraved mindset. God is so patient, graceful, forgiving and loving towards us, and yet we are filled with rage against His authority, which like dividing lines on a highway is meant for our protection. Jeremiah 17:9 is so accurate when it says “The heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

Embrace Uncertainty

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 22:32:30 GMT

Find joy in embracing the uncertainty of life

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”- Joshua 1:9

The Bible commands us to "fear not" more than any other command, but it also says we must "be courageous on many occasions. These two seemingly go hand in hand. We must fear not because we often won't know what the future holds, but we can put our trust in the one who holds us in His mighty hand, that is God himself. We must be courageous because circumstances will change often, and we need to fight our way through the every changing landscape of our life. Many people get paralyzed by the fear of uncertainty, but we can also learn to embrace the uncertainty and find joy in the great adventure of life. We will either be a slave to fear, or a courageous and bold follower of God who learns to embrace the uncertainty of life. Which will you choose?

The Vine

Fri, 30 May 2025 19:47:46 GMT

Jesus is the true Vine

If you've ever seen a Vineyard at harvest, the abundance is breathtakingly beautiful. The grapes are produced all over the branches simply by the branches being attached to the Vine, which is the source of all nutrients. They grow without toil or striving, but simply by their attachment to the source. Jesus taught many stories using simialr analogies- He is the Vine, and we are the branches. As long as we stay connected to Him, we will produce much fruit. Apart from Him we can do nothing but wither and die. Stay connected to the Vine!

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."- John 15:1-5

Held together

Thu, 29 May 2025 15:20:02 GMT

Jesus holds us together in the storms of life when everything around us is crumbling.

We must remember who holds everything together when our world looks like it’s falling apart. Many times in this broken world, things will appear to be crumbling, both individually and collectively. At those moments, it’s imperative to have a go to promise of hope that you can cling to. For me, Colossians 1:15-17 is one of those because it beautifully reminds me of the One who is truly in control! He holds all things together, including our lives themselves!

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.“ -Colossians 1:15-17

Seeking affirmation in all the wrong places

Wed, 28 May 2025 23:14:57 GMT

God's opinion of you is not circumstantial- you are loved.

One thing we all struggle with is seeking affirmation from people rather than from God. I know I have. We compare ourselves to others and if we appear to have “more” we get prideful and if we perceive we have “less” we can get angry or resentful. This is no way to live! I have been frustrated with myself many times when I am seeking others affirmation and it doesn’t come. Why would I put my trust in other people to open doors in my life that they don’t even have the keys to? Silly. Stupid. Only you know what God has put in your heart. No one else can know that. So don’t wait for others to affirm you.

Don’t chase crumbs when God has prepared a kingdom. You can’t receive more when your hands are still full of what’s less. You can’t move forward when you’re still looking backward. You can’t receive kingdoms, when you’re still settling for crumbs. Trust in God alone. He already loves you and approves of you, not based on your actions or results, but based on who He is!

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people."- Ephesians 1:18

Get wisdom

Tue, 27 May 2025 17:31:30 GMT

Getting wisdom is crucial for proper decision making in an ocean of information

As machines continue to advance on the sovereignty of human’s abilities for self- determination, wisdom becomes increasingly valuable. In an ocean of information, without wisdom and discernment that comes from God, we are left to blindly blow in the wind, tossed from one false narrative to another as machines look to influence humans in ways that are robbing our independence and freedom, all while simultaneously making us feel like we are more empowered.

This is exceedingly dangerous. We must have a true source of wisdom, and that comes only by studying God’s word found in scripture through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is only obtained through Christ Jesus! We are coming to a point of gridlock, where everything is unable to proceed in an orderly fashion as billions of opinions are simultaneously shared.

We need to get Wisdom! As Proverbs 2:12 says “Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse.”

Fear Not

Tue, 27 May 2025 17:24:12 GMT

Trust in God and He will strengthen you.

Fear not! This is one of the most often cited commands in the Bible. But if we are honest, this can often feel like a burden, or much easier said than done. But why? It’s because we haven’t yet ceded the throne of our life to God. Why? Because we don’t trust Him enough. This is the key to finding the powerful faith that truly sets you free. But it’s not easy. So how do we do it? We ask God to help us. Matthew 7:7 is the key verse!

Fear will knock on our door every single day, but we get to decide whether we answer it and let it in. Lord, I don’t know what today holds, but I know that you hold onto me! Faith does indeed conquers fear, but we must remember to turn to the Lord‘s promises in order to diffuse the power of fear. The Bible is not just words on a page, it is life, it is truth, and it is power. Speak it over your fears!

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."- Isaiah 41:10

Chaos to order

Mon, 26 May 2025 04:18:50 GMT

When chaos is all around, you know the enemy is involved,

As facts begin to emerge about what seemingly is one of the greatest political and media scandals in US history, whereby the President of the United States for the last four years had not been running the country, but instead an unelected Cabal of 5 to 8 bureaucrats with a sinister vision of America had been effectively acting as president.

We must remember to sort all information through the truth of scripture. Here are just a few that can help us: Ephesians 2:1-2 calls satan " Prince of the air" meaning he has assimilated his chaotic and divisive message through the media. 2 Timothy 2:25-26 says that satan "takes eople captive to do his will without them en being aware of this being so."

That is how such scandalous coverups have in fact become common place. It should be so obvious by now that we have been witnessing a coordinated and hostile takeover attempt of the US government at the expense of the will of the people.

The ramifications of this are terrifying. Only God knows!

We must deal with our pain head on

Mon, 26 May 2025 04:18:47 GMT

What is denied cannot be healed

We need to learn to deal with our pain and wounds head on instead of trying to run from them. I tried to “hide” from the pain of my father wound when he walked out of our home when i was 12 years old. I spent 25 years trying to numb the pain, so I didn’t have to confront it.

Then, when I was finally tired of running, I admitted my pain and brokenness, and I invited Jesus into my life and asked Him if He was real, could He please heal my pain and He did! He allowed me to forgive my father and be set free, as He told me how He had forgiven my sins and He carried no more judgment against me. Wow- “where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom” ( 2 Corinthians 3:17 ) indeed! So stop running and give Jesus your burdens ( Matthew 11:28 ) He is the Great Physician and He alone can heal you at the root cause of your pain! Whatever your pain is, don't hide from it any longer. What is denied cannot be healed. It needs o be brought into the light.

He qualifies the unqualified

Fri, 23 May 2025 16:37:46 GMT

God works in the least expected ways

God often uses the least qualified in order to do his work, so that he gets all the glory. Think of the Disciples, most of whom were uneducated fishermen or despised tax collectors. He didn’t call the qualified, he qualified those He called to his power. All he’s looking for is a vessel he can use, poured out so there’s room for him to work. All we need to do is say yes and watch what he does in and through us! It’s not dependent on us, and that is very good news indeed!

"‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty." Zechariah 4;6

We need you God

Thu, 22 May 2025 19:48:39 GMT

God can't help us unless we ask.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." -Matthew 7:7

If you don’t admit your need for God’s help, how can you expect him to help you? Acknowledging your need for His help is step 1. Begin with this list: God, we need you so much. Please help us ! We need your wisdom, strength, power, resources, protection and provision. But above all else, we need to feel your presence with us!

Lion within

Tue, 20 May 2025 17:49:39 GMT

Let the Lion within you come out!

"A real test of a man is not when he plays the role that he wants for himself, but when he plays the role destiny has for him."- Vaclav Havel

We all have a Lion within us that’s just waiting to emerge. What keeps it from emerging? Fears, distractions, lack of focus amongst other things. But we must always remember that despite all of our past mistakes and failures, we only need to be really right one time in our lives to reach the destiny we were created for!

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”- Ecclesiastes 3:11

Do Good!

Tue, 20 May 2025 02:58:16 GMT

Go from a place of love and change your sphere of influence!

Are you working for God’s love or from God’s love? This alignment is critical: One will deplete us, and one will energize us. God is love and our good deeds don’t cause him to love us more and our worst days don’t cause him to love us less. So go in that knowledge and do good deeds!

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”- James 2:26

High Anxiety

Fri, 16 May 2025 00:32:11 GMT

Find the antidote for your anxiety through the truth of scripture

We live in such an anxious world and worry can seem like our constant companion. We are manipulated daily by anxiety inducing schemes like countdowns and FOMO promotions that leave us on edge. Will we miss out? Will we keep up? All the things we worry about that give us no rest. We must take control of our longing for peace.

So where do we turn for peace? To the truth of scripture. It's the only place that satisfies and will never fail because God's truth is what produces peace. 23:1 promises “The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.” Have you made the Lord your Shepherd? He gives you enough for today!

Matthew 6:31-34 says “So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Do you seek God 1st?

Worry is the enemy of faith, so trust God above all and watch your anxiety start to melt away.

Food for the soul

Wed, 14 May 2025 17:46:28 GMT

Jesus is the bread of life

The NFL has a great youth program to get kids involved and passionate about learning the basic skills in football called Punt, Pass and Kick.

As Christians, we have the same opportunity to learn more and express our passion for Jesus through our own training program- I’ll call it PRW- Pray, Read and Write.

Just like football’s punt, pass and kick, if we practice PRW daily- pray, read and write, we will hone our skills and passion for Christ will flood through our lives to bless ourselves and those around us who need to know the truth! The word of God is alive and active- Hebrews 4:12 and we need to "eat" from it daily to nourish our souls. Just as our physical bodies need food for sustenance, our spiritual bodies need the word of God to give life to our souls.

"Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."- John 6:35

Part of His miracles

Mon, 12 May 2025 18:29:57 GMT

What an honor to be included in God's miraculous work

"Jesus replied, They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat. We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish, they answered. Bring them here to me, he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children." -Mathew 14:16-21

Jesus always invites us in to be part of His Kingdom work on earth, which many times includes His miracles. He wants us to participate because as believers, we are His hands and feet. He loves to put His "super" on our "natural" to produce the supernatural results that leave us stunned and in awe- like feeding 5,000 people in a very remote setting with only 2 small fish and 5 loaves of bread. Humanly speaking, this was impossible. But by inviting His disciples into the miracle He was doing, He instilled them with a deeper sense of commitment to following Him and trusting Him for all things. Can you imagine the impact that event had on all who were present that day? Being God, He can choose to do things on His own, but He loves to invite us in to participate. How exciting it is to know Jesus loves us so much, He uses us to be a blessing to others in ways we could never achieve on our own.

God is always right

Sat, 10 May 2025 16:59:34 GMT

God is always right, even when it doesn't feel like it. His ways are so much higher than ours,

Just always remember…. God isn’t wrong, we are. God doesn’t need to change, we do. God isn’t the problem, we are. God isn’t capable of hate, we are. God isn’t hiding, we are. God isn’t running from us, we’re running from him. And yet, through it all He still loves us.

“There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.”- Romans 8:1

God plans your steps- if you'll let him

Fri, 09 May 2025 22:08:38 GMT

Listen to God for guidance, not your feelings

The shortest path to destruction is a man who listens to himself.”- John Calvin

Remember instead who really is in control. We must listen to God for guidance, not our feelings

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”- Proverbs 19:21

Do you trust Him above all else?

Thu, 08 May 2025 22:35:29 GMT

Want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.

When we come to the end of our rope and the storms feel too much to bear, he doesn’t ask us for our plan. He simply asked us to trust in his plan. Think of the Israelites as they approached the Red Sea with the Egyptian army behind them and just the Red Sea in front of them. God didn’t stop and ask them for their plan of how they were gonna get out of it. He simply asked them to trust him, and as they did, he parted the Red Sea he turned the sea into a highway. He can do what we can't and He can go where we can't. Do you trust Him?

Refining

Thu, 08 May 2025 02:23:49 GMT

God puts us through trials to test us and to prepare us. He grows us in the refining fires of affliction.

God is trying to awaken something deep inside of us that can’t be done in our comfort. So he needs to pull us out of our comfort zone in order to awaken us.

You can’t grow in comfort so God brings battles to awaken something inside you that will become your testimony when the blessings finally come. Your power is refined in the furnace of affliction not to destroy you but to remove the things that hinder you.

"See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction."- Isaiah 48:10

We all have been wounded

Wed, 07 May 2025 13:47:31 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."- Isaiah 53:5

We have all been wounded by this broken world. Relationships, our health, finances and our careers can all falter and leave us reeling. We all have wounds that need healing. Many times we try to run from our wounds or hide them, but over time we realize that is a foolish effort that only causes more pain.

The truth is, what is denied cannot be healed. Therefore, we need to bring our wounds to Jesus and ask Him to heal us. He is Jehovah Rapha, the Great Physician, and He alone can heal our deepest wounds.Then our wounds can actually become stories we use to help others. That is the redemptive work that God specializes in. Let Him heal you, and then tell others what He has done!

Let the Holy Spirit cook

Mon, 05 May 2025 20:09:48 GMT

We need to get out of the way and let the Holy Spirit run wild in doing His work.

Most religions steal the innate power of the gospel by trying to fit it into their little box for control purposes or by teaching false doctrine in order to try to make people feel good about themselves. Like that they can work their way into heaven through their good deeds. But both are a lie. The power of the Holy Spirit does not need any help. It just needs to be unleashed into our lives. It cannot be contained in some religious box and it cannot be harnessed. It’s power runs wild when we just get out of the way and invite him in to do all the work he needs to do in our lives individually and collectively as his people

Hope is necessary for endurance

Thu, 01 May 2025 22:04:05 GMT

We all need hope, but where do you look to find lasting hope? The Bible is the best place.

Hope is a necessary compenent of being able to endure the hardships life can sometimes throw at us. The below message on hope from the late Dr. Stanley gave me hope this A.M. and I hope it does for you as well.

"Hope from God is an anchor to the soul. Hope that comes from Jesus Christ resides deep within your heart. It will never abandon you and if you look for it, you will find it there to encourage you in mighty ways. Hope is the very thing that keeps you from giving up when all the odds are stacked against you. Are you hopeful today? Many are not. Oh, that you could see how the loving hands of Jesus reach out to catch you whenever you fall."-Pastor Charles Stanley

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound and hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. “- Romans 15:13

Good Shepherd

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 23:56:41 GMT

We all like Sheep have gone astray. Luckily, Jesus is our Good Shepherd.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He alone knows all of our pain, hurts, fears, disappointments, anger and frustration. He alone can provide the answers we need. He knows our hearts and His love is greater than anything we face. He knows when we are weak, and He promises to give us His strength. Do you trust the Good Shepherd enough to run into His arms instead of running away from Him? He alone can heal your wounds.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep."- John 10:10-15

Jesus loved teaching on money. We should learn from Him.

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 21:43:17 GMT

Money isn't bad, but the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

Jesus taught more about money than any other sublect. Why did He do this? Because He understood the critical role it plays not only in the world, but also in the spiritual battles. The best way to describe Jesus's thoughts on money is this: Money isn't good or bad, it's necessary and neutral. It can be used for great good ( helping others ) or great harm (fill in the blank.) The love of money is a big worry, ( see 1 Timothy 6:10 ) because If we can solve all of our problems with money, than why do we need God at all? This is expressed in the story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18 who goes away sad because Jesus tells him what is hindering his faith is his love of money and posessions.

But the biggest issue is that money can cause us to be lukewarm towards our faith and that is something that greatly harms us. In fact, Jesus says in one of the scariest lines in the whole Bible in Revelation 3:16 "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." In other words, it is repulsive to Jesus that you would get a taste of His love, goodness, sacrifice and the eternal power of His kingdom and then decide you would just shrug your shoulders, and turn back to some temporal pleasure. That is disgusting to the Lord. Money has it's place, but it's never to be at the expense of our love for Jesus and putting him 1st in our lives. Rememebr the 1st commandment in Exodus 20:3 is "You shall have no other gods before me." So don't let money become a god you put before the real God.

Who's in control of your life?

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 20:41:46 GMT

God must be at the center of your life if you want peace that transcends understanding.

Who is in control of your life? This is a critical question you must answer if you ever want to obtain lasting peace. If situations, other people or yourself are put in the center of your life as pillars of control, then peace will always be elusive and temporary at best. Why? Because situations, people and ourselves are always succeptible to changing circumstances and emotions.

Only God never changes ( Hebrews 13:5 ) and He is the firm foundation (Matthew 7:24-25) upon which you can build a lasting peace, even when situations change, pain comes, and people betray you. God is the only One who can give you what you are longing for- make Him the center of your life and your peace will exponentially increase! God must be at the center of your life if you want peace that transcends understanding. Nothing else can or will ever satisfy.

Everyone is hurting.

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 20:47:30 GMT

Grace and compassion are needed in a hurting world right now.

Keep in mind as you interact with people this one simple fact: Everyone is hurting! The rich are hurting because they thought their wealth would satisfy them more. The poor are hurting because they're tired from just trying to survive. Politicians are hurting because their lust for power has left them empty. Citizens are hurting because their hope in government has not worked out the way they hoped. Social media leaves so many empty because it can't replace people's need for real life relationships.

So what's the answer? We can we go to find contentment in a disilusioned world? Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

God's Grace is above all of our struggles.

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 19:56:45 GMT

In God's Kingdom, grace is never in short supply.

Jesus loves us in spite of ourselves and our sinfulness and rebellion. Reconciliation and redemption is never far off, so don’t discard the broken, or the brokenness in your life. It could be the springboard to a life altering relationship with Jesus. We often write people off who are still wrestling with their demons. Their pain makes us uncomfortable. Their perspectives feel too raw, too unresolved.

But what if those people have something to teach us? What if you have something to offer in the midst of your struggling? What if the ones who haven’t "overcome" are the very ones God is using to remind us of the gospel? Grace isn’t earned by cleaning yourself up. It’s received by falling into the arms of the One who already knows you're a mess.

Redemption isn't off the table. Not in the economy of Christ so don’t dismiss the broken or your brokenness. He may be using you and it more than you can ever imagine. Be willing to be vulnerable and share your struggles openly. God uses that realness in powerful ways!

