Up to a 30 day challenge? Hmmm! Matthew 5:48 Perfection

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

   A question I asked my wife this morning:  "Can we be perfect?"  Matthew 5::48 tells us" You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

    Does this mean I'll sin no more?  I'll be free of sin as in thoughts, words and actions?  Will I be perfect for all to see?  Hmmmm!  Thoughts to ponder.

    Here is my opinion and what I believe to be true.  The closer I walk with Jesus, the better I follow God's commands, then the closer I come to perfect .  Already we are made perfect in Christ, yet we are not perfect.

    The day I will sin no more, be perfect, will be the day I am with the LORD.  To me that means physical death, but a large SPIRITUAL BIRTH!!

    Here is what a comment by Jamie Wilson says:  "When Jesus refers to being perfect like our heavenly Father, He is inviting us to reflect on God’s love, mercy, and righteousness. He sets the ultimate example for us to emulate in our daily lives. Throughout the Bible, God reveals Himself as merciful, just, and loving. By becoming more like Him, we can embody these traits ourselves. This means that instead of seeking perfection in a traditional sense, we should focus on cultivating a heart that seeks God’s righteousness and displays His attributes to the world around us."

   If we love like Jesus, show the world a Jesus attitude and type of personality then we will become closer to perfect.  What say you?

  Thank you for reading today.  Oh, a 30 day challenge.  If you would be interested in sharing scriptures for 30 days of June and put them on my blog please let me know. We can do this with just me and you, or a whole group of people.  Look forward to hearing from you. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Storms we go through!! Take heart - Deuteronomy 31:6 ; Nahum 1:7 ; Psalm 34:17-18

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

    

   Many have troubles, aka storms, then comes the good times, aka storm is gone.

We can call it peaks and valleys, or whatever you prefer.

    I have friends who have spouses, children, family and friends who are in dire need of prayer.  People with cancer, infections, separated from family loved ones, financial, jobs, or just life itself.  So often we feel like we are in the bottomless pit with no way out.

    Some take the wrong way out, but we must endure as we know that God is on our side. God is LARGE AND IN CHARGE!!!

   Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV) Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your GOD who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

     Nahum 1::7 (ESV) The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.

     Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV) When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

      Today it is raining, some say gloomy.  We can take what Winston Churchill once said:  The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.  The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

     So where do you sit today?  Do you see the difficulty or opportunity?  Thank you for reading today. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Psalm 103

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. Thank you Jesus for all you do in our lives.

   Now is the time for prayer. Pray for your families, neighbors, friends, our President and his cabinet, America and the world.

  Why do bad things happen to good people?  The age old question.  If I knew I would share it, however, I do know that God answers prayers.  Not always how we, mortal men, want it. God sees the big picture and no one wants to hear that but it is true.

   I have a couple of friends that need your prayers desperately. There is illness that is threatening and we know God can heal. Please say a prayer for this unspoken request.

  I liked the follow Psalm, I hope you do as well.

Psalm 103

Of David.

1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Thank you for loving God, your prayers, and faithfulness. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

What is going on in this world? Luke 20:9-19

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

The world is going topzy-curvy.  Common sense is out the door.  I say a cartoon that said:  I did not say your were stupid, but when I asked you to spell ORANGE and then you said the FRUIT or the COLOR.  I was really caught off guard.

Isn't this like what we are seeing in America.  Lack of just plain common sense. Bonhoffer in the 1930's in Germany said the people must stand up for the cross, for Jesus and not let politics take over.

WEll, it seems to me that the current president is trying to bring the corruption in government down.  Getting rid of the excess spending and cut out the deals being made under the table.  How could politicians go into office middle class or upper class and then in a few years come out as multi-millionaires?  Hmmm!

In Luke 20:9-19 you can read about the servants in the vineyard who thought they could take over from the owner, kill the son, and then inherit the whole vineyard.   Take time to read it.

It relates well to where we are today.  The Liberals, the woke, the corrupt are not wanting anything to be uncovered as it is lining their pockets.  It is time we stepped back and turned all our attention to what Jesus did for us on the cross. We need to get back to basics of life in our churches and as told in Matthew - go forth and spread the good news of salvation.

Thank you for reading my rant and concern. Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

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Holy Spirit Acts 1:4-5

 Good afternoon all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good. HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!

  I thought I would touch on this a moment, the Holy Spirit.  It is always interesting to hear what people say about the Holy Spirit.

   I was confused about some of this as well.  The Holy Spirit was, is, and will be; just as we refer to God as being past, present, and future.

  In Genesis God said "let us make man in OUR image."  When God said our, I believe He is talking about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

  So the Holy Spirit has been around a long time.  But it is curious that when you talk to other Christians from other denominations their take on the Holy Spirit varies.  

  Some say you have to ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and it is separate from accepting Jesus as LORD and savior.

  Others say when you profess the name of Jesus and accept Jesus as your personal savior you receive the Holy Spirit at that time.

   There are yet others that believe you don't have the Holy  Spirit baptism unless you can speak in tongues.

   So who is right?  God is right and here is what Jesus in the Bible says;

 in Acts 1: 4 On one occasion, while he (Jesus) was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

  Then if you go on in Acts 2 the Bible says in verses 3  4;  the Holy Spirit coming on the disciples and they began speaking in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

   Some believe that tongues was only for Pentecost and it is no longer.  Hmmm!  Some food for thought.  I know what I believe to be true; let me hear from you.

  Thank you for reading today.  Love y'all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Three young Jewish men were thrown into a fire! Daniel 3

 Hello and good morning all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

YOU ARE BLESSED TO BE A CHILD OF GOD!!!

  These 3 young men offended the leader.  Their names are Mishael, Hananiah, and Azariah.  They were to be cast into a fiery furnace and burned alive. 

Well, we know these young men as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 

       King Nebuchadnezzar said to them is it true you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I set up?.

    And they replied, "we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand O King".

  

  What was interesting is when they were thrown into the fiery furnace nothing happened to them.  What?  How could that happen?

   While in the fire the King, yes ,you know who I am talking about, King Nebuchadnezzar.  Suddenly he (the king) said didn't we throw 3 in the fire, I see 4 and they are what????  Just walking around.  (we know the fourth is Jesus)

  Then, of course, things changed and your can read more about this in Daniel chapter 3.

  The point here is that no matter the circumstances we are in, God is with us. Whether it be addiction, death, finances, marriage, children, job, church, a fiery furnace, wherever or whatever, all we have to do is STOP, be STILL, and LISTEN.

   God is large and in charge and if we will just let Him, he will take care of all our situations.  Our tendency is to take control ourselves and then ask God to bail us out.

  Please take time today to spend just 5 minutes alone with God. It may be in your car, lunch, bathroom, walking, or wherever.  Give God some time. He will take you out of the situation you are in!!

  Love y'all and thank you for being patient and reading with me.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

 

God is headmaster of missions! Matthew 28:19-20

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

  God is a missionary.  Yes, His chosen people were the Israelites, however, He sent Jesus into the world to be the salvation for mankind.  This means Jews and Gentiles alike.  

   God is God and we are to have no other images before us.  Whether it be an asherah pole (a sacred tree) or Baal, we are only to give GOD the glory and reverence.  (this includes letting our material things become gods)

   When Jesus came, he did wonders and was it to save people?  Partly, however, the purpose was to give GOD the GLORY!!

  When Jesus came he gave glory to God in several ways.  Openly giving God the credit for miracles such as feeding the large crowd with a few loaves of bread and fish.  But Jesus also gave credit to God through his obedience and teachings. 

   This is why I say God is a missionary; HE wants all people to be saved, Jews and Gentiles, and HE has commissioned us to be HIS missionaries in the field. God is the headmaster of missions, Jesus is the teacher, and as students we are to be obedient and share the good news.

   I pray that this all makes sense to you who are reading this.  May today, and each day going forth be your personal mission field and share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

   Matthew 28:  19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny