Category Archives: witness

1/7/25 MondayMatters: Desire What You Desire

1/7/25 MondayMatters: Desire What You Desire

Here’s the video    https://youtu.be/I_hSAFyzsxg?si=2D9OckFRxhgta8i5

Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” I don’t think God gives us everything we want. I think He helps us to want what He wants. That is my desire for 2025, to desire what God desires for me to desire. Here are 5 things. For the text go to branchesblog.com and check FB and Instagram each day for a related thought. And like and subscribe if you desire. 😂

  1. Desire to be closer to God. There is a level of intimacy with Him that only comes from intense desire. “As the deer pants for the water, by soul desires you.”
  2. Desire to hunger for righteousness. I want to be a better man this year, I want to be righteous. Jesus promised, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.”
  3. Desire to love the Word of God. I love reading and studying my Bible. I want to love it more. “How sweet is the Word of God, like honey to my lips.” Psalm 119:103
  4. Desire to pray. Not just do it. Not go through the motions. Not pray because we ought to. But love spending time in my knees, in my prayer closet, bowed before God. “Lord, teach us to pray.” And to love it.
  5. Desire to be an example of Jesus to those around me. “It’s my desire, to be like Jesus. It’s my desire to be like Him, His Spirit fill me. His love o’erwhlem me. In deed and word, to be like Christ.”

The good news is that God’s desire is to give you the desires of your heart when you desire to desire what He desires for you.

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The Importance of Being Tribal

The Importance of Being Tribal

A friend of mine passed away this week. I don’t know if friend is the right word. He was a few years older. We had not seen or even spoken to one another in at least ten years. We were not in the same circles at all, but he was a member of one of… Continue Reading

3/13/24   Lent   Psalm 79   IFTTT

3/13/24 Lent Psalm 79 IFTTT

3/13/24 Lent Psalm 79 IFTTT  The history of the children of Israel has always been an “If this then that” relationship. God designed it that way, at least from His side. “If you keep my commandments, you will be blessed.” “If you call on my Name I will answer.” “If you bow down before Me,… Continue Reading

Black History Month: In The Beginning Was The Relationship

Black History Month: In The Beginning Was The Relationship

The creation story starts with the familiar words, “In the beginning, God.”  It goes on to include some physical phenomena, a move of the Spirit, and eventually, man and woman made in “our,” a plural God, image.  That verse could have as easily said, “In the beginning was the Relationship.” God is nothing if He… Continue Reading

5/8/23 MondayMatters: Testimony

5/8/23 MondayMatters: Testimony

5/8/23 MondayMatters: Testimony. Perhaps the most important words that will ever come out of my mouth is my testimony. When it is done right; centered on Christ, current, all about change, it has the power to change lives for generations to come. Here’s a quick testimony about testimonies. #MondayMatters #takeaminutemakeadifference https://youtu.be/iHFmeGTwzHY Continue Reading

40 Days to Celebrate the Coming King

40 Days to Celebrate the Coming King

Consider taking the 40 Days before Christmas to intentionally focus on the Coming King and on growing deeper in your faith. I invite you to an online devotional time starting tomorrow and ending on Christmas Eve. It is as easy as 1, 2, 3. 1. We will do 1 thing together for the 40 days,… Continue Reading

Stillness

Stillness

My youngest son, Jacob, for several years was the “frontman” for the house band at Tootsie’s, an iconic honky-tonk in Nashville. The frontman is not necessarily the lead singer. He may not even be the most musical in the band. (Though of course, Jacob was.) The frontman is the guy that has a gift for… Continue Reading