Back in September of 2019 I had a dream or maybe it was a vision. I'm not sure which because sometimes I'm asleep, near awake or in a deep state of prayer. What I know in my heart is that I saw the finger of God with the number 9 balanced on top. I knew it was God's finger because it was suspended from the heavens.
          The dreams or visions of other people can be hard to envision in our own minds. That's pretty normal as they're not meant for us anyway. God has a unique relationship with every person He foreknew before He place them in the womb. Last night while praying to know what I would write about today, the word or number nine appeared in my mind followed by the thought of "John 9."
           Jesus meets a blind man (could have been me or you!) His buddies the disciples ask Him, "Who sinned, this man or his parents?" That might seem like a goofy question to us, but some teachers during that time believed in prenatal sin. Jesus reply is an application we can use everyday, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but it was so that the works of God might be displayed and illustrated in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world [giving guidance through My word and works].” John 9:3-5 AMP
          How many times have we seen a homeless person begging on the side of the road and wondered why he's in such a bad state? Maybe he sinned! Instead of wondering about the cause of his predicament, we'd be better off showing mercy and love. Maybe the situations, problems and struggles we come upon in life were by design so that the glory of God can be revealed. We judge people all day long and miss opportunities for the revelation of His glory. I know I need to judge less and act more. 
          Homeless folks, diseased folks, divorced folks, lonely folks, addicted folks - they all have dreams and visions too. What if we looked at all the people we meet as as a potential dreamer or visionary? 
          My wife and I left Buffalo, NY and moved to Flagstaff, AZ in the ninth moth of 2019. We know He moved us here as He provided all we need to get here and live here. Pay attention to dreams and visions, God may be giving you a glimpse of how He will reveal His glory through you. I believe His glory is only revealed through us when we humble ourselves enough to act with grace, mercy and love. 

DAY NINE WORD 

After this, I will give my Spirit freely to all kinds of people. 
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.    
Your old men will dream dreams.    
Y​our young men will see visions.
Joel 2:28 ICB

For the vision is yet for an appointed time,
but at the end it shall speak,
and not lie:
though it tarry, wait for it;
because it will surely come,
it will not tarry.
Habakkuk 2:3 KJV    
For all [these] things are [taking place] for your sake, so that the more grace (divine favor and spiritual blessing) extends to more and more people and multiplies through the many, the more thanksgiving may increase [and redound] to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:15 AMPC

DAY NINE PRAYER

Thank you God for my frailties and weaknesses. They give me a glimpse of myself in the face of other people. None of us are sin-free. None of us are humble enough to always reveal your gory through our thoughts and actions. Forgive us for wrongly judging people when You've placed them in our way as opportunities to reveal Your Glory. Amen.

DAY NINE DEEP THOUGHTS

• Our heads are asking questions when our hearts ought to be dispensing compassion.
• We search for reasons to explain poverty instead of serving with mercy and grace.
• Without suffering there would be no need for mercy.
• Ask not why they're suffering, ask what you can do to alleviate their suffering.

"Jesus will soon show a different way. He won’t dwell on the theological puzzle, but on actually helping the man. “It is ours, not to speculate, but to perform acts of mercy and love, according to the tenor of the gospel. Let us then be less inquisitive and more practical, less for cracking doctrinal nuts, and more for bringing forth the bread of life to the starving multitudes.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

          Pontius Pilate was shrewd and knew how to be abusive and controlling. He'd put down a few insurrections in his tenure as Governor of Judea.  The local folks had rioted a few times because of his policies. The Roman Government was ruthless in controlling its subjects. They used crucifixion as a torturous form of execution for insurrectionists.
         An insurrection is an open rebellion against an authority or government. Those involved engage in willful disobedience and a refusal to maintain law and order. Pilate knew how to turn a protest into an insurrection. He had to be shrewd in calculating his response to Jewish uprisings in his territory. Some of his good friends had been executed. Rome was quick to execute any government leaders accused or suspected of treason. Political enemies were either murdered or were executed on fraudulent charges.  They held elections, but only candidates they approved of could run for office. 
          Pilate had to quiet this insurrection as soon as possible or he might be the next politician executed. During one insurrection, the people were mad because he had taken some money from the Jewish Temple and used it to build an aqueduct. Flavius Josephus was a Jewish priest, scholar and historian. According to Josephus, Pilate had Roman soldiers dress as Jews and hide clubs under their garments. As the insurrection continued, a signal was given for the disguised guards to beat people.  Many were wounded, some were killed and a multitude were arrested. Among those who were arrested were folks who were innocent and folks who were guilty. A guy named Barabbas was charged with murder. 
          Barabbas was a bad dude who fought against Rome. The Jewish leaders were afraid of a teacher named Jesus. If you don't know the story, He was healing people and teaching folks to turn the other cheek. He was about love and mercy. Jesus was a threat to the hypocritical religious laws of the ruling Pharisees. They were portraying Jesus as an insurrectionary to the Roman authorities who was more dangerous than Barabbas. Both Pilate and the Jewish leaders were trying to protect their political base and control of power. 
          To gain favor with the people he oppressed, Pilate had instituted a yearly custom of granting clemency to a prisoner. A large crowd had gathered as Pilate sat in his judgement seat. He brought out Barabbas and Jesus and asked the crowd which one they wanted released. The chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas to be released. Eventually Jesus was crucified - at the urging of the people.
          Methinks Pilate knew that crucifying Jesus would calm the storm of insurrection in his city. Little did he know that the insurrection would lead to a crucifixion and then a Resurrection. If you're not familiar with that story. Jesus died for a purpose. You can read about it in John 3:16."For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
          
DAY EIGHT WORD

And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
​Mark 15:7 KJV

Now Jesus stood before the governor. “Are You the King of the Jews?” the governor asked Him.
Jesus answered, “You have said it.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He didn’t answer.
Then Pilate said to Him, “Don’t You hear how much they are testifying against You?” 
But He didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Messiah?” For he knew they had handed Him over because of envy.
While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!”
The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”
“Barabbas!” they answered.
Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?”
They all answered, “Crucify Him!”
Then he said, “Why? What has He done wrong?”
But they kept shouting, “Crucify Him!” all the more.
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!”
All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them. But after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into headquarters and gathered the whole company around Him. They stripped Him and dressed Him in a scarlet military robe. They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and placed a reed in His right hand. And they knelt down before Him and mocked Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”  Then they spit on Him, took the reed, and kept hitting Him on the head. When they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.
Matthew 27:11-31

DAY EIGHT PRAYER

God we admit to our own insurrection in Your kingdom. We've rebelled against Your authority. Instead of obeying your perfect rules, we've gone our own selfish ways. Forgive us God. Make us new in Your grace. mercy and love.
Amen.

DAY EIGHT DEEP THOUGHTS

          The picture above was found by some young people on a mission trip to the inner-city of Buffalo, NY. The cross is made from old clothes pins with a beer can ring top affixed to the back. They were part of a Christian Youth Group and were gutting an old liquor store as a first step in creating a mission home for folks in need. They found the cross on a wall upstairs and presented it to me. I cried, overwhelmed by their thoughtfulness and how God can reach young people through clothespins in an abandoned liquor store. 
          It's been broken for awhile. I want to fix it, but I'm hesitating because I think there's a message in the brokenness. They didn't break any of Jesus' bones on the cross, they didn't  have to. The Holy Spirit gave me a message along time ago during one of the darkest times of my life. He said, "Through brokenness, you're given a greater capacity to love."
          There are many broken relationships in the world around us. There is no new type of brokenness under the sun. Death, divorce, disease or the divisiveness of a country; the only answer is the Love of God.

          There's an old school song called "Pretty Woman" written in the '60's by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees. The song came to mind this morning when I thought of a gritty woman Deborah. She was one of the most influential women in the Bible. Her nation had been brutally suppressed for 20 years. Deborah, a Prophetess and Judge stepped forward and courageously motivated men to achieve a great victory.
          When I lived in Buffalo, NY, I bemoaned the cost of $141 million dollars to build a Federal Court House. Youth centers were short on money and many kids were turning to crime. Deborah in the Bible used to judge under palm trees. The YWAP/Holy Cross Youth Center In the basement of an old Catholic Church served as a meeting point for kids from all over the city. The rules were simple, no cussing, no trash talking and respect the ladies. 
          Youngsters are always pushing the boundaries of rules. A young lady was being antagonized by some guys in the game room. I walked into the room just as she lost her cool and dropped the "F-bomb." As soon as she saw me, I could see instant tears well up in her eyes. She knew the penalty for cussing was being kicked out of the you center for the rest of the day. She made a move to collect her belongings with the intention of leaving.
          I was cut to the heart and immediately thought of Jesus talking to the woman who was going to be stoned by a group of hypocritical men. I asked her to step into the study area where some younger children were working on homework. I said she could stay if she agreed to help them. I also asked her to read about Deborah in the Bible. We talked about how Deborah was a leader when men were slacking off. From that day forward I called that young lady Deborah. Her friends thought I didn't know her name, but we just smiled. She learned a lesson on leadership and was given a new name.
          Under the leadership of Deborah, an army of 10,000 men were encouraged go up against their enemies. Jabin was the King of Canaan and the commander of his army was Sisera. The King's army was soundly defeated and Sisera the general was killed by another gritty woman, Jael. After that thee was peace in the land for forty years. Thank God for gritty women!

DAY SEVEN WORD

A Wife of Noble CharacterWho can find a virtuous and capable wife?
    She is more precious than rubies.
Her husband can trust her,
    and she will greatly enrich his life.
She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
She finds wool and flax
    and busily spins it.
She is like a merchant’s ship,
    bringing her food from afar.
She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
    and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
    with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She is energetic and strong,
    a hard worker.
She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
    her lamp burns late into the night.
Her hands are busy spinning thread,
    her fingers twisting fiber.
She extends a helping hand to the poor
    and opens her arms to the needy.
She has no fear of winter for her household,
    for everyone has warm[b] clothes.
She makes her own bedspreads.
    She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
Her husband is well known at the city gates,
    where he sits with the other civic leaders.
She makes belted linen garments
    and sashes to sell to the merchants.
 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
    and she laughs without fear of the future.
When she speaks, her words are wise,
    and she gives instructions with kindness.
She carefully watches everything in her household
    and suffers nothing from laziness.
Her children stand and bless her.
    Her husband praises her:
“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
    but you surpass them all!”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
    but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Reward her for all she has done.
    Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
​Proverbs 31:10-31 NLT


DAY SEVEN PRAYER

Thank You God for relationships between men and women. You created women to be leaders in many ways. Thank You for the times You've put Your hands on women's hearts to lead when men were slacking. Help us all to respect each other as Christ loved the church. Amen.

DAY SEVEN DEEP THOUGHTS

The Palm of Deborah Pillars of Leadership

• Be still and know God.
• Be strong and courageous.
• Ask God for wisdom.
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
• Lead people by being with the people.
• Guide people with truth, accountability and sincerity.
• ​Be humble and give grace.

          Given the current state of affairs in America, it's possible you might believe this story is about a politician. There are similarities to the "fool" and "almost fools" in this story, but they lived long before today's politicians were born. This story is about a leader who almost became a fool because of the actions of another fool.   
          David was the future King of Israel and that made some folks hate him. King Saul was jealous and was out to murder David and rid himself of a political threat to his Kingship. David had a following of about 600 men who stayed on the move ahead of Saul.
          At one point they helped maintain the safety of a group of sheep herders. The sheep were owned by a very wealthy man named Nabal. His name means: "foolish, senseless." It was customary to take care of the guys who went out of their way to form a wall of safety around the sheepherders. One of Nabal’s men told him that David’s men formed “a wall around us, both day and night, the whole time we were herding our sheep near them” (1 Samuel 25:16). When David sent men to ask Nabal for some provisions for his hungry men, Nabal told them to get lost. He had no intention of sharing his wealth. He was ungrateful and foolish. 
         David became angry when he heard Nabal's response. Nabal knew exactly who David was and insulted him by saying, “Who is David? Who is Jesse’s son? Many slaves these days are running away from their masters."
(1 Samuel 25 10 HCSB) In his anger, David told his men to get ready for battle. They were going to kill Nabal and all of his (innocent) men in foolish revenge for being insulted. 
          God always has a plan. The fool Nabal just happened to be married to a very intelligent woman named Abigail. When she heard of her husband's stupidity, she acted quickly to avert a disaster. She gathered supplies and took them to David and his men. She asked for forgiveness. Her humble apologies and a calming effect on David. Abigail's kind heart and quick action stopped David from acting foolishly.
"Then David said to Abigail, “Praise to the Lord God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today! Your discernment is blessed, and you are blessed. Today you kept me from participating in bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand. Otherwise, as surely as the Lord God of Israel lives, who prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, Nabal wouldn’t have had any men[a] left by morning light.” Then David accepted what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace. See, I have heard what you said and have granted your request.” 1 Samuel 25:32-35
          In the morning, after Nabal had slept off his drunkenness from the night before, Abigail told him what she did. "Then he had a seizure and became paralyzed. About 10 days later, the Lord struck Nabal dead." 1 Samuel 25:37-38 HCSB God always takes care of business. Don't let a fool make you angry enough to become a fool.

DAY SIX WORD

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 
“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”  
Romans 12:19 ESV

For the one who sows to his flesh
[his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses]
will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction,
but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:8 AMP

DAY SIX PRAYER

God thank You for wisdom, insight, and knowledge. You give us discernment when we ask You. You keep us from becoming fools and suffering the consequences of foolishness. Forgive us for our anger, lack of discernment and becoming fools needlessly. Our flesh is foolish and our spirits are weak, but as we trust in You we're redeemed by the precious blood of Your Son. Amen.

DAY SIX DEEP THOUGHTS\
Today's Deep Thoughts are taken from, Proverbs 26:4-12 HCSB

• Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness or you’ll be like him yourself.
• Answer a fool according to his foolishness or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.
• The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
• A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like lame legs that hang limp.
• Giving honor to a fool is like binding a stone in a sling.
• A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by the hand of a drunkard.
• The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by is like an archer who wounds everyone.
• As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
• Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

          Our focus chapter in the Bible for this time of fasting is Nehemiah. He was famous as a leader who prayed. He managed a construction project that was finished in God-speed. He encouraged the folks in Jerusalem to work as a team as they rebuilt the City wall in only 52 days. Nehemiah spent more days in prayer than he spent working on the wall rebuild.
          Nehemiah heard the sad news about the deteriorating state of Jerusalem and was in prayer and fasting for many days. That's the "surface-read" of the words in the Bible. If you go a little deeper, you'll find he first heard the news in the month of Chislev (Nov.-Dec.) on the Hebrew calendar. Three months later in the month of Nisan (Mar-April) Nehemiah approaches King Artaxerxes. You could make the case that Nehemiah prayed for approximately 120 days before he presented his case to the King.
          Even standing before the King, he prayed again. "The king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your presence, [I ask] that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, so that I may rebuild it.” Nehemiah 2:4-5 AMPC
          You don't have to be a mathematician to see that 120 days is greater than 52 days. I think the message here is very clear, spend more time in prayer and your workload will go smoother. Give God your gifts and He will line up employment for you.

DAY FIVE WORD 

If you are uniquely gifted in your work, you will rise and be promoted.
You won’t be held back—you’ll stand before kings!
Proverbs 22:29 TPT

In all the work you are doing, work the best you can.
Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23 ICB

Lord our God, be pleased with us.
Give us success in what we do.    
Yes, give us success in what we do.
.Psalm 90:17 ICB

I gave them this reply, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start building, but you have no share, right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 2:20 HCSB

DAY FIVE PRAYER

Thank You God for the success You've already given us. You established the work of our hands for us. You've taught us which way to go with the gifts You've given us. Grant us more success so that we may give You glory. May all of our work be done in excellence in You name. Amen.

DAY FIVE DEEP THOUGHTS

• It's a good idea to pray before a meeting with your boss.
• Nehemiah identified with sinful people in humility, he didn't stand above anybody.
• Nehemiah was a team player in prayer and work.

          Nehemiah was cut to the heart from the news given to him by his brother who just arrived from Jerusalem. He spoke of disgrace, broken walls and burned down city gates. He wept when he heard the news. It caused him to arrive at a place of prayer and fasting for a number of days.
          If you were living in a faraway land and you heard that the neighborhood your family grew up in was in shambles, you'd most likely be cut to the heart. You may or may not be compelled to take action. Leaders arrive at the conclusion that action is needed. Nehemiah arrived a place of reaching out to God. He spent many days fasting and praying. 
          He was the Cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah's job was to taste the drinks given to the King to make sure they weren't poisoned. After about four months of fasting and praying, Nehemiah arrived before the King with a sad face. When the King asked him what was wrong, he told him the sad state of the city of his ancestors. The King listened and asked how he could help. Nehemiah once again arrived at a place of prayer before he answered. He was face to face with the most powerful man in the land, but he still stopped to honor a more powerful God.
          The King gave him permission and provisions for travelling to Jerusalem and begin reviving the City. After he arrived in Jerusalem, he secretly inspected the damaged City walls at night. He waited until the right time to tell the people about what God had laid on his heart to do. Finally Nehemiah told City Leaders how God's hand had been on him. The message from Nehemiah about God's graciousness arrived in the hearts of the City Leaders and encouraged them to say, "Let's start rebuilding!"
           There were enemies and doubters who mocked and threatened them. The enemies invited Nehemiah to meet at the house of God under false pretenses with the purpose of ruining his reputation. He refused to go and refused to arrive at a place that would ruin his reputation as a leader and possibly stop the rebuilding.
          The result of Nehemiah's actions was the rebuilding and arriving at the restoration of Jerusalem's wall in only 52 days. This was accomplished through fasting, prayer and arriving at the place of action by the hand of God.
          Life is a series of arrivals. Arriving at a place of fasting and praying can lead to a place of revival.   

DAY FOUR WORD

So it was, when I heard these words,
that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days;
I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, 
You who keep Your covenant and mercy
with those who love You and observe Your commandments, 
please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open,
that You may hear the prayer of Your servant
which I pray before You now, day and night,
for the children of Israel Your servants,
and confess the sins of the children of Israel
which we have sinned against You.
Both my father’s house and I have sinned.
Nehemiah 1:4-6 NKJV

When the day of Pentecost had arrived,
they were all together in one place. 
Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven,
and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 
And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided,
appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 
Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different languages,
as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.
​Acts 2:1-4 HCSB

DAY FOUR PRAYER

God thank You for waiting for our arrival. We're slow in coming to repentance and changing our ways. You stand at the door of our hearts and knock, forgive us for being slow to answer. Nehemiah prayed and said we're all guilty, he included himself. We do the same today God, we're all guilty. You allowed Jesus to arrive once in this world and we made Him suffer because of our sinfulness. God we want Jesus to arrive in our hearts today. Let Your Presence be in us as the contagiousness of your Holy Spirit. Arrive and revive us in You. Amen.

DAY FOUR DEEP THOUGHTS

• My Mom always used to say: "Haste makes waste!" When Nehemiah received word of Jerusalem's brokenness, he didn't hurry into action without fasting and praying. His first urgency was to arrive at the heart of God for direction. Wisdom says go to God first before you hurry into action.
• Arrival can also be a departure. Seeking the will of God before you commit to action may cause you to avoid an arrival that will hurt you. God can cause a departure from your original plans. You may arrive at a decision to terminate your mission.
• "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 

          2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

          Betrayal happens everywhere. Friends, family, business, politics, war, religion and any other place where people are in close contact with each other. If a guy like Judas can be a close friend of Jesus and still betray Him, what hope do the rest of us have? Is betrayal an inherent gene in our family history? Where does betrayal begin?
          The word sullenness describes the countenance of a person who is resentfully silent in a gloom and angered mood. It usually happens when a person doesn't get their own way. All of us become sullen at some point in our lives. What we do in our state of sullenness determines whether we'll be released from our gloom or start planning an act of doom - a disastrous destiny.
          Betrayal can begin through sullenness. According to the Blue Letter Bible, the word for sullen in Hebrew is "car" (pronounced "sair.". The Outline of Biblical Usage describes sullen as, "stubborn, implacable, rebellious, resentful, sullen." In 1 Kings 20-21 you can read about a King named Ahab who could easily have been called King Sullen. His wife was Jezebel who could easily have been called Queen Sullenness. Together they took sullenness to the darkest levels of murder and mayhem. Sullenness can take us there too if we're not careful, especially where unrepentance is festering.
          Ahab grew his first sullen roots of resentment when he heard from a Prophet that God was not pleased with him. Ahab was given a victory by God, but he didn't finish the job. He let the enemy go when God had intended for the evil to be totally eradicated. That was the first stage of Ahab's sullenness. Ahab was sad and upset, but he had no thought toward unrepentance (admitting his sin and changing his ways.)
​          The next phase in Ahab's journey to greater miserableness happens in a neighbor's vineyard. King Sullen approaches his neighbor Naboth about buying the vineyard and is told "No!" The owner said the plot of land had been in his family for generations and he would never sell it. King Sullen's mood darkens as his greed is left unfulfilled. He trudges back to his palace in a pathetic state of hopelessness. After telling Queen Sullenness his sad tale of woe, she devises an evil plan. Jezebel was a nasty woman bent on destroying what she couldn't cotrol.
          The sad continuation of Ahab's sullenness journey includes lies and the betrayal of Naboth who was a good man. Men are hired to lie about Naboth and accuse him of blasphemy against God. Their false accusations are used to declare him guilty and he's sentenced to death by stoning. After the murder, Ahab takes over Naboth's vineyard. For a brief time Ahab and Jezebel are as evil and happy as can be. Everything in life though, eventually come full circle, especially when you go against the will of God. Ahab died when an arrow found its way into a small space in his armor. Jezebel was thrown out a window and her body was eaten by dogs.  
          Sullenness left unchecked will stretch into evil. Take your moods to God. It's interesting that the perpetrators declared a fast before they began the proceedings against Naboth. Evil people can fast too, make sure you're fasting to give honor to God. The devil will use people in leadership to take a country down, one false accusation at a time.

DAY THREE WORD 

There was no one like Ahab. No one had so often chosen to do what the Lord said was wrong. His wife Jezebel influenced him to do evil. 
1 Kings 21:25 ICB

​Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.   
​Acts 3:19 HCSB   

Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent.
Acts 17:30 HCSB

For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.
​Colossians 3:25 HCSB

The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.
Colossians 3:25 MSG

DAY THREE PRAYER

God we're sorry for being a moody people. Selfishness causes us to covet things that don't belong to us. We sulk when we don't get our own way. Offenses from other people drag us into the pit of sullenness. God You sent Your Son to say, "Not my will, but Your will be done." Forgive us for wanting our own wills above your will God. Turn our sullenness into repentance as your turn our sorrows into dancing. Thank You God for Your patience. Amen.

DAY THREE DEEP THOUGHTS

• It's hard to sulk when you are giving folks compliments.
• When sullenness hits, examine your heart from all sides. 
• Moodiness is an emotion that can be physical, mental or spiritual. When you're sinking into sullenness, ask God for the cause and the remedy. It may be repentance. Act intentionally, with purpose and expediently.  

          Once upon a minute there lived a teenager named Joe who was loved deeply by his Dad Jake. The youngster had 11 brothers, most of whom were jealous because their Dad treated him like his favorite son. Joe was a dreamer whose dreams irritated his brothers and sometimes even his Dad.
          The brothers allowed the jealousy to fester in their thoughts until it became hatred. One day they hatched a plan to get rid of Joe. They sold him to some slave traders passing through on their way to Egypt. They knew they couldn't go home and tell their Dad that Joe was sold so they made up a lie. Jake had given Joe a beautiful coat of many colors. The brothers killed a goat and soaked Joe's coat in blood. Arriving at home, the brothers showed the coat to their Dad and asked, "Is this Joe's coat?" We think a wild animal must have torn our brother to pieces and he's dead!  Jake fell to the ground crying in agony, his favorite son was dead.
           You can imagine how hard this must have been for a parent to lose a child. You probably can't imagine praying for the child to come back to life. This story is told in Genesis Chapters 37-50. Before we go any further, take a look at the picture above. A bed of dead pine needles, fallen leaves and a fallen pine cone. Would you ever consider praying to have them put back on the trees they fell from? Of course not, some things are too ridiculous to pray for. Jacob believed his son Joseph was killed by wild animals. He's dead and you don't pray to bring the dead back to life.
          Bad things happen in life, but there's a great Bible verse that says, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28 NLT. Jacob had no way of knowing that Joseph wasn't really dead. He would never pray for a dead son devoured by an animal to come back to life. I'm not telling you to pray impossible prayers, sad things do happen and we can't reverse them, but God has a plan.
          In a minute you can read the end of the story about Jacob finding out Joseph was truly alive. Stop for a moment and think about the impossible prayers you would never pray. Most often the dead don't come back to life, but we will see many of them in eternal life. With man some prayers are impossible, but with God all prayers are possible. There is always hope for a better future in God no matter how bleak the present is. Trust that God is carrying out His purpose. I encourage you to read the entirety of Joseph's life story. He was a slave, lied about, betrayed, a prisoner - who became God's servant to save people during a famine. His bones were carried into the promised Land. Dare to dream as Joseph did. Your triumphs and tragedies all have a purpose in the heart of God.

DAY TWO WORD

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it.
Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!
And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
"So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.
Now hurry back to my father and say to him, `This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay. You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me--you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.
I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.'
"You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you.
Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly."
Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping.
15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
When the news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers, `Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.'  "You are also directed to tell them, `Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.'"
So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes.
And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey.
Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, "Don't quarrel on the way!"
So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.
They told him, "Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt." Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.
But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.
And Israel said, "I'm convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
Genesis 45:1-28 NIV

Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20 AMP   
      . 
DAY TWO PRAYER
          God we thank You for Your impossible ways. You make a way when there is no way. Dead ends become life lessons when we seek Your wisdom. Fallen leaves and dead pine needles become the mulch of understanding. Pine cones are merely woody containers for the seeds inside. They provide new life when they are released. The cross was merely a woody container for the eternal life released through the resurrection of Christ. You are the God of the impossible and we praise You and give You thanks. Amen.

DAY TWO DEEP THOUGHTS

• When young mothers were grieving over the death of their sons from to gun violence, we always guaranteed that we'd keep their sons alive through our words. We would speak words of life amidst the tragedy of death. The purpose of those words is to help others avoid at risk behaviors that cause tragedy.
• Joseph's brothers caused tragedy out of jealousy.
• God turns tragedies into triumphs.         

          Fog on a mountain obscures your vision. If the fog gets too thick you may have to cut off your plans to reach the top of the mountain. Many folks have experienced abandonment in personal relationships. It usually starts in childhood where one or both parents skip out on their parenting responsibilities.     
          Abandonment in childhood can cause an emotional fog to form as it creates a fear of close relationships. As the child grows into adulthood, the fear becomes irrational and they begin to believe all people will eventually abandon them. That's like saying all mountains will have fog and all mountain treks will have to be aborted.
          I'm not a psychologist, but I have the experience of being an inner-city youth pastor for over 20 years. Many young people will allow you to get so close and then they push you away. They get a sick feeling in their gut when you get too close. They start to think of all the other people who got so close and then left them. Fear takes over and they start to sabotage the relationship. Instead of working through the fog, or waiting for it to clear, they enter into the "fight & flight" stage. 
          It takes an enormous amount of commitment to work your way through the abandonment fog. You most likely will experience some pain, but try and remember where the pain is coming from. The root is fear and it's not about you.
          My best advice is to hang in there with compassion as long as you can (and it's safe to do so.) Do your best to make the person feel worthy of being loved. Let them know you will never leave them or forsake them. Make them aware of the abandonment fog. Some folks will cut you off entirely. It will hurt, but remember - "It's Not About You!" Explain what you know about abandonment issues and be patient.
DAY ONE WORD (You Are Worthy of Love!)
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. - Genesis 1:27
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. -Psalm 139:13-16

And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You,
For You, O Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You. Psalm 9:10 Amplified Bible
DAY ONE PRAYER
God I thank You for the fog you put in my life. It makes me slow down or stop. It causes me to be still and know You are God. Too many folks feel unloved and unworthy of being loved. Abandonment and rejection have been their only family. Give us eyes to see each other the way You see us - made in Your image and likeness. We can never do enough to earn Your love. You freely love us. Help us to freely love others without worrying about how long they will be in our lives. Only you know the future. Help us to live as if the future is short and love each other in greater ways on all of our days. Amen.
DAY ONE DEEP THOUGHTS
1. Know Your Childhood - Examine your upbringing and acknowledge any abandonment issues you might have.
2. If you are dealing with someone who might push you away, make a decision to forgive before the hurt happens.
3. Always Be Ready To Be Blessed! "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12 NKJV

          Dedicating a new year to God is a great way to launch a fresh start. Many folks begin each new year with a 21 day fast. There are no laws that dictate how to fast, but change of diet is the main focus. A Daniel Fast is 21 days of fruits and vegetables without sweets, coffee and most other favorite foods. The purpose is to get closer to God.
          The YWAP Fast produces results in several ways. We ask God for a "Word for the Year." The word may come before, during or after the fast. You'll know when it happens. It's almost like a word gets indelibly imprinted on your heart. A word will stand out in your thoughts. When it does, it's wise to ask God if that truly is His Word for your season.
          This year we feel like God is impressing upon us a season of cutting away. Sometimes cutting something away is a good thing. Sometimes cutting away represents a loss. In the picture above, a knife is being held in front of Jesus on a mountain. Jesus would often cut Himself away from crowds to go be alone and pray to His Father. The knife was a gift from my son Steve after I lost another knife he'd given me when I dropped it climbing some boulders. The letters "LY" mean "Love You," followed by :) (a smiley face.)
          Jesus knew the value of removing Himself from the crowds to go and "Be still and know God." (Psalm 46:10) I take the knife Steve gave me every time I go into the mountains. My Bible is also  with me and I do find time to pray. During this fast, I'll spend a lot of time in the Book of Nehemiah. It contains great lessons on leadership. When he heard that the homeland of his ancestors was in ruins he was cut to the heart by sadness. He did something about it.
          It's time to do something extraordinary for God. A fast is a way to embark on an adventure that only God can plan. His adventures are above and beyond anything we cold imagine or plan on our own. Everyday from January 4-24 we'll post what God is teaching us. We hope you'll fast with us. God wants to be close to you.
​          Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.

           Communion is a great way to start each day of your fast. Jesus said to do this in remembrance of Him.
The Last Supper
(Matthew 26:20–30; Mark 14:17–26; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)
14When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles. 15And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering. 16For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. 18For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
19And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
20In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.b