August 31st-September 6th, 2025

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Clay

Written by

Cali Clippard

Dear Jesus,

From the moment 

You molded me from clay

And placed me in my mother's womb

And from the moment

I first went to church

And heard of your plans and miracles

I knew one thing was real in

this broken world:

I love you and you love me.

A love so deep I gave you my all -

from my heart and my mind

To my life and my soul.

A love so deep you gave me your life - 

You taught and did miracles

You suffered and died.

All because you loved me.

Because of Your sacrifice

I now live every day of my life in Your light.

Because of Your resurrection 

I now have this opportunity

This beautiful choice

To love You and know my creator.

As a young child walking with you

I never saw the shadows.

I never saw the dark creatures lurking off the side of the path

I only saw YOU

And that was enough to be overcome with peace

And fearlessness.

I gave you my heart and you opened my eyes

You gave me a mission. A purpose.

And from now till I walk the Streets of Gold

I will obey You.

I will walk in Your ways, turn dow the world, and worship YOU

Not because others do

Not for reward

But because you called me by name!

I will give my life to you, Lord,

Because You gave Yours up for me.

No matter what life throws at me next

No matter what plan you have for me

For all of eternity I will walk in my identity

As a child of God.

Your beloved,

Cali

Father, thank You for first, adopting us into Your beautiful, large, and diverse family, calling us your daughters, and secondly, for giving us a mission and purpose for our lives. Holy Spirit, I ask that each woman reading this will sense your calling in the small and mundane, as well as her life-long call. May she grow in closer connection with you as she takes another brave step into each calling, knowing You are completely with her, in her corner, and championing her all the way!

The Lord gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.” Jeremiah 1:4-10 NLT

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Editor's Note & 

Global Prayer for the Next Generation

How do we typically respond to the invitational calls our Heavenly Father gives us, both the short-term, day-to-day nudges and those that are life-long? Are we quick to dismiss the call? Or delay taking a step of obedience towards His direction until He uncovers a detailed plan? What repetitive excuses show up in our exhaustive lists of excuses: too young, too old, too busy, not enough energy nor time, lacking the training, education, support, or resources? 

What could occur if we simply responded, "Here I am, send me" and do as He instructs with bold confidence, trusting He will show up and follow through on His word? Or, (more realistically!) if we tentatively take a hesitant step, slightly (or majorly!) scared, begging Him to show up?! 

Our responses likely reflect all of the above and somewhere in between, as they're closely linked to how we imagine the outcome(s) playing out in real life. Regardless, we have an array of raw and real examples in the Bible of how people responded to God's call on their lives, and the rippling impact of their lives in shaping history and advancing His kingdom: Mary, Gideon, Moses, Samuel, the Samaritan woman, Jonah, and David to just list a few...

In this particular passage, we enter the scene with Jeremiah experiencing the call God had on his life as a prophet, along with Jeremiah walking through his first visions with God's instructive guidance. Did you notice Jeremaiah's immediate reaction, responding with the excuse of being too young? What was God's rebuttal? And the promises Jeremiah received related to the assurance of God's presence?

We have a generation that is boldly rising up to God's call on their lives. 

The author of this DUST received a prophetic word when she was in her mother's womb: "I'm sensing this baby will be like John the Baptist...paving the way for others to encounter Jesus." In other words, as Jeremiah received a prophetic calling on his life (which translates into boldly speaking God's truths), this baby had an evangelistic calling on her life (which translates into an undeniable call to share God's love with others!). Choosing not to know the baby's gender until born, her parents hid that word in their hearts and gave her the middle name "Jordan" when she was born.

In those forming moments, her parents could never have imagined that:

• at a tender age of two, with words barely emerging, she'd sign and request more of the song, "Speak Life" by Toby Mac.

• at a young four, she would ask to be baptized...in the Jordan River, nonetheless!

• in first grade as star student, she selected her favorite book (the Bible-specifically, her Jesus Story Book Bible given to her by a dear family in our "village"), and chose to read the Gospel account to her public school classmates.

• at the end of that same year, as teacher for the day, she brought in and taught an activity she saw in children's church (kids made a cross from popsicle sticks, then stirred it in dark water that became clear-thanks to the awesome children's church leader lending her supplies!). 

• at age nine, the flag she designed in a school contest would be selected to wave above the township park, which she said represented a banner of God's love over anyone entering the park.

• when she was ten, the opportunity was presented to go to Israel, where she actually was baptized-yes, you guessed it(!)-in the Jordan River. 

• early that year, the first song she would select to sing and learn to play during her first piano lessons would be: You are Worthy of it All.

• during her 7th and 8th grade years at public middle school, she would write the aboove poem for posting 

  • create and paint a mural, "Be the light of the world" on the wall of the middle school hallway, 

  • and be compelled to literally run with a stranger in order to provide a specific encouraging word she felt the Holy Spirit gave her to share.

As we enter this global week of prayer, would you join DUST in praying for the next generation to realize their calling, as well as to boldly and bravely step further into that call, knowing they are protected and covered by Him as He goes with them? Gen Z is making headlines for pursuing God - relentlessly seeking truth and authenticity, so we are merely joining in with what God is already doing and how He is moving!

Perhaps by doing so, you’ll be a kingdom catalyst that God uses for your colleague, a child, a roommate, a girlfriend, a neighbor, or a family member to reimagine their story in His bigger story:

• To leave a legacy of life-long impact. 

• To invest in vulnerable populations. 

• To uproot the deepest roots of limiting poverty & suffering. 

• To pave the way for “firsts” when given vision of what is possible. 

• To embrace new perspectives that challenge long-held & limiting norms. 

• To name dreams that inspire communities & unlock the pursuits of the next generation. 

• To release tethers by acknowledging when someone is called to more. 

• To rewrite long-held narratives about a woman’s place in society. 

• To ignite biblical responses and actions from hearts broken for kingdom things. 

• To employ novel strategies from kingdom perspectives. 

• To introduce kingdom math—nonsensical multiplication derived from the surrender of one simple, obedient yes to His calling.

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Join us...

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

August 24th-30th, 2025

Philippians 4:6-7

Trading Anxiety for Presence

Written by

Jenny Sasson

Life can feel overwhelming when responsibilities, decisions, and uncertainties pile up. In these moments, peace can seem out of reach. But Paul’s words in Philippians remind us that peace isn’t something we need to manufacture on our own — it’s a gift from God.

This passage invites us to trade our anxiety for God’s presence through prayer. We are called to bring our worries, no matter how small or impossible they feel, directly to Him with gratitude in our hearts. God promises a peace so profound it goes beyond our ability to explain — a peace that protects our hearts and minds even when circumstances remain unchanged.

Heavenly Father, thank You for offering a peace that is greater than anything this world can provide. Teach us to bring our worries to You in prayer and trust that You are holding every detail of our lives in Your hands. Amen.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

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Additional References

• John 14:27 (NIV) 

• Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

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Join us...

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

August 17th-23rd, 2025

Luke 10:38-42 

Imagining With the World

Martha imagined with the world’s pressures and cultural norms…

It was a surprise visit. Jesus and His twelve closest friends had arrived unannounced and Martha was ecstatic to welcome them into her and her sister, Mary’s, home. With the amount of preparation involved to entertain that size of a group as unannounced guests, it’s easy to understand how Martha would immediately succumb to imagining with the world as she became “distracted by the big dinner she was preparing.” She likely wanted to put the most personal, crowd pleasing and praise-eliciting touches on each place setting and in each dish served, which remember, would have been made from scratch without the convenience of a grocery store, let alone door delivery! 

Consequently, she confined herself to the kitchen, overwhelmed and distracted by the singular task of hosting well. In addition, she became completely exasperated by the lack of help. Sound familiar?   

Meanwhile, Mary’s unconventional imagination of what it looked like to follow Jesus afforded her the freedom to cross any and all Ancient Near Eastern cultural boundaries during the time of First Century Judaism. She then received Jesus’ full affirmation and encouragement in doing so.

Mary imagined following Jesus, at all costs… 

You see, Mary adopted the posture of sitting at Jesus’ feet, as was custom in a disciple/rabbi or student/teacher relationship. In addition, the space where Mary boldly plopped herself, albeit in her own home, was considered “public space”. Public space was deemed for men only unless a woman was accompanied by a husband, brother, or father. There she sat on the floor, dead center of all the happenings, eagerly absorbing every word that fell from Jesus’ mouth as He taught about the kingdom of Heaven at a time when women were traditionally excluded from this type of relationship and higher learning. 

Mary was blatantly placing their household’s reputation on the line. Compounded by Mary’s lack of assistance in the kitchen, there was enough cause for Martha to emerge from the kitchen, likely with her hands on her hips(!) in a fit, freshly indignant from imagining with the world, and complaining to Jesus about Mary’s cultural defiance. In front of all the men.

Jesus’ response: He affirms that Mary had discovered the “one thing” worth being concerned–the one thing that should consume her thoughts and imagination. He let it be known to all within earshot (and all who would read this passage thousands of years later in the most read, most translated, and best selling book of all time!) that the one thing that Mary discovered, sitting on the floor in public space that day, would “not be taken from her.”

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This biblical narrative highlights the contrast between imagining with the world and imagining with Jesus.

Imagining with the World (Martha)

• Singularly consumed with hosting the unannounced guests well, with the best she had to offer.

• Overwhelmed by the large task of meal prep required to quench the stomach rumblings and hungry appetites of thirteen grown men.

• Tethered to earthly values, she desired to maintain a respectable reputation that was compromised by Mary’s defiance to cultural norms.

• Fearing societal judgment, Martha was greatly concerned with what others might think and say according to societal expectations and cultural norms.

Imagining with the world limited Martha and bound her to the kitchen. Highly distracted and fully consumed with earthly details that would quickly fade, she was easily frustrated and became exasperated towards her sister for not assisting to deliver on the world’s expectations. Based on her imagination, Martha made subsequent decisions and acted upon them. She complains to Jesus about Mary’s perceived defiance.

Imaging with Jesus (Mary)

• Saw an unparalleled opportunity to learn from Jesus, as well as how to best receive His teaching–by sitting at His feet.

• Prioritized feasting on His every word over earthly appetites and hunger.

• Embraced eternal, kingdom principles over temporary cultural customs.

• Set free to experience full inclusion and receive lasting significance.

• Received a promise from Jesus that her choice would remain.

Imagining with Jesus set Mary free to receive and experience the full inclusion of things weighted with eternal, kingdom significance. Based on her imagination, Mary made subsequent decisions and acted upon them. As a result of abandoning the temptation to imagine according to the world’s narrative, she received a bonafide promise straight from her Rabbi’s mouth—that her choice to sit and receive His words (to imagine with Him at all costs) would not be taken from her!

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Where in your life are you imagining with the world, leading to constraint and frustration?

Where can you imagine following Jesus at all costs...drawing closer to Him, and living in freedom and eternal significance?

Father, increase our awareness of when our imaginations are compromised or sabotaged by anything other than You. Restore our imaginations back to You. Holy Spirit, guide our subsequent decisions and actions to bring life and freedom, letting nothing take that away from us.

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 NLT

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Join us...

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

August 10th-16th, 2025

Ephesians 2:4-10

Masterpieces with Each Divine Stroke

It happened once again this weekend! While attending a wedding in middle-America, I encountered a couple of beautiful masterpieces and subsequently, marveled at the Creator and His highly purposeful brushstrokes. Instantly drawn to them, I began chatting with two radiant women shortly after the ceremony. I learned about their uniquely different, unplanned, meandering paths to middle-America. Each path was forged by way of a series of simple surrenders and hearts postured towards obedience in following the Holy Spirit’s leading. Just as instantaneously, I felt a solid bond and kindred spirit of unity as our casual greetings transitioned into deeper conversation. It was that familiar joy-filled kind of unity which can only be created by, discovered through, and described as the unspoken bond of following Jesus.

Curious to hear more of their individual stories (as much as could be shared between participation in all of the traditional American wedding activities!), I asked them to finish the sentence, “I could have never imagined that…” I loved how one spontaneously ended her sharing with, “And I can’t imagine my life going any differently.” She then briefly shared about some exciting future invitations God was leading her into.

While listening, I pictured each pivot or transition in their individual stories as another stroke of God’s paintbrush adding a new hue to His masterpiece. Strokes that by His design, afforded them to take bold next steps into where He was calling them, fully equipped to live it out (whether they felt it or not!). Or as worded by Paul in this passage, they were each fully equipped to take the next step into the “good things He planned for them long ago.” 

Of course, these Divine brushstrokes may often come by surprise or not in the way in which we had expected nor imagined. In full disclosure, they likely give rise to a plethora of questions, doubts, or even cause us to wrestle and fight back a bit. Because, of course, we know better than He does, right?! Can you relate? Sounds so ridiculous when we say it (or type it!) out loud, yet we're often tempted to live accordingly. 

But God...our Heavenly Father always has a bigger imagination! He has the smaller pictures of our individual and collective stories in mind; how each one purposefully fits within the larger canvas that brilliantly unfolds and portrays His overarching story of love and redemption. Thank goodness it's His trustworthy hand that holds the paintbrush, revealing increasing detail with each Divine stroke upon His masterpieces (you and me!)...

• How do you see (or imagine) yourself as God’s masterpiece?

• What are the big three (or more!) monumental events, choices, or surrenders that have led you to where you are today?

• How would you finish this sentence, “I could have never imagined that…”

Take a moment to pause and thank our Heavenly Father for bringing you where you are today; for each of His divine strokes that have formed and are forming you as His masterpiece. A masterpiece that places His radical grace, overwhelming kindness, and incredible wealth on display for future generations to marvel about Him.

Father, we acknowledge that your radical grace is a gift from You, and lovingly given to us for sharing with the world and future generations. Thank you for making us Your masterpieces. May we not only imagine, but actually see ourselves and those around us as such as we go about our week. And may you receive all of the resulting marvel and glory!

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:4-10 NLT

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Join us...

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

August 3rd-9th, 2025

Colossians 3:1-2

Imagine Up!

A Kaleidoscope of Heavenly Possibilities

How often, if ever, do we intentionally imagine with our Creator?

Setting our hearts on things above, requires engaging the very imaginations God designed and gave each one of us. For if we have yet to imagine with Him, would we even be able to recognize God’s beautiful kaleidoscope of heaven’s in-breaking? Consider, for a moment, how would we envision Heaven breaking into that complex situation and redeeming it?

• Radically reconciling that relationship?

• Pouring out provision where desperately needed—in abundance, beyond what was asked?

• Intervening in an unexpected way for that loved one who’s captured our real concern?

• Ordering a transcending peace over that particular epicenter of chaos?

• Supernaturally healing that nagging ache and restoring health in place of that unbearable illness? 

As we pray, we’ve at least flirted with this notion of imagining with Him. For example: when we’ve prayed for a tumor to dissolve, for the release of a mind held captive by anxiety or depression, for streams of hope to flood a dry and desperate situation…

It’s also highly likely that the enemy has been quick to dim, hijack, or altogether steal that time of imagining heaven’s possibilities in prayer, and replaced our imagining of best-case scenarios with worst-case. For he’s a sneaky master of filling our imaginations with doubts and fears, oftentimes with us not even noticing the shift. When the enemy has hijacked our imaginations, our thoughts may look or sound something like: 

• Our loved one is actually just too far gone for redemption. 

• This relationship has past the point of no return for true reconciliation. 

• The resources required in this situation are just not available.

• A healing of such magnitude is completely impossible.

• If only a bit more faith were involved.

When we imagine outcomes solely based on what we currently see or have experienced here on earth, we have failed to set our eyes on things above. Rather, they have remained on things of this earth and we’ve missed the opportunity to look through His magnificent kaleidoscope of heavenly possibilities; an opportunity to imagine with Him. From His perspective, and from His unlimited resources. 

Here in Cincinnati (US), we are drawing close to our 2025 Overflow Conference, themed IMAGINE!

At conference, we’ll be taking a deep plunge into what it looks like to intentionally imagine with the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth—to explore the limit-lifting possibilities of imagining with our trustworthy Father who loves us beyond measure, has our best interests in mind, always, and can’t help but to be in our details as He sees us and knows all of our thoughts, ambitions, and concerns.

You see, although our very real enemy distorts this truth, what matters to us, matters to Him. And we want to lean into the things that matter to Him, right?! To discover more of His perspective and heart, especially during these challenging times when both our inner and outer worlds, present and abroad, desperately cry out for real rest, hope that doesn’t disappoint, and a light powerfully ablaze with eternal significance.

With the intention of preparing our heart’s towards open and receptive postures for pivoting, illuminating, and reclaiming imaginations, several of the DUSTs leading up to conference, such as this one, will encourage a biblically based re-imagining of our stories within His bigger story, and according to His thoughts and desires for us and those around us.

In this particular passage written by Paul, the phrase “set your hearts on” is translated from the Greek word zeteo, which is the same word used throughout the Gospels in relation to the way in which:

• The Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost (Luke 19:10) and shepherds look for lost sheep (Matthew 18:12)

• A woman searches for a lost coin (Luke 15:8) and merchants search for fine pearls (Matthew 13:45)

Think of how we would diligently look for our missing keys or a lost phone (God forbid!)—a search that would consume our full attention and move us to single-minded action until found.

“Thus, we can understand Paul’s admonition in Colossians 3:1 as follows: ‘Diligently, actively, single-mindedly pursue the things above’.” 

— Randy Alcorn, Heaven

Don’t you want to be heavenly-minded daughters of God who raise up generations that see others and earth, not simply as they are, but as God intends them to be? If so, we can start by asking ourselves: How have we actively engaged in setting our minds on things above? To imagine with Him—diligently seeking heaven and then actively pulling it into our lives and circumstances here on Earth?

Throughout this week, may we intentionally invest in the things of Heaven as we live here on Earth by imagining with Him (schedule two minutes in a day to do so!).

“If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were those who thought most [imagined] of the next [world, heaven]…It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this [world]. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’; aim at earth and you will get neither.”

— CS Lewis

Father, we desire to be effective in pointing others to You, Your goodness, and all that has eternal significance. We reclaim our imaginations for You. To think about things of Heaven and act on those things according to your leading and in cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Just as You’ve taught us to pray, we eagerly long for Your good and pleasing will to be done here on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• ...set your sights on the realities of heaven. (NLT)

• ...Pursue the thing over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ-that's where the action is. See things from His perspective. (MSG)

• ...Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm. (TPT)

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Join us...

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

July 27th - August 2nd, 2025

Psalm 27:13-14

Live Loved Through the Waiting

Written by

Linda Locke

Waiting on the Lord is no small assignment. Having had several long seasons of sitting in the waiting room, I have spent countless days wondering if the fruit of patience is even minutely developing. As I sat in the waiting room, it didn’t feel much like I was doing so with any amount of patience, but rather was overcome with a restless wondering if perhaps the direction for my next steps went unnoticed. Did I miss it? Did I not hear the nudge?

Learning to be and not do has been a lifelong lesson that evidently has not yet been mastered, and waiting for the next green light of grace has felt more like work than accomplishing many completed tasks. 

Depending on which version you’re looking at, the word “wait” is used between 129-167 times in scripture, so it seems like a worthy topic to perhaps take a deeper dive. Psalm 31:24 tells us to Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD! So, it takes strength and courage to wait. 

Job 6:11-13 tells us What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient? Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze? Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me? Again, this tells us that we are needing strength and resources outside of ourselves to wait.

But when we wait, the familiar promise of Isaiah 40:31 (But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint), gives us hope that the wait will be worth it.

Romans 8:25 tells us that when we hope for what we don’t see, the waiting takes patience.

Psalm 25:21 tells us that the process of waiting takes integrity and uprightness to hang in there.

But the Rhema Word that the Lord has repeatedly instructed me during this time of waiting is to “Learn to live loved.” 

I must admit, that the first few months I struggled to even understand what that even meant. When I could feel my impatience and angst begin to rise up again, I would hear the same word, “Learn to live loved.”

There are two important aspects in this admonition of the Lord – First is “LEARN,” so evidently I haven’t understood fully yet what it means, and the second and whole point is LIVE LOVED. 

Do I know my value and purpose? Have I truly embraced and internalized what Jesus accomplished on the cross for me personally? Do I fully understand what it means to be forgiven, to be chosen, to be cherished and loved as a daughter of God Almighty? 

If I’m beating myself up for failures and times where I’ve missed the mark, then the answer is no. So back to the learning part again I go. 

