November 28, 2022

Last night, we had our family over for an after-Thanksgiving Christmas kickoff meal. It was loud but fun. Richard is an instigator, getting the boys all riled up with tickles and rough playing. If all five of the grand-boys had been there, they would have all gotten involved in the madness. They love it, Richard loves it, but the rest of us need noise-canceling earmuffs. 

Did you know that it’s a sin to show partiality? That includes treating poor people the same as rich people. Years ago, I observed something that taught me that lesson. I was at the grocery store and saw a grimy-looking man who looked like he had been living on the street. When I left, I saw him come out of the store and get into his sparkling brand new, red Cadillac sports car. Later, I found out he was a wealthy business owner who worked very hard for his money. 

Be careful to treat everyone you meet with respect. Show no partiality, whether it’s your children, grandchildren, or a passerby; everyone deserves to feel the love of Jesus through you. 

But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. James 2:10-11

November 27, 2022

We have a long driveway, and you must drive through an electronic gate to get in. Friday evening, some workers were leaving, and a man hurried in before the gate closed behind them. He wanted to look at the cars, but the auction preview is not until this Friday. If it had been the right day, he wouldn’t have had to sneak in because the gate would be open. He didn’t receive a friendly welcome and got rushed off the property. Heaven’s gates are the same way. If you try to enter in some form other than through Jesus, you will get ushered off the property and be considered a thief or robber. Two things to note: you will not enter the gate before God calls you, and if you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Savior, the gate will remain closed. The key to this is without Jesus; you do not have the right to enter his kingdom. Any religion that teaches otherwise is a fraud, and they lie. Don’t trust your eternity to anyone but Jesus, and accept him as your Savior today, or the gate of Heaven will be closed to you.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:1-3

Also see Revelation 22:15-16

November 26, 2022

When I see Christmas lights and whimsical decor, I become filled with happiness and experience a childlike reaction. They bring joy to an otherwise dreary time of year. Though it may be a bit odd, I always decorate before Thanksgiving, so my family can enjoy the festive atmosphere more than once. Thanksgiving is the season's kickoff of remembrance and thankfulness for the sacrificial gift of Jesus that God gave us, and I think he deserves an entire month of special celebration. Don't let Santa get in the way of the truth; teach your children a worthy reason for the gifts and lights. Though our celebration may border on paganism because the enemy has spoiled its meaning, we know the truth and can use for good what the enemy meant for evil. God has even given us a powerful verse corresponding to our love for Christmas. 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

So, don't hesitate to celebrate Jesus; he's our perfect gift.

November 25, 2022

Stand strong, mighty warriors of God! In this day and age, the temptations are endless, and we are pursued daily by many evil desires. However, if we remain loyal to Jesus while being dogged by the enemy, we will escape with our lives. 

Think about the stars in Hollywood; a good portion of them signed documents handing over their lives to enemy representatives because they caught them engaging in an unholy activity. Then the pursuers used blackmail to keep them in check and hold them hostage. If you dig around on the internet, you will find out the truth. Though we may not be part of the Hollywood scene, one slip up, and the enemy will take the opportunity to accuse us and embarrass us by publicizing our sin for all to see. It is imperative that we stay fully armored and engage in spiritual warfare to stop the enemy before he destroys us. 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

November 24, 2022

The hurricane ruined my squash, and it was flourishing, so there will be no homegrown squash for Thanksgiving. What wasn’t hurt was my mustard greens. They are plentiful. I picked some a few days ago to save for today, and they are ready again. I am writing this at 5 am, and as soon as it becomes daylight, I will pick some more, so we have plenty for our Thanksgiving feast today. If I let this plant grow to full size and bloom, it would go to seed. The seeds this plant makes are tiny; they are what Jesus compares to faith, mustard seed-sized faith. 

Yesterday, I wrote about asking for wisdom, which everyone should do, but there was a caveat I should have mentioned that is probably more important than the ask; faith. When you ask God to give you wisdom, the Bible tells us to ask, believing we have already received it. Go ahead and start believing that God has given you wisdom. Believing you already have it will cause you to think through your decisions more carefully, thus making you wise. Practice wisdom, and it will grow.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:6

November 23, 2022

There are things you can ask of God, and he will give them to you. You may think you are as wise as Solomon, but more than likely, you are not. 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

The earth would be a better place if more people asked for wisdom. 

