I wanted to slow things down for a minute and really focus on the details that bring the transformation together. Right here, I’m going back through (with the weed eater) hitting all the spots that were missed the first time around and honestly life is kind of the same way. Sometimes it’s not a big mistake that holds us back. It’s small things we ignore, the habits we skip, the corners we don’t clean up. But the good news is, you could always go back and tighten things up. Progress isn’t about being perfect on the first pass. It’s about showing up again and doing it better.
I grabbed the shovel and started clearing out all the nasty buildup, grass, dirt and debris that’s been sitting there for way too long. Sometimes you don’t realize how much weight you’re carrying until you start clearing it away.
Finally, finishing what you start matters. Anybody can begin something when it’s exciting but real growth happens when you stay consistent all the way to the end: when you clean up the mess, when you put the final touch on it, when you make sure nothing is left behind.
Al Bladez motivates viewers with his signature phrases, including “Wassup Beautiful People,” “Cut it up,” and “Be the difference,” in his popular lawn care and community transformation videos. His content highlights messages of faith and positive change. Link to the video that contains this quote.
Some Americans don’t think about God. I lived most of my life like this. I’m only 3 years into following Jesus. So many Americans will tell you, “of course, I’m Christian,” when they don’t know what that means beyond a checkbox on a form or what’s acceptable among their friends and neighbors.
Most Americans don’t think about how God sees them. We were created in His image as unblemished lambs washed white by the blood of Jesus of Nazareth. However, many have a self proclaimed, proud image of themselves. They think of themselves as a “good person” and “gentle and kind” to those they love and hold dear. I subscribed to this self-idolatry for 50 years of my life. They give love generously to those that deserve and earn such special places in their hearts.
The love that God gives, the Love of the Father, doesn’t discriminate. No one is qualified or earns it. God just pours out his love to all of his children equally without judgement or cost. He freely gives love that can’t be matched or fully understood by humans.
God gives us free will. All we need to do is receive His love. Have faith and believe it. The ultimate goal is intimate relationship with God. Knowing the Lord intimately through relationship with the Holy Spirit. Love of the Father, life and heaven on earth, more abundantly, so many promises to those that believe and choose to walk with Him. We receive this abundant life the moment we accept Him as our Savior.
God’s love goes far beyond our imaginations and dreams. Even during the times God pours out wrath and vengeance upon the wicked and disobedient (ie: Jeremiah 1-23), I believe the love He has for them never tarnishes and is unfading forever. He waits and hopes for us to return, like the The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32) or The Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10).
99 sheep
The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:4-7) (Matthew 18:10-14) “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way…” (Isaiah 53:6). The ninety-nine sheep are ones that go back and forth upon the earth honoring themselves as righteous and perfect. They might not know Jesus or maybe they stand confused about their identity in Christ. This group is made up of friends and family, coworkers and neighbors. I had gone astray as a goat for fifty years before I was found as a lost sheep in 2023. To me, the ninety-nine are like the goats and the found is like the sheep. Goats can become sheep, (Matthew 25:31-46). At the end of the age is when this judgement comes, on the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 1:14; John 12:48).
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23). They don’t understand sin, and think sin is something seen and known externally, like murder and adultery that involve other people. They don’t know that God knows what is in your heart, and every thought you keep secret. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us,” (1 John 1:8).
They exist in a deception of pride, or the cover of isolation. Often hindered by addictions and distractions that keep their eyes on an earthly standard of success. Seeking a prize to achieve and an honor to feel. Seeking the acceptance of people is normal, and the desire to please people drives them to work hard at it.
The one sheep that finally opens their eyes and sees, the one with ears to hear, that sheep repents. Now the one, that one that wandered astray and then shows up with repentance in their heart, reconciliation and making the redeeming pivot…
“Go in peace and sin no more,” Jesus said (John 8:11). A man is transformed by the rebirth. “A man is born again” (John 3:3) “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23). This is one the greatest rejoice possible, “rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep,” Jesus said (John 10:11).
Four great reasons to rejoice, according to the Bible:
Love. “Love rejoices with the truth,” (1 Corinthians 13:6). “Above all, clothe yourselves with love,” (Colossians 3:14).
Sharing the good news. “Only that in every way, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice,” (Philippians 1:18, Romans 10:15 (Isaiah 52:7)).
“Saved by grace through faith,” (Ephesians 2:8).
The lost sheep is found. (Matthew 18:14), angels in heaven rejoice (Luke 15:10).
Nothing is impossible for God.
(I began writing this January 25, 2026 with additions in March and April, and now it’s May.)
Undivided and Undiluted || BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART (The Beatitudes PT. 6 Feat. Hayley Braun)
In the words of Hayley Braun, as transcribed by YouTube and corrected by me:
And I was thinking of when Jesus was pierced on the cross, blood and water flowed. Blood for the inward cleansing. Blood was to take care of sin. Water was to wash from the contamination of being part of the world. It’s like I’m coming to one undefiled source for everything. Blessed are the pure. When I’m feeling ashamed. I’m not trying to go to binge watching Netflix. I’m not trying to go on a scroll like a scroll binge or whatever. I’m not running away.
It was this feeling of like in this ministry context, we’re telling them about the love of God. We’re doing all this and yet still the ways of the world is saying, “Go drink from another fountain. go drink from the fountain of you’re never good enough no matter how hard you try. Go and the Lord is saying there are going to be moments where you fail. Just make sure that where you drink from is the same stream. It’s one stream and it’s a pure stream. We can drink from the fountain that never runs dry. And we can align our hearts in single focus in purity and say I am not my source. You are my source.
And those who believe out of their mouths will flow gushing fountains. Those who drink from this well rivers of living water. Like that that thought of like blessed are the pure heart. They will see God.
They’re going to have an experience of what it is to ascend the hill. They’re going to live in the glory and the beauty and the availability of God because they’ve been single focused. Standing under the fountain that flows from the side of Jesus that washes me inside, washes me outside, and it like the word of the Lord determines my identity. The word of the Lord determines my response. The word of the Lord over my life determines how I’m going to think about myself.
And then I felt the Lord say basically you can drink from my well. You have no more rope. I have plenty of rope.
In Revelation 3 verse 15, this writing to the church of Laodicea and he says, “Your works are neither cold nor hot.” I was thinking about purity. Purity is one or the other. Your works are neither cold nor hot. With that, you were either cold or hot. God saying, “I wish you were either cold or hot because you are lukewarm. You’re neither hot nor cold.” This is pretty tough. I will spit you out of my mouth for I say to you, for you say, “I am rich and I have prospered and I have no I need nothing.”
And I was thinking in our culture, wealth isn’t just money. Wealth is availability of resource. And for us in our emotional need, us in our turmoil, we have an availability of resource to distract us. The availability of resource to try and comfort ourselves. Like we are the most instant generation. Like I can go listen to a podcast. I can listen to a teaching. I can I don’t know go binge watch Netflix. Like I said, there’s I can go order Door Dash. I don’t have to get in my car to comfort myself with food anymore. Like I can use a credit card and I have no money. Like I can access false comfort or some form of comfort. But he says this, “You need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. And I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself from the shame of your nakedness that it may not be seen, and salve for your eyes to anoint them so that you may see. Those whom I love, I approve.” And then he says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” It ends there.
And then Revelation 4 starts with the door of heaven is open. Like it’s this invitation where the Lord is like those that are divided in their focus, they cannot see. He’s like, “You’re poor. You’re naked and you’re blind. You can’t even see. You can’t see. You cannot see your own state.” And his response is every other god would reject those people. Go find a level of consciousness to make you worthy of this kind of, but God says no come to me. Come to me and I will give you gold refined by fire. I will give you white garments. I will purify you.
And that statement that Jesus makes, repent for the kingdom is at hand. Repent. Turn around. Which that word is to turn around. The world is work walking one way. But he’s not saying turn around and walk another way because it’s a good idea. He’s saying because the way has come. I am the way. The way to the father has been manifest here. Repent because the kingdom is here. I am here. And because I am here, the weak can say that they are strong. Because I am here, the poor can say I am rich. Because I am here, the blind can say I can see because there’s a way of the kingdom that takes brokenness and it makes it, you know, your weakness is the perfect place for my power. It says my power is made perfect in your weakness. I’m like, how is God’s power not perfect just as it is? But he is saying my power is made perfect in your weakness.
And in that place, we just receive. And I feel like Jesus is saying there, blessed are you who are poor in spirit because I am here now. And because I am here, there’s going to be something available to you that was never available before. And it is the kingdom.
How many times in my life am I standing in front of a challenging circumstance? And I’m trying to look at every option that can solve my problem. And Jesus is looking at me and saying, “Turn around. Yes, I am here. Turn around. I am here. And I will supply every brokenness, every weakness, every lack with my sufficiency if you would just come to me and buy from me gold refined by fire.
Matthew 5:8 ESV Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Isaiah 55:1 ESV
Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Revelation 3:15-18 ESV 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
A theological concept found in the Bible says God works in believers to bring about His good pleasure. The Bible also says in all things God works for the good of those who love Him. This idea suggests that God’s nature motivates Him to act in ways that lead to good outcomes for His followers, even through challenging circumstances, and also inspires a heart of gratitude and repentance.
Biblical Basis
Philippians 2:13 (KJV)
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
This verse indicates that God is actively at work within believers, influencing their desires and empowering them to fulfill His will.
Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Brings Good from Difficulties: Even in suffering, God’s goodness can transform circumstances, leading to eventual good for those who love Him.
Motivates Repentance: God’s kindness and loving-kindness can attract people to Him, prompting them to turn from sin and find the gift of forgiveness.
Cultivates Gratitude and Trust: Recognizing God’s goodness, evident in blessings big and small, shifts the heart toward thankfulness, joy, and complete trust in His perfect plan.
