Why and How to live counterintuitive to the world

​Discover why living counterintuitive to the world leads to true freedom and success, plus practical steps to embrace this mindset today.

​In this message, we explore why living counterintuitive to the world can be a powerful path to personal freedom and lasting success. Most people follow societal norms without question, but true growth often comes from thinking differently and challenging conventional wisdom. Learn practical steps to adopt a counterintuitive mindset that helps you break free from limiting beliefs and create the life you truly want. Whether you want to improve your mindset, career, or relationships, this guide will inspire you to think outside the box and live authentically. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more insights!

​Trevor H Lund is an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur dedicated to helping people discover peace, joy, and hope in all circumstances. He encourages others through his blog, podcast, and live casts at revtrev.com, shares his writing at trevorlund.com, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at livelight.ca.

Learn more about the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge at https://revtrev.link/fast

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​When I used to do more speaking in other churches and it was a new church for me, I would start with a game so people could get to know me.

“3 Truths and a Lie” . Admittedly this made some pastors nervous—you don’t want a guest speaker to tell you he’s going to lie to you. So let’s call it “discernment practice”.

We’ll see today who either knows me best, knows people best, is operating with discernment OR needs to learn how to discern. Let’s have a little fun with this.

I’m going to tell you 4 statements about myself—three of them are true, one of them is false— and then we’ll go through them again and you can vote on the one you think is the false.

I believe in ghosts—I am one.

I secretly trained as a ninja.

I won a contest by stuffing 26 marshmallows in my mouth and saying “Chubby Bunny”

A world government has categorized me as an alien.

Put up your hand for the one you think is a fabrication.

Focus on “A world government has categorized me as an alien.”

Amplified Bible 1 Peter 2:11-12 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers in this world to abstain from the sensual urges, those dishonourable desires, that wage war against the soul. Keep your behaviour excellent among the unsaved Gentiles, conduct yourself honourably, with graciousness and integrity, so that for whatever reason they may slander you as evildoers, yet by observing your good deeds they may instead come to glorify God in the day of visitation, when He looks upon them with mercy.

We need to live as aliens and strangers in this world. Look at what Paul tells the Galatians:

Galatians 5:16-26 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Can I pray?

Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.

Sermon on the Mount Matthew - 5:1- 7:29

(19 minutes)

16 Counterintuitive ways to live Jesus gives us in the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5

1. Rejoice when persecuted for righteousness (5:11–12)

2. Let your light shine but do good works quietly (5:16; 6:1–4)

3. Need to Out-righteous the self-righteousness (5:20)

4. Anger equals murder in God’s eyes (5:21–22)

5. Lust equals adultery (5:27–28)

6. Radical action against sin is required (5:29–30)

7. Do not resist an evil person; turn the other cheek (5:39)

8. Go the second mile (5:41)

9. Love your enemies and pray for persecutors (5:44)

Matthew 6

10. Give, pray, and fast in secret (6:1–18)

11. Forgive to be forgiven (6:14–15)

12. Do not lay up treasures on earth (6:19–21)

13. Do not worry about your life (6:25–34)

Matthew 7

14. Do not judge, or you will be judged (7:1–2)

15. Remove the log from your own eye first (7:3–5)

16. Enter only by the narrow gate (7:13–14)

Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.

I’ve found 9 other counterintuitive teachings that Jesus gave us specifically on the Kingdom of God.

9 Counterintuitive Teachings of the Kingdom

Jesus gives several counter-intuitive teachings specifically about the Kingdom of God throughout the Gospels. These teachings challenge conventional wisdom about power, status, wealth, and inclusion. Here are some of the key examples, with references:

1. The Greatest in the Kingdom Is the Servant of All

Mark 9:35; Mark 10:43–44; Matthew 20:26–27; Luke 22:26 “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant… and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” (Mark 10:43–44)

2. You must Enter the Kingdom as a child

Matthew 18:1–4; Luke 18:16–17; Mark 10:14–15 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3–4)

3. The Kingdom Belongs to the Poor and Persecuted

Luke 6:20; Matthew 5:3, 10 “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

4. The Kingdom Is Given to Outsiders and Sinners

Matthew 21:31–32 “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”

5. In the Kingdom Those Who Are Last Will Be First

Matthew 19:30; Matthew 20:16; Luke 13:30 “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”

6. The Kingdom Is Like a Mustard Seed or Yeast—Starts Small, Becomes Great

Matthew 13:31–33; Mark 4:30–32; Luke 13:18–21 “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed...though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants.”

7. The Kingdom Is Hidden and Costly—Worth Giving Up Everything

Matthew 13:44–46 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field…in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

8. It’s Hard for the Rich to Enter to the Kingdom

Mark 10:23–25; Matthew 19:23–24; Luke 18:24–25 “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! ... It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

9. Not Everyone Who Says ‘Lord’ Will Enter the Kingdom

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.

Kingdom of God is nothing like any Kingdom this world has ever seen. It where the poor in spirit inherit the Kingdom, where the mourners are comforted, the merciful are shown mercy, and the peacemakers are called the Sons of God. It’s a kingdom where those who are insulted, persecuted, and lied about will be blessed.

It is a Kingdom where the first will be last and the last will be first; where the those who wish to save their life must first abandon it; where life comes only through dying, success only through taking up the cross daily.

In this kingdom, the children are valued and the greatest will be those who are the servants of all. The poor will say that they are rich, the weak will be strong, the blind will see, the lame will walk, the mute will shout for joy. The sick be healed. The lepers will be cleansed. Demons will be cast out. The dead will be raised.

Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.

Now you might be thinking “But Kingdom sense is common sense to me?”.

You may have been in the kingdom so long you’ve begun to think God’s thoughts yourself. If so that’s great, we all need to get there, all of the time.

Or maybe you’ve never understood what this Kingdom is all about.

Do you know how Jesus tells us we can enter the Kingdom of God?

7 Counterintuitive Keys to Enter the Kingdom

1. Become Like a Child (Humility and Trust)

Matthew 18:3; Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Humble, dependent, and trusting posture is required.

A 4-year-old laughs 300 times a day and a 40-year-old laughs about four.

I want to be more like His child. When we laugh it shows us we’re trusting God as our good Father. Trust the trustable and laugh at your circumstances.

How often do I find myself laughing?

2. Repent and Believe

Mark 1:15 John said, “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Confession (agreeing with God that what He calls sin is sin.) Repentance (changing your mind and turning from sin) are foundational.

Please don’t think it’s one and done. It’s repentance every time Holy Spirit convicts us of something that’s counter to the Kingdom.

If His Kingdom is wherever His will is done and if my life doesn’t line up with His will, I need to agree with Him and repent.

Let me give you an example. I found myself complaining about decisions of different politicians have been making that look like anything but wisdom. I’ve heard some sermons (not here - out there) that look like anything but wisdom—and that tends to offend me, so I complain.

