cupofjoe

Complete JOY!

2009-10-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday at church we talked about having "one voice". We pondered many wonderful scenarios of a church that was hitting on all cylinders. Imagine what the church could do if we were all in sync with the heart of God and used our voice(influence/skills/resources) to bring about positive life change in others! Personally, I am trying to pull myself together and get my mind, my heart and my body working together. It just feels good when every part of me is working together towards one goal. There is great power in agreement.
Today I was reading in Philippians 2 and it says,
2:1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Notice that being like-minded, having hearts united and spirits in sync is the key to having "complete" joy. Could you use some JOY today? Complete joy? Think about how you are using your voice. Are you glorifying the Lord in what you say and do? Put Christ in the center of everything and be like-minded, loving and "spirited". It's going to be a great week!

Believe it!

2009-10-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

I remember Jesus telling Peter and the disciples once about speaking to the mountains in their life and they would be cast into the sea.(Mark 11:23) Have faith in God is what he told them. But there was a condition on that mountain in the sea thing. They could not doubt in their heart. In other words they had to actually BELIEVE the prayers that they were praying and know that FAITH in God could do anything.
The life of a believer is one where we believe it and then see it. As followers of Christ we have a divinely planted inward confidence and assurance that the God who created us is reliable. It's that instinct that allows us to believe first. To the world, seeing is believing. That does not take faith and that is a breeding ground for more and more doubt. Doubt disables your faith. It disengages you from the process of healing, deliverance and blessing. If you can remove ALL doubt, you can speak to anything that hinders you and it will be gone. Believe it! It won't be long until you see it! FAITH is the key that releases the resources of heaven into every situation.

Don't Quit!

2009-10-01T06:32:00.003-05:00

On this day in 1880, October 1st, Thomas Edison opened up the first electric light shop. He held over 1000 patents and invented many things including the phonograph. He built his own science laboratory at the age of 10. He is known to have said,‘Genius is one percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration’.
Though he started out selling vegetables and delivering papers, though he was partially deaf, he achieved so many thing that we benefit from today. The secret to his success was that he never quit. Whenever he failed at an experiment he just chalked it up as another way it wouldn't work and moved ahead.
Today, people quit too easily. When things get hard we look for an easier way. When it takes too long, our lack of patience causes us to give up. We know that life is challenging. We know there will be difficulties. But with God on our side, well, who can be against us? With Him ALL things are possible. He IS the way, the truth and the life. If you stick it out, if you keep moving forward, you will walk out of the defeat and into victory.
It's time to stop with the excuses. Ask God to give you the strength and show you the way. He makes a way where there does not seem to be one and He promised He would never abandon you. There may be an invention inside of you! Imagine that, right now you may have an idea that could one day change the way people live! Exciting isn't it? Don't quit!

A God of Variety

2009-09-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

What messages are you seeing today? I was reading a scripture this morning in Hebrews 1:1 that talks about God speaking in a variety of ways at various times. Then my mind went off to thin about what He might do is He wanted to get through to me. I like praise and worship music, a good early afternoon trip to the theater, a drive around the city and I enjoy stealing a few quiet moments at the local coffee shop. So when God wants to capture my attention He often does it through a song or movie, a billboard or street sign, or a chance meeting with a friend.
I would love Him to speak more frequently and much more quickly at times but I am realizing that His timing is absolutely perfect. I imagine Him orchestrating all of my steps each day, the songs I will hear, the route I will drive to and from the office and the people that will come across my path. All of these things will be happening to make my life more fulfilling and to provide me direction. The problem for many people today is that they just aren’t watching. We’ve got to stay alert and pay attention.
What do you need from the Lord today? Perhaps an answer about a career change? A yes or know regarding a partnership? God still speaks today in a variety of ways and at the most peculiar times. So be watching for His sudden appearances. Read the signs and don’t rush through every place that you go. I am confident that He is going to show up on something, at someplace or in someone today!

Let Trouble Work for You!

2009-09-29T07:26:00.003-05:00

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 COR 4:17

In this world we will have trouble. That trouble can hem us in on every side and cause great confusion. It can be painful. We can even be knocked over because of it. But the good news is that we will never be destroyed! Trouble isn't always a bad thing. The hard times that you are going through right now are small potatoes in comparison to the great things that God is about to pour out upon you. You never know how long trouble will last. What you do know is that trouble will pass. And what can rise up out of it is a new and improved YOU!

Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise! So you just have to ask yourself, am I ready to look at trouble in a whole new way? Can I let trouble work for me today?

Do You Have CSSD?

2009-09-28T06:37:00.002-05:00

How good are you at handling disappointment? Bad news is never easy to take. But unfortunately, if we are going to live in this world we are promised something...trouble! Jesus said it himself in John 16: "in this world you would have trouble." One translation calls it tribulation. To me that's just a fancy word for trouble that lasts a long, long time!
The Greek word for tribulation gives it even more meaning. It's pressure, stress and anguish. It's also described as crushing, squashing, squeezing distress or what I call CSSD. Maybe you have CSSD today. You're not alone! Rest assured that there is a cure.
Jesus concluded his statement by telling us to "be of good cheer" because He had already conquered tribulation. He already provided a way through the storm. You can overcome that crushing, squashing, squeezing distress!
Beat CSSD today with CHRIST!

Be the Word

2009-09-25T07:34:00.000-05:00

We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. 2 Corinthians 4:8,9 MSG
I’ve been trying to stay on the highway to God’s favor this month. The more I understand what God says about me, the more confidence I gain to do what He has planned for me to do. It has felt like I am driving down there highway with the top down on a warm sunny day and there is no traffic!
Unfortunately, there is always traffic somewhere. Life is filled with disruptions and detours. We will be hard-pressed on every side and even feel moments of despair. The Good News is that we cannot be crushed. We cannot be destroyed. We have within us the power to overcome the things that are trying to come over us!
Remember that not every detour is a bad thing. Sometimes God will lead us on to a new “bypass” so that we can pass by trouble.
So don’t lose heart. Trust His plan…trust the process. God is strengthening you so that you can be effective and have impact on others. People need a Word from the Lord. YOU, my friend, can be that Word!

A Plate Full of Grateful

2009-09-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving will always lead to thanks-living! An attitude of gratitude is essential if we are to be fully satisfied and truly effective. Thanksgiving as a lifestyle changes the course of events, the atmosphere, even the environment. A person that is thankful can draw out the best in others. They can also overcome challenges and difficulties: anxiety and stress.
Look at Philippians 4:6 " Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
One of the easiest ways to alleviate stress is to give thanks. Gratefulness eliminates hatefulness. You cannot be thankful and resentful at the same time. We know that scripture tells us that the “JOY of the Lord is our strength”. We can choose our response. What’s inside of us is going to surface…you can count on it!
So when it comes to thankfulness, is it in you today? Giving thanks to the Lord is part of His will for your life. Why not start thanks-living today!

1 THESS 5:16 Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Singing in the Pain!

2009-09-23T07:24:00.002-05:00

Sometimes life can be challenging. People do things that can cause pain on other people. You may have been harmed by actions, words or some circumstances beyond your control. I was thinking about Paul and Silas, one night after they had been stripped and beaten they were thrown into prison. They were under heavy surveillance and bound hand and foot. They had to be in a great deal of pain.
But the Bible says that at midnight, the two of them began to sing. Imagine that, singing in the pain! As their voices were lifted up their chains were falling off. Suddenly a violet earthquake shook the foundations of the prison and ALL of the doors flew open!
Today you may feel as if life has just stripped and beaten you. You may even be held captive by emotional distress or a troublesome circumstance. Why not try what Paul and Silas did? You too can start singing in the pain! When you start praising God He starts raising you up out of what has tried to smother you. Get ready for the doors of freedom to fly open! What a glorious feeling, you'll be happy again! Just singing in the pain!

Sticks and stones...

2009-09-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

The bible calls the tongue a world of iniquity, a fire starter, unruly evil, full of deadly poison. The bible says that this little guy has the power to defile the entire body. It has the ability to steer the course and direction of our lives like a rudder on a ship. It’s hard to imagine that something which may seem so significant can be so powerful and meaningful but it is. Our words will shape our lives. Our words can make our day. Someone has said that great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, and small minds discuss people.
We really need to watch our words, don’t we? How would you feel knowing that your words took all the hope out of a person that heard them? What would it do to you to know that your words caused someone to give up and stop fighting? Unfortunately, most of us probably do not think about that enough. Do you remember the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me?” I don’t know who came up with that but it’s just not true because words can break our hearts. Broken bones can heal with time, but a broken spirit caused by words of death, is not quickly repaired.
Language is the expression of thought. Every time you speak, your mind is on parade. That’s why we should never pass up a chance to keep our mouth shut. PRO 17:28 says that even a fool ,when he holds his peace, is counted wise.
Today you will have an allotted amount of words to use. Use them to bring life and hope to someone else!

Rebuild, Repair and Revive!

2009-09-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

I’ve been spending much of my time getting to really know what the Lord says about me. I want to believe that I can do all that He desires me to do and be all that He said I could be. I can almost feel His Spirit growing in me everyday!
In Isaiah 61:4 it talks about a rebuilder, a repairer and a reviver. Those of us whom God has chosen are going to have these abilities. It really means that we will rebuild things that others say are ruined. Things, maybe even people, that have been discarded and destroyed will be repaired by us! And we will revive areas that have had no life in them for years. The bottom line, God is in the restoration business and He has recruited YOU!
Imagine walking into a situation that everyone else says is too far gone and rebuilding it back stronger than ever. Or being a friend to someone that feels they have lost the only person worth living for and helping them repair a broken heart. Or starting a ministry of life giving outreach in a city that has no outreach at all right now. Turning ghost towns into Holy Ghost towns!
Because YOU have the Spirit of the Lord upon you and have been anointed by God, you can change your environment. You can choose to make a difference and walk into any situation and bring life, healing and hope.
So don’t be surprised today when you pray and God shows up! Don’t be alarmed by the fact that the bad office situation goes away as you take it to the Lord. And don’t be scared by the fact that the dream you thought was dead years ago jumps right back up alive and in front of you! This is the season…this is the time…you are going to use the power that God has placed in you to do all for the things that God has set up in advance for you to do! Be a rebuilder, a repairer and a reviver today.

Thrown into Confusion

2009-09-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Galatians 1:6 "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ."

It never ceases to amaze me at how easily we are persuaded today. It seems like true commitment is so hard to find as we are often swayed by different influences. We jump from relationship to relationship, from job to job and even from church to church. What are we really after?

In this scripture Paul is astonished at how quickly people would abandon their faith. It just did not register in his brain how someone who had experienced the grace of God could walk away from it. Today it seems that times have not changed much. I've watched people have a genuine encounter with Christ, be healed and touched by His power then stop coming to church. I've seen people pray for jobs and guidance, then receive what they were asking for from the Lord and abandon their commitment to serve Him. How could this be?

One word...CONFUSION...where there is envy and confusion there is every evil work. Sometimes we can get mixed up because things can change so rapidly. We can be thrown into chaos and confusion. But we can come out of it by acknowledging the Lord. We must be careful to always thank the Lord for the wonderful blessings and then serve Him with our whole heart. Commitment to the Lord is absolutely essential. Spending time with His people is also part of the growth process. Praying and serving together keeps you and I from finding ourselves in places where confusion exists and is reproduced.

Take a moment today to thank the Lord for what He has brought you out of. Grace means that you don't get what you deserve but rather what He desires for you. That grace is sufficient for every need and circumstance you will face. Trust His leadings. Commit to His plan and purposes and you will never be confused!

First Round Pick

2009-09-17T07:25:00.003-05:00

Ephesians 1:3"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight"

Think about this today: God CHOSE YOU! You have been marked for blessing and favor from the Lord. You have been identified as having incredible potential for success. You have been hand-picked by Almighty God!

As a kid I remember neighborhood ball games where there would be several of us getting ready to play. There were always a couple of captains and then the picking of teams began. I can recall today just how great it felt to be picked first and how discouraging it was to be picked last. If I wasn't chosen right away I would feel like my talent didn't matter and that I was just taking up space. Yet every time that I was selected first it was like going in the first round of the NFL Draft!

The good news for YOU is that you are always a first round draft pick for God. He CHOSE you before the creation of the world to live a holy and blameless life. Did you catch that? BEFORE the creation of the world...talk about first round pick! You were picked to be a winner! So are you living up to the "calling" that is upon you? God did His part, are you doing yours? You've been blessed and you have been chosen...now go live life to its fullest!

Two Types of Wisdom

2009-09-16T06:34:00.003-05:00

The Bible says that the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom".It does not take long on life's journey to begin to realize that there are two kinds of wisdom. One is rather earthly, devilishly conniving and unspiritual. In the midst of this type of wisdom you will find disorder, self-centeredness and everything that is evil. It's not healthy nor life-giving. But there is another type of wisdom...one that comes from God and the Message bible says this about it in James 3...
"Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor".
So do you get along well with others? Are you gentle and reasonable or do you find yourself trying to take advantage of people and situations? You have a choice today to use God's wisdom when making your decisions. When REAL wisdom is in operation, you have the greatest chance for success and blessing. Our goal should be live at peace with all of those we come in contact with. We should bring healing and hope.
Today, strive to live a holy life and let good things flow from it.
"Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

Great Endurance

2009-09-15T06:31:00.003-05:00

One of the characteristics of a mature believer is endurance. Great endurance and patience will be evident in the life of one that trusts in the Lord. Take a close look at that word: endurance...U R right in the middle of it! When I think about endurance I think about sports. If I want to run a long race I haver to build up my endurance. I have to begin running. As I get stronger and can endure more I add more distance to my run. Weight training is the same. I start with weights and increase my repetitions until I am able to handle that weight easily. Then I add weight if I am trying to build muscle.
As believers we should be able to endure difficulties. There are many things that you may never get over but you can endure. I think about Jesus and the cross and the bible says that "for the joy set before Him He endured the cross..." I believe He thinks about that situation all the time. It was hurtful and it was difficult. But He focused on sitting beside His father in order to endure the pain.
You will never understand what you are not willing to stand under. You have been fully equipped to handle anything that can come against you. You can stand up to the devil and win! So are you lacking in endurance? Maybe you need to add a few more repetitions and continue your strength training. There are great benefits to hanging on and staying in the fight until you overcome your enemy!
"We pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[d] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." Colossians 1:10-12

Good News!

2009-09-14T06:42:00.003-05:00

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor. Isaiah 61:1
I truly believe that the Lord has some BIG plans for all of us. What thrills me the most is that I see people getting the chance to see “change”; change in their bodies and emotions. People are being healed…testimonies of God’s grace are being spoken, hearts are being mended and people are being saved by the power of God. Why? Because according to Isaiah 61, the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon us and we have been anointed for this! Yes, God has some BIG plans for us!
There are some things that God expects us to do with the power that He has placed upon us. One of those things is pass on the story of how He changed us. We do that by sharing His story as well. He has anointed us to preach the good news to the poor. The word for poor is actually meek, which translates as “the quality of being patient in the reception of injuries.” We are empowered to share stories of His power with others. To bring good tidings to people that are being patient thought they have been wounded. The quality of your life is used to change the quality of someone elses.
Today, you have have an anointing on you to make life better for someone else. In doing so, God promises to take care of the things that you need. Bring good news today! We can all use some more of that!

Growing in the Knowledge...

2009-09-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Another characteristic of “living the life” is growing in the knowledge of God. Notice that key word, “growing” in the verse. Growing in knowledge…not just any knowledge but rather the knowledge of God. If I want to get to know how a person thinks what do I have to do? How do you get to really know somebody? Since most of my life was spent in the entertainment industry my answer to that question is this: read their bio...spend time with them...ask them questions...and listen to their answers.
To get to know the knowledge of God and how He thinks I read His bio, the Bible. I spend time with Him through prayer. I consistently ask Him questions and then listen to how He answers.

You know that one of the problems with the church in our country today is that we are undernourished but we are overfed. There is plenty of food being passed around out there but not much of it has substance. We need to be fed properly so that we can stay spiritually healthy and in turn bear fruit. We continue to grow by giving away what we learn to help others. Don’t underestimate the value of just being in an environment where learning and good teaching is happening. Oftentimes we can glean wisdom by just being connected to wise people in wise settings. There is a certain level of spillover. The growing part comes as we start to use what we have heard and seen and learned.

So how do we know if we are growing in the knowledge of the Lord? Read verse 11 of Colossians 1:
11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might
You will actually feel stronger…in faith…in word…and in deeds. You will step out in faith more because more of the Word is being heard and that faith comes by hearing… You will change the environment around you rather than letting the environment dictate what is going on. It’s all because of HIS glorious might…divine intervention and divine assurance…moving you to the places you need to be to communicate to the people you need to be with. The ALL power is HIS glorious might. In HIM we live and move and have our being. In Christ IS our hope…I can do ALL things THROUGH Christ!

So are you growing today?

Bearing Fruit

2009-09-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

A worthy life is one filled with integrity, honesty, love, compassion, grace and mercy. Those are some wonderful things to adopt and put into practice if we are going to live the life. Paul teaches this in more depth as we go on in our verse. Read on in Chapter 1:10…
“bearing fruit in every good work”.

Part of every good fruit bearing tree is a season of "pruning". Pruning a tree helps it to grow fruit. Every once in a while, though it looks like everything is fine and it is doing great, it must be pruned back in order for the new growth to come. The same is true of us as believers. We are known by our fruit. We are to be bearing fruit in every good work. And with that growing comes pruning too. If you are not doing good works then you are not bearing good fruit! And since we reap what we sow that means that bad things done will grow bad results. As fully devoted followers of Christ, I guess you could say that we are supposed to be "fruity"! No flakes and nuts, just fruit! Today we can be rooty, tooty, fresh and fruity! Oh yes, I just said that!

A life worthy of the Lord will grow fruit in every good work. So what's growing in you today? If you are going through a pruning season and God is trimming you back, be thankful. Pruning always comes before new growth. So........ get ready for some good fruit to explode from your life!

John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Living the Life!

2009-09-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Colossians 1:10 talks about living a life "worthy" of the Lord. What does that look like? What are the things that God is looking for in you and me that keep Him smiling?
One thing I am certain of is that I must have FAITH and learn how to use it. The Bible tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. So I must earn how to step out when there is nothing to stand on and trust God for the way. FAITH IS the substance of things that I hope for and the clear image of what is coming that I cannot see right now.
Maybe you are feeling a bit restless where you are right now and sense that a change is coming. Taking that first step...the one that requires faith is usually the hardest. But once you step out God can step in! So today, pray about those baby steps in the direction God is moving you. Go confidently towards your dream. God will never let you down!
Tomorrow we will look at some more of the characteristics that help us live a life worthy of the Lord.

500!

2009-09-08T07:00:00.001-05:00

Today is my 500th blog entry! 500 cups of inspiration, greetings and wishes, humor and real life stories. To all of you that stop by and take a sip, and share with me your comments let me say thank you! I am a big believer in encouragement and inspiration. We need more and more people to tell us something good. It's why I read the Bible because it is the Good News that God has given to us...it gives me inspiration when I need it and brings me hope when I feel hopeless.

Sunday morning I was in what I would call an "anointing" service. People were being prayed for and "anointed" with oil at The Landing. It symbolizes a setting apart of that individual for special service or a specific calling that God has placed on their life.
You may remember that when Samuel in the Old Testament found David, he "anointed" him to be king. It was then that the Spirit of God came upon David and he was empowered and equipped to do some miraculous things! David was the youngest son that Jesse had. He was a shepherd and probably not the one that drew the most attention. But God looks for something that man cannot see. Today, if you know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, YOU have that something special in you! You can do anything that you can imagine. Your going to dream anyway so DREAM BIG! Shoot for the stars! Don't let anyone or anything discourage you! You can do what God has planned for you!

I have been blessed and feel extremely fortunate to be able to share a cup of joe with you every day. We are even working on a televised version of Cup of Joe that should air on cable in Tulsa this month! I pray that God continues to help us grow together and that He keeps showing up strong in every situation and lifting us up when the world tries to keep us down. So here's to the first 500...may He keep pouring it out for all of us to enjoy!

