Last week, in the quiet moments of my Sabbath rest, while I was away from the noise and the constant "doing for God and the church ", God began to whisper a truth that my busy heart often misses. Our life of faith is less about a climb and more about a current. We often approach our lives with a checklist of efforts, believing that if we pray harder, listen longer, or work better, we will finally "arrive" at a place of peace with Him. But James 4:6 reminds us, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.   In the “climb’ we are operating out of hidden pride that says that we can reach God by the things that we do “for Him”.

I am learning that true humility is simply a heart of total dependence. It is the realization that we do not have to struggle to get to where God is, because He is already exactly where we are. When we stop trying to "get somewhere” and instead choose to just enjoy Him in the present moment, we release the heavy weights of our own efforts. This is where we find "more grace". This grace is more like a rising river. When the water of His favor is deep enough, we no longer need to strain to keep our head above water; we become buoyant. we simply float. In that place of surrender, we’re not working hard to please Him. We are simply moving WITH Him, caught up in the flow of His grace.

In the book of James, he tells us to submit to God, he follows it with the call to draw near – to be present with Him.

Submitting comes the moment we stop trying to swim against the stream of His grace and we allow His grace to give us a lift. We find ourselves getting stuck in doublemindedness when we try to use our gifts to achieve what only God’s gift of grace can provide.  We simply need to remember that He is closer than a brother, and He has promised never to leave us. We don't have to fight the current to find Him; we only need to be humble and let the grace current carry us.

As we draw near to Him, with a dependent heart, we will find that His grace is more than enough to carry us. Instead of the exhaustion of the struggle, we will find ease in His flow of grace. Here, we learn to let go, trust His ever-present presence, and experience the rest that comes when we stop “trying” to reach Him and realize that His grace has already reached us. We are one with Him.

As believers in Jesus, we know we are called to encourage one another—to stir up love and good works and to strengthen each other, as we navigate our day. Multiple times, in Hebrews Chapters 3 and 4, the Lord urges us: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart”. A hard heart has doubts and unbelief.

Today, the Lord performed a gentle heart check-up on me. I was listening to a brother in the Lord explain a heavy trial he was suddenly facing. As he described the overwhelming sense of loss and the ripple effect of all the needs that had surfaced, I felt the weight of it. I realized there was nothing I could say to “fix” his problem; I knew God was the only one who could rescue and save.

Yet, as I began to pray, I felt the nudge of Hebrews 3:12: “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” My thoughts began to whisper that this test was too big, that it had happened too fast, and that there was no way out. In that moment, my soul felt tempted to draw back from the living God. I found myself leaning on my own understanding, and doubt was then exposed in my heart. Would God? Could God? Is He truly able?

The moment I recognized these doubts; I felt a surge of thankfulness for His Spirit's conviction. I immediately took those thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). I began speaking Scripture over the situation—declaring God’s ability and power. I began praising His goodness and His kindness to intervene in my life and in the life of this brother.

What a gift it is that God used this situation to expose that underlying doubt, so it could be replaced by truth! I was then able to pray for my brother in expectant faith, believing that God is truly able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I could ask or think, according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20). Oh, the sweet lift of faith that pleases God and keeps my soul anchored to the living God!

This morning, as I was mediating on the Triumphal Entry in Matthew 21 and Mark 11, I saw myself preparing my heart for His entry.

In the first century, a conquering king would have entered the city on a warhorse, but Jesus chose to enter on a humble little donkey.  Jesus does not "storm" my heart with force to conquer it. He comes in the still small voice and in the quiet moments of the day in prayer and Bible reading. He is invited in – Be hold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

Jesus sent two of his disciples to find a colt that was tied up, saying, "The Lord has need of it" Mark 11:3. When the Lord has need of us, He will first loose us from our burdens and pressures that so easily entangle us. Just as the colt was loosed to carry Jesus into the city, so are we made free when His words become alive in our heart. Today if you will hear his voice, do not harden your heart, as in the rebellion Hebrews 3:15.

In Matthew 21:8, the crowd spread their garments on the road. “The laying down of their garments” represented a surrendering of self, and their status in the community to Him. To let Jesus "ride over" our soul efforts and our positions of importance, we daily surrender in prayer.  Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

On that day, the crowd in Jerusalem shouted "Hosanna" which means “Save Us”! Many were looking for a political leader to save them and overthrow Rome. Jesus didn't meet their expectations, and their cry to “Save Us” changed by Friday to “Crucify Him”. We often approach Jesus with a "to-do list" of how we want Him to save us from the tests and trials that our conforming us into His image. We are to worship the King for who He is, not for what He can do for us.

Lord, today I hear You knocking and Your Voice loosing me with Your Word. I again lay down my life, my self-efforts and usher You in with worship from my heart.

Today, while working on a project that required input from an outside institution that I’d been playing phone tag with for months, I had a realization that changed my perspective on "hold time”.

When I first initiated the call, I knew the wait would be long. After a few rounds of the automated hold message, I felt impatience rising in my soul. I knew it was my "soul" because I started to grumble and complain to myself about how inefficient the system was. I wondered why a company of this size couldn't afford better technology to serve its clients.

As I listened to my own frustration, I felt the Holy Spirit remind me of Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

I realized I had a choice—to obey and believe the truth, or stay trapped in carnal, unproductive thinking.

I began with thanksgiving, telling the Lord I was grateful that He was with me and that I trusted Him. However, my mind kept drifting back to grumbling because the hold message repeatedly promised a representative would be with me "shortly". Recognizing that I was in a double-minded state—and knowing that, I would not receive from God (James 1:7-8)—I remembered 1 Corinthians 14:14: “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.”

As I began to pray in tongues, my mind became "unfruitful" to the frustration; the grumbling stopped. My focus shifted from myself to the Lord. The waiting time was no longer screaming at me, and my soul became quiet and peaceful.

Soon after, a representative named Edna answered. She was able to resolve the paperwork issue that had been delayed for months. What began as a one-hour and twenty-minute "hold" test became a testimony of God’s goodness, leading me toward repentance and renewed thinking.

As I was spending some time meditating on the Word today, after a powerful conversation with a brother in the Lord, I felt a strong leading to share these thoughts with you.

We are living in a time where so many people are struggling under immense pressure. They are doing everything they can to labor and provide, yet they find themselves fatigued, tired, and weary. It often feels like the load just keeps getting heavier, while more is being put on, and not enough is being taken off. But I was so encouraged by the invitation that Jesus gives us in Matthew 11:28-30, where He says, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
 
When Jesus speaks of rest here, He is talking about a true repose and a refreshing of the spirit. He tells us to take His yoke and learn of Him, because to learn of Jesus is to gain understanding of His heart. He is gentle, humble, and lowly—not casting us down but meeting us in that humble estate, to give us what I like to call a "Divine Intermission." –A break for our souls.

While the world offers a yoke that is harsh and a burden that is crushing, Jesus promises that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Even when the circumstances and the external pressures of life are still present, we can find a place of “intermission”—a real break for our souls—simply by leaning back into Christ. This isn't a rest found in the world, nor in the circumstances, but a rest found specifically inside of Him.
 
I saw firsthand today how a heavy load can be lightened just by stepping back into that truth and shifting the weight from us onto Him. My prayer for you today is that, amid every unknown, every difficulty, and every thought about the future, you would see yourself back into Christ, taking His easier yoke upon you, finding that place of intermission, and letting Him truly refresh your soul.

Each believer receives the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness to reign in life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17). We are called to reign in life over our souls—our minds, wills, and emotions.

The "old man" follows the default settings of the first Adam, rooted in self-preservation with worry, anxiety, fear, loss, defensiveness, and striving as the fruit of sin. In Christ, however, our default setting is trust and peace. God will keep you in perfect peace when your mind is stayed on Him, because you trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3).

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

A mind set on God, rather than the things of this world, will be at peace. When your thoughts do not lean on your own understanding or abilities, and your mouth acknowledges the truths of Scripture, you will be directed by the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you.

These are the mighty weapons of our warfare for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

In the desert, after forty days of prayer and fasting, Jesus used the Word to combat the devil and his lies, mischaracterization, and temptations (Matthew 4:3-10). So, it is today for each of us—we must use the Word as a mighty weapon, a sword to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. When we believe that the truth of Scripture will replace the thoughts and feelings in our mind, we are renewed and transformed into the image of Jesus.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).