Awakening

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 22:21:50 GMT

The only thing that can save America is a spiritual revival back to our roots.

"Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn."-Psalm 57:8

When we look around and see such political division, chaos and racial and religious discrimination, we can be sure satan it as work. He is the father of all lies, and his insidious deception is everywhere.These are all symptons however of the underlying problem. So what is the problem? We have kicked God out of our society and replaced him with the god of the day, which is ever changing but sure to wreak havoc. Today's god of the day is wokism, but tomorrow it will be something else, probably ever more sinister.

So how did we get here? The answer can be summed up in 3 words: Apathy, complacency and atrophy. This is the state of the church in America over the last 50 years and we have been sleepwalking our way right into the abyss. It is like a zombie Nation has repalced the one we all knew and loved.

Is there hope? I believe there is and a great awakening is starting of in all places at the Gen Z level. We are seeing God moving in mighty ways in this younger geenration who is desperate for the truth and the Holy Spirit is meeting them in their quest and an awakening is occuring at the root level that hopefully ignites into a wholesale revivial and saves the soul of America. Stay tuned, God is on the move and America is finally awakening from her long slumber.

Who's on the throne?

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 22:07:33 GMT

Our lives go much better when we are 2nd!

"He must become greater; I must become less. "- John 3:30

Many people are offended by the Gospel of Jesus Christ because it necessarily makes them uncomfortable simply because they must give up the throne of their own life.

We must become 2nd, Jesus must become 1st. This is so foreign to our fleshly desire for control. We fight against this with all our energy. But the truth is the illusion of control is a lie and Jesus is a much better and more qualified leader of our lives than we can ever be.

Surrender the throne and see how much more peaceful your life will become. Jesus knows you better than you know yourself. he knows what you need more than you do. He wants to give you the best of life, but to do so you must get out of His way. He is both the Lamb of God and the roaring Lion of Judah. He uses both parts to sustain you!

Epic Battle

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:47:50 GMT

The battle for souls is raging all around us- be aware.

When we see the scriptures below, we begin to see a picture of why there is so much division and chaos in the world. There is an epic battle between God and satan in the unseen heavenly realms and we are feeling the effects of it every single day- just like we feel the effects of gravity every day without seeing it.

God and satan are at odds and the enemy is ruthless in trying to hide who Jesus is and what He accomplished on the cross. His whole strategy is to lead us astray. He does this by infiltrating the media to promote lies and division. He takes people captive to do his will, who are most likely not even aware and he lies about all things because he hates everything God loves, especially truth, families and prayerful countries. Let these scriptures speak to your soul- they are the bginning of the riddle of why we are seeing so much confusion, anger, division and chaos all around.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”- Ephesians 6:12

“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. “- John 8:44

“and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”- 2 Timothy 2:26

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”- Ephesians 2:1-2

Washing Feet

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 22:04:04 GMT

If you had only a few hours to live, would you focus on washing other's feet? Jesus did.

"The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him."- John 13:2-5

Imagine you have a few hours to live and your focus is on such radical love as to wash your disciples feet. What kind of love He has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! Thank you Jesus for your obedience to the Father to pay our sin tab in full on the cross by enduring such pain and suffering. We humbly say thank you ��. We can never fully comprehend the pain you endured to rescue us, but our only response is to glorify your name as best as we can with our lives.

The ripples of our faithfulness

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 21:35:23 GMT

Holiness by multiplication changes the world.

Holiness by subtraction is good ( removing things that cause your life to be in disaaray like addictions and anger) but holiness by multiplication is better, This is when you step out of your comfort zone and throw a tiny pebble of faith. God takes those ripples further than you can ever imagine and that's when we see a 100 , 60 or 30 X's return on our faithfulness. So take a step out in faith and see what God does with it.

Don't let your dreams die

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 23:48:15 GMT

Your dreams aren't dead because Jesus is alive

Even when your dreams look dead, and you can't see anyway you can achieve them, remember that God is still working. He has a way of resurrecting your dreams in a manner far beyond your imagination, and in a way that will make you truly joyful. He is breathing new life into your dreams. Don't let your current circumstances make you give up. Keep trusting, keep praying and keep seeking God.

Remember, the Disciples who spent 3 years walking with Jesus thought their dreams had died also when Jesus was crucified and buried in a tomb ( imagine their confusion and depression ) only to see the power of the resurrection and new life only 3 days later. That was a greater answer to their dreams, and a bigger miracle than they could have ever imagined.

Forgiveness

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 20:39:51 GMT

Forgiveness is freedom for your soul

"The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect, he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; the day he forgives himself, he becomes wise." Alden Nowlan

We must learn to be more forgiving of others and ourselves if we want to experience true freedom. God forgives us for our lifetime of sin, so surely we can learn to give oursleves and others a little more slack when they mess up. It benefits the forgiver even more than the forgiven.

Unlimited Power

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 20:39:49 GMT

Get on the Gospel train because it's pulling out and moving.

"Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:10-12 shows us the unlimited power of God to infiltrate even a lowly, unudeuctaed fisherman and have him speak with such power and authority that it broke the facade of the religious rulers, or the equivalent of today's educated elite class. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. And He loves you so much that He is calling all people to join His eternal Kingdom, regardless of race, status, color or creed. Don't reject Him. He holds all the power, dominion and authority and His Kingdom can not be denied. It is not open to social media debate. It is eternal and it is unchanging.

God of this age has blinded the mind of unbelievers

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:47:45 GMT

We have a ruthless enemy of our souls that we must be aware of.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. “- 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

The scripture above speaks of the “ god of this age that had blinded the mind of unbelievers so they can’t see the truth of the Gospel and who Christ is.

So, who or what is the god of this age? I have heard it taught by scholars that it’s satan. I have also heard it could be our false pride or wealth that hardens our hearts against god. Whatever it is, we need to ask God to reveal it to us and repent. It need not be complicated: Matthew 7:7 says “ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened.”

So ask, seek and knock. God will respond!

God is worthy of it all

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 19:32:46 GMT

God deserves the glory.

"Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” - Isaiah 6:5

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"- John 1:29

"He must become greater; I must become less."- John 3:30

God is worthy of all of our praise. When Isaiah encountered God's throne and John saw Jesus, the proximity to deity immediately humbled them. They saw their own inadequacy and they felt the weight of their sin.

That should be our response as well to the God who loves us so much that He paid the price for our sin by laying it upon His Son Jesus so we could be set free. God deserves the glory becasue we deserved the punishment that was placed on Jesus, and instead we gained eternal life for believeing in Him. Jesus paid our sin tab in full. Be Humbled by that love that is beyond comprehension. Be in awe of the glory of our mighty God.

Reflect

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 02:31:54 GMT

Reflection is an important part of growth and perspective

R= Remember the past faithfulness of God. “For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”- Psalm 108:4

E= Encourage one another. Times are tough and people need encouragement. “that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”- Romans 1:12

F= Forgiveness of others as Christ has forgiven us. This removes us from spiritual bondage. “But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”- Psalm 130:4

L= Learning more about God and ingesting His wisdom is a lifelong pursuit with great rewards. “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.- Proverbs 9:9

E= Endurance is required to run the race of life God has for us as there will be many obstacles. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”-Romans 15:4

C= Compassion is one of God’s attributes for us, and we should share it with others who are hurting in this broken world. “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”- Psalm 103:8

T= Trust in Him when you can’t see a way forward. Trust in Him above all else. “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”- Psalm 91:2

Jesus is our only true hope

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 18:48:26 GMT

Jesus taught more about money and wealth than any other subject. We should pay attention.

Jesus talked more about $ than any subject matter. Why was that? Because Jesus knew how important a role $ played in society and in people's hearts. He talked wisely about the blessings and the risks of money and wealth. He told many penetrating parables about $, inlcuding the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21 and the rich young man in Matthew 19:21-26. Jesus never said $ was bad, but only that the love of $ was evil because it could cause people to treat it as an idol, and forget their need to follow him and put him 1st in their lives. Jesus taught money can be used for great things ( see the story of the Good Samaritan ) but also for great harm. ( see the story of the Prodigal Son ) Money can buy a lot of things, but it can't buy your salvation, which is the most important thing!

The reality is that, whether we acknowledge our wealth or not, being rich is a serious disadvantage spiritually. As William Wilberfor once said, "Prosperity hardens the heart." After all, if wealth can solve every problem do we really need faith or God? Satan promised Jesus "all the kingdoms of this world" if he would follow him in Matthew 4:8-9 and he will surely do the same for you. In fact, It is the #1 tool he uses to destroy souls and keep people from recognizing their need for trusting in Jesus above all else.

Matthew 19:23-26 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Kingdom of self

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 16:52:26 GMT

We must be 2nd so Jesus can be 1st in our lives.

The hardest thing in Christianity is to take ourselves off of the throne of our lives and put Jesus on it. We can no longer be 1st because Jesus must be. This is hard because the Kingdom of self is heavily defended territory. This is a moment by moment, day by day process over the course of a lifetime as we learn from and grow through every experience we have. Dying to self is hard, but I have learned not dying to self is even harder. Only in this context does the scripture below make any sense,

"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it " Luke 9:23-24

Real Misinformation

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 02:24:58 GMT

Real misinformation is anything that opposes the word of God

We hear alot today about misinformation, but it's usually in the context of political jockeying. But here's an absolute truth: Anything that sets itself up agains the word of God is truly misinformation. We live in a time of many voices screaming for attention, and the false teachers are increasing all around. We shouldn't be surprised, because God told us this would happen.

"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Worship the Creator, not His creation

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 18:14:26 GMT

God created all things for us to enjoy, but He alone deserves our worship.

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.'- Colossians 1:15-16

"At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass."- Psalm 106:19-20

When we look at the two Scriptures above we see a glimpse of somethign that is still as active today as it was thousands of years ago. How do we respond to the sovereignty of God? In Colossians 1:15-16 we see that Christ created all things, and was before all the things of this world and all things were created for Him. Then in Psalm 106:19-20 we see humanity's propensity to reject God, and to create our own "images" to worship, in this case a bull.

Today we still worship created things over the Creator, and that is what leads to the masses creating a religion out of environmentalism and rejecting the One who Created the very earth they worship. So nothing much has changed. People still want to create their own "god" that they create, have control over and worship. But in the end this wil lead to disastrous results as they will miss the very thing they were seeking- the salvation of their souls. They are longing for God, but rejecting the One true God by creating their own little g god that they feel empowered by. This is the power of satan's deception and how he leads "the whole world astray" as Revelation 12:9 says. Be wise. Follow the Creator over the created and you will find the peace you soul desires and the love for the created that you long for.

Jesus notices

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 20:13:16 GMT

Jesus's grace and compassion shocks us.

Jesus always noticed the people that others overlooked. Rather than condemn them as the rest of society with bad looks, bad intentions or bad words, Jesus always uplifted them with his words of hope and forgiveness. His grace shocked people and set them free. He wants to do the same thing for you today!

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."- Matthew 9:36

Two World's colliding

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 17:30:52 GMT

There is an epic battle going on. Make sure you are on the winning team. God wins.

There are two worlds colliding and we can feel the impact on earth right now maybe more than ever. God’s kingdom of light is always advancing and the enemy’s kingdom of darkness is trying to resist. This causes friction and the resulting affects are chaos all around us. See Ephesians 6:12 for a glimpse of the intensity of the battle!

But always remember God is already victorious through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus and soon He will restore all that has been lost and broken due to the ravages of sin on the earth.

“ In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,

and the heavens are the work of your hands.

They will perish, but you remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.

Like clothing you will change them

and they will be discarded.” Psalm 102:25-26

Who's on the throne?

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 22:29:23 GMT

We need to stop pretending we are in control.

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."- Proverbs 16:9

One of my mentors told me early that if I wanted to make God laugh, I should tell Him my plans. Proverbs 16:9 seems to confirm the foolishness in that thinking. We must realize that the single hardest thing for us to do in our life is to take ourselves off of the throne and put God there, where He rightly belongs.

Many people want to follow a god, as long as it doesn't cost them anything and they don't have to surrender their illusion of control. Christianity requires a complete surrender of control from us to God. I have found that while it is hard, it is also for my good. When I am in control, I tend to make a mess of things through my poor choices. God is 1st and I am 2nd. Esy to say, but hard to do, however that alignment works much better in the long run.

Don't be lukewarm

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:44:50 GMT

You can be lukewarm about many things, but not about Jesus.

"So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."- Revelation 3:16

The word lukewarm conjures up an indifference, a lack of enthusiasm towards something or a tepid response. Kind of like a take it or leave it attitude. God warns us in Revelation 3:16 not to have this response when we encounter Jesus.

God says that is so despicable to Him, that He will 'spit you out of his mouth." In plain english, you would be better off to have never met Jesus than to encounter Him and be lukewarm about it. It makes sense, because it shows a very prideful or even a hardened heart. How could someone encounter the Lord of Lord and the Kings of Kings, who died a gruesome death to resuce us from the penalty of our sins, and just shrug their shoulders? That indeed is a despicable reaction. You can be lukewarm about many things, but not about Jesus!

Compassion of Jesus

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 19:25:23 GMT

The compassion of Jesus is life altering

"When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:7-11

Jesus had so many uncommon qualities that made His ministry unique. He noticed the people others rejected. He ate with the “sinners and tax collectors “ that the religious elite despised. He had compassion on the woman at the well who had made a mess of her life, He forgave the adulterous woman whom the religious elite wanted to stone to death. He healed Lepers who society had treated as outcasts and unworthy. His compassion was shocking because He noticed the things most people turn away from.

For most people, acknowledging the brokenness of those around them makes them very uncomfortable because then they feel the weight of some type of responsibility. Not Jesus! He pressed in, He noticed, He cared, He forgave and His compassion overflowed on those society rejected. What a great role model for the world today. Put your trust in Jesus. He alone can save you. Romans 10:9-10

Refining Fire

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 19:12:23 GMT

God's plan is to make us stronger by refining us through the battles we face.

See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.”- Isaiah 48:10

God doesn’t refine us to punish us, but rather to purify us in order to prepare us for accomplishing what He created us for.

We often want the victory without the battle, we want the promotion without the process and we want the crown without the cross. But God knows we need to be refined through his process in order to be ready to receive the promotion. We need to be built up through the battles in order to claim the victory, and we need to understand the suffering of the cross in order to receive the crown. Trust God. He is the Potter and we are the clay!

Everyone is wounded

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 05:42:36 GMT

This world can beat us up. Jesus can restore us. Will we let Him?

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."- Matthew 11:28

Everyone I know is wounded in some fashion. Emotionally, relationally, economically, politically, people feel wounded and let down. Everyone has something that is too much for them to bear, even those who are Billionaires wonder why they aren't happier or have more peace. The reason everyone is wounded is because is looking in the wrong places for the elusive peace. Only Jesus can heal our deepest wounds. The good news is He offers to do just that in Mattthew 11:28 above. We need to stop pretending we have it all together and come to Jesus and give Him our heavy burdens.

Search for meaning

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 17:58:40 GMT

Trust in God alone and He will order your steps

The biggest problem for people who say there is no God is not that they believe in Nothing, it’s that they will believe in anything.

These are the same people who say follow the science and then tell you men can have babies, thus contradicting their entire belief system on their own as The most scientifically irrefutable fact is that sex is determined by the 23rd chromosome pair and only woman can have babies. This is the type of futile thinking that leads to men being allowed to compete in women's sports- it's absolute corruption of the mind.

At its core this is a post modern, secular, humanist search for meaning that only God can fill. As 2Timothy 2:25-26 says “they have been taken captive by satan to do his will.” Pray for them- they are not even aware!

Battles to blessings

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 23:58:18 GMT

God uses all things to grow our faith, and promote us to the next level of impact.

When God closes doors its not His rejection but His protection.

We often see the battles as a barrier when they’re actually a bridge. Like an archer who pulls the bow back as far as it can go to create tension so that when he releases it, the arrow goes further than he could’ve ever imagined, so is our faith grown in the tension of the battle.

When it feels like the spiritual battles are relentless, it is not a sign that God has abandon us, but rather that he is preparing to bless us. The enemy fears what’s coming, so the attacks will seem relentless, but this is part of the preparation process because God is not allowing the battles to break us, but to prepare us to handle the blessings that are coming.

Enduring through the storms on the way to ultimate victory

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 18:28:42 GMT

We must learn to praise God in the storm even before we see the victory!

Endurance is a quality the Bible describes as necessary in order to be successful in living out the Christian life. Why? Because the attacks in the spiritual realms can be intense and leave us shaken when we are in the middle of a fierce storm that we often cannot see, but we can fully feel. In these moments, we must remember to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God," as Hebrews 12:2 says.

In other words, our only way to endure the intense storms of life is to fix our eyes on the One who endured he greatest storm ever on the Cross. We must realize that we are "built for eternity," as Ecclesiastes 3:11 says and that Jesus can relate to out suffering, as Hebrews 2:18 says "because he himself suffered." The only way we can do this is if we remember to praise Him in the storm, before we see the victory and remember He is good, loving and faithful and one day we will be ultimately victorious!

All that is lost will be redeemed

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:27:35 GMT

This life is just a vapor; We were built for eternity!

One thing th Bible is clear about is that in this fallen world, there will be pain and trouble. It is inevitable. In John 16:33 Jesus says so "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” That's why there is also so much discussion in the Bible on God's promises of eterntiy, and how we can look forward with joy to what is to come. This life is just a vapor. As a Christian, death is not something to be feared, but it is ratehr just a cotinuation of our existence. However, on the other side there will be none of the pain that ravages this life on earth.

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Ecclesiastes 3:11 etc. we are repeatedly encouraged to fix our eyes on Christ and His eternal promises and not on the fallen things of this life. It doesnt make the searing pain of temporary loss and separation any easier, but it is the whole foundation of our hope and joy that we will be in eternity with our loved ones forever vs. the vapor of this life. There, every prayer is answered and all healing and redemption are complete. When the inevitable pain of this life hits, keep being vulnerable, and God will overwhelm you with His grace to hold you tightly until you are in eternity in the twinkling of an eye, as it says in 1 Corinthians 15:52 " in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."

Stay connected to God

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:25:13 GMT

Stay connected to the Vine.

God will take better care of you on accident then you can take care of yourself on purpose!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”- Jeremiah 29:11

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."- 2 Corinthians 9:8

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."- Matthew 6:33

"“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."- John 15:5

Real Faith

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:19:53 GMT

Real faith is enduring faith!

Real faith is enduring faith, not circumstantial faith. It is above our circumstances.

Prayer should never be our last response, but rather our first inclination. It is the relationship with Jesus that matters most and that requires time spent both speaking and listening, and that is an ongoing process.

Real faith begins when we don’t get the answers to our prayers we’re hoping for. Will you still trust Him when you cannot see the way forward? In the difficult moments of faith when things make no sense at all, we must remember that God has eternity in mind to work all the things out that we can’t see. Do you trust him? That requires real faith, and it also often requires us to surrender our understanding over to Him completely.

Can you worship a God who isn’t obligated to explain his actions to you? Could it be your arrogance that makes you think God owes you an explanation? Tough questions are part of our real faith journey!

Will you let him?

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:18:08 GMT

God wants to bless you- will you let him?

I was thinking about why people reject God and I can kind of understand that they don't want to give up the "throne" of their life. In other words, they like the feeling of being in control. But that in itself is a big misconception. God is in control. We just need to ask oursleves a few questions to make that clear like did I chose when and where I was born? Did I get to pick my parents? Do I know the exact day I will die? Of course not!

So it must be something else and I think it's this: The biggest misconception of the Bible and God is that He is a being who wants to take from you, but in reality He wants to give to you. He created you to enjoy the beauty of everything He’s created in his universe. Will you let him?

True Freedom

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 21:47:57 GMT

Are you working for God's love or from God's love?

Are you working for God’s love or from God’s love? This alignment is critical. One will deplete us, and one will energize us.

Most organized religions are oppressive as they place a heavy burden on people to try to be good enough to “earn” God’s love. You have no peace as you constantly wonder if you’ve done enough.

But Jesus Christ came full of grace to set us free and to prove God’s love for us by dying on the Cross to forgive us of our sins. We don’t need to earn God’s love, we just need to accept His Son,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”- John 3:16-17

Fly like an Eagle

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 01:19:05 GMT

Like an Eagle, we can't soar unless we leave the nest.

With the Philadelphia Eagles just winning the Super Bowl, now is a good time for an Eagle analogy in our faith walk.

Do you feel restless? Do you sense God is trying to get your attention? Pay attention!

According to the late Dr. Charles Stanley, "God will sometimes make us restless when he is preparing to elevate us. He will move us out of our comfort zone in order to get us to move higher. If we were so satisfied with the status quo, we would never move. Think of an eagle when the mother eagle begins to pull away the soft feathers and begins to expose the baby eagle to the harshness of the nest. The eagle can stay in the nest and suffer or spread its wings and leave the nest and fly into the sky, where it was always meant to be."

Like an Eagle, we can't soar unless we leave the nest and trust God!

Hang in there-God moves instantly

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 21:39:21 GMT

Endurance leads to blessings when God moves

Our struggles can be so tiring. We can find oursleves doubting God's promises because the wait can seem so long, we begin to believe the lies of the enemy that God has forgotten us.

But we must remember that God loves us too much to give us the blessing without the preparation. If Joseph had gone right from the dream to the palace, He would not have had The wisdom, strength or humility to handle the responsibility.” Billy Graham

"The trial the enemy tried to use to break you, will be the platform God uses to bless you. The enemy only fights the one he fears because he knows what God is about to do in your life! The very trial the enemy used to try take you out is going to be the testimony God uses to lift you up!"- Billy Graham

Hang in there, when God moves, He moves in an instant and everything changes.

Be successful by saying no to lesser things more often

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 17:18:31 GMT

Regain control of your time- it is your most precious commodity

I read a book recently called Halftime, by Bob Buford, that offers great some great and practical advice we can all benefit from: We must regain control of our time by learning to say "no"more often and say "yes"only to things that will makea great deal of difference in our life if we suceed. This can be tailored to fit almost any endeavor. Don't toil, and aim high! God should be first in this pecking order of important things in your life, becasue He alone provides the wisdom to see what truly matters and satisfies.

"Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols."- jeremiah 2:11

The search for real meaning is the primary force in our life

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 17:18:26 GMT

Don't fear failure; It is a necessary part of success

"Who has never failed somewhere, that man cannot be great. Failure is the test of greatness.”- Herman Melville

“Man’s search for meaning turns out to be the primary force in life.”- Victor Frankl

I encourage you to contemplate the quotes above and see if they are related in any way? In my own life experiences, I have noticed “failure” can be a way of getting us closer to finding our true meaning or purpose in life. Every “wrong” answer gets us closer to the right one!

Collect experiences, not posessions

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 21:45:16 GMT

Jesus invites us into our miracles, if we are willing to let him.

"I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord."- Psalm 31:6

Throughout the Bible we see God instructing His people to collect experiences but not posessions. In fact, our material posessions can become idols. Anything that comes before God is an idol and can be destructive. Jesus invites us to participate in His better way, including "loving our neighbors"in Matthew 22:39 to show us sharing experiences are more valuable than collecting material posessions. Let's help each other out and enjoy the ride!

Want to make God laugh?

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 19:32:16 GMT

God's plans are always better than our plans.

One thing I have learned in my Christian journey is that if I want to make God laugh, I should tell Him my plans. His plans are always way different than ours, see Isaiah 55:8-9, and will take us on a beautifully mysterious journey, but we must surrender our need for control. Do you trust Him?

Money Trap

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 21:10:38 GMT

Money is important, but it can't buy you eternity in Heaven!

The money trap is one of satan's common strategies to lead the whole world astray, as it says he'll do in Revelation 12:9. He uses money as a means of tempting us to put our security in money rather in God, because he knows money is something deeply alluring. It can provide temporary comfort and power, and make us feel good about our earhly lives in terms of success and recognition.

In Matthew 4:8-10 we see satan trying to trap Jesus using wealth and power as a means to have Him turn away from His godly assignment. Of course Jesus denies satan. But it's scary that satan still uses this same strategy today in capturing lost souls for eternity. In a heartbeat our earthly lives will be over, and only those who put their trust in Jesus will have true security. "Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." Be sure you look to Jesus to find true secuirty, not in money which is used by the enemy to deceive the masses.

Proud as a Peacock

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 03:55:46 GMT

Pride often leads to our downfall.

Pride finds no pleasure in having something; only in having more of it than the next man."

This prideful mindset is what leads to chaos, greed and strife in our world. It eliminates any chance for peace in a person's heart and keeps you firmly entrenched on the deadly treadmill of striving.

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."- Proverbs 16:18

God's timing is perfect

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 19:05:40 GMT

God is seldom early, but He is never late.

We live in an instant gratification world so when God asks us to wait, it can be hard. When God says "not yet" we can become angry. But CS Lewis said "I am sure God keeps no one waiting, unless He sees it would be good for him to wait." Do your trust God's timing or your own? God is seldom early, but He is never late.

Weight of the world

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 20:07:42 GMT

Don't carry the weight of burdens that are not meant for you to carry

If we feel like we are carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders, we must realize it is because we are trying to carry burdens that are not meant for us. We are trying to carry loads that are too heavy for us. We must exchange our worries for prayers. We must trust God more deeply. Worry shows a lack of trust. This is a sign that we’re usually trying to control things that are beyond our control. here's 2 scriptures that can help:

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."- 1 Peter 5:7

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."- Matthew 11:28

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Hope and a future

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:52:47 GMT

God has a hope and a future for you. Will you receieve it?

God doesn't want something from you, He wants something for you. " For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."- Jeremiah 29:11

Our only hope

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:11:36 GMT

With everything that has been happening in the world over the last few years it has become increasingly obvious that we can't trust in government to solve our problems. So where can we put our trust? In God alone! He will never leave us or forsake us, He is the solid rock on which we stand, and His Kingdom is unshakebale. Don't put your trust or identity in things that you can lose, put it in God!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."- Proverbs 3:5-6

REFLECT

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 20:51:24 GMT

Take time for reflection, it's good for your soul.

R= Remember the past faithfulness of God. “For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”- Psalm 108:4

E= Encourage one another. Times are tough and people need encouragement. “that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”- Romans 1:12

F= Forgiveness of others as Christ has forgiven us. This removes us from spiritual bondage. “But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”- Psalm 130:4

T= Trust in Him when you can’t see a way forward. Trust in Him above all else. “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”- Psalm 91:2

Seek Him, Live fearlessly

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 05:07:00 GMT

Seek Him and you will find Him.

God never changes, and He is always available, but it is up to us to take the 1st step towards Him. Just that small step of faith will change our lives. He is waiting to reveal himself to you and to give you the desires of your heart and soul, but He will not force you to seek him. However, once you do seek Him, He promises you will find him. When I did, it started with a feeble " Lord if you are real, then show me." Boy did He ever show up!

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."- Matthew 7:7

Mindset over matter

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 18:29:51 GMT

Live each day likes it's your last day.

Is it possible to live above the fray? To avoid all the noise and conflict of our modern media driven world without withdrawing? I believe it is and it's all about the proper mindset! What if we lived every day like it was our last day and we focused purely on doing good out of a fearless mindset? All the friction and the irritants would fall away, and all we would be left with is love. Let's love one another as Jesus commanded us in 1 John 3:23 "And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us."

Little step of faith

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 01:16:49 GMT

Take a small step of faith and see what God does with it.

A chineese proverb says ' A journey of a 1,000 miles begins with a single step." Likewise, God can't guide a parked car. God says faith + deeds is required in James 2:26. Take a small step of obedience to launch your faith journey in 2025.

Mustard Seed of Faith

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 20:17:48 GMT

We don't need a lot of faith for Jesus to do mighty things in our lives- only a mustard seed of faith is required.

Fear and faith cannot coexist. If we have fear, it's most likely a sign that our faith is too weak. When you feel fearful, ask God to strengthen your faith. He can do a lot with even a "mustard seed" of faith.

"He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”- Matthew 17:20

Be obedient to the Lord

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 21:48:42 GMT

Obedience is required.

"Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."- Deuteronomy 5:33

One small act of obedience to the Lord is worth more than lsitening to 100 sermons.

True friends are invaluable

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 21:48:37 GMT

Choose your friends wisely

"The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray."- Proverbs 12:26

One true friend is way more valuable than an infinite # of social media followers. A true friend will be there when you need them most, even at 2 am; A follower you most likely will never meet. Cling to a good friend, they are invaluable.

The Mystery of Christmas

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:45:03 GMT

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Jesus came to proclaim that His Kingdom was eternal and all others are temporary and fragile. He came in such a profoundly personal and humble way, away from all the “noise” of the Roman Empire, born in the quiet of the night in a tiny Judean Countryside town of Bethlehem and announced first to only lowly Shepherds. Thus proving right from the start how very different His Kingdom truly is- accessible to all, not based on prestige or money, and not built on human power but on His love and grace and fueled by His eternal power. He came to save the lost and provide hope for the hopeless. He is Immanuel- God with us! Let us celebrate the mystery of it all today, knowing the Svior of the world has come to rescue us.

6 “For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”- Isaiah 9:6

God wants our heart

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 23:10:19 GMT

Our heart is the body part through which God transforms us.

God will often confound our mind to get to our heart. The heart is God's way of conencting to us in a life altering way. Romans 5:5 says "And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." God pours out His love to us via our hearts. No wonder He wants us to give Him our hearts, so that He can in turn impart His love onto us through it.

Forgiveness= Freedom

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:51:08 GMT

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Replace worry with prayer

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 22:18:58 GMT

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We don't need more email, we need more kneemail! We need to replace worry with prayer. Worry doesn’t change the challenges of tomorrow, it drains the energy of today. Prayer on the other hand acknowledges our need for God’s power in our lives. It is a humble position that instantly makes us feel more peace as we take our focus off of our limitations, and place them on God’s omnipotent power.

The symptoms of brokeness are everywhere, but God is the answer we are searching for.

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 18:14:05 GMT

God has the answers to all of our questions.

We can see the symptoms of the brokeness of humanity all around us. Sin is a scourge who's tenacles reach throughout every aspect of our broken world. The really scare thing is it's all self-inflicted. The main casue is we have traded in the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the unholy trinity of me, myself and I. We often mistake rebellion against God for freedom but it’s actually bondage. That’s what focus on self does. It causes fear based on self-absorption that allows no time for God's input to manifest in one's life. Kingdom of “self” is heavily defended territory, but the answer is always available if we're willing to stop and admit our pain and decide to turn back to God's way. What we find there is selflessness brings true freedom when we abandon ourselves to God and let Him use us for His purposes. Then His peace reigns over our lives and we are truly free indeed. We have questions but He has all the answers we need.

Lesser Things

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 01:00:28 GMT

Nothing compares to God

"God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him" - John Piper

When we chase lesser things than what God offers, they never satisfy and only leave us empty and broken.

Jeremiah 2:11-13 speaks to this directly: "Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols. Be appalled at this, you heavens, and shudder with great horror,”declares the Lord. “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

Consumption Vampires

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 17:52:49 GMT

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Walk on the water

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 17:41:28 GMT

Will we trust Jesus enough to get out of our boat and walk on the water?

The #1 command in the Bible is to "fear not," or to "not be afraid." Jesus knew that our fears could dibilitate us from living the exhilirating life He has in store for us. On the other side of our fear lies the freedom we all long for. Jesus will call us to places and experiences beyond our abilities if we will learn to be obedient to His call and learn to 'fear not." Like Peter, we must be willing to get out of the boat if we want to walk on the water.

"Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus." Matthew 14:29.

Avoid Being Manipulated

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 17:30:04 GMT

Go to the 1 source ofr truth to avoid being deceived- The Bible

Have you noticed that from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep, all media is attempting to manipulate you for one thing or another? So the question is, where are you searching for real truth, truth that is above manipluation and meant solely for your well-being? There is only 1 source in the entire world: The Bible. Go to it to find truth, so you can discern all else through it to avoid being deceived by false agendas.

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."- John 14:6

Ask Him

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 21:23:39 GMT

We have direct access to the God of the Universe!

In Matthew 7:7 it says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Jesus invites us to ask Him about any questions we have and He promises to answer. We should take Him up on that! Doubt He is God? Ask Him! Doubt He cares about your situation? Ask Him! Need Help? Ask Him! Feel overwhelmed, scared, stressed or anxious? Ask Him to help you! Unsure about your path or a key decision? Ask and He promises you will receive a response.

Joy that lasts

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 19:48:47 GMT

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Joy is not the absence of pain, it’s the presence of God. Don’t let your joy be circumstantial or based on something that you can lose or that can change. Cling to God’s promises to find joy that lasts. What's a goodpromise to cling to? How about this one from revelation 21:6 "He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.

Search for Deeper Truth

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 20:58:57 GMT

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A search for deeper truth is a devine echo that pulls you out of your comfort zone and makes you grapple with all of your previous belief systems. It is the beginning step on anyone’s faith journey. Seek and you will find!

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”- Jeremiah 29:13

All In

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:11:49 GMT

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“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty.“ Mark 12:41-44

I love how Jesus taught. His teachings always had deeper meaning and impact than the surface level may reveal. The old lady who put in two small copper coins into the offering basket in Mark 12 from a worldly perspective put in very little, but from an eternal Kingdom perspective she put in all she had. She was all in, and that’s the posture we need if we want Jesus to truly work in our lives. Jesus wants us to be all in on Him, so He can do great things through us!

Better Together

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 22:07:54 GMT

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Unconditional Love

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 01:44:23 GMT

God's love is unconditional. What a great promise!

Many times we seek affirmation in all the wrong places, becasue many times that affirmation we seek from others is conditional based on our achievements or behavior. But God's love isn't like that at all. He loves us the same on our best days as He does on our worst days. Why? "Because God is love."- 1 John 4:8. It is not a characteristic of His, it's His very essence. That is very attractive because it's not up to my actions, which relieves all the pressure up living up to the world's fickle demands. Choose God's unconditional love and know you're enough!

Comparison can crush contentment

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 22:43:34 GMT

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"Comparison will lead to false pride and a misguided sense of superiotiy if you're ahead of someone and misery if you're behind."- John Ortberg You can see from this powerful quote the potential dangers of comparing yourself to others. On the other hand, contentment comes from understanding the gifts you've been given and using them to your maximum potential to make the world a better place.

What is denied cannot be healed

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 23:27:27 GMT

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What is denied cannot be healed. The first step towards healing is maybe the hardest- we must acknowledge that we are wounded and not ok. We need help and we can't try to hide it or anesthetize the pain. There, now we can begin to breathe and start the healing journey.

The cost of love

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:33:57 GMT

The cost of love is real, but it's still worth it.

i just lost my mother this past Monday and the pain is still fresh. She was the only Mother I will ever have, and that lasted 59 years on this side of eternity. I loved her dearly, and the cost of that love is now grief. Even in the grieving, it is still worth it all. The cost of love is grief, but the many beautiful memories are the salve that carries us through. The true pain is to have never have loved at all.

Always be learning

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 21:50:41 GMT

We should look at every situation as a new opportunity for growth.

We can learn from everyone we come in contact with. That is a mindset that leads to constant growth and prevents stagnation. We must be open to being taught new things and ideas or we risk obsolescence.

Would you make that bet in Vegas?

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:54:26 GMT

Consider the consequences before you make this bet.

Would you make a bet in vegas where the best you could do is tie, but if you're wrong you lose everything? That is what you are doing when you reject Jesus because in essence you are saying you don't believe God. In Matthew 3:17 we see God declare "And a voice from heaven said, “ This is my Son , whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” The question we must ask is do we believe Him? Jesus himself says in John 14:6 that He is " the way, the truth and the life," and that "no one comes to the Father but through Him." John 3:16 says Jesus was God's lifeline back to Him in Heaven through which we can be reconciled back to Him by the forgiveness of our sin, and 1 John 5:11-12 says He is the way to eternal life. So if we reject Him, we risk everything because in essence we are saying we don't believe God. That's a very risky bet. We are saying that everyone just lives and die's, there's no eternal life, and if right than we all tie. But God says that there will be secere consequences for those who reject His Son- an eternity spent seperated from Him in a place called hell. "They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."- Matthew 13:42

Are you sure you want to make that bet? If you're wrong you lose everything!

Share your experiences!

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 03:00:43 GMT

Don't waste anything.

Let's not waste any experiences! Our experiences can be platforms to help other people. That's a great mindset to have to be set free!

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."- John 13:34

Embrace the mystery of it all

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 22:50:27 GMT

The mystery of God leads to a d

A search for deeper truth is a divine echo that pulls you out of your comfort zone and makes you grapple with all of your previous belief systems. It is the beginning step on anyone’s faith journey. Mystery is not an obstacle to faith, but rather a pathway to deeper exploration that leads to deeper intimacy with God.

What's Really Happening

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 00:54:54 GMT

God gave us the future roadmap in scripture not to scare us, but to prepare us.

The main thing we’re all feeling with the chaos and instability all around us is two worlds colliding- Kingdom of darkness is trying to encroach on the Kingdom of light. These two Kingdoms are at war, and Jesus has won the war through the power of His blood in His victory over death on the Cross and subsequent resurrection, but the battle for souls continues and is intensifying. The battle is spiritual, leading to much confusion, but the symptons are mainfesting in the physical world, around things like politics and economic policies. The result is everything is upside down and topsy turvy. Isaiah 5:20 says “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

These scriptures help paint the picture more vividly: The Fallen world is about to be redeemed so the impact of the spiritual battle is intense right now. Here are a few scriptures that illustrate the true nature of what's really happening:

“12 For our struggles not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:12-18

satan is the father of all lies- John 8:44, and he has infiltrated the media -Ephesians 2:2 to sow chaos and division.

“but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”- 1 John 4:3

“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”- 1 John 5:19-20

The enemy takes unsuspecting people captive to do his will. Many times they don’t even realize it. That is how political powers have come into being that are pushing satan’s agenda of killing unborn babies, transgenderism and sexual confusion, reparations for things way back in history that people currently alive have nothign to do with, division of people by race, concentrated power centers, ruining national identity, pandemics, high rates of inflation ruining quality of life, etc. But God is in control and if he allows it, it’s for His good, which is the growing of His kingdom and the saving of many souls. The fear of what's happening that people have no control over and the anxiousness and despair is leading many to Christ.

“Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”- 2 Timothy 2:25-26

“and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.”- Colossians 1:12-13

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”- Genesis 50:20

“He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”- 2 Chronicles 20:15

“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”- 1 Samuel 17:47

We are careening towards a 1 world government as foretold in the book of Revelation chapter 13

Jesus tells us to be aware of the signs in Matthew 24- not to scare us but to prepare us, for the rapture can happen at any time. 1 Thessalonians 4:16- 2 Thessalonians 2:10. Jesus will then return in power to make all things new and right- Revelation 21-22 he warns us security is found in nothing other than him- Revelation 3:15-20 and they we should seek Him above all else in these last days. If we have confusion we should ask, seek and knock- Matthew 7:7 and He will answer, we will find, and doors will be opened. Scripture needs to be our only roadmap, because it is the only thing that is 100% accurate!

It has nothing to do with your abilities

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 22:38:29 GMT

God can use anyone to accomplish His plans.

One of the hardest lessons to learn and accept in the Bible is the truth that God doesn't choose those with the best abilities, He chooses those who have availability to be used by Him. That is so counter-cultural. God chose Peter and Andrew, James and John, four uneducated fisherman to be some of the disciples He would build his church around. He chose Matthew, a despised tax collector. The world would say they were unqualified, but that is exactly the point. God qualifies the unqualified through His Son Jesus to confound the wisdom of the wise and to bring glory to His name. 1 Corinthians 1:25 says "for the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." Let that truth sink in and change you. Freedom is found in surrender.

Don't become the Dead Sea

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 21:36:33 GMT

We must learn to let things both flow in and out of our lives or we can become stagnant.

The Dead Sea is dead because nothing ever flows out from it. Water comes in from the Kordan River and it never flows out. It is a good lesson for us to learn from. In order to live vibrant lives, things must flow in and out. We must share the wisdom, resources, time, and lessons we learn with others to have the most abundant and fruitful lives. If we just let things flow in but not out, we too will become stagnant. We were meant to help and love one another.

The battle for control

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 00:47:48 GMT

We must let Jesus have the Pilot seat in our lives, while we move to the co-pilot seat.

Jesus is love, and Jesus is truth so it should be easy to turn over complete control of my life to Him. However, I struggle in fully releasing the grip on my life, even though it is the squeezing so tight that causes me the most problems. When I do get it right, and let go, I am always amazed at the peace I feel. Yet, I often fall back into wanting to sit in the "pilot seat" instead of being happy as the Co-Pilot. After all, Jesus knows the end from the beginning and while He never promises a smooth flight, He does promise a safe landing. Please Jesus take the wheel. Teach me how to fully surrender. Amen!

Obedience or rebellion?

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 03:17:48 GMT

Nineveh or Tarshish? We only have two chocies when God tells us to do something: Obedience or rebellion. Jonah was told to go to Nineveh but initially he rebelled and sailed the other way to Tarshish. He quickly learned that was a big mistake. Rebellion vs. God never works out very good for the rebel. Eventually Jonah learned that you can't win fighting against God's wishes, so he relented and went to Nineveh where God used him in a mighty way. Our human nature is to say no to God, but we are much better off when we say yes.

Faith is the opposite of sight

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 21:39:47 GMT

God is all around us.

The Christian life is one of faith, which by definition is believing in what you cannot yet see. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says "For we live by faith, not by sight." This shouldn't be shocking however, as we can't "see" gravity but we can "feel" its effects. The same is true with God. While we can't "see" God directly, we can see Him all around us in Creation, hear Him and feel Him in His word the Bible as He teaches us, and commune with Him through prayer. He is all around us, we just need to look, listen and seek Him.

You can't trick your own soul

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 01:37:47 GMT

You must be truthful with yourself in order to find healing and peace

We live in a culture where people put immense pressure on themselves to not make a mistake or admit that they are burned out, wounded from life or in despair. But the truth is you cannot trick your own soul. It is much more cathartic to acklowedge your pain, bring it into the light and seek God's help. He promises in Matthew 7:7 that He will meet you in your time of pain and confusion and provide answers you need. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." -Matthew 7:7

Healing begins with acknowledging our wound

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 14:47:17 GMT

We all need healing for our wounded souls.

The first step in healing from any wound is acknoweldging the wound exists. That can be construed as weakness in modern culture, but the truth is it's a sign of great strength and awareness. Any type of wound that remains unresolved is corrosive to your soul. We can try to anesthetize the pain, through numbing the symptons, or we can be healed from the pain by dealing with the root cause. What is denied cannot be healed!

No Fishing Allowed

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 23:24:39 GMT

God dumps our sins into the Ocean and says "No Fishing Allowed."

God removes our sins forever through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Corrie Ten Boom said "“God takes our sins – the past, present, and future, and dumps them in the sea and puts up a sign that says NO FISHING ALLOWED.” Psalm 103:12 confirms this thought: "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

Misery is optional

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 21:41:59 GMT

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In this world, you will have pain. Jesus told us we would in John 16:33. He suffered pain, and we can expect to as well. It is the result of living in a fallen and sin marred world. But Jesus also made it clear that despite the pain, misery is optional. That is based on our response. We can still find joy in the midst of pain. It depends on our focus. Romans 15:13 is a good reminder of a great mindset: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Finding Contentment

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 20:28:21 GMT

Contentment is often elusive but it can be found.

Contentment can be elusive, but many times we are seaching in the wrong areas or focused on the wrong things. The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:12-13 gives us great insight when he says "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." True contentment comes not from getting what we want, which many times produces anxiety in the wait, but in wanting what we already have. This shows gratitude and creates a deep contentment, even in the smallest things in our lives. Thank God and praise Him for what He has already given you- even the breath in your lungs. God deserves the glory and He alone provides the deep, lasting contentment we are all searching for.

We are survivors

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 18:42:00 GMT

God is with you in the battle!

The Bible says in Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." If you're still breathing, than you have survived 100% of your worst days. We are tough people, we are strong people and we are adaptable. God promises in Hebrews 13:5 that He "will never leave us or forsake us." That is an important mindset to have when facing your toughest battles. You are not fighting alone. He is with you!

God is undefeated

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 15:28:50 GMT

God fights for us!

Waiting periods in our life can seem excruciating, but God never wastes the wait if we allow Him to teach us valuable lessons and use the waiting to stretch, test and strengthen our faith. Our faith grows when it's put under the weight of pressure, and it can result in us developing character, hope and perseverance. During the difficlt perionds, we must remember that it is God himself who is fighting for us and God is undefeated. The enemy can try to delay our blessings but he can't prevent them. Exodus 14:14 reminds us "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Praise God that He fights our battles for us, and He will never lose!

Perfection Through Subtraction

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 19:49:14 GMT

Perfection is often found in taking away, rather than in adding on.

"Perfection is achieved not when there's nothing more to add, but whenthere's nothing more to take away." -Antoine de Saint Exupery

The quote above mirrors how Michaelangelo formed David out of the marble block. He said he simply chipped away at the marble until he could see David in the marble and set him free. There is much wisdom in that thinking. As we remove areas we cling tightly to in our life that create anxiety or fear, and learn to give them to God, we also will find the freedom our souls yearn for.

"He must become greater; I must become less.”- John 3:30

Generosity is good for the soul

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 21:52:12 GMT

Be generous- It's good for the giver!

The only wealth you get to keep, is that which you give away."- Tom Golisano ( Philanthropist )

Jesus talked a lot about money and generosity. In fact, he talked more about $ than any other subject. There are many great lessons He provided, but the overall theme is that there is great blessings for the person who is generous with their time, talent and treasure. ( Acts 20:35 is a famous passage many people quote: "It is more blessed to give than receive."

Jesus taught that where we invest our wealth is where our heart will be ( Matthew 6:19-21 ) and Jesus above all else wants to be Lord over our heart. Why? Because He is a God of compassion, who is close to the broken-hearted ( Psalm 34:18 ) and wants to see His people step in to fill the voids in many peoples lives, using their resources in order to do that. My own take away from Jesus's teachings about $ and wealth is this: What we get makes a living, but what we give makes a life.

The journey is long and winding.

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 19:54:40 GMT

Today’s pain is part of tomorrow’s joy. Our journey is long but it strengthens us. Life is uncertsain and full of twists and turns. During the journey, there are necessary benefits of maintaining proximity to God through prayer and reading scripture. Over long periods of time He begins to mold and shape you: Here some of the needed benefits:

Heightened peace
Divine compassion & empathy
Sense or purpose
Resilience in adversity
Wisdom above normal perceptions
endurance

Enjoy the journey and learn to embrace the uncertainty of it all.

Times of Blessings and times of dryness- The Lord is over both

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 21:05:40 GMT

Times of blessings and times of dryness- The Lord is over both.

The Lord brings blessing to show us how much he loves us. The Lord brings dryness to show us how much we need him. He wants our hearts above all else. He will not let us put our trust in anything other than him. So both in seasons of blessing and seasons of dryness Above all, he wants us to know that He is God

Cure for anxiety

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 14:43:24 GMT

Anxiety is usually self-created, but there is an antidote.

Anxiety is many times self-created. We either create it through a mindset of lack or of false comparison- thinking someone has it better because they have more stuff. But you can't consume your way to happiness- lest you become like a materialistic vampire. In actuality, the less you need, the more freedom you have. Psalm 23:1 says this: "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." Now that is an abundant mindest and an antidote to anxiety.

Divine Echo

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 17:59:29 GMT

A search for deeper truth is a divine echo that pull you out of your comfort zones and makes you grapple with all of your previous belief systems. It is the beginning step on anyone’s faith journey. Mystery is not an obstacle to faith, but rather a pathway to deeper exploration that leads to deeper intimacy with God.

"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"- Psalm 42:2

Prayer is Key

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 17:14:37 GMT

Prayer is Key

We need more kneemail, not more email. Prayer doesn’t change God; it changes us. It’s not a preliminary step; it’s the work itself. We should converse with God about everything, seeking His guidance in our difficulties and praising Him for His blessings This requires us to intentionally eliminate distractions. We must understand how to turn down all the noise in our life, from time to time, or we will never find the time and serenity that prayer requires.

The Battle is God's

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 16:49:58 GMT

Some battles are not yours to fight- they belong to God and He is undefeated, He has never lost a battle and He won't start now.

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:4

" For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” -Deuteronomy 20:4

Stories Matter

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 22:11:06 GMT

Everyone has been wounded in this life and our scars are important because they tell a story, and stories matter! Whether your scar is emotional, physical, relational, mental or spiritual, sharing your story is cathartic for your soul and it can help others in their struggle. Jesus can heal your wound, and replace your anger, pain and bitterness through His redemptive love, grace and mercy. Share your stories and let's help each other grow, because everyone has a story, and every story matters!

Blessed Generosity

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 21:14:11 GMT

The saying from Acts 20;35 that "it is more blessed to give than receive" is a deep biblical truth. Generosity aligns us with the heart of God. Philanthropist Tom Golisano said recently after giving away some $350 Million to charitable causes that "The only wealth you get to keep is that which you give away." Very wise words indeed.

Wounds From Our Fathers

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 13:35:36 GMT

Insight: Do you ever feel empty, like you just don’t measure up?

Did the Wounds From your Father leave such scar tissue that you can’t feel any self worth? It is important to not let the bad relationship you had with your earthly father inhibit your relationship with your Heavenly Father. He loves you and see incredible worth in you. He calls you His prized possession. He says you are loved and cherished and He has a plan for your life. He sent His Son Jesus to die for your sins. What greater love is there than this? Ask Him to heal your wounds and restore you. I did and He did it for me, and He wants to do it for you. You are worth more than you can ever imagine in His eyes!

Wounds from our Fathers

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 13:32:12 GMT

Scripture- “the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” – Proverbs 3:2

Insight: – I admit that sometimes I allow the relationship I had with my earthly father to influence my view of my Heavenly Father. While I know this is the most unfair comparison possible, I think it is natural to take something that we have experienced and use it as a tool for comparison. Because of the longing for my earthly father’s affirmation, which never came, I sometimes think that God doesn’t see me or understand what I am feeling. But how foolish that is! Psalm 139 lets me know that the exact opposite is true. My Father in heaven not only sees me, but He knows everything about me. Still, I think that often times we assign our human relationship experiences to our ones with God. It can make us doubt, it can make us afraid, it can make us intimidated, it can make us hesitate, it can cause us to avoid. While these things are all to our detriment, it is easy to understand why and how that could happen.

So, what’s the antidote for this? To read scripture with such vigor and thoroughness as to understand that there really is no comparison between the love of our Heavenly Father and whatever our experiences were with our earthly fathers. Are you holding back in your relationship with God due to the pain of your relationship with your earthly father? I understand, and I have been there. But over time I realized this was a big mistake and I asked God to reveal His true nature to me and He repeatedly has in such a way that made all of the pain of my relationship with my earthly father disappear. He will do the same for you if you seek Him and share your deepest emotions with Him. He knows them anyway. As Chris Tomlin sings in the song “Good, Good Father” you can be sure that in our lives “we’re all searching for answers that only He can provide.” Don’t let the pain of your relationship with your earthly father keep you from experiencing the love and joy of the relationship with your Heavenly Father. He is waiting to fill the void that may exist as a result of that earthly relationship not turning out the way you had planned or dreamed about. He alone can take away all the pain and offer a fresh start. Will you trust Him? He is a good, good Father indeed!

Ruthlessly Eliminate Distractions and Focus on God's Purpose

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 19:37:21 GMT

Discover how to eliminate distractions and focus on God's purpose in your life. Learn the importance of fixing your eyes on Jesus and seeking Him with all your heart, as taught in Hebrews 12:1-2. Embrace a life of intentionality and spiritual growth.

Weather Report from Heaven:

Sunny and bright with an abundance of light, and lots of singing and rejoicing.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” — Hebrews 12:1-2

Insight:

In a world filled with distractions, staying focused on God’s purpose for our lives is a challenge. It’s easy to get pulled in multiple directions by the demands of daily life—emails, news, family needs, and countless other tasks. We must be vigilant in eliminating these distractions to truly achieve the goals God has set for us.

This isn’t just about managing our time; it’s about maintaining a deep, undistracted connection with God. As Jeremiah 29:13 reminds us, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” To hear from God and fulfill our God-given purposes, we must be ruthless in removing anything that hinders our spiritual growth. We are in a spiritual battle, and we must prioritize our time with Jesus in prayer and scripture.

The enemy fears our alone time with Christ because it strengthens us and prepares us for life’s challenges. As Dr. Charles Stanley from In Touch Ministries teaches, spending time with God fills us with joy, peace, wisdom, and strength, making us more impactful for His Kingdom. Hebrews 12:1 challenges us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” We must ask ourselves what is hindering our walk with Christ. Is it worry? Distractions? Sin? Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, will guide us to identify and eliminate these barriers if we seek His help.

Let’s commit to focusing on what truly matters, releasing distractions to God, and running to Him in all situations.

Let's Pray!

Father God, help us to not be distracted by the lesser things this world throws at us and that the enemy uses to divert our focus. Instead, let us fix our eyes on Your Son, Jesus Christ, to guide our path and lead us where we need to be. Help us to seek You first in our lives and give us the strength to ruthlessly eliminate all distractions. Your Word tells us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” Help us accomplish this through Your strength, as we are too weak on our own. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen!