by Christian International | Dec 2, 2025 | Articles
This time of year, my inbox fills up with Christmas deals, countdown clocks, and “Only 3 left!” alerts.
Christmas shopping season is officially here — and if you’re anything like me, online shopping becomes a lifeline.
Instacart. Uber Eats. DoorDash. Amazon. Etsy.
If it can be delivered, it has probably made its way to my porch.
Life is full for me — caring for my 91-year-old father, loving on my four children and eight grandchildren, helping lead our ministry, and trying to keep up with everything in between.
So yes… sometimes that “Order Now” button is a gift from Heaven.
But recently, while placing yet another Christmas-season order, the Lord whispered something that stopped me in my tracks:
“This is how faith works.”
Right there — in the middle of carts, checkout buttons, and tracking numbers — God started showing me a spiritual picture I had never considered before.
And suddenly… it all made sense.
🌱 Hope: The Picture That Starts the Journey
Hebrews 11:1 tells us:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Every online order begins with hope.
Before the package ever exists in your hands, it exists in your imagination.
Hope is the desire.
The picture of something needed.
The vision of something better than what you currently have.
Spiritually, my life has been shaped by that same kind of hope:
hope for family restoration
hope for healing
hope for open doors
hope for God to transform what looked impossible
Hope gives direction.
But hope doesn’t deliver the package.
Something else has to happen.
1️⃣ Placing the Order: The Moment Faith Takes Action
When I click “Place Order,” something amazing happens:
I commit to something I don’t yet have.
I haven’t held it, seen it, or touched it.
In fact, it may still be in a warehouse across the country.
But the moment I place the order, I believe it exists — and I believe it’s coming.
That’s faith.
Jesus said in Mark 11:24:
“Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
When I stand on God’s promises, it’s just like pressing the Submit button in the spirit.
I’m not waiting for proof.
I’m believing because God already said it.
📦 Faith places the order. Trust waits for delivery.
2️⃣ The Confirmation Email: God’s Word as My Receipt
Seconds after ordering, a confirmation pops into my inbox:
order received
payment approved
process started
I still don’t have the item…
but I have proof it’s mine.
God showed me His promises work the same way.
Every verse in Scripture is Heaven’s confirmation email.
2 Corinthians 1:20 says:
“All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen.”
When God speaks, that settles it.
His Word is my receipt.
3️⃣ The Waiting Period: When Things Happen Behind the Scenes
Now comes the part no one loves — spiritually or naturally.
Waiting.
Sometimes packages arrive fast.
Sometimes they seem to circle the earth for two weeks.
But even when I see nothing, I trust things are moving behind the scenes — processing, packaging, preparing, transporting.
Daniel knew this feeling. He prayed, and the answer took 21 days because an angel was fighting unseen battles on the way (Daniel 10).
I’ve prayed through seasons like that too.
Seasons where I cried out and believed with everything in me… and yet nothing changed immediately.
But delay never meant denial.
🕊️ Just because I don’t see movement doesn’t mean God hasn’t already started working.
Habakkuk 2:3 tells us:
“Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come.”
4️⃣ The Tracking Number: The Holy Spirit’s Inner Updates
Eventually, the tracking number arrives.
And suddenly, those small updates bring reassurance:
“Order processed”
“Shipped”
“In transit”
“Out for delivery”
Spiritually, the Holy Spirit does this for me every day.
He gives me peace.
Assurance.
Joy.
And that quiet inner knowing that God heard me.
Romans 8:16 says:
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit…”
He whispers, “It’s on the way.”
5️⃣ Delivery Day: When Hope Turns Into Reality
Then finally — the knock on the door.
What started as hope…
What shifted into faith…
What survived the waiting…
arrives in my hands.
Jesus said:
“If you believe, you will see the glory of God.” (John 11:40)
I’ve experienced that knock in so many ways — healing, provision, restoration, protection, breakthroughs I prayed for with tears in my eyes.
God is faithful.
Every time.
🎁 What This Journey Taught Me
Online shopping — especially during Christmas — reminded me:
Hope gives me the picture.
Faith makes the request.
Trust carries me through the waiting.
God brings the answer.
I don’t email Amazon begging for reassurance.
I don’t panic-text DoorDash.
I don’t stalk Etsy like something went wrong.
I simply trust the process.
Rest.
And expect the knock.
If I can trust earthly companies with my orders…
how much more should I trust the God who has never failed me?
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
— Mark 11:24 NIV
🕊️ A Prayer for You
Father, I lift up every person reading these words. You see their hopes, their needs, their longings, and every prayer they’ve whispered in faith. I ask that You strengthen their hearts in the waiting and remind them that You are already working behind the scenes. Let Your peace be their confirmation, Your promises be their certainty, and Your Spirit be their daily reassurance.
Increase their confidence to believe before they see, and let this be a season where prayers, long held in faith, finally arrive at their doorstep. Let hope rise, let faith grow, and let trust deepen as they walk with You.
Amen.
by Christian International | Nov 4, 2025 | Articles
I have seen many people in my life who lack self-control (NIV) or temperance (KJV). It is one of the fruits of the Spirit and affects every aspect of your life.
Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV) –
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Self-control isn’t just willpower—it’s evidence of the Spirit at work in us. God calls us to be in control of our tongue (what we say), our mind (what we think), and our body (what we do).
Sowing and Reaping
I’ve seen people without self-control, also known as self-discipline. Some couldn’t control their anger and became verbally or physically abusive. Others lost control of their thought life and fell into perversion and immorality.
“Sow a thought, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a destiny.”
This is based on the biblical principle of sowing and reaping.
Control Over the Body
When people don’t have control over their bodies, they can become obese or anorexic. They might not exercise or care for their health, becoming weak and unable to function properly. Some fall into addiction or alcoholism because they don’t control what they put into their bodies. We have to remember our bodies are the Temple of God.
Control Over Words
It is important to think before you speak. God warns us not to gossip or backbite. Scripture tells us to listen more than we speak. Hurtful words can sometimes hit harder than a physical blow.
Proverbs 17:27–28 (NIV) –
“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.”
It’s better to be thought of as a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Control Over Thoughts
Mental illness is a big topic today. I do believe many people experience real trauma and mental challenges. But sometimes, the issue is not illness, it’s a lack of self-control over emotions and thoughts.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV) –
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
What you focus on shapes who you become. Every choice you make affects your life—positively or negatively—and often affects your family and friends as well.
Let God Take Control
God wants to be in control of your life. He asks for your whole heart, mind, soul, and body.
Titus 2:2 (NIV) calls older men to be “temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled.”
Temperance implies a lifestyle of steady moderation that fosters long-term wisdom and stability.
There have been many times in my life when I couldn’t see a way out of a bad situation. But when I placed it in God’s hands and let Him take control, I was amazed at how He directed my steps and worked all things together for good.
Self-Control in Daily Life
Peer pressure and social norms can test our self-control. For example, some say, “To do my job, I have to drink.” Or to fit in a social setting” But there are many leaders in government and business who have never taken a drink.
I’m not saying that having a drink is always wrong, but if you lack self-control, then for you—it may be wrong.
You also need control over your money. If you spend more than you earn, you’ll fall into debt. If you gamble or fail to give tithes, you’re not being a wise steward. God calls us to be faithful managers of the resources He entrusts to us.
And you need self-control with your family—to be faithful to your spouse, and to raise your children with love and discipline. Without self-control, you may become abusive if you can’t manage anger or patience, or you may become overly lenient, failing to teach your children boundaries and self-control in their lives.
Final Thoughts
Self-control touches every area of life—spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, financial, and relational. It is not something we can achieve in our own strength. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, developed as we yield ourselves to God daily. Scripture says we are to know them by the fruit and self-control they have in their lives.
When we let God’s Spirit rule in us, our actions, words, and thoughts begin to align with His will. And through that, we not only change our destiny—we reflect Christ to the world.
by Christian International | Sep 30, 2025 | Articles
Letting Go of the Past: Forgiveness and Moving Forward
You can’t always change what happens to you, but you can choose how you respond.
From the outside, my life looked polished and put together. I was married to a pastor who also traveled as a minister, smiling on the front row while my four children sat beside me, perfectly dressed for church. To those watching, I looked steady, faithful, strong—even a role model they might have admired, imagining my life as perfect. Yet the truth is, appearances can be deceiving. Even today, when you scroll through social media, you may see people—even ministers—who look like they have everything together. But behind the curated photos, there can be hidden pain and scars you’ll never see in a snapshot.
But behind that smile was a woman breaking inside. I was wounded. I was angry. I was carrying pain I didn’t feel safe to share. I don’t call that hypocrisy, because I truly longed to worship God and raise my children in His presence. I believed the Word even when the one preaching it didn’t live it. Yet there were very few—if any—people I felt I could confide in.
And that’s when I learned something sobering: people can’t help you with a burden you never tell them about. But even when no one else knows, God knows. And when you reach the end of yourself, His faithfulness becomes your lifeline.Forgiveness and Freedom
Forgiveness isn’t about forgetting. It’s about letting go so the offense no longer controls you. When you allow pain and betrayal to define you, it becomes your prison. Bitterness poisons your thoughts and even affects your body.
