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INSPIRATION FOR YOUR JOURNEY

They’re Living Out Their Mission To Be Unspoken Testimonies To God’s Love And Power

by Jennifer Alden February 26, 2022

Unspoken Releases Its First Single Of 2022, “Love Is Everything We Need”; YouTube Premieres Video Featuring Cameos By Victoria Jackson, Richard Lee Jackson, And More

On February 18, Centricity Music recording artist Unspoken released “Love Is Everything We Need” to radio, digital retail and streaming outlets everywhere. The band’s debut single of 2022 is also the lead song from its first full-length album in three years, which is slated to release in July.

Receiving over 236 million on-demand streams, 125 million music video views, 457,000 album sales and 870,000 track sales, Unspoken’s music is as distinct as its roots. Its soulful, pop-flavored songs are led by the Adam Levine-esque vocals of Chad Mattson.

With no fear of mixing it up, whether backed by a horn section, gospel choir or hip-hop rhythms, the band released its self-titled album in 2014. The album featured “Start A Fire,” the band’s first radio single and No. 1 AC hit that launched them into headliner positions on tour the following year. The band’s sophomore album, Follow Through (2016), debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Top Christian Album Chart while its current album, Reason (2019), sparked the band’s biggest, multiformat No. 1 hit song so far, “Reason.” Unspoken’s Top 10 AC hits include: “Who You Are,” “Lift My Life Up,” “Good Fight” and “You’ve Always Been.” Having toured with TobyMac, Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, Big Daddy Weave and more, Unspoken band members are living out their mission to be unspoken testimonies to God’s love and power, and to speak what oftentimes goes unspoken.

A Song of Distinction

Revealing the impetus behind the new song, Unspoken’s lead vocalist Chad Mattson shares, “These last couple of years, we, as believers, have had to have some really strong conversations because in our culture, we find it hard to disagree on certain things, and still love and be kind to each other.”

“There is this polarization of beliefs, yet Jesus reveals to us in John chapter 13 that it’s love that identifies us with being his kids (his children). We can disagree, but we can all agree on the fact that we need to love and respect each other, even when we are at different places in our lives politically, socially, even religiously. ‘Love Is Everything We Need’ is a song of encouragement for believers, to find ways to love each other, even when we don’t see eye to eye on everything. Our love is one of the biggest testimonies we have,” explains Mattson.

“Love Is Everything We Need” is a heartfelt and deeply enriched song, with lyrics that are lovingly written, simple in their understanding, and an encouragement to us all. They are an instant reminder of the twice-told tale of who we are as followers of Christ, and why we must press on in our journey.

I have personally followed Unspoken for many years of their career. I am especially grateful for the various artists who did not give up in the middle of this pandemic, instead pressing in and taking their music to this deeper place: a place of revelation.

Through All the Ages

We, as believers, need to hold fast to this truth of knowing who we are in Christ, Who we belong to, and why it is that we can never stop believing. Doubt can play many tricks on our mind, leading us down a rabbit hole of many untruths.

Unspoken’s “Love Is Everything We Need” speaks this truth to our current generation, and the many generations to come. It is a truth that will precede us, through all the ages.

Watch the “Love Is Everything We Need” YouTube Premieres feature now.

Unspoken - "Love Is Everything We Need" (Official Music Video)

Watch this video on YouTube

February 26, 2022 0 comment

Articles Faith

A Stranger In A Strange Land

by Jennifer Alden January 10, 2022

written by Jennifer Alden

The beginning of each New Year brings the promise of new purpose, new goals, new hope and new intentions. It is a removal of the old things, a fresh new start, and as we prepare for a better future.

It was over twelve years ago that I rededicated my life to the Lord. I celebrated my 40th birthday with my husband. My birthday fell on the 13th and his was on the 15th. We had dinner with our family and friends, ending the night early, enjoying our solitude in our newly coupled relationship.

It was a night of new beginnings for the two of us. It was the very night that we both, together, surrendered our lives to the Lord.

It was the following year that I had what I consider a near death experience. Prior to marrying my husband, I had been living a life that looking back, had become very selfish. After a difficult divorce in 2006, I had made some choices that ultimately, led me to that point in my life. It was a period in my life, when I had walked away from God. I refused to listen, insistent I could do things my own way. And after a very narrow escape (from almost dying), God did give me a second chance.

