FORGIVENESS

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE! A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE IN JESUS CHRIST! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Romans 4:7 "Blessed are they whose transgression are forgiven, whose sins are confessed."

Forgiveness - David - committed adultery, murer, lied - yet he experienced the joy of forgiveness. Would you like to have David's joy. Simple, all we have to do to be relieved of this burden is: (1) quit denying our guilt and recognize that we have sinned. (2) admit our guilt to God and ask for his forgiveness, then (3) let go of our guilt and believe that God has forgiven us.

This can be difficult when a sin has taken root in our life over many years, when it is serious and may involve others. JESUS is willing and able to forgive every sin, He paid the ultimate price - death on the cross.

For us to believe Jesus could not forgive one of our sins is arrogant. NO SIN is too great as Jesus' blood covers all. Remember Mark 11:25 "When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Thanks for reading. Forgive yourself first, then your neighbors. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

The SON - is the LIGHT

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

We live in a roller coaster world with its ups and its downs. Of course we know there is hope, but sometimes we lose sight of it. We only see the doom and gloom around us. We should be like the accordian player sitting by the tellephone waiting for someone to call to schedule a gig-------AN ETERNAL OPTIMIST!! lol

Jesus' grace is not for now, in a little bit, tomorrow, His grace is sufficient for all times. When things are looking bleak, you don't see the "light" at the end of the tunnel, look to Jesus - THE LIGHT! He is the bright shining SON of God that brings forth light. The last verse of the Bible closes Revelation with hope, because the grace of Jesus is with all who believe in him.

"THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS BE WITH ALL. AMEN." Revelation 22:21
"GRACE TO YOU AND PEACE FROM HIM WHO IS AND WHO WAS AND WHO IS TO COME." Revelation 1:4
Have a Christ day. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Expectations!

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

Expectations! Just what are expectations! I once read where an expectation is a premediated resentment. What? What is meant by this? My, your expectations will be a source of disappointment. But why? Because all will fall short of my, your expectations. Even God! How many times have you heard people say, "Well, I prayed but my prayer was not answered."

What is really being said is, "I prayed, I had my timeline, and God did not meet my timeline." Well, NO! God is an ON TIME GOD. And HE meets his timeline on time every time. What went wrong? MY (YOUR) EXPECTATIONS! I can only be responsible and live out my expectations for me. Whenever I place them (my expectations) on others I will be disappointed.

Acts 3:5 "And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them." In this story the lame man asked Peter for money. Peter said he had no money. Then he gave him something better----the use of his legs.

My expectations, ones I won't be disappointed in, my salvation so one day I will see Jesus, sing praises to God, and rejoice with all the other saints. And you?

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

The B-I-B-L-E....READ IT! STUDY IT!

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to be alive in Jesus! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! Are you living right?

Titus 2:1 "As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching."

This is to Titus, but substitute your name in for Titus. There is am emphasis on "wholesome teaching" in Paul's instructions. This is the content of our faith. But how can you recognize wholesome teaching?

When a teaching is sound it combines correct knowledge and understanding with consistent practice. It must be found in the BIBLE, keep Jesus Christ central, result in consistently good behavior and actions, and promote spiritual health in ourselves and others.

Believers must be grounded in the truths of the BIBLE so they won't be swayed by the powerful oratory of false teachers, the possible devastation of tragic circumstances, or the pull of emotions. Those responsible for preaching and teaching must challenge people to understand sound doctrine. Learn the BIBLE, study theology, apply biblical principles, and live what you learn.

Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Criticism got you down? Pray it away!

Good morning all! Tis a rainy day here, lightening, thunder, however, God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Please take time and think about this today. Proverbs 17:22 "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength."

To be cheerful is to be ready to greet others with a welcome, a word of encouragement, an enthusiasm for the task at hand, and a positive outlook on the future. Such people are as welcome as pain-relieving medicine.

There are some who share unkind words, criticize, snicker and if we allow it to consume or control us, we are being abused. This strikes at our identity, our self worth, our self-esteem, and lets us walk in a ditch of shame. Why?

You are a child of God, hold your head up high, pray for the person with the cutting words, respond only with prayer. Anothers unkindness is no reason for us to lower our standards. All must take responsibility for our actions, no matter what other people do. Then we will feel good about ourselves and we won't take the insults, cutting remarks or criticism personally. May you go forth today with a cheerful heart. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Imitate

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to live for Jesus! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Hebrews 6:12 "Be like those who stay the course with cimmitted faith and then get everything promised to them."

We must stay the course, or follow. Follow, here, Greek mimetes, means to imitate. We should not just follow as sheep, but IMITATE Jesus Christ. You may not have had a good example through your growing years, however, God has given us many examples in His Word.

Look around and imitate the models we have seen in history and ones you see in church. To imitate is to be like. Imitate Christ - see how wonderful this is. Seek God honoring people, imitate, then be one others imitate, why? Because you are Christ like. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Forgiveness - ask and receive!!

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

Remember yesterday we talked about temptation. Well, we will continue to receive forgiveness. As a child in God's family you will still mess up. But God's love for you is so great that he will continue to forgive you.

So, when I mess up what do I do? Simple, go to God and ask Him to forgive you.

1 John 1:9 "But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness."

Take time, write down ways you have repeatedly disobeyed God recently. Look at each one and confess it through prayer. THEN, CROSS OUT EACH SIN. Once you confess it, ask forgiveness, IT IS GONE. God does not hold grudges, He forgives. Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Temptation! We can endure!

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

You can resist temptation. Becoming a Christian is like switching sides in a battle. You used to be on Satan's side and now you're on God's side - and Satan isn't happy about it. He wants to try to trip you up and tempt you to disobey God.

You are not alone in temptations. God promises to show the way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13 "The temptation in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. when you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."

Take time today and list 3 temptation that Satan often uses on you. Then, thank God ahead of time that he will show you how not to give in next time.

Thank you for reading with me today. Love you all. May your temptations be gone, and your praises to God be many.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Stay the course

Good morning all! God is good, all the time, all the time God is good! Sign on church board: GIVE JESUS A TRY, IF YOU DON'T LIKE HIM, THE DEVIL WILL ALWAYS TAKE YOU BACK.

1 Timothy 4:16 "Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right."

It is easy to be waylaid. God teaches you his truth and immediately what he shows you is challenged by what you experience and hear.

Like the traveler on a straight road; there are many side roads to entice the traveler - some are easier and more pleasurable than the main road. All of them lead away from the goal, God. Therefore, the traveler must stay the course.

Do some self reflection, think about what God has taught you, and make sure you have stayed the course and not detoured by any side issue. Staying on this course leads to great understanding as it is the journey of truth. Pray that God keeps you true. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Fullness in Christ

Good morning everyone! God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good!

Ephesians 3:19 "May you experience the love of Christ though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
This "fullness" is expressed only in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10). In union with Christ and through His empowering Spirit, we are complete.

We have all the fullness through faith and through prayer as we daily live for him. Paul's prayer for the Ephesians is also to you. You can ask the Holy Spirit to fill every aspect of your life to the fullest.

Colossians 2:9-10 "For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority."

When we have Christ, we have everything we need for salvation and right living. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

STRESS - You can live without it!

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! Wow! Jesus is not here yet, but we can go forth and witness.

Okay, can we talk? Can we talk? Where does stress come from? Outside sources may present situations, but where does stress come from? There are different types of stress: mechanical, biological, music, etc.
Here is the definition biologically speaking: Stress is a biological term which refers to the consequences of the failure of a human or animal to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats to the organism, whether actual or imagined.[1] It includes a state of alarm and adrenaline production, short-term resistance as a coping mechanism, and exhaustion. Common stress symptoms include irritability, muscular tension, inability to concentrate and a variety of physical reactions, such as headaches and elevated heart rate

Just stop! Let the Love of God reside in your heart. Love, true love helps all. We can relax more, knowing God loves us and we are in His care. Psalm 100:5 "For the LORD is good. hIS unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation."

This past week I was in Houston and the surrounding area. It took work, but I tried to relax, slow down when driving, let people in my lane, waved and smiled at people, and my whole trip was actually relaxing. I sang praise songs and let God be in control (most of the time, lol). Working hard to: "LET GO - LET GOD!" I was less stressed. Try it, you'll like it.

This is a great prayer sent from one of my cousins - 'I AM Too blessed to be stressed!' The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. Love and peace be with you forever, Amen.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Opinions - like navels - we all have one!

Good morning everyone!! Another great day to say: "God is good all the time, all the time, God is good!"

Opinions! We all have one, many express them - whether correct or incorrect. The interesting thing is the one who expresses his/her opinion usually thinks it is correct.

So, what do we do with opinions. We try to get other people to agree with us (misery loves company) and then we feel satisfied temporarily. Whether it is politics, religion, work, or just life in general; we tend to think we have an inside track.

We act as if we can run/control our lives. We are a creature of free will and choice, however, when reality sets in, well, we then really SEE! God should be the controlling instrument in our lives. HE is the only one who REALLY KNOWS.

Psalm 40:6 "You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand - you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings."

Religious ritual (opinions), we often make ritual (or it is our opinion that) we go to church, take communion, pay tithes. All these are empty if our reasons for doing them are selfish or ritualistic (acts without thought).

God wants an attitude of devotion to him. "Obedience is better than sacrifice." 1 Samuel 15:22 Give God the obedience and lifelong service he desires from you. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 6-7 Questions

Good morning! God is good all the time,all the time God is good! Okay, sorry for the delay, back to Revelations. Here are some questions to help get back on track.

1. The first seal depicts a time of worldwide peace. How will this aid in lulling the people of earth into a false sense of security? (Dan. 9:24-27; 1 Thess. 5:3)

2. What kind of judgment did the breaking of the second and third seals unleash upon the earth? (Dan 11:36-45; Mark 13:7,8; Luke 21:9)

3. What will be the results of the breaking of the third, fourth, and fifth seals?

4. What did John see when the sixth seal was broken?

Your quest, should you accept it, is to look at these questions, use your Bible, and create an answer that you understand. This will not self destruct in 10 seconds. Have a safe mission. lol

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Character - how is yours?

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!

We joke about character, i.e. I will be your character witness, I'll tell them you are a character. Or, man, that guy is quite a character. What does the Bible say?

Romans 5:3-4 "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation."

1st Century Christians, suffering was the the rule rather than the exception. Paul tells us that in the future we WILL BECOME, but until then we must OVERCOME. This means we will experience difficulties that help us grow. We rejoice in suffering, not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know God is using life's difficulties and Satan's attacks to build our character.

The problems that we run into will develop our perseverance - which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God, and give us greater confidence about the future. You probably find your patience tested in some way every day. Thank God for those opportunities to grow, and deal with them in HIS strength.

James 1:2-4 "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

Love you all In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

What kind of friend/person are you?

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!!

The test of brotherly love.....read James Chapter 2. Who do you give favor to? The person who is richly dressed or the one who is poorly dressed?

What do you think of someone who drives a new model car? Or an older model car?

Do you speed up to keep a car from coming in? Or, do you slow down and let them in?

Do you walk quickly, hurriedly to the check out to beat the lady/man with a large buggy of product? Or, do you let them go on?

when someone tells you something do you try to "1 up them?" Or, do you just let it alone?

We may ask, "What would Jesus Do?" First, Jesus was not of sin, but we are; sooooo, we really don't know what Jesus would do. However, we have Jesus' teaching, God's word, and guidelines for life. You can find this in a book referred to as the BIBLE!

Would you enjoy YOU, if you were YOUR BEST FRIEND? Are you the type of friend you would want someone to be to you? Time for reflection. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Watch your tongue- wash your tongue!

Good morning everyone!! Another wonderful day to be alive in JESUS CHRIST!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

James 1:26 "If any man amoung you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."Wow!! Double wow!! What a statement! A member of Sunday school shared about the tongue lashing she gave a pharmacist for giving her medicine to another woman with the same last name. She was angry, upset, frustrated and just plain mad. After she left the Holy Spirit convicted her of her actions. When she went back she told the pharmicist she was sorry and Jesus told her to apologize.

How many times do we do this? While driving and someone does something and we want to give them the "California Howdy," or a person cuts in line at the check out, or your are in the slow check out, or "they" don't do what "we expect."

Who made us God, so that our expectations are special, supreme, the guideline? We have to be able to accept what I cannot change and change what I can. We can admit we are powerless and "LET GO LET GOD!" May you let go and let GOD today. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Are you like a mirror in your Christian life?

Good morning everyone!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good. Power went out this a.m. due to a strom. Now, yea, it is back on.

James 1:23-25 "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."It is important to listen to what God's Word says, but it is much more important to obey it and todo what it says. We can measure the effectiveness of our Bible study time by the effect it has on our behavior and attitudes. Do you put into actin what you have studied?

It seems paradoxical that a law could give us freedom, but God's law offers us a true reflection of our sinful condition and give us the opportunity to ask for God's forgiveness.

As Christians, we are saved by God's grace, and salvation frees us from sin's control. As believers, we are free to live as God created us to live. This does not mean we are free to do as we please, but are now free to please God. (obey)

Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Do YOU trust GOD?

Good morning everyone! God is good all the time, all the time God is good! Wow! Remember to look up to God when things are good as well as when they are tough. Sometimes we treat God like we did our parents growing up; we traveled our own path and did not communicate until we experienced adversity. Then we called out.

We have an important part to play in our relationship with God. We have to be willing to receive help, and have to ask for it. If we develop the habit of turning to God for help with small, everyday matters; we will know what to do when faced with more difficult challenges.

James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
Stop, drop, and pray. Sometimes we may need to just sit there and do nothing but listen; listen!! Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Slow to anger?

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

I will be sharing what I came out of a book I am reading. It really hit home, and hope it stirs thought and reflection on your part.

Quoting: "I didn't know what compassion was, but I knew what it was not. Compassion was not seeking revenge, holding a grudge, calling names, or screaming and throwing things in anger. Yet that was how I frequently behaved toward theses people I claimed to love. For me, the beginning of learning compassion was to eliminate such behavior."

"While I still have a hard time defining compassion, I think it starts with the recognition that I am dealing with a person who sometimes exhibits symptoms of a disease. I don't have to take it personally when these symptoms, such as verbal abuse, appear, nor do I have the right to punish anyone for being sick."

I am a worthwhile human being. I don't have to sit and take abuse nor hand out abuse. Let me learn to be the kind of person I would like to have as a friend.
A quote from S. R. Hole "He who would have beautiful roses in his garden must have beautiful roses in his heart."

James 1:19 "Wherefore , my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:"

How many times have YOU spoke out in anger when you really did not hear, or should have listened better. Wrath only provokes, a soft word is heard. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Troubles, burdens getting you down?

Good morning everyone! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Do you ever get so rapped up in the daily events that you forget the small things, the "insignificant" things? The "insignificant" things which really mean a lot.

Worried about your job you forget about your wife, children, friends. Worried about buying groceries and forget the husband, children, and little things you used to do. Worried about going here or there, taking children here or there, just running so much you forget about the ones around you.

If you find your self caught up in this situation you may feel like the Psalmist.
Psalm 28:1-2 "Unto thee will I cry, O LORD, my rock; be not silent to me; lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle."
If you are feeling this way, then it may be time to: Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."Stop right now, take 60 seconds, or a minute, whichever comes first, and pray, talk to God, let him know what is on your heart. Share. God, unlike us, is an excellent listener. Take time for you and God. Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Revelation 6:15-17

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Revelatin 6:15-16 "And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb."
Remember, the sixth seal revealed great earthquakes, moon became like blood, stars of heaven fell, sky receded as a scroll, every mountain and island wa moved. So what is happening?

These people are scared to death, they know what is happending, who is coming, yet still have not turned to Jesus, God! Why? Where are you? Do you believe ALL THE BIBLE? If you don't believe the complete Bible is true, you need to hit the KNEE-MAIL TRAIL, and ask God for wisdom, knowledge, and probably as Jesus to come into your life.

Revelation 6:17 "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"The sixth seal will commence what the prophets call "the Day of the Lord."

Are you looking forward to the return of Christ? Or are you scared, having fear of Christ's return? Time is drawing near. If you disagree, email me and we will have a dialogue. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Walk in FAITH, be strong!

Good morning everyone! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.



1 Peter 1:6 "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

Whye were Christians the target of persecution? 1) They refused to worship the emperor as a god and thus were viewed as athesists and traitors.

2) They refused to worship at pagan temples, so business for these money making enterprises dropped wherever Christianity took hold.

3) They didn't support the Roman ideals of self, power, and conquest, and the Romans scorned the Christian ideal of self-sacrificing service.

4) They exposed and rejected the horrible immorality of pagan culture.

We cannot waiver, but stay strong for Jesus. How many times do we want to be as the sea? Some friends or acquaintences are going a direction we disagree with, BUT, we go along with them. Why? Peer pressure? Not committed? Not strong in the word? We have to be strong and stand on the promises God gave us. Be in the word, study God's word, and be happy not disheartened. Thank you for reading, Love you all. Here is an ending prayer.



GOD OUR FATHER,
WALK THROUGH MY HOUSE
AND TAKE AWAY ALL MY WORRIES AND ILLNESSES;
AND PLEASE WATCH OVER AND HEAL MY FAMILY
IN JESUS ' NAME. AMEN



In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

ACTIONS - Yours or God's?

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed." There are different ways to fail to commit whatever we do to the LORD. Some people commit their work only superficially. They say the project is being done for the LORD, but in reality they are doing it for themselves.
Others give God temporary control of their interests, only to take control back the moment things stop going the way they expect. Still others commit a task fully to the LORD but put forth no effort themselves, and then they wonder why they do not succeed.
We must maintain a delicate balance trusting God as if everything depended on him, while working as if everything depended on us. Think of a specific effort in which you are involved right now. Have you committed it to the LORD?
Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny