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4 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/october-10-2024 October 10, 2024 Appealing to the God of Covenant (Thank you for your support given to the Hurricane Helene victims - it continues to pour in. I’ll say more about it tomorrow. And since I record the posts the evening before, I am not yet able to comment on Hurricane Milton. I’ll do so tomorrow.) There are different types and levels of covenant. Most Christians use the word “covenant” only in reference to God’s covenant with Abraham and his offspring, or when referring to the New Covenant we have with God through Christ. Because of this, many shy away from believing America has a covenant relationship with God. The word for covenant in Scripture, however, has a much broader range of meanings. The Hebrew word is beriyth. It means “a compact, covenant, alliance, pledge, promise, treaty, agreement, league; a constitution, ordinance.”(1) These usages can refer to an agreement between individuals, as in a marriage or a friendship. The word even refers to a covenant, contract, or alliance between nations. Israel, through their idolatry, even made a covenant with death (Isaiah 28:15, 18)! And, of course, it is used to describe covenants involving God. Simply stated, a covenant is a binding agreement or promise between two or more parties. Obviously, covenants have different levels and strengths. In God’s eyes, a marriage covenant is obviously more binding than two friends pledging their allegiance to one another. We do not become one with someone through a friendship-type covenant, as we do in marriage. Abraham’s covenant with God rises above most others. The new covenant through Christ’s blood stands above all covenants. When I state that America is in covenant with God, I am NOT saying the Lord entered into the type of covenant with our nation that He did with Abraham. And I’m certainly not equating it to a covenant like unto what we enjoy with God through Christ. Nor am I implying that it is based on a blood sacrifice of some sort. I AM saying that early Pilgrims, settlers, and Founders in America entered into sacred alliances and agreements with God. They did so through prayers, declarations, and written documents - including our founding documents. Our Founders made sacred, covenantal promises to function under God’s government and care, to serve His purposes, and to honor Him. This was all based on Christ’s sacrifice and the Scriptures, making it acceptable to God. It was also accepted because God Himself inspired and motivated the actions! America absolutely has covenant agreements and alignments with God, as well as covenant promises from God! He still honors them, and as we declare them in prayer, they are powerful. We can agree and decree with Hunt’s Cape Henry declaration that the gospel will go from these shores to all the nations of the earth. We can declare and decree with Congress that we are a nation under God. We can decree with Ben Franklin and the Continental Congress that the God of providence founded us and will finish what He started. WE CAN TAKE OUT GIANTS WITH THESE DECLARATIONS! It is little wonder that satanic forces are trying to revise our history. Satan knows covenant roots are powerful. He knows God keeps covenant and mercy (Deuteronomy 7:9). Do not be distracted by the lies of those who neither want nor honor these covenantal roots. They will lose; God will win. They cannot steal our history unless we allow it, and we will not do so. Hold fast to it and use it in your prayers. This upcoming Saturday on the Washington Mall, we will war spiritually for America’s return to covenant (link). The Esthers will lead the charge. Let’s decree now, as well. Pray with me: We decree that America was founded by God, under an appeal to heaven, and that an appeal to heaven is giving us a rebirth! We decree that we are a voice for Him to all the earth, and the gospel of the kingdom will go forth from America to all people! We decree that we are a nation founded under Christ’s blood and rule, and that we have no king but Jesus! We decree that Yahweh is our Lawgiver, our Judge, and our King, and that our three branches of government were founded under this truth! (Isaiah 33:22). We decree we are a city on a hill, shining God’s light, and darkness will not prevail! We decree that God’s mercy over America endures forever; His mercies are new every morning! We decree that He who began a good work in America will complete it, that God had a plan for our restoration before we even rebelled against Him! We decree that nothing can stop our restoration because our trust is in God! We decree that God’s redeeming power is greater than satan’s deceiving lies, and His truth will prevail! We decree that God has the ability to save - loves to do so - and takes no pleasure in judgment! We decree that we are seated with Christ, and satan is under our feet. We are far above all principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness! We decree that we are Christ’s Ekklesia representing His authority on earth; we have His keys of authority to bind and loose, open and close. We decree that no weapon formed against America’s restoration, nor against the purposes of God for her will prosper. We decree that America shall be saved!!! (And Lord, we pray for Your grace to be upon the people of Florida. We ask for grace, comfort, strength, and provision. We ask and decree all this in Christ’s name. Amen.) ************************ For more information regarding the upcoming Million Women on the Mall event on October 12, 2024, go to AMillionWomen.org Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------------- James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 1285

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/october-9-2024 October 9, 2024 The Church Being the Church Some of today’s post is rewarding to write; other portions are very difficult. I am going to give a promised update regarding hurricane Helene and the donations you have sent. DSM/GH15 has already funneled over half a million dollars from you to victims of hurricane Helene. As promised, every penny sent to us for this purpose is being used strictly for hurricane relief; we take out nothing for expenses or overhead. Ceci and other staff members have spent many hours researching and vetting organizations. We are sending funds to those with boots on the ground; we are not sending any to government organizations. More funds and supplies will be going out in a day or so. I want to share a firsthand account from a resident in the Swannanoa, NC area. It is painful to read and hear - probably not suitable for children - but real. Yesterday, we spoke with Mona in that small mountain community of about 5000. It’s not far from Asheville. She confirmed that the situation there is totally devastating. Like so many, Mona has lost her home. Stranded for days on the mountain where she lives, she and many others have been forced to evacuate from their properties to safer areas. FEMA said they could place them in hotels, but the only ones available were over two hours away. Instead, she and many others in this community have chosen to stay, in order to help one another. Many of them, including Mona, are sleeping on the floor of her church, with whom she is working to give assistance to others. The loss of life in their area has been catastrophic, over 200 deaths thus far and the number is climbing steadily. Mona told us that everyone in their church has lost someone. There are still hundreds of people missing. FEMA is currently in the area with cadaver dogs, trying to find the missing. She stated that even before FEMA arrived, bodies were washing up on the riverbank as the water receded. Before she was evacuated, Mona had three people wash ashore from the river by her home. Her church has been searching for people and this morning found the body of a toddler in a tree - they have yet to find the parents. Among the bodies found thus far are babies, children, young and old. This morning, Mona and her sister, who is a nurse, rode a 4-wheeler up the mountain to do a wellness check on an elderly couple. The couple’s children had notified the church that they couldn’t reach their parents. When Mona and her sister arrived, one of the parents was still alive, the other had passed away. They had no choice but to leave behind the one who had passed away in order to evacuate the other to safety. The trauma and loss generated by this apocalyptic flood is unimaginable. All of us at DSM/GH15 who heard these details yesterday were overcome with grief. Tears flowed. The people in this community need EVERYTHING: food, water, baby food, formula, diapers, feminine products, soap, clothing, blankets, cots, water filters, pet food, cat litter, folding tables, shelving, ATV’s - everything imaginable. There is currently access by car to parts of the town and the church, which is how they are getting some supplies. The roads into the mountains and other parts of town are impassible. And with winter approaching, many of them have been told they will not have power until January! Mona specifically asked for prayer and welcomed whatever donations we had—they are grateful for everything. We are wiring funds to the church, which has become a staging place for supplies. We are also taking an enclosed trailer and a couple of open ones, filled with supplies such as those mentioned above. They will also be carrying 2 ATV’s, shovels, rakes, ladders, propane heaters, backpacks, generators, sleeping bags, and more. Some of our staff members, including Ceci, are purchasing supplies as I record this. Help spread the word that the victims of this hurricane desperately need assistance. And another MASSIVE and historic hurricane is headed for Florida, slated to arrive Wednesday night. Pray for protection for those in the path of this storm. In closing, I want to mention two Scripture references. Proverbs 19:17 (TPT‬‬) tells us, “Every time you give to the poor you make a loan to the Lord. Don’t worry—you’ll be repaid in full for all the good you’ve done.” The second reference is regarding a man named Cornelius, mentioned in Acts 10: “…a devout man of extraordinary character who worshiped God and prayed regularly, together with all his family. He also had a heart for the poor and gave generously to help them. One afternoon about three o’clock, he had an open vision and saw the angel of God appear right in front of him, calling out his name, ‘Cornelius!’ “Startled, he was overcome with fear by the sight of the angel. He asked, ‘What do you want, Lord?’ “The angel said, ‘All of your prayers and your generosity to the poor have ascended before God as an eternal offering.’” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭10‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬) Because of Cornelius’ prayers and generosity, his home was chosen as the birthplace of one of the most significant spiritual movements in all of history: the gospel being preached to the non-Jewish world. The earth was forever changed in Cornelius’ living room. God appreciates it when we give to those in need! Thank you for what you have done and are doing! Pray with me: Father, the world is reeling - we are indeed in perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1). Wars, corruption at the highest levels, violence, gross immorality, weather-related disasters, and so much more. We pray for peace to rule the hearts of believers, especially intercessors; we need them to remain positioned in prayer and anchored in faith. As many things around us shake, we will remain steadfast, knowing that You and your Kingdom are unshakable. And as we remain faithful in prayer, Your purposes in our lives will be fulfilled. We pray for a deluge of help to flow from Your people to those in need. Awaken compassion in the church, touch the hearts of millions of Americans to get involved. And we also know that meeting the natural needs of those hurting is not only Christ-like, it will open their hearts to receive the gospel. Use these crises as part of the great spiritual awakening that has begun. And finally, we ask for mercy to those on the Florida coast. Do not allow the predicted devastation from hurricane Milton. Intervene, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the Lord will use the suffering of people in this season to bring forth good. ********************************* If you would like to contribute to DSM’s Hurricane Helene Relief Fund, click here. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

7 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/october-8-2024 October 8, 2024 Introduction Today, I want to share a powerful post about the Million Women gathering in Washington, D.C., this upcoming Saturday (10/12/2024), using Lou Engle’s own words. A Million Voices The word of the Lord interrupted the agenda. We were in a leaders’ meeting in Virginia in 2014, when Teri Buck told her story. She had been praying daily at Meditation Rock, the very place where Mary Washington would go to pray for her son, George, during the Revolutionary War. Suddenly, as Teri spoke, it was like a bomb went off in the room. For the next two hours, the place erupted in prayer and prophecy. Holy Spirit said: “As it was in the Revolutionary War, when a mother's prayers for her son helped save the nation, so too will a million women gather at the National Mall in D.C., in the hour of our greatest crisis. It will be a ‘Last Stand’ for America! They’ll come to Washington in the spirit of Jeremiah 9, ‘Call the wailing women to weep and travail for their sons and daughters, their sisters and their brothers, for death has climbed through our windows’ (from Jeremiah 9:17-21). When they come, they will save the nation.” Heaven had spoken. Those of us who were there will never forget that defining moment. Then, in 2017, after President Trump had been elected, witches around the globe rose up on a set day to curse him. You have to wonder about a man’s purpose when witches worldwide rally to curse him. Whatever your thoughts are concerning Trump, he gave us three Justices that overturned Roe v. Wade. What does that mean in the spirit realm? My spirit was so agitated by this worldwide spiritual assault, that I felt compelled to seek the Lord with prayer and fasting to see if He would give me understanding as to how or if I should respond. On the third night, I received an unforgettable dream: “I was in an open field, and as far as the eye could see, women were coming from everywhere. Many were young girls, teens, all coming to be taught from the book of Esther. I was so moved. It felt like I was seeing a revival. A prayer partner and I were the only men there. He gave me an old Bible, which I now understand represented the ancient calling to be a Mordecai (along with many others) to announce and call forth this Esther Movement. In the dream, a woman, maybe in her late 30s, stood up to teach the book of Esther. She spoke emphatically. ‘These two words in the book of Esther actually mean Nazgul”’ I exploded out of the dream, knowing instantly what it meant. In the third movie of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, there’s a scene where the Nazgul Witch-king is destroying the armies of men. When the armor-clad princess confronts the Nazgul with her sword, the Witch-king threatens, “No man can kill me!” Just then, she rips off her helmet, lets down her hair, and pierces the Nazgul through, declaring, “I AM NO MAN!” Immediately, I understood that there was a mass women’s movement of Esthers who would carry a mighty spirit of revival and wield spiritual authority to break and restrain the demonic powers of witchcraft in our nation. Obviously this does not preclude men, but the Spirit was emphasizing the place of women in a strategic role - Esthers and Mordecais. With these two prophetic encounters spurring us onward, we collaborated with Awaken the Dawn to hold an initial seed gathering on the National Mall in the Fall of 2017. We called it “Rise Up,” and about 22,000 women came and poured out their hearts to God, even in a downpour of rain. Maybe heaven was weeping. I will never forget the tears and travail. Those women put a stake in the ground, watering it with their consecration… We believed that the 2017 Rise Up gathering was a first fruits of the million to come. Meanwhile, deep darkness has increasingly covered our nation. The chilling prophecy of a “Last Stand for America” has come more fully into view, along with the words of Isaiah: “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you, and His glory appears over you” (Isaiah 60:2). Unbeknownst to me, in 2017, while I was continually pondering this heavenly vision of a million Esthers with many of my spiritual daughters, another woman from the Northwest was providentially being encountered by the Lord. Jenny Donnelly, a businesswoman and co-pastor with her husband, was being led by God to begin hosting women’s gatherings. Out of the blue, the Lord said to her, ‘Call and gather a million praying women. They will rally together to turn a nation back to God.’ We began to join our faith together over God's divine strategy. Months later, I found myself on a plane engrossed in the pages of Mark Batterson's book, Chase the Lion. He writes of Genesis moments, when God breaks in with a vision and gives a glimpse of things to come. But then he tells of those decisive moments that dictate the course of decades. “A single ‘yes,’ a single ‘no,’ a ‘too early,’ a ‘too late,’ makes that hour irrevocable for a hundred generations and determines the life of an individual, a people, and even the destiny of mankind.”(1) When I read those words, I began weeping in the plane. I knew the Lord was speaking to me that it was time to push “GO.” This was my decisive moment to risk everything and call the Esthers to the Mall! It’s no mistake that the backdrop to this Esther/Mordecai movement involves, as Rabbi Jonathan Cahn describes in his book Return of the Gods, satan’s counterparts, Ishtar and Marduk, who have also come to the forefront of history. These demonic spirits, known as ancient gods, were driven out by America’s revivals and the preaching of the gospel. However, in the 60s, when our nation began to remove God from the public square, these evil powers, finding the house of America swept clean and empty, returned and repossessed the generation with spirits seven times worse than before (see Matthew 12:45). Notably, the book does not end on a victorious note, and there was to be no epilogue. But on the very day Cahn finished his manuscript, Roe v. Wade was overturned. He went on to write the Epilogue of Hope. I believe a new chapter of God's scroll for America is unfolding. We have attained a significant victory in tearing down the national altar of bloodshed by Roe v. Wade. For eighteen years, a company of intercessors stood in front of the Supreme Court five days a week, pleading the blood of Jesus and taking Communion. With all the saints who have stood over the past fifty years against this altar of Baal, it appears that the Blood applied may have turned the tide. The ending of Roe may be a harbinger of hope for America. Now, could A Million Voices in D.C., in fasting and communion, applying the Blood to the doorposts of our families, our cities, and the very doorposts of our national guilt, grant us a reprieve from heaven? Could this open a door for revival and reformation? I believe God has been preparing His women to become heirs of history as they are summoned now to play a great role. It seems fitting that God would call for mothers in the spirit, to not only challenge the witchcraft empowering the destructive ideologies aimed against our faith, our families, and our children, but to birth through prayer a day of salvation for America. On October 12, 2024, [this Saturday], we are summoning a million Esthers and Mordecais to gather on the National Mall in a massive Solemn Assembly of fasting and prayer on the Day of Atonement. On that day, the most sacred day of Israel’s holy convocations, when the future of the nation was determined, the High Priest would go into the Holy of Holies with blood to atone for the sins of the whole nation. Jesus Christ is now our eternal High Priest. In repentance, humility, and faith, let us draw near to the Throne of Grace and make our appeal to heaven. Who knows, but for such a time as this, we have come to the Kingdom! (Esther 4:14) Can a nation be saved in a day? Yes! On the Day of Atonement! Pray with me: Father, we thank You for men like Lou Engle, who lay it all on the line for You. He has lived a life of humility, sacrifice, prayer, and fasting to see Your purposes established in America and around the world. We pray today that this Saturday, all of his efforts over the past 30 or so years come together in the spirit, creating a giant crescendo of Holy Spirit power. We are not making this day about him, but about the calling You have placed on his life to see America turn back to You. We ask You to move on the hearts of men and women to join us this Saturday on the Mall in Washington. If they need to change plans in order to do so, motivate them accordingly; if they must drive for a day or so just to get there, please motivate them to do so. Cause the church in our nation to recognize the urgency of this hour and the strategic nature of this event. It truly can be a “hinge of history” that saves America. And please motivate several million more to participate on the Internet. Rally the troops! Awaken the watchmen! Summon the Esther’s and Mordecai’s! This Saturday, we will come before You, the King, asking for Your mercy and deliverance! And we believe we will receive this. And we cannot fail to ask for Your supernatural aid to those suffering the effects of Helene. And we ask for mercy and protection from Hurricane Milton that is approaching. In the name of our Savior, Jesus, we pray. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we were born for such a time as this! ******************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. -------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s post was contributed by Lou Engle and taken from The Briefing. You can find out more about Lou at LouEngle.com. You can find out more about A Million Women event Saturday, October 12, at AMillionWomen.org. -------------------------------------------------------------- Mark Batterson, Chase the Lion (Sisters, OR: Multnomah publishers, 2019).

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/october-4-2024 October 4, 2024 Justice Needed Stories of devastation and tragedy continue to pour in regarding Hurricane Helene. The relief efforts could now be complicated by shortages created by the dockworkers’ strike. This will not only cause many shortages, but some are saying it will cost the American economy billions of dollars a day. I certainly don’t know enough to have a position on either side of the issues being argued. However, the timing is unfortunate. The Biden/Harris administration could have forced a 2-month delay through the Taft-Hartley Act, but they need union support for the elections. The union itself could have waited. Neither occurred, and the results could now exacerbate an already tragic situation. Pray for a quick end to the strike. Here are some firsthand reports of the horrific suffering from the hurricane, taken from X (captured 10/3/2024): “In Swannanoa, some have lost everything: home, car, and all personal belongings. We worked for two days cutting trees, moving boulders, mud and debris from our road so that people could get off our mountain to either flee the area or find food, water, and other supplies they need to survive the days ahead. Entire neighborhoods washed away. Cars are in trees. Houses and businesses washed down the river. Highways and private roads are gone…” “My husband works for North Carolina DHHS state police in Black Mountain. I hear the emergency traffic all day. My son works for Henderson County Sheriff’s office and said they are still pulling bodies from the Swannanoa River and that there has been over 1000 deaths so far in Buncombe County alone. [This is much higher than what is reported on TV - time will tell.] Hospital morgues are full. They have brought in refrigerated trailers to store bodies and transport them to other areas. I had friends in Grovemont community two streets down from me that didn’t survive a mudslide that took their home with them in it. My cousin, who was a Fairview Fireman, lost his life and his nephew’s life, and almost lost his son, as well, trying to save their neighbors in a mudslide…” Speaking of ongoing efforts to feed people, one person said: “A church made peanut butter sandwiches and brought them, again there wasn’t enough. Another person slaughtered one of their cows, and the church was grilling it to feed people. They were giving small pieces of meat the size of a sausage patty. I went to the back of the line 3 times because of children getting in the line behind me. I left with nothing because a mother with a small child ran up behind me, asking if her little boy could get a sandwich before they were gone. You kind of lose your appetite when you try and process what is going on around you.” With hundreds killed over six states, thousands without food, water, shelter, and power, and no end in sight to the suffering, many are now criticizing Mayorkas-led FEMA. In an article published by Blaze News, Joseph McKinnon states: “The trouble, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, is that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) lacks the requisite funds. “In response to Mayorkas turning out empty pockets, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) wrote, ‘This is easy. Mayorkas and FEMA — immediately stop spending money on illegal immigration resettlement and redirect those funds to areas hit by the hurricane. Put Americans first.’ “Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) tweeted, ‘FEMA spending over a billion dollars on illegals while they leave Americans stranded and without help is treasonous. U.S. citizens are dying. Pray for our country, folks.’ "'The Biden-Harris FEMA spent over $1 BILLION on funding illegal aliens. America LAST,’ wrote Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.). “’Let me translate: We are racking up trillions in debt with all the money that our money printer prints that we then take back from law-abiding American citizens like you but we exist to spend it on anything other than helping you,’ wrote Blaze News editor in chief Matthew Peterson. “Elon Musk simply expressed disbelief, writing, ‘Wow.’ “While the DHS continues sinking taxpayer funds into aiding illegal aliens, FEMA will make a one-time $750 payment available to some qualifying Americans in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia so that they can buy food, water, and other supplies.”(1) It is hard to imagine a more inept and corrupt U.S. government than we now have in portions of ours. Millions of Americans are paying for politicians’ insatiable lust for power and money. In exchange for future votes, they’ve allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl deaths, missing children numbering in the tens of thousands, thousands of criminals and terrorists into our nation, and entire cities destroyed. Our bumbling leaders are the laughing stock of the world; “peace through strength” has been replaced by “war through weakness,” and common sense - let alone wisdom - has been rejected for lunacy. And one more thing, many living in the hard-hit areas could now see challenges to voting in November. Some are no longer receiving mail service or have nearby places to vote, if they could even get there. Pray regarding this! The good news? (Yes, there is good news.) Millions of Americans have awakened from their stupor. They see the corruption, are aware of the deep state, know our government and many agencies are broken, and are awake to the rise of Marxism in our land. And most importantly, millions of them are praying. Deep in their core, most Americans believe in God and know He can do the impossible. They are also becoming increasingly aware that we cannot turn things around without Him. The process will not be easy - this we also know - but an “appeal to Heaven” is going forth, and the God who birthed our nation will save our nation. I conclude with the words of Founding Father, Samuel Adams: “We have proclaimed to the world our determination ‘to die freemen, rather than to live slaves.’ We have appealed to Heaven for the justice of our cause, and in Heaven we have placed our trust.” [Samuel Adams, in a speech to the Second Continental Congress on August 1, 1776.](2) Keep praying, church. It birthed our nation and will save our nation. And it is preserving a worldwide harvest. Pray with me: Father, we continue to lift up those suffering from the effects of hurricane Helene. We pray for provisions to get to those who need them, medical help to those who need it, and comfort to those who have lost so much. There are doubtless those who are still waiting to be found; please work miracles and enable searchers to find them. Many agencies and volunteers are working hard; please enable them to accomplish what is needed. We continue to ask You for the transformation needed in America. Cleanse and heal our land. Do whatever is necessary to transform this nation. Give us righteous leaders in this election. We appeal to You for the salvation of America and the recovery of our destiny - representing Christ throughout the world. We know we are not the only people with this privilege, but we do play a significant role and want to do our part. Please restore this. These things we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: “We have appealed to Heaven for the justice of our cause, and in Heaven we have placed our trust.” ************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ---------------------------------------------- theblaze.com https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/samuel-adams-quotes

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/october-3-2024 October 3, 2024 His Eye Is On the Sparrow In yesterday’s post, I mentioned Second Timothy 3:1: “…in the last days perilous times will come.” The Greek word from which we get “perilous” here is chalepos.(1) It means “difficult, fierce, dangerous, savage.” Many people down through history have faced chalepos times; we are most certainly in one now. I also stated the following: “Our nation certainly finds itself in very difficult and dangerous times: corruption is great in our government; division and unrest are strong and on the rise; millions of illegals, including thousands of criminals and terrorists, are in our country; multiple assassination attempts have occurred against a former President; a strike began last night that could cripple America’s supply chain and further damage our economy; the recent catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Helene; I could go on. “Then there are the perilous times globally. China is bullying and intimidating throughout that region; Russia has attacked and is at war with Ukraine; Iran and its surrogates continue to attack Israel and threaten the United States. Israel has responded by annihilating Hamas and Hezbollah, then was attacked by Iran yesterday…Trump continues to warn us that the weak and inept Biden/Harris administration has brought us to the brink of WWIII.” This word translated “perilous” in Second Timothy, chalepos, is only used one other time in Scripture. The reference is Matthew 8:28, in the account of the Gadarene man possessed by a “legion” of demons. This verse says the man was “fierce.” I’d say! Mark’s account of this man in his gospel reads: “Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.” (Mark 5:3-5 KJV) It is very telling to me that this is the only other context in Scripture referencing chalepos: a passage describing a completely demonized madman, extremely violent, with superhuman strength, living among the dead. It says to me that the “perilous” times referred to in 2 Timothy 3:1 are caused by staggering levels of demonic influence, a demonization causing insanity, anger, great violence - even savagery. The butchery against Israel on October 7, 2023, is an example. Rape, murder, sexual mutilation of children, and other acts of cruelty and insanity would also be examples of this level of demonic control. Second Timothy uses the words “unloving…without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous” (verses 3-4) and more to describe the perilous times spoken of. Read all of 2 Timothy chapter 3, and you’ll be enlightened as to this condition. Verse 13 says “evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Welcome to 2024. But there is good news. Jesus was far greater than the chalepos-causing demons controlling the Gadarene man. The three gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell this story (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-21; Luke 8:26-39). Combining them is enlightening. Mark tells us that the locals heard about this, came to check it out, and found the formerly demonized man sitting peacefully, clothed, and in his right mind (5:14-15). And that’s not the end of the story: “And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” (Mark 5:18-20 KJV) The man fell in love with Jesus, his Deliverer, and didn’t want to leave Him. “Take me with you!” he pleaded. Jesus told him he would be more valuable as an evangelist!!! Go tell the region how I “had compassion on thee.” (Other translations use the word “mercy.”) So the man did just that, declaring throughout the region what Jesus did, and all those who heard it marveled. There are many chalepos’d individuals presently on earth, controlled by demonic spirits. Jesus loves them, wants to show them mercy, give them back their right mind, and make them tomorrow’s evangelists. And the world will marvel. Yes, we are in difficult, chalepos times. Yes, they are filled with great challenges. But God… I’m reminded of the words of a great old hymn, taken from Christ’s words in Matthew 6:26: “Why should I feel discouraged?…His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” Shalom! Pray with me: Father, You have not been caught off-guard or taken by surprise at the evil of our day. You warned us very clearly in Your Word that it would occur. You also gave us an amazing example of Your ability to deal with it. We remember this today. We do not minimize the suffering of so many at this time, but neither do we surrender to it as the final chapter. You ARE the Deliverer. You ARE He who restores and heals. You give fresh starts, new beginnings, turnarounds, and right minds. You cause bad to work for good when we keep our faith anchored to You. And we do so today. We ask for aid to make it to areas hard hit by the hurricane. We ask for hope to be given to them, and we ask for comfort to be given to those who have lost loved ones. We know their grief is unimaginable, but You know how to comfort them. Show them Your love and peace through this catastrophic situation. We ask for this. We ask for salvation, Holy Spirit’s presence, to break into the devastated regions. Bring good into the bad. Override evil in the Middle East. Defeat Iran and her proxies. Then, rain revival in the region. And give America deliverance from evil. Save and restore us. And based on Your instructions in Matthew 6:10, we command the release of Your Kingdom authority, goodness, and will into our upcoming elections. We also command this into our schools, homes, cities, and streets. And all this we do in our representation of Christ and His authority. Our decree: We decree that in these perilous times, the goodness and mercy of Christ will be revealed, demoniacs will be freed and become evangelists for Him. **************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ---------------------------------------------------- I want to thank you for the financial donations that have come in for the Hurricane Helene Relief Fund. Your generosity has been astounding. We are sending the funds to churches and ministries in the North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee areas. There’s so much loss - people still missing, and places where they have to use mules and helicopters to reach them. Thank you for helping. If you would still like to contribute, go to one of our websites (DutchSheets.org or GiveHim15.com) and click the banner. ---------------------------------------------------- James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 5467.

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/october-1-2024 October 1, 2024 Hurricane Helene I mentioned in yesterday’s post that at the time it was written, we did not have power. We went on to be without power and water for three days, just getting it restored Sunday afternoon. We are among the more fortunate ones. Thousands of people across the Southeast are still without power, and many will be without power for another month. Though we suffered some damage to our property and lost about a dozen 100-year-old trees, we are good; no complaints here. The devastation in some areas is horrific, absolutely catastrophic. Here is a recap as of today. Hurricane Helene roared ashore late Thursday in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph (225 kph) winds. The storm surge led to catastrophic damage along Florida’s Gulf Coast, with the Big Bend region seeing the highest inundation, which exceeded 15 feet. Cities such as Tampa and Clearwater Beach saw their highest storm surge level in decades. Officials warned that rebuilding from the widespread loss of homes and property would be lengthy and difficult. The storm upended life throughout the Southeast. Torrential rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Helene capped off three days of extreme, unrelenting precipitation, which left catastrophic flooding and unimaginable damage in the NC Blueridge Mountains and foothills. It was close to a worst-case scenario for western North Carolina as seemingly limitless tropical moisture, enhanced by interactions with the high terrain, yielded some of the highest rainfall totals – followed by some of the highest river levels, and the most severe flooding – ever observed across the region. The NC Department of Transportation states that “all roads in western NC should be considered closed”. They say it will take years to document and recover from the extreme rainfall and other hazards. As mountain streams became overrun with moisture, that water rushed down the rivers and into towns such as Asheville. Downtown Boone was inundated by several feet of flooding. Heavy rain along the Broad River basin sent a destructive wave of water, mud, and debris into the towns of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, reducing homes and businesses to splinters. Downtown Chimney Rock is gone. With the exception of storm surge – and Florida was hit hard by that – Helene brought the full suite of hurricane impacts to North Carolina, and in full force just hours after its landfall at Category-4 strength. The Swannanoa River at Biltmore crested at 26.1 feet, more than five feet above its 1916 maximum and slightly above the apparent 26-foot crest in April 1791, making this effectively the worst flood along the river since North Carolina became a state. There have been hundreds of water rescues, including in a rural county in East Tennessee, where dozens of patients and staff were plucked by helicopter from a hospital rooftop on Friday. While 4 to 5 million people were without power in the Southeast, as of Sunday night, more than 2 million customers were still without power. As of this writing, at least 121 people have been confirmed dead across six states - Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Six hundred plus are missing. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper says people are “desperate for help,” and the state is working to deploy all available resources. “Many people are cut off because roads are impassible. They don’t have power or communications. This unprecedented storm dropped 10-29 inches of rain across the mountains, causing life-threatening floods and landslides,” Cooper added. While crews are continuing to clean up after the storm, the shortage of food, water, and fuel is leading to long lines at gas stations as tensions start to run high. Some cities (especially small towns) don’t have power for their gas stations or food in their grocery stores. Many mountain towns are cut off from civilization because of the bridges being washed away. While crews are trying to repair those roads, helicopters have been able to start dropping supplies to some who remain isolated until routes can be reopened. A FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray said, “There are helicopters that are very active - we saw them when we came in last night. And yet, there are still people in dire straits in need. The situation right now is still very, very complicated and fluid.” Moody’s Analytics said it expects there will be $15 billion to $26 billion in property damage. Pray with me: Father, Your Word assures us: “…You’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in times of trouble— more than enough and always available whenever I need you. So we will never fear even if every structure of support were to crumble away. We will not fear even when the earth quakes and shakes, moving mountains and casting them into the sea. For the raging roar of stormy winds and crashing waves cannot erode our faith in You.” ‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭TPT‬‬) We ask now for the fulfillment of this throughout the Southeastern United States. Some have lost family, others important possessions. The trauma is intense, the grief immeasurable. Cause those who don’t know You to turn to You through this. You are not the destroyer; You’re the Redeemer. Remind those who know You to lean into Your grace, strength, and comfort, keeping their anchor of hope attached (Hebrews 6:19). Remind them that You’re the God who can take even the bad and use it for good. And may they remember that You will not leave or forsake them in this time of crisis. Move on the hearts of fellow Americans to give aid and support. People need water, food, diapers, formula, shelter, and more; help us know how to help. Give churches strategies and provisions. May their serving and loving hearts be used to draw many to You; save many through this. Rescue those still stranded. We pray for all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that God is a present help in this time of trouble. ***************************** If you would like to contribute to the needs of those whom Hurricane Helene has dealt this horrific blow, we have set up a fund where you can give. Go to either of our websites: DutchSheets.org or GiveHim15.com and click on the HURRICANE HELENE link. 100% will go to those in need; we will take out no administrative costs. While online giving is best, if you choose to send a check, please note HURRICANE HELENE in the memo. Our address can be found on our website. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------------- Information for today’s post was taken from the AP News, FoxWeather.com, and the North Carolina Climate Office.

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/october-1-2024 October 1, 2024 Hurricane Helene I mentioned in yesterday’s post that at the time it was written, we did not have power. We went on to be without power and water for three days, just getting it restored Sunday afternoon. We are among the more fortunate ones. Thousands of people across the Southeast are still without power, and many will be without power for another month. Though we suffered some damage to our property and lost about a dozen 100-year-old trees, we are good; no complaints here. The devastation in some areas is horrific, absolutely catastrophic. Here is a recap as of today. Hurricane Helene roared ashore late Thursday in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph (225 kph) winds. The storm surge led to catastrophic damage along Florida’s Gulf Coast, with the Big Bend region seeing the highest inundation, which exceeded 15 feet. Cities such as Tampa and Clearwater Beach saw their highest storm surge level in decades. Officials warned that rebuilding from the widespread loss of homes and property would be lengthy and difficult. The storm upended life throughout the Southeast. Torrential rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Helene capped off three days of extreme, unrelenting precipitation, which left catastrophic flooding and unimaginable damage in the NC Blueridge Mountains and foothills. It was close to a worst-case scenario for western North Carolina as seemingly limitless tropical moisture, enhanced by interactions with the high terrain, yielded some of the highest rainfall totals – followed by some of the highest river levels, and the most severe flooding – ever observed across the region. The NC Department of Transportation states that “all roads in western NC should be considered closed”. They say it will take years to document and recover from the extreme rainfall and other hazards. As mountain streams became overrun with moisture, that water rushed down the rivers and into towns such as Asheville. Downtown Boone was inundated by several feet of flooding. Heavy rain along the Broad River basin sent a destructive wave of water, mud, and debris into the towns of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, reducing homes and businesses to splinters. Downtown Chimney Rock is gone. With the exception of storm surge – and Florida was hit hard by that – Helene brought the full suite of hurricane impacts to North Carolina, and in full force just hours after its landfall at Category-4 strength. The Swannanoa River at Biltmore crested at 26.1 feet, more than five feet above its 1916 maximum and slightly above the apparent 26-foot crest in April 1791, making this effectively the worst flood along the river since North Carolina became a state. There have been hundreds of water rescues, including in a rural county in East Tennessee, where dozens of patients and staff were plucked by helicopter from a hospital rooftop on Friday. While 4 to 5 million people were without power in the Southeast, as of Sunday night, more than 2 million customers were still without power. As of this writing, at least 121 people have been confirmed dead across six states - Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Six hundred plus are missing. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper says people are “desperate for help,” and the state is working to deploy all available resources. “Many people are cut off because roads are impassible. They don’t have power or communications. This unprecedented storm dropped 10-29 inches of rain across the mountains, causing life-threatening floods and landslides,” Cooper added. While crews are continuing to clean up after the storm, the shortage of food, water, and fuel is leading to long lines at gas stations as tensions start to run high. Some cities (especially small towns) don’t have power for their gas stations or food in their grocery stores. Many mountain towns are cut off from civilization because of the bridges being washed away. While crews are trying to repair those roads, helicopters have been able to start dropping supplies to some who remain isolated until routes can be reopened. A FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray said, “There are helicopters that are very active - we saw them when we came in last night. And yet, there are still people in dire straits in need. The situation right now is still very, very complicated and fluid.” Moody’s Analytics said it expects there will be $15 billion to $26 billion in property damage. Pray with me: Father, Your Word assures us: “…You’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in times of trouble— more than enough and always available whenever I need you. So we will never fear even if every structure of support were to crumble away. We will not fear even when the earth quakes and shakes, moving mountains and casting them into the sea. For the raging roar of stormy winds and crashing waves cannot erode our faith in You.” ‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭TPT‬‬) We ask now for the fulfillment of this throughout the Southeastern United States. Some have lost family, others important possessions. The trauma is intense, the grief immeasurable. Cause those who don’t know You to turn to You through this. You are not the destroyer; You’re the Redeemer. Remind those who know You to lean into Your grace, strength, and comfort, keeping their anchor of hope attached (Hebrews 6:19). Remind them that You’re the God who can take even the bad and use it for good. And may they remember that You will not leave or forsake them in this time of crisis. Move on the hearts of fellow Americans to give aid and support. People need water, food, diapers, formula, shelter, and more; help us know how to help. Give churches strategies and provisions. May their serving and loving hearts be used to draw many to You; save many through this. Rescue those still stranded. We pray for all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that God is a present help in this time of trouble. *********************** If you would like to contribute to the needs of those whom Hurricane Helene has dealt this horrific blow, we have set up a fund where you can give. Go to either of our websites: DutchSheets.org or GiveHim15.com and click on the HURRICANE HELENE link. 100% will go to those in need; we will take out no administrative costs. While online giving is best, if you choose to send a check, please note HURRICANE HELENE in the memo. Our address can be found on our website. Information for today’s post was taken from the AP News, FoxWeather.com, and the North Carolina Climate Office.

7 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-30-2024 September 30, 2024 Hurricane Helene hit our region hard; we have no power or internet!!! Therefore, today’s post - always recorded the work day prior, which in this case was Friday - is a repost, taken from my book, The Pleasure of His Company. It’ll make you smile, which I’m sure we could all use right now. The Dance I’m not a great dancer. Okay, I’m not even an average dancer. Fine, I can’t dance at all. When I was a teenager, there was a popular dance called the Funky Chicken. I think my version of this “controlled flopping” was probably the closest I’ve ever come to performing a dance properly. I actually thought I was pretty good at it until my friends tagged my version the Flopping Chicken. Mom saw me practicing once and freaked out. “Are you okay?” she screamed, thinking I was having a seizure. “Yeah, I’m good,” I assured her. “Just doing the Funky Chicken.” “Get him off sugar,” Dad murmured from across the room, “before he breaks something.” “Looks like he’s being stung by a swarm of bees,” joked my brother. Tim has always been mercy-motivated. A few years back, my wife, Ceci, talked me into taking some private ballroom dancing lessons. I resisted at first, knowing this wouldn’t end well, but it became clear it was important to her. So against all wisdom, I succumbed. You’ve probably heard the expression, but have you ever really seen a drunken sailor? My dogs actually ran outside - wouldn’t come near me for days. “Maybe we should just take walks together,” Ceci suggested. “Yeah,” I said, “unless they bring back the Funky Chicken.” Dancing, for those who are fortunate enough to have the right genes, is considered great fun. It is, in fact, associated with joy. Who hasn’t heard the phrase “dancing for joy?” When we are sad, we tend to become more inactive, but when we’re joyful or celebrating, we jump, dance, and twirl around. So does God. No, I’m not kidding. He dances. There is a little-known verse in the Old Testament that gives a wonderful description of God’s dancing heart toward His kids: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy” (Zephaniah 3:17). In Hebrew, the word translated “rejoice” is the Hebrew word guwl, which literally means “to spin around under the influence of any violent emotion”.(1) That’s what I said - He dances! Hebrew is a pictorial language; a word paints a picture or creates an image. Through the word picture guwl presents - spinning around emotionally - it’s easy to see why it is translated into English words like joy, rejoice, glad, and delight. But really, do these translations do justice to this awesome little word? No way. I experienced “joy” last weekend when through my status as an Executive Platinum flyer with American Airlines, I was upgraded to first class. I actually “rejoiced,” sending a text to Ceci that read, “Awesome! Upgraded!” But I didn’t jump up in the terminal and dance around. I experience joy when my team wins a football game, but I don’t typically guwl over it. However, when the Denver Broncos won the Super Bowl a few years back, I guwl-ed. Losing all dignity, I jumped, screamed, and spun around, shaking my fists in the air. I high-fived everyone around me, whether I knew them or not. Guwl-ing brings people together! The day I’m writing this chapter happens to be New Year’s Eve. People will be guwl-ing all over the world tonight with individuals they don’t even know! But really, Dutch, are you saying God acts this way over His kids? No, Zephaniah did. In the great story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the prodigal’s father depicted our heavenly Father. When the wayward son returned home, his father was so excited he threw a party accompanied by music, dancing, and great rejoicing. I can’t prove it, but I know who was leading the dance. Dad! The guy who ran to meet his returning son, butchered the fattened calf and threw the party. One of my favorite lexicons says the word “rejoice” (v. 32) in this passage may be related to a Hebrew word that describes a young sheep or lamb skipping and frisking for joy. The same word is used to describe how angels in heaven act when a person comes to Christ (Luke 15:10). There’s a new description of heaven for most of us - a happy, playful, skipping God with His happy, frolicking angels! Some will think I’m insulting God’s dignity by ascribing to Him human emotion and celebrative actions. Let me assure you that this is not my intention. I don’t for a moment believe God acts like us - I believe we act like Him! We were created in God’s image and likeness. That means we have emotions because He has emotions: We love because He loves, laugh because He laughs, cry because He cries, and dance because He dances. If your concept of Him is a distant, stoic, and boring entity, think again. You’ve probably read the popular “Footprints” poem, which depicts the Lord carrying us through difficult situations in life. I like the following version better. A woman had a dream in which her life with Jesus was pictured by footprints in the sand. For much of the way, the Lord’s footprints went along steadily. Her prints, however, began in a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns. But gradually, her footprints were in line with the Lord’s, eventually paralleling His consistently. She and Jesus were walking as true friends. Then an interesting thing happened; her footprints began walking precisely in His steps. Inside His large footprints were her smaller prints. She and Jesus were becoming one. Then gradually, the footprints inside the larger footprints seemed to grow bigger, eventually, disappearing altogether. There was only one set of footprints; they had become one. Then something awful happened. The second set of footprints was back! Zigzags all over the place...stop, start...deep gashes in the sand...a veritable mess of prints. She was saddened and shocked. This was the end of her dream. The lady went to the Lord in prayer, seeking to understand: “Lord, I understand the first scene with the zigzags and so on. I was a new Christian, just learning. But You helped me learn to walk with You.” “That is correct,” replied the Lord. “Then, when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You closely. “Yes, very good.” “Then the smaller footprints grew and eventually filled in Yours. I was growing so much that I was becoming more like You in every way.” “Precisely.” “But Lord, they went back again to two sets of footprints, this time more chaotic than at the first. Was there a regression in my life?” The Lord smiles, then laughs. “You didn’t know?” He says, “That was when we danced.”(2) I’m fully aware that some in the super-religious crowd won’t approve of my fun-loving God. This depiction of Him will be considered irreverent by them, perhaps even heretical. If you really want to know what they believe about God’s personality, go to one of their worship services. But - and forgive me for being so blunt - you might want to drink an espresso on the way. Frankly, I think even God gets bored with many church services. Trust me, the God of Scripture isn’t starchy and religious. Our worship gatherings should be celebrations where we join hands with Papa God and have a little fun frisking, leaping, and dancing. Shabath, the Hebrew word for sabbath, means not only “to stop or cease from work” but also “to celebrate.”(3) In much the same way we celebrate certain days - holidays, for example - by resting from work, this is the concept of Shabath. On the seventh day, God stopped working and celebrated! He was so excited about having a family He decided it would be commemorated with a “rest and celebration day.” That puts a new twist on taking a sabbath. Every seventh day we should all rest and celebrate our membership in God’s family with joy and great rejoicing. If we would do so, the gospel we preach would be a lot more appealing. Abandon your concept of a passionless, boring God. Reject all religious stereotyping of Him. Let your heavenly Father be real, relevant, relational and fun. Only then will you truly experience the pleasure of His company. Look up . . . I think He’s asking for this dance. Pray with me: Father, we are amazed at Your passionate love toward us, leaping and rejoicing over us, just as we do our kids. We have allowed religion to tell us satan is fun, You’re boring; he laughs, You’re always somber. Forgive us! You CREATED fun and laughter! We are thrilled to think our heavenly Father is fun-loving, real, relevant, and relational. May our heart’s response to Your passionate love be increasingly undignified. Like David, may we dance unashamedly over our relationship with You. Teach us that holy doesn’t mean somber, omnipotence isn’t stoicism, and “above all others” doesn’t equate to unreachable. Bring a presence movement to the church that reveals Your true nature and shows the world how irresistible You truly are. Our decree: We believe and declare that the coming great awakening will result in the greatest celebrations of worship in Earth’s history! ***************************** Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company and published by Baker Books. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------ James Strong The New Strong’s exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. H1523. Adapted from Mark Littleton, escaping the Time Crunch (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1990), Used by permission. James Strong The New Strong’s exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. H7676.

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-27-2024 September 27, 2024 No Turning Back Yesterday, Ceci and I received an incredible report from My Faith Votes, a very effective vision to motivate conservative Christians who have not voted in past presidential elections, to do so in the upcoming election. We shared a post on this incredible undertaking a couple of weeks back. If you did not see it, please take a look (August 23, 2024). Here is the letter we received: “Dutch and Ceci, “Give Him 15 surpassed 100,000 letters being adopted by your people [Give Him 15 family] as of today! I am praising God for the impact your ministry is making on this year’s election through our initiative. I know you’re making a massive impact in so many ways, but we are so grateful for what you have done for the “Write Now” campaign. “We have blazed past our 300,000 letter goal and are over half a million as of last night! We are averaging over 8,000 letters a day. Look at God! I’ve done this for four years and have never seen anything like it! “I hope our Jesus blesses you two from the top of your heads to the tips of your toes for all you do for Him. Isn’t it so amazing how much He loves us? “I join with you in praying that He saves our nation! “Lord bless you, Laurel Brooks National Director of Grassroots Action My Faith Votes” Thank you, friends of Give Him 15, for getting behind this divine plan from Holy Spirit. What an amazing difference you are making, both in your prayers and actions. And if you would like to participate more, or were not able to do so previously and would like to do so now, the end date for sending these letters is October 25th. Visit their website for more information. Strike In Prayer In yesterday’s post, I talked about finishing well. The results of allowing complacency to enter our lives can be disastrous. This destructive mindset can be caused by weariness, discouragement, hope deferred, apathy, ignorance, busyness, deception, over-confidence, and other factors. Regardless of the cause, complacency produces defeat. The church in America grew complacent in the last half of the 20th century, and the most powerful nation in the history of the world became a laughing stock. The leading exporter of the gospel became the leading exporter of filth. Yesterday, we saw the list of Israel’s tribes that didn’t finish the job of driving out their enemies in the promised land. The results? A little Baal worship leavened the entire “lump” of Israel (see 1 Corinthians 5:6), and in just a few years, God’s covenant people were sacrificing their children to this demon. Complacency produces defeat - always. Today I want to remind us of the familiar passage in 2 Kings 13:14-19. The great prophet, Elisha, was old and dying. King Joash paid him a visit to get some final prophetic insight and say his goodbyes. While the two visited, Elisha did a symbolic “prophetic act” of having the king shoot an arrow toward the land of his enemies; he called it an “arrow of victory” (verse 17). The King James translation calls it an arrow of “deliverance.” The word can also mean “rescue.”(1) He then told the king God would give him victory over his enemies, the Arameans. [A “prophetic act” is a phrase used by many to describe a physical act, initiated by God, that pictures - and sometimes releases - a future action. Power is not inherent in the prophetic act itself; the power flows from God through our obedience and faith. Sometimes, the prophetic act pictures a truth or insight regarding what He is about to do. In other words, prophetic acts are often prophetic pictures. Moses striking the rock to bring forth water would be an example (Exodus 17). Obviously, hitting a rock doesn’t normally produce a gushing stream. But in this case, the prophetic act, in obedience to the word of the Lord, released God’s provision. However, the act also pictured Christ, our Rock, being smitten and releasing to us living water (1 Corinthians 10:4). There are many such biblical examples of prophetic acts.] After the king shot the arrow in 2 Kings 13, Elisha decided one more prophetic act was needed. He told the king to take arrows and strike (nakah)(2) the ground. Nakah is most often used as a battlefield term, meaning to attack, smite, or inflict injury on an enemy. The prophet was saying, “Attack the ground, king; show me what you are going to do to this enemy.” Joash responded by striking the ground three times. Elisha was furious and said, “You should have “attacked” the ground five or six times. Now you will win three battles, but won’t fully destroy Aram” (verse 19). Notice, and this is important, Elisha was not prophetically given a specific number of times the king should have struck the ground. “You should have struck five or six times,” he said. It was an attitude, not a number, the prophet was looking for. Heart!!! “You are not a finisher, Joash. You do not have the heart of a warrior. You’re a ‘just enough to get by’ type of leader.” God is measuring us as well at this time. Let’s be finishers! We are not from the complacent tribes of the “did not’s”? We are those who put our hand to the plow and don’t look back (Luke 9:62). He was thinking of Himself in the context of Isaiah 50’s prophecy. When Jesus challenged us with those words. The passage foretells Christ’s determination to accomplish what He was sent here to do. Verses 5-7 state: “The Lord God has opened my ear; and I was not disobedient, nor did I turn back. I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pull out My beard; I did not hide My face from insults and spitting. For the Lord God helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have made My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.” (NASB) We have put our hand to the plow of intercession for America’s restoration, a Third Great Awakening, and worldwide harvest. We are spiritual warriors of the Lamb and Lion, and we will not turn back. We will press on until we, too, can say, “It is finished!” Pray with me: Father, I thank You for patriots who are doers of Your Word, not hearers only. Because of this, You said their house will stand! (Matthew 7:24-25). Thank You for motivating them not only to pray, but also to write letters and vote. And now, we ask You for finishing hearts, hearts that attack in prayer until Your enemies are completely defeated. Through us, release Your arrows of deliverance, of rescue, of victory. Through us, defeat Marxism. Through us, defeat secularism. Through us, defeat hatred, death, and violence. Through us, defeat spiritual death and blindness. Through us, defeat immoral strongholds. Through us, defeat unrighteous laws. Through us, save spirits and heal bodies. Through us, restore broken hearts and lives. Through us, unite. Through us, restore America and send the gospel to every nation. And Lord, we ask for Your help to those suffering from Hurricane Helene. Please protect people from the winds, floods, and tornadoes. Comfort those who have lost homes and possessions, and bring recovery and restoration. In Christ’s name, we pray, Amen. Our decree: We decree that we have put our hand to the plow and will NOT turn back. *********************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. --------------------------------------------------------- James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 8668 Ibid., ref. no. 5221.

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-26-2024 September 26, 2024 Finish the Assignment The Lord has been speaking to me about the need to finish this season well. We are all busy with many responsibilities and activities. It is easy to allow prayer and other spiritual actions to fall by the wayside, especially when we become weary. However, we cannot afford to do that at this time. One of the passages in Scripture that effectively illustrates the dangers of not finishing well is Judges 1-2. After Joshua led Israel in conquering Canaan, each tribe was left with the responsibility of clean-up operations in the portion of land allotted to them as an inheritance, fully driving out the remaining enemies. Many of them became complacent and did not finish the job. Here are examples: Now the Lord was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they had iron chariots. But the sons of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem… But Manasseh did not take possession of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages…they did not drive them out completely. And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer. Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol… Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, or of Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or of Rehob…for they did not drive them out… Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Bethanath… Then the Amorites forced the sons of Dan into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the valley… (All taken from Judges 1:19-34 NASB) The result of not finishing the jobs was tragic. Israel eventually assimilated with the Canaanites, intermarrying with them, and accepting their Baal worship. Chapter 2 tells us the results: “Now the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, ‘I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, I will never break My covenant with you, and as for you, you shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed Me; what is this thing that you have done?… “Then Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the Lord which He had done for Israel. And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and another generation rose up after them who did not know the Lord, nor even the work which He had done for Israel. “Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, and they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed other gods from the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them; so they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.” (Excerpts from Judges 2:1-13 NASB) The angel of the Lord leaving Gilgal and going to Bochim is very significant (2:1). Gilgal was the first encampment of Israel after the dramatic crossing of the Jordan River. Much of their 7-year campaign to take the promised land was launched from there. The name “Gilgal” means “rolling,”(1) for it was there the Lord said the reproach of Egypt had been “rolled off” them. Bochim means “weepers.”(2) The symbolism could not be clearer. Israel as a nation was about to go from victory to weeping, from reproach-free to shame, and from freedom back into slavery: “Then the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He handed them over to plunderers, and they plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand against their enemies. Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and just as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed.” (Judges 2:14-15 NASB) The entire book of Judges is a history of this compromise, complacency, and resulting judgments. We have come a long way in praying for the spiritual reviving and healing of America. This election cycle is part of the turnaround process. There are those who contend that God doesn’t really care who is in government. They say He can do what He desires regardless of who wins elections or governs a nation. Therefore, they tell us that the church should stay focused on preaching the gospel and not be “distracted” by politics. This is a dangerous deception. Scripture is filled with accounts of negative reaping by nations because of their leaders. Unwise and unholy leaders have created untold suffering and death around the world. God removed Saul from being King of Israel, saying He needed a man who would obey Him (1 Samuel 15:19-23) and would pursue His heart (1 Samuel 13:14). America’s rejection of God and its unholy laws, for which we are reaping great suffering and death, were passed by government leaders. To say it doesn’t really matter who we elect into office - God will just do what He wants anyway - would mean God is okay with abortion, sexually mutilating confused kids, and much more. Some theology is simply a shirking of our responsibility to stand for truth. We must vote, yes, but we must also pray that those who align the closest with God’s will and ways, found in His Word, are elected to office. We must pray that those who most oppose His will are not allowed to win. DON’T STOP PRAYING! Let’s finish well. Pray with me: Father, we know that our war is spiritual, done with prayer, fasting, and decrees. Yet, it is no less real. Through these prayers and decrees, we enforce Christ’s victory, pulling down demonic strongholds and ideologies. Through prayer, we set free those held captive spiritually, and release the power of Your Word as a sharp sword (Ephesians 6:17). We are agreeing in prayer now, asking You to motivate the church to pray. We know that some of this motivation would have to occur through awakened leaders sounding the alarm; other believers could hear Holy Spirit personally. Whatever it takes, we ask You to motivate the church to finish this season well. May it not be said of believers in our day that we “did not…” And Father, we remain steadfast in our prayers for the protection of those in government positions. Lord, many of us are receiving strong alerts to pray this for Trump. Surround him, his family, and those associated with him. We bind demonic plots. We ask that law enforcement be alert and enabled to provide adequate protection. Expose every plan of evil, both from here and abroad. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen Our decree: We decree that we will finish the assignment of praying for America’s healing, restoration, and recovery of purpose. ***************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------------- James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 1537. Ibid., ref. no. 1066.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-25-2024 September 25, 2024 Introduction Many times the Lord will give us an example in the natural of what He desires to happen in the spirit. Today, my brother Tim shares a recent dream he had where this is the case. He gives us a vivid “word picture” of what our prayers are doing. Don’t become discouraged by what you see in the natural. Holy Spirit is taking all of our prayers, gathering them in the bowls of heaven, and is about to pour them onto the Earth (Revelation 5:8). Tim’s title today is: ___________________________________________________________ Liar Liar 2 Chronicles 7:14 states, “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” We will not see righteousness exalt our nation without the divine intervention of Jehovah. The Ekklesia must continue to engage through prayer, faith decrees and believing the prophetic words of our God. I want to give you a prophetic dream and word that Holy Spirit is emphasizing for this moment. I feel compelled by Him to have the Ekklesia declare it in faith and birth these words through prayer. “In the dream, I was walking towards the front entrance of the White House in Washington, D.C. As I grew closer, I could see that a big marquee had been built onto the front of the White House. It looked like the front of a movie theater. The marquee was lit up and read: ‘Now showing: Liar Liar.’ “A little lower than the big marquee were two smaller signs, one on the right and one on the left. Both signs read: ‘Coming soon: The Avalanche.’ I noticed a guy standing next to me also looking at the marquee. I didn’t recognize him, but somehow knew his name was Jerry.” Tim shares: I found this so intriguing that when I awoke, I looked up the meaning of his name. Jerry means “tip or head of the spear.” In Hebrew it can mean “plain spear,” “exalted of the Lord,” or “who the Lord exalts.”(1) It was also the name for a German soldier in World War II. As I prayed into this Holy Spirit said, “There are soldiers, remnant warriors you do not even know, exalted by Me for this time. These spear carriers, the Lord’s sons and daughters, are also seeing this marquee and reading the signs.” Back to the dream: “I turned to Jerry and said, ‘I didn't know they turned the White House into a movie theater.’ And Jerry replied, ‘Oh those aren’t movies, haven't you heard? They are live shows. It's a live performance called Liar Liar.’ “Then in the dream, everything changed and an angel of the Lord appeared to me. Because of the colors he wore, I knew he was one of the communication angels in Gabriel’s division. There are ‘messenger angels’ under Holy Spirit’s supervision and this was a messenger angel. “The angel said to me that I was to take the Ekklesia to Seven Mountain Mountain. I told the angel that I had heard of the Seven Mountains of Culture but not Seven Mountain Mountain. I asked where it was located and the angel said it was a spiritual mountain(2) overlooking the White House. The angel also said there are barrier beams built into the mountain, like a lattice, to protect the White House from landslides. He went on to say the Ekklesia must remove the barriers. I told the angel we would take care of it. “Then the scene in the dream shifted and I was driving up the mountain in a white work van. I somehow knew it was filled with a Holy Spirit empowered work team. The sign on the side of the work van read Ekklesia Response Team. Coming up the mountain behind me were six other vans filled with these Holy Spirit empowered work teams. In the dream, I recognized that there were seven vans; seven is the number of completion. I knew that under Holy Spirit’s anointing, we would be able to complete the job and remove the barriers. “We continued winding up the mountain until we saw a sign that said, ‘Avalanche area, stay out.’ Because of the sign in front of the White House that read, ‘Coming Soon: The Avalanche,’ we knew this was the place we needed to be. “We exited the vans and began removing the barriers holding back the mountain. Some workers had blow torches and were working on breaking the welding of the beams, while others dragged away the beams. Everyone in the work teams was dirty and sweaty, but we finally got all the beams moved. “Then one of the workers asked me how we were supposed to start the avalanche; they wondered if we should use dynamite. I said I wasn’t sure and would make a call. I called the angel who had told us to do this, asking how we were supposed to start the avalanche. He said, ‘You’re not supposed to start the avalanche, just remove the barriers. When the time is right, the King will start the avalanche with a great shaking.’” That was the end of the dream. As I was praying into this, the Lord said, “Ekklesia, engage the barriers of hell and the barriers made by man. Dismantle them with weapons of warfare that I have divinely empowered. For My name and My words are filled with uprooting powers. Uproot ‘seven mountain’ strongholds with supernatural power and with My superior authority. In My name, uproot demon fortifications that have protected ‘seven mountain’ corruption of My ways. “Uproot lying spirits bunkered in the White House and also surrounding it. In this war season you will see the uprooting power of your king. Roots of deception, theories, reasonings and arguments that have promoted social dementia will now be pulled up and destroyed. “Ekklesia response teams, move forward and strike the strongholds of darkness with bold decrees of your faith. Ekklesia, hear the calling of your God: use the weapons I have divinely empowered and demolish positions of evil. Overthrow ideologies that have rooted into the culture and into your White House. Refute them with bold truth. I will empower you, for I am pouring forth irrefutable power, power to refute insane distortions of My ways. “I am pouring out power to uproot and refute the confusion caused by demons in education, media, government and the White House. The Lord says you will see the confusion of the confused demolish their own agendas as My Ekklesia stands in faith for My words. It's uprooting time. Rise up in hope, for the world will now see the emerging of My great Ekklesia and power displays of My mightiness. “My Ekklesia will move in power disciplining insubordinate disobedience, demolishing hell’s counsels in boardrooms, transforming demonic thoughts in deranged minds into aimless blather. Blather, blather and more blather. Their deranged minds will be conversations of blather. “My Ekklesia will bring down the defenses hiding the wicked and their plans, exposing, refuting and demolishing them. They will do so with their war weapons of prayer, decrees and worship warfare. They will use their keys and unlock the cellar doors in the White House and Capitol, doors revealing the underground root systems of iniquity. Root cellars will open, says the Lord. “For you will now enter a fullness of time that I have planned; the Liar Liar live performance in the White House will be shown to the world. The avalanche is coming soon and the Liar Liar show will come to an end. I will shake Seven Mountain Mountain and My landslide will begin. Liars will be swept away in it. The mud they have thrown will now become a mudflow that overthrows their power. Ekklesia, dismantle the protective barriers. Activate your response teams. Activate your divinely empowered weapons and I will trigger the avalanche.” ******* I am confident that the Liar Liar show is about to be hit with the Lord’s avalanche. He is hastening His Word to perform it. Pray with me: Heavenly Father, we thank You for what You have promised and are now bringing to pass. Holy Spirit, release Your explosive power on the earth. Send Your avalanche and expose the Liar Liar show. Expose the diabolical root systems in the White House and Capitol. Do it not only in D.C., but also at the state Capitols. Holy Spirit, use Your great and mighty angels, fueled by the decrees of Your Ekklesia, to open the cellar doors. Shake everything that can be shaken and uncover everything hidden. Remove strongholds and barriers with Your power. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Our decree: Supernatural intervention is coming to expose and overthrow the deceptive agenda of our government. The Liar Liar show is about to be hit with the Lord’s avalanche and we will see righteousness exalt our nation. *************************** Today’s post was contributed by my brother, Tim. You can learn more about him at TimSheets.org. Click on the link below to watch the full video. -------------------------------------------------------- https://www.nameopia.com/name/Jeremy.html The Seven Mountains of Culture are known as: Family, Religion Government, Business, Education, Arts & Entertainment, and Media.

3 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-24-2024 September 24, 2024 Years of Prayer in a Day In a staggering expression of love, the equivalent of several thousand years of intercession and worship was lifted over America this past Sunday morning. (As always, I wrote and recorded this yesterday in order to post it early this morning.) On a Global Day of Prayer, hosted by International Prayer Connect, a 3-hour prayer meeting took place for America. The networks participating around the world comprise 110,000,000 intercessors. If all participated, that equals 330,000,000 million hours of prayer (and worship). Let’s be very conservative - if only half of them participated (which I feel would be very low), and each one only joined for an hour, instead of 3 (which I also feel is low), that is still 55,000,000 hours of prayer and worship, which is the equivalent of 2,291,666 days, or 6,278 years. Mind-numbing. Other than Christ Himself, this is the greatest gift ever given to America. Could there be any greater sign that God is not finished with America?! I was honored to offer a short prayer, but I was barely able to speak. My emotions were overwhelmed as I tried to process the value of this gift. I was also overwhelmed with grief as I pondered how far America has fallen from her destiny. It was humbling and very moving as nations, many of whom have been sent the gospel from these shores, sent back prayers for America’s reviving and recovery. I am still processing this gift from God and the nations. The prayers were strong, compassionate, and filled with faith. The intercessors prayed for: Jesus to be exalted in our nation the church to return to our first love our upcoming elections God to restrain lawlessness our families and campuses religious freedom a return to the fear of the Lord John 17 oneness among God’s people - only a united church can heal a divided nation revival and awakening in America We ended the prayer time by praying for the salvation of lost people around the world, led by PrayForAll.com, and by partaking in communion together. After the 3-hour prayer time, dozens of on-site prayer strikes occurred throughout the earth in demonic strongholds of darkness. What a time this must have been in heaven! I want to say thank you to the intercessors and their leaders around the world for their love and prayers. I also want to thank Jason Hubbard and Wesley Tullis of International Prayer Connect (IPCPrayer.org) for their hard work and outstanding leadership in the endeavor. And also, a big thanks to David’s Tent (DavidsTentDC.org) for hosting those of us in Washington, D.C., as well as contributing to the technical aspect of the event. All selfless, all excellent, and all Kingdom-hearted. And to those of you here in America who joined us, thank you for doing so. Twenty-one days of fasting and prayer now begin in America, ending on October 12 with the Million Women on the Mall event conducted by Lou Engle. America shall be saved! Pray with me: Father, thank You for Your love and grace, and thank You for this gift of love from our brothers and sisters around the world. We are very moved and deeply grateful. We humbly receive the gift, and are confident the prayers offered will be part of saving America. We were cleansed through their intercession, and strongholds were doubtlessly torn down. We pray for THEM today. Send revival to the nations, the world Christ died to save. Most of the billion or more saved in the coming wave of harvest won’t be Americans; they will be from the Psalm 2 “nations” You promised Christ as His inheritance. We love them; we pray for them. Send the blazing fires of revival around the world. We end by asking for the complete undoing of the strongholds maintained by principalities in the Middle East. Free the people of Iran, Lebanon, and elsewhere from the deception and hold of these spirits. May the revival in Iran continue to burn, increasing in its intensity and spreading throughout the entire region. We declare the release of great signs, wonders, and miracles in order to increase this harvest. Tear down evil structures, Yahweh; build Your church and expand Your Kingdom into the hearts of millions. In Yeshua’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Jesus is King over all the nations! ******************** You can watch a replay of the Global Day of Prayer in its entirety here on YouTube. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-23-2024 September 23, 2024 As believers, we know that God desires to use us as His representatives, being conduits of His power and love. As we go about our daily lives, we should always be aware of this. Today, our friend Gina Gholston shares about this concept, challenging us to represent Christ each day. She mentions the Healing Summit at The Oasis in Middletown, Ohio, several weeks back. We have decided to do another one in a few weeks, on October 25. Many testimonies of healing have come in, both from individuals present there in Middletown, and as importantly, from churches that joined with us online that night. It must be emphasized that our purpose is not to build the ministries of those participating in these healing services. It is to come into agreement with heaven’s plan, unlocking a new wave of signs and wonders in the earth that will not only bless the hurting, but will point millions of people to Jesus. Although we have received many wonderful testimonies of healing, we know the level of power and anointing must increase. We believe the previous meeting was a wonderful beginning, but we also believe a much deeper well of miracles is to be opened. And we are intent on seeing this. Churches will join in again, agreeing for this. You can register to attend starting today, and I’m sure it will fill up quickly. All details can be found at OasisWired.org. Here is what Gina says about the coming surge of God’s power. Her title is: How to Impact the World A few weeks ago, Oasis Church in Middletown, Ohio, hosted the Healing Summit. People from every state and even different nations came together in faith to experience the healing power of Jesus, and that’s exactly what transpired. Testimonies have been flowing in from thousands who experienced healing, deliverance, and salvation. Recently, the Lord showed me that the Healing Summit was more than a healing service. The Healing Summit wasn’t just about Oasis Church. He said to me, “It was the launch of a movement.” I believe it is not a “new thing,” but the restoration of Christ’s desire for His church. He is restoring His Ekklesia, His governing body, to fully operate in His power and authority. There is an awakening of our spiritual inheritance that has begun to stir in the hearts of God’s people. Many are recognizing the power deficit we have tolerated in past years, and are now determined to regain what has been lost. We will no longer be content to just hear stories and testimonies of what God did in past generations. We know He is not done and are pressing in to experience a touch from Him ourselves, and shine with His glory and power. There was a wave of healing power that was released at the Healing Summit, and what was launched that night will continue to grow with an even greater intensity. I believe God is launching another great move of His Spirit. As members of Christ’s body, we must be aware of all God has made available to us. We must be diligent to know the Scriptures and remain steadfast in our focus and obedience to Him. We must represent Christ and exhibit a true reflection of His likeness to the world. Some would argue that healing, miracles, and the gifts of Holy Spirit are not operational today. They say we no longer need a demonstration of the power of God, but nothing could be further from the truth. We need the Word of God being taught accompanied with the power and conviction of Holy Spirit if we are to see America saved and our world changed. God’s healing and miracle gifts spark an awakening and awareness of Jesus that can come no other way. By seeing, many will believe! Not one Christian would be a believer today if it were not for the power of Holy Spirit. Our very salvation stems from the power and ability God demonstrated in raising Jesus from the dead. The Holy Bible we preach from and use as the foundation of our beliefs is filled with the records of miracles, signs, and wonders that occurred through people being used and anointed by Holy Spirit. Evidence of the reality of Jesus has provoked change and turned the hearts of great skeptics all throughout history. Imagine the Bible with no demonstration of God’s glory—no record of the wonder-working power of God, no record of the Red Sea parted, of David killing the giant, or of Daniel being delivered in the lions’ den. Imagine having no record of Jesus opening blind eyes or Lazarus being raised from the dead. And most importantly, of Jesus Himself dying on the Cross and on the third day, being raised from the dead. Without the demonstrations of the glory of God, there is no awareness of God, and no hope! But the Bible IS filled with these examples because Jehovah is the God of power and might, and has given us His Spirit who enables us to release His power in and through our lives. Jesus gave that power to His Ekklesia with the promise that those who believe in Him would do the works He did, and even greater (John 14:12). This power and gifts of Holy Spirit weren’t given as a momentary gift or just for those in the early church. Read the book of Acts. There you will see many examples of God’s power which was for then, and for now. A lack of knowledge of that power and its availability to the church - the Ekklesia - has caused many to be lulled to sleep by the sounds of a godless culture. Be aware: a movement has begun. There is a company of enlightened heirs who desire to be conduits of Holy Spirit. Awareness of our spiritual inheritance IS being awakened, and there is a reigniting of an uncompromised pursuit of its full activation. We are tired of living in unnecessary spiritual poverty. We desire to deepen our resolve and avail ourselves completely to the Lord to see His power fully released, flowing with an even greater intensity. With honor and in the fear of the Lord, we are determined to receive all that Holy Spirit has made available, and we will experience the fullness of God’s desires. We will see the billion-soul harvest come in. We will see bodies healed, minds delivered, and lives transformed by the love and power of God. We will experience and operate in His supernatural wisdom and imparted authority. We will see America saved! This is our time to carry the mantle, and we will allow the power and reality of Jesus to flow out from us, impacting the world. Pray with me: Father, when we accept Jesus as Savior, we become Your heirs! We have an inheritance that is rich and powerful. Provoke within us a deeper revelation of who You are and who we are in You, so we may be conduits of Your power. Stretch forth Your hand through us, Jesus, with miracles, signs, and wonders, providing an undeniable evidence of Your love and power. We ask that Holy Spirit would come upon the unbeliever with fervency and clarity so they can see and encounter You. We cry out, “Show us Your glory, Lord!” Spearhead another sweeping move of Your Spirit throughout our nation and the nations of the world. Reap the harvest You desire, we pray. In the name of Jesus, Amen! Our decree: We declare that God’s redemptive movement has begun. We will be conduits of His desires and plans. **************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-20-2024 September 20, 2024 What America Desperately Needs In yesterday’s post, I spoke about John the Baptist and his road-building calling. He was a forerunner, called to “prepare the way,” to build a “highway”(Isaiah 40:3), upon which Messiah could enter the earth. Road builders have to begin by clearing, leveling, and forming straight passageways (verse 4). This can be challenging and difficult. When building natural highways, the work begins with bulldozers, earthmovers, and sometimes even dynamite. Then the process moves to paving, painting, and dressing up the project, usually with a different crew, definitely with different equipment. Difficult preparation such as that involved in road-building is true for many types of transitions and seasons of change. Constructing houses and other structures begins with digging and clearing; the process is muddy, messy, and ugly. Restructuring corporations can be chaotic, even painful for some involved. Progress, which often demands change, can be tough. Without doubt, when referencing the role of John, Holy Spirit chose His analogy very intentionally and carefully. “This’ll get ugly before it gets beautiful,” was the point. But there WAS a glorious purpose and end result in mind. Isaiah 40 mentions glory, good tidings, rewards, loving and caring for flocks - all this and more would ride into Israel on this road (verses 5-11). Messiah, our Redeemer, would travel the highway. The change, though painful, would ultimately be good. Restoring and restructuring nations can also be messy, even more so when deep levels of sin and darkness are involved. God told Jeremiah He would use him to “root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down,” before using him “to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). Dismantle, then rebuild; tear down, then build up. America is now clearly in a sinful state that will require much bulldozing before the rebuilding begins. Enter Donald Trump. Yes, he has the personality and temperament of a bulldozer. Yes, sometimes he makes messes, creates piles of rubble, and tears down old structures. But let’s face it: there is an enormous amount of debris in America that needs to be removed. “Mr Nice Guy” could absolutely not do what needs to be done to save America. We need demolition first, then the building crew. Personally, I think that if Trump is reelected, it’ll take most of his second term just to bulldoze and clear. Someone else will likely need to follow this with years of restructuring and rebuilding. Now, here is a concern I have which I believe is shared by many. As I alluded to yesterday, the personality of a forerunner can be crusty and harsh. And yes, sometimes it’s necessary. John called the Pharisees and Sadducees - to their faces - a “generation of vipers” (Matthew 3:7). That’s much worse than being called “fake news,” by the way. BUT, John wasn’t operating in a democratic republic; he wasn’t being voted on. God appointed him, anointed him, and that was that. Americans, on the other hand, elect their president. Currently, there is a dynamic involved in this that Trump must face. Many Americans are alarmed at the division in our nation. The left, including the media, specializes in “identity politics” and “class warfare.” While claiming the opposite, their strategy is to divide us. And they have succeeded. Then, they blame their opponents for what they have done. They’re expert liars and manipulators. Oblivious to its cause, many Americans have become alarmed at the level of hatred and division in our nation, and rightfully so. While they see the need for many of the changes Trump speaks of, they also recognize the need for healing. In a president - especially now - they want a unifier, not a divider. Great wisdom is needed. With America’s need for change, a forerunner like Trump will HAVE TO rock the boat, just as Reagan did in the 1980s. He spoke truth and ruffled feathers, but in a wise way that wasn’t considered mean-spirited. In many respects, Reagan “fathered” America. He brought correction at times, even sternly, but did so with a father’s heart. He was not perceived as insulting or vindictive, not a “mud-slinger” or a “gun-slinger,” but a “truth-slinger.” And his truth came across as wisdom, not sarcasm. If Trump were to allow God to put this heart in him - and Yahweh will if allowed - he would win the election in an absolute landslide, just as Reagan did his second term. Americans know we need some “fixing,” but they also know we need some unifying. I feel we must pray for this “father-heart” to emerge in Trump, enabling him to speak with wisdom. Proverbs 3:11-18, The Passion Translation, mentions this wisdom and fathering heart: “My child, when the Lord God speaks to you, never take His words lightly, and never be upset when He corrects you. For the Father’s discipline comes only from His passionate love and pleasure for you. Even when it seems like His correction is harsh, it’s still better than any father on earth gives to his child. Blessings pour over the ones who find wisdom, for they have obtained living-understanding [an understanding of how to live]... “As wisdom increases, a great treasure is imparted, greater than many bars of refined gold. It is a more valuable commodity than gold and gemstones, for there is nothing you desire that could compare to her. Wisdom extends to you long life in one hand and wealth and promotion in the other. Out of her mouth flows righteousness, and her words release both law and mercy. ‭‭ “The ways of wisdom are sweet, always drawing you into the place of wholeness. Seeking for her brings the discovery of untold blessings, for she is the healing tree of life to those who taste her fruits.” Pray with me: Father, America desperately needs change, and we need this communicated with a wisdom that will enable us to accept the change. If this is to come through Donald Trump, we pray that You would give him YOUR heart for America. Give him strength laced with humility, truth clothed in lovingkindness, and wisdom flowing from a father’s heart. Temper his zeal and strength. We need his zeal, just as zeal for Father’s house consumed Jesus. But Christ was always led by Holy Spirit, even when cleansing the Temple and denouncing hypocrisy. We love the strength Trump demonstrated when shot; we love his passion for America. Now, Father, temper these assets with Your heart. Give Trump a significant and life-altering encounter with You. Fill him with Your Spirit, teach him to hear Your voice, and give him a love for Your Word. May he exemplify the fruit of Holy Spirit and may he be one who meets with You regularly. Mature him spiritually, we pray. And please continue to protect him. In Yeshua’s name, we pray this. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Donald Trump will have a strong, life-altering encounter with Holy Spirit. ************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-20-2024 September 20, 2024 What America Desperately Needs In yesterday’s post, I spoke about John the Baptist and his road-building calling. He was a forerunner, called to “prepare the way,” to build a “highway”(Isaiah 40:3), upon which Messiah could enter the earth. Road builders have to begin by clearing, leveling, and forming straight passageways (verse 4). This can be challenging and difficult. When building natural highways, the work begins with bulldozers, earthmovers, and sometimes even dynamite. Then the process moves to paving, painting, and dressing up the project, usually with a different crew, definitely with different equipment. Difficult preparation such as that involved in road-building is true for many types of transitions and seasons of change. Constructing houses and other structures begins with digging and clearing; the process is muddy, messy, and ugly. Restructuring corporations can be chaotic, even painful for some involved. Progress, which often demands change, can be tough. Without doubt, when referencing the role of John, Holy Spirit chose His analogy very intentionally and carefully. “This’ll get ugly before it gets beautiful,” was the point. But there WAS a glorious purpose and end result in mind. Isaiah 40 mentions glory, good tidings, rewards, loving and caring for flocks - all this and more would ride into Israel on this road (verses 5-11). Messiah, our Redeemer, would travel the highway. The change, though painful, would ultimately be good. Restoring and restructuring nations can also be messy, even more so when deep levels of sin and darkness are involved. God told Jeremiah He would use him to “root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down,” before using him “to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). Dismantle, then rebuild; tear down, then build up. America is now clearly in a sinful state that will require much bulldozing before the rebuilding begins. Enter Donald Trump. Yes, he has the personality and temperament of a bulldozer. Yes, sometimes he makes messes, creates piles of rubble, and tears down old structures. But let’s face it: there is an enormous amount of debris in America that needs to be removed. “Mr Nice Guy” could absolutely not do what needs to be done to save America. We need demolition first, then the building crew. Personally, I think that if Trump is reelected, it’ll take most of his second term just to bulldoze and clear. Someone else will likely need to follow this with years of restructuring and rebuilding. Now, here is a concern I have which I believe is shared by many. As I alluded to yesterday, the personality of a forerunner can be crusty and harsh. And yes, sometimes it’s necessary. John called the Pharisees and Sadducees - to their faces - a “generation of vipers” (Matthew 3:7). That’s much worse than being called “fake news,” by the way. BUT, John wasn’t operating in a democratic republic; he wasn’t being voted on. God appointed him, anointed him, and that was that. Americans, on the other hand, elect their president. Currently, there is a dynamic involved in this that Trump must face. Many Americans are alarmed at the division in our nation. The left, including the media, specializes in “identity politics” and “class warfare.” While claiming the opposite, their strategy is to divide us. And they have succeeded. Then, they blame their opponents for what they have done. They’re expert liars and manipulators. Oblivious to its cause, many Americans have become alarmed at the level of hatred and division in our nation, and rightfully so. While they see the need for many of the changes Trump speaks of, they also recognize the need for healing. In a president - especially now - they want a unifier, not a divider. Great wisdom is needed. With America’s need for change, a forerunner like Trump will HAVE TO rock the boat, just as Reagan did in the 1980s. He spoke truth and ruffled feathers, but in a wise way that wasn’t considered mean-spirited. In many respects, Reagan “fathered” America. He brought correction at times, even sternly, but did so with a father’s heart. He was not perceived as insulting or vindictive, not a “mud-slinger” or a “gun-slinger,” but a “truth-slinger.” And his truth came across as wisdom, not sarcasm. If Trump were to allow God to put this heart in him - and Yahweh will if allowed - he would win the election in an absolute landslide, just as Reagan did his second term. Americans know we need some “fixing,” but they also know we need some unifying. I feel we must pray for this “father-heart” to emerge in Trump, enabling him to speak with wisdom. Proverbs 3:11-18, The Passion Translation, mentions this wisdom and fathering heart: “My child, when the Lord God speaks to you, never take His words lightly, and never be upset when He corrects you. For the Father’s discipline comes only from His passionate love and pleasure for you. Even when it seems like His correction is harsh, it’s still better than any father on earth gives to his child. Blessings pour over the ones who find wisdom, for they have obtained living-understanding [an understanding of how to live]... “As wisdom increases, a great treasure is imparted, greater than many bars of refined gold. It is a more valuable commodity than gold and gemstones, for there is nothing you desire that could compare to her. Wisdom extends to you long life in one hand and wealth and promotion in the other. Out of her mouth flows righteousness, and her words release both law and mercy. ‭‭ “The ways of wisdom are sweet, always drawing you into the place of wholeness. Seeking for her brings the discovery of untold blessings, for she is the healing tree of life to those who taste her fruits.” Pray with me: Father, America desperately needs change, and we need this communicated with a wisdom that will enable us to accept the change. If this is to come through Donald Trump, we pray that You would give him YOUR heart for America. Give him strength laced with humility, truth clothed in lovingkindness, and wisdom flowing from a father’s heart. Temper his zeal and strength. We need his zeal, just as zeal for Father’s house consumed Jesus. But Christ was always led by Holy Spirit, even when cleansing the Temple and denouncing hypocrisy. We love the strength Trump demonstrated when shot; we love his passion for America. Now, Father, temper these assets with Your heart. Give Trump a significant and life-altering encounter with You. Fill him with Your Spirit, teach him to hear Your voice, and give him a love for Your Word. May he exemplify the fruit of Holy Spirit and may he be one who meets with You regularly. Mature him spiritually, we pray. And please continue to protect him. In Yeshua’s name, we pray this. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Donald Trump will have a strong, life-altering encounter with Holy Spirit. ************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.

4 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-19-2024 September 19, 2024 Dismantling and Rebuilding Matthew 11:10-19 in The Passion Translation, Jesus offers some great insights about the diversity of gifts: “See, I am sending my prophetic messenger who will go ahead of Me and prepare hearts to receive Me. “For I tell you the truth, throughout history, there has never been a man who surpasses John the Baptizer. Yet the least of those who now experience heaven’s kingdom will become even greater than he. From the moment John stepped onto the scene until now, the realm of heaven’s kingdom is bursting forth, and passionate people have taken hold of its power. For all the prophets and the Torah prophesied until John appeared. If you can receive this truth, John is the Elijah who was destined to come. So listen and understand what I’m telling you. “How could I describe the people of this generation? You’re like children playing games on the playground, yelling at their playmates, ‘You don’t like it when we want to play Wedding! And you don’t like it when we want to play Funeral! You will neither dance nor mourn.’ Why is it that when John came to you, neither feasting nor drinking wine, you said, ‘He has a demon in him!’? Yet when the Son of Man came and went to feasts and drank wine, you said, ‘Look at this man! He is nothing but a glutton and a drunkard! He spends all His time with tax collectors and other sinners.’ But God’s wisdom will become visible by those who embrace it.” (Matthew 11:10-19 TPT) Prophetic forerunners like John usually precede revivals. By “prophetic,” I’m not referring to predicting the future, but rather the unpleasant aspect of this gifting some are called to that creates change by uprooting and tearing down (Jeremiah 1:12). I am referring to spiritual callings like that of John, prophets who level mountains of adversity, straighten crooked places in societies, and smooth the rough ground of deception, preparing the way for spiritual highways to be built (Isaiah 40:3-4). These forerunners don’t paint the stripes on highways or plant the greenery that enhances them, and they certainly don’t build the Rest Areas! No, when it comes to building roads, their expertise is operating bulldozers. This unique calling is difficult, often misunderstood as being mean-spirited; it sometimes even results in beheadings - just ask John (Matthew 14:1-12)! Everybody loves a nice highway; nobody likes the process: mud, delays, detours… Those blessed with mercy temperaments and pastoral gifts frequently reject those with forerunner callings. They often think “love” and “nice words” alone will transform the mountains, thorns, weeds, rocks, and crooked places into highways. “Don’t rock the boat” and “Don’t be harsh” is often their position. Many of them don’t have enough discernment to see that the only solution for some obstacles is an earthmover…or dynamite! To be fair, there is also the problem of forerunners using too much dynamite, or not recognizing when it is time for the pavers and painters. If Herod hadn’t ended John’s career, who knows how long he would have kept going? After all, there was undoubtedly more repentance necessary in Israel! There is never a shortage of weeds and rough terrain. We should know by now that Jesus was and remains the ONLY perfect person that has ever existed. The sooner we admit this, the better. Forerunners don’t forerun perfectly, and the mercy folks don’t extend mercy perfectly. Taking this a step further, apostles don’t lead perfectly, prophets don’t prophesy perfectly, evangelists don’t evangelize perfectly, pastors don’t pastor perfectly, and teachers don’t teach perfectly. And sheep, by the way, don’t “sheep” perfectly. We should all remember this the next time we feel someone isn’t doing things as well as we think they should. And we must remember that the different callings and motivations - given to us by God - cause us to think differently…and all are needed! In our opening passage, Jesus said, “You didn’t like John’s approach, and you don’t like Mine. You didn’t want to mourn, and you don’t want to dance. You didn’t want the forerunner, and you don’t want the Messiah.” Then the Master gave some insight: “Wisdom is justified by her children” (verse 19). What does that mean? The Message Translation makes it pretty clear: “Opinion polls don’t count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Ah, the simple eloquence of The Message Translation. “Wait for the fruit,” Jesus was saying. Sometimes, that’s the only way to discern who was right and who was wrong. And occasionally we’ll discover, to our surprise, that they were both right, part of the same team, building the same road. THE RARE MIX Occasionally, God puts a unique blend of the “tearing down” and “building up” callings in one individual. As a spiritual leader, Paul certainly possessed this. He was instrumental in dismantling an old system and building the church. As a secular leader, Ronald Reagan demonstrated this also. “Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall”(1) was the precursor to rebuilding a continent. His efforts to tear down Marxism here and abroad, allowed healing and restoration. Tomorrow, we will talk about Donald Trump and his role in America. Pray with me: Father, we realize America has a lot of spiritual mountains, rough terrain, and strongholds standing in the way of our return to You. We thank You for voices that have been calling us to repentance and cleansing. We believe we will dance with Messiah again, but we also know that deep repentance is part of that process. We also thank You for gifts in leaders that enable us to build and rebuild, both in the church and in nations. We will certainly need them in the coming days. Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, will provide these gifts. We ask for hearts that honor our different callings and distinctions, along with the humility to realize none of us have all that is needed to accomplish Your desires. We continue to ask for Your protection over Trump, Biden, Harris, and our other government leaders. We also ask this for their families and those associated with them. Deliver our nation from the spirit of murder we have allowed in through the shedding of innocent blood. And restore our love for the innocent. We ask all of this in Yeshua’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that a highway is being built in America for the glory of God to return to us. ****************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ----------------------------------------------------------- https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2007/summer/berlin.html

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-18-2024 September 18, 2024 A Day to Change America - Please Join Us The United States has certainly prospered over the years. We have been blessed beyond measure, and in some ways, we have generously shared those blessings. The U.S. gives more money in foreign aid than any other country in the world, distributing more than $640 billion globally from 2012 through 2022. We now give between 65 and 70 billion dollars annually to other nations. Since WWII, the U.S. has given over 3.8 trillion dollars in foreign aid.(1) These figures would not include the funds given by the church to fund missions work. And, of course, the most important gift Americans have given is the gospel of Jesus Christ, delivered by thousands of missionaries. Hebrews 6:10 (KJV) tells us, “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which you have showed toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” This is a comforting verse. And I know it’s true - God will not forget our labor of love. Along with the good America has done, we have also sown our share of evil. As success often does when experienced by human hearts not controlled by Christ, America’s wealth and power have also been abused. Lincoln’s warning to our nation in 1863, sadly, is very appropriate today: “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness…All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope, authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its former happy condition…of unity and peace.”(2) America has lost her way once again. Not only have we done so in a secular sense, but America’s current version of Christianity is confused and powerless. Filled with complacent Christians, the church has become a sub-culture, not the counter-culture intended by Christ. We’re now conformists, not the nation-discipling people He commanded us to be (see Matthew 28:19). As tragic as this is for America, it is even more devastating given our critical assignment for Christ among the nations. Revival is desperately needed to lead America back to our roots and destiny! That is why this Sunday, September 22, 110 MILLION PEOPLE around the world will be praying for revival in America!! (And no, that is not a misprint.) Wesley Tullis of International Prayer Connect (IPC) says of this upcoming day: “I want to pass on this HOPE-FILLED announcement, which reveals the great mercies of the Father for America. Since February of this year, He has stirred up our global leaders of prayer in IPC with a strong burden for America. As goes America, so goes the world. “I believe that the fruit of missionaries, who have gone out from America over the decades and centuries with the saving knowledge of Jesus, is now returning to us. Out of gratitude and compassion, intercessors now want to ‘save us’ through their effective and earnest prayer. The 110 million intercessors connected to IPC have agreed to have a Global Day of Prayer for America. This is miraculous mercy!! “And beyond this, September 22nd launches a 21-Day Fast, ending on October 12; the National Prayer Assembly in DC on October 10-11, and One Million Women on the Mall on October 12. “An awakening unto transformation is coming to this land!!!” ******* This is beyond amazing. In my 40-plus years of praying for America, I have never seen anything like this. Actually, not even close. As Wesley said, this is the Father’s mercy. And I believe it will be a turning point. Please join the millions around the world as they pray for us. From 7:00-10:00 A.M. ET, several U.S. prayer leaders will be in Washington, D.C., joining leaders from around the world by Zoom/video, interceding for America. This is a day of prayer added to other days, just for America. That’s why it lands on a Sunday, and I realize many of you attend church services that morning, perhaps making this a little complicated, especially for those in the Eastern Time zone. Make it work as much as possible, and help us spread the word. This is critically important. Here’s how to join us: Go to the Global Day of Prayer for America website at gdop-America.org. There you will see all of the information, including the link where you can join online. Mark your calendars for September 22, 2024, 7:00-10:00 A.M. ET. Pray with me: Father, it seems America is as divided now as it was in Lincoln’s day. The animosity runs deep. Our sin runs deeper. When a people turns to its own ways, abandoning Yours, human depravity soon takes over. America has done so and is sick - horribly so, deplorably so. Taking the downward path of sin, we began serving Baal and his pleasures; eventually, he required payment, now demanding even the blood of our children. Like a “totaled” vehicle, we are a nation past the point of human repair. Only Your supernatural ability, motivated by Your extravagant mercy, can save us. But we believe You are doing so. You will move us from the trash heap of has-been nations, to the showroom of Your amazing grace. And as You do so, our nation will fall in love with You anew, pledging our undying allegiance to You, Your glorious Son, and His eternal cause. Let this day, September 22, be part of this miracle. Let it be the day that the Repairer of “damaged goods” puts finishing touches on His masterful restoration. Then, let this continue through October 12, the Day of Atonement, when an Esther generation finishes off Haman’s evil decree. We ask this in the name of the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. Our decree: We decree that on September 22, 2024, lovingkindness and truth will meet, righteousness and peace will kiss each other (see Psalm 85:10). *************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------------- https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/countries-that-receive-the-most-foreign-aid-from-the-u-s Abraham Lincoln, “Proclamation 97 - appointing a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer.” 30 March, 1863. [https://www.loc.gov/resource/lprbscsm.scsm0265/?st=text]

4 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-17-2024 September 17, 2024 Turbulent Times Like many of you, I read many articles and listened to numerous reports yesterday (Monday) regarding the second assassination attempt against Trump. There is no need for me to regurgitate any of the news and information coming out about the alleged perpetrator and his actions - I’m sure you’ve heard the reports. Sadly, I was not surprised by this attempt. Several times in posts over the past 3 months I have shared my concerns and requested consistent prayer for Trump. In last Wednesday’s post I stated, “I continue to feel urgent and regular prayer is needed for Trump and those around him.” Thank you for praying! We live in very turbulent and alarming times. Within the span of two months we’ve had two attempts on a former president’s life by Americans, and a plot by Iran to do the same! This is unprecedented. Massive failures and coverups by the Secret Service and Justice Department continue to alarm the American people, who no longer trust their government, media, or even their educational system, as many within these groups have proven to be dishonest and unpatriotic. The good news? Americans are waking up. Certainly, the revelation of evil in our land is not complete, but it has at least been sufficient to rouse millions from their naivety and slumber. I’m sure that over the next few months we will see even more exposure of evil in our government, as fears of experiencing justice motivate some. Those at risk of this will stop at nothing to remain in power, and thereby protect themselves. This has already been demonstrated over and over: They lie, persecute, slander, charge falsely, flood our nation with drugs and unvetted illegals, ignore laws, fix elections, the list goes on. And you should know by now that the perpetrators of these evils have one person they fear above all others: Donald Trump. The corrupt in government know they simply CANNOT let him back in power. Trump now knows too much, and is intent on dealing out justice. The corrupt are confident that if reelected, he would be ruthless in his efforts to do so. Please continue to pray for Trump, his family, and those connected to him. Also, we MUST continue to pray that America be transformed spiritually. Dr Ben Carson just posted the following on X regarding this: “This is a dark day in American history and I fear we are not grasping the gravity of the situation. Two assassination attempts in two months. It's unacceptable. “Your ideals and beliefs should never present a threat to your life in the United States of America. “We are in the midst of a severe moral and spiritual crisis in this nation. This cannot be the society our children and grandchildren inherit. “I am praying that God will grant us the fortitude and wisdom to navigate ourselves out of it. I’d ask that all of you join me in those prayers today.” I feel to include the same Psalm today that I shared in last Wednesday’s post, this time making it a prayerful decree over ourselves, our families, and our leaders. It is Psalm 91, from The Passion Translation. Let’s declare it together: “When you abide under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. “He’s the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. “He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and He will protect you from false accusations and any deadly curse. “His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under His covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm. “You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you. “Don’t fear a thing! Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble you, nor will the powers of evil be launched against you. “Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, you will remain unscathed and unharmed. “You will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment, for they will be paid back for what they have done! “When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then, could evil prevail against us or disease infect us? “God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go, defending you from all harm. “If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you and keep you from stumbling. “You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness, trampling every one of them beneath your feet! “For here is what the Lord has spoken to me: “Because you loved Me, delighted in Me, and have been loyal to My name, I will greatly protect you. “I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will feel My presence in your time of trouble. I will deliver you and bring you honor. “I will satisfy you with a full life and with all that I do for you. For you will enjoy the fullness of My salvation!” (Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭1‬-‭16‬ ‭TPT‬‬) ************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-16-2024 September 16, 2024 Introduction As the flames of hell threaten to consume so much of what we hold dear in America, our good friend and author, Cheryl Sacks, offers sound wisdom. Take it to heart, and pass it on. Her title is: When The Flames Reach Our Doorstep: A Call to Wake Up and Act It’s alarming how the urgency of a situation doesn’t hit us until the flames are licking at our own doorstep. I learned this lesson the hard way when I was just four years old. When my family moved next door to the Johnsons, their daughter Alida, who was my age, quickly became my best friend. In our rural area, there was no trash pickup or nearby fire department. One day, I noticed Alida watching the trash burn at the edge of their property. Thinking her parents had given her this grown-up responsibility, I was envious and eagerly joined her. But what started as innocent curiosity quickly escalated. I saw the Johnsons’ Christmas tree in the burning pile, and wanting to add to the excitement, I dragged over our own tree from our backyard. As the flames engulfed it, a knot of fear formed in my stomach—I suddenly realized my parents might not be too thrilled with my “contribution.” Panicking, I tried to drag the now-blazing tree back to our yard. But with each step, the fire spread across the dry grass, following us like a relentless predator. Alida and I retreated to a nearby hill, watching the fire grow. Each time the flames crept closer, we moved a bit higher. Alida, sensing the impending disaster, turned to me and said, “Cheryl, I think we need to tell our parents.” My heart pounded as I imagined the punishment waiting for me. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I replied, my voice trembling more with fear than defiance. “But it’s going to burn down the clotheslines and the chicken coop!” she insisted. “We need to tell our parents.” Again, I resisted. “No,” I said emphatically, without an ounce of logic. Then Alida said something that shook me to my core. “It’s going to burn down MY house,” she said, looking at the fire with growing concern. Still, I hesitated. But when she added, “Then the fire is going to jump across the driveway and burn down YOUR house,” something snapped inside me. Suddenly, I wasn’t thinking about the trouble I’d be in—I was thinking about my room, my bed, my toys, my entire world going up in flames. The urgency of the situation finally hit home. “Yes, we’d better do something quick,” I said, and we bolted to our mothers. Bursting into the kitchen, I found my mom washing dishes. “I’ll tell you something if you promise not to tell Dad,” I bargained, my voice trembling. “What is it, sweetheart?” she asked calmly, not yet aware of the looming disaster. “THE BACKYARD IS ON FIRE!” I screamed, the words tumbling out in a panic. What followed was a frantic scramble. Our mothers called the neighbors, who called their husbands home from work. With garden hoses and water buckets, they fought back the flames, stopping the fire just before it reached the houses. The Fire in Our Nation Like the blaze that nearly consumed our backyards that day, a raging spiritual inferno is sweeping across our nation. Just as I passively watched the wildfire spread closer and closer to our homes, many of us remain unmoved by today’s critical issues until they threaten to engulf our own lives—our jobs, well-being, and children’s futures. But should we wait until the danger is at our doorstep before we act? The flames are already devouring our core values, destroying our families, threatening our security, and assaulting our freedoms. This surge has manifested in rising violence, addiction, persecution, moral degeneracy, and spiritual apathy. As Christian leaders and believers, we must now sound the alarm. It’s time to be on our faces like King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah, who, when faced with an insurmountable threat of destruction, cried out to the Lord in fervent and intentional prayer and fasting (2 Chronicles 20). Jehoshaphat called a solemn assembly, and all Judah stood before the Lord, acknowledging their helplessness and seeking God’s intervention. This is the kind of humble, desperate prayer we need today—before the flames consume us all. The Lord is asking MORE of His people in this pivotal hour. He is calling all of us to deeper consecration—convicting our hearts of the need for repentance, holiness, and the fear of the Lord. Now is the time for church services to turn into houses of prayer and routine meetings into solemn assemblies. The mandate is clear: God desires His people to be cleansed, activated, ignited, and moving in the power of Holy Spirit to fulfill His purpose for the Church in this strategic time in history. If we are to witness the profound spiritual transformation needed in our homes, schools, churches, and nation, we must be willing to sacrifice our convenience, time, and routines, devoting ourselves fully to seeking the Lord and obeying His call on our lives. We each have a part to play. What is yours? The cost is high, but the price of neglect is far greater. Urgency of the Hour Here in Arizona, Christian leaders are calling for statewide prayer, fasting, and solemn assemblies beginning October 1 and ending with a united prayer gathering at the state capitol on Sunday, November 3. Leaders in other states are making similar calls. Many churches are opening their doors on Sunday afternoons, encouraging believers to gather and pray for the nation. Imagine the impact if every church in America did this! We urge everyone to take this message seriously. Whether you are a leader who can mobilize thousands or someone who can gather a few friends in your home, I urge you to act now. This is not the time to sit in front of the television watching the news, wringing our hands, and waiting to see what happens next. This is the time to act! Scripture is clear: if we humbly seek the Lord, He will answer. But if we sit idly by and let the fire burn unchecked, those very flames that are lapping at our doorstep will consume all that we love and cherish. Hope in Action God always responds to the sincere, repentant prayers of His people. We have seen Him move in powerful ways throughout history, and He is ready to do it again. To Jehoshaphat’s solemn assembly, the Lord said: “Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17, NASB). The following day, Jehoshaphat positioned the worshipers out in front, and the people rose up in praise, thanksgiving, and prayer. The power of the Lord was unleashed, and their enemies destroyed themselves (vss. 20–23)! Let this be the moment when we rise up in the same spirit of faith and urgency, knowing that as we humble ourselves, seek God’s face, and turn from our wandering ways, He will hear from heaven. Let us call our communities to gather in prayer and repentance, just as King Jehoshaphat did with all of Judah—then watch God arise, vanquish our enemies, and save our nation. ******* Pray with me: Heavenly Father, we cry out to You to awaken, purify, and activate Your church. Strip away every form of complacency and ignite in each one of us a passion to pray and take action. Empower us with the courage and boldness of the early church, that we may arise in Your authority, break the chains of darkness, set captives free, and see our nation transformed in the power of Your Spirit. Our decree: Lord, we decree that Your church is a consecrated and mighty army, fully clothed with Your armor, ready to confront the spiritual darkness in our land. We declare that Your Ekklesia, empowered by Your dunamis power, partners with You to ignite a great awakening like in the Book of Acts. We proclaim that our families, communities, and nation will return to You and be saved! *************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------- Cheryl Sacks is the author of six books, including Fire on the Family Altar, a guide to igniting revival in your home and nation (Amazon). You can learn more about Cheryl and Hal Sacks’ ministry at BridgeBuilders.net and PrayerSaturated.School.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-13-2024 September 13, 2024 We have released two Give Him 15 devotionals, and in November, we will release the final devotional in our trilogy. Today, I’m giving you a sneak peek and sharing one of the unique devotionals that will be in the upcoming Volume 3. Today’s title is: A Heart of Courage Encouragement is an important subject. Paul frequently spoke of encouraging others and of receiving encouragement. A believer in the early church named Joseph, was actually nicknamed Barnabas by his fellow believers - which means “son of encouragement” - because of his encouraging heart and nature (Acts 4:36). Moses was twice told by God to encourage Joshua regarding his future ministry (Deuteronomy 1:38 and 3:28). The thought we normally have when hearing the word “encouragement” is picking up the spirit of someone who may be hurting or struggling, bringing motivation to press on, or perhaps giving a compliment to a person that might cause him or her to feel good about themselves or their performance. These aspects of encouragement are good and significant. The deeper meaning of this word, however, is even more significant. In its etymology, the word [encouragement] literally means “to put in courage.”(1) The “courage” portion actually comes from the Latin word for heart.(2) Think about that: Courage is a force that originates in the heart. Emotions will fail you in times of crisis or trouble; the mind, invaded by numerous scenarios and “what ifs,” will often flounder in times of uncertainty, fear, and indecision. “Heart courage” is the only safe source of strength in times of trouble. David said, “My heart is fixed,” meaning that it was immovable. (Psalms 57:7 and 108:1). In Psalm 112:7, he stated about one who fears the Lord and delights in His commandments: “He will not fear bad news; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is firm, he will not fear, But will look with satisfaction on his enemies” (NASB). Courage emanating from the heart will never fail you. And to think we can actually put this courage into the heart of another with our words - incredible! The Greek word translated as “encourage” (also translated “comfort”), is parakaleo.(3) Interestingly, in one of its different forms (Paraclete), it is used as a name of Holy Spirit, usually translated as “Comforter” or “Helper.” Holy Spirit doesn’t simply want to give us pep talks to lift our emotions, He wants to put an immovable force of strength into our hearts, our “courage center!” And He often wants to use us to do so. Holy Spirit “...comforts (parakaleo) us in all our affliction, so that we will be able to comfort (parakaleo) those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:4 NASB). Amazing! Holy Spirit wants to strengthen the hearts of others through us! Our freedom today may, in part, be due to a 20th-century “Barnabas.” Winston Churchill didn’t look like much of a fighter, but he was one of the Allied Forces’ greatest warriors during WW2. He fought with his words, giving heart to Britain when the odds against them seemed impossible to overcome. At times, it seemed all they had left was heart. Here are a couple of examples: “THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN was raging. Every resource of Fighter Command was engaged in defense against the attacking Luftwaffe. On August 20, Winston Churchill reassured his countrymen. In the speech, he coined the phrase ‘the few’ to refer to the fighter pilots of the RAF (Royal Air Force), a phrase that would stick: ‘The great air battle which has been in progress over this Island for the last few weeks has recently attained a high intensity. It is too soon to attempt to assign limits either to its scale or to its duration. We must certainly expect that greater efforts will be made by the enemy than any he has so far put forth. ‘The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’”(4) Another example of Churchill putting courage into the hearts of his people was through the following: “DURING THE DARKEST days of the war, there was trouble in England’s coal mines. Workers were leaving the mines to enlist in the army. Many young men wanted to be fighting in the front lines, not digging coal out of the ground, and coal production was in jeopardy when the nation needed it most. Winston Churchill went to the mines to deliver a speech and to give the miners a vision of the future. “His words pictured for them what would take place when the Nazis were beaten, and the war was over. He said there would be a great parade honoring all who sacrificed for victory. First, there would be the Royal Navy sailors who had battled Hitler at sea. Then would come the Royal Air Force pilots who had fought the Luftwaffe in the skies. Then would come the Royal Army soldiers who had fought at Dunkirk. Last of all would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miner’s caps. Someone would cry from the crowd, ‘Where were you during the dark days of our struggle?’ And from ten thousand throats would come the answer, ‘We were deep in the earth, with our faces to the coal.’(5) “Churchill’s words penetrated their hearts. With tear-streaked faces, the miners went back to work with the firm belief that every piece of coal they brought out of the earth was vital to the survival of their nation. They knew that their work might be mundane and seem unglamorous, but it was necessary to the larger cause.”(6) Put courage in someone you know today. “Lay hands on” their heart with your words and impart to them strength and fortitude. Tell them they are strong in Christ! Tell them they have great value and are needed! Tell them they are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves them, and that the greatest power in the universe dwells in them through Holy Spirit! Tell them their feet are on a solid rock, which will never crumble! “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. Refrain: On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.”(7) Pray with me: Father, thank You for sending the great heart doctor, Holy Spirit. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for infusing strength into us, making us steadfast and immovable. Through You, we have “heart courage!” And thank You, Jesus, for transforming our hearts, and being our Rock. As we “put our faces to the coal,” motivate your Ekklesia to walk in “Barnabas anointings.” Remind us that we can put courage into the hearts of our brothers and sisters as we war for the soul of our nation. Encourage them to encourage others. We declare today that with Your strength, we will not yield to the forces of darkness in the world. We will not grow weary in our well-doing, our prayers, and decrees. We mount up with wings like eagles - running without getting tired, walking without fainting. Your strength empowers us, Your wind lifts us. We are like trees planted by water; our roots are deep and strong. With hearts like David, we run to the battle. With vision like Caleb, we ask for our mountain. With faith like Abraham, we hope when it seems there is none, and believe in the face of the impossible. With determination like Paul, we press toward the mark. We are “of God” and will overcome the forces of darkness. In Christ’s name and authority, Amen. Our decree: We decree that we have heart, and will persevere in every situation. **************************** Click on the link below to watch the full video. -------------------------------------------------------- https://www.etymonline.com/word/encourage Ibid. James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3870. Larkin Spivey, Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from World War II, (AMG Publishers: Chattanooga, TN), p. 38 and The Churchill Centre, www.winstonchurchill.org. From sermons by Bill Hayes (http://RevBill.Wordpress.com) and Norman Lao (http://JLRCM2008.Wordpress.com). Larkin Spivey, Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from World War II, (AMG Publishers: Chattanooga, TN), p. 259. https://hymnary.org/text/my_hope_is_built_on_nothing_less

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-12-2024 September 12, 2024 Unwavering Trust The story is told in the book Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul, “It was a chilly fall day when the farmer spied a little sparrow lying on its back in the middle of his field. The farmer stopped his plowing, looked down at the frail, feathered creature, and inquired, ‘Why are you lying upside down like that?’ “I heard the sky is going to fall today,” replied the bird. “The old farmer chuckled, ‘And I suppose your spindly little legs can hold up the sky?’ “One does what one can,’ replied the courageous sparrow.”(1) I’m always amazed at how God uses spindly little humans to accomplish things for Him. In Judges 6-8, we find the story of Gideon, who led an army of 300 in defeating an army of 135,000. I’d call that a spindly little army. To make matters worse, Gideon had contracted a pretty severe case of hope deferred. In his day, Israel, because of their idolatry, was being severely oppressed by the Midianites. Sometimes, we’re responsible for the hope deferred in our lives; sometimes, we’re a victim. This situation had clearly been created by the Israelites themselves. God, however, is a God of great mercy, and He was about to forgive their sin and bring deliverance, with just a shout: “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.” As He often does, God chose as His instrument a person who appeared to be very unqualified for the task. At this point in his life, Gideon certainly wasn’t a man of great faith. In fact, when the Lord spoke by faith and called him a “valiant warrior” (Judges 6:12), Gideon’s unbelief became very obvious; his response was filled with cynicism. “Then Gideon said to him, ‘O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, “Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?” But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.’” Judges 6:13 Gideon and Israel’s heartsick, hope-deferred condition had progressed to the point where, for the most part, they did not expect God to come through for them. All of their faith and devotion had been transferred to the false gods of Baal and Asherah. Gideon’s father actually had a shrine to Baal in his backyard (Judges 5:24). We often transfer our trust, as well, though often in more subtle ways. Without setting up literal idols, we sometimes waver in our devotion to God and place our trust in other people, money, government, drugs, alcohol, pleasures, success, etc. Notice, however, the kind and forgiving response of the Lord to Gideon and the Israelites. He was about to reveal Himself as the God who forgives and heals. Gideon had decided to offer a sacrifice to the Lord, and when he did, fire sprang up from the rock on which he had laid the sacrifice and consumed the offering. Gideon, of course, was terrified by this awesome display of power. The angelic messenger then said something very significant and important to him, “Peace [shalom] to you” (Judges 6:23). Most of us have a very limited understanding of the word shalom, often translated as “peace.” While it does indeed mean tranquility or calmness, the word carries a far deeper meaning than that. The basic concept of this word is to be whole. As Zodhiates says, “It is a sense of well-being... to be unharmed or unhurt... it expressed completeness, harmony, and fulfillment.”(2) This makes what the angel said to Gideon much more meaningful: “Wholeness to you, Gideon.” While the Lord may indeed have been attempting to alleviate Gideon’s temporary fear, I believe he was also speaking healing to him in an overall sense. And Gideon was so moved by the experience that he built an altar and called it Jehovah Shalom (Judges 6:24), which became a significant redemptive name of the Lord. It means, “The Lord is our wholeness.” Gideon did not build an altar to commemorate a simple word of brief comfort. The Lord had broken hope-deferred off Gideon. His name and powerful presence had healed him. God always desires to visit us in our troubled times and do the same. He wants to invade our insecurity, despair, and disillusionment, speaking words of wholeness to us. The words may come through a sermon, a friend, Scripture, or the quiet voice of the Lord in our hearts. But of this we can be certain: God always has a healing word for us. For Sherry, in the following story, Jehovah Shalom came in a most unusual way. “While visiting another city, she noticed a gloriously beautiful sunset. Wanting to share it with someone, she asked a clerk in the nearby store to come outside. Obviously puzzled, the woman followed her outside. “Just look at that sunset!” Sherry said. ‘God's in His heaven, and all’s right with the world.’ After briefly enjoying the beauty, the clerk went back inside, and Sherry left. “Four years later, Sherry had hit hard times. She was recently divorced, on her own for the first time, living in reduced circumstances, and feeling very discouraged. Then she came across a magazine article about a woman who had once been in similar circumstances. This woman also had come to the end of a marriage, after which she had moved to a strange community, working at a job she didn’t like, and was struggling. Then, something profound had happened. A lady came into her store and asked her to step outside. Then the unknown woman pointed to the sunset and said, ‘God’s in His heaven, and all’s right with the world.’ The truth in that statement had turned the clerk’s life around. “Imagine Sherry’s shock when she read her own words! Her words of encouragement had come full circle, and were used by God to change her perspective and lift her from despair.”(3) Amazing. God knows what we need to hear and when we need to hear it. Keep listening. Pray with me: Father, we sometimes feel ganged up on by life. Circumstances pile on, the odds are stacked against us and we feel like Gideon. In those times, we need to be reminded that You have power over ANY number of enemy soldiers. “The sword of the Lord,” Your powerful words in our mouths are the key to victory. Remind the praying remnant today that their “spindly” prayer legs, when infused with Holy Spirit’s power, can accomplish much. Remind them to look at Your strength and listen to Your promises, NOT at the actions and words of the enemy. Satan lies. He bluffs. He distorts. Like Israel, America has turned from You and placed her trust elsewhere. We, like Gideon and his fellow countrymen, have worshipped Baal. We are now paying a horrible price for this, and at times the odds against escaping his hold seem overwhelming. But we look to You, Jehovah Shalom. We turn our gaze to the sky and say, “All is well.” We believe You are coming to save and make us whole, Yahweh, just as You did in Israel’s day. We believe You are coming to deliver and liberate, here and around the world. And we ask for this in the great name we love and worship, Jesus. Amen. Our decree: We decree that the sword of the Lord in our mouths routs the powers of darkness. ************************* Click on the link below to watch the full video. ------------------------------------------------------ Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Heather McNamara, Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul (Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 1999), p. 58. Spiros Zodhiates, ed., Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible–New American Standard, ref. ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1990), 1785. Canfield, Hansen, and McNamara, Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul, pp. 142-143.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-11-2024 September 11, 2024 The Secret Place Every believer loves the Psalms. Even many non-believers love these treasure troves of praise to Yahweh and hope for the future. Psalm 23 has guided millions through “the valley of the shadow of death,” and the 51st Psalm has led many out of guilt and into recovery. Another favorite is Psalm 91, the great psalm of protection. I led 150 Bible school students on an outreach to Mardi Gras in New Orleans many years ago. Among the tens of thousands that descend on Bourbon Street every night to party and revel, there are some who are miserable, desperate, and ripe for something genuine to replace their despair and misery. We engaged them and shared Christ’s love, prayed for those who wanted it, and led several to Jesus. Violence also occurred at Mardi Gras, and it hosted more demons per square inch than you can imagine. So, I required every student to meditate on and memorize Psalm 91. By the time we went, it was planted in their heart and firmly embedded in their memory. Though I always include Scripture references in the posts, I don’t typically quote many of them. And even more seldom do I quote lengthy passages, simply for reasons of space. I feel that those who want to read them will do so later. Today, however, I feel led to read Psalm 91 in its entirety. In this season, all believers should know and memorize this amazing passage, and also declare it regularly over themselves and their families. I am quoting it from The Passion Translation, which brings this psalm alive in wonderful ways. The footnotes in this translation - explaining why they’ve translated words as they have - are invaluable. If you don’t have this excellent Bible translation, do yourself a favor and pick one up. (They haven’t yet completed the entire Bible, but have completed all of the New Testament and several of the Old Testament books - I believe twelve of them.) Here is Psalm 91 from The Passion Translation: ******* “When you abide under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. “He’s the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. “He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and He will protect you from false accusations and any deadly curse. “His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under His covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm. “You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you. “Don’t fear a thing! Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble you, nor will the powers of evil be launched against you. “Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, you will remain unscathed and unharmed. “You will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment, for they will be paid back for what they have done! “When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then, could evil prevail against us or disease infect us? “God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go, defending you from all harm. “If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you and keep you from stumbling. “You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness, trampling every one of them beneath your feet! “For here is what the Lord has spoken to me: “Because you loved Me, delighted in Me, and have been loyal to My name, I will greatly protect you. “I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will feel My presence in your time of trouble. I will deliver you and bring you honor. “I will satisfy you with a full life and with all that I do for you. For you will enjoy the fullness of My salvation!” (Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭1‬-‭16‬ ‭TPT‬‬) ******* In one of their footnotes, the translators of TPT say that “Shaddai” in verse one could be translated as: “God of the Mountain,” “God the Destroyer of Enemies,” “God the Self-Sufficient One,” “God the Nurturer of Babies,” or “God the Almighty.” Incredible. Our amazing God is all we need for any and every situation. His awesome power destroys His enemies and nurtures babies! He is self-sufficient and is our sufficiency. We need no other! The translators also point out that verses 5-6 speak of protection from both natural and supernatural dangers. Plagues, diseases, accidents, demonic plots, and plans - God will protect us from them all. His angels assist Him in doing so. And how about verse 15: He’ll answer our cry for help every time we pray, and we’ll feel His presence in our times of trouble. This psalm is beyond wonderful; it is magnificent! I feel that the season we are entering could be challenging. God’s Word is our foundation, anchoring us to Him. Say of God daily: “He is my refuge and fortress, no evil will befall me! He and His angels keep me and mine in ALL of our ways!” (verses 2, 10, 11). Make this powerful psalm yours today! Pray with me: Father, You are our strength and protection in times of trouble. We can say with the psalmist, David, that because we walk with You, we fear no evil. We are not afraid of any shaking that comes to America and/or other nations. We are not afraid of terrorism. We are not afraid of evil leaders here or elsewhere. We are not afraid of disease or of having accidents. We fear no evil. We thank You for the angels assigned to us. They are many, and they are powerful. Not only do they have much experience, they are led by our great Helper, the Holy Spirit. We thank You, Most High God: "God of the Mountain," "God the Destroyer of Enemies," "God the Self-Sufficient One," "God the Nurturer of Babies," and "God the Almighty," for being our Father. We are secure with You. We also ask for Your protection over our leaders. We ask this for those in Congress, on the Supreme Court, the President, and those running for President. We continue to feel urgent and regular prayer is needed for Trump and those around him. Please protect them all, Father. And we ask for Your protection from another 9/11. We know terrorists are in our nation; expose and thwart their plans. Protect us, we pray, in Jesus name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that we dwell in the secret place of the Most High God, and are protected from all evil. ***************** After writing today’s post I was made aware by Intercessors for America of something important I felt we should add to the prayer. Safeguard Our Elections from Non-Citizens Voting "Fifty-one and a half-a-million people in this country are non-citizens — the highest percentage in the history of our nation,” Representative Chip Roy (TX) warns. Even if a small percentage of those non-citizens and illegals vote in our elections, the process is tainted, and our elections are no longer a privilege for citizens as part of the process of self-governance, but subject to the potential influence of foreign governments, illegal invaders, and outside interests. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act can help. The House votes on the SAVE Act today! (It is attached to the fall spending bill to help with its passage.) As election integrity is of the utmost importance, the SAVE Act would make it harder for non-citizens to vote. Let's pray for the integrity of the election cycle and systems that make it hard to cheat, yet easy for eligible citizen voters to turn out in large numbers! Lord, we ask you to move on the hearts of enough House members to pass the SAVE act. We are grateful for the privilege of voting, and we ask You to help us restore integrity to this awesome right in every way possible. In Christ’s name, amen. *********************** Click on the link below to watch the full video.

7 min read September 10, 2024 INTRODUCTION As I’m sure you know, the Presidential debate between Harris and Trump will take place tonight. Many will be praying during the debate - I certainly will - but we should pray beforehand also. Our dear friends at Intercessors For America have released the following excellent prayer points, written by Jamie Rohrbaugh, for the debate. Here is the article in its entirety. 8 Prayers for Truth in the Presidential Debates Intercessor, we first brought you this piece in June, back when Biden was still in the race and the nation was eagerly awaiting the first presidential debate. A lot has changed since then, but IFA Contributing Writer Jamie Rohrbaugh’s prayer points are still just as valuable. As the nation prepares for the first debate between Trump and Harris [tonight], we encourage you to pray through these prayer points once again. Are you ready for truth to be revealed in America? As we enter the debate season, American voters will have quite a few opportunities for things to come to light that we need to know in order to make informed decisions at the polls. But in this season of exposure and decision-making, there are those who want to deceive the American public. Nevertheless, it is always God’s will for truth to be revealed. Jesus Himself is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and it is His will for all people to walk in all aspects of Who He is at all times. Therefore, in order to contend for truth to be revealed, would you join with me and pray the 8 prayers below for truth in the Presidential debates (and all debates)? Let’s pray as follows: Prayer 1: Pray that the hidden things would be revealed. Luke 8:17 tells us that God will reveal absolutely everything eventually. Let’s pray for all needed information to be revealed NOW! For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light (Luke 8:17 NKJV). Prayer 2: Ask the Lord to destroy the unholy unity of any liars that band together to conceal things from the American public. When people band together in unity, anything can be done — whether they are grouping together for good or for evil. But, God can obliterate even the unholy unity that happens when people band together to do evil. Remember what the Lord did in Genesis 11:5-8: But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city (Genesis 11:5-8 NKJV). If He destroyed the plans of men who desired to exalt themselves back then, He can and will certainly destroy the unity and plans of people who desire to conceal evil now. Lord, stop any plans that bring forth lies, and destroy the unity in the camp of any liars! Prayer 3: Pray that the Lord would surround the truthful with favor as with a shield. Since Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, it is God’s will for truth to be manifested in all situations. So, let’s pray that the Lord would bless and protect the truthful. Pray Psalm 5:12: For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield (Psalm 5:12 NKJV). Prayer 4: Pray that the Lord would set any liars against one another in confusion, such that both their supporters and their strategies would self-destruct and flee. We need truth in America, and in these political debates. We have to stand firm in that! But God can use even our prayers to do mighty things. Look what God did in Judges 7:19-22 for Gideon and his tiny army of 300 men: So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled. When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath (Judges 7:19-22 NKJV). If God can make the Midianites turn against each other and flee before 300 men who did nothing but break pitchers, blow trumpets, and shout, He can certainly turn the houses of lying and confusion in America against one another, so that they also flee. Never doubt the power of your prayers! We may not have “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon,” but we do have the blood of Jesus, the Word of God (which is alive and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword), and the prayers of the saints. And through our God, we shall do valiantly! Prayer 5: Ask God to increase the truthful in strength, and to confound all those who side with lies. Look what God did for the apostle Paul—then called Saul—in Acts 9:22: But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ (Acts 9:22 NKJV). Saul, having been converted, set out to preach the truth about Jesus being the Messiah. He shocked and offended many, for his conversion from persecutor of the church to preacher of the Gospel was certainly unexpected. But, the Lord blessed his choice for righteousness. God increased him in strength, and caused him to confound all those around him. If God will do that for Saul - turned - Paul, He will do that for people today who have America’s best interests at heart. He will bless the righteous choices of truth-tellers. Ask Him to increase the strength of all those who tell the truth, and to let their strength and honesty confound their opposition! Prayer 6: Pray that all candidates would speak as the oracles of God. It is God’s will for all people to only speak His words. After all, that’s what Jesus did—He only said what the Father said, and He only did what the Father did! Look at what 1 Peter 4:11 says about speaking as the oracles of God: If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:11 NKJV). We learned from the story of Balaam (Numbers 22-24) in the Bible that God can change the tongues even of people who set out to speak lies and curses, causing them to speak out truth and blessings instead. Let’s pray that all candidates (and even the moderators) at every debate would speak as the oracles of God, so that the full will of God can come forth at each event. Prayer 7: Ask God to give every candidate the tongue of the learned, and that He would awaken their ears to hear His voice. We see that God did this for Jesus in Isaiah 50: The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned (Isaiah 50:4 NKJV). Since it’s God’s will for every person to be made like Jesus, we know it is also God’s will for every person to hear His voice and speak His words—even those who don’t know Jesus yet. So, let’s pray that every person would hear the voice of God instructing them and teaching them in the way they should go (Psalm 32:8), and that they would obey Him and speak only words of righteousness. Prayer 8: Pray that there would be no twisting of words; that nothing would be misconstrued or misreported. I believe that the leviathan spirit is one of the top 5 evil spirits operating in our nation today. The foul leviathan spirit twists words, misconstrues and misrepresents facts, and brings people under the influence of gaslighting and manipulation. It is an evil thing when truth gets twisted! To counteract this, pray that the Holy Spirit—Who is the Spirit of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life—would be manifest. Pray also that every crooked thing would be made straight during these debates. Remember Isaiah 40:4-5: Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken (Isaiah 40:4-5 NKJV). Intercessor, your prayers are not going unnoticed. Remember that God is storing up your prayers in bowls in Heaven! Your prayers are like a sweet incense in His nostrils. (See Revelation 5:8.) And as we pray together for TRUTH to come forth in this year’s debates, I believe we will see the Lord moving and shaking things up, revealing things we did not know. Let’s pray in faith for that shaking up to happen as truth is revealed, so we can vote with all the facts in hand!(1) Pray with me: Lord, as much prayer is offered regarding this debate, we ask for Your leading, and we trust You to oversee the outcome. ************************** (Now, pray as you feel led, using these 8 suggestions as a guide.) Click the link below to watch the full video: ------------------------------------------------- Clay Nash’s regularly scheduled Josiah Company prayer call will focus on praying for Donald Trump during the debate. To join, dial 719-718-6038 (tel:719-718-6038) tonight at 9:00 pm ET. https://ifapray.org/blog/8-prayers-for-truth-in-the-presidential-debates/ Jamie Rohrbaugh is the founder and CEO of From His Presence. She is the author of over 40 books, including her two latest collections of prayer tools, Wind of Heaven and New Season. She seeks to equip you to carry God’s manifest glory everywhere you go. Her resources have been published by YouVersion Bible Plans, The Elijah List, Spirit Fuel, and various other ministry outlets. Download her free prayer tool, Praying the Names of God: 555 Biblical Names of God and How to Use Them in Prayer and Worship, here. For more information about Intercessors For America, visit ifapray.org.

6 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-9-2024 September 9, 2024 The Importance of Staying Alert “Remember to stay alert and hold firmly to all that you believe. Be mighty and full of courage.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 TPT “So that no advantage be taken of us by satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 The word “ignorant” in this verse is from the Greek word agnoeo, which means to be “without knowledge or understanding of.”(1) Our English word “agnostic” is derived from it. Technically, an agnostic is not a person unsure if he or she believes in God, although we now use the word primarily in this way. An agnostic is a person who does not know or understand, regardless of the subject. We also get the words “ignorant” and “ignore” from the same root. In this verse, we are urged not to “ignore” or be an “agnostic” - without understanding - where the devil is concerned. “Schemes” is from the word noema, which literally means “thought.” The verse essentially says, “Don’t be without understanding of the way satan thinks.” Noema came to also mean “plans, schemes, plots, devices” because these things are products of our thoughts.(2) For greater insight, let’s insert these definitions into the verse: “Don’t be without understanding of the way your enemy thinks and operates - of his plans, plots, schemes, and devices.” What happens if we are unaware of satan’s schemes? The verse says he will take advantage of us. The word “advantage” is derived from pleonekteo, which is a compound word meaning “to have or hold the greater portion” (pleon - “the greater part;” echo - “to have or hold”). It is easy to see why this is a word for “covet.” It also means “overreach.”(3) In boxing, the person with the longer reach has the advantage and usually gets in more blows. The word pleonekteo is also translated as “make a gain;” satan makes a lot of gains on those who are unaware of his tactics. The Greek scholar Bullinger, says pleonekteo means “to make a prey of, to defraud.”(4) Now, let’s put the definitions of all three words into the verse: “To the degree we are ignorant of the way our adversary thinks and operates - of his plans, plots, schemes, and devices - to that degree he will gain on us, prey on us, defraud us of what is ours and have or hold the greater portion.” Not good! Satan wants the greatest portion of our jobs, marriages, families, health, communities, money, government, nation, and more. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Church in America was without an understanding of what satan was planning, and he took the greater portion of our schools, government, media, and much more. As we walk in our roles as watchmen, two other New Testament verses are meaningful. The first is Ephesians 6:18: “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” The King James Version uses the word “watching” for the phrase “be on the alert.” The second verse is 1 Peter 5:8: “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Again, other translations use the word “watchful.” Significantly, the context of both verses is spiritual warfare. Each mentions our adversary and challenges us to alertness or watchfulness, both for ourselves and our brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to draw four very important conclusions from these two verses. Protection from the attacks of our enemy is not automatic, including for believers. There is a part we play in protecting what has been assigned to us. Though God is sovereign, this does not mean He is controlling everything that happens on earth. He has left many decisions to us. If God were going to protect or safeguard believers from satan’s attacks, regardless of what we did or didn’t do, these verses would be totally irrelevant. In our theology, we must factor in human responsibility. Our decisions and actions have consequences, both for ourselves and for others. God’s plan IS to warn or alert us to satan’s tactics. This is a simple deduction. If God says, “Be on the alert” for satan’s attacks, He is obviously willing to make us aware of them. God would not ask of us something He was not enabling us to accomplish. We must be alert - remain watchful - or we will not be aware of God’s warnings and alerts. If these attacks were always going to be obvious, alertness would not be necessary. Isaiah 56:10 speaks of “blind watchmen.” What a striking oxymoron! I am afraid it has been a fairly good description of many of us in our watching roles. We are too often like Christ’s disciples of old, whom He said had eyes but at times couldn’t see (see Mark 8:18). We must do more than casually glance; we must alertly watch! If we are not alert and watchful, if we are ignorant of satan’s attacks, he will devour and take advantage of us. Sadly, many are destroyed due to ignorance or a lack of knowledge (see Hosea 4:6). Satan and demons are real. They seek to oppress, deceive, steal, kill, and destroy. We must not deny the reality of or ignore spiritual conflict. Obviously, we are not to be preoccupied with satan; but neither are we to live in denial or ignorance. The results of both can be disastrous. The story is told of a desert nomad who awakened from hunger one night and decided he’d have a midnight snack. Lighting a candle, he grabbed a date and took a bite. Holding the date to the candle, he saw a worm, whereupon he threw the date out of the tent. Biting into the second date, he found another worm and threw it away, also. Deciding he might not get anything to eat if this continued, he blew out the candle and ate the dates.(5) Sometimes we, too, prefer the darkness of denial to the light of truth. Though the truth may not always be what we want to hear, denial does not change it. Satan is real, is aggressively warring against us, and has made great gains in America. Thankfully, God has raised up a company of watchmen who have re-lit the candle! They know their authority, are alert and informed, and are determined to take back this nation for Christ. And we will! Pray with me: Lord, because of a lack of diligence, we are sometimes taken advantage of by satan. Yes, You defeated him and removed his right to steal from us, but he is a thief and will trespass when not stopped. We are learning to do just that. We are not unaware of his schemes and are growing in our ability to discern his activities. We are discerning at this crucial time that he has an attack of some sort planned against our nation. We rise up in the spirit against this, declaring that it will not succeed. No attack against our elections or our leaders will prosper. No attacks against us individually will prosper. We are in the secret place Psalm 91 speaks of, under Your shadow, protected from the serpent. Lord, again today, we ask You to comfort the families in Wilder, Georgia. Wrap Your loving arms around them. We know that evil will occur in this life, but You have overcome its power to win, and Your peace is always with us. Help those affected by this tragedy to drink deeply of Your grace and peace. And we bind every attempt to sidetrack the Ekklesia and hinder the growing revival in America. Thank You for the recent event at Ohio State University in which many students were impacted. Thank You for giving boldness to the football players, enabling them to stand for You and share their faith. Multiply these outpourings on campuses. More, we ask for more! Revival has begun, is growing, and will not be stopped. All of this we pray and decree in Yeshua’s name and authority. Amen. Our decree: We decree that satan will not take advantage of us, for we will remain alert. ************************ Portions of today’s devotional were taken from my book Watchman Prayer.(6) Click on the link below to watch the full video. ---------------------------------------------------- James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 50. Ibid., ref. no. 3540. Ibid., ref. no. 4122. Bullinger, Ethelbert W. A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament. Kregel Publications, 1999. “An Old Story Tells Of A Desert Nomad Who ...” Sermon Central, 18 June 2007, https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/60425/an-old-story-tells-of-a-desert-nomad-who-by-sermon-central. Accessed 20 February 2021. Sheets, Dutch. Watchman Prayer: Protecting Your Family, Home, and Community from the Enemy's Schemes. Baker Publishing Group, 2019, pp. 11-25.

5 min read https://www.givehim15.com/post/september-6-2024 September 6, 2024 INTRODUCTION I read recently of a retired NFL quarterback who has never been married but has eight children from three women…and wants more. He is a male, but not a father. “Roughly 40% of children in America are now born to unmarried parents.” And “the absence of a father correlates with higher rates of poverty, teen pregnancy, youth crime, and substance abuse.”(1) America’s problems start at home, and many of them begin with the men. Far too many men have had “manhood” defined to them by TV, not by a healthy father. As we all know, siring kids does not make one a man or a father. In today’s post, my friend, Kenny Price, discusses America’s struggle with masculinity, pointing us back to God’s plan. Today’s title: __________________________________________________________ The War on Masculinity There is a war on Masculinity. In the tumult of our age and culture, there is a strong need for men to rise, stand firm, and embrace the full measure of their God-given masculinity. God breathed His nature into both men and women, bestowing upon us a sacred mantle of strength, honor, and purpose. Yet, in a world ensnared by confusion and distortion, the crucial call for men to walk boldly in their God-given masculinity has suffered…and has never been more urgent! It seems that every society struggles to define appropriate roles for its men. Without a clear understanding of who men are and what they are intended to do, they become confused. And confused men create major problems. In America today, if you are breathing and paying attention, you can see that there is a war on masculinity, a movement to neuter manhood. But when you try to make men more like women, you don’t get LESS “toxic masculinity,” you get MORE! The answer to toxic masculinity isn’t less masculinity; it’s true godly masculinity. The growing problem in today’s society isn’t that men are too masculine; it’s that they’re not masculine enough. When we, as men, understand and embrace masculinity in a way that is healthy and productive, we become the leaders, the warriors, and the heroes our culture is in desperate need of. When men deny their masculinity, they run away from responsibilities, leaving destruction and despair in their wake. One researcher said that young men under 25 are nearing a state of masculine meltdown. There seems to be no clear identity of masculinity or what it means to be a man. So many men are drifting in confusion. America stands at a crossroads—a nation in need of strong, courageous leaders rooted in the principles of righteousness and integrity. From the halls of government to the bustling of our cities’ streets, the cry for leaders - both men and women - to rise and take their place as guardians of freedom and justice reverberates with urgency. As men, let us not shrink back in the face of adversity, but rise to the challenge with boldness and conviction, knowing we are called to be salt and light in a world shrouded with darkness. As Samuel prepared to anoint the future King of Israel, the prophet was taken back that it would be David, a small guy, the least among his family, and from the least of the tribes. But God told Samuel, “The Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). The quality of a man is determined by his inner workings. It’s time that we start winning the war against masculinity by helping men find real masculinity in the place it was created: the heart of our Creator, GOD! Even though this war on masculinity might seem new, it is actually as old as the Garden of Eden. It was there that our enemy, the devil, was working to destroy the true nature of both men and women. It all started with a lie. The lie in the garden was that we humans could live independently from God, that we could govern our own lives and control our own destinies. Over the last several generations, we have sophisticated that lie. When we enter God’s family, we come with a belief system, a worldview that must be dismantled and reshaped in the light of God’s love and truth. Salvation must ultimately return us to what Adam and Eve possessed before the Fall, an intimate relationship with God and a dependency upon Him. That’s tough for men because part of the lie was that we should not be dependent upon anyone. But we cannot find the answer to why we are here, our destiny and purpose—let alone true masculinity—apart from our Creator. Now more than ever, America needs men who will rise to the occasion and lead with courage and humility. We must be men of honor, integrity, and unwavering faith, willing to stand in the gap and fight for what is right, regardless of the cost. Whether in the boardroom or on the battlefield, let us be men who inspire others to greatness, who lead by example, and who leave a legacy of honor for the coming generations. The call to greatness extends far beyond the confines of individual ambition or worldly success. It is a call to revival—a call to awaken the spirit of godly masculinity that often lies dormant within the hearts of men across this great land. Let us rise, therefore, as a mighty army of warriors for Jesus, united in purpose and unwavering in our commitment to serve Him with all our heart, soul, and strength. Men, let’s get back to the beginning. ************** Pray with me: Father, men are contending for true masculinity marked by courage, strength, and unwavering conviction. This can only be found in You. Father, open the hearts of men to see that we were created to be unconditionally loved by You. Show every man, Father, that he does not have to earn Your love and that his masculinity can only be found in an intimate relationship with You. In disobedience to Your Word, we have been “conformed to the world” (Romans 12:1-2). We have allowed ungodly individuals to define greatness, manhood, and masculinity; morally weak individuals have become our heroes and those we emulate. This has caused absolute disaster in our land. Raise up many, Father, who can model and minister Your truth to men. Give us a broad movement that will lend great momentum to this process. Without it, we will never recover our nation. In the coming revival, we ask You to revive biblical manhood. We ask for these things in Yeshua’s name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that men will step into their God-created masculinity and become the strength needed in our nation and homes. ***************************************** I asked Kenny for book recommendations regarding this subject, and he gave me these: * The Men We Need: God’s Purpose for Manly Men by Brant Hansen * Healing the Masculine Soul by Gordon Dalbey Kenny also has a YouTube channel for men called The Fraternity. The channel address is: kennyprice5858. Click on the link below to watch the full video: ------------------------------------------------------- https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/cam-newtons-tombstone-mindset-highlights-americas-marriage-crisis