But Scripture makes it clear:
“See to it that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:15)
Bitterness binds you, not the one who wronged you. Forgiveness, on the other hand, frees you. It doesn’t excuse what was done, but it releases you from being chained to it.Choosing to React Differently
We can’t control how people treat us, but we can decide how we will respond. Jesus showed us another way:
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
That is not easy. It takes courage to forgive, strength to respond in love, and faith to believe that God will deal justly with every situation. But when you choose forgiveness, you take back control from the offense and place your future in God’s hands.Don’t Let the Past Define You
One of the enemy’s greatest lies is that your past is who you are. He whispers, “You are your betrayal. You are your mistake. You are your failure.” But that is not what God says.
Paul reminds us:
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13–14)
Your identity is not your pain. It is not your history. It is who God says you are—redeemed, restored, chosen, and loved.Living in Peace, Not the Past
You cannot go back and change what happened. But you can choose not to live there anymore. Holding on to the past breeds depression, anxiety, and fear. Letting go opens the door to peace.
God Himself extends this promise:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18–19)
When you forgive, when you release what was, you step into what God is doing now.Conclusion: Defined by Christ, Not by Pain
You are not what happened to you. You are who Christ says you are. And He calls you victorious:
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
Today, you have a choice. You can hold on to the hurt and let it define you—or you can forgive, let go, and step into the newness and peace that God has waiting.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean the past disappears. It means the past no longer dictates your future.
by Christian International | Sep 10, 2025 | Articles
YOU ARE ENOUGH
As Christians, we often wrestle with the nagging lie that we don’t measure up. Feelings of inadequacy creep in and whisper that we’re not smart enough, strong enough, holy enough, or simply… enough. Yet the Word of God reminds us again and again: in Him, we already are enough.
From the time I was a little girl, I struggled to believe that truth. Growing up, I often felt like I didn’t measure up. My brothers excelled in school, while I silently battled undiagnosed dyslexia until high school. I was the youngest and only daughter, naturally shy, easily intimidated, and always comparing myself to others. Later in life, the wounds cut even deeper. I endured verbal, emotional, and physical abuse that left scars on my self-worth. I faced betrayal so personal it shook me to the core, convincing me I was unworthy and that I would never measure up.
I was the first in my family to go through a divorce, left raising four children alone. That same year, the joy of becoming a grandmother was overshadowed when my first grandchild was born with a severe heart condition requiring open-heart surgery. As all this unfolded, I relocated closer to family and began working at Christian International. The whirlwind of transition, responsibility, and heartbreak left me buried under a sense of overwhelming inadequacy.
But God.
In the middle of my brokenness, God began to show me, “I made you. And because I made you, you are enough.” Psalm 139:13 (NIV) declares, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” From the very beginning, God designed me with intention and purpose. Even when I doubted myself, He looked past my weakness and saw my heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) reminds us, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Scripture shows us again and again that every person has shortcomings, yet God still chooses to use us when our hearts are surrendered to Him. Romans 3:23 (NIV) says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But God doesn’t leave us there. 1 John 1:9 (NIV) promises, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” And John 3:17 (NIV) reassures us, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” The truth is simple: in Christ, there is no condemnation, only restoration.
Time and again, prophetic words I’ve received or spoken over others have started with, “God has made you unique.” And it’s true. None of us share the same DNA or fingerprints. Romans 9:20 (NIV) asks, “But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” When we criticize ourselves, we are indirectly suggesting that God made a mistake. Yet He makes no mistakes. Genesis 1:27 (NIV) assures us, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
And still, in hard seasons, we often meet our own “Job’s friends”—people who criticize, slander, or gossip. But the Word is clear: Psalm 101:5 (NIV) warns, “Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.” Instead of tearing down, we are called to build up. Paul exhorts us in Philippians 4:11 (NIV): “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
The Christian journey is not about perfection or speed, but endurance. Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) declares, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Along my path, I’ve stumbled, fallen, and needed God’s redirection. Yet each time, He reached down, lifted me up, and set me back on course.
Jesus warned us in Luke 6:37 (NIV): “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Paul echoed in Galatians 5:26 (NIV): “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Today, social media tempts us with endless comparison to polished images of “perfect” lives. But behind many of those smiles are hearts desperate for love, healing, and encouragement.
God reminds us over and over: “We are more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37). We “can do all things through Christ” (Philippians 4:13). And “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Yet so often, the fiercest voice disqualifying us is our own.
Even Moses felt the sting of inadequacy. Exodus 4:10-11 (NIV) tells us, “Moses said to the Lord, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent… I am slow of speech and tongue.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?’” God had confidence in Moses when Moses had none in himself. And God still chose him.
Beloved, our confidence is not in ourselves, but in the God who formed us. Jesus died for us exactly as we are, paying a price we could never pay. Salvation cannot be earned—it is given by grace. And in that grace, we find rest.
So hear this truth: in Christ, you are chosen, you are called, and you are enough.
by Christian International | Aug 14, 2025 | Articles
As Christians, we are often taught to serve, to sacrifice, and to press on. Some of us were born into ministry, dedicated our lives to Christ at a young age, and have lived immersed in the work of the Kingdom. I asked Jesus to be Lord of my life when I was three, and I was filled with the Holy Spirit at six. From a preacher’s kid to a minister’s wife, and now a full-time ministry leader, I’ve heard countless sermons on God’s love, peace, grace, discipline, faith, and perseverance. But sermons on rest? Those are rare, yet rest is just as essential as every other part of the Christian life.
Yet Scripture begins with God Himself modeling rest:
Genesis 2:2 (NIV)
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”
God didn’t need to rest; He chose to. Not out of exhaustion, but as an example to us. He built rest into the rhythm of creation because He knew we would need it for our bodies, minds, and spirits. Rest is not a reward after you’ve earned it; rest is a rhythm you live in because God established it. Even your body lives by this design: your heart pauses in a tiny silence between beats; your lungs linger at the top of a breath before releasing; your muscles rebuild while you sleep; your mind resets as you step away from the noise. Trees rest from producing leaves in the fall and winter.
Sabbath Is Holy
Exodus 20:8–10 (NIV)
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work…”
This is not a mere suggestion, it is the fourth commandment. Rest isn’t just sleep. It includes spending time with family, enjoying the Lord’s presence, or doing something that refreshes you. Some days, I take a quiet, mental-health day, not to escape responsibility but, just to decompress and realign. And that’s not lazy; it’s obedience. Sabbath is how we say with our time and calendar what we believe with our mouth: God is Lord, not our workload.
Psalm 23:1–3 (NIV)
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.”
Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… you will find rest for your souls.”
The Christian walk includes rest because rest is sacred. When we stop striving, we learn to trust. And in trusting, we experience God’s peace. The Shepherd doesn’t drive us; He leads us and sometimes He “makes us lie down” because He loves us. Picture it: like a weary traveler lowering a heavy pack, you set your burdens down and finally breathe.
While You Rest, God Builds
Genesis 2:21–22 (NIV)
“So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep… Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man.”
Even the creation of Eve came while Adam was at rest. Some of God’s greatest works happen not while we labor, but while we rest in Him. When we rest, God works on our behalf, healing, restoring, and providing. Adam slept, and God was fashioning his family. While you rest, let God build your home, your clarity, your strength. Your soul and body need rest. Resting is taking care of yourself. Enjoying life is a form of rest. Enjoying the people God placed in your life restores your soul. Your brain quiets its clutter; your immune system strengthens; your body is renewed as you sleep. In rest, God is not passive; He is powerfully active on your behalf.
Matthew 6:26 (NIV)
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Rest is an act of faith. If God provides for the birds, how much more will He take care of us, our families, our finances, our future? Rest says, “Father, You’ve got this—so I will set it down.” Rest is how we let go so God can lift.
Hebrews 4:9–10 (NIV)
“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.”
There’s a saying: You work and God rests, or you rest and God works. Choosing rest means choosing to believe that God’s got it. Healing requires rest. When our bodies are sick, resting helps us heal. Clarity comes in rest. And God speaks in rest, sometimes in dreams, sometimes in stillness. If you feel foggy, frantic, or frayed, your next breakthrough may be on the other side of a God-ordained rest.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (NIV)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
We don’t earn salvation, healing, or provision by striving. Christ accomplished it all at the cross. Now we walk in it—not by toil, but by trust. Grace frees you from performing for what Jesus already purchased. Rest is how grace becomes your pace.
Colossians 3:23–24 (NKJV)
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
As believers, let’s embrace rest, not as weakness but as worship. Rest is holy. Rest is faith. Rest is obedience. And in rest, we are renewed—in body, mind, and spirit—by the One who invites us to lay down our burdens and simply trust.
This week, choose one act of holy rest (and make it tangible):
•Do something you enjoy for the enjoyment of it
• Share a meal with close family and friends, enjoying each other’s presence.
• Turn off the noise, darken the room, and take a true nap.
