"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." – Matthew 6:33 Most of us were raised to ask for protection. We pray for safe travels, safe choices, safe outcomes. And there is nothing wrong with asking God to protect us. But if safety becomes our top priority, we risk missing the very places God wants to move through us. Jesus never promised s...  Read More

"And as Jesus reclined at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples." – Matthew 9:10 It all started with one yes. Jesus called Matthew to follow, and Matthew obeyed. But what happened next reveals something powerful about obedience: It ripples. Matthew opened up his home and brought Jesus to the table, not just for himself ...  Read More

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." - Galatians 5:22-23 In a world driven by numbers and performance, it is easy to feel like your faith is only as strong as your visible results. But God sees things differently. While people applaud the public wins, heaven celebrates quiet obedience. While others look for impact ...  Read More

"Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." - John 15:2 Appearances can be deceiving. A tree might look healthy from a distance, but the real test is its fruit. Jesus made it clear in both John 15 and Matthew 7 that God is not fooled by what’s on the outside. Real fruit, the kind that comes from true con...  Read More

"May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy." - Colossians 1:11 There is a kind of strength that does more than help you hold on. It fills you with joy even while the storm is still raging. That is what Paul prayed over the believers in Colossians 1:11. Not just for survival, but for endurance that is marked by joy. Joy might no...  Read More

"And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.'" - Luke 9:58 Jesus never sugarcoated the cost of following Him. When a man approached Him, eager to join the journey, Jesus gave a warning instead of a welcome. He made it clear that the path would not come with guarantees of ease or comfort. If stability was the goal, this ...  Read More

"And as Jesus reclined at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples." - Matthew 9:10 When Matthew chose to follow Jesus, he didn’t isolate himself from his old world. He invited Jesus into it. His house became the setting, and his relationships became the mission field. People he had once shared a table with were now sittin...  Read More

"As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he rose and followed him." - Matthew 9:9 It probably felt like just another normal day. Matthew was at work, doing what he always did. But Jesus walked by and spoke two simple words that would change everything. Follow me. No warning, no preparation, just a call. And Matthew o...  Read More

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son." - Romans 8:29 Have you ever wondered if you were simply just, God’s backup plan? That God looked around, saw no one else available, and settled on you. Romans 8:29 tells a different story. Before you were ever born, before you made mistakes or got anything right, God knew you. He saw your life in full and sti...  Read More

Every year on or around Ash Wednesday, I’m asked the same question: “Pastor, why don’t you put ashes on your head?” Or some ask, “Why don’t we practice Ash Wednesday at Cowboy Fellowship?” It’s a fair question. But before we answer it, we should start with a basic understanding of what Ash Wednesday is.  Read More

"Yet another said, 'I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.' Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'" - Luke 9:61-62 Following Jesus is not a part-time invitation. It is a forward-facing call that requires focus. In this passage, a man says he’s ready to follow but still wants to go back and handle ...  Read More

"As they were going along the road, someone said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.'" - Luke 9:57 There’s something revealing about a person’s first reaction to Jesus. In Luke 9, three different people encounter Him. Each one claims to want to follow, but none of them actually do. Something else always gets in the way. The first is quick to speak. He says he’ll go anywhere Jesus leads. Bu...  Read More