Carry The Cross

In Matthew 20:20-22, the mother of James and John comes to Jesus and asks if her sons could sit on His right and left hand in the Kingdom of God. In response, Jesus says to them, "Do you know what you ask? Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"

As parents, all of us want what’s best for our kids. Parents' ultimate dream is for their kids to have a better life than we had. That's what James' and John's mother wanted. I imagine that Mary, Jesus' mother, wanted the same for her child.

But in the words of my pastor Dharius Daniels, "you can shortcut a lot of things, but you can’t shortcut purpose." To accomplish purpose, we must go through hard times. To be more like Jesus, we must carry our own cross (Matthew 16:24).

The question is, are you cheating the ones you love from that experience?

Many times, we try to save family members from pain and struggle. While we do it out of love, sometimes, pain and struggle are what's best for them. Pain and struggle make us stronger. They teach us lessons. They help us accomplish purpose.

You can't expect your family members to be great if they don't know how to handle adversity or make mistakes. Like the old saying goes, "no pain, no gain." Don't let your loved ones take the easy way out. Encourage them to take up their cross and follow Jesus.

God bless,
J.W.

You Need To Listen To This

Good morning family,

This morning, I just wanted to share this information with you because it’s been a blessing to me and my family.

About two years ago, my wife, Michele, and I began attending Kingdom Church in Ewing, New Jersey. Family members of ours put us on to it, and it’s been an amazing experience.

The pastor, Rev. Dharius Daniels (follow him on facebook and twitter), is just 34-years old, but his message is dynamic, and most importantly, Biblical. He’s a thinker, he studies God’s word incessantly, and he delivers it so that people from all walks of life and generations can understand it.

Every Wednesday, Pastor Daniels hosts a prayer call at 7am. It’s a weekly devotional in which he gives a quick 5-to-10 minute message, he prays for us, and then he starts us on our day. I encourage you to listen to it live or via recorded message. It typically stays up for about 24 hours. The dial-in information is below.

I hope it blesses your life.

God bless, 

J.W.

To listen live every Wednesday at 7am:

To listen to the recording for up to 24 hours:

Infallible Proof

"He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." ~ Acts 1:3

When Jesus rose from the grave on Easter Sunday, He became infallible proof of God's power over death.

Likewise, when we become new creations through belief in Jesus, we also become infallible proof - evidence of God's power to work in the lives of mankind.

So, how are we to display this proof?

By following Jesus' example. Acts 1:3 says that Jesus presented Himself and spoke of those things pertaining to the kingdom of God. We are do to the same.

When God saves and transforms our life, we should do like Jesus and show up and speak out about our transformation.

God bless,
J.W.

#InfallibleProof #DayAfterEaster

Empty Tombs

"Why do you seek the living among the dead." ~ Luke 24:5

While people typically talk about Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday, today, I want to focus on the empty tomb.

When Jesus died on the cross, He not only died for our sins. The Bible says He "bore our sins in His own body" (1 Peter 2:24). In other words, Jesus became our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He stood in our place, and thus, represented us in judgment (1 John 2:2).

Why is that important?

Because the same process by which Jesus was judged, crucified, killed, and ultimately resurrected, is the same process by which he handles our sin today. When we give our sin over to God, He crucifies, kills it, buries it, and makes it disappear as if it was never even there.

God is a God of empty tombs. The things He buries can't be found anymore. The question is, do you trust Him enough to do it?

Thank God for empty tombs. And happy Resurrection Sunday!

God bless,
J.W.

#PassionWeek #ResurrectionSunday #EasterIsComing #EasterIsHere

#PassionWeek - #Saturday - #YOLO is a Myth

While it's unclear what happened between Jesus' death and resurrection, we know His life didn't end on Friday.

Some theologians argue that Jesus descended into Hades on Saturday to proclaim the good news to those imprisoned there (1 Peter 3:18-20). Others argue that He descended into Hades to take back the keys to death (Revelation 1:18). We know He rose on the third day and was seen by over 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

Why is this important?

Because it serves as an example for us. Contrary to what Drake would have you believe, you don't only live once. #YOLO is a myth. The Bible is very clear that it is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27-28).

The question is, what will happen to you after the judgment?

The reason Jesus DIED was so that you could LIVE with Him in eternity. Don't let His death be in vain.

God bless,
J.W.

#PassionWeek #Saturday #EasterIsComing

#PassionWeek - #GoodFriday - "You Can't Tell Me Nothing"

"And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, 'Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!' But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled." ~ Mark 15:3-5

This day, 2014 years ago, Jesus stood accused of various crimes in front of various judges, but “answered nothing.” 

Why?

Because Jesus’ actions spoke louder than anything He could have ever said in those moments.

There’s a lot of people with the gift of gab; a lot of people who can talk a good game; a lot of people with an abundance of things to say. But when it’s all said and done, what will your actions say about you? 

#TeamDontTellMeShowMe 

God bless,

J.W.

#PassionWeek #GoodFriday #EasterIsComing

#PassionWeek - #Thursday - "I'm Searching for a Real Love"

Today, 2014 years ago, Jesus washed his disciples feet in an expression of love. Afterwards, He told them, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15).

Unfortunately, however, our generation has distorted and perverted what it means to love someone.

We talk about it like it’s some fleeting emotion that we fall in and out of.

But truth be told, love is not an emotion.

It’s a series of behaviors by which we provide a service to others.

For instance, God didn’t love us simply by verbally or internally expressing his feelings towards us. Rather, John 3:16 says He loved us by giving his His Son’s life for us. God performed an act of service for us, which John 15:13 explains is the ultimate expression of love.

My question: when you say you love someone, are you saying you just have positive feelings towards them? Because that’s not real love. Real love is action. It’s not about what you say or feel, it’s about what you do. #PassionWeek #Thursday #EasterIsComing

God bless,
J.W.

#PassionWeek - #Wednesday - Silence

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." ~ Psalms 46:10

It's ironic that in depicting a period of Jesus' life that we call "PASSION" week, the Bible is silent on Jesus' activities on Wednesday.

In our society, we often associate "passion" with activity. Loudness, noise, energy, motion - these are all words typically associated with passionate behavior. We even have cliches like "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" describing the phenomenon.

But sometimes, passion isn't shown by what you do, but what you don't do. Sometimes God calls us to be silent, just before our greatest battles, and ultimately, our greatest triumph. Sometimes, silence and stillness are acts of passion.

Is God calling you to be silent today?

God bless,
J.W.

#PassionWeek - #Tuesday - Becoming A Servant

This day, 2014 years ago, Jesus taught His disciples that "the greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Matthew 23:11-12).

Everybody wants to be great, but who's willing to humble themselves and become a servant to get there? #Tuesday #EasterIsComing #PassionWeek

God bless,
J.W.

#PassionWeek - #Monday - Rebel

This week, in honor of Jesus' last days on earth 2014 years ago, I've decided to study Jesus' walk and share my thoughts on what He said, did, and felt during what we call #PassionWeek. Below is the first installment.

Despite what conservative Christians might insinuate, Jesus was a rebel. Jesus didn't advocate maintaining the status quo, but rather He was about challenging the system and pointing out its hypocrisy, much like a Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, or a "community organizer" in modern-day times.

2014 years ago today, Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem and drove folks out, referring to them as "thieves" (Matthew 21:12-13). My question: if Jesus came back today, how many people would He drive out of today's church for the same reason. Would you be one of them? #Monday #EasterIsComing

God bless,
J.W.