BABY GABRIEL IS BORN AND 'ON THE PATH TO RECEIVE LIFE-SAVING CARE' SYNOPSIS: Surrogate mother McKenna West has given birth to a baby boy named Gabriel, after courageously refusing the contracting parents' demands to abort him due to a treatable heart condition known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). To ensure the baby's survival, West relocated to Texas to access specialized medical care, a decision that led to a legal battle after the contracting parents sought to force a delivery in California. READ MORE: https://robertdhosken.substack.com/p/baby-gabriel-is-born-and-on-the-path

Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional. Rip Off the Mask By Shelley Quinn August 14th, 2026 “Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.” Psalm 34:13 Finishing a brief therapy session, I slumped down on the side of my hospital bed. A charge nurse popped into my room to ask how I was doing. “Great,” I smiled. “How was your son’s game?” After our quick exchange I turned back to my therapist who sat on the window ledge, shaking his head. “You are your own worst enemy, Shelley!” My puzzled look prompted his further explanation. “I know you well enough now to know that when your pain becomes intolerable, you breathe in short gasps and perspiration beads on your forehead. But, you smile and gloss over your condition with a friendly word. Most people can’t be cheery when they’re suffering, and—hey—medical personnel are trained to determine treatment by reading facial expressions.” He had worked with me earlier that month during my first week of hospitalization, following a five-hour spinal surgery. I suffered several complications—including nerve damage in my groins and an irreparable rotator cuff tear. Now, I had been readmitted because I couldn’t walk. He called it correctly—brutal pain surged through my back, groins, and shoulder. His gentle rebuke echoed words from my distant past, when a spinal surgeon called me “my own worst enemy” for the same reason. I’m a “grin-and-bear it” kind of gal. Not wanting to be perceived as a whiner, I mask the truth with a smile, using verbal camouflage to hide my brokenness. Don’t pity me—you likely hide behind the same deflection technique. Have you ever arrived at church heavy-hearted, and when someone asked how you’re doing, you replied, “Doing great! Happy Sabbath!”? Later, you headed home with the same sadness, and no one had the opportunity to pray for you. Or you laugh off hurt feelings following a cutting remark, and never privately confront the abuser. Or a loved one asks, “Is something wrong?” and you hide your frustration with “No! I’m fine.” People are not mind readers! Our words define us. When we express ourselves honestly, we become visible. When we hide behind a mask of verbal camouflage, we are invisible to others. Some of us wall in our pain, and—sadly—we often feel as if no one really cares. Verbal camouflage is deceitful. I get it! We don’t want to wear our feelings on our sleeves. But we need to figure out an honest response to the casual question, “How are you?” If you’re not doing fine—don’t lie about it. While you don’t want to gush out unwanted details, a simple, “I’ll get better!” or “I’m trusting the Lord!” or “I’m blessed, no matter what!” are some of the possible responses. If the person is unknown to you, or too busy to stop for discovery, they’ll go on. If, however, they respond, “Tell me about it!” you will know God placed that person in your path to comfort you. Let’s rip off the mask and get real!

𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄'𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐃 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐘 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐕𝐄! Good afternoon, children of God. I come to return all the glory back to God of heaven and earth, our Lord Jesus Christ. I want to thank God for saving my life from premature death. It happened—it was—it happened last week. It all started exactly Sunday last week, after the service. I no understand myself again. It was like a joke. The thing get start—continued getting deteriorated, to the extent that I was hospitalized on Tuesday. Being hospitalized, I was not responding to treatment. But the servant of God kept praying with me, and kept checking on me. So, we kept going. It reached—I think, was it on Wednesday? I—I just started giving up on myself. All the—my husband beside me, the stress he's going through, and my family, I look at everything, I say, "Is it not better I should just—let me just go. Let me just go. Let me just go." So, after one of the injection, I slept off. I could not understand—know—I allow my husband to go out of the—by my side. So, I just closed my eye. After closing my eye, I found myself on—in a new city. There was nobody. I was just going—I just keep going, don't even know where I'm going to. So, inside the revelation, I now saw the man of God of this commission who asked me, "Where are you going?" I told him, "I don't even know where I'm going, but I just want to go. Let me rest." He told me to come back. He said I should come back. "Why do you want me to come back?" He said I should just come back. So, God used his face. He stretched his hand, and I hold his hand. Holding his hand, I turned back. Turning back, I open my eye and now saw myself, I was still on the hospital bed. I say, "Wow, was it a play or a joke? Does it mean I was really going?" That was how I woke up, and still continued. So, I—when he later called, I told him the revelation I had. He prayed with me, said, "Why did I want to give up?" Since I started working on myself again, that was how I started receiving—I started responding to treatment. Gradually, I was discharged. I was discharged on Friday. After my discharge, I reached home, I was just managing. I cannot eat, I cannot drink, but they forced me that I have to be taking something. I claimed today that, "Yes, I can take something," so that they should let me go, that I realized that the body is non-more of the medical. Let me go home and think and pray, and struggle to pray. So, reaching home, yesterday afternoon, I ate, but I started having another pain again. And there was this condition attached to me seeing the doctor that must be stable before the next procedure. I started having severe pain that I cannot even explain—I don't want to say it out. When I checked the time, it was already some minutes after eight. I say, "Ah, okay. Let me go online." Coming online now, I met they already started prayer. So, I joined the prayer. Joining the prayer, I was hitting my tummy and that of my waist. 'Cause I say, "This time around, I'm not in the hospital. Let's face it. I'm in the house. Let's face it squarely." I followed the prayer. When I started the prayer, sleeping was coming. The sleeping was so deep. Me that I hardly slept sometimes like that, the sleep, since I started being on drugs, sleeping was coming, I was struggling with the sleeping, I was praying. I say I must pray. Even when they do the—share the grace, I don't even know. When I—when I check again, I say, "Okay," I continue again. I was hitting it. I was telling the pain to go back to the sender. Since that yesterday night till now, I've not taken anything. God brought relief! Not even a single paracetamol I've not taken, and I cannot find the pain. I just want to say, "Thank you, Jesus, for taking over." Now that is the area I got to learn that, "Okay, any power that don't want to let me be, let's face it." And God took over. I just want to say, "Thank you, Jesus, for healing me." May His name alone be praised. I cover my testimony with the blood of Jesus, and this affliction and every other one, they will not come back again, in Jesus' name. Amen. God bless you, sir.

Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you. Today looks to be a potentially soggy day again. I checked the weather on my phone and it was a muddy puddle. This brings me to my funny story for you today. Yesterday, my husband and I had a meeting with our VA lawyer in a new town. Because of all the storms and flooding issues, the crowd was much smaller. We actually got to ask a couple of questions when we sat down with him. We did not feel rushed. As good as that was, it was not the highlight of the trip. While waiting for our turn, we met some new friends. Two of which just happened to be authors. One of which just happens to run a podcast. Hmmm. Any thoughts on why we went to ‘this’ meeting with the lawyer and not the meeting place? I wonder if Someone knew who we were going to meet. One of these two individuals’ spouses has memory issues. The other is applying for their survivor’s benefits with the lawyer’s help. I wonder Who designed this meeting? Since I have been retired, I have been hyper-focused on making sure that I take care of my husband and keep his medical stuff straight and on track. I have been hyper-focused on keeping our lives as smooth as possible. So hyper-focused that when my littles from across the pond arrived, I was not the fun American grandma. I was grumpy grandma. That changed yesterday. On our way home from the lawyer, I was thinking about all this rain, the flooding, and then I thought about the muddy puddles in my yard. I decided on the way home that we were going to play in the muddy puddles. God gave them to us, why not play in them? So, when I got home, I changed into shorts, kicked off my shoes, and challenged the grandkids to a splash fest. I do not know how long we played, but we all needed showers when it was over with … and that is after washing off with the garden hose. I even got the other grandma to play in the muddy puddle. We all were muddy puddle winners. Too often, the enemy gets grown-ups to think they have to be adults all the time. When in fact, Jesus tells us that we are to come to Him as children. In all these storms, there have been ugly skies, so dancing in the rain has not been possible … however … splashing in the muddy puddles … well now, that is an awesome stress reliever. Today is His day. Today we are going to his house to worship him, whether in a church or a prayer closet. Today we are going to thank Him for his blessings and for the trials. Today, we give God the glory and enter His presence as children. Will you join me on the heavenly playground of muddy puddles? Be blessed. **And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3-4

PRAYER REQUEST SHE IS ONE OF MY BEST FRIEND... ONCE SHE WAS VERY MUCH ENTHUSIASTIC, CHEERFUL, LOVING,CARING... BUT AFTER A GREAT LOSS IN HER LIFE SHE QUITE WENT TO DEPRESSION... SHE WAS NO MORE CHEERFUL, EVERYTHING FELT LIKE OUT OF HANDS FOR HER... RIGHT NOW SHE IS QUITE STRUGGLING WITH GETTING INTO A COLLEGE... SHE WAS A BRIGHT STUDENT.... ALL SHE WANTS IS TO BE MORE COURAGEOUS, TO GET RID OF THE ANXIETY AND STRESS WHEN SHE IS AMONG CROWD... SHE IS NOT A KIND OF INTROVERT AND SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE SO... PRAY FOR HER TO WIN THIS BATTLE IN MIND AND ALSO TO GET RID OF THIS ANXIETY... MAY GOD GIVE HER A GOOD COLLEGE... SHE IS QUITE INTERESTED IN MEDICAL RESEARCH...THESE ARE ALL HER DESIRES.. BUT ABOVE ALL GOD NEEDS TO WORK IN THIS...

Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional. Rip Off the Mask By Shelley Quinn August 14th, 2026 “Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.” Psalm 34:13 Finishing a brief therapy session, I slumped down on the side of my hospital bed. A charge nurse popped into my room to ask how I was doing. “Great,” I smiled. “How was your son’s game?” After our quick exchange I turned back to my therapist who sat on the window ledge, shaking his head. “You are your own worst enemy, Shelley!” My puzzled look prompted his further explanation. “I know you well enough now to know that when your pain becomes intolerable, you breathe in short gasps and perspiration beads on your forehead. But, you smile and gloss over your condition with a friendly word. Most people can’t be cheery when they’re suffering, and—hey—medical personnel are trained to determine treatment by reading facial expressions.” He had worked with me earlier that month during my first week of hospitalization, following a five-hour spinal surgery. I suffered several complications—including nerve damage in my groins and an irreparable rotator cuff tear. Now, I had been readmitted because I couldn’t walk. He called it correctly—brutal pain surged through my back, groins, and shoulder. His gentle rebuke echoed words from my distant past, when a spinal surgeon called me “my own worst enemy” for the same reason. I’m a “grin-and-bear it” kind of gal. Not wanting to be perceived as a whiner, I mask the truth with a smile, using verbal camouflage to hide my brokenness. Don’t pity me—you likely hide behind the same deflection technique. Have you ever arrived at church heavy-hearted, and when someone asked how you’re doing, you replied, “Doing great! Happy Sabbath!”? Later, you headed home with the same sadness, and no one had the opportunity to pray for you. Or you laugh off hurt feelings following a cutting remark, and never privately confront the abuser. Or a loved one asks, “Is something wrong?” and you hide your frustration with “No! I’m fine.” People are not mind readers! Our words define us. When we express ourselves honestly, we become visible. When we hide behind a mask of verbal camouflage, we are invisible to others. Some of us wall in our pain, and—sadly—we often feel as if no one really cares. Verbal camouflage is deceitful. I get it! We don’t want to wear our feelings on our sleeves. But we need to figure out an honest response to the casual question, “How are you?” If you’re not doing fine—don’t lie about it. While you don’t want to gush out unwanted details, a simple, “I’ll get better!” or “I’m trusting the Lord!” or “I’m blessed, no matter what!” are some of the possible responses. If the person is unknown to you, or too busy to stop for discovery, they’ll go on. If, however, they respond, “Tell me about it!” you will know God placed that person in your path to comfort you. Let’s rip off the mask and get real!

KEEPING THE FAITH WHILE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES! When Life Gets Hard, Hold On to God Even Tighter Key Scripture: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV) Thought Of The Day.... There are seasons in life when keeping the faith is easier said than done. It is easy to declare, “God is good!” when everything is going well. It is easy to shout when the bills are paid, the family is getting along, your body feels strong, your marriage is peaceful, your children are doing well, and the doors you have been praying for are opening. But what happens when life gets difficult? What happens when you pray—and the situation doesn't immediately change? What happens when the doctor's report concerns you? When your body is hurting and you are tired of hurting? When your finances are stretched beyond what you can see? When there is tension between husband and wife? When your children are struggling or making decisions that keep you awake at night? When relationships in your family become strained? Can you still trust God when you don't understand what God is doing? That is where faith becomes more than something we talk about. Faith becomes something we live. Hebrews 11:1 declares: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith does not mean pretending everything is okay. Faith says, “Everything may not be okay right now, but I know the One who is holding me while I go through it.” FAITH DOESN'T DENY THE DIFFICULTY—IT DECLARES THAT GOD IS GREATER Sometimes Christians mistakenly believe that having faith means we cannot acknowledge that something hurts. But David cried. Job grieved. Jeremiah wept. Paul experienced suffering. Even Jesus wept. Faith doesn't require you to deny your pain. Faith requires you not to allow your pain to become greater than your confidence in God. You can have tears in your eyes and still have faith in your heart. You can say: “Lord, I'm hurting, but I trust You.” “Lord, I'm tired, but I'm still following You.” “Lord, I don't understand, but I still believe You.” “Lord, I don't know how this is going to work out, but I know You are still God.” Psalm 34:17 reminds us: “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” Your trouble has God's attention. WHEN YOUR DIFFICULT TIME IS YOUR HEALTH Few things test our faith like problems in our bodies. When sickness comes, procedures are necessary, pain continues, or doctors don't have all the answers, fear can begin whispering: “What if things get worse?” But faith responds: “What if God carries me through?” Your faith isn't based upon whether you immediately receive the report you desire. Your faith is anchored in the character of the God who promised: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” — Hebrews 13:5 When your body is weak, God remains strong. When you don't know what tomorrow holds, God is already standing in your tomorrow. Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep seeking appropriate medical care. Keep trusting God one day at a time. WHEN YOUR DIFFICULT TIME IS FINANCIAL! Financial pressure can affect almost every area of life. Bills keep coming. Unexpected expenses happen. The money doesn't seem to stretch far enough. You may look at what you have and wonder, “Lord, how am I going to make it?” Remember what Paul declared: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:19 Notice Paul said “my God.” Your source is bigger than your paycheck. That doesn't mean we shouldn't budget, plan, save, work, or make wise financial decisions. But after you have done what you can do, don't allow financial pressure to convince you that God has forgotten you. The same God who provided yesterday is still God today. WHEN THE DIFFICULT TIME IS IN YOUR MARRIAGE Sometimes the storm isn't outside the house. Sometimes the storm is inside the house. Husband and wife may love each other but still experience seasons of disagreement, disappointment, communication problems, financial stress, hurt feelings, or emotional distance. During those seasons, the enemy wants you to concentrate exclusively on what is wrong. But Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us: “…a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Husband. Wife. God. Don't allow a difficult chapter to convince you that the entire story is over. Pray before reacting. Listen before assuming. Forgive instead of keeping score. Communicate instead of withdrawing. And when needed, seek wise, godly counsel. Sometimes faith means believing God can heal what has been wounded, restore what has been damaged, and rebuild what has been weakened. WHEN YOUR DIFFICULT TIME INVOLVES YOUR CHILDREN There is a special kind of pain that comes when your children are struggling. You raised them. You prayed for them. You taught them. You tried to guide them. Yet there comes a time when you cannot make every decision for them. That's when you have to remember: Your children may get beyond your reach, but they can never get beyond God's reach. Proverbs 22:6 says: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Keep praying. Keep loving. Keep speaking truth. Keep setting healthy boundaries. And keep trusting God with the parts of their lives that you cannot control. God knows exactly where your children are. DON'T LET A HARD SEASON MAKE YOU FORGET A FAITHFUL GOD One of the enemy's strategies during difficult seasons is to make you forget everything God has already brought you through. Remember the prayers He has already answered. Remember the doors He has already opened. Remember the times you thought you weren't going to make it—but somehow God carried you through. David faced Goliath with confidence because he remembered the lion and the bear. Sometimes today's battle requires you to remember yesterday's deliverance. Psalm 77:11 declares: “I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.” If God carried you before, He has not lost His ability to carry you now. YOUR DIFFICULT SEASON HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE! Psalm 30:5 declares: “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Notice Scripture says weeping may endure. That means you may cry for a season. You may struggle for a season. You may have questions for a season. You may feel overwhelmed for a season. But seasons change. Don't make permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances. Don't abandon your faith because life became difficult. Don't stop praying because the answer hasn't arrived. Don't stop worshiping because you're hurting. Don't stop believing because you cannot see what God is doing. Galatians 6:9 declares: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Your responsibility is not to figure everything out. Your responsibility is to keep trusting the One who already has. WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE HIS HAND, TRUST HIS HEART You may not understand this season. You may not understand why God allowed it. You may not know when circumstances will change. But one thing remains certain: God has not abandoned you. Isaiah 43:2 says: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee…” God didn't say if you go through the waters. He said when. But He also promised: “I will be with thee.” That's the promise. You are going through it. You're not building your house in it. You're not making your permanent residence in it. You're going THROUGH it! So keep praying. Keep worshiping. Keep believing. Keep standing. Keep trusting. And above everything else— KEEP THE FAITH! Because the same God who kept you before the storm is the God who will keep you in the storm, and He will still be God when you come out of the storm! PRAYER... Heavenly Father, We come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, acknowledging that You are our refuge, our strength, our provider, our healer, our defender, and our ever-present help in trouble. Father, someone reading this devotional is going through a difficult season right now. For some, it is their health. For others, it is their finances. For someone else, it is their marriage, their children, or another family relationship. Some are fighting battles they haven't told anyone about. They smile publicly while crying privately. They encourage everybody else while secretly wondering, “Lord, when will my situation change?” Father, strengthen them! Where there is fear, release faith. Where there is confusion, release peace. Where there is weakness, release strength. Where there is discouragement, release hope. Where there is sickness, we ask for healing and sustaining grace. Where there is financial pressure, provide wisdom, resources, opportunities, and provision. Where marriages are struggling, bring communication, forgiveness, understanding, restoration, and renewed love. Where parents are concerned about their children, remind them that their children are still in Your hands. Father, silence every voice of fear telling us that our situation is hopeless. Remind us that You are still God! We may not understand the process, but we trust the Potter. We may not understand the storm, but we trust the One who commands the winds and the waves. We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we know Who holds tomorrow. Give us faith that will stand when circumstances tell us to quit. Give us faith that will worship while we're waiting. Give us faith that will pray when we're tired. Give us faith that declares like Job: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” — Job 13:15 Father, don't merely bring us out of this difficult season—bring us out stronger, wiser, closer to You, and with a testimony that will strengthen somebody else. We declare that trouble will not destroy our faith. Pressure will not steal our praise. Waiting will not cancel our worship. And difficulty will not separate us from our God. We will stand. We will pray. We will believe. WE WILL KEEP THE FAITH! In the mighty, matchless, powerful name of Jesus Christ, we pray. AMEN AND AMEN! DECLARATION OF FAITH... I DECLARE that I will KEEP THE FAITH! I may be pressed, but I will not be destroyed. I may be confused, but I will not lose my confidence in God. I may cry, but I will keep believing. I may hurt, but I will keep worshiping. My health will not steal my faith. My finances will not steal my faith. Problems in my marriage or family will not steal my faith. Concern for my children will not steal my faith. I declare that GOD IS STILL WITH ME! God is still providing. God is still healing. God is still restoring. God is still opening doors. God is still making ways. God is still working—even when I cannot see Him working! THIS DIFFICULT SEASON WILL NOT BE THE END OF MY STORY! I will come through this season with stronger faith, deeper worship, greater wisdom, and a powerful testimony! I will walk by FAITH and not by sight. I will trust God when I understand Him, and I will trust Him when I don't. And until my change comes… I WILL PRAY! I WILL STAND! I WILL WORSHIP! I WILL BELIEVE! AND I WILL KEEP THE FAITH! IN JESUS' NAME — AMEN!

Thankful Thursday Morning Prayer “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High.” — Psalm 92:1 (KJV) Heavenly Father, on this Thankful Thursday morning, we enter Your presence with grateful hearts and praise upon our lips. Thank You for watching over us throughout the night and touching us with Your hand of mercy this morning. Thank You for the breath in our bodies, the strength to rise, and the blessing of seeing another day. Before we ask You for anything, Lord, we pause to thank You for everything. Thank You for being our Savior, Protector, Provider, Healer, Comforter, and closest Friend. Thank You for loving us when we were difficult to love, forgiving us when we fell short, and remaining faithful even when our faith became weak. Your Word declares, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22–23). Father, thank You for every prayer You answered and every blessing You released. Thank You also for the prayers You answered differently than we expected. We now understand that some closed doors were Your protection, some delays were Your preparation, and some disappointments were Your divine redirection. Thank You for what You allowed, what You prevented, and what You are still working together for our good. Lord, forgive us for the times we complained about what was missing while overlooking what remained. Forgive us for focusing on our burdens more than Your faithfulness. Give us eyes to recognize Your goodness in the ordinary blessings—the food on our tables, clothing on our bodies, roofs over our heads, family and friends, moments of peace, and strength to keep moving forward. We may not possess everything we desire, but we thank You that “my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Thank You for sustaining us through seasons we thought would destroy us. We have been wounded, but You healed us. We have been discouraged, but You strengthened us. We have experienced loss, but You comforted us. We have faced uncertainty, but You continued to guide us. When we could not trace Your hand, You taught us to trust Your heart. When our strength was gone, Your grace proved sufficient. Father, we place this entire day into Your hands. Go before us and make every crooked path straight. Order our steps, guide our decisions, govern our conversations, and protect us from dangers seen and unseen. Cover our homes, families, workplaces, schools, churches, vehicles, finances, health, and everything connected to us. Let no weapon formed against us prosper, and bring every plan of the enemy to nothing. Lord, bless every member of our family. Strengthen marriages, restore relationships, protect our children, encourage our seniors, and draw every unsaved loved one into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Bring peace where there is conflict, understanding where there is confusion, forgiveness where there is offense, and unity where division has entered. Remember those who awakened this morning carrying silent burdens. Touch those battling sickness, chronic pain, cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, dementia, depression, anxiety, addiction, or any condition known or unknown. Give wisdom to doctors, nurses, caregivers, and medical professionals. Let Your healing power flow, for Your Word declares, “I am the LORD that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26). Comfort every grieving heart and remind them that You are “a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Provide employment for those seeking work, financial relief for struggling households, shelter for the displaced, food for the hungry, and hope for those who feel forgotten. Open doors that no person can shut, and release resources from unexpected places. Father, strengthen Your Church. Bless pastors, ministers, leaders, missionaries, and every servant laboring for Your Kingdom. Give them wisdom, integrity, endurance, and fresh anointing. Let our churches be houses of prayer, healing, truth, love, deliverance, and salvation. Help us not merely to speak about Your goodness but to demonstrate it through compassion and service. Teach us to live thankfully—not only when life is easy, but also when the road is difficult. Your Word commands us, “In every thing give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Therefore, we will thank You in the waiting, praise You through the struggle, and trust You in uncertainty. Our circumstances may change, but Your character never will. You are still good, still faithful, still sovereign, and still worthy of all our praise. Let gratitude guide our attitude throughout this day. May our words bring healing, our actions show kindness, and our lives point others toward Jesus. Keep murmuring and negativity far from us. Place a new song in our hearts so that wherever we go, we carry Your peace, display Your joy, and testify of Your faithfulness. We thank You in advance for today’s protection, provision, divine appointments, unexpected blessings, restored strength, and answered prayers. Whatever this Thursday brings, we will not fear, because You are with us. We will rejoice and say, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). In the mighty, matchless, and victorious name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen, Amen, and Amen! DECLARATION... Today, I choose gratitude over complaining and faith over fear. God is ordering my steps, covering my family, supplying every need, and working everything for my good. This Thankful Thursday, I am blessed, protected, strengthened, and deeply grateful—in Jesus’ name. Amen!

HiTODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS. WHAT ARE FOUL SPIRITS? Understanding Their Nature, Influence, and the Believer’s Victory. Main Text: Mark 1:23–27 Supporting Texts: Matthew 12:43–45; Luke 8:26–39; Ephesians 6:10–18; James 4:7 There are battles that the human eye cannot see. A person can look healthy on the outside and yet be fighting a spiritual battle within. A home can look beautiful while confusion fills it. A person can have education, money, connections, and opportunities, yet experience strange patterns that seem difficult to explain. The Bible teaches us that the spiritual realm is real. But we must be careful: not every problem is caused by a demon, and not every unusual experience should be labeled as spiritual warfare. Christians must combine spiritual discernment with wisdom, prayer, sound doctrine, and appropriate practical help. So, what exactly are foul spirits? A foul spirit is an unclean or evil spirit—a spiritual being opposed to God and associated with evil, deception, bondage, oppression, and defilement. But here is the good news: The believer does not need to live in fear of foul spirits. Jesus Christ has authority over them. 1. WHAT ARE FOUL SPIRITS? The expression “foul spirit” is used in some Bible translations to describe what is also called an “unclean spirit.” Mark 1:23–24 > “And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit…” The spirit recognized Jesus and said, in effect, “I know who You are.” This teaches us something important: A. Foul spirits are spiritual beings They are not human beings, psychological conditions, or imaginary personalities. Scripture presents them as part of the spiritual opposition against God's purposes. B. They are called “unclean” The word speaks of something morally and spiritually polluted. Their purpose is contrary to the holiness of God. C. They oppose God's work Where God brings truth, they promote deception. Where God desires freedom, they seek bondage. Where God desires holiness, they encourage defilement. Where God desires peace, they seek confusion and destruction. But their activity does not mean they possess unlimited power. God remains sovereign. 2. FOUL SPIRITS SEEK TO DECEIVE, OPPRESS AND DESTROY Jesus warned about the activity of evil spirits. John 10:10 > “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” The devil's purpose is destructive. However, notice the second half: > “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Jesus is greater than the enemy! Foul spirits may seek to influence: Thoughts Attitudes Temptations Destructive behavior Fear Deception Hatred Occult practices Spiritual bondage Opposition to God's truth But we must maintain biblical balance. Temptation is not automatically demonic possession. Mental or emotional distress is not automatically demonic activity. A difficult season is not automatically an attack from an evil spirit. Sometimes a person needs prayer. Sometimes a person needs repentance. Sometimes a person needs wise counsel. And sometimes a person needs medical or mental-health support. Spiritual maturity knows the difference. 3. JESUS CHRIST HAS AUTHORITY OVER FOUL SPIRITS This is where the message becomes powerful. Mark 1:27 > “For with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.” Notice the phrase: “They do obey Him.” Jesus did not negotiate with the spirit. He did not panic. He did not run away. He exercised divine authority. Luke 10:19 Jesus told His disciples: > “Behold, I give unto you power… over all the power of the enemy.” The authority belongs to Christ. Therefore, Christian spiritual warfare is not about shouting the loudest. It is not about dramatic performances. It is not about trying to impress people. It is about standing in Christ, submitting to God, knowing His Word, and resisting the enemy. James 4:7 > “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Notice the order: Submit → Resist → Victory. You cannot successfully resist the devil while deliberately refusing to submit to God. 4. HOW DO WE GUARD OUR LIVES AGAINST SPIRITUAL DARKNESS? Ephesians 6:11 > “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Paul does not tell Christians to become obsessed with demons. He tells them to put on the armour of God. The armour includes: Truth — Don't build your life on lies. Righteousness — Guard your heart and conduct. The Gospel of peace — Walk in peace with God. Faith — Trust God when circumstances are frightening. Salvation — Remember who you belong to. The Word of God — Know and speak God's truth. Prayer — Maintain communion with God. The answer to spiritual darkness is not fear. The answer is deeper relationship with Christ. 5. DO NOT OPEN DOORS TO DARKNESS The Bible repeatedly warns God's people against involvement with occult practices and spiritual darkness. Deuteronomy 18:10–12 Scripture warns against practices such as divination, sorcery, witchcraft, and consulting spiritual mediums. Why? Because God wants His people to seek Him, not supernatural power from forbidden sources. Some people want spiritual power without spiritual submission. They want protection without holiness. They want miracles without Christ. They want supernatural experiences without discernment. That is dangerous. Ephesians 5:11 > “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” If something belongs to darkness, don't entertain it simply because it appears powerful. Not everything supernatural is from God. BIBLICAL CASE STUDY: THE MAN OF GADARA Mark 5:1–20 Jesus encountered a man who was severely oppressed by unclean spirits. His life had become completely broken. He lived among the tombs. He was isolated. He harmed himself. He could not be controlled by ordinary human means. But when Jesus arrived, everything changed. Jesus confronted the spiritual bondage, and the man was eventually found: > “sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind.” Mark 5:15 Look at the transformation: Before Jesus: Broken. After Jesus: Restored. Before Jesus: Isolated. After Jesus: Reconnected. Before Jesus: Tormented. After Jesus: In his right mind. This is the power of Christ. And Jesus gave the man a mission: > “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee.” Jesus doesn't only deliver people from bondage; He gives them a testimony and a purpose. DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS 1. Don't become more conscious of demons than you are conscious of Jesus. Some Christians can talk about demons for hours but barely talk about Christ. That is unhealthy. Jesus must remain the center. 2. Spiritual warfare begins with spiritual alignment. Before fighting external battles, examine your relationship with God. Is there deliberate disobedience? Unforgiveness? Secret sin? Occult involvement? Compromise? Repentance is not weakness. Repentance closes doors that compromise opens. 3. The devil is real, but he is not equal to God. Christianity does not teach two equal powers fighting for supremacy. God is Creator. Satan is a created being. Therefore, never place Satan on God's level. There is no divine competition. 4. Deliverance should lead to discipleship. A person may experience deliverance and still need spiritual growth. Jesus did not call us merely to be delivered. He called us to follow Him. 5. Freedom must be maintained through Christ-centered living. Matthew 12:43–45 gives a serious warning about an “empty” house. The lesson is powerful: Don't merely remove darkness; fill your life with Christ. Fill your mind with God's Word. Fill your heart with prayer. Fill your life with fellowship. Fill your days with obedience. PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS 1. Give your life completely to Jesus Christ. 2. Renounce occult and spiritually compromising practices. 3. Study Scripture consistently. 4. Develop a strong prayer life. 5. Guard what you watch, listen to, and celebrate. 6. Refuse to live in fear. 7. Seek mature Christian counsel when facing serious spiritual concerns. 8. Don't automatically interpret every physical or psychological problem as demonic. Seek appropriate professional help when necessary while continuing in prayer. 9. Stay connected to a healthy, Bible-believing Christian community. 10. Make Jesus the center of your spiritual life. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. Am I more fascinated by spiritual manifestations than by Jesus Christ? 2. Is there anything in my life that compromises my walk with God? 3. Am I feeding my spirit with God's Word? 4. Do I respond to spiritual challenges with faith or fear? 5. Have I opened myself to practices Scripture forbids? 6. Is my home and personal life centered on Christ? 7. Do I understand my authority in Christ without becoming spiritually arrogant? POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1. Father, in the name of Jesus, deliver me from every influence of darkness and establish me firmly in Your truth. 2. Lord Jesus, let every area of my life that has been under spiritual oppression experience Your freedom and peace. 3. Every influence contrary to the will of God operating against my spiritual growth, be broken in Jesus' name. 4. Father, give me spiritual discernment to distinguish between truth and deception, in Jesus' name. 5. Lord, close every door that I have opened through disobedience, ignorance, compromise, or ungodly practices. 6. I renounce every practice that dishonors Christ, and I surrender myself completely to Jesus. 7. Father, fill my heart with Your Holy Spirit, Your Word, Your peace, and Your righteousness. 8. I refuse to live in fear. I choose faith in Jesus Christ and confidence in the power of God's Word. 9. Lord, protect my family and establish our home in Your presence and truth. 10. Father, make my life a testimony of the victory, freedom, and transforming power of Jesus Christ. CALL TO ACTION Beloved, foul spirits are real, but Jesus is greater. Don't spend your life looking for demons behind every problem. Don't become obsessed with darkness. Don't live in fear. And don't play with spiritual things that God has forbidden. Instead, know Jesus. Know His Word. Walk in holiness. Pray. Exercise discernment. Stand in faith. And when the enemy attacks, remember who you belong to. You belong to Jesus Christ. The darkness may be real, but the Light is greater. The enemy may oppose you, but Christ has overcome. The battle may be intense, but your victory is found in Jesus. > “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” — 1 John 4:4 So arise in faith. Stand in Christ. Guard your heart. Reject darkness. Walk in holiness. And let your life become a testimony that Jesus Christ still saves, delivers, restores, and sets captives free. JESUS IS LORD! If you have not given your life to Jesus kindly do so by joining a Bible believing Church. You can get inspirational ebooks from my selar/Amazon shops below https://selar.com/m/umoh-edem1 https://selar.com/m/umoedem https://www.amazon.com/author/umohedembooks CONTACT - WhatsApp +2349024173027, +2349055447540 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/share/19WFeQkFUN/ Please get the full message from my book "RECOGNIZING AND FIGHTING FOUL SPIRITS"

TUESDAY MORNING PRAYER FOR OUR FAMILY! “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” — Joshua 24:15 (KJV) Heavenly Father, we come before You this Tuesday morning with grateful hearts, thanking You for the gift of another day. Thank You for watching over our family through the night, for waking us up this morning, and for giving us another opportunity to experience Your grace, mercy, and love. Your Word declares, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). So regardless of what yesterday looked like or what today may bring, we choose to rejoice because You are still God, You are still faithful, and our family is still in Your hands. Lord, we place every member of our family before You today—the young and the old, parents and children, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, and loved ones near and far. Cover every household connected to our family. Father, go before us today. Your Word says, “The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore” (Psalm 121:8). Protect those traveling to work, school, appointments, and wherever this day may take them. Surround our vehicles, homes, workplaces, schools, and communities with Your protection. Lord, strengthen every family member who is tired, discouraged, overwhelmed, worried, or carrying burdens they have not told anyone about. Remind them that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Give strength to the weary, peace to the troubled, and hope to those who feel like giving up. Father, we lift up every family member dealing with sickness, pain, disease, medical concerns, procedures, treatments, or recovery. You declared, “I am the LORD that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26). Touch bodies from the crowns of their heads to the soles of their feet. Give wisdom to doctors, nurses, caregivers, and medical professionals. Where there is pain, bring relief. Where there is weakness, bring strength. Where there is uncertainty, bring peace. We stand on Your Word: “With his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Lord, touch the minds of our family members. Break the grip of fear, anxiety, depression, confusion, stress, and constant worry. Your Word tells us, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). Let “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Father, we pray for anyone in our family struggling with addiction, alcohol, drugs, destructive habits, or anything that has taken control of their life. Break every chain and destroy every stronghold. Your Word declares, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Lord, set them free and restore what addiction has tried to steal. We pray for our marriages and relationships. Strengthen husbands and wives. Restore communication, trust, affection, patience, forgiveness, and commitment. Guard marriages against temptation, infidelity, division, bitterness, and outside interference. Let every home remember, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Mark 10:9). Bless our children, grandchildren, and young people. Protect their minds, their bodies, their futures, their friendships, and their decisions. Keep them from dangerous influences and wrong relationships. Your Word says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Draw our young people closer to You and give them courage to stand for righteousness. Father, we pray for every family member facing financial difficulties, unemployment, underemployment, debt, or uncertainty concerning their future. Open doors that no one can shut. Provide jobs, promotions, raises, opportunities, resources, and financial wisdom. Teach us to be good stewards of everything You place into our hands. We trust Your promise: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Lord, bring unity into our family. Heal old wounds. Remove grudges, jealousy, unforgiveness, misunderstandings, gossip, and division. Give us the humility to apologize when we are wrong and the grace to forgive when we have been hurt. Your Word says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). Comfort every family member who is grieving or missing someone they love. When memories bring tears, wrap Your loving arms around them. Remind them that “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart” (Psalm 34:18). Give them strength for the difficult moments and peace when the emptiness feels overwhelming. Father, we pray especially for those who are caregivers. Strengthen those caring for aging parents, sick spouses, children, relatives, and loved ones. When they become physically and emotionally exhausted, renew their strength. Your Word declares, “They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). Give caregivers patience, wisdom, rest, compassion, and help when they need it. Lord, protect our family from attacks we can see and attacks we cannot see. We declare, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17). Cancel every plan designed to bring destruction, confusion, division, or discouragement into our homes. And Father, above everything else, draw our entire family closer to Jesus. For those who know You, strengthen their relationship with You. For those who have wandered away, bring them home. For those who have never surrendered their lives to Christ, soften their hearts and save them. We declare over our household, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). As we step into this Tuesday, help us walk by faith and not by sight. Help us speak life instead of death, encouragement instead of criticism, faith instead of fear, and love instead of anger. We declare that our family is covered. Our family is protected. Our family is being healed. Our family is being restored. Our family is being strengthened. Our family is being provided for. Our family is walking in unity. Our children are covered. Our marriages are covered. Our homes are covered. And our future is in God's hands! For Your Word declares, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayer. Thank You for what You have already done, what You are doing right now, and what You are preparing to do in our family. We give You all the glory, honor, and praise. In the mighty, matchless, powerful name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen, Amen, and Amen! TUESDAY DECLARATION... Today, we declare that our family belongs to God! We will not walk in fear because the Lord goes before us. We will not be defeated because greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Our homes will have peace, our bodies will experience strength, our minds will be guarded, our needs will be supplied, and our family will walk in God's purpose. No weapon formed against our family shall prosper. As for us and our house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD! In Jesus' name, Amen!