Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say”? John 8:3-5

 Back in elementary school, some children were quick to tell the teacher what someone else had done wrong. We called them “tattle tales”. Although their report about the misbehaving student was correct, they had alternate intentions, by making that child look bad making themselves look good. Sadly, for some people, this tattle tale behavior continues into adulthood.

 Jesus said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” John 8:7

 Jesus response to the scribes and Pharisees put them on the same level as this woman caught in adultery. He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone. In essence He was saying, no one is sinless, no one is perfect, and his statement I’m sure brought shame to that lady’s accusers. When we see someone’s reputation being tarnished on social media, we are quick to judge, wishing them ill will. I too have been guilty of that, and today’s blog is probably meant as much for me as it might be for you.  What should our response be then when we see someone caught up in wrong choices?

 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avail much. James 5:16

 If you are truly a child of God, have compassion on those who have wronged you OR have done wrong in society, and pray for them. There is only One judge, and that is God, leave the judging to Him. You be obedient to pray for that person, in hopes that through their situation, God will intervene to change their heart, by bringing them out of their darkness and into God’s light. God bless!

 As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who call sus by glory and virtue. 2 Peter 1:3

 I’ve always had a fear of heights. I feel very comfortable standing on the ground and holding a ladder for someone else. One time I attended a leadership team building event and participants were asked to go through a high ropes course, 20 feet off the ground, with everyone tied in to a safety line. Just looking at the ropes course made me sweat, and as you can guess, I declined. That was just outside my comfort zone.

 Sadly, there are many people today who reject Jesus Christ’s offer of salvation, a personal relationship with Him, which involves forgiveness of sins, because it’s just outside their comfort zone. There are many reasons for rejecting this free offer, which include: don’t want to give up the worldly pleasures they enjoy, unsure what to expect, offended by so called Christians who live a double standard. The list is endless. Maybe you have an excuse of your own why you don’t want any involvement with church, Jesus Christ, or God.

 Today’s verse gives hope for those who are unsure about this Jesus issue. Once you accept Jesus free offer of salvation, you have everything you’ll need to live the kind of life Jesus lived while on earth for His 33 years. Will you ever be perfect like Him, NO. Is any Christian perfect like Jesus, NO. No one will live a perfect enough life to match the holiness of God, but it’s more about the relationship than your works.

 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

 Friend, don’t let your fears, uncertainty, or pride exclude you from eternity in Heaven.  Take the first step by asking Jesus Christ to come into your heart, ask His forgiveness of you of your sins, and commit your life to Him. After your decision, He will provide what’s needed for your life as a child of God. Jesus is calling to you, won’t you answer today?

 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. 1 Peter 2:21

 As you youngster growing up on the farm, I would always try to plant my feet in my dad’s footprints, especially if conditions were muddy or snow covered. By doing so, I knew my footing would be secure and he knew where to go safely. It was difficult at the first, as my legs were shorter and feet smaller, but as I grew, it became easier to keep up with his stride.

 Today’s verse encourages us to keep in stride with Jesus Christ. He is God in the flesh, and provided the perfect example of how we are to live our lives while here on earth (as documented in the bible). As a new Christian, it will be difficult to follow His example, past temptations will try to divert your attention away from Christ’s holiness, but as you mature in your faith, you’ll soon find it easier to avoid those fleshly temptations so you can more easily keep in stride with Christ. As humans, we’ll never reach perfection this side of Heaven, but on the day we enter His paradise, we will be like Him.

 How do you mature to be able to follow in His footsteps? By reading the bible, praying, and turning away from those things, people, and temptations that are toxic to your relationship with Jesus. It truly is a slow process, as it should be, so you can consistently grow stronger in your faith and see that His way is always the safest and secure as you journey through your life. Whose footprints are you following?

 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered. Proverbs 28:26

 After years of making decisions, I’ve learned there are two ways it can go: the right way OR the wrong way. I’ve also learned that wisdom is always connected to the right way, and the heart is usually associated with doing things the wrong way. Looking back, I’ve made decisions based on how my heart felt and the majority of the time it caused me a lot of pain and regret. On the other hand, when I relied on wisdom to make decisions, things usually went well and benefitted me and those impacted by my decision.

 How do you know which resource to rely on? As a child of God, you have been gifted with the Holy Spirit, God’s messenger. God always looks out for His creation (mankind) and provides wisdom in the decision-making process. You have a choice to follow the wisdom the Spirit provides, or go in the direction of your heart. God always gives you free will to choose, He never demands you follow His lead (but it’s always best).

 The heart is deceitful above all things, and wicked. Who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9

 Jeremiah 17:9 sums up the heart; its deceitful, wicked, and difficult to understand. Many people have entered into relationships, business ventures, or made large purchases through the prompting of the heart, myself included. Things at first might feel good, look good, and appear to be right, but later, as the dust settles, it’s pretty obvious a rushed decision was made and you knock yourself in the head asking….”what was I thinking”.

 Friend, God wants you to have a life full of joy without regrets. He is always ready to impart wisdom so you’ll make right decisions. Sometimes His wisdom takes time to come to fruition….that’s ok because He is probably working out the finer details to make the end result work in your favor. Pray, read your bible, and keep an open ear for His voice (He actually speaks) as He gives you the wisdom necessary to navigate life’s choices. God bless!  

 

 

 Romans 12:2 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. 

In today's world of continuing education, online classes are offered where the student can gain a degree from the comfort of his/her home. What's hard for me to comprehend how a student studying chemistry can have a lab class online? There's nothing like learning in an environment in which you study, handling the test tubes, mixing chemicals, and viewing things under a microscope. You can't gain a true understanding by simply reading online. 

The same is true for people who are seeking God's will for their life. Today's verse provides guidance on how to comprehend His perfect will. The first part says to have your mind transformed. God's will usually never aligns with worldly logic, and when you seek out His wisdom with a worldly view it will seem like a foreign language, it just won't make sense. Example: God many times calls people to the mission field who have no experience, limited funds, and a lot of ties to their family at home. A person with a worldly mindset might dismiss this thought. 

Having a spiritual mindset puts you in God's lab of faith, you are able to see the vision, you have the confidence in God's ability to make a way to get you to the mission field, and you will experience God's blessings when you surrender your life to His calling. 

How do you then transform your mind? Reading God's word, staying fervent in prayer, and listening for God's wisdom and direction. When you do these things, God's will becomes more clear and you'll fall in line with everything you need to fulfill your purpose in this life. 

 Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness. Psalm 119:40

 When I retired, I wanted to do something to keep me active instead of just sitting around being lazy (which I never seem to do anyways), so I started going to the gym and walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes to an hour. At first, I struggled to get motivated for exercise, but over time it turned into a habit and my body longed for that exercise. Unless my schedule gets busy, you can find me at the gym, Monday thru Friday, for an hour sometime in the day.

 The author of today’s verse felt the same way as I do about exercise; he longed for the word of God, and because of his reading, it filled him with the righteousness of God. Reading the word of God became a habit for him on a daily basis, and without it he most likely felt empty, spiritually, and probably even physically.

 Today’s question: how much time do you spend reading God’s word? Do you have a longing for it? Do you feel empty inside when you don’t make time for scripture reading?

 Every morning, I make time, first thing, to read God’s word and use several devotionals to guide my studies. In retirement, I have a lot of time to go deep into study, oftentimes studying for hours. I truly believe God allowed me to retire early so I could have this special time to understand God and draw closer to Him. Without my daily bible study, I feel a void, as His words give me wisdom for the day.

 Maybe you are like the average person, you only read it when at church or something comes up and you need a spiritual answer. Getting into the habit of reading your bible might seem insignificant or a burden of your time. But trust me, once you get started reading it daily, it becomes a habit over time and your mind, body, and soul crave it. But, you’ve got to take the first step by starting the routine. And the end result, you’ll have a mindset the aligns with the heart of God. Why not start today! God bless!

 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” John 831

 Years ago there was a slogan that went like this: “What Would Jesus Do”.  That messaged encouraged Christians to live out their faith and life modeled after Jesus Christ. Whenever faced with a decision, that person would ask, What Would Jesus Do, and they had the choice to either follow in Christ’s footsteps or pursue their own path. Still today, many Christians use this slogan in their everyday decision-making process.

 In my personal opinion, today’s verse removes the choice to follow Jesus, but is clear cut by saying, if you are My disciples, you will do what I say. Some of you reading this might take offense to this directive, but if you are truly a child of God, there should be NO choice, you SHOULD follow Christ in strict obedience. There are several reasons I say this:

 1 God knows what’s best for HIS children, that’s why He set boundaries for us to live within. Anything outside of God’s instructions will weaken your faith and make you vulnerable to accepting the ways of the world. James 4:4 makes it clear, that if you are living by the world’s standards, you are an enemy of God.  

 2 As a child of God, you have the responsibility to reflect His character in your everyday life. By doing so, you provide an example for others to follow. Many non-believers might only be exposed to what the Christian life looks like by how you live your life. If you live in the gray, you send mixed messages to those who have the potential to receive Christ. Wouldn’t you hate to know your neighbor, co-worker, friend, or family member went to Hell because the way you lived your life?

 3 When you adhere to God’s standards for spiritual living, you align yourself with His plan for your life and you grow closer to Him. Over time living a Godly life becomes a routine, leaving NO choice but to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.

How you live your life effects your relationship with God, and those around you. Let there be NO choice who you’ll follow. If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

 

 Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Have you ever had difficulty answering the question, “what do you want as a gift for ___?” At this point in my life, I'm saturated with stuff, things I wanted, things I needed, and some I have little use for. This Valentine's Day my wife and I agreed to just have a nice dinner. We both have everything we need and want. I did cheat and got her flowers and some chocolates….

We live in a world of stuff, available at the click of a button or swipe of a card. Maybe you've reached the point of saturation and still feel a void. Friend, your emptiness isn't a lack of stuff, it's a lack of Jesus Christ. 

Satan does his best work putting things, desires, and pursuits in front to keep you preoccupied, distracting you from God's blessings of joy and spiritual fulfillment. I can honestly say I've been a victim of this snare, and can assure you more doesn't bring more happiness, but a longing for more. It's a never ending cycle that can be hard to break. 

If this describes you, ask God to help you be filled with His desires as you pursue the perfect will for your life. God has eternal gifts that never break, grow old, but yield fruits in your life that mirror the image of Jesus Christ. That’s what a child of God should really desire! 

 Jesus said, “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, he will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. John 16:13

 The wildfires in California, the multiple plane crashes, and the fraudulent spending in the Federal government has many asking, who is responsible for these things. Until that can be answered, we can expect more of these incidents to occur.

 As a child of God, you have been gifted with God’s Holy Spirit to guide you in your life. In previous blogs, I have mentioned ways you can listen for His guidance. Today’s verse sheds some light on His workings: He will guide you into all truth. The beautiful thing about a relationship with God is He gives you free will. You have the option to chose to follow His Spirit’s guidance, OR you can choose to follow your own path. When you chose to follow your own path, YOU are responsible for either the success or failure it brings. When you follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance, He is ultimately responsible for the outcome of your obedience.

 Just for a moment, think back to two instances in your life: 1. You followed the prompting of God’s Holy Spirit. 2. You followed your own instinct by making decisions opposite of where God’s Spirit was leading. Which choice had the better outcome? If you are like me, option 1 had the better outcome. Yet, time and time again, we think we know it all and our desires guide us down the wrong path, which end up in failure, and possibly negatively impacting the lives of those within the realm of our responsibility.

 YOU are responsible for your words and actions. Make sure you follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance and leave the consequences to Him. He wins every time and so will you! God bless!

 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that HE is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

 Have you ever been in a crowded room and tried to have a conversation with one person? I recall past family gatherings in which 10 plus people were in the room with everyone talking. It was a challenge for me to listen to the conversation of interest; I really had to focus my attention in that direction.

 As Christians, we are constantly bombarded with worldly distractions: social media, television, podcast, radio, people, agency policies, our own desires…. the list is endless. Believe it or not, God is constantly trying to communicate with you through the Holy Spirit. Can you hear His promptings? If you are like the average child of God, you might hear Him on an infrequent basis, especially in times when you need God’s help. Truth be known, the Holy Spirit was probably already warning you, prior to the trouble you found yourself in, to show you the way around the issue, but you were too deaf to His words of wisdom for all the worldly business and noise. How can you focus on God’s voice amongst all the clamor?

 Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

 The last part of today’s passage gives you the answer…. diligently seek Him. Like the first paragraph in this blog, you have to focus your attention in the direction of the Holy Spirit. Where should you focus be? Inward. The Holy Spirit lives inside you! Many times you’ve had some type of prompting not to do something, or go a certain way…etc. that most likely is the Holy Spirit guiding you. Over the years of my life, I’ve learned how to listen closely to His voice and truthfully, He is always speaking. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing. It’s a continual conversation between you and the Holy Spirit of God. You’ve got to make the decision that no matter what is happening around you, your focus will be on His voice.

 Why is listening to the Holy Spirit so important for the child of God? Because He knows all things and wants to give you the very best life possible, by avoiding sin, misrepresenting Christ, averting disaster, and most importantly living within the will and purpose He has for your life. As Jeus said, “you are in the world, but not of it”. Focus on what God is telling you, minute by minute, and you’ll see your life become more Christlike as you seek Him with all diligence. God bless

 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

 While employed, I had these two verses posted over my workspace to remind myself, daily, that my work was not for my employer, but the Lord. By keeping these verses fresh in my mind, I was able to excel in some of the most difficult tasks, even ones that I didn’t enjoy doing. As a child of God, everything I did at work was to be a representation of Jesus Christ’s character, values, and plan. My dependency upon His wisdom and encouragement was enough to get me through those tough days.

 Maybe you are struggling to find purpose in your employment, the satisfaction you once had has waned and it’s more of a burden, you’ve got a boss whose expectations exceed what you are capable of producing, or maybe your fellow co-workers aren’t on the same page as you spiritually, making it difficult to maintain a Christlike attitude. I’ve faced each of these circumstances and through much prayer, and focus on pleasing God, I was able to navigate any challenge that came my way. You too can find purpose, encouragement, and a faith to endure at your workplace, or any place where you have a responsibility.

 Let today’s verses be a reminder of who you really serve in your life and always be dependent upon the Holy Spirit for wisdom, guidance, and encouragement to do your best for God.

 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression. Proverbs 19:11

 After 59 years of living life, I’ve learned a valuable lesson (actually more than one), when offended, let it go. For some of you out there, letting go of someone hurting you seems to be impossible, but let me share with you the benefits of “overlooking a transgression”.

 Not too long ago I had a run in with someone I knew and they said some negative things towards me. None of what he said was true, but it felt like a gut punch. Within minutes of the claim, I took a few deep breaths and gave it over to God to handle. I could have easily engaged, plead my case, or said some negative thing back, but I didn’t. Sometimes the best reaction is “silence”, and silent I was. Looking back and knowing new developments, it was good for me to remain silent and let it pass.

 Today’s verse provides some very sound advice on how to respond when you’ve been offended or hurt. Be slow to anger and overlook a transgression. Here are the positive things that come from this type of response:

 1.    You don’t throw gas on the fire. That person is probably looking for you to respond and wants to engage in the conflict. When you respond, you open yourself to a dialog that is usually never good.

2.    2. Your lack of responding says a lot about your character and ability to not let that person get under your skin (which is what they were intending to do in the first place). Not responding/staying calm, is like putting a blanket over their fire and pretty soon extinguishes it completely. Chances are, they won’t mess with you again.

3.    3. Letting go of it and giving it to God, opens the door for you to forgive your offender (which is what you should always do), and brings peace, even when you are faced with turbulence from the offender. You’ll sleep better and not be disturbed by their attacks. God has a larger view and is already working on your behalf to protect you and is pouring out His judgment on the offender.

 Trust me friend, when I say you’ll live a lot longer when you learn to overlook the offenses in life and let God handle your attackers. You’ll have more peace and represent the true character of Jesus Christ. God bless!

 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

 Have you ever heard someone say something and do just the opposite? If the truth be told, I’m sure you’ve probably done that a few times in your life. We, as humans, do a pretty good job giving lip service when needed, but deep in our heart we know and believe something completely different. Some say that what’s in the heart, comes out of the person’s mouth. I don’t believe that is the case; its more what’s in heart, comes out in a person’s actions.

 So, here’s a thought, what if your heart did the talking for you? Let that sink in for a moment and evaluate how well you’d get along with others if they heard what your heart had to say. Hopefully there would be positive things said, seasoned with grace, mercy, and love for others. On the other hand, some of you might be thinking It would be best if didn’t talk to anyone.

 But He answered and said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”. Matthew 4:4

 Today’s verse, Luke 6:45, speaks of both kinds of individuals, those who have a good heart and those full of evil. As a child of God, it’s imperative for you to feed your heart, mind, and soul, with the living word of God. As you read more of the bible, your mind and heart transform its beliefs into a heart after Jesus Christ.  This process can grow slowly or quickly, depending on the amount of bible reading and study you put forth. Either way, it will eventually turn pride into humbleness, hate into love, anger to peace, and revenge into forgiveness….just to name a few.

 Friend, this world needs more good hearts after Christ. When your heart is spiritually sound, you won’t say something that is opposite of what’s in your heart, you’ll be true to yourself and those around you! God bless!

 Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need lest you be filled with it and vomit. Proverbs 25:16

 One of my favorite foods is honey. I love the taste of it on a spoon, in my coffee, on cereal, on ice cream, and even mixed with peanut butter. Besides the taste, it brings back childhood memories when I first started eating this sweetness and ever since have been in search of it everywhere I go. Being a diabetic I have to watch my intake of honey, because it will make my sugar shoot up, then I have to bring it down with insulin injections (which is no fun).

