Well, another month has gone by and it seems as though the blessings of the Lord just keep getting better and better.  There were some struggles over the last month but God is always faithful to His Word and to His children.  After a small car accident my vehicle was totaled. After some searching and prayer the Lord led me to a very nice vehicle that was everything I was looking for and it was at the exact price that I had prayed about.  This was a wonderful thing as my other car was really starting to have some major issues.  I have also been involved in a new bible study in one of the area communities.  God has been moving greatly there.  We are seeing a lot of young people show up and be touched by the presence of God.  The first week that we were there we saw 24 kids show up.  16 of them gave their hearts to the Lord and got filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.  They really respond to love and the touch of God upon their heart.  We also just came through the Christmas season and saw a lot of good things happen for the members of our family here at the River Church at Tampa Bay.  With the start of the New Year we saw the Winter Camp Meeting kick into high gear.  Words cannot even begin to describe what happened.  It was truly one of the most powerful weeks of meetings I have ever been a part of.  God moved and miracles took place in a mighty way, the least of which were the number of people who gave their hearts to Jesus and are now on their way to Heaven.  We are seeing so many good things happen here at the River Bible Institute as well.  This is the largest class in the history of the school and many more coming in January.  It just never ceases to amaze me at the goodness of God and the lengths and depths that He will go to take care of those who are obedient to His voice and truly make Him the Lord of their life.

–Darrell

When Pastor Rodney started teaching on the word and the heart, and how we need to grow stronger roots in the word meaning stronger faith, it really spoke to me in a great way.

For some time God had been dealing with me in some areas of my life, especially for this new year and how I really needed to step it up spiritually. I needed to go to the next level in my relationship with Him. But God also spoke to me that I can’t take myself to this new level but that it will only come from my personal time with Him and even more time in His word.

And when this teaching started it got a hold of me. I knew that my faith could only grow stronger from more time in His word and getting more of the word in me. The enemy will always come to try to steal the word from me or to hit me with a storm, but the moment I put the pressure on the word instead of trying to defend myself, God will come through for me. The word can always hold the pressure from the enemy and this world that I can’t hold myself and the word will always perform and conquer every storm coming against me. So this teaching was for me to grow even deeper roots in the word of God, so that it can produce an even greater harvest in me and through me. This New Year for me is all about the next level and a deeper level in the word; so that my roots can grow even further and so that there will be no limits on what my faith in God can do.

–Sara