September 28, 2026

To the followers of Christ: Think back to your conversion to Christianity. When did you recognize Jesus to be the Son of God and King? Do you think you got there on your own? Toward the end of the first chapter of John, Jesus calls some of his disciples, and Nathanael is one of them. Before he met Jesus, Phillip told Nathanael that they had found the one written about in the law of Moses and the prophets. However, he mentioned to him that he was Jesus of Nazareth, which threw him off because it was written that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, one of David’s towns. So Nathanael says, “What good could come out of Nazareth?” Then, when Jesus met him, he said, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” and said he saw him under the fig tree. Then he recognized him as the Son of God and King of Israel. Jesus opened his eyes to the truth of who he was, but because he told him something he saw in the Spirit, Nathanael believed. Here is what Jesus said:

Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. John 1:50

Some of us believe because the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the truth, but others need to see proof. It doesn’t matter how you were encouraged to turn your life over to Jesus; what matters is that you did. Jesus knew your turning point in advance and directed you to that path. Praise God that you recognized the truth. 

September 27, 2026

To the followers of Christ: One thing I've learned as a Christ-follower is that if someone who isn't a believer shows interest in Jesus, you take a moment to talk with them about him. You don't wait until it is convenient; you give them all the information the Holy Spirit leads you to share and invite them to give their lives to Jesus. You might be a little nervous doing it for the first time, but that's why you let the Holy Spirit guide and direct what you say. You strike while the iron is hot.

When John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God for the second time before two of his disciples, they turned to follow Jesus. The two disciples were Andrew, Peter's brother, and some believe the other was John, the writer of the Gospel of John. When they began following him, Jesus asked, "What seek ye?" which was an invitation. Jesus didn't wait to see if they were serious. They asked where he lived, and he told them to "come and see." They stayed with him, and then the next day Andrew went to find Peter to tell him that they had found the Messiah. As we can see, they immediately went to tell others about Jesus; that's why it is so important not to waste time when others show interest in him, because you never know who they may help bring to follow Jesus.  

As a side note: look how small the Church started as- only Jesus and two new disciples and look how big it is now!

And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. John 1:36-37

September 26, 2026

To the followers of Christ: Do you have any cousins that you don’t really know? Maybe you know of them but don’t have a relationship with them. We know from the story of Jesus’ birth that when Mary met Elizabeth, her cousin, who was also pregnant, John, whom she was carrying, leaped in her belly when Mary came to stay with her. We also know that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, when he was a small child, had to travel and stay far away from their families to keep Jesus safe from being slaughtered by Herod. For that reason, they didn’t grow up together. So when John the Baptist says he didn’t know him but was told by the Spirit who to look for, he knew when the dove settled upon Jesus that it was a representative of the Holy Spirit, and that he was the one he was told was coming as the Savior who would take away the sins of the world. 

Now, we’ve been taught about Jesus, but have never even seen him, yet we bear witness that he is the Son of God who came to give us salvation from our sins. Until the Spirit introduced him to us, we didn’t know him; now that we do, we are witnesses to his goodness and faithfulness, and to the fact that he has taken away our sins. Because of that, we always have something to be grateful for. 

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1:33-34

September 25, 2026

To the followers of Christ: Baptism is an important part of becoming a follower of Christ. Have you undergone this ceremony? Have you ever had questions about water baptism because John the Baptist mentions this: 

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Matthew 3:11

Is water baptism really necessary? Here is what I found:

When John the Baptist came on the scene, the Pharisees questioned him to find out who he was. They had no right to examine him because he was a priest and a descendant of Aaron. However, they expected one of the signs of the Messiah would be baptism because the prophets said he would come purifying by water. John denied being the Messiah.

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. Ezekiel 36:25

Where did baptism originate? When a stranger, called a proselyte, wanted to become part of the Jewish church, they would undergo a ceremony of circumcision and water baptism to cleanse them of their former lifestyle, leaving everything else behind. 

We are baptized into God’s kingdom of believers. 

In conclusion, I found that it is necessary because Peter, speaking of the Gentiles who had received the Holy Spirit, after Jesus had ascended to the right hand of the Father, says this:

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. Acts 10:46-48

Baptism is not just ceremonial. Don’t deny yourself this part of the process; it’s an outward sign of the interior change. 

September 24, 2026

To the followers of Christ: I’ve watched as my husband interacts with our grandsons and it’s precious. Our youngest grandson is 6, and he’s the most like him, a little “off-the-chain,” but loving. The two of them are like “peas and carrots,” to quote Forrest Gump. He will sometimes sit with him in his recliner and play games with him, even though it’s a tight squeeze. You can see the love oozing off of them as they enjoy one another’s company. We both get a thrill watching him drive his little truck or electric bike down our driveway coming to see use nearly everyday. We are living our best lives for sure. One day, after we are gone, these boys will likely have to jump in and help manage the businesses we’ve left to their parents, and uncles and aunts, but they will be ready to help because they’ve grown up watching and learning how it’s done. Other people don’t actually know what goes on in our families, but the children are there and see the interworking that no one else see, not that any of our lives are a secret, but some things are only for our families. 

The relationship between the Father and His Son Jesus, is very similar to the working of the family, I believe He designed it that way on purpose as a way to explain how they work, through that relationship dynamic, meaning, the way God the Father and God the Son respond to one another. We can see the truth in that by the way John explains their closeness. That’s why when Jesus tells the people of that day, that if you’ve seen him, you’ve seen the Father we can relate to it with our own families. I suppose that why when I see my husband’s relationship with our grandsons it reminded me of the verse where it says Jesus is in the bosom of the Father. It’s precious and something that many of us can relate to. 

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 1:18

September 23, 2026

To the followers of Christ: If you've ever met someone with the gift of prophecy, or you may be that person, you will recognize them because they are quick to call out sin, and they don't hold back. If they do hold back, it's purely because the Holy Spirit restrained them. They may not have refined grace. For example: John the Baptist was a prophet sent to introduce Jesus, and while he was baptizing, he called the Pharisees and Sadducees a generation of vipers; they earned that distinction, but you can see that he was quick to call them out, and he was brutal with his words. Sometimes the best way to get your point across is to go straight for the truth. However, what may be lacking, especially when it comes to speaking to those who are saved, is grace. Grace has many definitions, but the one that seems to go best with this lesson is this:

Grace: The application of Christ's righteousness to the sinner. 

Isn't that good? We would all do well to understand it this way. Grace is preferred above the Law of Moses. I know that's a bold statement, but it's the truth. Moses' law is terrifying, threatening, and full of penalties to make people comply, but the Gospel of Jesus is happier, and "it has all the beneficial uses of the law, but not the terror, for it is grace."

The point is that if you are tempted to call out someone's sin, and sometimes it's necessary, remember to apply the righteousness of Jesus to the sinner. Tread carefully; you don't want to venture into sin yourself while correcting someone else.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17

The quotes above come from the Matthew Henry Commentary.

September 22, 2026

To the followers of Christ: Have you ever been a witness, sat on a jury, or been questioned by a judge in court? It can be intimidating and make you a nervous wreck. Once you realize the judge is just another human trying to uncover the truth, you calm down somewhat. As Christ-followers, that is what we do daily. We are witnesses to the grace and truth that came through Jesus; we study the evidence as a jury, and we answer questions about his deity like witnesses in a trial. Not only do we have the evidence in our hands, the written Word of God, but our experience of his grace and mercy serves as the truth of who he is. 

Did you know that there are usually twelve jurors seated in either a civil or criminal case, chosen randomly from everyday people? Did you also know that Jesus had twelve disciples as witnesses who were typical, relatable, everyday people? He didn’t call priests or kings as his disciples, but people who could spread his message of grace and truth. They may have been intimidated at first, but once they realized that Jesus was God in the flesh, they willingly submitted themselves to whatever challenges they faced because they believed in him. Because of your faith in him, you can hold your head high, knowing the One who holds your everlasting life in his hands, and you can fiercely testify to the truth that Jesus Christ is our Savior and King. 

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

September 21, 2026

To the followers of Christ: Have you ever dug into your lineage? I traced one of my lines all the way back to the 1500s, but that’s as far as I could go; it stops abruptly after that. What was I looking for? Royalty. I didn’t find any in my lineage, so why have I always felt set apart, even as a child? 

Somehow, lately, the algorithm has been sending me videos of the British royal family, and I couldn’t help but watch them. Turns out, they don’t do anything. Their purpose seems to be to show off the royal jewels and show up to be seen. They don’t seem to be in charge of anything but themselves. 

Jesus, who is royalty and always was, was rejected as such. The people who gave him his royal lineage rejected him as King. Remember, only a few accepted him as their King; the rest crucified him. They crucified his body, but couldn’t get rid of him! He came back to life, proving that he wasn’t ordinary. 

Look at this: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

We are royalty, not by flesh, but because we have received Jesus and have been born again into God’s royal lineage. We are not just ornaments like the British royal family; our royalty comes with responsibilities, and we have a purpose. We are commanded to tell the world about Jesus, and how could you not brag about what he has done for you? It’s as simple as sharing your testimony. Tell your story of redemption, brag about your royal family, and show off your jewels- that sparkly light of our Savior. 

September 20, 2026

To the followers of Christ: Remember the children's song "Deep and Wide"? I remember singing it way back in Sunday School. We did the motions with our hands, which helped us learn the song.

Deep and wide

Deep and wide

There's a fountain flowing deep and wide

Deep and wide

Deep and wide

There's a fountain flowing deep and wide

Jesus is that fountain. I posted a picture of my new, old fountain a couple of days ago; we recently placed it on our back patio, and it's dry and still needs a good cleaning. Without Jesus, we are like that dry and dirty fountain, waiting to be filled from his overflowing grace.

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. John 1:16

Jesus is so full of grace that it bubbles over onto us, fills us up, and spills onto others; we are the vessel, like the fountain, that shares that grace with others. So, when you are offended by others- and believe me, it happens all the time- remember that you are full of the grace of Christ, and it's your job to let that grace spill onto the offenders. You don't have to be their punching bag, but if you offer them grace and they reject it, they will pay the price. Jesus will top off that grace you gave them with more. That is grace for grace. 

September 19, 2026

To the followers of Christ: How seriously do you take your temple? If our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God, the special gift sent to us by Jesus after he departed from earth, why do we continue to treat it as if that wasn't true? Jesus entered the temple at two different times to drive out the merchants who were using it to make money. What might you be doing that would disappoint him in the way you use your body? If you go back to the Old Testament and read about the temple services, you will see the importance placed on keeping it holy because it was where God dwelt among the people. A priest had to be thoroughly cleansed, both inside and out, before he could enter the Holy of Holies. If he weren't clean enough to minister before God, he would be struck down, and the other priest would have to drag his body out by the rope attached to him. Yet, here we are treating our own bodies as if we weren't carrying the precious cargo of the Holy Spirit. Today, let us consider what we do, reflect on the Holy Spirit's indwelling, and begin honoring him as he deserves. One specific thing you can do is repent quickly when you sin, so your temple stays clean. 

And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. John 2:15-16

September 18, 2026

We have the building plans for a small strip center. After we finalize the plans and submit them to the county for approval, we have to remove the sheds and prepare the land. But before that, we still have to clean out the stuff my father-in-law had collected before he passed. He loved going to auctions and buying whatever his heart desired. So one of the first things we had to do was find places for all those things. We wanted to keep some things, but others had no place and might end up in a landfill. One thing he had collected was a huge fountain, which we decided to keep.

God has a plan for your life, just as we have plans to build a shopping center. The process has an order. You must submit your life to Jesus first; much like getting your plans to the county for permitting, though it’s easier to give your life to Jesus. Only after salvation do you begin cleaning up and removing junk, such as past hurts, sins, traumas, and more. Jesus is the clean-up man. You were given gifts from the beginning, so you want to keep those, like the extra nice things that won’t end up in a landfill, like the fountain. That fountain is like the Holy Spirit; for it to flow, it needs a good cleaning and a new pump to get it going, and so, like the water, the Holy Spirit can flow through you.

So think about this story if you are still on the fence about turning your life over to Jesus. There is no better time than now. Don’t leave this world without him; that would be a tragedy that you will regret for eternity. 

Jesus said:

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18

September 17, 2026

To the followers of Christ: Did you know that prayer can change your attitude? When your feelings are hurt, or a situation stirs up your emotions, and you begin to drown in self-pity, you can reach out to God and ask Him to bring you peace so you can overcome the issue disturbing you. 

The story of Elijah is long but good. In 1 Kings 19, Jezebel is after his life because he took the lives of all her "prophets." Elijah fled to Beersheba, a province of Judah, left his servant there, and continued on a day's journey. He sat down under a juniper and asked God to take his life. 

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 1 Kings 19:4

He was depressed and fearful of Jezebel and didn't want to continue, so he went to sleep. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, woke him up, and brought him something to eat. He ate, drank his water, and went back to sleep. The angel came again with more food, meat that would sustain him for 40 days. 

And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 1 Kings 19:8

Elijah spent some time recovering from his depression at Mount Horeb, then God let him hear His voice, which was barely a whisper, but it was enough that Elijah heard God's instructions on what he was to do next. He continued in the strength God gave him. 

From this story, you can see that prayer, rest, and a little nourishment will refresh and strengthen you to do what God called you to do, so don't linger too long in self-pity. 

September 16, 2026

To the followers of Christ: I planned to continue to show you information that we are living after the time when the people ruled and reigned with Jesus here on earth and that we may be living in Satan's short season, but it seems that because of the Roman Catholic teachings that have also colored the Protestant Church, many minds are seared into believing that we are still waiting for that to occur, so this is likely the last time I will mention it. 

