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