Author: pastordarryl68

Love. Live. Serve. Minimizing me...making much of JESUS! Loves God, family and crossroads|church. Husband, father, teacher, student, servant and worshiper.

Big Impact Begins Small

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Big impact doesn’t start with a microphone in your hand or a crowd in the seats. It doesn’t begin when the spotlight hits you or when the applause breaks out. Big impact begins with small, unseen faithfulness.

It’s the small things that lead to the big things. The things no one sees are what bring about the things everyone wants. It’s the quiet, consistent, intentional choices to obey God when no one else is watching.

It’s the early mornings and the extremely late hours on our knees before God alone. It’s the wrestling—not against people—but against “the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

It’s the deep, deep self-denying sacrifices no one applauds. It’s the putting of others’ needs ahead of our own, not because it’s convenient or easy, but because Jesus did the same for us. It’s the work done in secret—acts of obedience, moments of prayer, quiet generosity—that God Himself sees and rewards openly.

The truth is, we don’t have to manufacture the work of God. We don’t have to force His hand or create our own platform. He is already at work among the small, unseen faithfulness of His servants. Our job is simply to remain faithful where He has placed us—whether the crowd notices or not.

Because in the Kingdom, the smallest seeds grow into the largest trees. The unseen moments are the birthplace of the visible miracles. And the hands that labor in secret will one day hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Friendship After the Cross

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When you’ve truly given your life to Jesus—when you’ve denied yourself, picked up your cross, and surrendered completely to follow Him—everything changes.

Your priorities shift. Your values realign. Even the way you see relationships, especially friendship, is transformed.

Before surrender, friendship is often about me.

Who do I feel most comfortable around?

Who do I have the most fun with?

Who gives back as much as I give—if not more?

But after the cross… friendship becomes ministry.

It’s no longer about cherry-picking people who make me feel good or add convenience to my life.

It’s about availability, obedience, and selfless investment.

When you walk with Jesus, He starts placing people in your life on purpose. People you may not have chosen for yourself. People who stretch you, who require grace, who invite you to go deeper than surface-level.

And here’s the key: you don’t just “hang out” with people anymore—you share life with them.

You give your time, your attention, your presence, and sometimes your tears, because Yahweh brought them into your path.

Friendship becomes about recognizing who God has entrusted to you.

Who He’s asking you to pour into.

Who He’s calling you to sit with, listen to, pray for, walk alongside—even when it’s inconvenient. Especially when it’s inconvenient.

It’s about noticing when someone opens up to you honestly and transparently… and responding like Jesus would: with compassion, consistency, and love.

That’s what I’m learning.

And I’m so grateful—so grateful—for the people Yahweh has brought into my life.

Not just to bless me… but to shape me, sharpen me, and sanctify me.

People who invite me into what God is doing in them.

People who remind me what Kingdom friendship really looks like.

This kind of friendship… is worth everything.

And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Parents, Act Like Parents

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Parents who are hurt or offended by unmet expectations—often expectations that are unrealistic or, even worse, unspoken—are not behaving as parents. They are behaving as children.

This might sound harsh, but it’s true: parents are called to lead, not sulk. Parents take initiative. Parents pursue their children. Parents put their children’s needs before their own.

When we step into parenthood, we step into a role that reflects the Father’s heart. God doesn’t sit in heaven with crossed arms, offended that we haven’t met His expectations. He came running toward us in Jesus. He moved first. He pursued reconciliation before we even knew we needed it.

So when we, as parents (or grandparents), get stuck nursing hurt feelings because our adult children didn’t call, didn’t visit, didn’t respond the way we hoped—what role are we really stepping into? The role of the parent, or the role of the child?

Parents, hear this: your calling is to love first, move first, and forgive first. Your children may disappoint you. They may frustrate you. They may fail to meet your expectations. But your role doesn’t change.

Take the initiative. Pursue their hearts. Put their needs before your own.