This is a can of worms that I found worth sharing.
We were randomly watching an interview on youtube.
“Healing Miracles, Deliverance & Faith | How God Is Moving Online with Traci Coston”
When asked, Traci recommends two books “Christ the Healer” by FF Bosworth and “Healing the Sick” by TL Osborn. At the 40:54 mark of the video. I was taking notes and jotted down the first one, because she was asked to repeat it. So, I found the book on eBay and was considering ordering it. I wanted to know more about it.
About a week passed, and I searched for this book “Christ the Healer” again on eBay. Then, on google. And, finally, on goodreads. On a particular edition “Christ the Healer: Messages on Divine Healing” there was a nice summary:
Fred Francis Bosworth was raised in John Alexander Dowie’s Zion City, Ill., where he became familiar with the ministry of healing which was one of the unique features of Dowie’s teaching. Converted in his teens and healed of major lung problems he was inspired to become an avid follower of Jesus and a preacher of the gospel. Several years after his healing he attended Alexander Dowie’s church in Zion City, Illinois, then came into the Pentecostal experience and shared in the early Pentecostal movement. Approximately 1909 he moved to Texas and in 1910 he started a church in Dallas which was loosely affiliated with the Alliance church. He was one of the founders of the Assemblies of God in 1914 and he was present as a mentor to the healing revivalists in the 1940s and 1950s. This wide experience and involvement with Christ’s healing power made him uniquely gifted to write this book, ‘Christ the Healer.’This classic on healing, first released in 1924, has sold more than 500,000 copies and continues to teach and inspire healing ministries in every generation.’
(190 pages, Kindle Edition, First published August 21, 2015)
So then I went to google with “John Alexander Dowie Zion City” and learned it was a cult and Zion City was Dowie’s creation of a utopia. Then I added “FF Bosworth” to the search and found this facebook post by “Spiritual Notes” on public group “Smith Wigglesworth and other generals of God”:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CXGjRQvL7/
A resident of Zion City named Mrs. Waldron attended a tent crusade under the ministry of Charles F. Parham and received the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues. When she brought the exciting news to Zion City, John Alexander Dowie was determined to keep the “tongues movement” out of his community. However, Bosworth and evangelist John G. Lake, who also lived in Zion City at the time, were hungry for the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. When Parham came to Zion City to preach on the baptism in the Holy Spirit a few years later, the Bosworths welcomed him into their home to hold meetings. Shortly after this, Fred Bosworth and Lake received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Together, they made a trip to Azusa Street in California to experience the Holy Spirit’s revival there and to seek answers to their questions from the Reverend William J. Seymour concerning this “new” work of God. After Bosworth received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, he looked back at his early days of nomadic movements from one job to the other and said, “I wish someone at that time had told me about being baptized in the Holy Spirit. I did a great deal of drifting not knowing what the right place was for me.”
The right place for Fred Bosworth became clear to him almost immediately. During the years that he lived in Zion City, he spoke of his fear that God would call him to preach the gospel. After receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit, however, he became afraid that God would not call him to preach. At twenty- nine years of age, his life had been radically changed. He began to search the Scriptures on the Holy Spirit, such as Matthew 3:11, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire,” and Acts 19:2, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit would come, and that He would be the One to baptize the disciples in the Spirit.
Bosworth also read some of the writings of A. J. Gordon, who spoke out forcefully on the scriptural proof for the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a second and separate experience from salvation. “It is as sinners that we accept Christ; but it is as sons that we accept the Holy Spirit,” Gordon wrote as he expounded on the baptism of the Holy Spirit. “We must withhold our consent from the inconsistent exegesis which would make the water baptism of the apostolic times rigidly binding but would relegate the Baptism in the Spirit to a bygone dispensation.”11
Bosworth admired the wisdom of using biblical logic and the Word to defend the good news of the full gospel. It would become a hallmark for him in future debates on the healing power of God on the earth in modern days.
– GOD’S GENERALS ( The Healing Evangelists)
– Spiritual Notes
Therein were these comments:
Onis Kudyanyemba:
John G Lake 1908 came to Africa, South Africa, and planted the Apostolic Faith Mission movement now A.F.M.International after the Azusa Street visit in California, where he visited Seymour. 1913 A.F.M. was established in Zimbabwe. Many pentecostal ministries were born from A.F.M.
Susan Njeri:
Today some I’ve observed these mushrooming Churches do not emphasize on the Holy Spirit but just casting out demons and other doctrines..And Holy communion. they do not preach repentance and Salvation Which is the very foundation for a believer…Jesus is the same Yesterday Today and Forever…In Acts Peter preached and said this gift is for you, your children and your Children’s Children and All others that the Lord will Call….. In the book of Act 2.38…He told them to repent and be Baptized in the name of JESUS Christ. Here It’s clear.Repentance. then Baptism. Then Being filled with the Holy Spirit. Period..
A few days passed, and I have officially ordered a copy of the book “Christ the Healer” for about $6 on eBay.