August 19, 2026

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

Those That Sow Discord Among the Brethren 

Being a part of a loving church is one of God’s gifts to those who love him, so when someone tries to cause trouble within it, those people often receive the consequences for their actions. John writes a letter to Gaius, an elder of a church. Here is the relevant scripture:

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 3 John 1:9-10

John didn’t hold anything back; he told the truth and now that story of strife within a church is published in every Bible. One time, after telling a story about some trouble within a church I attend, I caught some flack for publishing it on social media; I didn’t use a timestamp and no names were used, and I wasn’t being malicious, but the information was helpful as a tool for what we shouldn’t do to others and how we should act as the church body. 

There is a way to tell if you are on the right side of an issue: it’s the way the other people act towards the opposing side. We see this today in the left verse right conflict. My grandson was graduating from kindergarten and the director of the school, who had caused conflict with our church and enticed some of the families in our church to leave with her; she was in charge of his graduation. She had to stay as director to tie up some loose ends before she parted ways. She had invited some of those families to attend to support her; I guess she was afraid of how we would act towards her because she knew that my husband and I would be there to see our grandson graduate. I have never witnessed so many nasty sneers and ugliness towards me and my husband in my entire life. These were people we knew and loved and were supposedly Christ-followers. We had no ill feeling towards them; we just chose not to follow along with their plan to divide the church. I approached the director a couple of times times to tell her that I loved her so she would know that we didn’t have any hard feelings towards her, but instead of receiving me as a sister in Christ, she treated me like I had stolen her candy. She was very nasty towards me. That’s when I knew that we had made the right decision to stay and support our pastor. 

John told the story of Diotrephes to warn the church that his actions were evil. These same things happen in churches today and we should learn from them and remember to keep our focus on Jesus so we don’t veer off the path and turn down the path towards evil. 

Know this: if you are the divider in the church, you are the one who is in the wrong. If you don’t like what’s going on, state your concerns with the authorities and quietly leave. You don’t deserve a trophy or fan fair for your decision. 

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 3 John 1:11

August 18, 2026

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

A False Witness That Speaks Lies

Lying is such a stench to the nostrils of God that it is mentioned twice in the seven things He hates. However, lying on the stand in court takes it to a different level. Not only can it harm a person's reputation, but it can also lead to their punishment, even unto death, if it is a capital offense they are accused of. The best example of this is the accusations against Jesus that led to his death on the cross. We know that he never sinned, but there were people coerced to say that he had, so they could beat him and hang him on the cross to stop him from pointing out the truth about who the Pharisees and Sadducees really were. They were the liars. 

Then there was the story of Naboth, which somewhat reminds me of the story I told yesterday about the pastor. Naboth had a vineyard that Ahab wanted for his own, but Naboth didn't want to sell it to him, so Jezebel devised a scheme to take it from him by accusing him of blasphemy against God and Ahab, the king. She found two witnesses willing to spread that rumor, which in turn caused him to be stoned to death so that she could take the vineyard for her husband, the king. Those vile men lied, bearing false witness against Naboth, causing his destruction so a depressed king could have his garden. 

If you have ever wondered whether the Bible is relevant today, I assure you there is nothing new under the sun. In the story I told yesterday, two men were also coerced to sow discord in the church by saying that because the preacher couldn't control his own family, he wasn't fit to lead a church. It's the unfortunate truth of what a modern-day preacher has to face in this season of deception.

If you are ever called as a witness and find yourself on the witness stand, it is far better to tell the truth and face the consequences of the people rather than face the punishment of God, who hates a liar. 

