Posted on Friday, September 4, 2026

A Measure of Faith & The Spirit Without Measure

Thrive Alive Friday

In 1825, a young man in Halle, Germany, gave his life to Christ. By his own account, he was, up to that point, dissolute, reckless with money, and prone to lying—hardly the profile of the man history would come to know as George Müller. Yet from that moment forward, Müller understood something had happened that he could not undo or add to: he had received the Spirit of Christ, fully, the same way every believer does.

What he did not have, not yet, was much faith to act on it.

Müller was honest about this in his own journals. He began by testing God in small, almost embarrassingly modest ways—asking, in secret, for a specific small sum toward a specific small need, and refusing to mention that need to a single human being. He wanted to know whether God alone would supply it. When the answer came, he tried something slightly larger. Then larger still. He described this deliberately as a discipline, the way a man trains a muscle—starting with a manageable weight and adding to it only once the first had been proven, never attempting the heaviest lift on day one.

By the time he died in 1898, that same Spirit—the one he’d received as a wayward young convert seventy-three years earlier—had founded and funded five orphan houses, more than ten thousand children fed, clothed, and educated, and it had done so without a single public appeal for funds and without the ministry ever going into debt. Müller didn’t receive a bigger portion of the Spirit somewhere along the way. He’d simply learned, one small test at a time, to bring a bigger cup to the well.

His life is close to a living illustration of two statements Scripture places side by side, statements that can sound, at first, like they’re pulling in opposite directions.

Two Measures, Two Questions

The Apostle John writes that God gives the Spirit “without measure.” The Greek phrase is ek metrou, the idiom for the way a merchant doles out grain in fixed portions. Full. Complete. Nothing withheld.

The Apostle Paul, meanwhile, writes that God has apportioned “a measure of faith” to each believer. Not the same amount to everyone, but a measure, a specific allotment. If the Spirit is given in full, why does faith come in measured degrees? And if faith is measured, what does that say about how much of the Spirit is at work in our life each day?

The answer isn’t a contradiction. It’s two different Greek words answering two similar, yet difficult, questions.

Without Measure: What Was Given

Paul tells the Colossians that in Christ “the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” and immediately adds that believers “have been brought to fullness” in Him, in Christ. Isaiah promised that the Spirit placed on God’s servant, and the words put in his mouth, would not depart, but remain “from this time forth and forevermore.” If placed on a servant under the old covenant, how much more when placed in the heart of a believer under the new covenant?

This was already true of Müller the moment he believed in 1825. The Spirit he carried as an unproven convert was the same Spirit he carried as an old man who had, by then, seen God supply for thousands of children without once asking a person for money.

The Measure of Faith: What Governs the Releasing

What grew in Müller wasn’t the Spirit’s presence. It was the valve. Romans 12:3 is not describing how much Spirit a person has; it’s describing the believer’s present capacity to act as though what God said is true. Müller’s test of faith with his first orphan house—and his fifth—were both an exercise of the same indwelling Spirit. Only the measure of faith being brought to the moment had changed—and that because his faith had been trained over years to trust the Lord’s word in ever-increasing measure.

The Boy at the Foot of the Mountain

Scripture gives us the same principle in action in Matthew 17. Despite having worked in the authority and power of Jesus before, and still under the same commission, the disciples tried to cast out a demon and failed. Afterward, they ask Jesus why. He doesn’t say that the Spirit had been withdrawn. He says: “Because of your unbelief.” Then He adds that faith no larger than a mustard seed could move a mountain—a statement that only makes sense if faith, not the Spirit’s presence, is the variable, the valve through which the power of Christ flows.

Same men. Same Spirit. Same authority. A different measure of faith exercised, and a different result.

Glory to Glory

Müller isn’t alone in this pattern of ever-increasing “measured faith.” Smith Wigglesworth came to faith as a man who could barely read, so unsure of his own voice in ministry that his wife did most of the preaching in the early years of their marriage. The bold, almost startling faith he became known for later did not arrive with some later infusion of the Spirit. Wigglesworth himself described decades of learning to act on what he already read, believed, and lived in small increments, long before that faith was exercised at the scale he’s remembered for.

Paul describes this Christian life of faith at work as moving “from one degree of glory to another”—a progression, an expansion. Müller’s first answered prayer for a small sum and his prayer for feeding thousands both flowed through the same valve—that of measured faith. This is the expected outcome of someone maturing in the Spirit of Christ, of doing the works—and greater works—that Jesus did.

What This Means

If a believer struggles to see God’s power made visible in their life, the answer isn’t to wonder whether they were shortchanged in some cosmic distribution of the Spirit. The place to look is the measure of faith being brought to the moment.

If faith is the limitation, then our next step is to do as the desperate father did and pray to the Lord, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”

The Spirit is never given by measure. But the faith that lays hold of Jesus, moment by moment, act by act, is something every believer grows into, one small test at a time.

Today there are any number of tests to choose from. Pick a small one, pray to the Lord, and expect to see His hand at work. The miracle is not that your solution comes. It’s that you believe Jesus rose from the grave and put His Spirit in you. And if you are sure of this, you can believe for anything.

Scripture References

John 3:34 — the Spirit given without measure
Romans 12:3 — a measure of faith apportioned to each believer
Colossians 2:9–10 — fullness of the Deity in Christ; believers brought to fullness
Isaiah 59:21 — the Spirit and the word that will not depart
Matthew 10:1, 8; 17:14–20 — the disciples’ commission and their failure at the mountain
John 14:12 — the works, and greater works, that Jesus did
2 Corinthians 3:18 — from one degree of glory to another
Mark 9:24 — “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”

Posted on Friday, July 31, 2026

The Storm Comes to Every House

Faith in Jesus isn’t lost all at once. It happens in stages, and each one prepares the ground for the next attack.

STAGE ONE: It starts when truth stops landing in the heart — even truth sitting on the page of the Bible in front of you. The doctor’s report, the bank statement, the silence where relationships used to be: what can be seen, heard, and felt begins to outweigh the words and acts of Jesus. You do not deny Jesus exactly. You demote His acts and words to historical events that were for another time and people — a generation who were meant to launch a movement, but send it forth without His authority and power.

STAGE TWO: Once that erosion sets in, the next phase targets the moral pillars that keep you upright. Church becomes something to attend rather than an encounter with the Holy Spirit. Ritual replaces relationship. Those moments when you were once sure you heard God get reclassified into self-talk. Church creeds get recited from memory, but the words don’t quicken the spirit.

STAGE THREE: Then comes the crisis — sudden, sharp, and exactly as Jesus warned. The storm hits the man who built on rock and the man who built on sand alike. The outcome was decided before the storm arrived: collapse for the one on the sand, recovery and cleanup for the one on the Rock.

STAGE FOUR: And the crisis does what crises do — it makes fear, and fear opens a door to a “new normal.” From the outside, it can look like stability. From the inside, it’s a permanently reshaped reality you have agreed to live with. You are alive and breathing, but now you just get through your remaining days until Christ’s return or you pass away.

Below is an example of what this steady attack is like. You may know this person. You may be this person. The account below is not meant to shame, but to warn. God’s faith is a great treasure, and if the enemy can steal it, surrendering to our circumstances may follow.

DECONSTRUCTING YOUR FAITH—SHAMBLES ON THE LOT

STAGE ONE: TRUTH STOPS MATTERING — the doctor’s report carries more weight than Scripture. This is not a rejection of God or of Jesus’ sacrifice, but a quiet handover of authority from His promises to what we can see, hear, taste, smell, and touch.

“Sickness dominates my life and shapes almost every decision I make. I feel controlled by it. There’s constant monitoring, treatments, and pain replacing the freedom I used to have. Foods and simple pleasures that once brought me joy now feel permanently out of reach. It’s limited my choices and left me with the feeling that more has been taken from me than I will ever get back.

“I feel as though I spend my whole life trying to stay one step ahead of the bills. No matter how much I work, the money disappears as fast as it comes in. I worry that I will never have enough to stop working and that my future expenses will be more than I can afford. There is nothing left for the things I enjoy because every dollar has a purpose before I even earn it.”

STAGE TWO: THE PILLARS ERODE — Facts attack provision. This is the scene Jesus faced on a mountain with 5000 men, plus women and children. His disciples accepted the facts and said, “Send them away.” Jesus answered with faith, “You feed them.” And expected them to do so — through faith in Him with the authority and power He delegated to them. In stage two, our daily bread promise gets crowded out by the math of the bank statement, and the math always looks more certain than the promise.

“Work fills almost every hour of my life. There is no real break, no time to rest, and no chance to enjoy the hobbies that once made me happy. Years have passed while the things I hoped to do have sat untouched because earning enough to survive always comes first. It feels as though work has replaced living.”

This is routine work that robs us of our Sabbath rest. The joy that should come from something you do well becomes a fight against depletion.

“I spend much of my time alone. Few people reach out to me, and I rarely hear from anyone unless I start the conversation. There is no one to share life with, and my work schedule leaves little opportunity to build new relationships. The loneliness has become another burden that I carry every day.”

Isolation is where the “new normal” gets its foothold — community was one of the pillars, and its absence doesn’t feel like a crisis anymore.

STAGE THREE: THE RAPID-ONSET SHOCK — Then comes the crisis — sudden, sharp, and exactly as Jesus warned.

“I lost my job, found another, but then went ten days out of work because of sickness. This week, an emergency room visit — with no certainty yet of what comes next. I no longer feel free to live the life I want. My choices are dictated by obligations, responsibilities, and limitations that seem to grow with each passing year.

“I’m no longer free to come and go as I please. I feel as though disease and the demands of daily survival control every part of my life. Instead of living on my own terms, I wake up each day feeling confined by limitations that I cannot escape. Those limits have left me frustrated, discouraged, and unhappy, and there are days when I struggle to recognize the person I used to be. Each new loss adds to the feeling that life keeps taking from me without giving anything back.

STAGE FOUR: THE “NEW NORMAL” — This is the reshaped reality settling in. It does not arrive with a single storm, but in time becomes our permanent weather. Our choices are slowly replaced by obligations we cannot meet.

“My days are filled with things I have to do instead of things I want to do. Every decision requires caution, planning, or sacrifice, and I no longer feel free to make simple choices without thinking about the consequences. I spend much of my time managing limitations instead of enjoying life, and those restrictions have become part of my daily routine.

“There are many days when I feel worn down by the belief that nothing is going to change. I struggle to find anything to anticipate or plan for beyond getting through another day of work and responsibility. Life often feels like an endless cycle with no pause, no relief, and no clear expectation that tomorrow will be any different from today.

“When I think about the future, I expect more struggle than relief. I worry that my health will continue to decline, that financial pressures will keep me working for the rest of my life, and that I will never have enough time or resources to enjoy the things I once loved. I do not expect my circumstances to improve, and I often see the future as a continuation of the burdens I already carry. Because of that, my greatest hope is not for a better life here, but for the day Christ returns and my suffering comes to an end.

But here is where the story about a man who built on sand can pivot to a different ending. He witnessed another man survive the storm. Saw that his neighbor built on the Rock. Jesus calls us to, “Put my words into practice.” Not simply read His words, DO His words.

“And yet, even in all this, I’m thankful to God for what I still have, and I find my greatest comfort in my faith and in the companionship of my dogs and cats.”

We don’t know the outcome for the man who built on the sand. We don’t know if he started over on the Rock. But we have the Holy Spirit’s words on the matter: “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

If any of this resonates and you’re unsure how to rebuild on the Rock, reach out. There is no magic to enjoying the abundant life Jesus promised. The instructions are in plain view. But sometimes it helps to have someone walk with you and give you a “word” and a small degree of accountability.

Step One Today: Read the first three chapters of the Gospel of Mark. Each time you see someone encounter Jesus, imagine that is you. Because the truth is, through His Holy Spirit, in that story He is reaching out to you.

The quoted comments is a fictional composite drawn from years of conversations. If it sounds like you, it’s not — it’s your neighbor. Probably the one with the loud dog.

Posted on Monday, June 29, 2026

Prayer Is Receiving A Treasure That Is Already Yours

The Booty Was Signed Over Before Ye Left Port

Prayer is receiving a treasure that is already yours, but Old Cutter McGee didn’t know this. McGee spent forty years sailing the Caribbean in search of a treasure chest his dying captain swore was buried “where the sun sets twice.” He charted every island from Hispaniola to the Windwards. He bribed Sailing Masters, hired Powder Monkeys to dig in the dark, and once traded his last doubloon for a map that turned out to be a laundry list written in Spanish. Look alive, he told his crew each dawn, and each dawn they looked alive and found nothing.

When Cutter finally made port for the last time — old, broke, and three sheets to the wind — his granddaughter met him at the dock, holding a letter. It had arrived forty years prior, the week he’d set sail. His captain, it turned out, had already transferred the deed to the treasure. The chest was Cutter’s from the moment the old man signed the paper. It had been sitting in a harbormaster’s vault in Nassau the entire time, drawing interest.

Cutter McGee had spent his whole life seeking what was already his. He only needed to receive it.

And in many ways, we all be Cutter McGee.

Peter — Old Pete — once accused Paul of saying things hard to accept, understand, and decipher (2 Peter 3:15-16). In 2 Corinthians 4:18, Paul says:

“We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Read that fast, and it sounds like a riddle to an Irish jig. Read it slowly, and it starts rearranging the battens in the sails without asking. Paul is saying that the hammock you’re lying in right now is less real than the throne of God in heaven. Like, if the fabric suddenly disappeared, and you landed on your backside, you might be surprised, but Paul would whisper — through the Holy Spirit — “I warned you.”

Above the Sea Is Where Your Prayer Begins

God spoke, and the natural world showed up. Jesus — the eternal Word who was with God in the beginning (John 1:1-3) — left heaven and stepped from the unseen realm into the natural world. Heave to and clap eyes on this: before any ship sailed, before any sea existed to sail on, the unseen realm was already full.

The temple Moses built was a precise replica of something that already existed in heaven (Hebrews 8:5). God essentially handed him the blueprints and said, “Don’t mess this up.” The new Jerusalem doesn’t rise from earth to become heaven; it descends from heaven to earth (Revelation 21:2). The Ark? God gave Noah schematics, a materials list, and a manifest (Genesis 6:14-16). All because each existed in the spiritual realm before man could see it with natural eyes.

The bread broken at Passover was a portrait of a body that brought healing and daily sustenance (1 Corinthians 11:24, John 6:35). God’s Sabbath rest — one day a week — is a lifetime of His promises for all who believe in Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10). The earthly priesthood, with its incense, altars, and golden bowls, was a glimpse of what John saw in his Revelation of Jesus (Hebrews 9:23-24; Revelation 8:3-5).

Even our prayers of needs and wants and aches — when we delight and abide in Him — come from the spiritual realm (Psalm 37:4). The direction of flow is always the same: from the greater reality of the unseen world to the lesser world that will pass away (1 John 2:17). We think what we build, love, and leave will last, but deep down we know that’s not true. All become but a memory, a legacy. And within generations, even that fades. (Your great-great-grandchildren will not remember that you got a great parking spot, either. File that away.)

The Treasure Was Buried for You Alone Before You Set Sail

The Father, outside of time, finishes the works. All of them. Hebrews 4:3 says the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Before your name was spoken into existence. Time itself is a created thing, which means the One who created it stands outside it (2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2). He doesn’t experience before and after the way we do. He simply is (Exodus 3:14, John 8:58), which, if you think about it too long, will do more to your furniture than Paul did.

Inside that same eternal moment, He prepared the good works you will walk in (Ephesians 2:10). He purchased your healing (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). He sealed your redemption (Revelation 13:8). He knew you before you were formed (Jeremiah 1:5). He placed desires in you (Psalm 37:4). The way a father, before his child draws a first breath, is already planning — that’s God. That’s eternal living. That is, if you’ll pardon the expression, a prize worth more than any plunder a pirate ever hauled over the side.

And if you are in Christ, you are already in that kingdom. Jesus declared it to the thief on the cross: “Today you will be in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The thief died, yes. But Jesus also died. Then rose and lives (Romans 6:9). So where is paradise? It is in Christ. He is your life lived to its fullest (Colossians 3:4), and all His riches are yours in Him (Ephesians 1:3).

His Spirit takes up residence inside you (Romans 8:11) and begins doing something quiet and persistent — tugging you toward something, someone, without you knowing why. His Spirit pulls us toward the will of God (Romans 8:26-27), praying in alignment with what is already finished. The Spirit inside you, who searches the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-12), is showing you a finished work. The nudge is from Him (Philippians 2:13). The prayer was His before it was yours (Romans 8:26-27). Your prayer is the moment you reach out and take hold of what was already yours (Matthew 7:7-8; 1 John 5:14-15).

Which means the moment you feel that quiet pull — that nudge toward a person, a need, a word you keep returning to — you are not generating something new. You are recognizing something old. Something prepared. Something with your name already on it, waiting in a room the Father furnished before you arrived.

Like a treasure chest in a harbormaster’s vault in Nassau. With your name on the deed.

X Marks the Spot — Now Pray and Dig

Jesus explains prayer in one sentence: “The Son can do only what he sees” (John 5:19). He’s speaking of His Father’s activity, but in eternity, all is complete. God rested from His work (Hebrews 4:3). John saw this and gave us the pattern. Bear a hand and look alive — this is where it gets good.

An angel stands at the golden altar before God’s throne. The angel receives incense to offer and the prayers of all God’s people. Those prayers — your words, prayed in your car, or your kitchen, or your 2 a.m. sleeplessness — are gathered and held in golden bowls (Revelation 5:8). They go up to God like incense (Psalm 141:2). Our palms turned upward, our hands raised — this posture He counts as our sacrifice. Why?

Because an earthly sacrifice shows total trust in a god, a desperate act of giving something of monetary value to gain something man perceives as of greater value. It’s a transaction, and it is costly. Trust is worship. It elevates the object of our faith. And faith in God is precious in His sight (1 Peter 2:7). In fact, He says, without faith, without the sacrifice of total dependence, we cannot please Him (Hebrews 11:6). Trust, faith, and reverence for His power and might — this is the type of worship that can only happen in spirit. And Jesus tells us these are those His Father seeks (John 4:23). Why?

Because they have not only His ear, but His heart. This is a relationship: face-to-face in the spiritual realm. Him seeding His desire in us; us longing to see Him do the very thing He desires (Psalm 37:4, Philippians 2:13).

Cannon Smoke Goes Up — Fire on the Water Is Ours

In Revelation 8, the angel adds fire to the censer filled with our prayers and hurls it to the earth. In the natural, the result is thunder, lightning, and an earthquake. What went up as words came back as firepower, and it shakes the natural realm. We stop. Stunned, we look around. We know something huge is happening, and it’s not our doing. By thunder — it never was.

Elijah prays on Carmel, and fire falls and consumes the offering, the wood, the stones, and the standing water (1 Kings 18:36-38). Apparently, God wanted to be thorough: to remove any doubt that what just happened was a random natural act. The disciples pray for ten days in the upper room (Acts 1:14). The result? Tongues of fire descend on Pentecost (Acts 2:3). Isaiah encounters the seraph who takes a hot coal from that same heavenly altar and touches his lips with it (Isaiah 6:6-7). Nobody’s face melted, but it wasn’t exactly a spa day either.

The mechanism is consistent. What rises as prayer returns as fire. Circumstances change. Hearts change. People change.

Skipper Takes What Ye Offer and Sets It Ablaze for Praise

Revelation describes the seven Spirits of God as seven torches of fire burning before the throne (Revelation 4:5) — and as seven eyes sent out into all the earth (Revelation 5:6). Isaiah 11:2 names six expressions of that one Spirit resting on the Messiah: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord.

Elijah on Carmel needed the fear of the Lord restored to a nation. Fire fell. Then the people fell on their faces and cried, “The Lord, He is God” (1 Kings 18:39). The fire matched their true needs.

The disciples needed power to do the work Jesus commanded. They needed His dunamis — dynamite power — to be witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Blimey, tongues of fire set them on fire for the Lord.

Isaiah needed his lips purified and his understanding opened to carry a word he would speak for decades. A coal of fire from the altar touched his lips and made him a holy messenger (Isaiah 6:6-7). The man began by saying, “Send me,” and became the author of the “Fifth Gospel” of Christ. Not a bad return on one very uncomfortable coal.

So What Be the Prize Ye Seek?

What is your need, your want, your desire? Think of the immediate yes, but also the long-lasting yearnings. Does your plea align with God’s will? Not sure what His will is? Simply read Scripture. God is clear: the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Jesus came to destroy that work and replace it with abundant life (1 John 3:8; John 10:10). For freedom, you have been set free (Galatians 5:1). So adopt the attitude of a child — because unless you change and learn to ask, trust, and expect from the Father like a child, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3).

The Father has already given you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). He gave them before you were born (Ephesians 2:10). Your prayer is simply His desire in you to ask for what already resides in the heavenly realm.

Don’t be a lubber about this. Don’t stand on the dock squinting at the horizon, wondering if there’s treasure out there somewhere, writing off the whole enterprise because the map seems hard to read. The Quartermaster has already settled the accounts. The prize is divided. Your share is waiting.

There is no need to feel guilty about asking for the desire He placed in your heart. Instead, name the need. Ask. Speak the word.

Your prayer is a child reaching for what their Father already set aside. Your prayer is a pleasing incense that will set your heart ablaze (Revelation 5:8, Psalm 141:2). Your prayer is the finished work of an eternal God, bringing His will in heaven to earth (Matthew 6:10).

Your prayer is His kingdom coming into your life, ye may lay to that.

Now grab the map and shovel and start digging.

Set Sail with Jesus

In need of a map that’ll lead to a treasure?
Set sail with Jesus and dig into the heavenly riches that are already yours.

Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Divine Blueprint: How Scripture Reveals the Pattern for Creating Your Future

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There exists in scripture a divine mechanism that unlocks the secret to creating your future.

It’s not hidden inside a parable or demonstrated through a miracle. It’s not preached from a mountaintop sermon. No, this spiritual blueprint for change is the same method Jesus used to heal the sick, feed thousands, and raise the dead.

When we discover how Jesus approached prayer and begin to understand the mechanics of creative change, the way we see tomorrow shifts. The way we approach our family and community takes on new urgency. Because suddenly, we’re not simply hoping for a miracle—we’re participating in the divine process of creating one.

Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Shocking Proof God Answers Prayers!—7 Bible Stories That Prove It

https://youtu.be/jI6fHqRB_Xo

God Answers Prayers… Introduction

Begin with a question: “Have you ever prayed and wondered if God heard you? Have you looked for signs that your prayers are being answered?”
Introduce the idea that seeking evidence of answered prayers is not a lack of faith but a biblical practice that can strengthen trust in God.
Frame the message: God meets us in our doubts, provides evidence in various forms, and calls us to bold, persistent prayer.

1. God Meets Us in Our Doubts

Biblical Examples:
- Hezekiah: God extended his life and moved the sundial shadow backward as a sign (2 Kings 20:1-11).
- Thomas: Jesus offered His wounds as evidence to strengthen Thomas’ faith (John 20:24-29).
Point: God does not condemn doubt but provides reassurance to meet us where we are.

2. Evidence Comes in Many Forms

Biblical Examples:
- Abraham’s Servant: A specific prayer for Isaac’s wife was answered through Rebekah’s actions (Genesis 24:12-27).
- Gideon: Wet and dry fleeces confirmed God’s will (Judges 6:36-40).
- Elijah: A small cloud signaled rain after persistent prayer (1 Kings 18:41-45).
- Joshua: The sun and moon stood still during battle (Joshua 10:12-14).
Modern Application: Evidence may come through scripture, sermons, fellow believers, or unexpected opportunities.

3. Asking for Evidence Is Encouraged

Biblical Examples:
- James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.”
- Moses: Received signs (staff to serpent, leprous hand) as assurance of his calling (Exodus 4:1-8).
- Gideon: Sought confirmation multiple times in critical moments.
Point: God honors sincere requests for clarity, especially when stakes are high.

4. Persistence in Prayer Matters

Biblical Examples:
- Elijah: Sent his servant seven times to look for rain (1 Kings 18:41-45).
- Jesus’ Parable: The persistent widow demonstrates the power of continual prayer (Luke 18:1-8).
Point: Persistent prayer builds faith and trust in God’s timing, even when answers seem delayed.

5. Evidence Strengthens Trust

Biblical Examples:
- Hezekiah and the Sundial: Reinforced faith in God’s promise.
- Moses and the Signs: Equipped him with confidence for his calling.
Point: God uses evidence to deepen trust and empower believers for His purposes.

6. Blessed Are Those Who Believe Without Evidence

Biblical Example:
- Jesus’ words to Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
Point: While evidence strengthens faith, God blesses those who take Him at His word without demanding signs.

Conclusion

Recap: God meets us in doubt, provides evidence in various ways, and calls us to bold, persistent prayer. These practices strengthen faith and help us trust in His plans.
Call to Action:
- Be bold in prayer—ask God for evidence when clarity is needed.
- Be persistent—trust that God hears and answers in His timing.
- Be vigilant—look for the ways God provides confirmation, even in small signs.
Close with encouragement: “God is faithful. Whether through miraculous signs or quiet reassurance, He meets us where we are to strengthen our faith. Keep seeking, keep asking, and trust that He is working in your life.”

Posted on Monday, January 13, 2025

Abundant Life—From Paradise Lost to Victory Found

Adam's Authority At Work With Jesus' Power—Steal This Sermon

Ah, matey! Today, we set sail for abundant life on Paradise Island, where the winds be fair, the seas calm, and yer stay in port be an all-inclusive vacation, as it were.

Here in New Providence, every need be met and desire delivered by the hand of Skipper. Amidst this lush resort, we find a young lad in the prime of his life, with all the world his oyster, don’t ye know? But for the lad, though the island be lush and peaceful, with fishing that’s right fine, there be no lovely lass with which to share in the beauty and bounty—no mate to sail by his side. And solo sailing be a lonely passage, ye may lay ter that.

Watch, now, as Skipper causes the lad to fall into a deep, peaceful sleep. While he slumbers in his hammock with the distant sound of steel drums drifting on the breeze, Skipper takes a rib from the lad’s side, a heavenly touch creates a lass fine and fair as any lad could ask. Now the lad wakes, eyes wide, his tongue hangin’ out, and his armpits dripping with nervous sweat. He tucks one foot behind the other, and says sheepishly, “This be bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. You shall be called woman.”

“I very well shall not!” the lass replies. “My name be Eve.”

“Eve? Ye sure?”

“Look.” Pointin’ east, she says, “It be about to get dark.”

And so it was for though neither could be below the horizon a storm black as night be brewing.

Skipper blessed them both, sayin’, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the seas and the skies and all that moves upon the earth!” (Genesis 1:28) Genesis 1:28 The pair lived in peace, hearts full of love, the island surf as good as any ye might find breaking on shallow reefs and sandbars.

But then, that dark storm arrived, and with it a rival fleet flyin’ a blood-red flag with a devilish imp sproutin’ horns and holding a pitchfork. It wasn’t long before that sly snake of a captain set his eyes upon the lass. He whispered lies, and the lass, tempted by his cunning words, offered the lad a bite of some forbidden fruit. New to such delights and not wishing to disappoint his new—and only crew—the lad took a bite.

With this ill-fated choice, the fair winds of paradise became a gale.

Sin entered the world, and Skipper called to him, “Surf’s up. Why aren’t you out there?”

The lad answered, “I heard you sorting through my boards, but I was afraid, for I be naked, so I hid myself.”

“Who told ye ye were naked? Did ye eat from the tree I told ye not to?”

“I cannot tell a lie. The lass you made for me, she be one fine example of yer handiwork.”

“Thanks, but ye were warned.” (Genesis 3:8-13) Genesis 3:8-13

Back where Skipper gathers to confer, he said, “Behold, the lass has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he take from the tree of life and live forever, I must boot him off Paradise Island.” (Genesis 3:22-24) Genesis 3:22-24

Though cast out, the lad still held authority over the earth. Skipper commanded the pair to be fruitful, multiply, and build surf shops so others would have a place to buy surf wax. But now, with the curse upon the land and sea, toil and hardship would follow. “Be fruitful and increase; rule over the fish, the fowl, and all the beasts of the earth,” Skip said, “But cursed be the ground, for in pain ye shall eat of coconuts and pineapples.” (Genesis 1:28, Genesis 3:17) Genesis 1:28 Genesis 3:17

Even cast out and cursed to sail the Seven Seas, the lad still prospered, enjoying abundance in all he did, favor from others, and protection from Skip. (Genesis 12:2-3, 17:6, Deuteronomy 28:7, Galatians 3:29) Genesis 12:2-3 Galatians 3:29 (Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 28:1-14) Exodus 19:5-6

But aye, free will be a tricky thing, and that curse ter believe a lie and rebel against the better judgment of Skip be mighty indeed. Generation upon generation fell fer the lies of the sly snake of a captain, the devil.

Abraham, despite Skipper’s promise to bless him with a son through Sarah, took Hagar as a concubine, had relations, and from their union came Ishmael, whose descendants remain a foe to the offspring of Isaac. Yet, even after Old Abe messed up, Skipper’s promised blessings fell upon his descendants with the refreshment of rain from heaven. (Genesis 16) Genesis 16

Lot, blessed alongside Abraham, chose to live in Sodom, a city full of sin and debauchery. Despite his righteousness, Lot lost a lot—all his possessions, his wife, and two sons-in-law. Only he, his two daughters, and a case of good red wine escaped the city’s destruction. (Genesis 13:12-13) Genesis 13:12-13

Jacob, blessed by Skipper, still carried the nature of a lying, thieving pirate. His life, marked by struggle and deception, was filled with strife, and yet Skipper’s plan continued through Jacob’s twelve sons—a brood who became the twelve tribes of Israel. (Genesis 27, Genesis 29:25) Genesis 27

Moses, a bit of a hot-head, but favored by both Skipper and Pharaoh, took matters into his own hands and murdered an Egyptian. For this, he fled to the desert, delaying the deliverance of Israel by thirty years. (Exodus 2:10-12) Exodus 2:10-12

In each instance, the sin of one man led to pain and suffering. Many a lubber has asked why Skipper allows suffering. They claim if Skip doesn’t stop bad things from happening, He can’t be a loving God. But Skip’s Code of Conduct makes it clear: Skipper gave us authority over land and sea, creatures, and ourselves. Why, He can no more make us do what’s right than a father can make his boy do what’s right. Free will means all have the right to go their own way—or the wrong way. And what we do, good or ill, has consequences far beyond our tiny vessel.

Like Eve, Abe, Lot, Jaco, and Moses, too often we listen to the lies of the enemy. Skipper did not cause Abraham to take Hagar into his tent, Lot to live in Sodom, Jacob to deceive his father and steal Esau’s blessing, or Moses to lash out in anger and kill that Egyptian.

The good news, me hearty, is that we still enjoy the same authority that lass and Eve once had. In the Son, we inherit the same blessings and promises of Abraham and those with Moses under the Law. But glory be, we got a boatload more! In the Son, we also inherit the riches of heaven.

Because we be in the Son and the Son be in us, we be like a bottle floating in the sea. We be the vessel—the bottle—that be in the water, the Son. Except some of that water also ships inside us. So now we be in the water, but the water also be in us.

And because the Son be in us—some with only a splash, some filled—we have the power and authority to do the works the Son did when He walked on land and water.

The Son said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.” He promised that through the power of the Holy Spirit, those who believe in Him will do even greater works. Believers in the Son have the same power that raised Him from the dead. The Son granted us authority to heal, cast out devils, and overcome all the power of the captain of that enemy fleet. Along with healing and power over dark forces, we also have spiritual gifts like prophecy and miracles. As ambassadors for the Son, we carry His message of reconciliation, acting on His behalf to bring justice, heal the broken, and reach out to the overlooked. By the Holy Spirit, we are equipped to be the Good News, spreading abundant life to all. We have the light of the Son inside. We have the authority of the first lad, and we carry the authority of the first lad raised from the dead—the Son, Jesus.

With such authority, let us go forth and be the light of the Son into this dark world, destroying the works of the devil. (Matthew 28:18-19) Matthew 28:18-19 (John 14:12) John 14:12

That be yer charge, crew. Don’t shirk yer duty. Skipper has given us all we need to blast the enemy fleet out of the water. Man the cannons, mate! Give him a blow! The time be now to use the weapons and authority ye received to live the life Skipper prepared fer the first lad—one of abundant life and long waves wrapping onto a sandy shore!

Deep Dive

Quiz

In this pirate-themed retelling of the creation story, what is the name of the owner of Paradise Island and what is the “lad” given?
How does the pirate narrative depict the fall of man?
What is the significance of the “bottle in the sea” analogy in relation to the believer’s relationship with the “sun?”
What were some of the consequences of the choices made by the figures such as Abraham, Lot, Jacob and Moses?
What is the significance of the metaphor of the ship’s wheel?
According to this narrative, why does the owner of Paradise Island allow suffering?
In this pirate narrative, how are believers instructed to use the power they have received?
What does it mean to be salt and light?
What do prayer and the Bible represent within the context of this narrative?
What is the central message of the narrative?

How the Hosts of Shadowland Missed Some Key Points

The Role of Prayer in the Christian Life

Podcast Addition: The podcast emphasizes the role of prayer as central to the believer’s relationship with Skipper (God). The hosts use prayer as the means to “tap into the Son’s infinite wisdom and power.”
- Source Material: Prayer is never mentioned or referenced as a tool for guidance or empowerment in the narrative. While the idea of seeking guidance is implicitly part of the biblical story, the specific mention of prayer as a tool for spiritual action is an additional interpretation.
Difference: The podcast places heavy importance on prayer, which wasn’t directly referenced or introduced in the source material. The original story focuses on the narrative events and human actions, rather than a prescribed spiritual practice like prayer.

Free Will and God’s Sovereignty: The Tension and the Truth

In the opening chapters of Genesis, we see the fundamental principle of free will in action. God gives Adam and Eve the choice to obey or disobey His command. The tree of knowledge of good and evil is placed in the Garden of Eden not because it was inevitable that Adam and Eve would sin, but because God gave them the freedom to choose. God’s sovereignty is never in question—He is fully aware of their choices, yet He allows them to choose freely.

God’s Sovereignty and Free Will:
- Sovereignty means that God is in control of all things, working out His divine purposes in the world. However, sovereignty doesn’t mean that God forces human beings to act in a particular way. Instead, He allows humans to exercise their free will.
- Free will means that human beings are given the ability to choose between different options, even when those options are contrary to God’s will. From the moment Adam and Eve were placed in the garden, God provided them with freedom of choice, and this continues through all of humanity.
The Fall: Free Will and the Consequences of Choice:
- Adam and Eve’s decision to eat the forbidden fruit was an exercise of their free will. They chose to disobey God, and as a result, they experienced the consequences of their choice: separation from God, pain in life, and ultimately, death.
- But even here, God’s sovereignty reigned. While Adam and Eve’s free will led to sin, it did not stop God’s greater plan for redemption. The plan for redemption through Jesus Christ was set in motion, and God worked through humanity’s mistakes and the consequences of those mistakes to bring about His sovereign will.
The Role of Human Responsibility:
- God does not override our free will—but He does work within our free will. Even when we make sin or make foolish choices, God’s sovereign will brings about His ultimate purposes.
- Consider the story of Joseph in Genesis. His brothers freely choose to sell him into slavery. This evil act was done by their own free will. Yet, through this evil act, God worked out His will for Joseph’s life and the preservation of His people. Joseph himself later reflects on this truth, saying:
  - “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).
- God allows human free will to play a role in the unfolding of His plans, but He is sovereign over all outcomes. Even when we sin, God can redeem those situations and use them for His good purposes.
God’s Sovereignty Does Not Invalidate Our Free Will:
- The Bible does not present a fatalistic worldview where everything is predestined and human beings have no role to play. Instead, it presents a world where God sovereignly works through human choices, even bad ones, to bring about His divine purposes.
- Example of King David: David, a man after God’s own heart, exercised his free will when he sinned with Bathsheba. Yet, God worked through David’s repentance and forgave him. David’s line became the lineage through which the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come. God’s sovereign plan continued despite David’s sin, showing that God does not override human choices but works through them.
The Ongoing Role of Free Will in the Christian Life:
- Believers today are still given the freedom to choose how they respond to God’s call. While we are called to follow Christ, our choices matter. As believers, we are still responsible for our actions, but we are also empowered by the Holy Spirit to choose obedience over sin.
- The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) underscores the idea that we have a responsibility as believers to actively participate in God’s work, spreading the Gospel and making disciples. But this is not a forceful mandate—it’s a voluntary, chosen action.
God’s Will in Action Despite Our Choices:
- The Bible consistently shows that God’s will will be accomplished no matter the choices humans make. Even when humans choose sin or evil, God still brings His plan to fulfillment.
- For example, God’s plan for Israel to be a light to the nations continued even when the Israelites were disobedient. Despite their rejection of His law, God used their failures to teach them and others lessons of mercy, justice, and grace. The suffering of Jesus due to the choices of people—those who crucified Him—was part of God’s sovereign will for the salvation of mankind.

Free Will and Sovereignty in Harmony

In summary, free will and God’s sovereignty are not at odds. God’s sovereignty ensures that His ultimate purposes will be accomplished, no matter the human decisions that seem to derail the plan. But at the same time, God gives us the freedom to choose, and He works within those choices—whether good or bad—to bring about His will. This is the beauty of God’s plan: He does not override our will but continues to shape and guide us through our choices, redeeming our mistakes and using them for His greater glory. God’s sovereignty is not diminished by our free will, but instead, it works through our free will to fulfill His divine purposes.

Key Themes and Ideas

Paradise Lost (Creation and Fall):

Pirate Analogy: Paradise Island, a lush resort owned by “Skipper” (God), is home to “the lad” (Adam) and “the lass” (Eve).
Core Biblical Elements: The creation of Eve from the lad’s rib, their initial harmony, and the introduction of a serpent-like antagonist, the Devil, who tempts Eve are all retained.
Temptation and Deception: The devil, leading a “blood red flag” ship, uses sweet lies to entice Eve with forbidden knowledge.
The Fall: Eve offers the lad the forbidden fruit. He accepts, leading to “paradise lost.” This is represented by a storm, symbolizing the chaos sin brings to the world.
Consequences:The lad and lass are banished from Paradise Island.
Work becomes toil, and life becomes a struggle.
The effects of their sin extend to the entire world.
Initial Authority Retained: Despite their fall, the lad and lass retain authority over the earth, albeit in a more challenging context.
Quote: “And boom, paradise is lost. The gentle trade winds turn into a raging Gale and sin enters the world.”
Key takeaway: While they sinned and had consequences, God did not abandon them and some original authority was retained.

Human Choices and Their Consequences:

Abraham: Despite Skipper’s promise, Abraham had a son with Hagar out of impatience. This choice had “lasting consequences”, leading to tension between Isaac’s and Ishmael’s descendants. This highlights that choices driven by fear or impatience can have unintended long-term effects.
Lot: A righteous man, Lot chose to live in the wicked city of Sodom. He and his family suffered greatly when the city was destroyed, losing possessions, his wife and two sons-in-law, illustrating the danger of compromising with evil and being negatively influenced by your surroundings.
Jacob: A “slippery character” known for deceit and ambition, Jacob tricked his father and stole his brother’s blessing. However, Skipper remained faithful to Jacob, and his story culminates in the formation of the 12 tribes of Israel, demonstrating that God’s plan unfolds despite human flaws.
Moses: A man chosen to lead the Israelites, he succumbed to anger and committed murder which resulted in him having to flee for his life, which demonstrates that even the most faithful can fall to temptation. However, he was later called back and redeemed to fulfill his destiny.
Quote: “It’s a reminder that our choices, even those made out of fear, Fear or impatience can have a ripple effect we may not foresee.”
Key Takeaway: The lives of these figures demonstrate that we cannot escape the consequences of our choices and the importance of trusting in God’s timing.

The Problem of Suffering and Free Will:

Free Will: Skipper granted humans the ability to choose their own path which includes the capacity to make choices that bring pain and suffering.
Responsibility: With free will comes the responsibility for our actions.
God’s Guidance: Skipper does not abandon those who struggle, but acts like a “lighthouse keeper,” always shining a light to guide them back to safety.
Quote: “It’s like Skipper handing us the ship’s wheel and saying, ‘You’re free to sail wherever you want, but pay attention to the charts and be mindful of the storms.'”
Key Takeaway: While we have freedom, God doesn’t abandon us, and offers guidance.

Redemption and the Power of Jesus (the “Sun”):

Jesus as the Ultimate Treasure: Jesus is the “buried gold at the end of the map.”
The Indwelling Presence: Believers are compared to a “bottle in the sea” – vessels filled with the presence of Jesus, the “sun” which also transforms from within.
Empowerment: Through the Holy Spirit (the “sun’s” essence), believers are given authority to perform the works of Jesus: to heal, break chains of darkness, and overcome the enemy. This power comes from the Holy Spirit.
Discipleship: Believers are called to be disciples, spreading the “good news” and bringing the light of Jesus into the world.
Unique Spiritual Gifts: Believers are given unique spiritual gifts for the mission of spreading the “good news”.
Quote: “…we are empowered by the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.”
Key Takeaway: Jesus’ work is the source of our power, and we can have His essence within us, allowing us to do his works in the world.

Living Out the Faith:

Prayer: Through prayer, we access God’s wisdom and power, “hoisting the signal flags” to headquarters, essentially asking for guidance and direction.
Bible: God’s code of conduct (“The Bible”) acts as a “treasure map” or instructions for navigation through life.
Salt and Light: Believers are called to be salt and light, to preserve, add flavor, illuminate, and positively impact their communities, standing up for what is right and sharing their faith.
Community: Believers should encourage each other, pray for each other, and work together to advance God’s kingdom like an “armada” working in coordination.
Quote: “Through prayer, we tap into the sun’s infinite wisdom and power.”
Key Takeaway: Living out the faith involves active reliance on prayer, seeking guidance from the Bible, and proactively making a difference in the world.

FAQ: Navigating Life with a Pirate Twist

What is the central idea of this “pirate” retelling of the creation story?
This retelling uses a pirate analogy to explore the biblical creation and fall story. It presents a “Lad” and “Lass” in a paradise island setting, given everything they need by the “Skipper,” who represents God. However, temptation arises in the form of a “dark storm” and a “sly snake,” leading to the loss of paradise, mirroring Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. This narrative highlights themes of free will, temptation, consequences, and ultimately, the hope of redemption.
How does the “pirate” analogy portray the concept of sin and its consequences?
In this pirate narrative, sin is represented by the “dark storm” that disrupts the harmony of paradise after the “Lad” and “Lass” partake in the forbidden fruit. This storm symbolizes the chaos and struggle that enters the world due to their disobedience. The consequences are that work becomes toil and life becomes a struggle against the elements, mirroring the biblical curse upon humanity after the Fall.
Why doesn’t “Skipper” prevent the fall from happening?
“Skipper” represents God, who grants free will to humanity. He allows the “Lad” and “Lass” to make their own choices, understanding that this freedom also carries the risk of wrong decisions and their consequences. This illustrates that God doesn’t control us like puppets but rather allows us to choose our own path, with the understanding that choices have ripple effects.
How do the stories of Abraham, Lot, Jacob, and Moses contribute to this narrative?
These figures are used to showcase how even those chosen by God or those who attempt to live righteously can make significant mistakes with far-reaching consequences. Abraham’s impatience led to Ishmael, Lot’s compromise led to devastation, Jacob’s deception led to family strife, and Moses’ anger led to murder and exile. These examples highlight the complexities of human nature and the ongoing struggle with temptation and poor choices, illustrating that even God’s chosen people aren’t immune to these challenges. The overarching message is that God is not surprised by or giving up on the mistakes that are made.
What is meant by the phrase “the believer is like a bottle in the sea”?
This analogy represents the indwelling presence of “the sun” (representing Jesus) within a believer. The believer is the bottle, and the ocean represents the vastness of God’s love and grace. Moreover, some of the ocean water enters the bottle, transforming it from the inside out. It’s not just about receiving external blessings but also being filled with the essence of the son. This highlights the transformative power of having Jesus within us, rather than just following him from a distance.
What kind of power and authority do believers possess through the indwelling presence of “the sun”?
Believers are empowered by the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, granting them the authority to heal, break the chains of darkness, overcome temptation, and perform miracles. They become vessels for God’s work in the world, capable of doing the works that Jesus did, reflecting his light in the darkest places. This is not about becoming “mini skippers” with their own authority, but acting in accordance with the power and authority given to them by Jesus.
What does living out this “abundant life” look like in practical terms?
Living out this abundant life involves aligning our hearts and wills with God’s, starting with prayer and studying the Bible. We are called to be “salt and light” in the world, making a positive impact, standing up for what is right, sharing the good news, caring for the poor and the sick, and fighting injustice. We are to actively be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world, spreading his love and grace.
What is the final message of this “pirate” narrative?
The final message emphasizes the incredible power and authority that believers have through the indwelling presence of “the sun.” Believers are not alone but have a powerful resource available through the Holy Spirit. They are called to act as a “fleet of ships” each carrying the light of the sun, embracing the adventure of transforming the world with love and hope. They do this work with the power they have received from Jesus and are not acting alone.

Posted on Tuesday, January 7, 2025

The Lord Will Give You Success

Steal This Sermon—Sermon Source Material

Listen to the podcast on Spotify!

Introduction: Setting the Foundation
Church, let me ask you this: How often do you engage with God’s Word? Daily? Weekly? Or maybe just on Sunday mornings? Today, I want to talk about how consistent engagement with Scripture isn’t just a good habit—it’s the key to success, peace, and blessings in every area of our lives.

1. Obedience Brings Blessings

Scripture tells us that obedience is the first step to unlocking God’s blessings.
Proverbs 3:1-2 says, “Do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.”
Jesus Himself said, “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love.”
When we walk in obedience, we remain in the flow of God’s love and favor, and blessings—both spiritual and practical—follow.

2. Prosperity Through God’s Word

Let’s not confuse biblical prosperity with worldly riches. God’s prosperity encompasses peace, purpose, and provision.
1 Kings 2:3 reminds us: “Walk in obedience to Him… so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.”
When we align our actions with God’s teachings, He blesses the work of our hands.

3. Stay Connected to Jesus

Remaining connected to Jesus is essential. John 15:5 says, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Church, let His words take root in your heart. As you do, you’ll see your desires align with His will, and He will fulfill them.

4. Engage Daily with Scripture

You wouldn’t go a day without eating, would you? Why go a day without feeding your soul?
The Bible isn’t just a book; it’s your daily bread. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Read, listen, think, and believe. Seek a fresh word from the Lord every day. God has something new for you in His Word every morning.

5. The Danger of Neglecting God’s Word

Ignoring Scripture isn’t just missing out; it’s stepping into danger.
Without God’s Word, we become like a ship without a rudder—unstable, aimless, and vulnerable.
Hebrews 2:1 warns us: “We must pay the most careful attention… to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”

6. Live Like Jesus

If you want to experience God’s blessings, walk as Jesus walked.
1 John 2:5-6 says, “This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.”
Show mercy, speak truth, love others deeply. As you do, your life becomes a reflection of God’s love.

Call to Action: What Will You Do Today?

Read God’s Word Daily: Start small—read a verse, a chapter, or a devotion. Make it a habit.
Pray for Guidance: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what God wants to say to you today.
Live It Out: Don’t just be a hearer of the Word; be a doer. Love like Jesus. Act with mercy and truth.

Closing: The Blessings Await

Church, when you walk in obedience and immerse yourself in Scripture, God promises blessings:
- A long life filled with peace.
- Favor with God and man.
- Prosperity in your work.
- A love made complete in Him.
- And above all, the abundant life Jesus came to give.

Don’t wait until tomorrow. Start today. Engage with God’s Word, and watch Him transform your life! Amen.