Taxes, threat of terror attacks, illness and aging, finances, political conflicts, family relationships, church struggles, fears, insurance issues, air travel impositions, job loss, gasoline prices, war, injustice, death—these are just a few of the enemies most of us face daily. Yet, let me also tell you what the Lord has spoken to my soul:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6-7, NASB). read more

Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord (Ps. 27:14, NASB).

No matter what God has called us to do, one of the most difficult things we will face is the in-between time. In the beginning, He prepares our hearts for the calling. He gives us a glimpse of His plans for us, and it births great hope within us.

The difficulty is that there is always a time lag between the initial preparation and the outcome. The beginning often carries a great emotional surge. We know what God said, and we know we will see it happen, no matter what the enemy may throw at us in the process. Our faith is as tall as the mountains. We feel invincible in God’s promise. We take the initial steps and are excited to see the fruit of our labors. read more

Last month adverse winds struck in the most unsuspecting place: Arizona. Tornadoes came out of nowhere in a place no one expects them to come. Tornadoes are whirlwinds, adverse winds. What is getting ready to happen in Arizona?

Several months ago the Lord spoke several things to me, not long paragraphs, just short phrases, to give me hints about the future. One phrase was "fresh winds," another was "movement," a third was "awakening and visitation."

I inquired of the Lord about the phrase, fresh winds. It seemed like all we were seeing were adverse winds. In Michigan we have had several wind advisories for gusts up to 75 mph. The day before Rosh Hashanah, the winds were so extreme in our area that they blew down power lines in the city of Detroit. These power lines hit homes or garages and, in at least five neighborhoods fires broke out. In all, 85 homes were destroyed. read more

"God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah. That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations" (Ps. 67:1-2).

As Christians, we are the ones who have the glory of God shining upon us. We have experienced His wonderful mercy in a real way. The Lord wants us to take what we have received from Him and use it to be a blessing in some way.

The first key way we do that is, of course, through prayer. Prayer can go places that we often cannot go, like nothing else can. read more

I have been teaching for several months that we are in a "set time" for the manifestation of God's people. We are standing in the midst of what God has been prophesying for generations. The kingdom of God is here, and I believe it is our responsibility to wrap this age up.

In Psalm 102:13 David makes a prophetic statement during his prayer saying, "You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come." In this passage, "Zion" refers to the church and “set time” to an actual chronological moment in history when something will occur. read more

When God wants to bless you, He brings people into your life. When Satan wants to destroy you, he brings people into your life. And sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference.

We are in a season in which God wants to strengthen kingdom relationships. God wants us engaged in relationships that are healthy and productive, not burdensome and destructive.

There are basically two types of relationships: those that build up your life and those that destroy your life. Healthy relationships add to your life, bringing increase and blessing to you. Unhealthy relationships tear you down, drain you, and seek to divide you from God and the destiny He has for you. read more