Ruth 1:17 Loyalty until death 1 Samuel 15:22 Obey (loyalty & obedience)

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

   Ruth told Naomi she would follow her, even unto death.  Naomi said no more and they went forth to the homeland. 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

 

 In 1 Samuel 15:22  is obeying.  22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

    You probably know that some people, maybe many, show up at church, put their time in, hear God's word, and think they are in God's favor.  But what does Samuel say when speaking to Saul?  

  Samuel asks does God delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices?  He says obeying is better than sacrifice;  follow God's word is better than the fat of rams.  This all boils down to O B E D I E N C E to the LORD's word.

   God does not want religious ceremony, or a church ritual, or sacrifice.  All our Heavenly Father wants from us is obedience to his word, to live his word, to be loyal to the word of God.

  Through our obedience we will find joy.  It may come at different costs, but in the end it will bring joy.

  Today, my prayer for me and you is that we will show unreserved, wholehearted, immediate obedience to God.  Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Ruth 1:16 Loyalty, Love, Commitment

 Good morning all. Or could we say God's morning!!  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  YOU ARE INDEED BLESSED TODAY!

  In Ruth we see a woman and her mother in law who have been devastated by the deaths of their husbands.  Naomi was Jewish and Ruth was a Moabitess.  After the passing of the men in their lives they chose to leave and return to Naomi's homeland.

   Naomi encouraged Ruth to return to her homeland, her family and not follow her.  Ruth had nothing materialistic nor did Naomi.  But Ruth carried something many in today's world do not have ----L O Y A L T Y !!!

   Naomi said go home; but Ruth said (in Ruth 1:16) 16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

   Ruth is loyal, faithful, and has chosen to go with Naomi and accept her God.  Because of this, God honored Ruth's faith and loyalty.  How so?

   Boaz, a relative of Naomi took Ruth as his wife (read the whole love story in Ruth) and she gave him a son - Obed.

  Well, the story does not stop there, Obed had a son Jesse who had a son David.  Yes, King David.  So here you have a woman, Ruth, who is not even Jewish, chosen by God to be the great grandmother of Israel's King David.

  This is the royal line leading to the Messiah, Jesus.  God honored Ruth, a woman of faith who showed love and loyalty no matter what the cost.   How about you?

  Is God honoring you for your love of Jesus and loyalty to God?  Food for thought. Love you all, thanks for reading.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and of good courage

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

   Each day we come face to face with reality.  Are you prepared to address it?  Please rememer this  Satan casts doubt darts constantly at our weak spots.

   Each day we face new challenges and how we face them depends on us.  Do we reach back into a bag of tricks:?  Do we reach back into past experiences?  Do we reach back into God's word for guidance and wisdom?

  When Moses died suddenly Joshua was cast into the leadership of all the people of Israel.  He faced many unknown challenges.  What would he do?  Where could he turn?  To God.  God gives Joshue this word which we need to take to heart as well.

  Joshua 2:: 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. 

  First, God says to e strong and of good courage.  Do not e afraid or dismayed.  Why should we be this way?  BECAUSE God is with us wherever we go.  He is always present.  All we have to do is turn to Him.

  No matter what happens to you today, tomorrow, or the next tomorrows remember GOD IS WITH YOU.  

   Psalm 23 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.

   Thank you for reading with me today. Love y'all!

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Joshua 1:8 God's word for success in life

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

  Joshua 1: 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

   Joshua is facing a huge challenge at this time.  Moses had died and now HE, alone, was to lead God's people into the promised land.  This would not be a slam dunk.  It will take time and their will be hurdles or barriers to cross.

   How did Joshua feel?  Probably  felt alone and carrying a large burden, getting Gods people into the promised land. So what happens?

   God comes to Joshua and tells him he has the book of law of which he is to meditate or keep in his foremost thoughts day and night.

   If he does do what God commands then in all things he will succeed.  God will put his hand on him and he will have continued success in life.

    This also is God's message to us. If we want to succeed in the eyes of God, succeed in life and prosper then we are to fill our heart with God's word.  Every step I take should be by Gods word.

   If we follow Gods word our path may not be smooth as silk, but God's hand will be on us, our life, and we will experience success.

    There is no other way, but to trust in Jesus!  Thank you for reading with me today. Please pray for our nation, President Trump, Israel, and the days to come.  God bless 'y'all. Love y''all!!

'

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Deuteronomy 6:4, 5, 6, , 8, 9, SHEMA

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

   SHEMA!!!   This means to listen or hear. Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment in the law and he quotes verse 5 from this passage in Deuteronomy.

   I'll start with verse 4, which is the Jewish confession of faith.  They do this twice daily: 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:

  Next comes the verses Jesus said was the greatest commandment:

5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

  And what is said about these words?  Look at verse 6:

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

  We are to keep these words, remember them, and live them.  Once we have these firmly in our hearts and planted in our lives what do we do next?

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

  These are not just idle words or gossip, they are to be taught to our children, share them in the house of the LORD, and start your day with these words----loving God with all our hearts.

  8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

   We should have the word of God before us all the time, when we get up, during the day, and as we retire for the evening.  God should be in our foremost thoughts.  We are monotheism, or we recognize God's uniqueness and that he is the only one living God.

9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

  God's word should be in the forefront of our lives always now and forever.

   Do you live a Godly life?  Going to God in all things?  OR, just when you are in need and want to be bailed out?  Hmmm!!!  Food for thought.

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

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Today's verse: Ephesians 2:6-7 GRACE

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  GRACE!  A free gift from God.

  Ephesians 2: 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

  Let's sum this up easily and quickly.  What is a unique feature about Christianity?  God's GRACE!!!  God's love and acceptance comes free of charge and has no strings attached.

  Buddhist have an eight-fold path the Hindu doctrine of karma, the Jewish covenant, and the Muslim code of law -- each one is of works.

  With Christianity God's unconditional love gives us GRACE. What does this mean?  We are accepted completely (just as you are), forgiven forever and ever, and we are secure in God's love.  This is God's grace.  All you need to do is:

BELIEVE IT!     ENJOY IT!   CELEBRATE IT!!!

   Thank you for reading. Love you all.  Don't forget what Jesus said  (Matthew 16:15), go ye into all nations and share the good news.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Ephesians 24-5

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

   So, how are you feeling today?  Do you feel loved?  We all go through moments that we don't feel loved, don't feel appreciated, don't receive the love or recognition we would like, and how do we deal with it all?

  It is not a matter of how good I am; how I react to others; how clever or sincere I am.  It all begins with my spiritual life, looking up to the heavens where my heavenly father is.  Understanding that I (you) am (are) loved by the Almighty God, Yahweh!

  Ephesians 2:4-5  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved. 

  God's love for us is outrageous, relentless, unfettered, gracious, personal and emotional.  We are loved more than we can ever imagine.  Think back to Romans 6:23 that God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn, but to offer salvation to all.

  God loves you and when we remain obedient to God's words, heed His calling and listen to His voice, all will be well.  Take your burdens not upon yourself, but give to God. 

  Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny