Commandment #3

 Good morning everyone. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. HE HAS RISEN, YES, INDEED, HE HAS RISEN!!!

  Deuteronomy 5:  11 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.  

  How often have you ever heard someone use God's name in part of a curse word?  How we use words and the intent behind it makes a huge difference.

   I can remember when I was in junior high and some of us boys, when it was just us, would say some words thinking that made us big or almost adult.  Never in front of an adult, just us boys thinking we were something.

   Then one Sunday our preacher stepped up in the pulpit and very loudly said, "JESUS CHRIST"!  Then he followed up with did you hear a curse word or your savior.  That gives you an idea where you stand in your salvation.

   I was shocked and ashamed because I thought he was cussing from the pulpit.  Then I realized he was calling the name of my Lord and Savior.  Where do you think you would have been or what you would have thought?

   Fortunately, God has forgiven me for my ill ways and is my Lord and savior.  Now, when I hear a person begin a statement of frustration with God ............, I cringe.  When appropriate or the opportunity comes I share my feelings on this.

   We may hear people exclaim things like, "Oh God" or "My God" or "For God's sake", or other expressions.

    Is this okay? How are these statements being used?  Have we let these expressions (and more) to become socially acceptable in our Christian walk?  Hmmm?

   Food for thought.  May you be blessed today, and may you use God's name only in your prayers or when talking to God.

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

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Commandment #2 - No Idols

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

  Commandment number two says we will have no other IDOLS before God.

We will see people who have a carved statue and pray or worship it and we think how ridiculous, praying to some you created or had created.  Sounds silly, right?

  But then what do we do? We take pride in many material things. My job, my car, my house, the money I made, the travels I take, and on and on.  Oh, but I go to church each Sunday and I usually go to Sunday School, and Wednesday nights.

  Yes, so often we "go through the motions".  Matthew West - The Motions . This song may relate to many of us - just going through the motions.  We need to quite 'pretending' to be the "good Christian" and be real with ourselves and with Jesus.

  So, what is your IDOL ?  Is Jesus your true LORD & SAVIOR?  Or do you have a carved image you pray to?

  The chorus lyrics of The Motion by Matthew West:

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything
Instead of going through the motions?

  How often I feel like I am just going through the motions.  My prayer today is that each of us, especially me, will quit going through the motions and become as dedicated as the disciples or Paul were.  

NO IDOLS BEFORE OUR LIVING GOD!!!

Thank you for reading today. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Do you know the 10 commandments? Where they are?

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  WHO is your God, truly?  Is it the living God or ???????

   Moses came down with the 10 commandments and we tend to forget what they all are or even where they are in the Bible.  Yes, I am guilty as charged.  The first four commandments deal with our relationship with God. (Exodus 20:2-17/Deuteronomy 5:6-21)

1. "You shall have no other God before me."  Hmmmm!!

   Lip service is easy to say, "Yes, God is number 1 in my life.  Oh, hold on, I have a phone call."  Huh??? 

   How much time do we spend looking at our phone.  Checking reels, facebook, instagram, tic-tok, and on and on.  Or, maybe putting off reading the Bible because we want to "do something for myself."  We become selfish.  God wants a true relationship with you, with me, with all the world.

   The problem is we treat God like an unwanted child or step-child.  Just giving Him attention when we want to or feel we need to.  Or maybe when things don't go well in our lives we call out to God.  Why?  Why are you letting this happen to me?  Huh??

   God should be number 1, numero uno, top dog, the ultimate love of our life.  Do we treat Him that way?

   Priorities we do set, and so often God is not the top of our priorities.  I woke this morning with God giving me the words to say.  I got up, went to breakfast, then came back.  I should have gotten up and put into print what God was telling me.  I have done so now, but not as elegant and clear as when God woke me with the words HE wanted printed.

   I am making an attempt to put down what God told me, but not nearly as clear as the words HE gave me at 6 a.m. this morning.  All I am able to do now is ask forgiveness from God and renew my commitment to make God #1 in my life.

  Where are you my friend in your relationship with the living God, with Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit?

   Today, just stop, take a moment, and talk to God. Remember Him, and have no other Gods before you.  Thank you for reading with me today. I welcome you feedback. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Am I making an impact through my Christianity?

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. WILL I MAKE AN IMPACT ON SOMEONE TODAY????

  We go to church, sit in the pew, praise God, raise our hands, say Amen, and listen to the Sunday school teacher or preacher.  Yet, are we in our own little cocoon and plan to remain there or are we making an impact on others around us?

  Dorcas (Greek) or Tabitha (Arabic) in the Bible made an impact on others.  Her name means "gazelle".  She made clothes for widows and poor people.  When she died, got sick and died, the people around brought the clothing she made and showed what she did and they cried.  Peter came and prayed and she came back to life.

  It is a very touching story, yet makes me think: "Would people (not just family) come around, show or tell of the good I did for them as a Christian"?  Would they cry because a disciple of Jesus Christ had just died or just go on with life saying, "it is what it is"?  Hmmmmm?  Makes me wonder if all I do is as worthy as what Tabitha did.  Here is the Tabitha's scripture:  

Tabitha, disciple to the poor. 

  Thank you for reading with me today. May you touch people for Jesus Christ today. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Zecharia 11

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  What is thirty pieces of silver?

   Have you ever stopped, read, and studied the book of Zecharia in the Bible.  He, too, tells of the coming of the Lord and the betrayal.

  Back in the ancient days the price of a slave was thirty pieces of silver..  Our Lord and Savior was sold (betrayed) for thirty pieces of silver.

  In Zecharia speaks of the bad shepherds, aka, false preachers and then in verses 12 & 13 of Chapter 11 he speaks of 30 pieces of silver.

  Then talks about that verse 13 says to cast it into the Potter.  When Judas betrayed Jesus, he realized his error (sin) and went to the priests and cast the 30 pieces on the floor.  They could not take the money as it was blood money  Deuteronomy 23:18    and could not go into the church treasury.  SO, they bought a field called the Potter's field.  It was also called "Akeldama" or Field of Blood.  After Judas killed himself, his body fell and burst open in the field, thus the "Field of Blood".

   Several books in the Bible point toward Jesus coming back and often it requires more study than I am used to doing.  However, it is quite eye opening.   On youtube, you can find Christian podcasts to listen to, to sleep by, and they are very informative.  However, this is from one groups version or interpretation so always check it out with the Bible to be certain they are on target.

   I just thought Zecharia was interesting, and the thirty pieces of silver I had known but did not know it was also in this book.  Study on my friend, Jesus is coming back for us. Oh what a day of rejoicing that will be.

  Thank you for reading with me today.  If you find any error in my study please let me know.  I do not want to be portrayed as a false teacher. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Let Go, Let GOD!! Matthew 11:28-30

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

   We all have had troubles or are going through troubles now.  It is easy to look at ourselves and say woe is me.  However, we have a savior that can carry those troubles for us.

   It becomes easy to take it all on our shoulders and try to 'FIX IT", when we should have enough faith to trust God and His wisdom.  In our men's meetings and prayer time a lot of "woes" come to mind.  We should pray about each one with expectations that they will be healed (1) in God's time, and (2) to bring glory to God.

   When life gets heavy just STOP, DROP, & PRAY!  Remember then the Bible

Matthew 11: 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

   May your load be light and your eyes toward heaven today. Love y'all. Thank you for reading with me today.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Psalm 4:6

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

What do our dreams tell us?

    I had an unusual dream last night.  I was playing golf, and had played hole number one.  Then hole 2 was somewhat odd.  Had to go through a building, bathroom, and a small area to tee off from.  Then I was wearing a straw type hat with Psalm 4:6 written on it.

   A man asked me what 4:6 said and I did not know.  I don't know why that was the Psalm written on my hat and, of course, I was embarrassed.  I stated I did not know and had to tee off.  I looked at my "gray polyester pants" and there were 2 green spots on the left leg, one in the shape of a square.  Then a lady spoke to me and I hurried off to the second tee, only I couldn't find it.

  Strange huh?  Yep, I thought so also.  If you can interpret dreams let me know what you think.

   Psalm 4:6  Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”

    Let the light of your face shine on us.

As I study the "many" seems to be a mass of people who have not yet taken a side, whether to be with King David or not. He was running from his son Abaslom at this time.  People did not know which side to take, some confused and some grumbling.

  The Let the light of your (God's)face shine on us --seems to reflect back to what Aaron said in Numbers 6:24 "The LORD bless thee and keep thee."  This is thought to be an inspiration to the masses that are wavering.

  It was an interesting dream and this verse is very interesting as well.  If you have any insight or I am in error, please let me know.  I try to study and give true readings/interpretations; however, I am not perfect and may be half a bubble off.  Just let me know.

  Thank you for reading today. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny