Pearls of Wisdom with Barb Twigg.

If you can't listen through your email, click here: It's All About Me.

Hello everyone, Jeanne Ritari from Minnesota, here guest-posting. I just had the most amazing encounter. It was for me, but it was also for you.

I don’t have to tell you that being a person of faith married to an unbeliever can be hard.
We can experience different degrees of opposition, from silent disapproval all the way
through active, hateful, even violent persecution. I recently acted with integrity in the
face of evil and suffered fairly serious consequences for myself and some of my family
members. I know God has my back, and I’m absolutely sure that he’s going to get us
through this to a better place. I have no regrets and very few anxious thoughts, though a
younger me might have been shaking my fist at God for permitting me to suffer for doing
the right thing.

Today there was a snippet of a verse playing around the edges of my mind. It felt as
though the Spirit was trying to throw something to me, but I kept dropping it. Finally,
sitting in a coffee shop, I caught it. The snippet was, “Rejoice and be glad,” and I knew it
was referring specifically to the time Jesus says it in Matthew 5:11-12:

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in
heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

I looked up the verse on my phone, and the whole passage of the Beatitudes came up.
The familiar words were no longer simply Jesus describing “the poor in spirit” and “the
meek” in an abstract, third-person fashion. It felt more like the scene at Jesus’ baptism,
when Heaven was opened and a voice said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I
am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) It was not audible, but very much the Father’s voice
as powerfully as I have ever heard it.

I had to leave the coffee shop and move to my car since there were tears pouring down
my face. The encounter continued:

You are poor in spirit, and the kingdom of heaven is yours.

You are mourning, but you will be comforted.

You are meek, but you shall inherit the earth.

You hunger and thirst for righteousness and you shall be filled.

You are merciful, and you will be shown mercy.

You are pure in heart, and you shall see Me.

You are a peacemaker and you are My child.

The words went straight from His heart to mine. As I recorded the encounter in my
journal (with much gladness and rejoicing!), I felt the Spirit nudge me to share this with
you, the SUMites. You are those who are blessed when your spouse (or others) insult
you and say all kinds of evil against you because of your faith. Rejoice and be glad, for
your reward in heaven is great!

Last week, I was listening to Lectio 365, an app that helps you ‘chew on the Word’ and they featured a story of a Frankish princess from the year 578. Her name was Bertha.

Much to my surprise, I soon realised it was a story of a faithful SUMite, who prayed for years for her husband, who eventually came to accept Jesus as his Lord.

It was wonderfully encouraging, and I thought I’d share it with our group for the same purpose. The words below are copied from the Lectio 365 app which I acknowledge for providing the content.

Queen Bertha

In the year 578, Bertha, a Frankish princess, moved to Canterbury in the English kingdom of Kent to marry its ruler Æthelberht. Catholic Christianity was not yet established in Britain and Æthelberht was a pagan King, but his new bride had a strong Christian faith.

Æthelberht restored an old Roman church as a private chapel for Bertha, which she visited daily, praying diligently for the conversion of her husband.

For 18 years, Bertha's daily prayers went seemingly unanswered. But in 597, a mission team sent by Pope Gregory the Great, and led by a monk named Augustine, arrived from Rome. Landing in Kent, they first preached the gospel to King Æthelberht who at last acknowledged the sovereignty of Christ.

Within a year, it is estimated that more than 10,000 people had followed Æthelberht example and converted to Christianity. On Christmas Day in 597, there was a mass baptism service. Largely because of Bertha’s support for the mission, Canterbury became a base for Christianity in England and, to this day, Canterbury is the spiritual home for millions of Anglicans around the world.

Bertha left no writings, and there is no record of her ever making a public speech or exercising political power. And yet, through her faithfulness in prayer, she had a huge impact on the evangelisation, not just of England, but other nations too. Today, her prayer chapel, dedicated to St Martin, is recognised by UNESCO as the oldest place of unbroken Christian worship and witness in the English-speaking world.

Bertha may have thought she was just praying for her husband, but she was also interceding for generations to come. The Lord heard the prayers she offered day after day in the chapel, and he used them to do immeasurably more than anything Bertha ever asked or imagined (Ephesians 3:20).

Reading it again gives me goosebumps! What an impact this humble lady had, in fact, her prayers changed the world.

Ours can too!

Yielding Prayer

To close I thought I’d provide the closing prayer Lectio 365 provided, and I invite you to pray it for both your partner and others the Lord has put on your heart.

"Father, I want to be more like Bertha, but I am impatient. Give me the strength to pray again today for my partner [name them] and the people you've put on my heart. Teach me to persevere with the kind of faithful prayer that you can use to change a life, and maybe even a nation."

I’ve found since listening to this meditation it’s reinvigorated my prayer for my partner and others who don’t know the Lord. I hope it may have the same effect on you.

Grace and peace, my friends

Note: Lectio 365 App, provided by 24x7 Prayer, Friday 2 May 2025, Morning Prayer.

I Can Choose by LuAnn Wendover. Prayer Leader on SUM Sisters: 

John 14: 4 

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 

John 14: 9 - 11 

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 

                   ***************************** 

Life has been complicated these days.  

Our household went from three (my husband, 93-year-old mother, and self) to the return of our youngest son, 30, a year and a half ago. And a few months ago, the addition of our eleven-year-old grandson and nine-year-old granddaughter.  

I never expected to be age 70 and back in the saddle as a full-time care giver. But here I am. A full plate.

 In many ways, it is a joy to have these young people in our lives on a daily basis. It almost feels like a do over, a chance to help raise our grands in spite of our past parenting mistakes. But there has also been an increase in daily responsibilities. It has certainly placed more pressure on us to be on point most of the time.  

So that is the background this year for living out the word:  ABIDE

This is the word given to me for 2025. To abide and live in Jesus as He was living in me. I started the year out occasionally thinking about abiding in Him and became more aware of the fact that he does live in me. Then the responsibility for all these other lives began to wear me down. I was finding it exceedingly difficult to continue to be the energizer bunny. My body was showing me in a dozen differing ways that I was no longer young. And I was walking more in the flesh than in the spirit because I was bone tired. And I still am. 

But as I thought about living in Jesus and having Him living in me through the Holy Spirit, I realized that in this season, I have the opportunity to fully rely on him. I can stop and rest in Him. I am able to walk in the joy of my salvation which I know is a source of strength. I continue to love Jesus by loving those precious people he has placed in my care. And when my flesh rises up, I choose to move forward in love, imperfect as it may be.  

As we move toward Pentecost, we can rejoice in the all-encompassing love He showed for us by willingly embracing death on our behalf. Because He died for us, we can willingly die to ourselves by embracing where he has us right now. We know that all of this is temporary, meant to mold us into the likeness of the one who loves us best.  

LuAnn Wendover is from Milan, NY. She has been a member of the SUM community for several years. She is one of the prayer and fasting leaders in SUM Sisters

There was a moment when lightning cracked across the darkened sky. A twitch and a brilliant and beautiful being was forcefully flung from his home of love and safety. (Read Luke 10:18-20)

The warfare years in the heavens, when finally concluded, spanned an era. But the Armies of the Supreme and Divine rallied to thwart the last efforts of the rebellion. The entire insurrection was crushed and the mutinous were cast down.

The gates of return now stood tall and brilliant behind a barrier named, Impassable. There was no return. The punishment for the guilty was to live outside of love and acceptance. The punishment was rejection for they intimately knew love yet turned from its truth and perfection.

Bitterness and evil corrupted the essence of lucifer and his minions. The one thing they all want is a return to the heavens. They are serving the eternal penalty of rejection and rebellion. And this truth causes all of hell to erupt in a guttural rage of despair and wrath. 

Bitterness wrapped in hatred cloaked in inky blackness emerges as vengeance. The distorted creatures of darkness, now hell-bent to release the one thing they are sentence to endure onto the human race.

Rejection.

This is the primary lie the demonic employes to defeat the Children of God. Evil seeds this lie at a very early age and propagates is over and over until we believe it, fully and completely. This becomes our operating core:

No one wants you. You don't belong anywhere.

But, out of the dark quagmire of our thoughts arises one who has a double-edged sword and the light of love. He wars against the liar and hacks away the voice of condemnation from our past.

He strikes the chains of defeat, failure and insecurity with the roar of His command. And we, the children of God, the blood-bought, step through the corruption into the truth. We join the Lion, who leads the procession, tearing free from lies of insignificance and fear to discover we are not victims for those who are chosen to welcome in the new era of the Kingdom.

We are living in a divine moment of time. So significant in fact, that we truly can't conceive what is ahead.

My dear SUM Family, WE BELONG. We belong to this Lion, the King of Kings. We belong to one another. We belong and have been commissioned ambassadors of love to live and serve in this special time, like non other.

Over the next several posts I want to consider the primary lie we believe. Uncover the primary lie that our spouse and/or children believe about themselves and discover how the truth sets us free. And also, how we can pray to reveal the truth to our loved ones. Then finally, how our truth reaches out and affects everything, I mean everything.

I will also share this significant time in which we live. And how love is the answer to the coming days of woe and wonder.

SUMite, do you know the lie the devil has told you all your life? I know for years I believed I was only valuable if I performed. If I achieved, met goals, was perfect. How about you, what did you believe or what is it you struggle with now? Be brave and share with me, so that I know what to write about and we can find freedom and love together. Our community is belonging and that is our first truth.

We belong to Jesus. Period. The end.

