I Am NOT Just a Number

Isaiah 14:27 (NIV) “For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” Some breakthroughs come in two waves: one to stop the enemy, the other to show the world that God’s hand was on you all along. That’s exactly what happened to King Solomon. When Solomon’s older brother, Prince Adonijah, tried to seize the throne, it wasn’t his assignment to take. He tried to force what God never gave him. Sound familiar? Many of us have faced that— Someone trying to steal what God gave us, Or worse, us chasing something that wasn’t ours to carry. Adonijah, the fourth son of David, looked at birth order and royal bloodlines.  He was counting resumes and rank.  But God had already chosen Solomon. The blueprints for the temple and the plans for the throne were already in place—long before Adonijah ever staged a coup. David, old and on his deathbed, knew time was short. So he ordered a fast-track coronation.  Zadok th...

 I sat in the room, nervous. I had sensed this moment coming all week. Though I felt a small comfort and peace, deep inside, I was terrified. I was bracing for the letdown—far from my first. I made small talk with someone twenty years my junior, knowing that soon, he would ask me to step down. That reality was hard to face. My mind drifted back to my first year as a deputy. I had called my father repeatedly, distressed over my fifth write-up. Each time, he told me to thank them for the discipline, not to quit, and to keep my head up. But I was overcome with sorrow. I felt like a failure. Maybe I could earn straight A’s, but I had no common sense. I feared I would never catch on. I was beginning to give up. Still, my dad insisted I keep going. In my first week alone, I had discharged my weapon—firing over sixteen rounds at a bull on Super Bowl Sunday. Not long after, I found myself in a full-blown foot pursuit of an escapee, my face, mostly pride battered from the struggle. My track...

Valentine’s Day is approaching. It’s easy to love those who are kind to us, but what about those who are cruel? How do we love a bully? It takes a conscious effort to show kindness to someone who has deeply hurt us. But when we learn to love even those who have wronged us—without waiting for an apology—we are truly attacking the heart . This kind of love isn’t normal. It’s outrageous. It means wiping the slate clean, deleting the post , starting over—not for ourselves, but to please God. That’s it. We know that God has forgiven our wickedness, so why can’t we forgive others? This is a love that brings true reward. We often think we practice this kind of love, but do we really? The next time someone enters a room—the very person you’d rather avoid—what will you do? What if God led you to walk up to them and bless them? Would you do it for Jesus? The Cost of Heartache We demand payment for heartaches. We take people to court, punish, divorce, fight, and even kill over them. This has been...

  October 8th is National Face Your Fears Day, and many Floridians are confronting that reality as Hurricane Milton approaches, less than 24 hours away. While the news is filled with alarming phrases like "explosive Category 5 hurricane," it only amplifies the anxiety of millions who already struggle with fear. Yet, in the midst of this, we must remember who is in control of the storm. "You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them." Psalm 89:9 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." Isaiah 43:2 "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." Nahum 1:7 The prophet Haggai had a word for the Israelites when they were focused on beautifying their homes and lives. They had the best decor, the latest tech, and endless feasts, but Haggai called them to take a hard look at their priorities  He said, “You’ve ...

Ezekiel 16  briefing at the precinct: The Perp's Background We've got a suspect here, Jerusalem, with a real rough upbringing.   Born into some shady circumstances, abandoned as a newborn, left out in the open. Real neglect case. The Good Samaritan Then we've got an intervention. A passerby (that's God) sees this kid in distress and decides to step in  Cleans the kid up, gives them proper care, even adopts them. We're talking full-on rescue and rehabilitation here. "I put a beautiful crown on your head.  13  So you wore gold and silver. Your dress was made of fine linen, silk and beautiful needlework. You ate fine flour, honey and olive oil. You were very beautiful and became a queen.  14  Then you became famous among the nations because you were so beautiful. Your beauty was perfect, because of the glory I gave you, says the Lord God."  The Ungrateful Vic Now here's where it gets messy. This kid grows up, gets all the advantages, becomes a r...

You are not the only one who feels distant from God. It's always when you’re at GOAT (Greatest of All Time) status that the enemy throws his fastest and hardest curveball. Elijah is a great example of an elite prophet who would be at all the celebrity red carpet events as the kings of his time constantly requested his presence, interpretation, and word from the Lord for battle prep, personal health assessment, dissertation, admonition, and direction from God. Yet, his greatest feat would be followed by his ultimate greatest depression. This is a prophet whose signature move always included “fire”. But it wasn’t arson that brought this prophet to be on the lamb and go into hiding. Directly after Elijah brought all the Baal prophets to a sacrificial “mortal combat” comp of whose God would hear their prayers and send fire, Elijah won as he called on a mighty God and they a statue. However, the most powerful woman(Queen Jezebel)  was less than impressed by his fireballs and God moments...