cup of joe

I was reading some words from Galatians 1 this week where it talks about a plan...a plan that God has for everyone. It says in chapter 1 and verse 4 that "the purpose and plan of God was that we would all come to the realization that we need saving." Those words have never been more true than right now. We need a Savior!
Paul was surprised and astonished that people could walk away from faith so easily and start to chase other belief systems. He could not wrap his head around the fact that anyone could abandon Christ and pursue something else.
Once you have had a taste of grace, have digested it and learned to live off of its power, you can never ignore and walk away from the God that gives grace. Grace is "unmerited favor". Unfortunately in our culture the unmerited favor of God often gives way to the instant gratification of self. You can't earn grace; it is a gift. A gift from God. And because of that gift you have the reassurance that everything that happens…

I'm not sure where this little story originated but I wanted to share it with you today:
There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.
The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.

The second son said no, that tree was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son disagreed; he said the tree was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

The last son disagreed with all of them; he said the was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they h…

This week I have been thinking a great deal about the many incredible things the Lord has allowed to happen in my life. Yes, there have been some challenges and huge speed bumps along the way but I was pondering the miracles and the amazing things that made me smile. And when I recall these divine moments of supernatural happenings, one thing seems to be the same in each of the scenarios...each miracle required a leap of faith. In other words, I took a step out in a direction where I couldn't truly see the next step. Have you ever tried taking a step that you missed, maybe stepping off of a curb or not seeing the level change? It's a feeling you can surely remember: it doesn't feel very good and if someone filmed that it would probably have looked a bit awkward too. Taking a leap or a step of faith is all about control. Releasing what you know and can see to the Lord for what He desires. In some of my biggest miracles, I just had nothing left to do. My only available tran…

Often in that still, quiet time of the morning when you read the Bible, the words simply capture what you feel and what you are saying in your mind and your heart.  We put our trust in the Lord because we know that He loves us: unconditionally and continuously. When we let go of the control, He can show us the path and take us to the place that He has always us desired us to be. He makes the journey worthwhile. By entrusting our life to Him, we give Him the responsibility to make it progress according to His plans and His purpose. And that is the best possible place for all of us to be. It's called being in the will of God. So today, remember the love that is unfailing and trust God to show you the way. All things can be mixed and mingled together for your benefit and His glory.

There is nothing in this world that can bring life like the living and active Word of God. This phrase "everlasting consolation" is not found anywhere else in scripture. It implies the complete healing of the great wound of sin, the removal of sins consequences and the elimination of sorrow that otherwise would never end. Eternal consolation springing from eternal redemption. The wages of sin are death but Jesus Christ has paid that price in full. That's not just good news...that's great news! When you trust in what He has promised and in the finished work He has done, you will be established in every good word and work. Eternal consolation! Good hope! That's a great way to end the week, isn't it?  #everlastingconsolation #goodhope

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”- Romans 12:12
Quite a reminder in this verse and some great encouragement for daily living. Living life will always include the desire to hope, the arrival of affliction and the need for prayer. How do we make the necessary adjustments to the challenges that are hurled at us? By being joyful, patient and faithful.
The JOY of the Lord will be the strength that we need to overcome challenges. When the trials last for a while we will need to let PATIENCE have her perfect work. And FAITHFULness shows up when we believe what we pray for and take constant steps in His direction. Faithfulness is moving forward as if the answer has already arrived and knowing that the Lord is in control of the outcome.
You may be waiting today for some news: a job application, a doctors diagnosis, a call from someone you haven't seen in a while. Be joyful in hope. Waiting always seems to be hard to handle but if you stay positive and exp…

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10 If I was a betting man, I would bet the farm on the fact that not one of us got up today with a goal of suffering! Every week I have conversations with people of all ages and from various backgrounds that are struggling and suffering in some way. Lack of love, money. friendship, etc. the list is long and overwhelming. The good news for today is that you have a God of GRACE who has called YOU. That means He has a plan for you and that He is championing your cause. He is setting things up for you to ultimately succeed. Here's the twist...oftentimes the road to success involves some suffering and pain. The challenge we have is to look at those seasons of difficulty and embrace them knowing the last part of this promise: that our God of grace will restore you Himself and make you strong, firm and s…

So, are YOU a morning person? I find most people these days really rev up at night and in the morning they are slow and lethargic. The start of the day is absolutely a grind! I usually get up early and have some quiet time before anything else. Of course there is the cup of joe too! Maybe even a song! Here's the good news I can share with you today; you've got many moments ahead of you filled with possibilities and amazing opportunities. You will meet some new people, have some interesting conversations and maybe even be surprised with a blessing from God. Feeling any better about the morning yet? Smile, get ready...its a new day! Compliment, don't criticize. Encourage, don't discourage. Be a lamp, not a lamp shade:)  #dontmindthegrind

"Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation;
 On You I wait all the day." PS 25:4,5
 I have always loved reading this part of psalm 25 because it shows us the dynamic nature of God’s guidance. It confirms the idea that God will be with us as we walk through the challenges and struggles of daily life. Show me your ways…reminds us that as we seek Him we find Him. When we ask, we receive and He is glad to reveal a glimpse of His desire for us. The struggle most times for us in seeking God’s guidance is that we have already decided our own way before we ask. Teach me your paths…implies that there will be lessons along the way. Not only can he provide a look at the road, He also walks beside you as you navigate it and helps you understand the journey. Lead me in your truth…helps us to remember that the best way to travel is with the Lord in control. We follow, He leads. When you get that right, well, that is…

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand;in her left hand are riches and honor.  Proverbs 3:13-16 In my life I feel like I've been around the block a time or two and I can honestly say that my favorite places are those places that lift up my spirits and encourage my soul. There's no place quite like the corner of Live Long and Prosper. You can find it in the city of Wisdom located among many Proverbs that have become powerful landmarks. Too many people are searching for this corner by working more than they are home, traveling more than they rest and being consumed by a pursuit of things. It's always OK to have things just not to let the things have you! Today, ask God to show you how to get to Wisdom. I found it by taking Proverbs right into the heart of it. There you w…

It's funny to me, how life's course can help you to see and even understand yourself. Sometimes you just need to take a step back and look at you:What am I learning? Why do I feel this way? What should I be doing right now? I've had the “wonderful pleasure” (sarcasm implied) of asking those questions and many more over the last several months. I am learning many things about my situations, but I am discovering so much more about me. The most revealing thing I've seen is how structured I need things to be. I don't like coloring outside the lines. I'm not a huge fan of mismanaged time. And I do not know how to rest. That's right, I don't know how to rest!  The point is that when you discover things about you, you should take steps to become a better you. God reveals what God heals. So you see the things that need attention and then you must decide to adjust. So when I realized that I may be a bit OCD with a dose of ADD, I decided I needed a large helping of…

Matt 7:24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." In Matthew 7 Jesus was giving a building seminar. Each of us is in a building program. Jesus said that when we are obedient to His commands it is like building on a solid and stable foundation. When we are rebellious and self-serving, we are building on sand which is unstable and tends to shift. The fact is that rains will come down and winds will blow against all that we build. If we start with the right fundamentals and the proper founda…