Devotions

Jan 05 2024
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We are His workmanship

Posted by | Arts, Bible Study, Destiny, Devotions, Discipleship, Media & Entertainment, Missions, Training, Worship & the Arts | No Comments
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 KJV
Our University of the Nations Online Classes start on January 15, 2024! You can enroll now for this upcoming Semester.
“Using the Arts in Spiritual Warfare.” It is one of our new exciting online classes, where we teach our students how to become Creative Warriors! Each week we look at one different art form and how it can be used in spiritual warfare. We are raising up an army of Creative Warriors to declare and decree what God is saying to this generation through art and artistic expressions!
Another popular class, is our, “Live Streaming Video Production School,” taught by Jeff Tharp. By the end of the class, you will have developed, produced, and broadcast the first three episodes of your new Live Streaming Video show!
We also have other great classes that you can take online – check them out at https://www.ywamhollywood.com/course/
If you want more information on any of the classes, just email me here!
 
Know that we love you, we believe in you, and we are praying for you!
Dec 02 2023
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Live each day to the fullest…

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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

Hebrews 12:1 NIV

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT

As we come towards the end of the year, I have begun to reflect on what 2023 meant to me. I have been looking back at what I accomplished, as well as looking back at what I had hoped to do, that I didn’t finish. But, mainly, my time of reflection has brought me to remember those that have gone on before. This year many of what I call the “super saints,” who have been leaders in the body of Christ for decades, have gone on to be with the Lord in heaven.

The last week of November, Jimmy Owens, graduated to Heaven, where he joined his wife Carol. Jimmy was a gifted songwriter, as well as the co-leader of the School of Music Ministries International, where I began my journey as a missionary. Earlier this year, when Carol passed away, I wrote to you about them, and how much they mean to me. I also wrote to you, in October, that Loren Cunningham, the co-founder of Youth With a Mission International, had passed away.  I loved them all dearly. I will always be grateful for the impact they made on my life. Each of them fought an excellent fight, and kept the faith.

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 NASB

I have fought an excellent fight; I have finished my race and I have kept my faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 Aramaic Bible in Plain English

As they joined many others in the eternal celebration in our eternal home, their passing leaves us with a great void in the leadership in the body of Christ. But, I know that there will be others who will step up and continue to lead, as we advance the kingdom of God on earth. Perhaps you will be one of those people.

I want to encourage you to be willing to step into your place of leadership. Wherever God has called you. Run the race that God has set before you. Run to win. None of us know how much time we have left on earth. It may be more than 50 years, it may be less than 50 days. I want to encourage you today, to push aside anything that is holding you back from living your life to the fullest. Gather your courage, and step into the things that you are called to do. Step into the things that you are created to become. Love those around you well. Do something today that is part of your destiny. Today is all we have. Let’s live today to the fullest!

Know that we love you, we believe in you, and we are praying for you!
Nov 04 2023
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Rest in God

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My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress; I will never be shaken. Psalm 62: 1-2  

 
This month I have been super busy on some new projects. But, what I hear the Lord saying, is “REST.” Maybe its a word you need to hear today too…

We are always reminding you that you are a Superstar. Because, you are! God created you uniquely qualified to do all the things that He created for you to accomplish. But sometimes we begin to trust in our own strength instead of in God’s.

I have found that most of our YWAM Hollywood Superstars work pretty hard. They have goals that they want to reach. They have projects that they want to finish. They have a lot of things on their “To Do” list. But, we need to remember to REST. We need to remember to HAVE FUN and CHILL OUT.

I don’t know about you, but I have been working long hours this month on projects that I am trying to complete. Now, I need to take some time to get refreshed and relax.

It’s time to take the weekend off.

Rest. Trust God. Have fun with family and friends.

Spend this weekend doing things that help to restore your joy. Live your life to the fullest this weekend as you rest in the love of God.

“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.” Psalm 46:10 Remember, when we are still God is exalted!

Know that we love you, we believe in you, and we are praying for you!

Oct 13 2023
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Loren Cunningham is with Jesus

Posted by | Arts, Bible Study, Destiny, Devotions, Discipleship, Media & Entertainment, Missions, Training, Worship & the Arts | No Comments

This week I learned that the co-founder of YWAM International, Loren Cunningham, had passed away. Loren was a wonderful, humble man who impacted the world for Jesus. He will be greatly missed by us all. So, it is with great sadness, that I share with you that our dear friend and YWAM International leader, Loren Cunningham, has graduated from this life into the presence of Jesus. He passed away peacefully October 6, 2023 at 4.20 AM at home in his sleep.

I ask that you would pray for his family, which are dear friends of mine: his wife Darlene; his grown children: daughter Karen; son David and wife Judy and their three children, Madi, Kenna, and Liam.

I lived in Lausanne Switzerland, during my film school, and Loren and Darlene were living there then too. I have also been privileged to work with both David & Karen. I worked with David on his first Feature Film, Beyond Paradise, filmed in Kona, Hawaii; and Karen worked with me on our Broadway Musical, Judah Ben Hur, in Singapore.

Official Announcement: Loren Cunningham is with Jesus

Loren Cunningham, founder of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) went to be with Jesus on October 6, 2023 at the age of 88. 
 
Loren was the first person in history to travel for the sake of Christ and the Great Commission to every sovereign nation on earth, all dependent countries, and more than 100 territories (Mark 16:15). Now he has added one more “stamp” to his well-worn passport: HEAVEN!

Loren is often called the “de-regulator of missions” because he broke the 1960s missionary paradigm by creating opportunities for Youth to serve short-term, globally and unsalaried.  This foresight opened the floodgates so that millions could come FROM everywhere and go TO everywhere as missionaries around the globe to proclaim the truth of God and display His love.

The ministry he founded, Youth With A Mission, an ever-expanding global missions movement born in 1960, has reached into every nation on earth through evangelism, training and mercy ministries (YWAM.org).  Tens of thousands of full-time staff participate from 200+ countries and various denominations and Christian traditions, serving at over 2,000 YWAM locations in nearly 200 nations.  Millions have served in YWAM programs as students, short-term volunteers and full-time staff.

Many have credited YWAM as being among the world’s largest mission movements.  But when presented with this claim, Loren always deflected the glory to Jesus, saying, “Well, however large it is, it’s not large enough because Jesus’ last commandment to reach the whole world with the Gospel has not been completed.” He was well-known for his call to build bridges of unity within the body of Christ, always quick to recognize the scores of other missions and churches serving together in partnership.

A humble and godly man with a wonderful sense of humor, Loren was approachable and designed YWAM to be decentralized, emphasizing “Joe and Jane YWAMer,” not a leadership hierarchy.  When people would refer to him as “doctor” or “reverend,” he would quickly say, “Jesus was just Jesus, and I’m just Loren.  Please call me Loren.”

The Vision of Waves of Missions

Loren’s call to the Great Commission came while kneeling at the altar during a brush arbor revival meeting in 1948 at the age of 13.  God spoke to him through Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”

This personal call was confirmed by a vision – a mental movie – that he saw as he was preparing to minister in the Bahamas in 1956 (YWAMValues.com).  He was staying in a missionary’s home, kneeling beside the bed, praying in preparation to speak that night.  He says, “Suddenly, I was looking at a map of the world, only the map was alive and moving!  I could see all the continents, and waves were crashing onto their shores.  Each wave went onto a continent, then receded, then came up further until it covered the continent completely.  The waves became young people–kids my age and even younger–covering all the continents of the globe.  They were talking to people on street corners and outside bars.  They were going from house to house and preaching the Gospel.  They came from everywhere and went everywhere, caring for people.  Then, just as suddenly as it had come, the scene was gone.” (Excerpt from Is That Really You, God? by Loren Cunningham with Janice Rogers, YWAM Publishing.)

Global initiatives launched under Loren’s leadership include King’s Kids International, the University of the Nations, YWAM Ships (28 vessels currently serve the most isolated islands and coastlands), and myriads of other ministries birthed by leaders he inspired.

The future of YOUTH With A Mission, University of the Nations, and YWAM Ships is in good hands!  The largest number of leaders and volunteers in YWAM are young.  They are confident, capable and committed to leading YWAM into all God has for the coming 60+ years.

Loren’s Background

Born in Taft, California, Loren’s family heritage was rich with generations of Christian ministers.  He married Darlene Scratch in 1963, who had an equally rich Christian ministry background and complementary leadership call, and from that point, they led YWAM together.  He was the apostolic visionary, and she was the people/team developer and implementer.

Loren’s educational background includes three Bachelor’s degrees, a Master of Science in Administration of Education, and three Honorary Doctorates.  He authored six books:  Is That Really You, God?  (translated into more than 150 languages), Making Jesus Lord, Daring to Live on the Edge, Why Not Women?, The Book that Transforms Nations—the Power of the Bible to Change Any Country, We Can End Bible Poverty Now and No Boundaries.

Loren is survived by his beloved wife, Darlene Joy Scratch-Cunningham; his daughter, Karen Joy Cunningham; his son, David Loren Cunningham (Judith Fitts-Cunningham); and three grandchildren, Madison Grace, Kenna Faith and Liam Reid.

Thank you for your prayers for the Cunningham family and for YWAM during this time. May the peace of God be with each of you today as we mourn together as the global family of YWAM.

Know that we love you, we believe in you, and we are praying for you!

Aug 01 2023
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Creative Warriors

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This semester we are offering a new exciting class where we will teach our students how to become Creative Warriors! Our new online class, Creative Warriors: Using the Arts in Spiritual Warfare, starts on August 15, 2023.

Each week we will look at one different art form and how it can be used in spiritual warfare. We discuss real-life examples of using this art form in spiritual warfare, as well as examples of how the arts were used in spiritual warfare in the Bible.

If you take the class, you will have an opportunity to create your own art form each week, to learn how to use that sessions art form in spiritual warfare. You will learn how you can use your artistic expression to declare the destiny that God has for you, your family, and your nation.

We want to train up an army of Creative Warriors that declare and decree what God is saying to this generation through our art and artistic expressions!

If you want more information on the class, just email me here! We also have other great classes that you can take online – check them out at YWAMHollywood.com.

** Please note: Our new class, “Using the Arts in Spiritual Warfare” does not teach the skills for each of the art forms, rather, it teaches how you can use your existing skill, in that art form, in Spiritual Warfare.

May 15 2023
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Faith in action

Posted by | Arts, Bible Study, Destiny, Devotions, Discipleship, Missions, Training, Worship & the Arts | No Comments

Loren Cunningham holding plaque with photo of him and the hay wagon!

For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20 BSB

Last week, YWAM had an international gathering conference call with all of the YWAM bases in North America, Central America, and South America. Over 800 individual connections were made to the video conference call. At least 3000 people participated. We had the opportunity to hear from ministry leaders Jim Steir, John Dawson, and YWAM co-founder Loren Cunningham. It was an amazing time to reconnect.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Loren has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. In November they told him he had just a few weeks to live. Now, six months later, he is still here with us. It was such a special moment to hear from him. He shared his current vision for the future, to have oral mother tongue Bible translations in every mother tongue in the world, and encouraged us to pray about what role we might have in seeing that vision fulfilled.

He also shared with us stories from the past. He told the story of how God gave YWAM a property in Switzerland back in 1974. I want to share the testimony of Loren’s adventure with God about that experience, so you can see how it has shaped the values of YWAM internationally.

Loren Cunningham with photo of him and the hay wagon!

In 1974, the Lord spoke to Loren, and told him that He was going to give Loren a farm for YWAM. Loren believed that he needed to take an action of faith towards what the Lord had told him. The next day there was an auction at a nearby farm. Loren went, and he bought an old Hay wagon. He brought the Hay wagon back and parked it next to the current location of the ministry. Of course people were curious. Everyone asked him, “What’s up with the old Hay wagon?”

Loren told them how God had shared with him that God was going to give him a farm for YWAM. Soon others in the ministry were saying, “Well, if God’s going to give you a farm for YWAM, then He’s going to give us all a farm.“ Loren told them that they had to pray, and ask God to confirm to them that God was going to give them the farm as well. Loren believed that each person needed to have confirmation directly from the Lord, not just follow what the Lord had told him.

Soon, everyone had prayed and got confirmation from the Lord, and each embraced the promise as their own. One girl, who was from Switzerland, told her father that the Lord was going to give YWAM a farm. And, that, in faith, they had bought a Hay wagon. She had fully accepted the promise, and the vision, as her own.

A few weeks later, her father was speaking with a farmer that was there in Switzerland. The farmer mentioned that the Lord had told him he was going to give a farm to a ministry. He asked if the man knew of any ministry that needed a farm. The man said, “Yes! The Lord told YWAM that they were going to be given a farm, and in faith they have already bought a Hay wagon.” That was all the confirmation that the farmer needed and soon he gave the farm to YWAM. Loren then found out, that years before, the farm also was an orphanage. So, there were places to live on the property. There was a cafeteria, and a kitchen. The farm became a place for the ministry to house staff as well as students.

God is faithful!

I want to encourage you, that whatever ministry organization you are working with, pray, and get confirmation from the Lord that the vision that they have is also your vision. Because, until you own the vision, you will not be fully committed to what God has for that ministry. Then take action, in faith, to move towards seeing the promise and the vision fulfilled.

Apr 28 2023
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Co-create with God

Posted by | Arts, Bible Study, Destiny, Devotions, Discipleship, Media & Entertainment, Missions, Training, Worship & the Arts | No Comments


Every place where you set your foot will be yours. Deuteronomy 11:24 NIV

Earlier this week, I watched a worship service on my computer. During the service, the leader said that he sensed a lot of disappointment that needed to be dealt with, expressed, and turned over to God. I realized, that although I have had a lot of success in my life, I have also had a lot of disappointment. I paused the worship service, and I went to the Lord in prayer. I spent a long time expressing all my disappointments, from all the years, to the Lord. I gave each of them to Jesus, and I said I didn’t want them back – ever. And, then, I began to thank and praise Jesus for His perfect plan for my life.

I realized the truth, that those things that disappointed me were not really failures, or rejections, they were God‘s protection.

I also realized that I have had some of the wrong objectives in the past. My objective has been to reach a lot of people with the message, or the art, and to also make money from my craft. Which, when you get down to it, is ‘fame and fortune.’

Instead, my objective should be to impact the spirit realm. When we master a craft, and become an expert by doing it, we then gain authority in the spirit, as well as in the natural, in that area. For example: I have authority, in the spirit, in the film world because I am a film maker. I am a Producer, Director, editor, scriptwriter, songwriter, and movie actress. Been there, done that. That means in the spirit, I own the territory. I have walked that land, I have set my foot in that arena. I own the territory. I have increased authority to pray, declare, and decree, in that area, because I have gained the authority by doing it.

I also realized, that often, in the Bible, the prophetic acts related to the arts were not to gain an audience, but instead were to do something in the spirit. For example: God had Ezekiel build an entire model of Jerusalem. The model was what we might compare to a miniature set to use for a stop action movie. Then he acted out, with that model, the siege of Jerusalem. Because he created the ‘art’ that the Lord showed him to create, the siege happened just as he had acted it out. (Read details in Ezekiel 4.)

Our creations have power in them as we co-create with God, whether anyone ever sees them, or hears them, or not.  Maybe, it’s not about success, but instead it’s about what it does in the spirit, and what it does in my own skills and ability arsenal, and my authority.

I want to challenge you this week to look at your creative gifting in a new light. Let go of the disappointments of past projects. Realize that as you co-create with God, your creation has power to accomplish things in the spirit, simply because of your obedience. In addition, as you become an expert in an area, you gain authority in the spirit to really be the church – the Ecclesia, or legislative body – in that area. You have increased your authority in the spirit because of your expertise in the natural. You own the territory.

Remember, when you create something, it could be that you are creating it simply to release the power of the creation. In addition, the authority you have gained as you created, could be to teach others. It also could be to have the authority in the spirit to pray, and declare, and decree, and legislate in that area. I challenge you to take time to create something this week, simply to own the territory.

Mar 10 2023
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Honor Carol Owens

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There are people that God will put in your path that make a great impact on your future. The ministry that you do together, and the people that you meet because of them, can set the course for your journey for the next season, or maybe even for the rest of your life.

Carol Owens was one of those people for me. Carol, along with her husband Jimmy, founded the School of Music Ministry International. I was a student in their first school in the USA. SMMI was a 6 week training school that became a template for all the worship schools that started after that worldwide. I was working full time, as the Director of Marketing for Pacific Bell, at the time. I had not taken a vacation for over a year, so I was able to take 6 weeks of vacation to attend the school.  I was also the volunteer director of worship at my church, working with five different worship teams. I was simply hoping to become a better worship leader for my local church.

While attending the school, Jimmy and Carol asked me to pray about coming to work for them to help establish Worship Schools all over the world. I did. Because of their obedience to start the school, and to ask me to help, I left my six figure corporate job to become a missionary. I moved into their spare bedroom, and helped them set up worship schools. I have now been a full time missionary, with no salary, for over 30 years. It has been the best adventure with God you could ever hope for. I have traveled to over 60 countries. I have taught students from over 100 countries. I have lived overseas several times. I have never wanted for anything. God has blessed me abundantly. I am forever grateful to Jimmy and Carol for SMMI, and all the lifelong friends I met by knowing them. They opened up their home, and shared their lives with me, and others in our ministry.

Carol passed away this week. She was a great lover of God. She and Jimmy wrote hundreds of songs, and their music, and musicals, (Like “The Witness”, “Come Together,” “If My People” “Heal Our Land”) sparked prayer movements and revivals worldwide. Their fun children’s musicals (Like grammy nominated Ants’hillvania) delighted young saints through the years. They also wrote a wonderful book about how to write, “God Songs.” I am certain that her mansion in heaven is amazing and filled to the brim with ‘treasures in heaven’ that she has stored up because of her faithful service to the Jesus. I love Jimmy and Carol like family. She will be missed until I see her again in heaven.

I encourage you today, to take time to thank God for the wonderful people He has used to connect you to your destiny. And, while you’re at it, contact them, and let them know what a blessing they have been in your life!

Feb 16 2023
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Praise God

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But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3 King James Bible “God inhabits the praise of His people…”

I’ve always thought of this verse as God coming to be with us when we worship Him in a corporate church setting. Which He does. But, this week, I got the revelation that whenever we praise anything, or anyone, God and inhabits that praise. In other words, when we are positive, and say good and encouraging things… When we praise someone’s behavior, or activity… Even when we praise ourselves… (instead of being critical) Jesus comes to dwell there. God comes to be there with us. God comes in the fullness of who He is. 

I believe our sacrifice of praise is similar to sacrifices given to God in the Old Testament that create an aroma that is pleasing to God.

 “Present as an aroma pleasing to the LORD a burnt offering.” Numbers 15:7 NIV

And the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD. Leviticus 1:9 NKJV

Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. Hebrews 13:15 Amplified Bible

I believe that God is saying that our sacrifice of praise becomes the aroma that draws God to us, just as the sacrifices did in the Old Testament. Our praise catches His attention. Creating an atmosphere of praise, and encouragement, and being positive releases the aroma that draws God into our experience.  When we draw near to God, He draws near to us! 

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you… James 4:8a BSB

I want to challenge you today to create an atmosphere that is positive around you. Praise God for all He is, and all He has done. Speak blessings over people. Encourage them. Praise their behavior. As we do, I believe it draws God to us, and allows Him to step in to the situation in the fullness of who HE is! For God truly does inhabit the praise of His people.

Be sure to encourage those around you today. The Bible says in Hebrews 3:13 NIV: But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Have a great week!

Jan 01 2023
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2023 just wait and see!

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Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. 2 For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Isaiah 60: 1-3 BSB

Happy New Year! Every year, I spend time with the Lord, asking Him what He wants to say to me about the upcoming year. This year, I heard the Lord say that “2023 will be a year of great glory!”

I also felt that He said to me “2023, Just wait and see!”

I felt that the Lord was meaning two things with the “Wait and see” word. 1) He is going to do great things this year, and He is excitedly saying, “Just wait and see!” AND 2) I felt that the Lord told me in 2022 that “Everything you know is about to change.” And that there will be a great freedom coming to the earth that is beyond anything we have experienced before. I felt that He was telling me to WAIT on some of my scheduled projects and investments, as things would be changing and I would be wasting my time working on those things now. So, “Just wait and see.”

I pray that 2023 will be a GLORIOUS year for you, and that the Lord will direct your steps!

Remember – Don’t shrink back from God’s call on your life. Life is too short and too precious to waste. The world is counting on you. But, you’re not alone. We are here to help. We’ve trained students for the last 40 years from over 100 countries, and now you can take some of our classes online. We hope you’ll check out our new online course “Live Streaming Video Production School” that is being offered this semester, with the class starting on January 16, 2023. You can enroll in a class today!