I can’t tell you where I saw this car, but suffice it to say that today I traveled in both Palestinian and Israeli controlled areas. Either way, the owner of this car put a bullseye on their back…on purpose! They didn’t have to let anyone know they believe in Jesus; and yet, they have put it out there for everyone to see. Believers in Jesus are not warmly embraced in either country.
This is a huge and costly step of faith they’ve taken. They will either grow stronger in their faith as they choose each day to respond the way Jesus would to the slights, the stares and the stones they will face, all of which can lead to one’s drug of choice. Or, they will wilt under the intense daily pressure by running away – either emotionally or physically.
You might not deal with the same kind of pressure this believer faces each day, but the moment you placed your faith in Jesus, you choose to put a bullseye on your back…on purpose! Your enemy wants to intimidate, harass and unhinge you so you turn to your drug of choice rather than to Jesus.
Don’t attempt to cover up your bullseye. Instead, choose to keep putting up your shield of faith in the specific truths the Spirit has given you. This way your faith will continue to grow stronger with each passing day.
S“E”t Free Nowww

Capernaum was Jesus’ home base and the location where He began His ministry. It’s name in Hebrew is actually two words, Kephar Nachum, and means, “the village of the comforter.” It was no coincidence Jesus camped out here.
Long before He was born, the Bible revealed in Isaiah 9 that this area would be called “the Galilee of the nations/gentiles,” not Israel. And yet there would come a time when the people would see a great light that would ease their burden.
Who was going to ease that burden? Jesus. He would be the light that would shine into their hearts to change them from the inside out. No matter how much outside pressure they faced, they could be at peace on the inside.
We head to our drugs of choice because of inside pressure; but when we’re at peace within, we don’t need them. Jesus is your comforter. He is the One who can bring light into any situation and bring comfort no matter what you’re facing.
S“E”t Free Nowww

A number of people have told me, “Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, it did. I keep saying, ‘Wow,’ every place you take us on this trip.” Each day we are meeting new people of different nationalities and faiths while experiencing Israel. Each day we are visiting new places that bring the Bible alive. It’s one wow experience after another.
This particular day ended with our group praying for peace in Syria on the Israel-Syrian border. We repeated this the next day at the Lebanon-Israel border as well.
Each day can be a new experience with Jesus. It can and should have a ‘wow’ factor every time we filter our decisions through the Word of God. It comes each time we choose to listen to and follow Jesus in our daily situations.
Don’t let your enemy rob of this good feeling as it comes from Jesus Himself. He is saying, “I am proud of you!” It’s okay to be wowed by your Jesus. It’s okay to feel good about making His kind of choices. Yes, life can really get better.
Set Free Now“W”w

Pictured is Tel Hazor, a city that controlled a stretch of the famous Via Maris that ran from Babylon to Egypt. Joshua destroyed this city along with it’s king, Jabin.
Yet, Deborah and Barak defeated Jabin of Hazor not even 150 years later. Error? No. This story in Judges 4 illustrates the principle that if you don’t defeat your drug of choice now, you’ll face it again and again until you do.
Joshua took out all the major Canaanite players and turned the mop operations over to that generation and their children. But they didn’t finish the job. Why? This is where the second picture comes into play.
This area was very fertile. The people saw how good they had it, got tired of war and instead of cleaning out all the remaining nations Joshua left behind, they left certain cities alone or made slaves of the remaining ones. In other words, they settled for less than following what God said to do. They said, “God, my drug (way of handling life) isn’t that bad. I’ve had enough. I don’t want to fight anymore. I’m okay the way I am.” This left the door open for this Canaanite people to regroup and get even stronger down the line; thus, Jabin 2.
The moment you settle is the moment you decide to continue fighting this drug again. Maybe not today, but you will tomorrow. When the Spirit asks for an area of your life, He’ll continue to bring pressure to bear until He’s exchanged you and your way of living with Jesus.
Deal with it now or deal with it later, but you will deal with it. Choose to become more like Jesus today by using your biblical tools. This way you experience all the good stuff both now and later.
Set Free Now“W”w

This is a picture of Caesarea where King Herod built one of the ancient world’s largest ports. In doing so, he was both cheap and vain.
He built to impress others, especially Caesar. Yet, he built these columns with cheap sandstone and then covered them with a plaster, which when dried looked like marble. Though cheaply built, he wanted that “wow” factor when his guests saw them.
How much of what we do is driven by such insecurity? We want to give off a strong and successful “wow” impression on the outside; yet live in fear of others discovering who we’re really like underneath!
Jesus came to give us security as children of God. Jesus looks past the “wow” factor to the real you and says, “I re-made and am re-making you in My image and still love and will love you every step of the way.”
My friends, use your biblical tools to be comfortable in our own skin. As this happens, you don’t need your drugs to prop you up. Jesus does. He gives you the power to hear and follow Him throughout your day, which results in strength and success – the real “wow” factor. He is the rock, the real foundation for feeling good about yourself, regardless of whether others are wowed or not.
“S”et Free Nowww