March 2025 Partner Letter

kcmadmin

1 week ago

Dear Partner,

Let’s begin with James 1:1-4 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition:

James, a servant of God and of The LORD Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered abroad [among the Gentiles in the dispersion]: Greetings (rejoice)!
Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.
Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

As most of you know, 2024 was a tough year for me! Gloria and I have both lived our lives in divine health! However, in May, my appendix ruptured, and I spent ten days in the hospital! But the joy of The LORD was right there. I had another surgery before that one and was three days in the hospital.

So what does Nehemiah 8:10 say? Let’s look at the AMPC:

Then [Ezra] told them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of The LORD is your strength and stronghold.

“BE NOT GRIEVED.” The joy of The LORD is our strength and stronghold! Just to clear things up a bit, let’s look now at 2 Corinthians 10:4:

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Praise God! There are strongholds that are THE BLESSING of our God! And then there are strongholds that are mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strongholds.

Now look at Psalm 18:39:

For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

“You have girded me with strength”! The AMPC says it like this:

For You have girded me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me and caused to bow down those who rose up against me.

“You have encircled me with strength for the battle.” Remember now, the joy of The LORD is our strength! Now back to the Second Covenant in James 1:6: “Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.” Now Ephesians 6:10-19 in the AMPC:

In conclusion, be strong in The LORD [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is The WORD of God.
Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).
And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel).

Praise God forevermore! Like a preacher friend of mine said, “If that doesn’t set you on fire, your wood’s wet!” That is absolutely THE TRUTH! Better yet, what did Jesus, our LORD and Savior, say? Look at John 8:31-32:

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my WORD, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

The truth will make you free? God’s faith-filled words will make you free—faith-filled promises made in the sinless blood of Jesus! Let’s prove it to ourselves by reading John 10:10, AMPC:

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

“TO THE FULL, TILL IT OVERFLOWS”! This is not the God who is just enough! Go with me to Genesis 17:1-5, AMPC:

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, The LORD appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God [El Shaddai]; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete).
And I will make My covenant (solemn pledge) between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly.
Then Abram fell on his face, and God said to him,
As for Me, behold, My covenant (solemn pledge) is with you, and you shall be the father of many nations.
Nor shall your name any longer be Abram [high, exalted father]; but your name shall be Abraham [father of a multitude], for I have made you the father of many nations.

God said to Abram, “I Am El Shaddai—I Am the God who is MORE than enough!”

Let’s look once more at Philippians. Joy is mentioned 19 times, while this great apostle was in a terrible prison writing his partner letter. Remember now, our “golden text” for this letter is Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of The LORD is [our] strength.” The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:12-13, AMPC:

I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

In closing this letter, let’s read Colossians 1:29 in the AMPC: