This can be your greatest year, IF you refuse to do THIS

Gary Keesee • March 9, 2021

Reading Time 5 mins – 


$75 million.


That’s his net worth. Years after he passed away, his legacy is stronger than ever.


In 2000, when Publishers Weekly compiled their list of the best-selling children’s books of all time, 16 of the top 100 hardcover books were written by this man. More than 600 million copies of his books have been sold, and they have been translated into more than 20 languages. You may have even watched a film or play based on one of his books just last month.


Who am I talking about? Theodor “Ted” Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.


I’m sure you know who Dr. Seuss is, but did you know that his work was rejected by 27 different publishers before his first children’s book was published?


Twenty-seven , friend.


And did you know that, before he drafted his first children’s book, he drew political cartoons and made short films for the United States Army?


Why am I telling you all of this?


Well, first, because I love to share stories to help encourage you. I love to share how people overcame struggles and failures, how their lives were changed, their bodies were healed, their marriages and families were made whole, and their finances were fixed.


Because stories give you pictures of hope. You can read about or listen to someone’s story—like Dr. Seuss’s—and be encouraged.


I also shared his story because I want to give you an example of what can happen if you don’t settle.


Dr. Seuss could’ve settled for drawing political cartoons or making short films for the military instead of writing children’s books. He could’ve quit when he was rejected by publishers the first time, or the second time, or the twentieth time. But he didn’t. (And his story doesn’t even tell us he trusted in God.)


This is the first quarter of a NEW YEAR. Wherever you are in life right now, wherever 2020 may have left you, I want to make sure that you don’t settle for less than God has for you this year.


2021 can be your greatest adventure. But… you’re going to have to REFUSE to settle.

In Genesis 11:31-32 (NIV), it says,


Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.

 


Not exactly a great story, right? In fact, this is the only reference to Terah made in the Bible.


Why? Because Terah

settled . He never reached Canaan—the destination God had for him.

Adventures or journeys can often be long, hard, and tiring. Maybe Terah got tired. For whatever reason, instead of pursuing his destination, he settled in Harran. It was a trading center, a place that I’m sure had many provisions and offered rest from his journey. Harran probably felt safe and comfortable.

 


But Harran wasn’t the best God had for Terah and his family.
 
 Like Terah, I have seen so many people with great God-given visions, ideas, and plans who have ended up settling when the journey got tough. They lost sight of their destinies, and they stopped.
 
Now, look at the story of Joshua with me.


Joshua had been mentored by Moses, and Moses had died. So Joshua was supposed to take over. He was suddenly responsible for this huge nation of people—millions of people—in the wilderness. It was a big job.

Now, Joshua could have looked at his situation and said, “You’ve got to be kidding me, Lord.” He could have looked at the millions of people surrounding him and said, “You want me to do what with these grumblers? With all the problems Moses had? This is impossible! I’m not even going to try.”


But he didn’t. Joshua knew what God said. God told him that no one would be able to stand against him all the days of his life. God even promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).


God knew the pressures, temptations, and struggles Joshua had to overcome.


God reassured Joshua that he wasn’t alone.


God encouraged Joshua to trust Him.


God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous.


Just like Joshua, GOD IS WITH YOU!


But again, you need to do a few things.


1. You have to take your eyes off of who you think you are and set them on who God says you are.


God told Abraham to lift up his eyes (Genesis 13:14), and Abraham obeyed. Abraham was called by God to leave his family, his hometown—everything (Genesis 12:1)—because he was promised something that wasn’t even possible in the natural. He willingly gave up everything to walk out the promise.


And the Bible says God blessed Abraham in EVERY WAY.


Galatians 3:14 says YOU have the SAME blessing through Jesus.


So, if you want God’s best for your life in 2021 , that’s the first thing you must do— lift up your eyes from where you are.


We have a tendency as human beings to pay attention to the details around us, or to what was behind us. But to GO anywhere, you have to leave where you are.


God wants to show you something brand new this year. He wants you to trust Him outside of your “normal.”


So, where do you look? To God! Let Him show you who you really are and who He has made you to be. Look to Him and His Word, and let Him affirm you.


2. You’re going to have to hear what He says and walk it out. Because, more than likely—like Joshua and Abraham—He’s going to call you to go someplace you’ve never been before. And just like Joshua and Abraham (and even Dr. Seuss) had to walk out their adventures with God, so will you.


3. You have to know that God has promised to be with you , to give you the direction you need, and to make your best life happen with you, no matter what problems may arise.


Frankly, God loves when the odds are stacked against Him because that’s when He really shines. After all, you don’t need God if you’re going to walk in the possible. You don’t need Him if you’re going to play it safe, never venture outside of your comfort zone, or settle.


If you want a life full of stories, adventures, and victories —stories you want to pass on to your children and grandchildren— you must also learn to be uncomfortable.

Stepping into new territory can be unsettling.



But God is always faithful.


God has a plan. He’s not caught off guard or taken by surprise. He knows all the details, and He has the answers.


It will take faith to step out into the unknown, but God wants to lead you. After all, He’s promised never to leave you nor forsake you. And if God is for you, who can be against you?



So, get up and GO! Stay the course. Don’t settle like Terah did. Don’t throw in the towel.


You will want to quit, but don’t. The journey with God is ALWAYS worth it.

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We want to see you live your own adventures with God. That’s why we want to get my new teaching series, Get Up and Go! The Road to Finding Your Purpose and Drenda’s Ready, Set, Run into your hands.


Drenda and I want to impart the wisdom and revelation that will give you the motivation you need to see your purpose come to fruition in 2021!

Rooted in Faith for Everyday Moments

September 5, 2025
Reading Time 2 mins 56 secs – Take a moment and think about this: faith isn’t just for the mountaintop moments. It’s for Mondays. It’s for traffic jams, unexpected bills, and the times when you’re just trying to get through the week. God never designed faith to be complicated or out of reach. He designed it to be your everyday operating system. Faith Is for Today Sometimes, we picture faith as something we have to “muster up” for significant challenges, like praying for healing, believing for a miracle, or asking for a breakthrough in a crisis. And while faith absolutely applies to those moments, it’s also for the little ones. Faith is choosing to trust God with your attitude in a tough conversation. Faith is deciding to believe He’ll provide, even when your budget looks thin. Faith is remembering you’re never alone, even when you feel overlooked. Second Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) says, “ For we live by faith, not by sight. ” Notice it doesn’t say “visit by faith” or “use faith once in a while.” It says live. Faith was always meant to be your way of life. Small Steps, Strong Roots Faith doesn’t usually grow in leaps; it grows in steps. Little, steady decisions that put your trust in God day after day. Opening your Bible instead of scrolling on your phone first thing in the morning Speaking truth over yourself when your feelings want to run the show Praying before making a decision instead of relying only on logic These may not seem dramatic, but they lay a strong foundation. And just like a tree with deep roots, your faith will keep you standing strong when storms come. God Is Faithful, Even When Life Isn’t Here’s the best part: your faith doesn’t rest on your ability to figure everything out. It rests on God’s ability to be faithful. And He is. Always. When you feel shaky, remember this: God is steady. When you feel uncertain, remember this: His promises are sure. When you feel small, remember this: faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. You don’t need giant faith for God to move. You just need real faith in a giant God. Faith That Shows Up in Action Faith isn’t just belief in your heart; it’s trust that shows up in your choices. James 2:17 says, faith without works is dead, which means faith comes alive when you act on it. That could look like forgiving when it’s hard, giving when it feels impossible, or stepping into an opportunity that scares you, but you know God is calling you to. Every time you take action in faith, you’re making a declaration: “God, I trust You more than my feelings, more than my circumstances, and more than what I see.” That kind of faith not only changes your life, but it also inspires others to believe. A Simple Prayer to Start With “Lord, thank You that faith isn’t complicated. Teach me to live by faith in the small things and the big things. I trust You with my today, my tomorrow, and every detail of my life. Strengthen my heart and remind me that You are faithful. In Jesus’s name, amen.” Take This with You Faith isn’t a moment. It’s a mindset. It’s not about pretending life is easy. It’s about trusting God, no matter what life looks like. Friend, you don’t need to wait for a crisis to practice faith. You can start today, right where you are, with whatever you’re carrying. Take a step. Speak His Word. Trust His heart. Because faith isn’t just for the extraordinary, it’s for the everyday. And your everyday is exactly where God loves to show up.

Everyday Healing: God Cares About the Little Things

By Gary Keesee • August 15, 2025
Reading Time 2 mins 49 secs – Okay, let’s take a breath. Not everything has to be heavy, and healing doesn’t have to feel impossible or mysterious. Sometimes, we just need to be reminded that God actually wants us to feel better. Yes, you included. God Cares About How You Feel We can get so used to pushing through that we forget God never designed us to live burned out, worn out, or always dealing with pain. Third John (NIV) 1:2b says, “ I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well .” God’s heart is not just that we survive life. His heart is that we thrive—spirit, soul, and body. That includes your sleep. That includes your energy. That includes your mind and your moods. Healing Isn’t Just for Emergencies Most of us wait to think about healing until something significant goes wrong. A diagnosis. A surgery. A crisis. However, healing is an integral part of your daily life as a believer. You don’t have to wait for something to fall apart to lean into God’s promises. It’s kind of like drinking water; your body needs it regularly, not just when you're dehydrated. The Word is the same. It brings strength, clarity, and peace to your health before the storm hits. You’re allowed to believe in a life where you’re not constantly recovering—you’re well. Small Shifts, Big Results Maybe you’ve been dealing with something for a while—nothing catastrophic, just something that lingers. A chronic ache. Fatigue. Brain fog. A stress habit that’s hard to shake. Can I encourage you? You don’t have to settle for “just getting by.” Start speaking life over your body. Make simple changes in faith; walk a little more, drink more water, eat a bit better, get quiet with God. Healing isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes, it happens gently. Daily. Gradually. The power of God isn’t always loud, but it’s always effective. The Best Kind of Doctor He doesn’t rush your appointment. He’s never stumped by your symptoms. And He doesn’t hand you a bill at the end. He simply says, “Come to Me.” Come tired. Come unsure. Come with your questions. And He’ll give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Yes, He heals in big, miraculous ways—but He also heals in little moments of laughter, sunlight, worship, and truth. Let’s Make This Simple Healing isn’t about performance. It’s about proximity—staying close to the Healer. So, take the pressure off today. You’re not failing if you’re still waiting. You’re not disqualified if you’ve had some doubts. You’re growing. You’re learning. And most of all, you’re loved. Let healing be a conversation you have with God, not a crisis you fear. Let it be part of your everyday life with Him, not just a 911 prayer when things feel scary. A Simple Prayer to Start With “Lord, thank You that You care about every part of me. You know when I’m tired, hurting, anxious, or overwhelmed. Thank You for being my Healer, not just in emergencies but in the everyday. I receive Your peace and Your promises. I speak life over my body and my mind today, in Jesus’s name. Amen.” Take This with You Healing doesn’t have to feel far away or hard to reach. It’s not reserved for the super spiritual or the desperate. It’s available, it’s real, and it’s for right now. You don’t have to make it complicated. Just take one step. Open the Word, talk to God, speak life over yourself, and trust that He’s working behind the scenes. You don’t have to live in survival mode. You were made for wholeness. And friend? You’re allowed to feel better.

Faith Walks Before It Sees

By Gary Keesee • July 14, 2025
Reading Time 3 mins 46 secs – Picture this. You’re standing at the edge of a foggy path that winds through a forest. You’ve never walked this path before. You can’t see more than a few feet ahead. There are no signs. No map. No flashlight. Just a still, quiet voice inside telling you to start walking. Would you? Most people wouldn’t. They’d wait until the fog clears. Until the way is visible. Until they feel “sure.” But that’s not how the Kingdom works. Friend, faith walks before it sees. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) tells us this plainly: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Not what we can see. Not what we understand. Not what’s guaranteed. Faith is walking when it feels like you’re walking blind, but you’re actually walking guided. Let’s talk about Abraham for a second. God said to him, “...Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1, NIV). God didn’t show Abraham the land first. He didn’t explain all the details. He didn’t promise a step-by-step plan. God simply said, “ Go, ” and Abraham went. He didn’t argue. He didn’t delay. He didn’t ask for the weather report or route details. He trusted the voice. He walked before he saw. And because of that one step, a generational promise was unlocked. Now, let’s fast forward to the New Testament, to the story found in Matthew 14. Jesus came walking on water in the middle of the night, and Peter saw Him. Peter said, “Lord, if it’s really You, tell me to come.” And Jesus said, “Come.” What did Peter do? He stepped out of the boat and onto the water. Pause and think about that. Peter walked on water—not because he had magic in his feet but because he trusted the One who called him forward. Peter walked before he saw. Yes, he started to sink when he looked at the waves, but before that, he did what no other human besides Jesus had done: he walked on water by faith. Friend, your boat might feel safer. It might feel familiar. But if God is calling you out of it, staying there is more dangerous than stepping forward. Let’s get real for a second. There are seasons when God will not show you the full picture, on purpose. Why? Because if He showed you everything, you’d try to control it instead of trusting Him with it. Faith is trusting His character when you can’t see His hand. It’s saying yes without having every answer. It’s building the ark before the rain comes. It’s marching around Jericho before the walls fall. It’s digging a ditch before there’s a drop of rain. That’s the Kingdom. Here’s what the Bible says: “For we live by faith, not by sight,” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV). That’s not a metaphor. That’s a lifestyle. You don’t wait until all your fear is gone to obey. You don’t wait until you’re certain to trust. It means you don’t wait until your finances line up perfectly to give. You walk before you see. Let’s look at one more example. In Acts 9, Saul, who later became Paul, was traveling to Damascus while persecuting Christians when, suddenly, a blinding light stopped him. Jesus spoke directly to him, and Saul was blinded. God then instructed a man named Ananias to go and pray for Saul and restore his sight. Ananias was hesitant because he knew Saul’s reputation for harming believers. Despite his doubts and without any guarantees, Ananias obeyed and went to Saul. He stepped out in faith before knowing the outcome. That single act of obedience set the stage for Paul’s powerful ministry and the writing of much of the New Testament. So, let me ask you… Where is God asking you to walk, before you see? To step into a calling that scares you? To give up something you’ve leaned on for security? To trust Him with your finances? To forgive someone you haven’t gotten an apology from? Whatever it is, I want you to hear this. You don’t have to see the outcome to take the next step. You don’t have to understand the entire path to move forward in obedience. Faith walks before it sees. That’s where the miracles are. That’s where the provision is. That’s where peace is waiting. Your comfort zone won’t get you there. But your obedience will. God doesn’t need your full understanding. He needs your full surrender. So today, let this be your reminder… You don’t have to feel brave. You just have to follow. Even in the fog. Even in the unknown. Even when it doesn’t make sense. Because God is already in the place He’s calling you to. He’s gone ahead. He’s prepared the way. He’s waiting at your next step. So, take it. Because faith? It always walks before it sees.