Live A Life Worth Remembering – By Thomas J. Koester

“The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.” —Bruce Lee

This article is dedicated to my friend and colleague of 34 years, Jahn Miller. Jahn was a man who lived a life worth remembering. His entire career and life were about bringing fairness and justice to those in need. Jahn was a voice and advocate for those victimized by impersonal corporations, which care more for shareholders than their policyholders.

Over his vast 45-year career, Jahn singlehandedly moved hundreds of millions of dollars held tightly by cold-handed, impersonal corporations, delivering it to victims of fire, flood, and calamity. It was no easy task, but Jahn was no easy guy. He was tenacious—a bulldog to insurance carriers, but a “guidedog” to the disenfranchised. Hmm, I just realized Jahn Miller was “Robin Hood” of Berkeley!

Jahn wasn’t a tall man by stature, but he was a giant on behalf of those who trusted him! I will never forget Jahn Miller of Berkeley, California. My dear friend passed away on the 3rd of June, 2024. Jahn was born July 12, 1950. Jahn simply changed his address, where he can finally retire in peace. In heaven, there are no disputes and no impersonal, coldhearted corporations.

Jahn is survived by his beloved, Sandra Ezra, and his pride and joy, Victoria Miller (Vic Milla), his daughter.

Jahn N. Miller, a man who lived a life worth remembering.

Live Like Jahn!

Did you know that seven out of ten people can not remember the name of their great grandfather. This means that most fathers of today will be forgotten in less than three generations. It’s not that children can’t remember. It’s that most fathers are absent in their lives and therefore are absent in their children’s and in their grandchildren’s memories. The verbal tradition of familial heritage becomes silent when we live selfishly or abusively to our offspring.

This is more significant than simply remembering the name of our great grandfathers. Rather, it’s about whether our lives today and tomorrow were meaningful enough to be worth remembering or positive enough to be inspirational.

When I first learned of this statistic, I sat there shocked—in utter disbelief and horror. This would mean that my future offspring would be oblivious to my existence, and my life today, tomorrow, and forever would be as though I never existed!

The Scriptures says:

“God has set eternity in the hearts of men.” – Ecclesiastes 3:11.

This is why being forgotten is so frightening. Eternity is written into our hearts, and souls—to never have existed is contrary to our DNA and to our consciousness.

This set within me a passion to leave an indelible and positive mark on the hearts and minds of my children and grandchildren. This is why I write articles and stories. Not only do I want my children’s children and their children to remember me, but I want the life I live now to inspire them to do memorable acts of love and goodness for others.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“… He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.” – Romans 2:7

I want my children to do greater things than me, so that their children will also be inspired to do greater things than their parents, and so on. I want what God desires for me and my children—a life of eternity, glory, honor, and immortality.

I want my children to do greater things than me, so that their children will also be inspired to do greater things than their parents, and so on.

Job puts it this way:

“The righteous move onward and forward; those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.” – Job 17:9

Also, I write articles and blogs for others, leaving behind breadcrumbs, so that they, too, will find the Father-heart of God. Finding God’s heart and living to please him is how we can live a life worth remembering. A life lived well is one doing what exists in heaven, here, on earth. It’s knowing God’s will as it exists in heaven and cooperating with him to make it happen with your life here, now.

I want as many people possible to experience the joy and amazement of belonging to a loving God, through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. You see, even God desired that His Son live a legacy life to be remembered and never forgotten—That all the works of Jesus would lead us to His Father—That all the Father’s spiritual offspring would find their way home, to Heaven.

Your greatest accomplishment is not only to father your children well while you’re living, but even more so after you’re gone. This is called a legacy—Living a life worth remembering!

The False Prophets of The Political Left – By Thomas J. Koester

If you listen to a lie long enough, it unfortunately will replace truth.

Balaam was an authentic Old Testament prophet of God. However, he was a greedy prophet who was approached by the King of the Moabites. The king greatly feared the Israelites and offered Balaam a great deal of money to curse Moses and the Israelite people. – Numbers, chapters 21-25

So, Balaam tried several times to curse Moses and God’s people.

Each time Balaam intended to proclaim a curse, he could only bless God’s people. So the king grew tired and fired the wayward prophet.

Balaam went home defeated and unpaid.

Balaam, still determined to please the Moabite King, thought of a way to curse God’s people. He decided to make a new deal with the King. He told the King that while God prevented him from declaring a curse and instead only a blessing, he thought of a way to get God’s people to sin. He further explained that God would remove his protection from his people, making the Israelites vulnerable to attack.

So the Moabite King agreed, and the King sent in his prostitutes and idolaters.

The prostitutes slept with the men of Israel, and the women purchased the idols and began worshiping the gods of Moab. God saw from Heaven the sin in the camp of Israel. He, therefore, removed his blessing of protection, and so the people started to die.

People, this is happening right now through Biden’s executive orders and the intentions of the House leaders. Their wokeism and Leftist ideologies are inciting America to sin so that God’s blessings and protection will be removed. They are getting Americans to kill their unborn. The killing of its elderly, the perversion of justice, and the protection of pedophiles. We have tolerated the appointment of evil people to political positions and woke judges and DAs.

We are currently witnessing the politicisation of our judicial system and the rise of a new and dangerous terminology called “lawfare.” This new form of warfare is against America’s own citizens and political enemies of the far Left, using the courts to silence political detractors and so destroy justice.

Like the old prophet Balaam, these godless politicians worship power and money. They promote the advancement of Communism and Marxism. The destruction of our religious liberties and the indoctrination and perversion of our children.

The sins of America are causing God to remove His blessing, and His divine protection is lessening day by day.

We need our Pastors and Priests to be like Arron’s grandson, Phinehas, who acted with great zeal and reverence before the Lord. Phinehas acted while Moses and Arron talked about a solution rather than doing something. God was, therefore, pleased with Arron’s grandson, and so God stopped the death of His people, defeating the conspiracy of the King of Moab and the greedy prophet’s scheme.

“The Lord spoke to Moses, Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the Israelites because he was zealous among them with My zeal, so that I did not destroy the Israelites in my anger.” – Numbers 25: 10-11

We must stand against our day’s evil with great passion and zeal before the Lord. Instead, the past stolen election and national lockdown showed the Lord and the enemies of America that the American people do not have the passion and zeal to stop the advancement of evil and darkness.

Child pornography, child sex trafficking, and abortion haven’t caused a scintilla of righteous indignation of God’s people to the point of overwhelming action and response.

We are gutless people, and therefore, America will be gutted. The gutting of truth. The gutting of justice. The gutting of dignity. The gutting of prosperity. The gutting of fairness and the gutting of our liberties. God will not be mocked. Therefore, He is allowing America to become a mockery to the world!

Saints of God, stand your ground! Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. Become the light of Christ. Be the salt of the earth. Be bold in your faith and obedience to Christ our King.

Patriots, Defend the Constitution. Stand up against tyranny, the cruel and oppressive rule of the Left. Push back against the Progressives. Support your godly and righteous representatives.

If we do not stand up for our faith and freedoms, we will surely fall as a nation, and great will its fall be!

Stop listening to the false prophets of the political left. Reject the false religion of wokeism.

The All-Encompassing All-Consuming OtherWorldly Life – By Thomas J. Koester

Because God Dosen’t Holdback Neither Should We!

Full-Time Pastors are no justification for part-time Christianity. Neither is Christianity simply a vocation of the elite and educated clergy.

It is a radically new culture and community; a new way of life and living, it is not a compartmentalized life, whereby God is public on Sundays, but private on Mondays through Saturdays; not an alternate-parallel lifestyle–that is, one foot in Church and one foot in the world. It is an all-consuming, all-encompassing otherworldly life.

True Christianity is so radical, so alien that your only way to survive in it is to suit up in complete faith. Natural laws and physics are without limits and barriers; economy and dominion are infinite and ever-expanding. Sickness and disease are opportunities and victories for growth. For the believer, death is but a brief nap and an instant passageway from a lesser glory to full glory.

However, someone suggested that to reach the world, we must act like the world and, well, that’s backfired!

Somewhere along the way, we’ve become the world, and therefore the world has nothing to see; there’s no contrast. The world is left without a testimony. Jesus himself said before he ascended into heaven:

“When I return, will I find faith on earth?”

Let’s stop our part-time Christianity and make it our full-time life. Let’s not leave our Christian duties and responsibilities to our pastors, but all do the work of ministry.

Doing nothing to very little with our faith stunts our growth as a godly people. Serving others and doing the work of ministry causes us to flourish and reach maturity in the faith.

The world needs grown-up Christians and not another worldly-religious order.

There’s no doubt that tribulation can be a useful tool for the Refiner’s fire; purifying our body, soul, and mind. But, if we reject the Holy Spirit’s conviction of God’s Word, expect all pleasantries to disappear.

Worldly comforts are not a sign of godly favor. No sir—They are an indicator that you may not be a true son or daughter of God. True sons and daughters are purified by the things they suffer. They know it is the hour of chastisement, bringing about true repentance; so rather than pout and complain, they act with dispatch to be renewed and rejoined. They don’t get bogged down with shame, they get lifted with praise!

They become consumed in the life of Christ. He is the reason they triumph through tribulation and suffering. Their suffering is purpose-driven, that is to become closer to Jesus and the all-encompassing, all-consuming, otherworldly life He offers.

Final thought…

Remember, your pastor will not be standing in for you on your behalf at The Judgement Seat of Christ. Nope, it’ll be just you, and what you have, and have not done to the least of one of these.

You’re not saved by your works, but your works validate your faith. Faith without works is dead and works without faith and love is nothing at all.

I challenge you to show off your faith to the unseen world so that the world in which we live will see your faith and believe. Make your Heavenly Father proud, and give him many reasons to say: “Well done, my faithful son or daughter.”

When your faith lights up, it shows off the incomparable brightness and weightiness of God. Because God is all-encompassing and all-consuming, there is no room for worldly life.

Real Hope For A Hopeless America – By Thomas Koester

The hope that is in every believer is real hope for a hopeless America.

We need to find our place in His Story so that we can leave our mark in history.

The Nazi-Socialist and their sick eugenics are alive and well in America. Their aim is a “perfect society” through science and political power.

Abortion was originally, according to Margret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, a form of “depopulating the blacks from society.” Just like the Nazis dehumanized Jews, Gays, Gypsies, and Christians, Margret Sanger, and her “Planned Parenthood” cohorts have dehumanized the unborn, especially the unborn of color. Now, since its inception, abortion has killed nearly 60 million unborn just in America alone.

You see, dictatorial and tyrannical control requires a manageable population. This is not only about the numbers of humans but also the dollars it takes to manage them. Coronavirus was, among many things, about the killing off, or shall I saw more humanely, euthanizing the elderly and the weakest among us. In addition, the killing off of businesses creates general economic ruin and caused melee in our cities and towns.

This was done to usher in a New Economic Order that will require efficiency and dependence. Don’t you realize that we validated their evil trial balloon by our compliance?

Efficiency, that is, a more manageable populace, and a more weakened people lowers the possibility of uncontrollable revolt. This is why patriotism and those patriotic institutions we all love must go. This is why “The Good Ole American Way” has been under assault. This is why football, baseball, basketball, and soccer have been ruined, and our American flag and our National Anthem desecrated. This is what’s behind the destruction of women’s sports! Everything that makes us America is slowly canceled and removed in order to take away our identity and patriotism.

All of this is not new. It’s how every great nation before us has fallen. The coronavirus was simply the mechanism the Left used to take away many of our freedoms and liberties. It was used to divide us and subjugate us to lawless mandates. The virus also preoccupied us, giving the Democratic Left cover for the grandest theft of all times, the Presidency of the United States, and to control all houses of government, both federal and local.

These things were necessary in order to usher in the New World Order and the “New Economy.” Or, as the Globalists have renamed it, “The Great Reset.”

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, is hard to grasp, when we see so many bad actors in our government and news media outlets. So we have to remind ourselves daily that this is foremost a spiritual battle, which has brazenly manifested itself in the world of men.

There is no question as to where this is all heading. Godly men and leaders, such as pastors, reverends, and priests no longer have the luxury of the status quo of a typical Sunday service or Mass. It’s time to raise up armies of intercessors and train and equip God’s people in evangelism and spiritual warfare!

“It means buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy, ’cause [America] is going bye-bye.”

If we want America to survive, the Church must become the standard-bearer once again. It must lead America back to God, or God will allow our nation to spit us out!

But remember, we’re the Church, and our mission is to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom. The Kingdom Gospel puts things in the right order without the aid of political power. As a matter of fact, the Church is most powerful under persecution.

When the Roman armies occupied First Century Israel and all of Palestine, did it deter Christianity, or did it propel it?

We know the answer—persecution became the Early Church’s rocket fuel and launched the Church into world evangelism!

“… And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” – Matthew 24:14

We know what our mission is. It’s not to cower in fear or shirk our responsibility or to proclaim that the rapture cometh. It is to stand fast, hold our ground; keep the faith, and engage darkness with the might and power of God of the Angel Armies. It is to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and unleash the power of the Gospel, that is, The Good News against the Bad News of World Socialism.

If we die, it’s gain. If we live, it’s Christ, the power of God unto salvation. Let’s show and offer the World Jesus Christ. Let’s all become Jesus with skin on and hold fast to the attitude, humility, and power of Christ.

Whether we are free or in bondage, our job is to be the Church and the Triumphant Bride of Christ.

Like you, I don’t want to disappoint Jesus when he returns. I want him to not only find faith on earth but to find a bright, beautiful, and radiant bride!

So, come what may! The Devil and his minions will do their worst. The Church, we will do our best because we have the Spirit of Christ, the love for Truth, and have love for one another, or at least we should.

We will win because God has already won the victory in Jesus Christ, our Risen Savior, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. The ending of the story has already been written. Just make sure that your names are written in the Lambs Book of Life, and all will go well.

We need to find our place in His Story so that we can leave our mark in history.

The hope that is in every believer is real hope for a hopeless America. Amen

A Few Good Men – By Thomas J. Koester

History shouts, “It only takes a few good men!”

I Dare You To Become Greater Than Your Fathers. I dare you to become a real man!

A Few Good Men is an intergenerational and interdenominational movement of men for all ages. We believe that segregating our youth from the men in our churches, ministries, and communities is counter-productive to the process of raising our boys into strong men and leaders of tomorrow. We believe men, without the opportunity and access of our youth, are a terrible loss of potential and vice-versa.

Becoming a man is not a chronological process. You simply do not grow into manhood or masculinity. John Eldredge describes masculinity as “that quality or characteristic of manhood being passed through close proximity to boys.” You can not take a class or read a book on becoming a man. It is mystically and methodically passed through the process of mutual struggle and the sharing of life’s experience.

Many times, when older men share their struggles, losses, and defeats in a room full of young men, you’d think they’d be bored to tears. They’re not. They are inspired to open and share their own struggles, losses, and defeats. And when we have this kind of “open vulnerability,” change is possible. Community develops, and a band of brothers is formed.

“This story shall the good man teach his son; … From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered-We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition, from this day, till the end of the world” – William Shakespeare, King Henry V, Act IV, Scene III.

We need each other. A father needs a son, and a son needs a father. In a perfect world, each of us would have a present, communicative, warm, and loving father. He would be their to father us through each of life’s challenges, showing us the ropes, teaching us, and modeling how life is to be lived, fought for, and how to love and sacrifice.

It is the purging of our hurts, losses, and pains, which eases the suffering of becoming a man. It helps young men and boys to see the scars and wounds older men have amassed over the years. It helps because they learn they’re not alone, not misfits nor Martians. Life is hard. I said earlier, “In a perfect world, each of us would have a present, communicative, warm, and loving father;” this, however, isn’t reality.

Some of our deepest wounds were delivered by our dads. And, because it was our dads, the wound is life altering and disruptive; it takes many of us “off course” from the path of our intended journey.

Most of us have not been invited into manhood but have entered in, without guidance and the advantage of a present and available father. We are lost. Lost sons and then lost men. Most of us men are simply aged boys. We’re stuck and trapped, and inside is a small and frightened boy. On the outside is the body of a man, pretending to be a man on the inside. His life is carefully lived, concealing this truth.

If boys are to become men; or, if lost adult males are to become men; we must open up in a sanctuary (safe place) for us to share our stories. The telling of your story is the first step to being found.

One of my favorite movies is “Hook,”with Robin Williams as “Peter Panning” and Dustin Hoffman as “Captain Hook.” The scene where the Lost Boys have their early encounter with “Peter Panning, the Lawyer” was one of rejection and disbelief. “‘He’s not ‘The Pan,’ he’s fat and old!'”

The Lost Boys become divided; some believe he is “The Pan,”and others do not. Even Peter Panning thinks they’re all nuts. However, a little boy approaches Peter Panning. The little boy takes the face of Peter Panning into his hands and begins to shape it, looking for something lost, peering into his eyes. Suddenly, the boy lifts Peter’s sagging face into a smile, and the little boy exclaims; “Oh, there you are, Peter!”

You see, deep within you is that lost boy. You were knocked off your intended journey into manhood and masculinity. Somewhere, you became lost. It sometimes takes the brave young boy to look you deep into your soul and say, “There you are, Jeff! There you are, Bob! There you are, Mike, or John or Steve!” We need the youth, and the youth need us. Together, we find each other. Together, we become men.

