Greetings in the name of our blessed Savior and Lord Jesus Christ! Hooray, it’s Spring! I have to admit that I’ve enjoyed hearing my PA friends’ snow stories, but I do not miss snow at all.  I was even out of town south of Greenwood when they had their 1” snow storm. Warm temperatures are here and that makes me very happy.

Ministry is going well here with individual client, mentees and Journey Tools groups. I love partnering with Jesus and watching Him give clients the ‘aha’s they need for healing. One of Network 220’s training leaders reached out for permission to use our first toolset in their Advanced Training material.  We are thrilled that it will spread to help others in Exchanged Life counseling.

Weekly prayer and Revival meetings are continuing at Grace Community Church.  Lives are being transformed and people are coming to faith in Jesus.  The Lord is shifting my focus to ‘training the trainers.’  I am not quite sure what that is all going to look like, but for now I am starting to do more individual training of Gen Zers who need training in studying the Bible using Precept study techniques.  I am also teaching the Identity in Christ class content again at another church on Thursday evenings. My evenings are getting very busy. I love seeing Him heal and transform lives!

Testimony Time

#1  Sally is a single, young adult from a big family.  As she was going through Journey Tools, the Lord triggered a significant memory of abuse from her childhood.  At first, she did not want to deal with it, so she minimized it and brushed it aside.  After another groupie, mentioned the effects abuse had on their family, the Lord nudged her again to face the event and get healed.

So, she made an appointment with me to work it through privately.  I am so proud of her as she forgave the family member who hurt her and released them from her judgment.  She exchanged all the hurt for Jesus’ love and peace and then, partnered with Jesus to walk healed and freed from the trauma.

#2  Susie was raised in a highly dysfunctional family and received mostly negative feedback from the key people in her life.  She went looking for love from men and this led to an abusive marriage.  People tend to connect with people who continue the messages they’ve believed about themselves.

She got free from that relationship, which had produced  several children. As a single mom, she connected with another man who again was abusive, not only to her but also to her kids.  After coming to faith, she is learning how to see herself as God sees her. It’s not always easy to let go of habitual ways of seeing oneself.

She is pressing in to Jesus to be her Need Meeter and the One who defines her.  She is interceding for her husband’s salvation and for her kids’ salvation and healing. Our God is the One who binds up the broken-hearted. She is pressing on in faith in Jesus for her healing and for her family.

Journey Tools Update

We just wrapped up 2 groups this week and we are planning on more groups starting after Easter.  If you’d like to be part of one of these groups please contact me.  It’s all done online.

The Lord has blessed Donny with understanding of the investment markets, and he has launched VistaVia Wealth.  He is looking for folks or companies who are not only looking to build personal wealth, but also to invest in the Kingdom of God, especially as the billion soul harvest grows.  We are already seeing revival even on secular college campuses.  It will take financial resources to reach the lost. If the Lord nudges you, please reach out for more information.

ELM Finances

Thank you so much to all of you who made donations at the end of 2025! Your giving has gotten us off to a good start in 2026!

Your generosity has been an encouragement to me.  Remember that your donations make it possible for me to offer reduced rates to those in need.

Please be praying that the Lord brings in regular donors to make up for the loss of support from my former home church in PA.

Please pray that the Lord shows me the best way to connect with local churches here in Greenwood for support and client referrals.

Your tax deductible donation can be made to ELM and you can do so by check or by going to the Donation page of our website at www.elmphilly.com/donate.

Praise & Prayer

Praise:

1. For lives that are being healed through Journey Tools.
2. For growing Revival momentum.
3. For several new local counseling clients.
4. For my clients’ growth in Christ and their emotional/spiritual healing.
5. For another opportunity to teach on Our Identity in Christ at a local church.
6. For great growth in the folks in my last JT Group.
7. For clients who were able to graduate from counseling.

Prayer:

1. For the new Addiction Recovery program using Journey Tools concepts to impact the men and women in attendance.
2. For more Harvesters as Revival momentum grows.
3. For new clients and speaking engagements.
4. For wisdom in each counseling session and Journey Tools group.
5. For an efficient transition to a new course host platform for the Journey Tools videos.
6. For perseverance in the face of unrelenting spiritual warfare.
7. For the Lord to bring Kingdom-minded investors to our new fund through VistaVia Wealth

Greetings in the name of our blessed Savior and Lord Jesus Christ!  I hope your Thanksgiving was a blessed time with family. I was blessed to eat and fellowship with Donny’s family that afternoon. As we look toward Christmas, may we all stop and marvel at Jesus, the Word who created all things, confined Himself to a few cells in the womb of a teenager. He went through the normal birthing and growth experience out of love for us.  For unto us…. Hallelujah!

My class on Our Identity in Christ and Basic Spiritual Warfare wrapped up the week before Thanksgiving.  A delightful, eager to learn group of folks attended faithfully each week.  I had forgotten how much I enjoy teaching.  They asked great questions, shared great insights and were eager to apply all the concepts.  One woman shared with me how she started to use the Courtroom prayers for a family member and saw quick results in their life.

My latest Journey Tools group also wrapped up right before Thanksgiving.  It was a smaller group but that just led to some great discussion time and deeper understanding of how to use the tools in everyday life.  We hope to launch several new groups in January.  If you’d like more information, please just reach out to me.  We meet over zoom and the content is now up on YouTube on the Cross Care Ministries channel.

I’ve had some local clients here graduate from counseling which is fantastic.  Please pray that the Lord directs more in person clients to me to fill my schedule.  I will be traveling back to PA for Christmas and I will be in Perkasie from December 28th to January 2nd.  I’d love to see as many friends as possible!  Please reach out if you want to connect in person.

Testimony Time

#1: Lexi came in to sort out some issues with her family.  She had a big family which can be messy.  She started learning and using the Journey Tools Compasses and she was thrilled with the insights the Spirit was giving her.

We moved onto to the FED concepts and the Spirit took her back to some memories that needed healing.  He walked her through forgiving those who hurt her, exchanging the pain for His peace and had her unpartner with the pain and instead partner with Him for healing.

She loved all she was learning!  She started to learn about intercessory prayer using some courtroom strategies. Soon, she saw some family members get freed up from the enemy’s grip in their thinking.  She also started using the Journey Tools in her classroom.  Praying over her classroom before the kids arrived each morning made a significant difference in calming them down!

I am excited to see how the Lord will pass these tools on through her to her family, church and students!

#2: The Simpsons came in to address the impact his addiction was making on their marriage.  It had been an ongoing issue that he kept struggling with and she was close to the point on ending the marriage.

We started with the basic prayer tools to find the addiction entry point and get that ground back from the enemy.  Some more godly folks were supporting them by keeping him accountable.

I took them through some higher level spiritual warfare prayer strategies and they reported that it made a HUGE difference.  He has recently found a biblical program that specifically addresses his struggle and is pursuing that while completing the Journey Tools content with his wife.  Praise the Lord for freedom and victory!

Pastor Ken’s Update

From Pastor Ken Keeler: I am preaching every Sunday night at my church and have started a new series called the Great Words of the Bible. It deals with words like Justification, Propitiation, Redemption, Regeneration, etc. These words are packed with meaning and great application to our walk with Christ.

I am leading the Men’s Bible study at my church every Wednesday night. It is a group of men who are hungry for the Word.

Please pray for the Lord to use me in these weekly opportunities. Again, thank you for your prayers!

ELM Finances

Thank you so much to all of you who made donations this quarter.  Your year-end giving is crucial to getting us off to a good start in 2026!

Your generosity has been an encouragement to me.  Remember that your donations make it possible for me to offer reduced rates to those in need.

Please be praying that the Lord brings in regular donors to make up for the loss of support from my former home church in PA.

Please pray that the Lord shows me the best way to connect with local churches here in Greenwood for support and client referrals.

Your tax deductible donation can be made to ELM and you can do so by check or by going to the Donation page of our website at www.elmphilly.com/donate.

