Many of God’s strongest warriors are now enduring some of the most painful situations in their lives.  Pressure from all sides, receiving condemning, judgmental and harsh words from people in the church, emotional abuse from their spouse, disrespect from their children, control and manipulation from their employer, city, state and national government and having all their enemies’ gossip, betray and lie about them, dealing with sickness and having hardly any money left in their bank account.  You can do EVERYTHING correct as God has directed you - not thinking that you can endure one more trial - and yet be in God’s perfect will.  All the great warriors for Christ suffered and were persecuted, all the while doing exactly what God wanted them to do. We are all being stretched to our maximum in order to be stronger for the upcoming months of war against the enemy in the world as well as showing God who we really are and what we are made of.  It is always important to ask the Lord if there is anything that needs to be loosed from us (pride, unforgiveness towards someone, sexual impurity, etc.) but sometimes you can be doing everything that the…

So many people do not comprehend just how critical it is to love their children unconditionally and speak encouraging words over them.  I was fortunate and grew up with a father that loved me and valued me.  He encouraged me to do my best in every thing that I tried.  He came to my games in school and cheered me on.  He helped me when I had questions about various projects in my life. So I developed into a man who knew how to love others unconditionally and to encourage them to do their best.  I love people the way Christ intended, putting them ahead of my own selfish desires.  It is second nature to me to want to love on every one and to speak a positive word over them. Unfortunately that is not the norm in society.  Most children grew up with fathers that were distant and removed or felt tremendous rejection from them.  In many cases, they were hurt deeply with words that were critical and actions that were worse.  Some endured tremendous emotional, physical and even sexual abuse.  What happens inside of a child that must endure this type of father? The enemy begins to whisper…