Strong Coffee

My writing has always had seasons; times of planting and times of harvest. Lately, it has been a season of drought. Honestly, I have considered placing Strong Coffee on the shelf for a while and pursue ministry in other forms such as church planting. Strong Coffee has been as important to me as it has for many of you; holding me accountable and driving me to the Word. For this I am very grateful and blessed for how God continues to work in mysterious ways. SC helped me tell my story of grace and therefor...led me in the path of healing and spiritual growth. Isn't it awesome how Gods loves us? Countless times I was ready to throw in the towel but God would tell me, "before you do...WRITE about it" See what He was doing? It took me years to notice it. Oh how He is sooo awesome and good!!! So...pray that I will see His plan and purpose for what is next. Whether it is to retire the devotional blog SC, or catalog it all for publication or...whatever. Pray for...

Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done This verse explains one of the most available expressions of faith we can make in today's culture. We have no choice but to live in this world...but we all should know that we are not of it nor do we belong to it. This means that we are are subject to the trickery and traps from our adversary the devil. It is unavoidable. We are vulnerable to the world and it's pressures just like the guy across the street. Gods purpose for us is to face the world with this mindset: In spite of our common issues and circumstances...our life reflects  a  FAITH that declares... .....we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ....Our God always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ. As people of faith we began our walk in faith and we continue in faith. None of us know what the day may bring forth or what the enemy may attempt; but we have a Go...

Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:3; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; 2 Thes 1:2; 2 Tim 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philem 1:3; 2 Pet 1:2;   " ...grace and peace to you, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ." It's impossible to have any lasting peace without Gods help. The peace for which every person longs is the kind that brings a quiet rest.  The troubled world in which we live produces... troubled souls,               troubled marriages,                            unsettled lives,                                       and restless hearts. T he pleasures of sin last only for a season. Countless wan...

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people. God is so very good to us. To all of us. Even the unbeliever is a recipient of the blessings of God. He's a good God that causes the rain the fall on the just and unjust. The artisan wells that spring up from the heart of the earth replenish any who draw from it's supply. God gives good gifts and does marvelous things for mankind. By His grace we live, move, and have our being. Were it not for His goodness we would live in the shadows of horror, fear, and uncertainty; but the fact is His blessings enrich the lives of all people whether we acknowledge it or not. Why does He do that? In order that we would recognize His grace in our midst and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord. Even in suffering, pain, hardship, and toil, God gives grace; grace to endure; to persevere; to survive; heal and mend. Have you noticed that prosperity and reward is not limited to Gods people? ...

Luke   22;31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” If we knew what our adversary knows about us we might have a higher opinion of our life, work, and service for the Lord. Peter was a simple fisherman turned disciple; turned apostle; future author; and soon to be foundational rock of the early church.   Satan would have enjoyed nothing more than to use Peter’s faults and weaknesses against him; to see that his denial of the Lord would be so devastating that he would ultimately abandon the faith and disappear. The failure of Peter was the direct result of Satan’s attack. This is his style; his method; to humiliate us through our own weakness for the purpose of getting us out of the way. The adversary knows only to steal, kill, and destroy. God’s method is that through our failure, we return to Him for forgiveness and strength. He then...

Testimony & History of Matthew 16:24 & the Cross Blogs Some of you are wondering about all the blogs I have written on Matthew 16:24 " if anyone would come after me they must first deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." It all started with a few chapters from Thomas A Kempis 13th century book titled " The Imitation of Christ ". The first time through it, I thought to myself, "this guys nuts." A week or two later I read it again, in particular the chapter: " the Royal Road of the Holy Cross ". This time it intrigued me. A few weeks later, during Passover week, I watched The Passion of the Christ. Needless to say I wept during the entire movie. The portrayal of the suffering and punishment our Lord endured for our sake overwhelmed my spirit. That night, I read the Royal Road of the Holy Cross again. As I read, with the eyes of my heart opened, the tears began to flow. I was humbled and broken. The message ...

The gospel that saves; the gospel we believe and profess is inconceivable without the cross. The cross of our redeemer, the crucifix of the apostles; the patriarchs; the early church; missionaries; translators; all rest beneath our feet as a sure foundation with our overseer as the chief cornerstone. The cross road marked before you is rich with the blood stains of holy men and women of God who through the ages counted the cost and chose to give up what they could not keep to gain what they could not lose. May the same God who gave them endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, As citizens of heaven; one day; at long last we will see the worthy lamb that was slain. Until then, for His sake we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. When you bear you cross gladly; joyously; faithful...