We invite you; no, rather we call you to join A Few Good Men. I dare you to be greater than your fathers. You do indeed have what it takes. You are no longer a lost boy but found, wanted, and needed.

Join us in becoming men. Men of honor. Men of God. A Few Good Men!

The American Marxist-Jihadist – By Thomas J. Koester

The melding of Fanatical Jihadist and Marxist-Socialism is what led to the death of many Jews, Christians, Gypsies, and homosexuals during the rule of Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist Party. This is an unknown fact of history. However, I saw it firsthand during my youth, and it’s a part of my personal story.

When I was a teenager, my boss, who was an Arab-American, was married to a German-American woman, and they constantly invited me to their Nazi meetings each week. I’ve also been to my bosses home in Pleasant Hill, delivering furniture from time to time, where I saw many relics of Naziism.

During their meetings, they would hang out their Nazi flags, lay out their hate-filled pamphlets, and hold their meetings in the very furniture store showroom that I had worked at. This was in the City of Pleasant Hill, California, and the year was 1977.

My boss would chase Jewish and Black Americans out of the store, and he forbade me from buying my lunch from the Jewish deli a block away from the furniture store. I quit the job when I understood what was going on and especially when I brought one of the Nazi pamphlets home for my parents to read, and who were shocked how this could be happening in America and in our own small town and county!

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” is what has both created, and still to this day maintains this evil axis.

The same evil axis exists between a rapid and rising National Socialistic/Progressive infiltration of both the Democratic and Republican Parties. Jihadist fanaticism has seriously embedded itself into nearly all sectors of our government.

It doesn’t matter whether by Sharia Law or Communistic Totalitarianism, the USA has already been infiltrated by both political systems and our government, and many of our elected and appointed officials are complicit and guilty of this axis.

With mass media already under their control, there may not be one true American and Constitutionalist who can win a national election. We’ll have to see if this holds true this November 5, 2024.

With the influence of the Progressives in the Democratic Party, pushing the party towards Amnesty, once approved and signed into law, it will be all over folks! The whole open borders issue is by design and is one of the most destructive, anti-American efforts of the left, including those within the Democratic Party with jihadist sympathies.

It’s long past the time for every freedom and liberty loving American to stand up, whether Christian, Jewish, Catholic; Islamic or atheist, we’ve lost our Nation while we segregated ourselves by our religions and the cold dead traditions of men.

We lost our inertia to fight because the progressives kept us occupied with our own conservative talking heads—oh how very clever!

We ceased the role as American Watchmen of our own Government in exchange for watching stocks and bonds and our real estate values rise and fall.

So, my dear fellow Americans, we are now finally ripe for our new master’s harvest, and it will not end in a festival, but in slavery.

Hard Fought Happily-Ever-After — By Thomas J. Koester

Because every love story has an adversary!

Love is worth the battle—you are worth battling for. Don’t surrender. Your story is not over!

An adversary and a battle always precedes a happily-ever-after. Not only is this true for every romance and marriage, but it is also true of our faith. Storytellers and movie-makers are consistently using this theme over and over again.

What kind of romance, marriage, or faith would there be without an adversary and without a battle? Wouldn’t a movie or story be boring without an adversary and without battle?

After all, adventure, battle, and beauty are within our DNA—within the very depths of our hearts and souls.

As a matter of fact, the themes of an adventure, battle, and beauty are actually borrowed from God’s story of his crowning creation, that is, Adam and Eve. First, he creates them, then loses them to the Serpent’s craftiness. Then, God pursues his creation until he later rescues mankind back from the adversary by sending our champion, Jesus Christ the Righteousness One. Not only does God rescue those he lost, but his Son delivers a death blow to our most wretched adversaries, Sin and Death!

“Will I ransom them from the power of the grave? Will I redeem them from death’s hold? Death, where are your diseases? Grave, where is your victory? — Hosea 13:14

“Death’s sting is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. Thanks be to God, who gives us this victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” — 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

“But the LORD says, “The captives of warriors will be released, and the plunder of tyrants will be retrieved. For I will fight those who fight you, and I will save your children.” — Isaiah 49:25

And, for those who believe, this is not quite the end of God’s story—not by a long shot! He is preparing a place for us, our happily-ever-after. A place where all adversaries, including sin, death, disease, and the devil; where all loss, decay and brokenness, and even our tears will be forever vanquished.

So, don’t despise hardships and adversities, with it comes a life worth living and a God who, not only loves to come through for his children, but trains us through our adversities and battles, to come through for those whom we love, including strangers that God brings across our paths.

“A song of David. Praise the Lord! He is my rock. He prepares me for war. He trains me for battle.” — Psalms 144: 1.

Happily-Ever-After is worth the scars and setbacks, for life and true living are their reward.

“But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.” — Hebrews 10:39

Stand your ground. Cling to your faith. Be brave and upright. Hold to the truth. Love fiercely and never give up on others.

“For I consider that our present sufferings can not even be compared to the coming glory that will be revealed to us.” — Romans 8:18

“What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” — Romans 8:31

Engage your battles as a victor and never as a victim. For you are a true Child of God after all and your Heavenly Father, well He’s the God of the Angel Armies!

God is your happily-ever-after. He fights for you!

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE | FAITH AWAKENING – BY THOMAS J. KOESTER

Because asking “how” is the faithless question.

The correct question believers should be asking when it comes to obeying God is—is it impossible?

Would you happen to know why?

Because it’s rare. It’s a question that heaven rarely hears. But it is precisely the right question that we should be asking. The Word says in Hebrews 11:6 the following:

“… And without faith, it is impossible to please God,”

To start with, the impossible, I believe, is very stirring to the heart of God. When we approach God with faith enough to join Him in His impossible work, we say, “I trust you so much that the details don’t matter.” The challenges don’t detour me. The dangers won’t stop me. These “faith qualities” are what God is after in you and in me, too.

Here’s the rest of Hebrews 11:6

“… because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

So, start with the impossible—the most difficult, the most unlikely, and even the most ridiculous. Only be sure you’re following God’s Word and His will. God wants to reward you with each impossible step you take.

Faith is not what you can do but what you can’t do. It’s not where you can go but where you can’t go. Faith moves you towards the impossible, or it’s not faith!

How many biblical stories have you read whereby God sends his man or woman to face impossible odds?

God’s missions are not missions unless they are impossible by human standards. But you’ll never know until your faith meets your obedience to his will and purpose.

Belief in God is not only about his existence but more about your obedience to his calling on your life.

If we can not see the Father’s works, it’s because we’re too wrapped up in our own work- and yes, this can include “church work!” We may not need faith for our work, but we can only do God’s work by faith.

Christian populism and “the power of positive thinking” have diminished faith to mere “tips and techniques” or following “principles” without a relationship to the Prince of Peace.

His work often makes us risk our comfort and, sometimes, our safety. His will requires passionate courage to obey. Our work brings enslavement, sweat, and, at times, depression and boredom. Many of us are killing ourselves for a paycheck!

… Is that how you dreamt you’d live your life, running after a paycheck?

If we believe and obey God and join him in his work, we will no longer live as enslaved people but as free people.

“Wherever the Spirit of God is, there is freedom!” – 2 Corinthians 3:17

Freedom to move towards adventure and risk with God is core to walking by faith with him.

As noted, the author, John Eldridge, has penned;

“Asking God, how? … Is a faithless question.”

Obeying God and following his will means God has already worked out the ” how. ” Trusting God with the unknown details and acting on his will without knowing “how” is the definition of faith.

God’s will for us must become as essential as eating food. To move in faith, we must become vitality dependent on God’s will and preplanned purpose.

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” – John 4:34

“For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” – Matthew 12:50

Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” – John 14:23

Faith and obedience lead to closeness with God. Asking Him “how” all the time before you obey shows you don’t trust Him. So, stop asking faithless questions! You can’t exercise faith apart from an intimate relationship with the Father and the Son. You’ll need the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit to do the impossible!

If you try and do things apart from knowing God, you’ll be in danger of practicing lawlessness or unauthorized acts of whatever you call “righteousness.”

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ – Matthew 7:21-23

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

Find where God’s Spirit is working and go there quickly and passionately. Only there can you do the impossible and find a real and meaningful life.

Ask yourself, do I need God to accomplish this? The answer may require you to do the impossible…

“… That is your mission if you choose to accept it.”

Be brave. God’s equipped you for the impossible mission!

If We Only Had A Heart – By Thomas J. Koester

It’s what’s in your heart that will change your family and not what’s in your wallet.

“Keep your heart with all diligence,
for out from it flows the wellspring of life.” – Proverbs 4:23

Notice it doesn’t say wallet!

It also doesn’t say Capital One either! … It says your heart.

In the original book by L. Frank Baum, Wizard of Oz, it is revealed that the Tin Woodman used to be a man of flesh and blood, but a Wicked Witch cursed his axe to cut off all his body parts, which ultimately caused him to lose his heart. Thus, loosing his love for a Munchkin maid named Nimmie Amee.

The tinsmith replaced the woodsman’s torso, but was unable to replace the heart. Now completely made of tin, but without a heart, the Tin Man became cold and indifferent to the girl and the marriage never occurred. He wants a heart so he can rekindle his love for the girl and marry her.

You see, sin cursed our hearts, deadening our souls and separating us from God. Without a good heart, we remain lost and loveless, with no way to God. We too become cold and indifferent, losing our desire for God. Religion is like the tinsmith that can give us a tin torso, but can’t replace the heart.

Rather than an all powerful Oz, we need an all powerful Savior.

For those who believe in God and are faithful Christ followers, we’ve received a new heart!

Ezekiel 36:26 puts it this way:

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of you, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”

Notice that God also says He will put a new Spirit within us. This is because our new heart becomes His dwelling place, and from our restored and cleansed heart flows new life for God and others. We become living temples for God.

Now we can obey God from the inside out. Something that the Old Covenant could not do.

“… I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” – Ezekiel 36:27

So God places his Spirit inside our new hearts so that we have the ability to do his will, keep his laws, and create a new relationship within us.

Romans 2:29 tells us that the Holy Spirit changes our hearts. This is not an act of our will or effort but an internal operation done by God’s Spirit to those that believe the Gospel.

So, do what you’ve been born again to do, live a changed life because of your changed heart, and so, become that wellspring of life for your family and friends and to the stranger you meet; to your neighbors and coworkers.

Be the best life-giver because the Giver of Life dwells in your new heart!

Love Is On The Way – A Note From Heaven – Delivered By Thomas J. Koester

My dear Precious One,

Pain, suffering, crisis, and hardship are tools in My hand, not to harm or punish you, but to transform and beautify you. All losses and difficulties are My instructors, nudging you towards My heart and shaping My Likeness into your uniqueness.

I have redeemed you to be with Me forever, and so, I’m preparing you now for the happily-ever-after then.

Don’t stop loving Me. I will not stop loving you–never! I am a ferocious and unstoppable Lover of your heart and soul. There is no other God like Me, or ever shall there be. I am your One and Only, as you are My One and Only. This is how I see all My children, high or low, great or small; you are precious to Me all.

Give Me all your worries and doubts. Focus not on the crisis. Instead, focus your faith on My promises so that My will may happen on earth, just as it exists here with Me in Heaven.

I hold ALL things together by the Word of My Power! Am I not qualified to be your only God and Father?

I am jealous for your love, but I know how frail you are and how prone you are to wander. So I am patient, wooing you by My Spirit and gently whispering to your heart and soul:

“Come back to me, come back, My Dear One.”

Don’t test Me, but rest in Me, and all will go well with you.

My Son Jesus is my expression of My love for you. His face is My face. His passion is My passion. Come to Me through Him. If you stop believing in Him, you’ll stop believing in Me. Don’t stop believing, and don’t stop obeying My Word and My Voice; they are critical to your survival and are a roadmap straight into My heart.

In due time your seasons of suffering will change. The Valley of death will be gone, and mountainous vistas will spring up, and the works of My hand will shower you with breathtaking beauty. It will captive your heart. Your soul will be filled to overflowing, and We’ll dance together again.

I am longing to show you My face and light up your life with My entire presence and full glory. On that day, I’ll wipe away all your tears and welcome you into your very own everlasting home. It will be the ultimate homecoming, I promise you!

On that day, you’ll become as bright as the stars in heaven, and all your worries, hurts, and imperfections will be gone, gone, and gone, never to return.

I can’t wait to show you all I’ve prepared just for you. Let Me continue to prepare you for all of it. The highs and lows, the turbulence, and the difficult days are all masterfully handled and orchestrated by Me.

Be patient and remain faithful to Me, as our time together is always approaching nearer and nearer. Things will get rough just before they get better, so look for My signs and ready yourself for that beautiful day, as I love to come through for you because I am in love with you …

… Love is on the way!

Your Loving Abba-Father,

God