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. Revelation 20:7-8

In the 1599 Geneva Bible supposedly brought over by the Pilgrims escaping Catholicism, the commentary shows that those things have already happened. Even the Matthew Henry commentary on Luke 21 reads as though the thousand-year reign has already happened. Signs throughout the world suggest that extraordinary beings may have lived and built structures we are incapable of building today. Could that have been when Jesus reigned here on earth? If true, what does that mean for us today? We are waiting on Judgment Day and the gathering of the Saints for war against Satan to finally throw him into the lake of fire. The season of deception is obscuring all the details and making us believe we are still waiting on the Thousand Year Reign. But isn't that just like Satan, the great deceiver? The timelines are all wrong. For instance, look at the Statue of Liberty; it has a broken chain at its ankle and may depict Satan's freedom from the pit. The only way to see the truth is to overcome the lies that history has taught us and see things with new eyes, opened eyes, with scales removed. These are thoughts to get your minds working. Believing this is not going to send anyone to hell; it's just expanding knowledge and revealing things that have been hidden for a very long time. Do a little research. Once you see it, you cannot unsee it. 

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28

September 15, 2026

To the followers of Christ: Building a new temple in Jerusalem so that it can be destroyed makes no sense. We are not waiting for that prophecy to be fulfilled; it has already happened. Around 70 AD, about 38 years after Jesus was crucified, God brought about His vengeance through the Roman occupation of Jerusalem, for what those people did to Jesus.

For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Luke 21:22

Jesus warned his disciples about what would happen, giving them the full rundown of the schedule of events. He told them that when they saw the desecration of the temple, they were to flee to the mountains, and that’s exactly what they did. The Roman soldiers brought their idols into the temple and set them up as a way to dishonor God; that was the desecration of the temple, not a pig, like we’ve often heard. The tribulation for the people that didn’t flee created the most horrible atrocities that had ever happened. The Christians fled to Pella in Perea, just as Jesus had warned them to do. They were not raptured, but they did live to see what happened. 

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Matthew 24:34

Why would Jesus say that they wouldn’t pass until those things were fulfilled? Because it happened during that generation. He didn’t lie to them, because that prophecy was fulfilled. 

Stay tuned if you want to learn more; I’ll cover some key points over the next few days.

September 14, 2026

To the followers of Christ: Does anyone else find gardening satisfying? Watching seeds sprout and seeing plants grow makes me happy. I just planted a fall garden. I haven’t done that in several years. Some of the plants I planted came from a garden center because I decided too late to start them from seed, but others I sowed right into the garden beds. I’m concerned the seeds I planted may not be viable, as most should have sprouted by now. If they don’t show any progress, I will start again with new seeds. 

Doesn’t this sound familiar to how we minister to others trying to convince them to call on Jesus as their Savior? We plant a seed in their minds, but sometimes it doesn’t take, so we try again later, hoping the new seed will take root. Don’t give up if you have a friend or family member who hasn’t submitted to Jesus; keep trying, and one day, they will hopefully realize how amazing it is to live for him.

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 13:8

September 13, 2026

Shedding the World: Come Down From the Mountain

If you plan to follow Jesus’s command to go and tell everyone about him, you will need to be among people. I know what you’re thinking, but you can’t always avoid people. After his sermon on the mountain, a multitude followed him. Even though his teachings were to the point and maybe a bit hard to swallow, he taught with authority, so they knew he was the real deal. He came down and began his healing ministry.

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. Matthew 8:1

The most famous man/God of all time spent time with his fans. Not like today’s “gods,” celebrities, politicians, and sports heroes, who hide out and avoid people for fear that they will be harmed. No, Jesus was not fearful, and even spent time with individuals, teaching and healing everywhere he ventured. I’m a little envious of those people who got to meet him in the flesh. Can you imagine being able to worship without fear of crossing the line into idolatry because Jesus was the One True God? Even now, especially now, it’s okay to celebrate him and raise him above others. Worship and praise him with all your heart because he is worthy. 

September 12, 2026

Shedding the World: The Authority of Jesus

The people who followed Jesus knew he spoke with strong authority. Jesus came and set the record straight; he challenged the religious authorities, clarified the law, and removed the unnecessary process those authorities burdened the people with. Unfortunately, those same authorities exist today, taking Jesus' authority out of his hands and placing it upon themselves. Even though Jesus taught about the change that would come after his resurrection, and his taking power back from zealous religious leaders and giving it to the people through the power of his Holy Spirit, churches today operate much like Rome and the Jewish powers from back in his day. God is spirit, so we must worship Him in spirit and truth; when Jesus walked with the people here on earth as God in the flesh, he taught us about true worship, and he has the final say on how we worship. 

Our bodies are now the temple of God's Holy Spirit. I attend church because I love the fellowship of other believers and appreciate our pastor's teaching, but I have a more powerful time of worship when I'm alone with Him, combing through the Scriptures and talking to Him as a friend. You aren't going to be free from the draw of worldly activity unless you spend some alone time with the One True God, getting to know Him for yourself, and worshipping Him in spirit and truth every single day! If you truly want to shed the world, you must replace your worldly thoughts with godliness and aim to please Him rather than people, and to do that, you must spend time with Him.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:28-29