Are you a fruit bearing vine, OR, a vine to be thrown away? John 15:1-17

 Hello fellow Americans and Christians,

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

  Jesus first wants us to accept Him as our LORD and savior; then LOVE the LORD GOD and our Neighbor.  But, also, Jesus wants us to produce fruit for the glory and kingdom of GOD.  Are you?  Take a self evaluation and see if you are working for GOD or for YOURSELF!

  Great question to ask yourself and do a self evaluation, then let JESUS change your life!  Take time to read and meditate on John 15, about Jesus being the true vine and us being the branch.  

John 15: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

It is time to let JESUS really, actually change your life. Love you all.  

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

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

   I would like to ask for your prayers for the United Methodist Churches in America.  They are going through a big controversy at this time.  Some wish to change the book of discipline and in doing so it deviates from the Bible teachings and God's word.  There are many "Christians" in this world that do not believe the Bible is appropriate for today and wish to may it a pick and choose type book.  Just pick what you want from the Bible and ignore the rest.

Look at Revelation 22: 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.    This should be a sobering thought and statement to many.

There are some "Christians" who do not believe in the virgin birth, AND, think there are more ways to get to heaven than just going through Jesus.

Some people believe the United Methodist Church is against the LBGTQ+, and this is their argument which is false.  This is a diversion tactic to try to get more people to align with their agenda.  The truth is, this is a scriptural concern, not a "gay, transgender" thing.

We have to take care and be certain we study the Bible ourselves, analyze the situation and the so-called "facts" being thrown out to us.  Remember, the end times says there will be false prophets and there are some filling the pulpits at this time in these days.

There are some who are as Thomas in John 14: 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

These may be the people who question everything and have doubts.  However, Jesus tells us in John 14: 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

This should be clear for everyone.  If you maintain any doubts read the Bible at John 14 and see what Jesus says.  In fact, read the book of John and don't just read it, but meditate on the words given to us.  

Just like the song, Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus; He'll change your life.  Thank you for reading today.  Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny 

Good morning everyone!  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!  When you woke this morning did you look out and say thank you LORD for the beauty you have given us?  Did you look in the mirror to see the miracle, the beautiful miracle GOD created in you?   So often we just take things for granted.  I am 73, almost 74 and I complain about my knee hurts, my shoulder hurts, I can't sleep, and on and on.  I am certain my wife is tired of hearing my complaining.    Out of my mouth should come the words more like:  It is a beautiful day; dear, you look great;  I love you more each day; It will be a great day in the LORD, or something beautiful and positive.   Winston Churchill said, "the pessimist see difficulty in every opportunity, but the optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty".  We all have Jesus as our savior and we do need to be optimistic.  If God is with us, then who........................! Yes, you got it!  Yes, we need to be one who shares the love of Jesus; Romans 10: 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!      How are your feet?  Are you bringing good news?Isaiah said in 52: 7 How beautiful on the mountains    are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace,     who bring good tidings,     who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion,     “Your God reigns!”Yes, we must bring good tidings and proclaim salvation.  GOD REIGNS!!!   We need to be as David in the Psalms,sharing the word, and planning to live in the house of the LORD once taken from this earth.  Look at Psalm 27: 4 One thing I ask from the Lord,     this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord     all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord     and to seek him in his temple.This would be magnificent, wonderful, and forever.  Wow!  Take a moment, look in the mirror, thank GOD for the miracle he produced-----YOU; then look outside and see the beauty GOD has laid before us.  Thank you for reading today. Love you all.In Christ's Love and GraceJohnny

LORD OF THE DANCE

History behind Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  BE BLESSED AND FAITHFUL TO GOD TODAY AND EVERYDAY.  Here is a song that I have always thought was beautiful, powerful and spiritual. Look at the words and take time to meditate, then listen to the song sung by 2 young ladies (the link is at the bottom of the page).The WORDS: Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee; holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity! Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee, who wert and art and evermore shalt be. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee, though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see, only thou art holy; there is none beside thee, perfect in power, in love, and purity. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea; holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity! THIS INFORMATION BELOW COMES FROM GODTUBE DOT COM.  This song was written by Reginald Heber, who was born in 1783 to a wealthy family.  Here is the story behind this song: Reginald attended Oxford and won several awards for poetry before he became rector for his father's church. Reginald become Bishop of Calcutta in 1823 and served his people for three years before dying of stroke. "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty," read Reginald Heber's widow. Among her dead husband's papers she found the words of one of the most powerful and beautiful hymns ever written. But years would pass before the lines took their place in worship services around the world.In 1861, a publisher rediscovered the words. He asked John Bacchus Dykes to furnish him with a tune. It made sense for him to turn to John who had a natural aptitude for music (he graduated with a music master that same year). John had been a church organist since he was ten-years-old and was co-founder and president of the Cambridge University Musical Society.John accepted the words. Within thirty minutes he wrote the tune "Nicea," which carried the praise of the Trinity. https://youtu.be/39tazCROrtU

Have you thought about this? Thoughts about LBGTQ+

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

We are blessed by God and we need to act like we are children of God.

