Jesus answered, โTruly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, โYou must be born … Continue reading Advancing The Kingdom
An Age of Awe & Wonder
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8โญ-โฌ9 NLT An encounter with God, an experience with God, sometimes one is all … Continue reading An Age of Awe & Wonder
Out Of This World
Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4 NRSV Who do you believe? God or the devil? Who do you serve? God or the devil? It's one or the other. How can … Continue reading Out Of This World
The Spirit of Adoption
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, โAbba! Father!โ Romans 8:14โญ-โฌ15 NASB2020 Pure and … Continue reading The Spirit of Adoption
Witnessing Love
โSo now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.โ John 13:34โญ-โฌ35 NLT โGo therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of … Continue reading Witnessing Love
The Life I Now Live
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV Jesus loves you. He gave Himself for … Continue reading The Life I Now Live
Bold As Love
We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected … Continue reading Bold As Love
Perfected In Patience
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2โญ-โฌ4 NKJV What does it mean to have your faith tested? I think of it as various … Continue reading Perfected In Patience
The Agรกpฤ Revival
Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It … Continue reading The Agรกpฤ Revival
Constrained By Love
Either way, Christโs love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised … Continue reading Constrained By Love
God First
Jesus answered, โMy kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.โ Therefore Pilate said to Him, โSo You are a king?โ Jesus answered, … Continue reading God First
Harmony
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14 NLT I asked the Lord what the next move of God would be. He said, โHarmony.โ I'll let you meditate on that one. For me, that's a confirmation of what I've been sensing is missing in the Body of … Continue reading Harmony
A New Day
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing … Continue reading A New Day
Pandemic Prayer Points Part 3
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV God's promises often come with conditions. We often want the blessings without doing … Continue reading Pandemic Prayer Points Part 3
Pandemic Prayer Points Part 2
Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalms 62:8 NASB Picking up from yesterday, let's talk prayer. First, you humble yourself. Then, you pray. Prayer is conversation with God. It's an essential part of having a relationship with God. Think about … Continue reading Pandemic Prayer Points Part 2
Pandemic Prayer Points Part 1
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.Matthew 11:29 NRSV Originally posted in early 2020... Everyone seems to be issuing COVID-19 communications. Here's my take on things concerning the coronavirus and how people of faith should respond. I … Continue reading Pandemic Prayer Points Part 1
Wherever You Go
So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 GW Focus on disciple making. That's what the Lord said to me as I was driving home from a lunch meeting less than two weeks ago where … Continue reading Wherever You Go
The Goal
And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], [and He … Continue reading The Goal
The Life Is In The Roots
For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through … Continue reading The Life Is In The Roots
Strange Love
The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.] 1 John 4:8 AMP Have you ever wondered if you're really saved? How do I know if … Continue reading Strange Love
Reignite
โRemember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.โIsaiah 43:18โญ-โฌ19 ESV After a fire sweeps through an area, transforming everything in its path through … Continue reading Reignite
One Of Many
So let no one boast in men [about their wisdom, or of having this or that one as a leader]. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter) or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things are yours, and you belong to Christ; … Continue reading One Of Many
Transcendent Faith
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of … Continue reading Transcendent Faith
The Baptism of Fire
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faithโmore precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fireโmay be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 … Continue reading The Baptism of Fire
Washing The Machine
Jesus answered and said to her, โEveryone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.โ John 4:13โญ-โฌ14 NASB2020 … Continue reading Washing The Machine