The Croods -- Animate Movie

Hello Everyone!  I watched The Croods with my grandsons the other night and was impressed with it and the thoughts that it stimulated.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

   The Croods were a prehistoric family who hunted food by day and huddled together in a cave by night to protect themselves.

  When another character shows up, Guy, who is about the daughters age troubles begin to brew.  The daughter was adventurous and did not follow "THE RULES" set forth by the father, Grug.  Grug felt like he was to shoulder all the responsibility of the families safety and would not venture out of his "comfort" zone.

   Sound familiar?  Many of us are this way.  When the daughter, Eep, runs into Guy and he meets the family a conflict between Guy and Grug comes to light.  Guy is following "THE LIGHT" and Grug is stuck in hunt for food by day; huddle in the cave by night mode.

   As the show continues, the family begins to listen to Guy and want Grug too as well.  Grug resists.  As the show goes on eventually Grug comes around.  Please note that Guy was following "THE LIGHT" -- which, in our Christian walk we should be doing as well -- following "THE LIGHT" aka JESUS.

   Many are resistant to change and cling to what is comfortable. Look at Acts 2:44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

  Grug was living in what he understood. Proverbs 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

  This is a lesson for us all.  We do need to TRUST in the LORD with ALL OUR HEART.

  What is your attitude today?  Are you reacting as Grug, OR, moving toward the light as was Guy?  The choice is yours and to spread the word sits in your hands.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Good morning everyone!  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  God is an on-time God!
  Well, the first part of God's answer to Habakkuk was last time, let us see how far we travel this time.
  When we read Habakkuk it begins with gloom, Habakkuk is frustrated, distressed, and wonders what is going on with God.  Why are you, God, not doing anything?  The theme of Habakkuk is faith. He has been called the prophet of faith. The great statement of Habakkuk 2:4, “the just shall live by his faith,” has been quoted three times in the New Testament: Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; and Hebrews 10:38.
  As we move on in Habakkuk 2:6-20 you see God saying woe to those who steal, they take what is not rightfully theirs.  They plunder, kill, and take land unjustly, BUT, God says, woe to them who built their house with unjust means thinking they are above others and will ride high always.
  God says shame on those who do elicit, cruel, and ugly things to others. Getting them drunk, these verses say it better than I could ever paraphrase: verse 15 
“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,
    pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk,
    so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!
16 16 You will be filled with shame instead of glory.
    Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed[a]!
The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you,
    and disgrace will cover your glory.

The violence, destroying of animals, land and cities have been their purpose, and they believe in themselves, that they can do all.  God tells them they are fools to believe in carving they created, but in the end GOD does rule.  Let's close with the final verses.

  

18 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?
    Or an image that teaches lies?
For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;
    he makes idols that cannot speak.
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
    Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’
Can it give guidance?
    It is covered with gold and silver;    there is no breath in it.”

20 The Lord is in his holy temple;
    let all the earth be silent before him.

Habakkuk was asking God why he does not do something about evil.  This is God's answer and we also must trust the LORD is in his holy temple and HE is in control.  The theme here is faith, we must have faith and wait on the LORD.  Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

God answers Habakkuk's second complaint (part 1)

Good morning everyone.  Sorry, I have not be attentive to my Bible study lesson in Habakkuk.  Still alive but being some what of a sloth.  I do apologize and will do better, God willing.

  Habakkuk complained that God was silent, not doing anything and yet the wicked seem to do well in all their ventures.  God's reply is rather long so we will do this in a couple of days.  Here is Habakkuk 2 - the end of his complaint, then the reply:

2 I will stand at my watch
    and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
    and what answer I am to give to this complaint. (this is Habakkuk speaking; now to God's reply)

The Lord’s Answer

2 Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation
    and make it plain on tablets
    so that a herald may run with it.3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
    it speaks of the end
    and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
    it will certainly come    and will not delay.

4 “See, the enemy is puffed up;
    his desires are not upright—
    but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—
5 indeed, wine betrays him;
    he is arrogant and never at rest.
Because he is as greedy as the grave
    and like death is never satisfied,
he gathers to himself all the nations and 

takes captive all the peoples. 

God tells Habakkuk to write this down, plainly, and let a messenger take it. V3 the divine truth awaits and it will come.  It may be a while but just wait on it.  The day will certainly come.

   V4 God says yes see the enemy, the evil ones, they are all about themselves and their motive are not of good but of evil. BUT, the righteous needs to continue by faith.

  V5.  Wine betrays him - ever notice how someone who has had too much alcohol, many times becomes arrogant and knows everything?  Well here it is.  They are not at rest, always searching for more; very greedy and notice the next phrase.  " like death is never satisfied" - Hmmm.  This is spoken of in Proverbs 27:20 (KJV) Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

  He wants to control the whole world.  Hmmm-does this sound like what we read and study concerning Revelations?  One ruler, one rule government, the prince of this world - satan - wishes to take over and win.

  Very interesting and will begin with verse 6 tomorrow.  Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Habakkuk's second complaint

Hello Friends.  May the LORD bless you today.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.
   So, Habakkuk is not happy and is questioning the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.  Here is what he is saying:      Habakkuk’s Second Complaint (my 2 bits in blue)
  Habakkuk 1:

12 Lord, are you not from everlasting?
    My God, my Holy One, you[c] will never die.  Aren't you the One who lives forever, the great one, creator of all.
You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment;
    you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
    you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?  You are letting these "people" judge and do evil.  What are you thinking? What are you doing?
    Why are you silent while the wicked
    swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
14 You have made people like the fish in the sea,
    like the sea creatures that have no ruler.
15 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks,
    he catches them in his net,
he gathers them up in his dragnet;
    and so he rejoices and is glad.  You say nothing, do nothing, while this vile and ugly evils catches the people whom you have made.  This evil one catches your people like fishes from the sea. What are you doing?
16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net
    and burns incense to his dragnet,
for by his net he lives in luxury
    and enjoys the choicest food.  Then after 'his' judgment he worships his net and burns incense to his dragnet and even worse, HE LIVES IN LUXURY eating the finest food.
17 Is he to keep on emptying his net,
    destroying nations without mercy?  Are you going to continue to allow this?  He destroys nations with no feelings of regret. He does constant evil.  What is going on here?  You are the creator, why don't you slam dunk him and his junk?

   Please note, these are the words of mine, and not from any commentary, higher source, or from any great authority.  Comments welcome. Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

The LORD answers Habakkuk

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!
   So, yesterday Habakkuk complained about all the evil, the wrong doings, the  B A D  stuff going on around him.  Well today let us look at God's answer and see what we can divulge.
   Habakkuk 1: “Look at the nations and watch—
    and be utterly amazed. We need to just observe God at work.
For I am going to do something in your days
    that you would not believe,
    even if you were told.  We had better get ready for a rough ride.
6 I am raising up the Babylonians,
    that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
    to seize dwellings not their own.
7 They are a feared and dreaded people;
    they are a law to themselves
    and promote their own honor.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards,
    fiercer than wolves at dusk.
Their cavalry gallops headlong;
    their horsemen come from afar.
They fly like an eagle swooping to devour;
9     they all come intent on violence.
Their hordes advance like a desert wind
    and gather prisoners like sand.  The Babylonians were as wicked as the Assyrians, enjoyed taking captives, proud of their war tactics, and took pride and had trust in their military strength.
10 They mock kings
    and scoff at rulers.
They laugh at all fortified cities; They would create earth ramps and over come the cities.
    by building earthen ramps they capture them.
11 Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—
    guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”
These people were ruthless, hit hard and fast and moved on.  However, notice their god in verse 11 - "guilty people, whose own strength is their god."  Strength was their god; not Jehovah, the one true God.  They plundered, took prisoners, riches and squashed the nations they over ran.
   So, what is going on here?  Habakkuk is complaining about the wrongs in the world and God is saying, hey, it is about to be worse.  Why would God allow this?  The people had turned away from God and were "doing their own thing"; yet God does have a long range plan for us and we may not understand, but just be willing to continue in the strength God gives us.
   Thanks for reading. Love you all. (tomorrow Habakkuk has a second complaint)
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Habakkuk's complaint

Good morning. Tis a beautiful day to be alive in the LORD JESUS CHRIST. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

  Today and tomorrow I am looking at Habakkuk's visit with God. Habakkuk is not happy with the way things are going and says so to the LORD.  Today, Habakkuk's complain, tomorrow will be God's answer.

  Habakkuk’s Complaint

1 The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.

2 How long, Lord, must I call for help,
    but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
    but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice?
    Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    there is strife, and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed,
    and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
    so that justice is perverted.

If you relate this to our present day situation, you will see he is calling out basically the same things we are calling out today.  Violence, injustice, wrongdoing, destruction, strife, conflict. Justice does not seem to happen, the secular world is now and has been making laws contrary to God's Word.

   And what do we do?  We tend to sit together and howl about it, yet take no action.  It is time, fellow Christian we stand up for Christian values, not cower to the political left, right, middle, but stand firmly on God's Word.

   Let us be bold and speak out.  Thanks for reading. Tomorrow, God's answer. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

1 John 1:5-7 Walk in the LIGHT of GOD!!

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

  When we walk, we do like to see where we are going.  Therefore, light is good; on the other hand, when we walk in darkness there is a strong chance we will stumble.  This is what our Christian walk is like.  When we walk in the light of Jesus Christ we may stumble occasionally when we take our eyes off him, but with HIS guiding light we can see.

   Satan desires us to walk in darkness and feeds us lies and fears.  Satan and his demons enjoy, maybe even love to see Christians sin in a BIG way.  This we do if we let fear or lies invade us - this is walking in darkness. 

1 John 1:5-7 English Standard Version (ESV)Walking in the Light

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

   May your day be filled with Joy, Happiness because you WALK IN THE LIGHT OF JESUS!! Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny