Temptations - If? No - WHEN!!

Good morning everyone! Yes, what a wonderful day to be alive in the LORD Jesus Christ, our saviour!!! I trust you all had a great weekend and God was a major part of your joy.

I have skipped around, but feel God is leading me to James. So, here we go in James 1:2-3 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."

James doesn't say IF trouble comes your way but WHEN it does. He assumes that we will have troubles and that it is possible to profit from them. The point is not to pretend to be happy when we face pain but to have a positive outlook. Consider it an opportunity for great joy, because of what troubles can produce in our life.

James tells us to turn our hardships into times of learning. Tough times can teach us perserverance. What do you do in tough times? How do you react?

Thank you for reading today. Please pray for my daughter Erin as she is suffering severly from fibromyalgia. Also, pray for our church, your church, and the pastors. You can read the daily devotionals at: www.johnnybdaily.blogspot.com . Love you all.


In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Humor - thank you Dee

Some words of Wisdom:
Before you criticize a man,
walk a mile in his shoes.
That way, if he gets angry,
he's a mile away and barefoot.

"MISHPAT"

Good morning! May this be a glorious day in the LORD Jesus Christ! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! It is quite interesting how the words of the Bible relate so well to us today. What a great book, God's word.

Micah 7:3 "Their hands are skilled to do evil; the official and the judge ask for a bribe, and the powerful dictate what they desire; thus they pervert justice."

Take time to read Micah 7 - very interesting. The powerful dictate what they desire. This goes back to a changed golden rule - he who has the gold makes the rules. The abuse of power is a central concern in Micah's message. Micah laments the spread of corruptions from the powerful to friend and family. Did Micah look ahead to America today?

Sometimes the power of the media is stronger than the power of the family. So many terms, change in attire, and worse - a change in attitudes toward one another. What are we to do? It is more important that we go forth and spread the word of the gospel and be bold in our stand for God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit.

We need to stand up and call for "mishpat" a Hebrew term which means justice, fairness. Thank you for reading today. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

God - a tender and compassionate Father

Good morning everyone! What a great day to be alive in the LORD JESUS CHRIST. God is good, all the time, all the time God is good.

Psalm 103:13-14 "The LORD is like a father to his chldren, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust."
We are fragile, but God's care is eternal. Too often we focus on God as judge and lawgiver, ignoring his compassion and concern for us. When God examines our lives, he remembers our human condition. Our weakness should never be used as a justification for sin. His mercy takes everything into account. God will deal with you compassionately. Trust him.

God is lake a father - tender and compassionate. We can't go fishing with God or be held physically by Him, but we can receive His love in your heart by means of His Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5) God can tenderly heal your deep loss.

Thank you for reading. Love you all.


In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Good Friday - Easter Triduum

Good morning! A great day to be alive in Jesus Christ, our LORD and Saviour! Just adding some information that may help, it helps me more in my understanding. I found this info and just wanted to share with you.

It is long-held Tradition, based on the Biblical texts, that Jesus died on a Friday and rose from the dead on a Sunday, which would place the Last Supper on a Thursday night. Scripture tells us that Jesus rose from the dead "early on the first day of the week" (Mark 16:2, RSV). It was on the same day (the first day of the week) that Jesus met his apostles on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:1). John also confirms that Jesus rose on a Sunday (John 20:1). The early Church Fathers universally held that Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday, and worshiped on Sunday, "The Lord's Day."

The Paschal Triduum, often called the Easter Triduum or simply the Triduum, consists of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. This includes the Great Easter Vigil, the high point of the Triduum. The word Triduum comes from the Latin word meaning "three days." It begins the evening of Maundy Thursday and ends at Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday. Thus the Triduum consists of three full days which begin and end in the evening. The Triduum technically is not part of Lent (at least liturgically), but Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday are still reckoned as part of the traditional forty day Lenten fast. The Triduum celebrates the heart of our faith and salvation: the death and resurrection of Christ, and is thus the high point of the liturgical year

Thank you for reading with me today. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Maundy Thursday

Sometimes we celebrate days, religous days and do not realize why. Here is an explanation that I felt was good. You can look up the scriptures. Love you all.

This day, Maundy Thursday (also "Holy Thursday" or "Shire Thursday"1) commemorates Christ's Last Supper and the initiation of the Eucharist. Its name of "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning "command." This stems from Christ's words in John 13:34, "A new commandment I give unto you." It is the first of the three days known as the "Triduum," and after the Vigil tonight, and until the Vigil of Easter, a more profoundly somber attitude prevails (most especially during the hours between Noon and 3:00 PM on Good Friday). Raucous amusements should be set aside...

The Last Supper took place in "the upper room" of the house believed to have been owned by John Mark and his mother, Mary (Acts 12:12). This room, also the site of the Pentecost, is known as the "Coenaculum" or the "Cenacle" and is referred to as "Holy and glorious Sion, mother of all churches" in St. James' Liturgy. At the site of this place -- our first Christian church -- a basilica was built in the 4th century. It was destroyed by Muslims and later re-built by the Crusaders. Underneath the place is the tomb of David.

After the Supper, He went outside the Old City of Jerusalem, crossed the Kidron Valley, and came to the Garden of Gethsemani, a place whose name means "Olive Press," and where olives still grow today. There He suffered in three ineffable ways: He knew exactly what would befall Him physically and mentally -- every stroke, every thorn in the crown He would wear, every labored breath He would try to take while hanging on the Cross, the pain in each glance at His mother; He knew that He was taking on all the sins of the world -- all the sins that had ever been or ever will be committed; and, finally, He knew that, for some people, this Sacrifice would not be fruitful because they would reject Him. Here He was let down by His Apostles when they fell asleep instead of keeping watch, here is where He was further betrayed by Judas with a kiss, and where He was siezed by "a great multitude with swords and clubs, sent from the chief Priests and the ancients of the people" and taken before Caiphas, the high priest, where he was accused of blasphemy, beaten, spat upon, and prepared to be taken to Pontius Pilate tomorrow morning.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Honor and Purity

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to be alive in Jesus!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good. We get caught up in "today's" activities and forget about our "future." The future with God. Each day we should Stop, Drop, and Pray, and be one with God.

Psalm 86:11 "Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you."

This prayer within a prayer captures a glimpse of vibrant spiritual vitality. Two request are made: "teach me your ways" and "Grant me purity of heart." Each request has a God centered purpose: that the person praying would "live according to your truth" and "honor you."

No matter how well we know and follow God, we can always ask him to increase our awareness and improve our obedience. Jesus echoed one of these request in the sixth beatitude, "God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God." (Mat 5:8)

Thank you for reading with me today. Love you all.


In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Encourage one another!

Good morning! A great day to be alive in Jesus! We are coming closer to celebration of His resurrection. Wait! We should be celebrating this daily, not just 1 special time a year. Celebrate!!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

In Hebrews it tells us to encourage. Hebrews 3:13 "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."
God can give us new hearts, new desires, and new spirits. To prevent having an unbelieving heart, stay in fellowship with other believers, talk daily about your mutual faith, be aware of the deceitfulness of sin, and encourage each other with love and concern. Sin is like a live virus, it attracts and then destroys.

Hebrews 3:14 "For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ." Thank you for reading. Have a wonderful day in Christ. Love you all.


In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

What is your Gift?

Good morning everyone!! Yes, what a great day to be alive in Jesus! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

I have been observing cars passing, people walking, crowds in stores, and it seems we all get wrapped up in "OUR OWN LITTLE WORLD." It is a shame, because there is so much more out there. Romans 12:6-8 talks about our spiritual gifts. "In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If you gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly."

Look at this list of gifts, take time and establish what your gift is, realizing your gift may not be listed, but find your gift. When you identify your gift ask how you can use them to build up God's family. At the same time, realize that your gifts can't do the work of the church all alone. Be thankful for people whose gifts are completely different from yours. Let you strengths balance their weaknesses, and be grateful that their abilities make up for your deficiencies. Together we can build Christ's church.

Thank you for reading today. I hope your day is blessed and wonderful. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Palm Sunday

Good morning everyone!! Another glorious day in the LORD and it is supposed to be wonderful this weekend. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. I took the following reference for informative purposes.


Palm Sunday—Entry into Jerusalem

Also known as Passion Sunday, this Sunday before Easter remembers Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem near the end of a public ministry spent almost entirely outside Israel’s capital city.

When Jesus entered the city with his entourage, people laid palm branches on the road before him and greeted him as the long-awaited Messiah, shouting, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Their celebrating didn’t last long. As they heard his teachings and saw his behavior, both religious leaders and people on the streets turned against Jesus. Within days, the adoring crowds were shouting, “Crucify him!”
Each Gospel relates the next few days differently, but the common elements are:

Jesus entered Jerusalem and began to teach the people about the Kingdom of God and the leaders about their hypocrisy and God’s coming judgment;
he threw money-changers out of the Temple and sparked a growing conspiracy against him;
he shared a “last supper” with his friends;
he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, one of his key disciples;
and, after being arrested, was handed over to the Roman authorities for execution as an enemy of Caesar.
Palm Sunday worship typically begins with a Procession of Palms and then moves on to chronicle the rest of the week with a somber reading of the Passion Gospel (this year Luke 23.1-49), in which the rejection, suffering and death of Jesus are on full display and Christians are reminded that their faith originates in Jesus’ humble submission to death on a cross. Worship typically ends in silence, and the stage is set for Holy Week.

Thank you for taking time to read with me today. Love you all!

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Are you drinking "LIVING WATER?"

Good morning everyone!! Yes, a wonderful day to tell someone about Jesus!
Sometimes we care about someone, we pray about them coming to Christ, but
they just refuse. They turn their backs. The Bible is for people who don't
have a "life" and are dull and boring.

There once was an elderly woman who became ill. She told her pastor
that she was not going to die, and she promised God she would pray
daily for her son to accept Jesus and she couldn't die until he did.
Long story short, she died at age 80 AFTER her son, age 58 accepted the
LORD. Do you have this much faith?

Let's do what is pleasing and sensual! There is nothing else! What
does this do for you? The govenor of New York is paying the price for
sin. You can have an expensive "call girl", or a cheap fling on the
side - but it is still labeled "SIN!"

Living water is only mentioned 3 places in the Bible; John 4:10, John
7:38 and Revelation 22:17. 4:10 "Jesus replied,'If you only knew the
gift God has for you and who your are speaking to, you would ask me,
and I would give you living water.'"
7:38 "Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures
declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"
Rev 22:17 "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come," Let anyone who hears
this say, "Come." Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires
drink freely from the water of life."
What waters are you drinking from? Living waters or earthly waters? The
choice is yours. Only you are responsible for what you do, how you act,
but all is seen by God. Thank you for reading. Love you all.


In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Life is good, God is life!

Good morning everyone!! Yes, another great day to be alive in the LORD Jesus Christ! Wonderful time to have a living God. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. My wife has a favorite saying, "let go, let God." So true, yet so difficult for us to do.

Yesterday driving I saw a sign on the back of a van, "Life is good." As I looked at this I realized flip it over, pull a vowel and what do we get? "God is life, life is good."

Deuteronomy 8:3 "Yes, he humbled you be letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone, rather we live by everyword that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

Many people think that life is based on satisfying their appetites. If they can earn enough money to dress, eat, and play in high style, they think they are living "the good life." But such things do not satisy our deepest longings. In the end they leave us empty and dissatisfied. Real life, according to Moses, come from total commitment to God and living by every word that comes from him.

How can we live by his word? a. Recognize our need for it. b. Agree that God alone can truly satisfy us. c. Pray for God's presence, wisdom, and direction as we read. d. Savor the relationship you have with Him through Chist. e. Practice what he teaches you.

God is life, life is good. Thank you for reading. Love you all.


In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Where doth your heart go?

Good morning all! Oh, yes, another wonderful day to be alive in the Lord Jesus Christ! Yes, we may have troubles, woes, personal conflicts and trials, but we do know God is in control and we must not lose sight of this fact. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Yesterday we talked about topless beverages, today let's talk about thoughts and our heart. Hebrews 4:12 "Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." v 13 "And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account."

A warning, a standard warning given from God. Oh? And what is that? God knows the secrets of the heart. Where the heart goeth, so goeth you. If you have envy, lust, hate in your heart so goes your thoughts. If your heart is clean and pure, so will be your thoughts.

Look at Romans 8:27 "And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." God knows our spirit. Where is your heart? Where are your thoughts? What type of spirit do you have? A good time to soul search. Thank you for reading. Love you all.


In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Topless? What are your first thoughts?

Good morning! Yes, another great day to be Alive in JESUS!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!! Many praise reports! Let go-let God!

"GIRLS SERVING TOPLESS BEVERAGES!"

Okay, what are your first thoughts? This is a sign on highway 19 south from Crockett, Tx to Conroe, Tx. Where did your first thoughts go when you read this?

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praise worthy - think about such things."

What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions. Paul tells us to program our minds with thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praise worthy.

Do you have problems with impure thoughts and daydreams? Examine what you are putting into your mind through television, books, conversations, movies, and magazines.

Replace harmful input with wholesome input. Read God word and pray. The sign above was at a cafe and the drinks had no lids or 'tops' on them so the drinks themselves were "topless." Catchy, but makes us think. Thank you for reading. Love you all!



In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Eating flesh - drinking blood?

Good morning all!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!! How great it is to have a living and loving God. Remember Psalm 34:1 and praise God openly and tell people about God.

Yesterday we talked about the bread of life, Jesus, the only way to eternal life. The ancient days they had trouble understanding what Jesus meant with his words and parables. Look at John 6:53-56 "So Jesus said again, 'I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.'"

This was a shocking message - to eat flesh and drink blood sounded cannibalistic. The idea of drinking any blood, let alone human blood, was repugnant to the religious leaders because the law forbade it. (Lev 17:10-11) Jesus was not talking about literal blood. He was saying that his life had to become their own, but they could not accept this concept. The Gospel writers and Paul used the body and blood imagery in talking about Communion.

So, are you eating flesh and drinking blood? Are you becoming 1 with Christ? Where is your walk today? Where will it be tomorrow? Thanks for reading. Love you all.


In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

What type of bread are you eating?

Good morning! Another great day in the LORD!! Primary's going on all around us. But do we remain "primary?" What? Well, what are the primary needs of your life? Uh, well, food, shelter, job, security, family.

John 6:47-51 "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever, and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh."
Verse 47 believes means "continues to believe." We keep on believing. Jesus was saying that the manna was for physical and temporary and the people died. But Jesus offers himself as the spiritual bread from heaven that satisfies completely and leads to eternal life. Physical food sustains us for a day, spiritual food sustains us forever.

To eat living bread means to accept Christ into our lives and become united with him. We are united with Christ by believing in his death and resurrection, and by devoting ourselves to living as he requires, depending on his teaching for guidance and trusting in the Holy Spirit for power.

Where are you? What are you eating? What are your primary needs? Thank you for reading today. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Hypocrisy????

Good morning everyone!! Wow! What a great day to be alive in the LORD Jesus Christ! It snowed in Texas last night causing havoc and then we have primary elections today. When listening to all the campaigns, their talk, and what they really do brings to mind Mark 7:6-7.

Mark 7:6-7 "Jesus replied, "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.'"

Hypocrisy is pretending to be something you are not and have no intention of being. Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites because they worshiped God for the wrong reasons.

Their worship was not motivated by love but by a desire to attain profit, to appear holy, and to increase their status. We become hypocrites when we: 1-pay more attention to reputation than to character, then 2-carefully follow certain religious practices while allowing our hearts to remain distant from God, and then 3- emphasize our virtues but others' sins.

So, where are you? Sitting there with lips service only, or with lip AND heart service? When our heart changes so goes our attitude. If you have attitude problems check your heart. Let the heart (full of Christ) lead the head. Thank you for reading today. Stay warm. Love you all!

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Are you troubled? JESUS is the answer!!

Good morning everyone!!! What a great day to be alive in the Lord Jesus
Christ! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! What about
the Bible? Does it have anything in there for me? In today's world?
What can you show me that may interest me?

John 14:1-3 "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust
also in me. There is more than enough room in my father's home. If this
were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place
for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you
will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am
going."

Jesus said this, His words show us the way to eternal life is secure -
as secure as your trust in Jesus. He has already prepared the way to
eternal life. The only issue that may still be unsettled is your
willingness to believe!!

Jesus tells us He is going to prepare a place for who?? YOU!!! and then
what? He will come and get you!! Wow! JESUS will come to get ME, AND
He has a place prepared just for ME!! What greatly gift than this. If
this does not stir your blood you may need to talk one on one to your
Father in Heaven and get with it. Thank you for reading with me today.
Lovee you all.


In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny