Courage

  • For Such a Time as Now

    For Such a Time as Now

    For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. - Isaiah 43:19  The Lord replied,  ”Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even…

    read more

  • Seek Him Like Never Before!

    Seek Him Like Never Before!

    …so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom…

    read more

  • He’s Getting Us Ready for Our Promise Land

    He’s Getting Us Ready for Our Promise Land

    My friends, through the end of 2013 up to early August of this year I've heard Abba speak of preparation over and over again. I believe we have been in this time of preparation up until now. The Holy Spirit has impressed upon me that we, the SUMites specifically, are now being shifted into a…

    read more

  • Superheroes of the Past and Present

    Superheroes of the Past and Present

    My friends, I have a new nugget to share with you that is so encouraging to me. I’m excited to share it with you. First, let me set it up. I’ve tended to look at the first disciples and believers in a different way than I see us-modern day believers. I’ve made the assumption that…

    read more

  • Joseph: Fruitful in Challenging Places (part 2)

    Joseph: Fruitful in Challenging Places (part 2)

    Yesterday we stopped right at the point in Joseph's story where things looked pretty good. God's favor had blessed Potiphar's house greatly, but then things took a turn to the worst. Joseph was falsely accused of trying to rape Potiphar's wife and Joseph wound up in prison. What happened to God's favor? But the Lord…

    read more

  • July 4th: Renewing Our Hope and Trust in God

    July 4th: Renewing Our Hope and Trust in God

    Dear SUM family, Lynn and I hope and pray the series on the Books of Peter has encouraged and strengthened you. We enjoyed sharing this journey with you, and Lynn and I both feel so honored to be a part of this community and to be praying for you. Your requests Monday have moved our…

    read more

  • Keys To The Kingdom – Part I

    Keys To The Kingdom – Part I

    SUMites: I have a thing about keys. Last week I believe the Lord poured out revelation upon me regarding keys and their significance in the Kingdom. I also believe that the revelation was not only specific to myself but also to others. Way back in 2009 I penciled together an idea for a book. That…

    read more

  • No More Chains

    No More Chains

    My friends, my post today is a kind of merging of two stories. You see, I thought they were separate, yet as I prayed for Abba's clear leading on what to write, He impressed upon my heart that they are indeed connected. The first story is one we are very familiar with. The prodigal son.…

    read more

  • An Introduction to Empowered Living

    An Introduction to Empowered Living

    My friends, we're already two weeks into 2015. Can you believe it? Our fasting and praying brought us into this new year (our year of freedom, remember?) in a powerful way, and I believe we will continue to see breakthroughs as we are being brought to new levels of faith and living in Christ even…

    read more

  • Disparaging Disappointment, Part 2

    Disparaging Disappointment, Part 2

    So glad you're back, my friends. The end of this series is so near and dear to my heart, because it's written with a deep love and desire for you to live in the fullness of Jesus and all He has for us. I believe we will see great tremendous breakthroughs individually and as a…

    read more

  • Disparaging Disappointment

    Disparaging Disappointment

    My friends, we’re at the last Deadly D in this series, Disparaging Disappointment. God is so faithful-He answered your prayers for Words with reminders and a special email from one of you (Thanks, Jim!). I truly thought I'd lack words for the last two parts of this series, but quite the opposite has proved true!…

    read more

  • Precious Message from a SUMite

    Precious Message from a SUMite

    Dear friends, our SUM sister, Darby, sent this beautiful and encouraging message this past week. I just love Darby's heart for God and the joy she is finding in her faith walk as she trusts God with her furture and especially for her husband's salvation. She is walking in a place of thriving and freedom! …

    read more

  • The Three Deadly Ds: Dubious Doubt, part 2

    The Three Deadly Ds: Dubious Doubt, part 2

    On Wednesday I shared the first part of the first of the Deadly Ds, “Dubious Doubt.” Scroll down and read part one if you haven’t already, that way you get the full picture of how doubt can impact our faith and what happens when we start to see it and push it off, with the…

    read more

  • Our Transforming Influence

    Our Transforming Influence

    My friends, I’ve been reading and studying Proverbs the last couple weeks, specifically using the Passion translation. I’m enjoying this new translation very much and find the flow to be more poetic and inspiring. And going between translations to compare has given me more insights and appreciation of Solomon’s words of wisdom. What I’m specifically…

    read more

  • Another Astounding Testimony: Mismatched, Addiction and Now…He’s a Believer!

    Another Astounding Testimony: Mismatched, Addiction and Now…He’s a Believer!

    My friends, you just read about Janet's husband's transformation and a few of you even shared stories in the comments about your spouses coming to faith in Christ! Wow! Lynn and I-our heads are spinning and our hearts are jumping for joy! AND, here is another one! Trish Fuhlendorf reached out to us a few…

    read more

  • Our Breakthrough Happened! He’s a Believer!

    Our Breakthrough Happened! He’s a Believer!

    My friends, you know we have been praying for a breakthrough in our community for a long time. Recenlty Lynn and I have felt that a shift was coming, and we are over the moon to share with you that IT HAS HAPPENED! Janet Sommer is a long time member of this community. Lynn and…

    read more

  • The Unexpected Divine Appointments

    The Unexpected Divine Appointments

    Dear friends, as I walked and prayed Tuesday morning, I asked Abba for the words to share with you what I experienced at Bethel. I really wasn’t sure if I had anything definitive as God kept this visit very personal, which makes sense for this year of intimacy He’s called me to. But as I…

    read more

  • Lord, Do It Again!

    Lord, Do It Again!

    Last week I shared a Word of Encouragement that God impressed upon me about how He’s about to turn things around. Today I want to add a little more to that message-something else God showed me this last week, but first I want to share a powerful tool. This last week I’ve noticed Psalm 91…

    read more

  • Line by Line: Do I Divorce An Atheist?

    Line by Line: Do I Divorce An Atheist?

    So Gang. Before we leave the verses from Monday’s study. I want to expand upon them. The questions I’m asking you to ponder address a very REAL scenario in SUMite homes today. I think we need some honest conversation about the topic.  Let’s get started.  On Monday we read: To the rest I say this…

    read more

  • God’s Preparation: Trials and Challenges

    God’s Preparation: Trials and Challenges

    Dear Friends, one of the most extraordinary things that God is showing me of late is how interconnected things are and how often we miss it. So here is the first part of an unexpected series-I say unexpected because I'd made notes for what I thought were four different posts and then realized they are…

    read more

  • Humble Confidence – Part 2

    Humble Confidence – Part 2

      In the first post of this series on humble confidence, we explored the humble, meek and gentle side of the Christian life. This post highlights our call to live boldly and confidently. being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day…

    read more