But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, for it was very large. Mark 16:4

 An open door is a welcoming sight. A man opens the car door for his wife, an open door to a building welcomes people inside, an open door to a restroom is always a relief for those who need it, and a business whose management has an “open door” policy assures employees their voice is valued.

 On the third day after Jesus’ death, Mary Magdalene, and Mary (mother of James and Salome) went to His tomb to put spices on His body.  To their amazement, the door to the tomb was open. Upon entry, they were met by an angel who announced that Jesus was no longer in the tomb, but had risen from death and is alive. Although their initial response was sadness because Jesus was gone, they soon witnessed Him, confirming that He truly was alive and well.

 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelations 3:20

 On this Easter Sunday, we have much to celebrate about the open door to the tomb of Jesus. He is no longer there, but living in and through His followers. Today, Jesus stands at the door of every human being, knocking on the door to their heart, desiring to come in and be a part of their life. Is He knocking on your door today? Don’t delay, open your heart to Him and discover the beautiful things He offers you as a member of the family of God. Happy Easter everyone!

 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

 Religious holidays can become fuzzy to those who aren’t engaged in spiritual worship, especially at Easter. From an Easter bunny who lays chocolate eggs and puts them in a basket to “Good Friday” and “sunrise Sunday” and the cross, no wonder people are confused, and that is exactly Satan’s intention, to confuse people on the real meaning of Easter (and let’s not forget Christmas with the birth of Jesus Christ). For now, lets talk about Easter.

 You see, the one and only true God of this universe is holy and righteous. Everything He does is right. We as humans are bent towards sin (doing wrong). Because of our sin nature, God required man to make atonement for sin by sacrificing certain animals. Their shed blood was the atonement. Can you imagine the effort it took to perform this ritual? Here comes Jesus!

 God’s Son, Jesus Christ, came to earth in the form of a human (through the virgin birth of Mary). He lived 33 years, leading a group of disciples and instructing people on the way to live a righteous life and how God thinks. Through a series of orchestrated events by God, Jesus Christ was crucified on a Roman cross to make atonement for the sins of mankind (Good Friday). This replaced the requirement of animal sacrifice. Once dead, He was placed in a tomb and it was sealed shut. On day 3 (Easter Sunday), Jesus rose from the dead, He left the tomb empty, and now sits at the right hand of God. Why did God do this?

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

 God loves you, He created you, and He wants you to join Him in Heaven when you die. Because of your sin nature, that’s not possible. Only by believing what Jesus Christ did (died for your sins and rose back to life) and asking Him to come into your heart, forgive your sins and save you, you will be eternally saved. Once saved, it’s important to study scripture to know how to live that life God has called you to live.

 I encourage you to attend a church service Sunday morning so you can enter God’s house and hear the message of Salvation (saving your soul), so you can have life, and have it more abundantly in Christ! Happy Easter!

 If you are ready to receive Jesus Christ into your life, you can pray something like this…

 Dear God, I know I am a sinner and deserve Hell. But I believe in what Jesus Christ did on my behalf. I ask for your forgiveness of my sins; I want Jesus to come into my heart and save me and live for you each day. Please go with me daily, instructing me how to live a more abundant and purposeful life so I can join you in Heaven when I die. Thank you for saving my soul.

 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

 Have you ever spoken to someone who shared the same story twice, maybe even multiple times, over the course of weeks or years knowing that person? Each time they share it, the story is the same, and you just take it in like it was the first time hearing it. As I get older, I seem to do that a lot and my wife reminds me “we’ve already discussed this topic”. My response is the story is important to me, so it’s worth sharing more than once! 😊

 How often, in your time of confession to God, do you bring up past sins that you’ve already asked forgiveness? Those “big sins” that come with a lot of shame and guilt seem to hang over us and we can’t seem to ask for enough forgiveness.  

Psalm 103:12 tells us that once we’ve confessed sin, God forgives and forgets them. When we bring them back up, it’s like reminding God that we failed all over again and He’s probably thinking “do you have anything new to share?”. Yea, we’ve done some pretty bad stuff in life and those sins are awful, according to our standard; but we’ve got to let go of the past, so we can be free from guilt and shame, which puts a damper on our relationship with God and robs us of the joy God want’s us to experience.

 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

 It’s hard to debate the inspired word of God. 1 John 1:9 says He is faithful and just to forgive our sins when we confess them. It’s a one and done deal. As you go through life, ask for His forgiveness, repent, then continue with a joyful attitude because His Son paid your sin debt and doesn’t want you to wallow in your past. God’s forgotten your past, so should you!

 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

 Throughout the morning this thought kept coming back up in my mind: “Why do we have to suffer in this life?”. Broken marriages, failed health, loss of a loved one, financial ruin, homes destroyed by fire or nature, the list is endless, but each one brings pain, emotional suffering and turmoil. All of this makes you question why God allows us to go through such painful experiences.

 The truth is, life is fragile and things happen beyond our control, leaving us to turn to someone who can provide strength and endurance to press on when all hope seems to be gone. That One person is Jesus Christ. All throughout the New Testament you read about the many miracles He performed while on earth. Healing the sick, the blind, the lame, raising people from the dead (including Himself). There is one very powerful account of a woman who had an issue with bleeding for 12 years and simply touched the hem of His garment and was healed (click here for the story).

Even today, Jesus is still healing people and mending situations as people reach out to Him through prayer requests. Sometimes He answers in ways we don’t understand, like the death of a loved one, which beyond our vision, that loved one is completely healed in the presence of Jesus Christ.

 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10

 Whatever your current situation, reach out to Jesus Christ in prayer and have faith and trust that His answer will be in your best interest and for the one or situation you are praying. He loves you beyond anything you can ever imagine. Your faith in Him is the anchor that can carry you through each and every challenge life brings. Trust Him today! God bless!   

 For your Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. Isaiah 54:5

 Throughout the bible, Jesus Christ is called the Bridegroom of His people, those who are children of God (Christians or Disciples). Consider it a union between husband and wife with all the parameters within the bonds of a traditional marriage. In case you haven’t attended a wedding ceremony lately, let me refresh you on wedding vows typically repeated by the bride and groom.

 “I, _____, take thee, _____, to be my wedded wife (husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, til death do us part." 

 Does this vow resemble your relationship to Jesus Christ? Are you continually faithful unto Him? Does your love for Him remain steady, even in times of difficulty? Does your love for Him remain steady, even when it feels like He isn’t present in your life? Scripture makes it very clear that our Lord and Savior never abandons us, even when we fail to live up to His standards. His love is “unconditional” in nature. Can you say the same is true for you?

 As a child of God, I believe it’s necessary for us to recite these vows on a regular basis, to remind us (me included) that no matter what happens in life, we are bound to God through Jesus Christ. There are many things and people in this world that vie for our attention and if left unchecked, can cause you to turn away from God and pursue pleasures outside the bond of your relationship with Him. That’s why it’s so important to stay in the word every day, pray without ceasing, and never forget the great sacrifice He provided you, so you can commune with Him, just as you would your spouse. Maybe today is a good day to renew your vows to God. Blessings!

 Jesus said to His disciples, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. John 21:10-11

 Far too often you hear stories of people who’ve come upon great wealth, either through an inheritance or winning the lottery, and within a short amount of time they spend it all, leaving them completely broke. So broke, they are actually worse off than they were before having wealth. That’s the way of the world. Money is nice and we believe it will solve all of our problems, but truthfully, it has ruined many lives. 1 Timothy 6:10 says “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

 In today’s verses, John 21:10-11, John accounts one of the last recorded miracles Jesus performed before ascending into Heaven. After a night of fishing with no luck, Jesus instructs His disciples to cast their net on the right side of the boat. Wham, they hit the jackpot!! A net full of fish, which they pulled to shore. At first, they were unaware of who asked about their fishing, but once they caught the fish, they knew it had to be Jesus.

 The main point of this blog I want you to understand, that net was full of fish, yet it did not break. That is exactly how Jesus works when He blesses His children. He might provide you with abundant blessings, but they are never intended to break you; physically, emotionally, even financially. Jesus knows exactly what you need and provides just the right amount to carry you through to His next miracle (or blessing). You can honor Him by being responsible with whatever it is: a new job, a new relationship, a new home, a new vehicle, maybe even an unexpected deposit into your bank account. Whatever it is, it’s meant to help you and you can show your gratitude by giving thanks to Him and using it wisely. What has He blessed you with today?

 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is for your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” John 16:7

Technology has provided us an amazing thing, Facetime. Instantaneous communication through audio and visual tools, makes it possible to view and talk to friends and loved ones, just as if they were right there with you. Over the years I’ve taken advantage of this wonderful technology to communicate with family (and my grandchildren) who live away from me. Although the physical touch of a hug is not available (at least at this time), the visual and audio are, and it’s great to see them when Facetime happens.

Jesus’ disciples, who faithfully followed Him for over 3 years, were saddened that He had to leave them, but promised His Holy Spirit (The Helper), who would come to them to provide wisdom, conviction, and motivation to stay on the narrow path of righteousness. As a Christian, I can verify the Holy Spirit is alive and well, as He has provided me much wisdom throughout the years of my life, encouraged me to stay the course, and (as crazy as it might sound) has spoken to me clearly to provide proof of His existence. It’s comforting to know the God of this universe resides in my life and one day I will be united with Jesus Christ in Heaven.

Friend, God is not too far for you to communicate with Him, to share your burdens and frustrations, to ask for His help, seek wisdom for a certain situation, and most of all to experience the existence of God, just as I have done throughout my life’s journey with Him. Call out to Him today, in faith, and you too will experience the presence of God through His Holy Spirit living in your life. God bless!  

 “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14

As a child of God, you have the privilege to communicate with Him through prayer. Knowing that, have you ever asked yourself what you should pray for? Can I pray for God to bless me financially? Can I ask God to find me a person to marry? Can I ask God to help me overcome a certain sin or bad habit? Can I ask God to heal my pet? These are good questions and if you think about it, you’ll probably come to the conclusion your concerns aren’t worthy of God’s help. Let’s explore this thought.

First off, you need to consider your position in Christ. You are a child of the king, and what king wouldn’t want what’s best for his child? He loves you and is concerned about every detail of your life, including the health of your pets. I believe Jesus provided the answer for us in John 14:13-14. If God can be glorified in your request, then He will provide the appropriate response.

You might ask then, how does healing my pet glorify God? When you bring a concern to God through prayer, you release your worries or concerns to Him, thus reinforcing your faith in Him. The expression of your faith glorifies God. And once He responds, your willingness to share the answered prayer with others creates awareness of God working in your life and hopefully will encourage others to follow suit.

Faith and witness are essential ingredients for effective prayer requests. They glorify God when you acknowledge Him in your moment of troubles, and is amplified when your share your story with friends and family for what God has done in your life, including the answered prayer of your pet. What concerns you, is concerning to God and when you bring Him into the equation, the outcome is His perfect response and glory to the King of Kings. God bless!

 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Through it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3

As I was driving home last night, I saw a family walking out of a restaurant, the kids ran to the car and immediately started pulling at the door handles, trying to get the door to open. Mom and dad hadn’t unlocked the doors yet, but those kids kept pulling and pulling….I thought they were going to tear the handle off the car door. Then, I had a thought.

As humans, we have an idea of how life should look for us; that perfect job, that wonderful relationship, that bank account that meets our every need, and a positive health report from the doctor. In reality, life doesn’t always line up with that vision of success, yet we do are darndest to open doors of opportunity that God never intended for us to pursue. I speak from experience on this matter and I can tell you the damage of opening a locked door can take months, even years to repair the damage caused by the greed and desires outside of God’s perfect will. As I sit here and type, I think back to the days when I went after the things that I thought were good for me, and God had to intervene in a miraculous way to keep me from completely going off the deep end. Enough on my failures.

The Lord is good to those who wait upon Him, to the soul who seeks Him. Lamentations 3:25

Maybe you are like those kids, you’ve got a firm grip on the door handle of opportunity, but it just doesn’t seem to budge. As today’s passage says, God knows what is best and knows your heart. Be patient with Him as He works in your life to provide you the best in this life and the eternal life to come. Stay engaged in prayer so you’ll know His plan for your life. When He says “NO”, you’ll know it and don’t pursue anything He objects. Trust me, there is something toxic behind locked doors. God will open those perfect doors at the right time, so wait patiently on Him. God bless!

 

 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” Colossians 4:17

As you ride around your community, you will probably see old abandoned buildings and homes where businesses and families once thrived. But difficult times came and brought an end to what those owners thought to be a dream and vision for their life. I recall seeing the start of a big, beautiful home being built in the country, but it was only half way completed and they simply quit.

Today’s passage in Colossians was meant to encourage Archippus to be attentive to his duties in the church and see them to completion. Evidently, he was lacking in his duties and probably ready to give up. The Apostle Paul in a polite way chastised him, yet, encouraged him to never give up his work which the Lord gave him to do.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Maybe you are like Archippus, you are ready to give up something in which you started: a family, a business, your employment, a home improvement project, or more importantly a responsibility you have in your church. God has gifted each human being with certain tasks and abilities to be used for various reasons, and to glorify Him. Don’t give up when things are difficult, when all hope seems to be lost, or when you feel outnumbered in your faith. God has put you in this world to do the work of the Lord, in your family, business, employment, and projects that have been your vision for a while. Those visions might just be placed there by God. Ask God to help you in the difficult times, so you will see your God given tasks to completion.

And say to ______ (your name), “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Johah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17

 No doubt, the world in which we live these days makes it easy to sin and dishonor God with worldly behavior. The internet and social media appear to be good resources to learn, but they also can steer someone into a sinful lifestyle that is hard to break its addiction. Transportation makes it easy to take us to places we shouldn’t go and do things outside the approval of God. Disobedience brings judgment on people, especially those of faith in God.

 Today’s passage comes from the book of Jonah (Jonah 1- 4). It’s a fascinating book, and I encourage you to read it. Jonah was told by God to go to the city of Nineveh and tell them their evil ways will bring severe judgement upon themselves unless they turn back to God. Jonah didn’t want any part of God’s plan, so he fled by ship to another country. While at sea, God caused a great storm which resulted in Jonah being thrown overboard and swallowed up by a big fish. After three days, Jonah realized his rebellion was not worth it, and cried out to God for repentance. At the end of the book, we read he finally did as God directed, and the people of Nineveh repented and turned back to God.

 What’s fascinating about this story is God never left Jonah’s side. Although Jonah thought he could outrun God, God followed along and provided the painful lesson that disobedience brings judgment, for purpose to turn him back into God’s perfect will.

 Maybe you are on the run from God and living a life unpleasing to Him. The things you are indulging in might be fun for the moment, but sooner or later you will find yourself in an unpleasant situation. Why allow yourself to endure unnecessary pain? Live each day in Godly obedience and God will bless you. NO matter how far off course you might feel, God still remains right by your side, ready to bring you to the shores of His holiness and obedience. The Lord goes where you go, so walk in a manner worthy to receive His blessings.

 ‭‭Ecclesiastes 11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity.

It's often said that if people could go back to their youth with the knowledge gained over the years, they'd probably make different choices in life. I am one of those people, and maybe you are too. But, reality sets in and you realize that there's no going back to redo some awkward, embarrassing and shameful moments. As today's verse says, everything is vanity. 

Whatever your age, you have this moment in time to change the future for the better. Yea, you probably learned some lessons from your past and maybe still today caught up in that repeated cycle of misguided behavior. But God! You can bring all those crazy years of immaturity to the Lord and ask Him to help you put away the foolishness, so you can align your life within the will of God and prepared to receive blessings for your obedience. 

There is nothing more rewarding than an obedient life focused on Godly things and less of the world. God is ready to take your life to the next stage of maturity and spiritual growth. Surrender all for Him today and find your journey more rewarding with the wisdom He provides. God bless. 

 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Romans 8:10

 They say fish and company stink after 3 days. When people come visit and stay a while, your life changes: your routine changes, your spending most likely increases as you entertain and feed guests, your sleep pattern changes, and it’s probably a little more noisy when you have others to talk with. After 3 days of entertaining, you are probably ready for them to leave so you can resume your normal way of life. This is probably true of everyone reading this blog.

 But, what if Jesus Christ came to visit you, how long would you be comfortable Him staying? A few days, a year, maybe your lifetime? Once you accept Jesus Christ, everything about your life changes: the people you connect with, your financial commitments change, your attitude changes towards other people, the things you do in your everyday life change. Many changes occur with this new visitor in your life. How well you accept Jesus into your life shows by the changes you’ve made. If no change is made, you’ve got to ask yourself, have you truly welcomed Him?

 For those who live according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:5

 You know how you live each day. You have a choice to make, who you’ll please. God or your flesh. There are many rewards and blessings when you live for Jesus. God’s Holy Spirit is given to help you in your everyday life. He will nudge you when you are living worldly, and will lead you down the right path, if you choose to follow. He’s in your life for good, why not make Him fell welcome by being the kind of host you’d be to your favorite visitor. God bless!

 For You light my lamp; The Lord my God enlighten my darkness. Psalm 18:28

 Ever had one of those days when it was completely sunny outside, yet inside your heart it was dark and gloomy? There are things and people in our lives that can bring discouragement, frustration, anger, even depression. If the truth be known, Satan has probably authored these negative incidents that has replaced joy and happiness with the darkness you are feeling. I myself try to be positive, but there are some times discouragement is the rule of the day and no matter how bright and beautiful it is outside, it’s storming inside my soul. How can you, and I, bring sunshine back into our life?

 God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

 When the light inside your soul has gone out, it’s time to reignite it once again. How? By coming to God in prayer and reading His word. I can’t tell you how many times the weight of those dark days has brought me to my knees, and every time God illuminates my soul, where those dark clouds are blown away and replaced with His redeeming light. God has a way of healing the brokenness and removes the emotional weight of life’s unfortunate circumstances so you can feel the joy and happiness that you once had just minutes, days, maybe even years ago.

1 John 1:5 says God is light and in Him is no darkness. This verse’s context was written for its readers not to walk in darkness, but it reinstates the fact that NO darkness is in Him.

 No trip to the liquor store, no number of drugs (prescription or illegal), no adulterous affair, no racing down the highway to “blow off steam”, or any other earthly vice will bring light back into your darkened heart, like the light God offers. Maybe everything you’ve tried has not helped, maybe it’s time to come to the source of light, God, and find restoration and illumination from those dark days. Come to the LIGHT! God bless!   

 Have you ever felt like the world was against you? Maybe it’s some people in your workplace, your neighbors, family members, or you’ve committed an unforgettable act and feeling the anger of others toward you. At some point in your life, you will feel the enemy’s attack, making you feel overwhelmed, rejected, hated, lonely, and even guilty. This is one of Satan’s greatest arrows of pain he likes to inflict on God’s children, because it creates a feeling of isolation, hopelessness, and despair. God never intended for His children to experience such overwhelming feelings. Take a moment and read the following verses in Psalms 18, written by David, who was on the run from King Saul and his armies who sought to kill him.

 He sent from above. He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity; But the Lord was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because HE delighted in me. Psalm 18: 16-19

 When David had no one he could trust or turn to for help, He sought after the Lord. And the Lord kept him safe and delivered him from King Saul and his army. My favorite part of this passage is: “He delivered me because He delighted in me”. The Lord delights Himself in those who chose to follow Him in faith. You are like a child to Him, under His care, and He does things behind the scenes to keep you protected. Yea, your enemy can cause all kinds of havoc in your life, but the internal spiritual connection you have with God can never be tainted or disrupted. That connection with God almighty should provide the hope you need to stand tall in the face of your enemies.

 Maybe you are faced with some difficulty at the hands of someone you know, maybe even in your own home. Take your concerns to God in prayer and ask Him to shield you from their attacks, restore your faith, and give you the confidence, knowing you are a child of the King of Kings. God takes delight in you and you are covered by His shielding hand of protection and love. God bless!

 

 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:8

 As you get older, you will unfortunately be witness to your loved ones passing away. As you stand by their bedside for the remainder of their days, hours, and last few breaths, you will see who was truly important in their life. I was not there to see my grandmother pass, but I heard in her final 30 minutes she raised her hands up in the air, as to say “Come get me Jesus”. My mother-in-law, in her final days, called out to God and Jesus. And my sweet mother was silent in her final day, but the peace she had was evident her eternal home was in Heaven with God.

 Today’s passage is a reminder for the child of God, YOU are the Lords. Every moment of your life should be witness to the relationship you have with Him through Jesus Christ. Your life should make a difference to those around you, OTHERS should see your faith in action as a faithful follower of Jesus. As you near your final days, nothing else will matter but Christ and your union with Him.

 From your spiritual birth to your final breath, just know you are the Lord’s and your eternal home will be with Him. Live for Him each and every day!

 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

 One of the most painful emotions is the ending of a relationship. Whether it’s between two friends or a romantic relationship, breaking up is hard and the emotions that follow can last for days, weeks, even a lifetime for some. Over the course of my lifetime, I’ve had to end several relationships because I knew they would not produce a good outcome down the road or God was telling me to dissolve the relationship for the benefit of my spiritual health. After time passed, I clearly saw those difficult decisions were in the best interest of myself and the person on the receiving end of the break up.

 Today’s verse thankfully wasn’t a breakup between Jesus and His disciples, but He had to leave them so the Holy Spirit could become a part of their lives and those who’ve made the decision to accept Jesus Christ into their life. The same power of God resides in the Holy Spirit, and the benefit of His presence in the life of the Disciples was just as great, if not better, than Jesus Christ actually being with them. I’m sure it was hard for the disciples to grasp this concept initially, but overtime they witnessed the power of God working in their life through the Holy Spirit.

 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13

 God laid it upon my heart to share this blog about relationship break ups to state that even though they are painful, nothing happens without a purpose and plan for your life. People come and go in our lives, but there is One true friend, Jesus Christ, who will always be by your side. He laid down His life for you. As a child of God, you have His Holy Spirit living inside you to comfort you when lonely, make you feel loved when you feel abandoned, and provide you hope when your world seems to be crumbling around you. Lean on Jesus Christ for comfort during the difficult time of a break up and realize that He has your best interest at heart. Let them go, so God can fill the painful void with His love to you for all eternity. God bless!

 

 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:1-3  

The word “thrive” means to grow, develop, or be successful, according to the Cambridge dictionary. Many businesses in the health industry incorporate “thrive” in their mission statement, as they help people succeed in life. By following strict healthy living guidelines, people are assured to succeed in life.

 Since the beginning of time, God’s goal for His creation has been for us to thrive in life, by living a life obedient to God’s commands. Although they may seem out of touch in today’s moral standards, they still continue to provide faithful followers a strong foundation for living a fruitful life.

 Sadly, many people have turned away from their faith because God’s limitations appear extreme and choke out the “fun of life”. But that fun only lasts a short while, then comes the consequences of free living: sexually transmitted diseases, addictions, legal troubles, broken relationships and so many other painful things.  Many who’ve fallen for this smoke-screen of fun live with regrets, sometimes the rest of their life. Maybe you fall into this category. Well, I’ve got good news!

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

 1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Repentance is a wonderful thing and when you surrender yourself to God, He takes your brokenness and heals it from the heart outward. Yea, your troubles may still follow you from free living, but the confidence you have knowing you are forgiven, brings peace and comfort as you live out the remainder of your days in obedience to God.

 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know; that though I was blind, now I see”. John 9:25

 When Jesus Christ entered the world, biblical scholars didn’t know how to receive Him. He came to fulfill the prophecies in the Old Testament and the Pharisees (who lived by the Jewish religious laws) tried to discredit Jesus and His healing power.

 Today’s verse comes from the story about Jesus healing a blind man, on the Sabath. Man, did that shake up those Pharisees and their religious laws and man-made policies. They accused Jesus of being a sinner for healing on the Sabath. They doubted the healing of this man’s sight, so much so they questioned him over and over (John 9:13-34), and even brought in the man’s parents to confirm he was actually blind from birth. All the facts revealed he had been healed by Jesus Christ. Well, the Pharisees wouldn’t have it and they cast this man out.

 Moving through time to today. Many to this day still don’t see the evidence of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Even though the evidence is real and the truth before them, they are blinded to the truth. Maybe you are in that group of people and have doubts about God’s existence. I challenge you to take time to read the bible. As you read, keep an open mind to the realities of God’s love for mankind and what Jesus Christ did for you and all of mankind by making intercession for our sins. If you still doubt, just look around you at the beauty of this world and the intricacies of your body. God created you in His image (Genesis 1:26)

 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

 Belief in God doesn’t come from what you see, but by faith in what you don’t’ see. My prayer is God will open your eyes to the truth of His existence and His calling to save your soul. God bless!

 

 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, they go down into the inmost body. Proverbs 18:8

 Let’s be honest, everyone loves a good story, especially if it’s about someone’s life. Gossip is rampant these days, as it’s spread in social media, publications, and from person to person. And like most things shared, the story spreads further and further from the actual truth. Are you guilty of gossip?

 What does gossip do to you? For one, it fills your mind and heart with a negative image of the person you are gossiping about. Every time you see that person, this “story” will always be associated with them in your mind, making it difficult to have a fair and balanced view of them. Judgment can also develop through gossip as you compare their life to yours. Jesus said that by the standard you judge, will be the same to judge your life (Matthew 7:2). And finally, gossip can ruin someone’s reputation, making it impossible for them to recover from their errors in your mind. They might have redeemed themselves with God, forgiven, and living a new life in Christ…all the while you are spreading bad news and harming their new witness.

 Jesus said, “But I say to you, that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36

 Jesus made it very clear that gossip and idle talk will only bring judgment upon yourself, and who needs that. The best way to avoid gossip, is to shield yourself from those “talebearers” who want to feed you toxic trifles. You don’t need that in your life, so avoid it at all cost. And if caught in the middle of a gossip conversation, simply excuse yourself to show your obedience to Jesus Christ. You’ve got enough to worry about living rightly, don’t bother yourself with the stories of other people’s lives. God bless!  

 

 Jesus said, “And where I go you know, and the way you know.” John 14:4

 As I look back over my life, I see many times (too many times), when I knew the right thing to do and didn’t, but acted like I didn’t know as a way to justify my wrongdoing. Have you ever done this for yourself? If you peel back the logic in what we humans do, we oftentimes try to justify our sinful behavior by playing dumb.

 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes. But the Lord weighs the hearts. Proverbs 21:2

 The truth is playing dumb doesn’t work with God, He sees every intention behind every action men and women take; He weighs the heart. Your life is more transparent to God than even to yourself. It’s hard to imagine God knows us better than we know ourselves, but it’s true. That’s why it’s so important to walk in the Spirit daily, by reading God’s word and making a commitment to remain obedient to His calling. Prayer is essential to maintaining that connection with God; without it you are prone to hear the lies of Satan and find yourself justifying His temptations vs. living an obedient life, which results in more of God’s blessings.

 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting. Romans 1:28

 Lets face it, you know the truth and if you don’t, it’s in the bible for you to read and heed. Playing dumb will only harden your heart as you justify more wrong behavior and eventually God will turn you over to your own desires, to the point where you literally self-destruct spiritually.  Stop the madness and seek God’s forgiveness and turn from the sinful things you know are wrong and live in obedience to Christ. On the day of judgment, everything will be presented and nothing you can say will justify your wrongdoing when you knew the truth.

 

 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

 Have you ever done something so bad that left you feeling ashamed and heavy with guilt? I think we all have at one time or another “gone astray” and the consequences of poor choices eventually caught up with your hidden transgression. It can be quite humbling, no doubt, but once you return to the fold, you remind yourself not to take that forbidden path any longer.

 Today’s passage is twofold. We as humans are bent towards sin and backslide, go astray, even commit purposeful sins that endanger relationships with those we truly love. But there is one relationship that never changes its status, the one you have with Jesus Christ. The second part of today’s scripture reminds us that Jesus Christ took upon Himself all of your sins. He took the blame for YOU, so you can stand within the presence of God almighty, clean and forgiven.

 Your earthly relationships might be suffering due to wrong choices, but rest assured, Jesus Christ loved you enough to take your penalty of sin upon Himself so you can maintain that constant relationship with Him. Put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ today and thank Him for the confidence you have in your unbroken relationship with Him today, and forever more! God bless!

 

 After that, He (Jesus) poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. John 13:5

 Over my lifetime and career, I’ve worked at countless number of public events. The planning and coordination is very time consuming, but necessary if the event is to be a success. During those events, I’ve witnessed leaders taking care of the most mundane tasks, just to fill in the cap. Their willingness to take on the “behind the scenes” work, speaks volumes to their commitment to serve.

 Within hours of Jesus Christ’s death, at the Passover meal, Jesus performed the most mundane task, reserved for the lowliest slave, by washing the disciples’ feet. This humble act showed His disciples (and us today reading this story) that nothing should be excluded from His children/followers by serving with a humble spirit, even the most mundane tasks. Wither you are a minister, manager, or just the everyday Christian, your service to the Lord should never faulter. There are many tasks that need be completed to accomplish the mission of the church and outreach. Are you willing to humbly serve?

 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; Colossians 3:12

 This list of virtues should be the hallmark of your life. Humility was clearly displayed by our Savior and we should follow suit, as we live out our lives in service to the Lord. God bless!