Finding My Way

God showed me His grace and mercy, like I never knew it before. I became the “bell sheep” in my own story, and never again did I want to leave His side.

After many years of leading my own misguided life, I knew that it was finally time to put my faith to the test. I realized that it was time to change me, all of me, and it had to be done from the inside out.

What I found to be true is that in my own strength, there’s nothing I can do without Him. There’s no peace; there’s no joy. There’s nothing I can buy; there’s no satisfaction that can ever sustain me. I had to let go of the things of this world, to finally see what I was missing. I had to give my life over to God, to truly understand the grace He has given me.

It was time to right the wrongs in my own thinking, allowing Him to change my mind. It was in Him, where I finally found the courage to carry on. It is in Him, where I, truly, had to find this peace.

To Fully Surrender

This world is changing more and more every day. The Earth is crying out for all of us to, once and for all, listen. I believe, in many ways, the hourglass of time has finally reached its stay. Many are scrambling to “save the Earth,” when it’s been since the beginning of time we were given instruction on how to take care of it.

Only God can save us from ourselves and the detriment we have caused this planet. After all the years we’ve spent building up our own lives, living for ourselves, and in doing what we want, or by what we think we’ve needed, we are seeing the consequences of it. We’ve sacrificed time with our loved ones, doing what makes us happy, neglecting the very souls He has given us to shepherd.

God wants us to want Him so much that nothing on this earth can ever separate us from Him again. It’s been in this spiritual death that I do finally see this truth. And it’s only in physical death, will I ever fully know it.

Luke 9:23-24, “And he said to them all, ‘If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it’.”

Patrick Mayberry: An Artistic Journey Of Faith And Discovery, With A Transformational Awakening Like Never Before

by Jennifer Alden October 9, 2021

written by Jennifer Alden

Singer/songwriter Patrick Mayberry never truly understood the power of worship music until he experienced it firsthand at a Passion conference. His YoungLife leader invited him to the annual gathering for college students, which has morphed into a larger movement that’s birthed some of Christian music’s most respected artists, such as Chris Tomlin, Crowder, Kristian Stanfill and Matt Redman. For many, Passion is a multi-day spiritual wake-up call to the things of God. For Mayberry, Passion was a transformational awakening to the intersection of faith and music.

That was nearly 15 years ago. Today, Patrick is on the cusp of embarking on an artistic journey he never quite felt qualified to pursue. Signed to Centricity Publishing as a writer since 2018, the Cookeville, Tennessee native has penned songs recorded by North Point Worship, David Leonard, Mack Brock, David Dunn, Jonny Diaz, Joel Vaughn and Chris Renzema, among others. In addition, he’s garnered sync placements with T-Mobile, NBA, the “TODAY” show and more. To date, Patrick Mayberry has released two EPs independently with 2018’s Joy and 2019’s Live In My Living Room, the latter of which he partnered with Centricity Music to re-release in 2020.

Patrick, his wife Jenny, and their four children recently relocated from Chicago to Franklin, Tennessee, where he now remotely serves as Executive Producer of Worship for Chicago’s Soul City Church. Patrick’s path to becoming an artist, however, has been a long and winding road.

Growing up in the Church of Christ denomination, Patrick was discouraged from enjoying music with instrumentation in worship settings. Therefore, his growing love of guitar felt disconnected from his growing love of Jesus. As he transitioned from middle school to high school while playing the guitar riffs of his idols, Jimi Hendrix and Grateful Dead, he found like-minded friends through his local YoungLife chapter, which consistently merged music and faith.

His collegiate years—a period of time Patrick calls a “dark season”—proved pivotal. “I was still very much figuring out faith and figuring out, really, what every college kid’s trying to figure out: What am I even here for? What’s my purpose?” he recalls.

The answer came at Passion 2006. “That was my first experience with corporate worship on a bigger scale. It’s funny, because I really was clueless and just kind of a sponge, wide-eyed, taking it all in,” Patrick says of the conference. “I felt like that’s when the Lord was showing me, ‘This is how you could use music for the Church. If you wanted to do this, I think this would be a cool way for you to use your music.’ So I fell in love with worship music.”

When he got home from Passion, he headed straight to his local Christian bookstore to purchase his first Christian CD, an album by Chris Tomlin. “I think it was, hands down, the most influential record of my life,” Patrick confesses, “because I’d never heard anything like that before.”

That Tomlin record instilled a hunger for worship in Patrick, who continued to hone his songwriting skills and began leading worship at his local college ministry. Eventually, a call to Soul City Church in Chicago led him away from Tennessee, but still, the husband and father continued to write and soon began building an arsenal of demos initially intended to teach his church band how to play the original songs he was crafting.

“I felt like in Chicago I was creating in a vacuum,” Patrick observes. “I don’t feel like the writing culture in worship that exists now was as prevalent 15 years ago.”

The Call to Centricity Music

Following an offer from a friend, Patrick Mayberry attended Centricity’s invitation-only artist retreat in Washington, held every two years. It was there where he met some kindred spirits and future collaborators. “It’s like I found my people. It was like Niagara Falls to my soul,” he says of the week-long event. “I had all these things in common with these people. They were into the same recording gear I was into, and they were interested in the same music. It was unbelievable. I didn’t want it to end.”

A publishing deal with Centricity followed a few months later, affirming his talent as a lyricist. Yet, Patrick continued to wrestle with even entertaining the thought of transitioning from songwriter to artist. He felt stuck, if not ill-prepared.

“I think I was waiting for somebody who was really good at being an artist and that I respected to tell me, ‘Hey, you’re good at this.’ I didn’t think I was good enough. That will probably be something I always carry with me,” he confesses. “I’m definitely not as qualified or as polished as some people, and I feel like, in some ways, I self-sabotaged this thing that the Lord was interested in doing in my life.”

Regardless, little by little, Patrick received confirmation that he was meant to personally steward some of the songs he was writing. “Really, God’s been doing a lot in me the last year to reshape and rewire how I think about myself and also how He thinks about me,” he admits.

Breakthrough Miracle Power

Patrick Mayberry’s debut single, “Breakthrough Miracle Power,” was conceived as Patrick continued to wrestle with feelings of inadequacy that were at odds with a clear calling from God to pursue the path of an artist. He also had some friends in the back of his mind who needed a breakthrough—one who was struggling in a marriage, another who was battling debilitating back pain—two examples of how life never stops being hard.

“It started on my own, and it was super personal,” he says of writing the building anthem that will serve as his official introduction as an artist with Centricity Music. “It’s essentially a desperate song of when your back’s against the wall and there’s no way out, and, ultimately you’re just desperate for the Lord to show up.”

Patrick asked Capitol CMG writer Bede Benjamin-Korporaal to help him finish the track. In a full circle moment, his demo ended up in the hands of the Passion camp, who instantly fell in love with the vulnerable, pleading lyric. Already leading the song at Atlanta’s Passion City Church, Kristian Stanfill and Mayberry rewrote the bridge.

Patrick’s earnest vocal on the song implores God to do what only He can do. But, for the humble songwriter, “Breakthrough Miracle Power” is more than a raw prayer petitioning a divine move of God. It’s the culmination of years of doubt, hard work and obedience.

“I feel like I’m getting to put the flag in the moon, because to me, it’s not just this song; it’s the last 10 years of traveling back and forth to Franklin, staying up way too late working on demos, and being a grumpy dad in the morning because I stayed up too late,” he shares. “There’s been a lot of sweat equity, and this song is kind of the Ebenezer that marks the start of something really beautiful that’s come from all of that.”

Newly Featured Single, Holy Spirit Come

On September 17, 2021, Patrick Mayberry released his debut Centricity Music concept music video and Air1-premiered it. “Holy Spirit Come” is remarkably beautiful, and truly conveys the message of the hope and faith that resides in all of us.

“This is one track we have been waiting for, and one you will be playing on repeat as you sing the words, O Holy Spirit come!” exclaims Air1. “‘Holy Spirit Come’ is a high-energy invitation for the presence of God to dwell among the Church,” adds Worship Leader.

Through this diligent pursuit of faith and music, Patrick has crafted songs steeped in community and with a language that does inspire a wide spectrum of worshippers to join in this heavenward chorus.

