Hi all,

Sorry you have not heard from me for a while – I will get back to the topics we have been discussing over the past few weeks. However, life is busy and I am currently traveling, so I have fallen behind on my writing. I am currently in Wisconsin; I was just recently was in Northern Michigan. The Lord is moving and working like He always does, and I am so humbled to see Him work and touch people with His message of Life. Just today I have seen the Lord do so many miraculous things that I wish I could share with you. So many years of bondage, misery, and pain are making sense for so many… people are recognizing God in it! He truly is bringing freedom for the frustrated.

The weather has been a bit difficult, and travel has been a challenge (I almost had a MAJOR car accident, but avoided it by God’s grace). However, the Lord has faithfully not let the weather impede ministry in anyway. I appreciate your continued prayer when He brings me to your mind, and I have sense you praying at many different points on this trip. May His will be done… Please continue to pray for open doors for ministry, open hearts to receive His message, and the resources for us to follow His call. His children are wounded and hurting like never before, and your faithful support enables us to continue to reach out with His life. Thank you.

I want to share an excerpt from my travel journal for you to reflect on this week. I pray that Lord will minister His life to you through this random thought.

I was in session with a mom and daughter last night, and the issue of obedience and sin came up. The foundational premise of most believers is that we have to be obedient to get and stay close to God. As I confronted this mindset, the question was raised, “then why does God give us commands and tell us to obey them?” Obedience does not make me closer to God; my right standing with Him is based in Christ alone. However, obedience does make me right with me. In other words, it harmonizes with who I really am as a child of God. Therefore, obedience can be boiled down to one simple principle. Either I believe what God says, or by my behavior I prove Him. There are no other alternatives.

Shalom my friends. May Jesus bless you with a revelation of just how near you really are to God.

Mike