Posts with the tag “jesus”

Have you ever prayed for something and it just seemed to take too long? I got myself caught up in that feeling recently, even though I knew better. Happens to the best of us. Our human nature is very demanding and it’s patience wears thin. It wants what it wants when it wants it! We have to use temperance and self-control, and a good dose of the Holy Spirit, to keep our human “I want it now!” desi...  Read More

Noise is getting on my last nerve. What about you? The television is going, the cell phone is dinging (I know I can turn off notifications, but then I won’t know when I’m being notified!), everyone’s talking, and yes, there is an annoying bird squawking right outside my bedroom window. It seems hard to escape the noise and find a quiet place.Real confession. I am prone to escape to the closet or t...  Read More

Need a pick me up or a boost to keep going? We can all use some good thoughts, some positive affirmations and a few “lift me ups.” In a conversation with a friend the other day, she was listing down all the crazy situations she was facing in her life. One thing after another came racing out of her mouth. When she finally took a deep breath, she said, “Is there anything positive ever going to happe...  Read More

Years ago, we went to a festival in the park. There were artists, food vendors and music. As I strolled around, I came across some eye catching artwork depicting the Garden of Eden and Creation. Flowing through the garden was this peaceful, welcoming river. As I stared at the painting, I could imagine sitting peacefully there listening to the water flowing. “A river watering the garden flowed from...  Read More

Sharon was fed up! She asked Michael several times not to track the dirt in the house when he came home from work. Especially on her new floors. What did he do when he came in? He never stopped for a moment to take off his shoes and clumped through the house leaving a trail of mud. She exploded and gave him a piece of her mind. She then stormed out of the house fuming and by the time she got to th...  Read More

Sometimes we heap great praise on people who do great things. It’s giving honor and praise to a person who has accomplished something extraordinary, like developing a new cure for cancer or doing some great feat like athletics. Our praise can go to such heights that we place the person far beyond any others, almost “putting someone on a pedestal” or exalting him or her.“Exalt”, a word that isn’t u...  Read More

There are days when we wish we could run to a place of safety, away from the troubles of life and the arrows of the enemy. We do get weary of the pandemic, “breaking news,” and opinions passed off as truth. It would be so easy to throw up our hands in utter hopelessness. But praise God for our refuge. That place of peace, comfort and wisdom. That place where we hear a voice of love, kindness and g...  Read More

“Hallelujah” is an exclamation of worship or a call to praise. It comes from a Hebrew phrase that means “Praise the Lord.” It’s a joyful expression of praise and thanksgiving to God. Honestly, a Hallelujah should be on our lips every day for all the Lord has done and is doing for us. But sometimes it’s hard to find your Hallelujah or even remember you had it.Have you ever gotten up in the morning ...  Read More

“As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And He sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for Him; but the people there did not welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem.” Luke 9:51-53Sometimes you run across a word you don’t hear much, but has such deep meaning. That happened when I came across ...  Read More

Alicia was such an interesting person, a great friend and a wonderful daughter. Everywhere she went she brought a smile and kind word. Her co-workers looked to her for encouragement and she made the workplace sane. Her two best friends loved hanging out with her because she was so full of fun and laughter. Alicia’s family got excited every time she visited. She was the red shiny apple of the famil...  Read More

Sometimes, it is best to let Scripture alone speak. We don’t need to add words or interpretation. Today, let’s let the Word speak to our hearts about the beauty of the resurrection of Jesus as seen through the eyes of those who dearly loved Him. They were no different from us, just ordinary people who believed He was the Son of God, and that through Him, we could all be saved and have eternal life...  Read More

Sometimes we forget the power we’ve been given by the all powerful Jesus. We forget the strength of the Holy Spirit and the victory of that strength in our lives. We were given the method and the process for claiming and maintaining that victory. Let’s pick up our armor and our weapons because none formed against us can proper. Join us as we pray this week’s prayer over any fiery darts the enemy s...  Read More

Have you ever been so sad and confused over something that you found it hard to move forward another day? Some of us may feel that way because of the issues COVID-19 has brought. Some of us may feel that way because we’ve had a defining life event that was so hurtful. Some of us may identify because we’ve lost something or someone so suddenly.Imagine you are one of Jesus’ disciples and it’s the da...  Read More

