What time of year is it now? December - Christmas and ........????

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  Through grace are ye saved!  Hallelujah

  Ephesians 1:7-8a  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us.

  Tis that time of year when we hustle and bustle around to get gifts for our friends and family.  But do we really remember the reason we have Christmas?

  Oh, it is because of the big fat man in the red suit, Santa, who brings gifts to all the good little children.  Yes, we believe in the myth, but do we tell the real story of Christmas to our children??

  Oh, I would except I need to go shopping for ??????.  Then I have to get the house ready for the guests, plan a menu, decorate the last few missed items, and then it is Christmas and I really don't have time.

   Will God accept the truth when we get to the end?  Oh, I was a good person, but did not have time to think about let alone read the Bible.  Huh???  We have time for the things we choose to do, why not eternal salvation?

   God offers us a gift!!  The gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Do we put this gift on the shelf for later, OR, accept it now and then live the life God intended us to live.  

  Through the grace of God we are forgiven of our wrongs, our sins.  The grace God gave us is through the blood of Jesus Christ.  We need to remember, enjoy our salvation, and tell the story of Jesus Christ at Christmas (not just a play about the birth, but the whole story).

   Thank you for reading with me and MERRY CHRISTMAS,  Keep the Christ in Christmas!!!

In His Grace and Love

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood!

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

   The history of the world is filled with examples of many things. When a slave was sold in ancient times, he/she was purchased or redeemed by someone.  In the slave days of America a slave was purchased or redeemed through the exchange of money.

  Well, you and I were bought and paid for, aka redeemed by the Blood of JESUS CHRIST.  We were born with a sin nature and in order to receive redemption blood must be shed.  The Israelites did this through animal sacrifices, aka the sacrificial lamb.

  Jesus is the Lamb of God sent to shed His blood for us.  This act of love by God frees us from sin.  No money, no materials things, nothing can set our eternal soul free except through the blood of Jesus.  

  No matter how hard one tries, he/she cannot work his/her way to eternal life. Only through the FREE GIFT from God called believing in Jesus Christ.  All we have to do is accept the gift.

   Have you done so?  Have you shared the opportunity of this gift with others? Step up, accept, share, and rejoice in the saving grace of Jesus.

Love you all. Thank you for listening.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

 

Will God see your image when refined by fire? Malachi 3

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  FEAR NOT is in the Bible 365 times, so each day we should FEAR NOT! 

   Corrie Ten Boom quote concerning Malachi 3.  

Here is the scripture: Chapter 3---  I will send my messenger who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the LORD you are seeking will come to his temple: the messenger of the covenant whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty. 2But who can endure the day of his coming?  Who can stand when he appears?  For he will be like a refiners fire or a launderers soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold them like gold and silver.

     Corrie ten Boom explains it very well. It is a short read but extremely good.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/996246724284169/posts/1688596251715876/

   Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Who's your daddy? Ephesians 1:5

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  FEAR NOT! BE BLESSED TODAY!!

  Who is your Daddy?  Most of us all know our Father.  Some fathers are good, some mediocre, some bad, and some not even in the picture.  However, when we look at Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us for adoption as sons (daughters) through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.

  Now I may open some questions and get comments back about the rest of this study.

  1- predestined - knowing before hand what is to happen.  I believe God loves us all and wants us all to be His children. However, being all knowing of the past, present, and future, God knows who will and who won't accept His most worthy gift of salvation.

  Many people get hung up on the "predestination" situation and have questions like: why would a loving God send you to hell;  if He loves us all why do we need to accept Jesus:  why doesn't God eliminate evil and we all live peaceably?

  God does not want puppets  or robots to just do what they are told.  He gave us life, intellect, and the ability to be able to choose good over evil.  After Adam and Eve, committing sin, God provided us with a "GIFT OF HIS SON-JESUS CHRIST" and then we can choose to accept the gift or reject the gift.

  God is ABBA, Father, Daddy.  A good father loves his children, cares for them, corrects them when they are wrong, but never stops loving them.  Just as I did with my daughters.  I love them dearly, don't want them to have harm and always want the best for them, BUT, I am not there to make all their decisions and keep them as puppets.  Yes all my girls have gone against me various times, yet I still love and care for them and they are my family.

   This is how God, Abba, is with us.  He loves us, forgives us, and is always there for us.  We are part of the family of God.  We are children of the King, of the ruler over all the cattle of a thousand hills, we are royalty!  We should be proud of our salvation (which is a gift) and share this wonderful news with others.

  Thanks for reading today. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Ephesians 1:3 Spiritual Blessings

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. You are indeed BLESSED!

   I trust and pray that your Thanksgiving was safe, enjoyable, relaxing, and fun.

   Ephesians 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

When we, you and I, became Christians God gave us every spiritual blessing through Christ Jesus.  We all have the same blessings.  Don't mistake this for gifts, but blessings.

  Because of Jesus we have eternal life, forgiveness, the presence of the Holy Spirit, righteousness, and we are ADOPTED AS GOD'S CHILD.

  You and I are complete in Christ and have what we need to walk with God.  As MLK said, "Thank God we are free, free at last"!

  But, we have to remember that we started out as a healthy new born baby.  We have all we need to be healthy, BUT, we have to grow.  We are complete as we have the basics of what we need, yet now is the time for growth.

   It is important that we grow and develop into the witness/disciple that God wants us to be.  But beware of the invasion of satan.  The stronger we grow the harder he works to tarnish, taint, or destroy our witness.

  Satan throws what I call "DOUBT DARTS" at us.  I am not good enough to be a Christian; I can't be forgiven due to my sin; I am no use to God; This is the way I am and I can't change; I was born a sinner and a sinner I will remain.

  These, and more, are lies or doubt darts satan and the demons will throw at you and me.  These is where we have a choice. Listen to the lies; OR, don't listen, pray and stand strong in the strength of Jesus Christ. 

  You are, I am, we are adopted children of God, fully forgiven and loved by God.  We have the power to overcome and live knowing we have the spiritual blessings of God our Father.

   Take a step back, go look in the mirror and see yourself as God sees you; white as snow and forgiven.  Thank you for reading with me today. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny