‭Matthew 16:25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it

As I get older, I realize there are more important things to life than stuff, financial security, good health, and relationships. Yes, those are all good, but God offers something special, that can only be obtained by living an obedient and sacrificial life in Jesus Christ. I'm sure you are like me in that you find life more enjoyable when things go smoothly and needs are met. God desires for you to have a fulfilling life as well, but only by reliance on His provisions.

Today's passage reminds us that if we spend the majority of our life trying to benefit us, we will lose our focus on God's provisions and blessings. I can tell you from personal experience, I see the hand of God working when I have less material things to focus on. Recently I sold my motorcycle, which I thoroughly enjoyed riding. It was a big part of my life, yet I felt deep inside it was more than a simple pleasure, it was a distraction to my relationship with God. I have no regrets of selling it, and look forward to more time focusing on areas of my life that I need God’s intervention. 

You can spend a lifetime pleasing yourself, but in the end it will simply be a memory. Why not give more of your attention to the lasting things of God and be witness to His presence in your everyday life. I promise you'll never regret the things sacrificed for a closer relationship with your Heavenly Father. 

 “And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26

 Last night my wife and I watched the move, Titanic. Lori is not a big fan of the movie, but I am, and I find the romantic theme that accompanies the ship wreck a unique story in history, one that continues to fascinate people who read about it or watch it on the movie screen. One of the most moving parts of the movie was when Jack provided a piece of floating debris for his lover, keeping her out of the frigid waters, as he holds on for dear life, and eventually succumbs to hypothermia.

 Today’s passage is the last recorded prayer of Jesus Christ before dying on the cross. This special moment in the history carries a special love theme between God, Jesus Christ, and mankind. Jesus Christ completely fulfilled all the prophecies in the bible about the Messiah, who would save the world from their sins. Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross for you and me, and all of mankind, is a testament of God’s love. Because of His death, burial, and resurrection after 3 days, we have complete access to God the Father.

 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6.

 Wrapping up today’s blog, YOU are loved. Jesus Christ is the life boat that saves you from eternal damnation. God wants a personal relationship with you. He loved you before you were even born!!   Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, you can be adorned by His unconditional love. Simply receive Jesus Christ into your life, asking for forgiveness of sins, and believing HE is the Savior, you can embrace that love that never ends, no matter what happens in your life. Are you ready to be saved? Call upon Him today!

 

 

 ‭Jude 1:5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 

They say “seeing is believing”, and it makes sense to believe in what you see. But today's verse states that even the Israelites God saved from a life of slavery, some still didn't have faith in God, and He destroyed them. You've got to wonder what happened that a certain group failed to see the goodness and blessings of God. 

‭Matthew 13:15. For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their  ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with  their  eyes and hear with  their  ears, Lest they should understand with  their  hearts and turn, So that I should  heal them.’

It's sad to think that everything a person sees, they still don't get it. When the heart gets hard, you become deaf and blind to God’s simple message for His creation, you and me, He loves you and covered your sin debt with the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Although you were not witness to His crucification, God's word documents this historic event and captures His ministry and dealings with everyday people. 

Maybe your environment has hindered you from hearing the truth of God and His free offer of salvation (forgiveness of sins). Seek out His word and absorb its truths. God will soften your heart and so your eyes will see the blessings only He can give you when you experience His presence in your life. 

 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

 My wife and I were talking the other day about this year, 2024, in how there has not been much good in it. A series of sad and unfortunate events has left us to question, what’s next. This morning as I was praying about the latest downer, God laid today’s passage on my heart and I wanted to share a few thoughts.

 Life is like the stock market, there are highs and lows, and sometimes those come in the same 24-hour period. There is nothing consistent about the things that happen in a person’s life. Example: If you are like many people who come into a little money, something always seems to break down that needs that extra money. From your viewpoint, it can be a downer, but the fact is, God has blessed you with that extra money to pay for the necessary repairs. Let’s face it, whatever failed was going to fail eventually, so the arrival of those extra funds was perfectly timed. It’s how you have to look at the situation objectively.

 Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17

 The second point I want to make about the highs and lows of life, God remains consistent. Nothing about His character and love towards you changes. He has remained the same from day one of this world and will remain the same into eternity. In a world that changes daily, you can put your faith and trust in God to help you maintain a place of sanity, along with peace, joy, and security; which this world can’t provide on a long-term basis. God provides all the resources needed to get through the difficult days. Call upon Him in prayer and seek His help, so you can maintain a consistent flight pattern as you navigate the highs and lows of life. God bless!

 The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil. Proverbs 19:23

 How satisfied are you with your life? Maybe you desire a larger pay check, a house with more rooms, a bank account with unlimited funds….the list is endless. Our pursuit of “more” can sometimes become an idol, turning us away from the satisfaction we have in God’s provisions. This is something I struggle with, sometimes on a daily basis, and maybe you do as well.

 Today’s verse sheds some light on satisfaction and how we can easily get into trouble. The desire for something is an open door for Satan to interject a thing, person, or idea, that is outside the will of God, creating an idol that will eventually bankrupt you physically, mentally, emotionally, even your bank account. God never intended for you, as a child of God, to desire the things of the world, but to indulge in His abundant blessings, even if it’s a bank account with small funds. There’s a reason and purpose God often withholds abundancy, to keep you from stepping too deep into the worldly things, that don’t last but for a short moment.

 Daily communication with God and seeking after His wisdom is the only sure fire way you’ll keep your desires and wants in check. He freely provides His wisdom to those who seek after it, and when you adhere to His voice of reason, you will know it is sound and everlasting. It’s ok to have new things, new relationships, even make some extra money, but when it becomes an idol of your time, thoughts, and resources, you will soon find your relationship with God hindered and open to Satan’s attacks.

 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. Proverbs 16:20

 

 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 10:12

 What motivates you to live by a certain set of standards? Is it the fear of getting caught and disciplined for wrong doing or is it because you love the freedoms that you have to live a certain way? Oftentimes we live by certain standards out of duty or obligation to rules and laws. But, as so many have said, “rules are meant to be broken”. A perfect example is the speed limit. Many have a hard time obeying this law because it’s out of obligation and not because they love driving and don’t want to lose their privilege to drive. This mindset often leads to failure, and the result of not conforming leads to embarrassment, punishment, shame, and quite often a damaged reputation.

 Today’s passage in Deuteronomy provides some guidance with regards to the motivator for doing right in God’s eyes; having a love for the Lord your God. Love is a great motivator, and when it rules your heart, you are more apt to comply with the standards God has set forth. Trying to live a Godly life out of obligation oftentimes fails because your heart is not in it.

 What sins in your life are like the speed limits of the roadways? You know the right thing to do, but your heart isn’t loving God enough to care that those repeated sins hurt your relationship with Him. Whew! Let me state that again, your heart isn’t loving God enough to care that those repeated sins hurt your relationship with Him! This speaks loudly to me, and I hope you can see the transparency of the situation in yourself. How can we love the Lord our God with all our heart?

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

 Only through the power of God’s Holy Spirit living inside you, will you be able to truly love God to the point that anything outside His will is off limits to your mind, your actions, and your words. Ask God to help you love Him more and more each day. He will strengthen your relationship with Him through your continual prayer, bible reading, and keeping a watchful eye for His wonderous works in your life. As you grow in love with Him, nothing else will matter and the motivation for obedience will truly come from a heart that loves God on the level He desires for you. God bless!

 

 

 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

 Years ago, the company Leatherman came out with a multi-purpose tool that could tackle just about any project. From a screw driver, saw, knife, bottle opener, hammer, tweezer, and so much more, it did it all. I purchased one and carried it for years at my job. It was the most helpful tool.

 There’s another multi-purpose tool that is available to everyone, the bible. Although many people might find it outdated or not applicable, the truth of God’s word has never changed and still remains a steady source of information on how to live life amongst the many challenges faced on a daily basis. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve utilized its wisdom, and every single time God’s word has led me down a path of righteousness that has never failed or backfired. You too can embrace the multi-faceted resources it provides, if you simply put your faith and trust in it.

 The morales of today seem to be in a constant state of flux and changes frequently based on which group screams the loudest. Most of those are short lived and never amount to much. But God’s word never changes, which gives you confidence in knowing it’ll always be consistent in providing the guidance and direction you need to conquer the everyday challenges and questions you face. Why not check it out and see if it can help you as much as it helped me over the years. God bless!

 

 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified “He told me all that I ever did.” John 4:39

 Word of mouth is the best form of advertisement. My wife and I went to a local restaurant a few days ago to eat supper with fellow church members. Over the years this restaurant has had many owners and sometimes the food was good and sometimes not so good. Because of its reputation for lack of consistency, many have stopped going. Well, our food was delicious, service was awesome, and we shared our experience. Hopefully others will come back and enjoy the lakeside view while dining on good food. 

 Today’s passage follows after Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-26) at the well. He told her everything about herself, good and bad. As He spoke, she was amazed at His wisdom and soon discovered that Jesus was the promised messiah. As she shared her story with the city villagers, they came out to meet Jesus and many believed in Him because of His words (John 4:42).

 Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15

 If you are a child of God, you have a story to share with people, everywhere you go. God gave us Jesus Christ for 33 years to be our life instructor, encourager, and most of all our promised messiah. Without your testimony, no one will know the truth of Salvation; people around you will remain in the darkness, forever doomed to Hell. This blog speaks to me, as much as I hope it’s touched your heart. We can all do better to tell our community about what Jesus Christ has done for mankind. Who will you tell today? God bless!

 

 “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42

 One of my greatest battles is the flesh. It is in a constant war against the Spirit living inside of me. My desire is to chose Godly obedience, yet the weakness of my flesh becomes defeated in my limited strength to remain faithful to God. To be transparent, there are times I want to simply give up the battle, because it overwhelms my soul. This morning, I was on my knees praying for forgiveness and that feeling of giving up reared its ugly head. God brought to mind today’s passage in Luke.

 I can only imagine the agony that Jesus felt knowing what laid ahead in the coming hours; severe beatings, death on the cross, and most damning was the separation from God the Father, taking on the sins of mankind. Yet, Jesus never gave up, He knew the very purpose for His existence, and thus, carried on with God’s plan for Him to be the sacrificial lamb to wipe away the sins of those who make the decision to accept God’s forgiveness through His Son.

 You might be battling some things in your life, that overwhelm your soul, and ready to throw in the towel. Just remember, that Jesus Christ paved the way for you to receive eternal life, through His death, burial, and resurrection. He didn’t want to do it, yet He knew it was God’s will and followed through in obedience. God has a wonderful plan for your life, and no matter how defeated you might feel, never give up. God is, and always will be with you, to encourage, protect, and love you, even when you don’t deserve any of His offerings. He loves you, just as He does His Son; you are a child of God. Keep going, Gods got you in His hands.

 

 ‭James 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both saltwater and fresh. 

We were sitting in church a few Sundays ago and my wife broke out some Sprite flavored Tic Tacs. All of a sudden, the three of us made this grimacing face because they tasted awful. I think Lori's daughter tried to spit hers out. I'm sure the preacher probably wondered what was up on our pew. 

Jesus used today's passage as an illustration how children of God shouldn't talk worldly. You are either hot or cold, lukewarm and God will spew you out and of His mouth (Revelations). Just like that Tic Tac we thought would be good turned out bad. 

What comes out of your mouth? God approved? You are a child of the King. Make a decision today to honor God by speaking the truth, reflecting God's character and moral integrity. Don't leave a bad impression; your words, your actions, and thoughts can positively influence those around you to see Jesus living in and through your life. 

 “and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord swore to give your father, to them and their descendants a land flowing with milk and honey.” Deuteronomy 11:9

 As I look back over my life, I realize how blessed I am to have a beautiful wife who loves me, a retirement from a successful career, health, and a family who’s doing very well on their own. I guess you could say I’ve found my “promised land”. Trust me when I say, it took a while, a long while, to get to this point. There was a lot of floundering in the wilderness, searching my way through life, with the highs and lows that life brought; periods of Godly obedience, and at times disobedience. Yet, no matter where I was in the wilderness, God was right there, providing the wisdom and resources to carry me through to this new chapter of life.

 Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess. Deuteronomy 12:8

 Maybe you are just like the Israelites, making your way through the wilderness of life, trying to reach that “promised land”. Verse 8 in Deuteronomy 12 is just as important today as it was thousands of years ago, obedience brings Godly blessings. The wilderness experience isn’t meant to frustrate you, or shorten your time in the sweet years of life. No, it’s a period of time to grow your faith and trust in the Lord. It’s a time to strengthen you, for you’ll need strength when facing adversity, sometimes severe adversity, that will test your faith to the core. Each step will bring highs and lows, but the only disappointment you’ll experience is repeating the same mistakes over and over. Once you come through the wilderness with your PHD in life, God will open the door to the promised land.

 Whatever your “promised land” looks like, just know God has plans to get you there, in time and when you are ready, to truly embrace the land flowing with milk and honey, God’s blessings!

 

 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

 A few years ago Georgia Department of Transportation implemented adjustable speed limit signs on the north end of the I-285 bypass in Atlanta Georgia. Digital signs line the interstate and speed limits change based on road and weather conditions. The more traffic on the roadways or foul weather, the slower the speed limit, all in an effort to minimize vehicle accidents. Although it has been met with resistance from drivers and there’ve been occasional glitches in the system, it helps people drive safely.  

 As you speed along through life, with God your navigator, you oftentimes encounter periods of quietness from the Lord, making you question if He is “off line”. I can assure you, He is never far from your life. That quietness is a good indicator that you need to slow down and wait to hear His voice of direction and reason. Most likely you’ve sped too far ahead as you’re plowing through life at lightning speeds, and God sees a roadblock ahead that needs your attention. Kick, scream, and throw your tantrum for the slowdown, but God has your best interest at heart and knows you need time to absorb the wisdom He longs to provide.

 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

 You might think it necessary to keep up with your friends on the highway of life, but their GPS has no view of the road ahead. Only God can provide the sound wisdom you need to navigate through life! Adherence to His direction is paramount if you are to avoid spiritual accidents, some that can cause you a lifetime of pain and regret. Absorb God’s word daily and keep an open ear to His directions as you navigate each mile of life.

 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Hebrews 6:10

 Have you ever worked hard at something and never heard the words “thank you” or “job well done”? We go through life trying to do our best and be our best at the work we do in our career, home, and church, yet some of the greatest accomplishments go without acknowledgement, leaving you to question why continue in a thankless environment.

 Today’s passage is a great reminder that God sees the good that you do in life and acknowledges your obedience by giving you His blessings. One day you will be rewarded in Heaven for those things you’ve done out of the goodness of your heart. And if you are truly doing the work for the Lord, you won’t do it to seek approval by man, but continue as a humble servant to the God of this universe.

 Next time you don’t feel appreciated, just know God sees everything done and examines the heart. He will reward you in this life and the eternal life that awaits those who will hear “well done my good and faithful servant”.

 But the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Luke 12:7

 As I write this blog, there are currently 8.1 billion people living on this planet, and that number is rising at a rapid pace. With all these people, you might feel a bit insignificant. Social media has done more damage than good by allowing people’s pride to shine through their photos and achievements, and all those “likes”. This can make you feel less of a person, exactly where Satan wants you to be emotionally, mentally, even physically. We might not want to admit it, but that toxic thing called “envy” creeps in an affects how we feel about others, including self. I too have been caught up in this rat race and it can be emotionally damaging.

 The good news is, you aren’t insignificant to God. Jesus Christ stated in Luke 12:7 that the very hairs on your head are numbered. For some of us, that’s a lot, for others…well…we could use a few more, but whose counting hairs these days anyhow? You are unique, specially made by God for a specific purpose in life. Those Facebook posts of other’s achievements have nothing to do with the great things God has in store for you, so don’t let them affect how you feel about yourself. After living 58 years, I can assure you, everyone has battles and struggles they face every day, no one is perfect, some just have different qualities than you and I, and that is ok.

 Next time you are feeling down and insignificant in this great big world, be reminded that you are a child of the King, specially made for His glory, and how you shine will differ than everyone else’s light, so shine bright and remember, you are specially made! God bless!

 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Romans 2:5

 Let’s be transparent with ourselves, there is pleasure in sin. Whether it’s an adulterous affair, searching the internet for eye pleasing pictures, fueling the fire of juicy gossip, thinking immoral thoughts, having vengeful thoughts, or simply camouflaging behaviors outside God’s moral standards, all of these bring a momentary high that feeds the desires of our flesh. It’s an everyday battle for each and every human being. But once that sin satisfies the hunger, there is boredom and a need for more. The cycle continues and each time becomes more and more addictive, until it completely has a hold of your life. What’s your poison?

 Today’s passage makes it pretty clear that our continual desire to commit sin is building up for ourselves God’s wrath and judgment. OUCH! Yea, the momentary pleasure is fun, but the cost associated with that pleasure might just cost your soul with payment in eternal Hell. Is the pleasure really worth it?

 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

 You might believe you are saved, but your deliberate sin will only bring God’s judgement upon you, and you’ll spend eternity in Hell, wishing you had made better choices.

 Jesus Christ spoke these words in Matthew 6:20-21: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 Take time to evaluate your every day life to determine which kingdom you are building. If it’s not heaven, then you’ll need to do some spiritual cleansing if you want to see your way into Heaven. Build up your treasures in eternal things, God wants to reward you for your righteousness!