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Training is good

3/28/2023

Luke 6:40 NLT
“Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.”

Our goal and purpose should be to become like the teacher, studying everything He did and living it out. We can’t get caught thinking we know better or something needs to change, we keep learning and doing.

Luke 6:41-42 NLT
““And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

As we learn and understand we are all sinners and need a Savior, then we work on ourselves and improve so we can help others. It’s that that we sit by and do nothing, we learn to be like the teacher and then we start to live like Him in obedience, then we can help others. We aren’t equipped to help until we are seeking Him fully and have surrendered our lives for His.

Luke 6:46
““So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

Why do we want to say we are connected to Jesus, or say we are a Christian when we desire the things of this world more? Or the desires of our flesh, or doing things to get ahead in life. If we proclaim to be something, we should work hard to live it without letting the world manipulate us.

I love what Jesus says next:

Luke 6:47
I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.”

I want to see by growing and learning to live like I have listened to His teaching followed it. Thank you Jesus for showing us and desiring us to be just like you. Amen

True Church

3/22/2023

This world continues to try and run from Biblical truth but tries to push its own truth. Here is the definition of a Church.
Etymologically speaking, the word church means “house of the Lord.” The modern word church is a direct descendant of the Old English word cirice or circe. The first recorded use of the Old English word is from the thirteenth century, and it could refer to either a body of Christian believers or to the place where they gathered.
Christian believers, not anything other than that. Ones that are Christian understand that we are the church, the body of Christ.

We must be aware of false teachers and people that decorate themselves as a church or call themselves a church when they are far from God and the truth. A gathering of Christians, Christians meaning Christ-like and desiring confessing their sinners and repenting and turning to God. The thought or push to call oneself a church and be open to worshiping anything or anyone is demonic.

For Fully Devoted followers of Jesus Christ there is a connection and understanding we are sinners and need a Lord and Savior. In the Gospel of Mark chapter 2 verse 17 Jesus says, “When Jesus heard this, He told them, Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Until we have the understanding that we all have sinned and fallen short, and God sent His Son to die for our sins and raise Him again to wash our sin and give us that chance to repent. We wilk struggle in what truth is.
Truth is not the worldly things we desire they are given to us in the Bible the word of God. Jesus was the word, and He became flesh, and it is 100% truth and used to teach us what is wrong and right and to help us to do what is right.

2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

Without that belief there is no Christian term and then there truly is no church. If you want to be a group of people that make their own truth and just want to live with no boundaries will never be free. God set up everything we need to live truth and be a light in this temporary home as we look for the joy awaiting us who have accepted Jesus as Lord.

To think no boundaries or that we make our own truth is sadly leading people to a spiritual death. I pray for all people to die to themselves and choose Jesus and will always care enough to teach truth, but we have free will and God is not forcing anyone to have life, He gave it for the ones that willingly and sincerely seek Him. If He forced us to love Him it wouldn’t be real, it would be robotic and not sincere.

People can choose whatever they want, just don’t try, and use terms that have a meaning that you really don’t believe. There is a broad road and a narrow one, it is not God who wants the narrow road to be the one it is our selfishness and desire to make everything a god. We when stop making everything we desire the most important we can get back to the way we should live.

Read Psalm 36:5-7
“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike. O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadows of your wings.”

He is all that and has given us the only way to eternal life with the Father, it is through Jesus Christ our Lord. When this world forgets Him we get what we are experience right now, chaos.

We don’t know the basics of humanity and we fight to have the most ridiculous things happen. We can define a women, but we have medicine that is made only for a woman. We know genetically and biologically what the two genders are, but we want people to choose whatever they want. Before accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior of my life and moving into full time ministry I was a teacher for 18 years. I coached many sports from college football, high school football, high school girls basketball, jr high boys basketball, high school girls volleyball, high school wrestling, high school boys and girls tennis and high school baseball. While coaching all those sports one thing was the same, they had to know the rules and follow them and I coached all of them to understand the best technique and strategies so they could be successful. That is the case for all levels, so why in the world would we think taking away the values this country was set on and being afraid to tell people no, would make us successful?

We are so afraid to teach people the right way to do things that we let everyone do and say and live whatever way they want. It just doesn’t happen in any real job in this world. Could you imagine letting Doctors and Lawyers do whatever they want. Having no statutes or guidance. It would be crazy.
But we feel it is alright to let men say they want to be women and then play sports that they are physically stronger at. We shouldn’t make all our weird desires and fantasies be what drive a country.
Thank you God for showing us the way to live in this temporary home the correct way, honoring you not ourselves.

Love doesn't accept sin , it exposes it!

3/10/2023

Mark 10:21 NLT
“Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.””

The man struggled with thinking his stuff would give him peace, but it only kept him from freedom. The point isn’t that we can’t have anything, the point is nothing can be more important than God.

Mark 10:22-23 NLT
“At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!””

When we feel we have much the need for a savior get smaller and smaller, and we start to work in our own strength and that never works. It truly is in all areas of our lives, what will we put the most importance on? Love in this world is never offending and okaying whatever people feel or think, that is just not love. Jesus felt genuine love for this man and wanted to free him from his struggle, the man wanted to have his cake and eat it to.

Mark 10:23-24 NLT
“Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.”

Wait, it’s a free gift, why is it hard, very hard? Because of ourselves. We must die to self, surrender our will and live to Gods standard not ours. That is very hard because of pride and our desire for more world.

Mark 10:25-27 NLT
“In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.””

See, we want to eliminate the only thing that will help us have eternal life because He doesn’t ok sin. We want sin more than we want truth. This world is only helping with the very hard part by not understanding God and His boundaries and how they are for our gain. We live in a world that wants what it wants and will manipulate to make people fall as well, sadly people do because of pride and fear. I have met with many people in ministry and sadly the ones that love their families more than God will always ok their sin and lower Gods standard, so they feel better about themselves. God is clear.

Mark 10:28-30 NLT
“Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.”

See, nothing can make us lower Gods standard, His standard is set on Jesus as Lord and Savior, and we are to surrender to Him and follow Him fully. Fully means just that, fully. Nothing can come in the way of Jesus; He is the way the truth and the life. Our stuff isn’t and our family aren’t. Love is set on a standard of one, we can’t change it, we need to accept Him. If you love me, you will obey me. Thank you, Jesus, for showing us the way and giving us the life, now I only want your truth. Amen

Small as a mustard seed

3/8/2023

We are told if we have faith as small as a mustard seed we can move mountains, to me that is the start. Our faith can develop and be unwavering when we choose to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Hebrews 11:6 NLT
“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

When we sincerely seek, our faith is unwavering and when it is unwavering, we don’t take no for an answer. The more we desire Jesus the more we will find Him. Look at this determined faithful mother who sincerely seeks Him.

Mark 7:25-30 NLT
“Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter. Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.” “Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.”

Jesus loves the Fathers will and Gods will is for all to be home and repent of our sin and turn to Him. Jesus is the way, the only way. The truth, the only truth. And the life, the only life that will be in heaven with the Father. Be seeking Him and you will find Him. Amen

Family

3/5/2023

Mark 3:33-35 NLT
“Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.””

Jesus understood why He came and that people wouldn’t all accept Him as Lord and Savior. He was sharing how we as followers of Jesus would never be alone. There is a true connection when we take God seriously and desire to die to self and live for Him.

He even said that He didn’t come to bring peace, He came to bring truth, the sword, the Word of God,

Matthew 10:34-36 NLT
““Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’”

It’s not because He wanted it that way, people are selfish and hold onto the things that make them stumble, He wants us to understand everything we need to have eternal life with the Father. Not our will be done but Gods.

Die to self, pick up your cross daily and know the family that will be with you always, then love people with truth, understanding grace and showing mercy. God has for us and gives us the ability to as well. Amen

Covered and Victorious

2/28/2023

Psalms 18:35-36 NLT
“You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great. You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.”

This is what He has done, all we need to do is turn to Him and trust fully that His way is best. He makes us prosper in this world by strengthening us and helping us see what is right. He knows this is not our home and He makes it possible to live here with joy and peace and with power and strength. Let go of ourselves and live the way He set up, just like His Son, Jesus. Then we won’t get caught in this world of traps and we will live in truth. Amen

Unwavering faith

2/18/2023

Matthew 15:22-28 NLT
“A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.”

I love this set of verses! We need to have faith that leads us to not care when it happens, but we believe it will happen.

After she was ignored and was told He didn’t come for her, she worshiped Him. God loves us and sent His Son for us, that is all we need to know and then have faith in Him. Through Jesus we have eternal life. Even if we wait for a life time, we worship and give glory to Him, and live our lives to glorify the Father. We have received a gift that is eternal and it’s for our true home in heaven, we can’t get caught up in the worldly details. Seek and you will find, believe and live boldly showing how much you love God and Jesus will be the strength you need to listen to the Holy Spirit and shine.

Pleasing Him

2/15/2023

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 NLT
“So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”

The important thing we must see from these verses is that our goal is to please Him. Pleasing Him means we love Jesus and live like Him. We don’t shrink back and ride out our faith for ourselves. We build our relationship with Him and we start to live seeing others as our focus. Bold and confident, pleasing God by our believing in the one He sent, Jesus.

Pleasing God also means we believe and accept the purpose we all have to share truth and not be satisfied by the corruption in this world. His standard is our standard and nothing else. His values are the only moral way to live so we work on them so we can shine. It doesn’t mean that we let this world rule by the behaviors it wants, we have a set of values that we follow. We need to understand that we live in a country that is different and it was set up on Christian values so there is a standard to follow. We can’t make everyone choose Jesus but we can set up the moral values that started this country and keep that standard with people. Marriage, life, gender all other things that are Biblical we can keep as the standard and then in this country there is the freedom for other beliefs to dwell here as well. They just need to understand that the moral values aren’t going to change to fit their desires.

1 Chronicles 29:11 NLT
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.”

Important to understand because all different areas in the world will have different ideas and we use our God given talents to reach people for Jesus. Whatever the culture was set up with is how we work on reaching people for Jesus. China is different and we need a different approach. Europe is different and needs a different approach, America was set on Christian values and we keep that approach and we can’t let the world change all the values without being apart of it and being bold to please God.

It’s a perfect mix of not sitting back and letting things happen and not pushing to change everything in this culture, just the ones that line up with what God discusses. Marriage needs to line up with Gods ways - life needs to line up with Gods ways - gender needs to line up, it’s not hard to see what in culture is damaging to pleasing God.

Learn, live and help people see a loving God that sent His Son for all to have a chance to be home in our true eternal place.

Be Ready

2/13/2023

Matthew 25:5-8 NLT
“When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’”

We don’t know when we only know that He is coming, the five foolish ones weren’t ready and had to leave, Don’t get caught needing because God has given us everything we need. Ask, seek, and knock and we will be ready. Pray, talk with and build up people with truth and we will be ready. Study and apply what you learn so we will be ready, nothing is better than a relationship with Him, He wants to know us and wants us to know Him.

Matthew 25:10-13 NLT
““But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”

Again, the knowledge of who He was was there, they called Lord, Lord, we can’t let our belief be minimized by our love for this world and the feeling that I am good where I am at. Run to win Paul says, it’s worth being ready. Amen

like children

2/3/2023

Matthew 18:3-5 NLT
“Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.”

We need to stop trying to make our sins acceptable and turn from them. If we don’t and we let our feelings dictate what we believe and how we live, we won’t enter heaven when we die, there is only separation from God. We have been blessed to have a God who loves us all and we been blessed to live in a Country that believed that we could only succeed with Christian values set up by God. One nation under God, that is real and until we set our standards back on that, this country will keep falling. It’s not about which party is right, it’s regrouping and turning from all this sin we are pushing as truth.

Matthew 18:7 NLT
““What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.”

There is a moral truth that we should understand and right now we are choosing to be blind to it because we are foolish. God made them male and female, yet we have made it possible to have over 100 genders.

When we allow this to keep happening we will keep reaping what we sow, insanity. Right and wrong doesn’t matter because if the political party you affiliate with makes you believe wrong for their benefit, people believe it. Both sides does this and that’s why there is one truth, Gods truth and it’s the only way to function as this amazing country that is slipping fast. We need to open our hearts and get back to truth. Amen