Hello friends! I hope that you’re doing well. Many churches are getting ready to launch their spring semester of small, community groups. It’s really important to join a community group especially if you’re attending a big church. It’s for your advantage and benefit. There’s great safety in numbers, and receiving counsel and prayers from like-minded and mature believers in life’s decisions. Even if you are not convinced about this, then at least try it for one year. You’ll find that your life will become less volatile, calmer and even boring sometimes without the drama of making mistakes, and also receiving supernatural protection and interventions.
Bible study groups are great for building friendships and engaging your minds. There are also small groups that meet for fun activities and fellowship. There are also groups that meet to work for service in the church. Prayer and intercession group is service work.
When I was commissioned by the Holy Spirit to start a women’s prayer group ten years ago, I had no idea what corporate prayer was about. I have learned so much since then. Corporate prayer is service work for the church. We don’t really socialize much and we hit the ground running when we meet, just like any work group. If you are in a work group, please make time to connect outside of your group to socialize and have fun together. That’s my advice to you if you’re being placed in a work group this spring semester.
If you are leading a group this spring semester then my only advice to you is the one that I received from the Holy Spirit ten years ago. It’s based uponPsalm 133. Here it is in NKJV and you should also read it in other translations like AMP, VOICE, EXP, MSG, etc.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20133&version=NKJV
Do your best to keep the unity in your group so that God’s blessings come down. If culture, politics and theological beliefs divide your group members then as a leader “shelf it” during your time together. Have side conversations at another time privately about the hot topic. I highly recommend in-person or phone discussions, and not debate by text messages or emails especially if your relationship is new or fragile.
Ten years ago our two prayer groups mostly prayed for ourselves, our families, our churches and nearby schools. Back then, my news consumption was basically zero; and I got news highlights from Saturday Night Live news skits, and Jon Stewart’s Comedy Central because these are the ones that my husband watched. I was never much of a “news” person. Things have changed.
Today, the two prayer groups that I lead pray much more on politics and policies, and yes these topics are divisive. As a leader, I know how important it is to keep the unity to receive God’s blessings and favor, and so at times I have to be firm and stop the conversation. I recently read this short article that was very good. Even if we have differences in our political views, we can agree on how the scriptures guide us to pray for our nation and leaders.
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/10-scriptures-to-pray-for-our-nation-and-our-leaders.html
It is funny that God would use someone like me with anger issues to be the peacemaker and unity builder for the church. 😂 Here’s very good advice for anyone with anger issues who are working on their self-control skills.
“The best place to get angry is on your knees, where nobody hears but God.” – Chuck Swindoll
If you have anger issues, I wish I could tell you that it magically goes away. For me, if I do not spend time on the word of God and have my morning quiet time then I notice that the anger comes back very quickly. Perhaps this is my “thorn in the flesh” so that I am always dependent upon the Word, the Lord, and in His grace and mercy. Here’s the “thorn in the flesh” scripture that I’m referring to:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2012%3A7-10&version=NKJV
Speaking about anger, I recently looked up why Martin Luther, the father of the Protestant Reformation became so antisemitic at the end of his life. After reading some articles, I thought this article summed it well. It is very disturbing to read some of the things he wrote about the Jewish people. It was very demonic and evil. Remember that there are only about 17 million Jews left on earth (0.2% of global population; about 8 million are in Israel, 7 million are in the USA and 2 million dispersed throughout.). This is a people group that Satan and his demons are always after to kill, steal and destroy.
My good Pentecostal friend would often say, “the devil never misses church.” Please do not get recruited by the enemy when you are in church to do his biddings. Before I do anything for the church, I always check my heart that my intentions are to glorify Jesus Christ, initiated by the Holy Spirit, and guided by biblical scriptures.
It’s very hard to read what the founder of our Protestant faith wrote about the Jewish people. I encourage everyone to read it and be mindful of how he ended his faith journey. Always remember that Jesus Christ is from a Jewish family. You don’t have to love His background, but just be aware and respect His family of origin and that Satan is always after this people group. Satan attends church to look for recruits.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/luthers-jewish-problem/
I’ve read that movie makers always produce the ending of the movie before they film the middle. It is so important to do that for ourselves too. I’ve read and heard enough end-of-life testimonies to know that I want to end my life with my faith deeply rooted in the Bible, be full of biblical love and wisdom, and in allegiance to Jesus Christ. From my research, these individuals receive the most peace, respect, love and supernatural entrance to heaven on their deathbeds. That is my last life scene. What is your last life scene? Please think and pray about your last life scene so that no matter where you are in the middle of life, you are pivoting and heading towards your desired last life scene. And please do not believe the lies of the enemy that you are too old or made too many mistakes to make any change to your last life scene. That is a lie!
Recently I looked up a professor that I greatly admired when I was a college student. I worked at her husband’s joint lab. I was shocked to learn that she died quickly from brain cancer at age 70. She never had any children. She was a brilliant and very successful academic-scientist with hundreds of publications and books, and NIH funding for her research. As I read her obituary I saw that all her efforts and work meant nothing at the end of her life. She was an advisor to me in my graduate research thesis. I wish I was a better ambassador for Jesus Christ back then. She and everyone knew that I followed Jesus Christ. I wish I smiled more often. But I was greatly wrestling with God as I was releasing my strong grip on the steering wheel of my career.
This is a long interview with John Mark Comer but well worth listening to. I’ve noticed that many young people are going to “quieter” churches like the Anglican, Orthodox and Catholic Churches. He explained the whys. It makes sense. I didn’t realize that John Mark Comer stepped down from his mega church leadership three years ago. For a lead pastor to step down voluntarily from a thriving mega church because he was led by the Holy Spirit is extraordinary and brave. Yet it seemed to me that he was being protected. Being a very strong introvert, he was having serious burnout from church ministry work. Too many great pastors have fallen into sexual sins during their burnout period. I’m so happy that he listened to the Holy Spirit and stepped down from full time ministry work for three years. I look forward to his new book coming out soon about his journey. He is a very well-read person. I like his insights from his well-read mind.
This new documentary for Creationism looks very good. The filmmaker used to make horror movies and now that he is a believer, he is using his gifts and skills for Jesus!
http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2026/january/atheist-filmmaker-abandons-unbelief-for-jesus
The Bible Recap podcast is really good. I’m listening to it again this year. I’m so happy to hear that it’s on the top ten Apple podcasts! That means more people are learning about the whole Bible, and not just bits from here and there. Praise God. Please download her podcast. It is only about ten minutes per day.
In my last email message I sent you her podcast commentary when Abraham was told to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Here’s ‘Got Questions’ commentary about it this week. It’s consistent with Bible Recap’s commentary. As parents, we can easily put our children in the center of our hearts and lives. I’ve heard too many stories from adult children who were negatively impacted by their parents’ over-reach, over-influence and over-reliance upon them. I now see the wisdom of God in keeping Him at the center of our hearts, and not our children and grandchildren.
https://www.gotquestions.org/QOTW.htm
Research always backs up the principles in the Bible for living a good, abundant life. In this research paper, it shows that grand-parenting is good for the brain. Since many of you have grandchildren I wanted to share this research paper with you. I know that dementia and Alzheimer’s are big concerns as brains age. Let’s follow the Bible even before we see the academic and medical research findings.
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2026/01/grandparenting-good-for-brain
If you want to know what the Bible has to say about the importance of grandparents, here’s a short read. It is not a passive role. I had the privilege of teaching children, grades 1-5 during last summer’s Bible school in my church. I thought it’ll be easy since I have led adult Bible studies. Oh boy was I wrong! I used parts of my brain that I’ve never used before. It was hard work and I learned a lot. I highly recommend volunteering at your church to help in the kids’ ministry. Their cuteness make-up for other challenges of this age group.
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/bible-verses-about-the-importance-of-grandparents/
Our prayer groups have been praying mostly for the youth – Gen Z and Alpha. Lately, my eyes and prayers are being drawn towards the older generations – Baby Boomers and the Silent Gen. Here is a visual representation of each generational groups in the USA:
If you are raising a Gen Alpha, I highly recommend that you subscribe to this free weekly cultural newsletter by Axis ministry. They are a Christian ministry for parents of youth. They are now shifting their focus to the Gen Alpha. I have been reading their newsletters for several years to help me pray better for Gen Z. Their newsletters and topical articles are very good. The Cultural Translator is the free weekly newsletter to sign up for. Here’s their website: https://axis.org
Moms of Gen Alpha – It is a long journey ahead for your children to fly out well from your home nest. You will need to pray for your children consistently for about a decade. Please start or join a prayer group and resolve to remain in there for the next ten years (ages 12-22). It is a very small sacrifice for a huge return on your time investment. Why pray corporately? For endurance and accountability. In my opinion, that is the only way to complete a decade-long commitment.
God bless you abundantly. With much prayers and in the love of Jesus Christ 🙏❤️
Journal of Faith 