Parable of the sower----which seed are you? Matthew 13:18-23

 Good morning all. God is good all the time.  All the time God is good.

May you be proud of the work you do, the person you are, and, the difference you make!!!!!

I know you have read and heard the parable of the sower, but I do hope this comes from another perspective to stimulate thought from you.

  Let's look at each of these from a worldly perspective.

 Jesus speaks of the seeds sown on this earth. Look at Matthew 13:18-19,

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

   Okay, when a predator is attacking to kill and eat, does the predator attack the strong leader of the herd or pack?  No, the predator looks for the weaker or sickly one of the herd.  Why?        Because that one is easier to subdue.  Ask yourself where am I in this herd or pack.  Weak in God's word?  If so, the evil one, aka satan, comes to turn you away from God. This one is a READ ONLY Christian. Don't be the seed sown along the path. Get into the word of God.

  20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

  Next we come to the seed on rocky ground, or the one in the herd who is stronger, not the weakest, but gets separated from the herd.  Happy to be part of the herd, but fails to follow close enough to be protected.  This one starts out well, but then all the excitement or joy fades and doing its own thing becomes the main focus.  Do not be another READ ONLY Christian. Where is your focus?  On God, or on YOU???

  22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

  Now we have the one who hears the word, is excited about the word, but the focus is not on Jesus Christ, but on the things happening in their life.  Thinking if I work a little longer, make more money, get the promotion, then all will be well. 

  You may have more wealth in the world, but the true wealth in Jesus Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit is lacking.  Nearly bankrupt spiritually!!  So where are you?  A read and study when it is convenient Christian? Looking for the wealth of the world, OR, the wealth in Christ?

   23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

   Now this seed in the one who may not be the leader of the herd or pack, but is in the thick of the herd, helping others, sharing and helping to develop the ones around him/her.

  This one is not a read only person.  This person is a READ, STUDY, and FOLLOW THE WORD Christian.  Sharing with others, growing in Christ.  This is where we all need to be.  In the herd or pack, leading a small group, talking to others, helping and thriving.  

   So, where are you today. Four groups you can belong to and the Choice is yours.  Be the weak and fall, the worldly one who falls to the temptation of the world, or the One who goes forth as Jesus did, sharing, helping; and by doing so, grows in the word.

    Thank you for tolerating me and reading this morning.

Love y'all. May your day be safe, enjoyable, and center around Jesus.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Pax Romana - Roman Peace

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  A GREAT DAY IN THE LORD TO BE A GREAT DAY IN THE LORD!!

  Today's study I learned something I had never heard of before.  This is the Pax Romana, and this was during Jesus' time on the earth.

  So, what is the Pax Romana?  I will quote this from my source.

PAX ROMANA- means Roman Peace.  A period of about 200 years of relative peace, stability, and prosperity in the Roman Empire, beginning with Emperor Augustus.  It was characterized by economic growth, the expansion of infrastructure, and the flourishing of arts and literature.  It was maintained through military strength and the brutal suppression of revolts in provinces.  This era saw the empire reach its greatest territorial extent and established a foundation for Roman law and governance.

   It started 27 BC to 180 AD.  They had relative internal peace, though the empire continued to expand and defend its borders.  Increased trade, a common currency, and a uniform rule of law stimulated economic growth.

  They constructed roads, aqueducts, and public buildings, all made possible by innovations like concrete.

   This also was a golden age for Roman arts, literature, and technology.

Jesus lived during this time and Stephen, the first Christian martyr was during this time also.  Stephen, one of the seven to share the gospel and care for the widows and orphans.  Saul of Tarsus was at the stoning of Stephen and held the coats of the men casting stones to kill Stephen.

  Anyway, I felt this was a very interesting study.  Thank you for reading. Love y'all. Have a super day, be safe, and remember Jesus first!!!!

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

JOY - James 1:2-4

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

   So often things pop up that we never expected and then we wonder why?  What is going on?  What did I do to deserve this?  Why is this happening to me?

   Well, there is a reason, that reason may be far beyond our minds to understand, yet God knows.  We definitely go through TRIALS and TEMPTATIONS.  look at these verses and some the words in italic and underlined.

   JAMES 1: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

    Then focus on verse 4 - perseverance (patience) will finish it's work so you and I can what???   Be mature and complete in our faith, lacking nothing.

    My neighbor was 91 and went to see Jesus yesterday. Yes, many tears at the loss of a loved one, BUT, also tears of joy to feel certain he ran the good race and God said, "well done my good and faithful servant."

  The selfish side wants him to be here.  The Biblical mature side sees him going to a better place.  It is not easy, it is not something we look forward to, but it is real and it will happen to all of us.  Take time today to tell someone you love them and also to share the good news of JESUS CHRIST, LORD and SAVIOR.

   Thank you for reading today. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Share the Gospel with love not fear!

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  ACCEPT THE PRESENT GOD OFFERS YOU THROUGH JESUS CHRIST---

     S A L V A T I O N ! !

    God offers us a present through His son Jesus Christ and all we have to do is accept it.  If you are given a gift that is wrapped nicely in a pretty paper do you take it to your room, office, or somewhere and leave it there?  Sitting, still wrapped and not opened?  If so then you have a gift that you never received.  Once you open it, then you have truly received the gift.

   This is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  If someone knows about the gift but never takes the next step to accept, then there lies a gift unwrapped.  So, what then? If you don't receive the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ then you are HELL bound!!

  Let me ask you----Do you share the gospel with others? If so, great; if not, why not?   So often people try to use fear as a tactic to get people to come to Jesus. Romans 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

  Too often people use the first part of this verse, using fear.  The rest of the verse is, to me, the most important. The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD.

  What about John 3:16 AND 17?  16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

  It is important we share both 16 and 17 out of John.  So often people recite only what they want just to scare or use the fear factor to bring people to salvation through Jesus Christ.

   Tell the truth when you share.  Oh, do you share the gospel - aka GOOD NEWS with others?  If you do not have an ice breaker please let me know.  I will send you 10 business cards that are printed on both sides.  

   The front has a cross and says:  "May you be proud of the work you do, the person you are, and, the difference you make!!

  Then on the back I have: Mark 16:15 He (Jesus) said, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

 Then under the verse in smaller print is "For prayer or questions call 903-(your number).

   If you like this and want another verse let me know and I'll change verses.  If this will give you an opening to share the gospel just let me know.  

   Thank you for reading today. Love Y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Light in the darkness!!!

 Good morning all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  YOU CANNOT HIDE A LIGHT IN A DARK CLOSET!!!

   If you put a light in a dark closet it will shine; if you put a light in a dark field it will shine; if you put light in any darkness, it will shine.

   The world is ruled by the Prince of the world who is satan.  Knowing this we can say the world is filled with darkness.  So, if the world is filled with darkness, my question to you is CAN YOU BE THE LIGHT???????

    JOHN 1:5 (NIV) "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

   JOHN 8:12 (NIV) "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"

  PSALM 119:105 (NIV) "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."

  1 JOHN 1:5 (ESV) "Thos is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

     The light in you has overcome the darkness.  You have the light of life and it is a lamp for the path you are on. Remember, God is light!

  

God's word gives us direction and helps us be the LIGHT!   Following Jesus moves us from living in the darkness to living in the light of God's word and sharing this good news with the world.

                   Again, CAN YOU BE THE LIGHT???? 

  Thank you for reading. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

1 Peter 2: 1-3

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  God gives us all a "GOD STORY" and we need to share it and give God the glory.  What is yours?

 Peter says this is the word that was preached to you. I would like you to look at 1 Peter 2:1   Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

 

   Let's break this down more.  Definitions of:

MALICE - active will or desire to harm another

DECEIT -deceiving or lying, a dishonest action

HYPOCRISY - a pretending to be what one is not; a pretense of virtue, piety, etc

ENVY - discontent and ill will over another's advantages, possessions, etc.; a desire for something another has

SLANDER OF EVERY KIND - the utterance (saying) a falsehood that damages another's reputation.

  We must rid ourselves of these damaging values and become more like the newborn baby.  Crave pure spiritual milk?  What is that? Praying, studying the Bible, sit under true teaching of God's word.  WHY????

   So we can grow to be strong spiritual Christians and share the word of Christ with others.  You do not know who you will touch and how that will affect others.

   An usher at a tent revival stopped 2 boys who looked in, saw it was crowded and turned to leave.  He took the boys and found them a seat.  The usher did not know the effect this would have.  One of those boys was Billy Graham, a man who touched hundreds of thousands of people.  BE THE USHER!!!

   How will you grow in the LORD?  Who did you touch in the past?  Who will you touch today, tomorrow, and in the future?

   The choice is yours - to be a vial and angry person or to be the babe, grow in Christ and touch others.  Thanks for reading. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Food for thought------

 Good afternoon,  It is a cool day, yet we know that GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!!!

   Some thoughts I have gleaned from different preaching I've heard.  When we are born, we end up with something that we cannot throw away, divorce, hide from, or get rid of in any way.  You may say, nah, that is not possible.  Well, this one little thing that will be with us till death do us part is  T E M P T A T I O N !!!

   As a child growing up we have temptations, and it may only to see how something works, so we touch it, hit it, kick it, or do something to it.  Why?  Because it is there.

   Then as we grow we have temptations leap in our face.  We can be tempted by: peer pressure, drugs, alcohol, just dangerous pranks, or ????

   Then we become an adult and the temptation is still there.  Drugs, alcohol, naked pictures of the opposite sex, cars, houses, play toys (ATV's, etc), and more.

  Those temptations stay with us until we die.  Oh, but I have accepted Jesus as my savior and I have eternal life in Christ. I am free of all that. We have to remember who is Prince of this world:  Satan, and he cast a lot of doubt darts or temptations our way.  We are not free of temptations.

  Now think about this. When God gave Moses the 10 commandments what does the first one read?  Thou shalt have no other gods before me- Exodus 20:3.  It is the little "g", meaning gods, not the living God.  God knew all about the temptations and how we would let them become gods to us.  Jesus was tempted so why would we think we are exempt?

  You "temptation" may be your phone, facebook, instagram, tik-tok, reels, or just news or calling someone constantly.  Maybe it's drugs, alcohol, porn, materials things; who knows.  However, the temptation lies out there.

   Take a moment and reflect on what my temptation(s) is (are).  We are doing a fast at our church and one thing I was hooked on was playing computer games.  This is a 21 day fast and I have not played a computer game for 16 days and it actually feels good.  My time is used more productively ( like take a nap. lol)

   Check out your temptations, see if your temptation  has become a god in your life, then take necessary actions to correct.  Thanks for reading my Food for Thought. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

A new year, what STRONGHOLD is holding you back?

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

What is your stronghold that is holding you back?  We all have strongholds, or thoughts of inadequacy or inferiorities.  What stops you from praising God, doing God's work and being a disciple to the world around you?

  With a new year we make resolutions that may be reasonable, but so often  are "dreams" that we, in our minds, convince ourselves we cannot achieve.

  Maybe, I am going to read the Bible each day.  That is reasonable but requires discipline.

I am going to lose 100 pounds this year.  Not so reasonable and we know in our minds we cannot do it.  May lose 10 pounds by March or April.  That would be reasonable.

   I can tell you my stronghold is computer games.  When I could be spending that time with God, studying the word, praying, or sharing with others I am playing a game.  And we justify it---I'll only play 1 game of hearts, then 1 game of cribbage, then a game of Euchre, then Spades, Minesweeper, Mah Jong,-------when does it stop???  Suddenly 1 hour or more has passed and no productivity in my life.  

  Look at yourself.  Is it the News?  Is it facebook?  Is it just to be on the phone?  Instagram? tic-tok?  What takes you away from God?

   When you are with other people are you constantly on your phone and you believe you are listening to them?  

  Be honest!!!  WHAT IS YOUR STRONGHOLD THAT KEEPS YOU BACK!!!!

Food for thought for the new year - 2026. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny