It is a natural response to want to defend yourself. I don’t mean physically, like from a shark attack (good luck with that), or with a shield and sword. I’m talking about defending your character, your reputation, your religion, your political ideology, your sense of direction. Continue reading What Would Jesus Do?
I came across a little chart recently, that had a break-down of about 9 well-known religious leaders in the world today. I won’t name any names here. It doesn’t really matter the who…it’s the what that I’m more concerned with. I’ll get to that in a minute. The chart showed the amount of money each of these leaders and their ministries earned in a year. Let’s just say it was quite a bit more than the teacher’s salary I earn in Missouri. I can’t adequately assess these leaders solely based on how much they earn because I have no information as to how much of that money they give to God – and there is the what. Continue reading The Deliberate Life of Jesus Christ
More than 15 years ago now, I spent many days in a hospital room taking care of my mother when her time on earth was coming to an end. I slept in the bed beside her, fed her, bathed her, washed her hair, helped her brush her teeth, massaged her neck, talked to her, watched over her, and tried to comfort her during her pain and confusion. The emotions we all experienced during this time ran the gamut. My mother had not gone into this hospital to die. It was just another step in the process of getting her better, or so we thought. None of us, me or my three siblings, misunderstood the severity of the cancer that ravaged her body. Yet we were slow to accept the truth about how little time she had left. The reality of that fact would weigh heavier on me than anything I had ever faced before. So heavy, I all but crumbled beneath it. Continue reading 41 Hours to the Cross
Dear Lord,
Help me to have faith that You are in control of my life. Help me to recognize Satan’s attempts to sabotage my faith. Give me the strength to drive him out of my thoughts so my true focus can be on You. Let me live to serve You, oh Lord!
In Jesus Precious Name,
Amen
If I worked all day, every day, for the rest of my life, it would never be enough. I, in my imperfection, my sin, my absolute ‘humanness’ could never do enough. No matter how pure my intentions, or how true my heart, I can never reach this pinnacle I thought I had to reach in order to be able to serve the Lord. I can’t wait until I’ve finally reached this level of Nirvana, that does not exist, to serve God. I have to serve Him now. Continue reading Just Do It!
Have Thine own way Lord
Have Thine own way
Thou art the potter, I am the clay
Mold me and make me after Thy will
While I am waiting yielded and still
Lord, this is all I truly want. For You to have Your will fulfilled in me. Whatever You want me to do, wherever You want me to go, I want only that. I am ready and willing to serve You, and I pray that You will use me to bring glory to Your great name. Help me to know my calling. To hear Your voice, and have no doubt. To have the strength and the grace to pick up my cross and follow You. These things I pray in Jesus Holy Name.
Amen
So many things have gone on in my life in the last several days. Seems like the devil is working overtime to try and steal my joy. But, that is life, and it’s hard to have a message if there isn’t a mess to go through, or a testimony if there aren’t some tests along the way. “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 So…bring it on Satan! I’m not done yet. Continue reading I’m Not Done Yet
God Before Coffee is a registered trademark.