We have appointed times in our lives for many life events. Those times are only known by God. He is the master of all time and His plan is according to His schedule. In Ecclesiastes we are told that there is a time for everything under the sun. For example, God had an appointed time for Jesus to fulfill HIs purpose by coming to earth. He has an appointed time for Him to return, and no one else kno...  Read More

This is Easter week and it’s time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. We celebrate because through His broken body and His precious blood, we are redeemed, forgiven and restored as the people God intended us to be. Join us as we pray for the Lord to let us know how to live for Him, how to walk for Him and how to talk for Him. It is time.Take your place and stand....and was declared to be the S...  Read More

Ready to put life’s troubles in their place? Tired of the weariness of the pandemic? Ready to send the enemy where he belongs—out of your life? Then get off this mountain! We’ve been sitting on this mountain long enough. It’s time to get up and take control and authority over our lives just the way Jesus told us to do. We are not defeated and we aren’t losers!The Lord even told that to the Israeli...  Read More

It’s Spring and old man Winter is being pushed aside slowly but surely. The earth is preparing for a new season of planting and growth. Isn’t it amazing how our outlook changes with the seasons too? We begin to feel light hearted and we excitedly look forward to getting outside and enjoying the outdoors after being cooped up for so long. There’s only one thing:  we need the spring—rain.While rain ...  Read More

Yes, it’s that time again. You are invited to a praise party today. The time: right now. The dress: whatever you have on. Please bring your worship, your best praise dance moves and a bag of shouts of Hallelujah! BYOM (Bring Your Own Music).It’s time for us to send the enemy packing. Just because we have trials and situations to deal with doesn’t mean that we should let our guard down and let him ...  Read More

There was a time in our history, when a man or woman’s word was bond. Words were important and not thrown around without integrity and truth. If he or she said it, you could believe it. They stood by their word. If a person broke his or her word or promise, it would cause others to lose faith and trust in whatever that person said going forward. Character was important.Many contracts and bonds wer...  Read More

We are weary of the pandemic and all the worries of the world. It’s so tempting to put our heads in the sand and pray it passes over us somehow. This is not the time to give up or to run away. It’s time to double down and invite the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and every situation. It’s time to push through and pray for the revival we need to get past it all. It’s time we allow the Holy Spir...  Read More

How do you see Jesus? Is He your 911 call when you’ve exhausted all options? Is He your quick fix at the moment? Or is He your “go to” for life whether you are in the midst of the good or the bad? How you see Jesus actually determines what shape your heart is in.You can tell what shape your heart is in by the words that come out of your mouth. Those words connect with your actions. Unfortunately, ...  Read More

If I asked you where you live, I’m sure you’d give me a city and a state, maybe even a neighborhood. We tend to think of zones in terms of geographical areas. You’d give me a great description of what it looks like and what it means to live there since zones tend to be distinct areas. You might say, however, “I’m in a happy zone, today.” Or “I’m in my comfort zone.” But those are earthly zones.The...  Read More

Do you need an encounter with God today? Do you want to push away the troubles and demands of life, and take a break? Or do you just need a touch from Him today? Now is the time. Drop whatever you are doing, and let’s call upon the Lord to be present right where you are—in your car, in your room, as you are walking, wherever you are.Empty your thoughts and quiet your mind. It may take a moment, bu...  Read More

When we were kids, we loved a big downpour of rain in the summer because after the storm, we could run out and jump in the puddles. It was even more fun to walk along the curb in the water as it rushed down the street. Because I was Miss Don’t Want To Get Dirty, I would put my old sneakers on instead of going barefoot. Once we were done, I would walk home with squishy shoes, water just teeming out...  Read More

Waiting is a challenge, especially in our culture. We don’t have patience to wait and we can get a bit of an attitude if we have to. It’s time we take a pause and realize that there is actually beauty and blessings in waiting. In fact, it’s ten times easier to wait than to get all exercised and bothered, and still have to wait.Many things are worth the wait, and greater blessings often come in the...  Read More

Do you remember the story of the Invisible Man? He could walk through a room and unless he had on a piece of clothing, you wouldn’t know he was there. He used his invisible ability to do good and solve mysteries. Unless you knew him, you found it highly impossible to believe anyone could be invisible. It’s hard to believe in what you can’t see.Many go through life demanding an explanation for thin...  Read More

The pandemic has exhausted us and the prolonged separation from family and friends has taken its toll. Sometimes, we may even wonder how long the darkness will try to hold back the name of the Lord. Rest assured that the name of Jesus will be lifted up and the glory of the Lord will be revealed. We must not be discouraged and we must not stop praying for a fresh wind of the Lord to come and revive...  Read More

Jesus had a long couple of days. His disciples had just come back from their mission excited to tell Him about it. But because so many people kept coming, they didn’t even have a chance to eat. Although Jesus tried to take them away where they could talk and rest, too many people recognized them. By the time Jesus and the disciples landed, there was already a large crowd. He had compassion on them...  Read More

“Delight,” a word that isn’t used much today. What does it mean to be delighted with someone or something? I get delighted when I see my granddaughter singing and dancing. I am delighted when I receive a gift from someone. To be delighted means to take great pleasure or keen enjoyment; to be greatly pleased.The best living example of someone who is delighted is to watch a baby. When a baby is deli...  Read More

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He talked about the harvest. He trained up His disciples so they could go out and train more disciples with the mission of spreading the Gospel. Here we are over two thousand years later, and the ministry He launched is still alive and well. Yes, we are battling a pandemic and many other issues as well; however, in spite of our trials, in fact, because of our trials, pe...  Read More

Are you a disciple maker? Do you see the vast harvest just waiting for us to fill the boats with fish, fish ready to taste and see Jesus? Our hope is in Him and the work He commissions us to do. His disciples were no different from us. They had their worries and their doubts, especially after His death and resurrection. But they pushed through. He gave them abundance and hope, just like He does fo...  Read More

Throughout the Old and New Testament, you’ll find many references to fire and the altar. God was the Fire in the burning bush and the Fire that led the Israelites at night to the Promised Land. Fire from heaven consumed altars laden with offerings to the Lord for sin. Tongues of fire came down from heaven upon Jesus’ followers when the Holy Spirit descended after His resurrection.Noah built the fi...  Read More

We’ve been in the midst of a pandemic for over a year now. Our finances have been affected, our jobs have been impacted and our ability to move about freely has nearly evaporated. We’ve all experienced what I call “COVID brain.” Whether we realize it or not, our minds have been scrambled by the lock downs and the new way of living. This season has reignited loneliness, anger, depression, disappoin...  Read More

It is so easy to get paralyzed by everything happening in the world, from the pandemic to our own issues and trials. We start to reminisce about the past and how things were better, even if they really weren’t. Fear keeps us from moving forward because we don’t know what lies ahead. Fear rushes us into paralysis analysis as we swirl and our eyes are blind to what the future holds.Living in constan...  Read More

There are no new situations under the sun, just variations of similar circumstances. The disciples were locked behind closed doors in fear after Jesus’ death. They didn’t know what the future held for them. Today, we too are locked down and locked in by COVID not knowing what’s next and fearful of what we face. But Jesus appeared and breathed a breath of revival and peace on the disciples. Join us...  Read More

We’ve talked about the love the Lord has for us and the love we should have for Him; however, we cannot talk about love and ignore the other of the two commandments Jesus gave us: love your neighbor as you love yourself. If ever we need to heed those words, it is now. Facing bitter divisions within our country, our families and our neighbors, it’s time for us to return to His ways. He did not say ...  Read More

Reading my one year Bible, I came across the story of Moses’ encounters with God on Mount Sinai when the Israelites were heading to the Promised Land. What is so beautiful about this story is to hear straight from the lips of the Lord how much He loves us, even when we don’t  deserve it. This story reveals His heart toward His people.Moses made two famous trips up Mount Sinai to meet with the Lord...  Read More

We are walking into the Love Weekend! For those of you who may need a reminder, Valentine’s Day is Sunday. How appropriate that we would talk about love on the very day we celebrate Jesus.There are so many stories in the Bible about God’s love and the love of Jesus. I like to think of the Bible as God’s love letter to us because it is filled with His declarations of love for us and the extent He i...  Read More

Yesterday, we talked about our need to get moving if we want to see change and the move of the Lord in our lives. We have to break out of our comfort zones and awaken the fire we have down in our bones for Jesus. In that fire and passion for Him, we will find a joy and peace that will overcome every crazy twist and turn of life.Does your soul burn for Jesus or has your faith and passion been reduc...  Read More

There’s a game I just loved to play called, “The Game of Life.” It’s a board game with little cars that you put stick people in and you go around the board of life. You may pick up a kid or two, a house and more, but the game is supposed to be fun as you go through the ups and downs of life. My favorite part was yelling, “Your move!” because I wanted to play the game fast and win.The game takes yo...  Read More