Posts with the tag “growth”

Eliminate What’s Not Working
by Delman Coates on November 10th, 2024
"And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.’” - Luke 13:8   I want to spend one last day looking at the parable of the barren fig tree. What I want you to see is that the gardener recognized that the tree’s lack of productivity wasn’t due to the tree itself but rather the soil it was planted in. By digging around the tree and removing obstacles...  Read More
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You Have Another Chance
by Delman Coates on November 8th, 2024
"And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’" - Luke 13:8-9   In the parable of the barren fig tree, the landowner was ready to cut it down after years of no fruit. It looked like the tree’s story was over. But the gardener steps in and asks for another chan...  Read More
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Tell the Truth About Where You Are
by Delman Coates on November 6th, 2024
"And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’" - Luke 13:7    In the parable of the unproductive fig tree, Jesus paints a picture of a tree that’s been planted but isn’t producing any fruit. After three years of waiting, the landowner finally comes to terms with the fact that t...  Read More
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What If...
by Delman Coates on October 15th, 2024
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11   It’s so easy to get fixated on the end goal, isn’t it? We imagine the final product of what God is going to do in our lives—the job we’ll have, the person we’ll become, the life we’ll lead. We daydream about the outcome, and we wait, hoping for...  Read More
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The Importance Of Repentance
by Delman Coates on August 31st, 2024
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." - Acts 3:19   We discussed yesterday that if you want God’s mercy, and for Him to use you in a mighty way, then repentance is vitally important. But what is repentance? Repentance is not merely saying sorry; it's a heartfelt turning away from sin and a decisive turning toward God. ...  Read More
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Try Not to Take It Personal
by Delman Coates on July 8th, 2024
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."- Colossians 3:13   Healing after being hurt is tough because our natural inclination is to take it personally. This is where all those “how could they do this” and “how could they hurt me like that” thoughts come from. But by stepping back and gaining some perspective, we ...  Read More
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Embracing Imperfections
by Delman Coates on April 15th, 2024
"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night." - Psalm 1:1-2   Have you ever felt like your imperfections were holding you back from living a fulfilling life? It's a common lie the enemy likes to whisper into our minds – th...  Read More
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Thriving in Adversity
by Delman Coates on January 23rd, 2024
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." - Romans 5:3-4   No matter who you are, it is impossible to go through this life without facing any sort of adversity. As we continue our exploration into the importance of facing adversity, let's dive into the transformative power embedded in life'...  Read More
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Wisdom in Reflection
by Delman Coates on January 7th, 2024
"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." - Psalm 90:12   Have you ever pondered the valuable lessons hidden within your past mistakes? There's a profound wisdom that emerges when we take the time to reflect on our journey. The Scriptures remind us of the importance of gaining a heart of wisdom through the experiences of life. In our existence, each mistake and misstep con...  Read More
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Let it Go
by Delman Coates on January 1st, 2024
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11   Do you remember the Frozen craze that swept through households with little ones over five years ago? The movie, the merchandise, and the endless singing of the iconic anthem "Let it Go"…it's all etched in the memories of parents who became unwitting expe...  Read More
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Worth the W.E.I.G.H.T.
by Delman Coates on December 7th, 2023
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." - 2 Corinthians 4:17   Have you ever felt like you were pushing against an immovable boulder in your life, trying to make progress but finding it nearly impossible?  I once read a story of a man who received a divine directive in a dream, instructing him to go outside and push against a massiv...  Read More
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Having a Supportive Corner that Sees Beyond Your Past
by Delman Coates on September 29th, 2023
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1Life's journey often involves navigating through the landscape of our past. We all have chapters filled with both victories and stumbles, moments of growth, and lessons learned. In this journey, having people in your corner who don't judge your past becomes a precious gift—a testament to the grace and love tha...  Read More
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The Gift of Choosing the Right Friends
by Delman Coates on September 26th, 2023
"Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." - Proverbs 13:20In the journey of life, the company we keep plays a significant role in shaping our experiences, decisions, and ultimately, our character. Choosing the right friends is often an underestimated aspect of our lives, one that can greatly impact our well-being and spiritual growth.The book of Proverbs offers u...  Read More
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Delayed, Not Denied
by Delman Coates on September 2nd, 2023
“Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” - Isaiah 40:31   In our fast-paced world, patience often feels like a virtue of the past. We live in an era of instant gratification, where we expect results at the snap of a finger. But the rewards of God's plan don't always ali...  Read More
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Divine Refinement: God’s Purifying Tests
by Delman Coates on August 16th, 2023
“I will refine them like silver and test them like gold.” - Zechariah 13:9  Life is a journey filled with various tests and trials. These tests, while often challenging and uncomfortable, are not arbitrary or meaningless. They are part of God’s divine plan to purify us, much like a refiner uses fire to purify precious metals.  When a refiner purifies gold, he subjects it to intense heat. The heat ...  Read More
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The Cost of Impatience
by Delman Coates on August 4th, 2023
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.” - Psalms 37:7 In our fast-paced world, waiting can often feel like a waste of time. We are conditioned to seek instant gratification, and when things don’t happen as quickly as we’d like, we are tempted to take matters into our own hands. However...  Read More
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Embracing God’s Vision for Our Lives
by Delman Coates on July 26th, 2023
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” - Isaiah 55:8-9  It’s easy to become trapped in our own perspective, believing that the way we see life is the only way it can be. However, God’s vision for our lives often extends far beyond ...  Read More
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Embracing Reality
by Delman Coates on July 24th, 2023
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” - Psalm 139:23-24  Before we can embark on a journey of transformation and change, we must first come to terms with where we are in our lives. Acknowledging our current circumstances, emotions, and struggles is a crucial step in understanding the a...  Read More
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The Perfect Wave
by Ministry Support on January 2nd, 2023
“Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.” - Ecclesiastes 11:4  A while back, I was watching a special on surfing. During the show, there was this guy talking about how surfers are constantly in search of the perfect wave. The perfect wave, he said, has the right amount of curl, a perfect tube, and is just at the right height for the surfer. ...  Read More
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How Do You Feel?
by Ministry Support on June 20th, 2022
“Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” - Psalm 62:8Yesterday, we talked about being “over it.” Perhaps there is some part of your life, or just your life in general, that you just feel “over” everything. If you are seeking to navigate such a moment, there are some important, teachable nuggets and keen insights that can be derived from Numbers 1...  Read More
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A True Connection
by Ministry Support on January 28th, 2022
“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” - Genesis 2:18  In 2020, Cigna, a healthcare company, reported that more than 3 out of 5 Americans felt lonely, claiming they felt left out, poorly understood and lacking in companionship. This was a13% rise in loneliness from 2018. And I am sure with COVID and its residual effects, the numbers ar...  Read More
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Feast or Famine? It’s Only Temporary.
by Ministry Support on August 22nd, 2021
“Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” - Isaiah 43:18-19  Are you currently in a feast or a famine? The reality is that every one of us will experience both (many times) throughout the course of our lives. There will always be a new season of life...  Read More
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Self-Promotion
by Ministry Support on December 23rd, 2020
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is j...  Read More
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Bury the Hatchet
by Ministry Support on September 3rd, 2020
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)  One of the most powerful concepts of forgiveness I’ve ever heard comes from Native American culture. After wars and battles between native tribes, or between native tribes and the whites who tried to conquer them, they would participate in a ceremony involving burying the weapons th...  Read More
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defeat delay delight deliverance deliver demands deppth depression deserved deserves deserve desired desires desire desperate desperation despite destination destiny destroy destruction determination determined determine deter developed development develop difference difficulties dignity diligent directing directly direct disbelief disciples disciple discouraged discouragement discourage discovered discover dismayed disobedience disrespects disrupt distance distinction distractions divine division donor doubt dreams dream drought drowning dwell ebdured effective effects elevate eliminate embedded embraced embraces embrace embracing emerges emotinal emotional emotions emotion empathy empowered empowerment empowers empower enabled encountered encounters encounter encouraged encouragement encourages encourage encouraging encouters endangering endurance endures endure enduring enemy energy engaged engages engage engaging enjoyable enjoying ensure ensuring entire entrusting enviroment environment equips equip eternally eternal eternity evangelism everlasting evidence exaltaion examine exceeding excellent excuses exhaustion expectations expected expecting expects experience expertise expression express external fabric failure faithfullness faithfully faithfulness faithful faithless faith famine fasting fate fathers father faults favor fearfully fearful fearless fear feelings feeling fellowship fight finaces firmly fixed focused focusing focus followed followers follower following follow folow foolish force forever forgave forgiveness forgiven forgive forgiving fortunate forward foundations foundation freedom free fresh friendships friendship friend fruit of the Spirit fruitful frustrated frustrations frustration fulfilling fulfillment fulfill fullness future generations generosity generous genuinely genuine gesture gifts gift given give giving glimmer glorify glorious glory goals goal godly goodness gospel grace grateful gratification gratitude greater greatness greed grief grieved grieve ground growing grown growth grow guarding guard guidance guide guiding guilty guilt habits habit handle happier happiest happy hardest hardships hardship harmful healed healing heal heartbreak heartbroke hearted hearts heart hear heavenly heavy heir helped help hiding highlighted home honesty honest honored honoring honor hoped hopeless hopes hope hoping house humanity humble humility hurtful hurting hurt identiy ignorance ignore illustrate image imbalance immediately immense immortal immovable impactful impact imperfections imperfection imperfect importance important impossible impovement impressions impression impress improve increase indeed indication indulgence inflation influenced influences influence influencing informs injustice innocence inspiration inspire instruct integrity intelligence intended intending intends intentional intention intents interactions interest internal interpret intimacy intrested intresting invaluable invested invitation invites invite inviting involved involve isloation jealousy journey joy judgement justice justified kindness kingdom knowing knowldge knowledge labels labor leadership leading leads lead learning learn leave led legacy life lifted light limitations limits listening live loneliness lonely lonliness loss loved loves love loving loyalty magnitude maintain maintenance manager manage master matchers medication meditating meditation members memorable memories merciful mercy message mighty milestones mindset mind ministry miracles miracle miraculous missed mission mistakes mistake mistrakes modestly modification molding moment money mothers motivated motivate motives name navigate needs neglect newfound nourishment obedience obedient obeying obey obligation observe obstacles obstacle obtain offered offering offer operate opinions opportunity opposition oppressed oppression oppurtunity outcome overcome overcoming overflowing overlook overshadowing overstressed overwhelmed overwhelming overwhelm overworking package painful pain parenting partner passage passions passion past patience patienc patient peacefully peace perception perfectionism perfection perfectly perfect performance perform perish perplexed perserverance perseverance perseverence persistance persistent personal perspective physical placing planned planning plan pleases please pleasing pleasures point positions positive positivity possessions possibilities possibility possible potential pounding powerfull powerful powers power practical practice praises praise prayed prayers prayer praying pray preaches preach prejudice preparation prepared prepares prepare preparing preperation presence present preserved preserve preserving presevered pressure prevented prevent pride principle priorities privacy private privilege problem proceeded proceed process productive profits profound progress prominence promised promises promise promising promote promoting promotions promotion prospect prosperity prosperus prosper protected protecting protection protector protect provider provides provide providing provision pure purify purposeful purposely purposes purpose pursue pursuing pursuit questioning questions quitting race radiance raise random reaching reaction reading reality realize rebuilding rebuild recharge recieve reciprocated recognize reconciliation redeemed redeems redeem redemption redemptive redirect refining reflecting reflections reflection reflects reflect refocusing refocus refreshment refresh refuge refusal regrets regret rejected reject rejoices rejoice rekindle relationships relationship relation release reliance relied religious relinquish reminded reminder reminds remind remorse renewed renew repair repeating repentance repent replenishes replenishment replenish request require rescued rescue resources respect respond response responsibility rested restful restoration restored restores restoring restricted restrore rest resurrection retaliation returns reunited revealing revelation reward righteousness righteous risen rises risk rituals rock roles romans royalty rulers running saaanctified sabbath sacrifice sacrificing sadness safety sanctification satisfaction satisfies satisfy saved scribes scripture scrutinized sealed seasons secures secure seeking seeks seek seize self-control selfishness selfish selflessly self senses seperate seperation sermons serves serve service serving settle shackles shame share sharing shattered shield shining sidetracked sight significance significant signifies single sinned sins sin situation sleep society solutions solution solving souls soul source sovereignty sovereign spare speak special specific specified spirirt spirits spiritually spiritual spirit stability standards stewardship story straining stranger strenghth strenght strengthens strengthen strengths strength stress striking strive striving stronger strong structurally struggled struggles struggle struggling struglles study stumble submit succcess succeed successful success suffering suffer suggests supernatural supporting support surprised surprises surprise surrendered surrendering surrender surrounded susceptible suspend sustains sustain swallow takers talents teachings teaching tears tear temper temptations temptation tempting testament testimony test thankfulness thankful thanksgiving thanks thank thoughtful thoughts time timing title together tomb tragedy transformation transformative transformed transforming transform treating trials and tribulations trials tribulations triggered trigger troubles trouble troubling true truly trusted trusting trustworthy trust truths truth ultimate understanding understand unexplained unified unimaginable unites unity unworthy urgency urgently utilize validation valuable values value victim victorious victory vilence violation vision void voyage vulnerable waiting wait walk wandering waste wavering weakness weapon weary welcomes welcoming well wholeness will of God willingness willing wisdom wise 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