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Turn to Daniel 6. Let's learn about peace and Daniel. Then, we'll learn about making peace and how we're out of reach of trouble. And then, I'll share some of my favorite verses that bring me peace. You are a peace maker. We all are. If I have fear, worry, doubt, or anxiety about anything, if I am not feeling peaceful, I enjoy recognizing that those feelings aren’t from God. How do I know this? It is written. In His Word, God has promised to give me a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. And I know I have that gift. If God’s gonna give you a gift, you probably should take it. There is tremendous power in peace. When I am at peace internally, I can think more clearly. I can do things better. I’m not rushed. I’m not panicked. When I’m at peace, I can hear that small still voice. I make better decisions. Even my physical body responds to peace. Daniel 6 tells the story of how the enemies of Daniel got him arrested and thrown into the lions’ den for refusing to stop worshipping God. Let’s read Daniel 6:23, “Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.” We can believe like Daniel. Daniel’s believing was something like, “God goes before me and He will be with me. He will never leave me nor forsake me. I won’t be afraid. I won’t be discouraged.” And no manner of hurt was found on Daniel, because he believed, confessed, and thought like this. In our lives, God controls the lions. He brings the peace. Everyone expected that the lions would tear Daniel apart, but God closed the mouths of the lions. A lion has nothing to bite in a believer’s world. God doesn’t promise that we won’t have challenges, temptations, and threats. We may hear some roars in the background. But God promises to us power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). I may have a really good reason to worry or be anxious about something. But I don’t need to be. That’s my decision. I can choose not to worry about anything, but in everything (every circumstance and situation), I can choose to continue to make my specific requests known to God. How? By prayer and petition with thanksgiving. And what happens? And the peace of God (that peace which reassures my heart, that peace) which transcends all understanding, (that peace which) stands guard over our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (that peace is ours). I may have a great reason to be unpeaceful about something, but there’s a simple saying that I like to remind myself of. It’s written on my coffee cup. It’s “Let go, and let God.” How can I do this? Well, it is written. Isaiah 14:10 says to fear not. There is nothing to fear. How can this be? For God is with you. We don’t look around in terror and be dismayed. Because God will strengthen us. God will help us. God holds us up and strengthens us with His victorious right hand of righteousness. He’s got this. God’s got this. He already has a solution to your problem. He’s already shut the lion's mouth. That’s peaceful to know. Making Peace Turn to Matthew 5, and let’s learn about making peace. In a relationship with your friend, spouse, parent, children, coworker, or boss, it’s easy to think, “This person is an idiot, he is so wrong, I need to speak up and tell them, even if it makes a big problem and causes conflict. It’s okay. Because I’m right. They’re wrong.” But just because they’re wrong, that doesn’t mean I have to fight this battle. My adversary wants me to argue, fight, set the record, and prove that I’m right, all the time, in every situation. But that’s a hook. And I’m not taking the bait. There’s an adversary, always fishing, but for us, the hook didn’t cast far enough to reach us, we’re out of reach. We’re like fish, floating in peaceful pool of living water, paying no attention to the adversary casting his hooks. Instead of warring with someone, I may want to choose peace. Why? Well, it is written. Look at Matthew 5:9. Jesus didn’t say, “Blessed are those who are right.” Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” We are the blessed - people enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous—with joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, without any regard to worldly conditions. We are the makers and maintainers of peace, and we shall be called the sons and daughters of God. In a relationship, sometimes we may want to let the other person think they’re right, even when we know they’re wrong. We have to choose our battles. Wisely. I want to be a better peacemaker. I want to make peace. Because blessed are the peacemakes. Out of Reach Turn to Psalms 27. Let’s learn about being out of reach and how that can be peaceful. I have been blessed to take my family on vacation. We’ve been to islands in the Mediterranean sea. On a map, the island seems close. But in reality, on a fast boat, it seems out of reach. When challenges rise up against me, I enjoy reminding myself that God has placed me (and my family, my friends, and our fellowships) out of reach of all that trouble. David may have felt the same way. David had all kinds of things come against him—people, armies, family, lions. He had many reasons to be worried, upset, and afraid about all the darkness around him. But he said that God is his light and salvation. Read Psalms 27:27, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” There was no one that David needed to fear. No one. God was the strength of his life. Let’s read Psalms 27:5, “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” When I find myself in times of trouble, it ain’t Mother Mary that comes to me. It’s God. God will hide us in His shelter. He’ll put us in the secret place of His tent. He will hide us. He will lift us up on a rock. Like an island in the middle of the sea. We will be out of reach. In times of trouble, remember that God has placed us out of reach. We’re set on a rock, separated, sheltered, and safe. A Few Favorites I’d like to share with you a few of my recent favorite verses that make a lot of sense to me in relation to peace. In Galatians 3:26, it is written that we are children of God. We're in God's family. We are born-again, renewed, and transformed, set apart for His purpose. God wants the best for me. Why do I know this? It is written. 3 John 2 says that God wishes above all things that we may prosper and be in health physically, just as our soul prospers. Ephesians 3:20 says God is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us. I don't worry about anything. How? It is written. Philippians 4:6 says to not be anxious or worried about anything. I try to take everything in stride. Why? It is written. Proverbs 3:5-6 says to trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. I am God's habitation. Ephesians 2:22 says, “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” I am God's masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn, transformed, and renewed] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand, so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. Tonight we learned about peace, how no manner of hurt was found on Daniel, making peace, and being out of reach. I encourage you to look up your favorite verses about peace. Now, Go. Live in peace.

Hey there! Welcome to our cozy home bible fellowship here in Raleigh. Ever feel like life has you in a mental straitjacket? You're not alone! We’ve all been there, wrestling with thoughts that weigh us down. But guess what? God’s got a get-out-of-jail-free card for our minds! Today, we're diving into some divine strategies for breaking free from those pesky mental chains and living a life of freedom, power, and abundance. So grab your favorite drink, get comfy, and let's get liberated! In order to live an abundant life, a person must be free from mental bondage. The chains that bind one's mind are more painful and defeating than any other. In order to break the chains, we must first become aware about the freedom that has been offered to us. We must learn what has been made available to us, how we can receive it, and how to apply it to our lives in order to free our minds. This article is about the first steps that a person must take in order to break free from mental bondage and live an abundant, powerful life, which is a gift from God. Right now, take a look at the people around you. Look across the table. Look outside. Look at the folks walking around your neighborhood. Many of them are actually in prison. They're prisoners of their own mindset. I believe every person can be released from their prison, every prison, or the binding chains that encase the mind and make people suffer. There are spiritual truths that have been given to us so that we can learn how to live with freedom, power, and abundance - free from mental bondage. In John 8:31, 32, 36 of the Amplified Bible, Jesus is talking to his friends, and teaching them, and he says in verse 31, "If you continue in my word (if you hold onto to my teachings and live according to them), you are truly my disciples. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. 36 So if the Son liberates you [makes you a free man], then you are really and unquestionably free." These three verses contain the key to being released from your prison, breaking the mental chains, and living free. We must believe the spiritual truths written in God's Word, which have been made readily available to us. And then, we must know the Son, the Son of God, who is the way, the truth, and the life. By knowing the truth and knowing his Son, we will be really and unquestionably free. Prisons. There are all kinds of prisons. Prisons are not just made of concrete and steel bars. There are prisons in people's lives that are the secret things they think about and hold onto, the things they don't share with anyone. They are the most frustrating and defeating things. They are thoughts of condemning or blaming oneself, thoughts of not being good enough, not being beautiful enough, or not smart enough. People can have thoughts that gnaw at the back of their minds, conscious and subconscious minds, for years and years. People can have dwelling, continual thoughts of sickness, disease, fear, worry, doubt, confusion, anxiety, suicide, and death. These are the worst, tormenting kinds of prisons. I believe it's not God's will for us to be so mentally bound. God's will is just the opposite. God has given us a gift of total release from all darkness in our lives. In Psalms 103:11 and 12 in the Amplified Bible, it is written in verse 11 that just as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are God's mercies and loving kindness toward those who respect God. Verse 12 continues that as far as the east is from the west, so far has our transgressions been removed from us. Transgression here means a mistake, something bad that you did, or a failure. So as we see in Psalms, all self-condemnation is to be gone from us, because God wants us to be free. Not halfway free, but all the way free. A totally free person. God has provided us a way to be free from all the powers of darkness in this world, free from resentments, from pride, from envying, from jealousies, and from obsessions and oppressions that may have been eating away at us. These evil, cunning influences lead only to imprisonment. We want to be released from these prisons. And there is a way that has been provided to us, a way by which people may recognize and receive a greater and more wonderful power than they have ever known. And those who are willing to believe can be released from every prison that imprisons, binds, and suppresses their lives. Hebrew 4:2 in the 21st Century King James version says, "For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith (believing) in those who heard it." So, we must not only know what's available and hear what's available, but we must also believe it. We are to mix believing with the spiritual truths taught to us so that they are profitable to us. Because believing equals receiving. A camera's lens is a good analogy to the means by which we can believe and get results to prayer and find freedom from mental bondage. If you want an answer to prayer, think about taking a picture with a camera or your phone. First, get the subject in mind. Select what you want in your picture. This is step one: get clear, "see" what you want or need. Go ahead. Take this moment to think about taking a picture of something with the "something" in your mind. Maybe it's something you need. Maybe it's something that you're thankful for having, or expecting to have. Move your camera, and put that into the picture. Step two is to get focused. Use the lens and range finder and focus on the subject. Spend time here. And get into the details. Focus. When you're focused on what you want in your life, really focused, simply take the picture. Focus on the picture of what you want, and keep your mind stayed on it. If you allow something to distract you from what you're focused on, you'll get a blurred answer to your prayer. You won't get the results you intended. You won't get released from the prison that holds you. James 1:6 and 7 says, "6 But he must ask [for wisdom] in believing, without doubting [God’s willingness to help], for the one who doubts is like a billowing surge of the sea that is blown about and tossed by the wind. 7 For such a person ought not to think or expect that he will receive anything [at all] from the Lord." Wow. Focused believing in prayer is the antidote to being tossed about by the winds of the world. No one should expect to receive an answer to prayer without praying (or asking) with a focused believing action and without any doubt of the results. If we want to get rid of something from our lives today, we must focus. We must focus or dwell upon what we want or need. It's the introduction of light that dispels darkness, not the dwelling on the darkness. If you want more success and achievement, if you want more business, better relations between you and the ones you love, if you want a sound mind and a more healthy body, then get what you need and desire in mind, point your camera and put it in the picture, then focus on it, and then pray without doubt and with believing. Then, take the picture. And change your thinking. Right now, take a moment. Think about a situation in your life that isn't yet the best. And change your mind. Immediately change your mind and the way you think about a situation in your life. When you change the way you think about things, those things change. Change the subject of your focused and clear thoughts. As you change your thinking, you will create a pattern of what you're concerned about in your life and about what you want to see light up in your life. Get clear and concerned. Get clear on what you need. Then get concerned about receiving it. Seek the truth. Know the truth, eat it, drink it, walk it and talk it, get concerned about it, dwell upon it, be mindful about it, continue in the truth, and that truth will set you free. And the result will be a total release from any prison. It can be done. Philippians 4:13 says that we can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. It can be done. It will be done. You can do it. And that's my advice to you. Conclusion So, there you have it, folks! Breaking free from mental bondage isn’t just a pipe dream; it’s a divine promise! By focusing on God’s truths, embracing the freedom Jesus offers, and making those powerful mental shifts, we can shake off those chains and step into an abundant life. Remember, it’s all about changing your lens, focusing on the good stuff, and believing without a shadow of a doubt. Let’s keep our minds clear, our hearts open, and our spirits ready to receive all the amazing things God has for us. You got this, and with God’s help, we can do all things!

My teaching is about four words that bring spiritual unity. Please turn to Romans 12. One of my favorite movies is The Hobbit. And third movie of The Hobbit series is The Battle of the Five Armies. In the movie, three commanders agree that the Orcs, Wargs, and Bats were enemies of everyone, and at the end of the movie (spoil alert), previous grievances between them were put on hold in face of the greater threat. They arranged their forces at the entrance into the Misty Mountain. These separated, individual groups (Dwarves, Lake-men, and Elves) finally came together to defeat their adversaries. But it took them forever. And they kinda forgot why they even separated, to begin with. Now we do not want to be like those three groups that finally came together. As believers, we are many different people, but we are already, currently, and presently, in one body, united in Christ. And that’s right now. We don’t have to wait until the end of the movie to experience unity. Romans 12:4-5. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office. 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one, members one of another. Every one of us, members, one of another. Just like one physical body, we have many parts. These parts don’t all have the same function, so we, who are many, are nevertheless one body in Christ, and individually, we believers are parts, one of another, mutually dependent on each other. This is true in my life, with my family. My family is made up of separate individuals, we’re different, but we are part of one another. We depend on each other. And to keep this family together, united, and to keep any group of people together, there are four characteristics of a believer’s actions that can be applied in certain situations when unity is needed. They are written about in the beginning of Ephesians 4. Turn to Ephesians 4. I love how the beginning of Ephesians 4 describes these characteristics. These four words can change every relationship that you have with another person. They can help you enjoy the way you meet and interact with other people. These four characteristics can help cultivate unity within a group of people, your friends, coworkers, teammates, school buddies, and your household. These four words help us keep the peace, and let the peace of God rule in situations. These four characteristics are humility, patience, gentleness, and love. Humility, patience, gentleness, and love. Let’s take a few minutes and learn about each one a little bit. Humility, patience, gentleness, and love. It’s important to unite in a household. Paul says in Ephesians 2:19, “So then you are no longer strangers, but you are members with the family of saints, and members of God’s household.” We’re in God’s household. Oh, yeah. I love being is God’s House. Who’s house? God’s House. Run DMC’s “Run’s House.” Let’s Read Ephesians 4:1-3, Paul writes, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness (humility), with longsuffering (patience), forbearing (gentleness) one another in (unconditional) love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Humility, patience, gentleness, and unconditional love are the keys to unity and will help us in all areas of our lives. These four words can change our hearts and minds too. Turn to Philippians 2. Humility Humility is the perspective of putting others first. It assures us that serving others can be far more enjoyable than worrying about one’s own life. For example, if I ever feel like I’m worrying about something in my life, I try to think about others. What are they going through? Can I help them so that they’re in a better position than myself? In Philippians, we read about humility and other people. We’re in Philippians 2:3-4. It says, “3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Do nothing from selfishness. But with an attitude of humility, regard others as more important than yourselves. Don’t just look out for only your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. And, honestly, that’s a tough thing to do. Putting another person before yourself is hard and requires some effort. It means stepping back a little, and allowing someone else to enjoy something before you do. My wife and I go out every Friday night. 21 years married! Often it’s a dinner date, and we like to share bites. And I tell ya, when my dinner entree is served to me, I find it challenging to offer my wife the first bite. But with an attitude of humility (esteeming the other person better), I am a blessed man. Practicing humility, looking out for others, and putting others first, helps cultivate unity. When we put others first and serve the people around us, we develop a good community. And it’s good to practice humility in a relationship. Going the extra mile to serve a friend, a schoolmate, a spouse, another believer, a neighbor, or a coworker is one way to show how God works in us. That’s humility. Patience One fruit of the spirit is patience (long-suffering). Oh, boy, patience. That’s a characteristic that I need to keep working on. My entire family practiced a lot of patience last weekend when, on the way to our state party, when we got stuck in traffic for 3 hours. They say that patience is a virtue (or thinking and doing what is right). My patience can be tested. Many times in one day. But how do we practice patience? And how does it help unity? Patience means being slow to anger, and having the wisdom not to be hasty (acting hurriedly without enough consideration). In certain situations, it’s good to take a moment, step back, get cool and calm, and take a chill pill. Gain some perspective and act in an understanding way. When we choose to be patient with one another, we choose peace. We choose gentleness. We choose to handle the moment with grace. Proverbs says that with patience, a ruler can be persuaded. Wow. Proverbs 14:29 says, “She who is slow to anger has great understanding and profits from her self-control. But he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness for all to see.” Let’s focus on those moments in our day when our patience can be a blessing to someone else. I was going to be a doctor, but I just didn’t have any patience. That is humility and patience. Turn to Colossians 4. Gentleness Gentleness can go a long way in any conversation, relationship, or situation. It’s a fruit of the spirit. Proverbs 15:1 says that it has the ability to turn away wrath, and its power is great. A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away extreme anger, and harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger. Gentle words spoken are very powerful indeed. Colossians says when we interact with someone, do it with grace. And when we speak to them, we do so in order to bring out the best in them. To bring about the best in others with our words. Particularly in a tense moment. Being kind to someone, when a knee-jerk reaction could be to lash out with harsh words, is gentleness in action. When the feeling of anger starts to brew inside, choose to respond with gentleness. No one enjoys hurricane winds blowing in their face, but gentle breezes of warm, kind, easily-entreated words can make all the difference in a relationship. Let’s make it a point to pray for gentleness. Gentleness is not always easy, but it’s always necessary and always welcome. Colossians 4:5-6: “5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Let’s conduct ourselves with wisdom in our interactions, and make the most of each opportunity, treating it as something precious. Our speech at all times should be gracious and pleasant. Humility, patience, gentleness, and love. Turn to Matthew 22. Love Love is our number one commandment. We love God first. And we love ourselves, and we love others as ourselves. We read in Matthew 22:36-40, “36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” So, we are to seek the best or higher good for others unselfishly. When we love others, we are doing one of the most important things we can be doing. Unconditional love is the greatest thing anyone can give to another person. Turn to Romans 12. Romans says that we should outdo one another in showing kindness. Romans 12:9-12, it says, “9 Let love be without dissimulation (it’s to be sincere). Abhor that which is evil; cleave (hold on) to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love (as members of one family); in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer (contributing to the needs of other believers). Hold on to that which is good, and contribute to the needs of other believers. Imagine if everyone went above and beyond in loving each other up. Imagine how transformed we would all be. Let’s make it a point today to show someone some love, a friend, a spouse, a family member, or another believer. By passing on the love, you help cultivate unity. We have learned about humility, patience, gentleness, and love. God has set us up to give and receive them. These four words are essential to experiencing unity. And they’ll help us in all areas of our lives. Let’s keep taking steps to grow in these areas. Seek unity in our relationships, bless others, and enjoy as we see other people grow and live a more than abundant life.

It doesn’t matter if you’re here in fellowship or you happened to miss fellowship today. No problem. We’re still together, as a group, a unit, and a family. And being part of a family is a very powerful thing. Being united and joined as a whole, a household, having unity within a group of people, has a powerful effect on the world. In this article, let's learn the steps to keep ourselves united. In this article, we’re going to learn what it means to be united as a group, as a family, what wonderful things can happen when we’re united, and what steps we can take to keep united - 2 steps. And also, I have a few tips for the young people in our bible fellowships - 5 tips. Turn to Acts 2. About a month ago, my family and I moved to Raleigh. We lived in Colorado for the past 15 years. And we just up and left - for a better life. We heard there were a bunch of great believers in Raleigh - six fellowships, lots of young people, new people, lots of growth. And we believed as a family to be delivered and to join a new group of people and form a much larger family and enjoy a new and godly household. And at every step of the way through the process of moving, we believed in each other as a family. We, as believers spread across many households, can develop friendships and unity with one another. And developing unity with like-minded believers with the Word of God is very powerful. Because - when you’re united on the Word of God with other people, this helps build each other’s trust in and love for God, to see spiritual truths and promises come to pass in each other’s lives, bringing victory and deliverance. In contrast, when you’re alone, that’s very challenging. In John 5:30, Jesus said, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” When you hang out with like-minded people, keeping a spiritual unity is much easier than when you’re alone. A couple thousand years ago, many people knew how important it was to be united in the Word (living according to the same standard) within the household of like-minded believers and how that unity helped them build their trust in God. They lived in that way. And set a pattern for living. And it was written down for us to learn from. Let’s read what was written about what happened one day in Acts 2. Someone read Acts 2:38-41. “38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” There were added unto them. Three thousand people got together in unity. That’s a lot of people! They could have all just gone back to their homes to live their lives as they did before, divided and separated. But they did more than that. They instead continued together in the Word, in fellowship, in breaking of bread, and in prayers. They kept each other together. Read Acts 2:42-47, “42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” This is why I am here. This is why my wife and daughters are here today. Right here. This promise of continuing in the Word, experiencing many wonders and miracles, having all our needs met. This is why we moved our household here to Raleigh. So that the numbers of my family, my group, and my ecclesia, could be added to. These people back then were a great example of believers who “continued steadfastly (with a firm and unwavering manner),” they were “together,” and “had all things in common.” They continued “daily with one accord,” and they had “singleness of heart.” That unity on the Word brought about growth individually and as a household. The results were that their trust in God grew and “many wonders and signs were done by the apostles,” and “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” What an exciting time! They helped each other live the Word, taking care of each other, helping each other remember the promises of God, and acting out on them, walking out on them, with their believing. And they grew stronger as a household, trusting that their needs would be met, and seeing even greater things come to pass. Pretty darn good. Turn to Romans 15. In Romans, we see how the Apostle Paul also knew the importance of being together with the household and being like-minded on the Word. He often expressed this and frequently sought out the believers as he traveled. And man, did he travel. Oh, boy, Paul traveled the world in order to make disciples and keep believers together. That’s what they did back then to stay united. Wrote letters, traveled all over the world, and went from house to house. Let’s read Romans 15:24: “24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.” He said, “I’m going to Spain. But I’m coming to you first in Rome. I’ll visit you for a little bit, and then you’ll help me on my way.” Paul knew the love and encouragement of his fellow believers would strengthen him and his trust and confidence in, and love for, God. He longed for the fellowship of the disciples and like-minded believers. He longed for fellowship. Because he wanted to add to the group, to make a bigger body of believers, more disciples, more households, more followers, more friends, and a bigger family. Turn to Phillippians 1. As born-again believers, we are all part of the one Body of Christ. God has placed us as members in particular in the Body. God considers our innermost desires, our long suits, and our abilities, by providing opportunities for us to best function together in that Body. And we have the freedom, freedom of choice, and freedom of will, to decide to take advantage of these God-given opportunities and to be of one mind on God’s Word with others in the household, so that we can live a more than abundant life. In Psalms 133:1, David said, “Behold (this is remarkable, this is impressive, behold!), how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” As a group, we don’t have to do what each other is doing or likes to do. We don’t even have to agree upon everything, right? You like soccer, I like football. You like pizza, I like cheeseburgers. You’re great at remembering verses, I’m great at explaining what they mean. Whatever the situation, we see the best in each other. You may love Wednesday night fellowships, and I may prefer Sunday morning. What’s common among us is the Word, the spiritual truths that have been given to us by God, those promises of love, joy, peace, abundance, health, and prosperity. That’s our common ground. Let’s read Philippians 1:27, “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” That’s awesome. There are things we can do in our day and time to develop a unified, powerful body of believers and build our love for God. Keep an abundance of God’s Word in our hearts by having the mind-set described in Psalms 119:16: “I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” We delight in God’s Word and diligently learn the Word, and try not to forget the words, which will equip us to handle whatever situation we’re in. Focus our hearts on developing this unity. As in Acts 2, we can help each other live the Word by finding each other, reaching out to each other, spending time with each other, being willing to learn from each other, building camaraderie with each other, and believing the Word about each other and with each other. Young People Young people want to change the world for the better. I’m older now, but I still want to make things better for me, my wife, my family, my fellowship, and all believers around me. Young people can sometimes find themselves a bit disoriented and confused by the shifting tides of popular cultural opinion to the point where they may feel that any kind of involvement in something positive is pointless. The truth is, if you are a young person 16-26 years old, you probably have some tendencies (you tend to say and do things) that can be strong catalysts for changing the culture and the world around you, including your ministry. Put simply, you are the leaders of tomorrow. My encouragement for you young people is: Connect with each other. I encourage you to reconsider what you’re doing right now in relation to getting people like yourselves together. So, find each other, and connect with each other, online and in person, in the various ways that you do already. Ask each other if you’re going to fellowship today. Ask each other to go see a movie or concert, a high school sports game. Ask each other about college, dating, and marriage. Don’t let me, and old people like me, get in your way. Ask your fellow believers and friends if they’d like to form and grow a young Christian fellowship or bible study group that meets online, worldwide. Being united and joined as a young household, having like-mindedness within a group of young people has a powerful effect on the world and your ministry. Share fellowship teachings. Video record fellowship teachings and then share them with every believer in your local fellowship. If you can’t make it to fellowship, no worries; watch the video recording later. Want to invite someone new to fellowship? Ask if they’d like a link to a teaching that you think they’ll enjoy watching. Personally, I would really enjoy being invited to participate online in a fellowship taking place in another part of the state, country, or world, like Italy. How exciting would that be?! Use technology to connect your network of believers worldwide. Use FaceTime with a bunch of friends, or Instagram to share your thoughts and creativity. Personally, I enjoy using the “YouVersion” app. I use it every day. It’s an app that creates biblically-centered experiences for believers worldwide. Use The Way International to stay united. Ask for the list of every attendee of the recent Young Rock Music Camp thing, and get everyone’s contact information. Don’t let that event’s momentum die. Use technology to keep the connections and conversations going. Start with your fellowship leadership, and ask, “Where are all of the young Christian believers? Where are the born-again believers in my county, school, or state? Where are the members that God has placed in particular in the Body?” And most importantly, “How can I help to connect us all in unity?” So, young people, ask. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh, receiveth; and she that seeketh, findeth; and to her that knocketh, it shall be opened.” In this article, we learned how important it is to be united on the Word within the household of like-minded believers. We learned how unity in the Word can bring about growth individually and as a household. We can delight in God’s Word and diligently learn from it. And in order to be together, we ought to know where everyone else is. I encourage you all (excuse me, y’all, I’m learning), I encourage y’all, young and old, present and absent, to enjoy the benefits of spiritual unity. Let’s keep an abundance of God’s Word in our hearts and exert diligent effort to stay united on the Word with each other, bringing victory and deliverance as we grow in our trust and love for God.

In this article, we’re going to learn: Where does peace come from? What does peace mean? What do we have to do? Let's learn about making decision with peace. Please turn to Numbers 6. Doesn’t it seem at times that there are so many big decisions to make about life? What is school going to be like this year? How do I make new friends at school? Should I go to college or not? What college to go to? What career path to take? Should I date this guy? Should we get married or not? What about kids? Am I making a good living at my job? At times, it might feel stressful just thinking about all the decisions that have to be made. Should I eat vanilla or chocolate ice cream tonight? Big decisions! God’s will is not for us, his kiddos, to feel stressed out - but rather - to manifest peace in our lives. Manifest peace. As we trust in God’s ability to help us, and we keep our minds stayed on Him and His Word, we can make decisions with peace no matter what situations come up in life. No matter what changes take place in our lives. Peace comes from an unchanging source - and that can only be God. Let's learn a bit more about making decisions with peace and having peace in our lives. See, peace is not based upon the situation. Because situations change, they come and go. Peace is not conditional on what’s taking place. Peace does not come from the absence of trouble either. You can’t buy peace. You can’t go to a spa and get peace. A person could be living a very quiet life, and yet they may still be living in turmoil and conflict - within. I could be on a tropical island all by myself, and still not be in peace. Peace comes from the presence of God in our lives. God is everywhere, but we have to let him into our heads, in our hearts, and in our lives. Invite God in. Numbers 6:22-26: 22 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Peace means an abundance of blessings, a total well-being. It’s the experience of health and happiness, social connection, engagement, and having a sense of purpose. Total well-being means that you feel fulfilled in all aspects of your life. Turn to Proverbs 3. God has our best interests at heart. Therefore, we do not have to let important decision-making situations cause us to become stressed. We can trust in God. We can trust His ability to help us to make decisions with peace. Let’s take an example of a very important decision to make: Vanilla or chocolate ice cream tonight? When we are trying to decide one way or another on an important matter such as this, we can be tempted to become restless or anxious. We may even be tempted to become afraid or to doubt God’s ability to help us. In times like these, we can hold onto the simple truths that God provides in His Word and trust Him to direct our way. We trust in God’s ability to help us. In times of trouble, when we may be feeling stressed out, anxious, worried, we have spiritual truths and promises that we can refer to and remember and understand and believe and take action upon - that, when applied in our actual lives, can provide answers to the problems in life. We have to trust in the words that are written for us, so that we can make peaceful decisions. Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. What a wonderful promise to hold onto, that God shall direct our paths. We can trust Him with all our heart, lean not unto our own understanding (which means-don’t get in the way, with your own thoughts of how you think God needs to work in your life). Just acknowledge Him in all our ways, and know that He absolutely will direct our paths, which means that God can show us what to do in situations. But if we’re not peaceful, we may not see it, hear it, or understand it when the solutions to problems in life come to us. God shall direct our paths, and we can make decisions with peace, if we lean not unto our own understanding, but instead acknowledge him and his presence in our lives. What do we have to do? Acknowledge God in all our ways. Acknowledge (meaning to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of). Acknowledge God’s presence in everything that we do. I love practicing the presence of God. It takes practice. Read Jeremiah 23:23. Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? That verse means, “I am a God who is everywhere and not in one place only.” This is a Biblical principle that helps us build a new quality in our minds—that helps us be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). God is everywhere and in everything. This is what brings us positive, powerful results in our lives. Acknowledging God’s presence in everything we do. Turn to Psalms 46. Even when situations or circumstances seem negative, we don’t need to fear. We can remain at peace, trusting in God’s ability to help us. Read Psalms 46:1,2: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. We do not have to have fear in our lives. Turn to Colossians 3. Colossians 3:15-16: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. We let the words dwell within us, let the peace rule in our hearts, and let that be the controlling factor that is deciding and settling questions that arise. And to this type of peaceful living, we were called as members in one body of believers. And we are thankful to God always for the peace we can enjoy, and letting the peace rule, and helping us make those life decisions. To get those words dwelling within us, we study the word, go to fellowship, read the bible, use an app with verses for the day, find those truths and promises that we like, and we try to remember them, and let those words have their home within us, dwelling in our hearts and minds - permeating every aspect of our being. God’s peace is not dependent on our surroundings or circumstances. The peace that comes from our trust in and love for God is greater than any situation or decision we face. God’s peace is the constantly consistent factor, especially as challenges and difficult situations arise. And it is His peace that will guide our decision-making. We can factor in and apply this simple and powerful truth. Turn to Isaiah 26. Keeping our minds stayed on God and His Word is a way that we can make decisions with peace. When I’m trying to decide what to do with my family and myself, and I’m not peaceful, I take a break, step back, take a moment, sleep on it – until I get my mind “stayed” or calm, cool, and collected. To get my mind calm, cool, and collected, I pray and bring my thoughts back to the word that I know, and with thankfulness, I thank God for providing for all that I need. And I thank God for those things, answers to problems, or solutions to a situation, that I will receive. Here’s a verse we may want to use to get our mind refocused back to the peace of God. Read Isaiah 26:3: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. I am reminded that as long as we put God first and include Him in our lives and decision-making processes, everything will work out just fine. For us to have that type of perfect peace, it takes staying our minds on God and building our trust in Him. Staying our minds on God means that we constantly bring our thoughts back to God’s Word as our standard, no matter what happens in life. We want our first thoughts to be, what does God’s Word say? What does God’s Word say about this situation? And then we apply it with all believing and thankfulness. As we consistently put God’s Word in our minds and apply it to our lives, it helps us maintain our trust in God, whether big or small situations come up. When we keep the Word as our standard, we are in a better position to get an understanding on what to do. When we seek God first, He gives us what we need, right when we need it. Matthew 6:33 days, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. The answers we find in God’s Word will bring peace as we apply God’s Word in our lives. Let’s turn to and read Hebrews 13:20-21: 20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. With God in Christ in us, working in us, we lack nothing. And that is well-pleasing to God. What peace, what wonderful peace, we can have knowing that we are completely equipped, perfect, to live according to God’s truths and promises and His will for us. I encourage you to test this theory out. Today. Let’s prove that God works. Let’s test this theory and prove to ourselves that it works. Let’s think of this as an experimental reminder of the presence and power and peace of God. Let’s read Proverbs 3:5-6 again. Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Now let’s take a moment sometime today, and apply that verse to our lives. Let’s expect to see a positive result. Let’s see ourselves getting peaceful. Let’s enjoy making focused and awesome decisions in our lives. Let’s lean not on our own thoughts, but let’s acknowledge God’s presence in our lives, and let go, and let God. Let Go, Let God. And let’s be thankful for everything that we’ve been given. Let’s get ready to make and enjoy the best, most peaceful decisions in our lives. There are many decisions to make in life, but by trusting in God’s ability to help us and by keeping our minds stayed on Him and His Word, we can have His perfect peace during all of our life decisions. Because peace is not dependent upon external circumstances, but instead, it’s based upon living in God’s presence and knowing and living the fulness of our relationship with Him.

My teaching is about our powerful thoughts. Please turn to Philippians 4. Our lives are always moving in the direction of our thoughts. What we think shapes what we do, who we are, and how we live and experience life. Our lives follow the direction of our thoughts. The more we can understand how powerful our minds and thoughts are, the more abundant we can live. That’s really powerful. If I want more abundance, I should consider what I’m thinking about. In this article, we'll learn bible verses to help change your mind. The Bible and modern science provide evidence that this is true. First, let’s go to the Word and then to science. Turn to Philippians 4:8–9 KJV, the apostle Paul writes, “8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Paul writes about our thoughts (think about these things), our actions (do, practice this, do this), and our experiences in our lives (the God of peace will be with you). Paul tells us that our thoughts shape our lives. Now, let’s go to modern science. Turn to Proverbs 23. I read a recently published article by the Colorado State University and the Center for Healthy Aging. It talked about “neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural pathways throughout life and in response to life experiences. While the brain usually does this reorganization or rewiring itself in response to injury or disease, when humans focus their attention enough, they can slowly rewire these pathways themselves. If a person can focus enough attention, they can restructure their brain by establishing new neural pathways. The goal is to become aware of thoughts (being mindful) and react to those thoughts. The redirection of thoughts and actions will start to change neural pathways as habits begin to be replaced and new parts of the brain are used. The brain literally starts to rewire itself with a simple change of mindset.” So apparently, you can teach an old dog new tricks. I don’t know about you, but when the Bible and modern science say the same thing, that’s pretty cool. Today, science shows us what God told us through Solomon thousands of years ago in Proverbs 23:7 KJV: "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” So if both the Bible and modern science teach us that our lives are moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts, then we could ask ourselves, “Do I like the direction my thoughts are taking me?” If my answer is no, maybe it’s time I change my thinking. Maybe it’s time I decide to change my mind so God can change my life. Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” One way to renew our minds is to replace what’s false with what’s true. Replace bad with good. Replace doubting thoughts with confident thoughts, etc. Here are some examples: Replace thoughts of anxiety with Philippians 4:6-7 which says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” My family and I are wondering about our housing situation. We think about where we are currently living, and where we are going to live next. We can replace thoughts of being unsure of what to do next with Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” He shall direct thy paths. Sometimes there are situations that seem too big to handle. Like recently, we considered how challenging and almost impossible it seems to get accepted into NC State after moving to Raleigh just several months ago. We can replace thoughts of not being sure that we can accomplish something that seems impossible with Philippians 4:13, which says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” … Turn to Matthew 4. A while back, I made a decision to stop being immediately notified when someone from work messages me directly. I didn’t feel like I needed to check every message all the time anymore. So I changed that behavior of constantly checking my messages. Maybe there are other behaviors that we want to change, like: This year I’m going to eat healthy and exercise every day. I’m going to date only people who are the best for me. I’m getting off social media because I’m tired of wasting my time. I’m going to read the Bible every morning this whole year. But changing our behavior without changing our minds usually doesn’t work. We have to get our minds straight. We have to get our thoughts right. We have to set our minds in alignment and harmony with what the Word says. Then, a change in behavior can take place. I had to decide that checking messages wasn’t the best for me. I had to change my thinking. The root of a problem just might be the thought that creates the problem in the first place. The neural pathways that map out our thoughts can direct our behavior and experiences in life. So, how can we build new neural pathways when we need to think and behave differently? How do we restructure new thoughts and then act differently? How can we reorganize our thoughts in response to life experiences? Hint: it’s not from scrolling through social media posts for three hours. It’s not from binge-watching our favorite Netflix series. The answer is not on Twitter, Facebook, or TicTock. So, where should we turn? In Matthew 4, there’s a story of when Jesus was in the wilderness. He was tempted by the Devil. In Matthew 4:2-4, it says, “2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” We are formed, our brains are made, and we are built to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. That’s what Jesus said back then. That’s what is written for us today. When the Devil tempted him, Jesus couldn’t whip out his iPhone and open the TheWay.org app to quote a verse that would apply to the situation. Instead, he had already internalized spiritual truths from God’s Word, creating helpful neural pathways in his brain so that he could take the right action. When tempted, Jesus followed the path that led him to freedom and victory. That’s what we can do. We can do what Jesus did because, as John 14:12 says, “She that believeth on me, the works that I do shall she do also; and greater works than these shall she do; because I go unto my Father.” That’s what we can do and where we can take ourselves. A verse in Psalms says God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. The Word shows us where to go and what steps to take that lead to victory. Every verse in the Bible is God-breathed, and it’s profitable to us in its instruction, for reproof, for correcting our errors, and for training us in righteousness (in holy living, in being transformed to God’s will in our thoughts, our purpose, and our actions), So that the men and women and children of God may be complete, well-fitted, and thoroughly equipped for every good work that we do in life. … Sometimes I think about money. I have thoughts about if I have enough. Do we have enough? Should I make more? How much am I spending? Where am I spending it? The good news is that the Bible speaks to all our problems and challenges, even our thoughts about money. God’s Word gives us the truth that applies directly to my thoughts about any situation, including money. Here are some verses that can help rewire my brain and change my thoughts. Philippians 4:12-13. I know how to be abased and live humbly in difficult circumstances, and I also know how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having sufficiency and enough to spare, or going without and being in want. Here’s the secret: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 2 Corinthians 9:8. God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance so that you may (always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be) you may be self-sufficient - possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work. In Malachi 3:10, God says, and it is written, “Test me now in this, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you so great a blessing until there is no more room to receive it.” My new brain pathway, in my own words, can be something like this: Money is not and will never be a problem. We can do all things in every situation. God is a graceful and abundant provider who meets every need. Expect miracles and blessings so great because God is able to do superabundantly more than we can ask or think. … What new neural pathway do we need to create? What new thoughts do we need to put into our minds? How can we redirect our thoughts and change neural pathways that develop new, good habits? I encourage you to take some time, and search the scriptures, for in them are those promises of God that can help us in our daily lives. Our lives are always moving in the direction of our thoughts. God’s Word can help change the way we think, which then shapes what we do, who we are, and how we live and experience life. The more we can understand how powerful our minds and thoughts are, built on the Word's strong foundation, the more powerful and victorious we can live. And that’s what I was thinking about and wanted to share with you.

Hey friends! Gather around for a tale of courage, conviction, and a bit of holy rebellion. Ever wonder who kicked off the whole “let’s translate the Bible into English” movement? Meet John Wycliffe, the trailblazing theologian who dared to bring God’s Word to the common folk in their own language. In a time when the Roman church had a monopoly on religious teachings, Wycliffe’s bold moves set the stage for the Reformation. Let’s dive into his story and see how one man’s determination changed the course of history! John Wycliffe has been called “the Morning Star of the Reformation,” which refers to the Protestant Reformation. One hundred years before Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg Castle Church door in Germany in 1517 as part of the Protestant Reformation, Wycliffe took a bold stand and worked to bring change or reform to the Roman church by speaking the truth of God’s Word. He translated the Bible into English. And he took a courageous stand by speaking and writing God’s Word in the common language of the English people. He had a tremendous impact in his day. John Wycliffe was born in 1328 near Richmond in the North Riding of Yorkshire, England. We attended Oxford as a teenager in 1346. He received a bachelors degree in divinity in 1369 and a doctorate in 1372. Wycliffe studied and taught at Oxford for most of his life. He studied hard and became a recognized leading theologian and philosopher at Oxford University. As he studied, he realized that many of the mainstream religious teachings of the Roman church was not in alignment and harmony with the spiritual truths in the Bible. And he wanted to change that. In the 1300’s, the Roman church dominated all of Europe. The church was very powerful. It owned a lot of land throughout Europe. It demanded money and allegiance from people and governments. It influenced religion, philosophy, science, morals, politics, art, and education. But the church’s doctrine had become mixed up with half-truths and superstitions. For example, people were (and still are) required to acknowledge the pope as God’s representative on Earth. Anyone who disagreed with the pope and church were prosecuted or executed. Wycliffe taught what he learned from his studies, which was that all spiritual truth is in the Bible and that to know Christ and have spirit within, one must understand those truths. He questioned the church and its teachings that did not line up with the truth that he understood and was written in the Bible. For example, the Roman church taught that salvation (to be saved, reborn and connected with God) is NOT by God’s grace and through believing, but is through good works prescribed by the church. According to the church, the way to God is by following the law of the church according to their rules. The church forbade anyone who wasn’t a church-ordained priest to read the Bible or teach from it. Another example is that the church required people to confess their sins to priests and the church had the authority to forgive people of their sins. Private confession to God for forgiveness of sins had been replaced by confession to priests. But Wycliffe confronted the church on this. Wycliffe also spoke out again the sales of “indulgences.” According to the church, a person could pay the church money and the church would in turn free them from being punished for their sins. And with the money, the church would purchase more land and build more churches and fund armies for war. The Christian Crusades were church-sanctioned and funded war campaigns to combat paganism and heresy, and to gain political and territorial power. Wycliffe also spoke out again the church’s greed. Much of England’s land and wealth was in control of the church. The church and everyone who worked in the church (the pope, bishops, clergy, priests, friars, monks) were more interested in wealth and power rather than attending to the spiritual needs of the people who believed in God. Wycliffe proclaimed that the clergy (the body of all people ordained for religious duties in the church) are not to rule over, but rather serve and help people. Wycliffe spoke publicly that the church lived in greed while common folk struggled under a burden of need. Wycliffe spoke out against celibacy of the priests, praying to saints, and other practices that were not based upon God’s Word. The church was (and still is today) filled with dogma (principles laid down by the church authority as being incontrovertibly true). He also attacked the dogma of transubstantiation. Wycliffe opposed the beliefs that the bread and wine given at communion are literally transformed into the body and blood of Christ. He enraged the church and was condemned as a heretic. He was a dissenter and a non-conformist who held and proclaimed opinions that were at odds with what the church said was the way, the truth, and the rules to follow or else. But that didn’t stop him from studying, teaching, and speaking spiritual truths. We was one of the most influential preachers in England, and he encouraged others to speak the Word too. He said, “The highest service to which man may attain on earth is to preach the love of God.” One of Wycliffe’s major concerns was that the church forbade translations of the Bible into the common language of the people. The church used a bible that was written in Latin, a language that most people in England did not understand or speak. For centuries, the church used the Latin translated bible for readings and teachings. Only the university-educated church clergy could read and teach from the Latin bible. But Wycliffe believed and taught that people could not know the basics of believing unless they knew the Bible, and they could best know the Bible when it was in their own language. He said, “People should understand believing and, as the instructions for believing are in the Scriptures, believers should have the Scriptures in a language which they fully understand.” Wycliffe called for the Bible to be translated into English. He worked with scholars to translate the entire bible from Latin into English, painstakingly making copies of the Bible by hand. Wycliffe wrote the very first translation of the whole bible into English. In 1384, people in England could read the entire bible for themselves. Hundreds were produced by hand and given to people who would carry the English translations of the Bible with them as they preached God’s Word throughout England. The English translation of the Bible was one of Wycliffe’s greatest accomplishments. In 1382, the church declared John Wycliffe as a heretic and banished him from Oxford University. As he left the school, he declared, “The truth shall prevail!” He also said, "I believe that in the end the truth shall conquer." In 1384, Wycliffe died peacefully in his home. Four years later, Pope Martin V of the Roman church ordered Wycliffe’s bones to be dug up, burned, and his ashes thrown into the river. The church wanted to erase everything of John Wycliffe from the face of the earth. The church also tried to burn and destroy all of Wycliffe’s books and writings, but the church failed. Wycliffe’s teachings and writings had already spread throughout England and Europe. In 1408, the Roman Church declared that no one was permitted to translate on his own authority any text of Scripture into the English language or any other language. But the invention of the printing press in 1450 changed all of that. Translations of the Bible could not be stopped. The printing press made it possible to replace handwritten copies of the Bible with printed editions that were affordable. The bible was translated into many languages, including German, Italian, and Czech. In 1522, Martin Luther, a German theologian, monk, and teacher, translated the entire bible from Hebrew and Greek into German. Luther studied and incorporated many of Wycliffe's ideas about the church and the truth for his own reformation activities. By 1530, an estimated two hundred thousand copies of Martin Luther’s translation were printed. Luther’s bible translation became the foundation for all future translations and versions in Europe. In 1526, William Tyndale translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into English. Tyndale was executed by the church soon after. In 1539, King Henry VII used Tyndale's Bible to translate an authorized edition of the bible in English to be read aloud in all of the services of the Church of England. Every parish church in England was required to have a copy of an English translation of the Bible made available to everyone in the congregation. At last, Wycliffe’s vision was fulfilled. All of the people of England had access to the Bible in their own language. In 1611, the King James Version of the Bible (which as built off of Tyndale's bible) was printed and published. The King James Bible has been translated into about 700 different languages. It’s considered the best-selling book of all time. Wycliffe’s vision to make God’s Word available in the language of the common people has come true. It took a lot of courage for John Wycliffe to translate the Bible into English back then. He risked everything and inspired other future translators. Because of his dedication and work to speak the truth, the truth did prevail. How thankful we can be for John Wycliffe. Let’s continue to follow the example of John Wycliffe by standing for truth, and speaking and living the spiritual truths that we know and believe. Conclusion And there you have it, folks! John Wycliffe’s legacy is a testament to the power of standing up for truth, even when the odds are against you. His fearless efforts not only brought the Bible into the hands of everyday people but also laid the groundwork for future reformers. Let’s take a page from Wycliffe’s book—literally and figuratively—and continue to speak, live, and share the spiritual truths we hold dear. Remember, the truth shall prevail!

Hey there, football fans and fellow believers! Ever find yourself worrying about the future more than enjoying the present? Well, you're not alone. I love watching football as much as anyone, but I've learned something even more important than who wins or loses—how to live one day at a time. Join me as we explore practical tips and spiritual truths to help us pray, plan, and live worry-free, just like Jesus taught. Let's dive into this playbook for a more peaceful life!   I enjoy watching football. I played football. I throw a football. You’ll sometimes see me holding a football. I like football. And today, I'll be enjoying watching a football game or two. Am I worrying about whether or not my favorite team will win or lose? No. Not at all. Actually, I don't really care about the outcome of a football game that I'm watching. It actually doesn't matter if they win or lose, so I'm not worrying too much about it.  Why? My answer is: I don’t worry about the future. I don't worry about tomorrow. I live one day at a time. I’d like to tell you more about living one day at a time without worrying about tomorrow. I’m guessing you might agree that worrying about the future is not a pleasant way to spend our time. So, the question that I have for you is: when anxious thoughts arise, how can we stop them? One wonderful principle we can operate is to live one day at a time. What Me Worry? Realistically, we do need to think about our future. For sure. We need to make plans. That’s for certain. We have calendars filled with important dates and events. We have things to do to enjoy life. I have plans for the future. For example, I plan to visit Europe to find a place to live with my wife when we are older and desire to live in a small European town on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. I have no idea how that’s going to happen today, but I’m going to plan that into my future. Am I worried or anxious about my future plans? No. Do I continually fret over the details of my life’s schedule? No. Why not? Why am I not worrying about the future? I’d like to share with you what I do, so that you can investigate for yourself if what I do can work for you. I Do Two Things I do two productive things to make things happen: I pray, and I make positive plans. 32-Inch Waist Here’s an example. I have a goal that by January 1, 2021, I’ll have much less fat stuck on my stomach (and it’s seems stuck!) and I’ll be able to fit into a pair of jeans with a 32-inch waist (currently I’m a 34W, and it used to be 38W). Am I worrying about this goal? No. Why? I’ve (i) prayed about it (or, said in another way, I focused my thoughts with specific details and assured confidence in my success), and (ii) I have made positive plans - in which I realize where I am, and list the future steps to reach my identified future goals. What is Praying? What's praying? Praying can be when I make specific requests to God for my needs to be met. Praying also allows me to express my thankfulness for receiving those things for which I believed.  Philippians 4:6 says, "Be careful [Be anxious or worrisome] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."  John 14:13,14 says, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." I John 5:14,15 says, "And this is the confidence that we have in him [God], that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." Prayer helps us get specific and honest with God about what is needed in any situation. And prayer with believing and thankfulness brings results to our planning.  Planning is Time Travel I think of planning as a bit like time travel. We travel into the future by planning, because planning is like bringing the future into the present so that we can do something about it today. I recommend thinking about that again. Planning is like bringing the future into the present so that we can do something about it today. Once we (i) pray and (ii) plan, we can stop our anxious thoughts about the future by putting the majority of our energy and actions into living one day at a time. Jesus Lived from Day to Day A couple thousand years ago, there was a man named Jesus, who was a great example of how to live one day at a time. He lived and taught his friends to live one day at a time. We read in Matthew 6:25, 28, 31, 34:  Verse 25: Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat [in the future], or what ye shall drink [in the future]; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on [in the future]…. Amplified version translates, “Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Verse 28: And why take ye thought for raiment [clothing]? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. Verse 31: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? Verse 34: Take therefore no thought for the morrow [the future]: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. What does that “sufficent unto the day is the evil thereof” mean? It means that each day has enough trouble of its own. There is no need to add to the problems and challenges that each day brings. The suffering, pain, challenges, problems of the present hour is enough without you adding onto it more worries about the future. That’s what Jesus was saying. His phrase “take… thought” are translated from a Greek word meaning “be anxious about” or, as we might say, “worry.” Jesus told them to NOT to worry about what they were going to eat, to drink, to wear—not to worry about “the morrow” (the future). He assured them that “sufficient enough unto the day is the evil thereof.” Thayer’s lexicon helps clarify the King James Version of verse 34 as “Let the present day’s trouble suffice for a person, and let them not rashly increase it by anticipating the cares of days to come.” There’s enough to take care of in every twenty-four-hour period. If we try to anticipate the worries of the future, we may actually increase the challenges we’ll need to deal with. We can put our focus into living in the day, right now, the day at hand, the present moment, and one day at a time. E. W. Bullinger translates Matthew 6:34 as follows: “Have, then, no anxiety for any future day….” That includes tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and the day after that. Every care or concern we may have about the future can be handled one day at a time. To live one day at a time, you have to live in the present moment, one day at a time. Enjoy what’s going on right now. We are not our best, if anxieties about the future dominate our thinking. I have no doubts or worries that I’ll make it to Europe and enjoy the entire day with my wife (and kids if they’d like to join us) eating great food and swimming in the sea, maybe in a small Italian coastal town. I live in the present moment, and I have (i) prayed about it, and (ii) I have made positive plans. The Benefits of Worrying Can you remember the last time you really, practically benefited from worrying a lot? Explain the details of when worrying about something actually helped the situation you were in. See what I mean? Focus on the Present Moment So what are some practical things we can do to help us focus our energy into experiencing, living, and enjoying the present moment? I suggest we should daily “perform our vows.” Psalms 61:8 reads, “So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.” What's a vow? A vow is a solemn promise you make committing yourself to an act, service, or condition. For example, I commit myself to exercising (or at least moving) every day.  Commitments This is one of the best things about believing in God and applying the practical spiritual truths that we know. We can “perform our vows” or do what we’ve committed ourselves to do, and do it one day at a time. What have we committed to do? Our commitments may include: our spouse, our children, our parent, our friend, our jobs, our school, our fellowships, our volunteer work, taking care of the things we own, taking care of our health (like losing some fat off the stomach), etc. We’re committed to doing certain things. We do our commitments and responsibilities daily. For example, we love the people we love daily. Love ‘em up. Right? And when each day is over, we thank God for our commitments, and we go to sleep. By staying committed to the things we have at hand, we live and do God’s Word. And by doing those things well, we can help ourselves to stop worrying about “the morrow.” Doing God’s Word "Doing God's Word"... what does that mean? Spending time in every twenty-four-hour period, each day, with our thoughts focused on "doing God’s Word" can help us live day-by-day, and not worry about the future. Here are a few examples of what "Doing God's Word" means to us: Pray and praise God daily (Acts 2:42; Psalms 44:8) Build the Word (spiritual truths) into our lives daily (Psalms 1:2; Acts 17:11) Speak and teach the Word daily (Luke 19:47; Acts 5:42; Acts 17:17) Daily walk in the light (Ephesians 5:8) Continue every day in one accord with other believers (Acts 2:46) Inspire, love, challenge, bless, exhort one another to a more worthy endeavor daily (Hebrews 3:13) Work heartily in everything you do during the day (Colossians 3:23) Witness to God’s goodness daily (Lamentations 3:22-23; Psalms 71:8,15) Those are practical things we do to enjoy life and bless others, and those things we learned from reading God’s Word and going to fellowship.  And while we are focusing our energy and actions into living every day inspired (or in spirit) from what we’ve learned, we are daily loaded up with blessings. Psalms 68:19 reads, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” Conclusion I encourage you to pray and plan, which can help us stop anxious thoughts about the future and live our lives to the fullest one day at a time. So, there you have it, folks! Just like a good football game, life is best enjoyed play by play, day by day. By praying, planning, and focusing on the present, we can kick those worries about the future to the curb. Remember, Jesus taught us to take no thought for tomorrow, and if He can handle it, so can we. Let's embrace each day with faith, love, and a little bit of football spirit. Now, go out there and live your best, worry-free life—one day at a time!