Have a blessed and brilliant day. Lynn

ULTRAMARATHONS OF FAITH by: Ena du Plessis, South Africa

“Christianity isn’t for the little engine that can. It’s for the train wreck that can’t.” – Daniel Emery Price.

It has become a yearly institution for me and my husband to run the Comrades
Marathon. This road race between the South African cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban measures approximately ninety kilometres, or fifty-six miles – in other words, more than double the distance of a standard marathon.

Several Comrades runners, including myself, can testify that in the final twenty to
thirty kilometres of this gruelling ultra, your body starts to scream at you to give up. In
those final twenty to thirty kilometres it’s no longer your body that runs. It’s your spirit,
your heart, and your mind.

Isn’t this remarkably similar to what we encounter in our faith journey – particularly
when we find ourselves on a course of praying, fighting, and believing for a major
breakthrough? When our race becomes long and arduous, we reach a point of
realising that our natural strength is insufficient to pull us through to the end goal. We
learn that to be victorious, we are going to have to run with our spirit, our heart, and
our mind.

Jesus Christ – our Forerunner as per Hebrews 6:20 – has taught us to worship God
“in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Why? Because “God is Spirit”. We can only complete
our divine assignments successfully if our spirit is continually being led by His Spirit.
When every stride becomes an act of worship, we find enjoyment in the race. When
we worship, we are delighting ourselves in the LORD. In so doing we position
ourselves to receive from Him the desire of our hearts, as per Psalm 37:4. An
interesting interpretation of this verse, is that not only does our Father give us the
objects of our hearts’ desire, but also He is the One who places those very desires in
our hearts. What an encouraging thought to hold on to when the road becomes long!
Our ultramarathon of believing and contending for our miracle, was His idea. We
need not doubt that He will enable us to finish strong.

Just as vital as our spirits to the faith-endurance race, are our hearts and our minds.
In the Book of Proverbs and the Epistle to the Romans respectively, we are urged to
guard our hearts and to be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Proverbs 4:23;
Romans 12:2). This is an ongoing process. I believe that the enemy of our souls
knows full well that a successful attack on our hearts and minds can derail us
completely. It is no coincidence that two of the pieces of the armour of God are
meant to specifically cover the head and the chest. For our minds and hearts to stay
protected, we need to keep our helmets of salvation and our breastplates of
righteousness in place. Rejecting all thoughts of fear and anxiety, we must push
forward in supernatural peace and soundness of mind. (Ephesians 6:10-20;
Philippians 4:6-8; 2 Timothy 1:7.)

Some of our faith races are sprints – intense, but quick. Others are longer and
require more endurance. But it’s in the ultramarathons that we come face to face
with our own inadequacy, as well as the impossibility of the breakthrough we are
seeking. This is an incredible blessing. It forces us to continue the remainder of the
race under the close and continuous direction of the One with Whom the impossible
is possible (Matthew 19:26). As evangelist Angus Buchan has famously said, “The
condition for a miracle is difficulty. For a great miracle it’s impossibility.”

Ena du Plessis lives in Johannesburg, South Africa with her husband, three children, and two cats. She loves the Lord, people, and animals. She enjoys running, reading, writing, camping, and spending time with family and friends.

What I Know For Sure with Barb Twigg:

Who you gonna' call?  

If you can't see this video in your email, here is the link: What I know For Sure with Barb Twigg

It’s Friday. Lynn Donovan writing Day:

Here are some thoughts and plans as we move the SUM ministry forward. I will step back into ministry Directorship now and handle more of the day-to-day stuff and in addition to the back-office needs. I’ll continue to write on Fridays. Ian Atcheson will also stay on board, sharing his amazing wisdom. Ann will write twice a month as we continue.

New to the Blog is Barb Twigg who will share short videos twice a month, titled: What I Know For Sure. These are GIANT Pearls of wisdom, my friends. Listen as you are driving to work or doing dishes but listen in and gain simple faith tips.

We are still going strong with our amazing leaders on our SUM Facebook page and in Sisters. Thank you, Barb, Luann, Nickole, and Gladys.

As this blog approaches 19 years old next month, I want to point out a few things. New readers continue to arrive who are looking for encouragement and practical help. We are all about the practical here.

But also, many of us have grown up here and we have figured out a few things. The SUM writers have years of faith and have gained real wisdom and practical know-how. So, moving forward you can expect a bit more teaching in our posts. I’ve always been a teacher and for years that is what I've written about here on SUM. I share what the Lord is teaching me, with all of you. He said to me at the very beginning, “Just teach them what you are learning.” Jesus is just cool like that! 😊

The SUM Content Team offers our experience and personal perspectives of living in an unequally yoked marriage to this community. Learning how to walk out our faith effectively makes navigating a spiritual mismatch much easier.

I also hope to offer some more LIVE teaching on Zoom. I think that has been well received. So, this is the new SUM.

Share in the comments some of the topics you would like to study, read about, and hear about. What live teaching would be helpful? What book of the Bible would you like to study this summer? Any scripture passages that you would like more understanding?… Share in the comments. See you there.

Blessings and hugs, Lynn

Hello SUMite Nation. Lynn Donovan here.

I have an announcement. As of May 1, Ann Hutchison will be stepping down as the Director of the SUM ministry. As you may have read, recently she shared some of her family struggles here on the blog. She is finding she needs more time to devote to her family in this season.

The good news is she isn’t leaving us entirely. She will continue to write and share here on the first and third Mondays of each month. YEA!!!!

Ann is also traveling again this summer. So, she might be a bit spotty in the comments. But her love and wisdom remain. On Friday I’ll share more about some awesome things we are going to do in the future here on the blog. We are NOT going away… Just getting started in a new season!

Today, leave a word of encouragement or a prayer or scripture verse for Ann. Please let her know how her love, writing, videos, teaching and wisdom have encouraged you through the years. It’s time to honor her as she moves into her new season.

Blessings and Hugs, Lynn

Ann: You have always been a light into our SUM world. THANK YOU. You have been my friend, my partner in ministry and my dear, dear sister in faith. I adore you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for how you have served selflessly. Great is your reward and I will be first in line in heaven to thank you again before our Father. I bless you as you step into this new season. I bless you with love, peace, unity and cooperation in your relationships and for profound encounters with our Lord. In Jesus name. AMEN

I have had this scripture on a sticky note since you shared it with me years ago. It is a compass for all that I do in ministry. Thank you

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 23:11

Thank you for walking through this forgiveness series leading to Easter. When God provides revelation about the key to effective prayer, I’m urged to share that we all may walk in this life journey in greater victory.

Today, on Good Friday, the greatest miracle happens for us. Observing Easter when Jesus surrendered his life through His blood, we were completely forgiven. Our failures, wickedness, ignorance, selfish ambitions… all of it completely washed away.

Today, we are going to make this real. This is a prayer exercise that I find is effective. Relax and allow your imagination to help you with this process. 

Okay? Here we go.

I want you to envision your life book (Psalm 139:16) laying open before you on a table. It’s a very large book and there is writing on both sides. Jesus is standing there with you. The accusations of your life mess-ups and sins are scribbled upon these pages along with the acts of faith and love.

Jesus looks with love into your face then turns toward your book. He touches the top of it and his blood slowly flows over the pages. As it flows top-to-bottom, many of the words wash away and that which remains, is now shimmering-glowing.

This is the forgiveness of sins. This is the miracle of the New Covenant. All accusations are washed away and that which remains, the shining faithfulness of your life. That is your record in heaven. It's beautiful and life-giving to see from heavens viewpoint.

Now, we have one final act to forgiveness to walk through. Here is the last question.

Q: Jesus, do I need to forgive God?

This is a deep question but don’t ignore it.

God can handle your disappointments. He will comfort your need to know why. He is able to listen as you share your anger and pain. He will help you work through the secret hurts and disappointments you may hold against Him.

At Easter, what a perfect time to fully walk in Forgiveness and become fully free! Forgiveness, is a golden Key to the Kingdom of God.

Happy Easter. He is Risen…. Just as He said!

This Easter, I’m undone as I consider the forgiveness of Christ. I can’t help but to feel all the feels every time I read about the crucifixion of Christ.

As we ponder this week, let’s ask Jesus a few questions. I believe it’s this Easter that He is walking us into greater freedom and hope. Sit in your prayer time with your journal. Take each of these questions that I'm posting below to the Lord. Then just listen and follow the prompting in your heart.

Pray: Jesus, thank you for the new covenant. Thank you for your precious blood that sealed my deliverance and freedom 2,000 years ago. Thank you for the stripes upon your body that heal my body. Thank you for showing me the way to live and love.

Jesus, I want to experience greater freedom this Easter and live in your promises. 

Q: Jesus, I want to start with me. Do I need to forgive myself? Do I need to forgive any past offence, shame, guilt or action that is keeping me in bondage or regret? (Write them down and the confess, repent and ask for forgiveness. Then joyfully say: I receive your forgiveness. Then ask again until nothing else comes to mind.)

Q: Jesus, are there any past offences, pain, or hatred I carry toward another person? (Repeat the process above.)

Work your way through this process in the quiet of your prayer time.

Now here is the REAL TRUTH. This type of prayer takes work. This process takes time. I find most Christians won’t do it on their own. It takes courage and often tears to work through this. It takes significant effort to really pray effectively. So my question to you is, will you do it?

Here is the REAL, REAL TRUTH. This process works. Make the time. It’s worth every effort of prayer to step into greater peace, greater freedom, and GREAT LOVE.

On Friday we will look at the last area of forgiveness that most believers don’t know they need.

