Commandment #8 Stealing

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  A WONDERFUL DAY TO BE ALIVE IN JESUS CHRIST!!!

   Stealing.  Text in Exodus and Deuteronomy. Often we don't think of different things as stealing.  If at a retail store and they ring up an item that was listed at, oh, say $20 and they ring it up as $5 and you notice.  Do you say something, or mark it up to the error of the cashier?

   If you give $10 for an item that cost $3.78 and they give you change for a $20---do you say something? (you get $16 back instead of $6)

   At work do you take things that are there for company use only or do you take some home for personal use?  Let's say a ream of paper, or markers for the white board.  Is this stealing?

   Here is the big one.  Do you spend hours surfing the internet or watching facebook, or creating a tik tok video instead of spending time with God?  Is that stealing?

  Food for thought for today.  Am I stealing time from God?  Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Commandment #7 Adultery

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

  As in Exodus 20:14 and Deuteronomy 5:18 "You are not to commit adultery."

And what does this mean? It means we are not to go to another for sex when you or they are married.   Proverbs 6:27-29 tells us not to "go into" another man's wife and if he does he will not go unpunished.

 Jesus coined more than just the act. 

 In Matthew 5: 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

  So, if a man sees a beautiful woman, or if a woman sees a handsome man, the thoughts that resonate with us should be "he/she is a beautiful person" and not a lustful thought.

   I heard a preacher one time talk about this and he had trouble with lust, prayed about it, then one day he felt that God told him it is okay to see the beauty, and he need not lust.  After that he commented that he could see a beautiful woman for her beauty and the lustful thoughts did not come.

   I feel this is where we all should be, seeing the beauty God has created, whether it be man, woman, earth, skies, or whatever, just see the beauty.  Thanks for reading today. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Commandment #6

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

  The 5th commandment is very clear.  "You shall not commit murder."  So some people say that the military who go to war commit murder.  This commandment is not referring to war; it refers to intentionally or even accidentally killing someone.

  This could be using a weapon, a blunt object, car, rock, or anything used to attack a person.  Exodus 20: 13 “You shall not murder.

  Deuteronomy 5:17 “You shall not murder.

Webster says murder is: the unlawful and malicious or premeditated killing of a person.  

  Jesus tells us that our thoughts, as in adultery, if we look at someone with lustful intent we have already committed adultery in our heart. Would this be the same for murder?  If I want someone "taken" out in my mind, am I committing murder, since it is in my heart?

  Just food for thought.  Do you remember the 7th commandment?  Coming tomorrow. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Commandment #6

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  WE ARE TRULY BLESSED WITH ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN!!!!

   In today's world I hear of so many people who are estranged from family members.  Sons not speaking to dad's or mom's and vice versa. Daughters who have completely turned away from parents, siblings, and family.  Why?  What is going on?

   The 5th commandment says "Deuteronomy 5:16 You are to honor your father and your mother, just as the LORD your God commanded you, so that your life will be long and things will go well for you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you." 

  The evil one is prowling and creating havoc where he can.  Telling lies or twisting the truth just as he did in the garden.  And why is it so easy to believe a lie faster than we believe the truth?

    Some people grew up in a "fairy tale world" where the parents never divorced, the children had what they needed, and all were in a safe, protected, Christian environment conducive to growing up to be healthy, productive adults.

   On the other hand, some people grew up in a world of constant chaos, arguing, fighting, bitterness, and not knowing God.  Alcohol, drugs, fighting was the norm and those grew up with the odds against them.  I know some who overcame the adverse world, and then some who continued with the same chaos as adults.

   Read that again: You are to honor your father and your mother, just as the LORD your God commanded you, so that your life will be long and things will go well for you
    It is sad that many many people do not adhere to the commandments God, our Father in heaven, has given us.  Food for thought: Did you honor your father and mother?  Do your children honor you?  If not, why?  And can it be rectified?  If your children do honor you, Hallelujah!

Hmmmm!  Thank you for reading with me today.  May these words be a stimulant to you in a positive way. If you know someone in need, offer them your hand but don't fall into the quagmire they are in. Just lift them up, give them hope.  Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Commandment #4

 Good morning everyone!  God is good all the time, all the time God is good. PRAISE GOD, OUR LIVING GOD!!!

   Well, the 4th commandment is "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it Holy".

The first 4 commandments deal with how we relate to God.Today is that special day, July 12th, a SUNDAY, the day of which we, Christians, keep God's day special.

   Many will be mowing the lawn, fishing, golfing, driving, working at home or a job-- which is okay IF they know Jesus as their savior.

   However, some will say I commune with God when I am ..............!  I am not in a place to judge, but the Bible tells us where 2 or 3 are gathered IN MY NAME, there am I among them. Matthew 18: 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

   Also, in the new testament in Hebrews 10:25 we, as believers are to  

25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

  So, let's keep today Holy and worship God.  Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Graace

Johnny

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