I am very thankful for those pioneers of the Kingdom of God, going all the way back to Abraham, who've braved the unknown and the scorn of others to press forward in their obedience to God's call and leading. We owe everything we are and have to the spiritual and natural pioneers who've faced misunderstanding and death at almost every turn to pave the way for those of us in this day to settle and enjoy the blessings and benefits, both from the spiritual and natural dimensions.

There are many pioneers still moving forward into realms yet unreached for no other reason than they heard the voice of Abba call them, and they've left all to pursue Him out of love and simple obedience. This is a lonely, misunderstood and often dangerous place to be, fraught with spiritual, mental, emotional, financial and relational pressures and warfare that we may not be aware of. I have a message for those pioneers that answered the call of God to press into the unknown: you are NOT a failure. . . . Read More ... >>>

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-13)

I want to talk on unity here. This scripture says "Till we all come in the unity of the faith". If we're ever going to truly advance the kingdom of God, if we're ever going to transform our communities, cities and nations for Christ, we're going to have to grow up together "as one" Body of Christ.

It is not enough for some of us to come into relationship and further revelation in Jesus and not be concerned with the needed contribution of our brothers and sisters in the Lord. It has never and will never work that way. We're a part of each other. The Bible calls us to be one body...the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . . Read More ... >>>

The gift is in us, but we have the responsibility to stir it up. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you" (2 Timothy 1:6).

 In the New King James Version of the Bible, the verse is translated, "Stir up the gift of God." 

The gift is not something we learn.

It is something God gave us.

It is something we need to discover and then stir up.

No one else can activate your gift for you.

You have to do it yourself. 

You stir up your gift by developing, refining, enhancing, and using it. . . . Read More ... >>>

There was a man who had four sons.

He wanted his sons to learn not to Judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away

The first son went in the Winter, the second in the Spring, the third in Summer and the fourth son in the Fall.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. Psalm 125:1, NIV

When Bryan, our youngest son, was just a small boy, he asked his dad to put him on top of a large seven-foot-high concrete platform at the library. Eddie did so. After a few minutes, Eddie reached out his hands and said, "Jump, Bryan! Daddy will catch you." Bryan was not so sure. Eddie said again, "Jump, son. I won’t let you fall. You can trust me to catch you." Cautiously, but obediently, Bryan jumped into his daddy’s arms.

About four months later, Bryan was climbing a tree at a park. When it was time to go, Eddie reached out his arms to Bryan and quietly said, “Jump.” To Eddie’s astonishment, Bryan joyfully jumped into the arms of his loving father.

Most of the disappointment and pain we have suffered have come from misplaced trust. We have loved God and trusted people. Some of those people have violated our trust. Now we must learn to trust God and love people!^{1 Beyond the Veil, pgs 125-126}