Mornings With Jesus

“Give and it shall be given!”

 Wow! The Lord has been so good to us, to our family - He is faithful and He is good all the time! :)

Today I wanted to take you back into the archives once again, but also bring you into the now. 

You know it's important to look back upon what the Lord has done - it helps to bolster our confidence in Him, but at the same time it's important to realize that “now faith is...” 

We cannot live in the past nor should we only dwell on past victories, we need to use them to help us grow in the present, ever looking forward! 

Mitzi and I had just gotten married and we had just moved out of a homeless shelter of all places! 

Some friends of ours at the church we were currently attending invited us to come to live in their home, in their finished basement.

We were thrilled at the chance!

Mitzi was pregnant with Moriah at the time and I had just gotten a job at a pizza shop one town over.

We had no vehicle, so I needed to be driven to work every day.

One evening Mitzi and I were out walking in the neighborhood, and we spotted a car, it was a Lincoln.

Lincolns had always been my favorite car.

We stopped right there and prayed. We said Father, in Jesus name’ we would like to have a car and make it a Lincoln please. :) 

Would you believe the very next day we went out for a walk, came back to the house, and in the driveway was a 1995 white Lincoln Continental! 

The owner of the home, the man that was letting us live with him, went out that morning and for some reason, he didn’t know why decided to trade in an old car he was working on to buy us one and settled on a Lincoln! 

Praise the Lord! God is good! Now at the time, we knew very little about sowing and reaping, giving to receive, etc. We simply believed God, took Him at His Word and asked by faith.

Fast-forward several years into the now and it was placed upon our hearts (our family) to take one of Moriah’s friends shopping several months back.

We just wanted to love on her and bless her - show her the love and goodness of God!

She was absolutely thrilled and in awe by our generosity and we all had such a blast doing it! 

It was enough for us just to be able to bless her!!!

The other day, Mitzi and I were outside and I was checking the mail - we received a letter from a couple at Joy Church. 

We are not really close with them, have only spoken with them a couple of times. 

The lady writing the letter began to brag on our youngest son Josiah, for his heart for God and by this time, my mascara is running, as is Mitzi’s.

She then begins to tell us that she heard what we did for Moriah’s friend and was so moved by it that she and her husband had been planning for quite some time to bless us! 

Enclosed with the letter was a check for hundreds of dollars, well above what we spent on Moriah’s friend!

Praise the Lord!!! 

He sees what we do, what we give, pray, sow, etc. and He has promised in His Word to do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think! 

When we received that car, that was simply God blessing us - we didn't do anything to earn it or deserve it, but it showed us His goodness and it helped to bolster our faith for future victories! 

When we received that check, again we didn’t deserve it and it’s not like we earned it by any means, but He was returning to us what we had given out, only it was above what we could ask or think! 
I sure hope this has encouraged you!

God is faithful and whatsoever a person sows that shall they also reap! 

During this time of ups and downs in the world, the economy, and what have you, God’s Kingdom remains steady and stable! 

Put your trust in Him - He is faithful!!!

There is no better time to sow than now!

Pray, fin

“One Act of Obedience”

I had to go back into the archives for this story of God’s Goodness today!

I was fresh out of jail maybe a year or two.

My wife and I had only been married for a short while.

One day, the Lord placed upon my heart to go and clean, organize, and paint my dad’s garage floor.

My dad and I had not been close since my incarceration - after all I was a very bad dude and I am not sure if everyone believed that I had actually changed :) 

I told my wife what the Lord said and she agreed.

I spent a few hours organizing his garage, cleaning it all out and then I sealed and painted his floor with that epoxy coating sealer and sparkles that make it look all fancy. 

This entire time my dad was in bed.

After several hours he came out into the garage to see what all the commotion was.

He was so moved! He cried. He told me that he had been wanting to do this for quite some time! Of course, by now I am crying, so thankful to have listened to the Lord! 

My dad had just made a big sale on some properties that I was unaware of. He went inside and cut me a check - he gave me a portion of what he made! 

I had no idea this was going to
happen, nor did I do it for money, I was just simply obeying the Lord and motivated by love :) 

After we parted ways, I went and told Mitzi everything that happened - she was super excited. 

We took the money and went and gave it to my probation officer to catch up on my fees.

I was on 12 years' worth of probation at the time! I had to go in every month and check-in and I wasn’t able to leave the state, etc.

She (my probation officer) was so moved that I would do that, she wrote the judge who had sentenced me and told him what had happened.

He was so moved that he decided to rework my sentence and declared “time served” on my case!!!

This meant that I was no longer on probation! I still had years left and in a moment it was erased! 

I couldn’t believe it - that one act of obedience to the Lord had brought all this about! 

Ephesians 3:20 says He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ask or think according to the power working in us! 

He is a good God and He is faithful! 

The times I am overwhelmed or discouraged, I am so thankful for the Word of God!

It has been a Rock in my life!

I am also so blessed to have my wife in my life! She has been with me through so much and she is my constant, my best friend! ❤️

Listen, We certainly don’t want to live in the past or dwell on the past, but its good to look back upon the memorials of victories in our lives and see what the Lord has done for us! 

If He did it then, He will do it again! 

Remember: What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

In Christ, 

Joshua Scott Zeitz 

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Follow Him!"
by Joshua Scott Zeitz
     
The book of Judges is/can be a sad book to read because time and again we see the phrase, “The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord.”

However, looking at it through the lens of God’s grace one can see an overarching theme that is so powerful!

No matter how many times the people forsook God, He was always so willing to rescue them, to deliver them, to be their God!

From the outset of God’s creation, He has been wanting mankind to simply follow Him - to fellowship with Him!

Judges chapters 6 & 7 recounts the story of Gideon and the Israelite peoples. The beginning of chapter 6 speaks of the depravity of the situation, the children of Israel were suffering at the hands of the Midianites becuase they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.

Yet God was attentive to their cries!

There is so much within these two chapters, but the thing I want to highlight today is how God came to Gideon, called him personally, and then rescued the children of Israel in a remarkable way in spite of Gideon.

You see Gideon dealt with much fear. He feared people. He feared the situation his nation was in. He feared to act upon God’s Word.

But even in his fear, knees shaking, he followed God anyway and God did an awesome thing through Him! 

He delivered the Midianites into the hand of Gideon but with very few resources and just a handful of people.

I love what Judges 7:2 says:

“And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’”
‭‭
The Lord dwindled down the army from thousands upon thousands to 300!

Pastor Jim says all the time, “Don’t belittle the little.”

Listen, God can do in a moment what we can’t in a lifetime! Just ask the boy with the loaves and fishes over in the gospels!

The thing I want to highlight the most in these two chapters in Judges is God’s Goodness!

The Bible says the horse is prepared for the battle, but victory is of the Lord! (Proverbs 21:31)

During this season we find ourselves in as a nation, let’s not fall into the snare of thinking that God doesn’t care, that He doesn’t see, that He doesn’t hear...

He is so good! And He wants to fellowship with us, with you, if you let Him. 

But you/we have to let Him do it His way! 

He doesn’t need our might or prowess, our intellect or science, He just wants us to follow Him!

He wants to show Himself mighty on the behalf of anyone who dares to take Him at His Word!

He is a big God and He isn’t moved because you are dealing with a little fear or worry or anxiety, just do it anyway, follow Him!!

Are your knees shaking? Do it anyway! Follow Him! 

That’s all He wants, for you to trust Him, to take Him at His Word! He is not a man that He should lie! (Numbers 23:19)

Will you be like Gideon today and answer the call of God?! Will you say yes to Him?

If you do, get ready! He will do great and mighty things through you as well! 

Remember: What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭33:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Building A Memorial”

The book of Joshua chapter 3 recounts the story of when the Lord dried up the waters of the Jordan River so that the Israelites could cross over unto Jericho!

It was a miraculous event especially because the Bible said that this was during a time of harvest when the river waters were exceptionally high.

But nothing is too great for our awesome God!

As soon as the people were over, the Lord told Joshua to have twelve men, one from every tribe, grab a stone from the midst of the Jordan and carry it to their lodging place.

There they were to construct a monument from the twelve stones.

The purpose was simple:

When their children asked in times to come what the meaning of the twelve stones was, the monument would serve as a catalyst to tell the greatness of the Lord - To recount how He brought them over on dry ground unto Jericho!

Not soon after this awesome event, in Joshua chapter 6, the Bible tells how the children of Israel marched around the city of Jericho until the mighty walls came tumbling down!

Marching around that wall all those days, it didn’t look like anything was happening and even on the last day, when they had to march around several times, the people couldn’t see anything in the natural happening, but they had a memorial to look back upon!!

They had a memorial to remind them that because God had done it before, He was well able to do it again!!!

I want to encourage you today - what obstacles are you facing? 

What troubles or trials or circumstances do you find yourself in today?

Can I tell you some great news?!!

God is Faithful!! He has done it before and He will do it again - He still heals, saves, and delivers!!

Take a moment today, right now even to recount the many things the Lord has done in your life, build that memorial to Him and His greatness, and be encouraged - He never changes! 

If He did it before, He will do it again!

You may not see it or feel it - but He is working! 

Tell somebody! Tell your children, your co-workers, your friends, your family, tell somebody what the Lord has done in your life!

When people ask, when your children ask in times to come: “Remember when such and such happened...”

Be bold and redeem that opportunity as an opportunity to brag on God! 

Say “Yes I do, let me tell you what God did for me...”

remember: What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

An Excellent Spirit: The Daniel Series part 2

“A man's gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Oftentimes, the Lord will mold us and make us in the secret place. This molding process can be quite painful at times and it can seem to last forever.

It’s during these times when the Lord is preparing us for what is to come. If we will allow Him to do His work, we will come out on the other side stronger, faster, and better equipped to do that which He has for us! 

It’s during these times when it may seem, feel, and appear that we are of little or no value in the Kingdom of God, but do not
be deceived! God is not mocked! Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. :) 

Listen, if we will let the Lord have His way with us during these times of pruning and molding, remaining in the refiner’s fire, we will be given many opportunities to sow awesome seeds in times of famine and drought!

When everyone else around us is focusing on this or that, the Lord may have us doing things, that in the natural may seem counter-intuitive, but make no mistake about it, He is good and He is good all the time! He is purposeful!

The things we do in times of lack will either set us up for great success or cause us to miss opportunities of great harvest.

It is imperative that we learn to be like Daniel...to continue to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in the very face of what may appear to be impossible odds! 

I know it may seem like I am speaking in riddles, but if you are in a season right now where it feels like you are being ripped through a keyhole backward, you will relate! :) Take heart! Be encouraged, the Lord is the author and finisher of our faith and He will never leave us nor forsake us!!!

Stay in the fire! It’s here where our character is being built! It’s here where our souls are being renewed! Keep allowing the Word to wash over you daily! 

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“Even If”

During my early years as a Christian, I struggled with self-worth issues and seeing myself in Christ, as He saw me.

Shortly after being released from jail, I met a man at Bible college. We instantly hit it off.

I know it was God bringing this man into
my life - I needed good friends, Bible-believing, God-fearing friends and so what a blessing it was to have this man in my life!

We both had such a love for Jesus and for others!

We hung out all the time - we talked for hours about God, about
ministry ideas, about the future. 

He wanted to start a soup kitchen to feed the hungry and I was going to be the preacher!

He was the best man at my wedding.

We both had sons named Isaiah. 

We made the perfect team - He loved to worship and sing, I loved to make noise and preach! 

As time went on, our families grew and although we still had a passion for ministry, our dreams got put on the back burner for a while.

What a blessing and honor to have this man in my life! He taught me how to step outside my shell, how to love others just as they were, how to be a giver, and love unconditionally, how to see myself in Christ! 

As it happened, I took a new job at a maximum-security prison for juveniles about 45 minutes down the road from him.

I was in charge of driving our new recruits to and from the training facility.

One day, after training was over, we all loaded into the van and I was about to take my seat behind the wheel when I received a phone call.

It was my best friend’s brother.

He said, “Maurice passed away last night in his sleep.”

I was frozen.

All I could say was, “Thank you for letting me know.”

I hung up the phone and drove in silence back to the prison, finished out the day, and went home.

As soon as I got home, I pulled Mitzi into the back bedroom, we sat down and I told her, “Maurice passed away.”

We both cried and cried and cried! We sobbed!

We were heartbroken.

He was 30 years old, had just gotten married, had 4 children with one on the way.

It took me two years to fully “get over” what had happened - to fully heal from what had happened.

There were days when I would just start crying out of nowhere.

I would remember something, see something, hear something, and just start weeping.

He was my best friend and I was devastated.

I was never mad at God, but there were many times when the why questions flooded
my mind.

The healing process took quite some time and the Lord is so gracious, He was there with me, with us, through it all!

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Position, not performance”

During a mission trip in Jamaica, it was my custom to get up early and spend about thirty minutes to one hour with the Lord before going to breakfast - reading the Bible, praying, worshiping...

Near the end of the week, I got up just as before but this time the Lord impressed upon my heart to spend my time with Him downstairs, outside on the patio.

So I grabbed my Bible and went downstairs on the patio and began to read and pray and worship.

Suddenly, a man walked by on the street below. He was just outside the hotel entrance, on the sidewalk. I glanced up briefly to see that he was trying to get my attention.

Not sure of his intentions, I sat for a moment longer. He walked by again. 

This time, I got up from where I was sitting and walked to him, to the entrance gate. 

I said, “We aren’t supposed to go outside of the gate, but if you want to come in, I can talk with you.”

Reluctantly, he agreed. I could tell he was a bit nervous.

I invited him to sit on the outer wall with me. 

Holding something in his hand, he made his move - he was trying to sell me drugs!

Right away I said, “No thank you, Put that away, I’m not interested, but if you have a moment I would like to share some things with you.” “It’s not an accident that you came by here this morning!”

“My name is Josh, and I’m with a group of missionaries from America. We are here telling people about Jesus.”

He was really nervous now and I assured him everything was okay - I wasn’t trying to bust him, I just wanted to share some good news with him!

After a few moments, he lightened up and began to open up to me.

I told him some of my story, how I used to be heavily addicted to drugs, how I went to jail and how Jesus Christ radically changed me!

I shared the gospel with him and reminded him again that this wasn’t a mistake that he was out here this morning, nor was it a mistake that I was there.

I invited him to follow Jesus, to receive Him as Lord and Savior and he said yes!!!!

The Bible says this in Romans 10:13, “Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

That man called on Jesus that day and what an honor it was to be a part of it!

That wasn’t me - it wasn’t about my performance. That was the Lord and it was all about my position. I simply obeyed and He let me be a part of something glorious!

I showed up, and He showed out!

One simple act of obedience can position you to receive a huge blessing from the Lord!

The Bible says this in Romans 10:17, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” 

The more Word we have on the inside, the easier it is to His hear gentle voice!

Spend time with the Lord today, in His Word - you may be one small act of obedience away, from changing someone’s eternity! 

Remember until next time, what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) NKJV

“Sundays are the worst!”

We stopped in at the auto parts store. It was a Sunday. I was tired and the lady behind the counter was tired as well. I joked with her briefly about how tired I was and she began to open up to me about her day.

She said, “Sundays are the worst!” I said, “why is that?” She said because that's when all the Christians come in here after church and are really moody! 

I said, “I am sorry to hear that.” I connected with her a bit more, just listening to her as she got to vent a little and lighten up.

As we left that day, we had a plan in place to come back and bless her and speak with her again. 

We prayed for her, that her heart would be receptive to the gospel.

Today, we went back to the auto store and the lady was there. We had a return to make already and after completing our transaction I asked if she wouldn’t mind coming out to check the battery on our van.

She said yes and followed us outside. After popping the hood, I said, “I have to confess something to you!” “I didn't really call you out here to check our battery.”

I then handed her a nice financial blessing and reminded her of the conversation we had the week prior. She remembered and was so grateful for the blessing!

I told her that since that day, we had been praying for her! 

I then began to share the gospel with her and she was so receptive!

She said yes to Jesus right there in the parking lot and gave me a huge hug! She said, “I feel so lifted right now!” 

What an honor to get this opportunity! The Holy Spirit was working on this lady and when the time was right, I shared the good news with her in such a kind and gentle manner and she was so ready to say yes to Jesus! 

I sure hope this has encouraged you today! Remember to take time today to walk through crowds slowly, you may be a conversation or two away from changing someone’s eternity!

As my Pastor says, when we change a person’s perception, we change their reception! And generosity truly does breed curiosity!

Until next time, remember:
God’s not mad at you, He is madly in love with you!

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Another in the Fire!”

The book of Daniel chapter 3 recounts the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego and how they escaped the fiery furnace of King Nebuchadnezzar.

The king had it in his heart to build a giant sculpture of himself and have the entire people bow down and worship the image.

Those who did not bow to the image were warned that they would be thrown into a fiery furnace.

It was found out that there were three men who did not bow to the image, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 

The three men were brought before the king and after being warned again of their impending doom, they refused to bow to the image, declaring boldly that their God was able to save them and even if He didn’t, they would not bow!

The king in hasty anger commanded the fire to be heated seven times hotter and the three men to be bound and tossed in.

The fire was so hot that it burned to death the mighty men as they dropped the three bound into the fire.

Astonished, the king leapt to his feet! 

He said, didn’t we throw three men bound into the fire?!

The people around him said yes.

The king said I see four men loosed and walking in the midst of the fire and the form of the fourth looks like the Son of God!!!

After calling the men out of the fire, the king and all the people present were amazed and stood in awe because there was zero singing on any of their clothes nor was there any smell of smoke on them!

The three men stood there whole and happy as a testament of the power and might of the one true King!

Listen, these are trying times. 

We are being pressured on all sides to bow to the images of fear and worry and despair and sickness.

But, if we in the midst of it all, will worship the Lord anyway, share the Good News anyway, encourage, uplift, be the hands and feet, and mouth of Jesus anyway...

If we refuse to bow to the images, God will walk with us through the fire and we will not get burnt!

We will come out on the other side as a living testament of the Grace and Goodness of the Lord!

Listen, the world is watching.

What we do now, in this hour,
What we say,
What we post,

It matters.

Life is connected.

Keep praying. Keep giving. Keep believing.

I love you all :) 

What you make happen for others, God 

In Christ,

Joshua Scott Zeitz

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭KJV 

“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
‭‭Esther‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Mundane Mandate

“Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.”

Psalms 23:4 AMP

If you’ve ever written, then perhaps you have come face to face with something called writer’s block.

This involves staring at the paper before you or the computer screen and just drawing blanks. You want to write, but nothing is coming to you. The feeling can be quite frustrating and even feel hopeless. 

However, there are numerous ways past this! I would say the best way is simply, live life! Opportunities have a way of presenting themselves to you around every corner when rather than focus on the stumbling block in front of you, you get busy living, giving, praising! 

Sometimes in our Christian walk, we have times like these that arise. We may feel useless, unproductive, weary, and to be frank, fed up with life. 

Why is this? I think the number one reason is that we have come to realize that this world is not our home! The old ways of doing thinking no longer satisfy, and for good reason, we have a much higher calling!!! 

Listen, we all face slumps, obstacles, challenges, setbacks, feelings of inadequacy, but I have great news for you today! The Lord is with you always, walking with you through the valleys and the times when life seems to be mundane.

He is always there to empower you, lead you, give you purpose and direction! 

Listen to this awesome quote by Pastor Jim Frease,

“If it’s been a long time since you you’ve done something for the first time, then it’s about time.” 

Sometimes we just need to get away, spend some one-on-one time with the Lord and ask Him, “Lord what would you have me do?”

When we build a habit of listening to the Lord, life will no longer feel boring or mundane and honestly, it's in these moments of the valley where we can draw even closer to the Lord, where we can focus on the things that truly matter! 

Life doesn’t have to be about, go here, do that, have that, buy this, to be fun....rather when our focus is on Jesus, He refocuses us on people, on eternity, on the things that truly matter! 

Have a case of writer’s block in your Christian walk? Run to Jesus! He is the answer! Get busy living, giving, and praising! You have a high calling on your life!!! 

In Christ.

Joshua Sott Zeitz

“Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap if we do not give in.”

Galatians 6:9 AMP