Years ago, I asked God for a couple of things; wisdom and a voice. Not only those gifts, but I ask God for spiritual gifts like discernment and prophecy. 

On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 1 Corinthians 14:3

I began to write little by little and have been doing it ever since. 

If you ask for things God tells you to ask for, do you think he will deny your request? Remember, nothing good comes without a bit of work, but it's worth it. If you commit to God's will, you will begin to notice his work in your life; you'll start to have "light-bulb" moments where it all makes sense. Ask God for good gifts; he will hear you and consider your request.

November 22, 2022

One Saturday night last month, two of my grandsons stayed the night. Our church doesn’t have a children’s church, and one of them is so wiggly that we decided to watch the service from home. When it was over, the oldest one, pointing at the preacher, said, “that’s what I want to be.” Before he could say anything else, not even a moment later, I began to pray with him. Our family knows all too well what happens to a person with a true calling for ministry; the devil tries to sift them like wheat! His dad has that calling, and I made the mistake of declaring it to him within earshot of the enemy, and because he couldn’t resist temptation, he has paid the price. I feel a bit guilty for speaking that over him. Thankfully, he has come to terms with it and fully surrendered his life. We will watch and pray for this little one who opened his mouth and revealed his heart to us and the enemy, who was also listening. Trials strengthen us because God’s kingdom is full of warriors. If you are going through a trial right now, try to visualize God’s plan; that will help you bravely walk through it because you know that at the end of it will be a blessing. Stand firm in your faith, mighty warriors!

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

November 21, 2022

Can you lose your salvation? I'm convinced that you cannot. It could be possible that you never had it to begin with, but once Jesus has you in the clutch of his hands, and you've turned toward him, never to look back; you are safe. Can you lose your reward? Yes! That's why Jesus tells us, "hold fast to what you have so that no one may seize your crown" in Revelation 3:11. I'm not going to lie; some of the verses confused me, with some saying we need not worry, then others telling us to watch ourselves. The Bible doesn't contradict itself. Here is the truth about your salvation, and you should never forget it:

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." John 10:28-29

Jesus says it twice! There are no ifs, ands, or buts about what he says here. Remember, there is salvation and reward. Salvation is locked in place, free, and you cannot work for it. Rewards, on the other hand, can be worked for and lost. I would rather be the poorest person in heaven than the wealthiest person in hell. Remember, when you encounter a verse that makes you question whether you can lose your salvation, ask yourself this: is this about salvation or is it about rewards? 

Salvation versus reward is like gardening. You dig, plant seeds, water, and fertilize; in return, you get a bountiful harvest. However, we had no part in creating the soil; that was a gift from God. The soil is like salvation, and the harvest is like the reward.

November 20,2022

As the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaches, my heart turns toward Jesus for a special “thank you” to him for the many blessings he has bestowed upon us. His love and mercy abound, even as we traverse this world full of evil intentions. We are set apart for a greater mission; to show unbelievers, who are up in arms over daily circumstances, the peace that he brings, and so they see a heart that doesn’t fret over the daily turmoil. Remember, people are watching your reaction to situations; make sure they reflect your faith in Jesus. Don’t forget to count Jesus as the most precious gift you are thankful for because he gave us something extraordinary that only the chosen have received; salvation.

Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalms 100

November 19, 2022

God help me; I may be stepping on toes today. What if the “once saved, always saved” teaching is wrong? I’ve been suspicious of this for a long time, but what if the enemy has soiled the instructions so more people would end up in hell? And here we are, believing everything we were taught, only to find out in death that it was wrong. I can no longer ignore what the Bible says. 

In Revelation 3:11, Jesus says: “I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” Then, in 2 John, he warns a woman who is true to the faith to be careful. “Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.” 2 John 1:8. It’s not only John who writes these things; he also quotes Jesus! Paul also tells us to “hold fast” more than once, and the writer of Hebrew says it too. 

