Author: Travail and Transform Ministry

Dr. Jean Stepter-Gray, in March 2003, she heard a Word from God, saying it’s time to elevate! She prayed with exuberance to God to be a woman of faith, who would inspire others to be great, she says, “If she had known that this journey would have taken her through so many seasons, she would have packed lighter! But thanks be unto God, for He is answering her prayers, one season at a time. (Smiling) Jean serves as Minister, Mentor, Speaker, Teacher, Chaplain Licensed and Board-Certified /Therapist Christian Counselor and has experienced so much of God’s love, mercy, grace, and favor; and she wants to share it with anyone who truly desires it. Her goal is to ignite in women and men a passion for the Word of God so that they can see the beauty of Jesus Christ, so that they may have a personal relationship with Him. She believes that it is through personal interactions with God and His Word that we will grow. Jean believes that God gave her gifts to share with others for His Glory. She uses her natural gift as a communicator and practical teaching style to serve others. She says that her grandmother use to tell her, “The people around you reap the benefits of you serving God”, which means that you won’t go to God in any old way, you go to Him correctly! Jean’s ultimate desire is to help one somebody know that it does not matter the path that it took you to get here, but it is the journey that God is using to get you to your next destination! Let’s embrace our new journey of being Transformed at the Well and drinking from wells that we did not dig! To God be the Glory!

Good Morning Sunshine! It’s Just For A Little While! 

1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV ~ “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Sometimes things come to interrupt you at the most inopportune time, and it can be downright exhausting, but I have come to realize that no matter what life brings, Jesus is all you need! Say this out loud to yourself, For this “I have Jesus.” You can find refuge from life’s care in Jesus, He fully understands your soul’s deep longing. And just know, I totally understand how you feel right now, but when you feel like this, you need to quiet yourself down (count to ten backwards and take your deep breaths in between) and say, For this I have Jesus! And immediately your focus will would return, and you will be centered. You can do this as many times as you need it! 

God uses everything in your life the good, the bad, and the ugly and the not so to produce you! to Once you understand this, your life will begin to make sense. It’s like this, when you come to the end of yourself, you will understand your new self! Stop asking God why, He knows why, just say thank You Lord, You are preparing me for the long run! He is preparing you for eternity! As a believer in Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior, He is the One who is with you through the fire and the through water, the One who is going to bring you out to a fullness of joy! As you travel through these journeys and you are going through, remind yourself of who you are, you are a child of the Most High God and He got you! 

This that you are going through, remind yourself that it’s only for a little while. So no matter what you are enduring a great trial of affliction, remember, for this you have Jesus! You have found a refuge from life’s care in Jesus, you are hiding in His love divine; He fully understands your soul’s deep longing, And He whispers softly, “Thou art Mine.” For this you have Jesus! Remember God knew you would feel this way even before He formed you in your mother’s womb, Jeremiah 1:5! For this you have Jesus! For this you have Jesus! For this you have Jesus! Repeat this over and over again to yourself and when you look up again you will be  on the other side of the fire. I love you and I’m praying for you and your strength today! 

Today, do something now, and stop looking for perfect conditions, it’s not going to happen in perfect conditions! It’s when I began to do, that God began to show what He had been doing in the background! It’s when you come to the end of yourself that you come to the beginning of yourself! 

Let’s Pray:

Father, Thank You! Father, thank You for Your Word and Wisdom. Father teach me to come to You and believe You and expect You to move in my life and tell me what You desire of me. Father, I want exactly what You want, today and every day. Father, fill me with Your Wisdom and with all the Wisdom I get give me understanding that I will know what to do and when to do it! Father, I want to be in Your Will, for I know that there is no safety outside of Your Will. Father, show me what You want me to do, and I will serve You faithfully for the rest of my life. In the Majestic Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Sowing One!

Matthew 6:1-4 NJK ~ “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. [2] Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. [3] But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

Who are you when no one is watching you? Do you have a story to tell others of what you have done for God and others? It’s been said that the best test of who you are is what you do when no one is watching you, it’s during these moments that your true character comes through.

I’m learning that much of what God calls us to do in our day-to-day lives isn’t always flashy and post-worthy, sometimes it’s simply an ordinary act of compassion, no attention or spotlight. Just you and Jesus! Keep your mouth closed, you don’t need to broadcast what you did. The right One saw what you did and why! You will get your just reward!

You can show quiet acts of kindness by simply smiling and helping someone out, these deeds are seen right in God’s eyesight, make sure that you are not doing this for others to see to you. Don’t be an attention seeker, because seeking self-glorification is always a sign of present danger. God tells you if you belong to God, you shouldn’t make a show out of what you do. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven!

As you blossom in your walk with God, keep God in your heart and mind, pleasing Him and being rewarded by Him is the best thing you could ever receive! You may never gather a large audience to see what you are doing, but your service to Jesus is priceless, just keep serving Jesus by serving others, even when He is your only audience, He is the only One that matters, and He will reward you openly for others to see!

Prayer:
Father, help me to love and serve others with a pure heart. The only motive and agenda for my life is to glorify You.  I am your earthly representative here on earth, use me! You are the Most-High God and my desire is to please You in everything that I do. It’s for You and You only, that’s the only thing that will last! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Yep, Jesus Said It! 

Matthew 16:24 ~ “Jesus said… “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Yesterday’s devotion was inspired by my friend Rev. Yolanda, “Do It Because God Said So!” And as I was sharing that with her, she gave me this and its today’s devotional. Thanks Rev. Yolanda! 

When you were younger, did you ever play this game, “Simon Says?” You could only move when the person in charge gave you their approval, and said so, if you just move without them saying Simon Says, you were kicked out of the game! I know I used to be upset when I got put out of the game, I would be trying to reason with them that I didn’t move, when all along I did, I just didn’t want to be out! How many times have you did something wrong, and you didn’t won’t to admit it, you wanted to just keep going. It’s time to stop doing what you say to do and do what Jesus said to do! You don’t have to listen and do what Simon Says, you have Jesus, now do what He says to do! You won’t be kicked out; you serve a God who redeems! And if you have forgotten, you have been redeemed and purchased with the Blood of Jesus Christ! (I know this extra manna is for someone.) Now let me get back to the devotional!)

But to God be the Glory, He is not like man! One wrong move and man is done with you and sometimes it’s forever! But not our God! Because of love, He has given you another chance to obey today! To do it because He said so! Thank You God for Your Grace! Thank You God for not putting us out or giving up on us when we moved too soon or too slow! It’s right here that you should be jumping up and down thanking God, because He didn’t put you out! He didn’t give up on you, even when you gave up on you, He stayed right there with you! He gave you another chance and another chance and another chance when is still giving you a chance to stay in the race! He is more than the God of a second chance, He’s the God of many chances! 

Let’s just look at the three things that Jesus tells us to do in today’s scripture. And no this isn’t what Simon Says,” but rather, “Then what Jesus said” to do: 

1) Turn Around (“let him deny himself.”) You have to deny yourself, it’s not optional! Examine yourself! Repent! And Turn! You have to see things the way God sees them! You have to turn and walk away from the darkness into the marvelous light! You cannot use your own human knowledge and wisdom to accomplish this step, but instead you must be willing to die to yourself and go willingly in faith like a child! 

2) Bend Over and Stand Up (“take up his cross.”) Every day you are to pick up your cross, you have to set down your burdens, and the other things that you tend to think about, that you think define you, lay it down! Taking up your cross does not equal the burden of being you, your identity. You are indeed unique, but each day you should take on something new from Jesus Christ that makes you look like Him and act more like Him! 

3) Now Go Forward (“and follow Me”). Following Jesus Christ is called your sacrificial living! The goal is for you to be moving towards the Kingdom! Towards Eternity, your ever after! When you are moving forward towards the Kingdom, it can only happen when you learn how to put others in front of you! I know this might sound foreign to you, but God said it in the beginning, and it’s written in the Bible, the Ten Commandments, (Exodus 20:2-17) and you do know that they still matter today! You make sacrifices all the time to climb ladders in your careers, for relationships and for any other personal goal that you want to achieve. So why not sacrifice without the ladder and simply do so because Jesus said so! 

God is the only One who will not put you out when you move too soon or too slow. He will never ever give up on you (Deuteronomy 31:8) and while you have breath in your lungs, the time is now to do just that, choose Him! This way when you think you can’t do anything else, you won’t be sitting somewhere talking about what you wish you woulda, shoulda, or coulda done twenty or thirty years ago! Are you breathing this morning? If so, you have time to say yes to Jesus and do what He says to do today! Today is the only day that matters, don’t dwell on yesterday, and don’t worry about tomorrow it’s not here yet, (Matthew 6:34) because and you might miss what He has for you today, right now! 

Are those three things hard to do? No, they are not! The thing is that you can’t do all of them at the same time. You have to take one step at a time. You just have to start right where you are. Surrender your will to the Will of your Father and ask the Holy Spirit to lead the way. And then you just follow Him and when you get over day one, you start over on day two and if you move too quick or too slow it’s okay, God is not going to kick you out, this is where His Grace and Mercy kicks in to help guide you back into your proper alignment! 

Make it your goal to today, to Turn Around, Bend Over, Stand Up, and Go Forward and see where listening to what “Jesus Said” takes you! 

Let’s Pray: 

Father, Thank You! Father I repent for holding onto things in my life that you need me to let go of. Father, I confess right now that I have been holding onto my own thoughts and ideas on the way I think You should work. Father, I want to see the changed in me, today I am purposing in my heart deny my will and follow Your Will. Father, thank You for Your correction, for You chastise those that You love, and I know that You love me! Father, create in me a clean heart and renew Your right Spirit in me. Father, I commit to make the changes that You say in my heart and mind so that it will pave the way to victory in every area of my life. Father, I have faith in You and as I walk through every door that You open, I will be grateful and obedient! Father, I will sow in my time and resources as You instruct me to do. Father, please remove wrong thinking from me when You reveal my thoughts to me, for I am listening to You through Your Word and Revelation. Father, I know that Your plans for me are exceedingly, abundantly above what I can even imagine or plan for, I know that You want good for me and that You have a bright future full of hope, joy, peace and love. Father, today I am praising You and Thanking You that Your will for me is to prosper and be blessed in every way possible! Father I have put all of my trust in You and relinquish my will for Your Will! It’s what You say! In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Do It Because Jesus Said So!

Luke 5:4-5 NIV ~ “When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Luke 5:5 NKJV ~ “But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

Have you ever been on the other side of these words as a child? Because I said so.” You asked your mom or dad a question and they said those four words, because I said so! And then you responded, “But why?” and they replied, “Because I said so.” End of discussion! I would be so mad when I heard this. I wanted to know why, why did I have to do it or why did they say no! Either way, I wanted an answer other than because I said so! This meant that I was supposed to simply obey you without an explanation of why! It’s your flesh warring against your spirit! Deny your flesh and let the Spirit of God lead you!

Now, I want to take you back to our scripture and I want you to focus on the words in verse 5, in the NIV and NKJ. The NIV says: But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Because Jesus said so, Simon did it! The NKJ, it says: nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net. Simon simply did it because Jesus said so! You see no matter how you look at it, he did it because Jesus said so! Can you say that you do the same thing?

If you are a follower of Jesus, He expects you to obey whatever He tells you to do, even if it appears foolish to you or to other people! You simply do it because Jesus said so, even if it doesn’t make sense, even if you don’t understand it, you get a nevertheless in your spirit and you do it because Jesus said so! You will be glad that you obeyed!

Did you notice his reaction as you read the scripture? He didn’t argue with Jesus. He didn’t say, excuse me, I’m a fisherman and I know when, where and how to fish. He didn’t question Jesus about Him telling him how to do his job? He didn’t think twice about what Jesus told him to do. When Jesus told him to launch out, he didn’t go seeking for advice, he didn’t get a team together, he didn’t even complain about being tired, he didn’t even try to procrastinate and put it off until tomorrow! He just responded to Jesus with a yes and he simply obeyed!

I don’t know what God has told you to do, but I will tell you this, you need to obey. Isaiah 55:11 NKJV, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Jesus knows better than you and His Word will come to past! Because when you are disobedient, you are only hurting and delaying your own blessings of what God said would happen!

I want you to become a “because God Said So” person so that you can experience all of the blessings that He has stored up for you. They are out in the deep, you are too close to the shore! When God gives you an instruction to do something, stop trying to be analytical and figure it out, His instructions do not have to make sense to you. “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)! You just need to follow and obey all of the instructions that He gives you, this is not a pick and choose moment! It’s all of none, 99-1/2 won’t do, it’s 100 or none at all. It’s your choice, obey or disobey!

The Bible has told you that you are in His capable Hand’s. He made you and planned out and purposed your life. So, who are you to talk back to God? “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” (Romans 9:20-21, NIV)! He who made you knows more about you than you know about yourself!

You need to accept the purpose He designed you for! Today, your goal is not to question God but simply to trust and obey Him even if you don’t understand why and even if it’s hard to do. Say this out loud to yourself, “I will accept the way that I am made and the plans that He has set before me, because He said so!” When God says so, you just need to do it, trusting Him in faith. You can trust God because He always knows what’s best for you, He had your interest in mind, when He created that blessing for you, even if you can’t see it right away, it’s there!

Let’s Pray:
Thank You Father! Father help me to show my love for You by being obedient to what you tell me to do. Help me to do it without question, just simply obeying You, because You said so! “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13.  Father, I long to work out my salvation with fear and trembling in You because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Father, I want to make wise decisions that honor and please You above all else. Father, I need Your Grace and Spirit to empower me to obey, so I rest in You and trust You are working in my regenerated heart. Please give me a hunger for Your Word so that my mind can be renewed to be able to say no to the world and the flesh and yes to You. Thank You for finishing the work You have begun in me. Father You said that I am to obey Your Word and follow Your Ways. Father help me to say yes to You simply because You said so at all times. In the Name of Jesus Christ! Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! You Will Understand It Better, By And By!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 AMP ~ “Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day. [17] For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! [18] So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.”

I can count the times over the past four years that I have duplicated a devotional before; but this one right here, is one that I believe we all need, might not be today, but tomorrow is coming! And you will understand it better by and by!

Yesterday morning in Prayer my friend Prophetess Kenita, said you will understand it better by and by! I immediately thought about my grandmother and what she used to tell me when I felt like I was going through a thing, she’d say, “You will understand it better by and by!” Now, I had no idea what she meant then, but my God, oh how I understand it now! So today, I want you to be encouraged, do not let what troubles or trials that are present in your life now drain you of the eternal hope that comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! “Acquaint now thyself with him and be at peace: Thereby good shall come unto thee.” Job‬ ‭22‬:‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬! It’s in the By and By time that you need to be and done got acquainted with Jesus! (Yes, I know I used incorrect grammar, it was on purpose!)

The troubles that you are walking through should not cause you to lose your faith or hope in your eternal God, but you should recognize that there is purpose in your pain! It was necessary!  Those trials of life are designed to remind you of Jesus Christ suffering, (and you are to take up your cross daily, Luke 9:23); it keeps you humble and away from pride, (because pride comes before fall, Proverbs 16:18) and it shows you how short this life can be, here today, gone today (James 4:12) and it keeps you silent, (James 1:19) it teaches you when to speak and when to listen and it gives God the freedom to show off His Power through your life and weakness (Isaiah 40:29)!

We all know that there is something going on, on every hand, and you might not quite understand it yet, and that’s okay, because everything is designed by God to lead you to the Promise Land, His Eternal Glory, and He is with you, He promised to never leave or forsake you, Deuteronomy 31:8! See your troubles as opportunities for God to be seen in you! Your faith must go beyond the pain that you visibly see, to remind you of the invisible that you don’t see, and to know that God is working on everything for your good, Romans 8:28! Draw your strength from the Word of God, knowing that He knows all things and He’s in control of everything! Get acquainted with your Father and His Word, it’s your oxygen that you need to keep breathing and living!

There is a song written by Charles Albert Tindley, in 1851, “We’ll Understand It Better By and By!”

“By and by, when the morning comes, All the saints of God are gathered home, We will tell the story how we’ve overcome, And we’ll understand it better by and by; Trials dark on every hand, And we may not understand, All the ways that God would lead us, To that blessed promised land, But he’ll guide us with his eyes; And we’ll follow ’til we die,  And we’ll understand it better by and by; Temptation, hidden snares, Often take us unawares, And our hearts are made to bleed, For a thoughtless word or deed, And we wonder why the test, When we try to do our best, But we will understand it better by and by; Chorus: By and by, when the morning comes), Oh, yeah, when the morning comes, All the saints of God are gathered home , (All the saints of God are gathered home), We gonna tell the story how we’ll overcome, And we’ll understand it better by and by…”

I know that you want God to answer you right now, but He will not move on your timeline, you have to wait, and no one knows how long, but God does, and sometimes you just have to wait until the break of dawn comes in the morning! Oh, but there is a better way! Approach the issue with a light touch by viewing it through God’s Revealing Light! And put some space between you and your concerns so that you can see God’s view, His perspective! Because sometimes your sight can be off, and when this happens you can misinterpret the whole thing, so don’t lose sight of God! Everything that is above you is beneath God! So, in the words of my friend, blink twice and look again! And you will understand it better by and by, just hold on to God’s unchanging hands!

Let’s Pray:
Father, Abba Father, Thank You for the morning! Father, keep my eyes on You and not what surrounds me, which so easily besets me because of what I see. Help me to see everything through Your eyes and to know that You are with me through every trial, tragedy, and temptation and to know that everything that I walk through on this side is for purpose. Father, help me to always remember that I live by faith and not by sight.  Father, help me to rise above life’s visible issues to the invisible that is made known to me through Your Word, 2 Corinthians 4:18! Father, help me to persevere through my personal hardships that I may gain an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine, Welcome To A New Monday!

2 Corinthians 4:13-14 ~ “It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, [14] because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.”

Numbers 6:25-26 ~  “The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: [26] The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

It’s a brand-new day, the Monday after Resurrection Sunday, it’s a Monday that you have never seen before, sure you have seen other Monday’s before, but not this one, April 1, 2024, and you will never see this same day again! Now what are you going to do on this brand-new day? You do know that thing that bothered you yesterday, is gone, it didn’t follow you into today, for His Mercy and Peace is New every day, and for proof of your new day, He is going to shine His countenance upon you because He got up and now you can get up! Because He Rose, you can rise up into this new and beautiful day!

It’s a new morning, Easter is now past, I’m sure that you experienced a great Easter Sunday. So, what does the Resurrection of Jesus Christ mean to your day-to-day life? So many people will move on from Easter and see Monday as another ordinary day, unaware of the significance of all that you heard the previous day. Do you want to know why I say this, it’s because of what you do. You will pick up on Monday, where you left off on Thursday, you continue to fight sin in your own strength, and you think the meaning of life lies somewhere outside God’s provision in Christ and battle a nagging fear of death. The resurrection fades into the noise of your life making no discernible impact. Let’s not make the same mistake again this Monday.

Praise God, for today for Jesus Power, Sovereignty and Authority over death has taken place, Thank You! Thank Him for saving your soul. He gave you the greatest gift ever given (II Corinthians 9:15), the gift of salvation and an everlasting relationship with your Almighty God. Today, your new grace and new mercy will help you accomplish what you need to accomplish, and today will be your best day ever! For God says don’t worry about tomorrow for it will take care of itself, (Matthew 6:34), just concentrate on today and have faith in Him! He got you!

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ gives you hope! It’s what oxygen is for your lungs, and hope is the meaning of for your life. As the human organism is dependent on oxygen, so is your life dependent on its supply for hope! Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten you again into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. There is Hope! Your hope is not in your own ability, or in your goodness, or in your physical strength, but your hope is instilled into you by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Because of what Jesus did on yesterday, you should have hope for a better today and tomorrow. I want you to know this one thing, Jesus’ face is shining upon you, and He will be gracious to you, He will lift up His countenance upon you and give thee peace.”

Let’s Pray:
Father, thank You! Father, this morning I will put all my trust and confidence in You. Father my hope is in You, you are my Resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! May I never despair, as I remember Your triumph and love and gift of hope! Father, I pray that You will accomplish Your purpose in me today. Father, thank You for Your Grace and Mercy today. Thank You for never giving up on me and being consistent and constant. Father, please continue the good work that You have begun in me for Your Glory, for I know that Your Word and love will last long after this day because it’s never ending or changing, Your love is forever! In the Name of Jesus Christ Name. Amen!

Blessings…
Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Catch That Holy Ghost Fire Today! 

Matthew 3:11 KJV ~ “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”

This verse in Matthew makes it clear that there is something to be received other than the baptism of the Holy Ghost, it’s the fire of the Spirit that you should want too. The fire is the anointing of the Spirit that sets the temperature and flames, you need this! When you don’t have the anointing, the fire of the Spirit, your spiritual growth will is hindered. After you receive the baptism of the Spirit don’t think that you can just go to your corner and sit and become complacent and wait on the Lord! Surrender to the fire so that it can prepare and direct you in the great work for that you have to do to win souls for Christ in this final hour. The Holy Spirit is your power for service and the fire is the fuel that makes it go! 

Don’t worry, what you need is already here, Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him.” John 14:16,17! “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost…shall teach you all things.” John 14:26! The disciples listened to Jesus, and they wanted what He was speaking about! You cannot separate Jesus from the Holy Ghost from, they are one and the same! So many times, people cannot make that distinction, between this. Jesus Christ is The Son of God, The Holy Spirit, also called The Holy Ghost, is the third person in the Trinity of the Godhead! 

You need to surrender yourself completely to the fire of the Holy Ghost; don’t be afraid, it won’t hurt you! Simon did not know how to yield to the Spirit, oh but when he went into the Upper Room he stayed there until he was baptized in the Holy Spirit, until he had received that great power on the inside of him. (Can you tarry with for a little while longer in prayer? I promise it will be worth every minute!) When The Holy Ghost fell on Simon, drastic change took place! Are you ready for this kind of change? “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:3-4! Simon received the Power that enabled him to do the things that Jesus said he could do! The Anointing of The Fire of The Holy Ghost, made it happen! Prayer is a fire starter, once it’s lit, it will spread, and nothing can stop its power! 

Jeremiah described the Word of the Lord like this, “it’s like fire shut up in his bones, and he couldn’t keep it to himself.” Have you ever experienced what Jeremiah was speaking of, it’s that wonder working Power of the Holy Ghost? Jeremiah 20:9! I love what Isaiah said, and God knows it’s the truth; “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he (The Lord) speak to this people and yet, even with the fiery tongue, there will be many who will just not hear Him. Isaiah 28:11! I want you to know apart from Jesus you cannot do anything! John 14:26, “Without me,” Jesus told the disciples, “Ye can do nothing.” And when Jesus finished His work here on earth, God sent the Comforter, which is The Holy Ghost for you and me to have! You need to acknowledge and accept the truth in your heart that you are going to need what Jesus said you must have. 

The baptism of Fire must burn within you, the Anointing of the Holy Ghost will make Jesus Christ come alive in your innermost being so that you will not be an imitation of Him, but the likeness of Him will be seen in you. You will have Him on the inside of you, and you will no longer have to strive to work for Him through your own strength and abilities! Now Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Ghost, will be working through you! There is one thing about fire, it’s hot! And where there is fire there is heat! And there is nothing cold about hot fire! When the Holy Ghost lives in you and you let Him work through you, you will be able to stand up and be a witness for the Lord! The Holy Ghost can witness, preach, and pray through you when you yield yourself to Him and obey the Word!

When God’s Power is activated in your life, you become a reflection of Him. And when you surrender and yield to Him, His Fire meets His Flames and causes this to happen to you, a burning on the inside of you for Him like never before, you will want more and more of His Power, Anointing and Fire! Have you received the tongue of Fire yet? Don’t be afraid! Acts 2:38- 39, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. [39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” In this final hour you must have the Fire of God in your life, because the trials, the pressures and sins that are coming against men now are harsher and more deadly than ever. More than ever before, you need to hold on to God’s promise, because where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20). God’s Grace will make those who yield to Him more than conquerors, Romans 8:37! 

Never has there been an hour such as this! You needn’t be concerned about the enemy, because nothing can stand against the Power of the Holy Ghost in this hour. When you are under the Power of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit will draw your heart to burn for the things of God! This is the hour of the Fiery tongue! Your tongue is meant to be used to be as a witness for the Lord! The greatness of the Lord’s Power is being poured out in this final hour over the land! Call on Him in perfect faith, and you who is faithful will see miracle after miracle. The impact of your Anointing will do much to win the souls of the lost in this hour!

You need to know every day what manner of spirit you carry at all times, because you cannot afford to be deceived about yourself in any way. The Anointing will not flow or rest upon you if you are humble! Keep your eyes on Jesus and His greatness. He is the God of all flesh, and He walks with you and talks with you daily. Call Him any time, He hears you and He will answer you. God is calling you into His arms to give you His faith, love, strength and the Anointing of Fire so that He can be poured out to others through you! Receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost and yield to the molding and the shaping of His Fire in your life! Joy will come as you delight yourself in your Lord, bowing down to His Will and His Way, the way Jesus did, and His Power will rest on you! 

Let’s Pray: 

Thank You Father! Thank You for Your Holy Ghost Fire. Father let Your Fire envelope every area of my life, that I may receive a fresh Anointing from You! Father, Thank You that Your fresh fire can help me make it through whatever is going on in my life. Father, arise in me with Your Power and Presence and may it manifest in every area of my being. Father, if there is anything hindering Your Power from going forward in my life, please uproot it in the Name of Jesus. Father, may Your Holy Ghost fire, sit on my ears, my eyes and my mouth, that I may operate in according to what You say! Father please remove roadblocks, rubbish and obstacles from hindering the flow of Your Anointing in me, clear my way by fire and make my way smooth, in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Father, arise and help me to walk away from the spirit of lukewarmness and procrastination in my life, every spirit that is not like You must die, in the Name of Jesus! Father, let the Holy Spirit fill me restore me, let every unbroken area in my life be broken and let every type of bondage be broken off and out of my life forever! Father please take full control and catapult my spiritual life to the mountain top, that I may see, experience and witness Your signs and wonders in be my life for Your Glory! In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Happy Blessed Good Friday. Celebrate Jesus, for He has Risen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! Be Ready To Move When God Says It’s Time To Go!

Numbers 9:20-21 ~ “Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out.”

Stop trying to build a permanent dwelling place where you should have put up a fold and to go tent! I said yesterday this was a conversation for another day! Well today’s that day, Permanent or Temporary dwellings? Today’s the day! 

Have you noticed just how quick a house, or a business can go up? One day it was an empty lot or an abandoned house and the next day it’s something different all together. And all you have is your memory of what was, how it used to be! Every single day across this world buildings are being knocked down, just to put up something else, countries are rising and falling; that’s right, nothing in this world that man has made is permanent, everything will come down one day! Only what the Lord has made will last. Hebrews 12:28-29 says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” But God! Because of God, and because you are His child, you don’t have to worry, you have something to look forward to, the Kingdom of God, it shall never come down or be torn down! It’s your secure and sure foundation, it’s your dwelling place! 

The children of Israel moved 43 times in 40 years during their journey in the wilderness and they moved without the help of maps or google drive, they moved by the Divine Guidance and leading of their Father and the clouds, when the clouds moved, they moved, when the clouds stopped, they stopped! Now this is true Obedience! Did you see that! Don’t take my word, read it for yourself in your own Bible, Exodus 15:22-18:27 and Numbers 9:15-22. Now pay close attention to God, when He moves you move and when He stops you stop. Sometimes the cloud settled for several days and sometimes it was only there for one day. You have to pay attention, focus and be prepared to move at the drop of a dime, God’s people never knew how long they would stay in one place, stop building permanent dwelling places in temporary spaces! 

They simply followed the cloud; they followed God’s instructions plain and simple. Because when they didn’t, they would miss their next set of instructions, (just like us, we can be so hardheaded sometimes.) I just want to make sure that you heard me clearly, the same thing applies to you today, God wants you to totally depend upon Him and no one else! You know that God moves according to His Will for your life and not according to your wants! So, the next time He makes a move, you’ll know to move and when He stops you will stop, that’s it! It’s all about His Presence, Plan and Promise, and you have to trust the process in the wilderness, or you will be wandering around in circles until you stop and listen to Him! 

Your life can be read like a story, transitioning from one chapter to the next, with each new day and year that He gives you breath and life, you get a new page or a chapter. You may already be wanting or sensing it’s time for a new chapter, but hold still, God is going to tell you when it’s time to move! Stop worrying about the next chapter, God will give you clarity, when it’s time to turn the page (each chapter has a different number of pages, they won’t all be the same) the pages and chapters will be clearly marked, just lift your eyes and look up (Psalm 121:1 NKJV, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills- From whence comes my help?) 

Now it’s time to turn the page! There will be some scratch throughs, rewrites, adjustments and additions within your story. You will have many transitions, for example, you may transition from one job to another job, or from one state to another state, or from one house to another residence, or from one relationship to another relationship, or from one church to another church, or you may simply retire or, to the next place, that only God knows about! But wherever, whenever and however He moves, you should obey and follow! Let me say this one thing out loud, Procrastination is your enemy, stop putting things off for later! Move! Follow God wherever He takes you on this new journey! And when the clouds move you move and when the clouds stop you stop! 

The changing of the move is all a part of God’s Will for your life and only He knows why, for He can see down the road, around the corner, into tomorrow, next week, month and year all at the same time, He sees what you can’t see! And when you keep moving and God has stopped, you have delayed the process and time of being where He wants to take you! (Say your name out loud right here) This process requires (your name) undivided attention, total submission, complete surrender and obedience to God’s precise and clear instructions! This new season that God has for you is not behind you, it’s in front of you, and you can never go back, (#No Looking Back!) That’s why God put your eyes in the front of you and not in the back! It’s time for you to be lifted up, so look up and move! 

Now when everything has been said and done, and it’s only you and God, will you thank Him for your wilderness journey, you do know this is what made you into who you are today! It’s just you and His Will, His Way and His Word John 1:1! Now, will you be found walking into the kingdom of God, the one that will not and cannot be shaken or removed? Will you worship God just because He is mighty and worthy to be praised? Will you be grateful when it’s just you and God? Will you be in awe of His Presence and dwelling among you? Today, you had better recognize God with Reverence and Awe while you still have the opportunity to choose Him! 

Ask yourself these two questions:

1. What are you going to do when you realize that you tried to build a permanent house where it should have been a fold and to go tent? 

2. Now what should I do?  

The answer~ You go to your Father, repent and ask Him for help, that’s it, now follow Him, and when He stops you stop and when He goes you go! He will let you know when and where you need to build a permanent dwelling place! 

Let’s Pray:

Father, Thank You! Thank You for lifting me up in my new season! Father, today I’m following You wherever You are leading me, my eyes are fixed on You! Father, there is no one else that can take Your place in my life! Father, Thank You for saving me by Your Mercy and Grace and through my faith in Jesus Christ. Thank You Father for telling and showing me that Your kingdom can never be shaken, it will always be here in the Name of Jesus Christ! Father, Thank You for Your inheritance that is stored up in heaven just for me. Father, Thank You for all that you have done for me and may my life be acceptable in Your sight. Father, when You move, I will move and when You stop, I will stop. Father, I thank You for Your Holy Spirit as my true guide in this hour! In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! The Vinedresser Did It! 

John 15:1,3-5 AMP ~ “I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. [3] You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you]. [4] Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. [5] I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.”

Does your life feel like God has been doing some repositioning in your life? Does it feel like painful pruning is taking place? Remember you are in the loving hands of your Father. Don’t lose sight of the end because the beginning is painful! It’s all rooted and done out of the love He has for you! It was the Vine and Vinedresser that is doing it to you and for you! 

Do you want to know what a Vinedresser actually does? Let me tell you. Strong’s Concordance defines it as: “a worker of the soil, husbandman, farmer, farm-laborer.” “The Vinedresser takes hold of the vine and entwine it on a trellis or wires, to keep air flowing underneath it so it can bear healthy fruit.” Unlike fruit trees, a grapevine cannot stand up straight on its own. Grapevines grow downward and because of their nature, the weight of the grapes, it makes them lay on the ground and this causes them to get wet and when they get wet, they wither or produce little fruit. 

One of the most important responsibilities of the vinedresser is to take a hold of the vine and entwine it on a trellis to keep air flowing underneath it so it can bear healthy fruit. Have you ever been really comfortable and then out of the blue you started to feel like you were out of place? It’s God! God in His Wisdom has decided that you need a life adjustment, a change to take place, a position change so that you can continue bearing fruit, spiritual fruit that is! And guess what your Father has the right to adjust whatever He wants in you, after all He is your Creator! He knows when it’s time for you to move! 

The problem with a lot of us, is that we are trying to build permanent dwellings in places where you should have had a fold and go tent! Let me get back on track, that’s a devotional for another day! Getting back to the Vinedresser, He knows when you need an adjustment, to help you bear more fruit! So, whether you physically move or change locations, He’s moving you from a place of comfort to a place of uncertainty to help you, to teach you that you need Him! Or He could just change your circumstances to prepare you for greater productivity for His Kingdom?

The Vinedresser prunes you because He wants your life to be a reflection of His character, plain and simple! Don’t think of His pruning as painful, see it as purpose and this is pertinent to your growth and development! Remember our God is Sovereign and He knows exactly what situations to place you in to produce better fruit for His Harvest. All you have to do is remain in Jesus and He will remain in you, that’s what His Word promises!!! 

Outside of being connected with Jesus Christ, The Vine, you cannot be connected to the Vine Dresser, your Father, (John 15:5 NIV, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”) In order to walk the way, you ought to, you need Him, you need His Word to be perfected in you, so that you can Abide with Him, because without the source, you can’t do anything, not even breathe! God is repositioning you for greater productivity, your Father is pruning you on purpose, He wants you to bear more fruit! 

The want to be gardener in me loves this story in John 15, (spend some time studying this chapter) Jesus is the Root and the Stems of the Vine, and me and you are the branches that grow out of His roots.  You see when grapevines are left untended, they will stretch out of place and produce leafy canopies (overhanging leaves). I know sometimes it looks healthy from the outside, (just like us, we know how to make our physical look good, but the inside is hollow). So, while the green leaves look healthy, they are not producing as much fruit as they can. You do know that the purpose is to produce fruit, and in order to get all of your nutrients from Him so that you might live, bloom, branch out, and produce more fruit you need pruning! 

Don’t let your service into God be only lip service, no word, no faith, no works and no fruit! Matthew 7:16,19-20 NKJV, “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” So, now you should truly understand the purpose of a The Vine (Jesus), The Vinedresser (The Father) and grapevine (you) is to produce grapes, and pruning is necessary, and only the Master Gardener can do this job! He can cut it out of you without cutting you! It’s for His Glory! 

Let’s Pray: 

Father, Master Gardener, I’m praising You, all the honor and glory belongs to You. Father, You knew me before I was ever a seed in my mother’s womb, and You know the plans that You made me for. You are the only One that can cut me without cutting me, thank You God for being relentless and never giving up on me. Father, forgive me for the times that I pushed back and turned away from this pruning process and went my own way, please forgive me. Father Thank You for one more day to walk and talk with You, I will not take this day for granted! Teach me how to love as You do, as we walk and talk, so that I may live and love as I ought to because I am connected to Your Vine and I want to produce fruit that is good for sustenance and that can only come from You! Thank You for pruning me, cutting the branches off my life that were hindering me from living and producing lasting fruit that brings You total Glory. In Jesus Christ Mighty Name, Amen! 

Blessings…

Minister Jean

Good Morning Sunshine! You Are A Bearer Of Fruit!

John 15:1-2 AMP ~ “I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit].”

Who likes being pruned? I’m sure none of you, I mean you are good with the things that you are doing for God, you finally feel like you know exactly what you are doing, right? Can I just tell you something, it’s in these times that God decides that you need pruning, that’s right, it’s time to prune you some more so that you can bear some more fruit in this season. It’s when you think you are blooming in your life and everything is great, then God decides to bring you into something else, your time where you were at has expired, it’s time for something new!

I know that you like things just the way they are, you’re comfortable, but let me tell you, your comfort is not God’s primary concern for you. He wants more out of you and from you, He’s interested in your growth in every area of your life, (it’s naturally and spiritually). God knows in order for you to bear more fruit, you have to be pruned and pruned some more, to produce a greater harvest for His Glory. You must be transformed in your mind that you will conform to the image of Jesus Christ!

This pruning process was created for you to learn how to trust your Father in Heaven, who is the Vinedresser, the Master Gardener, who has perfected landscaping! He knows what areas of you life that needs cutting, He knows what tools to use, somethings might just need some trimming and then there is some stuff that needs to come up and out of you altogether, which is the uprooting. Trust Him, He knows exactly what you need in order to produce more grow, He knows how to produce a harvest and He will protect His harvest at all costs!

God’s plans for you and your life were done before you were even created born, He knows exactly who you are and what He created you for. His pruning is better than you could have imagined, it’s better than anything that you could ever do for yourself, so instead of fighting against God in this process, lean into it and let Him prune you thoroughly and completely, “Let Go and Let God” have His way!

In the words of my friend Evangelist Rose, this is not a Burger King way, you can’t have it your way in this process, you would mess it up, just let the Master do what He’s great at! Just like natural pruning keeps plants healthy and aids in new growth, so does God’s way of pruning, it going to make you healthier and increases your endurance and resilience for the long haul!

Today, I want to encourage you to release your will and surrender yourself to God’s pruning work. Whatever you are holding on to, “Release It! Let It Go! And Let It Flow! Trust in the Lord, who created you and desires to see more fruit blooming from your branches, fruit that will bear more fruit! Oh, what an experience you will have, blooming beautifully for God’s Glory!

Let’s Pray:
Father, Thank You! Father, You are completely trustworthy and faithful. Father, You know what you are doing in guiding and directing my life, help me to except and believe that Your pruning is for my greater good and for Your Glory! Father, help me to hold nothing back when it comes to obeying Your will and give me the grace to submit to Your pruning, Your way! Father, I pray that I’m obedient and not distracted by what You move out of my life to make room for what You have for my life. Father, give me the endurance to complete the pruning process that my life will produce fruit that blesses others and honors You. In Jesus Christ Name. Amen!

Blessing…
Minister Jean