cup of joe

Often when I read the Word in the morning it will speak to me in very specific ways. There are times that it overwhelms me and there is nothing to do but just soak in all that it says. Today, as I read Proverbs 3 in the Message translation, I experienced one of those times. I pray that you too may experience your bones vibrating with life! Your body will glow:)  Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!  Your body will glow  with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.

What are you called to do? A "calling" is not something that you can choose...it has already been chosen. It's something you discover. In fact our vocation comes from a Latin word,  vocare,  meaning "to call". It's where we get our word for voice. But to get our voice, we have to use our ears. Listen. Listen to the voice of God. He is the CALL-er and you are the CALL-ee! God calls YOU to do what HE desires in this world. He wants you to have a very specific and pronounced VOICE in this world. So as you explore the things that you do well and the abilities that you have which bless others, you will learn how to use that voice. When you really learn how to use it, your impact is what makes God smile. He's been waiting for you to "speak" all the time. So, what are you called to do?

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights . 2 Samuel 22:34 When I think about the imagery here I see a fleet footed, graceful, deer running quickly through the woods. Whenever I am fortunate to see one in a field, I notice how quickly they move and break to the right or the left. Sometimes I wish that I had their graceful feet when I am in difficult situations so that I can make a quick cut away or a mad dash out of the difficulty and into the wide open spaces. The deer is able to move to high elevations because of those feet. God makes us like the deer...able to climb higher and able to move suddenly and quickly in any direction. I encourage you today to be flexible. Take the high road and look at your difficulties through the eyes of the Lord. It's time to rise up to new heights. Now start climbing! " As the deer pants for water, so my soul longs for you ."(O Lord)

All things are possible if you believe. It's biblical. It's one of the principles in the kingdom of God that you can stand upon and see manifest every time. You can "take it to the bank" as they say. Most people have to see it to believe it. Show me that it happened and I will believe it did. We, however, as fully devoted followers of Christ, have to believe to see it. We visualize the desired result and move in the direction of what we see. It really is a more exciting way to live. Faith is the substance of the things that we hope for. When we step out on nothing we take a risk. Any risk that requires faith to produce s godly result is what we call faithfulness. That means that we are FULL of FAITH. And we know that we get that FAITH from hearing the things that edify and encourage us. Today, place yourself in an environment that is positive and energized by people dreaming BIG. Believe in that dream that you know God gave you. Believe in yourself. Now get

I've been reading in the Bible a story about the life of Joseph. In the book of Genesis, Chapter 37, it was obvious why this story is so popular among believers. Joe had quite a life. Talk about ups and downs! God gives him a dream and as soon as he shares it, those closest to him hate him! His own brothers conspire to get rid of him! Sounds like an episode of The Sopranos doesn't it? Each of us comes equipped with dreams and visions that guide us on our journey to God. When we do what He made us to do, not only do we win but those closest to us win also. Unfortunately, many people abandon their purpose in this life when adversity shows up. Joseph's brothers hated him for his dreams and for the way he talked about them. But he kept talking. He knew where we was going. He knew what God had shown him. And he went after it with reckless abandon! Have you ever identified the reason you are on this planet? What do you like to do? It may be part of your incredible dreams2de

I remember one sermon I did years ago about loss. I began to look at some of the strategies that seem to be used against us to stop us from moving forward. Even in moments when we are in sync with God’s will, difficulties can arise. As we get stronger and develop our God given instincts and abilities, more and more ideas and opportunities come our way and we are required to become more responsible. To whom much is given, much will be required and if we do not deliver…well what happens then? Things disappear.  The enemy has a strategy. It starts with division. DI-vision…separation from the vision. If he can get you away from the pack…if you can be isolated and alone, you are an easy person to pick apart. Once division occurs, its not long before the feeling of defeat shows up. Panic and fear overwhelm us and we start to believe that we are out of chances. The third phase of this attack is discouragement. It means you dis-courage…there is no courage left. No strength to fight, n

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up conflict, but  love covers over all wrongs . I know that God is love and that His love is unconditional and powerful. But today I ponder this idea of love covering offenses. Love covers all wrongs.  People have a tendency to run off with a few facts, full of emotion when it comes to gossip and/or slander. Church folks are some of the best when running to the phone instead of Gods throne. Pray before you say!  I think what God was hoping we would understand was that we have the power to love folks through a hard time. We can choose to restore rather than expose them in their period of weakness. Trust me, we will all need this type of mercy at some point in our lives. Maybe you know someone who is going through it right now. Don't throw a log on the fire. Use love to snuff out the flame. Love does indeed cover all wrongs!

I was reading a story one day about a man that had been sick for almost 40 years. The story is found in John 5. I would assume that perhaps his entire life he had struggled with his illness. I would also assume that anytime you live with something long enough, you just get used to it. Some people live with pain. Some live with abuse. Some live with the disease of depression. One day Jesus came by the place where this man was. Jesus, the One who knows the number of hairs on our head, the One who can tell us what is wrong and how to fix it, asks a question..." do you want to get well ?". The first time I read that all I could say was DUH! The man had been sick his entire life! But the man does not answer. Instead, he comes up with excuses. He blames his condition on the fact that the environment that he lives in does not care about him and neither do the people. Jesus knew his answer and He wanted to provoke this man to really think about getting well. If you get well

Hebrews 4:16  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Confidence ...it's something that each and every one of us needs to develop in our lives. Someone once said that it was  the feeling you have before you understand the situation . How true is that?Another definition describes it as  self-assurance that comes from having faith in our own abilities . Confidence is not arrogance. Arrogance is confidence without reason and wisdom. Arrogance causes you to be separated from others. Confidence draws you into the pack. Confidence in God helps you be all that you were meant to be in the midst of others. You were created to do good things for God with your life. You were born with natural and supernatural ability. You are in the place you are in today because of your character, your personality and your God-given skill-set. It's time to use them all for the glory of God and watch the wo

For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory .  Hebrews 3:4-6  Did you realize that each and every day you are building something? Every word is a timber, every action a nail putting that word into place. And when all of it comes together it builds the life that you are going to live. Makes you think a bit doesn't it? We need to be careful to let God provide us the Master plan for the life we are supposed to build. After all He is the builder of everything-the Grand Architect. But He needs us to carry the project through. So what kind of house(life) are you building? The wrong words and actions are like warped wood and dull nails. We are Gods house! Be confident, hope in him and get

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 . Habakkuk 1:2-4  How often do you complain? Have you ever spent part of your day whining about the way that your life was going? As I read the words of this scripture today, I began to 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 cry about aches and pains, lack of what I want and I even complain about the injustices in this life. Sometimes I ask God why He doesn't just just come and save me. Is He even listening? Jesus never said tha

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 . 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 desert Christ and pursue something else. Once you have had a taste of grace, once you have digested it and learned to live off of its power, you can never abandon 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 in your life will somehow be utilized in making you stronger, more

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.  Glory to God, He is able! He is able to heal, able to deliver, able to provide, able to protect...He is able!  Glory to God! I think that sometimes believing this is hard because we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the drama that invades our life. We want to see God's power and watch Him work to change the situation. Don't miss the hidden gem in this text that tells you how to accomplish more than you ever thought you could. That power, His power is at work...IN US! With God, nothing is impossible! Inside of you today is enough power, enough faith and enough knowledge and skill to turn around any situation for the good. It can even turn out to be better than you ever imagined! More than you've thought of, more than