It’s not weakness—it’s maturity. It’s not letting them “off the hook”—it’s walking in the footsteps of the Father who ran to meet His prodigal son while he was still a long way off.

Words Have Value

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Lately, I’ve been noticing something.

Maybe it’s always been this way, and I just didn’t have eyes to see it…

But we live in a world that over-talks and under-thinks.

Every feeling is “the worst.” Every frustration is “excruciating.” Every inconvenience is “traumatizing.”

Our language has become so inflated that we’ve lost the weight of words.

We say things like:

“It was a TERRIBLE day.”

“I felt AWFUL.”

“That was the WORST I’ve ever been treated.”

“I HATE when that happens.”

And we don’t even blink.

We’ve normalized exaggeration and lost touch with honest expression.

And even more troubling—we’ve begun borrowing medical and clinical terms to describe everyday human emotions:

“He’s so bipolar.”

“I’m so ADHD right now.”

“She’s definitely a narcissist.”

We toss around serious words for fleeting moments, with no understanding or care for those who carry the true weight of those realities.

So what’s going on here?

Why do we need our words to be louder, heavier, more intense?

Why isn’t ordinary language enough?

Maybe we’ve trained ourselves to speak this way because we think pain makes us more compelling.

Maybe we believe that drama gets us more attention.

Maybe the only time we feel truly seen is when we’re struggling—so we subconsciously dial up the struggle to make sure we’re heard.

But in doing so, we’ve unintentionally taught ourselves that life must be overwhelming to be worth sharing.

And that’s not just a language problem—it’s a spiritual one.

Scripture says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up” (Ephesians 4:29).

And “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).

Our words aren’t just sounds. They’re seeds.

What we speak shapes what we see.

So when we speak in extremes, we start to live in extremes.

When we exaggerate what’s wrong, we minimize what’s right.

When we highlight where things fall short, we lose the ability to celebrate where God showed up.

We need to reclaim the sacredness of language.

That doesn’t mean we sugarcoat our pain.

It means we speak with integrity. With clarity. With intentionality.

Let’s be the kind of people who tell the truth—

Not the most dramatic version of it.

Let’s be people who name the good—

Without having to balance it with five complaints.

Let’s be people who honor words—

Because we serve a God who spoke the world into being.

So here’s what I’m asking myself—and maybe you can ask it too:

Are my words glorifying God… or just glorifying me?

Am I using language to build up others, or to draw attention to myself?

Is the way I speak leading people to hope… or just adding to the noise?

Words have value.

Let’s speak like they do.

Walk in What You’ve Been Given

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“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us…”

“Yet not I, but Christ who lives in me.”

Those aren’t just verses for coffee mugs and t-shirts. That’s TRUTH. That’s identity. That’s the reality for every single born-again follower of Jesus. If we actually believed that and walked in it daily, everything in our lives would look different.

Let me talk to the believer for a second—the one who keeps falling into the same sin cycles, the same discouragement, the same defeat. Every time we compare our struggle or our yielding to the flesh with a disciple in Scripture who missed it, who failed, who messed up… we’ve got to realize something: those moments happened before they were transformed. Before they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Before the resurrection. Before Pentecost. Before power came.

Peter denying Jesus? That was before the fire fell. That was before he stood up in Acts 2 and boldly preached the Gospel, and thousands got saved. That was before he was FILLED with the power to say no to sin and YES to righteousness.

You’re not living pre-Acts 2. You’re living post-resurrection, post-Pentecost, post-Spirit. You’ve got the SAME Spirit living inside of you that raised Jesus from the dead. That’s not just good preaching—that’s straight out of Romans 8:11.

So let me ask you—what did you spend your mind and body doing yesterday? Did you invest your thoughts, energy, and conversation in your burdens? Your complaints? Your aches, pains, hang-ups, frustrations? Did you spend more time feeding your flesh than stirring your spirit?

Because if you did… then friend, you didn’t walk in the Spirit. You walked in the flesh. And when we walk in the flesh, we deny—not with our words, but with our actions—the Spirit’s ever-present power in our lives.

Now pause… because I’m not saying that to guilt trip you. I’m not here to condemn. I’m not here to discourage. I’m here to empower you.

Because here’s the truth: YOU. HAVE. BEEN. GIVEN. THE. SPIRIT.

You’ve been equipped. You’ve been sealed. You’ve been filled.

You’re not waiting on God to do something. He’s already done it. The question is—will you walk in it?

You are not helpless. You are not weak. You are not stuck.

You’ve got access to resurrection power. You’ve been made new.

You’ve been given the authority to overcome, to choose righteousness, to live by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh.

So today, right now, I’m telling you—WALK IN THAT.

Walk in the identity He gave you.

Walk in the freedom He paid for.

Walk in the Spirit you have received.

And don’t look back.

Let the world see what a Spirit-filled life actually looks like.

DUDE!!! Walk in that today. No excuses. No delay. The Spirit of God LIVES in you—what are you waiting for?

They Used His Name, But He Never Knew Them

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Some people hijack the name of Jesus. They do this not to glorify Him, but to build something that centers on themselves.

We notice this in today’s world. Ministries are more obsessed with branding than brokenness. Platforms chase fame more than faithfulness. Leaders speak the name of Jesus fluently but live with hearts far from Him. But this is not a new issue—it’s been happening since the beginning of the Church.

Jesus warned us about this very thing in Matthew 7 verses 22 through 23:

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, in Your name did we not prophesy, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many miracles?’
And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” (LSB)

Think about that. These weren’t people outside the faith. These were people using His name, claiming His authority, and doing things that looked powerful—even miraculous. And yet Jesus says to them: “I never knew you.” That’s chilling.

It’s a sobering reminder that doing things for Jesus is not the same as living in deep relationship with Jesus. The problem isn’t that they failed to perform. It’s that their hearts were far from Him. They treated His name like a password, a brand, a tool—rather than a reflection of their deepest love and loyalty. God doesn’t need our platform. He wants our obedience. He doesn’t want performance. He wants repentance.

This is why it’s so important that we, as followers of Jesus, learn to discern. We should not rely on charisma, talent, or social reach. Instead, we should discern by fruit. Jesus said earlier in that same chapter (Matthew 7 verses 15 through 20) that we would know false teachers “by their fruits.” Not by their words. Not by their influence. Not by their resume. By their lives. Are they humble? Are they submitted to Scripture? Do they repent? Do they walk in holiness when no one is watching? Or are they driven by the praise of people, the applause of crowds, and the addiction to being seen? Friend, don’t be fooled by the flesh. And don’t let the fakes harden your heart toward the real thing.

Yes, people have used the name of Jesus for personal gain. They’ve hurt others in His name. They’ve twisted Scripture. They’ve led ministries that were more about ego than eternity. But none of that discredits Jesus—it only proves how desperately we need Him.Let it push you closer to the Shepherd, not farther.Because at the end of the day, the question won’t be, “Did you do things in My name?”
It will be: “Did I know you?” So let’s live lives that are rooted in knowing Him, loving Him, and obeying Him. We do this not for the stage, spotlight, or spiritual resume, but simply because He is worthy.

He always has been.

And always will be.

Healing from Betrayal: Trusting Jesus Again

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It doesn’t take long to live life and realize that people can hurt you—sometimes deeply. The pain of betrayal, neglect, rejection, or even spiritual manipulation doesn’t just go away. Some of us have wounds that are still healing, or maybe haven’t even begun to heal yet. And often, those wounds don’t come from strangers—they come from people we trusted, people who claimed to follow Jesus too.

But don’t let what a person or a few people did to you affect the loving obedience with which you respond to what Jesus did for you. There is an enemy who would love nothing more than to take the actions of a broken human being and twist them into bitterness, distrust, and a hardened heart toward the very One who gave His life for you. And if we’re not careful, the hurt caused by people can become the lens through which we start to see God Himself. But Jesus didn’t hurt you. Jesus didn’t abandon you. He didn’t lie, manipulate, or break your trust. In fact, He did the opposite.

