Category Archives: Bible Stories

In the Little Things

Posted on by yolandaberry
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One thing I’ve noticed about the Lord is that He operates in seasons, patterns and cycles. He also delights in the small things. Throughout the Bible, the Lord showed His power through operating in small things and making something out of nothing. Jesus multiplied seven loaves and two fishes to feed 5000 people. The woman and her son had more than enough oil and flour during a famine to feed Elijah while trusting in God’s promises. 1 Kings 17 Another woman multiplied her oil and sold it to pay off her debts. 2 Kings 4.1

In Matt 17:20 Jesus says, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

When you’re rooted in God, even your minuet ability to believe ignites the magnitude of God’s power. We live in a world where seeing is believing but in the supernatural, we walk by faith and not by sight. As the world continues to grow in darkness, chaos, and deception, we should hold fast to our faith and the promises of God. Do not despise the day of small beginnings. Zech 4:10 The Lord works His greatest miracles when we take insignificant steps of faith despite unknown outcome.

As we enter a new year, a new week, and a new day, whatever goals, plans, projects or assignments you’re considering, let it be a small step in the direction of elevation and progress. No matter how small it looks, the Lord will breathe on your movement of faith in action. The Lord will show Himself strong and mighty in the midst of unclarity, chaos or confusion. For God is not the author of confusion. 1 Corth 14:33 The Lord desires peace, order, and structure.

When you step out in faith, the Lord will meet you exactly where you are. In Proverbs 15:16, it states, “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures with trouble.” The Lord will prepare you for development, growth and capacity. There is a divine process which includes different stages and levels of development and growth to enable you to handle capacity. You cannot rush the process. The Lord will shape your character and every challenging experience that you walked through to be able to handle the pressure, weight and depth of your growth for the expansion of capacity. Your gifts, talents, abilities, and interests are packaged for your calling, purpose and assignment. Do not limit the Lord. He is omniscience, omnipotent and omni present. (Psalm 139, Isaiah 46:10, Psalm 139:1-4)

In Proverbs, 16:8-9 it states, “Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.” A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Every step is a step in development leading to growth.

The Seed of Spiritual Development

Based on my experience, here are three spiritual growth phases. This is by no means the actual blueprint for your life process but only as a reference point. The Lord will divinely guide your path according to His will and plans for your life.

The Development Process

When you’re entering the phase of development. It is a season of preparation. It’s a time of exploring, discovering. experimenting and learning new things of interest. It’s a time of failure and pruning. It can be an uncomfortable process yet a time of self-discovery and fulfillment. It’s a space to embrace creativity. You may feel pulled in several directions or have no direction at all. It’s a time of isolation and idle time. Movement is slow paced. It’s a time to listen and be still.

The Growth Process

The growth process stretches you into the unknown. You seek clarity and wisdom. You do not dismiss any ideas but keep record of them. You are placed in harsh conditions to rely on God as your source. You’re constantly learning and possibly shifting to new areas to expand your knowledge and experiences. Your spiritual life becomes more tangible. You don’t see the world at surface level but understand there’s much more to life than material gain and success. Your values, morals, disciplines and principles are defined and aligned with the Lord.

The Expansion Process

The phase of expansion draws you even closer to the Lord. All reliance is based on confiding in the Lord for next steps. Courage, strength and resilience will knock on your door as you walk through higher levels of spiritual elevation and revelation. Although you may still struggle with fear or doubt, it doesn’t have the same power over you. You have authority over it. You will increase your capacity to handle tension and unstable environments with ease because you understand the power comes from the Lord who gives you the strength to overcome every scheme, plot or plan of the enemy. The creativity and ideas that the Lord has placed within you begin to surface like a seed planted in fertile ground. The years of development and growth take shape and blossom like cypress tree.

Characteristic of a cypress tree searched on Google:

Key Characteristics

  • Foliage: Typically small, scale-like leaves that hug the stems, giving a feathery look, though young plants have needle-like leaves.
  • Shape: Often conical or columnar, but can vary by species.
  • Cones: Small, woody, and round (globose).
  • Bark: Varies but often peels in strips.
  • Habitat: Many prefer moist or wet conditions, like the Bald Cypress, which thrives in water

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Isaiah 55:13

Trust in the plan that God has for your life. He is faithful to complete the work that He has entrusted you with. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1;6

Characteristics of a myrtle tree researched on Google:

True Myrtle (Myrtus communis)

  • Description: An evergreen shrub or small tree with fragrant leaves and sweet-smelling white flowers, producing dark berries.
  • Origin: Native to the Mediterranean region.
  • Uses: Culinary (spices), medicinal (essential oils), ornamental, and symbolic in traditions for love, beauty, and devotion. 

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Related Bible Verses

Hosea 14:8

8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

Luke 16:10

10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

1 Corth 1:28

28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,

James 3:3-5

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

Prov 30:24-28

“Four things on earth are small,
    yet they are extremely wise:
25 Ants are creatures of little strength,
    yet they store up their food in the summer;
26 hyraxes are creatures of little power,
    yet they make their home in the crags;
27 locusts have no king,
    yet they advance together in ranks;
28 a lizard can be caught with the hand,
    yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

1 Corth 1:27

27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

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The Pivotal Turning Point in America

Posted on by yolandaberry
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College students in classroom, Education

This has been a horrific week. For the past few days, I’ve watched countless videos of Charlie Kirk’s debates. I don’t follow politics besides watching the debates prior to the presidential elections. Unfortunately, I have never heard of him until the shooting that took place a few days ago. I’ve been quite numb trying to gather my thoughts on this whole thing.

Freedom of speech will not be silenced due to the lack of intolerance of differences in views, perspectives, beliefs, opinions and values. No one should be murdered for their beliefs or viewpoints. No one should be murdered period. We have witness countless shootings in schools, churches, concerts, major venues, public transportation, and in the streets of our communities.

On the anniversary of 911 this is a tragedy to witness the extremes of the changes that have taken place in America. This is not who we are and not what we stand for. I’m disgusted with the violence in this country. I’m disguised by the celebrations taken place by someone losing their life. This is an outrage and has created a Holy Ghost roar in the Spirit. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Prov 18:21.

In the Last Days, many hearts will grow cold. Lawlessness will rise. In 2 Tim:31-5, it states “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

You cannot silence the Word of God. His Word is a two-edged sword; it penetrates dividing the soul and spirit. joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Heb 4:12

The truth digs deep and gets under the skin and exposes the evil and darkness in people’s hearts.

What I tell you in the dark, speak in daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops! Matt 10:27

We will not bow to fear. We will not be silenced. We will not compromise our faith, freedom, values or political views. This country was founded on Biblical principles, morals and values. Let God arise and let our enemies be scattered. Psalm 68:1

God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.

Nahum 1:1-3

The Lord led me to read Nahum a few weeks ago. Nahum was an Old Testament prophet who has not been mentioned much or at all in church sermons. Nahum pronounced God’s judgement against the nation of Assyria. Nineveh was the ancient capital city of the Assyrian Empire. There was a great rise and fall in the Assyrian nation which was taken over by the Babylonians. In 612 B.C. Nineveh was destroyed as the prophet Nahum warned.

Ninevah, much like today’s modern cities in America, was full of evil, and wickedness just like in the days of Noah. Jonah was called to deliver a message of repentance to the city. Jonah called a fast upon the city of Nineveh. The people were delivered and turned back to God and the city was restored.

5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? 10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Jonah 3:5-10

We are on the cusp of a turning point in America. The warning signs are all around us. Will we stand for holiness and righteousness, or will the hearts of many grow cold and callus as we falter into perverse, wickedness which has taken place in this nation and around the world?

I believe in humanity. I know there are still a multitude of people searching for God and want to get saved and baptized, learn more about God’s character, promises and principles and to do the right thing in their life. There are many others who are living for God and living as an example for Jesus Christ. Charlie Kirk was a great example of this.

Hope is not lost. It is found in opposition, chaos, conflict and strife. We must learn to be tolerant of other people’s differences, beliefs, perspectives and opinions even if we do not agree with them.

Jesus did not come to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:17 God loves you so much that He gives you freedom of choice. You can believe how you want to believe, however “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [In other words, you choose not to believe] And this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:18-21

May our eyes be opened, may our hearts receive truth and fresh revelation of the Spirit and may our minds be transformed to the obedience of Christ. Let us carry boldness to stand in our faith, speak truth to the lost and stay prayerful with a repentance heart.

Much like in Nineveh, we must turn our hearts to the Lord to escape the destruction coming upon the land.

My heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to the family and friends of Charlie Kirk. He is resting with Lord in peace. To God be the Glory who is found in Jesus name!

Additional Bible Reading

14 If my people, which are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chron 7:14

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom 12:2

18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18

23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Luke 12:12

19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Eph 6:10-20

4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Rev 21:4

Ye though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

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The Leadership Series: Leading through Uncertainty | The Life and Legacy of King Jehoshaphat

Posted on by yolandaberry
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Image by Marco Santiago from Pixabay

Jehoshaphat was the fourth king of Judah and reigned for 25 years (approximately from 870–848 BC). He was the son of King Asa and is remembered as one of Judah’s more righteous and reform-minded rulers. His leadership was characterized by religious revival, military readiness, and poorly aligned alliances.

King Jehoshaphat was diligently devoted to God and did not seek after Baal or idol worship. The Lord established him as the leader of Judah, and he was given riches and honor in abundance. He took delight in honoring the Lord and removed all the wooden images and idolatry from Judah. (2 Chron 17:1-6)

He was heavily dependent on God to lead him through crisis. He called for national prayer and fast when a coalition of armies came against him.

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

2 Chronicles 20:12

Photo image of wooden idols generated by Yolanda Berry utilizing AI

King Jehoshaphat was a strategic leader who strengthened Judah by building fortified cities and maintaining a strong army and establishing a system of judges rooted in justice and the fear of the Lord. 2 Chron 19:4-11

He also encouraged peace during a time of division, aiming to unify God’s people. His greatest mistake was building alliances with ungodly and wicked kings of Israel – King Ahab and Ahaziah which led to a failed trading excursion where all their work and ships were wrecked by the hand of God.

In times of uncertainty that we’re experiencing today, we can draw from the timeless lessons of Jehoshaphat—whether in business, ministry, or personal development there are nuggets of wisdom to glean from in his life and legacy.

Image by ha11ok from Pixabay

Life and Legacy

Jehoshaphat left behind a bilateral legacy: a godly king who led spiritual revival and trusted God in crisis, but who compromised his faith in God by partnering with ungodly leaders. He is commended for walking in the ways of the Lord and striving to lead Judah in righteousness despite his poor choices.

“His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord…”

2 Chronicles 17:6

What can we learn from Jehoshaphat?

Five Lessons and Application Principles

  1. Lesson in Poor Judgment and Discernment

Despite being a godly man, Jehoshaphat sometimes displayed poor discernment in choosing partners, seemingly prioritizing unity or prosperity over righteousness.

2. Prioritize Alignment with God’s Vision

One of Jehoshaphat’s first moves as king was a spiritual one: he set his heart to seek the Lord. He didn’t begin with a political agenda, a marketing campaign, or a military strategy—he began by aligning his leadership with divine purpose.

Application Principle:

In a world filled with noise, trends, competition and pressure to chase quick wins, true leadership begins with clarity of purpose. Whether you’re leading your family, a business, a nonprofit, or a creative project, take time to anchor your mission.

Are my values aligned with something greater than success? Am I leading with integrity, vision, and spiritual clarity?

“The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father.”

2 Chronicles 17:3–4

3. Invest in Education and Empowerment

Jehoshaphat did something extraordinary: he sent out teachers to every city in Judah to instruct the people in the ways of God (2 Chronicles 17:7–9). He understood that he could not complete this task alone. He also understood that training well-informed and spiritually rooted people would lead to a strong kingdom mindset. There is strength in numbers.

Application Principle:

Great leaders don’t hoard knowledge- they cultivate and nurture it in others. A culture of empowerment leads to resilience and strength in uncertain times.

In your organization or community, how are you empowering others to grow? Are you mentoring, teaching, or creating systems that promote continuous learning?

4. Be Willing to Seek Counsel and Correction

One of Jehoshaphat’s leadership flaws was his alliance with King Ahab of Israel. When he was rebuked by the prophet Jehu (2 Chronicles 19:2–3), instead of resisting correction, Jehoshaphat humbled himself and made changes.

Application Principle:

Mistakes often happen, but wise leaders seek feedback and make adjustments. It’s ok to make mistakes. It’s one of our greatest teachers, however it’s important to surround yourself with people who will speak the truth—even when it’s uncomfortable. And when the truth hits hard, don’t shrink instead dissect it, reflect on it, embrace it and grow.

5. Lead with Faith and Loose Fear

Jehoshaphat prayed and fasted then sent worshippers ahead of the army—praising God in advance of the battle. God fought for Judah, and they experienced a miraculous victory.

Application Principle:

Due to the current instability in these times—economic shifts, technological disruption, social, political and cultural changes, lead with faith. Don’t rush into battle without clarity. Take time to pause, reflect, pray, and strategize. Sometimes, your biggest breakthroughs will come not through force, but through faith-filled surrender and praise.

Tomorrow, go down against them.
They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz,
and you will find them at the end of the Wilderness of Jeruel.
You will not need to fight in this battle.
Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord,
who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!
Do not fear or be dismayed tomorrow
go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”

2 Chron 20:16-17

6. Build Systems and Fortify What You Have

Jehoshaphat didn’t only focus on spiritual matters. He also strengthened his cities, appointed judges, and implemented systems of justice and governance (2 Chronicles 19:4–11). He understood the significance of leadership and administration.

Application Principle:

Vision without organizational systems leads to burnout. As the world evolves, so should your workflow, infrastructure, and decision-making processes. Whether you’re leading a team, a church, or your own brand, build solid systems that support a strong foundation, long-term sustainability, and clarity of vision.

History always seems to repeat itself. In many ways, we are living in a period of time similar to Jehoshaphat. The world is unstable, challenges are unexpected, and the masses are seeking leaders with strong character and who have values, morals, integrity, wisdom, courage and humility.

We all have the ability to be role models of leadership who:

  • Make wise decisions and live righteously
  • Align our lives with purpose
  • Empower others through education
  • Embrace feedback with humility
  • Stand firm in faith amdist fear
  • And build workflows and systems that serve with vision

Because in the end, leadership is not just about getting through the battle-it’s about helping others thrive on the other side of it.

This concludes the leadership series. I hope you enjoyed the series and please share with a friend or associate who would benefit from the message. Please feel free to leave your comments or feedback below.

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