Warrior Ministries

Look this will offend people however
You can’t be a Christian and hate gay people. You can’t be a Christian and hate people that are of a different skin color. You can’t be a Christian and hate people for living differently than you. You can’t be a Christian and hate people. That’s not Christianity

Good Friday

It was on this day that Jesus Christ was crucified… falsely accused, beaten, publicly humiliated, whipped, and hung on a cross to suffer the most excruciating form of torture and death known to man. And He did it for you and me, to save us – rescue us – from the power of sin and death. His final words were ‘It is finished'. It is finished. The battle over your soul has been won, it is finished. You don't have to strive, work, beat yourself up, impress, sneak in, perform, be perfect personified… Your acceptance and belonging has already been made final – it is finished, and you are His beloved. It can often seem like our eternal value is still unset, our place in the Kingdom undecided… But it is set and sealed, made firm and secure, by the blood of Christ – it is finished. We live from a place of victory through Christ, not ‘I hope we can overcome' – we have overcome. It is finished. Christs work did not begin with the cross, it was made complete at the cross. The completed and perfect work of Christ is just that. Complete, finished, final. And our hearts respond with faith and thanksgiving at this most gracious, generous and love defining gift that Christ poured out for us on the cross. His blood was spilled, His body emptied of it… His life released into the world to be made accessible and powerful for all mankind. Reflect today that the work of Christ is complete – it is finished, the victory has been won, and Christ freely and openly loves you and wants to empower you for this life and the next. Thank you Jesus. I love you.

Carry on, Warrior on

Warrior D

Isaiah 53:7-12 MSG

He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn’t say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence. Justice miscarried, and he was led off— and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people. They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he’d never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn’t true. Still, it’s what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life. And God ’s plan will deeply prosper through him. Out of that terrible travail of soul, he’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad he did it. Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many “righteous ones,” as he himself carries the burden of their sins. Therefore I’ll reward him extravagantly— the best of everything, the highest honors—
Because he looked death in the face and didn’t flinch, because he embraced the company of the lowest. He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many, he took up the cause of all the black sheep.
I pray that wherever this ‘Good Friday' finds you, that you would find hope and rest in Jesus. I Love you all…

Warrior D

Courtesy Rough Cut Men

Very comforting and full of truth.

Love Is – Valentine's Day
Valentine's day represents different things to different people. For some, it's an opportunity to express romantic love, perhaps for the first time, creating excuses for intimacy.

For some, it’s a heartbreaking reminder of loss. If that’s you, we stand with you in your pain. We pray that peace and grace would fill your heart today. It can be tough, we know from past experience, so we’re sending you bucket loads of love.

For others still, Valentines Day has no meaning whatsoever – either they don’t subscribe to it (consumerism and all that), or it's not culturally included. It's just another day.

So whatever the day represents (or doesn’t) for you, love is still the prize of life.

“If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal.
And if I were to have the gift of prophecy with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing.
And if I were to be so generous as to give away everything I owned to feed the poor, and to offer my body to be burned as a martyr, without the pure motive of love, I would gain nothing of value.
Love is large and incredibly patient.
Love is gentle and consistently kind to all.
It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else.
Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance.
Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor.
Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense.
Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong.
Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others.
Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.
Love never stops loving.
It extends beyond the gift of prophecy, which eventually fades away.
It is more enduring than tongues, which will one day fall silent.
Love remains long after words of knowledge are forgotten.
Our present knowledge and our prophecies are but partial, but when love’s perfection arrives, the partial will fade away.
When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child.
But the day came when I matured, and I set aside my childish ways.
For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face.
My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood.
Until then, there are three things that remain:
faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all.
So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.”
– Paul, 1 Corinthians 13. The Passion Translation.

Happy Valentine’s Day!
We have much love each and every one of you!

Carry on, Warrior on
Warrior D

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hotel. Luke 2:6-7 (MSG)

Since I was a child, Christmas has been about many different things: gifts and lights and wonder; travel and food and laughter; tiredness, conversation, and family… so many different things, emotions, scenarios, seasons, moments all rolled into the day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
I need Christmas to reach into my soul and stir things up a bit.
I want comfort, but I want direction, too. I want to have fun with my family and friends, but I don't want to pacify my fears and ignore heartache. I want to stay on track. Many use Christmas as a grand distraction from the issues at hand in their lives; from the political to the personal. But I’m challenging myself to take the opportunity that Christmas so uniquely presents us to hold the tension of the merry and the mayhem, the hope and the heartache, the terror and the wonder, in both my hands and see it with eyes of faith. And somehow, be thankful for it all. It’s a grace, right?
Celebrating the birth of Christ shouldn’t distract us from justice, but propel us towards it. Any Christmas message or practice that doesn’t is missing the point of why Christ was born – and to whom and wherein – in the first place.
So this year, We’re still buying gifts, but just a few. We’re still planning a nice meal, but we’re not going “all out”. I want to rest in the love that has always been mine, and have the space to reflect on all that has and is happening, and what is to come. I’m refusing to give into the hype and stress of “more is better,” and am instead keeping things as anxiety free, on budget, and simple as I can. We’ve talked with our kids about how they’re getting fewer ‘things’ because we want to have more ‘moments.’ We’re focusing on creating space, making room, being present. After all, unto us a child is born.

Much love and many blessings,
Warrior D

This is to help bring awareness to mental illness and su***de. I lost my father a veteran of the Vietnam war to su***de, I’ve lost other friends and family to su***de and it is something I’ve struggled with personally. There are 22 veterans and one active duty soldier that take their lives everyday. 2 out of 100 students have attempted su***de. Someone commits su***de every minute in our country. When will it stop? When people are no longer afraid to be real and talk about real things, like mental illness.
Do you sometimes feel all alone? Do you ever wonder if anyone out there cares about what you’re going through?
When it feels like no one else is around, know that God is always here with you—even right now in this very moment. In your most triumphant victories and in your darkest cries for help, He’s always there beside you. He’ll never leave.
In fact, the Bible tells us that we can never run too far from God or flee from His presence. No matter how many times you mess up, how many of your friends desert you, or how helpless life can seem at times, God constantly surrounds you.
He’s saying to you today, “I will be with you wherever you go.” He’s encouraging you, “Be strong and courageous.” He’s promising you, “I will strengthen you and help you.” You are not alone!
Take a moment now to pray this to God: God, thank You for promising to be with me no matter what I’m going through. I need Your help to be strong and courageous. Please give me the peace and comfort that only Your presence can bring. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Carry on, Warrior on
Warrior D

Take Action Now

Talk with someone who’s ready to listen 24/7: call 1-800-273-8255 or text 741741 (USA only)

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways. For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:9-13)

Who doesn’t remember where they were when they heard America was under attack? Or when they first saw the footage of the planes flying into the twin towers? We were shocked, confused, vulnerable, and eventually angry. No longer isolated to other parts of the world, terrorism brought itself to our front door. As a nation, we were changed. In the face of such an atrocious act of violence our cores beliefs are challenged in ways we perhaps never imagined.

Paul encourages us to hold fast to our faith. In the face of any tragedy, it’s easy to lose sight of God’s goodness. Surrounded by pain, suffering, and sin we can become discouraged and feel overwhelmed by the situation. But God’s goodness and grace abound even in darkness. And he is always in control, even when, especially when, everything else seems so out of control.

It’s because of God’s goodness that we ultimately have hope. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, God can heal and restore our joy because he is the giver of true peace. When we are able to embrace that, we rise above the chaos around us to see his face more clearly. In the same way, we have hope for the future when all will be made right and justice will prevail. There will be no more tears and no more pain.

And yet the greatest of these is love. There’s such freedom when we open our hearts to love those around us. Yes, we love on those who are hurting, those who are alone, and those who have loved us. But the true testimony of Jesus is to “love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your father in heaven” (Matt 5:44-45). If we withhold forgiveness and mercy, we allow bitterness and hatred to take root—the perfect end to Satan’s plan. Don’t let him win any battles. Love is the greatest trump card of all time.

How have you personally changed in both positive and negative ways because of 9/11? Do you worry more? Hate more? Do you pray more?

9/11 remains a difficult day for countless families and friends who have lost a loved one. Please take a moment to pray for them. Also remember to pray for our enemies.

The day after 9/11 felt like a heavy blanket had been dropped on the country. Daily life was overshadowed by a sense of grief and confusion. So many questions were being asked, “How could this happen?” “Who would do this to innocent people?” In the days that followed, I recall the country pulling together as people came from all around to help search through the rubble for any signs of life.

