Story of the Tin Soldier and the Ballerina

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

  As a child growing up I heard the story by Hans Christen Anderson about the Tin Soldier and the Ballerina.

   I always enjoyed this story.  The ending seems sad at first, yet it ends well with  the soldier and the ballerina.  Look at it as a love story with a couple of twists.

   Have a great week and remember GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!!

  Click this link to read the story about the Tin Soldier and the Ballerina.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

p.s. Please notice the credit of who published the story

Is it More Christ or More Presents at Christmas time?

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

   Well, CHRISTMAS begins with CHRIST.  And, if you are aware of the spanish word "mas" it means more.  So, we want MORE CHRIST!  Not a bad thought at all.

   This time of year, we begin to think, or, having been thinking and buying gifts for family and friends.  We tend to want it all to be equal for each of our children or grandchildren.  So, I will spend $XXXX on each one.

   Here is the question. Does it really matter?  What they get will it last and be something they will really need and cherish?  By giving it only makes us, you and me, feel better.  "Oh, I was fair to all my family"!  

   Really, the only really fair and genuine present to offer our family and friends is an invitation to accept and follow Jesus.  Then follow this with a Bible or daily prayer pamphlet. 

  Oh, yes, I am speaking mainly to myself here, but it is worth giving you a thought-provoking idea.  What does the Bible say about things here on earth?

   Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

  Matthew 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

  A thought to remember: 2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

  John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

  So, with all this hula-ba-loo we go through, what is the real truth?  Are you spending way too much time on gifts, spending too much money, and not teaching about what is really important at Christmas.

   I am guilty, and I'm betting you are right there beside me.  Maybe MORE CHRIST and less mess.  Thanks for reading my thoughts for the day. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

As the wind blows! James 1:5-8

 Hello Friends of Jesus Christ whom I may call brother and sister.  Thank you for tuning in today.  GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!!

  James tells us in verse 5 that if we lack wisdom just ask God and HE will generously give it to you.  But, yes, there is a but.  And that but is that YOU MUST BELIEVE!

  If we don't believe and we doubt we will be as a wave that is tossed and blown by the wind.

  Hmmm?  What does this mean?  Today as I was sitting at a stop light I noticed a plastic sack in the middle of the busy intersection and watched it.  The wind was blowing slightly and, of course, wind from passing vehicles was blowing the sack.

   As I sat there I thought about our relationship with the LORD.  That sack would be blown forward, then backward, then forward and sideways, then back, then up, down, and various directions.

  How often is our witness and relationship with the LORD like the sack being blown by the wind and by man (in vehicles).  We move away from the LORD, then we come back, then we slide one way or another, then we come back and the process repeats again.

  Verse 7 says such a man (doubting and being blown hither and yon) should not think he will receive anything from the LORD; he is a double minded man, unstable in all he does.

  James 1: 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

  I do hope you understand my analogy I tried to share.  How oft are we tossed about in our minds about our faith, how oft do we fail to witness for Jesus; how oft do we remain silent which silence is in fact agreeing with what is being said or going on.

   If nothing else, hand out crosses, pamphlets, or just let words roll off your tongue as you reach out to people. Watch their reaction and it opens the door to witness.

  Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Christmas, birth, and a cross!

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

  Yes, Jesus is the Reason for the Season!!  As I have said before, some (many) will say this is not Jesus' birth.  Well, look at your own family, do you always celebrate someone's birthday on the actual day?  OR, do you celebrate it on the weekend closest to the birthday?  Soooooo, does it really matter?  Anyway-------

     Please notice the cross below:

    

                                    

                                       

   Our Savior, JESUS CHRIST, was hung on a wooden cross.  It was not attractive like the many crosses we have today, just old wooden boards, crossed at a certain place and designed to hang or crucify people on.

    I just ask that when you see a wooden cross, first you think of your savior who was hung on that cross.  His name is Emmanuel, Jesus Christ. 

         Then there is usually a chain or some type of rope or thread holding it.  This represents the fact (to me) that we are all "chained" or "tied" to our savior once we accept HIS present of salvation.

        And because that chain, leather, rope, or thread makes a continual circle shows that we are linked to our savior for eternity.  Forever and ever and ever.

    The cross is more than just jewelry; it has meaning and if you don't share what that cross means to you, you may be missing an opportunity to offer someone the great gift you have------the gift of salvation!!!

   I ask that you pray for the Johnson and Bickel families.  My oldest cousin, Marteal Bickel Johnson passed away yesterday.  She was a strong Christian, but now is with her savior and living in paradise. She was 95 years young.  Thank you for your prayers, reading, and being a faithful servant of GOD.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Did you know? Isaiah 45 and later events.

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. Enjoy God's blessings this time of year. YES, God is in control.

    This is an expression Christians use all the time, "God is in control", yet we often do not realize or recognize HIS control.

   Sometimes we say:  "If God is in control why did this or that happen"?  Simple, we are looking from a different lens, God has the correct lens and knows the long range effects.

  Well, if God is in control then why did the current administration come in and support so many social pressures that go against the Bible.  It is really very simple- ---WE, The People of God, must turn from our wicked and evil ways and come back to our God and his ways.

   Interesting note here. If you will go to Isaiah 45 and read you will find that God raised a ruler who was not a man of God, yet he conquered Babylonia and freed the Jews, allowing them, under his rule, to return to Jerusalem and worship in their own ways.     

      Interestingly enough, Donald Trump (even if you don't like him) came in as the 45th president and moved the embassy to Jerusalem.  The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 was to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and not one of the U.S. Presidents from 1995 until Trump had enough stamina and determination to move the embassy. Trump did. He also gave value to religious freedom.

    After Cyrus came another king, his son, Cambyses II (who married his sister). Cambyses II was not a good leader and made efforts to stop the religious freedoms and privileges people had under Cyrus.  In other words, he was not a good ruler.  This is where we are now, with a ruler (U.S.A.) who strides alongside the ones trying to restrict religious freedom and force non-Biblical laws upon us.

   After Cambyses II came Darius I, who was a good ruler. Darius I was Cambyses' personal spear bearer.  (Supposedly Cambyses II's brother, Bardiya revolted against him, however, Cambyses II had his brother killed and this "revolt" was led by an imposter who claimed to be Bardiya {according to historical experts}).

   So, in saying all this, if you follow the Bible and believe the history of old is also the history to the present you can see where we, the peoples of the U.S.A., are headed.

   We have a leader who is allowing things to happen that are not Biblical, BUT, the next ruler should be one who helps us come once again to  One Nation Under God.

  Thank you for reading.  If you would like to dig further into current events please visit Lance Wallnau and read his Q & A's. The link is highlighted. May your day, weekend and Christmas Holidays be wonderful, safe, and filled with the LOVE of JESUS!

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Wide the gate of destruction; narrow is the road to life-Matthew 7:13-14

 Good morning friends, neighbors and family.  Hmmm, guess we are all family, in the family of GOD.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good. BE BLESSED AND SHARE YOUR BLESSING!!

  I am not trying to be a person of doom and destruction; beware, run, save yourself.  Just looking at reality and be aware of what is going on.  In Matthew 6 starting at verse 25 he addresses worry (if you are interested).

  Let us look at Matthew 7 verses 13 and 14.

  13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in through it:

   Okay, we see the gate, it is wide, stands tall, and is quite appealing to the eye.  This is all fine and good, EXCEPT the eye leads to an emotional or pleasure seeking venture.  It looks good, is eye candy, yet once partaken of it leads to destruction.

   What kind of destruction?  Spiritual destruction.  Physically we may reap the fruits and believe we are enjoying this fabulous thing; but, we cannot see further the destruction that will follow.

 A simple example.  You go and have a beer once or twice a week with the crowd.  Then it becomes more frequent and this does damage in several ways.  It takes money from the household, it can create problems with the spouse, can have an effect on other family members, and all in all is not healthy- physically or spiritually.  This is a short term pleasure that is reaped physically here on earth. But what about eternal life?

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

   This verse is not saying that you cannot get to heaven, eternal life; but, saying that many will enjoy the pleasures of the world more than the pleasures of Jesus Christ being their savior, and their spiritual being living eternally.     Life throws us many challenges and we just have to know how to deal with each one as it comes.  The best way I know is through Jesus Christ, prayer, and knowing the Holy Spirit will lead you.  GOD IS IN CONTROL!!

  Thank you for putting up with my bantering. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny