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