A Call To!

"A Call To"...

There is a call on every believer’s life. God has not called us merely to believe in Him, but to follow Him, surrender to Him, stand for Him, and serve Him. In a world that constantly does its best to pull us away from God, we must listen carefully for His voice and answer His call. In a world that is growing colder and more evil with each passing day, we must for one to walk closely to God and keep our mind and hearts focused on Him.

There are five areas that God has dealt with me on, even since August of last year in 2025.

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1. A Call to Separation!

Scripture reference - “Come out from among them, and be ye separate…” — 2 Corinthians 6:17

God calls us to be different. Separation does not mean that we stop loving people or reaching the lost; it means that we refuse to allow the world to shape our values, our choices, and our hearts.

We cannot walk closely with God while continually holding on to the things He has called us to lay down. There are some places, habits, attitudes, and relationships that God may be asking us to separate ourselves from. We can't walk the same walk, talk the same talk, listen to the same music or watch the same movies or TV shows we did before we made a call to separate ourselves from the world. It's an ongoing effort.

2. A Call to Surrender!

Scripture reference - James 1:19-27

James reminds us that hearing God’s Word is not enough — we must do what it says. True surrender is more than words. It is allowing God’s Word to change the way we think, speak, act, and live. Surrender says, “Lord, not my will, but Yours.”

It means giving God our plans, our desires, our opinions, and even the things we struggle to release. When we surrender, we place our lives completely into His hands. A surrendered life is a life God can use.

3. A Call to Sacrifice!

Scripture reference - Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20

Jesus said that if we want to follow Him, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. Following Jesus will cost us something, sacrificing the ways of this world. 

Galatians 2:20 reminds us that we have been crucified with Christ and that Christ now lives in us. That means our old self no longer gets to sit on the throne.

Sometimes sacrifice means laying down our comfort. Sometimes it means forgiving when we have been hurt, serving even when we are tired, giving when it costs us, or obeying when we don't understand. The cross reminds us that the Christian life is not about “me” - it is about Christ living through me.

4. A Call to Stand!

Think about the three Hebrew children: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When the king (Nebuchadnezzar) commanded them to bow, they refused. They stood when everyone else was bowing. They trusted God even when obedience meant facing the fiery furnace. And what happened? God met them in the fire! Their faithfulness did not keep them out of the furnace, but it brought them through the furnace.

Daniel also stood firm when pressured to compromise his faith. He continued to pray (every morning, noon, and night), even when he knew the consequences. He was thrown into the lions’ den, but God shut the mouths of the lions and made them as pillows for Daniel's head to lay.

There will be moments when we have to stand when it would be easier to bow. Stand for truth. Stand for righteousness. Stand for your faith. Stand when others walk away. You may have to go through the fire, but you will never go through it alone. He is still in the fire!

5. A Call to Service!

Scripture reference - “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” - Matthew 4:19

Jesus called ordinary fishermen and gave them an extraordinary purpose.

He is still calling people today.

He is calling us to serve—not just sit. To reach—not just receive. To give—not just take.

You may think you don't have much to offer, but God can take an ordinary life that is surrendered to Him and use it for extraordinary things.

There is a place for you in the Kingdom. There is someone who needs your testimony, your encouragement, your prayers, and your willingness to serve.

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A Call To... Answer

There is a call to separation.

A call to surrender.

A call to sacrifice.

A call to stand.

And a call to service.

The question is not whether God is calling.

The question is: Will we answer?

Today, let our response be, “Yes, Lord.”

Yes to.. separating from anything that pulls me away from You. Yes to... surrendering my will to Yours. Yes to... sacrificing whatever You ask me to lay down. Yes to... standing firm when the world tells me to bow. Yes to... serving wherever You need me.

"Lord, here I am. Send me. Use me. I will answer Your call. Amen."

Keep Walking!

Keep Walking!

“I will go before you and make the crooked places straight.” — Isaiah 45:2

The enemy is threatened by what God is doing in these days. There is no doubt that we are living in challenging times, and sometimes the enemy will try to catch us off guard. When everything seems smooth, he may throw a slippery stone onto the path—something unexpected that causes us to stumble, become discouraged, or question our purpose.

But God says, “Keep walking.” Don't stop because the road got difficult. Don't turn around because you stumbled. Don't give up because the path looks uncertain. God has already gone before you, and He knows every obstacle that lies ahead.

There is hope.

There is purpose.

There is victory ahead.

The enemy may try to slow you down, but he cannot stop what God has ordained for your life. Keep standing firm. Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. You may encounter crooked paths, unexpected stones, and difficult seasons, but God promises to go before you and make the crooked places straight.

So keep walking.

Your breakthrough may be closer than you think. Your testimony may be forming in the middle of your trial. And one day, you will look back and realize that every step was leading you exactly where God wanted you to be. The enemy may throw stones, but God is still making a way. Keep walking—you are going to see the victory!

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Prayer suggestion:

"Lord, help me keep walking when the road becomes difficult. When the enemy tries to discourage me or cause me to stumble, remind me that You have already gone before me. Give me strength to stand firm, faith to keep believing, and courage to continue forward. Thank You for the hope, purpose, and victory You have promised. In Jesus’ name, amen."

But So Is God!

But so is God...

For someone who needs encouragement, allow me to share my heart with you. Spiritual exhaustion is real, pain is real, grief is real, disappointments are real. But so is God. He is our comforter and our very present help in time of need. He stays close to the brokenhearted. He makes a way where there seems to be no way. 

Depression/anxiety is real. (There may be days when you feel tired, overwhelmed, or like you simply cannot keep going). But so is God. He sees what others cannot see, and He knows the battles you are fighting in your mind and heart.

Struggles are real. Bills, relationships, temptations, discouragement, loneliness, and uncertainty are real. But so is God. He is our strength when our strength runs out. Sickness is real. But so is God. He is our ultimate healer. He is our protector. 

Trials are real. (We may not understand why God allows certain things, and sometimes the road is harder than we ever imagined). But so is God. He has not abandoned us in the middle of the storm.

Your circumstances may be real, but they are not greater than your God. The God I serve, He is very much alive and real and He cares about everything we battle and face in this life. Sometimes the best thing we can do is get alone with Him, and pour our heart and soul out to Him whether it be with our tears, prayers, or worship and praise and allow Him to help us in our hour of need.

*When you hurt, run to Him.

*When you are weary, lean on Him.

*When you are discouraged, remind yourself of His promises for they are yes and amen.

*When you cannot see the way forward, trust the One who can, because He promises to go before us and pave every crooked path straight.

You may not be able to change everything you are facing today, but you can remember this:

Pain is real—but so is God.

Struggles are real—but so is God.

Trials are real—but so is God.

And God is still faithful. He is faithful to meet you in the middle of your pain, strengthen you in your struggles, carry you through your trials, heal you in His way and will. Keep your eyes on Him, trust Him, and don't doubt Him in this hour. Keep the enemy under your feet where he belongs and trust God.

Guard Your Pea Patch and Fight!

Stay in Your Pea Patch and Fight!

The Lord give a word like this about ten years ago that ended up being a sermon and also what I have continued to have to be reminded up in the middle of hard times, spiritual battles, spiritual exhaustion and just a warring of the mind... and that's to simply stand strong and fight! Keep the enemy under your feet where he belongs! Once again, God is urging me to stand on this word again in the middle of battling a weight spirit! 

Scripture: “And the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven.” — 

1 Samuel 14:23

There is a powerful story in 2 Samuel 23:11-12 about Shammah, one of David’s mighty men. The Philistines came to take a field of lentils, but Shammah stood his ground and fought. While others ran, he stayed in his field and defended what had been entrusted to him. The Philistines were defeated, because one man decided to stay and fight when every one else fled in fear. That's exactly what the enemy wants us to do, cower down in fear, lay down in defeat, and give up.

Sometimes the enemy isn't trying to take everything at once. He simply wants to take your peace, your joy, your family, your faith, or your purpose - one piece at a time. That's the enemy's tickery, as he's sly as fox, he's the father of all lies and the truth is not in him. 

But there comes a time when you have to say, “This is my pea patch, and I'm not giving it up!”

Stay where God has planted you.

Fight for your faith.

Fight for your family.

Fight for your joy.

Fight for your calling.

Fight for what God has entrusted to you.

You don't have to fight in your own strength. God fights with you and gives you the strength to stand. Don't run from your pea patch. Stand your ground, lift your head, and fight the good fight of faith!

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Prayer suggestion:

"Dear Lord, help me to stand firm when the enemy comes against what You have entrusted to me. Give me courage, strength, and perseverance. Help me protect my faith, my family, my purpose, and my joy. When I feel like giving up, remind me that You are fighting with me. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Spiritual Exhaustion!

Spiritual Exhaustion - what I have been battling in the middle of some stressful times the past month yet God remains faithful or pull me through. However, I also know what is like to battle ongoing depression and anxiety but I know there is a remedy for it all. 

Scripture: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

Sometimes we can become spiritually exhausted. We keep serving, praying, helping others, and giving, but inside we feel empty.

Even strong people get tired. Even faithful people need rest. God is not asking you to keep pouring out when your soul is empty. He is inviting you to come to Him and be refreshed.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is stop, get alone with God, and let Him fill you again.

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Spiritual Exhaustion vs. Depression

Scripture: “He restoreth my soul.” — Psalm 23:3

Sometimes we feel spiritually exhausted, and sometimes what we are experiencing may be deeper than simple tiredness. Spiritual exhaustion and depression can look similar, but they are not always the same thing.

Spiritual exhaustion may come from giving, serving, praying, and carrying responsibilities for too long without allowing ourselves to be refreshed. Again, God reminds us, “Come unto me... and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

Depression can involve a deeper and more persistent heaviness that affects our thoughts, emotions, energy, sleep, and everyday life. It is not a sign that someone has weak faith. Faith and getting help can go hand in hand.

Sometimes we don't need another sermon—we need rest. Sometimes we need prayer. Sometimes we need a trusted friend. And sometimes we need professional help.

God cares about the whole person — spirit, mind, and body. Don't be ashamed to say, “I'm tired.” Don't feel quilty to say, "No I can't help with that". Don't be afraid to say, “I need help.” And don't forget to say, “Jesus, I need You.”

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Suggested Prayer:

"Lord, You know when my soul is weary and when my heart is hurting. Help me recognize what I need and give me courage to seek the right help. Refresh my spirit, renew my mind, and surround me with people who will encourage and support me. Remind me that needing help does not mean I have failed You. In Jesus' name, Amen."