Happy Labor Day!

2009-09-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Only in America do we celebrate Labor Day with a day off of labor! Whatever you do today, do it as unto the Lord and walk in His favor! Be safe and enjoy your labor-less day!
P.S. if you had to work today, well, it is labor day! Smile:)

Life in Tulsa

2009-09-04T07:00:00.001-05:00

The 17th verse of Colossians 3 which we have been reading for the last 2 days says, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Every thing we do is significant. Every meeting, every lunch appointment, every friendly cup of joe. Why? Because they are all part of the steps of our lives that are being ordered by the Lord. So whatever you do, whether in conversation or in your actions, do it all for God's glory and give Him thanks.
Yesterday I had the wonderful experience of doing some taping for a new local television program called "Life in Tulsa" that begins in a couple of weeks. I've met some new friends and have had so many wonderful conversations about what life is really like in this city I call home. I have heard some of their dreams and enjoyed some of their memories. I can see more vividly now how important people are to this "mix" called LIFE and how God needs all of us to do what we are designed to do in order to bring about what He intended. He brings us together so we can feel valuable and do valuable things. To know I am part of this TV team makes me feel great. To know I am part of God's team, well that is something very special!

As you go through this long holiday weekend, the one that retires white dress shoes and is the prelude to another year of education for the kids, take a moment to just say thanks to the One that makes the journey possible. Use your words wisely and make your actions count. Do everything for the glory of God and say thank you for the blessings and favor you receive. Personally, I want to thank the Lord for these new friends I have made and a wonderful project I am honored to be a part of that will help keep people in this city informed about special events and the extraordinary people that make this town great!

Clothe Yourselves

2009-09-03T07:00:00.001-05:00

Colossians 3:12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Yesterday we discussed the new nature that we put on as fully devoted followers of Christ. Today we see that God chose us to be holy and part of our responsibility is to live holy. Living holy requires some new clothes. Everybody loves new clothes! Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Call it the Christian's Layered Look! Each layer is important. Each layer plays a part. Some are closer to the "skin" and others cover it all. Verse 14 tells us that love covers everything! It's the final garment that helps you make allowance for faults and forgive people that hurt you.

So are you "layered" in the things that matter to the Lord? Dress yourself properly and find yourself in perfect harmony with others and with your Creator!

A New Nature

2009-09-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Colossians 3:10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
The older I get the more I am learning that it's important to "dress the part" when living for Christ. There is a NEW NATURE that must be put on every day. When we asked Christ to be Lord of our lives, the bible says that old things passed away and all things became new. My language, my thoughts, my plans, my desires and my nature. The very core of who I am changed on that day I was saved.
For most of my school years, and especially in college, I got my clothes from the hand me downs of others. I did not have money to buy clothes so I would wear the throw aways of others. My dorm buddies would be changing their style to stay current and I would take their old stuff. I wasn't in fashion but praise God I wasn't naked! I remember how great it felt when I was able to have something new! At Christmas if I got some new jeans or shirts I was so excited. It was new!
Alot of people today are living their life in other peoples clothes when the Lord wants to give them a new outfit. You cannot be all that you were created to be by trying to be like someone else. Your life can change in an instant by simply asking Jesus Christ to live in your heart. He will help you stop "putting on"(being fake) and start to put on your new nature. God chose you to be holy...He set up your life in advance so that you could have great success and be satisfied in every area. Today you can belong, be loved and be needed! Don't you care what you wear? Tomorrow I show you what this new outfit consists of!

Power of Love

2009-09-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

It says in 1 Corinthians 13 that "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." Did you hear that? If I could predict the future and was the most influential brainiac in the world; if I could speak to obstacles and they would leave but did not have LOVE, it would all be in vain! That is the power of love. Jimi Hendrix said," When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace." You go Jimi! Know Him, know peace...no Him, no peace!
There is amazing, life changing power in LOVE. Reading from verse 4 and on in this chapter it says "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.Love never fails."
Today, you can let the love of God pour out of you and change the heart and quality of life for another. Love conquers all!
Let...Out...Victorious...Energy today!