A Coffee Break With Jesus

It is unfortunate that so few Christians understand that the real battle we face is not mere flesh and blood. We struggle from within and without, attempting to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. We utilize all the energy we have at our disposal, and It doesn’t work! Why?   “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 1

“It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow.”1 Corinthians 3:7 NLT   Many of the religious leaders hated the message the apostles were openly preaching after Jesus’s death. Today the message of Jesus is also under assault and there are many who stand in opposition.    What makes people so violently hostile to the truth of the living Jesus? SIN! Sin that does not want to be challenged or denied is at the

If we know that God is speaking to us, through HIS WORD or through wise counsel and refuse to act, how can we say we have faith in God. Faith is not easy; we tend to choose the path of least resistance, where status-quo becomes a companion of unbelief. Real faith humbles one's pride and strips away self-confidence. Real faith takes the road less traveled. What pressing decisions demands your courage and obedience to act in faith? Many times, I have had to separate my emotio

As a follower of Jesus, “do I look to the Word daily?” Am I taking my daily challenges to the Spirit for guidance?   I think of it this way. Would I attempt to put a complex 2,000 piece puzzle together without the picture on the box. I recently bought a worktable for Trisha’s garden. It had a lot more pieces than I expected, and some were cut in such a way, that you had to study the directions quite carefully, and even then, I had to remove a section I thought fit well.  Life

"For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones." Ephesians 5:30 What do you want in a church? Have you ever sat down and considered what things are really important to you in the church that you call home? The reason that I believe this is an important exercise for all of us is that we have diversity of ethnicity; we are multi-generational with a wide range of gifted-ness and personalities. Diversity can be a challenge, but in Christ, we glorify God by seek

"But you are a chosen generation, a· royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him...

“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24 Don’t be fearful of disagreement: Remember the slogan, "When two partners always agree, one of them is not necessary." Perhaps this disagreement is your opportunity to be corrected before you make a serious mistake. Watch first reactions: Our first natural reaction in a disagreeable situation is to be defensive. Be careful. Keep calm and watch out for your first reaction. It m

Psalm 42:6 "Oh my God, my soul is cast down within me..."   This past week’s assassination of Charlie Kirk ignited heartfelt responses from around the world. Charlie’s unwavering faith in Jesus is exemplified by his complete trust and confidence in the goodness of God.   It may be difficult to say God is good if something bad happens to us unless we believe God has ultimate control in our lives. It is a belief and trust in God's love and sovereignty that will carry us through

“ Be Sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5: 8 You...

“Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation.” Psalm 68:19 The famous English preacher Charles...

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.  12  Their...

Here is an honest complaint I shared with the Lord. “Why are You allowing so many trials, conflicts, and continual spiritual warfare, while I am trying so desperately to serve You?” I anticipated challenges to my faith while following God’s plan and purpose. I quickly became aware of the devil lurking in the background of God’s plan for me, but this seemed way over the top. At times I felt like I was facing life and death struggles. For me, Paul’s words sum up why I was goin

The following passage speaks of our being the aroma of Christ. When growing up on the farm one of my favorite memories was coming in from...

God’s standard of righteousness cannot be achieved by adhering to the law. No amount of effort or self-perfection can satisfy the full requirements set forth in the law.    “Then why was the law put in place?” I ask myself.    Galatians 3:19,24 NLT 'Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was th

I find myself in Roman’s 1, standing before heavens court representing myself, and I was found guilty. Abraham Lincoln said, “A man who Is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.”   Roman’s 3 explains why I couldn’t escape the guilty verdict.    “For ALL have sinned and FALL SHORT of the glory of GOD.” Romans 3:23 God’s judgment is clear, I was guilty as charged. Rather than being my own advocate, I needed an advocate who had direct access to God to represent me in Heaven’s c

I knew that I wasn’t a big piece in God’s puzzle. It defied man’s most sensible reason when the Holy Spirit began calling me to ministry. I had no formal education, no Bible college or seminary, and no experience. I embodied and lived Paul’s words to the church. 1 Corinthians 1:26-27 NLT Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. [27] Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in or

I discovered early on in my faith that God’s purpose in my life was not to make me successful. He was looking for someone who would handle the Word responsibly, without using the ministry for self exaltation. God alone is worthy of exaltation.  I always believed that worship was more important than my preaching. Yes,  preaching plays a very important role in the life of the church, and ultimately anointed preaching will lead others to discover the true worship of God.  Knowle

When I was filled with the Holy Spirit, and knew the difference between being full of myself and full of the Spirit, I saw a radical...

Even desperately wanting to serve the LORD can be a thing we try too hard to do. Striving to serve the Lord is a wearisome task. We might...

Faith must be tried and tested to prove itself real.    Faith is not just a mindset and it is not just an action, it is in how you live...