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

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

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

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

$20. registration. 

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Dear SUMites

A prayer for all the children in our SUM community:

Dear Jesus,

Bless and keep each one of our children.

I thank you that an open heaven broods above them.

I thank you that they are surrounded by such an army of believers that our shields of faith mean nothing can get to them of any consequence, spiritually.

I pray they will come to know you intimately.

I pray they will know how loved they are by you, and will be able to receive your love.

I thank you that each one of these children is so fearfully and wonderfully made.

Their faces come to memory, some of them; some of them I know by name.

May each of them become a mighty man or woman of valor.

May each of them be freed, in Your name, from deception.

May the walls of Jericho (unbelief) fall in their lives.

And may they become hungry for you.

In your name, Jesus, we pray.

Amen.  

Catch you next time SUMites! And in the meantime, let's lift up our prayers for these kids together.

Ann 

Sum Nation. Lynn Donovan here.

Today in my Bible reading I was reading through the book of Mark, Chapter 3:

28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”—

I often ponder and asked the Lord, what is the unforgivable sin? What does it really mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

From all my years of study, it all comes down to this: Loyalty

The unpardonable sin is: Rebellion

The unforgiveable sin of satan-rebellion. The rejection of the forgiver of sin who is Jesus-rebellion. For as long as the human race has existed, the Kingdom of God has fought against rebellion. There was rebellion in the heavens before Adam set foot on earth.

But what in the world does this have to do with our unique walk of the unequally yoked? Glad you asked.

What I find truly astonishing is our ability to persevere in faith while living on the front lines of spiritual battles. We have remained a believing Christian when opposition continually exists, in our own home, workings to tear us away from our faith.

We remain faithful when our atheist spouse has thrown every kind of “argument” or “truth” quote, unquote, toward us.

We have persevered when we have received ridicule, hatred, or mocking for our faith and belief.

We have been in training most of our married lives to become faithful believers who are loyal to the King.

Did you know this is the GREATEST GIFT you can bestow upon our Lord Jesus? Our loyalty and fidelity.

When you feel tired or the voice of deceit and deception tries to arise, speak to it and command it to stop. Walk away and KNOW that your faith and the Kingdom of God is worth every effort and we can overcome every attack the devil throws our way.

Well done solder of the Cross!!! Keep walking it out. We are survivors. We are the conquerors; we are those who shine brightly even if this world doesn’t see our faith. In the heavenly realms we are royal-loyalists who will wear a crown of righteousness.

I adore you. Be blessed this hour. Lynn

Dear SUMites,

I love you guys! I pray the following over you today:

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;

May the name of Jesus defend you;

May He send you help from the sanctuary,

And strengthen you;

May He remember all your offerings,

And accept your sacrifices.

May He grant you according to your heart's desire,

And fulfil all your purpose.

May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

(Based on Psalm 20)

And --

The Lord bless you and keep you,

make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

The Lord turn his face towards you, and give you peace.

Loads of love

Ann

Hi SUMites, Ann here.  

Today I wanted to tell you about a vision God gave me that relates to the unequally yoked marriage. It was a vision I received a few years ago, I didn't understand it at the time, but nevertheless I wrote it down.

A week or so ago, I happened to come across this vision again -- a description of it had been sitting in my journal for years -- and all of a sudden I understood it!

So I'm going to share it with you now and I hope it encourages you:

What I saw in the vision was a double bed -- A marriage bed, like this one here.

• On one side of the bed there was a strong wind of suction that was coming from above, a suction power upwards.
• On the other side of the bed there were helium balloons, rising upwards with their lightness.

So far so good. But what on earth did it mean? Well, here is the interpretation which I received:

The vision of this bed represents what is going on in a SUM marriage.

The believer's situation is represented by the helium balloons; the non-believer's situation is represented by the suction wind.

The believer's situation:

The believer has filled themselves up with the Holy Spirit and with Jesus. There is a power in that, and a lightness. It naturally carries them up, up, up, into eternity, towards God, and towards all good things that the Kingdom of Heaven offers. It is a lightness within them compared to the world outside, and it makes them rise. There's nothing much they need to do, it's effortless -- it is a natural outworking of their faith.

Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27, NKJV)

The unbeliever's situation:

The unbeliever, meanwhile, also has an effortless power being exerted upon them, but it takes a different form. In their case, the power of God is on them, drawing them to him, with such power it is like a giant vacuum cleaner hose that they can barely resist: Swooosh, they're sucked up and towards him. They will have to make their choice to submit, but there is a power drawing them up, up, up ...

Scripture says, no one can come to the Father unless He draws them. 

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. (John 6:44, NIV)

We need to know, then, from this vision that God is drawing them. And it is a powerful thing. 

Both of these upward movements, for us and our spouses, constitute the upward call of God in Christ Jesus that is our prize:

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14)

What vision says to me is that there is as much power on our spouses, as there is in our lives. It just looks different for us than it does for our spouse. We have His power in us, but our spouses have His power being exerted on them. The destination is the same: Eternity, represented by the upward movement. And the degree of power is the same: It is the power of the resurrection.

Ultimately, dear SUMites, this is what this vision is doing for us:

.. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places ... (Ephesians 1:17-20, NKJV).

My friends, let's pray that we can understand and believe in his power in the lives of our unbelieving spouses.

Love

Ann

Ann here.

Whenever I'm praying for an unbelieving husband or wife, I've got a particular prayer I pray. It's this:

In the name of Jesus, I pray for [name] that --

God will set His eyes on him/her for good, and will bring them back to Him.

God will build him/her and not pull him/her down.

He will plant him/her and not pluck him/her up.

He will give him/her a heart to know Him, that He is God.

[Name] will say about God 'He is mine, and I am His'.

And he/she will return to God with his/her whole heart.

I pray this because several years ago God gave our ministry the verses from Jeremiah 24:5-7 - which contained the above words. He said that is what he is going to do for our spouses.

Every time I pray these words, then, I make a declaration of belief, and I know that I am praying in line with the heart of God.

Today, shall we all pray the above words over our spouses? Let's lift our voices to the heavens in unison!

Love you all, and I wish you a beautiful Friday.

Ann

Hello SUMites.  

We have a question for you:

We're compiling a collection of the best of the best of our articles as a resource for future readers, and we need your help.

Many of you have been reading along here for years. So, here's our question:

Do you have a favorite, stand-out article, or story, from our blog?

Is there an article that particularly helped you?

Is there a teaching that has particularly stuck in your mind?

Is there something from one of our books that particularly helped you?

Whatever it is, we'd love to hear it. So please, let us know in the comments, or drop us a line by email.

Many thanks

Ann, Lynn, Ian and team

By LuAnn Wendover and Nickole Meierotto

Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

This past week has been an amazing time in the annual corporate fast. When Nickole and I were asked to lead it, I jumped at the opportunity without a whole lot of thought or prayer. I knew it was an honor as well as a big responsibility. However, I didn’t take it on without some trepidation next to the elation. In the meantime, Nickole expressed a need to take a little extra time in contemplative prayer, not because she wasn’t honored to be asked, but because she wanted to be sure she could handle all that would be expected of her.

I had hoped to do a 5-day water only fast. I was looking forward to writing a couple of pieces for the blog. And knew that this would be a stretching experience. I was right on the money with that one! Nickole did a liquid daytime fast, having dinner with her children at night.

I KNEW that this fast was supposed to be centered on abiding in Christ: in using this time of fasting and praying to rest in Him. Warfare in a Sum can be a daily part of our lives and usually is. Many times, we get worn out with constant battling. I was excited to learn what abiding during a fast would mean. I thought of abiding as simply resting but it is more than that…it can also mean enduring. And my word for the year was abiding!

The first two days of the fast were great. Some hunger but not uncontrollable. By the third day, I needed to hydrate and added a hydration pack to my morning water. It helped tremendously. But by day four I knew I needed to switch to a Daniel version for the remaining two days.  And so I did, without self-condemnation or recrimination. Fasting is a wonderful way to get closer to the Lord.

Nickole here. I didn’t know what I expected other than an opportunity to focus on my time with Abba during my fast. As I began the week jumping back into school routines, the Lord showed me that I have had an enduring habit of allowing myself to zone out and live life unintentionally, on autopilot. This revelation led to my word, Intentional. If I am to be sanctified for the Lord, I must be intentional, in everything…how convicting.

The Bible says to fast in secret. But in leading a corporate fast that is not possible, although the particulars of any fast should be spirit led and individual. Both Nickole and I had been holding a Wednesday fast and prayer for several years in the Sumite Sisters group, so we were used to posting for prayer requests and then praying together for the needs of the group. But leading a 5 day fast was a different experience for both of us. Eye opening and challenging.

As we reflected and wrapped up our corporate fast, we wanted to encourage those of you who fasted with us this year to remember to apply what was revealed to you during the fast. Too often we lose focus, return to our daily lives and get caught up in the repetitive day-to-day living. Let us be intentional in ALL we do…whether it’s washing the dishes, folding laundry, our outside jobs, or our recreation and amusement. To learn to be consecrated and connected to Christ 24/7 is truly a part of abiding in Him and being intentional in living for Him.

How do you intend to move forward from this fast? How can you become more intentional in abiding in Christ?

SUMites, Ann here. Happy new year to you all.

Our community fast starts this coming Monday -- Exciting!

It is a favorite time of year for me: A time of drawing close to God.

Many of us have found in previous years that significant things happen when we fast, whether it be a revelation from God, or some kind of shift.

We fast from sunrise on Monday to sunset on Friday. The most meaningful kind of fast is one where you fast from food in some way.

• If you're new to this, you might like to try fasting from sunrise to sunset each day and having a small meal in the evening.
• If you're more used to fasting, you could try going without food altogether for the week.

Plan to drink plenty as you go -- That's important.

To prepare:

• Pray and ask God for strength and direction about how to fast.
• Get plenty of liquids in stock
• Consider telling your family so that less pressure is put on you over the week.

You may have guests, work, or things to do. Try not to let that deter you: I, for one, this year will be visiting friends for three nights of the five. However, on those days I still plan to fast until sunset each day.

Finally, we have LuAnn Wendover and Nickole Meierotto leading the fast this year. They are two of our long-standing SUMites who have a passion for fasting. So, they will write something each day next week for us. Stay tuned!

Well, that's all for now. All the very best preparing for it, and the team here it SUM will see you in the comments next week.

Love

Ann

SUMites

I wanted to share this great pic from one of our SUMites Barb Twigg. This photo was taken of her in church, worshipping her heart out.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name (Psalm 100:4, NIV)

Many of us know Barb, as she gives a lot of time to this ministry. She serves every week behind the scenes, and we also see her in the comments quite often. We know her to be the strongest kind of woman of God.

She walks her SUM walk in victory, joy, praise and worship. She is an inspiration! 

And for us, we can take a look at this photo and say to ourselves, 'this is how we fight our battles.'

The SUM walk is not for the faint-hearted. It is really, really hard. It is spiritually a wrench in our hearts that often has the potential to cause us grief. But it is also a fight, and one of the ways we fight in heavenly terms is to have the right heart posture - A heart posture that is:

• Restful
• Worshipful
• Joyful
• Thankful

When we worship, when we are thankful, things fall into place.

Thank you, Barb, for modeling this for us. We are thankful for you.

With love

Ann

Donovan Clan Update   Three Million Dollars

As I turned the calendar to November and consider the holidays are upon us, I’m sensitive to the praise and thanks that is welling up inside my heart.

2024 has been a challenging year. I prayed for so many things that needed divine intervention. One specific prayer was for provision. When Mike became sick and I was left to figure out how to navigate all the government agencies and insurance forms, I felt panic. Without a paycheck I was facing the probability that we could lose our new home. I didn’t know what kind of medical expenses would occur and how I would pay the bills.

I know so many of you face or have faced financial insecurity as well.

But now as I am watching the leaves turn colors, I will tell you, God provided in a surprising way.

First, every bill we owed was paid in full and on time. Thank you, Jesus.

Second, our mortgage was paid and even extended so it took some pressure off our finances.

Thirdly, that this is the most unexpected.

Three Million Dollars

The first bill for Mike’s stay in the hospital in May was nearly 1 million dollars.

The bill from Stanford was 2.2 million, so far.