Jude 1:21 tells us to keep ourselves in the love of God while waiting, and if we are truly doing that, then waiting on Him brings joy and hope, not impatience or unsettledness. It really is that simple.

Dear women of God, my prayer for all of us is that when we find ourselves in God’s waiting room, sitting with anticipation for the next door to open, may we live loved through the waiting. May we rest in the hope and promise that the next door will open at just the right time for us to step into the next chapter of our journeys in Christ.

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

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Join us...

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

July 20th-26th, 2025

Psalm 127:1-2

Are You Restless?

Are you restless? God's gentle invitation for us to open and receive remains: "Will you trust me or yourself?"

• With that decision?

• That project or assignment?

• That issue?

• That relationship?

• That need?

• That situation?

• That family member?

• That endeavor?

• That health concern?

• That transition?

• The new school year?

How often do we experience those restless nights? You know, those nights—when our minds are flooded with remnants of the cares of the day, playing every possible scenario for the tomorrows, or rehashing each box left unchecked on the “to do” list? It frequently seems that there are simply not enough hours in a day, right? Perhaps we are exchanging the precious commodity of sleep hours for an attempt to get a head start on __________ (name that project, task, or event); prone to stay up far past any resemblance of a typical bedtime, or rising at a ridiculously early hour—before the sun has yet to crest the horizon? How much of those restless nights spent cycling worries or concerns result from the undue stress of solely relying on our own efforts, believing that the outcomes are within our control, or are ours to bear or produce alone?

This Psalm is often attributed to Solomon, who was considered one of the wisest and most successful Kings given to Israel, the third in line after Saul and his father, David. He authored the books of Proverbs, the Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes. He knew what it was like to literally build a home (a temple, actually!). And to literally watch over a city (a kingdom, actually!). The mounting pressures must have been palpable. The expectations of others—to make the right decisions, daily, was real. The weight of protecting others was a heavy responsibility. Yet, he noted that it would all be in vain without God's involvement.

How might the love and care of our Heavenly Father—who’s involved in all the details—impact those areas of our hearts seeped in worry and restlessness? How might the worries or concerns fade when we return to acknowledging our FULL reliance on a Heavenly Father who holds it all, and us, in His hands? If our efforts begin with consulting God first, and asking for His guidance all along the way? If we actively looked for, and followed His involvement? Would we be able to release the pressure of feeling like it is all on our shoulders, alone?

Father, we invite (or re-invite!) you into the situations that have kept us restless. We ask for your guidance, wisdom, provision, and discernment in the decisions, big and small. We will partner with you in our work. And we release the anxiety of relying on our own strength, smartness, problem-solving, and grasps at false senses of security. Come, Holy Spirit. 

Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. Psalm 127:1-2 NLT

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Promises & Truths to Include God

(especially when restlessness rises within us)

• God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

• Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

• "For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.” At this, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been very sweet. Jeremiah 31:25-26 NLT

• “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

• “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you...Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” - Jesus in Matthew 6:25-30a, 33 NLT

• Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 NLT

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Join us...

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

July 13th-19th, 2025

Genesis 21:14-20a

I've Got This

Written by

Cheryl Pfeiffer

Hagar’s son was a teenager at this point in the story. She had let go of any hope of survival for him, her dream, the one she loved most dearly in all the world. She refused to watch him die. She went about a football field away to not watch. God saw, like he did the last time Hagar was in the wilderness. He saw her. In this wilderness time, he heard her son. God’s angel said 5 things to Hagar from which we can find hope.

1. What’s wrong? *Name the thing.

2. Do not be afraid. *The thing is not bigger than you or your situation.

3. God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. *God hears.

4. Go to him and comfort him. *Get up and walk toward the next right thing.

5. I will make a great nation from his descendants. *I have a future and a hope for you, for that one you love.

What happened next?

Hagar’s eyes were opened and she saw provision, received it, and did the right next thing. 

What is it time for you to name, to see God in, to know that God hears you about, to walk toward, and to hear God’s voice over? He’s saying, “My ways are higher. Know that I’ve got this. My dreams are bigger.” Take a moment and ask God what that is for you… 

Lay it down and watch God send His angels. 

Watch Him provide.

Watch Him open your eyes to that living water - right there - for you. For your children. For your friend. For your family. For your community.

God, thank You for how You showed up for Hagar, how you gently led her to show up for her son, how You showed up for her Son. Teach us to walk today, this week, in this very alive space of surrender.

“So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba. When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush. Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears. But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.” Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink. And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness.” Genesis‬ ‭21‬:‭14‬-‭20a‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Join us...

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

July 6th-12th, 2025

2 Corinthians 9:10-15

Abundance & Generosity

Written by

Julie Clark

When I moved into my current house there was a wonderful patch of tomato plants. I was clearly experiencing Eden that fall. I did not plant the garden. My only job was to collect the abundance and share it with others. 

In Genesis 1:10-12*, we see the vegetation burst forth in the light of God’s glory. The wild fact is that the sun has yet to be created. The fruit of the vegetation contains seeds which will scatter to make more fruit and then more seeds. What a wonderful picture of abundance. 

In 2 Cor 9:10-15, we hear Paul’s petition to the Corinthians to give generously. He reminds them of God’s abundance toward them and the praise which returns to God when we give. He also reminds them of the spiritual blessings that return to them from the receiver who thanks God for their generosity. As His daughters, we have the opportunity to bring Heaven's abundance to earth through the practice of generosity.

Lord God our Provider - May we see and experience Your abundance all around us and partner with You to bring Heaven to earth through our generous giving. Like fruit which contains seeds for more fruit, may our giving be multiplied for Your glory.

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” ‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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* ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬ - “God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.”

Join us...

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

June 29th - July 5th, 2025

Mark 1:35-38

Spiritual Fervor

In today’s modernized, digitally saturated culture of the West, what would you say is the biggest culprit to our ability to sustain a lifestyle of spiritual fervor? A lifestyle sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading? A lifestyle that affords us to be present in the moment, with each other, and even with our Father? A lifestyle that instead of viewing interruptions to our schedules and agendas as an annoyance, we welcome them as opportunities to release His presence into the current situation?

A solid argument could be made for culprits such as the dizzying pace of our lives, or the numerous life demands resulting in busyness that swallows every free moment in a given day. True. But would the solution of more time in a day, or even slowing down the pace to which we live our lives provide the answer to our very real desire to sustain spiritual fervor?

A more complete solution might require a deeper examination. An examination that compares the way in which our lives model Jesus’: His rhythms, and His priorities. And if you are thinking, “well, there was a slower pace and different life back then,” we must realize just how busy Jesus actually was — yet never appeared in a hurry, nor pressured by the events around Him. The most significant difference between Jesus' lifestyle and the majority of our lifestyles actually lies in our priorities: what we give weight to, what gets scheduled and guarded, what we automatically seem to gravitate to when we have a spare moment or downtime — a rare occasion for many of us.

In this passage, we see Jesus modeling a rhythm that maintains our spiritual fervor. 

Did you catch it? He went to an:

• isolated place (which translates to "unplugging" in this day & age to get away from the noise of the world), in order to

• pray (which translates into being with God, our Father, or for a churchy-word, “communing” with God), through which He received

• clarity and purpose (which translates into knowing what to say "yes" to, and what to say "no" to).

Jesus, thank you for modeling a way of sustaining spiritual fervor through unplugging and simply being, or resting, in your presence. How cool that this rhythm holds true even thousands of years after your modeling! May we take another small step into Your rhythm this week.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” Mark 1:35-38, NLT

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Join us...

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE!  

Featuring guest speakers

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

June 22nd-28th, 2025

Matthew 18:15, 18-20

Healthy Resolution

Written by

Elly Thielen

You walk into your house and you see the couch on fire. You decide, I’ll put that out later and move on because…I need to finish up work or the kids have practice or you need to get groceries or  you’re replacing the garbage disposal or fixing the fence, etc.

That scenario sounds crazy, right? This example above is one from Danny Silk, author of Keep Your Love On, and relationship counselor. The couch illustrates conflict in relationship…any relationship.  It’s easier in the moment to ignore the burning couch. Inevitably, the fire will surely spread to more areas causing chaos and eventually destruction of the entire household. The damages from the fire, grow in severity the longer we are inattentive to resolving them. Repairs don’t magically happen over night - especially when “left alone.” 

Why isn’t healthy conflict resolution taught in a broader audience? We’ve been taught to believe that conflict is bad. That it’s in fact a sign that your relationship is crumbling. When in actuality, conflict is an indicator that you care about the relationship. Conflict resolution isn’t a practice that is widely practiced or even taught. The word conflict in and of itself brings negative connotations because it means “something is wrong.” And if there is something wrong, there is likely something wrong with me. Too many of us operate in the “everything is fine” category, escaping vulnerability until disconnection is the result. Not repair, or connection, because disconnection is easier in the short term. The act of resolution takes active work! Healthy resolution and restoration says “I care for this other person enough to work on us,” not “this person brings too much drama to my life so I’ll just retreat and act like nothing ever happened.” We need people in our community who are gonna love us even when we fight. We need people who tells us the hard to hear parts. There are plenty of people being fake - we need real community.

Every relationship doesn’t hold this safe space, but shouldn’t the ones closest to you? When we settle for disconnection we ultimately aren’t being vulnerable. Vulnerability allows for healing and probably space to process pain. But when we focus on the mindset of processing the “hard to tackle” in order for us to reconnect, we come out stronger on the other side. Jesus asks us for vulnerability, and when we are intimate enough and vulnerable enough with him, we give him permission to see all the sides. The awesome thing about Jesus is, he definitely won’t leave you in your vulnerability. He won’t leave you when you are having a hard time being vulnerable with a friend. If Jesus models the loving us enough to work in our hurt shouldn’t we also stay and work with others? The easiest thing to do is to leave or ignore. Until one day, you have jumped to and fro in so many relationships, no one can trust you and you’ve lost your community. Sticking around through the disconnection, waiting for the repair, might be one of the yuckiest feelings we can experience. And yet, the moments where we stick around and wait to see how we can attend to the burning couch, knowing the other person is as invested as you are in putting out the fire, might be at the complete opposite end of the yucky spectrum. Stick it out friends, husbands, wives, parents, stick it out for the sake of each other. Jesus won’t let you attend to the couch alone. In fact, in the passage above, he says, “Whatever you forbid on earth will be considered to be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be considered to be released in heaven. Again, I give you an eternal truth: If two of you agree to ask God for something in a symphony of prayer, my heavenly Father will do it for you. For wherever two or three come together in honor of my name, I am right there with them!” So when we pray and ask for restoration TOGETHER he will do it! When we share with someone a fear or a lie or an I security, we are setting freedom here on earth and in Heaven. Don’t be the one that flees - be the one that stays and says, “this is painful, I feel…I need… but I’m here and ready to work on us because I care about us.” I’m not talking here about abusive relationships - those need the help and guidance of counselors, therapists, and pastors. Jesus even gives us measures to take when conflict doesn’t reach restoration. Marriages, friendships, parenting, the healthy relationships can also easily slip into a space where “we don’t want to rock the boat.” When the truth is, the couch was already on fire. We just have to decide if we are gonna work together to put it out or ignore it. 

• Who is someone God’s been nudging you to resolve an issue? 

• What do you need to get to a point where you can come with the most generous interpretation and being the resolve? 

• Who is someone that can hold a space for you for healthy confession?

Jesus, bring us to resolution and restoration through community. May we be blessed to know freedom through conflict resolution.

If your fellow believer sins against you, you must go to that one privately and attempt to resolve the matter. If he responds, your relationship is restored. “Receive this truth: Whatever you forbid on earth will be considered to be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be considered to be released in heaven. Again, I give you an eternal truth: If two of you agree to ask God for something in a symphony of prayer, my heavenly Father will do it for you. For wherever two or three come together in honor of my name, I am right there with them!” Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭15‬, ‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭TPT‬‬

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Save the Date!

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers 

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

June 15th-21st, 2025

Luke 15:20-24

Before Anything Else

Written by

Stephanie Gorman

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

My dad knew me like no one else.  Everyday when I would come home from school, he would have a Free Cell game that he completed and challenged me to conquer.  He knew I loved math, he knew my brain needed to be challenged, he knew I loved fishing, he knew I loved solitude. I was his daughter. He knew me very well and loved me. How much more does my Papa, my Heavenly Father know me? In Jeremiah 1:5, He says:

'“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (NIV)

Before I was my earthly father’s daughter, I was Papa’s. Before I was a wife, I was Papa’s. Before I was a dancer, I was Papa’s. Before I was, I was Papa’s. The core of my identity is His.

I am reminded of the parable of the prodigal son. There was a son who left the comfort of his father’s house and tried to live on his own. He went out and spent all his money and ended up homeless and on the streets. He eventually came to his senses and said, “Even the pigs at my fathers’ house eat better than this.” So he headed back to his fathers’ house. While he was far off this is what happened:

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

Luke 15:20-24 NIV

The father didn’t even acknowledge the son's past and what he did. The father just said who he was: “This son/daughter of mine.” Then he celebrated his son. Where the son went, what he did, what he accomplished and didn’t accomplish didn’t change the fact that he was his father’s son.  

Before you were anything else, before you were on earth, you were His. That has always been and always will be. And he is not a father that sits on the sidelines. He is a father that accepts you, celebrates you, whoops, hollers and brags about you to all of Heaven. He puts you on His shoulders, walks around bragging about how amazing you are.  Even when you sin daily, He lifts you in His arms and says “Look at my daughter! She got up and is trying again. I am so proud of her!” Papa is your biggest cheerleader that is not on the sidelines, but with you. Before you were even looked upon by anyone on earth, Papa looked at you and said this is very good. (Genesis 1:31) He looked at you with such joy, acceptance and love. His gaze upon you will never change. His thoughts for you are many, and good. He dances at the sight of you because He can’t hold back His excitement and love for you.  When all else fades, one thing remains: “You are His!” The core of who you are—your true identity—is HIS.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 NIV

Papa, helps us to receive our true identity as Yours. Help us to receive and embrace that we were accepted and loved by You first, and always will be.

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Bonus: A Father's Day Prayer 

by Pete Greig, Lectio 365, 6.15.25

I pray today for dads: New dads, granddads, stepdads, adoptive dads and solo dads. Baldy ones, beardy ones, skinny ones and cuddly ones. Dads who tell bad jokes and dads who dance to YMCA. Dads who know how to fix things, and dads who just pretend.

Father to the fatherless, I pray for those for whom this day is sadder than it is happy: Those who feel they have failed Those who are grieving children they never had Those missing their dads, or their children, even more than usual.

Father God, in a world where many fathers are distant, absent or even abusive, I lean into your ever-present love. You are faithful, especially to those of us orphaned, abandoned and hurt. Like the Psalmist of old I am comforted to know that “even if my father abandons me, the Lord will hold me close” (Psalm 27:10).

Father of comfort, heal my wounds and restore the dignity, integrity and centrality of fatherhood in my nation…

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Save the Date!

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers 

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

June 8th-14th, 2025

Acts 4:30-32

Promise Kept

Imagine if your boss delegated a massive global project, in both scope and reach, for you to oversee from beginning to end. This project would require extensive travel, hiring a team of at least ten, consume all of your working hours, and you'd be the sole administrator responsible for managing a multi-million dollar budget.

The caveot: your boss hasn't released you from the projects you're currently overseeing, nor given you access to the account for financing this particular project or the funds to reimburse your travel, and you've not been given authority to request human resources for the hiring of your team.

If taking on the project didn't seem daunting and quite frankly, impossible, when first assigned, it surely does now without the equipping and empowering needed to fulfill the assingment. 

Oftentimes, we may feel a similar sense of fear or apprehension with being ill-equipped or disempowered when we face new situations, hardships, or seemingly impossible life challenges. Perhaps even Jesus' closest friends and followers (His disciples) also felt the same when Jesus invited them to engage in doing what they had observed Him doing, but now without His physical presence. They may have easily questioned:

• Are we adequately equipped for all that is required?

• Do we have the authority and power to access what is needed? 

• What about the physical, social, and emotional stamina to endure?

• Will we experience the kind of results we're akin to with Jesus at our side; as He went about His days, encountering, engaging with, and responding in compassion and love to the overwhelming needs of people all around Him?

The reality is that Jesus provided His disciples everything they would invariably need without Him in one promise that He repeated multiple times while they were physically with Him before His death, and following His resurrection.

What is that promise? The presence of God's Spirit on earth, the Holy Spirit.

• In John, chapters 14 and 16, we come on scence with Jesus offering a farewell discourse to His disciples during the night before He would face the cross. He promises the Holy Spirit, and further describes the role of the Holy Spirit to His disciples as a paraclete, "another advocate who will never leave you," (aka, a life-long helper, comforter, aide, companion, guide, teacher, etc.). (John 14:16, 25&26).

• In Jesus' first appearance to the disciples following His resurrection, Jesus promised: "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I'm sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit". (John 20:21-22)

• Another time, He instructed them to, "...not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends the gift He promised...the Holy Spirit." (Acts 1:4) And again, reitierates His promise, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere..." (Acts 1:8)

• And just before Jesus asceneded to heaven, He left His discipes with a final sending message and the promise, "And be sure of this: I am with you always, [via the Holy Spirit] even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20, referred to as the Great Commission)

Notice the pattern? 

When Jesus sends us, He equips and empowers us with His presence, His promise of the Holy Spirit. Before sending, He gives us everything we will invariably need. The guidance, peace, power, unity, and boldness to sustain and be effective in bringing heaven to earth.

What were/are the results? 

Strength and endurance, wisdom and understanding, signs and wonders (miracles, unexplained by modern-day science), unity and exponential growth of Jesus' ministry that still exists some 2,000+ years later; despite opposition and attempts to silence and extinguish it by the most powerful religious and reigning rulers on earth at the time, through persecution and hardship!

Father, thank you for equipping and empowering us with all that is needed to boldly face the novel challenges, situations, and hardships before us through Your Spirit. We invite you to fall afresh and fill us today. Come, Holy Spirit.

Or...if we really want to lean into the Holy Spirit and pray a bold prayer:

“Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father be with us; and may the Holy Spirit come upon us and disturb us and trouble us, and set before us an impossible task and dare us to do it; until in our desperation we fall on our knees and remain there until He fills us with His power which alone will enable us to do it; and then but only then, may the Lord grant us peace” Amen*

“....Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.”

‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭4‬:‭30‬-‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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*Indian Benediction

Save the Date!

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers 

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

June 1st-7th, 2025

Hebrews 2:6-10

Mystery | Miracle | Tension Between

Have you ever struggled with the question of why some prayers are answered according to what we've prayed, while others seem to fall upon deaf ears or go left unanswered (at least in the way in which we were praying/hoping)?

I've prayed for friends and loved ones to be healed of cancer. Some have, some have not. I've prayed for friends and family desiring a spouse. Some met someone that became their spouse, and others have not. I've prayed for wombs to open for the first time or following a miscarriage or an abortion. Some have and some have not. I've prayed, for mental conditions to no longer persist. Some have ceased, some have not. I've prayed for physical healing, which I've personally observed and received at times, and other times have not. As His daughters, how do we hold this tension between miracles we've prayed for and experienced, and the mystery of miracles we've prayed for and they are yet to be seen?

While on earth, Jesus often proclaimed that the kingdom is near, here, or at hand. (Matthew 10:7-8, and throughout all three of the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, & Luke) When doing so, Jesus was referring to His presence and the healing power, restoration, and reconciliation that comes with, by, and through Him. Today, we continue to live in this kingdom tension. Theologians refer to the tension as the "already" and the "not fully yet." We can actually experience moments of the "already" because of Jesus' ultimate victory over death and every other tactic the enemy uses to steal, kill, and destroy as we navigate life. Yet, the full experience of that victory, representing the "not fully yet", will only be realized upon Jesus' return. Over our lifetimes in the here and now, we will encounter overwhelming joys of the “already" - miracles we've prayed for realized, as well as the pains embedded in the “not fully yet” - the seemingly unanswered prayers we've prayed. Yet, our Father didn’t shy away from either—through His Son who was both a victorious rescuer ushering in His presence (the kingdom), and a man who experienced and felt many sorrows himself, here on earth, as a suffering servant. (Luke 22:37, Isaiah 52:13-15)

In his book, The Familiar Stranger: (Re)Introducing the Holy Spirit to Those in Search of an Experiential Spirituality, and in reference to Hebrews 2:8 that reads: "At present we do not yet see everything in subjection to him [Jesus], but we see him [Jesus]," the lead pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, OR concludes:

"Perhaps through miraculous healing, I see Jesus the victor over sin, sickness and death.

Perhaps through the mystery of unanswered prayer, I see Jesus the suffering servant

who joins me in my pain and sorrow. But in both miracle and mystery

Jesus is eager to reveal himself, demonstrating his love and his solidarity with me."

- Tyler Staton

A little over a year ago, a dear friend who married later in life was attempting to get pregnant with disappointments and complications along the way. If you've ever experienced the rollercoaster of such, you can understand the highs and lows that accompany the anticipatory hope tending to ride on the outcome. This is how frustrating and devastating the "not fully yet" feels. The one and only thing that I fully trusted in offering my friend over the past year and through the phsyical distance between us, was to come alongside her and her husband in prayer. And this very weekend, I had the absolute joy of tasting a bit of the "already" while attending a beautiful baby shower to celebrate the little miracle growing strong in her womb...due in a few short days! This is how sweet the "already" can feel, when His kingdom breaks in!

Father, thank you for not shying away from the tension in which we exist. May we continue to contend for the "already" when we are struggling in the "not fully yet". I ask for a fresh wave of your strength and surrender for my sisters as we battle on our knees for the things that keep us up at night. For you are faithful and we trust in You, and You alone.

“For in one place the Scriptures say, “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, or a son of man that you should care for him? Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them authority over all things.” Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.” ‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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Scriptural References:

1. Staton, T. (2025). The Familiar Stranger: (Re)Introducing the Holy Spirit to Those in Search of an Experiential Spirituality. Hodder & Stoughton, p. 152.

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Save the Date!

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers 

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

May 25th-31st, 2025

We honor those who gave their all 

for the freedoms we enjoy in the US.

Psalm 62:5-8

Rock & Cornerstone

God, our rock and refuge; Jesus our Cornerstone...

Jesus is referred to as the chief or foundational cornerstone (in the New Testament: Mark 12:10-11 & Acts 4:11-12; referenced prophetically in the Old Testament: Isaiah 28:16 & Psalm 118:22). In terms of construction, the cornerstone represents the base of a structure. It’s the first stone laid in a building, setting the angle and level for the entire structure. The cornerstone is symbolic of stability and a guiding stone, or the point from which all other stones are measured. In other words, the reference point for all other subsequent stones laid. Everything finds its definition from this one piece, the cornerstone, which provides structural integrity for everything that comes afterward. The cornerstone defines if something is straight and true. The cornerstone reveals whether or not our perspectives are coming from the right angle, or if we are deviating from the original intent of the structure.

As God's daughters and followers of Jesus, our cornerstone, He increasingly becomes the central influencer of our daily decisions. He is the lens through which we view our world, thus our guiding standard for the potential our lives carry, revealing what is true and currently on track. He is who we construct a life of trust and security around, and through whom our Father's good plans unfold for us and those around us. (Matthew 7:24-28 & Jeremiah 29:11) 

Consciously or subconsciously, we all select a cornerstone from which to build our lives upon. There is no better time than now, in this season of graduations and new beginnings, to regain solid ground by re-examining:

• Upon what/who are we waiting and in what/who are we placing our trust/hope?

• Upon what (or hopefully, who!) are we building our lives?

• Which Jesus are we following/architecting our lives around (2 Corinthians 11:4), for this will determine our knowledge of Him, how we interpret His message, and the level of our confidence and involvement in His mission. 

Father, today when:

• we are tempted to disbelieve the love of God because we feel like we are in over our heads due to circumstances beyond our control… I pray that we look to the Cornerstone.

• the world seems like it’s spinning too fast and we're tempted to think there is no grand plan or design… I pray that we look to the Cornerstone.

• we are tempted to measure our self worth by our grades, position, recongnition, or boss’s opinion of us… l pray we look to the Cornerstone.

• our anger rises up because we feel we are being unfairly treated, when we have the opportunity to either justify our mistakes or simply own them by saying, “I’m sorry”… I pray that we look to the Cornerstone.

• we are learning more about Your character through scripture in context and asking how we can share Your message and participate with You on mission this very day… I pray that we look to the Cornerstone.

Again and again, may we remember that which our lives and reality are built upon, and as we do, may we allow that first stone laid to set every other stone that is laid behind it. May Jesus, the first and the last, define our security, victory, and reality.*

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge." Pslam 62:5-8 NLT

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Scriptural References:

• Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.” Isaiah 28:16

• The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. Psalm 118:22

• “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’” – Jesus in Mark 12:10-11

• For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, “The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” - Luke in Acts 4:11-12

• You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.‭ - Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:4 

* Prayer adapted from Lifeway byJesse Campbell

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Save the Date!

September 26th & 27th 

Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! 

Featuring guest speakers 

Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA 

Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

May 18th-24th, 2025

Matthew 13:24-30

Sneaky Weeds

Written by

Destiny Howard

The funny thing about roots is that they've grown deep into the ground before the first signs of life are shown above the surface. It’s easy to become content with seeds planted when there is no awareness of what’s brewing under the surface. Weeds never need intervention from us to be planted. They just require that we are sleeping, unconscious of their existence.

Being spiritually unaware is dangerous. Believers need to be awake and aware at all times because the enemy never sleeps! Be watchful for common culprits like pride, offense, fear, and greed. They are sneaky weeds capable of choking the most robust plants in our kingdom garden. Reawaken your spirit and check your connection with the true vine, Jesus. Holy Spirit, help us to separate the weeds from the wheat at harvest time.

Father help us each day to identify the weeds and gather them from the garden before they can do damage. Strengthen our relationship with Jesus so that we can hear and follow instruction from the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen

Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer’s workers went to him and said, "Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?" “An enemy has done this!" the farmer exclaimed. “Should we pull out the weeds?" they asked. “‘No, he replied, "you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn." Matthew 13‬:‭24‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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Bonus Material

• Listen to Destiny Howard's most recent, related message at Vineyard Finneytown on Feb. 2nd, 2025.

• Save the Date: September 26th & 27th for our Overflow Conference 2025, IMAGINE! Featuring guest speakers Danielle Pathak from Vineyard USA and Beth Guckenberger from Back2Back Ministries

March 30th - April 5th, 2025

Psalm 34:17-18

In the Wilderness of Heartache & Suffering

The sadness was intense. The pain and suffering evident. It was heavy. It was dark. The enemy appeared to have won. Waves of questions poured over like high tide. So. Many. Questions. Even doubts. 

Where were you, God?

Where are you now?

Do you even care?

Why? Father, why? 

Rippling guilt from abounding self-blame immediately flooded minds, replaying every possible “what if” and “should have” scenario for an alternative outcome. The deep wounding struck the chord of an entire community, and trauma of an event of this magnitude would undoubtedly leave a scar.

Full disclosure, it was a space of hurting that I did not want to enter. Every fiber of my being wanted to avoid, escape, deny. Yet the call had come. The need to be present with our community was undeniable.

To just be.

To sit with. 

Cry with.

Feel with. 

Jesus wept. So will we.

And when we weep, so does He. (John 11:35)

Our Father is not put off by our doubts. By our big questions. Nor by the intensity of our feelings, be it raging with anger, spiraling down depths of hopelessness, or distancing ourselves as a facade of protection to guard from further heartache. On the contrary, He invites us to come to Him with every thought, every question, every raw emotion and feeling. Every. One. Of them.

And He will answer.

He will respond.

He draws ever-closer.

He will never leave nor abandon us.

(Psalm 34:4, 17-18 & Hebrews 13:5)

Shattering circumstances, weariness from emotionally exhausting challenges, and gut-wrenching blows within disorienting wildernesses of heartache and suffering don’t influence these unwaivering truths. Quite the opposite. His truths and promises carry the power to impact our wildernesses. For they are tried, tested, and grounding truths to cling tightly to in the midst of shifting desert sands that leave no enduring landmarks, only confusion. They are especially grounding when we quickly lose our perspective and faith in a Father who cares deeply and although momentarily feels distant, in reality, is so much closer than we can fathom. It only seems as though the enemy has won in his pursuits to steal, kill, and destroy.

But, Jesus! Who brings life, as we are soon to celebrate at Easter. His very purpose in coming to Earth, voluntarily suffering in death on a tortuous cross, being raised back to life and ascending to heaven, completly victorious over every wilderness trial, pain, heartache, suffering...and even death, was to save, restore, bring freedom, His transcending peace, and redeem all that has been lost and stolen. (John 10:10 & 16:33)

This, too, will be redeemed. . . 

I inquired how, God? How will you redeem this?

Because it happened to our community /"family", within our family, His response was that the healing process will require His presence...in healthy community (right people at the right time). The caveat: we must be brave enough to vulnerably enter and continue on in the context of healthy relationships. 

He then gently offered the first application of His healing balm. That afternoon, during a regular scheduled time to meet, our youth surrounded each other-literally, arms linking to cover one another-in a specially curated space where they are free to question, grieve, weep, mourn, dance, and pray. Together. As afamily, they yielded their weapon of worship against enemy attack.

With wet tears brimming, I sat in awe over His faithfulness. When there were no words. No answers, no explanations, His presence was palpable. And in the moment, it was enough. He draws close to the broken-hearted.

An unexpected, second application of His healing balm, (yes, in community as well!) followed the next evening at an event the youth had actually scheduled months prior. Oh, His sweet and perfect timing... My soul became revitalized once again as I watched smiles return and joy rise in the midst of their real heartache. In a tightly packed arena, I couldn't help joining as we sang loudly, praised heartedly, and danced away, shaking off anything that was ill-fitting, heavy, and not ours to carry with each upbeat and simple, yet profoundly timely lyric* below (Matthew 11:28):

I was down but now I'm up

This all God this ain't no luck,

I used to be stuck in that mud 

Yeah, I was down but now I'm up, up, up, up

and

Living in the present, not woulda shoulda or coulda

I remember back when I was low as a rug

Now I'm standing up look at what my father does

Turning old things new

Grey skies blue

Hear the church saying, "Won't He do it?"

I know He's got my back

That's why I'm singing that

I'm 'bout to have a good day (good day)

No matter what they say (what they say)

Sun is shining down on me

Birds are singing praise

I'm 'bout to have a good day (good day)

In every single way

The God who made the universe

Knows me by my name

So it's a good day

and

When the clouds come, you know what to do, let the Son shine through...

I feel His presence right here in this room

He makes me lie down in green pastures

My head is filled with truth

I was in a dark place...

This situation can't make or break me

and

There's more to life than what you got right now

I know you're 'bout to fall apart right now

But God is with you in the ups and downs

The ups and downs

and

You came to set us free 

I am no longer bound, oh, Lord

Even in the valley of the shadow of death (yeah)

I can take rest 'cause the living God is living in my chest

Everyday I wake up feeling blessed (feeling blessed)

And even if I don't, I see it as a test (as a test)

'Cause I was lost until You found me

Now I know You're all around me

Nothing I could ever do

Could separate my love from You

Who knew we would need this? At that exact moment?

Only an involved Father who cares deeply.

Who weeps when we do.

Who grieves with us in wilderness times.

Who draws ever-close in our heartache.

Who promises never to leave nor abandon.

Who lovingly sent His son, Jesus, for timely rescues.

Who gifted us the Holy Spirit to heal in times we cannot heal ourselves.

That's Who.

Father, please continue to lather our community with Your healing balm. Lather it on any and all of my sisters making their way with you through the wilderness. May they feel your gentle, yet powerful presence, even now as they're reading. Holy Spirit, come. Heighten awareness of the ways in which You are drawing close, still providing, still caring, still loving, still healing and moving on their behalf. Lovingly surround them with healthy community, centered on you. Thank You for Jesus. Thank You that we don't have to pretend that everything is fine. Thank You for listening and answering. Thank You for helping us catch our breath. Thank you for the power in Your promise to never leave nor abandon, no matter how dark it gets. Keep our hearts tender and responsive towards You and others. Breathe new life into our emotional exhaustion and weary bones. And may these beautiful lights created in Your image never fade nor grow dim as they walk through darkness, but only shine brighter and stronger for You as a result.

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” ‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭17‬-‭18,‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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*Forrest Frank lyrics from UP,  Good Day, Sunshine, Ups & Downs, Life is Good, No Longer Bound...and so many more uplifting beats from his Child of God Tour in Columbus, OH on March 28th, 2025.

Save the Date:

Overflow Gathering

May 3rd, 2025

11a-1:30p

Vineyard Northwest

9165 Roundtop Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45251

April 5th-12th, 2025

Acts 1:8

Messaging

Messaging. Practically inescapable, it abounds at every turn. Messaging about viral posts, trending fashion, the latest well-being destination and parenting techniques, popular fitness and diet fads, best skincare regimens for remaining youthful and the list continues–all offering fleeting and oftentimes empty promises of happiness, peace of mind, mental acuity, health and wholeness. We’re constantly inundated by these types of messaging; messages that explicitly and implicitly convey ideas and themes on mission of the messenger.

Let's hit pause for a moment and consider what our own life stories message and the powerful eternal impact they have. Our life stories actually serve as a witness to our Father’s unwavering, loving pursuit of the totality of our hearts. If we were to list our life events, we would see His hand orchestrating His goodness and demonstrating His character as our rescuer, provider, and redeemer. Each of our personal stories hold valuable insights into His nature; how He intricately formed us, and never leaves us, especially during our darkest moments. How He heals our brokenness, infuses His hope in hopeless situations, replaces lies with purpose and truth, is our Source of stillness and strength in our waiting, and consistently shows up for us time and time again, often in unimaginable ways.

What holds you back from honestly sharing your life experiences–the good, the messy, the unfinished, and even the not-so-pretty–with someone to whom you are naturally drawn, who is genuinely open to Jesus, and is interested in hearing what He means to you (aka, a person of peace)? The Holy Spirit has likely prepared that person’s heart in advance and brought you together at this specific time. There's no need to convince or persuade, as that is the Holy Spirit's role–He’s the transformation specialist. Our focus is to actively find that person of peace and when we do, to then simply be available and fully present. To attentively listen to their story for understanding, and candidly offer our own, only when prompted by the Holy Spirit.

This is the most organic way to share the "Good News" that Jesus offers abundant life, right here and now–to anyone willing to accept it as a free gift, bought at a high price. No need to formulate or complicate what's meant to naturally evolve in authentic relationship.

If you haven't already, start praying for that receptive person. When you find them, invest in them. Extend the commodity of your time and hospitality. Regularly invite them to a meal, coffee/tea, or walk. Give yourself permission to slow down and cultivate an authentic relationship. It is okay if it takes weeks or months to progress from simple conversation to the serious, to the spiritual. Again, there's no need to force any aspect, rather, allow the Holy Spirit to unfold His work, in His timing, as you remain sensitive in following His leading while you witness with your life story.

Father, thank You for giving each of us a story that reflects You and is meant to be shared. Show us with whom you'd like for us to share it as a witness for Your magnificent love and great rescue, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Have Your way in our lives!

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬, ‭NLT‬‬

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Luke is the author of this passage which includes Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples before His ascension into heaven–a commission to go and seek out others (Luke 19:10) after waiting upon the Holy Spirit. Luke begins Acts where he left off in the last chapter of Luke 24:48-49, approximately 50ish days later after spending time in prayer and waiting as instructed by Jesus.

Save the Date:

Overflow Gathering

May 3rd, 2025

11a-1:30p

Vineyard Northwest

9165 Roundtop Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45251

April 13th-19th, 2025

Mark 16:1-4

Already Rolled Away

With spices in hand and light painting the underside of the clouds as the sun crested the early morning horizon, I imagine their roadtrip conversation sounding something like this:

"It's very large. It will be heavier than we can manage."

"What about the guards? How in the world will we get in to complete what we've set out to do?" 

"Could He really be gone? And have left us like this? I thought He was going to avenge our people."

"This couldn't possibly be what He meant about victory. I miss him so much already."

"Yes, me too, but what about that stone? How are we going to move it?"

And so on went the discussion as they approached Jesus' tomb. Despite hearing His teachings that included description of this moment in time. Despite their eye witness to His very life, filled with miraculous demonstrations. Despite the incredible fact that we still celebrate this history-changing, life-giving, miracle of all miracles, almost 2,000 years later, their thoughts were anxious ones. Consumed with worry. And they were "worrying out loud", together (MSG).

A mere two days prior, they had watched their close friend, extraordinary teacher (rabbi) who spoke with great authority, beloved son, and promised Messiah (the leader who would usher in an era of peace and redemption--save them from all oppression), die a gut-wrenching, horribly gruesome, torturous and unjust death on the cross. Most likely running on little sleep from experinecing those painful events permanently etched in their minds, their thoughts must have been swirling in a multitude of directions. Drowning in a sea of scattered emotions, they were experiencing the ebb and flows of navigating extreme waves of grief and sorrow, confusion and fear, and obviously, worry. At times they must have felt fully englfed, drowning and unable to catch a breath.

In this particular moment captured, their worry consisted of their own abilities to roll back the "very large" stone covering Jesus' tomb. Regardless, they kept moving forward. As was custom in the Jewish culture at the time, they participated in sabbath, purchased aromatic embalming spices to anoint Jesus' body, and were in route to the tomb where His body was laid when we come on scene in this passage.

Arriving only to discover that the focal point of which their worry revolved—the very large stone—would already be rolled away wasn’t even on their radar, let alone a plausible thought. What an amazing surprise and relief when a burden they thought was theirs to carry had already been removed—lifted by Him—and only noticed by them because they continued to be drawn towards Him amidst their worries, doubts, fears, and very real concerns. For His ways are higher, as are His thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) After the initial startle of unexpected surprise, what complete wonderment, ecstatic joy, and ultimate freedom they were about to discover upon entering the tomb! The stone being rolled away was just the beginning..

.

What are the “very large” stones currently consuming your mind with worry? The focal points of your concerns that you are approaching with the belief that you’ll have to roll them away by human effort—yours or someone else’s? Which ones are in the way, occuluding your ability to see that Jesus has overcome death? That He is alive, actively moving and still performing powerful, surprising miracles in unimaginable ways on your behalf?

Father, thank You for continuing to roll away the very large stones in our lives—for still doing the impossible in unimaginable and surprising ways—all because you love us and desire for us to live in utter freedom. Holy Spirit, breathe new life into the very places that are consumed by worries and  fear. As we approach Easter this week in celebration with others across the globe, may Your power and presence through Your Spirit and given by Jesus' death and resurrection, replace all worries afresh with Your life-gving promises. We invite and anticipate Your rolling back of that stone!

“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.” ‭‭Mark 16:1-4, NRSVUE‬‬

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Save the Date:

Overflow Gathering

May 3rd, 2025

11a-1:30p

Vineyard Northwest

9165 Roundtop Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45251

March 2nd-8th, 2025

Mark 14:3-9

Costly Worship

Written by

Derri Turnbo

How beautiful is this woman’s gift to the Lord, and how moving is Jesus’ response to her? In studying this passage, the Lord spoke to my heart in a new way and I wanted to share it with you.

The perfume in the alabaster jar was an expensive perfume called Spikenard. It’s a plant that grew in the Himalayas in cold, rocky ground. The Spikenard plant had to be strenuously dug up and extracted by hand. The Spikenard perfume was derived from the oil that was released from the plant when the roots were crushed. The purest most potent oil was found at the root. The oil could not be accessed without the crushing, and the fragrance of the perfume could not be released without the oil being extracted. It was the crushing that brought forth the most pure and most valuable part of the plant - the fragrant oil.

What I came to understand is that crushing brings forth purity and God has his own way of bringing about this type of crushing in our hearts. It’s not to harm us, but to prune and mature us, and rid us from the dross of the world so that by His grace, we can live a life worthy of His calling and burn brightly like bright shining lamps fueled by the oil of intimacy with Jesus.

Here are a few ways that the Lord brings about the crushing in our lives to produce pure, fragrant oil in us.

The crushing of pride.

The Lord will press pride right out of us so that the oil of humility can flow through a yielded heart.

The crushing of rebellion and resistance. 

Isaiah 55:8-9 says that the Lords thoughts and ways are higher than ours. The Bible tells us that the Lord’s ways are perfect. If we will let Him, the Lord will press rebellion and resistance out of us so that the oil of obedience and total submission can flow. The crushing will lead us to a place where we can truly mean, “Not my will but yours be done, Oh Lord, because your way is the best way.” 

The crushing through sacrifice. 

In Matthew 16:24 the Lord says pick up your cross and follow me. If we give up our lives for His sake, we will find our life in Him. This is literally death to self. Can the Lord really have everything - ALL of us? Every dream and every desire? Jesus has to be number one and everything else must take the back seat. The Lord will use the crushing of sacrifice so that the oil of true worship can flow.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he had done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to WORSHIP him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, 

which is good and pleasing and perfect."

 Romans 12:1-2 

When the woman brought her alabaster jar before the Lord, scripture says she broke it and poured the perfume over him. As she released her costly offering of worship to the Lord, the fragrance filled the whole room. AND JESUS RECEIVED IT. Once we go through the crushing, the circumstances that press us, the forming and shaping of our character by the hand of God, once the Lord presses us through sacrifice, it is in these places where we encounter him and he cultivates pure oil of worship to pour Him. A pure oil that cost us greatly. And when we pour our costly oil over the Lord, the beautiful fragrance of worship is released and it fills the room - it fills the temple and it moves his heart. HE LOVES IT! 

In the story, the disciples did not see the woman’s actions as an act of worship. In fact, they labeled it a waste, and they scolded her. But Jesus stood up for her. The most important voice in the room spoke of how valuable this offering was to Him as it prepared Him for His burial. Could it be that Jesus smelled of her perfume - her fragrant oil of worship while he was crucified -while he became the sacrificial lamb and poured out His own blood of salvation and redemption on the cross? How beautiful!

Would you pray with me? Lord, it is my desire to be a woman of fragrant oil. Help me to welcome the crushing. Search me and know me, oh God. Remove anything in me that offends you. May my life be perfume that blesses your heart!

“Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” They asked. It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly. But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”  Mark 14:3-9, NLT 

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Derri shared this message at the Friends of God Conference on Feb. 22nd, 2025 at Vineyard Northwest in Cincinnati, OH. Enjoy this clip of Derri's beautiful worship that followed.

March 9th-15th, 2025

Hebrews 10:23-25

Transformation through Practicing Community

Did you catch it? Listen for the communal aspects of living out our faith, or practicing the ways of Jesus, that are emphasized in this passage. Hint: camp out on  the words "us" and "one another." 

Our Heavenly Father has invited us into a diverse and inclusive, multigenerational family with all of our inspiring strengths and all of our messy imperfections. It is within this real community, through shared experiences and mutual support in our pursuit of Him, that we are given opportunities to stretch, grow, mature, and realize our God-given potential; more often than not, through the challenges and sticky situations we face together and with each other. True and effective transformation can flourish within relationships of mutual trust and vulnerability, in which permission is granted to offer loving correction and point out areas for growth. This can only occur within the context of authentic community.

Enemy strongholds are broken when we affirm our trust in our Heavenly Father and His promises. For in Him alone is where our steadfast hope is found. A hope that spurs us towards love and action, and can be exercised as we consistently meet together. You see, we are not meant to practice Jesus’ ways alone. In fact, with the exception of silence and solitude, it is entirely impossible to put Jesus’ teachings into practice solo, or in other words, to “do as Jesus did” in isolation of one another. 

A scenario of holding tightly to His promises played out yesterday among some close girlfriends as we mingled after church while our spouses and kids played outside. Naturally, our conversation pivoted from shallow to deep. We vulnerably shared–confessed and repented, if you will–about recent interactions with our spouses. No judgement was offered, only encouragement and a stirring of that unwavering hope to motivate towards love. 

One girlfriend wisely highlighted the fact that when we collectively and intentionally press into community centered on Jesus, we’re aligning with God’s heart and He begins to move in powerful ways. Our enemy is quick to respond in attempts to thwart any sign of healthy community, especially targeting marriages and family. As she was sharing this, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the bigger picture at play (we are not at war with flesh and blood!), and I literally felt an oppressive weight lift. A tangible shift in my perspective and spirit was noted. Prior to our chat, I’d been internalizing my less-than becoming attitude towards my husband, a rut in which I had felt stuck and alone, which is exactly where the enemy wanted to hold me captive. Ah! But for community–sweet, rich, authentic community-thank you, Father! Now to confess my attitude and reconcile with the husband, yet again, in our 18 years of marriage...

• Who is in the community God has surrounded you with at this time? Consider individuals with whom you consistently interact.

• What about being in community gets you jazzed, and what about it makes you cringe? Recognize that both uplifting and challenging communal experiences provide opportunities for growth and transformation.

• Ask the Holy Spirit who you can encourage as you intentionally practice the ways of Jesus throughout the week within community. Consider specific ways you can support and inspire another.

Thank you, Father, for the gift of community. Come, Holy Spirit. May Your presence invade communities all over this city, our nation, and the world like never before! More of Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control throughout.

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

March 16th-22nd, 2025

(Warning--this read is a bit longer!)

Matthew 4:1-11

Best Practices

The world defines best practices as: procedures that have been shown by research and experience to produce optimal results and that are established or proposed as a standard suitable for widespread adoption.1

Best practices for daughters who desire to remain in close connection with their Heavenly Father, include arranging our lives to center on the ways of Jesus, or in other words, practicing His ways for life lived in the very contexts in which we find ourselves today. (John 15:1-17) In essence, we have three priorities for living the abundant life Jesus paid the high cost to gift us (John 10:10):

• To be with Him

• To become like Him

• To do the things He did

John Mark Comer outlines nine best practices for those following Jesus and describes them as transformative, modeled by Jesus Himself. “Transformation is possible if we are willing to arrange our lives around the practices, rhythms, and truths that Jesus himself did, which will open our lives to God’s power & change.”2

Quite conveniently, we have easy access to a “best practice” that’s catalytic in the growth of the above priorities. It’s an ancient practice that is often neglected, yet essential and greatly relevant for today. It’s called fasting. And no, not intermittent fasting for dieting purposes, nor fasting in preparation for a medical procedure or done as a hunger strike to make a political statement or get our way with God. Rather, a weekly rhythm in the fasting of food for a day, from sun-up to sun-down as a form of worship with our whole selves. It is fasting that is scriptural, intentional, and transformational. Biblical fasting, if you would.

Matthew 4 gives an account of Jesus demonstrating this practice, and His example is fitting as we enter another week in the season of Lent. Lent is associated with forty days of abstaining from some form of indulgence of the “flesh”, be it chocolate, alcohol, social media, binge-watching, etc. (or the fasting of food), as a way to acknowledge all that Jesus suffered and sacrificed leading up to the celebration of Easter, all He recovered through His resurrection. Jesus’ example uncovers ways to starve our flesh and feast on the Spirit, or what I'll call “desert hacks”, for the practice of fasting.

Before exploring those hacks, note that Jesus’ time in the desert was bookended by two crucial events: Jesus' baptism in which God spoke over Him prior to entering the desert, and the commencing of Jesus' public ministry upon telling the enemy to flee when exiting the desert.

Beyond a shadow of doubt, Jesus knew who He was and what His Father thought of Him.

1. • Immediately prior to being led to the desert to fast, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, with God declaring Jesus’ true identity, “This is my beloved son with whom I’m well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) This translates to us, “You are my beloved daughters with whom I’m well-pleased!” Remember this while fasting. The enemy began each temptation in the desert challenging identity, “If you are the Son of God”...as if that was ever in question. There is no question for you, either. You are His beloved daughter, in whom He delights regardless of works and performance!

Angels ministered, or cared for Jesus as He exited the desert and upon entering His public ministry around the Galilee region where He proclaimed, taught, and demonstrated, with power and authority, that heaven was breaking through. 

1. • There’s something about fasting that opens up the supernatural to minister into the natural world. Coming out of His forty days of fasting, Jesus’ body may have been weak, but He was spiritually stronger than ever–likely from spending that time in close communion with His Father away from the noise and distractions of the world, feasting on every Word His Father spoke, then quoting those words as a weapon against enemy temptations–eventually telling the enemy to “Hypagō!“ That's the Greek word for “beat it”, “depart”, or “get out of here”!

Now, if you're still reading(!), below are a few desert hacks for fasting..a practice that carries a neurobiological component of getting Jesus' teachings from our head into our motor memory.

The practice of fasting is expected of God’s daughters.

• • Jesus says “when”, not “if” we fast and pray. (Matthew 6:16)

  • If you’ve never fasted before, start where you are, not where you want to be. Pick a day and give up one meal, allow yourself a cup of coffee if you’re accustomed to that in the morning, check with your physician if you have a medical condition, are nursing, etc. and develop a plan that’s safe and works for you. 

  • Remember, Jesus is more interested in the heart behind our fasting, and less concerned about legalistic rule following.

  • Biblical fasting is always attached to another practice--usually prayer and quite powerfully, confession. Use time that would be spent meal-prepping/eating/cleaning-up to slow down and pray.

Heart posture is central for effective transformation.

• How desperately do we crave and desire to hear every word of God? For we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4b)

• God can do much with humble hearts who recognize their desperate need for Him–it’s like a direct portal to heaven opens! (Matthew 5:3)

• The desires of our heart, for better or worse(!) are revealed. Especially in the case of the latter, and without any shame, we can give it all to Him to deal with  through confession and repenting. In our humility, there's increased space, openness, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's leading, guiding, and strengthening.

• Our desire for wise decision-making shifts to a desire for discernment (knowing God’s will for all aspects of our lives, whatever it may be), which is actually a shift from control to surrender.

• The health benefits of fasting that occur in our phyaical bodies mirror the spiritual health benefits of fasting to our souls. Consider it a dual detox! The desires of our flesh are not necessarily harmful in themselves.  They just often reflect disordered pursuits in regards to fixing our eyes on Jesus and keeping Him central to our heart's desires. For where our treasure is, there our hearts will also be. (Matthew 6:21)

Feasting on His Word(s) prepares us to be battle-ready as we enter and recover territory with Him, and for Him!

• Not only is our Father’s voice amplified with clarity above the noise and chaos around us as we become more attuned and give attention to Him, but our voice is also amplified to Him–as we worship and seek Him with our whole selves–body (stomach!) and mind. (Jeremiah 29:12-14)

• He tells us that there is food to eat that we know nothing about! (John 4:32) That’s a promise for the more of His goodness and breakthough–in ways we’ve yet to imagine and realize!

• Use money you would have spent on food to buy someone in need groceries, a meal, or better yet–eat with them when it’s time to break the fast!

We only wield the Sword of the Spirit when the enemy comes at us.

• It’s pointless and useless to battle the flesh with weapons of the flesh. That’s called will-power, done with our own strength. It's not sustainable, nor effective in spiritual battles. (Ephesians 6:10-12, 17)

• Resist the urge to judge your fasting. Release thoughts of whether or not you liked it, if you considered it successful or not, how close you did/did not feel to God, etc. Offer it all to God as a form or worship and let it be. (Romans 12:1 & 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

• Use “hypagō!“ liberally when you feel the enemy coming at you. After all, Jesus did...and it is quite fun to say!

These desert hacks related to the practice of fasting are beautifully summed up as follows: “I’m able to gain perspective on how unbalanced is the amount of time, energy, and effort that I put into my body and into my Spirit… When we choose to sacrifice a need of the body and to place more importance on a need of the spirit, God Himself sits up and takes notice. The heavens are opened to us in a way that might not have otherwise been…” – Priscilla Shirer

1. What area(s) of life do you desire breakthrough or discernment for God’s direction?

2. Where is God calling you to trust Him in regards to sacrifice/fasting? 

3. What is your next step in fasting and what role can/does community play in fasting?

Father, thank you for Jesus' example of Your ways; the best practices for living our lives. May we enter these practices, the gifts that You’ve designed, with humble hearts to be completely transformed by the power of Your Spirit. We're honored to partner in reclaiming lost territory for You! May we be emboldened by Your Spirit to  rise up above the snares of the enemy with the authority you've given us to say “Hypagō!“, while keeping in step with You!

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.” Matthew 4‬:‭1‬-‭11,‬ ‭NLT‬‬ 

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1. “Best practice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/best%20practice. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

2. Comer, J.M. 2024. Practicing the Way. Random House Publishing Group, p. 17.

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Bonus - Women in the Bible who Fasted:

Exploring their motivation & results

Hannah – desperate in pain & suffering (craved a child)

• Prayed for son for years afterbeing  ridiculed

• Promised to give son back to God in return

• Gave birth to son, Samuel, who heard God’s voice & became one of the most influential leaders in Israel (1 Sam. 1:1-20)

Anna – longing (craved the Messiah’s presence)

• Longed for the Messiah to come

• Spent most of her time in the temple, prayer & fasting after husband died; recognized & spoke about Jesus (Luke 2:37)

Esther – desired wisdom/guidance/justice (craved strength)

• Lone, young, Jewish orphan, and a brave leader–queen, who followed God alone

• Power punch of fasting in community – Requested Jews in Shushan to fast & pray for God’s mercy & grace on her lineage, and saved the entire Hebrew people from genocide (Esther 4:16)

March 23rd-29th, 2025

Psalm 15:1-5

Foundational Values to Live By

Written by

Laurie Cochrane

"Walking with God" is a simple metaphor for intimacy with Jesus. Lately, my imagination has been awakened with this simple phrase. Through the ages, this phrase elicits profound pictures from Adam and Eve walking with God in the garden in the cool of the evening to Paul in his missionary journeys over miles in Asia Minor. Most of all, Jesus walked the rocky dusty roads of Israel with His disciples, sharing life! As we walk with God, His very presence is also available to you and me, day by day, and moment by moment.

How can you and I experience intimacy with Jesus? He is present but am I aware of his presence? 

This Psalm lays out three foundational values and applications within an intimate relationship that “abiding in His tent” implies. 

1. Honest vulnerability: walk with "integrity" before God. 

2. Compassionate: "righteous" relationships in service to others.

3. Living out of my new identity: inner life is consistently "truthful" with the outer. 

Practically speaking, we are walking in intimacy with Christ when our words are guarded when speaking about anyone, not "slanderous" or disrespectful; our actions are kind, not "evil" towards our neighbors; weI don’t betray those closest to us, by "taking up a reproach" against them. One day we will be perfect when we see Him face to face, but for now, we can do a simple heart test.

Simple Heart Test

Do I keep my word, "swears to his own hurt", even when it comes back to injure or inconvenience me?

Do I use my own interests to justify myself from being interruptible, and thereby have an excuse to not keep my word?

Finally, I love the idea of not being shaken! Peace is like a river and it overflows its banks to bless others when my heart is surrendered before God, "walking in intimacy with Him". 

My prayer for you to join me: Help me Lord. I need you every hour. Keep my heart pure and my relationships honest. Draw me into faithfulness towards You, my friends, and my inner being. I want to partner with You in bringing Your Kingdom into my world everywhere I go.

“O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the Lord; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.” Psalms‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭5,‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

February 2nd-8th, 2025

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Endless Comfort

Written by

Tjuana Simmons

Daughter,

Bask in my love for you. Relish in my love for you. Roll up in it like a plush warm comforter, keeping you warm whenever the coldness of life attempts to come upon you. I am your comforter and healer. Allow my love to comfort and heal your aching heart, your hurried mind and your unsettled soul. My love will make you whole and fill every void that you have. I am here for you to cast your cares upon. Learn of me, my yoke is easy and my burden is light. I will not give you more than you can bear, and I will always provide a way of escape. However, you must seek me for the route out and plan of action. Listen to my voice and do not follow any other. Hear me and hear me clear, I am here for you, and I will never leave you; neither will I forsake you. I am your everlasting, ever loving, forgiving and saving Abba Father, God Almighty. And there is none other. 

I love you!

Abba

Abba- Thank you for your everlasting never ending love. Thank you for covering me in the comforter of love keeping me warm all the days of my life. I am grateful I have you to cast my cares upon and that you have made me more than a conqueror through your love for me. I pray that your love will continue to transform me into the daughter you have called me to be. May my heart become a mirror of your reflection in Jesus name. I am eternally appreciative to you Abba for your love. 

“All praises belong to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he is the Father of tender mercy and the God of endless comfort. He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering so that we can come alongside those who are in any painful trial. We can bring them this same comfort that God has poured out upon us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, TPT

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Bonus, related scripture:

• “Yahweh appeared to me from another realm and said, “I have deeply loved you with a forever-love; that is why I have been so patient and kind to draw you to my heart.”Jeremiah 31:3, TPT

• “...casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. [Ps 55:22]” 1 Peter 5:7, AMP

• “Cast your burden on the Lord [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail). [1 Pet 5:7]” Psalms 55:22, AMP

• “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer 6:16] For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30, AMP

• “My own sheep will hear my voice and I know each one, and they will follow me. I give to them the gift of eternal life and they will never be lost and no one has the power to snatch them out of my hands. My Father, who has given them to me as his gift, is the mightiest of all, and no one has the power to snatch them from my Father’s care.” John 10:27-2, TPT

February 9th-15th, 2025

Psalm 136:1-4

Hesed

Written by

Loretta Bailey

When reading Psalm 136, this tender love of our Father is mentioned 26 times. What kind of love is this? It’s a love mentioned hundreds of times in the Old Testament! In Hebrew, this tender love from our Father is called "hesed". 

Author Michael Card wrote an entire book on this love. Card writes,

“Let’s ask for the grace to be in awe of the God who, when He opened the door of His life to

 us, had this word consistently on His lips, remembering that even though we 

have no right to expect anything from Him, He is pleased to give us everything. 

He is pleased to open His heart and life to us precisely because 

He is the God of hesed!”1

There are layers of meaning to this word, “hesed”: deep enduring love, loyalty, righteousness, truth, kindness, beyond momentary compassion, steadfast, covenant love, grace, mercy, faithfulness, devotion, eternal, everlasting, indestructible, and a love that goes beyond duty! All of this, is His love for us!

Jesus embodies this love in the New Testament. He is the incarnation of hesed, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) This relentless, extravagant love is always pursuing us.

God loves His daughters like no other love we could ever know! He is always with us and always for us! Secure and forever!

Father, when we feel unloved, lonely or afraid, give us a remembrance and revelation of Your “hesed.” This endless love that You pour into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. We are so thankful for this love that fuels us to love beyond duty. Your hesed endures forever!

“Let everyone thank God, for he is good, and he is easy to please! His tender love for us continues on forever! Give thanks to God, our King over all gods! His tender love for us continues on forever! Give thanks to the Lord over all Lords! His tender love for us continues on forever! Give thanks to the only miracle-working God! His tender love for us continues on forever!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭136‬:‭1‬-‭4‬, ‭TPT‬‬

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1 Michael Card, Inexpressible Hesed and the Mystery of God’s Lovingkindness

2 Romans 5:5 "And this hope is not a  disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

February 16th-21st, 2025

Joshua 1:5-9

Haga

In this passage, God promises Joshua the same unwavering presence that He provided Joshua’s predecessor, as Joshua now leads the Israelites into the Promised Land following his predecessor’s death. Who was Joshua’s predecessor? His mentor and leader, Moses—you know, the guy who met with, listened, and often with hesitation, followed each instruction God gave him. The guy who brought havoc on Pharaoh until in one dramatic, supernatural wave in the parting of the Red Sea, freed the Israelites from Pharaoh's harsh captivity—but no pressure on a grieving Joshua, right?!

Because our Heavenly Father is unchanging and faithful, yet still very much alive and actively speaking to us through His Word, we can fully access, receive, and apply these time-tested promises and truths to our lives as well. Today! The assurance, security, strength, and courage that can be experienced through God’s presence (Holy Spirit) this very day, echoes promises He made to Joshua so long ago.

Our Father’s Presence

God assured Joshua that no enemy would be able to withstand him, mirroring the supernatural protection and guidance God provided his mentor, Moses. This promise serves to instill confidence and dispel fear, reminding us that we are not alone in the exciting, the mundane, and the daunting tasks we daily face.

Strength & Courage

God repeatedly—three times in this passage alone(!)—exhorted Joshua to be strong and courageous, recognizing the immense responsibility and challenges that were ahead. Leading a nation into a new land required unwavering resolve and resilience, and God's encouragement reinforced Joshua's role as a leader. No doubt, we’re in the midst of our own immense challenges and could use an extra dose of encouragement, strength, resolve, and Heaven’s reinforcement…speak those out now, for our Father cares and is moving on our behalf.

Loving Instruction 

God urged Joshua to diligently follow His instructions given by Moses, without deviating from them. This emphasizes the importance of slowing down to prioritize and seek our Father’s guidance, listen for His still small voice, frequently return to His words, discern and then follow His loving instruction. These practices provide the framework for discovering and living life in the abundance Jesus paid for and freely offers all of us (John 10:10).

Haga

God instructed Joshua to immerse himself in His Word (the Torah at that time) meditating on it day and night. This practice ensured that Joshua would internalize God's word to guide his thoughts, decisions, and actions. We are also encouraged to haga our Father’s Word.* As we hold tightly and haga His Word and the words He’s personally spoken over us–each day and night–they will begin to naturally overflow as a roar into our lives, influencing and guiding our thoughts, decisions, and subsequent pursuits and actions. (Psalm 1:2-3, 19:14, 119:11, 15, 97, & 99; Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 11:18-19)

Prosperity & Success

God promised that by diligently pursuing His presence and following His instruction, Joshua would experience prosperity and success in all his endeavors. There is a supernatural link between actively pursuing greater measures of our Father’s presence and immersing ourselves in His Word to grasp the fullness of His love, and the inconceivable solutions, blessings, and fulfillment that follows. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

God's message to Joshua and us centers on unwavering trust in our Father’s guidance, courageous leadership rooted in regularly seeking and following His loving instruction, and the transformative power of His presence, Word, and promises. We can live confidently and securely, resting in Him and His presence, when we haga and live out what we’ve devoured!

• What tasks lie ahead this week that you’d categorize as daunting, or in which you feel as though you are facing alone?

• How does this reassurance from our Heavenly Father, & our empowerment through the Holy Spirit, instill confidence & dispel fear surrounding those tasks?

• In which arena(s) of life could you currently use unwavering resolve & resilience, along with an additional dose of heavenly strength & courage? Making workplace decisions, practicing your parenting skills, speaking truth from a place of love into complicated situations and relationships, walking through health challenges or financial strains?

• Pause for a moment & recall a time in your life when you truly felt our Heavenly Father’s presence, reassurance, guidance, protection, &/or provision. Recount as many details as possible. Write them down, or share them with a friend & frequently return to this memory of His presence, especially when He feels distant.

Thank you for your unfailing love, kind instruction, and steadfast promises, Father. May we feel your presence like never before as we haga Your word this very week. I release a fresh portion of Your strength and courage over my sisters as they tackle the exciting, the mundane, and the daunting tasks. With You. Right by their side. Roar!!!

"No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:5-9, NLT

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* Hebrew word for meditate, muse & imagine, ponder & study, utter & speak—even roar, similar to the way in which a lion roars over & devours its prey! Strong’s H1987, Blue Letter Bible

February 23rd - March 1st, 2025

1 John 3:21-24

Imperfect Love

Confidence and love go hand in hand.

When we have an understanding of the extent and depths of our heavenly Father’s love and affection towards us, we are naturally inclined to love Him in return and overflow that love to the world around us. This love is not based on our own merit or worthiness, but on the unconditional acceptance and grace we receive from Him. As we remain in our Father’s drenching streams of love (via scheduling intentional time to regularly connect with HIm in prayer, through His Word, and/or in community with others centering their lives on HIm), we can live confidently before Him and before those around us. And that’s His desire. For us to be bold and free before Him and in our love to others (v.21, MSG).

So what makes it so challenging to flourish in His love and live it out in our day-to-day lives?

Critical Spirit

Condemnation is a weapon of the enemy. The  accuser. The one who seeks to undermine our love and confidence by sowing seeds of doubt through the intentional or unintentional critical voice of others, or through a critical spirit that has been given voice within our own hearts (1 John 3:20). Condemnation is nebulous guilt and shame resulting in a lingering, overall feeling bad about ourselves, even after we’ve repented and asked for forgiveness. Condemnation, in any form is a sure way to clog the free-flow of our love and confidence, and this kind of clog never originates from our doting Father. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1. 

Conviction

It is important to distinguish between a clog of condemnation (a “debilitating self-criticism” from v.20, MSG, originating from our enemy) and a clog of conviction resulting from sin (missing the mark). Conviction is actually an invitation for growth extended by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8). When the Holy Spirit convicts us about our sin(s), He is very specific. We know exactly how we have messed up–where we have missed the mark in entering and bringing about His goodness. The purpose of Holy Spirit highlighting this misstep is to encourage and lift us up by repenting and being restored into our true designs, the unique identities He’s given each of us, and the significant purposes to which He’s called us. Once we’ve acknowledged the specific event/area in our life, asked for forgiveness and repented of it, we can then rest assured that we are back “in step” with the Spirit and His leading (Galatians 5:25).

Evidence of His Spirit

It should come as no surprise that not one of us is perfect (I know, shocking for some of us!), nor do any of us love perfectly. Yet, even imperfect love is evidence of the Spirit at work in our lives. That’s worth noting and hearing again: even imperfect love is evidence of the Spirit at work in our lives! When we recognize the failings in our hearts, our desire and hunger for a more perfect, Jesus-shaped love should not shake our assurance, but rather confirm it! If you are feeling the pains of hunger for a more Jesus-shaped love, then you are right where you should be–you are in great company as you live in Him and He lives in you: ‘This is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit He gave us’ (v.24, MSG).

Holy Spirit, we invite you now to reveal any areas in our lives in which the flow of Your love to us and to others has been clogged. We repent of any thoughts, beliefs, and/or actions that have contributed to this clogging. We invite a supernatural plunger to intervene and command the clog to be released–any critical spirits must flee now in Jesus’ powerful name! Ears open to hear only the voice and truths from our loving Father. May there be an increase in volume, clarity, and acuity in the words You speak to, and over us throughout this week as we love imperfectly.

“And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God! We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God’s command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬-‭24,‬ ‭MSG‬‬

January 5th-11th, 2025

Romans 8:35, 37-39

Daughter's Blessing, from a Perfect Father

Written by

Beth Guckenberger

Dear Ezer [warrior in Hebrew],

I love you. I picked you before the creation of the world. I delight in how you were made: in your personality, your sense of humor, your creativity, your very self.

I created you and I honor your life. I bless you in My name and bless all you put your hand to; everything you do, you do for Me.

I forgive you. You are reconciled to Me. There is nothing that would separate you from My love. I know everything about you and am crazy about you.

I redeemed you. I paid the ransom for sin, thinking of you, knowing it was all worth it to be connected for eternity with you. You've been bought with a price and are worth it.

I gift you all you need. Wisdom, patience, peace, joy, discernment, love...whatever you need, I will provide. You don't need to look anywhere else.

I hear you. I love listening to you share your life with Me. I want to connect with you: in the light and in the dark, in the valley and on the mountaintop. I see you, and My eyes are full of compassion and love.

You are Mine. You are adopted. You are My child, grafted into My tree. I will go to any lengths for you. I will come to you, lift you up, be your Father, and extend mercy toward you. I will go before you and be your rear guard.

You are blessed and gifted. Being My child on this earth comes with privileges, you have grace and peace available to you in abundance.

You are a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come. Walk confidently in My power and enter into every space knowing you bear My name.

You are free from condemnation. Now go, live and love in freedom. Don't let anyone try to whisper to you lies about your identity. You are not what you have done, you are what I have created. I look at you with grace.

You are secure in My hand. So with the authority and power I have, I release a blessing and anointing on you. You are My kid. This means everything. Walk in My way, carry My name, rest in My love, share My heart...I see you and I love you. Amen

Father, we receive Your delight in us without hesitation, knowing You've created us with great purpose and have big plans for each one of us. We willingly walk hand-in-hand with You as we've entered 2025. Please use our yes and amen to Your steadfast promises and truths as You will.

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ‭‭‭‭Romans 8:35, 37-39, NLT‬‬ 

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• The Blessing above is from Beth Guckenberger's latest work, Warrior of Eden, pages 242-243, reprinted with her permission. 

• Warrior of Eden is a highly recommended read for any daughter navigating the prevalent confusion surrounding gender role issues, spurred by today's fragmented understanding and rampant wrecked systems in all of the cultures (and subcultures) in which we currently live.

See you at the Overflow Gathering this Friday!

Find more details & link to register here.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

From January 1st, in the event you missed it while ringing in the New Year...

As we've crossed the threshold of the New Year, there’s a sense that God is calling us to release things that are not ours to carry from the previous year into 2025. Read further for tips and biblical reasoning to walk unashamed and in greater freedom by correctly handling His word of truth in 2025!

Naked Vulnerability in 2025

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved 

[not looking for the approval of others], 

a worker who does not need to be ashamed 

and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15, NIV

If you were offended by merely reading the title, you are far from alone. Even the author found herself becoming slightly offended while writing it! Yet, the majority of us, author included, would likely agree that greater degrees of breakthrough, higher levels of freedom, and deeper connections are often forged through the candid sharing of our most vulnerable moments (confession!) in the context of a safe community (authentic and non-judgmental). I’m tracking, you say, but why in the world include naked?!*

Remember in the beginning, back in Genesis, how God created Adam and Eve who ran around the Garden of Eden with authority and purpose, naked and unashamed, and in perfect union with God and each other? And do you recall that as soon as the enemy entered the scene, Adam and Eve succumbed to the enemy’s untruths, casting doubt on God’s goodness and favor over them? They then covered their nakedness with fig leaves to hide from God and avoided their evening rhythm of walking and connecting with Him because they felt shame for the first time (separation from God). They also played the blame-game on each other for why they hid (distancing from each other).

It’s evident that this cycle continues to this day. The enemy continues in his attempts to make us doubt and feel distant from our loving Father, as well as cause division in thought or action among us. We then feel subsequent shame and attempt to cover/hide/self-preserve from not only the One who already sees it all, knows it all, and has redeemed us from this cycle, but from the very community in which our breakthrough will happen.

So where in our lives, this very week, do we feel shame that is not ours to carry into 2025? In other words, what areas would we prefer to hide from God, or ourselves, or others for the sake of self-preservation?

Imagine what kind of breakthrough or transformation would be realized if we confessed that to God, ourselves, and/or out loud to another (in safe community), and were actually received with open arms. As you identify areas of shame, below are questions to guide next steps for releasing any lingering and/or new areas of shame that surface throughout 2025.

What is the most important improvement you want to see in 2025 that will overflow into other areas of your life?**

• • What are the rhythms or key habits needed for this to happen?

  • What systems or reminders will you develop to increase the likelihood of growth in this area?

  • Who can help you with this to bring about greater accountability and inspiration throughout 2025?

________________________________

*The enemy has taken the beauty of all that nakedness signifies and perverted it. For instance, nakedness is a form of utter transparency—purest form or how originally designed with no additives or masks of covering—equating to a high level of vulnerability. Yet, when we read or hear the word naked, we often automatically become uncomfortable or feel shame as our minds have been culturally trained to immediately associate it with something sexual.

**Questions adapted from Igniting Hope's Blog by Steve Backlund, retrieved December 27th, 2024.

January 12th-18th, 2025

James 5:16

Crushing Shame, Finding Freedom

Written by

Jenn Utech

When you are suffering—physically, emotionally, relationally, or spiritually— lies you’re believing about yourself or God can make the pain feel even heavier. Shame can convince you that you are alone, unworthy of help, or that no one could understand your struggle. But sharing your burdens with a trusted friend—someone who will listen without judgment—breaks the power of secrecy and opens the door to healing. It’s in vulnerability, not perfection, that you experience the freedom God intends for you. Confessing what you’re feeling (and believing) creates space for God's truth to replace the lies, and healing can begin to take root.

We aren’t meant to carry our burdens in silence. When you open up to others, you are not only receiving support but also inviting the power of prayer into your situation. We were made for community and connection. Trusting God and others with our vulnerability brings breakthrough and freedom. Break free from shame with the weapon of confession!

Father, give us courage to be vulnerable, to remove our masks and be real with each other. Surround us with compassionate listeners who can speak God‘s truth into our situation and pray powerful healing prayers over us. Help us to be safe havens for others; give us words of truth and encouragement that break the chains of shame and lead people into the freedom you’ve won for us.

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” ‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭16,‬ ‭NLT‬‬

________________________________

• Audio recording of "Crushing Shame & Finding Freedom" by Jenn Utech at the Overflow Gathering, on Jan. 10th, 2025 will be made available here soon!!

• With the heart of DUST (uniting across denominations to ignite cities and regions for Him), you're welcome to embark on a 21-Day journey (beginning today, Jan. 13th!) with those of us across the greater Cincinnati region.

• Please also consider joining us in praying over those affected by the wildfires in CA:

From Carla Harding of Lectio 365 on Jan. 11, 2025 & shared by Pete Greig

Today, as we continue to reflect on Jesus' words we will also pause to pray for the people affected by the devastating wildfires sweeping across Los Angeles in the USA.

"Jesus of Nazareth, God of Golgotha, Just days ago these people were celebrating (in homes they've lost, some with loved ones they've lost) your coming at Christmas. Come again I pray to our broken world. Sit with those suffering in the City of Angels, weep with us in the valley of devastation. Kyrie Eleison*, Lord have mercy...

Creator God, I ask you for meteorological miracles - an urgent change to the Santa Ana winds, the visitation of rain. Protect and strengthen first responders and firefighters working ceaselessly to quell the flames... Renew them I pray with supernatural strength. Kyrie Eleison, Lord have mercy...

Today, instead of returning a second time to Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount, I reflect again on the hope of Psalm 121. This time, as I read it through slowly, I make this Psalm my prayer for Los Angeles and for every place around the world where people are suffering today... 

“I look up to the mountains—

does my help come from there? 

My help comes from the Lord, 

who made heaven and earth! 

He will not let you stumble;

the one who watches over you 

will not slumber. “

Psalm 121:1-3 (NLT) 

Yielding Prayer 

Lord, you are God, and I am not. I need your help. Spirit, as I continue to pray through Jesus' teaching on living God's way, would you increase my understanding and deepen my trust in your goodness. 

Yielding Promise 

The Lord who loves me says in Psalms: 

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”

Psalm 46:1 (NLT)

_________________________________

*Greek phrase meaning “Lord have mercy on us”

January 19th-25th, 2025

Isaiah 40:4-5

Unity

Written by

Amber Kaufman

On Monday, we get to acknowledge, appreciate, and celebrate the work of Dr. Martin Luther King. When I was asked to share on topic, the Lord led me to read through Dr. King’s famous “I have a dream” speech. As I was reading, Holy Spirit highlighted a section to me. In this section, Dr. King says how he dreams that little black boys and little black girls will hold hands with little white boys and little white girls. This of course hits home for me because this is something I get to see every day in my family as a foster, adoptive, and biological mother. 

But the Lord wanted me to look deeper into that dream and showed me how Dr King’s dream was a Kingdom Dream. A dream of unity. And that is something that everyone, no matter the color of their skin, can celebrate! We can rejoice in the fact that we cannot only exist together, but we can worship together. We can bring God glory, TOGETHER! This is what heaven looks like! We all bring something unique to the banquet and when we come together in unity, these God-given gifts help paint a bigger picture of who God is.

I think that we can all agree that there is still work to be done. Racism still exists, yes. But what is God saying in the midst of this? I believe He is encouraging us to change the way we see each other.

The last time I shared a DUST with you [November '24 Week 3], I wrote about a time when I experienced hate concerning the color of my skin (the incident at the bus stop). The Lord brought that back to my mind and spoke very gently to me. He said, “Amber, that is what it looks like when hate sees color. I want my children to see each other through the lens of love.” My friends, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say that love is colorblind and love should not see color. But shouldn’t it? God made it. He made the color of my skin and he made the color of your skin. And he said that it was good! 

I want to encourage us to start feeling comfortable acknowledging our differences. In doing so, we are giving God glory and acknowledging his creativity! Every time we come together in unity and see each other through the lens of love, we are really looking at the beauty of our God-our Creator-our Father.  

Dr. King goes on to quote Isaiah 40:4-5 where it says that “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” May we continue to move forward with expectation of seeing more of God’s glory revealed as we continue to allow this kingdom-dream of unity to tear down the walls that once divided us! 

"I have a dream that one day down in Alabama with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right down in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Father, thank you for giving us a family that acknowledges and celebrates Your creativity and beauty in our differences and uniqueness, bonded in unity with Your extravagant love! All You've fashioned and designed is good!

Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!”” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭34-‭5‬, NLT‬‬ 

________________________________

January 26th-February 1st, 2025

1 Peter 4:10-11

Entrusted Gifts

Written by

Katherine Marlin

I tried my hand at gardening years ago, more so as an experiment and to see what herbs I could grow. I quickly fell in love with the hobby and particularly one aspect of the process: seeing seeds sprout. It feels kind of miraculous to watch something that was tiny, brown, and dull transform into little, vibrant, green leaves only a few days later. Eventually, with care and some natural resources, the seeds turn into beautiful flowers, fruit, or vegetables for us to enjoy.

I see a lot of similarities between spiritual gifts and seeds. They are something God created and given by Him, these gifts need to be cultivated to be beneficial for others. Seeds also come in all kinds, producing many different flowers, just as there are a variety of spiritual gifts. All gifts are important and offer a variety of ways for God to move and show His love.

In 1 Corinthians 14:1, one translation starts with “Let love be your highest goal!” We aren’t using these gifts to impress others or make ourselves look good; we are using these gifts to share love. Scripture then calls us to “eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit.” In this new year, it seems like the perfect time to try something new and eagerly desire a gift of the Spirit. Maybe you have always wanted the gift of healing; pray for God to send people who need healing your way and pray for them. The more we step out to see God move, the more likely we’ll actually see God move. Maybe you’ve thought you might have the gift of encouragement; try encouraging one person each day and see how the Lord uses it to bless others and share His love.

In this new year, I encourage us to put to work the spiritual gifts God has entrusted to us. Just as I get excited seeing the seeds come to life and produce leaves and flowers, I know God loves seeing the gifts He’s given out being used and shared to love others!

As you reflect, ask yourself– what spiritual gift(s) do you think God has entrusted to you? (You can find lists of gifts of the Spirit in Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28). How could you use that gift to serve others around you? Is there one gift that you want to “eagerly desire” and ask God for?

Father God, we come to you in this new year wanting to see you move in our lives and the lives of those around us. We know that one way you move is by using us as your children through the spiritual gifts you’ve given us. Help us to steward well the gifts you have already given, and eagerly desire other gifts of the Spirit. We want to build your Kingdom here on earth. We love you and trust you as a good gift giver. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬-‭11‬, ‭NLT‬‬

________________________________

• Katherine's writing was first published on 2025's 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting Devotional. You can learn more at the link provided and join at any point through Feb. 2nd when we will come together at Vineyard Church Cincinnati for an evening of worship!

December 1st-7th, 2024

Psalms 126:4-6

Restored Fortunes

Written by

Elly Thielen

We can count on the world for promises of “satisfaction” or we can count on the promises of restoration and treasures NOW. Everyone has an answer for what lies ahead. The world has answers galore. Look in a crystal ball, read your horoscope, let’s align the stars, play your cards right, must be luck…

All of those solutions seem lackluster and full of empty promises because they have changed over time. 

When thinking of a fortune, think of something holed up, kept in a safe place, locked up, reserved for those special enough to find it on the map. It’s hidden and yet its legacy is revered and handed down for decades, even centuries. Treasure is accessible, but still requires you to submit to the game of waiting and right timing. 

We have full access to a fortune, an inheritance. An inheritance that provides a quenching so large, that even the feeling of receiving the finest rubies can’t compare. 

The fortune only comes with submission and is guaranteed with a promise. When we faithfully wait for the inheritance, when we faithfully wait for the answered prayer and submit every decision to Him, it is then we see the harvest. The harvest is ripe for those who have sown faithfully in tears of morning and exasperation. The toiling at a job that provides monetarily but doesn’t affirm the work you’ve done well. The never ending parenting of a child, different from others or in a season of hard, and the “what will they turn out like,” worry. The loss of more than one loved one in body or in relationship and you seem to be alone. God is in the business of restoration and your day of harvest is coming!  

Thank you Lord for the harvesting of what was done so long ago. Thank you for the enriching of the soil and for the crop that provided fruit. May your harvest continue to multiply even in the waiting. Lord, we ask for discernment and a steadfast plan for those still in the field planting. We ask for your presence to be shown to those waiting to see if the crop grows. We ask for a new melody for those who have faithfully sown and the harvest is NOW. Their fortunes both here and later are being restored to the fullest that you intended from the first day we were made. May we give you honor and glory as we wait AND as we harvest.

”Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.“ ‭‭Psalms ‭126‬:‭4‬-‭6‬, ‭NLT‬‬

_________________

Tie to Advent: 

In Anticipation of His Arrival

Editor's Note

It's that time of year when we begin preparations for celebrating the birth of Jesus, widely known as Christmas. In this first week of December, we embark upon advent or adventus, derived from the Latin verb advenio, which means "I am coming" or "I arrive". 

Take a moment to slow down and pause amidst all of the bustle for reflection. Note  the shifts throughout 2024 in which you became more aware of Jesus on the scene; of His presence in your hour of greatest need. How he showed up, or arrived right on time when your heart was aching. In your loneliness, battle with a medical condition, or as you experienced a devastating loss. In your tears of frustration with a seemingly hopeless situation or irreconcilable relationship.

When Jesus arrives, hope abounds. Deep, internal peace is restored. He sheds tears with us, and eventually wipes them away as joy and laughter resume.  This is the fortune of our inheritance found only in Him. And if that fortune has yet to be restored on this side of heaven, we can be confident that He is still moving, for He is coming! 

• Which areas have remained dry and are in need of streams of renewal?

• Where have you planted through tears in 2024, with anticipation to harvest in joy and singing in 2025?

December 8th-14th, 2024

Psalms 28:7-9

Presence, the Present, & Presents

Joy robbers. They lie in wait, especially amid the holiday bustle, ready to ambush us when least expected. Flourishing in the context of hurry and the fear of missing out, joy robbers are cloaked in all forms imaginable, perpetuated by an overall cultural pull of “tis the season”...to rush: 

• disappointment formed through unmet expectations of not being where we thought we would be at this point in 2024–or life, in general;

• a critical spirit sharpened by perfectionistic tendencies targeted at ourselves, or placed upon us by another;

• anger and bitterness stirred in relational strife, mounting tension, and the endless seeking of approval;

• insignificance and blasé attitudes forged through passivity with a prevailing fear of failure for realizing the desired outcome; 

• depths of heart-wrenching grief and sorrow from an unexpected or tragic loss;

• feelings of lack and insecurity rooted in orphan or poverty mindsets. 

(Sensing the Father's heart for you if you related to any of the above—that He's infusing greater measures of His joy, tangible oils of gladness, into your situation right now as you continue reading. We say, yes, more joy released in Jesus' name.)

Ironically, the focal point of Advent is the celebration of the very One who gave us access to His joy so long ago, while simultaneously anticipating all that is yet to come when He returns. We celebrate the One who still freely gives His joy. In abundance. Here and now. A joy that can be temporarily weakened solely under our surrendering of it in the midst of any pain, frustration, loss, and/or disappointment we’re currently experiencing. Through these experiences, however, we merely need to choose to receive His good tidings of great joy and intentionally cultivate all He’s generously given to sustain a lifestyle of living from, and overflowing His joy. Sounds so simple, yet the battle for maintaining a posture of receiving His joy is so very real. (John 10:10 & Luke 2:10)

Well, call this DUST an early unwrapping of His gift under the tree! Below are a few joy-cultivating tips, personally being leaned into by yours truly as we’re all in process, and given much grace throughout our sputtering growth spurts into the more He has for us.

Note that joy from Him is not dependent on circumstances, rather is always accessible and at the ready when we choose to lean into it. For joy chosen is contentment. Joy experienced is happiness. Joy manifested is laughter. And joy overflowing, or ministered, is a powerful offensive weapon to disarm every joy robber the enemy flings our way. The moment we become aware that a joy robber has entered the scene, we can intentionally choose joy through our tears by leaning into His presence, being present, and unwrapping His presents (aka spiritual gifts).

Presence

What is one practical way you can become more aware of His presence each day this week? 

Present

What is one intentional step you can take to be more present with those around you throughout the week? 

Presents

Who can you minister to by surprising them with a supernatural present?

Father, may we slow down long enough this Advent season to intentionally remain in You and experience Your lavish love. As we do, may Your joy overflow in and through us!

“Yahweh is my strength and my wraparound shield. When I fully trust in you, help is on the way. I jump for joy and burst forth with ecstatic, passionate praise! I will sing songs of what you mean to me! You will be the inner strength of all your people, Yahweh, the mighty protector of all, and the saving strength for all your anointed ones. Save your people whom you love, and bless your chosen ones. Be our shepherd leading us forward, forever carrying us in your arms!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭28‬:‭7‬-‭9‬, ‭TPT‬‬ 

Check out this year's

 Christmas Matching Campaign

to provide books for inmates to gift their children

this Christmas in partnership with

Transforming Jail Ministries.

Last year, DUST (you!) sent

50 books to children living in poverty

through Compassion Belize.

Let's spread the life-giving joy again this year!

_______________

Presence, Present, and Presents: 

Further explanation & joy-cultivating tips

Presence

What is one practical way you can become more aware of His presence? 

• Slow down—again, slow down; refrain from scheduling every minute and feeling obligated to accept every invitation

• Say simple breath prayers

• Turn up a favorite worship song

• Meditate on a promise He’s spoken specifically over you through a prophetic word given or a highlighted passage in the Bible

• Snuggle with a child and see Christmas through their wonderment and excitement

• Foster gratitude by thanking Him or someone dear for who they are, what they’ve done, or for simply being there

• Replay a moment in life when He faithfully showed up in profound joy for you, or as you ministered joy to another—rinse and repeat(!)

For the presence of Jesus (aka the Holy Spirit) releases joy, as was felt by Elizabeth when greeted by Mary with Jesus in her womb! (Luke 1:39-47)

Feel the oppressive atmosphere shift, observe perspectives of despair pivot, and relish the liberty found in His presence (because He came & is coming!) as a joyful demeanor and jubilee rises over what initially felt heavily bound in chains. (Psalm 28:7; Psalm 118:15, Isaiah 61:1-3)

Present

How can you be more present with those around you? 

• Prioritize people over unimportant tasks

• In lieu of fretting and becoming annoyed, ask Holy Spirit how He’s working through that interruption

• Turn off notifications or set down your phone altogether to offer your full attention for listening to a girlfriend, spouse, or family member—without interjecting—and then repeat back what you heard

• Schedule time with a joy spreader and laugh yourselves silly—you know who that is(!)

“All the spiritual masters from inside and outside the Jesus tradition agree on this... 

if there's a secret to happiness, it's simple 

- presence to the moment. 

The more present we are to the now,

 the more joy we tap into.” 

—John Mark Comer, 

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

*Presents

Who can you minister to by surprising them with a supernatural present (i.e. release supernatural joy by operating in the spiritual gifting He’s specifically given you)?

• Offer your anointed hospitality

• Provide encouragement through a prophetic word or word of knowledge

• Be a cheerful giver and serve another with ridiculous generosity

• Intercede on behalf of another and pray for a creative miracle

• Lead in a way that champions others and draws out their strengths

We are all living with unfulfilled desires. Although most certainly wanted, a change of circumstances is not necessary to experience His joy this very moment. For there’s power in submitting the unmet to Him—to exchange our way for His ways. Afterall, the degree to which we focus on Him—where and how He’s moving in joy—will be the degree to which we acquire a new appetite for the things of His Kingdom and not this world. (Psalm 34:7, Matthew 6:33, & Philippians 4:11-13) 

You can be confident that someone in your close proximity is in need of a supernatural joy booster. Would you allow them to unwrap a present from Him through you, as you share your gifts? It’ll most likely be the best gift they receive this season. Ask the Holy Spirit who that is, and be prepared for them to experience the release of a joy explosion. Don’t be surprised if it erupts on you as well—actually, expect it! For His joy is contagious. (Acts 13:52, & John 15:10-11)

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• More on Joy, Our Inheritance by Kim Turnbo from earlier in May this year!

• See the gift that keeps on giving joy through DUST's  Christmas Matching Campaign; providing books for inmates to gift their children this Christmas in partnership with Transforming Jail Ministries.

December 15th-21st, 2024

Matthew 22:37-40

Begin with Gifting Love

Written by

Andrea Scott

What if we loved as Jesus does? What would this look like? Why do we love this way? These are fair questions to ask ourselves as we journey with Jesus. In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus responded to a question about the greatest of His instructions to us. He replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Equally would imply these two commands go together. They are not separate from each other. We need them equally to accomplish what is asked of us. Can we love God without loving ourselves and our neighbors, or fully love ourselves and our neighbors without loving God? I propose that we cannot.

Let's define neighbor. Where does your mind go? To those you know, who think like you, or live in close proximity to your residence? Your friends or your work colleagues? That is a good start, however, what about those who frustrate you, those who don't agree with you, those who have hurt you, family members from whom you are estranged, complete strangers, etc.? Each person is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27)--stranger, friend or foe--and according to Jesus, each is an example of the "neighbor" we are called to love. The latter may not be who we'd consider a neighbor and whom we will find it difficult to love well given the circumstances. Yet, Jesus' thoughts are always higher than ours, as are His ways, and He invites us into higher thinking and ways of loving well.

Jesus defines neighbor for us in Luke 10:26-37 in the parable of the Good Samaritan. In this parable there was a man on the road who had a great need. The Samaritan who passed by helped with what he had, and without knowing the man. A stranger had a need and the Samaritan lent himself to provide it, extending compassion. This lending of one's self to another is a reflection of how we are to love the way Jesus does: when it isn't convenient, when it costs us something. To love as Jesus does, we are compelled to extend mercy and help with the need(s) of another.

Bob Goff wrote a book titled Love Always. He makes a statement regarding how loving like Jesus looks. "Loving people the way Jesus did means a life filled with constant interruptions."  Practicing it, however, is a daily challenge. But, Jesus is our greatest example. He fully loved and laid his life down for us. As we daily seek to love God, ourselves, and our neighbors, we too can extend His kind of love. You are fully equipped by the Holy Spirit, daughters of the King to do so. May we be known by our LOVE!

Lord, help us to love like you. May we have yielded hearts to recognize those we can help and love well. Enhance our spiritual eyes to see and freely give what you gave to us. Holy Spirit we lean into your prompting and guidance as you empower us to love well. In Jesus name, Amen.

“Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭40‬, ‭MSG‬‬ ‭

This year's DUST

 Christmas Matching Campaign

will provide books for inmates to gift their children

in partnership with

Transforming Jail Ministries.

Last year, DUST (you!) sent

50 books to children living in poverty

through Compassion Belize.

Let's spread the life-giving joy again this year!

__________________________ 

Tie to Advent: 

In Anticipation of His Arrival

Editor's Note

God gifted us perfect love through His son, Jesus. Love requires vulnerability in the sense that the gift of love risks being rejected. once extended to another. When all fear is removed, however, vulnerability naturally comes with ease. In 1 John 4:16-19, we learn that God is love. And perfect love removes all fear. Therefore, we can be completely vulnerable, without any fear, guilt or shame, in God's presence through His Son. Our heavenly Father has not, and will not withhold His love for us. Not one drop. He was the first to extend the invitation into His extravagant love for every generation, and forevermore. His love is an unconditional love that will never fail, demonstrated by the amazing gift of sending His son, Jesus, as a vulnerable infant (called Immanual, meaning "God is with us", Isaiah 7:14) on that first Christmas in Bethlehem--for God so loved the world that He sent His only son to restore and reconcile us to Him. (John 3:16-17)

He loved us first, with His perfect, never-ending, fear expelling love, so it could flood our own hearts, souls, and minds--dominating all of our passions and emotions, directing our thoughts, and become catalytic in the dynamics of our actions/interactions--until we are so drenched that we overflow His love to one another and out to the world. Although loving God and loving one another* is inseparable, there is an order as to which needs to come first. For it's an enormous challenge, if not a full-out battle to love Jesus' all encompassing definition of neighbors well, if we are not first grounded in loving Him and accepting/receiving His deep love for us. 

• With which area do you find it more challenging to commit to loving the Father in totality--with your heart, soul, or mind (passions & emotions, actions, and/or intellect, thoughts, & beliefs)? What may be holding you back?

• What is one next step to receive more fully from the depths of our Father's love (His gift for you) before attempting to love another well during this advent season? In other words, since God is love, how can you begin with God (love) before gifting someone else His gift of love?

__________________________

*In this passage, Jesus spelled out the essence of following or apprenticing Him: 

1) commiting to a lifestyle of loving God in totality--heart, mind, soul (part of the creed of Judaism, called the Shema, found in Deuteronomy 6:5), &

2) distribute His love to others (Jesus quoted this second instruction from Leviticus 19:18).

See the gift that keeps on giving joy through DUST's  Christmas Matching Campaign; 

providing books for inmates to gift their children this 

Christmas in partnership with

Transforming Jail Ministries.

December 22nd-28th, 2024

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Luke 1:26-38

Ushering in Unfathomable Peace

It seems fitting for us to consider Mary, the mother of Jesus, during this final week of Advent as we celebrate His coming on Christmas so long ago, and await His second coming; much like a pregnant mom awaits the coming of her infant.

Note what the Holy Spirit is revealing to you afresh, while reading Mary’s account in Luke 1:26-38. Pay specific attention to the way in which Mary experienced unfathomable peace as she:

1) trusted God at His word, 

2) encountered and overcame adversities upon acceptance of her significant, supernatural assignment, and

3) leaned into His protection and provision while being grafted into His genealogy and restoration plan for the world at large. 

Mary trusted God at His word despite how confusing, and even ridiculous the word seemed at the time the angel spoke it.

When God speaks about the future to us (gives us an idea, impression, dream, words, or vision of what could be–either directly, through scripture, while praying, or spoken over us by someone else–in Mary’s case, via the angel Gabriel), His words, more often than not, seem far-fetched in that particular moment of time or given our current circumstances. His words may represent something we can’t really fathom, fully understand, nor have clarity on each consecutive step to realize that vision/place/position. Much to the disappointment of those of us who thrive on preprinted checklists and detailed step-by-step processes, His word oftentimes doesn’t include such. Mary even questioned His word at the time it was given, “How can this be?” (Luke 1:34) Yet, His words, as strange or surprising as they may initially seem, can be fully trusted and will come to pass. “For no word from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:37) Unfathomable peace is available for our receiving when we take God at His word and rest in the fact that things will unfold in His perfect timing and often in unexpected ways. “May everything you have said about me come to true.” (Luke 1:38)

How have you experienced a word from God that at the time, seemed outrageously ridiculous, yet eventually came to pass?

How has that experience shaped your response to words from Him today? 

Mary experienced a supernatural birthing (literally!) of great significance, yet encountered many obstacles to get to the point of birth. 

A word or direction from God is by nature, supernatural. His word carries great significance and will come to pass, even if it is not yet seen by the physical eye, nor experienced by our physical body. As we intentionally pursue a word from Him that doesn’t seem possible by any stretch of the imagination, we’ll inevitably encounter obstacles, frustrations, and other forms of resistance from the enemy throughout our journey towards the word(s) spoken over us. 

Below are a few obstacles that Mary encountered as mentioned in Luke 2:1-6 (if you’ve experienced motherhood, you know there may have been many more obstacles and questions surrounding the health of her pregnancy, delivering her firstborn, and her feelings of readiness to enter the parental role without an instruction manual(!):

• Explaining to Joseph, the man to whom she was engaged at the time, how, as a virgin, she became pregnant.

• Due to Caesar Augustus issuing a decree for a census to be taken, Mary, who was nearing the end of her pregnancy, had to uproot from all things familiar in Nazareth for a four-day journey to Joseph’s hometown, Bethlehem.

• Mary began having contractions while she and Joseph were desperately looking for housing in Bethlehem to no avail. Due to overcrowding from the census, the only place available at her time of delivery was a stable.

Imagine the doubts that may have been swirling in her mind about whether these events were going according to God’s plan! Yet, He not only protected and provided for Mary through each of the adversities above, but also wove significance into each event, fulfilling details of Jesus’ arrival that were prophesied by Isaiah over 700 years prior!

What supernatural, significant word from Him are you carrying, or currently participating in its birthing? 

How does God’s faithfulness to His word impact your level of peace over this word as we approach 2025?

Father, thank you for ushering in unfathomable peace through your Son, Jesus: the Prince of Peace, the keeper of peace, and the One who keeps His promises. Thank you for giving us the gift of free access to this peace while we rest in the fact that you have not, nor will, overlook any details in our lives.

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.” Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭38‬, ‭NLT‬‬

This year's DUST

 Christmas Matching Campaign

will provide books for inmates to gift their children

in partnership with

Transforming Jail Ministries.

Last year, DUST (you!) sent

50 books to children living in poverty

through Compassion Belize.

Let's spread the life-giving joy again this year!

December 29th, 2024 - January 4th, 2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Isaiah 43:1-2, NIV

“That’s My Girl!”

She had prepped for months in 2024. Of her own volition, she put in the hours of training and practice. As she nervously stepped forward in front of hundreds of peers and their families, she said a breath prayer, “I am Yours. And this is for You.” 

With her focus and gaze removed from crowd approval, she imagined herself before her heavenly Father, locking eyes with His eyes of consuming love for her. Grasping the microphone in hand, she opened her mouth to perform for the audience of One. 

The One from whom she does not have to hide any part of herself, for He knows her inside and out: every action done in public and private, every one of her thoughts–before she even thinks of them. (Psalm 139) From the compassionate, holy, and loving thoughts to each selfish, unloving, and less-than-becoming thought, and every thought in between those extremes. He can hold them all; unchanged and unwavering in His love and pride in her. Simply because she is His girl. 

Inside that typically overstimulating, reverberating, sound-amplifying school gym, you could hear a pin drop, as she belted out praise to Him in a familiar Christmas carol. As she finished the last stanza, the gym erupted in applause and cheers. Her sister immediately stood up and exclaimed for all to hear, “That’s my sister!”

In a similar manner, Your heavenly Father, with immense pride over His daughter (you!), cheered and roared, “That’s my girl!” with each and every move, courageous risk, and small step you took towards Him in 2024. You gave Him something to work and partner with, and the outcome of those moves, risks, and steps are now His to fully work out to completion.

But what, you say, about those moments in 2024–and we all have them(!)–when we felt we failed Him? When we created, or found ourselves caught up in a hot mess? When we failed to meet the unrealistically high standards we placed upon ourselves? When we failed to love well because of comparison, failed to hear out another because of selfish motives, missed an opportunity to be fully present because of trivial distractions, or reactively responded with a harsh word in lieu of a kind one? 

Well, here’s the fascinating thing about our heavenly Father. Just as much as He celebrates His daughters as we move closer to Him and further step into His callings on our lives, He still calls out “That’s my girl!” from a protective posture when the enemy attempts to make us feel separated from Him and distant from others. 

You see, His claim, “That’s my girl”, in the wide array of His intonations–from celebratory and rejoicing to protective and caring–always carries:

• belonging, community in family, and full acceptance.

• undeniable notice, deep pride, and His seal of approval.

• unwavering love, endless grace, and everlasting favor. 

Because we are simply His. His girl. 

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 

Isaiah 43:1b, NIV

Father, thank you for the fact that we're Yours! That fact doesn’t hinge on our performance, nor does the measure of Your love hang in balance, dependent upon our performance–stellar or less than. Performance is not required, thank goodness–although we love that it’s celebrated when done for the audience of One–You. The One from whom we’ve already gained a seal of approval. We're in awe of Your kindness and faithfulness in 2024, and all of the time!

“But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, NIV‬‬ 

________________________________

As the New Year arrives in the middle of this week, there’s a sense that God is calling us to release things that are not ours to carry from the previous year into 2025. Read further for tips and biblical reasoning to walk unashamed and in greater freedom by correctly handling His word of truth in 2025!

Naked Vulnerability in 2025

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved 

[not looking for the approval of others], 

a worker who does not need to be ashamed 

and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15, NIV

If you were offended by merely reading the title, you are far from alone. Even the author found herself becoming slightly offended while writing it! Yet, the majority of us, author included, would likely agree that greater degrees of breakthrough, higher levels of freedom, and deeper connections are often forged through the candid sharing of our most vulnerable moments (confession!) in the context of a safe community (authentic and non-judgmental). I’m tracking, you say, but why in the world include naked?!*

Remember in the beginning, back in Genesis, how God created Adam and Eve who ran around the Garden of Eden with authority and purpose, naked and unashamed, and in perfect union with God and each other? And do you recall that as soon as the enemy entered the scene, Adam and Eve succumbed to the enemy’s untruths, casting doubt on God’s goodness and favor over them? They then covered their nakedness with fig leaves to hide from God and avoided their evening rhythm of walking and connecting with Him because they felt shame for the first time (separation from God). They also played the blame-game on each other for why they hid (distancing from each other).

It’s evident that this cycle continues to this day. The enemy continues in his attempts to make us doubt and feel distant from our loving Father, as well as cause division in thought or action among us. We then feel subsequent shame and attempt to cover/hide/self-preserve from not only the One who already sees it all, knows it all, and has redeemed us from this cycle, but from the very community in which our breakthrough will happen.

So where in our lives, this very week, do we feel shame that is not ours to carry into 2025? In other words, what areas would we prefer to hide from God, or ourselves, or others for the sake of self-preservation?

Imagine what kind of breakthrough or transformation would be realized if we confessed that to God, ourselves, and/or out loud to another (in safe community), and were actually received with open arms. As you identify areas of shame, below are questions to guide next steps for releasing any lingering and/or new areas of shame that surface throughout 2025.

What is the most important improvement you want to see in 2025 that will overflow into other areas of your life?**

• • What are the rhythms or key habits needed for this to happen?

  • What systems or reminders will you develop to increase the likelihood of growth in this area?

  • Who can help you with this to bring about greater accountability and inspiration throughout 2025?

________________________________

*The enemy has taken the beauty of all that nakedness signifies and perverted it. For instance, nakedness is a form of utter transparency—purest form or how originally designed with no additives or masks of covering—equating to a high level of vulnerability. Yet, when we read or hear the word naked, we often automatically become uncomfortable or feel shame as our minds have been culturally trained to immediately associate it with something sexual.

**Questions adapted from Igniting Hope's Blog by Steve Backlund, retrieved December 27th, 2024.

November 3rd - 9th, 2024

John 14:5-8, NIV

Doubts | Way | Truth | Life

Encountering doubts about ourselves, others, circumstances, and even Jesus Himself, regardless of if or how long/short we have been walking with Him, may come as a surprise to us, but not to Him. In stark contrast to the current volatile and reactive cancel culture prevalent in the western world, His response towards us and our questions of doubt never stems from a threatened posture, reacting in defensive anger with a holy eye roll of frustration. That’s out of character for Him. On the contrary, he expectantly welcomes, values, and appreciates our inquisitiveness with open arms. 

He recognizes our vulnerability in honesty when we candidly share our inner struggles surrounding doubt with Him. Instead of shrinking away by withdrawing His heart from us, He accepts the opportunity to draw closer. To tenderly speak into these exposed areas of human humility and hold them with grace and kindness. To go a step further by taking our hand and walking with us through the doubt. To personally show us the way because He is the way. The way to a life worth living amidst our doubts. The way to experience genuine freedom and peace only He can give. Freedom and peace that's unaccustomed to this world.

Oftentimes, however, His answers to our doubts appear unrelated, untimely, or indirect at surface level. They may not be what we were initially expecting nor seeking because His thoughts and ways are beyond our human comprehension. This is made evident by Jesus' answer that went beyond Thomas' initial question. Their significant exchange occurred during the last hours of Jesus' life on earth. Jesus was intentionally preparing the disciples, His closest friends, for what was about to happen; equipping them for living life without His physical presence and offering departing words of wisdom, instruction, and encouragement for all they would soon encounter (John 14:1, Isaiah 55:8-9, John 16:13). Note that the bold, substantiated claims made by Jesus in response to Thomas' question were just as eye-raising and confounding to the Jewish culture steeped in laws and rituals two thousand years ago as they may come across in today's culture; a culture inundated with a wild array of readily accessible, often contradictory information, and readily accepted, wide variances of truth highly dependent upon the source.  Over two thousand years later, through the rise and fall of countless kings and kingdoms, emperors and empires, governors and governments, Jesus has proven steadfast and trustworthy. Generation after generation, His truths have remained. For He is truth. If we dial down the loudness, slow down the busyness, and unplug from the constant distractions of this world (by regularly setting aside intentional time listen and engage with Him), deep wells of timely wisdom, relevant information, practical guidance, and loving invitations are to be found in each of His answers.

• What makes you cringe regarding the solid, yet loving and life-giving invitation in Jesus' response that speaks to, and beyond Thomas' question? What excites you?

• What doubts are you engaging with this very week?

If you haven’t yet, candidly share them with Your attentive heavenly Father. You have His ear and full attention. He eagerly listens to all of what you have to say and sees directly into your heart. He hears you. He sees you. Note any responses from Him. Write them down, explore related scripture, ponder and/or share with a respected confidant, especially if the answers aren’t initially clear. 

• What might His answer be inviting you into relating to Him as the way you're seeking, the truth for which you're searching, and your source of abundance in the life He freely gives?

Our doubts are frequently catalytic in opening doors to new depths of understanding and receiving from Him not only for ourselves, but also those around us. Philip was obviously present during this exchange between Jesus and Thomas. Note Philip's revelation at the end of this passage. 

• How is our heavenly Father's character being shown or revealed to greater depths as you follow Jesus' ways and are responding to the Holy Spirit's leading amidst your doubts?

Father, thank you that our doubts don't come as a surprise to you, nor are they shunned by you. You see us. You hear us. You answer us. You take our hand and walk through the doubt with us. Nothing compares to your ways, truth, and life. May we walk more fully in your ways, truth, and life today.

“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭5‬-‭8‬, ‭NIV‬‬

November 10th - 16th, 2024

Ephesians 6:10-18, NLT

Warriors: Equally Empowered, Differently Suited

It’s a dangerous question! How we answer, and the cascading depths to which we answer, carries catalytic potential to break strongholds that our one, true enemy uses to tether us from realizing the full freedom, bold confidence, and incredible gift of life and joy we carry, meant for releasing into our workplaces, marriages, neighborhoods, families, and cities. You ready for it? 

What do you like about your body? 

If your automatic reaction was to instantly list several aspects of your body that you don’t like before begrudgingly landing on one or two things you actually do, you’re far from alone! 

Ever wonder why our natural default is to criticize and harp upon the parts of our bodies of which we’re less fond? Have you considered how we subconsciously succumb to the dizzying array of images the world amplifies and proliferates, and its massive influence in messaging that we fall short in appearance, significance, and design? Or that there's a need to fight a battle by disparaging fellow human beings, when the battle is not actually taking place among "flesh and blood"? (Verse 12) How do you note the world's messaging influencing and impacting beliefs about your Heavenly Father, others, yourself, and thus the priorities you pursue, decisions you make, platforms upon which you stand, and how you expend your resources, time, and energies?

We have a very real enemy, prevalent in stirring up division here on earth, who abhorrently loathes the fact that we’re made in God’s image. Apart from the rest of creation, we reflect our Heavenly Father. We stand out to God! Unlike all of creation that He considered merely good—the moon, stars, mountains, seas, sunsets, flora, wildlife, and galaxies—as human beings, our Father's evaluation of us on earth is “very good”. (Genesis 1:27 & 31)

Very good. Let that sink in for a moment. 

Your body is very good. Distinct from all else, women are designed with unique purpose. Beyond the astounding ability and miracle to carry life by womb and birth image bearers, our intentional, loving Creator has declared us “suitable helpers” in all chapters, situations, and locations of our lives. 

Before quickly dismissing this title as inferior or subpar, it bodes well for us to learn the Hebrew origin of the English translation "helper." The Hebrew word is “ezer”, defined as a strategic ally or warrior. In other words, as women, we are suited—equally equipped and empowered as our male counterparts in our inherent kingdom authority, yet differently by design—to strategically war for others. To go to battle for our neighbors, friends, families, spouses, children, colleagues, each other, those at a disadvantage, and yes, even those we consider our enemies. To fight for kingdom principles, piercing the cloud of darkness by advancing His light. Ezers bring about victory by standing up for all whom our enemy holds captive and oppresses; to bring about justice in the manner Jesus has delegated to us. Led and empowered solely by the Holy Spirit, ezers fight spiritual warfare with weapons not accustomed to battle by worldly standards—and we use our entire, uniquely designed physical bodies to engage.

Our bodies, in all beautiful shapes, forms, origins, colors, sizes, and stages are highly significant and integral to our interactions with God (the way in which we worship) and our interactions to love and value all fellow human beings around us, also created in His image. A smile, a hug, leading and serving with our hands, feet, voice, and actions from a heart posture of kindness and compassion create explosive invasions of heaven on earth. This is why the enemy wants to limit and distract us as the ezers we are via fiercely and relentlessly attacking our physical bodies.

Today, let’s reclaim territory the only true enemy has stolen, and attempts to negatively influence and steal, by thanking our Creator for our physical bodies—each and every intricate part. Because our bodies are very good! (Psalm 139:13-16)

• Equipped with the fresh revelation that you’re an ezer by design, how does that change thoughts about your body?

• What is one way you can use your body to war for another image bearer this week?

• If you’re feeling extra warrior-like, how can you ezer for one considered an enemy?

Father, thank you for our marvelous physical bodies. Thank you for equipping us as ezers, lacking nothing; kingdom warriors who are equally empowered by the Holy Spirit, yet differently and beautifully suited to fight battles on others' behalfs alongside our fellow male warriors. Holy Spirit, come. Knowing you go before us and cover our steps behind, we faithfully don Your armor,  and welcome You to reveal steps for walking with grace and boldness into our ezer assignments this week. May our footprints on earth carry nothing more or less than the sweet fragrance of Your love, joy, and peace as we confidently march into battle fields and stand firm against the enemy's strategies. We collectively declare, "Not today, satan."

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” ‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬-‭18‬, ‭NLT ‭

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Bonus Readings on Topic

In the first chapter of John we read that “the word became flesh”. In this particular context, Jesus is the Word and flesh refers to His humanness. Therefore, Jesus, fully divine, also became fully human. Take a moment to ponder the immense significance in God sending Jesus to earth in a physical body—why not another form or a spirit—why as a human being?

A quick read of Jesus’ life in the book of Mark, describes the way in which He, fully human led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, used his physical body to interact with His Father and to lovingly fight for, and free all people while walking on earth.  Below is a non-exhaustive list from Mark. More detailed accounts can also be found in the first four books of the New Testament, collectively called the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. 

Of which of the listed below can you relate and/or are currently engaged?

Jesus grew and aged (in wisdom, stature & favor with God & man, Luke 2:52); as a baby learning to walk/talk/run/play; through adolescence, teenage and young adult years; as an apprentice to his earthly father, Joseph, learning a carpenter's trade, laboring & creating with His hands. After the Holy Spirit came upon Him when baptized by John (Mark 1:9-11), Jesus began his three year public ministry around age 30, teaching, proclaiming, and demonstrating that the kingdom of heaven was (and is!) near. From infancy to adulthood, here are some examples of the significance in Jesus' human existence—engaging His physical body to interact with His Heavenly Father and on behalf of all people on earth:

• Breathed

• Ate

• Taught

• Bled

• Loved & was loved

• Felt/had emotions (saddened/moved by compassion/angered/deeply troubled & distressed)

• Smiled, laughed, sang (felt joy & brought joy)

• Cried/wept (felt heartache & warm tears rolling down His cheeks)

• Walked/traveled/unhurried/never in a rush, nor frantic (through the countryside/villages/cities—was sent and would send)

• Broke bread

• Thanked His Heavenly Father/multiplied

• Touched/laid hands

• Prayed

• Slept

• Opened scrolls

• Read

• Declared & commanded

• Made choices

• Was tempted/rejected/mischaracterized

• Was cared for

• Saw/noticed

• Carried noticeable authority

• Helped, healed, and took people by hand, calling them to sit up/stand (Simon’s mother in-law with fever, man who was paralyzed, woman with 12-year bleeding condition, man with leprosy, etc.)

• He heard & was heard

• Commissioned/ordered

• Climbed mountains 

• Transformed & was transformed

• Had companions; called people into friendship with Him

• Was raised in an earthly family, honoring His mother, father, & pleasing His Heavenly Father

• Was recognized as Lord & the promised Messiah, with several bowing or kneeling before Him

• Had a public ministry/drew crowds

• Rebuked demons and calmed storms

• Asked relevant & revealing questions

• Awed and amazed others

• Carried & inspired hope

• Sought solitude & rest (often and regularly drew away from crowds to be alone with His Father)

• Organized/blessed/gave/fed

• Reassured (I am here…don’t be afraid)

• Concerned with the condition of people’s hearts over their surface appearance

• Entered, visited, & stayed in homes

• Understood worldly influences & called it out

• Discerned

• Desired to spend time with disciples

• Invited children into his arms

• Informed/described what was about to happen (on several occasions!)

• Challenged beliefs to higher levels—with demonstration

• Defended the oppressed/validated women, their callings, & giftings used to follow Him 

• Asked for relief, noting His experience that the spirit is willing, but our bodies can be weak

•  Was betrayed/falsely accused/denied/rejected by group-think/bound/arrested/labeled/ beaten/spit upon/mocked/ridiculed/abandoned

• Undeservingly hung on a cross

• Left an empty tomb

• Appeared, resurrected in a recognized, bodily form, speaking & eating with His companions

• Spoke truth (count how many times Jesus' teachings in Mark began with, "I tell you the truth..."!)

November 24th - 30th, 2024

2 Corinthians 9:10-12

Thank You

Written by

Linda Locke

Have you ever had the opportunity to provide an act of kindness but not received a thank you?  Did it cause you to feel unappreciated and then start to question your own motives for giving in the first place?

Spending all day fixing a family meal or working on an art project or a poem to give to someone as a blessing can bring such joy. However, when the gift of time and resources are not acknowledged, it can feel like the gift is not valued or appreciated. Not that anyone needs accolades or even a mailed thank-you card, however a quick text of thanks can speak volumes of gratitude. This small gesture of appreciation validates the joy in the giving and when it is missing, the giver may feel as though their time and energy were spent in vain.

After all, even God wants to be thanked, right?  

There are so many familiar verses on gratitude and our calling to embrace it and walk in thankfulness daily. (Here are a few to get you started: Psalm 69:30; Psalm 7:17; 1Chronicles 16:35; Colossians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Colossians 2:7; Ephesians 1:16).

We all know that an “attitude of gratitude” is a much healthier state of mind, but it seems that the act of saying thank you these days has been given a much lower priority than in the past.

From the standpoint of the giver, this small gesture of hearing “thanks” is merely affirmation that the time, effort, and resources have been appreciated and not wasted. It causes the one giving to want to do it again and again because of the joy we feel when we know we have been a blessing to someone else. 

There may have been times when we gave to others out of our own need to prove our self- worth and value, but those lie-based beliefs should no longer be the driving force once we understand our identity in Christ.  When we take the time and make the effort to be a blessing to others, it can make us feel like we get to be the hands of feet of Jesus and to literally walk out Galatians 6:10, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”  

This verse says we have opportunities to give, and we are not only to be good to everyone, but especially to those with whom we “church.” Perhaps you know how this feels to be on the receiving end, and how hard it can be to find the right words to truly express the gratitude we feel when we recognize the effort someone else made to be a blessing on our behalf. That alone could cause us to want to seek opportunities to pay it forward.

Papa-God, we thank you for Your provision so that we are able to freely give to others. We thank you that whatever we do, we do it heartily for you and not recognition or to feed our self-worth. We thank you that our value is in You alone and our joy is in You! In Jesus' name, Amen!

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;  you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God." 2 Corinthians 9:10-12, NASB

_________________

September 30th - October 5th, 2024

John 15:9-11

Love Must Love

Written by

Stephanie Herald

God is love! This simple yet profound statement found in 1 John 4:8 is often tossed around without being held, dwelled upon, nor truly considered. But if you take a moment to sit with it, you’ll begin to see how that truth has a tremendous personal connection. God is love. And what does love require in order to exist? It requires something to love. God is love and love must love. The love of the Trinity (the God-Head, Three-in-One) described in the Gospel of John makes it evident that this Love has existed in and of God Himself from before the creation of the world. God the Father loves the Son who loves the Father who loves the Spirit who loves the Son and around and around it goes! This Love Fest doesn’t stop there, however, and instead, incredibly, you are invited right smack into the middle of it all.

In John, chapters 14-16, Jesus is sharing His final thoughts and encouragements with His disciples before He is crucified on a cross before their very eyes. They are about to embark on a life without Him being physically with them as He had been for the past 3 life-changing years. Knowing this, Jesus desires that they understand the depths of who they truly are - deeply loved children of God equipped with God Himself to operate in this world. The love God has for His Son, Jesus, is the same love that Jesus has for each one of his disciples, and it is because of this extravagant love that Jesus is pleased to ask the Holy Spirit to come and live within them. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are united in their love for one another and in their purpose of pouring that love out on you so that you are equipped with all that you need for life on this side of eternity (see John 14:16, 23, 26; John 15:26; John 16:7).

Jesus, God’s Son, loves us the way God, the Father, loves Him; so how exactly does God love the Son? Scripture gives a clear picture of that as well. 

• God loves the Son and takes pleasure in Him (Matt. 17:5, 12:18).

• God loves the Son and has given all things into His hand (John 3:35).

• God loves the Son and shows Him all that He (God), Himself, is doing (John 5:20).

• In other words, “when God looks at his Son, he enjoys, admires, cherishes, prizes and relishes what he sees.” - John Piper

Are you believing that for yourself today? Are you abiding in that love as you make decisions and move throughout your week? God is love and love must love. The Trinity has been operating in that love since the beginning of time and as His daughter, it extend to you as well. This week, find a time to sit in silence and let these truths of God’s love wash over you. Set a timer for 2, 5 or 10 minutes and open your heart to receive the love the Father is pouring out on you.

Thank you, God, for being so full of love and so united in your purpose of pouring that love out on us. Thank you for equipping us as your daughters with your Holy Spirit to handle all that comes our way. Take us to new depths of understanding your love for us - the same love you have for your Son - and help us to abide in that love this week.

“Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” ‬‬John 15:9-11. NASB2020

October 6th - 12th, 2024

Ephesians 5:15-20

Be Filled with the Spirit

Written by

Amanada Patten

Be filled. Being. What is the heart posture of being? Being can be juxtaposed with doing. There is so much we can do in our apprenticeship with Jesus: we can spend time with Him, we can enjoy community around Him, we can share Him with others. But, there is an invitation to just be with Him. To be. And to receive His filling. 

When we are filled with the spirit it’s not something that we have to do… We just are and He fills us. Of course, we ask and want the Holy Spirit to direct our speech and our actions, and there is often nothing wrong with what we do with Him. Yet, here is an invitation with just being and allowing Him to enter.

He fills because He loves us. It’s who He is: our good Father. And who we are: loved. Still, there is also a purpose to our filling. When He fills our being, it empowers our doing. We are made to be His loved creation, but He doesn’t just continually fill us to be filled repeatedly. There’s more. When He fills us, He’s empowering us to live in what He is calling us to. To do the things he has for us to accomplish. He has specific assignments; people, and places for us to touch with Jesus’s love, goodness, kindness and presence. That is what comes from the filling of His presence.

We just get to be. To be filled. To receive. And through this filling and receiving, He empowers us to do. If today, you feel like there is a lot of “doing” in front of you, and you don’t feel the strength, direction, energy, nor clarity to step into it, maybe this is an invitation to just sit back and be filled. There is far more than we can imagine that comes from being filled with the Spirit, but being with Him is the place to start. Just being. 

Holy Spirit, we are here. Just here, with you. You give freely out of your love for us and our identity is loved. We welcome and invite your presence in each one of us right now. Come and fill as we wait here, just being. Show us what’s next and how to partner with you. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭20, ‭NIV‬‬ ‬

October 13th - 19th, 2024

Isaiah 32:15-18, NLT

Quiet Confidence

When we invite the Holy Spirit to come into a situation, relationship, place, or space, God doesn't dole out a reluctant trickle or a sparing sprinkle of His presence. Rather, He is eager and willing to generously pour out His presence upon us. (Luke 11:13) In the abundance of this outpouring the noted situation, relationship, or space cannot, and will not, remain the same. 

Whether the shift happens instantaneously or over time, His presence miraculously makes things right, often in creative and unexpected ways. Relationships are restored and reconciled. Bodies and minds are made whole. Clarity is given to areas previously clouded by confusion. Hope is infused into what once seemed hopeless. Joy rises up to provide strength and endurance proportional to the task ahead. Perspectives take a needed pause, affording a heavenly pivot, and light powerfully invades and overcomes darkness. 

Marked by His presence, a sense of peace and calm enters areas of our lives previously held captive by chaos and unrest. The surrendering of perceived control to our trustworthy Father results in real rest. From this coveted place of rest, we're empowered to overflow His peace and offer something different and attractive to a culture inundated and drowning in hurry, anxiety, and stress: a non-anxious presence that presents as a quiet confidence from trusting in a good and loving Father who never changes.

Father, thank you for the abundant outpouring of your Holy Spirit, simply upon our asking. We receive your goodness, calm, and peace that transcends all things, time, and situations. Come, Holy Spirit.

“...until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops. Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest.” Isaiah 32:15-18, NLT‬‬ ‬

October 20th - 26th, 2024

Revelation 2:2-5, TPT

First Love

Written by

Jaime Haselmayer

Remember back to the time you said “yes” to following and establishing a friendship with Jesus. What bubbled up inside you? How eager were you to connect with Him and take your relationship with Him to a deeper level? How did your choices reflect your new relationship and how did it impact decisions related to your time, resources, energy, and talents? What were you passionate about, freed from/emboldened to tackle/overcome, and/or felt called to?

In this passage, one of Jesus’ first and closest disciples, John, shares an admonition he received as a vision to one of the larger of seven first century churches (or “stars/lampstands”) that had been established in Ephesus for some time. Through deductive reasoning, John’s vision also serves as a call to the greater Church–churches in all locations and of all generations, including the local one in which we are part of right here, right now in 2024–as Jesus is the head, or ultimate authority, of each one, and holds all churches in His hand. Even today.

If our friendship with Jesus has become mundane or feels stagnant (and it will at some point!), or if we’ve drifted apart from Him in little or large ways (which we inevitably will!), this passage provides a path for continued cultivation and renewal of our friendship with Him–much like a normal process of intentionally attending to any significant relationship that is to endure and strengthen over time.

1. It begins with remembering Jesus as our first love and the way in which we were compelled to get to know and serve Him. 

2. Secondly, renewing our friendship with Him requires us to repent (Greek word simply meaning to change our beliefs) from whatever we’re currently believing that is pulling us away from Him via competing for our time, attention, resources, energies, affection, and talents. 

3. Finally return to the basics; the heart behind the initial love felt–all that drove us to Him, the choices we made and the things to which we were initially passionate about and called to–but, on a deeper, more mature level that has been cultivated over time and through experiencing His faithfulness within all of our varying situations and circumstances.

Father, thank you for giving us Your Son and the way in which He desires a genuine and solid friendship with us. Holy Spirit, help us recall the heart with which we said "yes" to Him. We give you permission throughout this week to remove any earthly hindrances and distractions as we say "no" and repent of beliefs that place barriers between us and Him. We excitedly return to the basics in finding and connecting with our First Love!

“I know all that you’ve done for me—you have worked hard and persevered. I know that you don’t tolerate evil. You have tested those who claimed to be apostles and proved they are not, for they were imposters. I also know how you have bravely endured trials and persecutions because of my name, yet you have not become discouraged. But I have this against you: you have abandoned the passionate love you had for me at the beginning. Think about how far you have fallen! Repent and do the works of love you did at first. I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place of influence if you do not repent.” ‭Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭5,‬ ‭TPT‬‬

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Hear more about returning to our first love from Jaime Haselmayer’s message delivered at Vineyard Northwest on October 20, 2024.

October 27th - November 2nd, 2024

John 14:25-27

Blanket of Peace

Written by

Tjuana Simmons

from Abba Speaks

I have covered you with a blanket of peace. This morning, you saw a vision of an Angel walk in the door of your bedroom and cover you with a blanket of peace. Wear this blanket of peace throughout this day and throughout your life. Do not remove this blanket by taking your eyes off of me and focusing on other things. Walk in this peace and live in this peace. Show others how to abide in my peace and not abide in the circumstances going on around them. This peace I have given you is to calm your mind and soul as you trust in me with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. This peace I give to you, not as the world gives peace who takes it away, but I give you peace throughout all eternity. Abide in my peace given to you. 

Love, Abba

Abba, thank you for a deep-seated, lasting peace that transcends all circumstances. May we lean into Your peace, especially when our emotions are unsettling and cause us to feel distant from You. We receive Your peace now, to quiet the noise and chaos around us. Cover every woman reading this in a very real and tangible way as our eyes are focused on You.

“I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭25‬-‭27‬, ‭NLT‬‬

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Editor Notes:

• Abba is a Hebrew term of intimate connection between a father and a child that may be interpreted as "daddy." It also conveys obedience to a trustworthy authority.

• Tjuana Simmons carries a powerful prophetic voice, spoken from a pastoral heart and the overflow of her deep connection with Abba. 

• Abba Speaks is a series of short letters Tjuana Simmons has written from the perspective of our Heavenly Father, Abba, to us, His beloved daughters. 

• We look forward to seeing those letters published in the near future!

September 1st-7th, 2024

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Empowered Grace

As we inquire of our Heavenly Father, and discover the next step He reveals for us to take in pursuit of the dreams, ambitions, passions, visions, or callings - the good seeds He has given us (refer to Aug. '24 Week 3 DUST), it is most comforting and assuring to know that others are coming alongside to champion and pray us through our forward movements.

Likewise, we're reassured once again, as in Philippians 1:6, 2:13 and Romans 8:28 that He gives us the power to accomplish all the related good things our faith prompts us to do! We are invited to rest in Him for the growth of those seeds. Resting in Him is in opposition to a more common worldly reaction of becoming overly anxious about our deficits, overwhelmed by our list of "to-dos", carrying the weight of a critical spirit, and overpacking our schedules into a flurried frenzy to make seeds sprout and grow.

Our empowerment comes from Him. Alone. Not another person or entity, nor the books we read, the courses we take, the conferences and trainings we attend, the knowledge and degrees we acquire, the social media groups, clubs, and podcasts to which we subscribe. Albeit good and oftentimes catalytic, these temporary equipping tools, prompts, and methods do not have the sustaining power to accomplish all He calls us into. Nor the physical (and emotional!) capacity to be with us each step of the way. Nor the capability to reveal our next steps and move what needs to be moved to make it happen. At some point, each one of these good and lovely things will fail, disappoint, and/or fall short as they are temporary, bound by time and human nature . But in and through Him alone, we are empowered to step in, walk out, and accomplish all He leads us into. Simply by regularly connecting with Him and responding to His direction.

.

If you've ever experienced multiple events aligning so perfectly and timely on your behalf to then effortlessly walk into something in which you feel led by the Holy Spirit, you get this. Although the world's narrative would ascribe it to random coincidence, a daughter of our doting Heavenly Father, the sovereign and loving King of the universe who is in the details of her life, knows better. She ascribes it to His working in her life and she delights in the rippling kingdom affects the sharing of the sequence of events has in demonstrating His grace and goodness through her life.

If you've yet to experience such, you're invited to sit with this passage throughout the week, and longer if needed. Ask Him to reveal/uncover more about the seed He's given, along with a next step. Write down and return frequently to all He reveals during your intentional time with Him. Be determined to stay with Him throughout the pursuit and unfolding of the dream/vision/passion. And don't be surprised if the dream/vision/passion evolves into something bigger, better, and far beyond what you initially imagined as you do so.

Once again, the pressure is off us and on Him for timing, and to make it happen according to His purpose, as we simply tend to the soil of our hearts; keeping them soft and fertile to His words/promises, while decontaminating it from the weeds and other growth hindrances the enemy uses to limit us.

Father, thank you for removing any pressure we place on ourselves, others...or receive from others, to make good seeds sprout and take root. Thank you for exchanging that pressure with the initiative to simply rest in you. Holy Spirit, we welcome you to show us how real rest/trust in you looks, day in and day out with each pressing circumstance and relationship. Real rest in You when we see movement on our behalf. And real rest in You especially when we don't see movement on our behalf. We fully welcome your presence, peace, and empowerment as we take a next step into the callings You're beckoning our hearts towards.

“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬-‭12,‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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September 8th-14th, 2024

Matthew 28:18-20

Women on Mission

Most women would likely say that they are not involved in missions, given the general notion in religious settings that missions only occur abroad. And while missions do occur abroad, that is only a half truth that our enemy preys upon to exclude women and derail us from realizing that we are on mission(s), here and now, day in and day out. Whether you consider yourself a daughter of God or not, you actually are on a mission. 

Every woman.  Every day...

To complete that project at work or be that reliable friend.

To finish that class and receive that certificate or degree.

To obtain a certain level of health or contribute to that particular ministry.

To be an exceptional wife, sister, mom, aunt, or grandma rocking each interaction...

...on and on goes the list of missions.

As a daughter of God and Jesus follower, we are specifically called to imitate Him and carry on His mission with the inherent authority He has given us. That’s a challenge, if not impossible if:

1. we are not aware that we are actually partnering with, and empowered by the Holy Spirit on His mission, everyday(!),

2. we have yet to identify our respective missions in order to be more intentional about entering into them, and/or

3. we have limited perceptions of our actual mission fields and how missions look — which are a little different for each and everyone of us on a daily basis.

Without this awareness and intentionality, missions naturally take a backseat to schedules that rapidly succumb to non-missional activities, leaving little to no time, energy, and resources for participation in our respective missions of utmost importance.

How keenly aware are you that your mission field is exactly where God has placed you, right here, right now; within your own home, workplace, community, and city as you go about your day? 

At this time. In this place, locally, as well as abroad...

Be inspired to get up and "GO" in purpose, exploring the mission God's called your heart into today! Step further into your mission each day with intentionality, and become the kingdom world changer that God has prepared and called you to be as His beloved and empowered daughter living in this particular space and time. Regardless of circumstances, position, and the resources we believe we do or do not have, we are on mission. And He is with us!

Father, please embolden each of us to identify our respective missions and step into them with intentionality and the inherent power and authority your Son paid the price to give us. Thank you for your promise of always being with us to its completion. We love you and lean back on you meeting us as we GO!

Jesus' final words on earth to His followers (us!): Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands* I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20,‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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Matthew 28 Bonus!

Beginning with the women going to Jesus' tomb in verse 1 and ending with Jesus' call for us to go in verse 19, it's fascinating how the entirety of Matthew 28 is bookended and filled with a lot of "going" and Jesus meeting His followers as they would go. See verses 6-7, "Come, see where His body was lying. And now, go...He is going ahead of you..."; and verses 9-10, "And as they went, Jesus met them...then He said to them, 'Don't be afraid! Go...'

Interestingly enough, it's a principle and promise that holds true today.  As we "go", we do not go alone. Jesus, the One who has overcome the world, continues to go with us via His Spirit! Another principle found in this chapter that holds true today is the way in which the enemy reacts negatively to our coming and going by influencing through deceit to discourage or harm us while we go (bribes accepted for a story that His followers stole Jesus' body as the women "went", see verses 11-15). Therefore, it is no surprise that we'll encounter some resistance and opposition, commonly in the form of fear and doubt, as we go. Yet, all fear or doubt must flee as we go in His name because He has overcome the world and promises us peace that the world cannot understand, let alone offer. As we embark with Him, we enter a win-win adventure with unstoppable,  unimaginably positive kingdom impact. Are you ready to step into that mission, if you haven't already?

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* Obeying commands may sound harsh at first. The fact is that these "commands" are likened to a gift of instructions; instructions from the wisest, most loving, caring, and trustworthy Father. As we trust in His complete goodness, care, and concern for every one of us, it makes good sense to seek out His instruction (voice/words/promises spoken over and given to us), and then follow (or "obey") as He instructs.

Looking forward to seeing you THIS SATURDAY! 

Overflow Gathering:

Women on Mission

Sept. 14th, 11-1:30p

Vineyard Northwest

Cincinnati, OH

Here are details and registration!

September 15th-21st, 2024

Proverbs 3:5-6

Steadfastness

Written by

Jaime Haselmayer

Life can be full of uncertainties and challenges, and sometimes, it's easy to feel discouraged and lose hope. I think of Noah as he’s building the Ark, then waiting months on end for the rain to stop and the water to recede. Then, when he finally exits the Ark- he finds a soggy, muddy earth that looks starkly different from the one he’d known all of his life. I can only imagine the uncertainty, challenges, discouragement, and shaking of hope that Noah faced. 

Luckily for us, we have scriptures like Proverbs 3:5-6 to lean on when we are experiencing situations that cause us to feel similarly to how we imagine Noah feeling. When we read scripture, God instructs us to trust Him with our whole hearts, and instead of looking inside ourselves for steadiness, to turn our whole selves toward him.

So, my friends, I want to encourage you to hold on to God's promises and trust wholly in Him. Submit to him in all you think and do, and hold fast to the truth that He is with you always and that His plans for you are greater than anything you can imagine. His anticipation for all the delight you will bring Him each new day is overflowing. And remember, while not all trials we face are FROM God, we know that when we trust in Him, and not in ourselves, He is guiding our paths, and producing in us a steadfastness that can only come from Him.

Father, thank you for the gift of having you as someone that we can trust without hesitation. Remind me of who you are today, so that I can reflect you in all I do. Amen. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV

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September 22nd-28th, 2024

1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Fervor

What is it that you have set out to accomplish today? This week? This semester, or by the end of the year? 

How have you invited your Heavenly Father into that task, goal, or mission? 

How are you allowing, and more importantly, how are you receiving His love and favor while stepping into those tasks/goals/missions?  

As He is invited into all you set your mind, heart, and hands to, and you begin to take your direction and instruction from Him, the work in which you're involved becomes supernaturally infused (Psalms 90:16-17 & Isaiah 55:11-13). 

Your work is no longer solely powered by human effort, nor done in vain. Rather, you'll receive divine strategy, creativity, and the tenacity to not only endure, but find deep joy and significance while working fully empowered by the Holy Spirit. You'll experience the freedom and peace resulting from watching in awe and wonder how He fashions and weaves ideas and movements together in order to establish your work. For what He calls you into, He is faithful to complete, as you follow His lead and allow Him to love you. After all, being open to receive His favor and love is far more important to Him than what we do for Him. And anything that we subsequently do for Him simply becomes an overflow of His lavish love poured out on us.

Father, thank you for the gift of fervor and victory through Your lavish favor and unconditional love. As we step into our work today and throughout the week, may we be evermore cognizant of Your hand guiding and establishing our steps as we fully receive that favor and love from You.

“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭57‬-‭58‬, ‭NLT‬‬

____________

Every woman, every day is on a mission in one fashion or another. Here are a few words of encouragement for women on mission: as students, in the medical field, in business, staying at home with little ones, fighting health issues, and involved in more traditional mission work in the region and to the nations. These words were spoken by Deb Coffey, Annamarie Hammon, and Sara-Ruth Riggs over the room at our most recent Overflow Gathering. Read and receive from Him as applicable!

“Let us see your miracles again, and let the rising generation see the glorious wonders you’re famous for. O Lord our God, let your sweet beauty rest upon us. Come work with us, and then our works will endure; you will give us success in all we do.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭90‬:‭16‬-‭17,‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭11‬-‭13‬, ‭NLT‬‬

August 4th-10th, 2024

1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NKJV

Responding to Offense

In Matthew 18:7, Jesus says, “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come…” It’s impossible, therefore, to live life void of encountering offense. How we respond to offense, however, becomes key to living our full potential in Him, unhindered.

The spirit of offense is happily handed to us in this world by our enemy via our perceptions of another’s actions, words, tone, or stance, regardless if it’s intentional or completely unintentional on their part.* New territory is enemy gain when we become entangled with bitterness and resentment from offenses taken, and often held tightly. The enemy’s quite smug when community is disrupted as division fissures erode further until widening into deep canyons.

When the emotional warning indicators sound that an offense is about to be offered up for the taking; when feelings of hurt, anger, or fear rise up - triggered - within the depths of our hearts, it is a good time to intentionally take pause. To observe. To reflect. To sit with the Holy Spirit. To rest and operate from a peace only He can give that’s powerful enough to calm storms in the natural world, and the storms raging in our mind. Operating from this place of peace beyond understanding affords us the freedom to ask and allow Him to reveal truths, renew our minds, and guide our next steps in wisdom and love.

In this pause with the Holy Spirit, we allow space for objective observations:

• What surrounded the unsettling feeling?

• Who was involved?

• What was said or done?

• Where did it happen?

In this pause with the Holy Spirit, we make space to reflect upon our interpretation:

• How did we perceive the incident?

• What did we feel was implied about us in that situation?

• What are other plausible interpretations (the person/entity involved was unaware, entangled in their own battle with hurt, etc.)

In this pause with the Holy Spirit, we invite revelation, His truths, and empowerment to eradicate the spirit of offense:

• What is the root of that particular offense felt, the originating trigger?

• What were our beliefs about ourselves, God, and others during the event?

• In contrast to the enemy’s lies, what was God saying about us during the offense? AND about the offender?

• In contrast to the enemy’s suggestions, how is God asking us to respond to the offense and offender?

For when an offense has been detected, an opportunity has simultaneously been presented. We’ll find ourselves at the crossroads of options to make conscious, healthy relational choices. To intentionally choose if we will accept or decline the offense offered. To turn the tide on the enemy and be on the spiritual offense as we take action in releasing offense, placing boundaries and spiritual stakes in the ground.** To invite Holy Spirit-led transformation to influence and direct our follow-up in lieu of knee-jerk reactions and automatic self-protective modes, often accustomed to mimicking the cultural ways of the world in which we reside that are contrary to practicing Jesus’ ways.

Once the origin of the offense is honestly and accurately defined, be it relational wounds, childhood baggage, disappointment or unforgiveness as adults, etc., then we are a step closer to true, transformative work, as we partner with the Holy Spirit in areas of our lives that Jesus suffered and died to redeem. 

It will require humility, honest confession, and a repentant heart in the stripping of prideful attitudes. It will require forgiveness and grace for both ourselves and the offender. It will require perfect love to overcome all fear and say “no thanks—not today(!)” to the spirit of offense. It will require support and encouragement from trusted, mature confidants. And it will be well-worth the time of pause, reflection, and practice. Then we can awaken, our hearts completely unhindered to the more He has for us!

This week, note when those warning indicators sound. Make a conscious and intentional decision to reject the offense in order to not allow festering of bitterness and resentment, destruction of community, nor hinder His transformative work in the gift of mind renewal, growth, and the unimaginably better that God has in store. John Bevere states it like this in his highly recommended book on topic, The Bait of Satan: living Fee from the Deadly Trap of Offense:

“Many are unable to function properly in their calling because of the words and hurts that offenses have caused in their lives.

They are hindered from fulfilling their full potential.”

"Trials in this life will expose what is in your heart—whether the offense is toward God or others.

Tests either make you bitter toward God and your peers or stronger.

If you pass the test, your roots will shoot down deeper, stabilizing you and your future.”

"Love forgets wrongs so that there is hope for the future.”

Father, thank you for equipping us with what we need to reject the spirit of offense, and to release any offense that has been accepted in our past. In Your powerful name, I bless and release freedom for my sisters to walk in their full potential for You, awakened and unhindered!

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NKJV

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1. *Important Note: If any form of abuse or manipulation is involved, be sure to seek professional help/counseling in addition to the above.

2. **"...the gates of hades will not prevail”, Matthew 16:18; “No weapon formed against us will proper”, Isaiah 54:17

3. You are welcome to join us at Blue Ash Community Church as Heidi is scheduled to share more on "Awaken, Unhindered" the evening of August 14th.

Looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming 

Overflow Gathering

Sept. 14th, 11-1:30p

Vineyard Northwest

Cincinnati, OH

Here are details and registration!

August 11th-17th, 2024

Psalm 139:1-10, NLT

Peace & Freedom in Embracing Our Limits

Even as the phrase "embracing our limits" is typed, it feels, well, limiting. And oddly enough, simultaneously freeing! Embracing our limits is a form of humility as we acknowledge the void of not fully relying on our Heavenly Father, and in healthy community with others. Pride's grip loosens as the weaknesses and lies of individualism and self-sufficiency are exposed. 

Under the surface of Western culture's unhealthy addiction to multitasking in the name of efficiency, is the enemy's lie that we are not enough.1 We need to be more, do more. Heavy reliance on technology and our phones result to appease demands of overall cultural unrest that sets our unsustainable pace, and more often than not, negatively influences unrealistic expectations of ourselves and others.2 Unlimited worldly achievement seems to be the end goal, and such implied pressure naturally affects the way we show up. Anxious. Exhausted. Attention divided. We're not fully present to the many people and events on our perpetually overloaded schedules. Schedules that commonly reflect misalignment with our highest values.

The reality is that we each inhabit one body. We also are each allotted 24 hours in a day. No more. No less. It's healthy and freeing to acknowledge and live within these boundaries. Even Jesus, God in human flesh, chose to live within the earthly limits of His body. He incorporated His Father's rhythms into the natural day's rhythms. He worked within, and mastered the limits of time to serve His Father's purposes. Jesus was not rushed, rather took authority over allotted time as He's been recorded in the Bible to state my time has not yet come.