A dear friend called me with a prayer request for her mom a few weeks ago. She was unresponsive and later was decided she needed to be in a nursing home for total health care because of what appeared to be dementia.

Her daughter asked the physicians to take another look at tests that were done due to a little change in her mom after they removed a very small amount of fluid from her brain. She had an aneurysm 19 years ago and had a shunt put in that was obviously causing another problem currently.

The physician told my friend there was absolutely no way possible that removing such a small amount of fluid from her mom’s brain that there could be change in her mental state and even be noticeable. However, that is exactly what happened.

The physician removed more fluid from her mom’s brain and she became responsive and started to improve. As I began to think about her mom improving and starting to walk and live again, I knew that is exactly what the enemy of our souls tries to do to us in life.

Satan tries to use circumstances to apply pressure to cause people to give up, become discouraged, depressed, and to drive people to suicide in some cases through the feeling of hopelessness. You can rest assured that when pressure is coming from all sides, there is something new coming on the horizon.

I have good news. There is hope in Jesus Christ.

I was watching a movie the other night and realized that the evil people that had taken hostages in the White House (movie: WHITE HOUSE DOWN) were aggravated and ran out of a room when the good guys in the movie activated the sprinkler system that started spraying water everywhere.

We must learn as believers in Jesus Christ that the enemy tries to get us discouraged or distracted to keep us from saying what God says about us. Satan tries to wear people out and wear them down—emotionally, physically, and financially. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

When we pray the Word of God with our voices, we have the power to bring heaven to earth. Our heavenly sprinkler system is activated to bring help and to change the atmosphere and to run the devil out of our lives.

The Bible says that when we pray the Word of God, angels hearken to the voice of the Word of God. Psalm 103:1-22 praises God’s sovereignty over all His creation, yet it also shows His awareness and care of us as individuals.

That is great news my friends.

There is something to be thankful for in life—God knows us by name and He goes to extreme measures to care for His own. Those convinced that God rules have a distinct advantage over those who believe things happen randomly. Nothing escapes God’s all seeing eye. Don’t give up today. Activate heaven’s angels—by praying the Word of God.

We must renew our minds in the Word of God—because that is where the enemy attacks.

With many years of ministry, I have come to learn there are three types of Christians. Many simply receive salvation but don’t realize there is more in Jesus Christ. The second type is the Christian who received salvation and moves to the place of surrender and allows Jesus to be Lord of their life and starts to grow.

The third type of Christian is the one who has been saved, knows Jesus as Lord, and moves to listening to the LORD through the Holy Spirit and obeying His leading and teachings. We are all on a journey of faith.

If you are being attacked in your mind or in any other area, there is more to experience in Jesus Christ. You may be experiencing attack in your marriage, your family or some other relationship, your health, business, or it may be a friend. Choose to activate the Word of God in your life and know that even a small amount of the Water of God’s Word will bring change and give you hope for full recovery of all. It brings new life just like a flower that begins to bloom.

God’s Word says, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint” (Jeremiah 31:25).

Like my friend’s mom who is learning to live again—choose life today. 

Waiting for someone to apologize is like trying to jump across the ocean in a single leap. No matter how wide the gulf may be between you and that particular person—it may be your mom, your dad, a brother or sister, your own children, your spouse, a longtime friend, or a friend who turned out not to be such a good friend, to a relative or business associate—choose to release it to God and trust His timing.

I can assure you that you will never be capable of making anyone apologize for bad behavior. As a matter of fact, if you can convince someone to apologize through manipulation or any other way, you have achieved nothing but mere words. Words do not indicate a heart change.

Life is way too short to hold a grudge or to waste another moment waiting for someone else to do the right thing. You only have control over your own behavior and choices. When you choose to forgive someone, even if they don’t apologize, the healing can begin.

While the person is alive, you might want to make things right from your end because life is fragile and no one is promised another day. God’s Word says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV).

There are no perfect people, no perfect relationships, and no perfect families. There is only one God that can bring healing and He alone is perfect. He is God and the only One who can extend perfect love and grace to each of us as we turn to Him.

Choose to make 2016 the best year ever by extending grace where it may not even be deserved—because none of us deserved God’s grace, mercy, and love.

Forgiveness is the key to bringing about your destiny and watching God open new doors for you to walk through. Choose to forgive and live!

Deborah Starczewski

For all of you who have lost someone to cancer, early death, tragedy, a broken heart,  a miscarriage, to an untimely event that took out a loved one by death—please take time to read the words below.

 A friend shared this card with us and we hope it touches your heart the way it did ours. Christmas is a time of year when people are not only joyful but it can also be a time of sadness—missing our loved ones.

Christmas can be a time when people are lonely and shut in with no one to celebrate the holidays with them. Make sure to look for those who perhaps don’t have family and invite them to spend time with you.

Don’t fall for the trap of disconnecting from people—for that is one of the enemy’s tactics to isolate you from the love of God. We are to be the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus to others.

Written by someone unknown on a card:

“I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below, with tiny lights like heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow. The sight is so spectacular–please wipe away the tear, for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear many Christmas songs that people hold so dear, but the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir up here. I have no words to tell you the joy their voices bring, for it is beyond description to hear the Angels sing.

I know how much you miss me. I see the pain in your hearts. I am so far away, but we really aren’t apart. So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear. And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift from my heavenly home above. I sent you each a special memory of my undying love. After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold. It was always most important in stories Jesus told. Please love and keep each other as my Father said to do. For I can’t count the blessings or love He has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear. Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Merry Christmas!”

In honor of all those gone before us!

God bless you!

Deborah Starczewski