John 15 continued

Good evening family. We began to look into John 15 yesterday, and see reasons why life can be so difficult. The reason God does prune areas of our life is explained in verses 3-6. Jesus tells us that we have been cleansed by the words He has spoken to us, and that branches can't bear fruit on their own. Point 1 is that if we are trying to stand alone, we can't grow in our relationship with Him. The branches that are connected to the vine the strongest bear the most fruit. Verse 6 lays it out even better... "Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away and withers; they are gathered and tossed into the fire and burned". You don't see gardeners removing the healthy branches to burn them, do you? God's pruning isn't easy, but maybe... just maybe... if you look at it you will see He is building your connection with Jesus stronger! Be a blessing!

In Christ,
Pastor J and Victor

When Life is Hard....

Good evening family! We are going to spend this week looking at why life can be hard. You know what I'm talking about.... those times when it just isn't fair. Why do we suffer and have to endure hard times? The answer is found all through John 15. Verses 1 and 2 begin our study. Jesus says He is the true vine and that God is the vine tender. In order to make the vine grow more fruit, dead branches are cut off and godd branches are pruned. Enter your difficult times. When you endure these moments, ask yourself to look into what God is trying to enhance in your life! Allow Him to work! He's "pruning" you for something better! Be a blessing!

In Christ,
Pastor J and Victor

Faith and healing

Good evening family! The focus this week is on healing, and the faith that accompanies it. Matthew 20:29-35 is where we begin. Jesus heals two blind men in this passage. The key phrase is where they say, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." Faith, without any prior interaction with Jesus, led them to seek Him out. Faith, without any knowledge of what would happen when they sought him out as He passed by, led them to call to Him. Faith allowed them to scream louder when the crowd tried to silence them. Moved by compassion due to their cries, Jesus stopped and focused on them. Their faith allowed a mountain to be moved. They believed without any "qualifiers"... Do you have that kind of faith? Do you believe without having to have it justified?

Be a blessing!

In Christ,
Pastor Jason & Victor

We are one with God

Hey family! 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 reminds us that God lives in us. The celebration of the ultimate sacrifice that we experienced last Sunday at Easter opened the door for God's spirit to live in us. We are now the temple of God! Remember that God's temple is holy, and YOU are that temple. As He lives in you, let the world see Him!

In 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, we see Paul discuss acceptance. Jesus accepts us as we are, why don't we accept ourselves? When we accept Jesus, what else are we REALLY lacking? Sure, we can say that we don't have enough............. or............ or............... (you fill in the blanks), but do those things really have the impact on your life that Jesus does? By faith in Christ alone, our lives are made complete. The pure fulfilling joy you gain when you accept Jesus can't be found anywhere else!

In looking at how we are one with God, it is imperative that we examine our lifestyles. 1 Corinthians 10:31 and 11:1 are key passages for this inspection. We are instructed by Paul in 10:31 to do everything we do for the glory of God! 11:1 says to be imitators of him, as he is an imitator of Christ. Pretty lofty goals,l aren't they? If we are truly sold out for Christ, our goals should be to honor Him in all we do! If you have to ask if it honors God, don't do it!

How often do we pass judgement on people? Isn't it easy to do so? We like to do it because they don't dress, act, think, talk or look like us. Would your fingers on your right hand do that to the ones on your left? 1 Corinthians 12:12 tells us we are all part of the body of Christ - we may each have different roles, but we stand united in Him! Verse 13 explains that in the one Spirit, we are baptized into one body! We have to remember to bless the fingers on the other hand!

In Christ,
J and Victor

Easter week part 3

OH......... MY ............. GOODNESS!!!! Did you hear about everything that happened last night? Caiaphas had Jesus arrested, Peter denied Him three times - and weren't they best friends? Somebody got their ear cut off in a garden... It's all over town. There's even word that one of His gang traded His freedom for silver! Do you think He will be put on trial now? All the chief priests are meeting about it....

More Easter week insight

Man, that Jesus guy sure can teach! He has been teaching all week - on slaves, talents, people working... It's really something to hear. At one point, He even said that the temple would be destroyed and rebuilt in three days!!! Can you believe that? It took hundreds of years to build it! This week keeps getting weirder and weirder each day... I hope that Caiaphas can figure this guy out.

Easter Week is here!

Did you hear all the shouting and praising this past Sunday? The Savior rode into town! Everyone was waving their palm branches and shouting and singing praise! Were you there? There were so many people, I didn't see you. I hope you were there... If not, you missed it. The teacher rode in on a donkey! Everyone lined the road and some even put their cloaks down on the dirt for Him to ride across! We all shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" The whole town was stirred up - it was crazy, but the teacher, Jesus, is here! Were you there?

