Why after all these prayers do we see so little of God's glory, presence, God being active and His hand moving in our homes, families, our cities, our government? We have not or are not living within the boundaries of God's Word. 

How do we once again see God's goodness in the land of the living? 

In the physical, [Proverbs 22:28] is talking about the markers where they have established the ancient boundaries that establish the land line around a specific territory -- so that you stay within those boundaries. 

Spiritually, the Word of God is the ancient boundary marker. It was what was established generations ago -- that we as God's people -- we are to live within the boundaries of this Word. And within these boundaries of the Word of God, it's for our security, protection, our prosperity. And as we live within the boundaries, we do so with integrity, with honor. 

As God established us as a nation -- one nation, under God -- established His Word, we're to live according to the Word...

God is love. 

- How do we manifest God's love? What does that look like? How does it set boundaries in our lives?

God's love is different than the world. When we talk about God's love, it diminishes self and it increases God. 

Sydney: To think about love God's way might look a little different and more narrow. If you think of the word narrow, you might think of it as restricting or binding. What is actually leads to is freedom -- as the Bible says "spacious living." 

Jo: By establishing good boundaries, that's how our life truly does flourish. God created us to be in a love relationship with Him. So, He doesn't want anything competing with that. It's important to establish those "narrow" boundaries, so that we can be everything God wants us to be. 

Sydney: God's way examples include: Denying yourself; Obeying God when it's really hard or uncomfortable, inconvenient; Staying faithful; Loving people when it's really hard; Putting others ahead of you. 

As believers, we have a guide....

Often in these times of fasting, we find ourselves crying out to God for a breakthrough -- for our personal lives or perhaps family members, in a hard situation or deep desire. You need God to move on your behalf.

How do you position yourself when you're facing a need? It's really all about God -- God needs to show up. So, how do you pray and how long should you pray for a breakthrough? How do you act in the waiting?

First, position yourself -- before you even pray. * No need to gather your friends or listeners. It doesn't start with demanding things from God. It starts with humility before God -- come before Him as nothing and realizing that He is everything. Knowing that all the answers lie with Him and you are leaning in to Him. God knows the details. This will help you to see your own heart. 

When you're [bowing] low, examine your heart. Be patient and let God show you any hindrance to your breakthrough. > Repent as God points the finger (not just confessing). You need His grace...

Transformed Tuesdays - testimony of a disciple how that journey has transformed their spiritual life, emotional life, as well as physical life poured over into their home

As God was transforming us through the year, through the discipleship journey, it was important to speak it out so that God would get the glory. On this podcast, we need others to hear how God is transforming the heart and home through testimonies.

Tracey Wilson - friend, prayer warrior, disciple

Tracey: 2005 - God started to stir a hunger in my heart -- didn't know I had that hunger. I learned there was so much more depth to the Word.

When I became involved in discipleship, the Lord really started to reveal more of who He was to me. I had no idea of what I had missed. I had not gotten to the point where my life was completely surrendered to the Lord. In Esther: She goes before the king and basically says "whatever pleases the king." That so resonated with me because I hadn't had the attitude in my life. I hadn't ...

When God gives you a word, how do you know that? 

Fasting, from my perspective, gleaning from the Word is a time that you deny the flesh of food and/or drink at the time that you seek the Lord. And you seek the Lord through the Word to feed your spirit man the Word as you draw near to God for various reasons. 

Many times during a fasting and/or praying as you seek the Lord, what happens is that God gives you a word. God speaks to you. You hear the voice of God speaking to you, directing your heart about a situation. What do you do with that word? What do you do with what you hear -- the voice of God saying to you? How do you handle that so that you glean all that God has for you. 

How do you know when God is speaking to you? It will always align with the Word of God. It will never be contrary to the Word of God -- never contradict what God says in His Word. And many times I will tell you for me, when I know I'm reading through the Bible, and it's like all of a sudden, a scripture wi...

Jo: God keeps saying: Make every day count for eternity. Ok, Father, how do we do that?

The Israelites had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. It was an 11-day journey that took them 40 years. None of us want to do that. We don't want to waste 40 years or 1 year.

Choose today who you will serve, will worship. That means He is first in our lives. What are some firsts in your home, in your life?

Sydney: It's a choice. Who are going to serve? It doesn't happen lackadaisically. We won't just end up following God. It's an intentional, every day, fixing your eyes on the Lord. 

Seek first the Kingdom of God. And all these things will be added to you. It's not a promise of wealth but of protection, following His way. There's protection, direction, wisdom. There's peace. 

When I think of first, it's the first day of the week, giving God time, not the leftover. To worship the Lord, together with His people, to set our eyes together with believers. 

Jo: Honor God by keeping the Sabbath...

Thirty-five years ago, I began a discipline that took my intimate relationship with God to a much deeper level -- journaling -- to remember my intimate moments, my encounters with God. 

God wants us to remember Him. 

Writing down notations is such a profound way to trace the hand of God in your life and trace your spiritual maturity, trace your sanctification process and clearly see how God wants to and is involved in your life. 

It became an overflow, not a task. I wanted to remember what God was doing in my life; how God was speaking to me through His Word; to know how God was weaving His hand working in and out of my life; to bring me into His desired purpose for my life, walking me through life, so that my life would bring Him glory. 

What is journaling? It is a written notation of something that's important to you -- my personal encounters with God. Sometimes it could be my prayer point. Sometimes it could be from reading Scripture/learning from Scripture.

It's all working to...

As we begin a new year, it's a time to set aside some special time to see the Lord with all your heart, soul, and strength -- more than just praying but adding fasting. It's a time to seek God, deny the flesh, so that you can heart from God and press in closer to God. 

Set aside a period of time -- 3 days, 7 days, 10 days, 21 days. Ask the Holy Spirit: Would You lead me and guide me into a season of fasting where I seek the Lord with all my heart for God to plan my steps going forward? 

Fasting is all about leaning in to God and allowing the Holy Spirit to consume you as you seek God for a specific matter in your life. 

What is fasting according to the Word? It's where you voluntarily abstain from food/drink while you're seeking God. 

You are denying your flesh from some food/drink for a period of time. But, during that period of time, you're seeking God. You're leaning in to God. According to the Old Testament, "cover the mouth" = denying the flesh from food; according to the New ...

What does Christmas look like for me?

We want to remember Jesus and build memories -- with Family and Faith. 

1) My favorite activity: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (at my church)

Remember Jesus -- to focus on the birth of the Savior. We look at the cross but we see the manger. He's no longer in the manger. He went to the cross. And now He's with the Father. 

We light the candle. He truly is the light of the world. But, He's the light in my heart because, without the Savior, I would be in utter darkness. 

2) My favorite decoration: the Nativity scene

It is such a visual to remember what Jesus did: that He laid down in Heaven His shekhinah glory. And He came to earth at this time, this season, in a humble way -- in a manger. Why? For you and for me. 

And His parents -- Mary and Joseph -- in their humility were willing to serve God, to sacrifice their lives. 

It's a remembrance -- not only of the Savior but of humility. "Jo, walk humbly with the Lord your God today. Fall on t...

Who will way the blessing at your house this year?

Will you willingly search out people during this Christmas season and you speak words of life, value -- that you speak to the heart of another person -- that they know they are worthy, have purpose. 

I want to focus on the blessings that came forth -- how we can continue those blessings, how we can be a blessing to other people around us and recognize our ability to give a blessing

The Format of a Blessing

Take the Word of God and by faith, based on the authority of God's Word, you speak something into the heart of another person that gives them life, and value. 

* "She brought forth" that means life. 

What she did brought life. It was done in a very humbling way. 

When we speak blessings, it gives life -- spoken from a humbled heart -- submit to God what He would want that person to know, so that God gets the glory and they are lifted up, encouraged. 

* "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace goodwill toward men." 

No...