Hi all,
We are well and looking forward to 2026, confident whatever comes our way, it hasn’t caught the Father by surprise. Rambling thoughts today on several subjects.
Chris turned 46 on December 23, though mentally still about 4. For years he thought Christmas was all about Chris – Santa, gifts, all the presents, lol. But the last roughly 15 years he has been able to grasp it’s Jesus’ birthday being celebrated too. There are things he understands on a more adult level, and he thinks things through, though they often take time until it registers. Such is the brain damage suffered during labor and delivery.
Brain injury in general is like that. We had a woman in one of our house churches who had previously been in a coma for a year. She said that when she was in a coma she heard and understood everything that was said in her hospital room, but her brain worked much slower. She said her mom might come and visit her on a Tuesday and ask her questions, but it would take her until the following Tuesday before her brain could answer – though being in a coma she couldn’t answer anyway. I think those with brain damage often experience this sort of thing, as I’ve seen those types of delays in Chris and some of his house mates at the group home.
But he thinks things through. A few years ago we were talking about the myth of Santa Claus and how it’s still fun to get presents. I asked; “Why do you think reindeer fly?” He answered immediately; “Because they can’t swim.” I burst out laughing which caused him to burst out laughing. I was shocked that he had spent some amount of time long before, pondering that question and had a ready answer. That time to process reminds me of ourselves, as even ‘normal’ brains often don’t immediately realize a suggestion or prompting from the Lord was exactly that. We pick up something in our spirit, argue with that wisdom, then do our own thing and it fails. Then we realize after; “Oh wow Lord, that was you, I’m sorry.” My goal from my teen years has been to recognize and respond in real time, without arguement or second guessing – and I’m still working at it.
A couple weeks ago Barb and I were headed to Tulsa, which is a 2 hour drive for us. As I was about to get into the car my eyes fell on some tools including Duct Tape – a heavy duty tape that is very sticky. When my eyes saw the tape the Lord said: “Take the duct tape.” I declined, telling Him I’d have no use for it…and off we went to Tulsa. That day we visited a family with dogs and when Barb got back in the car she had dog hair on her pants. She said: “I wish I had brought a lint roller or duct tape or something to get this hair off my pants.” Uh oh, sorry Lord….processing and not arguing with wisdom from above is a learned skill, one which I even after 50+ years sometimes miss.
Hearing many voices out there in the world but following just the One, is simple and pure. Chris’ eyes still fill up with tears every time we play his play list song ‘Jesus, I adore you’. Last Friday that song was playing as we drove along, and he said through tears; “Jesus loves me” as he giggled with joy. It always touches my heart. Life in Christ is that simple.
I hope that child-like faith forms our core this year. Strip everything away, through all the challenges, turmoil, and wondering what the future holds, ‘Jesus loves me’ is our core.
Europe 2026
I asked the Father if He had anything He wanted to share about this year, and among the things He said was: “Europe will become more independent, and this it must do to fulfill its role in the end times.” He was speaking to me an American, so the first meaning was becoming more independent from dependence on the US. He also repeated something He said a few years ago: “Continue to watch Italy, for it will increase in influence and leadership.”
I mentioned that one thing to make a point: What happens nationally is on a big scale, but we live on a small scale, in the here and now. The new 2-part series on my Weekly Thoughts starting this week is entitled: It isn’t about us going to heaven. That Christ Jesus came to earth tells us it is more about heaven coming to earth than us going to heaven. Yes, we have a home in heaven and yes, we are now citizens of heaven. And yes, ‘to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord’*, but most of Jesus’ teaching was about letting the Father’s will be done on earth – it is more about heaven coming to earth than us going to heaven. *II Corinthians 5: 8
Our life with the Lord
We should not spend the majority of our time sitting in front of a computer for hours on end looking for the latest ‘prophetic’ dream, calendar, NDE, vision, visitation about heaven or the rapture. Those are out there, the legitimate and the false, but they are not our focus. An off-balanced focus can easily be corrected through disciplining oneself not to go to sites that cause fear, confusion, and doubt. It’s that simple. We are living, breathing, temples of God. That’s our focus – the attributes that go with having Christ in us. Focus on today for as Jesus said; “Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6: 34) Walk with Him today. Be more Christ-like, today.
I have said for 25 years now that anyone can say they are a Christian, but the Father in His great wisdom made it that righteousness is proven within a framework of relationships. Anyone can say they love God, which is vertical, but it is proven horizontally within the framework of relationships.
That means our lives are about day-to-day decisions of health, money, jobs, home, education, and such, all interwoven among those we love. This requires us to seek Him day by day. Jesus said to ‘seek His (Father’s) kingdom and His righteousness and the basics of life will be added to us. He didn’t say seek the timing of the rapture, or argue about nonessential things that contribute nothing to our daily walk with Him.
Things I’ve learned along the way
I’ve learned this: My life and ministry is to protect people from cuts that would leave scars, and to heal them from previous cuts. But bruises along the way are just a fact of life.
I’ve also learned this: Don’t let your problems become all of your story; they are just part of your story.
Your age is of no consequence to the Father because you are already in eternity. We don’t die and then enter eternity, we are already alive forever.
Some other thoughts:
Worship and repentance go together. To worship God is an act of acknowledging Him as God, and His purity shines on any sin in our lives. So worship throughout the day.
Knowing the character of God will correct any doctrine. (from a friend, Judy M)
The work of the devil is to steal a person’s destiny of what the Father has for them.
Purity not perfection, is what is required; don’t reverse those.
You cannot rescue one who is commited to the story that justifies their dysfunction.
Indecision is a choice.
Most situations call for a response, not a reaction. (A reaction is knee-jerk, emotional, and immediate. A response is thought out and usually provides an answer or alternative.)
We are fruit judges not root judges. From Matthew 7:1-20 – judge the fruit of a person’s life, not their motive or core reason. (from a friend, Bob M)
Some have a talent for creating challenging situations (because of their dysfunctional life).
Some use offense (anger) to escape having an honest discussion.
Holding someone accountable is not retribution (or revenge).
Why do parents want their children to walk with God? Because they are the only thing we can take with us to heaven.
And finally some Latin: semper ubi sub ubi. (Always wear underwear) LOL.
I continually return to the visitation with the Lord when He had turned to go, then turned back saying: “You know, people get saved for Ephesians 2: 6.” ((Father) has raised us up and seated us in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.)….then with a big smile on His face He continued: “But the Father and I saved you for verse 7!” (That in the ages to come He (Father) will continue to show the riches of His grace towards us which is in Christ Jesus.)
The ages to come. Whatever happens this year, we are already in eternity. Some things we can know this side of heaven, the rest won’t be known until we get there, and coming to peace with that moves us into such wonderful peace and security. Just settle it; We can’t know all things this side of heaven, but one day all will be revealed, and for now, Jesus loves me, this I know.
Final note:
Over the last 2 years I’ve walked through the entire Bible in my monthly audio teaching series. This year I’m going back to a different subject each month, starting with the foundations of the faith series, which we might think of as Bible 101 if this were a Bible school. Those 6 foundational doctrines from Hebrews 6: 1-2 are; Repentance from dead works, faith towards God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
Did you notice it isn’t just repentance, but repentance from dead works? This series answers what those are. Baptisms? Water and Holy Spirit. Laying on of hands? For what purpose and do we do that too often? Believer’s judgment and unbelievers judgment – this series will provide a strong foundation and fill in some gaps in one’s understanding.
Thank you
We are a small ministry by any standard; a family committed to helping others know the ways of the Lord. CWOWI has affiliated house churches in 52 nations and some 35,000 subscribers to my weekly short teachings on YouTube and Facebook, but it is still just John & Barb, Brian & Amy, and Valerie directing KWOWI in Africa. Here is a link to ‘network updates’ from our web site: https://churchwithoutwallsinternational.org/blog-carousel/
The bulk of our donations don’t come from house church people within the network, but from those all over the world touched by the teachings who respond, often with a note of thanks. Our donors are SO special to us!
So we thank you for your donations, prayers, and emails. We are so happy to serve, so happy to share the things of the Lord, but we could not reach these many thousands in so many countries without your help.
Thank you. I hope my ramblings today have been a blessing,
John Fenn