Philippians 2 verses 6 through 8 tell us that Jesus “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself… becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” That was for you. He took the punishment that should’ve been yours. He bore the weight of sin, the shame, the guilt, the loneliness—and He did it so that you could be free.

So when people hurt you, and you find yourself tempted to withdraw, shut down, or even turn away from God, pause and remember the cross. Remember the Savior who endured more pain, betrayal, and injustice than any of us ever will, and still chose love. Still chose obedience. Still chose you! That’s not to say we excuse sin. We should hold people accountable, set healthy boundaries, and protect one another from abuse or harm. But we must not let the sins of man push us away from the grace of God. To do that is to let the enemy win twice—first by the hurt, and second by the division it causes between your heart and the One who loves you most. There will always be people who fail you. But there is only One who never will. And He’s not asking you to trust people more—He’s asking you to trust Him completely. Keep worshiping. Keep loving. Keep serving. Keep obeying. Not because people deserve it—but because Jesus is always worthy. Even when others fall short, let your life be a response to the One who never will.

The Throne Is Not in Rome

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New Pope Elected

The world watches with reverence. Cameras flash. Robes are pressed. A name is announced. Applause erupts. The balcony doors open. And the smoke has barely cleared before the title is proclaimed: “Holy Father.”

But Heaven does not hold elections. The throne of Christ was not handed down, voted on, or inherited. It was secured through blood, a cross, and an empty tomb.

Psalm 2:6 says, “I have set my King on Zion.” That is final. No debate. No successor.

Men may wear titles, but none can carry the glory that belongs to Christ alone. Isaiah 42:8 declares, “I am the Lord. That is my name. My glory I give to no other.” Not even to a man in a white robe.

The Church does not need a new shepherd. She already has one. His name is Jesus. He was not selected in a secret room. He was raised in power before the eyes of angels, kings, and demons alike.

This is not about mocking a man, but magnifying the One who is truly holy.

Popes die. Priests sin. Systems fail. But Jesus? He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. No white smoke needed. The tomb is empty. The seat is taken.

Honestly, I have no reverence for the moment. I am not deceived by the pageantry. No man holds the keys of eternity. Revelation 1:18 tells us who does: “I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”

Pope Leo XIV may lead a billion people. But only one King leads the redeemed.

And His throne is not in Rome.

It is in Heaven.

—Mark Spence

A Confused World, A Clear King

In the past two weeks, we have seen both a pope elected within the Catholic Church and, perhaps more surprisingly, an individual from within Islam publicly claiming the title of “true pope.” These events have made global headlines and stirred debate. But beneath the ornate garments and global attention lies a deeper, more pressing issue: spiritual confusion, and the human desire to replicate divine authority.

The clarity of Christ’s throne demands more than intellectual assent—it demands full allegiance. The throne of Jesus is not symbolic or ceremonial; it is the immovable seat of cosmic authority, eternal justice, and unshakable mercy. Any attempt to replicate, replace, or redefine that authority—regardless of tradition or sincerity—is not just misguided. It is an affront to the exclusive supremacy of Christ.

A Throne that will Not be Shared

In every generation, men have sought to sit where only God belongs. Titles such as “Holy Father,” no matter how ancient or respected, approach dangerous ground. Jesus Himself draws a theological line in Matthew 23:9: “Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” These are not merely cultural commands—they are divinely instituted boundaries meant to preserve the distinction between God and man.

While human institutions celebrate succession, Scripture proclaims permanence. The Church is not built on the shifting sands of elections or ecclesiastical politics. It is built upon the Rock—Christ Himself. Colossians 1:18 makes it clear: He is the head of the body, the Church. Not a council. Not a college of cardinals. Not a clerical hierarchy.

Smoke and Glory

Let us not stand in awe of ceremonies Heaven does not recognize. No robe, no chant, no white smoke can rival the majesty of the risen King. The resurrection was His coronation. The ascension, His enthronement. The indwelling Spirit is our daily assurance that Christ reigns now and forever.

The Church must lift her gaze—not to the Vatican balcony, but to the right hand of the Father, where Christ intercedes for His people.

He does not need to be chosen. He cannot be replaced. He will not be dethroned.

Christ alone is worthy. Christ alone is holy. Christ alone is King.

And His throne is not in Rome. It is in Heaven.

A Wake-Up Call to the Church

Let these headlines serve as a call to the Church, not just a curiosity for the world. These events do not merely reveal the fragmentation of man-made religion—they underscore the unchanging truth of the gospel. The King is not elected. The King is not debated. The King does not share His throne.

The tomb is still empty. The throne is still occupied. The name above every name remains unchanged.

His name is Jesus!

Why Partial Obedience Can Cost You Everything

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Obedience is not optional in the Kingdom of God—it is the very currency that moves us forward in His purpose. When God gives an instruction, He expects action, not hesitation. Yet, so often, we treat obedience as something we can schedule at our convenience. We delay, we analyze, we wait for a “better” moment—but the truth remains: delayed obedience is still disobedience.

Saul’s Half-Obedience Led to His Downfall

Look at Saul. God gave him clear instructions: destroy the Amalekites completely—leave nothing and no one behind (1 Samuel 15:3). But Saul, in his own reasoning, chose partial obedience. He spared King Agag and the best of the livestock, intending to deal with them later. On the surface, it might have seemed like a wise, strategic move. Maybe Saul thought, I’ll take care of it later or This seems like a better way to handle it.

But God wasn’t looking for strategy. He was looking for obedience.

When confronted, Saul justified his delay. He even tried to frame his disobedience as an act of worship: “The people took of the spoil, sheep, and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal” (1 Samuel 15:21). But Samuel’s response was clear and convicting:

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22)

Because of Saul’s delay—his decision to partially obey on his own terms rather than fully obey in God’s timing—he lost his kingdom. His future was directly tied to his willingness to follow God’s command completely and immediately.

What is God Asking You to Do?

Obedience is the key that unlocks the next step in our journey with God. Every moment we delay, we risk forfeiting the blessings and purpose He has set before us. The longer we hesitate, the more we step out of alignment with His will.

Maybe God has given you a clear instruction—to step out in faith, to forgive, to change your habits, to let go of something He has told you to release. Are you waiting for a more convenient time? Are you rationalizing your delay?

Too often, we think of disobedience as outright rebellion, but disobedience isn’t always a loud rejection of God’s will. More often than not, it’s a quiet deferral—a not yet, a maybe later. But just like Saul, we must recognize that when we delay, we are still resisting God’s command.

Saul thought he had time. He thought he could obey later. But partial and delayed obedience cost him everything.

The Cost of Hesitation

When we hesitate, we are not only delaying obedience—we are opening ourselves up to distractions, doubts, and alternative paths that will pull us further from God’s plan. The longer we wait, the more room we give the enemy to plant fear and excuses in our minds.

Consider this: when Peter saw Jesus walking on water, he was able to step out of the boat only because he obeyed immediately (Matthew 14:29). If he had hesitated, questioning the logic of walking on water, fear would have taken hold before faith had a chance to lead him forward. Obedience in that moment was a split-second decision—one that required trust first, understanding later.

How many times have we missed out on what God wanted to do because we wanted full understanding before taking the first step? If we insist on seeing the whole picture before we move, we may never move at all.

It’s Time to Move

God doesn’t give us commands to negotiate or modify. He calls us to immediate and complete obedience. If you’ve been holding back, today is the day to move forward.

There is something powerful about immediate obedience. When God called Abraham to leave his home, he went without knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). When Jesus told His disciples to follow Him, they left everything immediately (Matthew 4:19-20). They didn’t wait for conditions to be perfect or for every detail to be explained. They moved in faith, trusting that obedience itself would unlock the next step.

We must do the same.

Obedience is the currency of the Kingdom—your next step is tied to your ability to follow God’s instruction. The question is, will you move now, or will you wait until it’s too late?

A Final Warning and Encouragement

We must understand that delayed obedience doesn’t just slow us down—it alters the course of our lives. Saul’s hesitation cost him the throne. The Israelites’ fear kept them wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus Himself warned in Luke 9:62, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

So what are you waiting for? What step of faith have you been avoiding? What has God called you to do that you’ve been postponing?

Delayed obedience is still disobedience. Don’t wait. Do it now.

A Bold Faith in a World That Prefers Silence

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“The world tolerates Christianity as long as it stays tame. A private faith, a quiet gospel, a kneeling church. But speak with authority, stand with conviction, and they will come with torches.” — Michael Foster

The world has no issue with Christianity as long as it remains private, passive, and powerless. A faith confined to quiet prayers, polite conversations, and personal reflection poses no threat to the systems of this age. But the moment the church finds its voice—when believers stand firm in truth and proclaim the gospel with conviction—the world reacts. And that reaction is often hostile.

This is nothing new. Jesus Himself warned us: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18) The gospel is not designed to blend in or be comfortable; it is a declaration of the authority of Christ over all things. The moment we live as though Jesus is not just our personal Savior but the reigning King, we are bound to meet resistance.

A Gospel That Disrupts

Ephesians 6:10-13 reminds us that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness. The enemy does not fear a Christianity that remains silent, but he trembles at one that is unashamed and unafraid. A faith that is spoken boldly, lived unapologetically, and proclaimed without fear shakes the very foundations of worldly powers.

Consider the early church. The apostles were not hunted down because they prayed quietly in their homes—they were arrested, beaten, and martyred because they preached Christ as Lord, refusing to bow to Caesar. They understood that faith in Jesus was not just a private matter; it was a call to stand firm in a world that demands compromise.

Paul himself wrote from prison, not because he was merely religious, but because he was a threat to the order of the day. He would not stop proclaiming Christ crucified, even when it cost him everything. The same world that rejected Jesus will reject those who follow Him wholeheartedly.

The Cost of Speaking Truth

We live in a time where the loudest voices often demand conformity. The world tolerates faith until it challenges its idols. The moment Christianity speaks against sin, calls for repentance, and declares Jesus as the only way, the opposition begins. The modern church is often tempted to soften its message—to make it more palatable, less offensive, and more socially acceptable. But truth is not meant to be reshaped to fit culture; culture is meant to be transformed by truth.

The question we must ask ourselves is this: Are we living a faith that the world can comfortably ignore, or are we standing with boldness in the authority of Christ? The gospel does not ask for permission to be spoken—it commands us to proclaim it.

Standing in the Full Armor of God

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:13-17 to take up the full armor of God, not so that we can quietly blend in, but so that we may stand firm in the evil day. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit are not the attire of passive believers—they are the armor of warriors in a spiritual battle.

Being a Christian is not about being liked. It is about being faithful. The church is not called to silence; it is called to proclaim the gospel in season and out of season, whether it is welcomed or opposed.

Let the Light Shine

Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Light does not ask darkness for permission to shine—it simply shines. And when light appears, darkness reacts.

We do not need to seek controversy, but we must never shrink back from truth. The gospel is offensive to a world that loves darkness, but it is also the only message that brings life. Our calling is to preach Christ crucified, to stand firm when the world demands silence, and to trust that God is with us when opposition comes.

So let them come with torches. Let them accuse, mock, and reject. The world did the same to Christ, and yet He overcame. And because He overcame, so will we.

Will we be a silent church that the world can ignore? Or will we stand with boldness, refusing to compromise, proclaiming the truth no matter the cost?

The time for passive faith is over. It is time to stand.