To learn more about Patrick Mayberry, his tour, or to download his music, please visit Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Courtesy of Hoganson Media Relations

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October 9, 2021 0 comment

Articles Faith Music Video

Oh Lord Lead Us: A Continuing Journey Of Faith

by Jennifer Alden August 2, 2021

written by Jennifer Alden

On July 23, Jonathan Cain, singer and songwriter of the highly acclaimed group, Journey, released his first solo single of 2021, “Oh Lord Lead Us,” to digital outlets worldwide. Jonathan shares, “Being beaten down, closed up, and churches shuttered. The lockdown. Quarantine. All this stuff. It seemed like this is a new season. We’ve got to make ourselves brand new again. The song was a prayer for a reset and renewal. I just thought we needed something that had a little joy in it.”

As an aspiring singer/songwriter in Los Angeles, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and longtime Journey member Jonathan Cain was advised by record executives to pursue a different vocation.

“They told me that I couldn’t sing and I couldn’t really write and I should get a day job,” Jonathan recalls. “Somebody asked me, ‘What are you going to do now, Jon?’ and I told him, ‘I’m going to find somebody to sing my songs’.”

Encouraged by his father’s words to “don’t stop believin’,” Jonathan pressed forward, eventually writing, touring and recording two albums with The Babys before joining Journey, rounding out the lineup and songwriting prowess on the band’s defining 10X Multi-Platinum album, Escape, which fittingly opens with the 5X Platinum single, “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Along with penning Journey’s mega hit “Faithfully,” as well as co-creating huge anthems like “Open Arms,” “Who’s Crying Now” and many more, Jonathan’s musical contributions along the way, including with Bad English, have earned him numerous Billboard hits; multiple Gold, Platinum and Diamond-selling records; a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and a GRAMMY® nomination, among other accolades.

Jonathan Cain

Now, more than 40 years into his career, Jonathan Cain continues with Journey, contributing a wealth of new songs to the band’s forthcoming studio album. In addition, Jonathan is a seasoned solo artist—a venture that allows him to come out from behind his keyboard and step into the shoes of a lead vocalist, proving those early critics wrong on every front.

Following a transformational encounter with God, Jonathan committed time and space to begin writing songs about his growing faith, culminating in five albums in five years: What God Wants to Hear (2016), Unsung Noel (2017), The Songs You Leave Behind (2018), More Like Jesus (2019) and Piano Worship (2020). Continuing his tradition of crafting a new solo project each year, Jonathan is currently working on a worship record slated to drop in the Fall of 2021.

The collection’s lead single, “Oh Lord Lead Us,” could very well be a post-pandemic anthem, but the story that led to the song itself was a lifetime in the making.

A Journey of Faith

Jonathan Cain’s personal journey of faith, which he chronicles in his 2018 memoir named after Journey’s career-defining song, Don’t Stop Believin’, began when he was a kid growing up in Chicago. As a young choir boy, he entertained thoughts of going into the ministry, but when his school caught fire killing 92 of his peers and three nuns, Jonathan, only in third grade at the time, found his faith on shaky ground.

Decades later, after experiencing both personal and professional success and watching it all come crashing down, Jonathan found himself in Florida crying out to that same God of his youth. He soon discovered redemption and, ultimately, unconditional love when he met his now wife, Paula White-Cain, who serves as the senior pastor at City of Destiny church in Central Florida.

“I started out wanting to be a priest when I was 8-years-old,” Jonathan shares of the way his life has come full circle, “and I ended up marrying a pastor. I was a choir boy, and now I’m leading worship.”

Music, Ministry, and More

Jonathan leads worship weekly at City of Destiny, the first place he often debuts his new music. “It’s always been the testing grounds. When I write something, I will usually play it at church and see if it moves people. I don’t force my music on our people. I just kind of drop it on them once in a while,” he says. “I’ve enjoyed getting away from the piano and just leading worship and getting people to connect. That’s our job, really. My wife, Paula, she always teaches that God rides on the waves of sound.”

“Oh Lord Lead Us” rides a powerful wave with the help of a wealth of studio pros who brought the driving track to life. Produced by Jonathan Cain, mixed by David Kalmusky (Justin Bieber, The Fray, Keith Urban), mastered by GRAMMY® Award-winning Adam Ayans (Paul McCartney, Carrie Underwood, Foo Fighters), and featuring Journey background vocalist Jason Derlatka, “Oh Lord Lead Us” was recorded at Jonathan’s state-of-the-art Addiction Sound Studios in Nashville with select parts crafted remotely due to the pandemic.

Jonathan wrote the track as a prayer for the new year, as 2021 came into sharp focus following a season of hardship echoed around the world. Inspired by a passage in 1 Chronicles 16:11, “Oh Lord Lead Us” takes its lyrics directly from Scripture. “Being around all this Bible teaching, I get excited when I see something that triggers my imagination,” remarks Jonathan, who grew up Catholic.

Oh Lord Lead Us

The joyful single’s artwork, capturing the sun setting behind the mountains with Jonathan Cain in the forefront, was shot at Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon. “That valley has been unchanged for close to a million years,” Jonathan explains. “It’s just exactly the way God intended it to be. So it just seemed like a holy place to go.”

It also felt like the ideal setting for the song’s music video, but weather delays and rental car shortages prevented Jonathan from getting to the location on time. Arriving later than originally planned but determined to use the area’s natural beauty as the video’s backdrop, Jonathan and the director got up before dawn to shoot against the bright blue sky now seen in the official clip. Right as they wrapped, the skies promptly darkened, brewing up a storm.

The experience could very well be a metaphor for Jonathan’s life—a story of stormy skies and vast horizon, perfect timing and God’s faithfulness, and the subject of much of his new music. While “Oh Lord Lead Us” previews his next studio effort, which Jonathan says will boast more vertical lyrics and congregational-friendly choruses, it’s only one brick in the ministry he’s building. He is also the host of the “Anchored” podcast, where he discusses everything from faith, family and marriage to manhood and music. And he regularly appears on his wife’s television shows, “Paula Today” and “Faithfully,” seen on the Life Network for Women and Daystar Television. In addition, he’s working on new Journey music, with the band also headlining this summer’s Lollapalooza festival in Chicago.

Don’t Stop Believin’

Whether he’s ministering with his wife, testing out new songs on his congregation or playing to millions alongside his Journey bandmates, Jonathan Cain’s faith always takes center stage. “During Journey events I can minister to people who haven’t considered Jesus and who can see the light in my life. I always say, ‘When all else fails, consider Jesus.’ It’s a game changer, absolutely. There are not very many rock ‘n’ rollers praising the name, shouting hallelujah. I take my spiritual life to Journey and have the confidence of being Spirit-filled,” he attests. “Now, more than ever, it’s time to be transparent and stand up for what you believe. If you’re a follower of Jesus, it’s OK to say so. I’m not out there evangelizing. If people can just see my Jesus on me, that’d be fine.”

That’s one reason Jonathan Cain is so grateful to be able to craft solo music that more explicitly displays his faith, while simultaneously continuing to record and tour with Journey. No matter the genre his music is classified under, Jonathan strives to create songs that are both hopeful and timeless. “When you write songs for God, they’re time posts,” he offers. “I’ve found that out as I go back into my old catalog and sing songs. They’re still relevant. They don’t get old, and that’s kind of neat as a writer. They’re there forever, and if somebody wants to sing them, they can,” Jonathan explains.

Although he’s been playing music for four decades, Jonathan Cain continues to climb to the next level, showing no signs of slowing down. If anything, he’s writing some of the best music of his career—music marked by a changed life. “I continue to grow in lots of ways,” he says. “I’m looking forward to seeing where God’s going to take me next.”

Courtesy of Hoganson Media Relations

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August 2, 2021 0 comment

Articles Faith Family Lifestyle Revival

There Is Freedom And Liberty In Him!

by Jennifer Alden July 11, 2021

written by Jennifer Alden

More and more, we, as humans, are blurring the line between what’s good and what’s evil in this world, accepting the latter, and in making it normal differences in our society, today.

God is very clear in Scripture that all humans are made in His image. Jesus himself preached about discrimination, and not judging others based on how they look, or what area of the world they may come from.

Prejudice is an unjustified or incorrect attitude, usually negative, towards an individual. Sadly, it can be based solely on that individual’s position, or status in life. Bias is the inclination or prejudice for, or against, one person or group or concept, and especially when there might be some who consider it unfair.

A biased person tends to favor one side of an issue over another. While biased can just mean having a preference for “one thing over another,” it can also be synonymous with prejudiced, and that prejudice can be taken too far.

Do We Choose Prejudice Over Love?

When someone is humble they are focused on God and others, and not on themselves. Their focus is out of a desire to love and glorify God.

In short, a humble person’s goal is to elevate God and encourage others. They “no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (see 2 Corinthians 5:15).

Jesus Christ died on the cross over two thousand years ago so that we could all have this equality, and live in spiritual freedom. It is by God’s grace that we have received this freedom. He has given us what I consider to be, true independence. Therefore, humility is learned, and can only be from God.

Liberty For All!

Billy Graham shared, “The Declaration of Independence states that people ‘are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness’.”

Galatians 5 verse 13 says, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

When we’re living for the Lord, yoking our life to His, and in getting under this yoke with Him, that is when true freedom will reign in our lives.

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July 11, 2021 0 comment

Articles Faith Lifestyle Revival

Adversity + Prayer = A Deeper Relationship With God

by Jennifer Alden June 27, 2021

written by Jennifer Alden

“Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God.” – Charles Stanley

Our experiences, here on Earth, can be used as great lessons when we give them to our heavenly Father. God will use each one of our challenges to teach us a greater truth, if we simply believe.

This is a quote from a colleague’s article, a pingback from my last article, and how wonderfully true it is: “Out of the overflow of our lives, we are able to pour into the lives of others. In this, we find the responsibility of prosperity is a privilege.”

Prosperity comes in many forms. Hard lessons learned can be shared with others, and in this, nothing is ever in vain.

The Journey

I learned to live with very little the last couple of years. I seemingly lost a great deal, and daily living for me seemed more than just a challenge. I was dependent for much, and at times, did not know if the light at the end of the tunnel was coming for me. Life was very hard; but, I learned that no matter how much we may have, or how much we may not have, it is always better to give than to receive.

The enemy works diligently to take what he can in guaranteeing our future will not be a success. He’s not just after our joy, he’s aiming to steal our finances, our security, our peace, and more specifically, our hope. With no hope, we’re left with no purpose. We give up, we give in, and the consequences can be life-threatening.

Only when we can fully trust in the Lord, will we understand what His will is for our lives, and in these times of adversity. We must gather together with other believers for this encouragement. We must continue to praise and worship to counter-effect these wiles of defeat.

Keep Kingdom Building

There is much work to do for the Kingdom of God, and He will put a passion in our hearts to drive us forward, no matter what our circumstances may be. Prayer is an exercise of our faith, and like any exercise, if you want a good outcome, or a lean body, you must be willing to make time for it.

In my book, The World, As We Know It, I use this example in demonstrating how our nation, our world, has developed what seems to be this “spiritual atrophy.” I explain that for lack of exercising our faith, by taking God out of our schools, our courtrooms, etc., we are doing the very same. Many have given in and are losing hope, as a result of the relentless attacks against them.

Imagine if you stop moving or exercising, what do you think is going to happen? Your body is going to lose muscle, and given enough time, you will develop this atrophy. The enemy knows this, and as a wave of destruction, his aim is to wear us down, leaving us for dead, and with no will to keep going.

Watering Our Seeds

“Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again, and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly” (see Mark 8:25).

I pray that my eyes will always be open, and to all that He wants me to see. We must pray for hearts to be changed. We must show support to those who are struggling with helping to make the changes this world needs.

Matthew 9:37-38 states, “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest’.”

I know that good, bad or indifferent, God will use it all. And though the leaves on the tree do appear to be dark and dying, the root system is very much alive. To gather a healthy harvest, we’ve just got to keep watering our seeds!

June 27, 2021 0 comment

Articles Faith Family Revival

The Road Less Traveled, And Why We Must All Go There

by Jennifer Alden June 19, 2021

written by Jennifer Alden

Romans 12:12 teaches us that to rejoice in hope, we must be patient in affliction, and always be persistent in prayer. It’s in these moments of overwhelming challenge that we must know, He is always there.

More and more, pastors, ministry leaders, and peers alike, have been falling away from their faith. I’ve watched how many this last year have been overcome by doubt, wanting to “deconstruct” their Christianity, becoming desensitized to what’s really happening around them.

