Hello friends. I was speaking with a friend recently on how I navigated through some very difficult relationships and seasons. I realized that it was as simple as “just stay put.” That means I don’t make any changes in my position and plans during this period of distress. And if I do sense that I need to make a change then I surround myself with wise people in the church who can pray for me and advise me. I also wait for confirmation from God through the Bible. In very important matters, I notice that I receive signs from my surroundings or from the preaching of God’s Word or even a dream or visions or impressions during personal and corporate prayer times. Mainly, I rely upon God’s instructions in the Bible since signs can be disceptive and the enemy can use signs to mislead you. 

I sense that this November will be a difficult month for our country. That means the enemy is going to work very hard to make you severe your relationships in the church, family and friends. It’s very important that you “just stay put” in your church community and in your relationships. If it means to step back a little socially that’s okay but do not severe any relationships during this month. 

Tony Nieuwhof has a great cheat sheet for marriage that is in conflict. I think this good advice sheet works for any relationships. Please save this sheet and even print it out for frequent reference. 

Before You Split: Better Conflict Cheat Sheet https://toninieuwhof.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Better-Conflict-Cheat-Sheet-2024.pdf

I believe that this month can be a great opportunity for us as believers to shine as a light to the world that we are able to keep unity and be peacemakers in our families and communities. 

If you make mistakes, please just run to God and seek His help and guidance. I still have a hot temper. Only way I can seem to control this side of my flesh is by reading the Bible and spending time in prayer in the morning before I start my day. Another thing that works for me is by having a long view on how I want to finish my life. Here is a short article about Billy Graham’s mother and the lessons that she taught him. 

https://billygrahamlibrary.org/7-life-lessons-billy-graham-learned-from-his-mother/

(Lesson # 7 really speaks to me. ❤️)

Finish Well

Although the testimony of my mother’s life helped mold me and taught me how to live, the testimony of her last years and her death gave me insight into how to die,” Billy Graham wrote.

In her later years, when her health declined and her husband had passed away, Morrow Graham made a point of praying and listening to Scripture every morning.

“On Aug. 14, 1981, she quietly left this earth in her sleep and entered Heaven,” Billy Graham wrote.

“When word came, I wept and yet rejoiced at the same time. Of all the people I have ever known, she had the greatest influence on me. I am sure one reason that the Lord has directed and safeguarded me, as well as Ruth and the children, through the years was the prayers of my mother and father.”

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My son was born in 2006 and so I was going through the TSC sermons of that year to see what they were preaching about. I’ve heard about five and each one has blessed me tremendously. The message has stories about the passing of his father-in-law. I’ve never heard anything like that before. It’s amazing how he passed away. Something to think about and pray for if that’s how you’d like to pass this earth before heaven. I’m pondering and praying about it. http://sermons.tsc.nyc/the-goodness-of-the-lord-in-the-land-of-the-living/

A great message about heaven from Pastor David Wilkerson, founder of TSC. http://sermons.tsc.nyc/heaven/

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 (NLT)

Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies—so the living should take this to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.

A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.

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Whatever happens in this election and in this November month, let us remember the wise words of the prophet Daniel. 

Daniel 2:20-21: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”

Recently someone shared with me Dale Carnegie’s method on how to stop worrying. Holy Spirit taught me to use this method on my tough situations and relationships. I didn’t realize that it was a method that was shared by Dale Carnegie. He was a motivational and self-help leader of his generation. Here is his 10 step summary. Anyway, it worked for me to calm down enough to pray and “just stay put”. Please check out this short summary and perhaps read his book too. 

https://www.dalecarnegie.co.uk/10-ways-to-stop-worrying-and-start-living/

Whenever I come across a good inspiring quote I save it on my phone notes. I hope these quotes inspire your faith today. 

Quotes for 2024

“In order to realize the worth of the anchor we need to feel the stress of the storm.” – Corrie Ten Boom

“So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: “I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!” – Martin Luther

“Faith is not believing in my own unshakable belief. Faith is believing an unshakable God when everything in me trembles and quakes.” – Beth Moore

“When we bring our desires and thoughts to God, He will imprint His desires and thoughts into us to the extent that they become our desires and thoughts. These prayers are the most precious of all prayers; they are the most weighty prayers.”- Watchman Nee 

“To know that nothing happens in God’s world apart from God’s will may frighten the godless, but it stabilizes the saints.” – J.I. Packer

“God often allows or even orchestrates crises in our lives in order that we will seek Him — not a solution, but Him.” – Dr. Michael Brown

“Of all things, guard against neglecting God in the secret place of prayer.”  – William Wilberforce

Long after you and I are gone, God will still be at work-and many of the things we prayed for will finally come to pass. – Billy Graham 

Prayer is more than a wish; it is the voice of faith directed to God. – Billy Graham

“Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear.” ― Corrie Ten Boom

Faith is when you praise God in the storm, you trust Him in the valley, and you follow Him in the dark. – Corrie ten Boom

Do not ask God to confirm your opinion; ask Him to make your opinion conform to His truth. – Charles Spurgeon

“I never said my Fathers house would be a house of preaching, I said it would be a house of prayer! When America’s prayer meetings are bigger than its conference meetings then revival will come!” – Tomi Arayomi

“Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.” – George Herbert

“Do not strive in your own strength; cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you. Strive in prayer; let faith fill your heart-so will you be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” – Andrew Murray

“Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not what prayer can do.” – Charles Spurgeon

“Prayer is the way you defeat the devil, reach the lost, restore a backslider, strengthen the saints, send missionaries out, cure the sick, accomplish the impossible, and know the will of God.” – David Jeremiah

“Suffering is better than sinning. There is more evil in a drop of sin than in an ocean of affliction. Better to burn for Christ than turn from Christ.” – Charles Spurgeon 

“The nearer a man gets to God, the greater he sees his sin.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“Our Lord has many weak children in his family, many dull pupils in his school, many raw soldiers in his army, many lame sheep in his flock. Yet he bears with them all, and casts none away. Happy is that Christian who has learned to do likewise with his brethren.” – JC Ryle

“The enemy didn’t tempt Adam and Eve to murder, steal, or tell a lie. He tempted them to question the Word of God. His tactics haven’t changed.”- JC Ryle

“Everything you can see will die and rot. Every title you can earn will be lost. Every glory you receive from men will turn to nothing. Live for that which is eternal. Live for the one that died for you.” – JC Ryle

“If God doesn’t take you around the battle, He has equipped you to win the battle.” – Jentezen Franklin 

“You’ll never be a perfect parent, but you can be a praying parent. Prayer is your highest privilege as a parent. …Prayer turns ordinary parents into prophets who shape the destinies of their children, grandchildren, and every generation that follows. …Your prayers for your children are the greatest legacy you can leave.” – Mark Batterson

“We are all headed somewhere. Each day brings us closer to a final breath…Death comes to the young, the old, the rich, the poor, the decent, the decadent, the king, and the commoner. Shouldn’t our destination be an obsession?” – Max Lucado 

“The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by destroying itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

HOW SWEET IS REST AFTER FATIGUE! HOW SWEET WILL HEAVEN BE WHEN OUR JOURNEY IS ENDED. ⁃ GEORGE WHITEFIELD

“The ministry of intercessory prayer needs to be reemphasized today in the body of Christ . . . We have an abundance of teachers, singers, musicians, worship leaders, and administrators, but a critical shortage of those who will devote themselves to this sacred calling. Not until heaven will we understand the greatness of those who prevailed in prayer for other believers.” – Jim Cymbala

Prayer, my brothers and sisters, must be our first resource. Let us not merely go to God’s door because we have tried everybody else and failed. Let us not go to the fountain simply because the cisterns are exhausted, but let us go to our God first and foremost. – Charles Spurgeon

“Delayed answers to prayer are not only trials of faith, but they give us opportunities of honoring God by our steadfast confidence in Him under apparent repulses.” – Charles Spurgeon

Most true is the gospel, for God is its Author. Believe it. Most able is the Saviour, for he is the Son of God. Trust him. Most powerful is his precious blood. Look to it for pardon. Most loving is his gracious heart. Run to it at once. – Charles Spurgeon

“A person may not allow us to talk to them about God, but they cannot keep us from talking to God about them. The power of Intercession!”- Paul Washer

“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” – Charles Spurgeon

“Prayer is the mightiest engine God has placed in our hands. It is the best weapon to use in every difficulty, and the surest remedy in every trouble. It is the key that unlocks the treasury of promises, and the hand that draws forth grace and help in time of need. Show me a growing Christian, a going forward Christian, a flourishing Christian, and sure am I, he is one that speaks often with his Lord. He tells Jesus everything.” – J.C. RYLE

“The highest form of selfishness is that of the man who is content to go to heaven alone.” – J.C. Ryle

“If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.” – C. S. Lewis 

“The tree on the mountain takes whatever the weather brings. If it has any choice at all, it is in putting down roots as deeply as possible.” – Corrie Ten Boom

“God doesn’t have problems, only plans. There never is any panic in heaven.” – Corrie ten Boom

“You will know broken dreams and frustrated plans, but be all the more determined to serve God no matter what. If it’s not one way, He’ll give you another and it’ll be something better and greater than anything you could have ever planned yourself. In the end, disappointments are God’s appointments if you let them be, and your detours will have been the call of God on your life.” – Jonathan Cahn

“God is looking for sons and daughters, people like you and me, that He can entrust not only with his resources but more importantly with His people.” – Pedro Adao

“Sinners are saved. Saints are sanctified. Devils are horrified.” – Pastor Brenden, Crossings Church in PA

“When God opens a door, it is often an exit from our comfort zone. We have no way of knowing where it will lead or what lies beyond – but we do know that we can trust the One who opened the door.” – Dr. David Jeremiah

Charles H. Spurgeon, “Oh, brethren, be great believers! Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to you.”

“Jesus uses our trials to wean us from Earth and woo us to Heaven.” – Charles Spurgeon

The Moravian Church’s motto is “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things, love”.