The Morning Grind ☕️ - The Favor Factor There’s a phrase I repeat often: when something goes well or works out for the good, I like to say, “That’s the Favor Factor.” Years ago, I saw the Favor Factor in this verse, and the …
The Morning Grind ☕️ - Feeling Weary and Worn? There are days when we feel like weary travelers, trudging through our days as if we’re walking through wet cement. You may feel like you’re the only one. You’re not; just look around…
The Morning Grind ☕️ - Immersed and Overflowing Paul was succinct and direct when he told the Christians in Colossae to let the words - teachings, sayings, discourse - about and of Christ dwell (live) in them richly (abundantly). Today, we would s…
The Weekend Grind ☕️ - Unstoppable If there was ever a time in the history of our nation to be devoted and continue steadfastly in prayer, it is now; in this moral and spiritual free fall from the moorings of God's Word and our constitutional found…
The Weekend Grind ☕️ - Is It Time to Reorder? In two sentences, Paul defines where our focus and priority should be: “...on things above and not on things on earth.” Why? As the old song says, “Things of earth will grow strangely …
The Morning Grind ☕️ - This is Real Life The cross is not just an instrument of death, as depicted in old films and classic imagery. It is, in fact, the pathway to life - a bridge, if you will - that reconnects us to the Father and defeats demonic …
The Morning Grind ☕️ - Rooted, Strong, Overflowing, and Complete We are rooted in Christ—not in religion, not in politics, not in culture, not in our career. Only in Christ. Our lives are to be built on Him. The result is a strong and resilie…
The Morning Grind ☕️ - Me? Holy and Blameless? We don’t always feel holy, blameless, and above reproach. Most of the time, we feel out of sorts and off balance. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are now presented as pure, spotless, and …
The Morning Grind ☕️ - We Have Not Ceased to Pray for You This distinct letter and prayer written, by Paul, to the Christians in Colossae is unique because: a) Paul was in prison, and b) he had never been to Colossae. Paul’s prayer serves as …
The Morning Grind ☕️ - Stand Firm The idea of standing firm is a military metaphor meaning “to hold the line.” There are both internal and external forces that come against those who follow Christ. Our response is to stand firm and not …
The Daily Grind ☕️ - Your One Thing Paul was clear on his mission: to know Christ, to know the power of His resurrection, to know the fellowship of His sufferings, thereby conforming to His death and experiencing His resurrection. The Cliff's Note…
The Daily Grind ☕️ - But of Power We know that words laced with God's anointing carry power, but this is not what he was speaking of in this passage. There were people in the church at Corinth who were boastful and arrogant, but their words were em…
The Daily Grind ☕️ - The Thrill of Victory over Defeat Each episode of ABC’s Wide World of Sports started with highlights and these iconic words: “Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sports. The thrill of victory and…
The Daily Grind ☕️- All In Paul ends his first letter to the Christians in Corinth with a simple yet profound encouragement: Stand firm. Don’t be moved. Give yourselves fully to the Lord’s work. There is nothing trite or simplistic abo…
Trust is one of the most important virtues you possess as a Christian. It means to rely on, be assured of, and confidently lean on God. Trust is the foundation of faith. If you do not trust God, you cannot effectively walk by faith; the two go hand…
The Greater One lives in you. It’s a statement of fact right out of the Bible. There is no reason to cower in the face of threats, difficulties, or trials. The caveat is, “You have overcome them.” Who? The “antichrist spirit…
Everyone gets tested because God tests His work to ensure we can bear up and stand fast under pressure and trials. For those who stay the course and pass the test, blessings and a crown await them. God rewards those who diligently seek Him. (Heb 11:…
There is something profound about being completely immersed in and fully aware of the presence of God. There is no beating of the chest, spiking the ball, or chest bumping. A holy fear settles over you, as if you need to hold your breath, remove you…
The fear of the Lord as a rule of life has been mostly left behind in a world where it's all about me. I'm not opposed to self-care, self-evaluation, or self-improvement. However, when preserving the self is valued over the biblical mandate to die t…
I learned about the power of words as a young believer, hungry and eager to grow in faith. I could take God's Word and make prayerful declarations that renewed my mind, encouraged my heart, and empowered my spirit. Today's passage reminds us that b…
I have lost count of how many people have told me, “I don’t know why I was born.” I have a simple answer and it’s right out of God’s Word, “You were made for good things.” In a world that appears broken and…
My early days of being a follower of Jesus were pure, simple, and filled with adventure. I would read my Bible, step out of my door into my world, and just do what it said... and God moved. But then I grew up. I experienced some faith fails, disap…
Do not buy into the mindset that you don't matter, nobody really cares, and you can't make a difference in this complex and tumultuous world. That is a lie out of the depths of the pit. God delights in using the obscure, the hidden, and the small t…
Have you ever had a moment when you realized God had been trying to get your attention for some time? I have lost count. Call me slow on the draw; sometimes I just miss His cues. Samuel was no different. God was calling, and he was slow to realize …