Okay, please someone share with me. Is this series helpful? I know it’s deep but it is truly the Christian life. This is the path of wisdom. This is the path toward freedom. This is holiness.

See you in the comments. Blessings, great encouragement and love, Lynn

What I know for Sure: Scriptures and how to view our emotions and how to walk out our faith. How to trust God for your loved ones.

Take a listen to this short message. Have a brilliant day!

The Forgiveness of Easter

SUMites, what if we prayed and we witnessed supernatural healing? What if we pray and we send back a hurricane? What if we pray and demons flee, or we pray and see life return?

I want all of these things to occur when I pray and I believe we are able to participate in these miracles because I’ve experienced most of them. I share some details about these stories in the book, Enforcer.

What does forgiveness prayer really look like? Could our unsaved spouse perhaps be saved? Do we need to forgive our unsaved spouse, family member, unsaved neighbors?

It appears obvious that when we look to the cross, we witness the forgiveness of our sins. We know, as believers, that Jesus died, shed His blood, making atonement, that we are forgiven by the Father. Our Father then welcomes us home from the badlands of prodigal living and rebellion.

But I want to direct our study to another person that day on a cross. A criminal, a guilty man, who was crucified next to Christ.

Luke 23: 38-43 And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Remember earlier in the day Jesus says this, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34

It's mind blowing to me that as Jesus hangs, tortured on the cross paying for this convicted criminal’s sins, he's asking the Father to forgive him. And in a simple response to the man who asks to be remembered, Jesus says to him, 

The law of forgiveness is in full effect and demonstrated here. And what is fascinating is this man didn’t need to make a profession of faith. He wasn’t baptized or sprinkled. He merely asked to be remembered and Jesus speaks, assuring him of his eternal salvation in that moment.

This implores me to pause and consider the great compassion of our God. It makes me ponder just how wide and long and how far-reaching is the forgiveness of Christ. I’m compelled to consider that there may be many who are saved but not living like we expect but Jesus loves them and we will see them in heaven.

Jesus hung on a cross for them. He shed His blood to redeem many. He came to show us the way and many will find their way even if we don’t understand how this works here on earth.

Hmmmmmm, the things that make you ponder the Kingdom of God and our Lord Jesus this Easter.

I hope this helps you to ponder the depths of forgiveness and what happens when we choose to forgive others. Perhaps our forgiveness opens the door for a person to receive Jesus.

Wow, just Wow.

Oaky, thoughts? See you in the comments. Blessings, Lynn

Hello, dear friends. Ian from autumnal Sydney here. Autumn is my favourite season and even though we’re almost halfway through it, we’re only beginning to feel those early morning chills that remind us that summer is past, and a new season is upon us.

How has Lent been for you all?

It’s a healthy practice to review one’s progress. Even if you haven’t chosen to specifically acknowledge the season or fast, asking yourself the question whether you feel you are drawing closer to God is always a healthy option. Life with God is a long journey, with ups and downs and everything in between. Like any relationship, our one with our Creator follows a similar trajectory as the journey. At times we feel especially close, at other times, perhaps distant and sometimes a little ambivalent.

What we can always be certain of is that God never leaves us, even if He is quiet. His Word tells us this: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Stepping out of the Wilderness

Even though wilderness seasons can be long; we only must look at the 40 years the Israelites experienced before stepping into the promised land; they will come to an end.

Last week’s lectionary readings for the Fourth week of Lent spent some time in the book of Isaiah where the prophet shared some good news for those of us who are wandering in the wilderness. Read along with me these encouraging words in Isaiah 43:

“I am the Lord, your Holy One,
    the Creator of Israel, your King.”
¹⁶ Thus says the Lord,
    who makes a way in the sea,
    a path in the mighty waters,
¹⁷ who brings forth chariot and horse,
    army and warrior;
they lie down, they cannot rise,
    they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
¹⁸ “Remember not the former things,
    nor consider the things of old.
¹⁹ Behold, I am doing a new thing;
    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert.
²⁰ The wild beasts will honour me,
    the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
    rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
²¹     the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise.” (v 15-21 ESVUK)

As one commentator said, “When God made a way out of Egypt for the Israelites, he didn’t allow their enemies to follow. Yet if Israel dwelt too much on her past, the painful memories of slavery in Egypt could continue to harm her.

God got his people out of Egypt, now he wants to get Egypt out of them!” (Hannah Heather, 24x7 Lectio 3 April 2025)

As you read these verses (perhaps do it a few times if you’re able) do you get any sense the Lord might be nudging you towards the ‘[new] way he is making in the wilderness’ for you? Isaiah even asks the question, ‘do you perceive it?’ Did you notice that?

Do you perceive something?

May I encourage you to spend some time over these next day’s talking to God about what ‘new thing’ he might be doing for you? Maybe the ‘new thing’ won’t miraculously appear at Easter or even soon after, but I’d encourage you to keep pressing into see what the Lord is sharing with you about what he might be inviting you into.

Would you mind if I pray for us all?

Loving Lord, Holy God, we love you, we worship you. We thank you that you are always at work in and through our lives. You are always inviting us into something new. Please give us ears to hear and hearts to perceive what it may be that you’re inviting each of us into. Lord, we want to know. We want to follow you out of our wilderness and into the promised land that you have for each of us.

Thank you, Lord. We love you, we praise your holy name, Jesus.

Amen.

Happy Easter, my friends Be safe, don’t eat too much chocolate and dig deep through the wonders and challenges of Holy Week, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.

Grace and peace

Ann here!

Some moments in SUM life give me a giggle.

I've recently started going to a new church. This church is very ... jolly, to use a good British word. The music is loud and upbeat, there are flashing lights and colors, and the room is jam-packed with people.

I like it. It's like going to a party for God. The Kingdom of God is joyful, so I embrace this flavor. Here's a photo.

That's me in the white dress in the bottom left corner of the photo. And, in front of me are two women from my life group - strong women of faith -- praising their hearts out.

Bryce finds it funny I go to this lively church; and as I was leaving the house for church two Sundays ago, he said in a dry voice:

Don't get too bouncy now, will you?

He kissed me on my head and off I went.

When I got there, I sat near the front. I looked towards the stage, and there the singer who was directly in front of me was literally bouncing up and down on the spot, to the point she was going airborne with her microphone in hand. I thought of Bryce then and cracked a smile.

Well, I cannot picture many husbands bouncing like that, but I will say that we can find ourselves surprised by joy. One SUMite told me that her hubby went to church with her once, the music got a little jolly, and suddenly there he was clapping his hands. She nearly fell over when she saw that.

Back to us. Like this lady, I will get my bounce on to the Lord. I don't mean literally, but I will gladly ask God to let his joy wash over me and flush through me. It is that joy that helps us survive seasons of grief, like the one I talked about in my last post.

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. 

Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. 

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations (Psalm 100, NKJV).

The sermon in that church this past week was about joy. It was an excellent sermon. If any of you are struggling to find the joy of the Lord in a current circumstance, you might like to watch it below. I came away from this sermon hugely helped, especially when the pastor said this:

'Is your life being lived as a complaint or a compliment to the Lord?'

Indeed. That led me to ask myself what I focus on when I'm speaking about my life and the things going on in it. Do I praise and speak joy? Or do I complain and rehearse my problems?

My friends, I intend to choose JOY in this current season. 

Have you chosen joy in a circumstance? Let's chat more.

Love,

Ann

Significant Key to Prayer

Hope you read last Friday’s post about prayer because you need that background to unlock this powerful and effective key to answered prayer. Also, all of this teaching is leading up to Easter….. Just wait until I make that connection!!!  It’s stunning.

Okay, let’s read on.

The commonality came to me in a moment of revelation at 5 am on a Sunday morning a few weeks ago.

So here is the summary and the key. Both of these passages in Mark and Matthew are Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray. They have nuances that are powerful and should be followed and language that is effective and works. I know this because I’ve prayed it myself and have watched the answers arrive.

The key here is the interesting and seemingly ignored sentences that follow BOTH of these different instructions to prayer.

And that key is forgiveness.

Mark 11:25-26, Jesus says, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 6;14, Jesus says, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

These prayer models are undergirded by forgiveness. Our effective prayers must begin with forgiving those who have betrayed, those who are cruel, those who anger us, and those who should have protected, but didn’t.

Forgiveness isn’t easy. But it’s necessary. Forgiving others releases ourselves from a spiritual prison we have erected int he spiritual realm. We move from a victim to an overcomer. And in the Kingdom of God, overcomers wield great power and authority in Christ.

What’s challenging is that in our marriage, family, work life, ministry, etc, forgiveness is an ongoing practice. Grrrrrrrr. Sometimes we have to forgive over and over and over. Sometimes we forgive and then set a boundary or establish space between ourselves and an unsafe person. And there are times we need help with forgiveness because our wounding is deep. (Healing Prayer with Lynn Donovan.)

Genuine forgiveness is the key to these effective prayer models.

Let’s now consider something utterly astonishing as we look upon Easter. And it’s not our forgiveness by Christ, (which is utterly astounding) but something else quite interesting. Join me next Friday for the next installment in this series about Easter and Prayer.

Please take two minutes to share with me your thoughts regarding this connection in the comments. Have you prayed through Mark 11. Do you use the Lord’s prayer to pray. What has happened when you prayed this way? See you in the comments. Blessings, Lynn

Hello friends, Ann here

One of the things I've been thinking lately is this:

Understand the season you're in and go with it.

Like a boat on a fast-moving river, God takes us on a journey. Our job is to sit tight, follow safety instructions, and paddle. We'll always be safe!

Different seasons have completely different flavors, right?

Well, currently I'm in a season of grief, which I'll explain in a minute. I have been in this season since August last year, and I hear from God that it will go longer still. This is currently a season where there is sadness and trials, and I'm having to use strategies to fight for my peace.

But, as I write this, I'm OK! I'm writing with a joyful spirit. I'm just telling you how it is.

Let me backtrack and tell you how God warned me of this season back in 2016:

My family and I were on holiday in Samoa, a tiny island nation in the Pacific. Samoa is a rare nation that outwardly follows God, and you see it everywhere. The harbor wall, for example, carries enormous letters saying something about following the Lord. There are life-size crosses in people's gardens, and you see the Holy Spirit mentioned on TV. 

So, while in Samoa that week, I had a week of revelation where I heard God more clearly than normal. It felt like I was in a place where perhaps the Spirit hovered more intensely than in other nations. I knew this place was different, and when I got on the plane to go back to New Zealand I didn't want to leave.

One of the things that happened that week was that my son, Miles, sleep-talked one night and spoke out a phrase in the darkness while we all shared a room. The phrase struck me enough that I quickly grabbed the pen and paper by my bed and wrote it down. It felt like it wasn't just normal sleep-talking. The phrase was this:

There'll be a new grief coming from Malta. It will be significant.

I might be sounding a bit crazy now, LOL, but bear with me.

Fast-forward now, to 2024, and as many of you know, Bryce and I visited Malta for a month. As our trip drew to an end, I dreamt of someone saying to me, "Grief takes 24 months". I remembered the above word from 2016 and said to God, "Am I preparing for a time of grief?" 

Well, two days after leaving Malta, all hell broke loose in my extended family. A number of extremely difficult things happened, all beginning on one weekend. One of those things was so difficult that I had to take a month off from writing for SUM. Some of you might remember that.

It was as if my family unraveled. Every problem seemed to be an unsolvable problem that caused me enormous heartache. 

Several months on, various members of my close family, including both of my parents, are in deep distress with their problems. Consequently, I am in touch with them most days to support them. I am drained. And on some days my heart breaks into a million pieces.

So that is the story in the natural. But remember, God told me it was coming! After Malta, you will experience a big grief, he said, and grief will take 24 months. So I say back to him, "Hey Lord, ok. I'm in this for the ride. Please show what it's about and help me."

This leads me, then, to talk about what do we do when we experience a time of such deep trial that it threatens to rob us of our peace?

I might pause there and continue with that one next time I write. But what I do want to say is this:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4, NASB)

I believe it. So friends, I'm not going to lament these trials. Instead, I'm going to hold on tight and trust God to take me in that fast-moving boat where I need to go.

How do you navigate a season of grief? Looking forward to hearing your comments.

Love,

Ann

Hi SUM Nation. Lynn Donovan here to introduce Barb Twigg. Many of you know Barb as she is an admin on our Facebook page.

Barb is joining us regularly here on the blog with a video message. PEOPLE.....

These are the pearls. Such wisdom in less than 10. Leave a comment and let Barb know how much this wisdom has helped you in your faith walk.

Here is Barb:

As we approach Easter and consider prayer for our unsaved loved ones, I want to turn our study to what Jesus taught about prayer AND the key He revealed regarding effective prayer.

I’m exceedingly interested in praying effectively. There are lives on the line. Eternities are at stake. Tremendous needs for supernatural healing surround us. There are so many deceived and need to experience truth and love. My SUMite family, we must pray with effectiveness and boldness as the time grows short.

Today as I was studying when the Holy Spirit drew my mind to make a critical connection between two specific prayer models in the Bible.

So, let’s take a look at Mark 11:12-26, which I have taught extensively in my book, Spiritual Enforcer. Please stop here and get out your bible, read this passage beginning with the cursing of the fig tree. And follow that section all the way through verse 26.

Jesus teaches us in this passage about how to pray. He lays out all the details of effective prayer right here.

Now let’s visit the Lord’s prayer which is another prayer model taught by Jesus. Matthew 6:5-14

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

10 Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

The Mark 11 model is incredibly effective, but I think many believers miss the extra step or the key that unlocks these prayer models in order that we actually experience the results of our prayer.

And next Friday I will share that key. But today, I hope I’ve stirred up your curiosity to dive into the scriptures. Open up your Bible. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the nuances to pray with effectiveness and to partner with the Kingdom of God to bring His will on earth as it is in heaven.

Tell me in the comments, what you have learned reading these passages. Have you tried to cast your mountain into the sea?

Love you. Keep learning. Keep knocking. Pound on the doors of heaven and revelation will be given. Blessings, Lynn

Dear SUMites, Ann here!

This morning, I read a passage in Exodus that spoke to me precisely of what God does in our SUM marriages. Who knew that the book of Exodus could hold treasures for our marriages!

In this passage, God is speaking to the Israelites and promising them that he will boot out their enemies from the promised land. He says:

And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out Hivite, Canaanite, and Hittite from before you. I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you are increased and possess the land (Exodus 23:29-30, RSV)

Dear SUMites, I believe this is exactly what God does in our marriages too. He goes before us and defeats what needs to be defeated in order for our spouse to be saved. Specifically, he boots out unbelief and deception, among other things.

But that isn't quite what grabbed me in this verse. What truly grabbed me is the 'little by little' part and the 'I will not drive them out in one year' part. It tells me that sometimes God doesn't pull off a victory all at once. He does it gradually. That way, we can cope with the result.

Like the above scripture, we often do see gradual shifts in our SUM situations, bit by bit. And perhaps, in some strange way, that gradual shift enables us, or our spouse, to cope with any salvation changes more easily. 

In all this we partner with God -- Through our lifestyle, and by praying our heart out for our spouse. Then we wait, stand still, and see him drive out the enemies from the land.

Have you seen gradual changes in your situation? I have. We'll chat in the comments. 

Much love to you all

Ann 

Image credit: Chatgpt, Lynn Donovan

Greetings SUM Nation. Lynn Donovan with you. I’ll be with you every Friday now as I’ve settled back into a routine and the Lord is encouraging me to write on the blog regularly again.

Easter Sunday is April 20th. So, for the next few Fridays, let's consider the weeks leading up to Easter and how we can look to this season as prayer prompts for our families and for us as well.

Today I want to teach you about "Launch Prayers."

I'll give you an example because it happened today. Last July my son lost his job when his company went through a round of layoffs. Ugh. Hard, I know. He took some time off but began to earnestly look for work in January. He started applying with gusto, yet no responses, until there was one. After a great interview, they hired him but then suggested a better position which would also be competitive to obtain. He threw his hat in the ring and then he waited.

He waited.... and waited... And waited.

Well while on the phone with him this morning (March 6, 2025), I asked him about the employment situation. And you have to know that my son believes in Jesus but isn't a regular church goer. Also, I have come to realize my adult children aren't keen to hear from their mother about some kind of faith topic either. Ho Hum.... In other words,... "Mom, don't preach." Okay, okay.

My son responds to my questions, "Mom, this is really becoming stressful. I haven't heard from them about this new position. And they haven't responded about the initial job that they said I had."

And this is where a launch prayer happens.

Without warning launch into prayer and I say, "In the name of Jesus I declare there is no more delay. This job belongs to my son. And he will hear about it now. In Jesus name. AMEN"

"Okay, son, well I'm praying about it. I know you want to be working, and can I send you some money?"

He says, "Thanks mom. I love you." We hang up.

And now, I kid you not, within an hour he sends me a text message: It's a photo of a text he received: You are the top applicant. Expect communication in your inbox. Congratulations.

I called him back immediately. I shouted, "Prayer works."

SUMites. Launch prayer is so cool. It must be spontaneous. It must be quick and to the point. Finally, after saying amen, move on with the conversation and/or change the subject. This beats the devil, as you prayed over someone and they didn't have time to go into unbelief or doubt. 

I love launch prayers. I pray them often and over many people in different situations and circumstances. Even complete strangers. I launch into prayer.

Okay, what do you think? Want to practice. Just take one courageous step and open your mouth. And then move along. 

Please, (((anyone....))) Share with me in the comments. What do you think about launch prayers? Also, I have a challenge for you leading up to Easter. Start to practice launch prayers. Come back here and share with me when you try this out. I read every. single. comment.

Blessings and hugs, Lynn

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NIV

Praying for your family or praying while they listen in an unequally yoked home is challenging. But I've found a prayer model that works. 

So tune in tomorrow and I'll explain Launch Prayers. 

Are you curious?

Today, I bless you in the name of our Lord Jesus with hope. Great BIG and life-changing hope. In Jesus name. Amen

Love you, Lynn

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Lynn here.

Today I want to share a freedom that came to me as a young wife when I was trying to figure out this unequally yoked thing.

I remember hearing a tiny piece of wisdom that really set me free and it was this.

The man's voice on the radio said this: If a man refuses or abdicates his spiritual leadership position in the family, then God expects the wife to step in and lead the family in faith.

I was immediately released from the "religious" expectations that my husband should lead us. I knew he wasn't capable at the time because he didn't know Jesus. And I was then immediately empowered by Jesus to pray with authority over our home, my children, our finances, and especially my husband. 

I began to pray for God to reveal Himself to Mike. I prayed for my kids and that I would grow in my faith. 

And you know what, Jesus showed up. And He's shown up every day since. So today I bless all of you newly married who are living spiritual mismatched. Step up. And the moment your spouse is willing to take the lead, then let them.

I adore you. Lynn Donovan