Psalm 18:2 Who do you call out to? God or others?

 Hello on this great Saturday.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  MY ROCK OF SALVATION IS THE LORD!!

   Hey, don't forget to "SPRING FORWARD" with your clocks tonight.

There once was a man who faced a lion and lived; then a bear and lived. Then face to face with a huge giant of a man and lived; then pursued by the powers of the country and lived; even his own son tried to kill him, but he survived.  WHY?

   This man was a man after God's own heart.  Yep, you guessed it, KING DAVID!!

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

   We also face fearful times, there are giants in our lives and things we think will set us back physically, emotionally, financially, and personally.  It can be difficult, but we need to depend upon the LORD for our deliverance.

  David used 7 expressions to show the faithfulness of God.  We know these to be true and we just need to trust and obey; for there is no other way.

  To quote from Jeff Wells devotional book:

  When troubled, cry out: the LORD is my rock.

  When discouraged, cry out: the LORD is my stronghold.

  When weary, cry out: the LORD is my strength.

  When fearful, cry out the LORD is my deliverer.

  When overwhelmed, cry out the LORD is my fortress.

  When worried, cry out: the LORD is my refuge.

  When alone, cry out: the LORD is the horn of my salvation.

  When tempted, cry out: the LORD is my rock.

For all that we need, just cry out to God who is our rock and our refuge.  Yet, be patient as God is always on time, but not always our time.  Love y'all.  Thanks for reading today.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Psalm 18:1 I love yo, O LORD, my strength! PRAYER

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!!

  What is prayer all about? It is talking to God; listening to God; confessing to God; but it is all about loving God.

  Prayer is a way to connect with God and in communication we draw closer to God.  Prayer is about a love relationship between you and God.  When you love someone you communicate with them, share with them, and tell them things that come from the heart.

   When you love someone you enjoy their company and want to be with them, hang around, and just enjoy the moments together.  This is where we should be with God.

  Do you have a thirst or hunger to be with God?  To be in His presence? To share, laugh, cry, be angry, be happy, just share all your emotions?  Prayer is not a duty or something we do out of commitment.  Prayer is the overflow of love for the God of the universe.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

   DO YOU?!?  If your heart is not right with God, now is the time. Give it all to God.  Thank you for reading today. Love y''all.

In Christ''s Love and Grace

Johnny

JOY in the LORD? Yes? No? Psalm 16:11

  Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  Do you take JOY in the LORD?

   Life is interesting.  Churches are even more interesting.  There are churches that teach "unity", that there is good in every approach to God and has no one particular creed or ritual requited.The focus is on the potential good in all.

   Then you have the "prosperity" churches.  They believe you need to GIVE to GET.  The way to gain riches is to give more money to the kingdom, especially to their churches and ministries.

   And we could get into Muslims, Buddhists, Hinduism,Judaism, Sikhism, Taoism, Shinto, Atheism, Folk religion, Confucianism, Jainism, Chinese Salvationist, Indigenous and more.

   All beliefs are "similar" in the fact they believe in a "HIGHER BEING", however, only 1 religion has a true LIVING GOD. and that is Christianity.

  Being a Christian does not mean I am a Methodist, Lutheran, Assembly, Church of Christ, Catholic, etc. but it means we believe in and have a relationship with the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  The only Son of God who died for our sins.

   And because of this God wants us to have joy and pleasures in our lives.  But why do bad things happen?  So often it is a result of our actions, especially when God is not involved in what we do.  But things do happen to good people and we know not why.  Why is that?

   Because God's ways are not as man's ways.  God sees the BIG picture, whereas we see the here and now picture and not the end result. God picked David, the least of all his brothers.  Why? He knew David's heart. Does this help us?  To some, yes; to others no. Obedience, patience, and loving God is a key.

 But why does my friend have terminal cancer?  He loves the LORD.  Ask God for an answer.

   1 Thessalonian 5:17  Pray without ceasing.  This is where we get the answers.

God is the happiest person in the universe and he wants happiness for you and me as well.  John Orterg commented, "Joy is at the heart of God's plan for human beings."

 Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life;

    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Thank you for reading. I welcome your comments. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Troubles weighing you down? What to do? Matthew 11:28-29

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. WE ARE BLESSED INDEED!

   Often the troubles of our life get us down; we look at the world events and that frustrates us; and we see others that seem to be just happy and without a care in the world.  

  Why me?  Why am I feeling this way?

   So often we forget who is actually in charge.  There is only one who is in charge and it is not me or you.  Yes, it is God.  So often we forget to give everything to God.

   If you are feeling down, feeling alone, feel like you are in this battle by yourself, do not despair.  Take heart in what Jesus said:

   Matthew 11: 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

   Don't forget who is our father in heaven and who really cares for you. Thank you for reading with me today. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Is one of your burdens reading the Bible daily? Hmmm Psalm 1:2

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  DELIGHT IN THE LORD IN ALL THY WAYS!!!

   What is your favorite dessert?  I like chocolate and frozen yogurt swirl cones.  Hmmm, good.  It is hard for me to pass Braum's without stopping for yogurt.  It is like a pulling, a magnet, a force that wants me to come in.

   Well, what about your Bible?  Does it pull you in or do you do it out of duty?  Or maybe just a ritual and you don't fully comprehend what you are reading?

   Psalm tells us to "MEDITATE" day and night on God's word.  This does not mean to ''read it through'' as a duty, but to think about what your are reading, maybe talk out-loud to yourself, but read for clarity and to understand.

  Once you get into reading the Bible to absorb and understand it will become the chocolate or yogurt that pulls you.  You will delight in the word of God.

   Just like your favorite treat, the more you engage with the Bible, the more you will like it and yearn for it.  Many people "know" the Bible, but do not resonate or relate to God's word.  It is just a big book of history that the main parts are remembered, but not taken seriously.

   God's word (Bible) helps us in knowing God's will and want for us.  That is the eternal life that is promised by God, who never breaks a promise.  So, are you a casual reader of the Bible, OR, are you totally engaged in God's word and working for the kingdom of the LORD and you are walking with JESUS?

   Start today, reading the word, set a time aside each day to be with God and absorb HIS word.  Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

   If you read daily you will become as is Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers.

   Read on, absorb much, share lots, and delight in the word. Thanks for reading today. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Do you praise God in all things? Job 1:21 (13-22)

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  WE ARE BLESSED INDEED!!!

   Last time I wrote about do we suffer because of sin.  Today we will look at the faith, trust, obedience and loyalty of a man named Job.

  First what happened to him?  One, the Sabeans came and stole his oxen and donkeys and killed the servants.  Two, fire came and burned up his sheep and servants.  Third, the Chaldeans came down, took the camels and killed the servants. Then a mighty wind came and collapsed the oldest son's house and killed all Job's children.

   Can you imagine. Being the wealthiest man on earth when you woke in the morning and then by days end you have lost everything, wealth, possessions, and offspring.  What a tragedy.

   So what did Job do?   He was definitely upset and then maybe his most famous verse  Job 1:21  Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.  The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away may the name of the LORD be praised..

   During all this catastrophic happenings Job refused to stop trusting God.  He did not turn away, ignore, or renounce God in any way.

   Suffering is always a test of faith for the believer.  Will you, or have you trusted God despite your suffering and pain?  We all have suffering, some really big happening, some not so big, but in the end DO YOU TRUST GOD?

   We may want answers and only get them when we get to heaven, but, in the end, we need faith, hope, and trust.  We may not understand now, but one day we will.

  When darkness falls upon you, cling to the living God. Stand on Gods promises in his word.  God is with you every step of the way and we do not understand his ways, but only to trust and obey. Just remember what Job said Job 19:25-26 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.    And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God.

   Trust God in the good times and the bad.  Thanks for reading. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Do we suffer because of sin?? Job 1:1

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

HE IS RISEN!

  Have you ever heard of someone telling someone else the reason they are not healed is because of lack of faith?  Why would a Christian say something like this to another?  How hurtful.

  You are where you are because of your sins?  If I drink, get drunk and fall down the stairs, then yes, it is due to my sin.  But this is not always true and why would we want to think this was so?

   Take Job, he was an upright person before the LORD and he lost everything, children, livestock, wealth, everything.

  His friends accused him of past sins and that was why he was in this situation. Job experienced excruciating pain and agony.  We can not imagine what all he went through, yet his "friends" did not come to support, but to accuse.

  Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

  Are you able to look beyond the idea of sin in my past, your past, others past, and support each one through LOVE? 

    If sin is our reason for suffering, what sin did JESUS commit?  He suffered terrible beatings, pain, cursing and taunting. So what sin did he commit?  NONE!

   We live in a fallen world.  This is not heaven.  Bad things happen to good people, and worst things happen to some of the best people.  This is not because of sin.  Living in a fallen world, satan is alive and well and comes to steal and destroy.

   Stand strong on the word of God.  Forsake him not, and be a faithful servant to the one and only living GOD.  God, please bless each person that is reading this and let each one be loving and kind to those around them and accuse them not without cause.  Thank you. Love y'all.

In Christs Love and Grace

Johnny