And one day as I was reading the Bible two verses jumped out at me:

1 Timothy 2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

1 Timothy 2:2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

And I realized I needed to repent. I needed to turn around and do the exact opposite. So every politician I complained about I started asking God to help them, interceding for them and giving thanks for them. It’s amazing how out of line I was with the Kingdom rule in my life. When I complain about anyone, I need to repent and remember to ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them.

When I did that for politicians I actually started seeing them as people God loves.

Since we live by the Spirit we need to keep in step with Holy Spirit. Follow those leadings that poke wholes in your practice.

Is there anything you feel Holy Spirit is encouraging you to turn from and do the exact opposite in?

3. Be Born Again

John 3:3-7 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’”

Spiritual rebirth—renewal by God’s Spirit—is essential.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17

God wants you to become more and more like Jesus.

Am I becoming more and more like Jesus?

4. Do the Will of the Father

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

True obedience, not just words or outward religion.

What do we know is God’s will for us?

Be Holy. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Live Honourable. 1 Peter 2:15
Always be joyful, never stop praying and always be thankful. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

And since we live by the Spirit we keep in step with the Spirit.

Am I quick to hear and quick to obey what Holy Spirit tells me to do?

5. Have a Righteousness Greater Than the Self-Righteous

Matthew 5:20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!”

This is possible only by the grace of God.

His grace empowers use to do what we can’t do on our own.

By his grace we are saved Ephesians 2:8–9, Acts 15:11, Titus 2:11, we are justified Romans 3:24, Romans 5:15–17, we have our inheritance Romans 4:16, are given our gifts and ability to serve Romans 12:6, Ephesians 3:7, and our identity and calling 1 Corinthians 15:10.

His grace empowers use to do what we can’t do on our own. We can only have a righteousness greater than the self-righteous by His grace.

Can I say, by the grace of God, I am what I am and His grace to me was not without effect?

6. Detachment yourself from worldly riches

Matthew 19:23–24; Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Bad sermon preached on camel going through the “Eye of the needle”. There was no hole in any city wall for camels to get through when the gates were closed. That illustration comes from an archbishop in the 14th century (Archbishop Thomas Bradwardine). Luke uses the word for surgical needle.

Jesus was saying a literal camel getting through a literal eye of needle. He wanted us to know we need to have a willingness to let go of everything else for Jesus. It’s not about being wealthy. It’s about what you are trusting in. You can have no money and be more occupied with it than someone is who has wealth and put their trust in God.

Am I willing to lay down anything God wants me to?

7. Have faith in Jesus

Acts 4:12 “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Entrance is ultimately through trust in Christ Himself.

Is Jesus my King? Is He Lord of my life?

Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.

The Problem

The problem is that it’s not the Kingdom that is counterintuitive, it’s the world that has been corrupted.

Kingdom sense isn’t common sense is maybe better said:

Common sense isn’t Kingdom sense.

You can’t think about things the way the world does.

You aren’t led by fear, you’re led by compassion.

You don’t measure success with material things but by the peace you feel when you trust in God.

You take your worries and don’t magnify them but in prayer and lament exchange your problems for his peace.

How do you practically live counterintuitive?

How do practice all this? Look at this verse in Romans 12:2:

Romans 12:2 (NIV): "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."

By not conforming to the pattern of the world.
By the renewing of your mind.
By testing and approving His will

Renewing your mind. Not conforming to the world. Doing His will.

Remember that because it’s how we align ourselves to Kingdom thinking.

Renew your mind, don’t conform to the world and do His will.

How do we align ourselves to counterintuitive Kingdom thinking?

That’s a great question. I have a practical solution for you. It will help you renew your mind, not conform to the world and do His will.

The Solution

How about the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge?

The challenge helps us to : renew your mind, not conform to the world and do His will.

I want to invite you to participate in the Inaugural Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge.

Ash Wednesday February 18 – Monday April 6, 2026

A Negativity Fast Challenge is something anyone can do and something every Christian should do.

Let me give you some background first.

In 2006 I ran my first Negativity Fast. I had a friend come up to me before a service and tell me a vision she had of huge wave of negativity crashing on our city, specifically against our church. I told her to go talk to the pastor.

But during worship I had a word pop in my head —“Negativity Fast”. I had never heard of it before so I searched for it. The first 20 pages of Google didn’t have one reference to a Christian organization promoting a negativity fast. It was filled with gurus and new age practitioners talking about the benefit of fasting from negativity and it ticked me off.

At the break of the service I went up to the pastor and my friend was talking to him about her vision. I said “We should run a negativity fast. I’ll write 40 daily emails and people can sign up for them so they can start thinking God’s thoughts about them. We can start in two weeks.”

And in two weeks I had most the email written and the email list off and running. Over the years God did some amazing things.

A vicar in England created a small group study based on the material. A youth leader in the US developed a youth curriculum. Oprah encouraged her fans to do a negativity fast and RevTrev.com negativity fast outranked her site and I had over 10,000 people sign up for the emails.

I decided to give up negativity for Lent, and started running the fast for 46 days. Lent is 40 days, but Sundays don’t count. I don’t think you should be negative on Sundays so I ran it straight through…and added an extra day to celebrate. I added daily reflections and created a course because I’d always have people asking for a day or two they deleted from the emails that got sent out.

Two years ago I did my first 70-Day Gratitude Challenge and it change my life. I knew I had to change the Negativity Fast into a Challenge. So on the 20th anniversary of the first Negativity Fast, I’m launching the first Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge.

It will help you to: Renew your mind, Not conform to the world Do His will.

The challenge is that everyday for 47 days:

Be Mindful - (Renew your mind)

Be Grateful - (Don’t conform to the world)

Be Kind - (Do His will).

The Negativity Fast Challenge is something anyone can do and something every Christian should do.

For Christians, I have developed the Live LIGHT 47-Day Gratitude Challenge Course. You can sign up for this for free during the campaign.

Be Mindful.

Every day for 47 days I have Reflections and Devotionals to help you think God’s thoughts for you.

Be Grateful.

Every day for 47 days I have gratitude prompts to help you decide to give thanks, feel gratitude and show appreciation.

Be Kind.

Every day for 47 days I have kindness prompts to help you show kindness to people you love and strangers God loves so your light shines before people so they can see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

You can sign up for free at https://revtrev.link/fast

Now if you don’t want to have the course. I’ve also developed this Challenge as an Open Edition and Faith Edition. I personally think the Faith Edition is easier and more fun, but I better explain why either will be bring benefits to participants.

Open Edition of the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge

This is the OPEN EDITION. This is for anyone who doesn’t want to bring God into it. It’s perfect for family and friends who you’re praying for. Get them to practice the Kingdom before entering the Kingdom.

Be Mindful.

8 Things to Say to Yourself Before you Get Out of Bed Each Morning

1. Today is going to be a great day. 2. Something amazing is going to happen to me. 3. No matter what happens, everything is figureoutable. 4. An exciting new chapter of my life is starting today. 5. I’ve changed from the person I once was and I’m becoming who I really am. 6. I am allowed to be a work in progress. 7. If I keep showing up, good things will find me. 8. I have an important contribution to make to my world today.

Mel Robbins - If you want to know how each statement impacts us I have a free book “How to do the Negativity Fast Challenge” available at https://revtrev.link/fast

Be Grateful.

Gratitude Strategy - Remember to do three things:

Decide to give thanks.

Feel grateful for what you give thanks for.

Show appreciation for what or who you feel grateful for.

Be Kind.

Be Kind Conversation Strategy - Let compassion lead you, you can’t fake it.

In the first 30-seconds of any conversation, genuinely compliment, uplift and encourage the person you’re talking to.

Faith Edition of the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge

This is the FAITH EDITION - This gets more fun. It’s less on you and more on God.

Be Mindful.

Before you get out of bed, read or recite the following:

Morning Prayer Declaration.

Today is going to be a great day. God is going to bless me with something amazing. My eyes are open and expectant for every treasure He has for me to find. No matter what happens, everything is figureoutable. He will finish the good work He’s started in me and empower me to accomplish every good work prompted by faith. I have an important contribution to make to my everyday world today. Today is the day He has made I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Where do we get this from? It’s Scripture. Download the free book “How to do the Negativity Fast Challenge” available at https://revtrev.link/fast

Be Grateful.

Give thanks with your whole heart - Ask Holy Spirit what He wants you to feel gratitude for.

Decide to give thanks.
Feel grateful for what you give thanks for.
Show appreciation for what or who you feel grateful for, knowing it’s God’s will for you to give thanks always. (see 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Be Kind.

Be Kind Conversation Strategy - Let compassion lead you. Ask the Father what He loves about the person in front of you.

In the first 30-seconds of any conversation, genuinely compliment, uplift and encourage the person you’re talking to.

How to do the Negativity Fast Challenge with Others

Do you want to do it friends and family or co-workers? You can do the Negativity Fast Challenge with others whenever you want. Here’s some tips to help with that.

FAST

F - Figure out who you’ll do it with

A - Agree to a season that works for everyone (it’s 47 days)

S - Strategize how you’ll support each other (FB group? weekly coffee? daily group chats?)

T - Together Decide to: Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind.

I’ve printed out Bookmarks that you can duplicate and give out.

Conclusion

You need to live counterintuitive to the world. Our thoughts cannot be their thoughts. We can’t afford to have a thought in our heads that isn’t God’s. We won’t conform to the patterns of this world but will be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then we’ll be able to test and approve what God’s will is, His good pleasing and perfect will.

Will you live as an alien and stranger in this world? Will you let Holy Spirit Guide your lives. What He’s saying about Being mindful, being grateful and being kind as you prepare for Easter?

Will you pick up this challenge?

Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind.

I’m starting this Wednesday, will you join me?

Can I pray?

Announcing the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge

​Join the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge! Break free from negativity, boost positivity, and transform your life with daily support.

​Trevor H Lund is an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur dedicated to helping people discover peace, joy, and hope in all circumstances. He encourages others through his blog, podcast, and live casts at revtrev.com, shares his writing at trevorlund.com, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at livelight.ca . Learn more about the 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge to Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind. at https://revtrev.link/fast

Listen to Announcing the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge

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​Announcing the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge

Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind.

​Anyone can do it. Every Christian should do it.

Are you tired of negativity clouding your days? Ready for a brighter, lighter life? This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first-ever Negativity Fast—a journey that’s helped over 10,000 people break free from negative patterns and experience genuine change.

The Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge is back, better than ever. Whether you’re a veteran of past fasts or just hearing about it, there’s never been a better time to focus on what matters: mindfulness, gratitude, and kindness.

How the Negativity Fast Challenge Started

Twenty years ago, an idea sparked during a church service:

“What if we dedicated 40 days to overcoming negativity?”

We started with daily devotionals delivered by email. The response was overwhelming—people experienced real transformation!

Since then, the challenge has grown into a movement, with books, courses, coaching, and more. After running a 70-Day Gratitude Challenge, it was clear: the Negativity Fast needed an upgrade.

That’s how the new challenge was born:

• Be Mindful
• Be Grateful
• Be Kind

Why the Negativity Fast Challenge Works

Anyone can do it. Every Christian should do it.

Whether you’re Christian or not, these daily practices are universal. You can do this with your family, friends, neighbours, or coworkers. There’s even a Faith Edition and an Open Edition—so you can choose what fits your circle.

What’s Included?

• Mindfulness:
• Open Edition: Eight empowering statements to start your day (inspired by Mel Robbins).
• Faith Edition: A morning prayer to set your focus.
• Gratitude:
• Daily prompts help you recognize and express thankfulness. Studies prove feeling gratitude leads to real life change.
• Kindness:
• A simple strategy: In the first 30 seconds of every conversation, say something you appreciate about the other person.
• Faith Edition: Ask the Holy Spirit what He loves about them—and share it.
• Remember everyone deserves to be seen, appreciated, and known.

Free Resources

Download your Negativity Fast Challenge Bookmark for FREE:

• Choose Faith Edition or Open Edition (or use both!)
• Print, fold, and keep as a daily reminder

Get yours now: Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge Details & Downloads

Go Deeper: Courses & Community

For those wanting extra support:

1. Course Package (Free until Easter Monday 2026)

• 47 Daily Devotionals & Reflections
• Guided prompts for gratitude and kindness
• Printable bookmarks

2. Course + Community Package

• Everything above PLUS lifetime access to Live LIGHT Cascade Chalet—a private online community for encouragement and connection
• Printable journal to track your journey

3. Course + Community + Clarity Package

• All previous benefits
• 7 weeks of group coaching (starts after Ash Wednesday)
• Live LIGHT Above Negativity Course & Ebook

If you miss signing up for coaching, you’ll be included in the next round.

Negativity Fast Challenge Books Available

Print and e-editions to guide you through each step.

Who Should Join the Negativity Fast Challenge?

​Anyone can do it. Every Christian should do it.

If any of these sound familiar, this challenge is for you:

• Stress or negativity feels overwhelming
• Want to build habits of gratitude and kindness
• Looking for supportive community
• Longing for peace, clarity, and purpose
• Simply want to feel lighter and live better

How to Start or Learn More about the Negativity Fast Challenge

1. Pick your package: Full details here
2. Download your free bookmark.
3. Begin your 47-day journey—solo or with others.
4. Connect with community or join group coaching if you want deeper transformation.

Final Encouragement

Anyone can be mindful. Anyone can be grateful. Anyone can be kind. Every Christian should be all three. I’ve created resources for everyone—so you can do this challenge with anyone.

I’m here to help.
Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind.

Get started and find out more:
Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge

Questions? Want personalized help?
Reach out anytime or comment below!

How to FIND Out What Pleases the Lord

​Discover practical steps to understand what pleases the Lord. Learn how to align your life with God’s will for deeper spiritual growth and fulfillment.

​Are you searching for ways to discover what truly pleases the Lord? In this message, we’ll explore biblical principles and practical steps to help you align your life with God’s will. Whether you’re new in faith or seeking deeper spiritual growth, you’ll find helpful insights and encouragement. Listen now to learn how to walk more closely with God and live a life that honours Him!

Trevor Lund is an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur dedicated to helping people discover peace, joy, and hope in all circumstances. He encourages others through his blog, podcast, and live casts at revtrev.com, shares his writing at trevorlund.com, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at livelight.ca.

Listen to How to FIND Our What Pleases the Lord

​Listen to more episodes and subscribe where you listen to podcasts ~ https://revtrev.com/radio

Watch How to FIND Our What Pleases the Lord

​Subscribe and set notifications on YouTube ~ https://revtrev.com/tv

Read How to FIND Our What Pleases the Lord

​Today I thought it would be good for us to see what Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God. I think it’s the most important thing to understand if we are to align with the Kingdom.

You see there have both historical misunderstandings about the Kingdom and practical misunderstandings of the Kingdom that can still easily crop up today when we don’t have a clear understanding of the Kingdom.

How are we supposed to Align with the Kingdom if we don’t understand what the Kingdom is?

Don’t worry, there is so much Jesus taught about the Kingdom—and I’ll try to touch on it today. I will distill it to a single statement so you know what the Kingdom is and give you a tool to align with the Kingdom of God in the day to day of your everyday.

Let’s start with a portion of scripture that tells you everything I want to tell you today.

Colossians 1:9-14 (NLT) So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.Then the way you live will always honour and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Before we go further, can I pray?

I’m going to start with a story. I wrote this story 26 years ago—at the beginning of this millennium—that is to say—some of the jokes haven’t aged well.

But I wrote story because I was studying about what Jesus taught on the Kingdom and noticed that Jesus mainly taught on the Kingdom through parables and practice. And I thought the best way to explain every parable would have to be in a story. I did up this video about 15 years later.

The Mystery of the Kingdom

See the Book

I began by saying there have been both historical misunderstandings about the Kingdom and practical misunderstandings of the Kingdom that can still easily crop up today when we don’t have a clear understanding of the Kingdom. Let’s look at the historical misunderstandings first.

Historical Misunderstandings

1. Historically Misunderstood - Political/Military Expectations

Ancient Jews: Many expected the Messiah to establish a political kingdom, overthrowing Roman rule and restoring Israel’s national glory.

Result: When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom, some disciples imagined earthly power and conquest (see Acts 1:6).

Acts 1:3-8 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Kingdom of God is not politically or militarily established.

2. Historically Misunderstood - Geographic/Physical Location

Early Christians & Later Movements: Some believed the Kingdom of God was a specific place on earth, such as Jerusalem, or would be established through physical territory.

But Jesus specifically said, “You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already within you.” Luke 17:21

The Kingdom of God is not a physical or geographical location.

3. Historically Misunderstood - Institutional Church as the Kingdom

- Medieval Christianity: The Catholic Church, especially during the Middle Ages, sometimes equated itself directly with the Kingdom of God, implying membership in the institution = citizenship in the Kingdom.

But Jesus said, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18

This is a poor translation. Gates are not something that come against us. Gates are what we come against and tear down. The gates of hell cannot stand against the church advancing the kingdom.

The Kingdom of God is not the church. The church is not the Kingdom.

4. Historically Misunderstood - End Times Only

Apocalyptic Movements: Some groups have taught that the Kingdom is entirely future—something that arrives only with the Second Coming, ignoring its present reality.

Jesus sent out his twelve and told them “As you go, proclaim this message: “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10:7-8

The Kingdom of God is not only for the future. It’s for the here and now.

And it’s not just historical misunderstandings. There are practical misunderstandings of the kingdom today…

Practical Misunderstandings Today

1. Practical Misunderstandings The Kingdom = Moral or Social Program

Many view the Kingdom of God as simply living a good life, helping others, or supporting social justice causes—reducing it to ethical behaviour, not divine reign.

Is the Kingdom just doing good works?

No. We do good works so that people will see those good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

2. Practical Misunderstandings The Kingdom = Personal Success/Prosperity

Some interpret the Kingdom as personal blessing or prosperity—assuming that following God guarantees material wealth or health.

Does the Kingdom assure personal success or prosperity?

No! Jesus has promised that in this world you will have trouble. But take heart because He’s overcome the world. Name that and claim that.

3. Practical Misunderstandings The Kingdom = Church Activities

People often think attending church or participating in religious rituals equates to advancing or entering the Kingdom.

Aren’t church activities automatically kingdom activities?

No! The church and its activities is NOT the Kingdom…the church should extend the Kingdom of God, but never replace the Kingdom of God.

4. Practical Misunderstandings The Kingdom = Private Spiritual Experience

Others see it only as an inward, private spiritual feeling rather than something with public, communal, and transformative aspects.

Is the Kingdom my personal experience?

No! Your personal experience should be part of the Kingdom, but please don’t think the kingdom is the sum of your experience.

What Does Scripture Actually Teach?

The Kingdom is God’s active reign—present wherever God’s will is done (Luke 17:21).

You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already within you. Luke 17:21

The Kingdom is wherever the King’s will is done.

Isn’t God’s will always done?

IF God’s will is always done, why did Jesus teach us to pray your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10?

In Heaven His will is done perfectly. On Earth He works through His people, empowered by His Spirit.

The Kingdom is wherever the King’s will is done.

What to know how I know The Kingdom is NOT the Church…The Kingdom is wherever the King’s will is done.

Look at how Jesus sums up the Sermon on the mount…

Matthew 7:21-23 21 ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” 23 Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

We need to know his will and do his will to align with His Kingdom. The Kingdom is wherever the King’s will is done.

What is His will?

That’s a great question, I’m so glad you asked.

I’ve found three places in the new testament that tell us explicitly what God’s will is for us.

1. God’s will is for you to be Holy…

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 “Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”

Your role: Be holy. 1 Thessalonians 4:3

God’s role: For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13

2. God’s will is for you to live honourable lives…

1 Peter 2:13-17 “For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honour those who do right. It is God’s will that your honourable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.”

Your role: Live honourable lives

God’s role: His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

3. God’s will is for you to always be joyful, never stop praying and be thankful in all circumstances….

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Your role: always be joyful, never stop praying and always be thankful

God’s role: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

How do you trust in God? You never stop praying. You never stop thanking.

Now. These are big picture keys to how we live our lives in the will of God.

Be Holy.
Live Honourable.
Always be joyful, never stop praying and always be thankful.

When we do these things we are in the will of God.

Remember the Kingdom is wherever God’s will is done.

He helps us live in His will. He empowers us to live in His Kingdom.

But you were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. You were designed for intimate relationship with Him. It’s not that you have this list of things to check off that allows you to live in His Kingdom. It’s the result of you being the Kingdom that allows you to live this way.

We can find out what pleases the Lord.

Ephesians 5:8-10 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

FIND Out What Pleases the Lord Tool

F - Follow Holy Spirit’s Leading

I - Imitate what Jesus did

N - Never forget to walk in wisdom

D - Don’t assume you’ve fully grasped the Kingdom

F- Follow Holy Spirt’s Leading

It seemed good to us and Holy Spirit Acts 15:28

I’ve given you the three places in Scripture we’re explicitly told what God’s will is. The rest you need Holy Spirit’s leading. This verse in Acts is from a letter the Elders of the Church in Jerusalem wrote to gentile converts. And it’s significant that James wrote “to us and Holy Spirit” and not “me and Holy Spirit”. We need to get back to communal discernment of what Holy Spirit is saying to us.

Remember: The Kingdom is within you.

Luke 17:20-21 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Does it seem good to us and Holy Spirit?

I - Imitate What Jesus Did

Jesus only said what He heard the Father say (John 12:49-50; John 14:10). Jesus only did what He saw the Father do (John 5:19).

Do you have that intimacy with the Father?

The Father’s purpose is to make you more and more like the Son. Romans 8:29

Remember: The Kingdom is not a matter of talk but of power.

1 Corinthians 4:20 — For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

Do I want that intimate relationship with the Father?

N - Never Forget to walk in wisdom

What wisdom looks like….

James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favouritism and is always sincere.

Remember: The Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:17 — “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Am I walking in wisdom as God defines it?

D - Don’t assume you’ve fully grasped the Kingdom

Every Kingdom Practice is counterintutive to this life.

What do I mean?

In this life, I eat and get filled. Makes sense right?

In the Kingdom more I eat this word, the more hungry I become for his word. The more I pray, the easier it is to always pray. The more I get encouraged by others, the more I can encourage others. The more I feel joy, the more joyful I become. The more I obey, the more I want to obey.

But the reverse is also true.

The less I practice the Kingdom, the less I feel like practicing the Kingdom. The less I read my Bible, the less I want to read my Bible. The less I pray, the harder it is to pray. The less I time I spent in real relationship, the less I want to work on real relationship. The less real joy I feel, the less I naturally feel happy. The less I obey, the less I want to obey.

If you think you’ve fully grasped the Kingdom you need to know you’ve missed it.

Remember: The Kingdom is like a mustard seed that grows a large tree or a little yeast that permeates the entire dough. (Matthew 13:31-33)

Am I am growing more hungry for God or less hungry for Him?

FIND out what pleases the Lord.

F - Follow Holy Spirit’s Leading

I - Imitate what Jesus did

N - Never forget to walk in wisdom

D - Don’t assume you’ve fully grasped the Kingdom

Conclusion

Jesus told another parable about entering His Kingdom.

Matthew 25:34-46 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

We’re part of the Kingdom when we obey the king.

You know God’s will by doing God’s will. The Kingdom is wherever God’s will is done.

I want you leave you with a blessing, with my most recent “most favourite new vere”

Closing prayer…

Colossians 1:9-14 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask

{May} God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

My Story - 6 Things I Never Want to Forget

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Notes for My Story - 6 Thing To Never Forget

My Story - 6 Things I Never What to Forget

I’m going to do something I don’t think I’ve ever done. Every time I speak I ask God for His words for His people. When I did that to prepare for this message, I felt him leading me to share my story.

I will often share my stories when I speak. I think I’ve only shared my story once…and I was a lot younger then so you get a longer version.

I don’t want to think this is all about me. This needs to be my story about being impacted by God. I want to prompt you to think about your own story with God. Our stories connect us and I so look forward to hearing more of your stories.

Before we begin:

Can I pray?

My name is Trevor Lund. I’m the second child—oldest male of four siblings. Janine is the youngest. Shawn is the younger than me, then our oldest sister Jacqueline is married to Dan and they have 3 adult kids.

Being Anonymous

Growing up, our dad was the “New pastor” in a small town, even though he was there for 16 years when I left for university.

He also taught at the High School and everybody knew Mom, so whenever I got into trouble the news got home before I did. I feel like I got into trouble regularly. I’ve never been one to avoid trouble.

But I was tired of everyone knowing my business and decided I wanted to be anonymous when I entered university. I was accepted for early admittance and got my student code. I told all my friends they needed to call me by it, so I’d get used to being anonymous. I’d introduce myself “I’m 30-42-68, my friends call me 30”.

My English teacher called my name in class one day and after I ignored her for a while I responded “I’m 30-42-68 my friends call me 30”. “Well 30…” she started. I interrupted, “You can call me 30-42-68”. “Trevor!” My wife has that same tone since I’ve gotten hearing aids.

I wanted to be anonymous and most of the first year I was anonymous.

And I didn’t hear anything positive about religion. If anyone said anything about Christianity it was negative. The most positive thing I heard was that “religion slows down society so that it can accept the inevitable change so it doesn’t happen so quickly.”

Questioning my faith

So I think it’s perfectly natural I questioned my faith.

The first question I asked was “Is God real?”

But I had seen too many miracles and had too many encounters with the living God growing up to not quickly move on from that question. I knew there is a God.

The next question was “Is the God I was taught the real God?”

I mean, I knew I might have some things wrong. I remember—it must have been when I was two or three—I learned the verse “Be sure your sin will find you out” and I understood that to mean, if I was going to do something wrong, I’d better be sure to get away with it. It may explain my grade school years.

I made a decision to study the religions of the world. I’d studied their history and theology. I read books, went to talks and lectures and talked with people who were Hindu and Muslim and Buddhist and Wiccan and Jewish and Taoist. I studied ancient Egyptian, Sumarian, Greek and Roman Pantheon and Norse and Celt folklore.

But I also decided to read the Bible as I studied other religions. I wanted to know what the Bible actually said.

I read the Bible more and had more autodidactic studies than I spent time in my coursework…and I have the marks that first year to prove it.

And I ended up deciding that if Jesus didn’t die and rise again, I would be a Taoist. But since he did, my faith was my faith, not just my parent’s faith.

After my first year

After the first year of university I thought I would go to Bible College—not to be a pastor, but to goof off and have fun. I gave a speech at an awards ceremony when I was in grade 10 and someone from the town came up and told me, “you’ll be a [expletive] good pastor like your dad one day.” To which I responded, “Don’t wish that curse on me.”

My plan was to work all summer and save up for the new HMS Missions Class they were starting up. Who wouldn’t want to got on a mission’s trip?

But I blew my knee out playing slo pitch against the nurses and I couldn’t work all summer. If you’re going to injure yourself, do it around nurses. I had excellent care before the ambulance came.

My story about my summer

So since I couldn’t work I decided I’d be a counsellor to summer camp for another year. I had spent a week each summer doing that since I was 13.

I didn’t tell the camp director I was in brace. They didn’t tell me they were giving me 12 12-year olds who were all pastor’s kids, deacon’s kids and/or convicted felons.

It was an interesting week.

The second last night service focussed on divine healing. I wasn’t seeking God for healing at this point. When I first blew out my knee I asked him for healing, but He gave me deep sense that I didn’t need to worry about next year and this summer was a gift. He was taking care of things.

So I went up for prayer not really to be healed but to show these 12 12-year olds that I believed in healing. The speaker prayed for me then stepped back and said “God has been trying to say something to you. You need to hear it.”

And then I heard the audible voice of God say “You’re a pastor”.

And I was sprawled on the floor. I felt so insignificant and so highly valued. I was in awe of God in a way I had never been in awe of God before.

Two hours later I was sitting on the front pew and the camp director came up and asked me I knew where my 12-12 year olds were. Apparently I lost them. Nothing burned down, no police had to be called. I found them fairly quickly.

Not wanting to leave my brain

I couldn’t work that summer, so I didn’t have money to do a missions trip, but I could still get a student loan to continue at University.

I think if I would have left university at that point I wouldn’t come back. And I would have missed so much. I would have had doubts that an intellectual approach to experiencing God was possible.

I had seen far too many examples where they were at odds. When I was 13 or 14 years old I questioned one travelling minister over something he said in the service. He was blaming people for their lack of faith for not being healed. I pointed out Jesus blamed the disciples lack of faith when they couldn’t do miracles. He went bright red and stuck his finger in my face across the dinner table and said, “I’ve seen the dead raised, you don’t question me boy.”

I told God then, “If I have to leave my brain at the door to see miracles, I don’t want to see miracles.”

You don’t need to leave your brain at the door to see miracles.

Returning the University not wanting to be Anonymous

I went back to university and wanted to connect. I hung out with students who were so confident in what they believed and realized I was so much more confident in what I believed. I started questioning the profs who promoted anti-Christ sentiment.

I remember one time I said in class, “I’m a Christian and what you said isn’t right.” She mocked me, “Was anyone else offended?” I turned around and two-thirds of the class put up their hands and I asked the room: “Where were you 2 minutes ago?”

My Story about Meeting Karen

I joined the Pentecostal Campus Ministries and met Karen when her and Shirley started coming. When we started dating I started coming to this church with her. She had her salvation experience here and her grandparents were coming.

Plans after university

While we were here, I found out there were seminaries that still taught people to love God. I thought you went to seminaries to be talked out of your faith. I decided to build on my undergrad and get a Masters. And since things going well with Karen I figured I could stay close to home and went to Edmonton Baptist Seminary (now Taylor).

Placement for Seminary

I knew I needed a placement when I was in seminary. And I think my mom talked to my uncle Gordon. He called me and asked me to consider joining him at his church—if things worked out.

He called me just before our wedding. If all of these improbable things happened, he would be looking for a new youth guy. I didn’t give it any thought. I think Karen and I prayed once about it. I told Karen all those things won’t likely happen. I needed a placement while I was in Seminary, but we’d work that out sometime.

My Story how I went to My first church

When we just returned from our honeymoon and I got a call from Gordon. “Do you want to come meet the elders?” “Sure”, I said. “Why?” The improbable happened and he’d like me to apply.

I was the youth guy, then youth pastor then associate Pastor, then after Gordon retired and I graduated from Seminary I was eventually asked to be the Senior pastor.

Walking oxymoron

Became a senior pastor at age 24. A walking oxymoron. I had 7 retired pastor and missionaries couples in my church that had more than double the ministry experience than I had experience at being alive.

I knew I didn’t know anything and that was what helped me.

My Story about how I prayed a lot

It made me pray… a lot. My Elders supported me to do this. Everyone knew my office hours started at 10:00. I could be there at 6:00 and pray for 4 hours before anyone came to see me.

Both our kids were born when we were there. When our kids were old enough for school I’d come in earlier, go home to help them get up and take them to school and come back and then still have more time to pray.

The church grew. People could belong before they believed. We had so many baptisms. It was so much fun. We literally had a meeting to discuss what to do with all the money we had coming in. In budgets, baptisms and butts—the key metrics every church worries about and very few talk about—we were ticking every box and running on full cylinders.

Not all rainbows and sunshine

Don’t get me wrong, there were a LOT of problems…but they were usually fun problems to have - absolutely impossible things that God had to solve, we couldn’t. Sometimes the problems were people who should have known better. Those weren’t as much fun.

Prophetic breaking

One Sunday, a daughter of the grandmothers of the congregation was visiting her mom and after the service she came to me and was surprised I spoke so good. Apparently the first time she heard me speak I wasn’t as impressive.

She could have been there the time I think I fell asleep during my own sermons —I was a young father and thought sleep was for wimps…and I might have been a little boring.

Anyway, she told me she saw a vision as I was speaking. She saw me sitting at a table writing and the pages of the I wrote flew off the table and went around the world and touched the shackles people were wearing and the chains they were burdened with broke off.

What she didn’t know was that she broke something over me.

I always enjoyed going into bookstores and libraries but I was getting more and more overwhelmed with my inability to add anything meaningful to the conversation. I was almost having panic attacks in book stores. “What could I possibly contribute?” But her prophetic words broke that off of me and I decided I needed to learn how to write. So I took classes and joined writing groups and went to writer’s workshops and writing retreats and I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote.

God pulling at my heart

And soon God was pulling at my heart.

He had told Karen and I both—before we were married—that the bulk of our ministry would be outside Canada. Since I was better with dead languages than I was learning spoken languages I figured it would be somewhere in the English speaking world.

I made connections in England, the US, Australia South Africa and New Zealand over the years. And New Zealand really pulled at my heart. I was offered a church in a university town there. I fell in love with the people of the town, but felt God say it wasn’t time and when it would be time, our only reason would be obedience.

But with my heart in two continents, my patience was stretched thin and one day I got angry when I was the only one to put the chairs away. I pulled hard to lift a rather large stack of chairs and heard a pop in my back.

My Story about Needing surgery

My back needed surgery. With our health system in Canada, I couldn’t see the surgeon for a year and a half.

The pain was so intense one day that I couldn’t take it. All I could do was stand on a stair with my right leg dangling in the air. I was there for hours. When Karen got home she took me to the hospital. They gave me a shot of morphine and said they could do nothing else unless it was an emergency. I would know it was an emergency if I lost control of my bowels. The doctor put me on medication to manage the pain.

He gave me muscle relaxants to stop the back spasms and warned me, “They'll make you sleepy.” I was on anti-inflammatory medication to bring down the swelling and was warned to stay away from ibuprofen as the anti-inflammatory meds could eat a hole through my stomach. I was put on a narcotic for pain relief. They worked great, but I was cautioned, “Just don’t become addicted.” Finally I was put on anti–epileptic medication to deaden the nerve receptors. This was my favourite warning: “These could possibly could shut down the white blood cells, so see your doctor bi-weekly for blood work and to check for the signs of an ulcer.”

My epiphany

It was during this time I had an epiphany - and no, I don’t think it was the drugs. I thought about my doctors who were treating my symptoms. Baring a miracle —unless the cause of my pain was dealt with through surgery — the treatments that were meant to manage the symptoms could do me much more harm. The epiphany was that we were doing the same thing in the church. We were treating the symptoms, not dealing with the core issues—and were likely doing more harm than good. I didn’t want to do that any more. I wanted to give people real help to deal with the core issues.

I needed to learn how to get to the root of issue and help people with practical and real help.

How things Sped up

My father-in-law installed MRI’s and got me into one right away— I think I bumped some animals that used the unused MRI at night. That meant the specialist could see me and there was a cancelation so he could do the surgery a lot sooner. I had the MRI, the meeting with the surgeon, the surgery and fully recovered before the MRI I was scheduled for was originally booked for.

That was an answer to prayer for Karen. She told God she’d agree to what God was stirring in me after being there for 10 years.

Laying everything on the altar

I felt God asked us to leave our family, friends, finances and future on the altar and leave to go to New Zealand.

So we announced our resignation and told them we’d be leaving in 6 months.

Then my Dad was diagnosed with Bulbar ALS and given about 18 months to live.

I could have told the church I was staying. They could have voted on me staying if they wanted. But I spoke with Dad and he said “You need to obey what God is telling you to do.”

My Story about Leaving with The wrong attitude

I went to New Zealand with the wrong attitude. I went demanding something from God. If I gave up so much—I knew obedience came with a blessing—I wanted open heaven.

God wanted to teach me faith.

I don’t know what open heaven means to you, but January 1, 2005 we landed in Auckland New Zealand—a city at that time of just over a million people. We arrived at 6:00 AM and everyone was at the beach.

We had a family friend come from the beach, drive us to his house down an empty 8 lane highway. I was waiting for tumble weeds to tumble on by. He set us up to sleep off the jet lag and gave us directions to join them at the beach in a couple of days. It wasn’t what I expected as open heaven.

And yet I think we did have open heaven over us.

Once we were settled, Karen and I were going to separate prayer times so one of us could be with the kids. I went in the morning to this church who prayed scripture with music and it was always amazing. Karen went in the evening with some people who connected with us in our church.

But eventually we wanted to pray together so we opened our home and invited people to come. One of us would be putting the kids down and the other would answer the door. We always had powerful and prophetic prayer times and people would leave and we’d ask each other how the other knew them. We each thought the other knew who was there and it turns out we often prayed with strangers. I think that was a bit of open heaven.

When I felt God Speak The Second Call

I started my first novel in New Zealand. I wrote advertising features for the local paper. I was out on a walk with God one day lamenting my situation and asking why he had me do it and I sensed his voice again. It stopped me in my tracks. I felt him say, “I’ve given you time to write. Why are you doing everything but?”

So I finished the first draft of my novel and after consulting with people of great faith—who I thought would tell us to stiff upper lip it for the sake of being faithful— all of them came back with the same answer. We needed to be with family. We came home to be with family after only 9 months.

Coming home

I came home and helped my dad finish his book before he died. In the process of helping him publish it, I realized there had got to be a better way to facilitate self-publishing. I started a publishing company on a credit card. Never make a major life decision when you’re grieving. Never start a business on a credit card.

Experiencing Rejection

The other thing going on when we returned was we faced rejection on what seems like every front. I was told by a pastor friend I was expecting to work with, “You have too much vision.” A potential Christian employer decided, “You’d be too evangelistic.” A former congregation member said, “What happened? You used to be someone.” Friends told us, “You talk too much about weird stuff.”

I had a book publisher call me up at tell me my novel would lead people to hell. What book publishers has time to call up an author on their slush pile? I tell you, we were getting rejection from everywhere.

I went for one interview at a local paper and the guy I’d be replacing asked me “Did I hear you on the radio last night” I told him I did some interviews for my books a little earlier, but I didn’t do anything live local yesterday. “No that was you. I heard you. That’s what you should be doing! You don’t want to work here.” That was probably the best rejection I had.

I had a pastor call me in to ask why I feel I can use Revtrev.com as my domain as I’m not paid to be a pastor. I said being paid as a pastor doesn’t make you a pastor. Pastor isn’t a title, it’s a gift Jesus gives the church. I then told him “God’s gift and his call are irrevocable and I have more people interacting with my website every day than I’ve ever spoken to in one location…and that includes yours.”

What do you do with all that?

My Story about Sucking it up

God is the potter, I’m the clay. I’m the work of His hands. What pot can tell the potter it’s not being made right?

I didn’t know I just piling it all on and mourning the death of my dad and I was oblivious to how angry I was at God.

Bill Johnson

But I heard I message from Bill Johnson who was mourning the death of his dad around the same time. They had seen so many people healed from cancer and his dad died of cancer. He was processing things on a different level than was possible for me.

He told the story of John the Baptist being in prison and sending his disciples to Jesus to ask he was the one or if they should wait for another. The spirit of the Lord was on Jesus to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and his cousin was in jail. He wanted to know if he had gotten it wrong. And Jesus told his disciples to tell John what they saw and “Blessed is he who is unoffended because of me. Bill taught me I could be offended at God.

And it took me out of a funk. Well, confession and repentance took me out of the funk.

If you live offended to God you need to confess and repent. Your peace is more important than your vindication.

My Story about the Negativity Fast

When we came home and we attended a church plant with family and friends from our first church. One day a friend came up to me to tell me she saw a vision of a wave of negativity crashing into the city and overwhelming this church. I told her to go talk to the pastor.

But during worship I thought of the word “Negativity Fast” and googled it. And I became angry that there was no Christian website encouraging people to not be negative. It was all relational gurus and Buddhists monks that cornered the market. So during the break I went up to the pastor—who was talking to my friend and gave him a plan to run a negativity fast for the church. He was more than happy to let me do it.

2006 ran my first Negativity Fast. Next year is the 20th anniversary of the first one. I have had over 10,000 people go through the material.

My greatest ministry happens outside of Canada. The internet wasn’t invented when God told me my greatest ministry would happen outside Canada.

The problem of finding success

Nobody ever tells you about being a success online. I had 10,000 people sign up for my email list and my email list provider wanted to charge me tens of thousands of dollars to send emails. I couldn’t afford that. My podcast had 5,000+ downloads every episode—this was back when nobody had a podcast—RevTrev Radio was one of the first. I was storing the episodes on Amazon AWS and its price for downloads quickly became untenable for me. I had so many people coming to my website that it was constantly crashing. I had Turkish Muslims Cyber Jihadist take over a site - Don’t think you’re doing effect ministry online unless you’ve had Turkish Muslim Cyber Jihadist take out a site—or you can lose a facebook page with 12,000 subscribers to hacker. Then I think you can say you’re doing ministry online. That’s happened to me too. BTW our church website has been hacked, but we’ve tightened up security on it.

At the time I didn’t have any books or courses or coaching to sell to offset those costs.

He was teaching me hope

Back in those day, Twitter was a conversation and miracles were happening on it. People would send me things to pray for. I’d tweet out a quick prayer. Answers would happen. I would have people ask me questions. And someone had a question that I didn’t know how to answer. I asked Karen about it and she knew the answer she said - “You need to teach her how to hope.”

So I wrote a book - Hope in Transition and realized that through everything we had gone through God was teaching me how to hope.

Doors kept closing

But doors kept on closing.

Eventually—I wanted to be useful—so we returned to this church because Karen’s grandparents were coming and I thought at least I could drive them. But Stan gave me opportunity to preach. When every door was forcibly slammed in my face. We came back and it helped our healing.

Stan opened the door then other doors were opened.

My second church

I was called by a friend and asked if I would consider coming to their church. It was started by another friend and… As I prayed about it I felt God tell me if I went, He would teach me about love.

It was during this time I feel he entrusted me with the seed of the message to help people

Live LIGHT which now means to Live…

…Loved

…Insightful

…Grateful

…Hopeful

…Trusting

To Live LOVED was what kicked it off.

It was a hurting church and hurt people hurt people. And we saw some baptisms and saw some good things happen, but our kids saw hypocrisy in the church that I’m afraid that’s become an excuse for them.

And we left after 4 years, just before that church closed its doors.

Returning to Highway

We returned to this church. We needed more healing.

Eventually I was speaking here and doing some speaking and seminars at other churches.

My Story about the menacing voice

I remember the Sunday I spoke on practicing the Sabbath. I said something extemporaneously like “If you don’t take a regular sabbath, a sabbath can take you. It happened to ancient Israel, what makes you think it won’t happen to you.”

I sat down after the message and felt a menacing voice say, “That’s the last sermon you’re ever going to preach.”

And I don’t have time for menacing voices. Jesus didn’t argue with demons, I don’t give them the time of day. That was the twelfth time I spoke in 14 weeks. My books were selling and people were promoting my books. By the grace of God, I’m not going to fall. Why should I worry?

My Story - a bit - about the Heart attack

But a week later I had a heart attack.

I didn’t go in for another week, but that’s a long story you don’t need to hear right now. Just don’t do what I did.

And as I recovered in hospital I remembered that voice and it screamed in my head.

Ongoing health

Since the heart attack, I’ve had two stents put in and surgery for two types of carcinoma. I’ve had AFIB and Cardiac Ablation surgery, I am being treated for fibromyalgia. I’ve lost a range of frequencies in my hearing, so I wear hearing aids. My arms got too short and font on phones only get so big so I have to wear readers.

But God…

But I’ve also had an atheist grab me and ask me to pray so she can have my peace. I’ve had a nurse tell me “you’re far too joyful for someone in this situation.” I’ve been able to tell people about the hope that I have in Jesus.

I’ve learned I can create safe space for people to self express their thoughts, feelings and emotions without judgment criticism and condemnation.

And I’ve seen miracles. Miracles when I’m the only one to have faith, miracles when friends of the one who needs prayer are the ones who have the faith. And miracles when I have absolutely no faith.

I have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. I’ve been through the fire and not been burned. Through the deep water and not drowned. Through the rushing water and have not been overwhelmed. He has been good to me. By the grace of God I am who I am and His grace to me was not without effect.

6 Things I Never Want to Forget

And in all of that and because of all of that was there are 6 things I never want to forget.

All of us have gone through the fire. The good news is He has brought you through. The sad news is you’re still in a world that has yet to be redeemed, surrounded by people who are at best being redeemed, and you have an enemy that comes to steal kill and destroy. So what do you do when you get that phone call that drops you to your knees?

You’re going to need to know how to ENDURE. How can you endure whatever trials come your way?

That’s a great question, I’m so glad you asked.

This is based on the first tool I ever created with an acronym. I’ve had to tweak it because God has been reminding me of one more thing I never want to forget.

How to ENDURE Tool

E — Ever remember to never

E — Ever remember to never give God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy because Jesus came to give us life and have it to the full. John 10:10

Story - Living offended at God.

Women in seminar…

Deal with the lies you’re believing as truth. Get to the root, don’t just treat the symptoms. Our emotions show us what we truly believe. Let Holy Spirit replace the lies you believe with the truth He reveals. You can feel like you’ve forgiven. You can have peace at all times and in every situation.

Am I giving God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy?

N — Never forget to treat all hardship as discipline

N — Never forget to treat all hardship as discipline (Hebrews 12:7-11) knowing He is a Good Father and is working all things together for good. Romans 8:28

Story - saints overcome. By the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony

You’ve heard my story, I want to hear your story. You have been through the fire…it is by the word of your testimony that you overcome.

Am I treating all hardship as disciple?

D — Don’t ever ignore that the God of all hope

D — Don’t ever ignore that the God of all hope fills me with all peace and joy as I trust in Him, so I can overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Nothing is more important than your peace. Peace is the emotion that is to rule our hearts.

I’ve had too many Christians too many times tell me they are trusting God but just can’t stop worrying. Show me your peace and I’ll know you’re trusting God. Show me your joy and I’ll know you’re trusting God. Show me your hope and I’ll know you’re trusting God. Your emotions show you what you actually believe. If you don’t have peace and hope and joy, go back to the last place you had them. Where did you lose them? Confession and repentance works wonders to get them back.

Do I overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit?

U — Understand that I can worry about nothing

U — Understand that I can worry about nothing but pray about everything with thankgiving (Philippians 4:6-7), knowing that giving thanks in all circumstances is His will for me. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Story - Last year I did my first 70-Day Gratitude Challenge. I just finished the second one last week. Every day for 70-Days I decide to give thanks, feel grateful for what I decide to give thanks for and show appreciation for what I feel gratitude for. That’s giving thanks with your whole heart. We don’t learn habits in 21 days but in 3 sets of 21 or 63-70 days the neural pathways realign to form a habit. In 70 days you realign your brain so you can give thanks at all times…and that’s God’s will for you.

Do I worry about nothing but pray about everything with thanksgiving?

R — Remember to cast all my cares upon him

R — Remember to cast all my cares upon him, because he cares for me (1 Peter 5:7) and to never leave a time of prayer without exchanging my problems for His peace.

After my Gratitude Challenge last year I felt God calling me to calling me to seek him, I didn’t know what that would look like with my current reality.

It ended up doing an extended prayer and bible and fellowship with Holy Spirit time every day. And I keep track to bring all my requests to him and remember all the answers to prayer. Look… my God answers my prayers. Worry about nothing. Pray about everything with thanksgiving…

Do I exchange my problems for His peace?

E — Embrace that He has showered me with His kindness

E — Embrace that He has showered me with His kindness, along with all wisdom and understanding (Galatians 6:8) so everything is figureoutable.

I don’t know what lies ahead. But I know He’s already there. I know I can trust him to prove himself good. I know he not only prompts me to do his will He empowers me to accomplish every good work prompted by faith. I know his favour is on me and His blessings overwhelm me.

Even though in this world I will have trouble, I take heart knowing he’s overcome the world.

Do I believe He has showered me with kindness and all wisdom and understanding?

My Story Conclusion

That’s my story and that’s 6 things I never want to forget. I know I must ENDURE and encourage you to do the same.

I don’t know what impossible situations you are facing. I don’t know what lies you’re believing. I don’t know if you feel rejected or forgotten or alone, or if you’re dealing with health issues or have been diagnosed with something scary. But I want you know God is for you and since He’s for you who can be against you?

He is going to finish the good work he started in you. He rejoices over you with singing and quiets you with His love. I want you to be encouraged today. I want your courage to arise.

Blessings

Will you stand with me. It’s time for a blessing.

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
—Numbers 6:24–26

Can I pray?