Why do you care?

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.--Matt 25:40

Have you ever had someone ask you a question that, even though you knew the answer, in that moment you didn't know the answer? This happened to me recently, as I was talking with a new Christian who was walking away from a life of gang banging and drug dealing. This man was talking very passionately about what God was doing in his life, and I was just trying to fuel that fire that God had set inside of him. We were having an amazing conversation, then he stopped and looked at me and said, "why do you care so much?" I must admit I was taken aback by this question...a question to which I should have an answer. I said, "that's a deep question, I don't have an immediate answer for you...I need to search my heart so that I can answer it honestly." 

I went home and the questioned rolled over and over in my spirit. I suppose that I had lost sight of the why I was doing this and was set on the how to accomplish it. This saddened me...So I looked back at the beginning, the day I fell in love with Him.  I began to replay the early days of this ministry and I remembered a lady who was a prostitute and a crack addict; she came to group and as we began she threw her paper down and said, "This is just too much!!" I said, "Too much what?" She said, "Too much God!!" and she grabbed her things and quickly walked out. We prayed for her after group, convinced that we would never see her again. 

About a week later she just walked into the church weeping, and she said, "Help me, I just want to die! I need for you to pray with me!" So we went into the sanctuary and knelt down at the altar, and I led her to the Lord. She wrapped her arms around me and said, "THANK YOU so much!" I hugged her tightly and I remember she was so thin from her addiction that I could feel her ribs and in that moment the Lord spoke very clearly to me. He said, "What you do unto the least of these, you do unto me." and it was then that I realized, I had my arms around Jesus.

So I went back and told Ricky, "Jesus gave me everything; He gave me His life. I could never repay Him for what He's done for me, but I know how much He loves you, and the greatest gift I could give Him is you, and the greatest gift I could give you is Him." "When I love you, I love Him...When I minister to you, I minister to Him...When I feed you, I feed Him" That's why I care

Do you love Him?

Pastor Brandiilyne
Jesus in Disguise (A Dying to Live Video)
^ Click on video Link^

The best Christmas...

It's Christmas Eve and I have spent the entire day with the ladies at the Z.A.C House. I was a little concerned that they might get discouraged because they had to spend Christmas in treatment, but we have had a wonderful day. We went to the gym, they cooked a fabulous Christmas dinner which they shared with their families who had come for a short visit. 

Later after their families left we opened a few gifts, then we all went to look at the Christmas lights. As we were walking through the park laughing hysterically, one of the ladies says, "This is the best Christmas I have ever had!" Then another spoke up and said, "me too!" She said, "I've never laughed this much, sober!" I didn't know you could have this much fun without being high!" I just listened to their conversation and my heart jumped! Thank You God, for the best Christmas...This is why I do what I do! Merry Christmas everyone I pray that you too have the best Christmas EVER!!

Pastor Brandiilyne

A Big Dream Realized--A Surreal Moment

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matt 19:26

Four years ago God gave me a vision; He showed me a place where women could come to find freedom. I remember the very first time He spoke to me about it, it was so strong and I was totally overwhelmed. I wept uncontrollable as the power of God fell on me. Something inside of me came alive in that moment. I was excited yet terrified; happy but devastated...it was a pivotal moment in my life.

I could see it so clearly, it was like a movie unfolding in my minds eye. I was trembling as He revealed this to me He didn't leave out ay detail...it was overwhelming, seemingly impossible and completely out of reach. Despite the impossibilities I was not deterred; I knew it was from God, and I knew I would see this vision become a reality...Now how do I convince everyone else of it! 

I remember going to my Pastor with this wild dream, he looked at me and said, "dream big dreams!" I remember thinking, "he thinks I'm nuts..." But a few days later he called me in and he confirmed everything that God had shown me. He had caught the vision. That was the beginning of the Z.A.C Project 

Over the last few years I have watched God build this vision supernaturally. He opened un-openable doors. He brought people into my life at just the right moment. He made possible the impossible and

today that "big dream" has become a reality--

I have spent the last few days with the very first occupants of the Z.A.C House...its surreal...its fantastic...its overwhelming! MY GOD this is really happening. Everyone thought I was crazy--maybe I am but today I have seen a vision straight from God become reality! I have witnessed a miracle, I am a part of this miracle and I am humbled. 

 Thank you Lord for saving me and allowing me to be a part of your majestic plan, thank you for making Your big dreams my reality. 

Pastor Brandiilyne
click link to watch a video of the Z.A.C House

Heaven Scent--Can you smell Him

For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. -2Cor 2:15 

The sense of smell is a very powerful thing, a scent can trigger memories both good and bad. They can take you back to a place in a moment. I know when I smell bubblegum I think of my Great Grandmother "Gran-momma" she always had bubblegum on top of the refrigerator for all her grandkids. We would always run straight to the kitchen hop up on a chair and grab a piece, it was always there NEVER fail. So even now when I smell bubblegum I am quickly reminded of my wonderful Gran-momma. It activates a very special place in my heart and I'm flooded with sweet memories of my Gran-momma.....We all have our very own memories attached to certain scents. 

I read a true story about a little girl who was born premature and they did not expect her to live. She was so tiny that no one could even touch her until she was over 2 months old. But by the grace of God this child survived and is in perfect health, and 5 years later she was sitting in her mother's lap in the bleachers of a local ballpark where her brothers  baseball team was practicing.

As always, she was chattering non-stop with her mother and several other adults sitting nearby when she suddenly fell silent. Hugging her arms across her chest, she asked, "Do you smell that?" Smelling the air and detecting the approach of a thunderstorm, her mother replied, "Yes, it smells like rain."

She closed her eyes and again asked, "Do you smell that?" Once again, her mother replied, "Yes, I think we're about to get wet, it smells like rain. Still caught in the moment, she shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced, "No, it smells like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest." 

The aroma of Christ...This child recognized the smell of God. She knew it well, because the first 2 months of her life while no one on this earth could touch her God had kept her cradled in His arms.

 I know the smell of Christ, it's not like anything I can describe but I sense it every time He comes close to me. It's that smell that first attracted me to Him in the first place, I can't really explain it but it activated a place deep inside my heart. I had been searching for something my entire life, and when I found Him I knew it! It was Christ! ...Can you smell Him?

I recognize Heaven's scent every time I come near someone who spends time in His presence; again it activates the deepest place in my heart. It is this supernatural aroma that draws the lost to Him. Every time we step into His throne room and soak in His presence we leave saturated in the sweet aroma of Christ. When we come in contact with the lost, it's this scent that will activate their hearts and attract them to Him. 

Have you ever walked into one of those gas stations where they fry chicken? (Yes, I'm from the South) As soon as you walk in that smell attaches itself to you and it's next to impossible to get out of your clothes. It just STICKS to you like glue--everyone knows that smell. 

We smell like our surroundings; the places we spend most of our time.  Do you smell like the world? Or do you smell like Him?

Saturate yourself in the presence of God--Can you smell Him? 

Pastor Brandiilyne

Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ...Rom 13:14

Stop Marching and GET IN THE DITCH!!!!

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
   Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”--Luke 10:25-37

This is very familiar Scripture, you don't even have to be a church goer to know the story of "the Good Samaritan" This is probably, next to the story of Jesus, one of the most familiar stories of the Bible. We have all heard of someone referred to as a "Good Samaritan" and we all like to think that we too would get down into the ditch, as opposed to walking right by, like the religious people.

I love being in the ditch ministering to those that addiction has robbed and left half dead...it's the place that I love to be. You see "The Good Samaritan" walked by one day and rescued me from that ditch, and He told me to "go and do likewise." So that is what I do; I am a ditch dweller.

It's a very dirty job, one too dirty for even Mike Rowe (host of Dirty Jobs), but it's the most rewarding thing one can do. It can become very expensive as you apply your own oil, give of your wine, and pay out of your pocket for their needs; not to mention the time, prayer, and tears you invest. But the payday is eternal--

I am also very protective of those that are still in the ditch. I want to bring love, life, and freedom to them and I despise "Pharisee's who want to "March" by in the name of religion, condemning them because of their wounds. I will not stand by and allow religious "priests and levites" to beat the already broken people with their Bibles, and shout religious obscenities at them!

I will be an advocate for the addict, the alcoholic, the person who has been beaten and left half dead by life and circumstances. Jesus was my Advocate, and I am supposed to be Christ-like, that is after all what Christian means. Please don't judge all Christians by the Pharisees "marching and picketing" Remember the Priest and the Levite "marched" right by the man in the ditch...but Jesus (The Good Samaritan) stopped and got dirty. WE have to love people right where they're at, and it's the love of Christ that will bring healing and deliverance--

It's time to STOP all this religious nonsense and get down in the ditch...It's a dirty job, but JESUS did it why can't we?

You might be wondering why I wrote this...Recently I was in a meeting with other Christians and we were discussing the drug problem, and what we could do to combat it. (((hello, Dying to Live Ministries))) A "march" against drugs seemed to be the solution, but it quickly turned into a march against drug addicts and drug dealers. I politely stood up and said, "I won't be a part of this" and left.

You see I have seen WAY too many drug addicts and drug dealers come out of that ditch and become MIGHTY men and women of God, and they came out because we brought Jesus into the ditch and loved them as He would. Join me! Let's get in the ditch--The Pharisees can "MARCH" right on by.

Pastor Brandiilyne

Jesus in disguise Dying to Live Video--
^click on link to watch video^

....I remember

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:1-3

These verses have brought comfort to me on entirely too many occasions...I know that my loved ones are in a much better place, and that gets me through the tough times; the times I remember...

I remember lying in bed, sound asleep, when I received the call that Zac had been in a car accident. I jumped to my feet and flew to the hospital, praying and weeping! I remember, gathering myself and cleaning my face, trying to be strong as his family fell apart...I remember his casket was placed in the very spot at the altar where he stood exactly one month before... I remember---

I remember the morning I received a devastating phone call--"Daniel was in a car accident, and he didn't make it"---I screamed and fell to my knees, weeping. Then my phone rang again, it was Becky, Daniel's Mom, she said, "I need you!" I gathered myself, cleaned my face and flew to the hospital! I remember trying to be strong while his family fell apart. I remember ever word I said the day of his funeral....I remember--- 

I remember thinking my God, I can't handle this.... I wanted to just curl up and stop, I somehow felt responsible, like I had failed somehow.Then I remembered...

I remember watching Zac Ainsworth run to the altar one night with his hands straight up reaching to the heavens, tears streaming down his face, as he came home to the Father. It was breathtaking to say the least! I remember calling to tell Denisea, his Mom, who had been sick with worry, and who had prayed countless hours, and cried rivers of tears...I REMEMBER!!!

I remember talking with a nervous young man named Daniel Bailey who had been "talked into" coming to an encounter weekend by his former sister-in-law; he wasn't real sure about all this church stuff. As he sat through the different services I watched God break down a wall, and before Daniel knew what had happened he was lying on the floor weeping, and crying out to God! It was a miraculous moment, like nothing I had ever seen...Daniel on the floor being wrapped up in God's Holy Spirit...I REMEMBER!!!

THANK GOD!!! I REMEMBER!!!


Welcome Home--(watch till the end you will see Daniel give his testimomy)
        ^Click on link to watch video...in memory of Zac & Daniel ^

Damn him.... for I am blessed!

He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:18-20

My name is written in heaven, Satan was kicked out of heaven...he is damned I am blessed! Satan however refuses to accept this truth, and he tries to make me feel his curse. He runs around attacking and deceiving, and often times we Christians just accept his tricks as our tragic reality. Somehow he places circumstances in front of us and we embrace them instead of rising up and taking the authority, that is our birthright, and overcoming him.

The Word is very clear...he is damned and I am blessed! I have all authority & POWER over him!!! I will not play along with him any longer, I will RISE above him and take my rightful place on TOP of his head!!! He will TAP OUT in Jesus Name!!!

Today I received the devastating news that someone very dear to me has cancer and it has spread all over his body, all this while another of my loved ones is having surgery to remove a malignant tumor. The very word malignant is defined as: evil in nature, influence or effect, and I HAVE POWER OVER ALL EVIL!!! I have decided to live up to this amazing truth, I will STAND in the gap and pray! If God said it, then it is so PERIOD!

Today I am WAGING WAR against the enemy, he will no longer try to pass the buck...he's the one who is cursed, not me!

We are not fighting for victory...We are fighting FROM victory!

From this day forward I will be at Christ's Church at 7AM & again at 8PM Mon-Fri to pray (if you would like to join me)! Prayer changes things I will take this to my Father because He promises to perfect those things which concern me (Psalm 138:8)...Look out satan I'm telling Daddy what you're up to...and I'm His favorite

Pastor Brandiilyne