Christmas Preparation Blessings

photo credit:  www.sja-catholicchurch.com

This Christmas season has been very different for my family. In fact, if I am truthful, 2018 has been very hard, challenging, but also very blessed. I have a new appreciation, more understanding and a deeper intimacy for Jesus and the meaning of Christmas. The scripture that God continues to lead me to is Isaiah 40:3-5 of the Prophet Isaiah’s foretelling decree. The Lord also continues to speak to me revealing, “It is a time to prepare.” I continue to seek and ask for God’s wisdom, “Prepare for what God?” The scripture says,

 

“A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.””

 

For my family 2018 began with Kendall’s heart surgery to repair her congenital heart defect at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. This was one of the scariest times in my life where I had to depend on the Holy Spirit to show me how to surrender Kendall to God just as Abraham did his son Isaac when he walked him up the mountain to sacrifice his son being obedient to the Lord. In the midst of this unknown, Abraham trusted and believed in God knowing that God was going to provide an answered prayer that he in the moment could not conceive or comprehend. In my yielding to God, God brought a miraculous outcome of Kendall’s complete healing in the name of Jesus. 2018 has also been a year of many moves and transitions that were uncomfortable, unplanned, but again as I learned to yield to God’s plan, my family and I saw a promotion from the Lord. New doors and opportunities were given to us that were not possible in our own strength, but with God all things are possible. 

 

Then just this week, my dad had surgery to remove part of his colon where unexpectedly colon cancer was found. He had no symptoms so this diagnosis came as a shock to us all. As we prayed for my dad, anointed him and again released and yielded my dad to God, God again performed a miracle with a successful surgery but more importantly the news that the cancer had not spread anywhere else in his body. To hear this news, I instantly knew that God heard the desires of our hearts and petitioned prayers. I wept for joy, I praised the Lord, I worshipped Him and I surrendered even more of my life to Him where I did not even think it was possible to give any more of myself than what I had already done. 

 

Christmas for me this season has not been about gifts, a Christmas tree or decorations which is still not done nor do I intend to do it, but about PREPARING more of myself, my life, my way of being and seeking more of the Kingdom of God……Matter of fact, it has been about PREPARING for the coming of Jesus not just this Christmas season, but every day, every detail of my life so that it reflects to others that they may come to know or become in a more intimate relationship with Jesus. Friends, this is the only true gift that is worth living for and receiving, and His name is JESUS.

I pray you have and/or receive this gift. May you have a most joyful and blessed Christmas PREPARING! With love and in His grip, LaDawn Knicely

 

PS - I am taking a sabbitacle from social media to focus more on the Lord.

Becoming the Fragrant Aroma of Christ

This evening I went to the river bed of Beaver Creek where several years ago I would regularly come to be in the living waters and presence of the Lord.  These waters are very sacred to me because I would hear the voice of the Lord who gave me guidance during significant transitions in my life.

I didn't realize it until I was sitting there writing that I am again in a significant transition of my life.  Again God is closing the door of my current residence to another place of not knowing where that place may be.  It is almost exactly five years ago when I heard the voice of the Lord instruct me to sell my house and all of my possessions.  On July 4th, 2013, I accepted an offer on my personal home that I did not want to sell. God revealed to me that it was necessary in order for Him to lead me into my vocation which would fulfill His divine purpose through a ministry.

Sitting here, I recognize that God was not only testing me, but setting me free of who I thought I had to be.  In that moment of God instructing me to sell my home, it was the moment of preparation and equipping me for ministry.  As I reflect now of God's divine works in me, He was aligning my will with His divine will.  He was transforming my heart's desire for the things that He desired of me to walk out my faith journey to Serve and Love His people.

The teachings that He instilled in me through this process was about becoming the fragrant aroma of Christ.  Those teachings are prayer, repentance, witness, love, surrender and obedience.  These teachings have been a process of sacrifice which is exactly what Christ did for us when He lamented in despair and asked God three times, "Let this cup pass from me if it is your will."  It was a time of aligning Christ's will with His Father's that came with a reckless sacrifice and incomprehensible Love for all of humanity, our past sins, and future sins.

No wonder God looked upon Jesus and said, "My beloved, with you I am well pleased."  Jesus' sacrifice was a fragrant aroma to God where He now sits at the right hand of God.  Our sacrifices too are a fragrant aroma to God because we are becoming like minded with Jesus.  And before Jesus departed to heaven, He promised us that, "We are going to do even greater things than He because He is going to the Father on our behalf."  What comfort and peace He gives us so that no matter what is asked of us or we are going through, when we take that next step with confidence trusting and knowing that God already has it all worked out for our good despite us not knowing or seeing where that may be.

I have tasted and seen His goodness over and over again in my life.  This is why I can be at peace during this next transition of not knowing where He is going to open the doors for me to live.  Friends, remember that no matter what the enemy tries to throw at us, Colossians 2:15 says, "The fragrant offering disarmed the power and authorities."  So, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"  Remain focused on Jesus and in all things be the pleasing sacrifice and aroma for God for our rewards are eternal and not of this world.

What aroma are you spreading?

Acts of a negative attitude or sinful nature which in Galatians 5:19-21 states is, "Sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery (lusts), idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like."  This aroma warns us that, "Those who live a life like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God." 

Continue to seek Him more so that you can "Keep in step with Spirit" being filled with the fruit of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  By this, others will smell and know the fragrant aroma of Christ Jesus.  Amen. 



 

God's Promises Despite Challenging Lambing Season

This lambing season has been the most challenging lambing season Kendall and I have ever experienced in our eight years of doing this.  Our very first ewe to lamb had triplets.  Only one has survived.  I believe if we would not have tubed him for ten days, we would have lost him too.  The triplets were born premature and did not know how to suck.  It took Kaleb ten days before he began to suck on his own taking a bottle.  This was exhausting because he could only handle two ounces of milk at a time every two hours.  The next ewe had a healthy lamb that took right off sucking.  The third ewe had twins.  They were very tiny, but they were very aggressive.  They have done well except for one of the lambs was born with an eyelid condition called entropin.  The lambs eyelid turned inward which was penetrating the cornea of the eye irritating it.  I had to have the vet out to staple its eyelid back into correct position hoping that it will stay once the staples are removed.  The fourth ewe who we were most excited about, she was in labor and pushed for two hours before having her lambs.  They were huge lambs and this was her first year.  Because the lambs were so big, she ended up having a rectal and vaginal prolapse.  I missed this within the first 24 hours of her giving birth.  When I left the farm that evening, the babies were up sucking just fine.  When I went up to feed the next morning, one of the twins was already dead and the other one very weak.  Kendall and I tubed it, then we rushed it to the vet knowing we did not have much time.  That evening the other twin passed away.  Our most recent ewe delivered twins.  They were both very tiny and premature.  The one was so weak, that it died with in 30 minutes of delivery.  The next lamb, the mom would not accept, which also could not suck. It also died. 

The next day, Saturday morning I was at the farm at 5:30 am because I was a part of Every Soul Women's Conference in Broadway where 600 women were going to be in attendance. To my surprise, when I went to feed Channel, she was lying dead with a complete prolapse.  I was devastated and began to cry wondering why all of these bad things were happening.  I had hoped that she did not suffer.  It crossed my mind to not go to the Women's Conference, but then I thought, "No, I am not going to let the enemy have authority over me."  I decided to go to the Women's Conference and expose the enemy's lies, deceit and tactics.  Once at the Conference, my prayer partners prayed over me and anointed a cloth for me to tie on my arm.  As they were praying for me, I began to weep because God revealed to me that the loss of the ewe was not for nothing.  God said that the ewe was a sacrifice for deliverance for the women that would be in attendance at the Conference.  I was so humbled and could only say, "Yes, Lord let it be so as you have said and done.  Your ways are higher and greater than what I can understand or comprehend."   What was sobering was that earlier in the week I dreamed that Channel had died.  God was preparing me for this even though at that time I was in denial about the dream. 

With so much loss in a short period of time, I was reflecting and asking God the meaning and purpose of the premature lambs that didn't know how to suck.  God revealed that it is all a part of my preparation in learning how to teach the spiritually immature how to suck spiritual milk so that they may be strengthened and taught for the spiritual battles that are about to intensify as we enter into the days of Noah.

God has given me recurring dreams of devastation and chaos that is about to come where unrepentant sinners will be lost who have not heeded the warnings and urgency of devastation that is to come. As these things begin to unfold, God revealed that there will be masses coming for spiritual milk.   As they come, God is increasing my capacity to shepherd to the masses while teaching me how to depend on God to provide all that is needed.  Even though the work will be endless, God is showing me how remain in Him so that I am fully refreshed and empowered by the authority of the Holy Spirit regardless of what is happening and going on around me.

My prayer is that the Churches and individuals wake up to the warnings turn to God professing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior while there is time.

   

The Joy and Sorrow This Lambing Season - The Same with Our Faith

Mine and Kendall's lambing season has been joyful and sorrowful so far this season. To date we had a set of triplets with only one surviving that I had to tube feed for 10 days  before it learned to suck on its own. We then had a very health girl, another set of feisty twins and then last evening another set of twins where we knew one was weak. My entire family helped me and worked with both lambs until we had them both sucking and they were up and about. These were large lambs so when I left the farm at 11 pm I was not concerned for their health.

 

However, when I got to the farm first thing this morning to feed, to my surprise I found the first born twin dead. The other one looked very weak. While I carried the dead lamb to be buried, I was waiting for Kendall to bring me colostrum so that we could tube nutrients directly into her stomach.

 

As I carried the dead lamb to be buried, I felt a sense of such deep sorrow and grief. In the Bible God always uses us, His children as a metaphor as His Sheep and Him as the Shepherd. I found myself wondering if this is how God must feel when He loses one of his children who is not saved. Just as God said, "He does not want to lose even one of His sheep."  I too had been diligent, nurturing and persistent in trying to save all of our lambs because I too do not want to lose even one. I thought how God must grieve for the lost, broken souls. It was also a realization that even though God is constantly working in believers and non-believers lives, not all will be saved.

 

Kendall arrived so we tubed the other lamb. She still was very weak so we took her to the vet for a steroid and other shots to hopefully boost her energy. We took her home to get her warm,  and we tubed her again. I knew her survival was bleak, but we kept rubbing her, wrapped her in a towel, had a heater blowing on her trying to give her hope and a will to live. Kendall and I watched her slowly slip away. I reflected again how sorrowful God must be when non-believers and believers do not recognize when God is with us, protecting us, wooing us in and nurturing us. He is always pursuing us even when we are spiritually dead, rebellious or oblivious to His presence.

 

This reflection on the loss of these two lambs and feeling deep sorrow perhaps was just a glimpse of how God must feel for His lost sheep who have wondered away or are dry bones. My grief was not only for the loss of our lambs,  or the ewe mothers as I watched them too grieve as I took their dead lambs away, but also for how far humanity has strayed from God and are walking through life spiritually dead and in blatant sin.

 

I reached out to a sister in Christ and lamented to her my deep sorrow asking if humanity has gone to far away from God wondering if there is hope, and if in fact I am making an impact in others lives. Of course I know that there is hope because of what Jesus did on the cross, but there are times when I question what I am doing and if it is all in vain. My sister shared great wisdom stating, "It is Yeshua's mighty heart and hand to deal with mortal's and their disobedience...we are planters of the word ... Matt. 13.... the sower. Yes, we love unconditionally and the pain within our physical and spiritual selves hurts deeply. Yeshua does not want His righteous sheep to totally take all of the pain.... lay it down at His feet with the tears...Sister...He knows."  Then I reflected that it must be how Jesus felt in the Garden of Gethsemane when he was overcome with despair knowing what He was being called to do for all of broken humanity    She then shared, "Yes, it is a lot like the garden....Hope was crucified for all. The difference may not and most likely will not be seen here on earth by mortal eyes and hearts but only by the heavenly eyes. We take on that sorrow but we do have to hand it over. We are not immortal we are flesh.... and the flesh was weak in Eden."

 

As I was sitting on a round bale in the bank barn spending time with God when I wrote this reflection,  what I noticed was Faith sitting in my lap.  Faith is a stray cat that showed up a couple of months ago that I began to feed twice a day who has become our barn cat.  Faith was sitting in my lap with love, contentment and peace.  The very thing that I was questioning about my life, humanity and if the work that God has called me to do was making a difference, right there in my lap was the answer.....in the midst of all the joy and sorrow I must always have FAITH continuing to look at Jesus knowing that His promises are irrevocable; knowing that what He has begun, He will complete to fruition; knowing that it is all a part of God's plan and that He is the Alpha and Omega in control of each and everything.  After rubbing Faith as she laid in my lap, I did just release all of my sorrows, doubts and grief to God by taking the time to be still and to lament to God. 
 
Friends, we are not promised the next day.  Do you know if you were to pass in the next hour, day or year,  is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?  Do you know without a doubt that you will spend eternity with God?  Remember, you are God's beloved and He does not want to lose even one of His sheep.  An interesting fact is that with our small flock of eleven, our sheep know our voice and follow us when we call them.  Do you know the voice of God who is calling you to follow Him?  If you are uncertain how to know or discern this, please message me so that I can share more with you.  In God's grip and FAITH!      

A NEW YEAR PROMISE...RESTORATION

I received this New Year word from the Lord weeks before Christmas. I actually shared this message at our church service on January 14th, 2018, prior to my daughter, Kendall's closed heart surgery.  I believe that this word was not only for me and my family, but I believe that it is a word for everyone who feels like you have been wrestling, fighting and contending for what God has promised you, but is yet to come to pass.  I believe that this is the appointed year that you will see your breakthrough. 

The excitement of the season of Christmas has come and gone, but the birth of Jesus’ purpose and mission continues to be at work.  How would our life be different if we felt this excitement for Jesus not only during Christmas, but each day of our lives?  Our scripture reading today in Ephesians 4:12-13 tells us a specific purpose of why Jesus came which is, “To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”  If we truly lived and embodied the whole measure of the fullness of Christ, how would our life be different? 

            Paul shares with us that Christ came with the intention and purpose for each of us to participate with God’s mission of all creation and humanity healed and restored.  For those of us who say YES to participate with God’s mission, it says that we will grow in knowledge and faith becoming MATURE where we will attain the “Whole Measure of the fullness of Christ.”  It does not say that once we know everything about God, the Bible, or we are comfortable that God will use us.  NO, it says that while we are doing the work of God, we are growing and attaining maturity.     

            How often do we use excuses that,  “God can’t use me because I don’t have a higher education, I don’t know or understand the bible completely, or one that I hear often, I don’t have enough faith.”  If we always wait until we think we are ready, we would never be ready to minister, to serve or witness to others. 

            Paul is revealing to us that right where we are at on our journey, we are to serve and minister to others.  As we are serving and ministering to others, God is at work in us shaping us into a spiritually mature individual.

            In a New Testament Commentary by author Tony Merida, he points out 4 Traits of becoming a spiritually mature person.

1.  Longing individually and as a Church to be “Christ-like.”  We can go back to Eph 4:2-3 to hear what Paul describes as Christ-like qualities:  “humble, gentle, patient, bearing one another in Love, making every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.  No longer shall we act like infants who are immature and don’t know any better.  When we are living spiritually immature lives it says we will be tossed back and forth, we will be blown whichever way the wind blows spiraling out of God’s will.

2.  We increase our knowledge in the word of TRUTH.  As we increase our knowledge in what the Bible teaches, we gain wisdom so that we can discern false teachings such as “there is more than one way to get to heaven, or as long as you believe in God you will go to heaven, or all religions are the same because there is more than one way to God.”  These are all false.  Our knowledge in the TRUTH of God’s word prevents us from being deceived.

3.  TRUTH must be joined with LOVE.  There is a song that I love that says, “The truth is harder than a lie.”  As Christians, we are to be truthful in all of our dealings with others, even when it hurts or is difficult to confront.  1 Timothy 3:15, shares how we are to conduct ourselves as a body of Christ which he describes as “the pillar and foundation of the truth.”  Individually and as a church body we are called to live, act and speak in TRUTH with LOVE.  In truth with LOVE.  1 Cor 13 begins with Paul stating, “And now I will show you the excellent way.”  The most excellent way or spiritually mature way is LOVE – TRUTH joined with LOVE.  1 Cor. 13:1-13 

4.  We are to give of ourselves to the service of others as a body of Christ.  Each of us has unique gifts and talents.  We each are a part of the body of Christ, God the foundation and Christ the Cornerstone.  We each are necessary in order for each of us to continue to grow where we build each other up in and through love.  So if one of us falls or is weak, we have each other to carry the burden or to intercede on behalf of the other.  Gal 6:1-2 states, “Brothers if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.  But watch yourself or you also may be tempted.  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” 

            It is a time to Arise and Shine for the things that Jesus Christ came to give us.  It is not for just the season of Christmas, but it is for all days.  It is a time to let our life reflect all that Christ came to do for us.  We just celebrated the Birth of Jesus Christ which is also a celebration of our own lives through Christ.  Isaiah, in Isaiah 60 shares God’s promises and fulfillment to us through Christ.  It says, “Arise and Shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”  It further states that, “He has endowed us with His splendor.”

            During advent, we focused on four promises that Jesus came to give us so that we could have New opportunities through open doors of heaven coming down to earth:  Do you remember them?

·         HOPE that made a way

·         My PEACE I leave with you

·         He fills our hearts with JOY of the Lord

·         We LOVE because He first LOVED us – LOVE breaks all barriers.

I love that Isaiah 60, that is instructing us to Arise and Shine, is followed by Isaiah 61 called, “The Year of the Lord’s Favor.”  What exactly does The Year of the Lord’s Favor mean?  It is RESTORATION.  Everything that the enemy stole, deceived or hindered us from experiencing the fullness Christ, God is promising to RESTORE it.  Restore not only means that which has been taken from us to be given back, but it also means that it will be multiplied where “we will receive a double portion from the Lord’s hand.”   As a body of believers, we do not need to fear whatever circumstances or trials we are faced with because of the Lord’s promises to us.  It is these moments that is training and equipping us with spiritual maturity where we are becoming in the likeness of Christ with increased wisdom, knowledge, truth, and love.  Our relationship with God  is an ongoing tension of experiencing birth pains along with hope.  It is in this tension that we know God is preparing us for a breakthrough.  Something new is about to happen.  Restoration is taking place.  

            As most of you know, Kendall is having surgery this week to correct a congenital heart defect.  We were at Johns Hopkins on Friday for her pre-op and consultation with the surgeon.  Kendall has suffered with pain, intense discomfort, and limited her social outings of things such as simply not being able to eat out at a restaurant.  I was reflecting on our appointment that we had a Johns Hopkins paralleling to how it is similar to our relationship with God.  Our appointment at Johns Hopkins was amazing and uplifting giving us hope for her healing, but it also came with truth from the surgeon about the risks with any surgery which was emotional also for us.  It is the same with our relationship with God.  It is amazing and uplifting because of the hope that Christ gave us, but it also comes with TRUTH that can be at times overwhelming and yes, our relationship with God risky. 

            The facts about Kendall’s upcoming surgery caused tension of raw emotion and data of truth from the surgeon.  God leads us to those places of tension.  We know that God has led us to Johns Hopkins, and has revealed signs to us that she is to have this done, but in our flesh we may fear, have uncertainties or perhaps even doubt.  It is these moments in the tension that God is deepening our relationship with Him by increasing our trust, obedience and submission aligning us with God’s will.  Our lives are always navigating between that tension of surrendering our control and plans that can be heart wrenching that is aligning our will with God’s will for God’s purposes in that His glory may be shown for all to see. 

            His glorious acts are so that we don’t forget, that we remember what God has done for us.  When we remember, then we willingly tell others about what God has done for us.  Our testimony then is showing God’s glory to others of what we have suffered and endured, but God heard and answered our prayers.  In our submission to God, we count it all joy with our praises to God knowing that He is working all things out for His glory for those that LOVE God. 

            We see this throughout the Bible with others submission, remembering, obedience, and praises to the Lord trough Abraham who nearly sacrificed his son, Isaac.  Noah who was ridiculed for building an ark in the middle of dry land, Hannah who daily prayed for a son for years at the temple, Daniel who lived in captivity under King Nebecheneezer, Joseph who was a thrown in a well to die by his brothers, David often looked foolish for the way he danced and sang before the Lord, the disciples were martyrs for Christ and then of course, Christ, who was crucified.  What each of these individuals exhibited (and there are many others not named from the Bible) was their submission, remembrance, obedience, and praises to the Lord.  These individuals found TRUTH, LOVE, GRACE and MERCY in the midst of their moments by living in that tension of risk, emotional unrest, as well as uplifting HOPE through their relationship and commitment to follow God despite their circumstance, trials or pain. 

            From that tension, they continued to press forward persevering for the Promises from the Lord.  Their perseverance for the Lord, found them FAVOR in the eyes of the Lord.  We too are being called to ARISE and SHINE; to step out and live in the that tension that is asking us to be fools for the Lord, to the Christ-like examples to profess and proclaim the word of the Lord by speaking TRUTH in love even when it hurts because we are in desperate times of a world with increased moral decay, tolerance to sinful actions and behaviors, and signs of humanity and creation groaning as a result of turning away from God. WE are being called to walk against the ways of this world and in doing so; we will find FAOR in the eyes of the Lord. 

            In the Lord’s Favor it tells us in Is 61 that “we will have the Spirit of the Lord upon us who has anointed us for an appointed time.  He will use us to share the good news – to be a testimony to the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, those living in darkness as prisoners to the enemy.

            God is saying that in 2018 no matter what any of us may be faced with in this moment that we are to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.  It is a time for healing and restoration where we will inherit a double portion with everlasting joy.  But there is one thing on our part that we must do in order to see the breakthrough, and that is we must CONTEND for God’s promises to us.  We must CONTEND, PERSEVERE and ENDURE because the enemy is lurking to try to delay, hinder or prevent us from receiving our promises.  You know that your prayers are about to be answered when all hell and chaos is breaking lose around you.  We have this example with the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years after Moses leading them out of slavery from Egypt.  Our answered prayers often come by contending for them because we are fighting a spiritual battle that does not want us operating in our manifested destiny. 

            Karen Hardin, a pastor and author gives the account of Jacob in Genesis 32:22-31 who contended for his miracle and blessing.  It says that Jacob wrestled and he said, “I will not let You go, unless you bless me.”  After Jacob wrestled with God and man, He was blessed.  While we are contending, God is at work in us and aligning our will to His will by His divine steps and order.  We see this character of God in the account of Genesis in how he orderly created creation in six days. 

            What promises has God given you?  God’s promises and plans are irrevocable.  His plans do not change; He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  He knew the plans he had for each of us before we were even conceived in our mother’s wombs.  He created us for destinies.  He gave us those desires to further His Kingdom work.  God wants us to know that we are to continue to CONTEND for the things he has promised and DO NOT GIVE UP.  2 Chronicles 15:7 says, “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."     RESTORATION is coming, but we must CONTEND for it.  While we are CONTENDING, God is drawing us in a closer dependence and relationship to Him.  He is refining us to be more Christ-like.  We will seek more of His TRUTH, WORD, KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM.  With increased TRUTH, He is softening us with His LOVE so that we may LOVE others which then propels us into our destiny to serve others.  This is all a part of God’s purposes and mission of equipping us, “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” This is God’s PROMISE that we may live in the fullness of Christ where all of our needs are met.  He does not promise it will be easy, but we must always CONTEND for it while all along counting it all joy praising our Savior all the day long.  Because He is victorious, we already have victory!  Don’t stop CONTENDING for the PROMISES.  Amen.