Who rules your life? Colossians 3:15

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  LAUGH, LOVE, AND BE STRESS FREE!!

   Who lives in you?  Really!!  What thoughts do you possess that control your life?

Some people let drugs control them Some people let alcohol control them. Some pornography, some envy, jealousy, hate, anger, ugly or evil thoughts, and so on.  

   We, as children of God, can overcome these for one reason and one reason only.  We accepted Jesus as our savior and He gave us the Holy Spirit to guide our lives.  It is important to remember that the Holy Spirit is a gentleman, and we have to invite Him in, follow His lead, and walk in the footsteps of Christ.

   Too often we blunder ahead in our own way, not listening to the Spirit, not praying for God's guidance, but just doing it MY WAY!

  Colossians 3: 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

  God is our ruling force once we accepted Jesus Christ as our savior.  So often we treat God's guidance, the Holy Spirit's leading as we did our parents growing up.  We may listen, we may hear, but we still are going to do it MY WAY!!  Just like one of my daughters told me years ago when I told her what she should do, she tried it HER WAY, found out my way worked.  Then she turned, looked at me and say, and I quote, "I hate it when you are right!"  

   She did not really hate it, but she so wanted to prove me wrong.  I believe, in my opinion, that we so often do this to the Holy Spirit, to God, and Jesus.  We want to be right, yet, God knows us from the womb to the tomb and sees what is best for us.

  We want to be right.  So, we do need to "LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN OUR HEARTS", take pride out, listen, pray, and follow.  Thank you for reading today. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Words and scriptures of encouragement!

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. STRESS NOT FOR GOD IS IN YOUR CORNER!!

   Today we go to celebrate the life of a good friend and neighbor.  We consider them more of family than just neighbors.  When families get together there is usually a lot of fun, excitement, and all-around joy.  However, as I have seen in the past that often, in the celebration of life or the funeral of a loved one, there comes a chance for satan to wedge in and cause problems.

   Jealousy, envy, and anger often takes the forefront.  The big "I" comes up as "I want .......", "I will........" "If I ........" and so forth.

  We celebrate the life of a good man who was quite humble, soft spoken, full of wisdom, and thought before he spoke.  Easy going and would not kill anything, not spiders, not snakes, nothing, well, maybe a fly at the dinner table, but a very gentle man.

  Here are some verses I felt would be meaningful to all of us. Thank you for being patient and reading.

• 
  "Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."
  Romans 8:28 – "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..."

• “God’s call comes before your qualifications.”
  2 Timothy 1:9-“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.”

• “You can’t wear your old identity and walk in your new one.”
  2 Corinthians 5:17-“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

• "No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying."
  Philippians 3:13-14 "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

• "Making one person smile can change the world – maybe not the whole world, but their world."
  Proverbs 16:24 – "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

• "Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it."
  James 1:2-4 - 'Count it all joy... for the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.'

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

• In Christ's Love and Grace

• Johnny

You are important! Never underestimate your worth!!!

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. YOU ARE IMPORTANT!!  YOU ARE SPECIAL!!!

   In the Bible God did not always use powerful people.  He used common people who may have had flaws, but still did God's work.

     Joseph, a young man who was dad's favorite and resented by his ten half-brothers.  Was he boastful when talking about his dreams or just naive? 

He became next in line to Pharaoh in Egypt, saved people from a famine, and was definitely a God fearing man.

   Then what about Moses, a Jew saved by the Pharaoh's daughter. Killed a man, fled Egypt, then later came and freed the Hebrews (Jews).

    Ruth, a Moabite woman married to a Jewish man, after the death of her father-in-law and her husband, she stayed with her mother-in-law and returned to Naomi's homeland. They were poor and Ruth gleaned the crops at the end of the day. She stayed true to Naomi and God and was the great great grandmother of King David.

    David, the illegitimate son who was only a poor sheepherder for his father. He took supplies to his brothers who were fighting for Israel, saw Goliath and knew God was on his (David's) side.  Went forth and slew the giant.

  These are just a few of the "rags to riches" stories in God.  There are more, however, the point it YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD, JESUS, & the HOLY SPIRIT.  How do you work for God?

   How you spend your day and time is up to you, but ask yourself, will this benefit the kingdom of God?  Is God in the forefront of my thoughts?  You have 1440 minutes in a day, do you give God 10%, 5%, 1%. or nothing at all?

  Here are some scriptures to read and think about:

Proverbs 3:9

NIV

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops;

Malachi 3:10

Niv  10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

2 Corinthians 9:7  NIV 

7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

And one of my favorites:  

Luke 6:38 New International Version 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Thank you for reading today. I do hope this makes sense to you. God bless and have a wonderful and safe day.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Are you walking in the LIGHT or DARKNESS? 1 John 1:5-7; 1 John 2:9-11

 Good mid-day to y'all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  WALK IN THE LIGHT AND STUMBLE NOT!!!

  In my Bible study this morning this was one verse that really stuck out to me so I thought I would share it with you.

  If we are in Jesus, we will walk in the light. Now I'll let the scriptures speak for themselves.

1 John 1: 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 John 2:9-11  9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Take a moment to reflect and see where you are really walking. Don't let satan trick you into thinking you are a-ok if you are not.

Thank you for reading. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

God is in the miracle business, yesterday, today, and tomorrow - 2 Kings 2:11

    Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  LOOK FOR THE MIRACLE, EXPECT THE MIRACLE AND IT WILL HAPPEN!!!

   This is a story of a widow, a prophet's wife, who had debt, asked for help of God's prophet, Elisha, she believed, doubted not, and was able to pay off debt and more.  The story is below. Go to 2 Kings 2.

   After the prophet Elijah was taken to heaven his disciple and successor, Elisha, became the chief prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel. He faithfully continued the work of the Lord as Elijah had done. He travelled on his own throughout the countryside, probably on a donkey led by a servant. 

   2 Kings 2: 11 Elijah and Elisha were still walking and talking. Then a chariot and horses of fire appeared. The chariot and horses of fire separated Elijah from Elisha. Then Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

   The prophet, Elijah, now gone or died, leaving debts his widow and two sons could not pay. The creditor decided to take the two sons as slaves to pay the debt. The boys were young, about 10 and 8, and they would have to work for 7 years to pay the debt.  Then the widow begged for Elisha's help.

 God’s servant, Elisha, told the woman to borrow all the empty jars from her neighbors that she could possibly get, close her doors, and begin pouring the oil from her jar into the borrowed jars. Her jar was not full, but as she poured her jar never emptied.  So, as she obeyed, the widow saw that God provided enough oil to fill all the jars.

 The Lord miraculously provided them with enough oil to sell and pay off the debt and sustain them for years to come.  When she filled the last jar, then the oil quit coming from her jar.

   When God offers a miracle, we need to believe and it will happen.  When we quit believing, it will quit happening. God is alive and well in the 21st century just as he was in the beginning.

   Where is your faith?  Do you truly believe or just give lip service?  Can you say you believe in miracles today?

  Take a few moments, think back, and remember the miracles you have witnessed or heard about.  Then give God the glory.

  Thank you for reading today. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Parable of the sower----which seed are you? Matthew 13:18-23

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

May you be proud of the work you do, the person you are, and, the difference you make!!!!!

I know you have read and heard the parable of the sower, but I do hope this comes from another perspective to stimulate thought from you.

  Let's look at each of these from a worldly perspective.

 Jesus speaks of the seeds sown on this earth. Look at Matthew 13:18-19,

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

   Okay, when a predator is attacking to kill and eat, does the predator attack the strong leader of the herd or pack?  No, the predator looks for the weaker or sickly one of the herd.  Why?        Because that one is easier to subdue.  Ask yourself where am I in this herd or pack.  Weak in God's word?  If so, the evil one, aka satan, comes to turn you away from God. This one is a READ ONLY Christian. Don't be the seed sown along the path. Get into the word of God.

  20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

  Next we come to the seed on rocky ground, or the one in the herd who is stronger, not the weakest, but gets separated from the herd.  Happy to be part of the herd, but fails to follow close enough to be protected.  This one starts out well, but then all the excitement or joy fades and doing its own thing becomes the main focus.  Do not be another READ ONLY Christian. Where is your focus?  On God, or on YOU???

  22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

  Now we have the one who hears the word, is excited about the word, but the focus is not on Jesus Christ, but on the things happening in their life.  Thinking if I work a little longer, make more money, get the promotion, then all will be well. 

  You may have more wealth in the world, but the true wealth in Jesus Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit is lacking.  Nearly bankrupt spiritually!!  So where are you?  A read and study when it is convenient Christian? Looking for the wealth of the world, OR, the wealth in Christ?

   23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

   Now this seed in the one who may not be the leader of the herd or pack, but is in the thick of the herd, helping others, sharing and helping to develop the ones around him/her.

  This one is not a read only person.  This person is a READ, STUDY, and FOLLOW THE WORD Christian.  Sharing with others, growing in Christ.  This is where we all need to be.  In the herd or pack, leading a small group, talking to others, helping and thriving.  

   So, where are you today. Four groups you can belong to and the Choice is yours.  Be the weak and fall, the worldly one who falls to the temptation of the world, or the One who goes forth as Jesus did, sharing, helping; and by doing so, grows in the word.

    Thank you for tolerating me and reading this morning.

Love y'all. May your day be safe, enjoyable, and center around Jesus.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Pax Romana - Roman Peace

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  A GREAT DAY IN THE LORD TO BE A GREAT DAY IN THE LORD!!

  Today's study I learned something I had never heard of before.  This is the Pax Romana, and this was during Jesus' time on the earth.

  So, what is the Pax Romana?  I will quote this from my source.

PAX ROMANA- means Roman Peace.  A period of about 200 years of relative peace, stability, and prosperity in the Roman Empire, beginning with Emperor Augustus.  It was characterized by economic growth, the expansion of infrastructure, and the flourishing of arts and literature.  It was maintained through military strength and the brutal suppression of revolts in provinces.  This era saw the empire reach its greatest territorial extent and established a foundation for Roman law and governance.

   It started 27 BC to 180 AD.  They had relative internal peace, though the empire continued to expand and defend its borders.  Increased trade, a common currency, and a uniform rule of law stimulated economic growth.

  They constructed roads, aqueducts, and public buildings, all made possible by innovations like concrete.

   This also was a golden age for Roman arts, literature, and technology.

Jesus lived during this time and Stephen, the first Christian martyr was during this time also.  Stephen, one of the seven to share the gospel and care for the widows and orphans.  Saul of Tarsus was at the stoning of Stephen and held the coats of the men casting stones to kill Stephen.

  Anyway, I felt this was a very interesting study.  Thank you for reading. Love y'all. Have a super day, be safe, and remember Jesus first!!!!

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny