A Coffee Break With Jesus

I recall many times when I was preparing to move in a specific direction, the Spirit would speak to me through the Word, in my thoughts, and through changing circumstances to make a course correction.   Even when I undertake a new painting, I ask the Spirit to assist me, give me understanding of the subject, and when I am stuck on some aspect, I ask for His guidance. Don’t blame the Spirit for my finished product, He only can do so much with this piece of clay.   We tend to t

It wasn’t until I stopped attempting to get God’s attention that I experienced Him up close. When I became a Christian, I began working on a plan to please God through works of service. Those were tough years, filled with times of great discouragement. I couldn’t seem to get Him to pay attention to the many ventures I started in His name. The more I said, “Look at what I am doing for you,” the more distant He appeared. The door to God’s presence appeared slammed shut and lock

I try not to overthink things, which can easily displace my focus on God’s continued provision and love for me. There is a simplicity in Christ that invites me into real friendship, where He plays the role of the most faithful Friend.   2 Corinthians 11:3 NKJV “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”   I fail and come up short time and again, but He urges me on. “Walk with

“I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will answer my complaint.” Habakkuk 2:1   Like Habakkuk, we have a watchtower where we wait for the LORD to speak, and to act. Habakkuk’s position allowed him to gaze over the countryside and the teeming population. Irrespective of God’s great blessings upon Israel, the people were not satisfied with God being enough. God was about to bring judgment upon the nat

This verse stood out this morning:   2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation.   It tells me my salvation was no accident, “…at just the right time I heard you.” It is always just the right time with my Father. I don’t always like His timing. My impatience gets the best of me, and my impatience has cost me unnecessary pain over the years. I a

One of the many outstanding qualities of Jesus was His sheer honesty.  He never left men in any doubt about what would happen to them if they chose to follow him. Jesus came "not to make life easy, but to make men great."    He also taught us life’s challenges must be met with courage, therefore understanding the role of peacemaking is essential. We live in a society that wants so desperately to have peace that they are willing to have peace at any price. Whenever we speak of

John 8:32, “…and you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”.  There is great freedom when one is walking in the truth. First, the very idea of walking in truth presupposes that one would not want to offend God, by walking in a known area of untruth.  Moral authority has its birthplace in the womb of truth, which is why truth is alive, with the capacity to set us free. All authority breaks down, when descending morals create the impetus to live under the bondag

We look one last time into the classroom regarding the study of the Great Blue.  This time you see our solitary friend standing sentinel-like in shallow water at the margin of a pond or sluggish river.  He is one of America’s largest birds, with a standing height of nearly five feet.  He stands perfectly still, demonstrating a quiet patience that assures him of success.  So still does he stand that the unwary fish and frogs rush to the shadow in the water that he creates by h

We return once more to the study of the Great Blue Heron. At the first sense of approaching danger, this great blue avian, with a wingspan of nearly six feet, will effortlessly mount up from the earth.  He lifts his head toward heaven and within moments he is out of danger.  In like manner we to must look upwards towards the heavens and utilize the advantage that God has given us.   In Psalm 50: 15 God declares; “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you

One of the grand lessons from natures schoolroom, is to never let down your guard.  There are many predators lurking just outside the range of your natural vision, who would carefully plot your destruction. In this age of apathy far too many have cast off restraint.  In doing so, they fail to take a stand, almost certainly encouraging defeat rather than success.  They carelessly saunter into the enemy’s territory, inviting destruction. Then they lift their complaint and cry a

“Love (charity) never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance .” 1 Corinthians 13: 7 NLT C.S. Lewis believed that four types of love were involved in human relationships. They are affection, friendship, sexuality, and charity. Charity goes beyond the other forms of love. Charity loves because God Himself is Love. If you are looking for an example of perfection in humanity you will be greatly disappointed. If you are looking for

When we moved to Arizona we quickly found out that the hardest part of the learning curve is the gardening. The zone is different, the earth is different, and the weather far hotter than any place I've put in new plants or sown seeds. At first it didn't work out. We bought plants that soon died. They withered no matter how much we studied, researched, watered or fertilized them, but then we tried again. And again. And again, but we didn't give up. In the midst of all of thi

How have I been personally impacted by the Gospel?  When I was younger I had all the symptoms of having the Gospel. I went to church, I prayed, I spoke openly about Jesus in our home and my family thought I was the most spiritual in our household.  By the age of 15 I was in hot pursuit of the world and God had become a burden to me. I was 26 years old when God called me out of the darkness of the world that I was living into his marvelous light. I am living proof that men can

A Little Boy's Christmas   Pressing his nose against the window pane, A little boy stood peering through the clouded glass. Falling snow had covered muddy fields stained. He spoke aloud, "Will this peace on earth last?"   Icicles clinging like ornaments from the branches. Fields and orchards decked in brilliant white- In the air, a mysterious stirring of divine romance- To think that it all began so long ago on Christmas Night.   All of creation is charged with radiant glory,

"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3 What does ‘becoming like little children’ actually have to do with God's kingdom? Isn't one of our great challenges to assist our children in growing up to become enterprising individuals? Why would anybody want to be a child again? I believe it has a lot to do with a child's sense of adventure and wonder, that gives them the confid

He stands alone in the face of extreme danger, without regard for his own life.  He is exposed to all adversaries, all while forsaking his own safety.  Thus, he provides the necessary security to assure that the little ones will have a future and a hope.   This picture of devotion and loyalty does not come from the pages of human history or great accolades of courage.   No, the inspiration of this tale, the truth of this deed lies in the simple and humble Sentinel Quail.  He

“And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. Romans 8:30-31 Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” If God had not chosen me, I cannot conceive of any self-concocted plan that would have secured my understanding and love for God. I am

“Jesus told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds…”    Matthew 13:3 NLT   I cannot look at the parable of the sower with eyes only on the unbeliever and the condition of his heart. I believe Jesus’s parable also speaks to the heart of every follower of His.   If the WORD of God (Seed) is going to produce an abundant increase within my life, then I must also be aware of the conditions in the parable that will pr

“Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.” Hebrews 13:15    I had to purpose gratitude in my life. It isn’t as though some are born with it, and others are not; it is a learned character trait. In the early days of following JESUS, my trials appeared to be more in number than my blessings. I questioned GOD’S fairness and love for me.    I understa

“A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.” Proverbs 1:5   Why develop a habit of reading? Why read the Bible and great books? Reading stimulates our imagination and expands our understanding of the world we live in. Trisha and I have always read to our children great books, both classics, and history. I have read George McDonald’s,  The Princess And The Goblins , to the delight of my children and grandchildren many ti