How about what He did Monday! Did you see it? Were you there? He went straight to the temple and started flippin tables! He turned over those big tables like they were nothing and sent all the money flying! He told those people to quit and get out... and ya know what? They left! Then, before I knew what was happening, He was healing people like crazy! There were sooooo many people there, all seeking healing and comfort, yet He treated them each with the same amount of love. The chief priests got upset - I thought it was funny - when the kids cried "Hosanna". Yesterday it was us, today it's the kids yelling it.

Then, the next day, guess what I heard happened! Wanna know? Ok... Yesterday, remember, He turned over the tables, healed people, and left town. I heard that this morning, He went by a fig tree, and because it didn't have any fruit on it, He told it that it would never again have fruit, and it died on the spot! Then, He said something to those guys with Him about having enough faith to move a mountain... What kind of man is this guy? Is He crazy? Move a mountain? Sheesh.... I heard the chief priests and elders are going to question Him. Maybe they can find out what's really going on...

God's refining us - wrapping it up

Good evening family. To end our look this week at the way God refines us, challenges us, and uses us is a glimpse into Noah. When we're called to do something extraordinary for God, we have to be ready to respond. Noah was righteous (Gen 6:9), but everyone thought he was a little on the crazy side. They lived in a desert, but he's building a boat? One of the refining trials may be that you are asked to do something "crazy" in the eyes of the world. God always has a reason for it though. Next was the flood - guess who survived that storm because he listened and obeyed God! Be still and know that He is God. He loves you. Seek Him first in the trials you face. Be blessed!

In Christ,
Jason and Victor

God's refining of us (continued)

Good evening family. We see examples of God's refining throughout all of scripture. Let's look at one example in Exodus 3:1-12 tonight. God set Moses up. It was the perfect distraction for interaction. God set a bush on fire, but kept it from burning up. It caught Moses' attention, and during the conversation that took place, God revealed to Moses what he was going to do. Once God told him he was going to lead the Israelites to freedom, Moses was full of questions. Isn't that the same as we are? Yet God gives us the way, the reassurance He will accomplish what He needs done, and more! Do you listen when God speaks to you in the fires? Be quiet, listen, then be blessed!

In Christ,
Jason and Victor

Malachi 3:3-4 - Being refined

Family, in this next session, we are going to look at how we are refined by God during our lives. To begin, head over to Malachi 3:3-4. This is a very powerful passage for us. When a purifier of silver works a piece of silver over, they use a fairly simple, but sometimes drawn out process. They put the silver into the fire - a fire of very intense heat - and after its been in the fire for a while, they will remove it from the flames. Then they will inspect it for blemishes, shape it a little, then return it to the fire. Each time they bring it back out, they are looking for something very important - their reflection. If scripture tells us we are made in God's image, would He not treat us the same way? He wants to see Himself in us! May you be blessed as He refines you.

God continues to allow us to go through the fires of trials so we can grow our relationship with Him through these trials. He desires that we walk so closely with Him, that our steps are one in the same. When you are getting ready for the day, you look in the mirror to make sure you are happy with the way you look, right? You see the outside, God sees the inside. He continues to look there until He sees an image reflecting Him located in your heart! We have to realize that God is refining us, especially when it hurts! He is teaching us something  - growing us to be more like Him!

God will allow us to experience fires (trials) to continue molding us. He has already established our foundation - we were made in His likeness, so the work that remains is His continuing labor of love. This is where James 1:2 becomes so important when we realize that the trials/testing of our faith is a way God is building our relationship with Him, and continuing to shape us, the meaning of the trials become more clear. We have to remember that He is trying to teach, love, and draw us closer to Him through it all! Allow yourself to become more of what He wants you to be!

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Jason and Victor

Psalm 46 wrap up

Family, Psalm 46:8-11 will finish up our study of this psalm. We see peace abound in the name of the Lord. Wars shall cease, He breaks the bow and He shatters the spear. He burns the fields with fire. All of these things signify the end of conflict. We can't miss the point here for our lives. Verse 10 (I know I've driven this verse hard this week, but....) signifies the way for us to obtain a peace like this and silence our inner strife. "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD." Allow God to be the one who makes the changes in your life! Allow Him to bless you! Be blessed as He moves!

Jason & Victor

Daily Devotional - Psalm 46, Day 4

Good evening family! Verse 6 - 7 of Psalm 46 is where we are headed tonight. Here in verse 6, we see total chaos. Nations in uproar, kingdoms falling apart... and the earth melting! That can't be good, right? All those events speak of destruction, no safety, danger -- all things we should be concerned about. But then we see verse 7 - "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." Wow - safety in God. We can rest there. Then we are reminded again of verse 10 - "Be still and KNOW that I am God." There is a holy sanctuary and peace we have when we take refuge in God. Crawl up in His lap and rest. Be blessed!

In Christ,
Jason and Victor

Psalm 46 - Day 3

Good evening family. Verses 4 and 5 tell us that God sits in the middle of His city. We get a vision of peace concerning this city - it has a river that makes the city glad, for it is "the holy habitation of the Most High". Then the strength and reassurance appear in verse 5. God is in the city and shall NOT be moved. There's strength for us when God is in the center of our lives, just like this city. "God will help it when the morning dawns." He is the constant source of help for us! Why would you think He wouldn't help us? If He blesses us with a new day, and we honestly seek His will, He will guide and bless us through it! Be a blessing!

In Christ,
Jason and Victor

Psalm 46 walkthrough, days 1 & 2

Good evening family! Psalm 46 is our study text for this week. I want us to focus on verse 10, particularly the first part of it each day this week. This is so very very important. "Be still and know that I am God." No matter what situation you are faced with, no matter what inner struggle you are fighting, BE STILL. Allow God to work in your life especially at that moment. There is a reason He is God. Give Him the opportunity to show you that reason. Peace, be still. God loves you. Allow Him to love you.

Psalm 46:1-3 reminds us that God is our refuge and strength. No matter what happens around us, we should not fear for anything - God is in control. He is our very present help in time of need. Remember to reflect on verse 10 - "Be still and know that I am God." Allow God to love you. Spend time with Him today.

In Christ,
Jason and Victor

Cornerstone Cafe Ministries Joins with I See The Light

Hello Brothers and Sisters in Christ!


"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

     You may recognize that greeting as the one Paul uses to open his writing in the New Testament. The message in it is clear. It is powerful, timeless, and speaks directly to our relationships as members of the family of Christ.
     Let me begin by saying thank you for taking the time to read the devotionals Victor forwards to you. If you read this blog and are not receiving them currently, please contact Victor at Murillos8@att.net to begin receiving them. I pray that these devotionals are as much of a blessing to you as they are to me while I am writing them. I am blessed daily as I spend time in The Word, seeking God's will for these writings, and I pray that God speaks to your heart as you read them.
     As Victor mentioned as he forwarded the devotional earlier this week, my name is Jason Webb. My family and I live in Morganton, North Carolina, and we love Jesus with all we are. God's grace has reached in so many times during our lives and pulled us out of the weeds... similar to the way Pharaoh's daughter did Moses in Exodus 2. We are forever thankful to God for His grace and mercy.
     The devotional writings are just a part of what God is leading Cornerstone Cafe Ministries to do. Please pass these devotionals along to others, as they are God's inspired words. Feel free to share them, and pray that they bless those who receive them.
     I have a brother in Christ, Stephen Hines, who is helping develop Cornerstone Cafe Ministries into more of the vision God has given me. We are building a branch of the ministry that is reaching out to America's enlisted personnel, beginning with the National Guard, and prayerfully searching for opportunities to move forward from there. We also do speaking engagements at youth events, churches, community events, and other opportunities as God opens those doors.
     There is also more to the written ministry section of Cornerstone Cafe Ministries. The devotionals will be made into a book series, with sections for times of personal reflection after each teaching. My testimony - orchestrated by God, lived out and put in book format by me - is also in the process of being published by Westbow Press. It will be released in the coming months. There are more books to be written, as God has provided visions and encouragements for them. Our brother Victor will be the topic of one of the upcoming books, as God has blessed him with a tremendous testimony that has to be shared with the world. Cornerstone Cafe Ministries is also developing a men's accountability study and conference series - "Unbreakable Men Of An Unshakeable Faith". We are also in the process of setting up the ministry as a 501(c)(3), developing a website, and many more exciting opportunities in which God is creating openings.
     I humbly ask for your prayerful support as we begin our trip down this exciting road God has opened up in our lives. Please keep those of us involved in Cornerstone Cafe Ministries and our families in your prayers. Myself, Stephen, Victor, and those still to come all appreciate your prayers. What God establishes, the enemy hates. We know and accept the fact that the enemy is going to attack us in every way possible to attempt to prevent us from following where God leads. But with God's divine intervention, His grace and protection, and the prayerful support of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will be able to accomplish what He  needs us to do.
    
     Thank you, and may God bless you and your family.

Humbly in His service,
Jason