cup of joe

Many people today tend to confuse activity for achievement. They may be busy but they aren't really achieving anything. I heard someone describe the difference between effectiveness and efficiency. Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things. Let me expound on that  and say that excellence is doing the right things right. Those who know Christ and are filled with His spirit and trust in Him do the right things right at the right time! Many times we spend so much energy in doing things that we fail to achieve the results that we aimed for. Remember Martha when Jesus went to her house and Mary was there? Martha was running around totally service motivated. She was very, very busy. She was busy doing "stuff". It was all good stuff. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Jesus looked at Martha, the busy one, and said, “Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things”. What He was telling her is that there is a difference in busyness and business…

Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Most folks gauge their success by how much money they have or how much stuff they can acquire. They look at all of the things that are said about them and the number of friends that they have. I have always believed that it was ok to have stuff, just be careful that the stuff does not have you! The measure of a truly successful life in God is "fruit". We are enthusiastic, sold-out fruit producers! Each day you should become a dispenser of fresh produce!  The kinds of things that are important to God are things like love, joy and peace. Being patient, kind and good. Live faithfully and be gentle and self-controlled. You get these by developing a close personal relationship with Jesus and allowing His spirit to produce this wonderful fruit. Fruit is what makes us different …

If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. (Galatians 6:3 NLT)

The Bible has much to say about humility. We know that it will always show up before honor. We also know that if we don't find a way to be humble, God will allow us to learn it through another way:) In my own experiences I have found that its much easier to humble myself than it is to let God do it.  We were put on the planet to help each other. People need people. And when we work together and move in sync there is nothing better. The one factor that starts this journey towards unity and freedom is humility. (Psalm 133:1) Today, spend sometime praying for a friend or coworker. Send a note to someone that could use some encouragement. Helping others first ushers in the kind of humility that God is pleased with. 
Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 18:12 NIV)

Instead you thrill to God's Word,  you chew on Scripture day and night. Psalm 1:2
This is how we begin the wonderful collection of psalms that David penned. The person who is able to thrill to what God says and chew on it day and night is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with those who put down others. One of my favorite things to do used to be riding every roller-coaster I came across. From Cedar Point and Kings Island in Ohio to Disneyworld in Orlando and Six Flags over Texas, my life was one thrill after the next. So I get what a thrill should feel like.  But I must admit that I often have to make a concerted effort to thrill on the things the Lord says because sometimes what He requires is exactly opposite of what I want. Fortunately I always arrive at the place, after much chewing, where I realize that He is looking out for me and that even the tough stuff helps to make me a stronger and more devoted follower. So strap…

There is nothing more satisfying than knowing that everything is taken care of. It reminds me of the way that the Lord prepared the disciples for His departure and what was going to come. He was letting them know that no matter what they needed, He was going to make certain that they were able to receive it.How does all of this happen? Obedience...full obedience. Sometimes people think that its what that do, the good things, the time spent, the money invested into what God is doing that brings the blessings. Fact is it is simple, pure obedience. When we fully obey we start going His way!
Deuteronomy 28 talks about this "full" obedience. When we fully obey we are blessed in every way! Blessed in the city and the country. Blessed coming and going. Our kids, our crops, our friends...everything that is connected to us can receive His blessing because we choose to obey Him.

Take a look at how well you are doing what the Lord is asking of you. Has He asked you to serve and you'…

Everyone deals with “transitions”.  The truth is, you have either just left one, are in the midst of one, or have one coming in the future. Changes happen each and every day and how we deal with them will have a profound impact on what happens after the transition.
During one of the darkest seasons of my life, I struggled to find ways to deal with negative thoughts and emotions as well as the onslaught of terrible circumstances. Jesus was my Lord, I was doing ministry work; in fact I was the Sr. Pastor at the church! Indeed help...I needed hope...I needed grace and mercy. Through the months and years of this transition, I started to develop ways to deal with the “stuff” and also increase in strength to endure it. With God’s help, I had some great strategies for dealing with transition seasons. I knew that God would want me to share the things He taught me and perhaps some of the strategies would resonate with others.
So I wrote the book Transitions. A couple years later, I developed a …

My 7th book has just released and I really think you will enjoy it. It's based on a story in Mark 2 about 4 friends...4 special friends that were part of a miraculous healing for a paralyzed man. They would be friends4ever.

What I love about the story in Mark is how they worked together to get their friend in the presence of Jesus. They wanted to see their immobilized friends set free and walking again. So much so that when there was no room on the lawn to see and hear Jesus, they took a staircase up to the roof, cut a hole in the roof and lowered their friend right in front of Jesus! And when Jesus spoke about what happened, it wasn't to the paralytic, it was to these 4 friends. It was their faith that He said extracted His power to heal. The end result was a smile from Jesus, an encouraging word for these 4 friends and complete healing for the paralytic. Those are  4-ever friends! Friends4Ever. 
We all need these kinds of friends in our lives...friends that will do whatever…

"Once upon a time" is a staple of story beginnings. There are only a few movies that begin with this phrase in the title and for the most part they are filled with quality and length. Imagine today that we were able to write our own story. We would begin with this popular opening..."once upon a time" and then the story begins.  I can predict that our stories will be adventurous, dangerous and at times exhilarating. There will be incredible high times of joy and happiness and there will also be overwhelming times of pain and sorrow. Every good story has some wonderful characters and ours will be no different. Heroes and villains, stable and unstable, loyal and well, not so loyal. And when the story is finished, the way we would write it, we would most likely live forever and be incredibly joyful! The reality of our lives is this: God has a plan. He has the pen and we provide the canvas on which He can write. Through every situation He will write a way out of diffic…

1 Samuel 30:4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 
Have you ever had one of those seasons in life when nothing turns out the way you thought it would? You've prayed, you've confessed every good thing and maintained positive thoughts and still... nothing! I can find myself surrounded by discouragement many days. I went back to read this story of David in 1 Samuel. He came back from doing what God gifted him to do only to find his home burned down and his family kidnapped. Imagine expecting a home cooked meal and some great companionship only to find ashes and devastation. And what did David do? He encouraged himself in the Lord. You cannot always depend on other people. The boss may not have a positive word for you. Your family may not know how to approach you. So you and I need to know how to pick ourselves up and get back on our feet! We need to learn the art of self-encouragement. Talk to yourself. W…

Habakkuk 1:2-4 How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed,and there is no justice in the courts.The wicked far outnumber the righteous,so that justice has become perverted.  Do you ever complain? Have you ever spent part of your day whining about the way that your life was going? As I read this scripture today, I can see a bit if myself in these words. I have moments where I wonder why terrible things are happening and yes, I may even ask God if He is still there! I whine about aches and pains, lacking what I want and I even complain about the injustices in this life. I wonder why God won't just come and save me. Is He even listening? Jesus never said that the world would be fair. He never said that…

As we come upon another 9-11, my heart today is on the many people that have to revisit the images, the stories and the events that transpired on that horrific Tuesday morning. I would imagine that many of those who lost loved ones and family members do not go near a television set this week and continue to endure the emotions and feelings that life handed them on that day. My prayer today is that the peace which God says will go beyond our own limited understanding, would surround them and invade their homes and families today. Our country became more united than ever that day as race, color, and background faded from view and patriotism began to shine.  After this terrible event we proudly proclaimed united we stand. What happened? Why have we lost that spirit of unity and love for one another? Perhaps today we could take a moment and put aside those things that divide us once again? Think about the families and friends that lost everything that day in this country we call the Unit…

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15 Perhaps my favorite reminder...when we pray we should be mindful that we are asking "according to His will". His will must always supersede our desires and the sweet spot of God's success is when our desires become His will:) He hears you when you pray according to His will. You can be confident of that. And because you know He hears, you can believe that He will answer! #1Min2Win 
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Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.  (Psalms 27:11, 14 NLT) There are many challenges we face each and every day. When you desire to live for the Lord with all your heart, there is an enemy waiting to derail you. Our prayer is to diligently pray to be taught the right way to live in every situation. We want to be led along the path that takes us to the places that the Lord intended for us to be. Along with the prayer comes one of our favorite things...waiting! What does it take to wait...and wait...and wait? It takes courage! Jesus told the disciples, "take courage, it's me!" He was teaching them that not everything come instantly. But it does come in due season. Wait patiently today. Be brave. Take courage. Things are about to change for the better!

Happy Labor Day!

Be safe and have an amazing day! If you are working today, thank the Lord for your job, your boss and your paycheck!!

"Work willingly at whatever you do, 
as though you were working for the Lord
 rather than for people" Col 3:23 MSG

Life gets so busy! Sometimes you don't even have time to feed your spirit because of the demands that are placed upon you. So we have made it easy...1 Minute 2 Win It! That's all it takes to listen to this mornings little thought on LOVE and grab some encouragement. Your Cup of Joe, fresh inspiration for your daily grind, is bold, sweet and gauranteed to get you started!
Just click the link and enjoy! Pass it on if it tastes good:)

1 Minute 2 Win It