Do you judge?

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to be alive in the LORD JESUS CHRIST!!! God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good! I trust this past weekend was good for you and you felt God's blessings.

James 4:11 "Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God's law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you."

Jesus summarized the law as love for God and neighbor and Paul said that love demonstrated toward a neighbor would fully satisfy the law. (Romans 13:6-10) When we fail to love, we are actually breaking God's law. Examine your attitude and actions toward others. Do you build people up or tear them down?

When you're ready to criticize someone, remember God's law of love and say something good instead. Saying something beneficial to others will cure you of finding fault and increase your ability to obey God's law of love.

Let today, the rest of today be positive and uplifting for you by following God's law. Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

How can you come close to God?

Good morning brothers and sisters in Christ!! Yea! A great day in the LORD indeed! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

James 4:8-10 "Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. (9) Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. (10)Humble yourselves before the LORD, and he will life you up in honor."

How can you come close to God? James gives five ways:
(1) Humble yourselves before God. Yield to His authority and will, committ your life to him and his control, and be willing to follow him.
(2) Resist the devil. Don't allow Satan to entice and tempt you.
(3) Wash your hands....and purify your hearts (a pure life). Be cleansed from sin, replacing your desire to sin with your desire to experience God's purity.
(4) Let there be sorrow and deep grief for your sins. Don't be afreaid to express deep heartfelt sorrow for what you have done.
(5) Humble yourselves before the LORD, and he will lift you up in honor. Bowing in humility before the LORD means recognizing that our worth comes from God alone.

To be humble involves leaning on His power and His guidance, and not going our own independent way. Although we do not deserve God's favor, he wants to lift us up and give us worth and dignity, despite our human shortcomings.

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

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Are you humble? Do you resist the devil?

Good morning to all. Another super day to be alive and know that Jesus is LORD! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! Well, were you humble, did you ask for your needs or wants from you father in heaven?

James 4:7 "So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Wow!! Easy words to say, difficult to follow many times. God and the devil are at war, we don't have to wait until the end to see who will win. God has already defeated Satan (Rev 12:10-12) and when Christ returns, the devil and all he stands for will be eliminated forever. Satan is here now, and he is trying to win us over to the evil cause. With the Holy Spirit's power, we can resist the devil, and he will flee from us.

Even the demons know the name of Jesus and flee at just the sound of His name. JESUS CHRIST - when you hear these two words do you think of your savior or do you think someone is cussing? Think about that, this will give you a reality check. Thank you for reading. Love you all. You can check this all out on my blog at: www.johnnybdaily.blogspot.com

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Are you humble or proud?

Good morning everyone!! What a great day to be alive in the LORD JESUS CHRIST!!! Evil desires, but, I don't have evil desires, I just want a new......WAIT!! House? Car? 4-Wheeler? Boat? Clothes? The key word here is WANT, and not NEED! God will provide our needs and are you humble?

James 4:6 But he give us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but favors the humble.""

The cure for evil desires is humility. Pride makes us self-centered and leads us to conclude that we deserve all we can see, touch, or imagine. It creates greedy appetites for far more than we need. We can be released from our self-centered desires by humbling ourselves before God. We must realize we need HIS approval.

1 Peter 5:5,6 "In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. and all of you, serve each other in humility, for "God opposes the proud but favors the humble."" We often worry about our position and status, hoping to get proper recognition for what we do. But Peter advises us to remember that God's recognition counts more than human praise. God is able and willing to bless us according to his timing. Humbly obey God regardless of present circumstances, and in his good time-either in this life or in the next HE WILL HONOR YOU.

Are you humble or proud? Thank you for reading with me today. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Does evil harbour in your heart?

Good morning all! Another wonderful day to be alive in JESUS!! What do you think? I could have....., or I would like......, or I don't know why THEY have .........when I am more deserving. Why do we think this way.

James 4:5 What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?

This verse may mean that because of our fallen nature, we have a tendency toward envy. James is not quoting a specific verse or passage - he is summing up a teaching of Scripture.

Romans 6:6-8 "We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him."

The power of sin over us died with Christ on the cross. Our "old sinful selves," our sinful nature died once and for all, so we are freed from its power. The "power of sin" refers to our rebellious sin-loving nature inherited from Adam. Though we often willingly cooperate with our sinful nature, it is not us but the sin in us that is evil. It is this power of sin at work in our life that is defeated. Paul has already stated that through faith in Christ we stand righteous before God. Paul emphasizes that we need no longer live under sin's power.

Galatians 2:20 "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

At expense of obeying God? OR, God's bounty?

Good morning!! A great day to be alive in the LORD JESUS CHRIST!! I trust your Sunday was Jesus-enhanced! Have you ever wondered why you ask for something and God doesn't come through with it? Well, there is probably a reason.

James 4:3,4 "And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong - you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God."

Wow!! Strong words that really hits home! If I cherish or hold in high esteem my new truck, my house, my clothes, my money, my my my my - all personal worldly things, then I am an enemy of who? GOD?!?!?! But, but, I love Jesus!