   Okay, you wonder about the subject so let me share with you what was crossing my mind when I woke up this morning.  First, Jesus' commandments

:Matthew 22: 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

   First we love God how?   Yes, heart, soul and mind.  Then second what?  Love your neighbor as yourself.  But, you and I NEED TO LOVE OURSELVES.  If we don't, that is a major problem.

So, where do we go from here?

  Now, about the subject line.......We are all sinners and are dirty in sin, EXCEPT, for accepting Jesus as our savior which cleans us white as snow.  Right?  Do you understand where I am coming from?    

   Okay, We do not like the homosexual, the transgender, or any of the letters above.  Wait, they are our neighbor and we must LOVE them, not show disdain and hatred toward them.  But I cannot accept that life style.  You don't have to accept the life style, just love the sinner.  Now let me put this more in perspective.

   We love our neighbor----remember this.  The alcoholic that has turned from his/her ways----is no longer a drinker----we accept him/her.  So we take in an alcoholic who is no longer a practicing alcoholic.

   We love our neighbor ---- the drug addicted person who gets high on meth, crack, or any other mind altering drug and has turned from his/her drug torn ways.  He/she is no longer addicted, is no longer a practicing druggie. 

   Now, what about the LBGTQ+ person who still feels that way, but is no longer  a practicing homosexual/transsexual person.  Isn't this person the same as the above?  No longer practicing.  Aren't we obligated to Love them as they are our neighbor?

   The alcoholic does not preach drink; the druggie does not preach take drugs; and if the homosexual/transsexual is no longer practicing and is not preaching this lifestyle, can't we still love him/her and welcome them into the family of God?

  The argument that will come up is well these people don't always turn from their ways and sin daily. (first, how do we know?) I am here to ask you--how often do you commit the same sin over and over.  Men, does not lust pierce your soul often?  Women, if it is not fact, do you gossip often?  Hmmm!  Just food for thought.

    I would welcome your rebuttal and comments.  If I know a practicing or non-practicing alcoholic, druggie, or homosexual my job, as a child of GOD, is to love them and share with them the greatness of GOD and how to be in a relationship with Jesus, rather than the world.

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

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Are we promised a life of prosperity? 2 Timothy 3:10-12; Philippians 1:27-29

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

  Is life with Christ a gentle, breezy, pleasant walk through a trail in the woods where the fragrant of beautiful flowers loom?  Well, lets look at some scriptures.  Yesterday Pastor gave an excellent sermon on this and I will try to relate some of what was conveyed.

  Paul is talking to Timothy, Paul's son in faith, and sharing this message. Read 10-11 first:

2 Timothy 3: 10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 

    In Lystra Paul had been stoned and left for dead which is only 1 incident of many Paul endured. Then Paul continues on to tell Timothy the LORD rescued him, and then something that relates to us as well in verse 12.

12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

  Paul told Timothy that people who obey God and live for Christ will be persecuted.  Don't be surprised when people misunderstand, criticize, and even try to hurt you because of what you believe and how you live. Don't give up. Continue to live as you know you should.  God is the only one you need to please.  We cannot be as the University of Michigan Medical school students did and walk out on a Pro-Life speaker.  Only a handful did, and these are people who are supposed to help preserve life. Wowsers!!!

 We must live as citizens of heaven  Paul encourages us, the believers, to be united, stand side by side, and fight together for the faith. 

Now take a look at Philippians 1:  27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.  

  Paul considered it a privilege to suffer for Christ.  We do not by nature consider suffering a privilege. Suffering for Christ has these benefits: (1) it takes our eyes off earthly comforts; (2) it weeds out the superficial believers; (3) ones who endure experience strengthened faith; (4) and it serves as an example of those who may follow us.

   When we suffer in our faith it does not mean we did anything wrong; it actually shows that we are being faithful. Suffering does, indeed, build character.  

29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

    Are you willing, today, to suffer for Christ?  This is a difficult question to ponder and consider.  Our knee-jerk reaction is YES; but, when it comes down to the actual time or situation........Will we????  Thanks for reading.  Our pastor is a great inspiration if you have a chance to visit.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny