Burnt Coffee

“O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice, in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.” - Psalm 5:3

One of the few pleasures in life is to wake up before the sunrise, enjoy a fresh cup of coffee and spend time with Jesus. These type of mornings we can cherish, they are special and we are able to submit the first fruits of our day to our God. Before the burdens and cares of life start to overwhelm and frustrate us we can lay our lives before Him as a sacrifice and watch what he does with us.

If you are like me and enjoy the fresh cup of coffee then you may have experienced the time later in the day when you go back to the same pot of coffee for round 2 and it just isn’t near as good as the first cup. When coffee sits in the pot all day it starts to burn, it loses its freshness and the taste becomes very bland and bitter. This is the battle we fight, complacency can quickly overtake us. Our nature tends to keep us comfortable sitting in the pot.

“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
- Revelation 3:16

There is a big difference between hot and warm. We must fight the warm complacency of life. It is a very comfortable and “safe” place to be however very ineffective for the kingdom of God. We were not made to be warm, we were made to burn hot with passion for our God, to let our words be few and our actions be many. Do you want to be used or do you want to be safe? Be bold, live your faith out loud, and be a vessel for God to use in a mighty way today!

Further Reading: Psalm 5:3, Revelation 3:14-22

Power, Passion, & Purpose

Do you walk with your head up or down? Do you walk around with power, passion, and purpose?

Often times I catch myself with my head down. Many times I forget.

I forget that if our God is for us who can be against us?

I forget that our God is stronger and higher than any other

I forget that our God is the healer and redeemer of the broken and the lost

I forget that he is the life changer

I forget that he is living water and the bread of life

I forget that our God is all powerful

I forget that our God loves us unconditionally

I forget that I am His.

Have you forgotten?

Over lunch today I was encouraged. I was listening to a guy who hasn't forgotten. He was walking in the power, passion, and purpose of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was taking the attacks of Satan head on with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. It wasn't easy but there was the power or Christ in his life. His passion and purpose proved it.

I don't usually write prayers but I want to leave you with one today. Don't let the enemy win the battles in your mind and in your life. Use the power and truth that God has given you.

"God, I am your child. You are my father. I thank you for that relationship. I pray that I realize this truth and embrace it. I pray that I would walk in your power today. That you would give me a passion for the name of Jesus Christ. As it talks about in Acts 4, I pray that people would take note that I have been with Jesus. That my life would reflect and lead people to you Lord. I thank you for the power over sin and death that the cross accomplished for me. Give me an eternal perspective and a passion to fulfill my purpose in Christ. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

The Body of Christ

"Just as each one of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts according to the grace given to us..." Romans 12:4-6a

Do you believe you are a vital member of the Body of Christ? Because you are. Do you believe the church needs you like a body needs a mouth? Because it does.

You have a role. God has given you God-ordained gifts, talents, and passions to use for His glory. The Lord has placed you in a local church body to play a role in that particular body of Christ. God has prepared people for you to minister to, pray for, and serve. He just wants His children to be obedient and fulfill their purpose in Christ. My prayer for you today is that you will understand that you are valued in the kingdom of God, you have a vital role in the body of Christ.

Today

This is an excerpt from a book. Not sure what book or the author but I love it and wanted to share it with you...

Today I am stepping across the line. I'm tired of waffling and I'm finished with wavering. I've made my choice, the verdict is in, and my decision is irrevocable. I'm going God's way. There's no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God's purposes with God's people on God's planet for God's glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his word.

Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living, and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of his family.

Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, "we" or "me", character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most and I'll give it all I've got. I'll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.

I won't be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I'll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won't back up, back off, back down, back out or backslide. I'll just keep moving forward by God's grace. I'm Spirit led, purpose-driven and mission-focused so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.

I'm a trophy of God's amazing grace so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for everyday, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me.

To my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I say: However, Whenever, Wherever, and Whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I'm ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway. Whatever it takes Lord; Whatever it takes! I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I'll hear you say, "Well done, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!

Are You Ready?

I have been reading the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. It has been challenging me to a radical love relationship with Jesus. Here is a power excerpt from the book that I wanted to share with you...

ARE YOU READY?

As a pastor, I'm often called upon when life "vanishes like a mist." One of the most powerful examples I've seen of this was Stan Gerlach, a successful businessman who was well know in the community. Stan was giving a eulogy at a memorial service when he decided to share the gospel. At the end of his message, Stan told the mourners, "You never know when God is going to take your life. At that moment, there's nothing you can do about it. Are you ready?" Then Stan sat down, fell over, and died. His wife and sons tried to resuscitate him, but there was nothing they could do - just as Stan had said a few minutes earlier.

I'll never forget receiving that phone call and heading over to the Gerlach house. Stan's wife, Suzy, was just arriving home. She hugged me and cried. One of her sons, John, stepped out of the car weeping. He asked me, "Did you hear the story? Did you hear? I'm so proud of him. My dad died doing what he loved doing the most. He was telling people about Jesus."