Kool-Aid And A Cookie

June 15, 2020

By Kay Franklin

One of my fondest memories from childhood is the cup of kool-aid and a cookie that I would get on Tuesdays after attending Mrs. Butler’s bible class. Mrs. Butler would share a bible story, kool-aid, and a cookie one day each week after school with a room full of elementary school students. It was a highlight for us. As I reflect on those days when we would make our way to her house, I’m grateful to have such a memory to share. I wonder where the other children are now and if they have continued in walking for the Lord or if they are chasing after “kool-aid and cookies“.

God’s Presence in my life has led me to amazing places. He has blessed me in so many ways. All I can say is that “I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1. This verse is significant because we find ourselves quarantined, not gathering. We find ourselves distancing and not huddling together listening to a story while wondering “what flavor kool-aid Mrs. Butler had prepared or what kind of cookies that she would serve“. I encourage you today that God what God has for you is beyond your wildest dreams. “Eye has not seen nor ear heard what God has prepared for those who love Him”.1 Corinthians 2:9.

God bless you!

She killed him then he killed her

June 2, 2020

When Elijah the prophet fled because he got scared of Jezebel's threatening to take his life, he became tired, drained, depressed, and suicidal but it started with fear. Then God met him on the mountain in the cave, and asked him what are you doing here Elijah? He asked him that twice and twice was the same answer.

“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” 1 Kings 19:14

“They seek my life”? Was that accurate? Let’s see what happened and why Elijah fled:

“Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.” 1 Kings 19:1-3

Elijah answered with pride and wasn't real. He could have told the Lord sincerely; well I am afraid of Jezebel Sir that is why. When we are afraid, we may exaggerate. It was one woman who threatened him but Elijah said: THEY seek my life.

Elijah answered the Lord in a spiritual heroic way: I had to flee and preserve myself and my ministry because I am the only voice left for you O God (and there is none like me. This is my adding). Am I against fleeing to protect our lives? No. But was he led by the Spirit to do that or was he fear-driven? Because sometimes the Spirit leads us to stay and confront and other times to flee. Jesus left immediately on many occasions and attempts to kill him but he was motivated by love and not by fear. Because fear is a sin! And Jesus knew it wasn’t his time to die this way.

In my opinion, God asked Elijah twice to give him an invitation to be real and humble but maybe he couldn't swallow that the MIGHTY Elijah who just had a great conference on the mount Carmel is now running from a woman in authority. He could have been real with God because after all, God knows the heart. Jezebel threatened Elijah to put seeds of fear in him to control him and push him away because Elijah was the real threat to her worship system. If she wanted to kill him she could have taken him by surprise and not give him an appointment “tomorrow about this time”. If she had the chance to kill him, it was before the restoration of God’s people because now Elijah was more empowered.

“Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.” 1 Kings 37-39

Sadly, Elijah kept hanging to pride on Horeb's mountain while God offered him invitations to humble himself and be real before him in that cave conversation. Elijah insisted that he was the man for the hour alone and that God’s power only works through him but God told him he kept 7000 for him. After that, we see that Elijah’s ministry came to a closing chapter and that he was only allowed to anoint others for continuity. The same thing happened with Moses when he beat the rock twice; his ministry ended after that act of disobedience fueled by pride that was disguised as anger. Then Joshua was appointed next!

On the other hand, David the king after committing adultery with Bathsheba and killing her husband, was humble, real, and repenting when Prophet Nathan confronted him with the word of the Lord and his ministry continued and his relationship with the Lord. We read him repenting in Psalms 51!

It’s true that Jezebel only threatened to kill Elijah but actually she did kill his influence and ministry at the end because Elijah swallowed the bait of fear mixed with pride and because he didn’t find the place of humility in the presence of the Lord, the Lord resisted the proud. But the good news is that Elijah also killed Jezebel and her ministry because he left a prophecy of judgment from the Lord against her that was after her even after he was taken to heaven.

“Of Jezebel also has the LORD spoken, saying, ‘The dogs will eat Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.'” 1 Kings 21: 23

How many times have we answered the Lord in pride when he was extending to us invitations to be real and humble?

“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.” Proverbs 16:18

“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor.” Proverbs 18:12

“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” James 4:6

Tony Francis

3 Things Every Christian Must Know During COVID-19

May 26, 2020

By Robert Hotchkin

We are in the midst of some really interesting and challenging times. There is all sorts of information, theory, confusion, opinion and conjecture swirling about in regards to this COVID-19 CCP Coronavirus pandemic.

Some voices are shouting that the virus is a man-made conspiracy meant to “thin the herd” with a bio-weapon. Other voices are barking that it is a natural occurrence and evidence that the earth is trying to “shake off” humanity so it can rebalance its ecosystem. Then there are voices screaming that this is the judgment of a wrathful God. And others blaring that it is all a scam – just a deep state power grab and suppression of civil rights.

On top of all that, we also have a cacophony of opinions about the best way to deal with the virus. Some say masks and gloves help. Others say they have little or no effect. There are those who claim ventilators are part of the solution. Others say, no, ventilators might actually work to weaken the lungs. And then we probably don’t even have room to get into all the conjecture, theories and arguments about the best drug treatments and vaccine approaches.

What are we to listen to? What can we trust? What are we to believe?

As is always the case for Christians, the best person to listen to is Jesus. He actually taught into this very type of situation more than 2,000 years ago in Matthew 16:13-20.

Remember the story? He and the disciples are coming into the region of Caesarea Philippi. As they do, Jesus asks His followers what the report of the world is about Him. The disciples tell Him that some sources say He is John the Baptist, while other voices are declaring he is Elijah, and then there are those who say He is Jeremiah, and still more proclaiming that He is one of the other prophets.

Jesus gives no heed to any of that. He doesn’t even address all the theories and opinions being blared out by His day’s version of CNN, MSNBC and Fox. Instead, He asks them, “Who do you say that I am?”

When Simon Peter responds that Jesus is the Messiah, the Lord says something truly profound that speaks into the very situation we are facing with the swirl of COVID-19 news, media, theory, information and conspiracy:

“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:17-18 NKJV emphasis added)

Jesus is giving Simon Peter kudos for being able to “hear” past the noise of all the voices and opinions and conjecture and agenda and politics of the world, and instead tune into what heaven is speaking and revealing about the situation. Jesus is showing His disciples then, and all of us now, that the key to thriving and even being blessed in challenging times is to focus on heavenly truth as opposed to earthly debate. When we do this, He reveals, we will be established in truth, built upon the rock, and empowered as His church and Body. The result will be that nothing of hell will be able to prevail in the earth no matter how well fortified those demonic strongholds seem to be.

So, with that in mind, let’s look at three key heavenly truths that are critical for every Christian to know, and live from, right now.

[1] WHO GOD IS

Who do you say God is during this pandemic? In seasons of great challenge and need, what you believe about God is huge. The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever (see Hebrews 13:8). That means we should not allow our temporary circumstances to impact our revelation of who God is and what God is like. Just the opposite. We should allow our revelation of who God always is, and what He is always like, to impact our circumstances. No matter what is going on in the ever-changing happenings in the earth, the one thing we can count on is that God is the Lord and He does not change (see Malachi 3:6). That means that God is still God. He is still healer. He is still deliverer. He is still provider. He is still protector. He is still good, and He is still well able to bring about the very best results in this current set of circumstances. COVID-19 has not changed who God is to you, for you, or with you.

[2] WHO YOU ARE

There is a reason you did not go home to heaven as soon as you got saved. It’s because you have a key role to play for the Kingdom here in the earth. When you said yes to Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you were not only forgiven of your sins and restored to relationship with your Heavenly Father for all eternity. You were also restored to the plan He has had since Day Six – to have children made in His image who operate in His deputized authority and Holy Spirit power as His dominion stewards in the earth. You want to know what God’s plan is to deal with COVID-19? Look in the Word (see Genesis 1:26-28). Then look in the mirror. It’s you! He knows it (see Luke 10:19). He needs you to know it. So that you start operating in the power and authority He has given you to heal the sick, raise the dead, feed the hungry, bring peace to the panicked, send forth His never-failing Word in intercession, pray for our leaders, and basically arise and shine because there is darkness in the earth that needs dealt with (see Matthew 10:1, 8; Matthew 14:16; Isaiah 55:11; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; Isaiah 60:1-1, and John 14:12)!

[3] ALL THAT YOU HAVE

2 Peter 1:3 is a great scripture to be meditating on right now. It reminds you that by God’s great and divine power, He has blessed you with everything pertaining to life and godliness. Did you catch that? EVERYTHING. Isn’t that amazing?! Whatever you need for everyday life – He has blessed you with it. Whatever you need to put God on display through your life – He has blessed you with it. Not will bless you with it one day in the sweet by-and-by if you are good. But has blessed you with it here and now because He is amazing. So no need to panic. No need to fear. No need to hoard. You have it. And He will lead you into all of it (see Psalm 23:1-3). This will allow you to look, sound and act differently than the rest of the world right now. To be at peace when others are anxious. To be confident when others are shaken. To be a source of blessing, encouragement, wisdom, solutions, love, compassion, joy and much, much more when others are feeling bereft. As you look and sound different from the rest of the world, the world will eventually take notice and ask why. That’s when you get to share with them the greatest thing you have been blessed with – Jesus!

Don’t let the WHO, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, YouTube, your next-door neighbors, or anyone or anything else tell you what is true right now. Let the Word of the Lord speak to you. Let eternal truth remind you. Let your Heavenly Father and His Holy Spirit edify, encourage and empower you. Let them remind you who God is, who you are, and all that you have been blessed with in Christ Jesus. Because when you do, COVID-19 will not stand. And neither will anything else hell tries to send at you.

Robert Hotchkin is an author, minister, speaker and media host. He is the founder of Men on the Frontlines, and one of the core leaders of Patricia King Ministries. He hosts the weekly Heroes Arise broadcast, co-hosts the show Propel with Patricia King, and is a regular guest and co-host of the show Supernatural Life on GodTV. Robert’s newest book, 31 Decrees of Blessing for Men, is a powerful daily devotional that activates men to walk in all that they have been blessed with as sons of God.

Beholding the Father

May 2, 2020

“No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is Himself God (Jesus), is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us.” John 1:18

… “But the unique One, who is Himself God (Jesus), is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us”. It takes GOD to reveal GOD. Yeshua said if you have seen me you have seen THE Father.

The Holy Spirit clearly states in this verse that no one has ever seen God, no one can and no one will, only Jesus reveals him. We try so much to see GOD, to get to know him outside his only revealer, JESUS CHRIST. It has been down passed throughout generations that you can’t see God, you can’t know him and he doesn’t reveal himself to you. It is a lie from the opposer of divine revelations, the devil. God wants you to see him and know him, he created you and me for this lifetime and eternal journey but we can’t come to the FATHER but by Jesus Christ. He is the only door.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

The devil works hard against that and when he wants you badly to believe a lie about God, he creates for you a religion and inspires spiritual doctrines which are wrong, twisted, and sick about God. And because it is a “religion” after all and a spiritual “man of God” teaching, then you have no choice but to swallow the lie.

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 4-6

“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Jesus Christ, the Father’s revealer is your filter to every thought, revelation, argument, and perception about God. If it is not found in Christ, it is not found in God.

“The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Hebrews 1:3

Jesus Christ is the only and continuous revelation of God.

Tony Francis

I AM Coming Back

November 23, 2019

“Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.” John 20: 6-7

When Jesus rose from the dead, he took some time in his tomb to fold his face’ cloth and laid it separate from the linen he was buried in. Our Lord does things in wisdom to communicate to us a love message. So why did Jesus fold that napkin and put it away from the linen? Is he leaving us a message here?

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about the Hebrew tradition of that day. It is believed that if the master of the house was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, “I am done”. But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the folded napkin meant, “I am coming back”.

Whether this tradition is true or not, Jesus promised us many times in the bible that he is coming back for sure. His second coming is near and who knows maybe while I am writing this devotion he appears!

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Act 1:11

I tend to believe that the folding of a napkin next to a meal means, “I am not done eating, I am coming back”. When Jesus folded his face’ cloth after his resurrection, he laid it next to the linen his body was buried in and what is the broken body of Jesus Christ than the bread of life? The unblemished lamb of our Passover? The Lord’s body is the real meal of life! Jesus is not done; he is coming back for another round. Don’t clear the table church, spread the gospel, feed the nations THE bread of life, shed the light of God’s salvation to every soul sitting in the dark, as long as it is day do the work of him who sent you. Yeshua is coming back …

Glory to God
Tony Francis

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Blessed, Cursed then Blessed

September 18, 2019

From my book “Blessed in Christ” – How to live like a Christianaire! Purchase & download your digital copy today! Click here.

God called you blessed when he created you.

In Genesis chapter one, God made man in his image and likeness and commissioned him things to do. You are made in God's image and God is blessed, so you are blessed.

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1: 26-28

But before God blessed them to DO, he already blessed them to BE. Man was blessed because he was made after the image and likeness of God, Selah. It can’t get any better! The greatest blessing you can have is to be like the one who brought you into existence, God Almighty.

Before doing things with him and for him, before possessing substances, before having titles, names, and positions, your ultimate blessing resides in being made in God's image.

Now the devil was at the corner to steal the blessings of man and to distort his blessed image, and he did.

Adam lost it all including us because we were “in Adam”, same nature of him, and because of Adam mankind was cursed including the land itself. Sin, curse, and death entered the world through yielding to the temptation of doing it all without God. The devil succeeded and distanced us from God. We never wanted God!

Many including me used to ask: “why would I receive someone else’s fault, sin, and consequence?” and we become angry with Adam, after all, he is the reason of all the pain and mess in our world. Then we try hard and make it our quest to reach heaven for one thing, to slap Adam and spill all our anger on him.

My friend, the reason you and I would have received and lived in the death loop of someone else’s fault simply is because if we were to replace Adam, we would have done the same thing he did. God is merciful to you and me that he didn't chose us to be public pioneers in messing it all from the dawn of creation. Thank God your name and mine is not listed on the first pages of the bible as a lesson to remember forever! How about that? (Yeah you can praise him here).

For all men have fallen short and needed the Glory of God.

“The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth–men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air–for I am grieved that I have made them.”

Fast-forwarding to the good news. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the second and last Adam, the perfect man without a sin, wrinkle and blemish came and gave himself for our atonement and eternal sacrifice, redeemed us and cleansed us by his blood and reconciled us back to God.

THE Door was opened for us to come boldly before the throne of grace and mercy through Christ.

When God created man he said, “It is very good”. God will only put an “it is very good” stamp over what he makes. He will never say very good to our self-righteousness, failing religious attempts or to our “intelligent” strategies to build a tower to reach Heaven. It was so clear and LOUD when God said over Jesus Christ, the only Lamb of God, at the river of Jordan when John the Baptist baptized him “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased”.

The person and sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross is the only pleasing thing to God. Redeem your time and stop trying to look good for God. Just humble yourself, receive Jesus Christ in your heart and you will be stamped again “VERY GOOD”! Jesus is your righteousness. What a gift!

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6

All the animal sacrifices made in the Old Testament although required by God himself didn’t please him. They were only a temporary covering and shadow for what was coming, for who already came, Jesus Christ!

Our blessed Lord died for all, one sacrifice, one salvation for eternity! It is the gift of grace and righteousness offered by God to us because he loves us and wants us back because though sinners are loved by God they can't live in the abode of his holiness. Hallelujah, the high cost of pride was paid by THE humble ONE. The Justice and Mercy of God were fulfilled in Jesus on the cross.

God is just and merciful. He knows we are sinners who can't redeem themselves by themselves, so he sent his son as THE sacrifice, paid the price of sin with a severe judgment and unleashes his mercy over everyone who receives Christ and what he accomplished for us. On the cross, the justice and mercy of God hugged each other!

In Christ, you are blessed!

This is what I am going to walk you through in this book that I pray will impart revelation, faith and awareness of who you are in him and to help you position yourself to receive every good gift God has in store for you. He knows what he has planned for you, it is thoughts of peace to give you hope and a future but do you know it?

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

I can’t list all the blessings of Christ to you that’s why you have your bible that speaks volumes! I will share some of it here to get you started so you can sail deeper with the Spirit later.

I want to whet your appetite!

Remember you are blessed first when you are Christ like and blessed with a real inheritance as well that God longs for you to know about, possess, enjoy and glorify him with it.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

Toni Francis