Life Is Simple

"His mother said to the servants, 'Whatever He says to you, do it.'" ~ John 2:5

Humans are complicated beings. And as a result, we tend to complicate everything, often leading to confusion, stress, frustration, and ultimately stagnation.

But as complicated as we tend to make things, life really comes down to John 2:5: "whatever He says to you, do it."

That's why the Bible tells us that obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). God wants to know that He can speak and trust you to follow through.

It's also why the Bible tells us not to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). He knows that sometimes you will have to disobey your own logic to walk in obedience with Him (Isaiah 55:8-9).

In all, life really is this simple: "do whatever He tells you."

God bless,
J.W.

Ball is Life

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share a message I originally wrote for my wife's blog "Through The Eyes." You can check it the rest of her posts here. I promise you won't be disappointed.

To check out my message for today, see below.

God bless,
J.W.


Yesterday, Jeremiah was in the middle of our living room attempting to dribble his soccer ball to no avail. The ball wouldn't bounce for 2 reasons: 1) he wasn't in the right environment (outside on concrete) and 2) he wasn't using the right kind of ball (a basketball) that would allow him to bounce it. Noticing his struggles,  I said "Buds, why don't you get your BASKETBALL and try to dribble that instead?"

Undeterred, thinking he had all the answers, Jeremiah looked at me but kept trying to dribble the soccer ball. My response: "Or continue to do what you're doing and struggle."

How many times has this happened with our life? God notices that we are struggling because we're either in the wrong environment or we're using our life for the wrong purpose. So He gives us direction that will help us live our lives more effectively. But because of our pride and stubbornness, we continue to struggle because we're determined to do things our way.

Here's the deal: purpose is defined as the reason for the creation or existence of a thing. When people create products, they also create manuals and instructions that indicate the product's function. Only the creator of the product can tell you how the product is supposed to function.

Same with us. We all have purpose - the reason we were created (Jeremiah 29:11). But the only person that can tell us how to function correctly is our creator. The only way we can know we're in the right environment or using our life for the right purpose is to listen to the instructions of our creator.

If you feel like you've been struggling to bounce the ball of life, maybe it's because you're trying to do things your own way and aren't listening to the One who knows how your life is supposed to function.

If that's you, I challenge you to stop what you're doing and listen to your Father (Proverbs 3:5-6). You just might find that your struggle/burden becomes lighter (Matthew 11:30).

God bless,
J.W.

Speak Life

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." ~ Proverbs 18:21

Words can kill. But words can also bring healing.

My question is, if we were to take account of all the words you say to both yourself and other people, which type of words would outweigh the other?

Would we see that your words mostly speak life (Proverbs 10:11)? Or would you words mostly speak death and destruction for yourself and others?

God commands us to build people up through our words and to speak grace (Ephesians 4:29).

So what words are you speaking today?

God bless,
J.W.

Feed My Lambs

"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.'" ~ John 21:15

My Pastor always says, when you prioritize the things God cares about, God will prioritize the things you care about.

My question is, what are you prioritizing?

Is your calling and purpose focused on you and what you want to do? Or is it focused on what God cares about, i.e. His people?

Jesus told Peter, if you love me, feed and tend My sheep (John 21:15-17).

What are you prioritizing today?

God bless,
J.W.

Movement By Myself (Part 2)

Not only do we live in a culture of people that think they don't need anyone else, we also live in a culture that thinks they don't need God. 

But God made us reliant on each other (Romans 12:4-5). 

Moreover, He made us reliant on Him (Jeremiah 17:5-8). 

The minute we think we can do it all on our own, we have stepped in to pride, and ultimately sin (1 John 2:16). 

It was the same mentality that Adam and Eve fell into in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:4-7) and it continues to plague us today.

Don't let the ills of today's culture affect your thinking and behavior. You absolutely positively cannot afford to live in isolation from God. It's something we all have to die to daily but is absolutely essential to our well-being and calling.

God bless,

J.W.

Movement By Myself (Part 1)

So often in Christian circles, you hear folks say things like "all I need is God. I don't need anybody else."

Moreover, so often when folks get in trouble, they isolate themselves and try to will themselves out of their situation.

But God didn't create us to live in isolation. In fact, God says that we make each other better (Proverbs 27:17).  He tells us that iron sharpens iron. Moreover, that we are designed to operate like a body (1 Corinthians 12:12). There are many members but we all operate in conjunction with each other (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

In fact, Paul tells us not to forsake assembling together (Hebrews 10:24-25). Why? He knows that there's power in numbers.

Don't retreat into isolation. Your strength is found in community.

God bless,
J.W.

Trust The Process (Part 1)

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

As I enter my mid-30s, and what I call my legacy season - that is, in this season in my life, I believe I'm going to do what I will be remembered for - it's becoming more and more clear to me that God has orchestrated past seasons in my life to set me up for success in the season I'm walking into.

From bring blessed to run an organization at age 19 to all of my experience in politics, organizing, entertainment, etc., it was all divinely ordered to prepare me for this season.

But I'm not alone. That's the beauty of a God that's so powerful. He can work intentionally and immaculately in your life and my life all at the same time.

God is orchestrating events in your life right now. The question is, do you trust his process?

God bless,
J.W.