Hey fellas. I began praying this over our Roll call group after our last meeting. As the Lord works, I met Micah in person by divine appointment today @ Starbucks. There is power here that all of us have access to. 🙌🏼https://www.audible.com/pd/B00DVQDBWY?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=library_overflow Also, I’m riding 67 miles tomorrow for Bike MS - if anyone feels led or has family with MS I’d appreciate your support. 🙏🏼 https://events.nationalmssociety.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=572659

Introduction: The Box as a Tool for Freedom Most of us talk about "putting people in their place" when what we should be doing—if we are to stay in our peace, walk in our power, and love those who may be difficult to love—is putting them not in their place, but in their box. Lemme explain… Some relationships require clear boundaries to prevent repeated harm. But if we only focus on self-protection, we risk turning The Box into a fortress rather than a tool for true relational clarity and freedom. The Box Method ensures both offense and defense, allowing us to set wise, loving containment for others while maintaining our own peace and power. Why ‘The Box’? People say you shouldn’t put others in a box. I say, if you want peace in your life, you better put them in their right one. - If you don’t put people in their box, they’ll put you in theirs. - Freedom isn’t letting people run wild—it’s allowing them freedom to be who they are within the boundaries you set for your life, based on what they've proven they can handle without hurting you or others. - We know most people don’t think outside the box, or we wouldn’t have to tell them to do it so often. Boxes are not about judgment. They are about clarity—acknowledging who people are, how they behave, and how we engage with them without resentment or unrealistic expectations. How The Box Works: A 4-Step Framework Recognize & Accept (Reality Without Judgment) - Who is this person really? (Not who I wish they were.) - What are their consistent behaviors, not just isolated moments? - What are they actually capable of giving? (Emotional maturity, reliability, respect, etc.) Key Mindset Shift: You are not here to change them. The first step is acceptance. Define the Box (Clear Boundaries & Expectations) - "They can move freely inside here, but they can’t break the walls." - Think of ER restraints: soft, leather, or chemical—not punishment, but protection. - The size of the box is based on who they’ve shown themselves to be, not who you hope they’ll become. As the saying goes, "Once someone shows you who they are...believe them ;)"

Devotional today centered on Thomas’ doubting and replacing that doubt with belief. My prayer time got emotional as I earnestly asked Jesus to remove my doubts. I opened my eyes to a beautiful reminder of the trinity - 3 spatters of fallen tears - Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Nothing is wasted in His kingdom - keep fighting men. We are called to it, our loved ones require it & we are equipped for the battle in Christ.

Thoughts?

I had a epiphany like moment this new years eve....This year I had to work as there was a lot on the plate from taking Christmas week off. As well the kids were in Indiana visiting their moms side of the family and my family took off to return to Houston on Sunday.... it was just me. After work, driving to the grocery store, a sense of loneliness started to overcome me, a sense of self-pitty...A wo is me, that I had no one to spend new years eve with....it lingered for an hour or so....and I went along with my evening with a trip to the grocery store... While driving, in this state of pitty, an instant mental flash of lightning over came me, what I have grown to know as a message from god.... In a moment, quicker than the reaction time between and green light and a gas peddle, I was shown that being alone new years eve was not happenstance, but a decision, a decision of the heart..there was a purpose. God had a purpose. in that moment, I was reminded that I had been invited places of which I neither declined or accepted. This indecisiveness transitioned to angst, which grew into into loneliness. A lack of indecision because I was conflicted....my heart and spirit needed alone time, but my brain and worldly being desired new years eve. A dichotomy of spirt and world. Once I realized that I was choosing to spend the evening alone, my purpose changed, and once my purpose changed, my subsequent activities that night changed. I decided to pull on that string some more.... Once back from Publix, I opened the Journal for a pouring out of the heart, organization of the mind and a spiritual temperature test. Summarized...I sat down with God. I had to, he called me to, as I would one of my children that needed one on one time with their father. I was blessed that evening with vision, peace, purpose and an revitalized spirit. All of which stemmed from a purposeful decision to choose what the heart/spirt wants over the body. As a night of journaling and fellowship with god wound down, I was left with an understanding that we don't get to choose when god calls for one on one time. But we need to honor him and allow it. It's not going to be when we want, and it may not please us...No different than how it displeases my son when I hold him back from running off with friends so I can solidify an important life lesson without distraction.