Dr Melisa Ortiz Berry

10/21/2026

You Have to listen to this interview with Beverly Gaventa! This amazing woman who has written THREE commentaries on Romans was my teacher at Princeton Theological Seminary. (I actually took that class with her… it was really good and it was really hard 😂) To say the least, she has had a profound theological impact on me. In this podcast, she clarifies women in the letters of Paul as only she can! You won’t want to miss it!

Come listen on YouTube, Audible, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts (help the podcast reach more people by listening until the end, liking, following, commenting, and sharing with a friend). Links in the comments.

https://youtu.be/O7hy_2IdsF8?si=XgdT7GS6zBjoR-Yz

Was the Apostle Paul really against women in ministry? New Testam...

10/20/2026

I don’t want to freak you out, but there is an “evil one” and you do need protection. Good News, though! As a Christian you have that!

Look, I am not saying that you will never be bothered by a bad spirit or targeted by someone controlled by evil, that still happens. Flies bother us and wasps sting us, being a Christian doesn't keep us from annoyance and suffering.

HOWEVER, not only are you eternally protected from evil (your salvation is secure), you are like a Spiritual Superhero with a secret power—you carry the Holy Spirit inside of you wherever you go!

Did you know that you can stand in line at the grocery store and pray silently, and while no human can hear, you are fully annoying the “evil one” anywhere near you? That just telling the story of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection has spiritual power to drive away evil? That your prayers are not just meditation and positive thinking, but they have spiritual power?

Now you need to learn how to use that spiritual power—to be strengthened—by getting into God’s Word and becoming a person of prayer. It’s time to exercise those spiritual muscles!

***A Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Give me spiritual discernment to see what is happening around me. Protect me from the evil one and strengthen me spiritually so that I can repel his attacks. Teach me Your Word and to pray effectively. Make me a person of Love and not fear. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Check out Dr. Berry Daily on Facebook and YouTube. Follow me on Instagram , for more on me see https://www.crownoflifediscipleship.com

10/19/2026

There is a battle going on for your heart and mind, and as the ancient soldier guarding the gates to the city was ordered to “Stand firm!” and “Hold your sword tightly!” the Apostle Paul commands us to “stand firm and hold fast to the traditions we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter [now our Bible],” (2 Th 2:15).

Look, I’m a scholar and I am telling you, just because a TV documentary with scholars talking about the Bible, some new best-selling book, a post like mine, or some “prophet” says something doesn’t make it true–go to your Bible first for Truth.

Now, that doesn’t mean the show, book, post, or friend are necessarily wrong, but make your foundation God’s Word and judge the world by that instead of judging God’s Word by the world.

Jesus says, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock,” (Mt 7:24). Build your life on the rock of Jesus’ Word, and no storm of arguments, ideas, or opinions will blow you down!

Child of God, Stand Firm! Hold Fast!

***A Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your Word, the Bible. Help me to spend time in it each day so that I know what it says and I will not be intimidated or shaken by the opinions and ways of this world. Give me the wisdom and strength to Stand Firm and Hold Fast. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Check out Dr. Berry Daily on Facebook and YouTube. Follow me on Instagram , for more on me see https://www.crownoflifediscipleship.com

10/18/2026

You are not alone in your Christian walk. God’s people–past and present–have been and still are cheering you on!

The Apostle Paul is praying that the Thessalonians’ and your dreams for goodness in the world come true:

A PRAYER for your:
◈ Success in your Christian walk
◈ Dreams for goodness in the world
◈ Service to Christ to produce spiritual fruit
…. AMEN!

Why did Paul pray this for you? “So that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him,” (2 Th 1:12). Amen!

What is your prayer for others and this world? What *good* does your heart long to see? Hold the faith and do not give up! God is real and God is love!

***A Prayer: Lord, thank You for all of the prayers for me that have been prayed that I don’t even know about. Help me to also pray for others, especially people that I don’t know and may never meet. I believe that You are actively changing the world through the prayers of your people. I believe that my prayers make a positive difference. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Check out Dr. Berry Daily on Facebook and YouTube. Follow me on Instagram , for more on me see https://www.crownoflifediscipleship.com

10/17/2026

Is there any little bit of darkness that you still like hanging out in? Some stronghold still in your life? This is no longer who you are, it’s time to leave it behind. God has more for you!

In today’s Scripture reading (1 Thes 5), God is reminding us of “why” that life is not for us—we are children of God, we belong to Him. He is the Light and we are to be in the Light. The darkness is no longer our home.

Speaking of darkness, it’s interesting how not much changes over time. Almost 2000 years ago Paul wrote this, yet the language still works. Everything from drunken parties to crimes tend to be thought of as happening at night. The Bible is still vitally relevant for us today!

This is why it is important to know your Bible. It will help you know who you are in Christ—You are a child of light, not darkness, a child of the day, not the night. Embrace this truth. It will change your life!

***A Prayer: Lord, thank You for calling me Your child and making a new home for me in Your light. Help me to let go of any darkness that is still in my life. Reveal this to me if I don’t see it. I pray that Your light would heal me and guide me. Amen.

Check out Dr. Berry Daily on Facebook and YouTube. Follow me on Instagram , for more on me see https://www.crownoflifediscipleship.com

10/16/2026

Last night I was thinking about the children who are abused, and I confess, I tossed up the common cry, “Where are you God?” Then this morning, I opened up the Scripture and read:

“In this matter [sexual sin] no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish/avenge all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before,” (1 Th 4:6).

I looked in the Greek and it’s clear that God means business with this, it wasn’t just my reading into it.

Here’s where I have to rest my mind: Whether I see it or not, God does deal with sexual abusers. Romans 12:19 says to leave room for God to deal with people for, “‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” And as Hebrews 10:21 says, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

For our part, let’s make a priority of protecting the vulnerable populations in our churches and societies, and then let’s trust that God is just and that He is dealing with abusers. They will not “get away” with their sin. (Of course, God can deal with them through our reporting people and turning them in! Let’s not forsake that!)

Such a heavy topic, but it’s important that we consider and meditate on all of Scripture. Amen? Amen!

***A Prayer: Lord, thank You for dealing with people who commit sexual sin against others. Forgive me where I have closed my eyes to the abuse, harassment, and exploitation of others, and show me when and how I have done this. Heal me from sexual abuse, harassment, and exploitation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Check out Dr. Berry Daily on Facebook and YouTube. Follow me on Instagram , for more on me see https://www.crownoflifediscipleship.com

10/15/2026

What about all of those women in the New Testament? Were they just the audience or and fincial support, or did they play a leadershop role in the first church?

This time I’m the “guest” and Nicki Lancater sits down to ask me some questions! Come check it out on (links in the comments) and then listen, like, comment, and share the podcast ro help get the word out!

https://youtu.be/CQHUasqlBhA?si=GNE9VndGZnJIhnyT

What if women leaders in the Bible were never the exception, but we...

10/15/2026

I’m not always the best cook 😂 I’ve had plenty of pots overflow with oatmeal because they heated up and I was not paying attention.

BUT what if “heating up and overflowing” was a good thing? What if it was love overflowing in your heart? Love for your family, friends, that person that’s annoying….?

Today, Paul offers us a prayer: “May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows,” (1 Th 3:12).

That sounds Nice, but it’s actually really hard. If you ask me to love my friends, that's easy, I can do that. It’s loving ALL people that’s so difficult! Turn that up to “loving them to overflowing”– now that's going to have to be a supernatural love!

Fortunately, through the Holy Spirit we have access to God’s supernatural, unconditional, limitless, Agape love. Without it, I’d be boiling over but not in a good way!

***A Prayer: Lord, thank You for loving me unconditionally. Open my heart to loving people that I’ve had a hard time loving. Help me to not be mean spirited, judgy, or snappy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Check out Dr. Berry Daily on Facebook and YouTube. Follow me on Instagram , for more on me see https://www.crownoflifediscipleship.com

10/14/2026

If God spoke directly to you, would you listen? Would you obey? Or would you wonder if you’d eaten some bad food and this was the result?

Listen friends, God has spoken and His Word is recorded through a “general revelation” in the world around us (sun, stars, earth, birth), and also through “special revelation” in the Bible. You don’t need to wonder if you ate a bad hot dog, because if some voice tells you something contrary to what you find in God’s Word, don’t listen! God has given us His Word as a standard to grow by and go by.

I know, interpreting it is a whole other matter, but at least we know where to start!

So friends, won’t you join me in reading the Bible each day? In my picture, I always state what chapter we are in and write a devotional based on it. Today’s the day to start! Come join me!

***A Prayer: Lord, thank You for providing me guidance in life through Your Word, the Bible. Help me to prioritize reading it each day, and give me wisdom to live by. Help me to know Your Word so well, that I can be discerning and wise. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Check out Dr. Berry Daily on Facebook and YouTube. Follow me on Instagram , for more on me see https://www.crownoflifediscipleship.com

10/13/2026

Are there idols in your life? Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money,” (Matthew 6:24).

Sometimes we have actual physical idols and God asks us to get rid of those. We are to only worship and honor Him. Today is that day!

Or, perhaps you “think” you have no idols in your life. But . . . what if “money” is an idol? According to Jesus, it can be.

Let’s take a moment to stop and look at our day: Are we living to make money or making money to live and serve Christ?

Now listen: there’s nothing wrong with money in and of itself. It’s how we feel about it and treat it that’s the problem. Let’s take a moment to pray and ask God if we have an idol problem!

***A Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your provision. Forgive me if I have been too enamored with name brands, fancy cars, and luxury goods, loving them more than You. Give me peace and contentment so that I can be free from idol worship and money worship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Check out Dr. Berry Daily on Facebook and YouTube. Follow me on Instagram , for more on me see https://www.crownoflifediscipleship.com