Praise and Prayer

Praise:

1. For lives that are being healed through Journey Tools.
2. For growing Revival momentum.
3. For Pastor Ken opportunities to teach important Bible concepts.
4. For my clients’ growth in Christ and their emotional/spiritual healing.
5. For a great class at Grace Community Church on Our Identity in Christ.
6. For great growth in the folks in my last JT Group.
7. For clients who were able to graduate from counseling.

Prayer:

1. For wisdom in each teaching opportunity for Pastor Ken.
2. For leading on whether to teach another class in January, and if so, what topic.
3. For new clients and speaking engagements.
4. For wisdom in each counseling session and Journey Tools group.
5. For several new Journey Tools groups to start in January.
6. For perseverance in the face of unrelenting spiritual warfare.
7. For the new Addiction Recovery program using Journey Tools concepts to get started in January.

 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12

Greetings in the name of our blessed Savior and Lord Jesus Christ!  It’s been quite a month!  Despite the tragedy of Charlie Kirk’s murder, God is prevailing and the revival fire has been lit.  Over 100 million views and counting of people who heard the gospel and the call to embrace Jesus as their Savior.

On October 1st, I will start teaching a class at Grace Community Church on Identity in Christ and Spiritual Warfare. Its purpose is to train the folks who will be leading the new Recovery Program at South Greenwood Church.  I am excited to equip the equippers as they develop this Christ-Centered Recovery Program using the Exchanged Life Truths.

I have a few new individual clients, but I sense the Lord leading me to train more trainers as we see the numbers of new believers increase.  In 2020, when I asked the Lord why He was moving me to Greenwood, SC, His response in my spirit was “ Robyn, there’s a tsunami wave of revival coming, and I need you down there.” Well, I believe that wave has started to crash, and we all need to be ready to help people heal and grow.

The spiritual warfare has also increased.  A number of us have experienced intense fatigue.  So, please continue to pray a hedge of protection around me and Donny.

The Lord did bless me with a wonderful week of rest in Ft Myers FL in June.  And a second week in that same area in early August.  The second week was spent helping my god-daughter, Amanda, get settled in the area. Her mom and several siblings came from Switzerland to warm up and get her moved over here where she plans on resuming her nursing career.  It was so great to be with them in person!

Testimony Time

Ruthie grew up in a very dysfunctional family.  Emotional and physical abuse were an everyday occurrence.  As a teenager, she started looking for love and instead found heartache and more abuse.

Her father continually spoke rejection, and so, she found guys who would continue to send these ‘normal’ messages to her.  She soon married one of those men and had three kids with him.

She began to parent from her woundedness, and the dysfunction continued into her family.  Eventually, the marriage ended, but her search for love and security continued.  She soon found another man who was just as damaged as her and they married.

Fast forward several decades, they are still together but more for convenience than love. Her relationship with some of her kids is strained from all the hurt they are carrying.

She went through Journey Tools, but needed to review how to use it with me individually.  She wants inner healing for herself and her relationships with her kids.  Her husband is still unsaved and continues to interact out of his hurt.  However, she is learning to see herself through God’s eyes instead of her husband’s.

The Spirit is helping her to do a deep clean of the years of verbal and physical abuse. As she offers her hurt to Him, He is faithful to exchange it all for His peace and love.  Healing is coming slowly but steadily as she learns to receive from Him all that she has been looking for her whole life.  Her countenance is far more joyful as she looks to Jesus to be her Husband.

There is still a lot of healing needed in her marriage and with her grown kids.  But God is faithful!  He is going to restore and heal those relationships too!

Ken Keeler Update

From Pastor Ken Keeler: I am preaching every Sunday night at my church and have started a new series called the Great Words of the Bible. It deals with words like Justification, Propitiation, Redemption, Regeneration, etc. These words are packed with meaning and great application to our walk with Christ.

I am leading the Men’s Bible study at my church every Wednesday night, we are studying 1 Thessalonians. It is a group of men who are hungry for the Word.

Please pray for the Lord to use me in these weekly opportunities. Again, thank you for your prayers!

ELM Finances

Thank you so much to all of you who made donations this quarter.  Your generosity has been an encouragement to me.  Remember that your donations make it possible for me to offer reduced rates to those in need.

Please be praying that the Lord brings in regular donors to make up for the loss of support from my former home church in PA.

Please pray that the Lord shows me the best way to connect with local churches here in Greenwood for support and client referrals.

Your tax deductible donation can be made to ELM and you can do so by check or by going to the Donation page of our website at www.elmphilly.com/donate.

Click HERE for Praise and Prayer

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

John 8:36

I’ve led a number of folks through our Journey Tools program which is centered on having healing conversations with the Holy Spirit.  Nevertheless, I myself was having a hard time connecting with the Lord over the last few months.

So, when I read that statement in the FB post, the Lord reminded me of the times He made statements regarding Israel like, “They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.” (Ezekiel 12:2)

Hearing from the Lord is done with the heart. I had been just trying to hear Him in my mind.

At some point, I had given into rebellion – having a stronger desire to do my will than His will – and that coupled with fear of being told to do something I didn’t want to do had shut down my heart’s ears.

Also, I had allowed distractions to drain me of quiet times with Him, the kind of time that allows me to focus my heart’s eyes and ears on Him so I can see and hear.

Sure, I was reading my Bible daily and praying, but it was done more with my mind than my heart.  I’ve long been a student of God’s Word, so it’s easy for me to make it a mental task instead of engaging my heart first and then my mind.

I was struck also that we are commanded to love the LORD our God first with our heart.  Why?  The heart is the wellspring of our life.

It is out of our heart that we speak and act.

Our heart’s eyes are how we engage our sanctified imagination for seeing as He sees.  We are called to fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

We sing the well-known chorus, “Open the eyes of our heart, Lord; open the eyes of our heart. We want to see You; we want to see You…”

I was watching a lot of great Bible teaching, but I was using it to distract me from just seeing and hearing Holy Spirit because I was afraid of what He might say.

So, I spent some time just talking with the Lord after confessing shutting my heart off to Him and surrendered the eyes and ears of my heart to Him.

I am seeking to be more aware of what my heart’s eyes and ears are tuned into.

Using some warfare prayers, I uprooted lies the enemy planted against God’s love and replaced them with declarations of Truth.

I am seeing and hearing much more clearly now.

So, I share all this in case it might helps others, who are having trouble connecting in the hearts to the Lord, to do a simple heart check.

Ask the Lord if the eyes and ears of your heart are seeing and hearing clearly.

If not, ask what lie you’ve believed and what fear have you allowed in, and then ask the Spirit to speak truth into the lie and fear.

Renounce the bad stuff; receive the good stuff.

Enjoy the ongoing two-way conversation that God intends for us to have with Him.

I hope this encourages you.

Blessings!

Robyn Henning

Greetings in the name of our blessed Savior and Lord Jesus Christ!  What a crazy time to be alive!  I am so glad that God is on His throne and His plan is going to prevail!

The Lord has blessed me with some new individual clients.  It’s been a joy to weave Journey Tools with elements of The Way of the Cross and see lives set free from enemy strongholds.  Teaching folks how to connect with the Wonderful Counselor is a joy and a blessing both to them and to me.

We launched a new group two weeks ago primarily for young adults.  Please pray for these folks as they all really love the Lord, but the enemy is distracting them with ‘good’ things, and this is keeping several of them from dedicating time to watch the videos and journal what the Lord is showing them.

Our Zambia team is once again heading back to Zambia to minister to church leaders and their communities.  Karen Myers, Dr Cyndi Lilya, John and Alysha Haddeman are all heading to Zambia this week for an extended stay of ministry.  This will include intensive times of teaching the Journey Tools to the Pastors’ wives so they can use the tools with their congregations.  Dr. Cyndi has also been training Pastor Eugene and Florence Nsamba from Uganda.  He, in turn, will train the pastors under his watch.  He is well versed in the Exchanged Life truths and now will be able to incorporate Journey Tools. We are thrilled!

I will be driving to FL for a much needed week of rest on June 14th.  It’s a long drive, and I will have a friend with me, which will make it easier.  Please keep us in your prayers for a safe trip.  Thank you for your prayers and support!

Testimony Time

Recently, a wonderful sister in Christ was referred to me for help healing from ministry and life burnout.  Being a Pastor’s wife had left her drained.  She loves her sheep, but she was just fighting exhaustion.

We started with the basics of hearing her story and discussing the correlation between what we think and how it impacts our emotions.  She is well aware of spiritual warfare, which made it easier to sort out what is of the enemy and what is of the flesh.

As she started viewing the Journey Tools videos, the Compass section really resonated with her.  She was asking simple questions of the Lord and His answers through the mind of Christ in her gave her powerful insights and answers.  This gave her hope that she could break free from the exhaustion.

We moved onto the Permission and FED section to see if there were root causes that the Lord wanted to heal. He showed her some areas of unforgiveness and some lies that she was still functioning under, and as she implemented the prayer tools, she found freedom.

Each time we meet, she brings a great report of how the Spirit is showing her stuff in her Hidden Chambers (subconscious) that needs to be cleaned out.  She is learning to exchange the ‘yuck’ for His treasure of joy and peace.  We are both looking forward to her taking these truths to her church peeps!

My colleague, Donny Godsey, is getting ready to release the whole Journey Tools program on YouTube free of charge to anyone who wants to go through it on their own.  We find that groups are still the most effective way to process through the content.  It you want more information or a taste of Journey Tools please go to:

Https://journeytools.mykajabi.com and click on Jumpstart Your Journey.

Ken Keeler Update

From Pastor Ken Keeler: I praise the Lord for a good Cat Scan for my 6 month check up after my Whipple surgery and I do not have to go back for a year.

I just finished my Men’s Group study on Galatians and as we break for the summer, pray as I write my next workbook on 1 Thessalonians.

I have been doing a Prophecy Conference Sunday nights and it has gone over very well. Please pray for my weekly preaching on Sunday nights.

Again, thank you for your prayers!

ELM Finances

Thank you so much to all of you who made donations this quarter.  Your generosity has been an encouragement to me.  Remember that your donations make it possible for me to offer reduced rates to those in need.

Please be praying that the Lord brings in regular donors to make up for the loss of support from my former home church in PA.

Please pray that the Lord shows me the best way to connect with local churches here in Greenwood for support and client referrals.

Your tax deductible donation can be made to ELM and you can do so by check or by going to the Donation page of our website at www.elmphilly.com/donate.

Praise & Prayer

Praise:

1. For lives that are being healed through Journey Tools.
2. For Pastor Ken’s great checkup after his Whipple surgery.
3. For Pastor Ken being back up to speed in Bible teaching.
4. For my clients’ growth in Christ and their emotional/spiritual healing.
5. For the opportunity to get a week of rest in FL.
6. For the new young adults JT group going right now.
7. For several new local clients.

Prayer:

1. For wisdom in each teaching opportunity for Pastor Ken.
2. For growing referral relationships with local churches and their pastors.
3. For new clients and speaking engagements.
4. For wisdom in each counseling session and Journey Tools group.
5. For the young adult Journey Tools group to flourish.
6. For perseverance in the face of unrelenting spiritual warfare.
7. For wisdom in how to effectively partner with like-minded churches and ministries in equipping people with Journey Tools.

He told of a time when he was hard at work building his ministry.

He was in a hurry and traffic was frustrating him.

We all know what that feels like!

The Spirit started a dialogue that went like this:

“Son, am I a part of you plans?”

He replied, “Of course, Lord!”

“Son, wouldn’t it be better if you were part of My plan?”

Stunned silence.

“Son, am I part of your life?”

He relied, “Of course, Lord!”

“Son, wouldn’t it be better if you were part of My Life?”

Again, he was stunned.

It is so easy to fall into the trap of pursuing what we want to do ‘for’ the Lord instead of letting Him simply invite us to join Him what He is doing.

Personally, I know that the enemy uses both fear and pride to trip me up into doing my own thing instead of connecting with the Lord’s agenda for my day.

Fear that He might ask me to do something uncomfortable and pride that simply wants to do what it wants to do when it wants to do it.

Now I know that growth occurs the most when I am uncomfortable.

I suppose that is why we call them growing ‘pains.’

If I had to sum up God’s goal for us, it would be to make us like Jesus.

How is that manifest?

It is a mindset that leads to godly choices in line with His will for us.

In John 15:10, we are told that if we walk in obedience to God, we will experience His love for us.

Knowing and believing that He first loved us and will always be motivated by love for us, empowers us to choose obedience.

In Philippines 2:5-8, we are instructed to have the mindset of Jesus.

This is summarized in a mindset of total dependence on and total surrender to the Father and His will for us.

Jesus demonstrated that by going to the cross and dying for our sins even after asking the Father if there were any other options.

He humbled Himself and was obedient to the Father’s plan.

So, beloved, let’s make it a habit to ask three simple questions throughout our day:

• “Lord, what do You want to do with me now?”
• “Lord, why is this next on our agenda?” and
• “Lord, what else do I need to know?”

In our Journey Tools course, this is known as the Agenda compass.

It helps us stay on course with His plan for us all day long.

I hope it helps you as it has helps me and so many of our students.

Blessings!
Robyn Henning

Despite the respondents’ different cultures, ages, and ethnicities, four common elements of home were identified:

• comfort
• safety
• belonging
• and love.

In John 15:5, Jesus declared:

“he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

The word abide has the idea of making our home in Christ.

He provides our comfort, safety, belonging, and love.

Jesus is our source of comfort that we can draw upon in all situations in life.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.” (2 Thess. 2:16-17)

Also, Jesus is our source of safety as well.

In Psalm 59:16 David wrote:

“You have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.”

We face many distressful things in this life, so when we make our home in Jesus, He is our source of safety.

Making our home in Christ also gives us a sense of belonging.

In Ephesians 4:30 Paul wrote:

“The Spirit is God’s proof that you belong to Him, and He will make you free when the final day comes.”

Paul also stated in Romans 8:2:

“And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”

We actually belong to Christ, and the proof of it is the indwelling Holy Spirit in our human spirit.

As we make our home in Jesus, He sets us free from the power of sin in this life, and we will be set free completely when the final day comes, which is the Rapture.

Lastly, when we make our home in Jesus, He also provides us with His eternal love.

As we rest in His agape love for us, we will be set free from our fears.

In his first letter, John taught:

“There is no fear in love, because God’s perfect love drives out fear.”

As I am finishing this blog, all my family; all 13 of them, have left our home after having a family meal.

The four common elements of home were experienced today: comfort, safety, belonging, and love.

May we make our home in Jesus every moment and experience His comfort, safety belonging and love.

Blessings!
Pastor Ken Keeler

Where you found yourself asking, “God, what on earth are you doing?”

I know I have.

Perhaps, you or a loved one is facing serious illness, or you suddenly lost you job and have no idea how you will pay your bills, or your spouse decides their done and that they are leaving you for another person.

Situations like these are really hard to understand.

So, how do we get through confusing and painful circumstances with our faith intact?

We have to apply the principles that Paul lays out for us in Philippians 4:6,7.

Instead of giving into anxious thoughts, we need to pray and cry out to God while also giving thanks to Him for who He is and all He’s done for us in the past.

This, in turn, will release the fruit of God’s peace into our souls which will overcome our perceived need to understand the what’s and why’s of our circumstances.

Remember that the Bible tells us that God’s ways are higher than our ways and that in this world we see things dimly, so it’s hard for us to understand how God is working circumstances together in a way that makes us like Jesus.

Beloved, we also need to be on guard against the accusation from Satan.

Just like he did to Job, Satan will pump all kinds of accusing thoughts through our minds that God is not fair, loving or trustworthy.

Satan wants to destroy our faith and trust in God when our circumstances are painful and confusing.

The proper counter move is for us to pray, cry out and praise our Savior.

While we don’t understand what and why, we can still have full confidence that He has all the answers, that He is still in control, that He loves us, and that nothing can separate us from His great love for us.

We really are just passing through this world, and once we enter His presence and see our lives from His perspective, we will say, “Oh, now I get it!  Thank You Jesus for all that You’ve done in my life.”

So, beloved, no matter what is going on in your life, develop that habit to stop, drop, pray and praise, so that His peace prevails in your life.

Blessings!
Robyn Henning

In John 15:13-15, Jesus speaks not only to His disciples but also to us when He says:

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” 

So, how do we know He considers us His friends?

First off, He laid down His life for us.

Remember the definition of Apapao is choosing to set aside self interests to serve the best interests of another no matter what it costs me and no matter how they treat me in return.

This is the love that is the foundation for Phileo love that is friendship love.

It is what motivated Jesus to die for us.

Second, our response to His love is obedience.

Are we going to be perfect at it?

No, but the more we see ourselves as His friends, the more motivated we will be to trust Him and obey Him because we know that His way for us is the very best choice we could make.

Third, we know that Jesus considers us His friends because He has revealed what He is doing to us.

We have Jesus’ prophetic talks with His disciples, the writings of Paul, and of course the Revelation of Jesus Christ which He gave to His closest earthly friend, John.

Think about this: you don’t share your plans with your enemies nor with mere acquaintances.

Why?  You can’t trust them with the information.

But, you long to share your plans with your friends.

Why?  Because you know that they are on your side and will help you and rejoice with you as these plans come to fruition.

Beloved, this is another reason why we should be students of prophecy.

He wants us to know what He’s planning.

He wants us to be ready for His return.

Beloved, are you seeing yourself as Jesus’ friend?

If you do, you will see your obedience increase and your passion to understand His revealed Word.

Rest in His friendship love or you that He proved on the cross.

Blessings!
Robyn Henning

After pondering his problem, he devised a plan.

He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off.

As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running.

He used this ingenious procedure for two years.

Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station.

When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood.

Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, “Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.”

He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life.

For two years needless trouble had become routine.

The power was there all the time.

Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.

When we make firm our connection with Christ, His life and power flow through us.

Colossians 1:11 says:

“strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might.”

The words strengthened and power are the same word in the Greek, one a verb and the other a noun, which means the idea is intensified.

Paul is saying that God does not just give us a little power, but all power; He actually gives us the very resurrection power of Jesus Christ Himself.

Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers in a very similar way:

“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 1:19-20)

Since it is in the present tense in the Colossians verse, it means that God will constantly fill us with Christ’s resurrection power, and as we claim it, we can experience it in our daily lives.

We see this in Romans 5:10 as it reads in the Amplified:

“now that we are reconciled, we shall be daily delivered from sin’s power through His resurrection life.”

He is always sufficient for our every need!

Paul gets even more intense about God’s power, by using a different Greek word for His power in our Colossians verse, in the phrase,

“according to His glorious might.”

The idea is that He demonstrates His power that overcomes all resistance, which is characteristic of His inner character or glory.

Christ’s power within is not according to our need or even our capacity to absorb it, but it is according to His glorious power to supply it.

There is a big difference between  according to and out of.

Let’s imagine that you have a very large debt that you cannot pay, and you are thinking about declaring bankruptcy.

Now let’s suppose a millionaire hears of your dilemma and decides to help you out.

Now, would you want him to help you out of his riches or according to his riches?

He hands you a check that is signed and tells you to fill it out for any amount that you need.

This is according to his riches!

See the difference?

God’s offer of power is according to His glorious might, and we honor Him when we tap into the power of the indwelling Christ and allow Him to display it through us!

Blessings!
Pastor Ken Keeler