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1. Ephesians 5:22–27 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.   Read More The first example of general submission ( Eph. 5:21 ) is illustrated as Paul exhorts wives to submit to their husbands ( Eph. 5:22–24, 33 ). Husbands, on the other hand, are not told to submit to their wives but to love them ( Eph. 5:25–33 ). Paul’s first example of general submission from Eph. 5:21  is the right ordering of the marriage relationship (see also Col. 3:18 ; 1 Pet. 3:1–7 ). The submission of wives is not like the obedience children owe parents, nor does this text command all women to submit to all men (to your own husbands, not to all husbands!). Both genders are equally created in God’s image ( Gen. 1:26–28 ) and heirs together of eternal life ( Gal. 3:28–29 ). This submission is in deference to the ultimate leadership of the husband for the health and harmonious working of the marriage relationship. The focus in these verses is on Christ, for husbands do not “sanctify” their wives or “wash” them of their sins, though they are to do all in their power to promote their wives’ holiness. “Sanctify” here means “to consecrate into the Lord’s service through cleansing, washing of water.” This might be a reference to baptism, since it is common in the Bible to speak of invisible, spiritual things (in this case, spiritual cleansing) by pointing to an outward physical sign of them (see Rom. 6:3–4 ). There may also be a link here to Ezek. 16:1–13 , where the Lord washes infant Israel, raises her, and eventually elevates her to royalty and marries her, which would correspond to presenting the church to himself in splendor at his marriage supper (see also Ezek. 36:25 ; Rev. 19:7–9; 21:2, 9–11 ). without blemish. The church’s utter holiness and moral perfection will be consummated in resurrection glory, but is derived from the consecrating sacrifice of Christ on the cross. 2. Genesis 2:18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”   Read More “Not good” is a jarring contrast to Gen. 1:31 ; clearly, the situation here has not yet arrived to “very good.” “I will make him” can also be translated “I will make for him,” which explains Paul’s statement in 1 Cor. 11:9 . In order to find the man a helper fit for him, God brings to him all the livestock, birds, and beasts of the field. None of these, however, proves to be “fit for” the man. “Helper” (Hb. ‘ezer’ ) is one who supplies strength in the area that is lacking in “the helped.” The term does not imply that the helper is either stronger or weaker than the one helped. “Fit for him” or “matching him” (cf. ESV footnote) is not the same as “like him”: a wife is not her husband’s clone but complements him. 3. Matthew 19:4–6 “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”   Read More “What God has joined together” implies that marriage is not merely a human agreement but a relationship in which God changes the status of a man and a woman from being single (they are no longer two) to being married (one flesh). From the moment they are married, they are unified in a mysterious way that belongs to no other human relationship, having all the God-given rights and responsibilities of marriage that they did not have before. Being “one flesh” includes the sexual union of a husband and wife (see Gen. 2:24 ), but it is more than that because it means that they have left their parents’ household (“a man shall leave his father and his mother,” Gen. 2:24 ) and have established a new family, such that their primary human loyalty is now to each other, before anyone else. Jesus avoids the Pharisaic argument about reasons for divorce and goes back to the beginning of creation to demonstrate God’s intention for the institution of marriage. It is to be a permanent bond between a man and a woman that joins them into one new union that is consecrated by physical intercourse ( Gen. 2:24 ). 4. Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.   Read More Instead of telling wives to “obey” (Gk. hypakouō ), as was typical in Roman households, Paul appeals to them to “submit” (Gk. hypotassō ), based on his conviction that men have a God-given leadership role in the family. The term suggests an ordering of society in which wives should align themselves with and respect the leadership of their husbands (see Eph. 5:22–33 ). Paul is not enjoining the wives to follow the prevailing cultural patterns of the day but to live as is fitting in the Lord. Seven times in these nine verses ( Col. 3:18–4:1 ) Paul roots his instructions in “the Lord” or an equivalent term, thus stressing the importance of evaluating everything in light of Christ and his teaching. 5. 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.   Read More Peter’s advice to husbands is compressed, perhaps because he addresses at more length those under authority who are more likely to be mistreated (slaves and wives). The word “likewise" is merely a transition (cf. 1 Pet. 3:1; 5:5 ); it does not mean husbands should submit to their wives, since Scripture never teaches this (see Eph. 5:21–33 ). “To live … in an understanding way" probably focuses on living in accord with God’s will, which includes understanding the needs of a wife. Interpreters differ over whether weaker vessel means weaker in terms of delegated authority, emotions, or physical strength. Peter is probably thinking of the general truth that men are physically stronger than women and may be tempted to threaten their wives through physical or verbal abuse. Women and men share an equal destiny as “heirs … of the grace of life." Peter does not think women are inferior to men, for both are equally made in God’s image (cf. Gal. 3:28 ). If husbands do not treat their wives in a godly way, the Lord will pay no heed to their prayers. 6. Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.   Read More Marriage is to be held in honor, and chastity in marriage is called for, with the warning that God will judge anyone who is sexually immoral (Gk. pornos , a general term referring to anyone who engages in sexual conduct outside of marriage between a man and a woman) or adulterous (Gk. moichos , referring to anyone who is unfaithful to a spouse). This warning is addressed to members of the church, and if they are genuine Christian believers, this judgment of God would not mean final condemnation to hell (cf. Rom. 8:1 ) but would bring disciplinary judgment in this life (cf. Heb. 12:5–11 ) or loss of reward at the last day, or both. However, in light of the earlier warning passages ( Heb. 3:12–14 ; Heb. 6:4–8 ; Heb. 10:26–31 ; Heb. 12:14–17 ), it is possible that such sexual immorality will be an indication that the person committing it is in fact not a true believer and not born again. 7. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!   Read More The wise person will work side by side with another, enjoying a good reward and finding help in times of need. The wise person will pursue cooperative ventures rather than give in to jealous striving to be first (contrast Ecc. 4:8, 10, 11 ), a striving that isolates him from others. 8. Genesis 2:23–24 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bonesand flesh of my flesh;she shall be called Woman , because she was taken out of Man.”   Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.   Read More When no suitable companion is found among all the living beings, God fashions a woman from the man’s own flesh. The text highlights the sense of oneness that exists between the man and the woman. Adam joyfully proclaims, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” This terminology is used elsewhere of blood relatives ( Gen. 29:14 ). This sentence and the story of Eve’s creation both make the point that marriage creates the closest of all human relationships. It is also important to observe that God creates only one Eve for Adam, not several Eves or another Adam. This points to heterosexual monogamy as the divine pattern for marriage that God established at creation. Moreover, the kinship between husband and wife creates obligations that override even duty to one’s parents (therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, Gen. 2:24 ). In ancient Israel, sons did not move away when they married, but lived near their parents and inherited their father’s land. They “left” their parents in the sense of putting their wife’s welfare before that of their parents. The term “hold fast” is used elsewhere for practicing covenant faithfulness (e.g., Deut. 10:20 ; see how Paul brings these texts together in 1 Cor. 6:16–17 ); thus, other Bible texts can call marriage a “covenant” (e.g., Prov. 2:17 ; Mal. 2:14 ). Paul’s teaching on marriage in Eph. 5:25–32  is founded on this text. The sense of being made for each other is further reflected in a wordplay involving the terms “man” and “woman”; in Hebrew these are, respectively, ’ish  and ’ishshah . As a result of this special affiliation, Gen. 2:24  observes that when a man leaves his parents and takes a wife, they shall become one flesh, i.e., one unit (a union of man and woman, consummated in sexual intercourse). Jesus appeals to this verse and Gen. 1:27  in setting out his view of marriage ( Matt. 19:4–5 ). 9. Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marries a young woman,so shall your sons marry you,and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,so shall your God rejoice over you.   Read More “Our sons” are the loyal inhabitants of Zion (here, the eternal city of God; cf. Psalm 87 ). A poetic image indicating that the inhabitants of Jerusalem will love and cherish their city: the inhabitants of Zion will forever be committed to and delight in their eternal dwelling place, for the Lord’s people are there, and the Lord himself is there. Isaiah’s poetic imagery leaves an overwhelming impression of joy, delight, righteousness, beauty, safety, and peace. Boldly drawing on a familiar human image of inexpressible joy and delight, God says his delight in his people will be like that of a bridegroom’s delight in his bride. Isaiah explains that in God’s great plan of salvation, he not only forgives his people, protects them, heals them, provides for them, restores them to their home, reconciles them to each other, transforms them so they are righteous, honors them, exalts them above all nations, and makes them a blessing to all nations, as he called them to be—but more than all these things, he actually delights  in his people. 10. 1 Corinthians 7:2–5 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.   Read More The Corinthians are commanded to be faithful in their marriages, to avoid divorce, and to be content in their calling. Paul uses the phrase "now concerning" for the first time here to signal a switch from matters raised in the oral report from Chloe’s people ( 1 Cor. 1:10–11 ) to issues raised in a letter from Corinth. This same phrase is repeated in a number of places throughout the rest of 1 Corinthians (see 1 Cor. 7:25 ; 1 Cor. 8:1 ; 1 Cor. 12:1 ; 1 Cor. 16:1, 12 ) where it introduces additional topics from the Corinthians’ letter. Some Corinthian Christians appear to have adopted the view that sexual relations of any kind, even within marriage, should be avoided. Paul seeks to carefully refute this view throughout this chapter (see 1 Cor. 7:2, 5, 9, 10, 28, 36 ). God designed marriage as the place for the expression of human sexuality. Sex within marriage has both relational and spiritual benefits ( Gen. 2:24 ; Eph. 5:31 ; see also 1 Cor. 6:17 ). It also has the practical benefit of reducing the temptation to engage in sexual sin (see 1 Cor. 7:9 ). by: Crossway;  All commentary sections adapted from the ESV Study Bible .

Speak to God God is not asking for silence. When we suffer and do not understand, he is not demanding the stiff upper lip. He does not object to our groanings, our pleas for help, our desperate whimpers when we can’t even form words. He does not need us to piece ourselves together before we say our Thee’s  and Thou’s  in formal prayer. He invites us to question him. God is not threatened by our questions. Neither should we, then, tell the suffering to silence their complaints. But they must take their accusations straight to God—and listen. Everywhere you look in the Hebrew Bible, you’ll see exchanges between God and the patriarchs, prophets, or kings. God does not shrink before our speech. If anything, as we see amid the calamity of invasion at the outset of the prophet Isaiah’s ministry, God invites this dialogue. Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet,      they shall be as white as snow;though they are red like crimson,      they shall become like wool. ( Isa. 1:18 ) God’s People Cry Out to Him Consider how the prophets speak of Israel’s exile from the promised land. The prophet Habakkuk opens with a complaint against God for his people’s suffering. How could God be silent in the face of such injustice? O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,      and you will not hear?Or cry to you “Violence!”      and you will not save? ( Hab. 1:2 ) God’s answer reminds us that God’s purposes sometimes remain obscure even when we’re looking to understand, even when we hear the reasons. Look among the nations, and see;      wonder and be astounded.For I am doing a work in your days      that you would not believe if told. ( Hab. 1:5 ) Habakkuk can’t understand how God could use the evil of the Chaldeans to accomplish his good plan. In Habakkuk, we see that God is not silent before evil. That’s because he speaks through a prophet made in his image as he demands justice. These words, after all, have been preserved for us in the Scriptures. Moreover, God responds that he’s doing something as Creator that we can’t understand. Psalm 88  might be considered the paradigm. The psalmist opens with an appeal to God: O Lord, God of my salvation,      I cry out day and night before you.Let my prayer come before you;      incline your ear to my cry! ( Ps. 88:1–2 ) He senses that God has gone silent. But I, O Lord, cry to you;      in the morning my prayer comes before you.O Lord, why do you cast my soul away?      Why do you hide your face from me? ( Ps. 88:13–14 ) Unlike so many other Hebrew prayers, including those of Habakkuk and Job, Psalm 88  ends without resolution. It ends, in fact, with night. You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;      my companions have become darkness. ( Ps. 88:18 ) For anyone who has suffered depression, God’s word here offers comfort. Even the psalmist felt like darkness was his only friend. We are not alone—even when we cannot seem to hear God. This short article can hardly contain all the examples in Scripture, especially in the Psalms, of people crying out to God and hearing nothing in response. Here’s King David: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?       Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,      and by night, but I find no rest. ( Ps. 22:1–2 ) Now here’s where Scripture really takes a turn. The next time we hear this prayer, it’s from a man whose companions have shunned him. His friends have fled. The world has become shrouded in darkness. From parched lips we hear a loud voice cry out, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” He’s quoting Psalm 22:1 : “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” It’s the prayerful plea of Jesus as he hangs dying on the cross ( Mark 15:34 ). It’s the final cry of a Son for his Father. The crowd watches and waits. They look to the heavens. If the Father recognizes Jesus as his Son, surely he will rescue him. Do not Jesus’s own disciples—indeed, his own mother and brothers and friends—expect deliverance? Surely, this is the moment for truth to prevail. As the Father has spoken blessing on the Son twice earlier, in the presence of Elijah and his successor, surely he will deliver now before it’s too late. The Son gives one last agonized cry. One last labored breath. From the Father we hear nothing. Only silence. Night has never been darker. Quiet has never been quieter. How could this man claim to be the Son of God? Suffering Servant Was Jesus mistaken? Were his disciples? For Jesus, this silence meant violence. Hanging on the Romans’ most notorious method of murder, he received no reprieve from his agony. How should we understand what was happening? How does this experience speak to those who suffer not only physical pain but also the absence of God? For a clue, we need to head back to the great Jewish prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah 53:7–9 , he spoke this word from God about a suffering servant: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,      yet he opened not his mouth;like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,      and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,      so he opened not his mouth.By oppression and judgment he was taken away;      and as for his generation, who consideredthat he was cut off out of the land of the living,      stricken for the transgression of my people?And they made his grave with the wicked      and with a rich man in his death,although he had done no violence,      and there was no deceit in his mouth. The lamb led to the slaughter. He opened not his mouth. Only silence . Whatever others may have thought about the Father’s silence, Jesus wasn’t surprised. He taught his disciples to expect nothing less. The Son must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things before dying at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes ( Matt. 16:21 ). Such is the fate of prophets who speak the truth in a world that fell with a lie. John had come as Elijah, and his head ended up on a platter ( Matt. 14:1–12 ). Jesus knew the history. He cried, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” ( Matt. 23:37 ). Other prophets had died because of  the hard hearts of the people. But this prophet would be different. This prophet died for the hard hearts of the people. Like righteous Job, Jesus interceded with a sacrifice for his loved ones ( Job 1:5 ). As Isaiah had foretold, an innocent servant’s suffering would pardon his people’s transgression. His chastisement brings peace. By his wounds, our world will be healed ( Isa. 53:5 ). Sounds of Salvation The Father may have been silent as Jesus died on the cross. But that’s not because the Son had been abandoned. Jesus told the disciples that he would lay down his life for his sheep ( John 10:15–16 ). He explained how it was all in accordance with the Father’s will. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. ( John 10:17–18 ) The sounds of salvation that emanated from the hill outside Jerusalem called Golgotha were the cries of the Son of God. For six hours, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe hung on a Roman cross, slowly dying. In solidarity with its Maker, the land descended into the darkness of night ( Mark 15:33 ). This Son offered friendship to all but made enemies of those who claimed to speak for God while they made every follower “twice as much a child of hell” ( Matt. 23:15 ). The Son’s every good deed, his every healing miracle, enraged the self-righteous. In their show trials, they couldn’t find a single transgression by Jesus. Still, these religious and political leaders threatened by Jesus’s innocence silenced his prophetic voice. Then, on the third day, the sun rose. Light shone on Jerusalem. The women who loved Jesus went to his tomb. “An angel of the Lord descended from heaven.” The sound was deafening. The earth shook while he rolled the stone away from the tomb. The light was blinding. “His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow” ( Matt. 28:2–3 ). He came with news of a new creation. The former things had passed way. “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself” ( 2 Cor. 5:19 ). That serpent of lies? Jesus crushed his power on the cross ( Gen. 3:15 ). “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin,” we read in 2 Corinthians 5:21 , “so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Theologians call this the great exchange. In our union with Christ, he takes on our sin and dies the death we deserved on the cross. He gives us the righteousness of his sinless life so one day we’ll hear from our Father, “Well done, good and faithful servant” ( Matt. 25:23 ). God Has a Son For now, at least a little while longer, the sounds of slaughter still haunt every corner of the earth. “Never again” gives way to terrorists on paragliders attacking youth during a music festival. Another land war in Europe yields war crimes in familiar Ukrainian cities. The League of Nations couldn’t stop the last major war. The United Nations can’t stop wars today. Over the clanging gong of breaking news, we listen for the first notes from a trumpet that will signal the end of evil ( Matt. 24:31 ). Then, final judgment will be rendered to the butchers of Buchenwald and Berdychiv. No evil word will go unpunished. On that day, every child’s cries will find consolation. For God himself has a Son. Though he did no wrong, that Son suffered. And his suffering availed to our eternal salvation. This sheep may have been silent. But his sacrifice silenced the original accuser. The first enemy can rage. In the end, however, Satan cannot win. God is not threatened by our questions. This article is adapted from   Where Is God in a World with So Much Evil?   by Collin Hansen.

1. HE IS: My Everything Isaiah 9:6–7  Isaiah predicted that a child would be born who would be our everything. The variety of names reveals his character qualities: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Until Christ comes to govern the world, he wants to govern your heart and be your everything. When you’re perplexed, let him be your Wonderful Counselor. When you’re weak and fragile, trust him to be your Mighty God. When you feel that everything around you is changing, remember he is your Everlasting Father. When anxiety knocks, lean on the Prince of Peace. When you’re searching for what completes you, look to your everything. 2. HE IS: Not Angry Isaiah 12:1–3  The prophet predicted the time when the Messiah would come to save his people. When the people turned to the Messiah, God would in turn strengthen and comfort his children, and Israel would praise the Lord because his anger had turned away. He is not angry. While God is angry at your sin, he does not hold on to his anger with you. When you turn to the Messiah for salvation, he turns from his anger over your sin. He loves you, and as his child, you are the recipient of his comfort, not his anger (see also Hosea 14:4–8). 3. He Is: First and Last Isaiah 44:6  The covenant people were going to be taken captive by a nation enmeshed in idolatry. Therefore, God warned them against worshiping idols by reminding them that he alone is God. He proclaimed that he is the first and the last, the only God. We too live in a land where people bow to false gods. Beware! Anything you value above God is an idol. Is he the first thing you consider in the morning and the last on your mind at night? If he’s not first and last in your life, then maybe he’s not your Lord at all. 4. He Is: The Sustainer Isaiah 46:3–4  Even though the people had wandered from God and were destined for punishment, God offered them hope. He promised to sustain them. He didn’t promise a life of ease, but he did promise to be their sustainer. The same God who had carried them thus far would carry them through their trials. Though you may be experiencing hardship and heartache, don’t doubt that God has loved you from the moment you were conceived. Throughout your life, he is the sustainer who will carry you from the cradle to the grave. 5. He Is: A Man of Suffering Isaiah 53:1–6  The prophet foresaw that the Messiah would be a man of suffering. During his life Jesus experienced loss, unfair treatment, rejection, physical pain and spiritual sorrow. On the cross, he took the sin and misery of the world onto his own shoulders. Aren’t you glad that Jesus understands pain? Isn’t it comforting to know that the God-man did not choose an easy, sheltered life? He knows what it feels like to hurt. What sorrows are you carrying? Let him bear them for you (see Matthew 11:28–30). Place your pain on his strong shoulders. He’s familiar with suffering and will carry your pain for you. 6. He Is: The Potter Isaiah 64:8  The prophet Isaiah understood that human beings, like clay, can be shaped and molded for service by surrendering to God the potter. At our best, we are the work of God’s hand. The potter created you for a purpose—to serve him. If you allow it, he will make you into a vessel that pours out his love to others. You must be supple clay in God’s hands, not resistant to his sometimes-painful process of molding your character. Repentance of sin softens your spirit so you can be formed into his divine design. 7. He Is: The Holy Hope Jeremiah 14:7–9  Judah’s drought was a sign of God’s displeasure with his people’s sinfulness. So Jeremiah talked with God, acknowledging the people’s backsliding and sin. God was Judah’s only hope, but the people failed to repent. Are you experiencing a spiritual drought? Has drinking at the wells of pleasure left you thirsting for true fulfillment? If your backsliding is great, know that he is the only hope. Return to God and talk with him. Confess your tendency to wander. He will quench your thirst, save you in times of distress and be your true and lasting hope (see Romans 15:13). 8. He Is: Foreseeing Jeremiah 32:1–25  God instructed Jeremiah to buy his uncle’s field, knowing full well the Babylonians would soon conquer the land. This signified to the people of Israel that God was planning to bring them back to their home. Because God foresees the future, Jeremiah could trust God’s seemingly ill- timed instructions. (Who invests in land right before captivity?!) Nothing is too hard for God—not your housing situation, your health or your happiness. He foresees what will happen before it happens and has a plan to redeem whatever you’re facing. You can trust God to bring his promises to pass in his perfect way and time. 9: He Is: Good Lamentations 3:22–26  The weeping prophet, Jeremiah, grieved over the fall of Jerusalem. Yet he found consolation in the fact that God’s compassions are new every morning. Although the people had sinned and the city was destroyed, Jeremiah knew that God is good to those who hope in him. If you’re grieving over the destruction in your life and you’re longing for a fresh start, seek the Lord. He is good and is able and willing to give you a new beginning. Because he offers a fresh batch of compassion every morning, he’ll help you put the past behind you when you hope in him. 10: He Is: Pleased Ezekiel 18:23–32  Some people portray God as a cruel deity who wants to zap unsuspecting sinners. In Ezekiel’s day, the Israelites accused God of unfairly punishing the people for the sins of their parents. But through Ezekiel, God revealed that people are responsible for their own sin and that he is pleased when people turn to him. God is not begrudging. He doesn’t overcomplicate salvation in the hopes of disqualifying some. He doesn’t enjoy anyone’s death. Rather, he is pleased—thrilled, delighted and satisfied—when you come to him and live (see Luke 15:7). Imagine—the God of the universe, pleased with you! 11: He Is: The Ancient of Days Daniel 7:9–10  Daniel saw a vision of world history where each successive empire was depicted as a fierce beast, culminating in the rule of the antichrist. In the midst of the vision, Daniel saw the Ancient of Days, God himself, regally seated on his throne to judge the nations. He is the Ancient of Days—timeless, enduring, unchanging. How unlike us. While our lives are quick blips on the screen of time, he was, is and is to come. And the Ancient of Days freely offers us eternal life with him—a permanence, security and future we could never earn for ourselves. 12. He Is: Healing Hosea 6:1–3  Hosea recognized that the God who, in justice, chastises his children for turning away from him will also, in mercy, heal them. The Lord rains his refreshing, healing forgiveness on those who acknowledge him. God may allow pain in your life. He may allow you to be torn to pieces and injured by life. Why? So that you will return to him. These afflictions are a severe mercy—though painful, they are the catalyst for you to press on to acknowledge God. He will heal you, bind up your wounds, restore you and invite you to live in his presence. 13. He Is: My Strength Habakkuk 3:16–19  Knowing that the land faced devastation, Habakkuk set his mind on God rather than circumstances. He told himself, I choose to be patient; I choose to rejoice even when (not if) disaster comes. With this perspective on life, he could confidently say that God was his strength. Sometimes faith requires that we make a hard choice that contradicts what we can see. When the circumstances of your life look bad, remind yourself that God is in control. Like Habakkuk, you can choose to trust God. By making the choice to trust, you too can discover that God is your strength. 14. He Is: Stirring Haggai1:13–14  As the Lord’s messenger, Haggai reminded the people that they had put much energy into building their own homes, yet God’s house remained a ruin. God himself stirred up the people to work on his house, the building project he was passionate about. God is also stirring in the hearts of his people today. What is he stirring you to do? Build his house? Reach out to a hurting friend? Witness to your unsaved neighbor? Give? When you are attuned to his stirring in your heart, and open to doing whatever project he is passionate about, he will use you. 15. He Is: A Refiner Malachi 3:3  The people had grown indifferent to the Lord, but Malachi saw that because of their backsliding, God would turn up the heat to bring them back to righteousness. He predicted that God would sit as a refiner. If the heat has been turned up in your life, perhaps God is refining you. He monitors the temperature of your trials so the dross of sin will rise to the surface. He wants to sweep away your iniquities as the silversmith sweeps away the impurities tainting precious metals. Though the heat might feel painful, it’s purifying, making you shine and reflect his glory. Drawn from Flourish: The NIV Bible for Women .

WELCOME TO CYNTHIA'S PRAYER ROOM! We serve an awesome God who is always on our side! Because of His mercy and His grace, those in Christ Jesus are Most Blessed! Here in Cynthia's Prayer Room we delight in going before the throne of Grace to commune with Our Father, and to receive strength for the day ahead. Join me as we touch heaven! THE WEAPON OF PRAYER! ~PRAY LIKE IT MATTERS- BECAUSE IT DOES. ~ My prayer is a weapon! Make no mistake about it; speaking with the Most, Most High God is a privilege that occupies great space in my heart and mind. Fill me up Father. Let Your glory become the air I breathe and the water I drink. Father, help me; make me a house of prayer. I receive today, the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Again and again, I collect Your wisdom as one who collects falling rain to drink. My soul longs to meet You in a private place. Your personal messages to me are priceless, they fill me up to the brim and prepare me to witness. Today, I must put aside all worldliness in exchange for moments of Grace in Your presence, for in Your presence is fullness of joy. And to think, this is not all You have for me. Someday, there will be a fulfillment of every promise. Life eternal with You. Moments that last for all eternity. Sometimes I think it’s too much Lord. This Grace is too much! But You assure me that I qualify; I do not have to jump through hoops to receive this great Salvation; it’s free to a receiving home! Father, thank You for making Your home in me. Although this Gift is more than I could ever ask, think or imagine, I receive it! Like the mother whose child presents them with a new car or their first home, free of charge, and the mother protests, “Son, this is too much for me.” I march into Grace, with my arms wide open, ready to drink it all in; to marinate in, to soak in, to immerse myself in Your astonishing, wonderful, life-giving word. Your word, Father, has changed my very existence from sadness to joy; from defeat to victory. Challenges everywhere abound in this labyrinth of human existence, but, You, Father have made me glad. I have emerged from the dung-heaps of life, to a place of trumpeting the Word of the Master of heaven and earth. All of Your children are trumpets, Father. We herald the Gospel message as the town crier did all those years ago. We proclaim Your word morning, noon and night. Over breakfast, we thank You for every blessing; at noon-day, we shout hallelujah over our lunch for all to hear; and then O Lord God, at dinner time we reflect over the blessings of the day, and they are always many. We began with Your breath in our lungs, and we ended the day with that same breath praising You for Your mighty acts and Your excellent greatness so evident throughout the day. And, finally, as we lay our heads on the pillow at night, we cannot help praying that final prayer of the day, the one that screams: Thank-you Lord God for every mountain You supernaturally transported us over; for every hard task that through adversityYou somehow engineered a victory for us; and special thanks Lord, for every person we met that received from us the spillover, from our time spent in Your presence. We spoke a word today to someone, that we heard whispered to us in that quiet place. We touched someone who was hungry; we prayed for someone who was lost or someone missing a loved one who transitioned. We were Your hands and feet today Father, and for that we are so grateful! Now, O Lord God, as I close my eyes to sleep, I am still available for sweet dreams, prophetic utterances that reveal Jesus more clearly; and dreams that prophesy my destiny. Lord, I am listening! So, Father, I give You all of the honor, all the glory; because all power and majesty belongs to You. Guide my steps today. Let Your anointing flow within me so that others will be blessed. My every prayer is to receive from You non-perishable gifts; treasures I lay up in heaven that are incorruptible. And, as I receive, like a distribution conduit, I will spread seed wherever You lead me, Blessed Holy Spirit. Use me in Your service Lord. Father, may the words of my mouth and these meditations of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, for You are my strength and my redeemer. I sing unto You a new song; and make a joyful noise unto You, the Rock of my salvation; and I pray that all the earth will join me and sing praises, amen. MY PRAYER IS A WEAPON!!! Quote of the day : "The devil whispered in my ear, "You're not strong enough to withstand the storm." Today, I whispered back, "I am the storm!" (Powered by the Holy ghost!). The enemy is real; but God is realer! Satan cannot prevail when the power of God, resident within us, is unleashed through prayer and active faith in God's word. We are powered by the Holy Ghost, there is no power on earth greater! I believe Satan trembles when a praying saint rises in the morning and goes about his/her work. See, we operate by faith; we don't simply possess faith, we walk in it, and we receive victory through faith. This power, unique to followers of Christ, enables us to believe that God is with us everywhere we go, giving us the fortitude to press on through every obstacle, all the way to victory! Today; walk in that Power! Walk in the victory that overcomes the world which is our faith. Trust in God! Rely upon Him today. Show that you have full confidence in Him no matter what storm is raging. Speak peace to your storm today! Stand strong no matter what you're going through; God is with you! He promised not to leave you, not to forsake you. Storms of life blow through and often make us stronger in our prayer lives. One song-writer wrote: “The storms of life will blow, they’re sure to come and go, they meet me at a time, when I’m strong and doing fine. But, the captain of my soul, He’s always on board, He rocks me in His arms while riding through the storm! Can’t you hear Yolanda Adams belting out that beautiful tune? Well, sometimes in the aftermath of a storm whether internal or external, we are left with scars of fear; sometimes anger or bitterness; perhaps the misguided notion that God authored such destruction. Beloved, I’m here to shout out that God is with you! God said He only has thoughts that give you hope and a future; thoughts of good and not of evil towards you. God is with you; and, I pray that you are with Him. If you’re reading this today, you are alive with the breath of God within you. You are reading this because God has you on His mind right now. Keep uppermost in your mind the blessings you have already received; the prayers already answered; the witness you have given to others; then stay the course. Past answered prayers can be prologue to the future because they strengthen our resolve to trust God! Go ahead: Let go and let God ! Seek the Lord with your whole heart, and see that He is faithful to respond. Let’s pray: Father, we thank You for Your love lavished upon us. From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, You are worthy of all our praise. Father, You are our wonderful, magnificent, benevolent God who sees us wherever we are. There is no-one like You Father. Today, we make you large in our hearts through this moment of praise and extreme worship of You. Father, You declared that the Name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe. We choose to dwell there now, in Jesus' name. Father, keep us in Your perfect care. Jehovah Jireh, provide for us today; Jehovah Rophe, manifest healing today; Jehovah Shalom, let Your “peace, peace” reign in our lives today that we might be a blessing to someone else. Father, thank You that Your love is unconditional; that You look beyond our faults and see our need. We praise You that through the blood of Jesus we can enter boldly before the throne of God to receive whatever we need. Thank You for the blood! Father, someone woke up this morning depressed, confused, or maybe even angry because of what they’ve been through. Please, Father, let them know that You are standing with them. Let them feel the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit, right now in the name of Jesus. Father, I intercede now for all those who are enduring the storm in this moment, and all who endured it, especially for those who lost a loved one; for those who had storm damage to homes, and for those who are just plain fed up with problems they face. I pray the blood of Jesus will sustain them; that they will turn to You and surrender their lives and every issue to You. I pray that every door of access is now closed to the enemy, in Jesus’ name. So, now Father, as we go through our day, this wonderful day that You have made and gifted us; I pray that joy will permeate the lives of Your people, and that every prayer will be answered, for You are the God that heals all manner of sickness and disease. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen . God loves us all so much; He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son to die for us on a cruel cross. Now, we have access to the fount of wisdom, God’s Holy Spirit, the great connector; a constant companion who provides comfort, wisdom, friendship and direction, and peace, when we yield to Him. Have a wonderful day, all day, knowing that the Word of God is truth; that God loves You with an everlasting love, and He wants to bless and keep you safe until the coming of the Lord. Blessings always; Cki. MY PRAYER IS A WEAPON!!! Quote of the day : "The devil whispered in my ear, "You're not strong enough to withstand the storm." Today, I whispered back, "I am the storm!" (Powered by the Holy ghost!). The enemy is real; but God is realer! Satan cannot prevail when the power of God, resident within us, is unleashed through prayer and active faith in God's word. We are powered by the Holy Ghost, there is no power on earth greater! I believe Satan trembles when a praying saint rises in the morning and goes about his/her work. See, we operate by faith; we don't simply possess faith, we walk in it, and we receive victory through faith. This power, unique to followers of Christ, enables us to believe that God is with us everywhere we go, giving us the fortitude to press on through every obstacle, all the way to victory! Today; walk in that Power! Walk in the victory that overcomes the world which is our faith. Trust in God! Rely upon Him today. Show that you have full confidence in Him no matter what storm is raging. Speak peace to your storm today! Stand strong no matter what you're going through; God is with you! He promised not to leave you, not to forsake you. Storms of life blow through and often make us stronger in our prayer lives. One song-writer wrote: “The storms of life will blow, they’re sure to come and go, they meet me at a time, when I’m strong and doing fine. But, the captain of my soul, He’s always on board, He rocks me in His arms while riding through the storm! Can’t you hear Yolanda Adams belting out that beautiful tune? Well, sometimes in the aftermath of a storm whether internal or external, we are left with scars of fear; sometimes anger or bitterness; perhaps the misguided notion that God authored such destruction. Beloved, I’m here to shout out that God is with you! God said He only has thoughts that give you hope and a future; thoughts of good and not of evil towards you. God is with you; and, I pray that you are with Him. If you’re reading this today, you are alive with the breath of God within you. You are reading this because God has you on His mind right now. Keep uppermost in your mind the blessings you have already received; the prayers already answered; the witness you have given to others; then stay the course. Past answered prayers can be prologue to the future because they strengthen our resolve to trust God! Go ahead: Let go and let God ! Seek the Lord with your whole heart, and see that He is faithful to respond. Let’s pray: Father, we thank You for Your love lavished upon us. From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, You are worthy of all our praise. Father, You are our wonderful, magnificent, benevolent God who sees us wherever we are. There is no-one like You Father. Today, we make you large in our hearts through this moment of praise and extreme worship of You. Father, You declared that the Name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe. We choose to dwell there now, in Jesus' name. Father, keep us in Your perfect care. Jehovah Jireh, provide for us today; Jehovah Rophe, manifest healing today; Jehovah Shalom, let Your “peace, peace” reign in our lives today that we might be a blessing to someone else. Father, thank You that Your love is unconditional; that You look beyond our faults and see our need. We praise You that through the blood of Jesus we can enter boldly before the throne of God to receive whatever we need. Thank You for the blood! Father, someone woke up this morning depressed, confused, or maybe even angry because of what they’ve been through. Please, Father, let them know that You are standing with them. Let them feel the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit, right now in the name of Jesus. Father, I intercede now for all those who are enduring the storm in this moment, and all who endured it, especially for those who lost a loved one; for those who had storm damage to homes, and for those who are just plain fed up with problems they face. I pray the blood of Jesus will sustain them; that they will turn to You and surrender their lives and every issue to You. I pray that every door of access is now closed to the enemy, in Jesus’ name. So, now Father, as we go through our day, this wonderful day that You have made and gifted us; I pray that joy will permeate the lives of Your people, and that every prayer will be answered, for You are the God that heals all manner of sickness and disease. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen . God loves us all so much; He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son to die for us on a cruel cross. Now, we have access to the fount of wisdom, God’s Holy Spirit, the great connector; a constant companion who provides comfort, wisdom, friendship and direction, and peace, when we yield to Him. Have a wonderful day, all day, knowing that the Word of God is truth; that God loves You with an everlasting love, and He wants to bless and keep you safe until the coming of the Lord. Blessings always; Cki. Promulgate the Gospel whenever and however you can! Praise the LORD this morning saints of God!!! What a glorious day in the kingdom! Oh yes, I'm talking to you, the one upfront; to you, in the back; to you, hiding out from fear and anxiety because of what you might face today; and, I'm talking to you who is joyful this morning. Come on everyone and praise our God Jehovah with me! As my eyes opened this morning there was a song on my heart. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a singer, yet I love music with all my heart. So, the song of the day is: "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, sung most notably by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. You see, my heart just wants to proclaim Him; to lift up Jesus and magnify Him, to tell the world that not only am I not ashamed, I am downright giddy about this Love that transcends the most glorious dream a man or woman can dream. Here are a few of the lyrics that might lighten your day: "We're an anchor for those who are hurting; and a harbor for those who are lost; Sometimes it's not always easy bearing Calvary's cross." You might need kleenex for this next part: "We've been ridiculed by those who don't know Him; and mocked by those who don't believe. Still, I love standing up for my Jesus, because of all He's done for me. That's why I am not ashamed of the gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ. No, I am not afraid to be counted, but I'm willing to give my life." There is so much more to this song testimony, but she sings, "A simple thanks just doesn't say how I'm feeling; I get tears in my eyes. So, as for me I'm going to keep right on believing, in the One who's been so faithful to me. This next verse is so powerful: "I'm not out to please this whole world around me; I've got my eyes on eternity. That's why I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!" This song is a sermon that will preach for all our lives. She goes on to belt out: "See, I'm ready to be all God wants me to be, I'll give up the wrong for the right." Well, it was not my intention to write so many of the lyrics, but this last part is my testimony as well: "I've got too much behind me to let this world blind me. Maybe, to some He's just a name, but to me He's my everything! I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ!" Let those words marinate in your soul today. Keep the fire burning. Never let days pass when your gratitude is not front and center. Promulgate the gospel today; make it known; declare it in your heart and from your lips! We serve an awesome God; and His Son Jesus was the express image of Him as He walked the earth, lived, taught, was crucified and died for us on that old rugged cross. Any shame was carried by Jesus on our behalf. So, be bold and courageous as you share the greatest gift this world has ever known--Jesus, the Christ , Son of the Living God today. Just know that multitudes around the world stand with you. So, share, unabashedly; unashamedly; proudly; un- apologetically; humbly and with joy unspeakable and full of glory!!! I know, I will . God bless you today, as you go out with your soul soaring, because you are a child of the Most High God; and you get to call Him, Abba. God bless you, amen . Someone once said: "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." Keep on praying, keep on praising, God has a plan! YOU BELIEVED GOD FOR HEALING, BUT THEY DIED ANYWAY! Have you ever prayed fervently for a loved one who was sick in body or mind, only to watch them slip away? Is your faith shaken; or has anger at God seeped in? Sometimes, beloved, we who are born-again, dyed in the wool Christian believers, cannot understand why our prayers are not answered in the way we prayed. When the definitive answer of death becomes a reality; or when that person, if saved, is now with the Lord, all manner of thoughts and feelings can flood our souls. Not only death; but there are those who are afflicted even now with sickness, disease, a thorn in the side, or some malady that simply will not heal. No-one wants to talk about the frustration of praying and not seeing manifested healing because we're afraid of being called out as ones with little or dwindling faith. I wanted to say to all of us this morning, that God is Sovereign. He knows the plan for your loved one. And although He hears our prayers, the answer sometimes is: for whatever the reason, now is the time for that one to go to their eternal home. Acceptance can be hard, and the feelings of confusion or doubt need to be dealt with. See, the enemy of our souls would like to drive a wedge between us and God's unchanging love for us by making us doubt. The other thing the enemy has a PHD in is trying to convince us, through planting thoughts, ideas and suggestions in our heads, to believe that God does not hear our prayers. You see, the devil hates a praying saint, and loves a prayer-less one. He delights when we hesitate to pray. The truth is, God is sovereign. He sees the entire plan. The Bible says that His thoughts are not our thoughts; His ways not our ways! We need to be "modern day Job (s)"; to be just like the man who suffered loss that boggles the mind; loss that transcends imagination. And yet, he made the ultimate statement: "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." In other words, yet will I hope in Him. For me, I prayed for so many to live: my father, my sister, my brother, now, my mother as well (over many years), and they are all with Jesus. Yet, I must not forget the prayers for my own life, and prayers I've prayed for so many others throughout the years that were answered exceedingly. As a follower of Christ Jesus for over 45 years, I've had too many answered prayers to try to number them. God has fulfilled His promise time and time again to walk with me through the valley of the shadow of death. He has delivered me, and answered my prayers to deliver others, time and time again! Therefore, when the time comes that someone I love goes home to be with the Lord, I know that there is a blessing in it. For example: For one person I loved dearly, the sickness, I believe could have meant death long ago without the prayers of the righteous. But she lived to see her children grow up, and to see the birth and growth of her grand-children; God sustaining her through it all. And, in the recent example of my mother's transition, she was 95 years old, kept by God through incredible circumstances: widowed over 40 years ago; blessed to find love again and marry for another long time, and she was blessed to pray and praise Jesus for as long as I can remember. Yes, we prayed that she be healed for another sprint, but 95 years, serving God for most of it, represents a life overflowing with blessings! Today, my only thought is that mommy is with the Lord now: that she sees daddy; she sees her second husband, her children that went before her, and all the aunts and uncles that reached heaven through the years. What an awesome reunion of souls!!! So, as a wrap-up: I believe that when we pray, we're making the ultimate statement to God that we trust Him with our very lives. And, that we accept His decisions whether we hear them as yes, no, or wait. I truly believe many in the Body of Christ grapple with this sometimes perplexing subject; and there should be seminars taught in churches to unpack the command to pray; as well as our acceptance of answered prayer whether it be yes, no or wait. Although there are too many scriptures to count on this subject of faith and trust in the Lord's sovereignty, I leave you with Hebrews 10:23: "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful that promised)”. So, pray beloved, without ceasing, and know beyond doubt that God hears you and answers every prayer. His answers are always based in love; and He always has the best interest of that person we're praying for, foremost in His heart. But at the end of the day, He is God; and God alone! Have an awesome day in the Lord! Pray about everything today, and worry about nothing! And prayerfully, I'll see you again in "Cynthia's Prayer Room". Love you; Cki. Walk in Your Calling! When God calls you, don't worry about what you bring to the table in the natural. God is the architect of our lives. He has it all mapped out, we simply need to yield to it. About 23 years ago, Marco and I began a journey with the Lord. An amazing Pastor saw something in us that we were not sure how to navigate at the time. In 2001, we were both ordained as Ministers and Evangelists, and we fought hard against the title out of misguided dilemmas about our own gifts. However, for years now, we have done the work of evangelists through our teachings, our website, and our published books. And, of course we are living the life that Christ Jesus ordained for us. Yesterday, in the middle of a noisy moment in my life, I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit reminding me of the ordination by this wonderful woman of God, our mentor and friend, Pastor Gloria Cherry. This woman was a dynamo for God! Yesterday, as I communicated with her daughter, who is now Pastor of the church, she described her mother as a visionary; and for us that is definitely the truth! Our prayer is to continue to honor God's faith in us, as well as Pastor Cherry's faith in us, to do the work of ministry each day of our lives. And, to encourage others to walk in your calling. There is a wonderful phrase floating around, "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called." Let that sink in, and with holy boldness, walk in your calling. God also opens the doors. So, don't worry about the next opportunity, take care of the now! Run your race, keep the faith, and someday we'll see Jesus face to face. (2 Tim. 4:7; 1 Cor. 13:12). Today, we embrace all of what God designed for our lives. We receive the designation of Evangelists, as we continue to lift up the name of Jesus everywhere we go. To God be the glory for the great things He has done, and continues to do in all our lives! Have a wonderful day. God bless each one of you as you walk in your calling. Much love, Evangelists Marco and Cynthia Inniss. Grace is Extravagant; And So Are You! Life in the Kingdom of God is excessively awesome; magnificently crafted, beyond our ability to fully comprehend the mind of God! What an extravagant God we serve. The word extravagant means beyond reasonable expectation; more than is normally given; giving a gift that is uncharacteristically generous. Well, there will never be another gift that meets the above criteria like that of God giving His Son Jesus to save our souls!!! And, in order for us to receive this gift to the full, we must first accept it, truly accept it as our passport to freedom! There is a thing called sin that separates men and women from God. This sin thing was so insidious that God had to deal with it. I believe that in order to fully comprehend the benevolence and salvation of Grace, we must have an understanding of the horrific consequences of the sin that separated us from God. Sin is something that God hates. It corrupts the souls of men, and causes lives to often implode and even explode, rather than living lives of productivity. All of mankind suffered this same malady. Sin entered the Garden of Eden, and man was never the same again. Until, extravagance came in the person of Jesus. He was sent by God to live a life before men that exemplified the character of God Himself. The Bible tells us that Jesus was the "fullness of the Godhead bodily." But, we know that Jesus walked the dusty roads of earth as a man. He set aside deity to experience what we experience, temptations and all. Jesus was tempted in all points like us, yet He lived without sin! He demonstrated the power of Almighty God that flows through yielded men, by the power of the Holy Spirit! That same power is available today to all who accept the extravagant gift of Grace that broke the bonds of sin; and opened the door of access to God! Now, we read the precious words of Apostle Paul written in Romans 8, "What can separate us from the Love of God?" The answer he gives is an emphatic, nothing; nothing can separate us from the love of God, found in Christ Jesus! I hope you are dancing with joy, laughing with glee, singing songs of praise, because Grace has obliterated the heaviness of sin! Although sin still exists and still chases after the believer, Grace has given us the opportunity to repent and be cleansed by a Loving God who calls us His own. The gift of Jesus keeps right on giving! Bless God, we are the recipients of this amazing love; this incredible power that surges throughout our minds and bodies, and of the hope of eternal life with God and Christ Jesus forever! Let's pray: Almighty, Creator God, who is our Father, thank You for the cross of Calvary. Thank You for Your plan of Salvation that is so extravagant. You gave the best that You had, Your precious Son, Jesus. We are so grateful for the obedience of Jesus, when He had the option to call legions of angels to rescue Him, He chose us; He chose the joy set before Him. We will not forget, as we go through our days and deal with trials and troubles, that You have made a way for us to tread on those issues and to tread on the adversary who is Satan. Thank You Jesus, that because of Your finished work, He is under our feet. So, we walk in the power of the resurrection today, maintaining the victory that Jesus won over 2,000 years ago: victory over sin; victory over principalities and powers, over rulers of darkness, and over spiritual wickedness in the high places! For we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the plans and purposes of the enemy and his minions of evil. So, Father, today some will re-enlist in the army of the LORD; others will re-dedicate their lives to the cause of Christ, and I pray all of us will open the extravagant gift of Salvation every morning and exclaim: "Hello Jesus!" In the mighty, holy, almighty name of Jesus, the Anointed One, and in the power of His anointing I pray this prayer unto You, Lord God. Amen . Remember: "Grace is extravagant! Beautiful, talented, anointed men and women of God, there is tucked deep inside of you purpose and destiny. Never let go of your birthright, for He who has promised is faithful! Love always, Cki. Get out of the "Bondage" Zone!!! The Bible is full of wisdom. We are told that we can prosper and be in health the same as our souls prosper. So, what is the soul? The soul houses our mind, our will to do, and our emotions. As you can see, that's our "want-to," the seat of all your decision making. Why am I in this place, when I signed up for peace, joy, and prosperity in Jesus Christ? Well, there can be something called "inherent poverty" lurking just beneath the surface of your heart. In the past you always chalked up failures to other people. It's the government's fault; your parent's fault; a spouse. Somebody, somewhere put stumbling blocks in your way, hell-bent on keeping you from your inheritance in life. So, you came into the Kingdom searching for answers, but not exactly willing to surrender your mind, will and emotions to the Holy Spirit for cleansing. I am well aware of the struggle to let go, and let God! The struggle to give up the person-ality that I constructed, to allow God to show me who I am as He created me. We need a barometer for the soul! There are measuring tools for everything else: the weather; the stock market; for measuring the health of the financial world. So, if the Stock Market can measure the health of the financial markets, and a barometer for atmospheric pressure, then why not a measure for the soul? Well, 3rd John, 2 in the Holy Scriptures says: Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers." So, you hold the key! Only you can submit your soul to the tutelage of the Holy Spirit, so that the methods of the world can be changed to the methods of God! We hold our future in our hands. Someone made the famous statement that insanity is doing the same thing expecting a different result. If we rise up each day, ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit to change and walk in the wisdom of God, we will go to bed each night the same, living life in futility. But God! God has laid out in His word all the wisdom we need to effect lasting change in our life. Just remember: You are right now prospering the same as your soul (mind, will and emotions) are prospering. So, if there is to be change, we must embrace the accounts of God leading His people out of different bondage situations (the most famous might be Egyptian bondage). Moses and the people began a journey from a poverty of spirit mentality to a reaping, expectant power of spirit mentality. And that is what God wants for all of us! There are some Moses (s) out here; there are some David (s) out here, and some Esther (s) out here, and numerous ministers-to-be out here. There are doctors-to be; sports players to-be, teachers to-be, out here. Persons who, from a yielded soul will impact the world for God. Persons whose lives can stretch, expand and grow to a place never before imagined. God is an awesome God! He created this day; He created us; He created everything good that exists, and He stands ready to develop His people into dynamic images of Christ Himself. It's all up to us. Will you surrender today and never turn back? Life out of the bondage zone, is what living is all about. It is God's heart-felt desire for me and for you! Allow this conversation to change how you view you, and how you view God's love for you. Let's pray: Father, we adore You this morning. We are grateful for Jesus and salvation. Thank You Father, that in this sometimes crazy world, we can fall back on Your love, knowing that You will catch us. Today, Father we comprehend the width, breadth, height, depth of Your love for us. Sending Your Son sealed it. Any reservations we might have had were resolved when we heard about the cross. We are persuaded, convinced that we can be more than we ever thought we could be because of the power of the cross. Father, today, I declare that I will never again settle for life in the bondage zone. I will submit my will to the Holy Spirit, and allow my mind to be transformed by the word of God. And, I will not look back, rehearsing old wounds, but I resolve to go forward to this new place of immediate riches, immediate favor, and immediate promotion , because access to You through salvation made all of this possible to me, right now, in Jesus' name. Amen . Remember, life outside the bondage zone does not mean we will never have another problem, but it does mean that we will view the problem in a different way. Our pastor for many years always said, "How you see the problem, is the problem." So, let's view the problems that come, through a new lens, colored by the power of the blood of Jesus! Let's walk in every promise from a God who cannot lie, and cannot fail! Let's show forth His praise in our lives, that He will be glorified. Let's keep the enemy under our feet where Jesus labored on the cross to put him. Let's walk in victory today, because Jesus the Christ prevailed so we can overcome every obstacle to happiness, joy and service in our lives. God bless you as you begin a new week. God loves you, and so do I. Love always, Cki. Inner Healing: Healing the Brokenhearted! As miraculous as it sounds, the inner man can be healed. The hurts that rule your life can exit your life in a holy instant. I feel some push-back at the thought that something you've carried in your heart for so many years can become a suddenly in the hands of God; but beloved, it can happen! My heart breaks for us when we carry hurts from childhood into adulthood, wearing them on our sleeves as some kind of trophy. We allow the past to control our now, when God stands ready to massage our hearts and get them going again. Many people (even Christians) today, turn to methods outside the church to find solace, not fully understanding the role of the Holy Spirit in their life. 10, 20 years on the couch can bring momentary relief, but why such a long time without a permanent solution for the pain? The answer is, the Holy Spirit. He is here for such a time as this in your life! The Holy Spirit works within you for free! And, His work is guaranteed. When you lay bare the pain or even open the door to allow the Holy Spirit to shine the light on the source of the pain, healing begins. We all accept that a broken bone can heal physically. But, have you ever noticed that the doctor doesn't just lay his hand on the bone to fuse it together or whatever is required? The doctor might show you the X-ray and explain the amount of time he believes it will take for the fracture or break to heal. But there is a super-natural component that he/she is just not capable of wielding, unless by and through the divine power of God. Well, there is a spiritual parallel here between physical and spiritual breaks: The same as there are physical fractures or breaks; there are spiritual or mental traumas that we experience along the way in life. We don't visit a doctor to find out how many years will pass before healing takes place in our souls. And even if we did, that person is only human, no matter how many degrees hang on the wall. That person is limited if they lack the Spirit of God moving within them or upon them to bring light and wisdom into the situation. The Holy Spirit can expose for you the source of your pain and touch it to make you whole. So, I submit to you this morning, that the only way to wholeness of the soul is through Jesus Christ's power. Jesus announced that the Spirit of God was upon Him, and one of the things He was charged with was healing the brokenhearted. This speaks of inner healing. Jesus depended on the power of the Holy Spirit (the power of God) to massage the heart to jump-start it and get it going again. What I'm saying this morning is that through us, through the ministers of God's salvation message, and through the dynamic and penetrating message of Grace that details God's depth of love for us all, we can be healed of past hurts! The hurts that define your life can be healed and made whole! This is vital because these hurts are a form of blockage that keep spiritual blood from flowing to the heart. God can provide a "holy by-pass" that will remove or flow in spite of scar tissue that's built up. Would you like to be free of old wounds? Would you like to experience new life without old pain? If so, let go and let God; stop hiding the pain, pushing it down, pretending it's not the driving force in your life. Give that thing to Jesus! Psalms 147:3: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." And; there is no charge! The love of God, the heart massage, all of it is free of charge, compliments of Jesus' death and resurrection on the cross! When Jesus cried out, "It is finished," from the high place of the cross, healing and wholeness were complete in Him. So, if you have allowed condemnation to keep you from entering the presence of God, from engaging the Holy Spirit, or even from receiving God's love through His ministers, let today be the day you walk in boldly; that you ask for, and receive the healing balm of Jesus' love. Let's pray: "Lord, I lift up my friend to You, asking You to reveal the source of all pain. Lord, we know that You already know the events of our lives, those that brought lasting pain. Father, as you massage his/her heart, help them to understand that unforgiveness is bondage; carrying hatred bottled up inside is bondage. Bondage becomes a stronghold. Father, I pray in this moment that strongholds are coming down. Persons are being refreshed, renewed and revived by the revelations of peace that can only come through the Holy Spirit revealing Your truth. So, Father, I pray that each one will come to understand that no matter what they've done in the past, repentance will bring forgiveness from You; and Father, You have promised to cleanse them from all unrighteousness. Therefore condemnation that justifies destructive behaviors can leave their lives completely. Thank You, Father, for this moment of liberation; this moment where freedom can enter the heart of anyone who is willing to leave behind the pain, the hurts that have held them captive for so long now. I thank You Father, for every healing that takes place here today: for every demonic spirit chased out; for every kernel of bitterness removed; and for every good thing the enemy stole restored. In Jesus' mighty name I pray, amen. I pray you are rejoicing, and I am rejoicing with you that today is the beginning of something magnificent in your life. T Today, you begin to reach your full potential because forgiveness of others and of self now flood your heart, freeing you to function without condemnation or bitterness, opening the flood-gates to new life and victory in Jesus Christ! Blessings always, Cki. Morning Light: Eternity is Real! Last night for some was not a breeze. Perhaps you had something on your heart that kept you awake. Even though you know how to pray, the words were stuck in the back of your throat. Well, God has given you another day to rejoice in. Because you have breath in your body, you can also have pep in your step; glide in your stride; it's all about choice. My days are not without problems in this world; trials and tribulations come many times even through associations. Maybe your life is just fine, but when you love people, you hurt when they hurt. What happens when the sun goes down on the life of a loved one; when you realize that on this side of heaven you will not hear the sound of laughter so familiar from that voice? Or, what happens when a marriage ends and you realize that never again will you share matters of the heart together; family events will never be the same again? Sounds sad? Well, today. we want to acknowledge the fact that life is a precious gift that God has wrapped up in anointing oil and given to each of us through the blood of Jesus. We want to remember that life is fleeting, that you might not have another year to get it right with those you love. And what about getting it right with God Himself, by receiving His Son Jesus and becoming a conduit for the Gospel message? The Bible says, "It is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment." In other words, a time will surely come in everyone's life when life as we know it, on this planet, will cease. Christians who love like Jesus ache at the thought that someone you love might not receive Jesus as Savior and Lord; that eternal life will not be their reality. You see, heaven is a real place, beloved. Here's what Jesus said about it: "I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there you may be also." Once upon a time, someone wrote the following poignant lyrics from the point of view of one who is in heaven looking around for loved ones: "When I finally make it home, and I stand before the throne, just be there. When I look around to see, if you're standing next to me, just be there." Those lyrics are powerful! The visual the song evokes is so strong that it lights a fire under all of us to spread the Gospel message; and to love as Jesus loves. Let’s pray: Abba, Father, we’ve gathered together on this 23rd day of April, 2024, hungry and thirsty for Your word. Father, Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Father, You said, and I believe it, that we can approach the throne of Grace with boldness. You said, and I believe it, that we can ask what we will and when we believe without doubt, we shall have it. So, today, we ask that this fellowship will yield healing, growth, and development in our thinking; that joy will arise and replace any sadness or depression. Father, You promised that as we stand firm on Your word, that Your word shall not return unto You vain or void, but it will produce in our lives precisely what You intended. Father, You are an ever-present help in time of trouble. We ask You to be the source of resurrected hope and encouragement; let us all see Your love in action as we turn to You. Let our lives experience renewal, and complete restoration in every area of our lives.. We pray that through the move of Your Holy Spirit, each precious soul on this line will exchange mourning for joy; the spirit of heaviness for praise. Father, I thank You for those who are here, ready to absorb new revelation. We pray that the words we speak will be a catalyst for change, for moving forward in Christ Jesus. Tonight, I pray for all those whose loved ones have transitioned. Please Father, wrap the families in Your arms of love and comfort. Let Your peace pervade their hearts and minds, reminding them that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning light." Father, we ask all in the name above every name, the name of Jesus, the Christ, who was, and is, and is to come. In His name we pray; glory to God; amen. If you prayed that prayer with me today, your day has just taken a turn for the victorious. Watch as problems become opportunity; and sadness turns to joy, because you know (deep inside) in whom you have believed. Make it a good day by speaking the Word only over every situation you encounter! Love you, Cki . Hold Your Position! Spiritual Warfare is a whole other Subject; but it's worth it! When we speak of warring in the Spirit, the devil's ears perk up, because he knows what's coming! The whole scheme of the devil is to keep the mouth of God's children closed through whatever means necessary. Mind games, temptations, and ego manipulations, anything that will take our eyes off of God and His majestic character and holiness. See, this world is not anchored in the word of God. You can see by the mess man has created that he is looking at things through a different lens. There are things happening today on the political scene, and even in backyards where we shake our heads in wonderment that something so vile could ever be acceptable in our culture. Well, to those who read and believe the Bible is the word of God, the answer is clear, that man will never know peace, true love, or comfort until knees bow. So, today, we pray a prayer of warfare. We are bold and courageous as we declare and decree the promises of God! God's promises are the only "yes, and amen" in existence. God's word is more solid than Fort Knox where gold is stored! Let's pray: Father, we thank You for the privilege of prayer. To be able to cast our cares upon You is more precious than all the gold and silver, because You care for us. Father, we thank You for the power and the authority to war in the Spirit. We thank You that our fight is the good fight of faith. That we wrestle not against people, but against the wicked one and his battalion of evildoers. Thank You Father, that we have salvation on our tongues; death and life are in the power of our tongues, therefore we speak life to our life now, by speaking the powerful words of healing and deliverance that You have provided us. Today, O Lord God, we will not walk in darkness (make it personal), we will not stumble, and we will never fall without rebounding! Father, today, I decree and declare that I am the head and never the tail; that I will rise victoriously over every enemy and over those who will try to confound me. I declare and decree that when the wicked try to eat up my flesh, they will stumble and fall. I stand in the power of Your word, therefore I declare that it shall be well with me and my family. Father, I declare over my body and over all those in my sphere, that our bodies will line up with Your creative plan for every cell and every system, that they will line up with the intent of God, functioning in accordance with Your divine plan. Father, we go forth in holy boldness, declaring and decreeing that we are victorious, overcoming warriors, who face this day with peace in our hearts and joy on our lips, for You have made us glad. In the powerful and precious name of Jesus we pray, amen and amen. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those who love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Love you, Cki. Let's Pray the Bible! I'm calling today, "Sanctified Sunday!" A day set aside for simplified prayer; prayers that emanate from the core of our hearts, and that line up with the promises of God. You know, there are many who struggle with prayer, thinking that the whole thing is just too hard for them. I am currently working on a new book called: "The Unsophistication of Prayer," which examines the reluctance of those who view prayer as a tedious task requiring a soliloquy full of pompous or pretentious thoughts and ideas, to pray. The truth of the matter is that God wants to hear from our hearts. He loves us enough that through Jesus, He gave us a pattern to use for our prayers. But there is also space there to be you, communing with God, speaking to Him and listening for His answers. In addition to what is referred to as "The Lord's Prayer, there are so many other scriptures that we can pray, that allow us to learn how to think like God, and to pray His promises back to Him. Yes, right there in Scripture are numerous prayers, such as Numbers 6:24-26. Imagine praying this often used benediction as a prayer: Father, I ask You to bless me and my family, and to keep us. Father, make Your face shine down upon us, continue to be gracious to us. Father, lift up Your countenance upon us, and grant us Your peace. In Jesus' precious name, I pray, Amen . We have asked God in earnest; and with simplicity, to fulfill His promises to us and our families (and you can broaden your scope as much as you desire in that moment: my church group, my co-workers, etc.). You have asked God to fill those you are praying for with peace that surpasses understanding; and for the presence of God to permeate their lives. Those are blessings from God that we, by faith, appropriate. And that's just one prayer; there are many! Here's one from Psalm 19 that is so powerful. You see, sin and repentance will never go away in this life; we must always ask God to help us deal with sin. The word of God tells us that sin has consequences, no matter who commits it. Therefore, we must be sober and vigilant, because we have an adversary who is roaming about; I say he is salivating, hoping to devour us! So, we pray: Father, I love You so much; I desire to live according to Your precepts. I recognize they were given to me to protect me and to keep me from harm. Father, I praise You in this moment, for You, O Lord, reveal Yourself to us constantly, through creation and through Your word. Your word, Father, is a lamp to my feet and a light to my pathway. Your word, Father, revives my soul; rejoices my heart, enlightens my eyes and is greater than gold and sweeter than honey. Father, keep me from willful sins. Do not let them have dominion over me. Help me, by Your Holy Spirit to walk blameless and upright. Let the words of my mouth, Father, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, for You are my rock, my strength, and my redeemer. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. There is what I call "night seasons" in our lives, times when we are confronting fear and we need relief. Psalm 91 is definitely the place to go to confirm God's promise and power of protection over His children. Let's pray: Jehovah Jireh (Provider); Jehovah Shalom (God of Peace); I worship You now. I thank You that though You created it all, You chose to bring me into the circle of love with You, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and for that I am forever grateful. Father, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me in this hour. You bring me comfort and guidance. So, today/tonight as I fight the good fight of faith against all the noises coming at me from the enemy, I shall not fear, but remember that You did not give me a spirit of fear, but Father, You gave me power, love and a sound mind. As I walk in the constant reinforcement of Your promise, I give this troubling situation to You, and I will not pick it up again. I count it as done because of the promises of the blood of Jesus. Thank You Lord, for Your loving sacrifice of Your Son to bring me life everlasting. I am walking in the power of the resurrection and I will not entertain renegade thoughts that do not line up with Your word. Father, tonight, I will enjoy sweet sleep, because Your promises are yes and amen to the believer. Lord, I believe! In Jesus' name I pray and ask all blessings, amen and amen. As pointed out above, there are numerous prayers in the Bible that can be a great help to us when we pray. Psalm 23 is legend. Let's look at one way to pray within that Psalm: YAHWEH, what a mighty God You are! No wonder the angels cry, holy, holy holy. You are my best friend and my Shepherd. You have given me a resting place inside Your luxurious love. You restore my soul Father, Your mercies are new every morning, Your faithfulness is great. Father, I desire to bring honor to Your name. Teach me Your precepts by the power of Your Holy Spirit. No matter where my path takes me, through a valley of the deepest darkness, fear will not overwhelm me. I walk in Your authority and truth. Father, You have become my delicious feast. When my enemies dare to fight, You anoint me with the fragrance of Your Holy Spirit; You give me all I can drink of You until my cup runs over. Father, You have promised that goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and that I will dwell in Your house forever. Thank You Father, in the name of Jesus, Your Son, my Lord and Savior , I pray, amen . There are too many scriptures to count that we can pray. We personalize them, keeping them in line with God's word. And, we include our fears, our problems, and we never forget to praise and give thanks for the richness of the Word of God, and for our delight in having access to the throne-room of grace. In Jesus name we pray, and continue on this course of strengthening our relationship with our Father. May God bless each of you, and may prayer time become the best time. Love you, Cki. Praying against Cancer To God be the glory! This is early morning, prayer time; the best kind. When the enemy tries to interrupt our sleep; or, when God's Holy Spirit awakes us gently to pray; we make the most of it! We're praying against cancer this morning, all cancers. As the world seeks the cure for this deadly disease, we know that we have found the cure, it is found in the Name of Jesus. The cure was uncovered at the cross. Let us pray: Jehovah Rapha, our healer, we call upon You once again as we come against cancer. Glorious Father, You are our Healer and Your word declares healing is the children's bread; that by the stripes (wounds) of Jesus we were healed. So, Father, by the authority of the Name of Jesus, we decree that all forms and types of cancer within the bodies of Your people will no longer have dominion. We command cancers of every kind to wither and dry up, in the Name of Jesus. We declare these cancers (breast cancer; bladder cancer; cancer of the kidney; cancers considered terminal: pancreatic cancers; prostate cancers; cancers of the stomach or lymph nodes null and void. We curse every name named that would try to exalt itself against the knowledge of God. We declare all cancers to be interlopers; no longer on ground that will yield to them. We cancel the devil's assignment to destroy their bodies. We declare that all malignant and abnormal cells are dying, no longer dividing or spreading within the body In Jesus' name, Father, we place our trust in You who created worlds out of nothing. Therefore, Jehovah Rapha, we declare life and restoration into their bodies, now, in Jesus mighty name; the Name above all names. By faith, we declare complete and total healing of their immune system. We come against fear, declaring that You are their light and their salvation; therefore they will not be afraid. Let fear fail in the face of faith. Father, let sweet sleep descend upon those battling cancer as faith arises within their hearts. We look forward to testimony after testimony of the goodness of God as Your people are healed. To You, O Lord, be all the praise, all the honor, and all of the glory, amen. Let us Pray It's prayer time! So, let us join hands together spiritually, and enter boldly before the throne of God as children of the Most High God who are qualified by the blood of Jesus that covers us: Father, we bless Your holy name today. We praise You Father, for You are Elohim, creator of all things, judge of all men. You are the God who is all-sufficient; El Shaddai. You are our Jehovah God: the God of peace (Jehovah Shalom); the God of provision (Jehovah Jireh); our righteousness (Jehovah Tsidkenu); the God who heals us (Jehovah Rapha). We have come to receive every blessing today made possible through the blood of Jesus. Father, we pray that Your glory will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. Let Your glory fill this place; fill these temples Lord with Your Spirit. Father, thank You for Jesus, for our Savior and LORD. Jesus died that we might have life and that more abundantly. Jesus arose that we might live. Jesus arose that we might arise. Father, by Your Spirit, help us to be strong and mighty through the strength of Jesus. Help us to open our eyes to our new estate as ambassadors of the Most High God. That we might be the eyes and ears of Jesus on earth; that we might be the hands of Jesus, touching those who are hurting, those who are sick and seeing healing manifest in each life. Father, we accept that we are the Body of Christ, and as we work in tandem, on one accord, Your purpose will be done on earth same as in heaven. Thank You Father, that You have fully equipped Your people to command our mornings, to set our agendas according to Your directions. As we go forth into our diverse workplaces and other pursuits, let us be ever mindful of Your grace, of Your mercy towards us, and of the mandate You've given us to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Hallelujah, Father! We expect to see blind eyes open; deaf ears unstopped, new hearts, new livers, new kidneys, cells cleansed and renewed. We fully expect to see Your Kingdom in operation throughout this world. So, Father, let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord You are our strength and our redeemer. In Jesus' name, we pray, thank You Lord God, amen . "Jesus, full of grace and truth; we want to be like Him." "God is interested in construction, not destruction! Glory to God! What an awesome privilege to join you in Cynthia's Prayer Room, where Jesus is LORD. I pray everyone is having a most blessed day as you encounter the King of Kings and Lord of Lords today. There's a song on my heart this morning, especially the CeCe Winans version of: "Goodness of God," where the lyrics speak of God's constant presence; His faithfulness; that He has been so, so good throughout life. That's a truth that cannot be disputed. Our God is benevolent; He is our sustenance; He is our provider, protector and our guide. And, with all that in mind, how can anything take place except restoration? There is a deconstruction that is necessary in the life of the believer. It is a deconstruction or breaking down and demolishing the "old man" or the old thought system we operated under while walking in sin. The mind of the Spirit operating in the soul is the goal. God wants to build us up into lively stones. 1st Peter, chapter 2, verse 5 tells us: "You also, as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." So, no matter what you've been through, God can restore, renew and rebuild. Yes, God knows everything; He knows the scars, the battle wounds, the broken places within us. He is the Omniscient One who knows how to put every broken piece back where it belongs. The end result is that beauty will arise from ashes, more beautiful than ever before. The oil of joy can replace mourning if we'll open our hands and let go of past hurts. But we must draw near to God in the midst of our pain; in the good times and in the not so good times. James 4:8: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." Remember the old song, "What a Fellowship"? The song-writer says, "I have peace of mind with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms." Lean on Him today, God is able to withstand every weight. Our Jesus died to empower us to walk without bondage. But it will take constantly abiding in His presence to see that peace manifested in your life. Let's pray: Heavenly Father, we love You this morning; we adore You; we magnify and honor Your holy name. Father, today I pray for restoration in the lives of everyone hearing this prayer. I pray that divine healing will take place whether physical, mental or spiritual. Father, restore joy to that one who is hurting as they draw nigh to You in faith. Let them know, Father, that You are the God that heals; help them to realize the power in the blood of Jesus to break every chain of bondage including sickness and disease. Let forgiveness reign supreme in our lives as we jettison every ounce of un-forgiveness from our minds and our hearts. We love You, Father, and our hearts are forever inclined towards You, to live life according to Your precepts to receive the blessings of the Lord right here in the land of the living. Father, we ask all blessings in the Name that is above every name, the precious Name of Jesus the Christ, Son of the living God. In His name we pray and agree together, amen and amen . Now, beloved, go and be exceedingly blessed. Allow this prayer to change your direction, to strengthen you and to deliver you from any bondage, any other thing not of God. Make it a great day! Cki. "Healing is the children's Bread" Good day everyone! I bless the name of the LORD today and every day. Some days are sweeter than others, but each day is the day created by God and we should rejoice and be glad in it. For anyone who is challenged to praise and rejoice today, I just wanted to remind you that you are blessed; you are healed (the healed of God protecting what Jesus died to bring you). You have the breath of God in your lungs; your heart is beating signifying life; therefore, no matter what is happening around you, God has chosen to let you see another day in this earth realm. There were so many who did not awaken to this new day. There are wars and rumors of wars; tragedy at Halloween parties, wars in the middle east; and there are a host of other things to worry about if you choose worry over joy. The Bible tells us that joy is important to the believer: that the joy of the LORD (not just any old artificial joy) is our strength. So, today, let's resolve to open our spiritual eyes and to see through that lens, rather than the physical eyes that see sadness and turmoil. It's a choice that every day we have to make. LORD, we see Your glory everywhere: in nature, in the waters and seas, in the eyes of those we encounter each day. Help us to always see through the proper lenses; to see the beauty and the value of creation. Thank You for the cross of Calvary Father, and for the obedience of Your Son who died for us. No love like that will we ever know from any other source. So, we bless You LORD; our souls cry out Hallelujah to the Lamb of God who cleansed us and removed our sin. This is a debt we can never repay Father, but we can surrender our lives to You, to do Your work. Father, we ask that Your Holy Spirit will lead and guide us into all truth. In gratitude and love, we ask all blessings in the name of Jesus, amen and amen . "AN OPEN DOOR IN 2024!" Prayer changes things. It is the key to the open door of blessings. God has lavishly poured out the ultimate blessing upon every person who will accept it. Jesus died for our sins, to redeem us, to set us free, and to reconcile us to God once again. Now, God has placed in our hands the key to bringing those things that we desire according to the will of God for our lives into manifestation. How? We pray and believe! We begin by praying for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Today, I want to move away from philosophical discussions or debates and say simply that we need the enabling power of the Holy Spirit in order to walk in full manifestation of the power of ministry. Also, to walk in the power of stability in our own lives. Prayer: Lord, thank You for this empowerment, I will embrace the Holy Spirit as my power source. We have received power to witness now that the Holy Spirit has come upon us. All the healing power, the deliverance power we so desperately crave, it's all found in this holy baptism. Father, I pray for power to walk right, to talk right and to live lives that are pure and holy, tried and true before You in 2024. I pray that everyone agreeing with this prayer will decide that this year is the year of consecration. A year where everything You promised in Your word, Lord God, is made manifest in our lives. In Jesus' holy name I pray and believe that we, each one, shall receive Holy Ghost power. In Jesus' name I pray, amen and amen. I love each of you with all of my heart, and desire that we touch the heights of God's great salvation this year! "To God be the glory for the great things He has done!" All my Love, Cki. "Free to be healed" Glory, glory, glory to God! What an awesome God we serve! Our God sent His Son Jesus from heaven to earth to bring us back into fellowship with Him. And, not only fellowship, but through the blood of Jesus, shed for us at Calvary, the door was opened wide for us to become the Sons of God. Now, God calls us His children; He calls us friend. We are reconciled to Him! Jesus dying on the cross set us free from the sin and condemnation we faced as sinners. Today, that same blood that flowed from His body has washed us clean and brought healing to our hearts and to our bodies. So, let's pray and thank God for His healing power that flows through us even now, filling us with wholeness and divine health not available outside the Kingdom of God. Let's pray: Father, we thank You for Your word that informs us that by the stripes of Jesus we were healed. Those words are the sound of freedom. Man cannot guarantee wholeness, but You can Father. Man cannot through his own strength or reasoning promise to deliver us from an unbroken state to walking in divine health. only You can promise that and deliver Father. So, today, we lift Your name on high, for You have declared that You are the God that heals us. Father, we know that Your word is truth; that You are not a man that You should lie; we know Father, that if You promise, You will bring that thing to pass in our lives. So, we reach out our hands to receive all that Jesus died to secure for us. We employ faith to believe that every promise in the Bible is ours; and that every promise is yes and amen to the believer. We thank You Father that by Your power and by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, we are believers and not doubters, therefore able to see that thing You promised come to pass in our lives. Father, again we give thanks for all that You've done in our lives; for all that You are doing; and for all You will continue to do as we yield to Your sovereignty. It is in the name of Your precious Son Jesus, the One who came to earth, lived and demonstrated Your love and power; and then died to rise again, that we pray and ask all blessings. Amen "Women are a Unique Treasure" "But we know we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God , and not of us." 2 Cor. 4:7 I want to pray for the women of God this morning. I want you to know that you are precious to God, more so than the greatest, most expensive gold or silver. God has crowned you with loving-kindness and tender mercies; He has crowned you with favor which surrounds you like a shield. God desires to shine through your life so that His glory is seen throughout the earth. So, woman of God let your light shine bright before the world; don't doubt the gift God has tucked safely within you. The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God's glorious sons and daughters." Romans 8:19 Will you be one of them? Will you be the one to show forth God's praise; to unveil Jesus to the world through your life? I pray that the answer is a resounding yes! LORD, I will shine the light of Jesus into dark places where the Word has not yet been heard. Use me in Your service LORD, amen and amen. As we pray this prayer together in agreement, I believe heaven hears us and God's power to do is being poured out upon us as we speak. So, have an awesome day in the LORD, and I hope to see you soon, and to hear your testimonies. "God is moving, by His Spirit!; get in the flow!" Much love, Cki.

Recorded Christian sermons and teachings presented at various venues by Bro. Marco and Sis. Cynthia. Awsome blessings for the New Year 00:00 / 45:57 All Things New 00:00 / 32:04 We're Coming in Hot 00:00 / 30:07 The Mindset of Noah 00:00 / 32:11 Goodness the Essence of God's Character 00:00 / 29:23 New Mercies Every Morning 00:00 / 24:37 Recreated for God’s Glory 00:00 / 35:55 We've entered a brave new world 00:00 / 35:14 Prayer changes things 00:00 / 20:22 Taking back what the Devil Stole.MP3 We do not own the rites to the music on this recording! 00:00 / 42:18 Let God take center stage In Your life Marco & Cynthia 00:00 / 42:03 The Search for True Wealth and Riches.MP3 M & C 00:00 / 49:34 Praise Him above All Else.MP3 Artist Name 00:00 / 45:35 The Blood Never Loses It's Power.MP3 Artist Name 00:00 / 40:44 The Joy of the Lord Marco & Cynthia 00:00 / 47:09 protectors of the way 00:00 / 33:06 The Spirit of Thanksgiving 00:00 / 22:02 Praising From the Mind of Christ 00:00 / 31:47 Jesus Loves Me 00:00 / 34:12 Gratitude in the Midst of Pain 00:00 / 21:19 Elohim 00:00 / 39:42 The Cross is Relevant Every Day 00:00 / 26:19 Gratitude Shapes the Heart of a Christian.MP3 Artist Name 00:00 / 49:31 Freedom 7-6-23.MP3 Artist Name 00:00 / 32:11 A Balm In Gilead.MP3 Artist Name 00:00 / 47:26 We Have the Power.MP3 Artist Name 00:00 / 35:04 Light a Bon Fire.MP3 Artist Name 00:00 / 37:22 Increasing our Capacity for More.MP3 Artist Name 00:00 / 32:41 40 Days after the Resurrection.MP3 Artist Name 00:00 / 37:22 What are You Doing There.MP3 Artist Name 00:00 / 44:22 The Plot Twist Marco & Cynthia 00:00 / 39:08 The Presence of the Lord (POTW 11-7-24) Marco & Cynthia Inniss 00:00 / 34:35 Hot off the Press Marco and Cynthia Inniss 00:00 / 36:47 What are you Wearing Marco & Cynthia Inniss 00:00 / 38:02 Help I'm Running on E.MP3 Artist Name 00:00 / 47:13 The Light of God.MP3 Artist Name 00:00 / 31:51 A Healing Message.MP3 Marco & Cynthia Inniss 00:00 / 29:37 New Wine Marco & Cynthia Inniss 00:00 / 33:01 God's Power is Sovereign.MP3 Marco & Cynthia Inniss 00:00 / 40:52 Go For It Marrco & Cynthia Inniss 00:00 / 32:19 We do not own the rights to any music played on this page or in any of the teachings or sermons.

This site, "Marco and Cynthia's Place" is a Christian based site offering biblical thought and concepts for life and living, also makes available books for sale by author C.K. Inniss. HELLO Passion Makes Perfect We started our Site to offer readers a glimpse into our thoughts, experiences, and the sharing of God's word as it was revealed to us. What started as weekly posts has evolved into a dynamic site packed with information about biblical topics near and dear to our hearts. Take some time to explore the blog and the various elements of the site. Read on and enjoy! This is Cynthia I am a member of the baby boomer Generation and was born in Rome, Georgia. After graduating from Main High, I attended nursing school at Berry College for about a year and a half. I later entered the U.S. Air Force. Where I served for 8 years. After leaving the Air Force in 1980, I remained a military wife and lived in Panama for three years. During this period, I completed a degree, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Troy University, Troy, Alabama. My husband of 49 years and I serve as discipleship instructors for seniors and teachers of the gospel. As an ordained minister and evangelist since May 2001, I am the author of several published Christian-themed books. Writing, traveling, and learning new languages are my passions. This is Marco Born in the vibrant city of Colón in the Republic of Panama, he took a bold step and immigrated to the United States in 1960 at just 12 years old to reunite with his mother, who had made the journey two years prior! He embarked on his educational journey in Brooklyn, New York, attending John Marshall JHS 210 for middle school and then graduating from the esteemed Boy’s High School. After completing high school in 1966, he pursued his passion for knowledge at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a BA in History and proudly became a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He later continued his education at Ball State University, earning a master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus on Executive Development for Public Service. With an impressive career in the United States Air Force, he served as a commissioned officer in the intelligence career field, retiring after 20 years of dedicated service. His journey didn’t stop there; he transitioned to civil service, making significant contributions at the Defense Intelligence Agency and the United States Special Operations Command as an intelligence officer for an additional 19 years. After a remarkable 39 years of federal service, he made Florida his home. becoming an ordained minister and evangelist in May 2001, he passionately travels, studies, and teaches, while also working as a website manager and publishing inspiring Christian books alongside his wife! i284289739530789357._szw1280h1280_ 252252_472410379452033_2061293065_n marco and cynthia 1976_edited_edited_edited_edited_edited i284289739530789357._szw1280h1280_ 1/14 Cynthia's interview 97.7 the Beat Natchez Ms. 00:00 / 19:12 97.7 interview 2.MP3 Cynthia Inniss 00:00 / 31:48 Book signing IMG_20240121_110252_624_edited 4972207507506883545 Book signing 1/25 Wrestling with God’s Silence in the Face of Inexplicable Suffering Speak to God God is not asking for silence. When we suffer and do not understand, he is not demanding the stiff upper lip. He does not... Who is God: 15 Devotional Insights from the Prophets 1. HE IS: My Everything Isaiah 9:6–7 Isaiah predicted that a child would be born who would be our everything. The variety of names... 6 Habits for Successful Bible Study Stay on Track Years ago, when I was serving in high school ministry, we offered this simple plan to our students as they learned how to... Subscribe Form Join Thanks for subscribing! LET’S CONNECT Name Email Subject Message Submit Thanks for submitting!