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: Matthew 15:18-19

August 17, 2026

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

Feet That Make Haste To Run To Evil

One thing I’ve noticed while studying the things God hates is that a person who commits one is usually the type who commits all of them, often at the same time. A pastor of a small church in a rural town in the South had a wife who was unhappy in their marriage. She was very jealous of him and would break down whenever he spoke with a woman. This man was no womanizer, but sometimes, as a preacher, you may be required to have a conversation with the opposite sex in the public eye. Rather than quietly leaving him, she devised a scheme to keep her position in the church and force him to resign. She even had a new preacher picked out to take his position. She began to set things in motion, but after being caught in a lie about him cheating, and then getting called out by the other person she accused, she began spreading the lie that he was a cheater to all the employees of the church that she had reign over, and if they wanted to keep their job, even if they didn’t believe her, they had no choice but to go along with it. The preacher felt he had no option but to resign; however, the people who knew him, including the church leadership, wouldn’t accept his resignation because they discerned that what they were hearing was an evil scheme with demonic empowerment. Fortunately for this little church, God was still on His throne and gave the preacher the courage to keep preaching and teaching the people who had trusted him. This church could have been dissolved, but that wasn’t a part of God’s plan. It wasn’t easy for the preacher to recover, but Jesus never promised that following him would be easy; in fact, he warned his disciples that they would be persecuted. Fortunately, the preacher had his day in the court of the Lord and received “not guilty” from our compassionate judge.

God hates people who run towards evil rather than turning away from it. If a Christ-follower decides to do their own thing rather than consult with God and listen to His Holy Spirit, they too will reap the consequences of their actions. It’s also not a good idea to devise a scheme against one of God’s anointed.

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19

He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. Psalms 105:14-15

August 16, 2026

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

A Heart That Devises Wicked Plans

When we look back to 2020 and its timestamp, which we remember so vividly, we find a perfect example of a heart that devises evil plans. From the creation of a virus to the pharmaceutical "solution," there was a common denominator in the wicked plan to experiment on and destroy many lives. Whether this was a certain doctor or the governmental institution that he represented, there was a master mind that devised the plan that maimed or killed a lot of people. First, they introduced the sickness, then spread fear through propaganda, knowing full well most people would recover with solutions already on the market. Part of the evil plan was to take those solutions off the market so you couldn't use them, opening the door for pharmaceutical companies to release a new medication before it was properly vetted. By the way, they are now using some of that same technology in the tried-and-tested vac*cines today, so you risk your own health by not using your God-given wisdom when considering injecting your body with substances that you know nothing about. Make sure you do your research. All of this is to say that if someone has evil intentions in their heart and devises plans for the downfall or harm of others, know that God sees it, and they will receive their just deserts. And even if we don't see justice done, you can be sure this doctor and his evil counterparts will get what's coming to them, and it will be worse than they ever imagined.

Side note: if you still trust that doctors and the government have your best interests at heart after all of this, then you've been hoodwinked and need to pray for God to open your eyes to the truth. It's all just a money-making scheme and a power grab. 

And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD. Zechariah 8:17

August 15, 2026

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

Hands That Shed Innocent Blood 

A child is probably what we think of as the most innocent, though others have been accused who are also guiltless, whose lives have been taken away. Can you imagine living in a country where it is legal to snuff out the life of a child while it’s still safe and secure in its mother’s womb? I’m sorry to say it, but that’s where we are, and it’s sick. The hands of the politicians who made that an option are dripping with the blood of the innocent, as well as the morally corrupt parent who is capable of such an atrocity. Not only that, but the doctors who are performing such procedures and making money from their vile activity will face the fire in eternity unless they repent and follow Jesus. Even if they are saved through Jesus, they will have to live with the shame of their guilt for the rest of their lives and deal with whatever earthly punishment is required of them. Though by law a mother may be free to choose between life and death for their child, they are not free from the consequences of such a disturbing act. We all sin and are unworthy of salvation, but this happens to be one of the seven things that God hates. Thankfully, for the many who’ve participated in such an atrocious act, forgiveness is available if they seek Jesus and repent. 

Remember this song? Jesus loves the little children; all the children of the world; red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. 