The day after 9/11 felt like a heavy blanket had been dropped on the country. Daily life was overshadowed by a sense of grief and confusion. So many questions were being asked, “How could this happen?” “Who would do this to innocent people?” In the days that followed, I recall the country pulling together as people came from all around to help search through the rubble for any signs of life.

Before the dust settled, we went to war. A message was sent by those who lost their lives on that day in September. The message was embodied in the heart of each soldier that stepped foot on that foreign soil. It was a message that we are a united people, one nation under God indivisible, and we would not just go about our normal daily routine and live our lives like nothing had happened. An evil thing had been done to our brothers and sisters, our fellow Americans, and we could not in good conscience let it pass.

I had a lot of questions for God that day, most of which began with “Why?” There was so much I didn’t understand and still don’t, but this I do – God is good…all the time. He doesn’t plan evil. It is the evil plans of man and the bad seeds of sin sown in their hearts that grow into plans for destruction of innocent lives.

Much time has passed since that day in September, but I will always remember it. I pray that God’s healing and peace will continue to touch the people who suffered loss that day, and that we remember to say a prayer for them today and every year to come, on 9/11.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 (NIV)

If God waits to place judgement on us until the end, then why do we as a whole think it's ok to judge another It's not our place to judge another. The next time you feel the need to judge another ask yourself "Who am I to judge?"

Out delivering diapers and wipes to mothers in need.

Love Matters

When a parent says, “I love my daughter,” you don’t say, “What about your son? Don’t you love all your children?”

When the president says “God bless America,” we don’t say, “Shouldn’t God bless all countries?”

And when a person says “Black Lives Matter,” we should not say “All Lives Matter.” It is an attempt to to diminish the ongoing reality of white supremacy in America. It’s effectively a way of demeaning other people’s stories, like Job’s friends who kept trying to point to the bigger picture of God’s ultimate plan instead of truly listening to Job and mourning his grief. It is rude. It is hurtful. It is dismissive. And it has to stop.

And yes, some people who associate themselves with have called for police deaths. Some Christians have called for abortion clinics to be bombed. The cries of a few fringe groups do not invalidate an entire movement, thank God.

So when you hear the words “Black Lives Matter,” don’t be so quick to assume it’s a judgement about white lives. Instead, see “Black Lives Matter” for what it is: a rallying cry to make a difference and take down the unjust status quo that holds racial equality at bay in America. You can join the movement and commit yourself to the social and economic liberation of black people, or you can choose to stand on the sidelines. But don’t silence the cry with the words “All Lives Matter.” This is an emergency.

Carry on, Warrior on
Warrior D

A Prayer for the Fallen
Psalm 27:3-4 says, "Though an army besieges me, my heart will not fear; though war breaks out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple." Today we bow our heads and our hearts to you, Lord, that we may remember those who paid the ultimate price by giving their lives for their country. We can never be grateful enough for the sacrifices made for our country and we are humbled by their willingness to put their own lives aside for the benefit of ours. Father, carve their sacrifices onto our hearts that we may never forget the loss of these heroes. We pray for this in the holy name of your son Jesus. Amen.

Carry on, Warrior on
Warrior D

We are blessed enough to do another food drop to a first responder family.
Enjoy T&B! 2 dozen snicker doodles, 2 dozen peanut butter cookies and a hominy and beef casserole! This family requested this and I’m happy that our street ministry is able once again able to help a family out that is on the front line battling the corona virus. My battle with cancer has kept us off the streets for a moment but being able to fill the needs and some wants for others is what we are all about. Carry God into the lives of others one item at a time.
Blessings to you all!

Carry on, Warrior on

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? (Luke 9:23-25 ESV)

Our modern perspective makes it tough to understand how uncomfortable and offensive Jesus’ words in today’s verse were.

In our culture, the cross is often relegated to being a good luck charm. A stylish piece of jewelry, a cool tattoo, or a symbolic piece of art to hang on a wall.

Even in Christian circles we’ve sanitized our perspective of the cross with pictures of a smooth-skinned Jesus with little more than small trickles of blood.

In their time, it was considered the most painful, gruesome, and shameful way to die.

Good Roman citizens were not supposed to talk about it, and the ancient Jewish historian Josephus called it “the most wretched of deaths.” Jewish people had witnessed literally thousands of their countrymen crucified on hillsides, so their picture of the cross was radically different than ours.

The Romans purpose behind crucifixion was simple: to provide the most painful, gruesome, and publicly shameful death imaginable. It was a terrifying way of ruling by fear.

The condemned person was forced to carry the horizontal portion of the cross, weighing about 110 pounds, through the streets in a procession to the place of ex*****on. As the condemned would walk the streets people would scream insults and spit as he walked.

Historical Roman accounts have established that rough seven-to-eight-inch nails were driven between the small bones of the wrists, rather than the palms. The soldier would then take the left foot and press it backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, one nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed.

The condemned is now crucified.

That is the picture they saw as Jesus spoke the words from today’s verses.

As we let this sink in, we should be assured that our journey was never meant to be easy.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

John 19:26–27

Crucifixion was nasty business — but far more intimate than we often think.

You see, contrary to the pictures of crucifixion we see in movies and popular paintings, crucified people weren’t towering on crosses 10 feet above the ground.

People were actually crucified at eye level. This means the ultimate in human suffering was on full display and within arm’s reach.

John (the disciple whom Jesus loved) and Mary, Jesus’ mother, stood next to Jesus.

The disciple saw his master with a bloody crown of thorns stuck into his skull. And Jesus’ mom watched, helpless as her miracle of a Son died before her eyes.

Jesus looked at them and essentially said, “Mother, my friend John will take care of you. John, watch out for my mother as if she was your own.”

If you’re a parent (like I am), imagine yourself there with one of your kids. I don’t want to be emotionally cruel to you — but the gravity of this moment is hard to comprehend unless we enter into it.

Jesus’ own mother was close enough to hear her Son’s words, to look him in the eyes and see him dying.

How on earth can we call a day like this good?

We can because three days later, this murdered Messiah stepped out of the grave. Death could not hold him. Jesus’ fate was not the tomb, it was the salvation of the world.

Death is defeated. Eternity with God is secured. And our hope is anchored in an unshakeable moment in history: the crucifixion and resurrection God himself.

It is this new life we are joined in.

Remember the weight of what it means to put your faith in Jesus: you are secured by the same power that rose him from the grave.

Tell your children. Tell your friends. Tell your coworkers.

Tell the world: Jesus lives.

Things that go wrong can either shape us or scar us. Like many of you I’ve had some people love me well in my life and some who didn’t love me well.
I’m sure I’ve had more love me than not, but I don’t keep score anymore. I have found healing power in loving people regardless of how much or how little they’ve loved me. Love is meant to heal.
It can heal the anger you have towards your father. It can heal the guilt you have for not giving your children love when they needed it. It can heal the hurt you have over losing a friend. Love aids recovery. Nobody would argue that receiving love brings healing in every area of your life. I do believe that extending love holds more healing power than receiving it.
In the Bible, Jesus talked about a reverse economy.
If you want to receive, you give.
If you want to lead, you follow.
If you want to live for certain things, you have to be willing to die for them.
Don’t ask me to explain this, because I can’t tell you how or why. All I can say is that I know because I have experienced it. I’ve been there, and that is all the proof that I can provide. It won’t be enough for some of you. It won’t be the kind of thing you can accept because you can’t buy, taste, or touch it.
But there’s healing, peace, and life found in extending the love that God has freely given us. Extend it to anyone and everyone regardless of whether they deserve it or not. Every life was created to make a difference. Jesus helps us do this through love.

This post will touch on subjects that may be triggering for some people. If you feel the following content could have any kind of negative impact on you, read with extreme caution or not at all.

