Worry! Do not worry about tomorrow! Mathew 6:33-34

Hello fine people!  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!

   Since we are human, and we like to stress and worry about things, with some thriving off of drama today's study may be good for you.  It is for me.

   Matthew 6: ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

   What do you do with worries?  Hold on to them?  Let them build up inside of you? Create frustration and anger in you?  Plus, how often do we worry about what may take place tomorrow and stress over it?

    I am quite guilty of failing to take things to God in prayer; then be still and wait for an answer.  Oh, yeah, we can give excuses like I needed the answer NOW!  We tend to forget that God knows what has happened, is happening, and will happen.  We think HE NEEDS OUR HELP!  Well, HE DOES NOT NEED OUR HELP!!

   Look at verse 33 "seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness and what????????

   All these things will be given to you as well.  God will take care of what is going on in our life.  No, we don't just sit as couch potatoes, but we also don't try to take matters in our hands.  Seek God and his wisdom.

  George Mueller said, "The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."

  Billy Graham tells us that "God is bigger than your problems. Whatever worries press upon you today, put them in God's hands and leave them there."

  E.  Stanley Jones said "Worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil."

  Thought to end with: Work hard, play harder, and if you have any worries, take them to God - and leave them there."

  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

The greatest of these is LOVE! 1 Corinthians 13:13

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  What is love?  So often we say I just love my new car; or I love to eat at XXX; or I love---I love---I love!  Do you really love these items.  If so, your heart and you are misguided.

   Love, first should be for Jesus Christ, who shed His blood for us on the cross. Next, love should be for our family and our neighbor.  Love should not be an item we just toss out hereto and fro.

   In John 13:34 we care COMMANDED(not asked) to love one another as Christ loved us.  That is a huge request, however, as Christians we need to follow it in obedience. In my opinion, we can love, maybe not like, but love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

   Often love is easy as for our children, grand-children, spouse, etc..  But God makes it clear we are to love those easy to love as well as the "unlovable" ones we encounter.

   1 Corinthians 13: ¹³ There are three things that remain—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

    As Billy Graham once said, "Suppose that I understand the Bible. And suppose that I am the greatest preacher who ever lived!  The Apostle Paul wrote that unless I have love, "I am nothing"".

   C. H. Spurgeon said "Carve your name on hearts, not on marble".

Today, be creative in the way you tell someone "I love you".  Please remember, LOVE, as is with laughter, is highly contagious.  Spread your "love disease" today. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Have you listened for God today? BE STILL! Psalm 46:10

Good morning my fair weather (and foul weather) Christian friends. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

  We often hear Psalm 46:10a quoted - be still and know that I am God.  The question is do we?  If you will rise early in the morning, (before the sun comes up) step outside, listen and maybe even take a walk you will experience God everywhere.

  In the rustling of the leaves on the trees, the birds greeting the new day, 4 legged animals scurrying around, the stillness and serenity of the air, God is there.  We don't have to look for him, he is ever present.

  However, we live in a world of noise and forget to look for or appreciate these beautiful and wonderful moments.  We get up, start the coffee or tea, turn on the radio or television, and begin our day with NOISE!  Oh, what is a person to do?

   First, plan - plan to spend a few minutes each morning with God. The news can wait, ESPN can wait, even the coffee or tea can wait.  Just blot out the noise at the start of each day with a silent time.  When we are STILL we can sense the presence of God. Oh, what a wonderful feeling that is, to be present with God wherever you are.

   Charles Stanley says it well: "Quiet time is giving God your undivided attention for a predetermined amount of time for the purpose of talking to and hearing from HIM!"

   Remember, the noise and distractions are the devils tools to move us away from our quiet time, away from our communication with God.  That is the devils strength - your strength is in the LORD and can overcome.

   Psalm 46: ¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

  Love you all. In Christ's Love and Grace

 Johnny

Strength from God Isaiah 40:31

Good morning all.  It is a great Sunday morning to which many Christians consider the Sabbath.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

   ISAIAH 40: ³¹ But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

  The original "energizer" (bunny) is God.  God is there to give us renewed strength. Renewed strength to do His bidding.  Many times we become tired, discouraged, or possibly even downtrodden; when we reach this state we can draw power needed to recharge our spiritual batteries from God.

   When the disciples returned from their mission and were tired, Jesus said let us retreat to a quiet place. They went to "recharge" their batteries.  Many times we become so wrapped up in "our" daily agenda we forget God.  Our job is to let God do His work without undue interference. Take time to 'recharge'. Yet, oftentimes, because of our human stubborn nature we overload our schedule and allow ourselves to become exhausted or frustrated, and in turn forget God.

   Call on Jesus to renew your spirit; pray for wisdom to know when to rest.  Just a word of advice:  When you are tired, fearful, or discouraged, God can restore your strength.  Remember:

  "The same God who empowered Samson, Gideon, and Paul seeks to empower my life and your life, because GOD hasn't changed".  Bill Hybels

  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Spiritual growth - 2 Peter 3:18

God morning and GOD morning to all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

   Spiritual growth - and just what does this mean and why should we?  God does not intend for us to stand still; HE wants us to keep moving and growing.  Our life should be filled with praise, prayer, and spiritual growth.

    2 Peter 3: ¹⁸ But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

   Many times the lessons we learn in life are painful and hard to understand and cope with.  During these times we must have courage and be patient.  But, you say, if God is a loving God why would he allow these things to happen to me?  Good question.

   You have seen the child of whom the parents do everything for, give them their hearts desires, and that child wants for nothing.  What happens?  That child is self-centered, arrogant, and is demanding.  What has this child learned?  He/she has shown no growth from childhood to adulthood. It is all about him or her.

   We are children of God, HE wants us to grow and mature to be good stewards of what he has given us.  If we are given everything, or just handed everything as the child mentioned above we will not grow and mature as Christians.

  Because of the lots cast before us, God keeps remaking us until we are the citizens of the church of Jesus Christ that HE wants us to be.  He gives us direction, perspective, wisdom and courage.  When should we accept these spiritual gifts?  Right now, this very moment.

   We are not as mature Christians as we should be and when an event is cast before us maybe we should ask, "what lesson is God trying to teach me"?  Then learn from it.

  George Mueller once said "The vigor of our spiritual lives will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our lives and in our thoughts".

   "God's plan for our guidance is for us to grow gradually in wisdom before we get to the crossroads". Bill Hybels

   Let me leave you with these thoughts - no matter what level of spiritual maturity you have, you can always grow; AND, show your children the way to know God better by daily devotions, prayer, and witnessing.

  Again, 2 Peter 3: ¹⁸ But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Spirit in you--- Hot or Cold?

Good morning all. I bid you a good day with God's speed.  May all your thoughts and actions bring honor and glory to God. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

   When thoughts enter your mind do you just pass them off or think about them?  Sometimes crazy far out thoughts like why am I good looking instead of rich. LOL Then other thoughts that lead to deeper meanings and understanding.  For example, how often have you read a verse in the Bible and it was "just a verse".  Then one day you read it again and suddenly realized - wow - this is powerful.  I believe the reason for that is we may not be ready for the knowledge of that verse in the past, but our growth has moved us to the point we are ready to read and understand.

   We, as Christians, have accepted Jesus Christ to be our saviour and son of the only 1 true and living God.  When Jesus left the disciples He left the Holy Spirit here to guide and direct us- John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

   Psalm 31: ⁵ Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

   We need to commit our spirit.  So often we treat the spirit like our water taps. We have hot and cold knobs; a combination of these creates warm. When we commit our spirit to God, we should be turning on ONLY the HOT TAP!  Doth it not say in the Bible be either hot or cold, but if lukewarm you will be spewed from his mouth? (Revelation 3:15-17)

  In our daily walk it is important, in my opinion, to ask God to give us what Elisha asked of Elijah, to double our portion of spirit. 2 Kings 2: ⁹ And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

  Elijah said if you see the sign it will be given.  Maybe we need to pray, asking for a double portion of the spirit and then be alert to see the sign.  If we don't receive a double portion, then our time is yet to come.

   I know that I need to do as David requested in Psalm 51: ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

   I have not committed the acts David did, however, in my own sinful live I have committed sinful acts.  It is time for a clean heart and a renewed spirit monthly, weekly, daily, and each moment that we are allowed to traverse this world.

   To conclude, the Spirit is like a river running through us, but we have it funneled into hot and cold water taps because we choose to be in control.  Which tap will you open today?  Hot, Cold, or combination (lukewarm)?  Do you want control? OR, do you want God to be in total control?  Hot or Cold?

   Thank you for listening/reading today.  May your day be blessed beyond your wildest dreams. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace,

Johnny

Acquaintances- passing friend - social friend? Hmmm!

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

    What  is the difference between the three - acquaintance - passing friend - and social friend?

   According to webster an acquaintance is a person whom one knows slightly.  However, in the Bible it seems that acquaintance has a different meaning. Psalm 88: ⁸ Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them:

   Jeremiah 20: ¹⁰ For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my acquaintances watched for my halting,

   Luke 23: ⁴⁹ And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

   Here you have King David, Jeremiah all speaking out; and then Luke telling about Jesus.

   So, after reading these verses, let me ask you - is there a difference between the three?  Really?

   Obviously, to me, an acquaintance is someone I have met causally but not regularly, yet aware of them.

     A passing friend is one whom I would share a glass or tea or cup of coffee while engaged in idol rhetoric.

     A social fiend is one whom I know and do things with, i.e. dinner, lunch, go to each others homes, and basically know more intimately.

   The reason I ask this is to stimulate the fact that we may not take the time to have a better relationship with others.  A passing friend, or to some may call an acquaintance of mine who lived in our subdivision recently passed away.  We would visit relatively often and shared a common interest - golf.

   For years we have talked about playing together but had yet to do so when he passed.  We did make plans to play when he returned from his trip.

•   So often, is it not easier to engage in idle  rhetoric than actually take action?  How often do you say, ‘hey, we need to get together some time’, or ‘yes, let’s do that –call me’  and even  the big LIE ‘ I will pray for you’ and not really be totally sincere.  Maybe sincere in thought and intentions, but you know what they say about intentions – they pave the road to …………..

•

   I would encourage you to take time to actually engage in doing something with an “acquaintance” and experience the joy of a new friendship or possibly renew a friendship.  Maybe it is family or long time friends you need to step forward in doing something with them – then DO IT! 

   I do hope you find my wanderings understandable.  Don't just talk about doing something with an "acquaintance" or "passing friend" - make an effort. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny