Being friends is easy until it gets hard. The Spirit tells us the more transparent we are with another believer, the faster our lives will be transformed (James 5:16).
Yet, do we really want to hear another person’s dirty laundry? A faithful loving friend will. They will bear all things, believe all things, hope all things and endure all things despite what the other person shares! Paul writes this in the context of healthy believers walking toward Jesus together (1 Cor. 13:7).
The Christian life is messy! It can be downright ugly at times. And yet, friends will stand up for and behind each other, especially when life gets hard. This is how we get through those hard times to become more like Jesus.
Ask the Spirit to empower you to be that kind of friend if you want to make more and healthy disciples (Matt. 28:18-20). Love Jesus? How you walk with others will tell if this is true or not.
Set Free Nowww“W”

“It makes no sense to look back when it’s so important to look ahead” a well-known believer, also a professional athlete, said in response to a question about his past performances. At that point in time they were, let’s leave it as less than spectacular.
The truth is this: If we keep looking back to our past mistakes, we’ll miss something Jesus has for us today and not be prepared for what He has for us next.
Either Jesus meant what He said on the cross, “It is finished!”, or He didn’t. His sacrificial death on that tree took care of all my less than spectacular moments. Your enemy wants you to look back. Your God, Jesus, wants you to focus on Him today, and be prepared for tomorrow.
Get forgiveness for yesterday. Give thanks today for the truth that are. And then focus on Jesus. Psalm 103:2 states there are great benefits from the LORD in doing so.
S“E”t Free Nowwww

Psalm 107 starts off with, “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.” Quite normal for a Psalm. It’s what comes next that’s of great interest for the mindset of healthy and victorious Jesus believer.
The author talks about five cycles of victory-defeat-thanks. I thought about this as I prayer walked today. Why do we have these tremendous ups and downs? The answer was in the Psalm itself. “Whoever is wise, let him heed these things, and consider the great love of the LORD.” We tend to forget what our God has done for us and instead focus on ourselves – schedules, routines, wants, desires, etc.
The person who wants victory will remember what happened the last time they strayed from God’s victorious path – defeat; and then, commit to give thanks daily for all the good God has done for and how much He loves them.
May I make a suggestion? Right now, stand up and spend at least two minutes thanking your God for His love and what He’s already done for you.
S“E”t Free Nowwww

There is a 100+ acre piece of dirt behind my house. People drive north to south over it instead of going around on the paved road. After enough use, a hard pathway has been created that makes it easy to walk over it. However, the farmer will, when it comes time to plant seeds, plow that field effectively erasing the dirt road.
As I was walking on this path, the Lord showed me that it’s a powerful picture of forgiveness. Every one of us has experienced various hurts caused by people driving over our lives. After a while, we become hardened soil that can’t allow the seeds of God’s truth to penetrate our hearts and draw us closer to Jesus.
Forgiveness is that plowed field. It allows the Spirit to plant powerful life-changing seeds into your life. Don’t let those who’ve driven over your life dictate how close you get to Jesus – the source of all life’s good stuff! Choose today to forgive in Jesus name those who have hurt you.
I show you how to forgive God’s way in my book, More Than a Sunday Faith (chapter 13). I’ll send you a free copy if you can’t afford it. Seeing your life made whole is that important to me.
Se“T” Free Nowwww

I have this wonderful energy consumer of bouncing my foot and doing something with my hands while sitting. At this particular time, I had just finished stirring my delicious Israeli coffee with a wooden stick. Did you know that if you wet a wooden stick and break it little by little you can make a circle or wheel out of it? This is what I did.
This is a wonderful picture of God’s grace. Jesus is the living water who makes us pliable in His loving hands. He then, ever so slowly, uses life situations to break our wills until we become a useful tool in His hands, the “good work” He prepared us to do.

You can stay dry and let life break you into pieces or you can dive into Jesus water and let Him shape your character using those same life situations.
It’s your choice – break or bend. Yes, both are uncomfortable, but one brings blessing and one, well, let’s just say it only hurts.
S“E”t Free Nowwww