Are you a potsherd or are you God's creation?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

   The world is in semi-controlled chaos at this moment.  There are riots which the liberals call protests, hurricanes, fires, floods, and then the virus.  God is in control and sees a wicked planet as HE did in Noah's days.  

   I truly believe God is grieved at what he sees in the world and especially America, which was founded on Biblical principles.  God sees the sacrificing of babies (abortion), men marrying men; women marrying women, LBGTQ+ which disregards God's word completely. There is evil all around us, yet we call it the world.  Satan has been very good at making the worldly things look good.  Can you go 1 hour, 1 day or 1 week without looking at facebook; or tweeting; or doing some other form of social media?

    My challenge to you today is when you think about going to social media, pull up the Bible on your phone and read a scripture, any scripture and see how you feel at the end of the day or week.

   Here is some from Isaiah 45:9 “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherd (potsherd- a broken piece of ceramic) among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter,  ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’? 10 Woe to the one who says to a father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to a mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’11 “This is what the Lord says— the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? 12 It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.

  How often do we forget who knew us before the womb, who brought us into being, and we so often ignore HIM until something tragic happens in our life.  Let us all get right with GOD!!

  Here is the rest of Isaiah 45. Thank you for reading. Love y'all!

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny 

Satan's hot iron leaves a scar! BUT-- Jesus erased the scar!

 Good morning everyone!  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!

   When I woke, or maybe in a dream, not really certain; however, this came to me: a hot iron leaves a mark and a scar.

   What?  We all know this.  When branding cattle we use a hot iron that came from a raging fire and place it on the livestock.  Why do we do this?  So we can identify that cow, calf, bull, or other livestock that belongs to us.

  Satan comes to touch us with a hot iron and then tell the world we are his.  Yes, we do things that are wrong and misguided.  I definitely do not want you searching my closet to see all the skeletons there.  But Satan uses this hot iron called sin to place us in a jail cell and for us to remember and know that we are not worthy.  Oops!! A great Satan LIE!

   Once we accept Jesus Christ as our LORD and savior, what has happened in our past still remains, BUT, we are forgiven of our sins.  Is the scar there?  Of course, and sometimes we revert back to that scar and our belief in Christ may slacken or waver, BUT, we are forgiven, a Child of God, and we must forgive ourselves so we can live fully for Jesus Christ.  We, you and I are worthy because of JESUS CHRIST!!

   I just rewatched GOD'S NOT DEAD, the movie and it will cause you to think once again how great God is.  The lies we heard from the world will cause many to abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits led by demons.  The sinners mind, or the atheist mind-set has been seared (sealed) with a hot iron and they want us to believe as they do.  

  Because the hot iron scarred us at one time does not mean we belong to satan and are not worthy of salvation.  When Jesus hung on that cross HE erased that scar, gave us a new life, and now we have to go forth, love God, love our neighbor, and spread the gospel to the whole world.  

   Here are the words from 1 Timothy 4: The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 

  Then we must remember verses  4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

  God did not create junk; all he created was/is good.  YOU were created by GOD.  What God spoke is as true to you and me as it was to Jeremiah in the Old Testament: Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;  I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

  We, you and I are prophets or spreaders of the word of Jesus Christ.  Let not the scars of the past haunt you, but rejoice in the freedom Jesus gave you. Rejoice I say, Rejoice!! Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Was Jesus involved in Politics? Should we be?

 Good morning all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!

   Politics is all over the news, t.v. channels, radio, twitter, facebook, --everywhere.  Was Jesus involved in politics?

   A bold and loud canter of Y E S !  He came to fulfill the law and FREE the people, Jews and gentiles, of the burden of the law and sacrifices and the "evil" powers that were.  What happened?  The Pharisees and Saducees were happy with their WORLDLY RULES and living, as do our politicians, above the law.

  They were the law.  Jesus is a great threat to them all. He calls into question their authority; he questions their moral fitness; he questions their motives. From this perspective, the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders is inevitable.

  Jesus came to stand in for our sins, to fulfill the law, and to free us from lure of the worldly things.  The Jews at this time were economically exploited, experienced many religious impositions, and were subjected to Pagan views and practices. The political reality of the day was of an unfriendly dominant power overseeing life on a day-to-day basis.

   The Hebrew people of this era generally fell into one of three camps in their views of how to cope with this sometimes oppressive oversight: one group wanted to appease the Romans, one group wanted to fight them, and one group just wanted to keep their heads down and go unnoticed.

   Well, we sit in this chair today and what do we do?  As a Christian we need to stand up for what is morally right and the rights given us by God.  If you look carefully at the democratic platform and really read it you will find that slowly your FREEDOMS will be taken away.  Plus, the funding of things that are against Christian values, i.e. abortion, even full term abortion.

   Deitrich Bonhoffer, in the 1930's warned against the Nazi's and encouraged the church to stand up.  Unfortunately, today, we have too many pastors that are following in the footsteps of the church leaders in Nazi Germany and are doing nothing.

   Can't have church because of COVID-19; yet, people are given permits to protest openly, to gather and create chaos.  The leaders of our churches today need to take a bold stand and see that our freedoms are slowly and methodically being taken away by a party that hates America, and want to control the people with an iron fist.  Look at China, Russia, North Korea, see how "free" these people are.

  Click here to see some of what Bonhoffer said in the 1930's. Here is an excerpt: By Bonhoeffer’s own account, he and his co-conspirators were living in a time and place in which “the huge masquerade of evil has thrown all ethical concepts into confusion” and in which evil appears in the “form of light, good deeds, historical necessity, social justice.” They were living in a time that required a radical form of ethical discernment, attuned to concrete reality, historical urgency, and the desperate cries of help from victims of the state.

    We, the People, need to take a strong stand in the name of Jesus and fight for our church, our freedom, and most of all for the moral values of JESUS CHRIST, our LORD and SAVIOR!!

   If you think I am political, yes, I am.  Vote for what is correct ACCORDING TO CHRISTIAN VALUES, not by party, not out of fear, but our of obedience and commitment to the one and only Living God!

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

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

The Bible knows; the Bible tells us; Look and think about America today

 

Good morning everyone.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  REMEMBER: You are BLESSED because you are a  CHILD OF GOD!!!

   If you read the fable of Androcles you will find that a slave escaped his horrible master and fled.  In his flight he came upon a massive lion. As he prepared to flee for his life he noticed the lion was lying down, moaning, and in pain.

   He came close and noticed a thorn embedded in the pad of the lion's paw. He removed the thorn, patched the bleeding paw, and the lion was grateful. The two remained together with the lion bringing food to the man as they shared a cave.

  The day came when both were captured.  The punishment for the man was that he was to be cast into the arena and a lion, whom they captured and starved was released.  As the lion roared and rushed to the man, the lion realized this was the man who had removed the thorn and he laid at his feet in total submission and obedience.

  Now we can look at Psalm 28 and read about this story in another context.  We live in a world of evil, conflict, and the enemies of God are constantly attacking us.  Our only refuse is God, his mercy, his love, his salvation and rescuing of us.  Read and think about this Psalm and look around at America, look at yourself, and think about GOD!

  PSALM 28: Of David.

¹ To you, Lord, I call;
    you are my Rock,
    do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
    I will be like those who go down to the pit.
² Hear my cry for mercy
    as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
    toward your Most Holy Place.

³ Do not drag me away with the wicked,
    with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
    but harbor malice in their hearts.
⁴ Repay them for their deeds
    and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done
    and bring back on them what they deserve.

⁵ Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
    and what his hands have done,
he will tear them down
    and never build them up again.

⁶ Praise be to the Lord,
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.
⁷ The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

⁸ The Lord is the strength of his people,
    a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
⁹ Save your people and bless your inheritance;
    be their shepherd and carry them forever

This is what I pray for America; that God will save his people and bless our inheritance, be our shepherd and carry us forward forever.  

May your heart be opened, may you be blessed, and please pray for our friends and neighbors and those affected by COVID-19.  Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

When are you the happiest? Is it when you are in the house of the LORD?

 

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

 

  Are you familiar with Psalm 26:8?  "LORD, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory lives".

  When you go to worship, whether in church, in your secret hiding place, in your "God" area where you study---can you honestly say "I LOVE BEING HERE"; "I LOVE STUDYING AND HEARING YOUR WORD" -- can you earnestly say this?

   When you sit in church or your special place--where is your heart? Your Mind? Do your thoughts wander. Do you have thoughts like: hope this is over so we can see the Cowboys play? The Texans play? Or, I am really wanting to eat lunch at XXXX today, hope service is over and I beat the crowd, or...........................

  Where is your heart, mind, and soul?  Do you really, earnestly seek the LORD, or do you just GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS?

   God wants us complete, not just portions of us or not when it is convenient; God wants ALL OF US - 100% DAILY!!!

    My thoughts should always be surrounded by obedience to God. Would this be pleasing to God?  Would God encourage me to do this?  God wants us to be hot for him.  The end times are drawing nearer and in Revelation 3:16 we are told to be either hot or cold, but if we are lukewarm HE will spew us from his mouth.  “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

  We should have the faith of the Canaanite woman in the Bible. This woman's daughter was possessed by demons.  We are often possessed by demons - - like the demon of leaving church in time to:  watch sports; go to a movie; eat lunch; play golf; go fishing; take a drive; or whatever.

   We need to rid ourselves of these demons.  The woman was of great faith as should we be and when she followed Jesus, crying out to him, here is HIS response:

  ²⁸ Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

  My prayer is that you and I will be made whole this very hour.  Are you happy when studying the word of God?  Listening to the word of God? OR, doing something else? Soul search and take salvation seriously. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Psalm 43:6-8 -- Huh???

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

   During my rest, aka sleep, this verse came to me:  Psalm 43:6-8.  So I googled it and here are the verses that came up:

   ⁶ Through thee we will push down our enemies with the horn: and through thy name we will despise them that rise up against us.

⁷ For I will not trust in my bow: neither shall my sword save me.

⁸ But thou hast saved us from them that afflict us: and hast put them to shame that hate us.

  Then I looked in the Bible and these verses are not in the 43rd Psalm.  Psalm 43 only has 5 verses according to the KJV or the NIV.

   Upon further research I find it comes from Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition. This is a translation of the Latin Vulgate into English by the Catholic seminary English College in Douai, France. A very interesting history and to know more you can look it up.  Now, look at the verses.

   In verse 6 push down enemies with the horn - horn usually represents power and dignity of the divinity; it also represents salvation and immorality.

   Verse 7 is trusting in the LORD more than my own efforts (the bow).

   Verse 8 God saves us that come against us and puts them to shame.

I found this to be extremely interesting and hope you do as well.  I will trust in the LORD and HE will place our enemies at HIS feet as we rise to an eternal life.

  If you want to know more about the Douay-Rheims version click here.

Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

 

Faith & Hope -- Just what is faith & hope?

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

  Just what is hope?  Often we hear people say "I hope......." or " I hoped that......"; but exactly what is hope?

  Many people go religiously, on payday, to purchase lottery tickets and why?  HOPE, hope they will win a million or multi-millions and "be set for life'.  And how often does this happen? Well..........let me ask this - who do you know personally that won?  Hmmm!

  Or, many buy magazines, several subscriptions, and why?  They have a chance to win, oh....$5,000 a week for life?  OR, $20,000 a year for life?  OR,   $$$$$$$.  Again, I ask, who do you know personally that has won something such as this?   Yes, me too- NO ONE!!

   However, I have won the major lottery of life and you have as well.  And what is this - do tell?

  By our faith, our hopes will come true - we will spend our life in eternal bliss with the one and only living God. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

    By my faith comes the hope that I will be as Enoch: Hebrews 11: 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

   My faith and hope is that the rapture will come, Jesus will return, and all will end well.  Where do you stand, today, on your faith?  Where do you stand, today with hope?  Hope and faith in God is the answer for the world today.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny