How oft less we forget what God hath done!! Numbers 14

 Good morning everyone.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  IF YOU COMPLAIN, THEN YOU FORGET YOU ARE INDEED BLESSED!!

  How self centered and self oriented we tend to be.  We stand on the shoulders of giants who did not see defeat, but victory and success in the future.  If these men had not persevered then we would not have any of the modern conveniences we have today.

  Somewhere, a long long time ago, in another millennium, a man or men created a wheel and thought they could do something with this.  Later came other things through the vision of  mere man.

  Somewhere, in the third heaven, is a spirit that knows all, provided for the creation of all, and was creator of all.  We call him GOD!!

  B U T - - how soon we forget who did what, and we forget GOD because we believe we can either do it ourselves or were better off before.  Life happens and we go on:  Home Run Baker played baseball in the 1900's, had 96 homeruns and a batting average of .307------but no one remembers or cares!!!

   Who is Dale Evans and Roy Rogers?  Sky King?  Leave it to Beaver? People don't care about them, only about themselves.  What does this have to do with Numbers 14?

   Well, Moses, after the plagues, took the children of Israel into the desert and were safe from the Egyptians.  However, the unbelief of the Israelites began to rise among them. They cared only about themselves, not what GOD had promised.

     Numbers 14: 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron; and the whole congregation said unto them, “Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness!

  They are saying where is God going to let us die?  They don't believe they will make it to the land of milk and honey.  And more unbelief set in-- 3 And why hath the Lord brought us unto this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return into Egypt?”

  They continued to gripe and complain, then Moses had to intercede on behalf of the Israelites. WHY?  Because GOD had now been provoked to anger:  11 And the Lord said unto Moses, “How long will this people provoke Me? And how long will it be ere they believe Me for all the signs which I have shown among them?12 I will smite them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.”

   Moses stepped in and pleaded for the Israelites.  Moses saved them from GOD's wrath.  Today, in America, we are a large group of "ISRAELITES" sowing unbelief in the masses and turning away from GOD. 

   What is our redemption factor?  We have Jesus, who came to save the world not condemn it.  Jesus left us the Holy Spirit and the power of prayer.  This we must use.  The past is called history and we must learn from it.  Take our eyes off self and focus on GOD.   COME LORD JESUS COME. (click link to hear song).

  Where are you today my friend?  Focused on that person in the mirror or looking up to the man in heaven?  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Job 3:26 I was not in safety, neither find I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

 Good morning all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!  Today I ask for prayer for me as I for you as we meet the troubles of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  Thank you.

   Today as I browsed the Tyler paper, if you look at the Smith County Jail bookings from August 13-17, only 5 days, 18 people were booked and the majority of the charges were family and domestic violence.  "But trouble comes"

  Over 3 people per day committed acts of violence against family or someone.  This does not include the DUI's, and other crimes committed.

  Job, here, was like a man who had lost his way.  In danger, tired, not quiet and trouble was there.  We need to be prepared for the worse things to happen, be prepared to enter another world, the one with GOD.  Yet, we dare not let our guard down, but remain faithful to the LORD.  We all use the cliche` "God is in control", but do we really believe what we say?  Well, GOD is in control, HE knows what the future holds, and we must remain FAITHful and TRUST that GOD is leading us.

  Often we get ourselves trapped into the JOB SITUATION.  How you say?  Well, we tend to work longer hours, sleep less, spend money unnecessarily, and strive for a "BETTER LIFESTYLE".  These are not messages from God as they may be harmful to you and those around you.  Going to the extreme can cause harm.

   We need to have a "time of rest" where we spend time with GOD, read the Good Book, and fellowship with God in time, prayer, thought and deed.  Stay tuned to the BIBLE, and let the wayward thoughts that come to mind vanish. Then look for the light in our thoughts, actions, and ways.

  Job, in his affliction was miserable; we, on the other hand have not experienced what Job did and should rejoice where GOD has us.  Oh, you say, but you don't know my situation.  No, I don't; nor you mine.  However, if we look for the dark we will find it; BUT, if we look for the light, our path will be lit and lead to better things.

  Hope this makes sense to everyone.  It does to me because of where I am in life right now.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

No Condemnation - Romans 7:25-8:1,2

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

  As many of you are aware that when people go to Alcoholics Anonymous they say their name and they are an alcoholic.  Ex:  Hello, I am Johnny and I am an alcoholic.

  Well, then we have Celebrate Recovery which says I have hurts, habits, and hangups.  But they do not say: "Hello, I am Johnny and I am a ______". Instead, they say I struggle with ______.

   Now I know this may not seem like much, BUT, in my opinion, when I stand and say I am an alcoholic that gives me an excuse if I fail and take another drink.

   Where am I going with this?  Well, as Christians we tend to say we are sinners.  We stop here. This offers an excuse for any sin we may commit. Yes, we were and are sinners, BUT, saved by the grace of God.  

    There are consequences for our actions, whether it is drinking or sinning against Gods word.  If I speed and get caught, I pay the fine, suffering the consequences.  I feel we should proudly, yet humbly and boldly go forward knowing we are a child of the KING.  

   People say how are you?  So often you hear "better than I deserve"!  WHAT?

If I am a child of the KING, accepted Jesus as my saviour, and knowing full well that God did not send Jesus to condemn the world but to save the world.  Why would I say better than I deserve?  Did I earn it?  NO!  God presented me with a gift and I have a choice to accept or reject.  I accepted the gift and now need to appreciate it. Not down grade it.  I hope you see where I am coming from here. 

    I will suffer the consequenes of being a child of GOD!  Today, as a child of the KING, aka Christian, so often we are seen as "haters" or using "hate speech" because we believe the Bible to be the word of God and use it as our moral guide.

   The fact is:  I am a child of the KING and need to accept that fact and not take away from this fact.  GOD LOVES ME AND WANTS ME TO LIVE FOR HIM, BOLDLY, & HUMBLY PROUD!!!

   Yes, we are human and live in the world of the prince, satan, and will fall to sin often.  We just need to delight in the fact we are God's child, when we do stumble and fall to the sin of the world, REMEMBER, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

   Romans 7:25-8:1,2 25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.        8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

  Free your mind from all the thoughts of fear and evil and focus on being a child of God.  When in fear---read your BIBLE.  

   2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 --  16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  17 that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly equipped for all good works.

   May your day be blessed and I do hope today's study was as meaningful to you as it was for me. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Jesus left the 99 for the 1! Matthew 18:12-13

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

   Well, I am going to share 2 things with you.  First a word from Pastor Mike Novotny  and then a video from Toby Mac - Help is on the way!

   Mike's word should really strike you and then Toby's video.  Watch the video with the boy running through the street, then the tent revival with the attendance being 99 and see what happens when the boy comes in.

Jesus looked for you
by Pastor Mike Novotny

 

Imagine this: The sun is going down. The sheep are in the pen. The exhausted shepherd can’t wait to put down his staff. But first he has to count the flock. 97, 98, 99 . . . wait. He only has 99. He squints out at the field, looking for a patch of white wool. Nothing. So he tightens the straps of his sandals and grips his staff with resolve. He knows it will be work. He will go down into the valley, climb up the mountain, plunge into the shadows ready to fight any wolf who took away his one. That’s what love does. Love leaves. Love looks.

This is what Jesus did for us. By nature, we wandered from the flock of God’s family. Even after becoming one of God’s faithful, we still are prone to wander. But Jesus loved us enough to look. “Will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?” (Matthew 18:12).

Jesus could have just stayed and prayed in heaven, but he didn’t. He left the comfort of that place to look for us. His love compelled him to go and get us. And when he did, he didn’t drag us home with a lecture about being a stupid sheep. No, he was so happy to have us back that he called every angel he knew and told them to get ready to party. “Truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off” (Matthew 18:13).

What a Shepherd! What a Savior!

Toby Mac - Help is on the way!

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

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Do you question when God gives you word? Luke 1 - Zacharias doubted

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

  How often do you really get a word from God and then think it was only your thoughts.  In other words you are "doubting" that God is speaking to you.

  What would happen if an angel came to you, spoke to you, and then you questioned the angel?  Hmmm!  There once was a priest named Zacharias who had a wife named Elizabeth.  They were without child and up in age, you know, past child bearing age.  Well, you should know the story, Zacharias went into the temple and was to burn incense while the people outside were praying.  Luke 1

   At the altar of incense an angel of the Lord appeared before him.  The angel tells Zacharias their prayers had been heard and they would have a child, a son. The angel tells him to name him John and all that he should do.  So what does old Zac do?   Backflips, rejoicing, excited?  NO-------

   In verse 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, “Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.”

  He QUESTIONS what the angel Gabriel told him.  How do I know this -- was the question and then he justifies by saying he and his wife are old.   Would you do this?  I would hope if an angel appeared to me in person, in my dreams, or however that I would listen and believe.  Old Zac is going to reap his doubting -- 19 And the angel answering said unto him, “I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee and to show thee these glad tidings.   20 And behold, thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.”

  Verse 20 shows ole Zac's punishment - unable to speak until the baby is born because he did not believe the angel Gabriel, an angel of the LORD.

   Wow!  We need to be constantly aware of God speaking to us.  If you don't hear from the LORD, as my preacher would say,  YOU JUST AIN'T LISTENING!

  God is there for us, taking care of us, and all we have to do is BELIEVE!  Do you?  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny