How do you pray? Matthew 6:5-7

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
   God is good all the time and takes care of the stupid --- I am living proof.  LOL  I tell this to my wife about me all the time.  Do you ever do things that you know are outside of God's will and want for you, yet you do it anyway?  Then, here comes God, cleans up the mess, helps you up, and sends you on your way.  Then I repent, ask forgiveness, and ask God's strength to not repeat those actions.
   Then what happens, yep, you do good for a while, then you leave the door opened slightly and, wa-la -- you do it again - STUPID!  Why did I do that?
    I go back to what I had written earlier - I am a saint who sins!  I have to remember this, get on my knees and do my prayer time.  Read this scripture, reflect, meditate, and activate.
   

Matthew 6:5-7

King James Version (KJV)

⁵ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
⁶ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
⁷ But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
    I love and appreciate you all.  For the next two weeks my wife and I will be relaxing and enjoying the waterfront, so my devotionals will be spotty or non-existent while we regroup.  Thank you for reading and you devotion to Jesus Christ, our LORD and saviour.
In Christ's Love and Grace
    Johnny
 

Salvation? 180 turn? Long sinners prayer?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
    Okay, my dear friends, food for thought today.  Being a Christian and listening to others, many times, is like the arm-chair quarterback who has all the answers but can't perform.
   As I listen to my Christian radio I bounce back and forth between the preaching stations and the Christian praise music stations.  Well, while listening to the preaching a couple of thoughts just leaped into my ever searching and inquiring mind.  It seems that many of the preachers talk about (1) that major life changing event when they accepted Jesus and their life turned around 180 degrees; (2) and then saying the sinners prayer.  I truly would like your feedback, please.
   First, I know God can make a major change in ones life as I witnessed this in one of my daughters whose life did a 180 and is a beautiful child of God.  The other girls are beautiful children of God, but their lives did not change as drastically.  I was always a "good" person who wished no evil or bad on anyone, was nice, courteous, polite and did mostly what was expected of me.  Am I as saved as the person whose life completely flipped?
      Then I hear about the drug laden lad or lass, who is walking blind in a field of darkness,  then accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, and the woes of darkness are filled with light.  A complete change!  And what does this do for me? Just what satan wants - it creates doubt - "am I really saved?"
  Then this leads me to the sinners prayer.  Is it necessary?  Your opinion please.  I believe it is.  Why? Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6).  I would say this about the sinners prayer - it does not need to be long, with silken tongued words that impress others and goes on and on, trying to impress God.  God just wants to know a couple of things: (1)do you believe you are a sinner, (2)that Christ died for your sins, and (3) did you ask His forgiveness? He knows you and loves you.
What matters to Him is the attitude of your heart, your honesty.
     Does the sinners prayer need to be done orally, so others may hear?  I would answer this with a qualified and definite "maybe."  It really depends on the person.  Some are in the middle of a crisis, alone, and ask God for help and salvation and receive; others need the reassurance and affirmation that this is a real and true experience, they ask and receive. To which person is it most real? Both, it is just that ones needs more affirmation than the other.
       What are the criteria?  Go back to the 3 questions just above: believe you are a sinner; believe Christ died for your sins; ask for His forgiveness. Very simple!
    So, (I know) finally, does your life need to do a 180 and do you need to repeat a long and eloquent sinners prayer?   My answer is: it depends on you and where you are when you ask for salvation.
    “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, [Jesus Christ], that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  Love you all.
   In Christ's Love and Grace
     Johnny
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The first and greatest commandment!

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
   Do you ever just stop and think about the Bible?  About what is being said?  Really think about what God's word is that HE is sharing with you?
    Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 - the TEN Commandments begin with: Dt. 5:7 "⁷ ‘You shall have no other gods before Me," Ex. 20  ³ “You shall have no other gods before Me."
    When God says you shall have no other Gods before Me, He really means it.  How ridiculous it is to think you can create a wooden image, marble image, steel image, or any other type of image - pray to it - and for the object YOU CREATED to do something for you.  Yet people do.
    In the politically correct world we don't want to "offend" any one or their religion; yet, we will stand aside and let Christians be beat down, criticized, and limited in what we can show or display?
    Even the items that seem small, tarot cards, astrology (when looking at the stars for guidance), sorcery, these types of things are not of our God.  People read their horoscope and actually believe it.  When we put our faith in something other than the true GOD, we are opening the door for problems and welcoming them in.
    What is the first and greatest commandment?  YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME!!   Do you really believe this?  If so, make certain your actions show it.  A good way to begin is ask yourself - do others see Jesus Christ in me?  Love you all.
   In Christ's Love and Grace
      Johnny
 

Fear? Why? God is your strength! Psalm 27:1-3

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!
   Have you fears of many things?  Daily activities? Work? The boss? Losing something in your possession such as family or materials items?  We need to be as David in Psalm 27.   We need to have the excitement in faith as he did.  Fear is a dark shadow that can engulf us and make us prisoners within ourselves.  We all becomes prisoners of fear at one time or another, whether it be failure, rejection, sickness, misunderstanding, or possibly death.
   How do we overcome this fear?  BY TRUSTING IN THE LORD, who brings SALVATION!!  To be shed of fear - read this Psalm.
      Psalm 27:1-3 (NKJV)    A Psalm of David.           (my words are in italics and underlined)

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?                                                         FEAR NO ONE
The Lord is the strength of my life;                              STRENGTH, LIGHT, SALVATION
Of whom shall I be afraid?
² When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.                                                YOU STAND - THEY FALL
³ Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;                                                 FEAR NO ONE!!
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.

                      THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH, YOUR LIGHT, YOUR SALVATION, FEAR NO ONE OR THING - GOD IS WITH YOU ALWAYS. 

       In a depression?  Fear of losing your job?  Your house?  Your family?  WHY?  Trust in the LORD my friend.  Pray, visit with God, put all your faith in our LIVING GOD!  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

    Johnny

R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y ! Galatians 6:4,5

Good morning everyone!  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
    Responsibility!  Does anyone know what this means anymore?  Anyone out there?  Hello?
What am I talking about?  You say you are responsible, well good, but look around.  How many more people need to have their hearts pricked by the salvation offering Jesus lays before us, then follow his teachings.
    A 12 year girl jumped to her death because of bullying by two other 12 and 14 year old girls.  The 14 year old is not sad, very cold; her parents deny she had anything to do with it. Responsibility?
    A thirty something year old woman has ten children, and her recent boy friend just got arrested and put in jail.  She is on the news talking about the government shut down and is saying someone needs to help with all these kids, someone needs to step up and be responsible. Huh? How about she step up!?!?  Responsibility?
    The government shut down for 16 days - boo to the politicians - and boo staunch party lines.  What happened to: "WE THE PEOPLE?"  Why are we not a concern. The politicians did not lose a paycheck.  Debt level?  Can you keep borrowing and just raise your debt ceiling?  Responsibility?
   When will we be responsible?  We can run, we can try to hide, we can put our heads in the sand (and that leaves a large area for a target), or step up to the plate.  Jonah ran from where God wanted him to go. And how did that turn out for Jonah?  Hmmmm!
   Galatians 6: 4, 5  ⁴ Let everyone be sure that he is doing his very best, for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work well done and won’t need to compare himself with someone else. ⁵ Each of us must bear some faults and burdens of his own. For none of us is perfect!
   What do you think Paul is telling us here?  Jesus, our saviour, his (Jesus') example should inspire us to do our very best.  Even if we fall short, Jesus loves us, and encourages us to get back up and strive once again to do our best.  Are you: doing your best?  for Christ? for family? for job?
  R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y !!
Love you all.
  In Christ's Love and Grace
     Johnny
 

1 Timothy 4:1-11

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
   In today's world we are surrounded with "politically correctness" and "talking through" problems. Oh, this works well, thank you congress for the shut down.  Anyway, 1 Timothy 4:1-11 shares this message better than I ever could.  Please read.

1 Timothy 4

Living Bible (TLB)

4 But the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some in the church will turn away from Christ and become eager followers of teachers with devil-inspired ideas. ² These teachers will tell lies with straight faces and do it so often that their consciences won’t even bother them.

³ They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat meat, even though God gave these things to well-taught Christians to enjoy and be thankful for. ⁴ For everything God made is good, and we may eat it gladly if we are thankful for it, ⁵ and if we ask God to bless it, for it is made good by the Word of God and prayer.
⁶ If you explain this to the others you will be doing your duty as a worthy pastor who is fed by faith and by the true teaching you have followed.
⁷ Don’t waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths and legends. Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. ⁸ Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually, and practice being a better Christian because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too. ^9-10 This is the truth and everyone should accept it. We work hard and suffer much in order that people will believe it, for our hope is in the living God who died for all, and particularly for those who have accepted his salvation.
¹¹ Teach these things and make sure everyone learns them well. 

Please note the highlighted areas.  Love you all. 
In Christ's Love and Grace,
   Johnny
 

What does Jesus see in your heart? John 2:23-25

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!    
John 2:23-25 (KJV)

²³ Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. ²⁴ But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
²⁵ And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
         
       Our hearts are open books to the One who really knows us.  Jesus was aware of the truth of Jeremiah 17:9 "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.  Who really know how bad it is?"
     Jesus was discerning and he knew that the faith of some followers was superficial.  Some of the same people claiming to believe in Jesus would be the same ones yelling crucify him.  It is easy to get caught up in the excitement with all around you, yet not really believe.
     When Jesus came upon Nathaniel he knew his heart and Nathaniel responded to Jesus' call to discipleship.  What will Jesus see as He looks inside you?  Will He see a heart like Nathaniel's or a heart like the people in the crowd?
    Jesus longs to commune with us as we submit every area of our lives to Him.  He is willing to commit Himself to us the moment we are willing to commit ourselves to Him - unconditionally - wholly.  Have you totally surrendered you whole life to Christ?  Love you all.
  In Christ's Love and Grace
     Johnny

Help me, I have fallen and I..........

Good morning everyone! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!!
   So, my friend, what is happening in your world?  Have you reached out to someone in need lately?  How do you reach out?  Do you get down and wallow around in the mud and yuck with them? OR, do you hang on to a branch, out of the wallow and extend your hand?
   It is easy to sympathize with someone and fall into the "oh, poor you" (for them the "poor me") arena.  What do you do?  We need to have pity, yet wallow not; listen but not direct; see but not judge; encourage but not do.   So, what are we to do, really?
   Pray!  Oh, yeah, right, that is the answer all Christians give - to pray.  And what good does this do? Nothing!  Wait up bucko!  When we pray, we have to believe.  Yeah, right, and the one I am praying for does not believe-so then what?
   Be patient my friend, continue to pray.  We are not told our prayers will be answered immediately; we are not told the other has to be a believer; we are told to pray and wait on the LORD!  Is that hard?  Yep, for us humans, it is particularly hard!  We want it now.
   My heart is burdened with some of the people at our church, one young man in particular who has returned to drugs.  I want to shake him, make him well, let him see the same light for him I see, it is frustrating.  However, I have to remember that I am not the one who heals; I am not the one who saves; I have no power but the power of God is all mighty and real. What does the Bible say.
Deuteronomy 15:11

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

   We, I, need to open my hand wide unto my brother.  This is what needs to, and has to be done.  Will you extend a hand today?  Extend a hand to someone?  Anyone?  Someone may see Jesus in you, come to know the truth and the light - Jesus.  Thanks for letting me aire today.  Have a great Monday.

In Christ's Love and Grace

   Johnny

 

Sinner or Saint - Which one are you?

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
   We are told we are sinners.  Why?  If you tell someone he/she is a drunk, what do they do?  They go drink!  If you tell someone they are fat what do they do?  They go eat!  If you tell someone they are mean, what do they do?  They act mean.   How we perceive ourselves is how we tend to act.  Our perception affects our attitude; our attitude affect our perception.
    So, here is my question:  Are you a saint who sins?  Or a sinner who continues to sin?
Psalm 1:5

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. (Only saints, you and me will be there)

Psalm 26:9

Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with those who are bloodthirsty, (you are a Saint)

Psalm 37:38

But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked. (Saints will live in glory with God)

Psalm 51:13

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.(Saint)

Proverbs 13:6 

Righteousness guards the person (Saint) of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

Proverbs 13:21

Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous (Saints) are rewarded with good things.

      The point today is do you see yourself as a SAINT or as a SINNER?  How you see yourself will affect how you act and project yourself to others.  SAINT?   SINNER?  I choose Saint!!  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

    Johnny

 Click on this link to read more about sinners.

 

He passes by, He speaks, He knows your thoughts - Are you aware?

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
    Wow!  God really takes care of us, yet we travel through the ticks of time and don't even realize HE is watching over us.  As the minutes slowly fade away to the past doe we stop, listen, and wait for the LORD?
     What does God want YOU TO DO TODAY just for HIM?!?
  Job 9:11 When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
Job 33:14  For God does speak—now one way, now another— though no one perceives it. 
  Psalm 139:2  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

God is there; God is here; God is everywhere.  He is beside us, He speaks to us, He knows our thoughts. Take time today to be near your LORD and SAVIOR!  Just stop and meditate - God is good - God is there - God wants to commune with you!  Do something! Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
   Johnny

Attitude and Perception!

Good morning all! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
     Attitude ------Perception ----- wow, how this can make or break you or the ones around you.  These two words walk hand in hand.  My attitude toward you is what I perceive; my perception of you sets my attitude!
    Think about this for a moment.  My church is under a bridge, a church with no walls, no doors, no protection from natures elements.  All types of people attend our church, from clean cut with jobs, to people struggling with no jobs.  People dressed nicely to people wearing the same raggedy clothes daily and all in between. People with no tattoos to people covered with tattoos.  People with great hair styles to people just letting the hair go (on head and face).  Many of these people would not be welcome in a traditional church, nor would they be comfortable in a traditional church.  W H Y?
  Why?  Because of perception and attitude!   Whose perception and attitude?  Both - the homeless attending and the members of the church they attend!  If Jesus were walking the earth today where would he go?  Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Non-denominational, Jehovah Witness, - where?
    Jesus would be a street person!  With the homeless, with the needy, with the lost.  Romans 15:5

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,    

  So, what has to happen to welcome people as the a fore mentioned?  We have  Ephesians 4:23

to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

   What you think in your mind comes from what you perceive; therefore, your attitude will be tainted toward your perception.  Hebrews 4:12   For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.     What is the attitude of your heart?

    Who are you living for?  Jesus Christ or yourself?  We should all live today, each moment, as if we expect Christ to return right now.  Treat others with the attitude of Christ.  Stand strong in Jesus Christ.  You may be cast into a fiery furnace, yet come out unscathed and as others see, they, through you will be changed. 

   In ending, go to Daniel 3:19:  Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual    The king was mad because they did not do as he had decreed; threw them in the furnace, then saw 4 figures, called to them, and when they came out unscathed,²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹ Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”

  His attiude changed, again, and he did perceive.  Where are you today? What is your perception? What is your attitude? Love you all

In Christ's Love and Grace

    Johnny

 

LOVE! What/who do you really LOVE?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
   Have you just stopped, really stopped and thought about the word "love" and how we use it?  I love my car; I love my house; I love my ..............and on and on.  What does love really mean?
    Let us look at some scripture about love:

1. Matthew 22:37
   Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 
        Step one - read this and let the words sink in to your mind, heart and soul. Can you say I LOVE the LORD, my God, with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind? 
2. Mark 10:21
   Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
     Step two - look at him/her and love him/her. Then share the way to heaven.  Do you look at someone, love them, and share the way of salvation?
3. Luke 16:14
   The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.
      Step three - don't love the wrong things!  Yes, the Pharisees loved, but what did they truly love. These were men of God whose values drifted from God to the world.
4. John 8:42
   Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.
      Step four - do you love Jesus?  Do you really love Jesus?  Do your actions, words, and thoughts reflect Jesus who was sent by God?  If you love God you love Jesus; if you love Jesus you love God!
       Think seriously about love.  This is the aura (the distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person, thing, or place) Jesus had; do you have that type of aura?  Love you all!
       In Christ's Love and Grace
         Johnny
   thought for today: GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN ME THAN MY PROBLEMS FOR TODAY!

Today, will you be of God or of the world? Romans 12: 1,2

Good morning all!  God is good all the time, all the time, God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!
   Yesterday was a great day in the LORD!  To hear the scripture click here - to listen.
This scripture just reached out and touched me, and I do hope it reaches and touches you the same. Let us go to ROMANS 12
     

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
    Broke down simply: a) by God's mercies; b) body is a living sacrifice; c) acceptable to God; d) don't conform to this world; e) renew you mind  and be transformed; f) do good, acceptable, and perfect for the will of God.
   
Will you give your bodies to God? Let them be a living sacrifice, holy—the kind God can accept. When you think of what God has done for you, is this too much to ask?  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you.
    May you be blessed this wonderful Monday, Oct. 7th.  Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
    Johnny
 
   

Drink of the living water! John 4:10-15

Good morning dear friends! God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
   Well, is your pride in check?  Did you think about how you operate? On pride or on Christ?  Hmmm
Okay, so, Jesus is walking with his disciples and they come to a well. Jesus sends his disciples on ahead to the town to gather food and he sits at the well.  And who do you guess showed up?  Yep, the woman at the well; not just any woman, but a Samaritan woman.  Now, let us talk about Samaritans and women for a moment. Click here to read the scripture.
    First, the Jews did not associate with "these people" because they were not pure.  They were despised by the Jews, specially the Pharisees.  Why?  Because they had interracial marriages, immoral behavior, and their theology was wrong.  The Pharisees would not visit with "these people" because they were so impure, lowly, scum.  The women were thought of even lower than the men, the women were lower than the scum of the earth (Samaritans).
    This woman came to the well and Jesus spoke to her, asking for a drink of water.  Huh?!? What?!? She was shocked, a Jew asking her for a drink.  First, she was thought of so lowly, and she knew this, why was this Jew speaking to her.  They did engage in dialogue and  "¹³ Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
 This was after a dialogue where Jesus knew everything about this woman, which shocked and surprised her.  When Jesus told her about His living water, ¹⁵ The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”  
  Do you thirst for the living water?   Have you partaken of the living water?  Do you see yourself as a valuable asset for GOD?
     Do you see others from your eyes; or from the eyes of Jesus?  Do you see yourself from your eyes; or from the eyes of Jesus?  You are valuable!  You are an asset!  You are important to the kingdom of God!
Now, go, touch others, act in the way God intended for you to act! Be who God intended you to be!  YOU ARE IMPORTANT!  Love you all.
    In Christ's Love and Grace
     Johnny
 

P R I D E - the fall of many!

Good morning everyone! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
  Well, here we are another day, another government locked out day, and what are we doing.  We are doing just as I am, sharing my concerns (complaints) with people I know, yet taking no direct action.
   The situation is Washington D.C. is due to "principles" aka pride.  Our world is full of pride, and what does the Bible say about pride? 
Job 35:12

There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

Psalm 10:2

The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

Psalm 10:4

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Psalm 59:12

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.

Proverbs 16:18

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

    These are just a few verses.  Look around. Our political leaders, and don't give me that democrat or republican rhetoric - it is nothing but idle words.  They are for themselves, they did not lose a pay check.

    Sports - pride abounds; Christians - is it look what I HAVE DONE, or do others see JESUS in you?  We are in a state of chaos and it boils back to PRIDE.  That is my opinion and I'm sticking to it!!  One question - are you as strong for GOD as you are your politics, sports, hobbies?  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

   Johnny

 

 

 

 

 

Steak yet? Know right from wrong? Hebrews 5:14

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
   Milk or solid food?  That was the question for yesterday.  Our ability and capacity to feast on deeper knowledge of God, the solid food, is determined by our spiritual growth.  How many times do we want too much and are not capable of understanding it.  Like a buffet, everything looks good, so you start filling plates, but there is no way you can digest it all.
   Start off with a small plate of mashed potatoes and peas, something you can digest easily, then as you grow you can move to the steak with trimmings.
   As you grow in the LORD and put into practice what you have learned, your capacity to understand will also grow.  

Hebrews 5:14 Living Bible  ¹⁴ You will never be able to eat solid spiritual food and understand the deeper things of God’s Word until you become better Christians and learn right from wrong by practicing doing right.

    To grow from infant Christians to mature Christians, we must learn discernment.  We must train our conscience, our senses, our mind, and our body to distinguish good from evil.

   Can you recognize temptation before it traps you?  Can you tell the difference between a correct use of scripture and a wrong one?  Do you know what is real scripture or folk lore from years past. (Ex: God helps those who help themselves) Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

  Johnny

 

Grow in Christ, from milk to solid food! Hebrews 5:12-13

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
    Look around you for a moment.  What do you see on the surface and then what is really going on?  Probably controlled chaos, meaning everything looks normal, like it should be, but what is really going on - that is the main question.
    I visit with Brother A and he says all is going well, but his marriage is in rough terrain.  I ask Sister C how she is, she says well, but she is about to lose her home, children hungry.  Friend D says oh, life is great, but he just lost his job and has to go tell his family.  On the surface all looks well - but is it really.  Can you see what is beneath the surface?  Do you want to see what is beneath the surface? Will you take the time to invest in another?  Jesus did!
   What beauty do you bring to the table?  Love, compassion, mercy, caring, true concern?  This is what Jesus showed and shared.  Yesterday I mentioned the judgment seat of Christ.  Jesus talked with a prostitute, ate and slept at a despicable tax collectors house, touched and healed an unclean leper, he did many things a pharisee would not.  WHY?  L O V E !  Jesus showed love and mercy to all.  The Pharisees were too busy following the laws, making new laws and telling the people they had to follow; yet, they did as they pleased.  Hmmm, sounds like American politicians!
    So, again I ask, when you stand at the judgment seat of Christ, what will he say to YOU?  Today, step out of your comfort zone.  Speak to someone, help someone, pray for someone, do one little trait that Jesus carried.  I am not comfortable doing that - Soooo, pray quickly about it and let go-let God!

Hebrews 5:12-13 (NIV)  ¹² In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 

¹³ Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.

God wants us to grow spiritually. God did not say I would make you comfortable, he said go, tell others, share the good news! Grow in Christ. So JUST DO IT!   Have a little Nike in you. Well done, my good and faithful servant.  Love you all.
   In Christ's Love and Grace
     Johnny