Well, how deep is your love? Surface love or heart love. There is nothing wrong with wanting a pleasurable life. God gives us good gifts that he wants us to enjoy. But having friendship with the world involves seeking pleasure at others' expense or at the expense of obeying God. Pleasure that keeps us from pleasing God is sinful; pleausre from God's rich bounty is good.

Where do you sit today? Pleasure at expense of obeying God? OR, from God's rich bounty? Thank you for reading with me today. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

where is your walk with God?

Good morning! An absolutely great day to be alive in Jesus Christ our LORD! Okay, let's get to the point.

James 4:2-3 "You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage ware to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong-you want only what will give you pleasure."

WOW!!! James mentions the most common problems in prayer; not asking, aking for the wrong things, or asking for the wrong reasons. Do you talk to God at all? when you do, what do you talk about?

Do you ask only to satisfy your desires? Do you seek God's approval for what you already plan to do? Your prayers will become powerful when you allow God to change your desires so that they perfectly correspond to his will for you.


1 John 3:21-22 "Dear friends, if we don't feel guilty,we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him."

Where are you in your walk with God? Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Are you quarrelsome?

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to be alive in Jesus!! God is good all the
time, all the time God is good!!!

James 4:1 "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from
the evil desires at war within you?"

Quarrels and fights among believers are always harmful. James explains that these
conflicts result from evil desires battling within us. We want more possessions,
more money, higher status, more recognition. When we don't get what we want, we
fight in order to have it. Instead of aggressively grabbing what we want, we should
submit ourselves to God, ask God to help us get rid of our selfish desires, and
trust him to give us what we really need.

Take time, stop, drop, and pray! Let God lead you NOW, and EVERY MOMENT of your
life. Thank you for reading with me today. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny
p.s. some addresses have been added, if you just received this please let me know.
Thank you to all that responded yesterday.

Are you a peacemaker?

Good morning!

James 3:18 "And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a
harvest of righteousness."

True wisdom can be measured by a person's character, just like you can identify a
tree by it's fruit. You can evaluate your wisdom by the way you act. Foolishness
leads to disorder, but wisdom leads to peace and goodness.

Are you tempted to maintain the conflict? Pass on the gossip? Fan the fire of
discord? Be careful, choose your words and actions carefully. Good speech, wise and
loving words are the seeds of peace. God loves peacemakers. (Matthew 5:9 God blesses
those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.)

Thank you for reading. Are you a peacemaker? Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Is your wisdom from above?

Good morning everyone!! Yes, another wonderful day in the LORD JESUS CHRIST!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!!

James 3:17 "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy."

Yesterday we talked about earthly wisdom. In contrast, wisdom from above is first pure - James is saying this is heavenly wisdom, it is pure. And what fruits are also there? We will then be peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, and no trace of partiality or hypocrisy.

What?!?!? You mean, we will talk nice, be nice, walk as Jesus walked, actually loving our fellow man? Yes, wouldn't this be wonderful!! Man would love man, thereby, man would no longer fight with his fellow man. Oh, but to follow the word of God! Where are you today? James 3 verse 16 or verse 17? Thank you for reading today. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Wisdom? Earthly or heavenly?

Good morning all! Another great day to be alive in the LORD JESUS CHRIST!!! god is good all the time, all the time God is good!

James 3:15 "Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual , devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.

There are two kinds of wisdom, the one listed is earthly wisdom. It is earthly, unspiritual, and devilish. It manifests itself in highly aggressive behavior, such as envy, ambition and disorder.

If we look around today we can see the wickedness, selfishness, and disorder. How long will it take before we realize, as a world, that only God is in control and we are all subject to Him. Being subject to God will only bring eternal life, joy and praise forever. What more do we want? The earthly things come, go, wear out, ruin, and waste away. My option is for God!!! Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Earthly materialism or Heavenly eternity

Good morning!! Running late, however, we have an ON TIME GOD!! May this day be a wonderful day in the LORD JESUS CHRIST for you.

James 4:1 "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

James addresses church members who are infected by materialism, given to partiality, and jealouse of each other. WAR IN YOUR MEMBERS sounds like 1 Peter 2:11 or Romans 7:23, who agree that carnal desires rage within the believer or thwart his spiritual progress. Since self control is a fruit of the Spirit, His filling is the means of victory.

1 Peter 2:11 "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;" Peter is encouraging the people to turn away from lusts. We cannot serve two masters - the carnal (satan) or the Spirit (God).

Do you find yourself wanting more material items? Showing favoritism? And being jealous or envious of others or what they have? If so, it is knee time!! If not, it is knee time to remain humble. Where are you in God today?

Thank you for reading with me. Love you all!

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

What do the eyes of your heart see?

Good morning everyone!! What a wonderful day to be alive in the LORD JESUS CHRIST!! What is a person to do? Praise God, Praise God!!

James 3:17-18 "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness."

Wisdom from God is pure, peace loving, full of mercy, full of good deeds, no favoritism, is sincere. How great is this? And seeds of peace are planted and what is the result. A Harvest of righteousness. How great God is.

We can tell if we are letting satan invade our thoughts if our speech or thought are filled with: bitter jealously, selfish ambition, earthly concerns and desires, unspiritual thoughts and ideas, disorder, and evil.

Where do you find you are sitting? In Gods camp or satans? Just like the song, and we need to heed the words - Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord!!

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

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Wordly or Heavenly??

Aw, yes, good morning!! Another super day to be alive in the LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!!
God is good all the time, all the time God is good!!

James 4:13 "Look here, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do businesss there and make a profit.'" Having goals is a great idea. But we must remember to have goals which include God. Goals without God is a dead end. Goals with God in the fore front is a win win situation. We can make plans, we can make a profit, but if we forfeit God, what do we gain? Worldly prosper which will rust or decay. Add God, and we will now prosper heavenly which will last forever.

Where are your goals? Have you kept God in your plans? All the time? Food for thought. Thank you for reading. Have a super day in the LORD Jesus Christ.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

The fangs of jealousy and selfishness can destroy!

Good morning everyone!! Another great day in the LORD Jesus Christ!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! Let's remember to pray daily for yourself, your friends, neighbors, and enemies. More of all, do not forget to give praise to Jesus, God our Father, and for direction from the Holy Spirit.

James 3:16 "For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind."

What does this say to you? Wherever there is jealousy? Have you ever engaged with an individual who is all about themselves? The big "I" takes over. They actually become upset when someone does well, gets something they don't have.

Self ambition? We need to have a goal and set a mark to work toward, however, when this becomes the obsession and takes over their life, their path may leave a wake of destruction as they strive to reach their goal.

There you will find disorder and evil of every kind. If we open the door, just a crack, and allow any jealousy or selfishness to enter, disorder definitely becomes the order of the day. Watch the news, where there is chaos you will find these components. We must ask and pray for the wisdom of God, as it is pure and will lead us beside still waters. Thank you for reading with me today. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Bitter? Jealous? No problem? BIG PROBLEM!!!

When is a good time to worship God? Or just say thank you Jesus? ANYTIME!! Like right now. Thank you Jesus for all that you do for us. Help keep us safe and let us praise your name all day long.

James 3:14-15 "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."

Wow! Does this hit home with most of us!! Bitter jealousy and welfish ambition are inspired by the devil. It is easy for us to be drawn into wrong desires by the pressures of society and sometimes even by well-meaning Christians. By listening to the advice of assert yourself, go for it, set high goals, we can be drawn into greed and destructive competitiveness.

Seeking God's wisdom delivers us from the need to compare ourselves to others and to want what they have. Thank you for reading. Take time to do some soul searching and see exactly where you are. Love you all

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

True Wisdom

Good morning everyone!!! Another great day in the LORD Jesus Christ!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

James 3:13 "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."

Have you ever known anyone who claimed to be wise but who acted foolishly? True wisdom can be measured by a person's character. Just as you can identify a tree by the type of fruit it produces, you can evaluate your wisdom by the way you act.

Foolishness leads to disorder, but wisdom leads to peace and goodness. Are you tempted to escalate the conflict, pass on the gossip, or fan the fire of discord? God love peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)

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

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Sweet water or bitter water?

Good morning!! Say the words, "Tis so good to trust in Jesus!" Now sing them. Do you feel better? I do! We have a tendency to look around and whine about things. Jesus did not whine!

James 3:11-12 "Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring."
Okay, let's think about this briefly and quickly. Would it be absurd to think a spring produces sweet water and bitter? That a grape vine yields figs? Oh, well, that's just plain stupid!! So, a mouth which condemns men while praising God lacks credibility. That sort of person would have a shallow Christian experience, if one at all.

Where are you? God is good all the time - all the time God is good.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

It is early a.m., do you know where your tongue is?

Good morning everyone!! What a great day to be today, the first of the rest of your life! Many don't like this saying, but if you think about it- it makes a lot of sense. Yesterday, last night, 5 seconds ago are in the past. That time is history, never to be changed, but we can affect the future. Let go let GOD!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!
Okay, we have been talking in James about the tongue. How something so small can be so destructive.

James 3:9-10 (New Living Translation)
9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

The actions of the tongue shows its inconsistency. We are made in the image of God, our tongue to fulfill its highest purpose - to bless God! But, it is also used to curse men. This inconsistency, specially among Christians, should not exist.

Stephen Barabas makes this statement "Man is a rational, self-conscious, self determining creature, capable of obedience to moral law, and intended by God for fellowship with Himself." The Lord can forgive the worst offender; thus Christians shoud hope for God's regenerating power even in unlikely persons.

It is early morning, do you know what your tongues intent for the day is? Think before you speak, let the image of Jesus show through you. Love you all.


In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny