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The Spirit of Revival on U.S. College Campuses In the quiet yet powerful moments of history, God often chooses to move among the next generation—those young hearts hungry for truth, freedom, and purpose. Today, we are witnessing a divine awakening sweeping across the college campuses of America. A fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit is stirring the hearts of thousands of students, igniting a fire of faith that is transforming lives and reshaping the future of our nation. This is not just revival. It is also a prophetic sign—a signal that God’s Spirit is once again moving in power to awaken the church, reawaken the nation, and fulfill His divine purposes for this generation. It is a kairos  moment—a divine opportunity for the body of Christ to rise up in faith and partner with heaven for the greatest awakening in history. The Spirit of Awakening: A Divine Call to the Next Generation Throughout history, God has chosen young people to be the catalysts of spiritual renewal. From the student revivals of the 18th and 19th centuries to the powerful moves of the 20th century, the youth have often been at the forefront of God’s divine plans. Today, we are seeing this pattern repeat itself—God is awakening a generation on the campuses, calling them to be His mighty witnesses. Young people are standing boldly, professing their faith in Christ, and being baptized, declaring that Jesus is their Lord. These acts of surrender are not just moments of individual salvation; they are prophetic declarations that the kingdom of God is breaking into the heart of academia, challenging the darkness and establishing His light. A Harvest of Souls: Thousands of Lives Transformed Reports from campuses across the nation tell of thousands of students experiencing encounters with Jesus—dreams, visions, and powerful testimonies of salvation. Baptisms are happening in dormitories, campus chapels, and even in lakes and rivers near college towns. These are not isolated incidents but a widespread movement—a wave of revival sweeping through the land. This revival is characterized by genuine repentance, hunger for the Word, and a desire to see God’s kingdom established on earth. Students are not just interested in superficial religion; they are hungry for authentic encounters with the living God. They are rising up with a newfound zeal to share the Gospel, to pray for their campuses, and to see the kingdom of God come in power. The Power of Prayer and Worship: Fueling the Fire At the heart of this movement is a renewed passion for prayer and worship. Students are gathering in prayer meetings that are overflowing with the presence of God. Worship is erupting on campuses as young voices lift high praise, declaring the supremacy of Jesus. These moments of prayer and worship are becoming portals for divine revelation and transformation. In these campus gatherings, prayer is becoming a mighty weapon—breaking down barriers, tearing down strongholds, and ushering in God’s glory. Faith in Action: Evangelism and Discipleship This awakening is also marked by a tangible desire to see lives transformed through evangelism. Students are stepping out boldly—sharing their faith on social media, engaging in street evangelism, and forming discipleship groups. They understand that revival is not just about personal salvation but about transforming entire communities for Christ. Many campuses are witnessing the birth of student-led prayer groups and outreach ministries. These young warriors are declaring that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and are partnering with heaven to see cities, states, and even the nation touched by the gospel. A Prophetic Sign: The Spirit Moving in Power This movement on college campuses is more than a societal trend; it is a prophetic sign—a divine forecast of what God has begun on the earth. Holy Spirit is being poured out on all flesh, and young men and women are receiving visions and dreams, prophetic words, and divine assignments. God will use this generation to carry the torch of revival. These students are not just the future of the church; they are the church now, armed with power and purpose. The Role of Prayer  In this season, our prayers are crucial, creating a spiritual atmosphere conducive to revival. Declare God’s promises over campuses and cities. Remember that prayer is the engine of revival—the fuel that ignites the fire. This is a season of divine breakthrough. Our prayers are breaking chains, releasing the Spirit’s power, and opening the heavens for an unprecedented move of God. This is just the beginning. The revival on campuses is gaining momentum, and the Spirit of God is inviting the church to join in. Now is the time for believers everywhere to pray more fervently, to believe more boldly, and to partner with heaven in seeing this move multiply. We must continue to cry out, to declare His promises, and to believe that the greatest harvest of souls is on the horizon. The Spirit is moving powerfully among the youth, and God is calling His church to rise up in faith, to partner with heaven, and to be part of this historic awakening. The Lord is saying, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you”  (Isaiah 60:1). We must partner with heaven through prayer, faith, and boldness. We must believe that God’s promises are yes and amen and that He is faithful to finish what He has begun. So rejoice, pray fervently, and stand in faith, declaring that this is the beginning of a new era—an awakening that will sweep across America and the world, bringing in a harvest of souls and revival that is unprecedented. Revival has begun—let us embrace it with all our hearts and see the greatest move of God in history unfold right before our eyes. Pray with me: Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, longing for a mighty outpouring of Your Spirit upon our campuses across America. Lord, You see the hunger and the brokenness, the apathy and the lostness that grip the hearts of students and faculty alike. We cry out for revival—an awakening that will shake the very foundations of our institutions and ignite a passion for Your truth and Your righteousness. Father, we ask You to pour out Your Spirit in power, to break every chain of complacency, and to ignite a fire of holiness within every student and leader. Send a fresh wave of conviction, repentance, and renewal. Raise up mighty warriors for Your Kingdom—students, professors, administrators—who will stand boldly for Christ and proclaim Your Gospel with boldness and love. We declare that revival begins now, in the name of Jesus. Let Your Spirit sweep across every campus, transforming minds, hearts, and lives. We believe You are able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we ask or imagine. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Let Your Kingdom come, and let it come now—on American campuses, as it is in Heaven. Amen. Our decree: We decree that revival has begun and will continue on the campuses of America and throughout the world. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Honoring Our National Day of Prayer Today is the National Day of Prayer in America. This year’s theme is “Pour Out to the God of Hope and Be Filled.” Please take some time today to join with others in praying for our nation. You can visit the National Day of Prayer website  for information on how and what to pray, how to find prayer gatherings in your area, and join the National Day of Prayer Committee in their live event. Many cities and states will also be conducting gatherings for prayer, as will local churches. Join with others today and spend some quality time agreeing in prayer for America! A significant turnaround has begun, and we must pray that it will be sustained. I always encourage praying the suggested prayer points and subjects highlighted by the National Day of Prayer Committee and others on this day. Agreement is invaluable (Matthew 18:19). I also want to briefly mention praying for revival/awakening. As I regularly observe what is taking place in America, I am consistently reminded that true revival, a great awakening, is critical. Evil and deception are now entrenched in America at such a thorough  and deep  level that human effort alone, regardless of how well it is done, won’t be enough to save and reform our nation. WE MUST HAVE REVIVAL. Thankfully, it has begun and will set the stage for reformation. When people are truly born again - not a perfunctory prayer to stay out of hell, but genuinely saved - several things occur: God writes His laws in their heart; they have the mind of Christ (Romans 2:15; 1 Corinthians 2:16) Their spirit comes alive (Romans 6:13; 2 Corinthians 4:16) Holy Spirit takes up residence and speaks to them in their heart (1 Corinthians 3:16) Their conscience is activated and influenced by Holy Spirit (Romans 1:15, 9:1) They become children of light (versus walking in darkness) (Ephesians 5:8) These and other changes awaken intuition and common sense (Hebrews 5:14) Obviously, this is a simplified list; books could be written on all of these subjects. However, one of my points is that people begin to think differently when they are born again. They perceive things they could not previously see or understand, and their desires are transformed. These transformative changes will need to occur in millions of Americans in order to see the nation effectively transformed. A return to morality and other necessary changes cannot be forced; they must be chosen. When speaking of America being saved, I am quick to point out the difference between revival and reformation. Our salvation as a nation will involve both. By revival or awakening, I am referring to Mark 16:15-20–on steroids: millions being delivered and born again. By reformation, I am referring to Matthew 28:18-20 occurring on a grand scale, resulting in the discipling of a nation. Revival changes hearts; reformation changes minds. In the 1960s and 70s, America simultaneously experienced the Charismatic and Jesus People movements - true revivals. Millions came to Christ. Yet, we had no paradigm for discipling nations, as Matthew 28 describes. Frankly, the eschatology of most who were part of these movements would have prevented it even had the paradigm existed. There was such a preoccupation with Christ’s imminent return that most evangelicals didn’t see the need to impact the cultural mountains of government, education, media, etc. The result? The church did Mark 16 - worked to get people saved; unbelievers did Matthew 28 - worked to disciple and reform the nation. Both succeeded. We experienced revival…and lost our nation. We prepared people for heaven; unbelievers focused on the earth. We planned to leave; they planned to stay. We taught our kids for an hour in Sunday School; they took over our public schools and indoctrinated them 5 days a week, all day long. In short, we gave the culture in America to unbelievers. From their positions of leadership, progressives, liberals, Marxists, secularists, and humanists have for 50-60 years embedded their ideals, morals, and philosophies into our nation. And they have been very successful. God has been rejected, and with Him went morality, self-control, the family unit, patriotism, and soundness of mind. America has been led by fools, taught by Marxists and globalists, and controlled by evil. In our time, as the church becomes active in speaking out and involving ourselves in efforts to reform America, let’s not make the opposite mistake–prioritizing reformation while leaving out revival. We must experience both. Revival precedes and empowers reformation; it is reformation’s forerunner, preparing the way for its fruit. Reformation codifies revival, multiplying and preserving its fruit. Americans now need a radical heart transformation to make possible radical brain transformation! Our actions won’t change until our minds change; our minds won’t change until our beliefs change; and our beliefs won’t change until our hearts change. In Conclusion America is being saved - not just because God has promised this, but because He is receiving what is required of us. Believers are praying, which allows Him to deliver what He promised. As you pray today, continue declaring that America will repent, awaken, and experience revival, a great Holy Spirit outpouring. Through this, she will be saved…and reformed. Pray with me:  Father, this is a significant day in America, a set-apart day when Your church crosses denominational, cultural, and political lines, humbles herself, and prays together for our nation. It is so important that we set apart a national, government-honored day to seek You. America is in desperate need of Your guidance and direction. Forgive us for our national sin of rejecting You and neglecting to seek Your plans and Your ways. We have wandered far from You, yet You are merciful.  You multiply power when we pray in unity; we do so now. We pray that the spiritual atmosphere over our nation shifts, that the united prayers of Your people would be used to usher in transformation, justice, and Your intervention in every sphere of society.  And in the spirit of unity and the power of agreement, we pray the prayer released by the National Day of Prayer Committee:   “ God of hope, fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. “You have caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; therefore, we hope in what we do not see. This world is not our home or reality, but the Lord is our Rock, our Truth, and our certainty. “God of hope, we pour out our praise and are filled with Your powerful presence. We pour out repentance of sin and are filled with forgiveness and righteousness. “We pour out pain from the attacks of the enemy—anxiousness, fear, anger—and You fill us with courage, assurance, and love. We pour out our needs, the desires of our hearts, and are filled with Your Kingdom provision and purpose. “We pour out our hearts for our nation, for the people and places, relationships and responsibilities the Lord has established: the Church, Family, Education, Business, Military, Arts, Entertainment, Media, and Government. May all who live, serve, and steward in these be filled with Your purpose, wisdom, strength, and truth. “Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in You. In abounding hope, anchored by our hope in the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen!” (1) Our decree:   We decree that as we agree in prayer on the National Day of Prayer, power will be released to accomplish a mighty move of God's Spirit, bringing healing and restoration to America. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Written by NDP Task Force President Kathy Branzell, https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/equipping/2025-national-prayer

The First 100 Days of President Trump — A Testament of Faithful Promise-Keeping In the unfolding story of America’s divine destiny, President Trump’s divine protection from ten years of character assassination, two fraudulent impeachments, two attempted assassinations, and his miraculous reelection stand as a remarkable witness to the power of faith, prayer, and perseverance. We are reminded that God is always faithful to His promises, and in this season, He has stirred a new hope—a hope rooted in the conviction that America’s best days are still ahead. The first 100 Days of this term have been remarkable. Don’t listen to the liberal media and Trump-haters. They’re the same ones who told you Russia, Russia, Russia, the laptop wasn’t real, the 2020 election wasn’t stolen, and that Biden was as sharp as a tack. A Promise to Reclaim Our Greatness From the moment President Trump came on the scene, he declared a bold vision: to restore the greatness of America, to revive the economy, defend religious liberty, and uphold the sanctity of life. These promises were not merely political slogans but sacred promises and divine callings—a clarion cry to awaken a sleeping nation and rally believers to stand in faith for the restoration of righteousness. Economic Revival: Restoring Prosperity and Opportunity One of the most striking accomplishments of President Trump’s first 100 days is the aggressive push to revitalize the American economy. He has spoken of a “Golden Age” for America and is working hard to set the stage for this. The President promised to cut taxes and is doing so, reduce regulations, and bring manufacturing jobs back to the heartland. His changes are primarily to help the middle class, not billionaires, as the Left dishonestly states.  Within these first months, the administration is implementing historic tax cuts for individuals and businesses, unleashing a wave of economic activity. Unemployment rates plummeted to historic lows, and job creation reached levels unseen in decades, with nearly 350,000 created during these first 100 days. (1) This economic revival will not be just a matter of policy; it will be a sign of divine favor—a sign that God is restoring our nation.  Standing for Life: Defending the Unborn President Trump made a solemn vow to defend the sanctity of life—a promise rooted in the biblical understanding that every human life is precious and created in the image of God. During this initial period, he took decisive action to bolster pro-life policies. He reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits U.S. funding for overseas abortion providers. His administration is also appointing judges who uphold the Constitution and protect religious freedoms and life. These steps signal a firm stand for the vulnerable—the unborn—affirming that America will no longer be a nation that turns a blind eye to the innocent. Religious Liberty: A Defense of Faith In a time when religious freedoms are under attack, President Trump’s first days demonstrated a resolute commitment to uphold these foundational rights. He signed executive orders to protect religious liberty, ensuring that faith-based organizations could operate without fear of government interference. He has brought prayer and worship back to the White House, boldly and unashamedly. This is a divine moment—a reaffirmation that the United States is a nation founded on religious principles. It is a call for the church to rise up and stand firm, knowing that God’s hand is on this nation, guiding it back to its biblical roots. National Security and Sovereignty: Standing Firm President Trump promised to strengthen America’s borders and protect its sovereignty. The first 100 days saw the enforcement of immigration policies aimed at securing the homeland. Though controversial, these measures were rooted in the biblical principle of safeguarding the nation and its people. After four years of insanity, the border is now secure! He also took steps to rebuild the military and support law enforcement—actions that reflect the biblical value of justice and protection for the vulnerable. A Spirit of Restoration and Hope Throughout these initial months, the atmosphere in America has begun to shift. Though the mainstream media reports of President Trump have been 97% negative, there is a renewed sense of hope among conservatives, a stirring of faith that the promises of God over this nation are materializing. Believers are praying with renewed fervor, declaring that this is a season of divine restoration. President Trump’s actions have demonstrated that when leaders act in alignment with biblical principles, God’s favor follows. His first 100 days have been a testament to the truth that God’s purposes for America are still alive—woven into the fabric of this nation’s destiny. A Call to Prayer and Action While these accomplishments are cause for celebration, they are also a call to ongoing prayer and action. The spiritual battle for America’s soul continues, but we can stand confident, knowing that God is working through leaders who seek His face, and America is being saved. As I often emphasize, prayer is the foundation of all progress. We are called to pray for our leaders, our nation, and the fulfillment of God’s divine plan. The 2024 election and the first 100 days of President Trump’s presidency remind us that faith, when combined with action, can move mountains. Persevere! Looking Ahead: Faith for the Future As we look beyond these initial days, let us remember that every promise God has made to His people is rooted in His unchanging nature. We are not merely spectators but active participants in this divine unfolding. We are called to stand in faith, declare His promises, and believe that America's best days are yet to come. In this season of divine awakening, the foundations of righteousness are being restored, and the Lord is positioning His people to walk in victory. In conclusion, the first 100 days of President Trump’s presidency demonstrate that our nation is awakening to its divine purpose. From economic turnaround to defending life and religious liberty, these days have shown that when leaders seek God and align with His principles, the nation’s destiny is secured. We must continue to pray without ceasing, stand in faith, and declare that God’s plans for America are good. Together, let’s believe that the next chapter will be even greater—a chapter of revival, reformation, and divine destiny fulfilled. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for the changes occurring in our nation. We now have a President, a Speaker of the House, and a leader of the Senate who not only desire to wisely and faithfully serve our nation, but also desire to honor You as they do so. We know there are many more changes needed in order to see America reformed and restored, but we are grateful for the turnaround that has begun. Please give our leaders wisdom and understanding to continue this, positioning us to fulfill the destiny You have called us to. We ask that more righteous leaders be raised up in our land, and for unrighteous leaders to be removed. We ask this especially for our judicial system. Root out Marxists, leftists, and those with unrighteous and unbiblical ideals. Through the revival that has begun and will grow, shift the paradigms of the American people back to Your ways, until we are a nation that loves, honors, and serves You.  Please protect our leaders from violence. The hatred toward conservative leaders is great, especially toward Trump, and the rhetoric is vitriolic. You told us to pray for deliverance from the evil one, who is certainly behind this hatred and spirit of division, and we do so now. Deliver us from this. Silence accusing spirits, bring a spirit of mutual respect and honor to America again. Intensify the outpouring of Your Spirit until it is a deluge! All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that the good work that has begun in our land will continue and increase. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ________________________ https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/04/memo-first-100-days-economy/

I have often written about the importance and power of our words. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21):   with it we bless and curse (James 3:9),   release our faith (Romans 10:10), and the sword of God’s Word (Ephesians 6:17). What sound are you releasing?  Gina Gholston recently sent me a strong word she received from the Lord, sharing important truths we need to be reminded of and act on. The title of the post is: Release the Sound   Power and purpose are released through the sound of our voices: shouts of triumph, worship and thanksgiving to the Lord, testimonies, prayers and faith agreement, decrees, declarations and proclamations of the Word of God, forerunning declarations that move mountains, raise valleys, and make crooked places straight, preparing the way for what is to follow.   God told Jeremiah that he would be His voice on the earth (Jeremiah 1:4-12). If Jeremiah would speak what He told him to speak, things would be rooted out, pulled down, and built and planted. As we consecrate ourselves and listen to the Lord, He fills our mouths. Then, as we release the sound of His words, He sends them forth to accomplish His purposes.   Psalm 47:1 exhorts us to shout unto God with the voice  of triumph. The key to triumph is often in our mouths. Releasing our voices inserts the key to unlock and initiate the power of God. Movement in the invisible realm follows the release of our sound!  Through a dream earlier this year, the Lord instructed us to release a unified shout of triumph. Our obedience to do so, He said, would “shatter, dismantle, and cause evil agendas to fall and crumble, giving us access to this land.”   We are in a time of great political excitement. Things that needed to happen within our government are beginning to happen, and for that, we are thankful! But God promises that America shall be saved, not just improve. That salvation will not come just by way of governmental realignment. It will come from the Lord as He works through His awakened Ekklesia to invoke revival, truth, and awakening, shattering demonic strongholds and piercing through the darkness of deception, turning the hearts of many.   A Powerful Vision The Lord recently reminded me of a vision I had many years ago, in which I saw a wide expanse of land. A black dome, that appeared to be thick and impenetrable, completely covered the land. The dome blocked out the light, so everything seemed dead and desolate.   Suddenly, I saw many single shafts of fire shoot up from the ground. People were inside those shafts of fire—one person in each shaft. I recognized some of them as five-fold ministers, intercessors, musicians, and worship leaders.   The ministers and intercessors wore intense facial expressions and continuously released a loud, powerful roar. The same expressions were on the faces of the musicians as they played, and the worshippers as they sang repeatedly: “Open up, open up the door to Your presence! Come dwell with us! Come dwell with us!” Each person was marching in place, their faces turned upward, and their hands raised toward the heavens, making motions as if pounding on a door.   Then the roar, the movements, the music, and the song somehow blended into one powerful sound that arose like a battering ram against the dome, causing pieces of it to break loose and float down. I could see that each piece was thin, like an eggshell. I thought,  “This is not as hard and impossible as we had assumed. It just requires the sound to break it loose!”   Shafts of light then began radiating through the holes that had been created in the dome, and I could hear voices from above saying in unison, “HEAVEN HAS BEEN WAITING FOR YOUR SOUND! HEAVEN IS RESPONDING TO YOUR SOUND!”   The sound from beneath then began to blend with the sound from above. The two sounds formed a huge whirlwind that swept back and forth across the dome until it completely shattered. Shackles and chains fell out of the dome as it was being obliterated, which I knew represented planned attacks of satan, broken before they could be implemented.   As the dome shattered, light broke through, and the land was instantly transformed. What an amazing picture of the power of our sound! A biblical illustration of this can be found in 2 Chronicles 5:13-14. “ It came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music and praised the Lord, saying: ‘For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,’ that the…house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud,   so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God .” (KJV)   The sound of praise preceded the entrance of the glory! Heaven responds to our sound!   The Lord once said to me, “I will reveal My sent-ahead ones, and they will release My strategy and power for days ahead! I will make their voices like the sound of trumpets—each trumpet releasing a unique sound. My Spirit will instruct them for movement! I’ll work a work, and none will stop what I do!”   God is presently calling forerunners to run with the sound! Those who respond to this call will be sent forth as His mouthpiece, releasing words that prepare the way for His glory to follow. The Ekklesia will be mobilized. As we release our shout, our worship, our prayers, our decrees—our sounds–marching to the rhythms of Heaven, joining with the hosts of Heaven, that dome of iniquitous influence will completely shatter! Chains will be broken, light will overtake the darkness, and righteous transformation will occur.       Pray with me: Father, we feel the urgency of this time. Awakening has begun. The timing of prophetic words and promises is intersecting, and You are calling us to take our place as Your forerunning voices. It is a call to rise and run with courageous faith and fervency as engaged co-laborers with Christ. We hear and respond to Your call. Our eyes are upon You.  We consecrate ourselves to You. Here we are, Lord; send us! Fill us with Your words, and we will lift our voices to declare them. Work through us with power and wisdom to invoke revival and awakening, shattering demonic strongholds, piercing the darkness of deception, and preparing the way for Your glory to turn hearts back to You.   And finally, agreeing with the prayers released by Intercessors For America: We pray that the United States and Israel trust the Lord and take the opportunity to deny Iran their nuclear weapons. We pray that the Lord removes unrighteous judges and reins in our out-of-control judiciary. And we ask that the spirit of lawlessness be broken off our land. In Jesus’ name we pray these things, Amen.   Our decree: We decree that the voice of the Lord will be heard in our land, permeating the culture and reestablishing an atmosphere for the glory of God to be released. Today’s post was contributed by our friend Gina Gholston. You can find out more about her at GinaGholston.com . Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Stay Flexible The following three verses in Isaiah speak of God changing the times and seasons: “You have heard; look at all this. And you, will you not declare it? I proclaim to you new things from this time, even hidden things which you have not known” (Isaiah 48:6). “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert”  (Isaiah 43:19). “Behold, the former things have come to pass, now I declare new things; before they spring forth I proclaim them to you”  (Isaiah 42:9). First, notice the phrase “spring forth” in the last two verses. These words mark a shift in time; something new is about to spring forth. God sometimes waits until the last moment to act. It is also true, however, that when He does, it can transpire quickly. He also has a sense of humor. “Shortly after Dallas Seminary was founded in 1924, it almost folded, coming to the point of bankruptcy. All the creditors were ready to foreclose at 12:00 noon on a particular day. That morning, the founders of the school met in the president’s office to pray that God would provide. In that prayer meeting was Harry Ironside. When it was his turn to pray, he said in his refreshingly candid way, ‘Lord, we know that the cattle on a thousand hills are Thine. Please sell some of them and send us the money.”’  “Just about that time, a tall Texan wearing boots and an open-collar shirt strolled into the business office. ‘Howdy!’ he said to the secretary. ‘I just sold two carloads of cattle over in Fort Worth. I’ve been trying to make a business deal go through, but it just won’t work. I feel God wants me to give this money to the seminary. I don’t know if you need it or not, but here’s the check,’ and he handed it over. “The secretary took the check and, knowing something of the critical nature of the hour, went to the door of the prayer meeting and timidly tapped. Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer, the founder and president of the school, answered the door and took the check from her hand. When he looked at the amount, it was for the exact sum of the debt. Then he recognized the name on the check as that of the cattleman. Turning to Dr. Ironside, he said, ‘Harry, God sold the cattle.’” (1) Second, notice the word “new.” Again, this word speaks of a shift. In the New Testament, two Greek words are translated as “new.” Though translated the same, they have different meanings, and understanding the difference is important. The word  neos  means numerically new, but not different. For instance, even though you buy a new car, there are hundreds more just like it all over the country. It’s “new” but not different. (2)  The other Greek word for “new” is kainos , which means not only numerically new, but also qualitatively new. (3)  Think of a new car manufactured today as compared to a Model T car. Not only is today’s vehicle numerically new, it is also qualitatively new; it’s different. Distinguishing the difference between these two words -  neos  and kainos  - is necessary to properly understand Scripture. For example, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we are new ( kainos ) creations, qualitatively new and different. We are NOT just forgiven, we are different. God has transformed us, put a new nature in us, and filled us with His Spirit. We are kainos  - brand-new - on the inside. In Matthew 9:17, Jesus used both of these Greek words in one statement, referring to the practice of putting “new” wine into “new” wineskins. He actually said that new ( neos ) wine needed to be put into new ( kainos ) wineskins. The wine symbolizes Holy Spirit, who doesn’t change. This “new” wine of the Spirit is not a different  wine; it is simply more wine; another outpouring.  Although the wine of the Spirit isn’t different, the wineskins - we believers - do mature and change. In order for wineskins to be reused, they must go through a renewing process. When empty of wine, they become dry and stiff. If not made flexible again, the fermentation process when producing new wine causes them to split. So the wineskins are soaked in water and rubbed with oil to make them flexible once again.  The purpose of this teaching from Christ is to let us know that we must be willing to change in order to receive fresh outpourings of Holy Spirit. We cannot be rigid, hardened in the shape of the last movement, but be flexible, willing to change. Our thinking must change, allowing us to “expand” with the new thing God is doing. We must become  kainos , qualitatively new. Before God shifts us into a new season, He works these changes in us. He has produced an enormous amount of change in the church over the last few years, and is now about to pour out “new” wine.  Be Like the Lobster From time to time, lobsters have to leave their shells in order to grow. They need the shell to protect them from being torn apart; yet when they grow, the old shell must be abandoned. If they did not abandon it, the old shell would soon become their prison and finally their casket. The tricky part for the lobster is the brief period of time between when the old shell is discarded and the new one is formed. During that terribly vulnerable period, the transition must be scary to the lobster. Ocean currents gleefully cartwheel them from coral to kelp. Hungry schools of fish are ready to make them a part of their food chain. For a while, at least, that old shell must look pretty good. We are not so different from lobsters. To change and grow, we must sometimes shed our old shells - a structure, a framework, a mindset - that we’ve depended on. Discipleship means being so committed to Christ that when He bids us to follow, we will change, risk, grow, and leave our old shells behind.” Like the lobster, I like the new shell; I just don't like the process. God is doing new things on the earth, making some radical changes. They are coming quickly. Don’t be trapped in the old…Stay flexible! Pray with me: Father, You are doing new things on the earth, hidden things which we have not seen before. They are springing forth. You are alerting us to this, just as You did in Isaiah’s day. Give us hearts that can hear Your current revelation (Isaiah 50:4-5).  We desire to be fresh, new wineskins. When the new move of Your Spirit fully comes, we don’t want to be left out. We determine not to be hardened into yesterday’s “shape,” its traditions and ways of thinking, and therefore unable to receive this new outpouring. Jerusalem asked for the Messiah, but could not receive Him because of their traditions and old ways (Luke 19:41-44). We refuse to fall into this trap, to be those who cried out for revival, then were unable to participate because our wineskins were too rigid and inflexible. Soak us in the water of revelation from Your word, and massage us with the oil of Holy Spirit. Help us to leave our comfort zones and not be locked into preconceived ideas. Give us fresh revelation, laced with wisdom. Give us revelation to move forward, wisdom to provide stability; revelation so we can walk in Your gifts, and wisdom to know Your ways. We need both Your Spirit and Your Word. We ask for all of this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our decree:  We declare that new wine is coming, and we WILL be able to receive it. Today’s post was adapted from my book God’s Timing for Your Life,  published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. _________________________ Alice Gray, Stories for the Heart  (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 1996), p. 268. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3501. Ibid., ref. no. 2537.

Introduction Our friend Terri Brown sent some fascinating insights regarding the faithfulness of God. As we seek the Lord, work for Him, and sow our time in intercession, it is important to periodically slow down and remember this aspect of God’s character, especially when breakthroughs don’t occur as quickly as we had hoped. Today’s title is: Feed on His Faithfulness “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:3-4 (NKJV) Recently, I was with some friends praying and waiting on the Lord. As I thought about what a struggle it can be to quieten our souls and listen to Him, I focused on the Lord and was prompted to go to Psalm 37:4, which mentions delighting ourselves in the Lord. As I was reading it, I backed up and read verse three also. “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness ” (NKJV).   What an interesting phrase, I thought: Feed on His faithfulness. Obviously, the Lord was telling Israel that as they placed their trust in Him and did what was right, they would live securely in the land He had given them, and experience His faithfulness. Obedience and faith always produce the Lord’s blessing.  And yet, as He does so amazingly, Holy Spirit began unfolding added meaning to the verse. As I pondered the phrase “feed on,” the Lord focused me on how remembering His faithfulness feeds our souls and causes spiritual growth. Different descriptive phrases came to mind:  Nourish yourself  on His faithfulness. Meditate on  His faithfulness.  Chew on  His faithfulness. Chew on it like a cow chews its cud, over and over. (This is often the example given for “meditating” on God’s Word.) Ponder  His faithfulness. Feeding on God’s faithfulness helps us remember all the ways He has been trustworthy in our lives, the miracles, big and small, and the times we have felt His love and encouragement. And this shouldn’t be relegated to remembering His faithfulness only to us personally, but also to past generations: Psalm 119:90: “Your faithfulness flows from one generation to the next; all that you created sits firmly in place to testify of you.”  (TPT) Psalm 40:10: “I have declared your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly.” (NKJV) Lamentations 3:21-25: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:  Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; Therefore, I will wait for Him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him.” (NIV) As I contemplated the benefits of “feeding on His faithfulness,” I was reminded of the time in college when I was hired to tutor a blind student in trigonometry. The study of trigonometry is about “seeing” the relationship between the sides of a right triangle and the angles of the triangle. When I first started working with him, he had no grid for this, for obvious reasons. He was having a very difficult time “seeing” and understanding these relationships, how the shapes/concepts worked together. Then, I had an epiphany! I don’t remember how the idea came about, but I had a friend use a peg board and, with nails, create a 10” x 10” grid. Next, we used rubber bands, stretching them over the nailheads to make triangles. This blind student was then able to use his sense of touch to “see” the relationships of angles and sides he was unable to see with his physical eyes. We had to bring trigonometry from a realm that was dependent on “seeing” the correlations to a realm he could operate in with his sense of touch. Applying This to Our Lives If we Christians are honest, it can be difficult at times to understand the ways of God. What is He doing? Why is He doing it? Many times, we can’t “see” the connection or relationship between what we are experiencing and what the Bible tells us regarding who God is and what He is doing. This is especially true when our circumstances differ from past experiences or are extremely challenging.  Often, we can’t “see” the connection between our situation and what God has promised. When this occurs, we can fall into doubting the goodness of God, thinking He has forgotten us, or perhaps even assume that we have been disqualified in some way. At that point, we become vulnerable to disappointment, unbelief, and fear.    These are the times when, just as the trigonometry student needed to operate with a different sense in order to “see,” we too must rely on a different spiritual sense: remembering God’s faithfulness. If we “drive” the faithfulness of the Lord into the “pegboard” of our minds - feeding on His faithfulness - this will enable us to trust Him and His ways.  On the other hand, if we allow traumatic events, disappointments, and judgments against the Lord to become our pegs, we receive a very distorted view of God and His ways. We open ourselves up to disappointment, hope deferred, unbelief, and a host of other problems. It seems that most often the assignment of the enemy against us is to hinder or destroy our faith. The devil knows that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus told His disciples they were going to go to the other side of the lake (Mark 4:35), but on the way, they encountered a huge storm. He silenced the storm, then said to the disciples, “Why are you so fearful? How is it you have no faith?” He had told them they were all going to go to the other side, but the storm caused the disciples to doubt. Their eyes were fixed on the storm instead of what the Lord had spoken. We sometimes do the same thing.  The Lord has spoken promises over our nation, but we are also encountering storms. He has probably spoken things over your life or family that have not yet occurred. This is why we must feed on His faithfulness. When the storms rage, look at His faithfulness to you individually, as well as to others down through the ages. Perhaps take some time to make a list of ways the lord has been faithful to you and your family. You can add to your list ways He has been faithful to others you know or perhaps have read about. Then, when the storm clouds appear on the horizon, pull out the list…and feed on His faithfulness. Pray with me: Father, we, at times, find ourselves facing disappointments, setbacks, losses, and other challenges. Our perspective at that point can mean the difference between success or failure. Seeds of disappointment and discouragement can grow into roots of bitterness. If not dealt with appropriately, difficulties can steal our joy and rob us of our strength. Remind us that Your plans for our future are good, even when we do not understand what You are doing. You are good, kind, loving, and faithful. Teach us to feed our minds on this truth, reminding ourselves of Your great faithfulness. This will nourish our souls, making them strong. We thank You for what You are doing in America and throughout the world. Though You must work through human hearts, minds, and wills, You do so patiently, creating opportunities to save and deliver. We are moving into such a season, filled with incredible opportunities for revival. Bring about these outpourings of Holy Spirit we pray, in the holy name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We celebrate our God, whose name is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11), and will feed on His faithfulness all the days of our lives. Today’s post was contributed by our friend, Terri Brown. You can find out more about her at TerriBrown.live . Click on the link below to watch the full video.

(I released a post a few weeks back regarding America’s judiciary branch of government. The need for prayer concerning the courts is so incredibly important at this time that I am re-releasing the post, with a few new thoughts.) Rogue Judges and Despotism The Left has often used liberal judges to legislate from the bench, doing for them what they could not accomplish through Congress. Roe v. Wade is a glaring example. Through the word “privacy” in our Constitution, the Supreme Court found the right to kill babies in the womb and made it the law of the land. They finally righted this abominable wrong in 2022.  Another despicable example occurred on June 26, 2015. The Supreme Court decided it had the right to overrule God and the Bible by redefining marriage, making the right to same-sex marriage the law of the land. Five unelected Justices, in one of the most arrogant defiances of God in history, reversed thousands of years of sacred tradition and “redefined” the first and arguably most important covenant the Creator established on earth. The arrogant and activist Justices voting to do so were Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. In the past few years, we have watched rogue judges (and prosecutors) also try to destroy President Trump and those associated with him. Now they are attempting to keep him from exposing and ending fraud in our government, and from deporting violent criminals, who came to America illegally in the first place. Let that sink in. Those who skirted due process to enter America, as well as the government leaders who aided and abetted them in doing so, now demand “due process” in order to expel them. (Including some of America’s “brightest” judicial minds on the bench.) If we were not watching this lunacy take place, it would be beyond belief. Hundreds of congressional leaders and numerous judges do not want fraud exposed or criminal aliens deported! It turns out Trump Derangement Syndrome is real, and is obviously fueled by a severe common sense deficiency. Where is Thomas Paine when we need him? Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, no novice when it comes to government and the Constitution, warned of these judicial extremes. He once said, “The great object of my fear is the Federal Judiciary.” (Letter to Judge Spencer Roane, 1821) (1) In a letter to Abigail Adams, September 11, 1804, “prophet” Jefferson warned that giving judges too much control would lead to despotism. A despot, by the way, is a king, tyrant, or other oppressor with absolute, cruel, and unlimited power. This Founding Father stated: “Nothing in the Constitution has given them [the federal judges] a right to decide for the Executive, more than to the Executive to decide for them. . . . The opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves, in their own sphere of action, but for the Legislature and Executive also in their spheres, would make the Judiciary a despotic branch.” (2) In a letter to Judge Roane, September 6, 1819, Jefferson restated his concerns regarding the judiciary, contending that the Constitution did not give them control over the other two branches. Had it done so, Jefferson contended that: “The Constitution, on this hypothesis, is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please.” (3) America should have listened! In a letter to Diplomat William Jarvis (September 28, 1820), Jefferson again warned that making the Supreme Court the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional issues was “very dangerous” and would lead to despotism: “You seem . . . to consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions; a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy. Our judges are as honest as other men, and not more so . . . and their power [is] the more dangerous, as they are in office for life and not responsible, as the other functionaries are, to the elective control. The Constitution has erected no such single tribunal, knowing that to whatever hands confided, with corruptions of time and party, its members would become despots.” (4) And at the risk of boring you with Jeffersonian wisdom, eloquence, and accurate predictions, here is one more statement referencing the judiciary as the “most dangerous” branch of our government: “At the establishment of our constitution, the judiciary bodies were supposed to be the most helpless and harmless members of the government. Experience, however, soon showed in what way they were to become the most dangerous; that the insufficiency of the means provided for their removal gave them a freehold and irresponsibility in office; that their decisions, seeming to concern individual suitors only, pass silent and unheeded by the public at large; that these decisions, nevertheless, become law by precedent, sapping, by little and little, the foundations of the Constitution, and working its change by construction, before any one has perceived that that invisible and helpless worm has been busily employed in consuming its substance...” (Letter to A. Coray, October 31, 1823) (5) So profound! Thomas Jefferson knew the weaknesses of human nature, and that “judges are as honest as other men, and NOT MORE SO” (emphasis mine). (6)  Indeed, the last line of defense for the deep state and leftist legislators, in their attempts to maintain control of America, seems now to be the courts. As Daniel Horowitz stated:  “They have ordered the administration to fund private foreign aid organizations, reinstate specific personnel, and publish designated information on government websites. In one case, a judge even directed the Secretary of Defense to retract a statement on the Pentagon’s policy regarding transgender troops. And over the weekend, U.S. District Judge James Boasburg attempted to block the deportation of violent gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. [The same judge who serves on FISA, the court that issued warrants to spy on the Trump campaign nine years ago. He later sentenced an FBI agent who falsified information in order to obtain the warrant to only probation, while sentencing January 6 participants to years in prison.] “What’s next? Will they order Trump to stop threatening Hamas or remove the bust of Andrew Jackson from the Oval Office? “Judges have forgotten who they are: unelected shields against government overreach, not legislative swords that can impose policies. Perhaps Trump needs to examine that bust of “Old Hickory” Andrew Jackson in the Oval Office and recall his (likely apocryphal) response to Chief Justice John Marshall’s ruling in Worcester v. Georgia:  ‘John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!’” (7) We must pray that the Lord enables us to rein in dishonest or misguided judges, exposing their inappropriate decisions. Pray that unrighteous judges who legislate from the bench are stopped. Ask God to give favor and great understanding to honorable judges. Pray daily for great wisdom to be given to government leaders fighting for truth, freedom, and the restoration of America. Pray this, especially, for President Trump‘s Department of Justice and law enforcement agencies as they expose and uproot the evil that has entrenched itself in our government. And pray for those in Congress who will be working to codify changes. Lastly, pray for revival. Lasting and deeply significant change will only come to America as millions of hearts are transformed by the power of Holy Spirit. This, and this alone, will empower the full reformation needed in our nation. Pray with me: Father, we know that righteousness and justice are the foundations of Your throne. We also know that these foundations are based on truth, which is found in You and Your Word. And we believe that as our Framers sought You for wisdom, You answered their prayers as they wrote our Constitution and Bill of Rights.  Leftists and despots continuously rebel against and twist this wisdom and Your truth. We ask for Your supernatural help in stopping their efforts. We ask that You give President Trump’s team understanding and wisdom as they work against attempts to turn our nation away from the Judeo-Christian principles upon which America was founded. Release Your sovereign and all-powerful hand to dismantle evil structures and systems created by those who resist truth in America. Break off from us the tyranny of evil and dishonest judges.  Help us rebuild a strong America that can serve Your purposes throughout the world. Give us wisdom to mend our flaws, building back an even stronger and more righteous nation. Shake out evil and do a deep work of cleansing. Revive and restore us. In the name of Jesus, we pray, amen. Our decree: We decree that righteousness will prevail in the courts of America.  Click on the link below to watch the full video. http://www.robgagnon.net/JeffersonOnJudicialTyranny.htm Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/trump-must-defy-rogue-judges-or-risk-a-failed-presidency

Important Lessons from Nehemiah  We are in a season of restoration and rebuilding in America. The book of Nehemiah is a great guide, and it reminds us that restoration takes God-given vision, unyielding faith, and perseverance. Let’s review a few of Nehemiah’s important lessons today. God’s Heart   Perhaps the most important leadership advice I could give someone would be: Ask God to reveal and impart to you His heart regarding those you influence, lead, or minister to. Seek and identify with His desires. Become a true friend of Jesus. Nehemiah allowed God to impart His heart to him when he heard how badly the work of restoration was going in Jerusalem.  “… The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been burned. When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven…” Nehemiah 1:3-4 (NLT) True intercession is born out of love. God’s love is poured out through His Ekklesia as we connect with His Heart for America and the nations. “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16). I labor in prayer for America, as Nehemiah did for Jerusalem, because God has broken my heart for our nation. As the apostle Paul stated, His love constrains me (2 Corinthians 5:14). We intercede daily for America because the love of Christ compels us to do so. He wants to reap a harvest of millions here, and a billion souls among the nations. Our motivation to transform America is NOT out of anger or political partisanship; the Love of Christ motivates us. It was said of General William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, that he carried God’s heart for the poor in the slums of England. Leonard Ravenhill recounts a story regarding Booth, highlighting the need to minister from God’s heart: “In my twenties, during a period of pastoring, I loved to go past the Salvation Army building, which was the largest one outside of London. There’s a huge memorial at the front. Chiseled in one stone is, “William Booth of the Salvation Army opened this corps,” and then it gives the date of 1910. On a second stone it says, ‘Kate and Mary Jackson, were officers in this corp.’  “It was in this poor city, where they spin and weave cotton into cloth and the whole town was on the poverty level, that Kate and Mary Jackson labored for a couple of years, and nothing happened. Those girls worked diligently and went to bed exhausted at night. “So they wrote William Booth: ‘Would you kindly move us to another station? We’re so tired and disheartened. We’ve tried everything that we’ve been taught to do. Please move us to another location.’ “Booth sent a telegram back with two words: ‘Try tears.’ “They did, and they saw real revival come. The girls entered into travailing prayer; not just prayer, but travailing prayer, prayer with anguish in it. “The road to revival is often paved with tears and brokenness.” (1)   Let’s ask Holy Spirit to impart the Father’s heart to us, just as He did for those girls, and Nehemiah. Battles will Come Nehemiah also teaches us that genuine Kingdom restoration causes much conflict from the enemy. Nehemiah 4:1, 8: “ But when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and in a great rage, and he ridiculed the Jews. … And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem, to injure and cause confusion and failure in it” (Amplified Bible Classic Edition). How appropriate for today! Have you ever seen or heard as much hatred, anger, rage, and ridicule toward another administration as that directed toward our President, his team, and his agenda? Despite the outrage and attacks of the enemy, however, Holy Spirit calls us to follow His leadership and enforce Christ’s victory on Calvary. We must keep at the forefront of our thinking that we are on the winning side. Be confident of Christ and His victory. Colossians 2:15 (Amplified) says, “[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the Cross].” Matthew 28:18 (NKJV) reminds us that “All authority has been given to [Christ] in heaven and on earth.” Revelation 1:17-18 (NKJV) states, “ Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death .” And Matthew 16:18 (NKJV) declares, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” Our confidence grows as we learn how to intercede and decree from the place of victory! Three Important Reminders from Nehemiah In Nehemiah 4:14, this great leader told the people, “Don’t be afraid of our enemies” ( Nehemiah 4:14). What a powerful reminder for the Ekklesia. We must NOT magnify the enemy by overly focusing on his schemes. His tactics of wrath, fear, and deception are predictable, BUT he is defeated. Jesus is Lord over the earth, is building His Ekklesia, and the gates of hell are NOT prevailing! This great verse continues, “Remember the Lord, who is great and powerful!” Worship! Magnify the Lord! A key to our victories is to remember how great and powerful our God is. And the verse concludes by saying, “You must fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters! You must fight for your wives and your homes!”  We must fight! Yes, we “fight” on our knees to release Kingdom power and victory on earth, not with carnal weapons. We extend God’s Kingdom through our prayers, intercession, and decrees. But…we must fight! God Is Frustrating the Plans of His Enemies I love Nehemiah 4:15 (NASB):  “When our enemies heard that…God had frustrated their plan…” Today, as we pray for President Trump, his cabinet, Mike Johnson, Congress, etc., we can be assured that God is actively restoring America and frustrating the plans of the enemy. Pray with me : Father, we ask that You impart to us Your heart for America and the nations. We refuse to be motivated by politics and the political spirit. We purpose to be motivated only by Your purposes and desires.  Our adversary, the devil, opposes us in our efforts to turn this nation and evangelize among the nations, but we stand in Your victory. We are neither surprised nor intimidated by his anger, hatred, or attacks. We refuse to fear, but will war for our children, families, and fellow citizens. And as we do, You will frustrate the enemies of Your Kingdom. We know that America shall be saved, and that all the nations of the earth are the inheritance of Christ. As we war, we do so from this position of victory. And it’s in Jesus’ name that we ask and declare these things. Amen. Our decree:   We declare that God will frustrate satan’s plans and fill the earth with His glory. Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://makethevisionplain.com/try-tears/

Our Prayers Release God’s Power Over the past weekend, I watched a portion of The Bible, a television miniseries released in 2013. In this production, they included the account of Peter healing a lame man in Acts 3. I was fascinated, as I always am when meditating on this event. Here was a man, Peter, who had denied knowing Jesus just a few weeks prior - and doing so while cursing, mind you - being used to perform one of the greatest miracles of healing in Scripture. Peter’s words stuck out to me, as they always do, “…such as I have, give I thee…”  (Acts 3:6). What, exactly, did Peter have? Ephesians 3:20-21 gives us the answer: “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and forever. Amen.”  (NASB) Today you’re going to get Professor Sheets, so put on your student hat and follow along with me: The phrase “exceeding abundantly beyond” is difficult to translate. It is actually one compound word in the Greek text:  huperekperissou . (1)  This word isn’t found in older Greek literature but shows up in biblical writings. In other words, a new word was coined to describe God’s power. The root word, perissos (2)  in and of itself, means “superabundant;” in other words, more than abundant, or more than enough. The added prefix  huper, (3)  however, gives the word another “beyond” or “more than.” His power is even “more than more than enough!”  If that weren’t enough (pun intended),  ek (4) added to the word strengthens it further! This new word, huperekperissou , literally means: “superabundantly…with more added to that,” or “beyond more than enough,” or perhaps “more than more than enough, and more!” It is so important that we understand the incredible strength of this word. Here is the breakdown once more, using W. E. Vines Greek Dictionary  to help us: perissos , the basic word which conveys the sense of an amount beyond the normal measure; in other words, abundantly;  huper  added to it ( huperperissos ), strengthens it to “exceeding abundantly.” (This form of the word is used only in Mark 7:37 (NASB), where it describes the astonishment of people at Jesus’ healing of a deaf and dumb man using His saliva. The Passion Translation translates the word in this verse as “beyond measure.”)  adding   ek   to the word -  huperekperissou  - strengthens it still further, requiring yet another modifier to indicate its superiority above even “exceedingly abundant.”  Translating this word is almost impossible. It would literally be something along the lines of “very extremely extraordinarily abundant!” Bullinger, in his Companion Bible , simply translates it as ‘infinitely.’” (5) Well, that works! In this verse, Paul, describing God’s infinite power at work in us, essentially says, “God has enough power to do superabundantly beyond - with even more added to that - what we can even ask or think.” Finite human language can’t describe our infinite God! This Power Now Dwells In Us But this isn’t the end of the verse! The last half of Ephesians 3:20 tells us God is going to do this “more than, more than enough” through the power that works “in us.” Not just in heaven -  IN US ! This infinitely powerful God has taken up residence in us! An  Expanded Translation of the New Testament  by Kenneth Wuest is the most literal and exact translation of the New Testament I know of. In this passage, Wuest mentions this infinite, superabundant power of God, but also makes clear that it operates in and through us: “Now to the One who is able to do beyond all things, superabundantly beyond and over and above those things that we are asking for ourselves and considering, in the measure of the power which is operative in us . . .” (Ephesians 3:20) (6) God certainly does operate from heaven  in response to our prayers, releasing His power. At times, however, His power flows from Holy Spirit  in us  as we speak His words. When Peter was used to heal the lame man in Acts 3:6, he said,  “Such as I HAVE, give I thee.”  It was obviously Holy Spirit’s power, but this power was released from him.  Our Prayers Release This Power James 5:16 says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (KJV). Again, Wuest gives us added insight, translating it this way:  “A prayer of a righteous person is able to do much as it operates.” The Amplified translation reads,  “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [is dynamic in its working].”  Notice the word “continued”; Wuest and the Amplified Bible capture the present-tense meaning of the verb - continuous action. This is why Elijah, when producing the provision of rain, this verse in James is referencing, continued to pray and release the power of God - seven times. His prayers continued to release power each time he prayed.  I am certainly not implying that we can release God’s power at our will and pleasure. We must be led by the Spirit in this regard, as Peter and Elijah were, and release His power as He directs us. Nevertheless, we must do so, commanding His Kingdom will and power into situations, just as Jesus told us to do in Matthew 16:18-19. The entire point of James’ passage, in fact, is that Elijah was human, just as we are, yet was able to do this. If he can do it, James says, we can! In my book,   Intercessory Prayer , I tell the story of going weekly, for a year, to pray for a young girl in a coma. Each time I went, I prayed for an hour or so. After a year, she was completely healed. I am confident that I was releasing the power of the Holy Spirit every time I prayed. Finally, enough power was released, and the miracle occurred. As you declare God’s Word and promises over your situation, know that His power is being released. No word from Him returns void, without accomplishing its purpose (Isaiah 55:11). Each time you declare that the power and authority of satan is broken over your family member, his hold weakens. Every time you declare the power of the Cross over an unbeliever, more of that power flows to them. Don’t stop! Persevere!  Pray with me: Father, we thank You for Your desire to save and deliver. You desire to open the eyes of unbelievers, setting them free from satan’s control. We thank You for Your grace, mercy, and love. This past weekend, we celebrated Your great redemption of us through Christ. The result of this redemption was that we became the temple of the Holy Spirit once again; He and His infinite power abides in us. Teach us to operate in/release this power, as Peter did at Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:2). Teach us to do as Elijah did, releasing Your great power until the rain comes. We pray for those who do not yet know You. We bind every strategy of satan and his demons who hold them captive, and we release Holy Spirit’s power to save and deliver them. Rain down Your infinite power on our nation and the nations of the earth. Demonstrate Your love and power with great miracles. Awaken multitudes to Your redemption, and free them from spiritual darkness. All of this we pray in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the power of God is being released through us, destroying strongholds of darkness, and setting captives free. 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), reference no. 5248b. Ibid., ref. no. 4053. Ibid., ref. no. 5228. Ibid., ref. no. 1537. http://www.varady.org/prvSR/writings/biblical/eph320.cfm    Kenneth Wuest, The New Testament: An Expanded Translation. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1961).

INTRODUCTION As we move into the great worldwide revival, which is increasing in strength and momentum, the Holy Spirit gave my brother, Tim, a strong word about His river of glory. As always, you will find it very encouraging. The title is: THE RIVER OF GOD’S GLORY Four years ago, during a time of incredible prophetic insights and revelations, I  received several visions and words I have been faithfully praying about. I believe their time has now come and will help define the Ekklesia’s current season. Vision 1 - Fire Words In the first vision, I saw a vast army of angel warriors. Each angel was carrying a bronze bow, and lines of them stretched in all directions. They were moving away from a huge warehouse, and I knew they had been inside. The sign on the warehouse read “Arsenal: Fire Word Decrees.”  I then saw the angels raise their bronze bows in unison and release flaming arrows. Each arrow tip was ablaze, and the angels were firing them as quickly as possible. The sky was filled with these arrows. They were targeted at enemy positions, which the Lord allowed me to see. When the arrows hit the target, they exploded into larger flames, like fireballs.  I was then given an aerial view and saw the barrage of arrows devastating the positions of the Lord’s enemies. I heard Holy Spirit shout, “Behold the ‘fire words’ of the King’s Ekklesia! Empty the arsenals, shoot at the strongholds, and hell’s princes will fall.”  At this point in the vision, I declared, “It’s time for the move of God that will destroy the enemy’s strongholds. It’s time for the fire word decrees, stored up for appointed times, to be loosed.” I believe this vision is now in its moment. The Holy Spirit and His angel armies are beginning to empty the prayer arsenals that have been filled with the “fire word decrees” of the Ekklesia. Holy Spirit stored these decrees for their appointed time, as described in Revelation 5:8: golden bowls in heaven, filled with the prayers and decrees of the saints. These “word seeds” have now grown and matured, and angels are assisting in bringing them to pass.  Continuation Several days later, I received a continuation of this vision. I was shown an aerial view of Ekklesia hubs throughout the world. As I watched, the roofs of each hub turned into a huge mouth! Holy Spirit declared that they were going to be a mouth in their region, decreeing the words of King Jesus. As the vision unfolded, I saw a crystal-clear, pure river flowing through the heart of each hub. It continued from there outward, flowing into the surrounding territories. At times, the river would branch off, forming new flows or streams. This “river system” was all connected, flowing through all the hubs in one continuous, unbroken flow. In other words, each Ekklesia hub carried the same river, and I knew this was a picture of “the river of God” flowing from God’s throne onto the earth. (See Ezekiel 47:1-12; John 7:37-38; Revelation 22:1-2) I then saw angels dressed in white with golden belts around their waists. Each hub had one angel hovering over it, holding a golden trumpet to his lips, sounding it loudly. They weren’t sounding forth musical notes or sounds, however, but words! The words they trumpeted read, “Everything lives where the river flows”  (See Ezekiel 47:9). As the voice of God thunders across the nations through the mouths of His angels and Ekklesia, demonic princes that have ruled territories with their dark agenda will be uprooted. Nations will be saved, and evil agendas, along with those who implement them, will fall.  I believe the supernatural river of God is beginning to flow on earth as never before. The greatest move of God is underway; Holy Spirit streams and rivers are rising. A Further Word While praying about this, Holy Spirit gave me the following word: To the Ekklesia of Christ the King: You will now advance into the most supernatural movement I have ever led. I am pouring out a fresh anointing, blending and synergizing that which I birthed in previous movements. These past movements will intersect with the Godhead’s current plans being activated in today’s great Reformation. Past anointings will merge and function together with today’s supernatural Kingdom, accomplishing My plans. The river of My Spirit has been rising as heaven’s rain has filled it, preparing for torrential flows throughout the earth. In this era, the river of God will flow through My Ekklesia hubs. Rushing, replenishing, and refreshing waters are flowing from Kingdom reservoirs, fed by Godhead rain and aquifers that will not run dry. Prepare to ride Spirit rivers. Kingdom Ekklesias will experience surges of the King’s great power. Heaven’s omnipotent King will reveal more of His power and glory in experiential ways. Regions, territories, and nations will revere His majesty, as the river of God now begins its flood stage flow through His heirs. Signs, wonders, miracles, healings, and deliverances will be seen as never before. You will see the strong arm of the Lord and the aggression of Heaven’s hosts, as they move on Kingdom assignments with My people.  My remnant warriors will rise in great might, moving with Me. Demons will tremble, not My heirs. Know and be confident, Ekklesia, that great winds of heaven will blow upon you just as they did upon My first Ekklesia. Pentecost winds are stirring in the atmosphere. Mighty, historic winds are building and will blow upon the sons and daughters. The winds of Holy Spirit will come - one after the other, wave after wave - each one stronger than the previous.  The winds will continue until full-blown power from Heaven, ordained for your time, is seen and experienced. They will build until their full effects are felt throughout the entire earth, affecting transformational changes. Wave after wave of Holy Spirit wind bands have begun; the outer bands are upon you. You will be carried forth, borne on Holy Spirit’s sustaining, prevailing, guiding, and refreshing winds.  They are not destructive winds; they are winds of grace blowing across harvest fields, white unto harvest. They carry good news, the redemptive power of the King’s forgiveness. They are winds of great deliverance, blowing away hell’s bondage, confusion, addictions, sin, brokenness, fear, and hopelessness. Grace winds are clearing the minds of prodigals, lifting the demonic fog, and lighting the way back home. They are grace winds carrying angel hosts for the time of reaping. For the angel hosts, by the multiplied thousands, are riding Holy Spirit’s atmospheric river into your times.  This is what I heard Holy Spirit say regarding the current season of Christ’s Ekklesia. Grace winds are blowing in the latter rains. The glory river is flowing and carrying the presence of Almighty God throughout the earth. We will steward this word, proclaiming and praying that the river will continue to rise and flow. Pray with me:  Lord, we believe and decree Your Word. You have said You’re going to send the latter rains, greater than anything we’ve experienced. We declare the release of these harvest rains that will cause Your mighty river to rise and flow through the entire world. We declare that grace winds will accompany Your river. We decree: let Your river flow, and let Your river rise to its fullest stage.  May the Ekklesias in our nation and around the world embrace the atmospheric river of Your Spirit. We decree that living water is springing up! Springs of Holy Spirit, are rising. We believe that the mighty river of God is going to fill the world with such strength that demons will tremble and strongholds will break. Release the rains of heaven as never before. Soak the earth with power for signs, wonders, and miracles. Release grace winds and bring prodigals home. Send the rain! In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Our decree:   We decree that the supernatural river of God is beginning to flow on earth as never before, and that everything lives where the river flows! Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim Sheets. You can learn more about him at Tim Sheets Ministries  using this  link  provided. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Introduction Today’s post is taken from my book, The Pleasure of His Company . It is entitled:  PASSION WEEK: The Look Simon Peter is an interesting character. I love his realness. A down-to-earth fisherman grinding out a living in the small town of Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee, Peter was a tough, calloused, hard-nosed individual. This outspoken disciple sometimes wore his emotions on his sleeve - he once rebuked Jesus (Matthew 16:22) and later, at the Lord’s arrest, cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant (John 18:10). And, like many good fishermen, Peter was known to string out a few expletives, when the situation called for it (Matthew 26:74). One of Peter’s all-too-human moments came at the Last Supper, the night before Christ’s crucifixion. When Jesus spoke of His arrest and the disciples’ scattering, Peter spoke up and bragged, “I’ll never run. I’m ready to go to prison and die for you”  (Luke 22:33, paraphrased). I’m sure Peter believed his level of commitment was this great. Christ, however, knew otherwise and gave Peter the now famous  “before the cock crows, you’ll deny me three times”  prophecy (v. 34). “Simon, Simon,” Jesus told Peter. “Behold, satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers”  (vv. 31-32). The Lord’s prediction concerning Peter came true later that night.   Having followed Christ to His trial, Peter watched the proceedings from a distance. Then, he was accused of being one of Jesus’ disciples three times. By the time the third accusation came, things were in chaos - Christ was being slapped around, beaten, and spat upon, and a dangerous mob-like atmosphere was forming. In a confused state of panic, Peter buckled under the pressure. “I don’t know Him!” He shouted for the third time, peppering his denial with fowl language. Scripture says,  "He began to curse and swear"  (Matthew 26:74). Obviously, it was more than one expletive. The Look I find what happened next very moving. Jesus was close enough to hear him, and upon doing so,  “turned and looked at Peter”  (Luke 22:61). We’re left to guess what kind of look He gave Peter, but it certainly wasn’t one of shock or surprise; after all, He predicted the denial. Another possibility would be an angry, condemning, I-can’t-believe-you-just-did-that look. Knowing Christ as I do, I don’t believe this was the look He gave Peter, either. I’m reasonably confident the look Jesus gave this troubled, confused, and dedicated fisherman - who had left everything to follow Him - was one of deep compassion and reassurance: “Don’t worry, Peter, I understand. And I still believe in you. Remember, I saw this coming and prayed for you. Everything is going to be all right.” And I believe that with one glance, He saved Peter’s destiny. Seeing Christ’s look, Peter was undone. One can only imagine the flood of emotion he was experiencing. In Gethsemane, he had just seen Christ literally bleed through the pores of His skin, a condition called hematidrosis. Then came the arrest and beatings - Christ’s swollen face and torn clothing would have been covered in blood and spittle. And now this. Overcome with emotion, Peter fled the trial and “wept bitterly”  (Luke 22:62). The emotional roller coaster continued with the cross, three days of mourning, followed by the resurrection. As thrilled as the disciples were to see Jesus alive, however, things were still not the same. He kept vanishing and reappearing, only to leave again. He was gone most of the time. Finally, Peter had had enough. All of this was way above his pay grade. We are not told his exact train of thought, but I’m guessing it was something like this: I’m no Rabbi or theologian, and I’m not a prophet who can understand mysteries and see into the future. I don’t understand all of the theology, and certainly not the events of the last few days. Nothing has worked out the way I expected; I have no idea where Jesus even is. I’m going back to the only thing I really understand right now, my previous job. “I am going fishing,” he said to several of the other disciples (John 21:3). Also confused and unable to connect the dots, they simply said, “We’re going with you.” The Calling Revisited The Lord was sympathetic to their plight. He had caused it, after all, and He loved them. Christ knew if they could just hang on until Pentecost, all would be well. So, He told Dad, Holy Spirit, and Gabriel that He was going to make another earthly appearance. “The guys could use another encouraging word, especially Peter. I’m going to go cook them breakfast, visit with them awhile, and help them pay some bills.” And that’s exactly what He did. After the disciples had finished a fruitless night of fishing, Jesus was waiting on the beach. He already had a fire going and food cooking. “Come and have breakfast,” He invited them. It must have brought back great memories. We don’t know everything they talked about, but the pleasure of His company must have been wonderfully reassuring. Eventually, knowing Peter was still grieving over denying Him three times, Jesus began addressing the situation. Three times, He asked Peter if he loved Him, and each time, Peter responded affirmatively. Some theologians believe Jesus asked the question three times in order to offset the three denials. That seems likely, but the first time He asked it, Christ added the question,  “Do you love Me MORE THAN THESE”  (v. 15, emphasis mine). Was He referring to the other disciples, or was He referencing the fish? I believe it was the fish which represented Peter’s former livelihood and career. The Lord was about to reaffirm Peter’s calling. This is why Jesus chose to meet them at the same  location where their original calling had occurred, and why He worked the exact same  miracle. And if those repeats weren’t enough, He then gave Peter the same  command - twice - as He had on that first occasion.  “Follow me!”  He said to him (v. 19). Christ was saying emphatically to this ashamed and uncertain fisherman: “Your calling hasn’t changed, Peter. I still believe in and need you. Your failure didn’t disqualify you, and the fact that I’m not around at the present time hasn’t changed the plan. Hang in there - everything will make sense in a few more days.” And it did. On the day of Pentecost, Peter was born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. The Christ who used to walk beside him now lived IN him. Peter preached that day, and three thousand people were born again! A few days later, he healed a completely lame man known by the entire city of Jerusalem, and five thousand more people were saved! He had made it. The crusty, foul-mouthed, impetuous, confused denier had survived his trauma and made it through the most confusing and consequential season in world history. He stepped into the new era of redeemed humankind with strength and purpose. You’ll make it, too. If and when you fail Him - and most of us will at some point - look for the look. It’ll be there. When you’re grieving, confused, and uncertain, Jesus wants to take you to breakfast, not expel you from the family. Follow Him! Pray with me: Father, we are so grateful You look past our external deficiencies and at our hearts, seeing the gold that’s hidden there. You were fully aware of Peter’s weaknesses, yet You focused on the qualities Your love and compassion could see in him. Thank You, Lord, for Your commitment to our development and success. You never give up on us! Even when we are filled with confusion, fear, and failure-induced shame, You lovingly whisper, “Look at Me.” And with one glance of Your eyes, comfort, confidence, and new strength arise within us. Identity, destiny, renewed purpose, and faith for the future are found in those fiery eyes that burn with passion for us.  Today, we choose to stare back into Your intense gaze. Our decree: We declare that we will follow Jesus, and will always remember to “look for The Look.” Today’s post was taken from my book, The Pleasure of His Company , published by Baker Books. On tomorrow’s post, Good Friday, we will be taking Communion together. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

PASSION WEEK: President Trump Celebrates the Resurrection For a while, believing that we would see God honored again through those who lead our nation seemed beyond our reach. Hopelessness tried to hold us hostage for four years. Our national leaders purposefully exalted death, assaulted our freedoms, imprisoned some for their beliefs, and had a blatant, in-your-face disregard for our Christian faith. They shoved DEI down our throats and tried to keep us from ever envisioning a whole America again. But we did not lose our courage; we continued to dream God’s dreams, and our prayers are now writing history! This week, Brooke Singman of Fox News reported on President Trump’s plans to honor the Passion Week of Christ. “‘The newly created White House Faith Office is grateful to share that President Trump will honor and celebrate Holy Week and Easter with the observance it deserves,’ Jennifer Korn, Faith Director of the White House Faith Office, told Fox News Digital. ‘Throughout the week, we will distribute a Holy Week proclamation, a special presidential video message (and) host a pre-Easter dinner and White House staff Easter service.’ “Korn said it ‘will be a special time of prayer and worship at the White House  to be shared with Americans celebrating the week leading up to Resurrection Sunday.’” (1) Contrast that to Biden’s utter disrespect for the Cross and Resurrection of Christ. “Karoline Leavitt noted that, last year, the Biden White House marked Easter Sunday, which fell on March 31, 2024, the most solemn Christian holiday, as Transgender Day of Visibility.” (2) Both Biden and Obama before him took the disrespect of God and America’s Judeo-Christian heritage to new levels. Biden allowed bare-chested transgender individuals to show off their breasts on the White House lawn. Obama lit up the White House with the colors of the pride flag when the Supreme Court mocked God’s definition of marriage and came up with its own. Throughout their presidencies, both of them intentionally mocked God and His Word, as well as the American church. This has brought great disgrace to our nation, just as the Scriptures warned us would occur when the unrighteous rule:  “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people”  (Proverbs 14:34). God, in His mercy, has now given us a President who honors Him. This was prophesied by Kim Clement eighteen years ago, way back in 2007: “Trump shall become a trumpet! says the Lord. No, you didn’t hear me. Trump shall become a trumpet! Are you listening to me? I will raise up the Trump to become a trumpet. He will be a praying president, not a religious one. But I will fool the people, says the Lord. I will fool the people. Yes, I will. “God says, The one that is chosen shall go in, and they shall say, ‘He has hot blood.’ For the Spirit of God says, Yes, he may have hot blood, but he will bring the walls of protection on this country in a greater way, and the economy of this country shall change rapidly, says the Lord of Hosts.  “Listen to the word of the Lord. God says, I will put at your helm for two terms a president who will pray, but he will not be a praying president when he starts. I will put him in office, and then I will baptize him with the Holy Spirit and my power, says the Lord of Hosts.” (3)   We now have a praying, God-honoring President and White House staff! We are told by God and His Word that this produces blessings.  “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn” (Proverbs 29:2).  This is the beginning of America’s reset and reformation. President Trump called it a “Golden Age,” and prophets have called it a “renaissance.” The dictionary gave the phrase “golden age” as a synonym of renaissance. How about that–prophets and the President are saying the same thing regarding this time in America. And remember, what God is doing is not just for America, but for the great worldwide harvest that is truly beginning. This week, President Trump released a message to honor Christ. Here it is, in case you haven’t seen it; read it and rejoice. And the President’s closing prayer will be our prayer today: “This Holy Week, Melania and I join in prayer with Christians celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—the living Son of God who conquered death, freed us from sin, and unlocked the gates of Heaven for all of humanity. Beginning with Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and culminating in the Paschal Triduum, which begins on Holy Thursday with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, followed by Good Friday, and reaching its pinnacle in the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night. This week is a time of reflection for Christians to memorialize Jesus’ crucifixion—and to prepare their hearts, minds, and souls for His miraculous Resurrection from the dead. “During this sacred week, we acknowledge that the glory of Easter Sunday cannot come without the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the Cross. In His final hours on Earth, Christ willingly endured excruciating pain, torture, and execution on the Cross out of a deep and abiding love for all His creation. Through His suffering, we have redemption. Through His death, we are forgiven of our sins. Through His Resurrection, we have hope of eternal life. On Easter morning, the stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty, and light prevails over darkness—signaling that death does not have the final word. “This Holy Week, my Administration renews its promise to defend the Christian faith in our schools, military, workplaces, hospitals, and halls of government. We will never waver in safeguarding the right to religious liberty, upholding the dignity of life, and protecting God in our public square. “As we focus on Christ’s redeeming sacrifice, we look to His love, humility, and obedience—even in life’s most difficult and uncertain moments. This week, we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our beloved Nation . We pray that America will remain a beacon of faith, hope, and freedom for the entire world, and we pray to achieve a future that reflects the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christ’s eternal Kingdom in Heaven. “May God bless you and your family during this special time of year, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.” (4) Decree with me: America shall be saved! Click on the link below to watch the full video. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-hold-extraordinary-holy-week-events-trump-honors-easter-the-observance-deserves   Ibid. Kim Clement Febuary 10, 2007    https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/04/presidential-message-on-holy-week-2025/