Mike is the Three Million Dollar man. I didn’t even consider that my good Dad in heaven paid three million dollars to save Mike’s life. Our insurance covered all of it but a few thousand dollars.

God spoke to me recently and said, “Lynn, did you see that?”

I knew exactly what the Lord was showing me. Provision that I didn’t even think about…

Our Great Father in heaven is rich. He is dependable. He is trustworthy.

We are heading home from Stanford today as you read this. We serve a great King. And I’m also thankful for all the doctors, nurses, and care teams who saved my husband’s life.

I’m thankful for our neighbors who really helped us out.

I’m mostly thankful for the prayers of all of you. I felt them. Truly, I believe that your prayers made such a difference. Mike has done so much better than many who go through this process.

All month long I’m writing in a praise journal. I’m so thankful to the Lord for all of you.

I love you and bless you this season. Look for the unexpected and then rejoice.

Blessings and hugs, Lynn

Ephesians 1: 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

SUMites, Ann here.

When I read scripture, I find the words of God so creative. 

I sometimes like to take them and turn them into a prayer for my home, or a prayer for someone I know.

Well, today, in that spirit, here's a prayer for our homes. How about we all pray this together? There is power when we speak in unison.

Lord, make my home like Eden, like the garden of the Lord, that it will be full of joy and gladness, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

(Inspired by Isaiah 51:3)

Amen!

Ann

Hello SUMites

Do you have a burning story you'd love to tell? Something that could bless another reader on this blog?

Well, we're looking for guest posts and we would be delighted to receive your contributions. It is so helpful to others when they can hear the story of someone else who has walked a similar path.

So, if that lights a little flame of an idea in you, here are our guest post guidelines -- 

• Write up to 750 words maximum
• Focus your post on a topic that relates to spiritually mismatched marriage, or life with Jesus
• Be honest and encouraging
• Include a lesson or moral of some sort
• Use scripture references, including the translation in brackets after the scripture
• Finally, include a photo of, and short bio, about yourself, along with your full name

Once we receive your post, we will do a little edit with you so that it fits with our style, but that is a nice process of collaboration. Finally, we can't absolutely promise to publish your post, although we always try our best to!

Ok, over to you, and happy writing! 

Ann

SUMites, Ann here, I have missed you!

While having a pause from writing, I have been luxuriously snacking on Lynn's Bible study. Wasn't it great to marinate in the words of Jesus.

Thank you also to you, SUMites, for your prayers and kind comments to me behind the scenes as I took the month off. 

Anyway, Bryce and I have now finished our travels and come home to New Zealand. The photo here is of our view as we landed. It is a beautiful homeland, and it is marvelous to be back.

But we are over the moon, most of all, to be back with our two boys. God looked after them well while we were gone. 

Meanwhile, across the ocean, Lynn is coming into a sunnier place after Mike's cancer treatment. She has seen her daughter married, and God has provided for her during this hard time. She too will be coming home in the next few weeks.

Isn't it strange that Lynn and I have both been away from home for quite an extended season, but now we are back. It's been a strange season, but it's as if we are now picking up our tools again, looking at them, examining them, and wondering what to do with this new-found time that we will have.

In this spirit, it seems timely to ask God for what is next. So, perhaps we can pray this together --

Lord, give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation for this next season of the SUM ministry. Lord, we invite you to be all over this community, this ministry, this blog. Open our ears wide to what is next.

We speak your name -- JESUS -- with joy and gusto! And we pray your name over this blog.

Bless the team who lead SUM, bless the readers, and lead those who need it to come and find our little home on the web.

In your name, Jesus, we always pray.

Amen!

Back next time, dear SUMites.

Ann

John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you..

One of the main topics that Jesus was trying to communicate to the disciples on His final night of ministry before the Cross is to abide.

Several scripture verses in chapter 15, Jesus implores the disciples to abide in Him. And we have already covered the aspect of Jesus pointing us to the Father and how we are in one another (John 14:20.)

But WHY is this topic so important? Why is Jesus doing everything He can to communicate this notion of abiding and to dwell in the Father?

This is the answer. Jesus is helping the men who have been serving Him for three years move from slave to friend. Within this transformation we discover all the blessings that Jesus outlines in these few chapters. Read them again and see what becomes ours such as “you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7).” Say what???? That’s amazing.

God wants a friend.

Let me explain it in “Lynn” terms.

For three years the followers of Jesus operated in a slave mentality. And that is OKAY. Truly, we are to be slaves of Christ and through sheer obedience we learn many aspects and truths about the Kingdom of God.

But, now listen to this, a slave doesn’t know the why.

A master will give a command to go do such and such. And the slave will go and do. However, the slave lacks the understanding behind the Master’s order (desire).

Moving from slave to friend, or better said, moving from slave to Child of God is when we are invited into understanding, conversation, and even decision sharing or decision making with God.

Whoa!!!!

Examples of people who became a friend of God are in the Word. These are people who could reason with God, discuss a change of events, even sway the Lord in His opinions of actions. The story that comes to my mind is when Abraham reasoned with God about saving Sodom and Gomorrah.

Noah, Elisha, David, Enoch and more became more than slaves, they knew the mind and heart of God. They were trusted in God’s court. They were men of renown.

God wants obedience, but mostly because blind obedience will keep us out of the devil’s hands. But our Father desires a trusted friendship, a mature son or mature daughter who can ask the hard questions and receive answers. He wants a people who know what is the right thing and will do it without needing to pray about the issue. He wants a people who know Him and realize life will work out okay and for His glory.

It’s time for this Bible study to conclude. So many wonderful and powerful lessons are within these few chapters in the book of John. But the best lesson you can take out of this is abiding and becoming a friend of God.

Why?

The answer rests in the prayer in John Chapter 17. It’s magnificent. Go read it now.

Thank you for studying the Word of God with me. I adore you.

Did you enjoy this study?

Was it helpful to develop concepts of faith for you?

Did it make you ponder and meditate of the meaning of the passages?

Were you encouraged?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Blessings and hugs, Lynn

Politics and the Unequally Yoked

Lynn here.

Politics in the Bible? John Chapter 14?

I’m so glad you asked.

Let’s quickly define the scenario that is often at hand in our mismatched marriages as it relates to politics (and religion).

In our marriages we view life, morals, beliefs and purpose through the lens of God’s Word. There is a clash of world views within our marriage relationship and within our home. For me, our political views are as different as our religious perspectives. However, our faith differences have lessoned over the last several years, but our political views can still clash.

But, within the context of John, chapters 14 & 15 and a verse in 16 we can rest, without a doubt, in the truth. Jesus begins to describe the “Helper.”

This is such a profound new thing for the disciples. And the Holy Spirit is so important to us as New Covenant believers that Jesus said this:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16: 7

Say what????

It’s better for us to have the Holy Spirit than to have Jesus, Himself with us.

So, here is the key to the Holy Spirit. Remember, I told you that this summer the Holy Spirit was teaching me to ASK Him to manifest. I’m more convinced than ever that we NEED to ask for His help, strength, wisdom, and peace.

When we ask, this is what happens. We gain power in the spiritual, which impacts the natural realm. This is why Jesus sent the Helper. And boy howdy, do we ever need power. But also, we gain discernment and wisdom.

It becomes quite easy to discern the heart of a person, good or bad. It becomes easy to hear a lie and then reject it by replacing it with truth.

Example: I will not watch the news because I just can’t put up with the lies or half-truths (distortions). My Holy Spirit meter starts to fire almost with every story and especially when it comes to politics.

So, want to test this out? Watch the news after praying and asking the Holy Spirit to manifest and reveal truth.

How does this affect our marriages? Well, when it becomes common place to recognize the lies and know the truth, you don’t need to engage, fight, or defend. You also don’t walk around in confusion. It becomes very peaceful.

Give it a try. Ask the Holy Spirit to manifest next time you walk into a meeting at work. Ask the Holy Spirit to manifest in your prayer time and in Worship. That will be an amazing experience. Be persistent. This is a lifetime of abiding in the Lord. Learning to manifest this precious Spirit was so important that it’s a large portion of what Jesus taught the disciples on His last day on earth.

Don’t you think it should be profoundly important to us today?

Thoughts? I want to hear your understanding on what Jesus is teaching about the Holy Spirit. PS. No right or wrong answers here, only learning. See you in the comments.

Blessings and hugs, Lynn