As I post, the hour is early. For me, early is the best time to spend with Jesus. In these quiet moments, God reveals His great love, mercy, and grace for us.

When someone doesn’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior they are spiritually blind and can’t see and understand the love of God.

Lk 4:19
He has sent me (Jesus) to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Also those who experienced salvation but refuse to wholeheartedly follow Him are impaired; they walk in darkness.

Jn 8:12
(Jesus) said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Let’s not walk in darkness but walk in His Light. Let’s follow Him since His way is the only way!

2 Pt 1:9
…if anyone does not (add to their faith) he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

What does Jesus mean when He says to seek first the Kingdom of God?

Mt 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The Kingdom of God refers to God's rule and reign in our lives and in the world. Jesus wants us to make God's will and purposes our first priority. That means we seek His guidance, righteousness, and presence above any other pursuit.

It means making God the priority in our thoughts, decisions, and actions. We line up our lives with His teachings and principles.

As we prioritize the Kingdom, we proclaim that Jesus is Lord. He is our ultimate authority and source of wisdom. By faith we know everything else will fall into place.

Let’s put Jesus first and pray for His will to be done! His grace will help us lose our life so we can find it.

Mt 7:24
Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

As followers of Jesus we are passionate about learning the ways of our Lord and Savior. Some define disciples of Jesus as “loyal learners.”

Ps 86:11
Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

We long to know the way of Jesus because we love the Truth.

Jn 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Living by the Truth means we have a heart that is wholly following Jesus. We love Him with all our heart. Anything that competes with our love for Him is sin: it grieves the Spirit and separates us from His fruits of love, joy, and peace.

1 Jn 2:15
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Let’s share the truth that true love cannot be found outside of Jesus. First thing each morning, let’s deny ourselves and take up our crosses so we will live a life of love!

Going through trials can be difficult, but a major part of our maturation process to become like Jesus are trials. Eventually we can experience pure joy, realizing that trials are temporary. Our faith remains steadfast as we see trials as opportunities to grow. We are becoming more like Jesus.

Before revival came to the church I led in Indiana, people were praying constantly for God to send revival. People signed up to pray every hour even during the night.

But when revival came people left because it required deep sacrifice, especially time. It broke my heart. During a time when His Presence was so strong, I was at the altar asking God why? I looked up as a young lady walked out.

Then the Lord clearly spoke these words to me:

Exodus 14:13
Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.

Let’s deny ourselves and live for God. He is fighting for us, ready to bless. Whatever He asks of us, His plans are perfect.

Making disciples in our own strength is an exercise in futility. Planning and implementing our plans without being directed by the Spirit leads to frustration and burnout.

Jesus said that if we are not totally connected to Him in planning and executing our plans to make disciples, we will fail.

Jn 15:4-5
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

To remain in Jesus is to totally and faithfully rely on Jesus for everything, all the time! We must remain in Jesus, not on church days or when things are going our way, but always. We must rely on Him in good times and bad times because without Him we can do nothing!

As we remain in Him, we will see good fruit manifest for Jesus. We’ll be making disciples!

What is that “one thing” you must do? In other words, what is your calling?

Our calling is revealed when we love 100% for Jesus. In other words, Jesus is absolutely first in our lives. We get up in the morning thinking about Jesus. We go throughout our day with Jesus on our mind. We go to bed thinking about Jesus. We rejoice when we dream about Jesus. He’s always on our mind.

Rom 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Like Paul, we live for our 'one thing'; we live for our calling. Broadly, our calling is to love God, love people, and make disciples. How is that working out today?

Kathy and I are grateful for your prayers as we write about the goodness of God in the low valleys and the mountain tops. God willing, we will reach the lost with authenticity and disciple the saved.

Ph 3:13b
But one thing I do…

We know as followers of Jesus we are to emulate Jesus so we must seek and save the lost (cf Lk 19:10).

Clearly we need to pray for His heart and for God to set up divine encounters. We must pray for wisdom to interact with the unsaved. Consider the wisdom of Paul.

1 Cor 9:19b-21
I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.

Paul exhorts us to learn the ways of the lost so we can understand and relate to them.

1 Cor 9:22b
I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

Let’s love God and people and make disciples! Lord have mercy and use us to reach the lost.

What does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?

Mt 22:37
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

To love God with all your heart means 100% commitment. It’s seeking to do what the Lord calls you to do. It means rooting out anything that is contrary to God and His love. It’s walking with the Spirit in all areas of life. It’s being thankful for God’s mercy!

We exhibit our total commitment to Jesus as we pray for mercy for the unrepentant. We love the lost!

Mt 22:39
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Jesus explains in the Good Samaritan parable that our neighbor is anyone we encounter. The question is, do we love those we encounter that are different than us? Different political beliefs? Different faith? Social status?

By God’s grace, let’s root out all prejudice and become like Jesus, loving our enemies and being a friend. Let’s cry out for mercy!

I love the song, “Good, Good Father,” by Chris Tomlin.

You are perfect in all of Your ways
Oh, You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

Our Father loves mercy! Although God’s justice is perfect, He prefers mercy over justice.

Mic 6:8b
And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

The Lord loves when we pray for others to receive mercy.

When we pray for mercy for our families, for our neighbors, for our cities, and for our nation, we are praying the will of God.

Father, please bless and give America a heart for You! For the sake of our church and for the sake of the righteous remnant in our country, please spare America. Do not judge us for our rebellion against You and our nation’s ever- growing iniquity. Lord, have mercy and please give America a new heart for You. Lord have mercy! In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Jam 2:13b
Mercy triumphs over judgment!

How blessed we are as children of God. We are born of His Spirit washed in His blood.

1 John 3:1a
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Since we are spiritually born from above, no merit from us assisted God in our birthing process. No good deeds helped. No extraordinary intelligence needed. It’s all His grace.

Eph 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast.

If our salvation is all God’s work, let’s keep living in that freedom. God wants us to live empowered by His grace. It’s by Him that we grow in grace and become like Jesus.

Gal 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

As we read our Bible, pray, give, fellowship, and worship, let’s be aware it’s all by His grace!

As we draw closer following Jesus we experience the love, joy, and peace of obeying His commands.

Mt 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

As we take His yoke, we travel the path He wants. We view people, places, and things the way He sees them. We wouldn’t have it any other way because we live in love.

1 Jn 5:3-4
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

Let’s live in victory by obeying all the commands of Jesus. What seems right to the world always leads to pain and heartbreak. Let’s live for Jesus so we can win!

Pr 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Jesus is the way to eternal life and life to the full.

Jn 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

One way of discerning we are on the right path is knowing, understanding, and obeying the teachings of Jesus.

Jn 14:23-24
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Just think…if we obey the teachings of Jesus, God takes up residence in us. We love and are producing spiritual fruit that last forever. What love, peace, and joy is available for us if we obey Jesus’ teachings!

God has chosen us to produce fruit. Now we pray for things that Jesus would pray for and He always answers!

Jn 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Let’s obey everything Jesus teaches!