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. Isaiah 59:2-3

August 14, 2026

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

A Lying Tongue

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. Proverbs 26:28

We’ve all encountered them, and we may even have them in our families: the known liar. Our family has a close connection with one who spews hatred about us and uses flattery to make the person she’s talking to think she is truthful. Her sweet tone of voice is part of her weaponry. She can hold you captive with her every word and make you believe that what she is saying is true. She mixes in just enough verifiable truth that you assume that it’s all true. She has hoodwinked many into believing her. What’s worse is she claims to be a Christian and was raised by a preacher. Unfortunately for this liar, God has released the enemy to collect the debt she owes, and now, in her grandmotherly age, she is paying the price. 

Remember, it is better to face the consequences of the truth than to participate in something that God hates. 

August 13, 2026

 

Shedding the World

The Things God Hates

A Proud Look

What in the world is a proud look? It’s pride! We all like nice things, but lifting your chin in the air like you’re better than others is considered a proud look. You’ve seen these people; they look down their noses at you, as if you are nothing but dirt; these people are in the church. I’ve got news for them: our flesh is nothing but dirt! We are made from the dust of the earth, and no amount of money will make you more than that. However, our soul and spirit can be refined by God for service to Him. The earthly things you have don’t change who you are, but if you’re not careful, they will cause you to have pride, which is the downfall of many. 

What can we do so that we don’t fall victim to pride or haughtiness? Ask the Holy Spirit to give us humble eyes to see others the way Jesus saw people, with a heart broken for their condition. If anyone had a reason to situate themselves above others, it was Jesus, but he, who was and is God, lowered himself to come in the form of a servant and made himself of no reputation. 

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Philippians 2:7

August 12, 2026

Shedding the World

Preface

Let me start by saying that God created this world, and everything He does is good. However, He also created evil! I know it’s hard to believe that our God, who is holy, just, righteous, and loving, is also the maker of the evil one, but I’m sure He has His reasons. It could be that the greatest test of our lives depends on our ability, with God’s help, of course, to reject evil and choose Him. 

Somewhere I crossed a line without knowing it, and likely because of the workings of the Holy Spirit, I started noticing that the things I’m drawn to, and love, turn out to be part of Satan’s evil plan of deception. As an example, start listening to the lyrics of your favorite musical artist from back in your day and the new music, and tell me if you think those came from the mouth of God; some Christian artists may be divinely inspired, but they are the few; sadly, we also need to be careful of those. Imagine belting out the lyrics of songs that were written solely to worship Satan. We might not mean to worship him, but he is smitten when a Christ-follower sings songs that are an anthem to him. The closer we get to Jesus, the more we begin to see the truth and realize that we are filthy beings and are only good because of Jesus. Fortunately, that’s a good place to be.

In this series, we will learn how to live in the world, but not be of the world.

Jesus said in John 17:15-16: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

August 11, 2026

3 John 1

The elder, believed to be the Apostle John, wrote to Gaius, commending him for treating others fairly, whether they were brethren or strangers. It seems that John’s point in writing was to tell him how nasty a man named Diotrephes treated him; he may have been part of Gaius’s church.

If you profess to be a Christ-follower, your temperament should be in the likeness of Jesus. If you don’t show a loving heart to others, do you truly have Jesus? Does the Holy Spirit reside in you? When we first started going to our church, we immediately faced opposition from someone who thought that I shouldn’t be using an electronic Bible. I get it; notifications can be distracting. However, what he didn’t know was that I was capable of verifying everything taught in real time, including looking up the Greek meanings and other things because I had my study tools right in front of me. He wanted the preacher to admonish me for using it. That didn’t happen, and I’m still there, and he’s gone. Not everyone who claims Jesus is saved, and you can tell who they are by their fruit. 

Don’t get so comfortable in your “Christianity” that you fail to reflect the likeness of Christ. People notice. John wasn’t going to put up with such nonsense from Diotrephes, and planned to handle the situation by reprimanding his evil deeds the next time he visited Gaius.

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 3 John 1:11

August 10, 2026

2 John 1

Did you know that John specifically tells the “elect lady” not to receive into her home anyone who doesn’t accept the doctrine of Christ? What does that tell us about the people we bring into our own homes? Have you ever had someone come into your home that you felt left behind something vile? I had a dream that something dark loomed over me inside my home. That dream came true when I let a women come into my home who was taller than me, had dark hair, and she was angry with me for some reason; I think she was a potential tenant, but it’s been so long ago, I don’t remember all the details other than I let someone that I didn’t know into my home and they carried a darkness. Anyone who doesn’t accept Jesus as God carries that darkness, and John tells us not to receive them or to wish them well because we become a partaker in their evil deeds! Look at these verses:

 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 2 John 1:9-11

When she left, I prayed scripture over my home and anointed every window and door so that if she had left behind any of her demons, they would leave because the Word of God was read in their presence. 

August 9, 2026

1 John 5

When my husband’s father passed away, all of his businesses were dropped into his lap. However, he knew that line of work because he had been immersed in it for his entire life, though he wasn’t a part of it when he died. He had to jump in and handle all the situations that his dad was involved in, including a few lawsuits, which was daunting for him. Thankfully, he is good at juggling and focusing and still able to manage our businesses at the same time. He says it was the worst four years of his life, but he handled them quite well. There were a few business partners of his dad’s that my husband knew had rejected, belittled, or taken advantage of him, and they came out of nowhere to try and do business with my husband, now that his dad was gone. Because he and his dad were close, the stories of their betrayal were shared, so he knew who were good business partners and who were the crooks. When they rejected his dad, they ultimately rejected my husband, the son. 

Imagine the same situation only bigger, on a worldwide scale: God the Father and God the Son. Those people who rejected God and didn’t turn their lives over to Him, the Son, Jesus came and called them out, and they ultimately rejected him too, but not without the consequences. We sometimes forget that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are one. You can’t call on just one of them and reject the others; when you do that, you reject them all, similar to the situation with my husband and his dad. It will come back to bite you. We must acknowledge that they are three in one, and you can’t do business with one without doing business with the others. 

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7

August 8, 2026

1 John 4

We Love Him Because He First Loved Us

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

Did you know that it is possible to love someone who hates you? I am here to testify to that truth. I know of several people who hate me, but their reasons for hating me are not justified. Their hatefulness is out of jealousy or resentment because I chose not to go along with their evil deeds or side with them. Did you know that if you hate your brother, like a sibling or fellow Christ-follower, whether they are literally your sibling or figuratively your sibling, that the love of God is not in you? However, because God lives in you, it is impossible to hate someone. Here is how I see it: I don’t hate them; they are the ones who are hateful. However, just because I can still love them doesn’t mean I have to put up with their shenanigans or include them in my life; far from that. I refuse to harbor hate for anyone. As a Christ-follower, you need a change of heart if you can’t find love for others, even those who despise you. I may not ever forget how they treated me, but I will be cautious if ever I am around them. They will never know the secrets of my life, but they will also not control my emotions because of their hate; that’s on them. 

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John 4:20

August 7, 2026

1 John 3

Who are the Children of God?

This third chapter of 1 John should be broken down and gone through verse by verse. It is such a tasty morsel to the palate of my mind that it should be eaten slowly to taste each ingredient individually because it is that good. However, I will concentrate on the verses that stood out the most and made an impact. Here they are:

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 3:8-9

Those people who refrain from sinful behavior have the seed of God in them, but have you ever thought that if you were a habitual sinner, the seed of the devil was still in you? If God’s seed is not in you, then whose? We hear about NPC’s on social media, non-player characters. I believe these people may still have the seed of the devil in them because they take every narrative seen on television and repeated on social media as truth rather than use their minds and the Holy Spirit promptings to discern the truth. These are mindless individuals who believe everything they hear. The complete opposite can also be true of an NPC: they believe everything is a lie. That can get you in trouble if you start believing the Bible is a lie and that God isn’t real. 

How do we fix this? Get our hearts right and bent towards God. Help to pull these individuals from the fire that they’ve set with their sins. Tell them about Jesus and the love he has for us. Those of us who love Jesus are the few; too many people do not love him, and we need to change that. Do your part when prompted by the Holy Spirit, and God will bless you; I guarantee it!