In light of organizations like ,AFSP, and NAMI many people seem to be taking su***de and its prevention way more seriously than before (because, apparently, the growing su***de rates weren’t enough). It’s only now that people have come to the realization that su***de isn’t really a spur of the moment decision. That it’s something you consider when everything else in life seems pointless or far from helpful. When it feels like the world’s given up on you, so you might as well do the exact same.
I’ve talked about su***de to some people in my life, as well as accidentally overheard conversations, There’s always one idea that keeps making me feel uneasy like something’s not quite right: that being people who commit su***de are selfish. According to this view, whoever takes their own life has made a personal decision, without taking the people in their lives into consideration (because, also according to this opinion, if you think about those people you eventually decide not to kill yourself). People who support this idea might also be the same people who post grainy-low-quality “inspirational” photos on Instagram or Facebook about how “happiness is a choice, choose to not be sad".
Here’s the problem with that way of thinking: I sincerely don’t believe anyone who feels that way about su***de has ever been suicidal or has seriously considered committing su***de. You see, it literally doesn’t get worse than wanting to kill yourself. It’s the ultimate all time low. A person doesn’t wake up one morning with the idea that “today would be a nice day to take my life”. Wanting to kill yourself feels like nothing, it’s empty and numbing like life goes by and everything moves forward without you and it doesn’t even matter.
I cant think of a good example of how a suicidal mind works. Some people have a mental illness that simply embraces the idea, but there’s always more to it — ALWAYS. It might be one big event or a long chain of smaller ones. Whether we like it or not, we are people living in an on-going and functioning society. Our actions and choices are partly determined by the people around us with whom we share our lives. As a consequence, we have war or marriage or friendship or family or su***de. I’m not saying we should blame ourselves for someone we know taking their life away — not at all — but what we choose to do or to not do does influence that person’s decision. So yes, a person does choose to commit su***de, but it’s not something one is driven to by a cause completely isolated from another human being (at least not in the majority of cases).
Because of that exact same reason, su***de is not an act that happens separately from society either. Someone’s su***de happens to someone else as well. Life goes on for the rest, the people who will have to deal with it. It might end your pain, but not everyone else’s. And I’m not saying that’s either right or wrong, it’s just how it is. It’s very important that everyone understand what wanting to kill yourself feels like, just get an idea. Do you understand how sad, how miserable one would have to feel? Feeling like everyone’s lives would be better off without your own, I have been at that point, how harsh it that? Believing that your life is so worthless you don’t even deserve it. That’s what it feels like.
So this is what I think we should all do: be kind, be there and be aware. A smile is all it might take to save someone’s life. As generic and cliche' as it might sound, it does get better.
If you are someone who may be hitting rock-bottom or considering this path, this is your sign to not do it. It’s not worth it. It never will be. Your feelings and motives, whatever they are, are valid because you are valid, but trust me when I tell you it simply isn’t worth it. There’s a certain, hidden beauty to life and it’s out there waiting for you to find it. Get the help you need. You can’t, and don’t, have to do this alone. There’s an entire community of people who understand and are rooting for you, who want you here on this planet. I can’t exactly tell you why we are here, or what our purpose in life is, but I can tell you — you have a place in this world and you will find it. Look for the small pleasures in life, let yourself be amazed and see what happens. I won’t say it’s easy. God, knows it’s not. But he can and will guide you. With him I will say it’s possible to get better.

I have posted this because I lost my father to su***de, and because I've lived a part of my life with a suicidal mindset. Always acting like everything is okay when in reality it wasn't. I've found myself at the end of either a rope, gun barrel, hose duct taped to an exhaust pipe, knife, pill bottle or whatever I thought could take it all away. God has intervened each time and shown me there is a purpose for me, there is a purpose for all of us and we can help and save each other with love and kindness. Blessings to you all

Warrior D

““To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:27-30‬ ‭MSG‬‬

When we’re treated poorly, whether emotionally, verbally, or even physically, our retaliation isn’t always the answer (unless it’s an act of self-defense in a dangerous situation). Christ reminds us to “do to others as you would like them to do to you (Luke 6:31 NLT).”
In these situations, demonstrating an even greater strength, through a much more vulnerable course of action, is what Jesus asks of us: love our enemies (Luke 6:27).
It requires a vulnerability to speak the truth in love, and then let our words simmer rather than forcefully make a point. It involves vulnerability to work through a misunderstanding rather than lash out in anger. We must show vulnerability to put ourselves in another person’s shoes to better understand their point of view in the heat of a moment. And when we do these things even when we know the other person isn’t likely to reciprocate our gesture, that requires us to be vulnerable as well.
It’s easy to show kindness to those who are kind to you. And it’s easy to love those who love you back. But it takes an act of will, a conscious effort, and faith in our God to love those who do wrong towards us. This level of vulnerability is a sign of real strength.

Carry on, Warrior on
Warrior D