So, start today—Choose the next thought, the next temptation, or the next moment of doubt, and take it captive by the Word of God in your mouth as you begin the journey of transforming your mind.

Genesis 2:7 tells us that God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and man became a living being. Prior to the Fall, Adam was formed in the image of God—a three part being of spirit, soul, and body. His inner man was complete and perfect, able to commune with God as He walked in the garden, in the cool of the day. And it was good.

Everything changed when Eve ate the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. She then gave it to Adam, who was with her (Genesis 3:6). Immediately, Adam and Eve’s spirits died. Their eyes were opened; they realized they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves (Genesis 3:7-13). They hid from the presence of the Lord among the trees. When God asked, “Where are you?” Adam replied, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Adam’s spirit died that day, and his relationship with God was forever changed; he now knew fear, nakedness, shame, and blame.

From that moment on, Adam and all his lineage, fell under the curse of sin—separated from God and the ease of hearing His voice. We bear his image, his likeness, and his selfish-motivated "his operating system." As it is written:

"The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven... And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man." (1 Corinthians 15:45-49)

Like Adam, we were once dead in trespasses and sins. We walked according to the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air. We conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh and a sinful mindset, remaining by nature "children of wrath."

But God, who is rich in mercy because of His great love, made us alive together with Christ even while we were dead in our sins. Our spirits are now alive in Him, fully able to commune with the Father. We are no longer strangers, but sons and daughters who know His voice. He has raised us up and seated us in heavenly places. We now bear the image of the Last Adam, Jesus Christ—a new creation where old things have passed away and all things have become new. Our operating system has changed. No longer earth-bound or selfishly motivated, we bear the image of Jesus, who is seated in full fellowship with the Father.

Now, the true journey begins.

God showed His love to the world by sending His Son, Jesus, to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus showed His love by freely giving His life for us.


“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”(Galatians 2:20)


The love of God is sacrificial and outward-directed.


“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)


As believers "in Christ," our daily walk should reflect this love to everyone around us. Jesus told us, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).


Jesus is our living example. He walked the earth daily making the choice to follow the Father’s leading. Because we are so loved by God, we can now lay down our own thoughts, opinions, and desires to follow His example.


“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren... let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18)


We don’t strive to do good works to earn God’s approval—we lay down our life in love because He first loved us. We cannot give what we have not first received. This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). We love through action by the Spirit's strength, not by our own might or power.


A yielded life, filled with the love of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit, shines brightly for the world to see Jesus in us.


Brian 

As believers "in Christ," our faith works, our love labors, and our hope remains firm to the end. This threefold cord is not easily broken. In 1 Thessalonians 1:3, we see that those who are in Christ continue without ceasing in their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, all in the sight of our God and Father. We are marked by these three attributes before the Father, who still looks to see His children walking out their lives like Jesus walked out His earthly walk.

Faith is what pleases God. We believe that He is fully God, just as He has revealed Himself to us in the Scriptures. He is complete, whole, and fully able to do all that He has done before—He can and will do it again, for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). As the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, He is pleased to be personally active in the details of a believer’s life.

Our faith, and its corresponding works (James 2:20), are made alive through a "laid down" love that reaches out to touch the lives of others (Galatians 5:6). This labor of love is selfless and sacrificial; it mirrors Christ’s own life on earth. By this we know love: because He laid down His life (psuche) for us, we also ought to lay down our lives (psuche) for the brethren (1 John 3:16). Our psuche is our soul, our mind, will & emotions. It is the part of us that considers us first.” A faith-filled, surrendered life loves without seeking self-benefit, remains willing to sacrifice time, energy, comfort, and options so that another might receive God’s grace and favor.

Remember, God is not unjust; He does not forget your work of faith and labor of love shown toward Him. As you "go the extra mile" for both saints and sinners, you are ministering to the "least of these" in His name (Hebrews 6:10). Amid this walk, we have a hope that acts as an anchor for the soul—sure and steadfast. This hope enters the Presence behind the veil where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf as our High Priest forever. Our hope endures because it is not anchored in earthly or temporary places but is secured in the presence of God through Christ, who is forever interceding for us.

In a day of instant information and a culture of "now," it is easy to get pulled into the immediate and fail to wait on God to speak. Information is easy to find and literally at your fingertips.

In Colossians 2, Paul encourages believers to walk with their hearts (the inner man) being strengthened and fortified in the love of God. He urges them to be fully convinced of their position in Christ, noting that all knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are found in Him. We are not to be spoiled by worldly knowledge; instead, this divine wisdom, knowledge, and understanding are compared to riches and treasures.

Our walk in Christ is to be rooted and stable, like a tree with deep roots, being built up and established in faith and thanksgiving. Those in Christ are not to be seduced or led by earthly wisdom, and the traditions of men, that follow a carnal mindset.

James 3:14-17: "But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there."

We need to remember, and rely on the fact, that we are in Christ, and the fullness of the Godhead makes us complete (Colossians 2:9). From where we set our minds is from where we will receive.

So, set your mind on trusting the Lord; lean not on your own understanding or worldly perspectives. Acknowledge Him on the path you are currently on, and He will direct you.

Building your faith begins with the foundation of Jesus Christ. Everything we do, as believers, is driven by faith. This faith is the active process of believing God’s promises—moving from the unseen to the seen. It is the only thing that truly pleases Him.

As Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, it is impossible to please God without faith; we must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.
 
While many believers struggle to actually believe, we can establish a stronger foundation by hearing God’s voice through His Word.

Just as Romans 10:17 states that "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," we must desire the scriptures like a newborn baby desires milk, recognizing that spiritual sustenance is more vital than physical food.

To maintain a vibrant faith, we must treat the Word of God as essential "fuel". Just as a car stops running without gas or a body weakens without food, our faith requires daily filling to function effectively. We are cautioned in Hebrews 3:8 not to harden our hearts but to remain sensitive to His voice through scripture and prayer.

Furthermore, Jude 1:20 encourages us to build ourselves up on our "most holy faith" by praying in the Holy Spirit. This deep, Spirit-led communion acknowledges our total dependence on God rather than our own mindsets. However, we must also remember that according to Galatians 5:6, faith works through love. Without love, even the most "correct" actions amount to nothing.

Finally, building faith is much like physical training at a gym; it requires resistance to grow.

Scripture teaches that trials are not meant to destroy us but to refine us, much like fire purifies gold. James 1:2-3 instructs us to count it all joy when we face trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience. When pressure arises, leading with joy—rather than grumbling or avoidance—allows us to submit our walk to Him and trust His strength over our own.

Ultimately, building faith is an individual responsibility. Just as one person cannot exercise for another, you must personally stay in the Word, pray in the Spirit, and joyfully endure the testing that strengthens your walk with Christ.

Today, each of us gets a new chance to walk in the newness and freshness of being a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Truly, we are given multiple opportunities every day to return to our walk in this relationship with God through the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit is a continuous, daily lifestyle defined by living under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit rather than the passions and desires of “the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

By identifying with the baptism into His death and the resurrection of Jesus, we are encouraged to walk in the newness of life as a new creation, fully disconnected from the life of sin and death (Romans 6:4). This is not a one-time event, but an ongoing decision to let the Spirit and the Word of God direct one's life—much like a GPS provides constantly updated directions during a journey.

The flesh is a carnal mindset that leads to self-centeredness and conflicts, while the Spirit produces life that bears fruit. According to the scriptures, those who are led by the Spirit are not under the condemnation of the law but are governed by the "Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1-2). This shift in mindset is crucial: While a carnal mind leads to spiritual death and enmity with God, a spiritually focused mind brings life and peace (Romans 8:6-7).

The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now dwells within the believer, providing the "quickening" power needed to overcome the limitations of the mortal body (Romans 8:11). The Spirit’s presence in our lives, serves as a reminder to us and of our identity as a child of God, empowering us to live out our new identity through faith (Romans 8:16).

Ultimately, the practice of walking in the Spirit involves a daily commitment to setting one's mind on spiritual things, especially when faced with temptations, trials, or decisions. It requires us to rely on the Word of God for strength, and to engage in prayer as a way of maintaining our connection with the Father.

By "crucifying" the desires of the flesh and refusing to be entangled again in the bondage of legalism or sin (Galatians 5:1, 24), the believer allows Christ to live through them. This life is lived by faith in the Son of God, standing fast in the freedom and grace that Christ has provided (Galatians 2:20).

Today when you woke up, you received new mercies according to God’s faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23). We are not consumed because God is merciful. It is not according to your righteousness or your good works, but because you are in Christ and now a new creation; old things have passed away, and you live a new life in Christ.

From this place “in Christ”, you live a new, fresh daily walk before the Father—not by your own abilities, striving, or even by your own goodness.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Yes, your initial salvation was by grace through faith, but so is your daily walk, by grace through faith. You must continue believing, walking in the Spirit, and experiencing the newness of life that the Father promised to us in Christ.

“Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

This newness of life is by grace through faith—believing that the Word of God is true, even when your circumstances don’t change and your soul feels all the pressures.

Nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39).

The pressures may make you feel like a sheep for the slaughter with no way out, but “in Christ” you cannot be separated from Him or His love. You are more than a conqueror—able to stand, endure, and believe His Word until victory overtakes your circumstances.

It may be uncomfortable to walk in the Spirit and believe God’s Word when facing the impossible, but God loves to overcome the impossible.

“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Stay new and stay believing.

As we step into this new year, we aren't just changing a page on the calendar; we are stepping into a divine promise. In Revelation 21:5, the Lord declares, "Behold, I make all things new." This "new" is not merely defined by the passage of time or a youthful age—but by a spiritual freshness that is brand new in quality. We must realize that "new" is not just a date; it is a place found exclusively in Jesus Christ. To be in-Him is to inhabit a reality that never decays. As you move forward, remember that you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), firmly rooted in a Savior who specializes in renewing what was once broken.

This season calls for spiritual "putting on" and "putting off." Just as Ezekiel 36:26 promises a new heart and a new spirit, we are invited to let go of the "old man"—the former conduct and the dark ways of understanding that once separated us from the life of God. The root of the word "new" in Hebrew (Chadash) implies a rebuilding and repairing. God is giving you a heart of flesh to replace the stone. By being renewed in the spirit of your mind, you can walk in righteousness and holiness, leaving behind the futility of your past to embrace the fresh, new character that God has within you.

Finally, embracing the "new you" requires a deliberate choice to look forward rather than backward. Isaiah 43:18-19 instructs us not to dwell on the former things, for God is doing a new thing that "springs forth" even in the desert. Like the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3, we must count past gains and losses as rubbish compared to the excellence of knowing Christ. By forgetting & forgiving what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, we press toward the prize of our upward invitation. This year, as you dwell “in Christ” remember the “old” has passed away and you are now present in the life-giving presence of the Lord.

I feel a lot like Paul, or Peter, or John, or our Beloved Lord Jesus Christ these days, as Cammy and I prepare to enter into our Sabbatical on January 1st. I am wanting to make sure everyone continues in the things they have learned: to pray and abide in His word, to serve in His body, and to love one another fervently.

So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:32

Sanctification is given in Christ and obtained in His word.

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. – Prayer of Jesus, John 17:14-19

Immersion in the truth and abiding daily in His Word with the power of the Holy Spirit, is sanctification unto obtaining the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14

Choose every day to abide in His word, reading your bible daily. And join us as we read together through the bible using the That I May Know Him Daily Bible Guide (see below) and our Jubilee Church App (see below). Abide in Jesus with His Word abiding in you through practicing prayer and obedience. Abide in Jesus’ love, His joy, and His peace. Serve one another, love one another. God has blessed Jubilee with an inheritance in Christ. He has blessed Jubilee with Brian Rogers as Lead Pastor, Diana Anderson as Associate Pastor, and a staff and family of sincere lovers of Christ. He has blessed Jubilee with you. Now arise and find your place in sonship and service.

The best is yet to come,
Steve

He served with me in the gospel.

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. Philippians 2:19-22

For four decades, Brian Rogers has been my faithful son in serving with me in the gospel. As Cammy and I step into our next season with the Lord, Brian will now lead Jubilee into the things of Christ and our inheritance in Him.

Paul had no one else as like-minded as Timothy, in Christ. Maturity into Christ is through imitation of Christ and denial of self, imitated through following those whose example reflects Christ and not self. Pastor Brian has proven over and over again that His interests are the things which are of Christ and not himself. He sincerely cares for you all.

Through my walk with God, He has shown me many things of His ways in Christ. I have endeavored to abide, live, and teach these ways. Like Joshua was to Moses, Brian is, and always has been, to me. And God has called him forward for such a time as this. I whole-heartedly believe and affirm he will lead every follower into their inheritance in Christ.

For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore, I urge you, imitate me. For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 1 Corinthians 4:15-17

It is with great joy that Cammy and I step into our Sabbatical knowing that Jubilee is filled with sincere like-minded believers who love the things of Christ. We see multiplication of all the seeds sown, we see everyone entering into their inheritance as one body with the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and love for one another.

The acceptable year of the Lord

Over forty years ago, we began Jubilee with the promise of Jesus, of His Freedom, of His Inheritance, of the Holy Spirit making all things new in Christ.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18, 19

The acceptable year of the Lord is Jesus! Jesus is our Jubilee! In Christ, all scripture is fulfilled. Our eternal redemption is in His blood, the forgiveness of sin. Our eternal inheritance is in His new covenant, reserved in heaven for us as we are kept through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.

Before we begin our Sabbatical in 2026, we want to bless everyone present in the house and online with, “The Blessing of Jubilee”. God has given us exceedingly great and precious promises that are our inheritance in Christ. Cammy and I have been blessed to receive many of these promises. Many promises are yet to be fulfilled.

If the Lord wills, we will lay hands on you.

Jesus is our Jubilee,

Steve and Cammy

The birth of Jesus is our greatest reminder that God is not distant; He came close. Matthew 1:23 tells us that His very name, “Immanuel” means “God with us.” From the beginning, God planned to restore His family (Genesis 3:15), and in Jesus, that promise became a person. God didn’t just send an email or text; He sent His Son.

Hebrews 1:1–2 says that though He once spoke through prophets, “in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.” Jesus is God’s heart and presence made visible for us to see.

His arrival in a humble manger shows that God enters the ordinary, messy, and overlooked places of our lives.

Luke 2:7 reminds us that He chose simplicity over status. God gives grace to the humble (James 4:6) and meets us where we are, not where we think we should be.

Romans 5:8 declares that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God is not waiting for perfection—He steps into our reality.

Jesus also understands our humanity. He felt hunger, exhaustion, rejection, loneliness, and temptation. He knows our struggles and comforts us with real compassion.

Hebrews 4:15 says He “sympathizes with our weaknesses.” We can come to Him honestly, because He has walked this journey Himself.

Though Jesus entered a world filled with fear and darkness, His birth announced hope. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:5). No darkness in your life is beyond God’s reach. He brings strength, renewal, and hope where despair once lived.

Jesus didn’t just visit us—He came to restore us forever. Through His birth, life, death, and resurrection, we now have daily access to the Father, the indwelling strength of the Holy Spirit, and an unbreakable promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Immanuel - God is STILL with us.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.” Matthew 25:14-15

I’ve heard this parable taught many ways—about using our gifts or about Kingdom wealth, but this week the Lord highlighted something different: “This parable is about how you see Me.”

When the Master returned, he asked each servant to account for what they’d been given. Knowing the abilities of each servant, he gave them accordingly. The first two doubled their talents. The third buried his talents. Why? The issue wasn’t the amount given; it was the third servant’s view of the Master. He said:

“Lord, I knew you to be a hard man… and I was afraid and hid your talent in the ground.”

• His perspective: The Master was harsh and unfair
• His response: Fear
• The result: Unfaithfulness and no fruit.

He failed to steward something valuable because he misunderstood the One who gave it. His actions revealed the nature of his relationship to the Master as one of distance and judgment, not love and reverence. This view cost him the opportunity for increase.

Maybe in your time with the Lord this week, let Him take account—not of how you’ve stewarded His resources, but of how you see Him in your heart. Is there anything that needs clearing out? Are there wounds needing His healing; bitterness needing His forgiveness; or disappointment needing to come under His loving Lordship? These things can distort our view of the Father, making Him seem anything other than loving, generous, and aligned with the fruit of the Spirit.

Unhealed pain shapes how we see God, and we live from that distorted vision, burying the opportunity for life and fruitfulness. But when our hearts align with His true nature, His seed bears His fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22–23). Let’s allow that seed to multiply in us this Christmas season.

“So, produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin];” – Matthew 3:8 Amplified version


 Diana

 As we step into Thanksgiving week, and the start of the holiday season, it’s easy to get swept up in the details of life—the to-do lists, the pressures of work, the needs of family, and the problems waiting for solutions. These things matter, but they can quietly pull our focus away from something even more important, which is to remember what God has already done for us.

When our minds become crowded with worry or busyness, gratitude can slip through the cracks. We can end up thinking more about our challenges than about the God who carries us through them.

Colossians 3:17 reminds us, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Thankfulness isn’t a side note in our walk with God—it’s central. It reorients our heart and brings us back into alignment with His goodness.

Philippians 4:6–7 goes even deeper, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ.”

That peace, the kind that guards both your heart and your mind, isn’t random. It’s a by-product of prayer wrapped in gratitude. Thankfulness clears a pathway for God’s peace to settle in and steady us.

So, this week, whatever you are doing, whatever you are saying, whatever you are praying—add thankfulness. Make it part of every moment. And like a loving parent who hears the grateful voice of their child, God will meet you with His attention, comfort, and a generous measure of peace for the journey ahead.

Happy Thanksgiving. May gratitude lead you closer to Him.

An Overcomer is one who endures.

I want to encourage us in our struggles and tribulations. On Sunday, I shared the four calls to endurance, in the disciplines of our Father, out of Hebrews 12. To watch the entire message, click here.

• We are called to run the race set before us with endurance, looking unto Jesus. The race set before us is our daily life of responsibilities, where our faith in Jesus determines how we run and respond in everything. We set aside our sin and weights that hinder us and walk in faith and endurance.

• We are called to endure the cross as Jesus did. He kept the joy of His Father, “I delight to do Your will” before Him, even to His death on the cross. He believed that God was able to raise Him from the dead, not deliver Him from the death—Faith and endurance.

• We are called to endure the hostility of sinners against ourselves and not grow weary in our souls. When Jesus was reviled, He did not return reviling for reviling or threats for sufferings, but committed Himself to God, who judges righteously.

• We are called to endure the chastening of our Father to become a partaker of His holiness. To endure the pain to be trained in His peaceful fruit of righteousness.  Not gained by works of the law but through the faith of our Lord Jesus, the righteousness from God by faith.

We humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, in faith believing, trusting and resting our hope completely on the grace that is to be given us at the revealing of Jesus Christ in us. It’s not an accident we are here. So, we strengthen ourselves in the Lord making straight paths for our feet expecting healing to come. We pursue peace with all, and holiness in Christ our righteousness, and we keep the grace of God ever before us, not allowing accusation and fear to move us from our trust. When we discover our bitterness, for it will come in our misinterpretation of circumstances, we ask God for His forgiveness and return ourselves into the truth of scripture and rejoice in our new birth. Forever we are saved! Our birth from above calls us forward expecting our inheritance to be revealed in us with all the saints.

We ENDURE, for we are OVERCOMERS.

Tag: Reconciliation is just the beginning.

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son,
much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10

I have been abiding in the “Much More”, accepting reconciliation as truth, as a fact. God has adjusted Himself, in all relationship to creation, inside the death of His Son. Jesus became sin for us who knew no sin.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. Romans 4:25

When Jesus was raised from the dead, we were raised with Him in justification, another word for righteousness. This truth is also an established fact. Abiding here in the “Much More” gives me peace with God and grace to live and stand in.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2

The truth of our glorification in Christ is an established fact. We can abide and fellowship with God here, in the testimony of His Son. In Christ, in His glory, is where the Holy Spirit does the work of transformation. I am abiding in truth much more than before. I take time every day, throughout the day, to sit with Christ in His glory. Doing so is bringing truth into reality, the unseen into seen, from glory to glory the Holy Spirit is changing me into Christ’s image.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Will our unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?

For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are Judged. Romans 3:3, 4

God’s words are truth. Every day, I practice accepting the words of God in the bible as complete truth, receiving what He has done in Christ, and declare it to be so for me. I do not wait to check how I am doing. I move my heart to believe that I am being what God has said I am in Jesus.

It is amazing how much of my faith was based in traditions of men and not God’s word. This led me into increased unbelief, because I focused on myself-doing and not what God had done once and for all in Jesus Christ. I allowed my soul to discern how I was doing. Big mistake!

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance? Psalm 42:6

My soul can be off, cast down, and disquieted.  But God is true.

With a soft and believing heart I accept and abide daily in His scriptures as truth, imagining the truth being so inside of me as I read. This practice leads to the Holy Spirit speaking in the bible, as the author reads aloud the scriptures. Jesus is the answer that the Father has given to everything thing we face. We enter by faith, by simple acceptance of His word as truth, and here we can enjoy fellowship with the Father in the Son.

As I daily enter into His Word, I enter into Jesus and all that has been me given in the Son. The Holy Spirit speaks, faith comes, and I see what I could not see before, and let go of what has taken hold of me that is a lie.

I know longer ask God to walk with me; instead, I answer His call to walk with Him in Jesus. So much better!

The truth is in Jesus – Ephesians 4:21

First, I want to thank God for His Living Word. I was inside our daily reading plan – That I May Know Him, on Sunday. This is where I read, in 1 Chronicles 16, the account of David bringing the ark of God into the tabernacle that he had erected, and the appointment of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord. There, I saw again these three words that changed my life. If you haven’t gotten our Jubilee App, iOS click here or Android click here to download it for free. We have the bible plan in the app, and it will read each day’s reading to you.

Now the three words:

Remember – Thank – Praise

And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel. 1 Chronicles 16:4

To commemorate is to remember. The KJV uses the word, “to record”. It comes from the Hebrew word, Zakar, which means “properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember,” according to Strongs Concordance.

When we forget, we cease being thankful and bright in our praise.
 

• Thank the Lord right now for your salvation encountered in Jesus Christ, recounting the day you met the Lord, as the blinders were removed from your eyes.
• Remember how impossible it was to see, and then you saw.
• Remember the joy of His salvation.
• Remember the freedom from condemnation and shame when you knew your sins were forgiven. Eternal life took death’s place as you turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.

When we remember the Lord, for who He is, and what He has done for us, we become thankful and bright in praise, clear praise, Halal praise comes up from our mouths.

Continue and,

• Remember your baptism in the Holy Spirit and His power that came.
• Remember His word and the giving of the revelation of Jesus Christ.
• Remember your deliverance from sin and entrance into His sanctification.
• Remember the mighty acts of God and make mention that His name is exalted.
• At each remembrance give thanks to the Lord and praise Him and see if you are not smiling before you finish this exercise.

This is what it means to minister before the Lord. These three words changes our life from our pitiful existence and miserable state that we may find ourselves in, into the glory and goodness of God, into the very life of Jesus and His love.

Three words…Remember, Thank, and Praise the Lord!

As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. John 8:30

Hearing the voice of our Lord brings faith. Faith is now; like eating is now. After we digest our food, and it is changed into nourishment, it has served its now purpose of giving life to our bodies. So is the word spoken by God.

But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, man shall hot live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Luke 4:4

The devil, however, does not heed what we have heard but a higher truth, “The Written Word”. This is why Jesus answered the devil with, “It is written,” and why Jesus spoke to those who believed in Him, through the words He was speaking, to abide in His word.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31

Hearing Jesus speak brings faith, abiding in His word brings truth, and the truth makes us free. Abiding in the living word of God, His full counsel (Logos) is the only means of knowing truth and the freedom that is in Jesus.

Personal Confession: For decades, I sought to abide in the spoken word of God, what He had spoken to me in the scriptures, by the Holy Spirit, in visions, dreams, worship, anointed preaching, and through seeking God in prayer. But I did not know that a good meal today was not there tomorrow. I would try to bring back the experience of His voice being spoken the next day. With the help of my soul, I could remember feeling faith, but there was no faith. Instead, my soul took the place of the spoken word. I became fixed in a moment that was no longer present. I became lazy, neglecting the great salvation of Jesus, even to my own self-deception that I was good, all was well, and I had no need of this “abiding daily in His word to be His disciple indeed and to know the truth and be made free.

They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free.’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:33-36

This Sunday, I will share my confession and how the Lord forever changed me, through the knowledge of truth, that offends to reveal my slavery to sin, and then brings me to Jesus, who makes me free as the Son. I have never felt so strong that this present truth (Abiding in His word) must be practiced, especially with our adversary, the devil, going around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Please make every effort to come and listen to my confession or join us online. Even better before Sunday, download our App (click here) and listen to our daily bible reading.

It will make His Word come alive this Sunday.