This Pastor says that deconstruction has become “trendy,” sharing how we must love those struggling with doubt. I do understand the process of “building back better,” and I do understand what it means to dangerously walk away.

I am learning that no matter what our choices may be, God is a God of second chances. He loves us and wants what’s best for us, and He will restore this order (for us), if we allow Him.

Jesus Is Knocking

Jesus is knocking on the door of every heart and every believer, across this nation, and around the world. And though it’s been a challenging time for us all, it’s become a perfect time for this revival, being received across the land.

It’s a season of hope and encouragement like no other time in history that we’ve witnessed. Where the land has been dry and scorched, inspiration is springing up like a newly met waters well.

The desert is finally beginning to turn green again; so, let us continue to give thanks for what He has brought us through. Let us give this hope to others, and in any way that we can.

The Road Less Traveled

We’ve all had to face our own personal trials in this world, and in making some difficult choices trying to get there. Where I had been giving my life’s work to the ministry, my son’s father died. Being left to make some crucial decisions for the two of us, I was left with questioning everything I had worked so hard for.

Together, we knew we were facing a whole new world of many unknowns. I was rebuilding a home as a single mother, taking on the necessary duties of being this “head of household.” Life was changing, and once again, it felt like I was going in the wrong direction.

Where I had spent my time focused on making more money, I let the work go that truly mattered to me. What made me happy was the furthest thing from me. And all that should have mattered to me, was doing what I needed to, in staying closest to Him.

In Changing The Things That We Can

It was time to face my Goliath, and after making a decision to move not long after Covid-19, we were faced with yet another challenge. Going at it alone can make for a very scary scenario for anyone. God always provides a way, and I knew it was time to let go and allow Him to lead us.

Where we had lost someone near and dear to us, there were others who were also challenged with their loss. Together, through this love and support, we did find hope in filling those empty spaces, loving one another through this process.

Where the world tries to hang its hat on hate and revenge, our hearts needed to heal. It was in the letting go of the things that we knew we couldn’t control that we did finally learn to use this wisdom. And eventually, being able to change the things that we can.

Read more on the GOD TV blog, and watch GOD TV here.

June 19, 2021 0 comment

Articles Faith Family Revival

Life Lessons: Replacing The Seed Of Discouragement, With A Hopeful Heart Instead

by Jennifer Alden June 1, 2021

written by Jennifer Alden

“Just as the anchor which holds a ship is not in the exact same place as the ship itself, our hope is not in this world. Rather, it is in a holier, greater place. Since Christ has gone ahead of us, in order to secure our salvation, we should have absolute confidence.” – BibleRef.com

The Recovery Process

My life has been in a “recovery” of sorts. Where we were almost debt-free, prior to my husband leaving, I was left with all the marital expenses, numerous medical expenses, then came attorney’s fees, divorce, and the financial slope of decline began.

It’s been quite a recovery process, in getting this area of my life back in order. Where we cannot take the worldly goods with us, our reputation, and our overall good name, is of much value.

In Following Christ

I’ve learned, as a follower of Christ, there is a great deal of responsibility in leading as an example. Paying our debt, and giving to others, helping one another in their time of need, are only two examples of that. How we spend our money and how we manage our time, here on earth, are equally important in our walk with Christ.

I’ve taken away a great many lessons from the last two years, and where God is entrusting me with more, my heart is to give even more. It is true, where the enemy seeks to destroy, God purposes to use all things together for good.

What God Has Promised

Hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised, and its strength is in His faithfulness. One cannot have hope without faith, and in a world full of hope, there will be less chaos and fear. When people have hope, they have faith that is anchored. They hold this belief that says, “I do believe that the future will be better.” Finding this hope, not only encourages us to keep pressing on; but, it also speaks as this witness to others.

A “seed of discouragement” cannot grow in a heart full of thankfulness. And through a hopeful heart, there will always be more love to share!

Read more on the GOD TV blog, and watch GOD TV here.

June 1, 2021 0 comment

Faith

In Due Season, We Will All Be Rewarded

by Jennifer Alden May 23, 2021

written by Jennifer Alden

We are each on a journey in this world and I’m learning, more and more, how each one of them can be so vastly different. Not all snowflakes are the same, and neither are our life-long journeys. In many cases, we’re each picking up the pieces (of our lives) and putting them back together again… And yes, it’s not always going to be easy.

We live in a society of many ethnicities and cultures, and many of us are choosing for ourselves who or what we believe we should follow. People are people; but, no matter how different we may be, we all know the importance of working together.

It’s taken me a lifetime to figure out a lot of what went wrong in my life, and God knows, I do still struggle. No matter how much we may choose to do the right thing, we do live in an imperfect world. And without this sense of peace (in the world), life can present with many challenges.

1 Colossians teaches us that He was there from the beginning, and that before any of it came into existence, He holds it all together right up to this moment. He is our Creator, and it is His hope that we do our best to, once and for all, live in this peace together.

We share more in common, than we don’t…

There is a divine order in which all things must come together and I believe He is bringing this order back into His eternal kingdom. Are we coming together for the good of all mankind, or are we living out our own liberties on this Earth?

It is true, too many liberties, leads to more immorality. When we walk away from the truth, hardship and more disparity will follow. This is, sadly, a real warning for the people of this world.

In taking our world out of it’s proper order, it has caused us more death and destruction. And if I may be so bold to say, if it’s not for God, then it’s not of God, and that will lead to further disaster.

For the Good of All Mankind

We have to do better by our own bodies, as well as the body of this earth. Creation Care was mankind’s designated responsibility and mandate from the very beginning.

The enemy wants to create a vicious cycle that will last a lifetime, affecting (infecting) each generation. It is an attack against all of God’s creation, and in leaving this imprint for each “new” generation.

The Earth is crying out; so, let all creation listen! How we choose to move forward, will determine our future. And the only future we should hope for, is one that is pleasing to Him.

May 23, 2021 0 comment

Articles Faith Family Lifestyle Revival

Inspiration In A Modern World, And What It Means To Be Truly Inspired

by Jennifer Alden April 21, 2021

written by Jennifer Alden

We’re all on a journey of hope, looking for inspiration to help carry us along. Inspiration is subjective, as different people will find different things to be inspiring. God is the basis for our inspiration, because He is the basis for everything good and worth imitating.

Finding Your Inspiration

How we find our inspiration in this world can be determined by what it is we are looking for.

It can be Biblical inspiration, creative inspiration, or sudden creativity with a new invention, media, and/or design.

Nothing great in this world has ever been accomplished without this inspiration and passion. It’s in the lessons that we’ve learned to know when it’s coming from God and not just man.

Who Inspires You?

There are many who do lead the pack in this divine process of inspiring others. Their perseverance in never losing hope is by far above what seems to be the everyday norm.

It’s with this “motivation” that we can better thrive when the journey seemingly gets too hard to keep going.

I personally find Charles Stanley’s teachings to be inspiring. As a couple, I do love to hear what John and Lisa Bevere have to say. It’s with Lysa TerKeurst that I know, I can always find something to relate to. And just like with many other influencers, they’re always there to help us in moving forward.

Finding Our Inspiration In Him

I wrote an article not too long ago, Discovering The ‘Rightness’ In Life When We Find Our Rest In Him.

In this, I write, being human in nature, and in living by our own flesh, we do tend to judge people based on their status quo. We sometimes measure them by their importance in life, how many “likes” or “follows” they may have, or maybe by the position they carry: doctor, lawyer, etc…

Do we often enough consider helping someone, just for the sake of helping? Or what about loving someone, only for the sake of loving?

Being an influence in this world…

Jesus makes it possible for us to know our heavenly Father. And regardless of where we are in life, God will always offer us this greater intimacy with Him. He is our motivation, our inspiration, our eternal “All In All”!

In this season of renewal, I believe that the Lord has shown me there are many who are trying to “build it,” doing so, with their own hands. It’s when we learn to give it to God that we can let go of the “man-made” influences in our lives, and in finding this true inspiration in Him.

What the flesh tends to long for does take on a whole new perspective, as we soon become our “true-to-self” spiritual man. And as we begin to lead our new life, as a follower of Christ, we will have a more increased influence (in this world), helping to draw souls more near to Him.

Please consider joining us, as we support others, on their quest, for this much-needed hope in the world.

April 21, 2021 0 comment

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