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2026: Turbulent But Fruitful, Part 2 In yesterday’s post , I mentioned that when praying regarding the coming year, 2026, the Lord led me to Acts 27 and 28. As I read and reread this passage, Holy Spirit said to me: “2026 will not be smooth sailing; it will, however, be victorious, fruitful sailing. Don’t be alarmed by the ‘storms’.” Here is a brief summary of Acts chapters 27 and 28, and of the events leading up to them. Paul had been experiencing persecution by the non-Messianic Jewish leaders, who brought him before the Roman government, in hopes that they would execute him. During the trial, Paul, as a Roman citizen, appealed to Caesar (Acts 24-26).  Paul was sent to Rome by ship under the custody of a Roman centurion, accompanied by Luke and another disciple named Aristarchus. This was no small boat; in total, 276 people were aboard the ship. Due to fierce storms and the winter season, the journey took 6 to 7 months, three of which were spent on the island of Melita, present-day Malta.  No details are provided about the trial in Rome, although Paul was obviously not convicted. He stayed there for two years in a rented home: “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31).  While there, Paul also wrote the epistles of Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians. (After leaving and conducting more missionary journeys, he was once again taken to Rome as a prisoner, and this time executed under the wicked ruler, Nero.) That is your history lesson for the day. The Shipwreck I want to focus first on the fierce storm that ultimately caused a shipwreck on Paul’s voyage to Rome. Acts 27:14 tells us it was a typhoon-force wind called a “Nor’easter.” The wind was so powerful that the sailors could no longer control the ship and had to allow the storm to carry it wherever the winds blew. They were driven by the storm for 14 days, with all hope of survival eventually lost (verse 20). At this point, Paul delivered a remarkable message to the crew and passengers: “...Paul stepped before them all and said, ‘Men, you should have obeyed me and avoided all of this pain and suffering by not leaving Crete. [Paul had warned them prophetically of the storm, in verse 10, which they ignored.] Now listen to me. Don’t be depressed, for no one will perish—only the ship will be lost. For God’s angel visited me last night, the angel of my God, the God I passionately serve. He came and stood in front of me and said, “Don’t be afraid, Paul. You are destined to stand trial before Caesar. And because of God’s favor on you, he has given you the lives of everyone who is sailing with you.” So men, keep up your courage! I know that God will protect you, just as he told me he would. But we must run aground on some island to be saved.’” ‭‭(Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭21‬-‭26‬ ‭TPT‬‬) Several incredible and important facts can be seen in this statement: The prisoner on the ship had become the pastor of the ship! Never underestimate the favor of the Lord. God dispatched an angel to support and direct Paul, telling him not to be afraid. We can expect God’s supernatural help in the storms that occur. The angel stated that the ship would be lost, but all on board would survive. He also stated that this upcoming period of ministry in Rome was part of God’s destiny for Paul, including him standing before Caesar. He added that it was because of God’s favor on Paul that the entire crew and passengers on the ship would be saved. (Who you travel with matters!) Then the angel told Paul that before arriving in Rome, they would need to make a stop on a particular island. He did not give the name of the island.  Imagine the belief and trust in Paul’s ministry that must have taken place when this was all fulfilled! But there was more sovereign intervention to come, much more. They were, indeed, shipwrecked on the rocky coast of an island named Melita, now called Malta (Acts 28.1). The name Melita means “honey,” (1)  and was God ever about to turn what looked like disaster into honey! But I’ll save that for tomorrow.  Today I want to make an application regarding 2026. The Lord said the year would be turbulent, but victorious. We can be certain that whatever transpires on our journey toward revival and reformation, God will not be caught off guard. He is Lord over the storm and can cause its power to be harnessed, becoming His - and our - servant. Without question, satan has some storms planned for our nation and the nations this year. And also without question, God has already planned how He will be victorious over them. He will show us His strategy, just as He did to Paul. Angels will be sent to help us, direct us, and protect us. Rest assured that God has placed Donald Trump in office. His favor is on our President. In His mercy, the Lord has protected him from two assassination attempts, two phony impeachments, a corrupt election, savage lies by many in the media, and the most vicious and corrupt “lawfare” in the history of our nation. There has never been anything like it in America. And yet, God has sustained President Trump and worked through all of this to further awaken him to his destiny, strengthen his resolve, and increase his wisdom. Trump has now become a sword in the hand of the Almighty. Don’t allow his brazenness and personality to distract you: God has raised up and empowered President Trump as a reformer! And the Lord’s favor is on us, the Ekklesia, also. Storms will come this year, but we are called to rise above every storm and soar as eagles with our God (Isaiah 40:30-31). We are His instruments, just as Paul was and President Trump is. We will accomplish our destiny - as individuals and as a nation - releasing the authority of the Kingdom of God here and around the world. The church will not fail, because God is leading and empowering us. We’re part of the glorious church emerging throughout the Earth, and God will finish in us and through us what He has started. Tomorrow, we will see the victories pictured by Malta. Pray with me: Father, thank You for Acts 27 and 28. What a glorious picture of Your overriding hand in history. You can cause all things to work together for our good (Romans 8:28). The passage pictures the church overcoming storms, accomplishing Your purposes, and securing our destinies. We will not fear the storms! Cause Your people to be alert to Your instructions and encouragement during difficult times, and on all assignments. We expect and will receive angelic assistance, just as Paul and others in Scripture received. We expect favor and we expect that favor to overflow onto others with whom we are connected. We expect to overcome in every situation! We pray for President Trump and his team, for leaders in Congress, and for local government leaders. Give them the fiery zeal of the Lord Jesus. Instill in them a hatred of evil and injustice. Give them increased passion to reform our nation back to righteousness and to Your purposes. Remove those who compromise and who have been overcome by a political spirit. Give us reformers. And give us revival!  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Our decree: We decree that though storms come and go, the purposes of God stand strong! Click on the link below to watch the full video. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3194.

