The Rock of Bay County

As human beings, we don't like the idea of being tested. But when we realize what testing actually is Biblically, we should rejoice, because it is a refining process in which we are being molded into the very image of Christ. Our only response in this is to remain, with an unwavering trust in Him. In the place of remaining is where we allow Holy Spirit to continually refine us, positioning us to witness and participate in a new unveiling of God's glory that will far exceed our current understanding. It is a call to see beyond our own perception, something that is yet unseen or understood, and witness the dawning of something truly new. A simple, authentic "Yes" is asked of us; to shake off the confines of our preconceived ideas and religious limitations of how we believe things should be, and return ourselves back to The One Thing, the singular focus of authentic communion with Him. If we can perceive it, if we will trust Him, there is more to the glory of God's Kingdom on this Earth, than we have dared to imagine. 

The word “metanoia" encapsulates a deep and transformative shift, representing the exchange of our limited, earthly perspective for the unwavering and sound mind of Christ. Ultimately, metanoia comes through encounters with Him, which re-tunes and aligns our thoughts with His. This transformative way of thinking will help us in every area of our lives, in each decision we must make and with every step we will take along our path.

In this life, every single one of us will walk through moments and seasons of testing. If we trust in our own logic, we will see this as God's punishment for something we did or did not do. But that's not His nature - He is not punishing us. Instead, He is like a silversmith, refining and purifying us, watching to see a glimpse of His reflection. Each test is an opportunity to trust Him more, and even when the day of testing seems like it will last forever, He will be faithful, working all things for our good. (See 1 Cor.10:13 TPT)

Proverbs 15:13 (NKJV) says, “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance…” This speaks volumes about the connection between our inner heart communion with the Lord and our outward expression. Our countenance reveals the relationship we've cultivated with Him, becoming a powerful witness to others.

Our lives are not filled with random occurrences unfolding by chance. Holy Spirit is actively guiding our paths and intertwining our lives together. Just as the prophet Elijah was sent to provide sustenance for the widow in Zarephath, Holy Spirit orchestrates similar "Elijah" moments in our own lives, either by sending others as provision for us or by empowering us to become an "Elijah" for someone else. As we attune our hearts to Holy Spirit's guidance, we will recognize that these encounters are by His design. He is weaving all things together for us in amazing ways, ultimately to bring the glory of the Kingdom of heaven to this earth.

The resurrection of Jesus is more than just a historical event, confined to a singular moment in time that we celebrate. The power of the resurrection lies not just in what happened that day, but also in the on-going purpose that continues through each us. We are the evidence of His crucifixion and resurrection. Not only is He risen, He is risen within us, with the spirit of resurrection empowering us to live a life that reflects the Risen King and His Kingdom.

We often have expectations of what we think the outcome of our life's experiences and circumstances should be. As Believers, we're called to not be disheartened when those expectations aren't met in the way we initially perceived. Instead, we anchor our expectations in the infilling of His presence that overcomes disappointment, doubt, and worry. We lean into His nature, convinced that even when today doesn't seem glory-filled, we can boldly prophesy into a glory-filled tomorrow. We can declare with confidence that no matter the present outcome, we keep going, trusting that every step will ultimately lead us to hope and victory.

Knowing that God is with us is a simple yet powerful truth. But Holy Spirit is beckoning us to seek out the treasure of something deeper. It's a journey beyond knowing that He is with us, and towards realizing that He is within us. This revelation shifts our perspective entirely, awakening us to a deeper revelation who He is and who we actually are in this earth.

You are not alone. God Himself, the One who crafted the cosmos and breathed all things into existence, cares about every detail of your life. He is with you, walking alongside in each situation you face, actively working all things together to bring glory and goodness into your life.

The dysfunctional believer lives under the perception of how they think God sees them, always striving to think the right way and have everything perfect, because they believe that's the key to righteousness. However, the message of the Kingdom is that righteousness is not achieved, but received as a gift transferred to us by our Father in covenantal agreement. He sees us through the lens of Christ's perfect righteousness, which He has graciously imputed to us. The unshakable nature of God's covenant is an agreement that is not dependent on our efforts, but stands firmly as a testament to His unwavering love and commitment to us. 

Glimpses of profound beauty are woven within the tapestry of God's creation as a reflection of His nature, revealing His amazing creativity and artistry. Beauty is also embedded throughout Scripture, stirring our hearts to seek Him, and ultimately, to find Him at the center of it all. The beauty of the natural world harmonizes with beauty found within Scripture, leading us to be convinced of Him and say, "I believe."

It is the day for Believers to rise up in the land and see with the eyes of The Father, not through the lens of our natural eyes, but with His clear, unwavering gaze. This is an invitation to step into a place of confident belief, convinced that we are designed for this hour.

A helpmate is defined as: “One who is fully qualified to make up for anything lacking in another.” In the Bible, Holy Spirit is named as our helpmate. When we are struggling to believe for breakthrough, Holy Spirit actively comes in and makes up for anything lacking within us by interceding on our behalf. We can welcome Him into every corner of our existence, where He will identify even those selected places that we think He can't reach. By allowing Him total access as our helpmate, we can be convinced that He will shift everything toward the promise of hope and victory.

When believers, rooted deeply in belief and grounded in Holy Spirit's presence within our lives, actively bring faith into every situation, we will be convinced that the Lord is weaving all things together for our good. What we see today is not what we will see one day, because the end is always hope and victory, far better than we can imagination.

The Book of John profoundly points to the heart of Jesus, whose longing for unity with us is the central theme. He desires a deep, intimate enfolding of our lives with Him as one, in singular union.  Embracing this union invites us to shift our perspective, recognizing that each day is an opportunity for Christ's glory to manifest through everything we are and everything we do.

A subtle but powerful force fuels unbelief more than we realize: a performance-based mentality. This mindset makes us feel that God's favor is contingent upon our own actions and achievements. To break free, we must awaken to the profound truth that the breakthrough we seek isn't earned, but it flows from the living presence of the Son of God, the Anointed One, residing within us. This requires a deliberate shift in focus, becoming less burdened by our own efforts and more attuned to the ever-present reality of Him who dwells within. We are in union with Him, and it is through this covenantal agreement, and by His grace, that He orchestrates breakthrough in our lives.

It's an inherent human tendency to gravitate towards the negative, often shaped by life's trials and even the prevailing cultural mindset that anticipates inevitable hardship. This can lead to a 'when it rains, it pours' mentality; a belief that the worst is always lurking. However, this perspective stands in stark contrast to the design of Yahweh. We are called to embrace the unwavering certainty of His goodness, understanding that we are meant to be a gateway through which spiritual realities manifest in the natural realm. Recognizing our true identity as His sons and daughters changes our perspective and ignites a burning desire to believe Him, empowering us to break free from the cycle of unbelief.

To be fully convinced of something is to possess a certainty so profound that it permeates every aspect of your being. When someone is fully convinced they are loved by God as His son, their identity becomes rooted in Him, totally persuaded and assured of His Divine affection.

The word "believe" is found throughout the Bible 249 times. The fact that 98 of those instances reside within the Gospel of John underscores its paramount importance in our lives. John's consistent encouragement to believe compels us to embrace a higher perspective that will allow us to see beyond our trials, knowing that ultimately, everything will end in hope and victory. Let us yearn for a legacy that speaks not of accomplishments or possessions, but of unwavering commitment to our convenental agreement with the Lord. When our stories are told, let the most defining thing that can be said of us simply be this: “They believed."

The Lord's desire is that we experience the undeniable truth of His unwavering commitment to His plan for us. He wants to build a compelling case in our lives, reflecting evidence of His goodness in every situation. His steadfast nature has been proven time and time again, slowly but surely building a case in our hearts that is unshakable, and we can be convinced that His plan will surely come to pass.

When we receive a word from the Lord, whether it's grand or simple, it is ours to protect and keep. It holds such significance that we must guard it like Mary, who treasured and pondered the word spoken to her. We too must recognize that each word is a promise waiting for its appointed time, knowing that if He starts a work within us, He will finish it.

When we receive the Lord's promise of breakthrough, it is essential to trust Holy Spirit, allowing Him to direct our path rather than trying to create our own road map and make it happen. The breakthrough we seek lies in the willingness to believe and trust in the goodness of the Lord.In this surrender, we must diligently guard the words we speak, because just as God is a creator, so too are we. Be diligent in guarding the word that comes out of your mouth, for you will see and eat the fruit that is being prepared by your words.

Faith is described as the "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." It is the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. Holy Spirit brings faith to us as a catalyst, enabling us to be absolutely convinced that He is weaving everything together for our good. Faith is the formula of heaven that invigorates us with an unwavering trust that His plan will always end in hope and victory.

Within each of us lies a heart that, at times, grows weary and hard while waiting on a breakthrough to happen. But those breakthroughs rarely occur in moments of ease; they often come out of periods of process and perseverance. When we recognize this and let Abba do what only He can do, we invite Him to chip away at our hardened hearts, peeling back layers of disappointment, anger, and fear. He is breaking through; we need only to trust and believe that we will see the fullness of the blessing of the Lord.

It is so vital that we perceive the depth and weight of the amazing gift of prayer. It's the starting point, the beginning of everything! When we pray, the answer begins immediately, because it is impossible to pray and nothing happen. Believing this truth shifts our perspective away from being defined by the world's culture, and enables us to be complete in who we were created to be, absolutely convinced that no matter what, Abba is weaving together every detail of our lives for good. 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” (Prov 9:10 NKJV). In this context, "fear" does not imply a terror of punishment, but rather a constant awareness of who Christ is. This holy fear keeps us rooted and grounded and inspires us with awestruck wonder. Fearing Him is knowing Him, and this is where true wisdom lies, laying the foundation for our lifestyle as His sons and daughters.

We've been on the message of wisdom lately. How did we get on this topic? The process of prayer led us here!Prayer is meant to be transformative! In Luke we are told that “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (NKJV, Luke 2:52) We can grow in these too. Prayer is what puts us in a position that will allow us to grow and be transformed...for our own beings and for the earth. Listen as Mark speaks on prayer.

The past few months have been centered around the message of wisdom. Listen as Mark encourages us to pause and focus on what Yahweh has been speaking during this time.

So often in life we hear about a topic, feel as though we've learned enough, and get ready to move to the next thing. But let us not forget the importance of review. Before we move forward, we are encouraged to ask questions. Why? Why have we received the revelation of wisdom?Listen as Mark shares on the why of wisdom.

Wisdom always reminds us to return to the source of blessing and give thanks. This is the posture for breakthrough. In fact, the will of God for our life is that we rejoice always, pray continually, and in all things give thanks. Everything is possible in this posture, but most importantly, it empowers us to release His righteousness, His peace, and His joy into the earth. 

Do you want to bring heaven to this earth or would you prefer to wait for it? Pondering this question most likely makes other questions regarding your life come to mind. Questions are good. Those questions can actually serve as a gate into wonder. Listen as Benjamin shares on what takes place when you partner with wonder and wisdom.

Jesus, the Great Redeemer, came to this earth to reclaim all of mankind and restore us back to the Father.  Wisdom comes to us with the revelation that we, the redeemed sons and daughters of God, are to turn and redeem the earth.When we receive Wisdom's word and are awakened to the power and responsibility that we carry,  the earth will respond and the reign of God will be glorified in all of creation.

Waiting… Whether it be for food at a restaurant or for that online purchase to arrive, all of us have experienced impatience in the wait.What about when it comes to waiting on the fulfillment of a promise? Although the gap between hearing the word and the fulfillment of the promise may appear longer than anticipated, perhaps there is great purpose in the wait.Listen as guest Matt Brown shares on the joy of the Lord.

We can hear the knock at our doors again with a simple truth. There is nothing too small to bring to the table. No matter which area of life, wisdom is able to impact it. When we ask and truly believe, then we will receive.Listen and be encouraged by the testimony of wisdom's impact.

How have you been feeling lately? Have you been feeling stressed or down? Perhaps you have being feeling on top of the world! Either way, your feelings serve as indicators of what you have been thinking about. If you choose to meditate on circumstances and the things of this world, it will be evident by your feelings. Wisdom's knock can be heard once again. The message is clear. When you choose to set your mind on who He is and what He says about you, you will radiate His light wherever you go.

If you've ever spent any time around children, you're aware that being teachable is common. Oftentimes, our sense of being teachable fades as we grow. David writes in scripture, “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (Psalm 34:11 NKJV). When we come as His children with the mindset of being teachable to learn about the fear of the Lord, what will change? Is the fear of the Lord not the beginning of wisdom? 

Wisdom comes to those who are humble in heart and are surrendered to her ways. In whatever we are called to do, there needs to be a level of humility where we subject everything to the wisdom of the Lord. And ultimately, we need to remember that our lives are not our own. Christ within us is the purpose driven mindset upon which wisdom rests, and we can know that there is a reason why we are here. In all that we do, everywhere we go, it is all about His glory. 

Scripture tells us so much about wisdom. We read that the Lord gives wisdom and that those who diligently seek will find. What does the finding look like? What happens when we incline our ears to wisdom's voice?

Solomon, whom the Bible refers to as being “wiser than all men,” tells us that wisdom is the principle thing. His advice is to get wisdom! If you've ever been in a situation where you didn't know what to do, you'll understand the need for getting wisdom. We all have this opportunity to put more weight and emphasis on getting wisdom. For with wisdom, our lives will change and more glory will be brought to Him.

Have you ever known someone that just seems to walk so effortlessly in favor? What about those in your world who seem to have profound wisdom? You may wonder how they attained such favor and wisdom, and question if that is available for you too. Could the key really be as simple as understanding and practicing the process of prayer?

The table of the Lord awaits. It is a table of communion with Him. There is a call to place this time of prayer at the table above everything else on the schedule. The table is what helps us connect our hearts to heaven. We will experience more of what is meant by “on earth as it is in heaven” when we take our rightful seat at His table.

If we're honest, many of us can relate to praying for a cause and feeling as though the answer never came. Maybe we've prayed and felt like it ended with an answer we were hoping against. Either way, prayer is so much more than our perceived expectations. It is important to have an understanding of prayer and what is taking place when we pray.

Many of us have needs in our lives that we are praying about continually. Jesus tells us “whatever” we ask, or when we ask “anything” in His name, He will do it. He will ask the Father who will send another Savior, the Holy Spirit. And then, His Holy Spirit living within is what equips us to be an answered prayer to the surrounding culture. He wants to do things for us, and He wants to do things with us.

Every single one of us has a gift, has an anointing, that our Father gave to us before the beginning of time. That gift is going to be used either for God or for the world. The choice of how it is used is up to us. It is our responsibility, by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within, to guard this most precious gift, allowing it to be used for the King and utilized for His Kingdom. 

In the very beginning He designed us to walk in the cool of the day with Him. There is no substitute for that union with the Father. His Fatherhood, as unveiled by the Holy Spirit, is what reveals His inmost heart and the identity over our lives. We have been identified as sons and daughters with permission to walk in the most effective and authentic of ways.

There is a big difference between walking this earth as His creation and walking this earth as His son. Sons have the understanding of being created by Him, but it doesn't stop there. Sons are aware of having received the Spirit of adoption.

In some form or another, the heaviness and unnecessary weight a burden can bring will eventually take its toll. It may seem unbearable, but if you're listening, there is a knock at the door saying cast your cares upon the Lord because He deeply cares. The real question is, are you convinced? Are you convinced He deeply cares? Are you convinced you can fully trust Him?

What is it that moves you? Is it the thought of what tomorrow brings? Is it the diagnosis you just received? When you're rooted to the kingdom of this world, you'll constantly be moved by circumstances. However, as believers, He is calling us to be rooted to Him and His kingdom! When you're rooted to this, you'll be moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit.

You may have heard the popular phrase that speaks to how many talk the talk, but few will actually walk the walk. Your actions speak. As believers, we hear the messages and quote the verses, but the temptation to live casually exists. We can hear and know the language of this new day, but does it stop there? Does our lifestyle reflect new life? Are we walking the walk? Or are we just talking the talk?

It's been said we will reflect what we've been placing our focus on. We can see this to be true on the faces of smiling babies that have had constant smiles being sent their way. They're reflecting what they're seeing, and it shows on their countenance. Next, look at those with disgruntled countenances. While that dissatisfied expression may not have come from constant angry looks sent to them, if fixation on everything going wrong has been priority, then that person has been staring into the face of the wrong thing. The countenance of people speaks. What does your countenance say about you? Have you been staring at the problems or the One with the solution to all problems?

The spirit of fear. When hearing those words, one may remember the popular verse that speaks to how that spirit is not what He has given. Where does it come from then? How does one get free from such? Since He has given love, how does one walk in this perfect love? How does one live with a sound mind? The answers exist in the midst of His perfect love!