The Relationship vs. Religion Distinction – The Father’s Heart Revelation "The more you're around a Sunday morning environment, the more you have to be aware of this: Most of what people call faith is just cultural conditioning—what I call ‘Churchianity.’ It’s not the real thing. There’s a massive difference between being religious and having a real relationship with the Father." "See, a religious heart can be well-behaved. It can comb its hair, show up on time, and know all the right answers. But a religious heart does not mean a connected heart. A religious heart does not mean a transformed heart. And if you don’t make the distinction, you can spend years thinking you’re in deep with God when, in reality, you’re just playing the game at a high level." "So here’s what I want you to get: it’s not about performing for God. It’s about partnering with Him. It’s about asking, ‘Who did He create me to be?’ and walking in that. Not trying to earn something you already have. Not trying to force fruit to grow when it’s supposed to come naturally out of connection." "Jesus didn’t come just to get you a ticket to heaven. He came to restore something—oneness with the Father. He said, ‘I and the Father are one.’ And then He turns to us and says, ‘Just like the Father sent Me, I send you.’ The goal isn’t behavior modification. The goal is unity. The goal is the relationship." "And here’s the wildest part—this is what flips the tables on everything most people believe: The Father is not some distant, uninterested figure in the sky waiting for you to get it together. He is active. He is close. He is involved. And His desire is that we know Him like Jesus knew Him." "That’s why the Bible says, ‘You’ll do even greater things than I did.’ Because we weren’t meant to just admire Jesus from a distance. We were meant to walk in the same relationship He had with the Father." "Most people settle for religion because it’s safer. Religion is a rulebook—it gives you steps to follow, things to do, ways to measure yourself. But relationship? Relationship requires trust. Relationship requires letting go of control. Relationship means waking up every day and saying, ‘Father, what are we doing today?’ instead of trying to force some perfect formula."

Have You Ever Been Alone with God? BY OSWALD CHAMBERS When they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. —Mark 4:34 Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage? We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, “Oh, I’m so unworthy.” We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. [read that again] Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear. --- Fun Fact: No one would know of Oswald, who died at 43 from infected appendix surgery, if it were not for his wife, Biddy. After his death, Biddy, a young widowed mom, curated ALL his works from 30 years writing, journaling, teaching and preaching at bible colleges and churches.

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.

Take the step into your Invincible future 🙌🏽

1. to be able, have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom 2. to be able to do something 3. to be capable, strong and powerful Found this cool word this morning, in Revelation. It's Greek. Seems our role as men is to be ever-increasing our Dynamai, or strength of ability. To do this, here's the only key we need to remember: John 15 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Simple yet profound spiritual math ;) PS. You're supposed to be strong and abundant 💪🏽 PSS. This image is a strong way of envisioning the spiritual realty of a huge part of our role as men. The forces of this world are clawing at our souls, our minds, our families, our kids. This is essentially how I see myself in the world, for my family and friends... minus the wings. Let us build our Dynamai!