Trish and Derrick Gunn

Sometimes a promise hasn’t come true because we have not declared it!

The promise is waiting for our part!

1. Jesus said, “My house will be a house of prayer — for all nations!”

2. This church will be a house of extravagant love.

3. This will be a house that tears down strongholds and addictions.

4. Revival of our youth and young adults.

5. Reunification of families and salvation.

6. Teachers and preachers will be called through this ministry.

7. Revival for the city of Wilmington.

8. This church will be rebuilt and the walks will be stronger than ever.

9. Lord, you have done it before, and You will do it again!

10. New City Church will be a lighthouse.

11. New City Church will be a house of miracles.

12. Truth will set us free — truth revealed and lies exposed.

13. Financial blessing will flow in and through this church and there will be no lack.

14. This house will overflow with worship.

September 22

“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.” — Ephesians 4:1-6 NLT

When I was younger, I used to write these little books for my mom, as a teen I moved on to short stories and poems. My mom always said, you should be a writer and as a shy teen I said no way. When I was in college, I finally stepped into that calling. I switched my major from Communication to Journalism and became what my mom always knew I should be, a Writer. I think it would be easy for me to take all the credit for my talent, but when asked, I tell people it is a gift from God. He blesses me with every key stroke as I paint pictures with letters. We all have this in common. Maybe not the writing aspect, but gifts that are given just to us from God. One thing my children and I pray for is that we live up to the full potential God has planned for us. Not for fame and fortune but for His glory. Thank God for the talents He has given you that bless your family and community and give Him all the glory!

September 23

“Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!” — Romans 12:16 NLT

As this verse was written centuries ago, it is clear the struggle with pride is not a new one. We may have come a long way with technology but in the department of believing we know everything and that, perhaps, we are better than some people, we have a long way to go. You may know a lot about a lot of things, but it is an impossibility that you are always right. Given that concept, I think it is okay to say, “I’m wrong” “I’m sorry” and “maybe I don’t know everything.” Those phrases will bring so much more harmony into your life. People around you will recognize you aren’t a “know-it-all” and will feel more comfortable being vulnerable and admitting they, too, aren’t perfect. So, let down those walls, admit when you are wrong, don’t think you are better than anyone else and create harmony in the world. The ripple effect of harmony starts with you!

September 24

“After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, ‘Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!’” — Revelation 7:9-10

What an awesome sight to behold!

If you ever get down about the divided world around you, meditate on this verse. Imagine the Father’s heart bursting with joy at the sight and sound of all His beautiful followers coming together and singing His praises!

And guess what? We do not have to wait for heaven to experience this. God longs for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven—today—here!

Keep this image in mind, Beloved, as you gather with others who are positioned in front of the throne and seeking closeness to Jesus, the Lamb of God. Use your gifts, unite as one body, minister to His heart, and serve to bring Him glory and pleasure. Enjoy the overflow from such moments!

September 25

“For through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.” — Colossians 1:16-17

Jesus is the author of all creation. He is not a created being but is God Himself. Everything on earth—all of its wonder and majesty— finds its purpose in Christ, the One true God. Through Him, humanity could see God in flesh and marvel at His handiwork.

Don’t overcomplicate your faith, Beloved. You, and everything in this universe, are here for the pleasure of God. Consider this truth as you recognize that every single thing points back to Christ.

September 26

“Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really, has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?”

I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department; I’ll handle the works department.”

Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.

Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?

Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham “made right with God by works” when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are “works of faith”? The full meaning of “believe” in the Scripture sentence, “Abraham believed God and was set right with God,” includes his action. It’s that weave of believing and acting that got Abraham named “God’s friend.” Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?

The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn’t her action in hiding God’s spies and helping them escape—that seamless unity of believing and doing—what counted with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.” — James 2:14-26 (MSG)

Phew! What a great Word to read and re-read...beautifully sweet conviction.

September 27

“In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us.” — Colossians 3:11

Fall is upon us, and we see more and more people wearing their jerseys of choose (E-A-G-L-E-S!). They are a symbol of loyalty and with whom they affiliate.

As believers, we tend to do the same. Stating the denomination, we are part of or the church we attend in order to give people a better understanding of who we are. But if we truly commit our lives to following Christ and receive Him as our Lord and Savior, we are dressed in new garments—“Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with His label on it.” (Colossians 3:10, The Message). He lives in us and defines us!

Allow Him to renew you day by day, Beloved. Use your gifts, be filled with the Spirit, and let others get to know Him through your new creation self.