Family:  I can't begin to tell you what kind of struggle I've encountered over the last four months, as I've been sprung into "singleness" and begun orienting to the new chapter in my life that has demanded certain decisions and determinations be made by ME; to set the course for the coming days, which is pregnant with God's purposed potential and progress for my life!

The grace I walked in during my wife's three battles through the years has been quite amazing, as I realize how covered and protected I've been during the most recent time of difficulty leading to her death; yet without breaking down under the pressure of the related stress and struggle associated with our unexpected circumstances!

There is a license plate sticker that's becoming quite popular these days that says "COEXIST", with representation of all the major religions reflected in the letters of the word "coexist".  The sentiment is obvious - "can't we all just get along, and make the world a better place?"  Well, I agree with the base sentiment, but NOT the related compromise that may occur to lessen the associated contention with other beliefs and values that eventually leads to some form of separation or source for disagreement.

I've recently considered a potential relationship with a person of another faith, because of many of the "like qualities and characteristics" that symbolize the similarity or commonality between our faith traditions and values!  BUT, as I've dug a little deeper in understanding "who the young lady is" at the core of her being, our philosophical agreement quickly matters little - when the "rubber meets the road" through intimate conversations, the normal activities of life, and during our treasured commitments to faith.  We cannot bury our heads in the sand about the things that actually do divide us, and will eventually be the cause for dissension, because the issue is NOT tolerance of - but appreciation for the diversity, without succumbing to coexistence or conformity to satisfy fleshly desires - but NOT a purpose-driven life.

Is it possible for us to all "coexist" in the realm of true civility through diverse societal or communal interaction, religious beliefs, and intermarriage?  Absolutely!  But, the compromises we make must include "counting the costs", so we don't end up giving up the most precious things in our lives for temporal satisfaction that has no eternal benefit or value!

As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are NOT to act as a sub-culture of coexistence, but as a counter-culture that models and demonstrates commitment to Christ, which governs any/all future considerations of our lives, including career choices, relational pursuits, and potential compromises of faith - YOU CAN'T HAVE BOTH!

On Dececember 31, 2009, at 12:04am, my beautiful wife yielded her body to the Father above, following an eleven month battle involving a major stroke and a devastating reoccurence of cancer.

For seven-and-a-half months, she dramatically- but suprisingly recovered from the stroke, with only a little right-side weakness in her arm, and anomia (struggle with finding words at times) as the only evidence that she had the stroke.  She began chemotherapy treatments in early April that helped to reduce the size of the tumors, until a needed break in September.  In her two previous cancer battles, God had miraculously healed her, although she had a surgical procedure during the second occurence that revealed two forms of cancer - ovarian and uterine.

With more intricate details and processes than space will allow me to communicate, I released my wife into the Father's arms - as I realized she was fighting to honor me, but was ready to go home.  Her climb to recovery was a difficult one, but NOT beyond God's ability to restore her; but we decide in cooperation with God's will on the time we'll crossover - it's NOT some sovereign determination to end a life because He can or wants to!

During 2009, the forces of death and despair sought to silence our voice, alter our destiny, and destroy our purpose - but, "We Still Win, No Matter What Happens!"

My wife's homecoming is a precious seed the Lord will use, to facilitate the harvest He has determined, and to release a greater dimension of His glorious presence in the earth!  She was a pure and undefiled instrument that brought a devastating impact upon the kingdom of darkness, so the seed of her life will produce a greater glory as I continue to press into the Father's bosom and see His purposes prevail!

Thank you for agreeing with me and our ministry team in 2010!  2010 is an extremely important and pivotal year for the Lord's purposeful arrangement, alignment, and advancement of His Kingdom Agenda throughout all the earth!  Strategically, the Spirit of God is bridging relationships and resources for expansion like we've never seen - and our hearts are open to the Father's prevailing purpose above anything else.

Let's go together into the fullness of His heart for this season!

Today, as I've gone about my normal workday, the soft whispers of the Holy Spirit have been confirming some powerful and timely truths, while "stirring my grits" with an unwavering passion to continue pressing in to God with my whole being for walking in His promised blessings!

Oftentimes, the Father's way of providing reassurance is through His spoken word within our hearts - and He always seems to know exactly what we need to hear, in the ebb and flow of life's many challenges and changes!

As many of you know, my wife and I have gone through the greatest test of our faith this year, but the Lord has shown Himself to be so abundantly faithful and loving - during a time when encountering unchartered territories in the battle for life literally, has drawn us into His bosom more than ever before!

We've come to realize that a life established upon the "rock", who is Jesus Christ, provides the stabilizing force of God's truth as the anchor for the soul, and makes our live "storm proof" through the torrential waves and winds that could have been to our demise without His grace and goodness available to us!

The subtle indications and attestations of the Holy Spirit's whispers are simply God's confirming mechanisms of our progress - that often seems insignificant, when we "feel" weathered and worn through the learning curves and difficulties that brings us to our knees!

Remember this today, the storm is a testament to the reality that the inspiration and motivation in you believing God, or taking Him at His word, is the witness that "it's already happening" - even though your circumstances are screaming your a million-miles away!

"Be thankful" and give God "advance praise" for His unchanging love and undeniable faithfulness in the midst of your storm!

God is with you...

TODAY - if I was looking at my circumstances, I would absolutely be overwhelmed, full of fear, and ready to resign because of "what I see!"

I cannot tell you how important it is to 'walk in the spirit', and to not be distracted by your five-senses or the blaring evil communications from the demonic forces that would like you and I to agree with the forecast of hell - and abort our fearless confidence, radical faith, and total dependence upon the Lord!

I'm actually seeing in the spiritual dimension now more than ever before, and powerful demonic hosts are working to set the stage for the demise of God's people - by convincing them that the promises of God are NOT true, God can't be trusted, and somehow - we all just don't qualify for His blessings, favor and supernatural release like everybody else does!  How ridiculous, and how carnal - IF we believe that! 

IF you are in the word of God AT ALL, and are fully meditating on His promises daily - it's NOT possible for you to fall prey to the enemy's devices or back down in fear due to His antagonistic agenda, evil plots and perverted schemes!  Anyone really walking with God who becomes a casualty of war at this juncture is either in willful sin or is NOT genuinely committed to the will and ways of the Lord! 

God has NOT left us powerless against the enemy, and His promises cannot fail - no matter WHO steps out upon them - the wavering, the weak, the weary, the weathered, or the wandering.

Moments ago, I thought about three words that sum up the stirring I've felt taking place in the spiritual realm - PERCEPTION, CONCEPTION, and RECEPTION!

PERCEPTION:  "How you see - what you see, is THE ISSUE!"
1. The act of perceiving or of receiving impressions by the senses; or that act or process of the mind which makes known an external object.  In other words, the notice which the mind takes of external objects. We gain knowledge of the coldness and smoothness of marble by perception.  2. In philosophy, the faculty of perceiving; the faculty or peculiar part of man's constitution, by which he has knowledge through the medium or instrumentality of the bodily organs.  3. Notion; idea.  4. The state of being affected or capable of being affected by something external.

CONCEPTION:  "If you let your heart accept the facts as your reality, the truth will never materialize for you!"

1. In pneumatology, apprehension of nay thing by the mind; the act of conceiving in the mind; that mental act or combination of acts by which an idea or notion is formed of an absent object of perception, or of a sensation formerly felt. When we see an object with our eyes open, we have a perception of it; when the same object is presented to the mind with the eyes shut, in idea only or in memory, we have a conception of it.  2. Conception may be sometimes used for the power of conceiving ideas, as when we say, a thing is not within our conception. Some writers have defined conception as a distinct faculty of the mind; but it is considered by others as memory, and perhaps with propriety.  3. Purpose conceived; conception with reference to the performance of an act.  4. Apprehension; knowledge.

RECEPTION:  "You determine what comes into your sphere (realm of influence), and I choose life!"

1.  The act of receiving; in a general sense; as the reception of food into the stomach, or of air into the lungs.  2. The state of being received.  3. Admission of any thing sent or communicated; as the reception of a letter; the reception of sensation or ideas.  4. Readmission.

My plea to those who have "ears to hear"... Don't be sad for me because of my present pain or difficulties! 

Ask the Lord to open the eyes of your understanding so that you can see what He's done (is doing) and heed what He is saying, right now!

The gates of hell cannot prevail against the "true church"!  Are you in that number?

The Lord spoke to me during lunch on December 31st concerning His desire for His people, and we would like to share those words with you:

"My desire for My people is not limited by time, disrupted by people, or interrupted by the storms of life!  Even those events and unexpected occurences all work in cooperation with My will, and cannot alter or dissuade me from doing what I purpose to do in the lives of My people!

Maturity and godly character develops the recogniton of My Sovereignty, the realization of My Providential plans, and the responsibility and requirement of My people to be still and see my salvation in every circumstance of life.  It does not jump on the next "spiritual bandwagon" by chasing the wind of the next so-called revelation; it does not betray to commitment of necessary obedience from every true disciple of Mine; and it does not borrow future happiness through hype, hysteria or emotional escapades from "church experiences" that promise God's blessing without focusing the true follower of Christ on walking with Me - born out of genuine intimacy and devotion no matter what!

The "magical wand of Christianity" is the entree' to the coming demonic deception of satan's army of delusion that will ramp up its efforts in the world, and imprison the uncommitted and wavering with temporal hopes and fanatical dreams that neither represent My heart or My Kingdom in any way!

The "divine manifestations" that I've determined for the coming days is tied to My purpose and heart for the nations lacking leadership and direction; while I raise up My people for My own namesake!