“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”  Romans 8:37 (NKJV)

There are a few last things I want to share when it comes to victorious living. First, when David prepared to fight Goliath, he recalled the previous battles in which the Lord gave him victory.

I Samuel 17:34-37

“But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (NIV)

The Jewish people of that time carried a staff. On this staff, they wrote the important events of their lives and important family promises from God. When Saul questioned David’s ability to fight, David read about all the times that the Lord had given him victory. This is not your first battle. The Lord has brought you through to victory in the past. In the middle of your trial or battle, remember the times the Lord gave you victory. This will build your confidence to walk in victory right now. Your past battle bruises become your future battle strategies!

Secondly, keep in mind that David took five smooth stones to fight Goliath. This was not because he might miss; he knew that victory was assured. Goliath had four brothers! David was equipped to fight more battles that might come about because of this one! This shows us that the anointing gives you abundance in the middle of your battle; the anointing prepares you for future battles in the middle of your current battle!

In Judges 3:1-2, the Bible tells us that God left some Canaanites in the land so that the Israelites would learn how to fight. We need the fight and the battle to learn the strength of our God in the middle of our weakness. We need the fight and the struggle not for our strength, but to realize the strength of our God. We fight back by releasing Christ’s victory through our vessels.

Kelly McDonald, Jr.

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”  Romans 8:37 (NKJV)

As David approached to fight Goliath, he had obstacles just to get to the battle (I Sam. 17:28-33). First, his older brother accused him of being prideful and selfish.  Next, his fellow soldiers discouraged him from fighting. Lastly, the king at that time (Saul) told David that he was unable to fight the giant. He did not think David had the talent to beat such a mighty warrior. Despite this discouragement, David went forward to fight Goliath. God gave him the victory.

Last time, we discussed that David had a Word from God that he would one day be king. This means David’s fight against Goliath was already won. However, the path to his destiny went through the fight with Goliath; the giant was merely a roadblock.

In this example, what was the battle? The battle was not the fight with Goliath. He had already won that battle. He had a Word from God. The real battle was this: would David be discouraged from going forward into the victory that was already promised him? He had to persevere despite opposition from family, friends, and the highest ruler in the land. He had to break through the obstacles to arrive at the place of victory. The king at that time did not think David had the talent. Praise God, talent did not matter; David had the anointing.

You have a divine destiny in Christ. It may be teaching, preaching, prophesying, intercession, administration, writing, singing, creative arts, drama, setting up tables and organizing meetings, or any other kind of service to God. You already have the victory to arrive at your calling. Your giant is already slain. As Paul wrote, you are “…more than a conqueror” (Romans 8). The test is this: When satan or other people question your anointing, calling, and divine destiny, will you keep going forward? Will you shrink back when you face resistance? Will something hold you back from using the anointing already poured out on your life?  The anointing becomes activated when you act.

Paul wrote, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13). Christ fights for us and has already fought for us. The Lord asks us to stand. Don’t get ahead of Him and don’t shrink back.

We will finish this series next time!

Kelly McDonald, Jr.

“Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better.” Eccl. 7:2-3 (NKJV)

Even after you take the measures we discussed last time, you will have random, unexpected times where you feel empty or lonely because of the loss of that person. Sometimes it will hit you hard. At other times, it will come on you more subtly. It is important to let those feelings vent properly until you sense a release in your spirit and mind.

The worst thing you can do is repress your emotions. When you repress your feelings, it is similar to a person on a sinking ship. When you are on a sinking ship, you can shut doors within the ship to keep the water from getting to you. Eventually, the water pressure will push back the door and flood the rest of the ship. When you repress your feelings, you will vent them in ways that hurt yourself and others. You may lash out unexpectedly over small things. Without proper grieving, you can experience physical, mental, and emotional problems. In the years I have ministered, I have noticed that certain types of physical and mental illnesses come from the inner pain of a lost loved one. Your body needs to grieve and let the hurt and pain out.

Take some time and think about your past. You may have a family member or a friend you lost years ago. You may not have properly grieved for them. It is never too late to grieve and apply the practical steps aforementioned. As Solomon expressed, it brings health to your heart.

Grieving is not an exact science, but these are some tips to help you get through the grieving process. The heart is like an onion in that it has layers. Memories have layers in our heart. Wounds and hurts have layers in our hearts. As time passes on, we are peeling the wounds and getting deep down into the recesses of our heart and hurts. This lets Jesus heal us one day at a time.

Kelly McDonald Jr.

“Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better.” Eccl. 7:2-3 (NKJV)

How do we grieve? Showing emotion is a key to mourning. We have to let the hurt in our hearts out. It is important to realize that grieving does not take place over a few days. Sometimes it takes years to grieve. However, the Bible teaches us some practical things we can do to vent our emotions and start the healing process.

A tendency for some people is to stay so busy that they keep their minds off of their traumatic loss. This can do more harm than good. Set aside time for morning immediately following that person’s death. In the Bible, they used to set aside specific time periods just to mourn. In Deuteronomy 34:8, the Bible reads, “The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.” They mourned the same period for Aaron (Num. 20:29). Moses and Aaron were used by God to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. They meant so much to them that they set apart an entire month to mourn. The Bible even shows that other cultures mourned a certain number of days. For instance, the Egyptians set aside 70 days in Gen. 50:3 to mourn the death of Joseph.

What should you do during this time period? Spend time really thinking about the times you had with that person. Look at pictures and films where you were together. Talk to other friends and family about the experienced you had together. You are going to cry, laugh, and even wail. You might even feel angry. This is part of celebrating that person’s life and adjusting to life without them. You are coping with your loss.

A Jewish custom is to remember the death of lost loved ones every year on the date of their death. It is a disciplined way of continuing the grieving process and remembering that person’s life.

When you set aside the time specifically for grieving, spend some of that time alone and some with other people. If you spend too much time alone, then you can isolate yourself and become a shut in. As humans, we need social interaction. Spend time around other people. You may have to force yourself to do this because your will to be around others can be weakened.

Make sure you eat food in this process. The Bible mentions that there was food eaten in the time of mourning (Ezekiel 24:17, Hosea 9:4). Sometimes when you lose someone, especially a spouse, parent, or child, your body will grieve so hard that you will deprive yourself of food. Your body still needs nourishment, and this is important to remember. Sometimes the loss of a loved one causes people to lose the will do to simple household chores such as cooking. We should keep this in mind when someone passes away and offer to assist them.

We will finish this series next time.

Kelly McDonald, Jr.

“Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better.” Eccl. 7:2-3 (NKJV)

Each of us has lost loved ones. Sometimes we lose them suddenly through a car accident or a stroke. Sometimes we lose them through long-term debilitating illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. However they may pass, it is important that we learn to grieve.

In our society, there is a tendency to think that displaying emotion in the face of loss is a sign of weakness. This is especially true among males. The old adage I heard growing up is to “be strong” by not showing emotion. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

The verses for this devotional come from Ecclesiastes 7:2-3. Solomon was a man into which God imparted divine wisdom. He said that it was better to be with those grieving than those who are rejoicing because a sad countenance brings health to the heart. In Ecclesiastes 3, he said that there was a time for everything under the sun. There is a time to show emotion, especially tears of grief. There is healing in our sadness. Grieving is part of the healing process.

Why would it be better to spend time with mourners than those who rejoice? When someone has passed away, everyone who knew that person considers the brevity of life. Psalm 90:12 reads, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” The reality of life sets in when someone passes away. We look at ourselves and think – “That could have been me!” When someone passes away, it is important for us to evaluate our lives and make adjustments. What are we doing with our time? If you died today, would you be right with God? Have you made amends with other people? It is wise for us to number our days and ponder our lives.

Grieving is part of numbering our days by remembering the days of those who have passed away.

We will continue next time with practical ways to grieve.

Kelly McDonald, Jr.

“And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” – Habukkuk 2:2 (ESV)

Each of us has received promises from God. Sometimes these promises come directly from God when we are spending quiet time with Him. Sometimes the Lord speaks them through other people. These promises guide us towards God’s will. It is important for us to write down the promises that the Lord speaks to us. In Habukkuk 2:2, the Lord instructs us to write down revelation from God so that we can run when we read it. In I Corinthians 9:24, Paul said, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” The promises we receive from the Lord (written Word and spoken Word) are the guide markers that help us to run the race. God has called us to live a life of victory. In fact, we are more than conquerors! (Romans 8:37) The promise is our reassurance of victory!

As time goes on, distractions will try to knock you off the track that God has laid out for you. Writing down God’s promises helps you to stay on track. As you go back and review them, you will be inspired to keep running the race. God told Jeremiah multiple times to write down every Word from God He had received (Jeremiah 30:2, 36:2, 36:28). Jesus gave John seven letters to seven churches. He was asked to write these words and deliver them to the churches. Think about this for a moment: The only reason that we have the Bible is because the people of God wrote down His spoken Words. If they had not written these promises then they could not run the race, and we could not run today! When we do this, it will create a spiritual heritage for tomorrow. The Words that God speaks to you today will come to pass. In the future, you can use fulfilled promises from God to encourage other believers and inspire a future generation. The Word of the Lord is a precious thing. Let us honor His promises by writing them down. Let us review them so that we can run the race and win the prize!

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After a much anticipated release, my newest book: Blood Moons and the End of the Age is now out! This is probably the most researched book (along with my book on the US in prophecy) that I have written!

In recent years, there has been much talk about the appearance of “Blood Moons” in the sky. In this book, you will learn how the appearance of Total Lunar Eclipses (called “Blood Moons”) is tied to American History, persecutions of Jewish people and Christians, as well as the Crusades. In this book we will review how the recent Tetrad of Blood Moons reveals a special message to America and the Body of Christ. God is showing us through the Heavens that the end of the age is near. Let us heed and draw near to Him!

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Why I No Longer Celebrate Christmas

I know this is an emotional topic, but bear with me a moment…

I grew up in a middle class family in the South. One of our favorite family traditions was Christmas. We gave gifts, got to see family, and had tasty food. In my teenage years (probably 16-18), I began to feel an emptiness about this time of the year. It was quite puzzling to me, as I could not explain why I felt this way. So, I tried to do things to make that time of the year more special to me. I thought to myself, “Perhaps my practice of this day was not what it should be!”

I began to make that time of the year more about Jesus. I would read my word more, pray more, and intentionally try to focus more on God. Despite these efforts, my emptiness remained. I didn’t understand. By 21, the emptiness at that time of the year was even stronger. I was once again puzzled. I didn’t understand. I’m making it about Jesus, right? Normally this amount of focus and discipline would produce some sort of fruit.

About this time, a good friend of mine mentioned to me that Christmas was not in the Bible. I was shocked and angry. “Of Course it is!”, I exclaimed. So, I searched for myself. Obviously, I found the birth of Jesus in the Bible. However, I found no mention of celebrating it, the phrase “Christmas”, or any of the decorations usually involved with that time. My curiosity was peaked.

Then I met a mentor who used to be a heathen – meaning he attended no church and worshipped other gods (literally). He told me that before his conversion he actually put up a tree in his house to honor the sun god. He put ornaments on it, among which was a seven-headed dragon, to honor various gods. It blew my mind that people in America did such a thing. When he got saved, he stopped keeping Christmas because it was totally tied to things not of God. He informed me that the origin of Christmas was not found in the Bible.

I searched the matter out myself and found out that everything I was learning was true. Jesus definitely was not born in December and the celebration itself was not kept by the early church (first mention of doing it around 450 AD, give or take some years). The Catholic Church added it to increase offerings and church attendance (sounds familiar). December 25^th has been celebrated since ancient times for the sun god. It all goes back to Nimrod.

After this I listened to a teaching by Perry Stone on when Jesus was born. Turns out, Jesus was born on the Feast of Trumpets in the fall! Now my head is spinning.

Now my emptiness made sense. I’ve learned since then that this is a sign of spiritual discontentment. God was trying to tell me that I can pour as much of myself into that time as I want to, but there would never be that true spiritual satisfaction I was looking for.

I know this is an emotional topic. After reading this, some will say “Well, that’s how we honor God” or “it’s for the children” or “that’s just our culture” or “God doesn’t care when or how we worship Him”. I will address each of these concerns in a very gentle manner, as I want to present a different viewpoint to you.

Let’s look at some Bible verses.

Deut. 12:28-31

28 Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord your God. 29 The Lord your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, 30 and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.” 31 You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.

We can see that God expresses displeasure over worshipping Him the way other religions worship Him. Imagine telling your spouse “We are going to celebrate our anniversary on my high school ex’s anniversary date. I’m going to give you her favorite flowers and take you to her favorite restaurant. I’m going to wear her favorite perfume.” How would your spouse respond? Upset to say the least! The ultimate problem with our human arguments is that they are based on how we feel and not how God feels. Everything in our culture is based upon self. WE always look at what we want and how we feel. Put yourself in God’s shoes. We are saying that a day is all about Him when He never said that and we use symbols that honor other gods.

In Leviticus 19:19, God said, “Keep my decrees. “‘Do not mate different kinds of animals. ‘Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. “‘Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.” God’s purpose is giving this commandment is not to mix up the seed of the world with the seed of God. Garments can represent works (see Rev. 19:8). God does not want His works mixed with another’s works. Why? Because it causes confusion. In the Bible we are also told that God is not the author of confusion (I Cor. 14:33).

We have confusion at Christmas. Christians are buying all these gifts, putting up Santa Claus figurines, and talking about reindeer or Santa’s sleigh. We brag on the size and decorations of our trees. Then, we turn around and want to talk about Jesus. We have mixed not only the symbols from other religions but also the materialism of modern society. Children are taught to have confidence in a man with white hair, who dwells in the north, who is invisible, who judges works as good or evil, and who can be a lot of places at one time. He also rewards you according to your works. This sounds a lot like God. The problem is that Santa is not God. Now we are taught to put confidence in something that doesn’t even exist.

Paul said, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2). The pattern of worshipping on December 25^th (and even the days around it) is found in other cultures. We have let culture define Christ instead of using Christ’s pure example to help us separate from culture.

People appeal to culture often. Our culture is approving of abortion and homosexuality. Culture approves of cursing and using profanity. Will we accept those too? I know those are stout examples, but my point in saying these things are to show you the slippery slope of claiming culture. It doesn’t work. Did you know it was not kept in America as a national holiday until the 1870s? Look it up; it’s true! So many Christians want to “get back to the founding fathers”. Well, many of the founding fathers didn’t celebrate or recognize this day.

How do we resolve this impasse? The answer is the Holy Days of Leviticus 23, which is all about Jesus! This was how my spiritual emptiness was resolved. I have celebrated them for 8 years now. There’s no competition. They are days set apart to God. This is the definition of Holy. Every symbol and act of celebration is revolved around Christ. This answers the last argument: “What about children?” Some people think that abandoning Christmas will impair their children.

First of all, I know parents that raised their children not to celebrate this day, and these children are just as healthy mentally and emotionally as other children. They have no bitter feelings about not doing anything on this day. Many of them are thankful their parents raised them to believe this way. The Holy Days answer the children question. We give gifts during the feasts of the Lord. This is celebrating something completely and totally devoted to God. This teaches children about celebrating, elevating, and commemorating things that are straight from the Bible. It takes time to make this transition – away from Christmas and into God’s festivals. It takes time how to honor God’s festivals. However, they leave the imprint of God on your family and memorialize God’s pure way of life.

The first argument when I provide this explanation is “Well Kelly, you don’t have any children; you have no idea how hard this will be for them”. No, I don’t have children. But I will share this with you – I’m 30 years old and still a virgin. Everything in culture points to sexualizing our bodies. The Lord helped me overcome this. There were challenges and tests, but God showed me how to overcome culture. It’s just like anything else we teach our children to do that’s based on the Bible. He will do the same for you.

Solomon said, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” (Psalm 127:1). If the Lord didn’t build it, it is built in vain. The Lord did not build or sanctify this day. It’s not based upon him. It was built by and for other gods. People wear themselves out every year for something that really is not about the Lord. The weight has been lifted off of my shoulders, and I am relieved from not honoring this day. This could be said of Halloween, Easter, and Valentine’s Day.

I have a free booklet on this subject that I want you to download and read if you are interested in learning more. I’ve heard many of the arguments people over the years, and I address them in the booklet. I also address how to live your life with this important knowledge – such as how to deal with your family during this time of the year as you make this transition.

Click here to download the free booklet on the Truth About Christmas.

God Bless and I pray for God to enlighten your eyes to this important issue.

Kelly