We're All One

"Just as each 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." ~ Romans 12:4-5

Remember the movie "Crash."

Everything that happened was connected with something else.

Everyone was connected to the other characters in one way or another.

That's how it is in the Kingdom of God.

Yes, we're all different, but we're part of ONE body.

Christ's.

God bless,
J.W.

Somebody's Watching You

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." ~ 1 Timothy 4:12

Make no mistake, if you're living your life for Christ, somebody's watching you.

Perhaps it's the agnostic on your job who keeps questioning you about God. Or the atheist in your class who thinks you're foolish to believe in a supreme being. Perhaps it's that person who claims to be a Christian whose actions don't seem to match up with his or her words. Or maybe it's that person still living in sin but searching for peace and comfort in the midst of his or her storm. looking for a better way.

Whoever it is, they're watching.

So, what kind of example are you setting?

God bless,
J.W.

Not Everyone's A Preacher

"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." ~ Romans 12:6-8

For some reason, whenever someone has an anointing on their life, people automatically assume that that person is called to be a preacher.

But this passage of scripture proves that God calls some of us to do other things. No one thing is better than another. They're just different. But, at the end of the day, it's all ministry.

Embrace whatever unique calling God has given you today! He's called you to do that for a reason.

God bless,
J.W.

Big God

"The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein." ~ Psalm 24:1

We serve a big God!

Bigger than your boss, your job, your car, your health, your spouse, your children, your neighbors.

Just remember that the next time you feel like the pressures of the world are about to get the best of you.

God bless,
J.W.

Forgetting The Past

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:12-14

Are you holding on to pass issues, past hurts, past pains.

Know that God is always seeking to do a new thing in your life.

But it requires you to have a change of heart, to always look forward, to always seek after that which is to come and not that which is behind you.

God bless,
J.W.

The Power of Prayer

"Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, this is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning him: 'The virgin, the daughter of Zion, has despised you, laughed you to scorn...'" ! Isaiah 37:21-22

In this passage of scripture, you don't have to know who Sennacherib king of Assyria is, what he's done, or how it relates to Isaiah (although I encourage you to read it).

Just know that because Isaiah prayed, change happened.

The power of prayer is strong. Try it and see for yourself.

God bless,
J.W.

Faith Without Works

"But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" ~ James 2:18-20

You know what I hate?

When people talk a lot.

You know what I hate even more?

When people talk a lot but don't do anything.

We murmur and complain a lot nowadays, but God asks us one simple question - "what are you doing?" What are you doing with your life? Your time? Your resources? Your talents?

It's not enough to just talk a good game. You've gotta actually put things in motion.

Faith without works is dead.

God bless,
J.W.

Who Knows?

"You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know." ~ Job 42:3

Why is that we think we know better than God does?

Why do we rush ahead of his timing? Why do we do things the way we think they should be done rather than waiting on His timing?

I'm not really sure the answers to these question, but we seem quite foolish when we think about who God really is. He's the author and the finisher, the beginning and end, the Alpha and Omega.

Who knows better than him?

God bless,
J.W.

Who's Carrying Your Luggage?

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." ~ Matthew 11:28-30

The prideful, carnally minded declare "I can do all things on my own."

The humble, spiritually minded declare "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phillippians 4:13).

Christ asks us to give our burdens and cares over to Him so that He might carry them for us.

So who's carrying your stress today?

God bless,
J.W.

A Plan For Every Circumstance

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

No matter what happens, we can walk in confidence knowing that God is working behind the scenes to ensure that all things work together for our good.

That doesn't mean that all things will go our way. But it does mean that there is a purpose behind every trial, a reason for every tribulation, and a plan for every circumstance.

God's got it all under control.

God bless,
J.W.

Satan's Plan

For those of you who watch a little too much reality TV, or just TV in general, this video is for you.

Satan's Plan

It'll change your life.

God bless,
J.W.

Are You Listening?

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" ~ Revelation 2:7

God speaks to each of us each and every day.

The question is, are we listening?

God bless,
J.W.

The Two Shall Become One

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." ~ Genesis 2:24

Despite society’s perception, marriage is hard work. Fairy tales don’t exist. In order to live happily ever after, you have to work at it. It doesn’t just happen.

Interestingly, recently, Michele and I were approached by someone who suggested that because we were married, we had some sort of telepathic abilities where we can read each other’s minds. Michele response: “I wish. That’s actually our biggest challenge – that we can’t read each other’s minds.”

Please don’t get it twisted. When you fall in love, everything doesn’t just work itself out. It takes time, effort, and patience. God never told us it would be easy.
But make no mistake – it’s definitely worth the effort.

God bless,
J.W.

The Big Picture

Recently, my favorite rapper Da T.R.U.T.H. released a new album called "The Big Picture." It's all about the how once we truly understand God's big picture, we'll start to live our lives differently.

Coincidentally, the other day, I also read a blog by Christian writer Cindy Beall called "10 Years From Now." In it, she says, "When I sense irritability rising its ugly head, I try to ask, 'In ten years will this matter?' 99 times out of 100, it won't."

When we start looking at things from God's perspective and not our own, we realize truly how insignificant the things that drive us crazy are.

Try to see God's big picture in your life today!

God bless,
J.W.

Da T.R.U.T.H. - The Big Picture Interlude (feat. Kirk Franklin)

How Do You React To Criticism?

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." ~ Proverbs 1:7

How do you react when people criticize you?

Do you take it with a grain of salt? Heed their advice? Get defensive? Blow it off?

Make no mistake. Your reaction to criticism, discipline, and correction says a lot about you. I, for one, know that I need to work on how I react to criticism.

How do you react?

It just may be the very thing keeping you from accomplishing your goals.

God bless,
J.W.

Life on the Edge

"Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him." ~ Matthew 14:29-31

As Christians, we often talk about life through the eyes of Peter, who was able to walk on water through his faith in God. In many ways, Peter lived life on the edge, totally relying about the strength and power of Jesus to guide Him.

But if truth be told, every single one of us live life on the edge. The question is, who's out on the edge with you? Is it God who has promised to catch you when you fall? Or is it Satan who will let you drop every single time?

Whose edge are you on?

God bless,
J.W.

Is God Getting Your Crumbs?

Last week, I read a story about a Sunday School teacher that decided to hand out brownies to all her students. One by one, she passed out the goodies as each student approached her desk, until she came to Donald, who was the last student left.

The problem was when Donald's turn came, the teacher didn't have any brownies left. She had miscalculated and hadn't brought enough for all the students. Donald ended up with only the crumbs that were left in the pan.

The story reminds us of how we often treat God. We give our time, our attention, and our love to everything else in the world, until we finally have nothing left to give to God.

He, however, should be first on our list.

Have you given your best to God today?

God bless,
J.W.

Do Not Grow Weary

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not faint not." ~ Galatians 6:9

Are you tired the rat race? Tired of putting up with the same old thing, day after day without any sign of relief?

If so, God has made you a promise that if you continue to endure, you will reap a harvest in due season.

So, hang in there! Your breakthrough is coming!

God bless,
J.W.

What Prize Are You After?

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown." ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

What prize are you after?

Are you after the things of this world - things that are temporal, tangible, and fleeting? Or are you after the things of God - things that are invisible, intangible, and eternal?

There's a prize for everyone. But one leads to death, while the other leads to eternal life.

Which one will you choose today?

God bless,
J.W.

The Power of the Tongue

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” ~ Proverbs 18:21

I’ve never understood why people curse. It makes no sense to me.

If life and death truly lie in the power of the tongue, why would someone want to “curse”? It’s literally like putting a “curse” or a “spell” on someone else. Too creepy for me.

The Bible says that out of the same mouth we both bless and curse (James 3:10). The choice is yours. Why not try blessing those with whom you converse today?

God bless,
J.W.