For about eight hours many folks were praying for a man to leave the booze alone. He came to a church service and asked for prayer. He had slept in the nearby bushes the night before. The odor of alcohol was stronger than the smell of dead fish from the pond beyond the bushes. He was still drunk.
          He was a long time alcoholic who took up drinking to help him get over his meth addiction. For a person to enter DETOX, they have to be at the end of themselves. He seemed ready to step out of the sewer he was living in. DETOX is where you go to dry out and get ready for some long term help in beating your addiction.
          We told him if he didn't drink for eight hours, we would take hi to a place to get help. Most facilities will not let you come in unless you pass a breathalyzer test. The only option is a DETOX center and the closest one was about 60 miles away. He called me eight hours later and we picked him up at a local Shelter. He didn't make it eight hours without a drink. Our options of where to take him were limited.
          We drove the 60 miles to Winslow, Arizona.  We talked and prayed along the way. As we got close, he asked if we could get him some food. He finished his sandwiches in the parking lot of the DETOX Center. When we got to the door, a staff member took his temperature as a precaution against COVID-19. He was good to go, but he would have to wait until they admitted the guy ahead of him.
          Just like a firecracker exploding, the previously docile man suddenly got very angry. He exploded in accusations and then stalked off into the night. He had been there the month before and never finished the program. It turns out that he's burned many bridges with community agencies trying to help him.
          We left him on a corner in Winslow, Arizona. We were a little angry after having spent a few hours driving and feeding this man. We though we could help him. We think he was at least a little bit serious about getting his life in order. Sadly he headed down the darkened streets into an even darker future.
          Addiction cycles through many generations of families. The destruction of relationships is evil. This man talked a lot about demonic spirits that tempted him. We'll keep on praying for him and other families broken by addiction. Surrendering to Christ leads to the greatest victory known to humankind.
          Never give up. Keep praying. Never give up.        

     You might find it hard to believe that Ryan Musgrove has only been in town for a short time.
     When he hikes a mountain, it's easy to see his determination to finish what he starts. 
     As he gets to know people, he finds ways to help them become stronger in their walk with God.
    Planning for the future is something Ryan leans on God for. He's a leader who's good with people. He realizes there's a lot to learn in becoming a great leader. He has that potential, and if he stays leaning on God, he'll climb the mountains of life as a mentor for many young people.
     Congratulations Ryan on being named "Disciple of The Month!" This is only the beginning, stay humble, stay in the Word, stay teachable, stay prayerful and lean on God for finding your purpose. Jesus loves you and so do we,

     Yielding to the bondage of a deadly virus has affected everyone.
     Waiting for the disease to pass over us can cause fear.
     Accepting things beyond our control is humbling.
     Parting the seas of fear is hard, but with God's help it's very doable.
          Most folks have been stifled by quarantines and social distancing. Some suffer a lot more than many others. Food and necessities have begun to run out for many in homes and shelters. Home-bound, sheltering in place can leave us feeling helpless and hopeless.  It's time to stand your ground and adopt the indomitable will of a YWAP Scrapper!
          A YWAP Scrapper is someone who exhibits courage, resiliency and perseverance in the face of insurmountable odds. You feel like there are thousands of things you cannot do, but in truth there are thousands of things you can do. YWAP Scrappers develop a mindset that looks for unlimited potential where others see only impossibility. For the rest of this article, will give you some advice on how to emerge from your cocoon of struggle and create new opportunities as a Scrapper.
          YWAP is a mentoring organization that helps folks build a Christ-like character. We're always on the move collaboratively working alongside many other great organizations. We speak in schools, churches and community events to large gatherings - like celebrations and funerals. For now, that type of ministry is unavailable. So what do we do?​  

          In Flagstaff, Arizona there's a group of folks who belong to Church For The Nations. Pastor Daniel Williamson leads prayer every night at 7:14 PM in the parking lot of the local hospital. Folks stay in their cars and turn their flashers on. Worship music is played and Pastor Daniel prays over a microphone. In the beginning it happened only on Wednesdays, but then the folks in the hospital asked for more. Doctors, Nurses and patients were encouraged by a community that took the time to support them with their prayers and with their time.
          Take a moment to enjoy this two minute video from a hospital parking lot.
https://www.facebook.com/bob.kuebler/videos/10219909185532709

          Saying thank you can be done in many ways. Pastor Daniel urged people to make signs for the hospital parking lot saying thank you to the folks inside. You can call somebody, send a letter, send a text or even leave a message of gratitude on social media. If a kind though comes to your mind, turn that thought into an action.

          We pray at 7:14 PM for a purpose. Although we pray many Bible verses, our foundational verse is, 
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Ask God to help you pray right where you are. Pick up a Bible and pray the Word. Teach your children to pray. 

          This is Pastor Daniel's truck filled with food supplies for two different organizations. There is a package of Jesus Wristbands protecting the eggs. Those wristbands that say, "Jesus loves you and so do we" and "YWAP4God" went to "The NAOMI House"- Native American Outreach Ministries Inc. Children immediately put those wristbands on (and grabbed some snacks too!) We stayed for a short while and asked about their needs. You can help them from right where you are anywhere in the world by praying, giving or just sharing their needs. Here's a glimpse of who they are from their website.
 Campaign for Awareness InitiativeNAOMI House has a burden to "raise awareness" for Native American Children in need.

• Underneath the resilience, and beauty of childhood lies extreme peril and often unspeakable trauma.
• We believe that it is important to shed light, to the best of our ability, to the realities of growing up indigenous in America today. So much brokenness. So much darkness. So much pain, hurt and injustice. We have a responsibility to give them a voice. If we don't speak up for them, who will? If we don't give them hope, who will?
• A place like NAOMI House is actually needed on most reservations in America. In fact, tonight there is a child in need of a place to be safe and will have nowhere to go.

Many people just don't know we exist, or why, and we have a powerful story of HOPE to tell.
Who Can Host a Gathering of Caring People?...

• CHURCHES - Sunday Morning or Mid-week service
• Sunday School Class
• Bible Study
• Church Missions Board
• Women's Group or Event
• Living Room

Isaiah 60:1 "Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you."
          Our next stop was at a gas station to deliver the bulk of the food to pastor's from the Navajo Nation. Reservations have been hit hard by the virus that sweeping the world with deadly carnage. The food was the first shipment as Pastor Daniel's vision is to help the Navajo's start a food pantry. There were five of us all together and we maintained social distancing to the best of our ability - no hugs or handshakes, just a couple of "elbow-bumps."
          Not all Scrappers can get out and deliver life sustaining necessities, but we all can do something. I believe the biggest thing we can do is pray. That's what 2 Chronicles 7:14 is telling us- "get humble before God and pray." Scrappers will do anything to make a difference - one scrap at a time. At YWAP, we believe; "he who is faithful with small scraps of opportunity will be trusted with large scraps of opportunity." Grab a scrap and make a difference!

         A definition for "scrapper":  

1. A person who fights doggedly, who exhibits indomitable will.
   He's a real scrapper, even against impossible odds, he always keeps fighting.

https://www.yourdictionary.com/scrapper

You can find out more information about the Scrappers at the native American Outreach Ministries at:
​thenaomihouse.org

cftnflag.com Church For The Nations Flagstaff is a group of Scrappers doing big things in small ways to help many people at home and across the world.
​

          There is power in your words when they are spoken from what you believe in your heart. I'm not talking about some polyannaish attitude of being absurdly optimistic. Speaking to your mountain is a Biblical principle that sets a chain of events in action that will help you overcome your troubles. Yes a positive attitude helps, but it's more important to follow the leadership principles of God to help you climb the mountains of life.
          We all have many battles throughout our lives. Many of us don't really know what are battles are about. Some folks battle drugs or alcohol and don't know why. It could be an attempt to cover the pain of an abusive childhood. Anger is a destructive mountain that could be caused by fear. Addiction can begin with curiosity or an attempt to escape sadness and depression. Any struggle that steals, kills or destroys human life is a mountain to be conquered. It's tough to conquer something if you don't know what it is.
           You must know your mountain before you can speak to your mountain. Asking God to search your heart is a great beginning for a plan to know your mountain. Ask God to make it totally clear what it is that you are battling against. Begin taking the steps of courage, walking hand in hand with God and learn how to be transparent with Him. You may need the help of a counselor or friend - IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP! Courageous people ask for help when they need to, it's a sign of intelligence and humility. 
          “God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may  be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting ways—the path that brings me back to you.”
Psalm 139:23-24 (TPT)
          Once God makes it clear what you need to overcome in your quest to remove the mountains in your life, begin to speak against them. The first word to speak against the obstacles in your life is love. It may seem like an odd word to think about when you're facing hard times, but love is the answer. I'm not telling you to love your problem, what I'm saying is that if you develop a mindset of love, answers to your problem will begin to grow as you renew your mind in Christ. You don't have to love the mountain you have to overcome, but you can show love in the challenges of your life. Jesus did not love being put on a cross, He did it because He loved us.
          It is possible to be a conqueror without love, but God created us to be more than conquerors. Every mountain has been placed in your life for the purpose of revealing God's overcoming glory through your life. Develop a list of Bible verses that you can repeat whenever you're facing the temptation to fall in the shadow of your mountain. Speak God's Word to your mountain.
          “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.” Philippians 4:13 (AMP) 
          DAY 15 WORD
     “The only temptations that you have are the temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to stand it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 (ICB)
     “What are you, O great mountain [of obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who will rebuild the temple] you will become a plain (insignificant)! And he will bring out the capstone [of the new temple] with loud shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” Zechariah 4:7 (AMP)
     “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” 
Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)
     “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” 
Ephesians 6:10-11 (NKJV)
     “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” 
Psalm 119:9 (NKJV)
          HEART THOUGHTS
     Experience is a great teacher and will allow you to love folks still walking in destructive habits that you overcame.
          HEART REFLECTIONS  
     Find a person or organization that needs mentors.
     Give grace away to someone in need of the grace that God has so freely given you.
     "Grace, Grace to it!."

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
​#ywap40daysofLent #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not [a]love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 (AMP)

          The other night at a basketball program sponsored by Anointed Athletics, I had an interesting conversation with a Native American man named Joseph. We were sitting on the sidelines waiting to get in the game and he shared with me his story of how he came to be saved in Christ. He also shared how getting saved was only part of the story of removing generational curses from his life.
           Accepting Christ into your life is the most important thing you can ever do. There is a great deal to be said about all that Christ has done for us and getting saved is only the beginning. Imagine accepting a Bible as a gift and you put it on a shelf without ever opening it. You'd be missing the power of declaring God's promises over your life. My friend Joseph said he was saved, but not healed from generational curses. At first he was led to believe that once he was saved, all his past was gone. His sin was gone, but the residue of that sin or the generational curses remained until they're removed. He did finally get healed when someone  gave him a deeper teaching on the healing that comes with Believing in Jesus. Now he's saved and healed.   
          It's possible to be saved and remain in bondage to sin. As a saved person who is now a new creature in Christ, we need to allow the Sun of righteousness to arise within us with healing in His wings. All diseases are a result of the fallen condition of man. Generational bondage is repeating the sinful history surrounding you. No matter who hands you sin, you must not pick it up and repeat it. No matter how much you get stabbed in the back, you don't pull the knife out and return the wounds. Letting go is hard, but that's Christ's way of love.
          Last Sunday (3-8-20) at Church for The Nations Flagstaff, Pastor Daniel Williamson gave a powerful teaching about Communion. Now you need to understand that I'm an old-head who's been walking with Jesus for many years. Still, my world sometimes gets rocked by new insight and revelations of God's power. Pastor Daniel or PD as folks call him, blasted a home run over the walls of my flesh into the bleachers of my spirit. He talked about the sacrifice of Christ on the cross - His broken body and poured out blood. He gave a very graphic demonstration of how Jesus was whipped 39 times before He was crucified. If you read yesterday's devotion, you would have read about "39 rivers of blood." 
          I've been intently focused for the last few days on PD's words about the 39 lashes Jesus received and how they  represented 39 diseases. The Bible says we are healed through the woundings of Jesus. Some folks will miss the point and argue about the number of disease classifications in the world. None of that matters to me. Here is what does matter. Jesus died for all of my sins. He died for all of your sins. Jesus died for every sin I committed against you. Jesus died for every sin you committed against me. All of our sins were healed through the woundings of Jesus. There is no room for me or you to be wounded when all of the wounds we've caused have been cast upon Him. There's no room in the torn flesh of a wounded Christ for us to continue wounding each other. Jesus doesn't allow it and neither should I. 
          Through PD, God gave me a revelation that has revolutionized my way of thinking. Anyone who has done me dirty, already has their dirty deeds covered in 39 rivers of blood. I have no right to hold something against them that has already been removed by Christ. While it's true that they owe their debt of repentance to Christ, I must recognize a debt that's already been paid by Christ. Whether they accept it or not is none of my business (unless I can help them in knowing Christ.)
​          All sin has been covered by the actions of a Father who loved us so much that He allowed His Son to die so that by His stripes we are healed. God desires that none of us should perish so nobody has to. All you have to do is accept that you are healed from your sinful condition by the woundedness of Christ. Jesus granted mercy and grace to me when I didn't deserve it. I don't have any right to pierce those who've committed transgressions against me. I must give mercy and grace as it flows from the 39 rivers of the blood of Christ's forgiveness. 
          DAY 14 WORD
“But it was because of our rebellious deeds
     that he was pierced
and because of our sins
     that he was crushed.
He endured the punishment
     that made us completely whole,
          and in his wounding we found our healing.”
Isaiah 53:5 (TPT)
“He personally carried our sins
     in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
     and live for what is right.
          By his wounds you are healed.”
1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)
          HEART THOUGHTS
     Forgiveness begins with yourself - for what you have done and what you have failed to do.
          HEART REFLECTIONS  
     Spend a few moments for as many days as you need to let this sink in:
          "All of us have sinned. Jesus paid the price for all of our sins.
         I have no right to hold onto a debt that's already been paid by Christ."

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
​#ywap40daysofLent #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW

          I can't feel my body.
I stand here naked and unfeeling.
My leaves have left me; they fell away in the fall.
I'm exposed to the bitter cold of winter judgment.
My branches stretch out like arms with frost bitten fingers.
My sap no longer flows; my lifeblood seems frozen inside me.
          I can't feel my body.
I'm in a place of unfeeling, a place of lonely coldness.
My bark is crystallized, imprisoned with ice.
Some branches are broken from the weight of the snow.
My roots no longer stretch in the frozen earth below.
The leaves I once wore are blown away by the arctic air.
          I can't feel my body.
So why can I feel pain?
Where do I feel pain, if I can't feel my body?
Some pain is my own. Others have hurt me and now their pain I own.
I watch people suffer and I soak up their sufferings like rain.
In a prison of pain I am frozen, in a cell all alone.
          I can't feel my body.
I know I can pray. Should I ask for the pain to be taken away?
Or is the pain a gift designed by God to give me a lift.
Is all of His creation a classroom for me?
Out of my bleakness can I develop a "seekness?"
Can I seek spring and the healing warmth it will bring?
          I can't feel my body.
I was a tree in the beginning, at the very first Fall.
The Fall of you, Mankind, because you wanted it all.
I held the fruit you picked that caused you guilt and shame.
You wear it now like a mantle; it's become a part of your name.
Unable to take it off, you react in fear pointing fingers of blame.
          I can't feel my body.
I was a tree cut down and floated through town on 39 rivers of blood.
A Man was made to carry me and all of you upon my sturdy wood.
They froze Him to me with cold steel, pounded through His hands and feet.
I held Him like a leaf until He died and fell from my branches.
His last words I remember: "Please give them second chances."

          Jesus rent the veil of our fleshly resentment with his sacrificial death. Let your resentment die. Sacrifice your resentment on the cross of forgiveness. Rip the curtain that separates love from fear.
          DAY 13 WORD

"Get rid of your bitterness,
hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred.
Be kind to each other,
sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ."
Ephesians 4:31-32 GWT
          HEART THOUGHTS
Deprivation reproduces through unforgiveness. 
Resentment is repetitive through unforgiveness.
Shame is recreated through unforgiveness.
Blame revives shame through unforgiveness.
          HEART REFLECTIONS  
Make it your prayer to ask the Holy Spirit how to minister to shame filled people.

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
​#ywap40daysoflent #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW

          The huge giraffe took the leaves from my wife's hand, but wasn't satisfied. Looking for more, he swung his humongous neck around for a second pass at her. This time his long tongue passed over her face causing Linda to scream and laugh simultaneously. My wife now has a fond memory of having her face licked by the tallest animal on earth. Everything about that giraffe spoke of the largeness of God's creation.
          Growing as tall as 18 feet, the giraffe has a very expansive view of its surroundings. Its neck alone is a about six feet and stretches high into the sky. There are several benefits that come to mind when thinking of being 18 feet tall. Number one, a greater view would enable you to see your enemies coming when they're still far away. Number two, if you're that tall, you can see more opportunities at greater distances.  
          Giraffes don't stay in one place, they move around a lot. Sometimes folks who follow Christ get wrapped up in church activities that consume much of their free time. It's like huddling in the safety of the herd. That's not a bad thing for a season, but we can't be God's Light in a dark world if we stay in our comfort zone. The giraffe has enemies and many of the calves born to them die young. Lions will attack and kill to make this huge animal into a big meal for their family. Sometimes lions wait until a giraffe is in the vulnerable position of bending down to get a drink. Ironically, even with a six foot neck, a giraffe has to bend its knees and almost squat to get a drink. In His mercy, God created the huge animal with the ability to obtain water through the vegetation that it eats thereby minimizing the need to bend down at the watering hole. They only have to drink every few days. Staying high and alert for danger helps the giraffe survive.
          To support the massive size of the giraffe, God created this beautiful animal with a gigantic heart. The giraffe's heart is about two feet long and weighs about 25 pounds. So the giraffe has a big heart and stands tall with the ability to see danger and opportunity from far away. There's a connection between eyesight and the heart. Both danger and opportunity require heart action whether running from danger or running to opportunity. ​“My son, give me your heart
And let your eyes delight in my ways,” Proverbs 23:26 (AMP)
          Your protection from danger is determined by how much time you spend in God's Protection Manual - the Bible. He has a plan of protection against dark powers of this world that will steal, kill and destroy. As believers in Christ we are called to stand tall and have a heart for folks in need. Let your heart beat for opportunities to be compassionate as you stay alert to temptations that will drag you don.
          DAY 12 WORD
     “For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels,      nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers,”
     Romans 8:38 (AMP)
     “Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating      in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this      dark world in bondage.”
     Ephesians 6:1 (TPT)
     “Above all, have [a]fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks      unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].”
     1 Peter 4:8 (AMP) 
          HEART THOUGHTS
     What animals have habits that you can apply to a Bible teaching?
          HEART REFLECTIONS
     Write a short lesson for children about God teaching His Word through animals and teach it to an adult..

​Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
​#ywap40daysoflent #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW

          The "God-Card", don't leave home without it! Yes my friends, if you're looking to get a heavenly hand to give you the upper hand in what you want, play the God-Card for an unfair advantage! Playing the God-Card is using God as your reason or excuse to make a decision as you cover up truth. People who play the God-Card come from both sides of the religious aisle; believers and non-believers. 
          Playing the God-Card is telling folks you're "holier-than-thou" while behaving in an underhanded manner. A guy will tell a girl he loves Jesus so he can try and have sex with her. Some guys go to church during their courtship of a woman and quit church after their married. People apply for jobs, rental apartments and negotiate better deals by portraying themselves as believers in God because the people they're dealing with are into God. "Hey I'm into God just like you, this was meant to be! God must want us to do this!"
          God does bring people together. God does give us messages on a regular basis, but using God to gain an advantage is wrong. Many people have been fooled into accepting bad business deals or personal relationships by folks professing to have a relationship with God. We feel bad when we get burned, but rest assured God always takes care of business in the end. A simple way to put it is, "you reap what you sow." 
“Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8 (MSG)
          It's not wise to make decisions based upon someone's proclamation of believing in God. Decisions should be made after prayer and include some common sense. It's okay to take risks and show compassion, but God does want us to be frugal. Without frugality, generosity dries up. If you let somebody rent an apartment because they played the "God-Card" and they leave you in the lurch for thousands of dollars, you have to ask yourself if you made the right decision. You can't be generous and support people in need if a bad decision has left you in need. Wisdom makes decisions while including the revelation of God's Word. The Holy Spirit does talk to us in a still small voice, but God will never tell you to be dishonest in your relationships. The Word of God is the Truth of God and tells us how to live in the Way of God as our character displays the Life of God.
          Some believers use the words, "God told me" so much it would lead one to believe that God is speaking to them in an unending rap song. Playing the God-Card as a believer, whether you think God has spoken to you or not, can lead to a stumbling block for unbelievers. Just for the sake of definition and clarity, a believer is someone who professes their faith in Jesus Christ and follows the Truth of the Bible. A non-believer is someone who has yet to make a personal connection with God through Christ. Both believers and non-believers play the God-Card. Be honest, be true, put other people before yourself and put God ahead of all things. There are ways to misuse the name of God and playing the God-Card is one of them. Let your character reveal what you believe in by the choices you make and the words you speak.  It's okay to say that you think God is leading you to do something, but back it up with proof from His Word.
          DAY 11 WORD
     “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
     [that is, irreverently, in false affirmations
     or in ways that impugn the character of God];
     for the Lord will not hold guiltless nor leave unpunished
     the one who [a]takes His name in vain
     disregarding its reverence and its power].”
     Exodus 20:7 (AMP)
Footnote: [a]  “Using the name of God
                       in a casual, frivolous way establishes a mindset
                       that diminishes and dishonors the omnipotent God.
                       Using the name of God to abuse, manipulate, or deceive
                        invites judgment.”
          HEART THOUGHTS
     How much respect do you give God when you speak about Him?
          HEART REFLECTIONS
     Make an effort to create more holiness and reverence in your relationships when you speak of God.

​Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
​#ywap40daysoflent #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW

          My wife and I left Buffalo, New York on September 23, 2019 and arrived in Flagstaff, Arizona on September 28, 2019. We let Buffalo 165 days ago and we've been in Flagstaff for 160 days. Within a few weeks of living here, we attended a Sunday Service at Church For The Nations Flagstaff. On the first day we were there, someone asked us what brought us to Flagstaff? At the same exact second in time, both my wife and I said, "God!" 
          There are times in life when your personal desires line up with God's plans. We knew someday that we wanted to live in Arizona, but only when the time was right. My wife and I are the Directors of Youth With A Purpose which God founded in Buffalo almost 20 years ago. Linda lived Arizona for over 40 years before God brought us together. You can read our love story here - "A Mountain, The Cross & Our Love Story." When folks asked us if we would someday move to Arizona, our reply was always the same, "When we're done doing what God wants us to do in Buffalo, then we'll be free to move."
          There have been several moves in my life where I've recognized God's hand in the pre-move planning. It helps to record the number of years and days because messages can be strewn out over extended time periods in our lives. On one Sunday evening after a church service, a friend randomly said to me, "Hey if you ever need a place to stay, I've got an apartment for you." I remember thinking that it was an odd statement because I had a place to stay. Within two weeks my life turned upside down and I found myself needing a place to stay. In another instance on a Sunday morning as I was reading my Bible, my body got up and went to the cupboards and started packing the contents. I stood there dumbfounded as my brain didn't make the decision to do this, my body moved without any direction from my mind. Within about 30 days I had moved again. We need to be prepared for a move of God at all times.
          God has sent me many messages over the years in many ways. He gives me alerts when something big is on the horizon. He also connects visions that may be ten or more years apart from each other. About a year before we moved to Flagstaff, God began to drop heart-nuggets on me that simply said, "Be prepared to move." I took that seriously based upon my history of receiving God's moving messages. 
          The Buffalo Ministry of YWAP is safely and vibrantly reaching young people through a great team at The Bread of Life. We no longer need to physically be there. For several years, Linda and I have been spending a month or so in Arizona during Buffalo's coldest months. Last year as I was hiking on a mountain, from my phone I was writing curriculum, sending emails and texting messages to the YWAP Buffalo Leadership. When I put my phone back in my pocket a great big smile creased my face. God dropped another heart-nugget on me that said, "You're running a ministry from the top of a mountain! 
          Linda and I decided to check out some houses for sale in areas we would like to live. A friend who is a real estate broker suggested we talk to a mortgage broker to get pre-qualified. Being a former real estate broker myself, I knew this process would give us any answers. After looking at our income, the mortgage broker asked us to "bump up our Schedule C." That means show more income. I politely told her, "Mam, we're a faith based ministry that operates through the hand of God moving people's hearts to support the ministry. If God wants us to move to Arizona, He will open a door to make that happen." About two days later Linda had lunch with a friend. She asked my wife if we would consider staying in Flagstaff at a small house for low rent in exchange for providing services for the owner's rental home. It was an offer we couldn't refuse! God opened a door for us to move. 
          About six months before we moved, I had a vision that I can only describe as the finger of God with the number "9" balanced on His finger. If you ask me how I knew it was God's finger, the only answer I can give you is, "I knew that I knew that I knew!" It was a hand in the heavenlies with the number "9". I asked God what the vision meant and never really received a definite answer, but I knew in my heart it was related to moving. We did move to Arizona in the ninth month.
          When I believe I've received a message from God, my personal practice is to look for at least three or more confirmations of the message and one of the has to be contained in the Word. Our move to Arizona was confirmed many times over.
          God's messages can be full of mercy and grace. My wife and I were graced with what we received, we got what we desired, a move to Arizona and the opportunity to expand the YWAP Ministry. 
          DAY TEN WORD
     “But the Spirit gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." 
     Galatians 5:22-23 (ICB)
     “And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai,
     He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone,
     written with the finger of God.
     Exodus 31:18 (NKJV)
     ”Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and began writing opposite the lampstand
     on [a well-lit area of] the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace,
     and the king saw the part of the hand that did the writing.”
     Daniel 5:5 (AMP)
           HEART THOUGHTS
    Do you journal the messages that you believe are from God? Some messages will connect with years between them, if you don't keep track, you may never connect the messages.
          HEART REFLECTIONS
     Let go of your desires, surrender them into the perfect will of God. Be still and know that He is God and wait for His messages. Where is God moving near you?

​Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
​#ywap40daysoflent #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW

          There is a process that I do my best to follow when I write a book or a devotional. My plan is to ask God the day before I write, to show me what I'm supposed to write about. Sometimes it's easy and the subject readily appears through people, Bible reading, daily occurrences or a picture will appear in my mind. Today's writing has been a struggle. Last night just before I went to sleep, a picture came to mind that was almost undecipherable. The picture in my mind's eye looked like a purple fungus in a reef with the lips of an oyster. 
          My mind went blank as I went to sleep. Except for the purple picture, I had nothing to meditate on.  This morning I woke up and still had no idea what I would write about. Several things crossed my mind, but nothing took center stage in my thoughts. Maybe by the end of this writing, the Holy Spirit will bring clarity to the whole matter. How did I start writing this devotional when I wasn't sure what to write about? I went for a walk in the mountains to pray and seek some answers. 
          My morning always begins with coffee, a bible and the cat on my lap. Fungus crossed my mind several times, but the only things I could find in the Bible were mold, mildew and leprosy. All of those things are nasty. Mold and mildew are associated with fungus and grow in dark, damp places where there is lots of decay. Leprosy in Biblical times covered a bunch of skin aliments on people and rotting decay on buildings and clothing. Leprosy was known as a curse from God because of sin in people. The curse of sin, death and decay entered the world through Adam and Eve. The Garden of Eden was a perfect place without any end to life. After breakfast I took off for the mountains with the purple picture in my brain. I thought about fungus and oysters. 
          I know that sin is the decay infects our relationship with God and causes separation which can lead to hell. Some folks believe it's enough give your sins to Jesus and confess your belief in his death for your sins and his resurrection from the dead, that life will be good forevermore. The Bible does make a case for that. John 3:16 is a perfect example. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." As for me, I know I've sinned and there's still some sin in my human bag of tricks. I'm saved and I know I'm going to heaven, but I'm also not taking any chances. Why? Because I still sin from time to time - too many times! I think a good "Washed-In-The-Word" cleansing on a daily basis is a good "mold-in-the-mind" remover. Mold and mildew in my mind must be removed by the renewing of my mind. “and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude],” Ephesians 4:23 (AMP)
           My mind shifted to oysters as I walked in the shadows of the mountains. My step quickened as the subject of oysters and pearls took over my thoughts. Cool beans! Pearls are a better subject to think about instead of fungus, mold, mildew, leprosy and the dark, damp, decay of sin. Jesus told a parable abut the Pearl of Great Price. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46 (NKJV) My personal thought on that parable is that Jesus is the Pearl of Great Price. He took all our irritating sins, covered them with his sacrificed blood on the cross and gave us access into the kingdom of heaven.
          Pearls are made from oysters when an irritant invades their shell. They react defensively by covering the irritant with layers of a substance called nacre. Eventually the nacre covered irritant becomes a valuable pearl. I know my sins are covered. I also know that I still have some irritating ways that need to be pearlized (new word.) So what did I learn from all of this?
     1. Any dark areas in my thoughts that create conditions for fungus (sin) to develop and feed the decay of my life in Christ need to be washed away immediately. I need to be washed clean.  
     2. I need to ask God to examine my heart and point out any irritating habits. I ask him to cover my irritating ways in his mercy, grace and forgiveness and remove them. Then I become worthy to share the Pearl of his Love with others.
     3. Have I given everything I have to accept Jesus into my life?
          DAY 9 WORD
     “Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean.
    Remove your evil actions from my sight 
    and stop sinning![a]
Learn what it means to do what is good
    by seeking righteousness and justice!
    Rescue the oppressed.[b] Uphold the rights of the fatherless
    and defend the widow’s cause.[c]
Come now and let’s deliberate over the next steps to take together.[d]
    Yahweh promises you over and over:[e]
    “Though your sins stain you like scarlet,[f]
    I will whiten them like bright, new-fallen snow!
    Even though they are deep red like crimson,[g]
    they will be made white like wool!”[h]
If you have a willing heart to let me help you,
    and if you will obey me, you will feast on the blessings
    of an abundant harvest.[i]
But if you are stubborn and refuse to obey,
    the sword will eat you instead.”[j]
    The mouth of Yahweh has spoken.”
Isaiah 1:16-20 (TPT)
          HEART THOUGHTS
     Is there any irritating way in you? How do you handle people who irritate you? Do you give them pearls in return for them irritating you?
          HEART REFLECTIONS
     Is your heart willing to sell all that you hold precious to buy the Pearl of great Price?

​Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
Jesus loves you and so do we.
​#ywap40daysoflent #ywap4Christ #JLYAS