2026: Turbulent But Fruitful, Part 1 “Come gather ’round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You’ll be drenched to the bone If your time to you is worth savin’ Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin.” (1) Secular “prophet” Bob Dylan prophesied these words in 1963. He went on to accurately prophesy to “writers and critics,” “senators and congressmen,” “mothers and fathers.” Read the rest of the song ( Link ). At that turbulent time in history, the changes Dylan spoke of did not bode well for our nation. In all honesty, change was needed, just not those that moved us further from God and His ways. History has proven that many of the changes over the last 60 years were unhealthy, and millions of Americans have now awakened to this reality. We became a nation divided, violent, conscienceless, immoral, mooring-less, and confused. Like the ancient king, Belshazzar, America has been “weighed in the balances and found wanting”  (Daniel 5:27). Dylan was right - the times were, indeed, changing.  There is good news, however: we have now come full circle. Another season ripe for great change has emerged, and reformation is now possible. The coming year will be epochal in this regard. It will be challenging, but if the praying church stays the course, 2026 will also be a tremendously victorious year - turbulent, but fruitful. When praying about 2026, the Lord gave me Acts 27-28, the account of Paul shipwrecked by a great storm while in route to Rome. God, however, transformed the ordeal into tremendous victories. As I read the passage, I heard Holy Spirit say,  “2026 will not be smooth sailing; it will, however, be victorious, fruitful sailing. Don’t be alarmed by the ‘storms’.” (Like Venezuela!) I knew the Lord was telling me that resistance to righteous change will continue and intensify this year. Revival and reformation do not equate to lack of opposition and the absence of evil. These are perilous times, which we were warned of in Scripture (2 Timothy 3:1). Evil will not be removed from earth until the Lord returns. Our mission is not to create utopia; it is to preach the gospel of the Kingdom, and disciple people and nations in the ways of that Kingdom. Though we can experience peace  internally , this will not be the case externally.  The confrontation of evil strongholds and the people operating them must and will continue here and around the world. Likewise, resistance from those losing their hold will continue. This ideological and spiritual conflict cannot be avoided. On our part, while the battle must be waged righteously and redemptively, it must be waged. Truth and justice cry out for it; righteousness demands it; reformation awaits it.  Many believers misinterpret and misunderstand what the Scriptures teach about striving for peace. The promotion of peace is often used as an argument for non-confrontation, for “getting along.” But the same Lord referred to as the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), and who Himself said “blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9), also said  “I didn’t come to bring peace but a sword”  (Matthew 10:34). The Master, who told us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek, also turned over tables, confronted hypocrites, and denounced oppressors (see Matthew 5:39, 44; 15:7; 21:12; 23:3-4, 13-14). Christ did not instruct us to always “get along” regardless of others’ actions; He did not say “don’t rock the boat” or “don’t ruffle feathers.” To the contrary, He did so and said disruptive things quite regularly.  The Bible must be interpreted as a whole, not as disconnected verses. Walking in harmony with Scripture is NOT always the absence of conflict, confrontation, disruption, or division. The law of love is NOT the law of non-confrontation, and turning the other cheek is NOT always the way to deal with unrighteousness. In the very same sermon where Jesus told us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39, 44), He went on to say that corrupt trees (corrupt people) sometimes must be cut down and cast into the fire (Matthew 7:19). Was He contradicting Himself? No. We simply must understand that loving one’s enemies does not equate to allowing them to do whatever they please, whenever they please. If such acceptance of evil were true, Ecclesiastes 3:8 would be false: “There is a time for war, and a time for peace.” Truth and justice are partners of love. While Ephesians 4:15 tells us that the truth must be spoken in love, it must be spoken! Unconditional love is not the unconditional acceptance and approval of actions; God’s love involves rooting out deception, evil, oppression, violence, and abuse, in order for His salvation and justice to occur. The gospel of peace is not the gospel of passivity toward evil.  The corruption in our government, our nation in general, and throughout the nations runs very deep. Maduro’s government in Venezuela is but one example. The greed, dishonesty, deception, ineptitude, and evil intentions of many in our government are both shocking and alarming. The number of Americans deceived by them is, as well. And in this post, time does not allow me to elaborate on the seeds of Marxism, Islam, and other ideologies that are now firmly planted and growing in the soil of America. The confrontation of these strongholds must and will continue in America and throughout the world in 2026. The breaking up of fallow ground (Hosea 10:12) must continue. Jeremiah said that rooting out, pulling down, destroying, and overthrowing evil must take place before the building and planting can occur (Jeremiah 1:10). This is all part of reformation. And as the enemies of this cleansing process see their hold on America and other nations slipping away, they will intensify their fighting, making 2026 a stormy and turbulent - but very fruitful - year. More on this tomorrow. I leave you with the following story. “In Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of a storm, he described a ship caught off a rocky coast, threatening death to all on board. One of the terrified passengers made his way to the pilothouse, where the pilot was lashed to his post with his hands on the wheel, turning the ship little by little into the open sea. The pilot smiled at the man, who then rushed back to the deck below, shouting, ‘I have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled. All is well.’ The sight of the smiling pilot averted panic and converted despair into hope.” (2) Fear not; the King is at the helm! Pray with me: Father, on this journey to America’s salvation and a worldwide revival, we are experiencing opposition. This is to be expected. Paul told the Corinthians he was experiencing a great door of opportunity, along with great opposition (1 Corinthians 16:9). The same is true today. Changing times require faith, fortitude, and determination in order to steward them appropriately. Spiritual warfare is part of the process. If growing weary and becoming faint of heart were not real possibilities, You would not have said:  “Let us not become weary in well doing, for in due season we will reap, if we faint not,” (Galatians 6:9).  We will not yield to weariness or faintness of heart this year. We will be strong with Your strength and the power of Your might (Ephesians 6:10). We will rise above every storm, soaring with You like eagles (Isaiah 40:30-31).  Give believers in America increased understanding of the need to confront evil here and abroad. Break off passivity, deception, and wrong mindsets regarding peace.  We ask for great tenacity and unwavering commitment in our government leaders as they confront evil. Deliver America from leaders who refuse to prosecute corruption, allowing it to foster in our government. Give President Trump and others continued determination to clean up the defilement rooted so deeply in our government. Cause them to prosper as they do so. Lead them as they transition the nation of Venezuela and uproot evil elsewhere. Give them tremendous wisdom. You have begun a good work in America and the nations, Father. We ask You to finish this work of reviving and reforming. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.  Our decree: We decree that we will not fear the storms in 2026, but will rise above them in victory. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.bobdylan.com/songs/times-they-are-changin/   Spiros Zodhiates, Illustrations of Bible Truths  (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1995), p. 267.

Christmas and The Cross  To incarnate, from which we get the word, incarnation, means :  “to embody in flesh; invest with a bodily form.” From a Latin word meaning “to make into flesh.” Have you ever wondered what was going through Christ’s mind before Holy Spirit transformed Him into a microscopic seed and carried Him to the womb of a young girl? The Son of God was about to become human. Did He wonder how it would feel to no longer be omnipresent? Omniscient? Omnipotent? Did He wonder how physical pain would feel? Hunger? Thirst? Weariness? Cold? Heartache? Loss?  Christ knew He would have to swim in amniotic fluids, fight His way through a birth canal, be fed, be bathed, learn to crawl, develop balance and walking skills, form words, grow, and gain knowledge. For the first time, He would experience sleep, hunger, pain, scrapes, blisters, and callouses. He would enter the realm of time. He would bleed; He was breakable. One has to wonder if Jesus ever reconsidered the plan. Since He was “the Lamb slain” before we were even created (Revelation 13:8), I don’t suppose He did. Yet, just before Holy Spirit held Him and began the transformation, there must have been at least an emotional, “Here we go…I’m about to be human!” And then He was - there was no turning back. Numerous questions come to mind as I consider Christ’s humanness: As a child, when did the first awareness of who He was begin to set in? When did He first look up at a star-filled sky and think,  I made that. When did He first recall saying, “Let there be…” When did the calculus of our solar system begin creeping back into His memory? Did He ever have a nightmare? When did He stop asking Mary questions and start explaining things to her? Did His siblings wonder at His gifts, intellect? Who was His best friend growing up? What did His laugh sound like? What was His favorite color…food? Was there any food - which He, of course, created - that He didn’t like?! At what age did His carpentry skills begin superseding those of Joseph? Did they ever joke about it? How old was He when Joseph died? Did He know it was coming? How did He deal with the pain? How did He react the first time He saw a serpent…or first observed pride, cruelty, violence, or greed? When He heard lightning, did He smile? (Luke 10:18) And when did the love that motivated His humanness - the passion for His eternal bride - begin welling up in His chest? As He fashioned wood in His carpenter shop, did He ever pause and gaze pensively toward a hill in Jerusalem? Did He ever wince when He drove nails? We will never truly understand the ramifications, intricacies, and complexities of the incarnation. Merging the limitations of “humanness” with an infinite God simply can’t be computed by human brains. Indeed, Paul referenced Christ as God’s “indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). But it is healthy to ponder it, nonetheless. We must, in fact. It is imperative that we consider the cost to Christ. It’s essential that we wonder at such love, marvel at the plan, and stand in awe at its audacity. So today, take some time to reflect on it. Sing, or listen to Silent Night, Away In A Manger, O Holy Night, or your favorite Christmas carol, and consider the words. Recapture the wonder. Read the story again in Luke’s gospel. Close your eyes and try to envision Mary’s angelic visitation. Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes - how hard would it be to believe Mary’s story? No wonder He, too, needed a heavenly visitation. Envision the stars, the stable, the manger, the Christ-child. Then, converse with Abba and Jesus. Thank them…for Christmas, yes, but also for the Cross, the end of His earthly journey and the beginning of our salvation. Merry Christmas! [Today is our last Give Him 15 post until Monday, January 5. We provide our staff a break to spend time with their families from Christmas through the New Year. Blessings!] Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Holy Night, Indeed Here is some trivia for you. Do you have any guesses about what may have been the first song broadcast from space? The crew of Gemini 6 snuck bells and a harmonica onboard. On December 16, 1965, after reporting a “strange object” moving in the skies from north to south, they played a few lines of Jingle Bells. You can click here  to hear the astronauts. (1) Have you ever wondered what the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was really about? “Though a host of modern internet sites and some magazine articles have tried to reduce ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ to little more than a silly Christmas carol, most scholars of the Catholic Church deem it a very important surviving example of a time when that denomination used codes to disguise their teachings in order to avoid persecution. They contend that it was “originally a poem written by Catholic clerics, and transformed into a carol at a time when celebrating the twelve days of Christmas was one of the most important holiday customs.” (2) The complete explanation of why each day’s “gift code” was chosen to represent the spiritual truth it pictures can be found through this link , but here is what  each gift represented: (3) The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus. Two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments. Three French hens represent faith, hope, and love, and also the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The four calling birds are the four gospels. The five golden rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch. Each egg of the six geese-a-laying is a day in creation when God “hatched” or formed the world. Hidden in the seven swans-a-swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (as the Catholics count them). The eight maids-a-milking represent the eight Beatitudes (from Matthew 5:3-10). Nine ladies dancing were the fruits of the Spirit. Ten lords-a-leaping were code for the Ten Commandments. The eleven pipers piping signify the eleven faithful disciples. The twelve drummers drumming are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed. From my research, it doesn’t appear that this explanation can be proven, though it does have many believers. And it’s so good I’m just gonna go with it! O Holy Night And then there is my all-time favorite Christmas song, “O Holy Night.” Can there be more poignant words than these? “Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
 Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
 A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
 For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!” (4) And the moving third stanza, with the stirring words of love and freedom, reaches deep into the human soul. Here are the words of this wonderful song in their entirety, followed by a link to “The Nativity Story” with Josh Groban’s classic version of “O Holy Night.” Do yourself a favor: find a time when you can stop everything you’re doing, and both watch and listen to this five-minute video. It is NOT just him singing. You will be glad you did. This song will be today’s prayer and decree. O Holy Night “O holy night! The stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born! O night, O holy night, O night divine! Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle, we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here came the Wise Men from Orient land. The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger, In all our trials born to be our Friend. He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger. Behold your King, before Him lowly bend! Behold your King, before Him lowly bend! Truly, He taught us to love one another; His law is love, and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, And in His name, all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we; Let all within us praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever! His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim! His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!” (5) Link:  Josh Groban and The Nativity Story Click the link below to watch the full video. https://youtu.be/RmsOmqf7Hso?si=0Bh8q2VG4_-czcdj   https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/the-12-days-of-christmas-lyrics-meaning.html   Ibid. https://hymnary.org/text/o_holy_night_the_stars_are_brightly_shin   Ibid.

The Unintended Christmas Carol  We are only a couple of days from Christmas. Many believers, like myself, are unhappy with much of the commercialization of Christmas. However, it is also true that there is no other time of year when Christ’s name and the glory of His birth fill the airwaves with such frequency. If we allow it, the season can be a great reset for us each year as we consider Christ’s great gift to us. As you listen to the Christmas Carols, here is some interesting information to consider about three of our favorites. Carol #1 In 1719, Isaac Watts wrote what has been the most-published Christmas hymn in North America. However, it was not written as a Christmas carol but as a poem about the reigning King Jesus, based not on the birth of Christ, but on Psalm 98. “Stanza three…alludes to Genesis 3:17-19…speaks of Christ’s blessings extending victoriously over the realm of sin…Stanza four celebrates Christ’s rule over the nations…called to celebrate because God’s faithfulness to the house of Israel has brought salvation to the world. ” (1)   Here are the words to this famous hymn: Joy to the World “Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let Earth receive her King;
 Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing,  And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

 Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
 While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains;  Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
 No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
 He comes to make His blessings flow, Far as the curse is found,  Far as, far as the curse is found.

 He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
 The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love, 
 And wonders, wonders, of His love.” (2) Carol #2 “Phillip Brooks was a distinguished man of faith and intellect. A Boston-born Episcopalian preacher, he’d earned a Doctorate of Divinity from the University of Oxford, taught at Yale University, and publicly advocated against slavery during the Civil War. But he’s best known for penning a famous Christmas carol after a life-changing journey. “In 1865, Brooks rode on horseback from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, where he participated in the Church of the Nativity’s five-hour-long Christmas Eve celebration, complete with hymns. Returning home, this experience proved so profound that he channeled it into the song sung in churches to this day. Its first public performance was held three years after he wrote it, performed by the children’s choir of his church [The Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia] on December 27.” (3) Until then, this musical was still only a poem. Brooks asked his organist, Lewis Redner, to write the music. Here is Redner’s interesting explanation of how the music came to him: “As Christmas of 1868 approached, Mr. Brooks told me that he had written a simple little carol for the Christmas Sunday School service, and he asked me to write the tune to it. Mr. Brooks came to me on Friday and said, ‘Redner, have you ground out that music yet?’ I replied, ‘No,’ but that he should have it by Sunday. On the Saturday night previous, my brain was all confused about the tune. I thought more about my Sunday school lesson than I did about the music. But I was roused from sleep late in the night, hearing angelic music whispering in my ear, and seizing a piece of music paper, I jotted down the treble of the tune as we now have it, and on Sunday morning before going to church, I filled in the harmony. Neither Mr. Brooks nor I ever thought the carol or the music to it would live beyond that Christmas of 1868.” (4) How wrong they were! O Little Town of Bethlehem “O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by.Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. For Christ is born of Mary; and, gathered all above,while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love.O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth,and praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth. How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n!So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav’n.No ear may hear His coming but in this world of sin,where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell;O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!” (5) Carol #3 Do you know what is the world’s most-recorded Christmas song, with more than 137,000 known recordings? (6) In 1818, “Father Joseph Mohr, in Austria, is preparing the music for [Christmas Eve] midnight mass and asks his friend Franz Gruber, a schoolteacher, to write a guitar accompaniment for a poem that he had written two years earlier. That night, the two men sang their brand new song at St. Nicholas church, and one of our best-loved Christmas carols was born. A version of the song recorded by Bing Crosby in 1935 sold a whopping 30 million copies.” (7) What prompted the song? “The words were written in 1816…not long after the Napoleonic wars had taken their toll. The priest went for a walk, and he looked out over a very quiet, winter-laden town. He was inspired...the town was at peace.” (8)  And this provoked the classic, “Silent Night.” Silent Night “ Silent night, holy night , All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child ,  Holy Infant, so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born. Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.” (9) Do yourself a favor and use the link below the prayer to listen to Chris Tomlin’s version of Silent Night. You’ll be glad you did. Pray with me: Jesus, we thank You, along with Isaac Watts, for coming to earth and making Your blessings flow, far as the curse is found. Your right hand has gained the victory for You (Psalm 98:1), and You have made known Your salvation and revealed Your righteousness to the nations (verse 2). You tell us to “shout joyfully,” breaking forth with praise (verse 4); that the seas roar, the rivers clap, and the mountains sing for joy (verses 7-8) because Christ is coming to judge the earth with righteousness and equity (verse 9). As we ponder the wonder of Your great gift to us, Father, we thank You, along with Phillip Brooks, for the everlasting light that shone in the dark streets of Bethlehem. In that quiet town, on that night so long ago, the hopes and fears of all the years met in the birth of our Savior. Thank You for this great gift. Link to:  Silent Night, sung by Chris Tomlin Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_to_the_World   https://hymnary.org/text/joy_to_the_world_the_lord_is_come https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/60596/origins-10-popular-christmas-carols   https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/o-little-town-of-bethlehem   https://hymnary.org/text/o_little_town_of_bethlehem   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night   https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1xW4JCVM4y33tbZBycYmYqG/5-facts-about-silent-night#:~:text=A%20commonly%20held%20myth%20is,Mohr%20also%20played%20the%20guitar https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/lists/7-beloved-christmas-carols-their-origins   https://hymnary.org/text/silent_night_holy_night_all_is_calm_all

A Fun Christmas Memory “In the same region, there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.’”  Luke 2:8-14 (NASB) “Great joy…for all people,”  are some of the words spoken by the angel on the night of Christ’s birth. Today’s post is intended to stir up some joy in you. We live in precarious and perilous times, punctuated by evil dictators, corrupt governments, power-crazed politicians, woke educators, and God-haters. In the midst o f e vil and chaos, let me remind you that joy is a fruit of the spirit, not the emotions, and therefore is not based on circumstances. Happiness is based on circumstances which we can’t always control; joy, however, originates in our spirit and therefore flows from Holy Spirit in us (Galatians 5:22). In the angel’s announcement above, the word “great” is the Greek word megas, from which we get the English word “mega.” Megas  means over and above, above and beyond, more than enough.  Recalling pleasant memories of past Christmases is a wonderful way to awaken joy during the holidays. They can be from when you were a child, or even as a parent or grandparent, spending time with family. The memory/memories could be of a gift you gave, or one you were given. Maybe it’s a sleigh ride, a ski trip, a family trip, watching the Nutcracker, or Christmas movies with mom, or a football game with dad. Think of something and let it unlock some joy. Laughter is good. God said it’s like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22). Think of something from a Christmas past that’ll make you laugh. Here’s one of mine. We once had a dog named Mercedes. Sadie, as we called her, was a Boxer. God used Mercedes greatly in my life. She taught me patience, humility, poop-scooping, and the price of dog ACL surgery. I didn’t actually mind the poop-scooping in and of itself; it was the mocking laughter I could see in her eyes as I did it that irritated me. We bought Mercedes–yes, I paid for these lessons–because we moved to a rural area where coyotes and foxes could endanger our two other smaller dogs  - they needed a bodyguard. Besides, everyone needs THREE dogs! The plan backfired. Mercedes took over our home. Ceci and the girls actually went to obedience school with her a few times. That helped - Sadie learned to sit. She came home and asserted her dominance by sitting on my chest. Seriously. I was stretched out on the floor watching a football game with a nice fire in the fireplace, when she looked proudly over at the girls and sat on my chest. “Good girl. Good sit,” they said, through uncontrolled laughter. True story. Then there was the time she TP’d (toilet papered) the backyard. Yep, she did. We had a fenced backyard, so at times, when we left the house, we’d leave the back sliding door open a foot or so to give the dogs some freedom. Upon returning home from church one Sunday, there was a trail of toilet paper from the powder room (for all you guys, that’s the half-bath you keep clean for guests) leading through the family room, out the back door, and into the yard. Once in the backyard, it seemed that Sadie’s creative side kicked in. She went over, under, around, and through, making circles, figure 8’s, and more. Then she did her “business” w hile I cleaned up the toilet paper. And if you don’t see the cruel irony of that, then you’re pretty slow. I swear she was laughing. True story. But perhaps my most humiliating experience with Mercedes was when I had to chase her around on the roof of our two-story house. I was hanging Christmas lights–you thought I had gotten off the subject of Christmas, didn’t you–and with the house layout, it was easy access to a portion of the roof from our daughter’s bedroom casement window seat. From there, I could walk to the remainder of the roof, even the higher parts. Of course, I left the window open.  I was on all fours, carefully placing hooks for the lights on the gutters, when suddenly I heard a noise behind me. I turned, and there was Mercedes–she had joined me! I panicked. If she fell off this two-story roof and hurt herself, Ceci and the girls would never forgive me. My tone of voice and panicked attempt to grab Sadie scared her. She, of course, began running around and wouldn’t come to me. So I chased her, which caused her to run more…Kevin Costner became known to the Native Americans as “the man who dances with wolves.” I became known in our neighborhood as “man who dances with dog on roof.” True story. Remember something today that makes you laugh. If you can’t think of anything, picture me with a 70-pound, well-trained, obedience school graduate Boxer sitting on my chest. The Message version of Proverbs 17:22 says,  “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” Laugh. It’ll do you good. Pray with me: Father, in these precarious and perilous times, punctuated by evil dictators, corrupt and power-crazed politicians, terrorists, woke educators, and God-haters, we can still have joy. Cause the spirit of joy to rise up in Your people today. Even those in difficult circumstances, may the strength that results from joy arise in them. Temper their grief with moments of joy. If it needs to be a supernatural impartation, please do that. Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus, who brought us mega joy. “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.” Because of Him, we can rejoice. Remind us to remain focused on Him this Christmas season. And we pray for our nation. Please deliver our nation from evil doers; expose terrorists and their plans. Deliver us also from the devastation our sin and turning away from You has caused. Give us the joy that comes from true revival. Cause the awakening to create a national deliverance and turn millions toward righteousness. This has begun, but we need it to become a tidal wave! We thank You for all of this, and ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that “joy unspeakable and full of glory” is ours today through Christ. (1 Peter 1:8) Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Introduction Several years ago, my dad wrote a wonderful devotional entitled The Gold That Washed Ashore (now out of print). Dad was old-school in his writing and preaching, crafting sermons of homiletic eloquence, and his devotionals were no exception. This is one of his great devotionals, combined with some of my thoughts. The title of today’s post is: He Came “For today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 NASB) “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  (Luke 19:10 NASB) Dutch Shares When Christ came to earth, it was not as most expected. The religious world had overlooked the prophecy regarding a virgin conceiving (Isaiah 7:14); perhaps they simply had a different interpretation of the verse, since it was considered a total impossibility. At any rate, the birth of Christ through a poor, teenage virgin - from the other side of the tracks, Nazareth, of all places - wasn’t on the list of Messianic expectations. Nor was a manger (a feeding trough) for a crib, in a smelly, dung-filled stable. The scribes, Pharisees, and religious elite were confident the Messiah would be regal, wealthy, and come from their ranks, of course. You must admit, the Christmas story does strain the imagination. It is not so difficult to conceive of God coming to earth to rescue fallen humanity. But becoming a microscopic seed, placed in the womb of a teenage girl, fed by a cord from her placenta, and entering the world through a narrow birth canal is an entirely different story. It seems ridiculous, and certainly sacrilegious, to think of God in dirty diapers, burping, and crying for Mama. I can easily conceive of Him walking on water, but not of falling when learning to walk. Feeding the 5000 - no problem, but smearing food all over His face when learning to feed Himself? That’s a bit of a stretch. He was, after all, God. But to keep Christ from being truly human not only disqualifies Him from being our Savior, but it also misses God’s heart and message. Christ loved us enough to become one of us. Our Lord’s most common name for Himself was Son of Man. He chose to experience our humanness, feel our pain and hunger, wrestle with the wound of rejection, and know the disappointment of loss. His calloused hands knew hard work, His feet walked hundreds of miles, and He slept many nights on the ground. Jesus had to become human in order to bleed, die, and redeem us; and so He did. Let Him be one of us, and let Him into the muck and mire of our world. Dad speaks eloquently of Christ’s coming and of His redeeming purpose. From Dad “From Genesis to Revelation, there is a great scarlet thread of truth calling our attention to a coming Redeemer. This hope of a coming Redeemer was the secret of Abel offering a more excellent sacrifice than Cain’s. It was the only light that gleamed in the ark as it rolled over the waves of an ocean world. This hope guided the patriarchs and gladdened the prophets. Then…the Great Redeemer came.  “ He came , and was a great preacher. All the preachers of the centuries look small when we line them alongside the Man whose hands were calloused by a carpenter's plane and who wore the peasant smock of Galilee. He came , and was the greatest physician the world has ever seen. He was the world’s sympathetic friend in a world of pain. He came , and was the perfect example. “Yet, He came  to be more than a great preacher, physician, or pattern. He came  to be our Savior. He came to deal with the thing that drenched the world with blood, that bleached it with bones, and that filled the air with moans and groans.  He came to bridge the gulf that separates humanity from God. He came  to shut the very jaws of damnation and throw open the gates of gold. He came to fix us so we could appear as if the archer of hell never shot us through. “All the sins of all His people were gathered upon His shoulders. The heart of Christ became like a reservoir in the mountains, and all the tributary streams of iniquity ran down and gathered into that vast lake. Sin wrote its vicious history with the scourge, thorns, nails, spear, and throbbing agony - our sins, yours and mine. At Calvary, we see the wrath of God against sin inscribed in characters of blood, and we see sin's absolution:  ‘Father, forgive them.’  (Luke 23:34) “We used to sing the great hymn:  Oh, Now I See the Crimson Wave “‘Oh, now I see the crimson wave, the fountain deep and wide; ‘Jesus, my Lord, mighty to save, points to His wounded side. ‘I see the new creation rise, I hear the speaking blood; It speaks! Polluted nature dies! Sinks 'neath the cleansing flood. ‘The cleansing stream I see, I see! I plunge and, oh, it cleanseth me! ‘Oh, praise the Lord, it cleanseth me! It cleanseth me, yes, cleanseth me!’” (1)  “Thank You, Jesus, for coming!” Pray with me: Father, we thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, as Heaven’s great gift. Thank You for the incarnation, Christ’s humble birth, and His substitutionary death. Thank You for the cleansing stream that flows from Him still. Jesus, You came. As we celebrate Your birth, we thank You for the humbling journey You made…for the sacrifices, the miles, the sleepless nights, and the tears. Thank You for the blood You shed, the stripes You bore, the crown of thorns You wore, the nails and the spear that pierced Your holy body. Holy Spirit, as we celebrate Christmas this year, remind us to celebrate our Redeemer as He should be celebrated, and love Him as He should be loved.  And in closing, Father, we remember to pray against the plans of terrorists who have entered our nation. Jesus taught us to ask for deliverance from evil (Matthew 6:13). We do so now. Please expose the terrorists in our land. Give those who search for them breakthrough and unprecedented skill. We ask that You give President Trump and those working with him great wisdom and strategy. Break the back of radical Islam here and throughout the world. All of these things we pray in the mighty name of Yeshua. Our decree: We declare our faith that the cleansing stream of Christ still flows today, cleansing us from all sin and unrighteousness. Have a wonderful Christmas this year, celebrating Him! Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://hymnary.org/text/o_now_i_see_the_crimson_wave

Introduction Today, I’m blessing you with a powerful Christmas post from our friend Cheryl Sacks. The insights she offers could most certainly shape the destiny of someone you love. Enjoy. The Best Gift You Can Give This Christmas Christmas awakens something deep in us—not just warm memories, but a longing to give the people we love something meaningful. Not another sweater. Not another gadget. Something with weight. Something that lasts. What if one of the greatest gifts you could give this Christmas doesn’t come wrapped in paper or tied with ribbon? What if the most powerful gift you can give your children, grandchildren, spiritual sons and daughters, or anyone God has placed in your life, is your blessing ? Long before angels announced good news or shepherds ran to a manger, God Himself modeled this gift. Scripture says, “And God blessed them…”  (Genesis 1:28). Blessing was His first act toward humanity—and it is still one of the greatest expressions of His heart. And today, He invites us to partner with Him in giving that same gift. Blessing Is God’s Heart Years ago, as I walked my living room floor praying for my husband, Hal, and our young daughter, something unexpected happened. My usual requests began to shift. Suddenly, instead of asking, I began blessing . “I bless Hal to be a faithful husband and attentive father—to walk in the fullness of his calling. I bless him with supernatural favor before leaders and gatekeepers, with peace that guards his heart and mind.” My voice grew stronger as I turned to Nicole. “I bless my daughter with joy that springs up like a fountain, with angelic protection, healthy friendships, and a heart that runs hard after God all the days of her life.” It felt as though heaven entered the room, and the Lord Himself was leading my words. His face seemed to shine toward me. In that moment, I realized: blessing is God’s language. It is His idea. His way. Throughout Scripture, blessing shaped destinies. Abraham blessed Isaac. Isaac blessed Jacob. Jacob blessed his sons. And their blessings always came to pass. Blessing is more than encouragement— it is a spiritual impartation —words carrying God’s authority, energized by His Word, spoken in His name, releasing His life over another person. Why Blessing Matters Today In a world saturated with criticism, comparison, and words that wound, blessing has become rare. Yet it is one of the most life-shaping forces we can release. A blessing isn’t something we simply feel in our hearts—it’s something we speak. Simple, yet powerful words like, “You are cherished… You are strong and steady… You bring joy wherever you go… You are protected, chosen, and deeply loved,” breathe identity and destiny into a person’s heart. The Consequences of Withholding Blessings Many parents and grandparents love deeply but unknowingly withhold the very blessing their children crave. Not out of lack of love, but lack of time, lack of modeling, or simply never having received the blessing themselves. But Scripture shows us that long silences create openings for the enemy: Words unspoken can feel like rejection Silence can crush hope Lack of blessing creates insecurity, fear, and confusion Hearts can close, and even generational blessings can be hindered A child—or adult—who never receives blessing will look for affirmation elsewhere, often in destructive places. But the opposite is also true: A spoken blessing can break shame, heal wounds, and set a life on a new trajectory. When we bless someone, three things begin to move in the Spirit: The Power of Our Words “Life and death are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Words aren’t empty—they are containers of spirit. They can bless or curse. Lift a heart or crush it. The Power of God’s Word When what we speak agrees with what He has spoken, His power flows through our words—like lightning precisely conducted through a rod—penetrating hearts, breaking lies, and restoring truth. The Power of His Name In Numbers 6, God promised that when His priests blessed in His name, He Himself would bless them. And today, in Christ, we stand in that same authority. Blessing Is Not Earned—It Is Given by Faith You may wonder, “Should I bless someone who is selfish or rebellious?” The answer to this question is an emphatic —Yes! Blessing is not a reward for good behavior. It is a prophetic declaration of God’s desire for someone’s future. We cannot confuse the word bless  with the word praise —because those who need blessing  the most—are the ones who deserve praise  the least. We bless not because of who others are, but because of who God intends them to be. Blessing When You Don’t Feel Like It You may feel you can’t speak a blessing over a child, parent, or sibling because you’ve waited too long. Relationships may be strained or broken. Don’t let this stop you. When you gather this Christmas season, look for an opportunity to speak a blessing. If there has been a breach, anger, or bitterness, take the first step—reach out. Sometimes it feels impossible. But God often meets us in the very moment we choose obedience. I think of a young woman named Karan who lived for years with deep anger and bitterness toward her ex-husband. Christmastime was particularly difficult when she had to surrender her three boys to him and his new wife for the holidays. One Christmas Eve, as she was begrudgingly preparing her children for their holiday visit, she cried out to the Lord to deliver her from bitterness. “Give him the china,” she sensed the Holy Spirit say. When he left, her husband had taken half of their china to his new home. Now Karan sensed God telling her to wrap up her half, write “Merry Christmas” on the box, and send it along with the children as a gift. As she placed the package in her children’s arms, the burden of anger and resentment miraculously lifted. Her bitterness was replaced with heartfelt compassion and a desire to pray for her ex-husband with her children and to bless him. That moment of freedom opened the way for her children to release their own bitterness and rebuild a loving relationship with their father. A single act of obedience opened the door for blessing—and blessing opened the door for freedom. This Christmas, Give the Gift That Lasts As families gather, as children come home, as some feel the sting of loneliness—let’s recover this ancient, biblical practice. Though parents and grandparents carry unique authority, every believer can bless others—neighbors, friends, coworkers, youth, and children God brings across our path. Some adults who never received a blessing at home say they received it from a coach, a teacher, a youth leader, or a spiritual parent. A blessing is simple. It can be spoken with a hand on the shoulder, through a text or card, around a dinner table, when you tuck your child into bed, or say goodnight to your spouse. But its impact? It can shape a destiny. Heal a wound. Break a cycle. Launch a calling. Who might Holy Spirit be calling you to reach out to and bless? You may be the only person in someone’s entire life who ever speaks their God-given destiny over them. This Christmas, let’s not just give gifts that last a few weeks or years; let’s give a gift that echoes into eternity. Pray with me: Father, thank You for blessing us with Your love, Your nearness, and Your Son. Anoint our words today. Forgive us for speaking carelessly or withholding blessing. This Christmas season, help us speak life. We bless our loved ones with the assurance of Your love. We bless them with wisdom, peace, and protection. We bless them with the ability to hear Your voice and walk in their purpose. We bless them with favor—with You and with others. May our mouths be fountains of blessing, filled with grace, truth, and love. Our decree: We decree that this Christmas season, we will use our words to bless and not to wound. That life will flow from our mouths, shaping destinies and healing hearts. We decree that the Spirit of God will anoint our blessing, and generations will be transformed. We decree that the blessing of the Lord will rest on our homes, our children, and all whom God has entrusted to us. We choose to bless. And heaven will bless through us. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Today’s post was contributed by our Cheryl Sacks. She is the author of six books, including her latest, Fire on the Family Altar: Experience the Holy Spirit’s Power in Your Home , available at   fireonthefamilyaltar.com  or on   Amazon

A Warning from the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center I have been hesitant to write this post so close to Christmas, not wanting to weigh you down during this joyous time of year. However, in light of the increase in radical Islamist terrorism of late, I feel it is necessary to do so.  One doesn’t need to be prophetic to realize that thousands of people with evil intentions entered our nation during Biden’s, Harris’s, and Mayorkas’s open borders. Agencies in our government are now confirming what we knew to be true. It is inconceivable that these individuals were unaware that this was happening. They, and those in their party who sanctioned it, are more than incompetent; they are liars and traitors.  Though somewhat long, I’m going to share with you the opening remarks of Joe Kent, Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center . This was in his recent testimony at a Congressional hearing on December 11, 2025 ( YouTube link ). His comments confirm these concerns: From Mr. Kent “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, ranking members, and all the members of the House. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you and discuss the threats posed to our nation.  “Despite the progress we’ve made so far in the Trump administration, the threat posed by terrorists of all brands remains very high right now. We’ve made significant progress under President Trump’s leadership. We have the jihadis of ISIS and al-Qaeda on the run in Iraq and Syria, thanks to the decisive action and strikes that we’ve taken since President Trump took office in January. However, we have a persistent threat from the individuals who were allowed into this country by the previous administration.  “The number one threat that we have right now, in my view, is the fact that we don’t know who came into our country in the last four years of Biden’s open borders. What we have identified is alarming, and I want to share that with you today. We just recently put out a warning of the heightened risk of terrorist attacks posed to the homeland by terrorists, pretty much of all stripes, but in particular from ISIS and al-Qaeda. NCTC has been crunching the numbers and going through the sheer volume of known and suspected terrorists in the country that came in under the Biden administration. So far, NCTC has identified around 18,000 known and suspected terrorists the Biden administration let come into our country. These are individuals who, under normal circumstances, would never be allowed to enter our country because of their ties to jihadi groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda. Yet the Biden administration not only let them into the country but, in many cases, facilitated their entry into the country, just like the entry of the Afghan terrorist who committed the terrorist attack here just before Thanksgiving, killing one of our National Guard members and wounding another. That Afghan was brought into the country in a group of over 100,000 Afghans brought here during the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.  “These individuals, despite what has been reported, were not vetted properly to come into the United States. The individual terrorist who committed the attack in DC, was vetted to serve as a soldier in Afghanistan. The Biden administration essentially used his tactical-level vetting as a ruse to bring him here and into our communities. And we’ve seen the tragic results of that. Now, that Afghan, that attacker, that terrorist is just one of 88,000. We’ve identified 2,000 of that group of 88,000 who have ties to terrorist organizations. We’re working right now hand-in-hand with DHS and with the FBI to run down these 2,000, the Afghans who came here under “Allies Welcome,” who have ties to terrorist organizations. “And additionally, the other 18,000 individuals with ties to terrorist organizations that Biden let into our country. That is probably the top terrorist threat that we face right now. And that doesn’t include the individuals who came here illegally through the open border. That number, alarmingly, remains unknown at this time. We’re trying to figure out who those individuals are as well.  “Also, adding to this elevated threat, we have ISIS and al-Qaeda that have found sanctuary in places like Afghanistan and Syria, due to the transitional nature of those governments, and also again in Iraq and some of the hinterlands of Iraq. And these terrorists are able to communicate and spread their propaganda and a lot of their know-how, thanks to the proliferation of encrypted apps and also due to just the internet at large. The new terrorist tactic that we’re seeing more and more is moving away from very deliberate cellular attacks that we can infiltrate easily while they communicate, into an inspirational methodology where you have key members putting out media and how-to guides to reach out and touch individuals inside the United States.  “We recently disrupted one of those attacks just before Halloween, thanks to the work of the FBI with support from the entire US intelligence community in the joint terrorism task force model in Michigan. That plot touched multiple states and had ties to ISIS inside Iraq and Syria. Another issue that we are addressing right now, thanks to the decisive leadership of President Trump, is the scourge of fentanyl, gang, and cartel violence. Under President Trump’s leadership, we’ve designated these cartels and gangs as terrorist organizations. And rightfully so. These individuals, these terrorists, have killed hundreds of thousands of Americans, as these Angel Families will tell you firsthand. What President Trump has done by designating them as terrorists has allowed us to turn the tools of the intelligence community against them and watch-list them as terrorists, to prevent them from ever coming into America in the first place.  “To date, we’ve added about 35,000 of these narco terrorists to our terrorist watch list. And we’ve stopped around 6,000 of these terrorists from ever entering our country, from setting foot inside America, so they can no longer kill Americans with impunity. These are just some of the issues that we’re covering 24/7/365 at the National Counterterrorism Center. And I look forward to discussing more with you all today. Thank you.”  My Comments Though many have known that radical Islam has been one of the greatest threats to peace and safety throughout the world, most Americans have given it little thought. It was, after all, an ocean away. Biden, Harris, and the Dems changed that. The terrorists are here. Not only are thousands of them here, but we also have no idea where most of them are located within our nation. We must now pray diligently against this threat, asking God to give supernatural aid in finding and removing them. It will require His supernatural help to prevent many Americans from being maimed and killed before they are found.  Pray with me: Father, we as Americans have been foolish, complacent, and irresponsible. Government leaders, judges, and millions of American citizens refused to oppose the fraud and corruption of the 2020 elections, allowing our government to reach its pinnacle of corruption. Combined with the preceding years of corruption and sin, we now face a crisis on many points. We need Your grace and mercy.  And yet, You have promised these blessings to us. You said mercy was our new currency and that America would be saved. As intercessors, we have repented of America’s irresponsibility and sinful actions and humbly asked for cleansing. We now lay hold of Your gracious promises by faith (1 Timothy 6:12), declaring that You will deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13). Please expose the terrorists in our land. Give those who search for them breakthrough and unprecedented skill. We ask that You give President Trump and those working with him great wisdom and strategy. Break the back of radical Islam here and throughout the world.  Save millions of Muslims here and throughout the world in this hour. Lift from them the veil of deception and reveal God’s Son and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, to them. Break the hold of principalities and powers that blind their minds and reveal Your great love to them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.  Our decree: We decree that terrorists will be exposed in our nation, and millions of Muslims will come to Christ.  Click on the link below to watch the full video. Here is a YouTube link  to the testimony above.

“Live to Give”  A Christmas Message “Jimmy was nine when his mom told him his little sister was sick and would die if she didn’t get a blood transfusion – and that Jimmy was one of the only people in the world who had the rare blood type needed. She asked him if he would be willing to let the doctors give his blood to his sister. “Jimmy was very somber. He didn’t know what was involved, but he loved his sister and agreed to give his blood. “On the appointed day, Jimmy was solemn, but brave, when the nurse put the needle into his vein and began to drain his blood. After a few minutes of watching the bag fill, he looked scared. The nurse said, ‘Don’t worry, it will be over soon.’ “The boy accepted her assurances and asked, ‘How much longer will it be before I die?’ “The nurse was shocked. ‘You’re not going to die!’ she said, and then wept when she realized Jimmy thought he had to give all his blood to save his sister.” (1) What a powerful story. No greater love… The Christmas season is one of the most remarkable times of the year. A time when we celebrate Christ’s birth as a human…so He could give his blood and die. Unlike Jimmy, He had to give all, laying down His life for us. Because of this, Christmas is, indeed, a time of giving. Appropriately so. As such, it’s also a good time for each of us to take inventory, making sure we maintain the proper heart toward giving and receiving - it’s more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35). The spirit of the age can sink its claws into us at times, without us even being aware it is happening. Christmas is also a great time of year for imparting to our children the spirit of giving. If done properly, they can be marked for life with God’s giving heart and nature. Or, sadly, Christmas can also be a time when we teach them that the greatest thing in life is receiving. Relax, this is not a post discouraging you from giving your kids gifts at Christmas. It is simply a reminder that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive. Years ago, my life was marked by a man named Wayne Myers. He was, without a doubt, the person who embodied this truth more than any I have ever known. I’ve watched Wayne give tens of thousands of dollars away on multiple occasions, and be almost giddy with excitement in doing so. Sometimes the gifts were not so large. I once saw him empty his wallet for a Bible school student - while on his way to the airport! This was 40 years ago, when there were no cash machines to replenish his supply. He then asked his wif e, Martha, traveling with him, if sh e had any more cash on her, because he wanted to give more than the amount he had on hand. That was  W ayne Myers. So, some of you may be thinking, a few thousand dollars here and there is not that much for a wealthy person to give; many do that.  Perhaps so. But Wayne was not a millionaire businessman  or a philanthropist. He was a missionary to Mexico who, for all the years I was blessed to know him, didn’t even own a home. Wayne’s m otto in life  was “Live to give.” And he did. Wayne would becom e indignant if someone else tried to pick up the check at a restaurant. The giving nature of God oozed out from every cell of his body. His generosity was so infectious that one had to budget the number of times they heard W ayne speak each year because when listening to him, that month’s budget was often blown! Of course, Wayne was full of faith and God would return the money many times over. He demonstrated this hundreds of times. When listening to Wayne, you found yourself believing it, also. What a legacy. Ceci and I have tried to live by the truth that it is more blessed to give than receive, though nowhere near the level Wayne has walked in. And we have proven over and over the truth that it  truly i s more blessed to give than to receive. Personally, although   Wayne was used to fan the flames, this mindset was born in me while serving in a food line in Guatemala, after the horrendous earthquake of 1976. It killed 30,000 people in 30 seconds and left 1 million homeless. Having been there when it occurred, I stayed to participate in  the relief work. In the village of San Pedro, which was obliterated, I was serving in a soup line. People were holding broken jars, cups, cans - anythin g they could find in which to receive a small portion of soup. Most hadn’t eaten  for d ays. As I ladled out small portions, I was watching the soup disappear too quickly. Hoping against hope, I kept scooping...and watching. The last person in line was a lady holding her three-year-old daughter; they were the only two survivors in a family of six. As she got nearer, I could see it coming: there wouldn’t be enough. Still, I hoped. The last of the soup was served just before she held out her jar. As I l ooked into her eyes, my heart was shattered. It was like someone punched me in the gut. Through tears, I used my broken Spanish and said, “No mas, no mas” (“no more”).  At that moment, I would have given everything I owned for just one more bowl of soup. My world was wrecked. My definition of success changed, priorities were reordered, and bank accounts were looked at differently. What had really mattered in my life was turned topsy-turvy. I began to truly understand that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Years later, Ceci and I were planning a ministry trip to Mexico City and decided to take our daughters, Sarah and Hannah, ages 9 and 7. We wanted them to see how less fortunate people lived in other countries. When our hosts asked us which tourist activities or places we would like our girls to see, Ceci surprised them. “An orphanage,” she said, “I want you to take us to an orphanage.” They found one two hours away, and our two daughters rocked and held orphaned children for an afternoon. Their journey was beginning as well. They began learning that it is more blessed to give than to receive.  Do not allow Christmas to be defined solely by the act of receiving. Consider taking some time this year to teach your children the joy of giving to those in need. Perhaps take them to a feeding center and allow them to serve, or load up the family and take groceries to a family struggling financially. Set the entire family down and discuss together what you can do this year to help a less fortunate family enjoy Christmas. Sow a family gift to a missionary who is sharing Jesus with unreached people. Adopt a child through Compassion International ,  One Child , or another worthy ministry. There are many opportunities, just find one, even in your own community. Mark your children with the heart of Jesus. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for the incredible blessings we enjoy in America. Thank You for all You have given us through Your Son, Jesus. You taught us - and demonstrated - that it is better to give than to receive. This Christmas season, keep us reminded of this. We pray for those who are suffering lack this Christmas. The poor, hungry, homeless - we pray that they would find their way out of poverty and loss. Give them a fresh start. Father, we pray for the families of the soldiers killed by terrorists in Syria, and of those killed by the shooter at Brown University in Rhode Island. We ask for great comfort and grace to be given to them at this time. We also pray for the families of Jews killed and wounded by terrorists in Australia, asking for grace and comfort. Our hearts break for these innocent people.  And most of all, we pray for those who do not know Christ as Savior. Send messengers to them with the good news. Assign intercessors to pray for them. Open their eyes, lift the veil, and reveal Christ to them. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We declare that greed will not control us; generosity will be our guiding standard. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Adapted from: https://raycenter.wp.drake.edu/2016/04/28/the-ultimate-gift/

Introduction The Christmas season is always a special time. There are glitter and lights to remind us of the upcoming holiday. As Christians, we look forward to celebrating our Savior’s birth. However, with gift buying, Christmas parties, decorating, and so much more, we can lose track of why we celebrate this special day. Today our friend Gina Gholston shares a personal story of how Jesus recaptured her attention. Her title is: He Takes My Breath Away Several years ago, a couple of days before Christmas, I was rushing around, doing some last-minute shopping. I went inside one of those stores where everything costs a dollar. While looking for gift bags near the front of the store, I heard the doorbell ring, announcing that another customer had entered the already over-crowded shop. The aisles were packed with shoppers who were in a hurry to get things done and get home. The joy and reason for the season seemed to have been lost in the rush, but that was all about to change! There was really no need for a doorbell to give an alert for this family’s entrance, for from them rang out the voice of a very excited little boy, accompanied by his grandmother and brother. The quiet and reserved older boy appeared to be around eight years old. The smaller one was about six, and he was far from quiet and reserved. He had one speed: fast! His voice had one volume: loud! We would soon discover that the grandmother had brought them there to buy presents for their family. While bending over slightly and grasping the small boy’s arm, I overheard Grandmother explain to the children, “Now, you each have only $10. That’s all you have, so spend it wisely.” “TEN DOLLARS! We can buy EVERYBODY a gift for TEN DOLLARS!” You guessed it….The little guy had been informed that, in his understanding, he had just won the lottery. His eyes were wide with wonder and his feet were ready to run! It was all the grandmother and brother could do to keep him calm. Suddenly, my gift bags didn’t matter quite as much. I was totally intrigued by this scene before me. Up and down the aisles they went. The older boy quietly put his selected gifts into the cart, with Grandmother’s smile of approval. The little guy…well, he was announcing to the world his selections and who they were for. With a gleam in his eye, he reached to get a selection of fake flowers, saying very loudly, “THIS IS FOR MOMMY!” and “THIS CUP IS FOR GRANDPA. He needs a new cup!” On and on he bounced through the store, to the chagrin of some other shoppers, but they didn’t deter him, not one bit. He was on a mission! After about an hour, the boys found their treasures. I could tell that Grandmother was tired, but there was a twinkle in her eyes for the joy she knew this little trip to the dollar store was bringing her grandchildren. They got into the very long line. There was only one cashier and another lady helping bag the items. I was standing by the gift bags, captivated by this joyous mission I had watched. The little boy was fidgety and the line just wasn’t moving fast enough for him. Finally, the time came for their purchases to be made. “I have TEN DOLLARS!” he announced to the cashier. She smiled graciously. The older boy placed all his items on the counter. The cashier rang up his purchases, and then it was the little one’s turn. There were at least ten people in the long line behind them, obviously growing more and more impatient, looking at their watches, and rolling their eyes. You get the picture. But the little guy was oblivious to the world around him. He had captured the joy of the season, and wasn’t about to let a few scrooges ruin his moment! Placing one item at a time on the counter, he announced to the clerk and the whole store once again who would be receiving each item: “THIS ONE’S FOR MOMMY! THIS ONE’S FOR GRANDPA…” On and on until each gift was broadcast to all. As he was placing the last gift on the counter, the lady behind the cashier stepped aside for a moment, exposing a shelf on the wall behind her. On that shelf were thick glass trinkets with carvings inside them. One of the carvings held an image of the face of Jesus. Suddenly, when the little boy saw the glass trinket with Jesus inside, he gasped so deeply it felt as if he sucked all the air out of the room. Then he adamantly declared, “I WANT JESUS! I’VE GOT TO HAVE THAT JESUS!” Grandma explained to him, “Honey, you’ve already spent your money. You made your choices.” His response in that moment shifted the atmosphere in the entire store, and took my breath away. “I’ll put it ALL back if I can just have that Jesus! Please, Grandma, I’ve got to have that Jesus!” As much effort as he put into searching for his treasures, none of that mattered now. He was willing to go without them if it meant he could have Jesus. Suddenly, through the voice of a small child, we were all touched, even jolted back into proper perspective regarding what the season was actually about. I could see through the tears in my own tears that many of the other patrons had also been deeply touched by what just happened. Everyone was quiet, then the man in line behind Grandmother and the boys told the cashier to give the trinket to the boy, and he would pay for it. I was so moved by what I had just seen, that I abandoned my quest for gift bags and went back to my car, collecting my thoughts. As I sat there, quietly reflecting on what had just happened, I heard the Lord say, “That touched Me, too.” Then this question flooded my being, “When was the last time Jesus took your breath away?” In our fast-paced hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, we often lose sight of the One who is the reason for the season. Born in that manger was the Son of God who came to live and die for each of us, taking on Himself the sins of the world. Our sacrificial Lamb completed His assignment, and through our acceptance of Him as Savior, we, who were in the world without hope and without God, can be reconciled unto God, grafted in to His family. Yeshua! Savior! May we all truly behold Him this season. And may the treasures that were most valuable pale in comparison to the beauty of the One who has made us His own! In all the craziness of this world today, I pray that each of us will find that place and moment when Jesus recaptures our attention. As we truly behold Him, may everything else fade away as we once again, see the beauty of the One our soul loves. It is my sincere prayer that during this Christmas season, we will see Him again. Spend time with Him. Allow Him to take your breath away, as if seeing Him for the very first time! Pray with me: Jesus, may we experience You as You recapture our attention. May everything be moved aside that is hindering us from truly seeing You, and may we stand in awe as we behold You. May we see You as that little boy saw You, with wide-eyed wonder and child-like faith, causing everything else to pale in comparison to the reality of who You are! This is how America will be saved! This is how the world will be changed: when we acknowledge You and bring You back to the center of our focus. May our eyes be opened to truly see You, and may the reality of Your splendor take our breath away! Our decree: Jesus is our most valuable Treasure, our Pearl of great price. We decree that obstacles are being removed, enabling us to see Him as we stand in awe of who He is! Click on the link below to watch the full video. Today’s post was contributed by Gina Gholston. You can find out more about her at GinaGholston.com .

The Appeals That Saved Us Then Will Save Us Now In yesterday’s post , I wrote about realigning America with heaven, based on Matthew 6:10, where Jesus instructed us to ask for His Kingdom rule to come “on earth, as it is in heaven.”  I shared about how America’s Founders were aligned with heaven in the founding of our nation. I also said, “We need more than patriots in government to restore America; we need patriotic intercessors, those willing to appeal to heaven for America’s realignment with God. Our Founders recognized this need in our nation’s beginning. This is why Washington commissioned the creation of the Appeal To Heaven flag and flew it over America’s naval vessels and battlefields in the Revolutionary War.” Our Founders believed so much in the power of prayer–appealing to heaven–that they spoke of it in the Declaration of Independence: “We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States…” (1)    Think about that - the power of prayer is mentioned in the first legal document of our nation, the Declaration that began America’s existence!  Patriot and signer of the Declaration, Samuel Adams, referenced this a year later during one of the most challenging points of the Revolutionary War. Adams is certainly one of my favorite Founding Fathers. In September of 1777, a year after declaring independence, things were not going well for the American patriots. They had lost New York City and Fort Ticonderoga, and were badly defeated at the Battle of Brandywine, losing hundreds of soldiers. They were losing ground quickly in Pennsylvania, and the Capital, Philadelphia, was about to be captured by the British. The patriots quickly hid the large Liberty Bell, inscribed with the quote from Leviticus 25:10, “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof,”  just in the nick of time. Congress then fled to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and then to York.  Ira Stoll says of the desperate time, “John Adams of Massachusetts wrote in his diary, ‘The prospect is chilling, on every Side: Gloomy, dark, melancholy, and dispiriting.’ “The number of delegates present at Congress had dwindled to a mere twenty from the fifty-six members who had signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Those remaining gathered for a private meeting in York to question whether there was any hope of success.” (2) One of those still present was the aforementioned Samuel Adams (John Adams’s cousin). Sam had already lost much during the war. Friends had been killed, his home was destroyed, and he was on the run. In an act intended to demoralize, the British had desecrated the Old South Church in Boston, which had been attended by his family and many of the Founding Fathers. The pews were removed, the floor was covered with dirt, and it was used as a riding academy.  At this difficult time of great despair, the indomitable Sam Adams gave the remaining members of Congress a pep talk: “If we despond, public confidence is destroyed, the people will no longer yield their support to a hopeless contest, and American liberty is no more. Through the darkness that shrouds our prospects, the ark of safety is visible. Despondency becomes not the dignity of our cause, nor the character of those who are its supporters.” (3) Stoll states that Adams continued his words by “comparing the American revolutionaries to the Israelites who had left the slavery of Egypt. According to Exodus, chapter 13, God had guided them in the wilderness with a ‘pillar of cloud by day’ and a ‘pillar of fire by night.’ Then Adams said:  “‘Let us awaken then, and evince a different spirit, – a spirit that shall inspire the people with confidence in themselves and in us, – a spirit that will encourage them to persevere in this glorious struggle, until their rights and liberties shall be established on a rock. We have proclaimed to the world our determination “to die freemen, rather than to live slaves.” We have appealed to Heaven for the justice of our cause, and in Heaven we have placed our trust. Numerous have been the manifestations of God’s providence in sustaining us. In the gloomy period of adversity, we have had “our cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.” We have been reduced to distress, and the arm of Omnipotence has raised us up. Let us still rely in humble confidence on Him who is mighty to save. Good tidings will soon arrive. Heaven shall never abandon us while we act worthy of its aid and protection.’” (4) Thomas Jefferson once called Sam Adams: “truly the man of the Revolution…for depth of purpose, zeal, and sagacity, no man in Congress exceeded, if any equalled, Sam Adams.” (5)  The Founders may have given up, had it not been for the passion and faith of this amazing man.   The original American dream wasn’t about wealth, but freedom—freedom to worship and freedom from tyranny. It was also about partnering with God to release the light of His word to all nations, and exporting His glorious gospel to the ends of the earth.  It was a shared dream, born in the heart of God and deposited in the womb of our nation. However, some in America have perverted this holy desire and God-honoring partnership, turning the dream into a narcissistic lust for money, possessions, power, and pleasure. As uncontrolled appetites always do, the gluttonous cravings gradually grew in intensity until people no longer controlled them—they controlled the people. Liberty became license; independence became rebellion; and their “freedoms” enslaved them. Of course, at some point, the piper – which for America became the discordant notes of our perverted dream – will always demand his payment. Consequently, America is no longer feeding on the dream; the dream is feeding on us. The spiritual giants of debt, abortion, violence, racism, addictions, and sexual perversions – all are strongholds that have been ruling and destroying America. It didn’t stop there. Our government became completely chaotic, losing the ability to govern, even with simple common sense, let alone wisdom and accurate constitutional law. Black-robed ideologues found the right to abortion in one word, “privacy”! Many of our leaders deny our true history and oppose our Creator. God’s ways are scorned, and amorality is the new law of the land. The true American dream is in jeopardy.  If Adams were alive today, his response to this loss of life and reason would be, in part, a passionate plea to “appeal to Heaven once again. The God who saved us then will save us now!”  And so we do.  Pray with me: Father, You created America in amazing fashion, doing so to use her as a trumpet of the gospel to the ends of the earth. We are humbled and deeply moved by this. We are also greatly impacted by the knowledge that we were born under a movement of prayer, that appealing to You was the source of our freedom.  You have brought the Appeal To Heaven flag out of history’s archives, and we are appealing once again. Just as our Founders placed in the Declaration of Independence, we are “appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions.” As we do, we are confident that You will once again free us from oppression, this time originating from within, and realign us with Heaven.  We ask that You overthrow the evil trying to destroy our heritage and destiny. Overthrow those who defile our children and promote perversion. Overthrow false gods and false religions. We bind the spiritual powers behind these efforts in the name of Jesus! And Lord, pour fuel on the revival that has begun in America and other nations. Cause it to burn brightly! Save billions, we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ...Amen. Our decree: We decree that the appeal to heaven is being made again...and will succeed again! Click on the link below to watch the full video. The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. https://billofrightsinstitute.org/primary-sources/declaration-of-independence?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1461766925&gbraid=0AAAAAD-kVKqpyyA_RtSa0Dah8zX7H-fIL&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9OnJBhD-ARIsAPV51xM-tqurABdl8OaoAWyBmYrw3KMKv2obotEK-5OJlySjd7-VgcSSZG0aAhCYEALw_wcB   https://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0901/2008015005-s.html   Ibid. Ibid. Ibid.