 Today’s verse pretty much sums up the old saying “too much of a good thing is not good for you”. Like me, you probably find yourself indulged in something you enjoy, such as: iced coffee, money, friendships, electronic devices, books, certain foods, well you get the point. When you invest more of yourself in your likes (or loves) then other things become less important and have very little interest. In other words, things and people get left out. Life is full of opportunities for pleasure, success, and even stardom. The one danger in it all is, do you put these things and people before your love of God?

 Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37

 Years ago, God convicted me of this very issue. When the paycheck hit my bank account, I was quick to pay the monthly payments on the things I liked, but shorted changed God with my tithe to the church. While paying bills one day, the reality of my mis-directed priorities came to light and I realized I wasn’t putting God first. From that day on, I steadily increased my tithe and God continued to pour out blessings, meeting my financial needs. After years of paying off debt, I’m debt free today and able to tithe as I should and even give to charities to advance God’s gospel. And God continues to bless me because I’ve put Him first in my life.

 Friend, God doesn’t mind you having “things”. But He wants to be first place in your life. That involves living an obedient life, praying daily, and studying His word. Once you realize how important it is to put Him first, everything else will still be important, but God will bless your pursuits even further than you could imagine. Take a few minutes today to determine where God stands with your priorities and make sure He’s first. God bless!

 

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

 Today I attended the funeral of my best friend’s dad. From the time I could remember as a child, Mr. Larry Robinson was present in my life, along with his family. Although years have passed since we saw each other, today brought a sad reunion with him. It was great to see his family and friends, some whom I haven’t seen in probably 30 years. It was a wonderful celebration of his life and special time sharing memories with the Robinson family. I found out more about him during the funeral service, and was amazed at the impact his life had on so many people.

 Today’s verse came to mind as I thought about his life. Larry was a hard worker and supported his family through every chapter of his life. He gave of himself for this great nation in the Army and raised a wonderful family. God truly blessed this man and those who knew him. He lived the kind of life we as Americans should strive to do for our families and loved ones.

 Let this verse encourage you to give your all. You only have one opportunity to make a positive impact on those around you, like Larry, who lived life to the fullest. Thank you, Larry, for your service and the impact you had on my life. You’ve done well! Rest in peace!

 

 Exodus 3:5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 

As a child of God, you are privileged to speak to Him through prayer. Until you pass and enter Heaven, it's the only method of communication with Him. The question I want to ask, how do you approach God in prayer? 

Today's verse comes from the story of Moses, who communicated with God while tending the flock. God spoke to him through the burning bush that was not consumed by the fire. God instructed Moses to take off his sandals as he was standing on Holy ground in the presence of God. 

Every day I have a quiet time with God, and when I pray, I take off my shoes and kneel. When I do this, I let God know my appreciation to speak with Him, and honestly, I feel a closeness to Him, just as Moses did, standing on Holy ground. 

I'm not suggesting you have to take your shoes off every time you pray, but when you think about the opportunity to pray, you are communicating with Him, and He's there listening. 

I encourage you to consider how you approach God in prayer. Make time to pray at the start of your day, and acknowledge your prayer time truly is on Holy ground. God bless. 

 Turn away from anger and don’t give in to wrath. Do not fret, it only leads to evil. Psalm 37:8

 Growing up on a farm, we had a concrete water tank that provided drinking water for our cattle. When my dad was younger, he put goldfish in the tank that he won at the local fair. Over the years those gold fish ate the corn that dropped from the cattle’s mouths when they came up to drink. When I came along, they were huge and I would try to poke them with a stick. The only thing I accomplished was hitting the sludge at the bottom of the tank and muddied up the water.

 You might be asking, what does me trying to torture gold fish have to do with today’s verse? If you’ve lived long enough, you have accumulated enemies, those people who’ve offended or hurt you in some way. Our natural reaction is to poke back at them with revenge. Seeking revenge against them is basically mudding up the water in our lives. If you can recall the last time you sought revenge, you were probably thinking evil thoughts and acted outside your normal character.  This is not how God wants His children to respond when hurt.

 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15

 Jesus made it very clear that we are to forgive our enemies. As I’ve said in previous blogs, the greatest example of God’s grace and mercy is when Jesus hung on the cross and said to His Father, “forgive them for they know not what they do”. If you truly are a child of God, the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus Christ should radiate out from your being. By doing so, you remove any opportunity for Satan to poison your mind and heart with revenge or evil thoughts. In closing, what else does God expect of us, read this last verse and ask God to help you forgive when hurt and show the love of Jesus to your enemies.

 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8