LORD OF THE DANCE

History behind Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  BE BLESSED AND FAITHFUL TO GOD TODAY AND EVERYDAY.  Here is a song that I have always thought was beautiful, powerful and spiritual. Look at the words and take time to meditate, then listen to the song sung by 2 young ladies (the link is at the bottom of the page).The WORDS: Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee; holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity! Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee, who wert and art and evermore shalt be. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee, though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see, only thou art holy; there is none beside thee, perfect in power, in love, and purity. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea; holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity! THIS INFORMATION BELOW COMES FROM GODTUBE DOT COM.  This song was written by Reginald Heber, who was born in 1783 to a wealthy family.  Here is the story behind this song: Reginald attended Oxford and won several awards for poetry before he became rector for his father's church. Reginald become Bishop of Calcutta in 1823 and served his people for three years before dying of stroke. "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty," read Reginald Heber's widow. Among her dead husband's papers she found the words of one of the most powerful and beautiful hymns ever written. But years would pass before the lines took their place in worship services around the world.In 1861, a publisher rediscovered the words. He asked John Bacchus Dykes to furnish him with a tune. It made sense for him to turn to John who had a natural aptitude for music (he graduated with a music master that same year). John had been a church organist since he was ten-years-old and was co-founder and president of the Cambridge University Musical Society.John accepted the words. Within thirty minutes he wrote the tune "Nicea," which carried the praise of the Trinity. https://youtu.be/39tazCROrtU

Have you thought about this? Thoughts about LBGTQ+

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

We are blessed by God and we need to act like we are children of God.

   Okay, you wonder about the subject so let me share with you what was crossing my mind when I woke up this morning.  First, Jesus' commandments

:Matthew 22: 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

   First we love God how?   Yes, heart, soul and mind.  Then second what?  Love your neighbor as yourself.  But, you and I NEED TO LOVE OURSELVES.  If we don't, that is a major problem.

So, where do we go from here?

  Now, about the subject line.......We are all sinners and are dirty in sin, EXCEPT, for accepting Jesus as our savior which cleans us white as snow.  Right?  Do you understand where I am coming from?    

   Okay, We do not like the homosexual, the transgender, or any of the letters above.  Wait, they are our neighbor and we must LOVE them, not show disdain and hatred toward them.  But I cannot accept that life style.  You don't have to accept the life style, just love the sinner.  Now let me put this more in perspective.

   We love our neighbor----remember this.  The alcoholic that has turned from his/her ways----is no longer a drinker----we accept him/her.  So we take in an alcoholic who is no longer a practicing alcoholic.

   We love our neighbor ---- the drug addicted person who gets high on meth, crack, or any other mind altering drug and has turned from his/her drug torn ways.  He/she is no longer addicted, is no longer a practicing druggie. 

   Now, what about the LBGTQ+ person who still feels that way, but is no longer  a practicing homosexual/transsexual person.  Isn't this person the same as the above?  No longer practicing.  Aren't we obligated to Love them as they are our neighbor?

   The alcoholic does not preach drink; the druggie does not preach take drugs; and if the homosexual/transsexual is no longer practicing and is not preaching this lifestyle, can't we still love him/her and welcome them into the family of God?

  The argument that will come up is well these people don't always turn from their ways and sin daily. (first, how do we know?) I am here to ask you--how often do you commit the same sin over and over.  Men, does not lust pierce your soul often?  Women, if it is not fact, do you gossip often?  Hmmm!  Just food for thought.

    I would welcome your rebuttal and comments.  If I know a practicing or non-practicing alcoholic, druggie, or homosexual my job, as a child of GOD, is to love them and share with them the greatness of GOD and how to be in a relationship with Jesus, rather than the world.

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

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Are we promised a life of prosperity? 2 Timothy 3:10-12; Philippians 1:27-29

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

  Is life with Christ a gentle, breezy, pleasant walk through a trail in the woods where the fragrant of beautiful flowers loom?  Well, lets look at some scriptures.  Yesterday Pastor gave an excellent sermon on this and I will try to relate some of what was conveyed.

  Paul is talking to Timothy, Paul's son in faith, and sharing this message. Read 10-11 first:

2 Timothy 3: 10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 

    In Lystra Paul had been stoned and left for dead which is only 1 incident of many Paul endured. Then Paul continues on to tell Timothy the LORD rescued him, and then something that relates to us as well in verse 12.

12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

  Paul told Timothy that people who obey God and live for Christ will be persecuted.  Don't be surprised when people misunderstand, criticize, and even try to hurt you because of what you believe and how you live. Don't give up. Continue to live as you know you should.  God is the only one you need to please.  We cannot be as the University of Michigan Medical school students did and walk out on a Pro-Life speaker.  Only a handful did, and these are people who are supposed to help preserve life. Wowsers!!!

 We must live as citizens of heaven  Paul encourages us, the believers, to be united, stand side by side, and fight together for the faith. 

Now take a look at Philippians 1:  27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.  

  Paul considered it a privilege to suffer for Christ.  We do not by nature consider suffering a privilege. Suffering for Christ has these benefits: (1) it takes our eyes off earthly comforts; (2) it weeds out the superficial believers; (3) ones who endure experience strengthened faith; (4) and it serves as an example of those who may follow us.

   When we suffer in our faith it does not mean we did anything wrong; it actually shows that we are being faithful. Suffering does, indeed, build character.  

29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

    Are you willing, today, to suffer for Christ?  This is a difficult question to ponder and consider.  Our knee-jerk reaction is YES; but, when it comes down to the actual time or situation........Will we????  Thanks for reading.  Our pastor is a great inspiration if you have a chance to visit.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Do you crave physical pleasures or HEART pleasures??? 1 John 2:16

   Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO WORRY ABOUT THE PHYSICAL WORLD!!!

1 John 2: 1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

John is talking to us here in a warm fatherly way to show affection for us.  Take heed to what comes in verse 16.  This  relates to me and really hit me between the eyes.  Yes, Father, I have sinned. Forgive me.

1 John 2: 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

  Read these and tell me, have you not be tempted?  Lust of the flesh----lust of the eyes-----pride of life?

   Some people believe that worldliness is limited to external behavior, like the people we associate with, places we go, the activities we enjoy.  Well, guess what?

   Worldliness is also internal.  Why?  It begins with the heart.  There are 3 characteristics formed by our attitudes: (1) craving for physical pleasure - wanting to gratify physical desires; (2) craving for everything we see - coveting and accumulating things, bowing to the god of materialism; (3) pride in our achievements and possessions -- obsession with one's status or importance.

  When the serpent tempted Eve he used these things.  Yep, she was only human.  But wait, when Jesus was in the wilderness, the devil tempted Jesus with these same things.  Matthew 4:1-11.

  God values self control (which Jesus had, Eve did not). God values a spirit of generosity and a commitment to humble service.  We can fool the world into thinking we are humble in our Christian walk, but, GOD knows the attitudes in our hearts.

  Ask yourself today, Do your actions reflect the world's values or GOD's values?    Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Is GOD #1 in your life??? Really??? Seriously???

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

Have you thought about your salvation, but most importantly how you treat your LORD.  Saying this I mean, and asking IS GOD NUMBER ONE IN YOUR LIFE???

 JOHN 5: 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.

  Because of Jesus' unity with God, Jesus lived as God wante him to live.  Because of our identification with Jesus, we must honor him and live as he wants us to live.  You may want to ask yourself when faced with choices:  "What would JESUS do"?

COLOSSIANS 3: 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

   We should consider ourselves dead and unresponsive to sexual immorality, impurity, lust and evil desires. The Word is not saying sex is bad, what is bad is the sexual perversion.  There has to be a line established and the Bible everywhere celebrates heterosexual,  monogamous marriage as the proper situation for sexual fulfillment.

COLOSSIANS 3: 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. (Life App Bible) Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

As Christians we are always in a continual education program as we study and follow the Bible.  The more we know of Jesus Christ and his work, the more we are being changed to be like him.  Since this process is lifelong, we must never stop learning and obeying.  There is no reason to drift along, but there is an incentive to find the rich treasures of growing in Christ. This is like learning to play the piano--practice, ongoing review, patience, and concentration to keep in line with his will.

MATTHEW 6: 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

What is this telling us?  We must seek the Kingdom of God above all else means to put God first in your life, to fill your thoughts with his desires, to take his character for your pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything.  Ask yourself this:  What is important to you?? People, objects, goals, or other desirs may compete for priority.  If these become more important to you, you need to actively come back to seeking GOD FIRST! (1ST)

JEREMIAH 6: 19 Hear, you earth: I am bringing disaster on this people the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law 20 What do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me.” 21 Therefore this is what the Lord says:  “I will put obstacles before this people. Parents and children alike will stumble over them; neighbors and friends will perish.”

WARNING!!! WARNING!!   We (God's people) are, by ourselves, by ignoring God's word and rejecting HIS law, we are bringing disaster on ourselves.  Offering God sweet fragrances as a peace offering are not acceptable, nor do the sacrifices please God.  Because of our disobedience there will be hurdles that will cause us to fall and many shall perish.

Food for thought!!  If we don't stay in the word, share the word, and speak salvation to others---- by not doing so are we in essence saying-- "YOU CAN GO TO HELL BECAUSE I WON'T SHARE THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE?" 

Thank you for reading with me today.  Would entertain any feedback.  Thank  you. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Do you care? REALLY????

 Good morning to all my Christian brothers and sisters,

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

   We often wonder what is wrong with the youth of today and the people in the world.  Well, I do not have a concrete answer, but from reading and visiting I do have a few suggestions.

  Philipians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others.

  Have you or will you speak to someone today and compliment them, if nothing else have a nice day, you have a nice smile, nice outfit, or something.  Also, the youth of today communicate via e-methods (text, instagram, facebook, email. etc). Take a moment and show a young person that you do care about them. Ask questions and engage them in a conversation to make them feel they are important.

  A man I know has small crosses and shares them with young to old and wishes them well.  It does not take much, but we can be the instrument God wishes to use to turn someone on to Jesus Christ and away from the evil one.

  Proverbs 28:27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse (ESV)

  Proverbs 19:17 (ESV) Whoever is generous to the poor lens to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.

  I ask you to take time today to say or do something to bless someone today. Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny