What a blessing today’s class was. I knew originally we weren’t having class and when I saw the text come through I almost didn’t get on. To be honest I woke up extremely sad today and so did Jaz and it wasn’t easy getting her to go to school, but I have to teach her we have to continue on even when there are trials. Last Wednesday after Charlie’s death I already felt such a heaviness, really one I don’t ever feel at other times when I hear of a celebrity dying. I know why this was different, then the heaviness carried into the next day when I spoke with our caseworker for the adoption and she told me she had concerns. But that afternoon I had a choice to make. Take Jazlynn to be part of a parade with our dance studio or live in fear and sadness. We went to the parade and it was amazing to be able to worship God in the streets with a bunch of kids and teens with praise music. Singing and dancing. Fast forward to Monday and finding out birth mom decided to parent her baby. And knowing I had to tell Jaz. It might be one of the hardest things to do. Hearing Sean teach on Proverbs 17:3 had me think a lot about myself and my reactions this past week in our own personal furnace. I’ve said I trust God but wondering myself if I fully believe that I trust him. Was I only trusting because things seemed to be going so well. I am proud of how well I’m handling things. My friends are amazed that I’m not angry. But this is an opportunity for me to be an example for Jazlynn and those looking on and watching that even when this journey is hard we are still trusting God and we have a community of friends who are here for us and praying with us and quite literally holding me up. There are still blessings even in the valleys and I am trying to teach Jaz that, make Philip realize it, and the onlookers as well.

I just wanted to share how blessed I feel to be a part of this group and the wisdom I have learned in Gods word and Sean’s teachings. Today I got an email from Ancel who is sponsoring my YouTube channel where I teach and share Outboard motor repairs and maintenance. Ancel makes a diagnostic tool and has sponsored my channel. The email from them was to ask if I would have any way to promote a new product they have that is a thermal imaging camera. Gods timing is amazing as I was able to let them know that I am in Atlanta speaking about energy loss in commercial buildings and this tool will help people see thoses losses and that I need the full description of the product and discuss how we can partner. Gods Favor for sure! Amen! Now I’m off to enjoy the day with my girlfriend!

PREVIEW: What your reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death says about you. Proverbs 17 has the answer. It’s been one week since Charlie Kirk was gunned down on stage. One week since a man known for boldly confronting cultural lies with biblical truth was murdered—while doing what he’d done for years: refusing to remain silent. And now, one week later, the real headlines are not written by journalists. They’re written by people’s reactions. The glee.The mockery.The "he deserved it" commentary.The silence of some who should have spoken.The cheers of others who shouldn’t have. We are witnessing a national moment of exposure. Not just of political division—but of the hidden motives, fears, pride, and hate in the hearts of men. “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.” (Proverbs 17:3) We are in a furnace moment. And it’s not just happening “out there.”It’s happening in you. In me. In the Church. In the culture.And Proverbs 17 gives us divine insight into what God wants us to learn—about ourselves, our stewardship, and our relationships. SELF - What Pressure Reveals in You “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.”(Proverbs 17:3) This verse gives us the interpretive key for everything else in the chapter—and everything we’re watching unfold in culture. God uses heat to bring impurities to the surface. He allows conflict, loss, injustice, and even persecution to do something we resist: reveal who we really are. The word trieth in Hebrew (בָּחַן – bachan) means to test, to examine, to prove by pressure. The image here is of a smith holding silver in a refining pot, slowly increasing the heat until the dross separates. That’s what God is doing in you. That’s what He’s doing in your family. That’s what He’s doing in America. Charlie Kirk’s death is a furnace. And whether you’re rejoicing, raging, or retreating in silence, this moment reveals your heart. Ask yourself: - What came up in me when I heard the news? - Did I respond in prayer—or pride? - Did I feel sorrow—or smug superiority?

Today I read Proverbs 25 and verse 21 stood out to me it says “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD shall reward thee.” To me this speaks of the times that we are in. I feel the Lord is calling us into uncommon places to bring the fear of God back into the United States. Martin Luther King Jr overcame evil with good. As we press forward in the Lord’s call I pray we are all unshaken by the powers of evil that come against us and stand firm speaking the truth to all who would hear. And in the face of our enemy prepare for them food to eat because greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.

The fear of the Lord is strong confidence “is what Proverbs 14:26 says. And in Sean’s explination describing a fortified city guarding our hearts. I had a challenging day yesterday, you know one of those days where you wonder if what you are doing is right. Fortunately for me I have some good people around me that I can ask to guide me. This teaching calling the God has me in is a new learning experience and if I’m honest harder that I thought in some ways. A few kids pushed their limits to my breaking point and I had to draw the line with them and be stern. I shut down all activities and demanded they all sit in there seats with a loud stern voice. Two of the kids were saying they were sorry as I went on in this tone informing them that they would have been fired from their job on the spot if they were working in this field. Then I proceeded to try and wake them up with stories of people I worked with that never went home because of behavior like this the either killed them or crippled them for life. I continued that if I can’t trust you now I can’t trust you with the tools , electricity, refrigerant, and so many other dangerous activities. I let them sit for a few minutes to think about what just happened. Then I have then the last 10 minutes to clean up as I watched with my arms folded and no smile on my face. I told them then that they are so smart with what they have done so far but this behavior is grounds for dismissal from the program. I now realize I am blessed because most high schools teachers don’t have that power to take the kid out of a program. But these kids had to qualify to be in this HVaC shop class. So I prayed and asked that our almighty, all knowing, all powerful God of all understanding help me to keep the boundaries so these kids stay safe. I can only move forward with the confidence that God is my refuge and will give me the strength to continue to learn and manage what he has given me to do.