Are we victims of wrong teaching, or are there different rewards in Heaven that depend on our faithfulness? We are sinners, and God is full of grace; our only hope is his forgiveness. Compare the words of man with what the Bible says. You must do everything you can to hang onto Jesus. Turn to him for everything. Keep him in the forefront of your mind as much as possible. Cling to him. Love him will all your heart and soul. Hold fast, my friends.

November 18, 2022

We have been experiencing a lot of activity surrounding the upcoming car auction. With it only two weeks away, there is still much to do. We’ve resolved most of the title issues, and now we need to get them cleaned, cranked, and ready to roll. The detail guy has started cleaning, and the mechanic was contacted and is prepared to take on that task. The auctioneer is fervently working on getting photos and videos uploaded to his website and cataloging every item that will get sold. He has diligently promoted it, is fielding calls from all over the world, and keeping all the parts moving. Imagine if he was the only person doing everything. He can do a lot by himself, but he needs the help of others to complete the tasks. 

Jesus taught us everything we need to know to continue his ministry, but it takes all of us doing our part for the mission. If anyone slacks at their job, someone else must be appointed to complete their task. If a person was a car and God told you to put gas in it, fill it up. If your assignment is to get it running, use whatever gifts he has given you to get it cranked. If he tells you to get in the car and drive, then make every effort to drive it home to salvation in Jesus. 

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 1 Peter 4:10

November 17, 2022

We have begun tearing down walls in our house. It’s incredible how different it looks. It takes a sledgehammer to disassemble what seems to be a perfectly good wall, debris gets scattered, and the dust settles on everything. Light beams from every window that is now exposed. I love being able to see the outside. My third-grade teacher called me a daydreamer because she always caught me peering out the window; she hit the nail on the head! Some want windows covered, so they feel secure, but not me!

The walls you put up to protect your feelings are only imprisoning you. We’ve all experienced hurt, so we develop shields to prevent such things from happening again. It’s understandable, but as we grow in Christ, some of those barriers will crumble and can become useful in helping build the confidence of others who might be experiencing the same type of pain. Tear down those walls and share your freedom in Jesus with someone who might need a bit of sunshine. It’s a great way to bring light and joy into the life of someone struggling.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

November 16, 2022

One good lesson we’ve learned by moving into an estate after the death of a loved one is that you can’t take your earthly belongings with you because everything my father-in-law had was still here. I’m sure he would have taken his cars with him if he could have. However, there is another vital lesson; some things that go unused tend to lose value because time has left them behind. While cleaning the house, I found a brand-new outdoor speaker in the box. I thought it would be great to put it to use, but it required an MP3 player, which we no longer have. The technology has improved since he bought it. 

The same thing will happen as you grow in Jesus; things that were useful to you initially have evolved into something more. You’re now off the bottle and have moved on to solid food. If you continue feeding on milk, its value will decrease, and you will become stagnant and your growth stunted. That’s why it’s essential to continue to grow your faith; you don’t want it to deteriorate because you never used it. The technology of your mind continues to increase as you grow older, so your faith needs to grow with it. The way to do that is to trust Jesus with everything, continue to fill your mind with the things of God, and communicate with him daily. Then, peace, comfort, and joy will abound in your life.

for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:13-14

November 15, 2022

Don’t you love to eat? I do, but I’ve discovered that not everything is safe. I learned as a teenager that shrimp makes me itch, and lobster will close my airways, but I love the taste of both. I pushed it one time and nearly ended up in the hospital. I had giant welts all over my body and could barely breathe. I’ve also had to eliminate wheat and sugar because they cause me to swell up and get brain fog. Eating them impacts my writing, and I need clarity to hear the Lord! Each of us knows what’s best for our body, but if we don’t, we end up at the doctor to find out what to do to fix our illness. 

God has put into place a system to help us stay safe and free from harm mentally and physically, but the only way to know that system is to read the Bible, particularly his commands. He didn’t put those stops in place as a suggestion; he gave them to us to keep us from harm. What you eat can affect your health, but so can sinful behavior. We have a loving Father who has told us not to touch that burner on the stove, but sometimes we don’t listen and touch it anyway and end up hurt and in pain. Read your Bible and talk to the Father; he will guide you in the direction you should go.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:3-4

November 14, 2022

The world has gone mad, and it seems like more and more people are worshipping the devil. Remember, there is no middle ground; you are either with God or against him. You can’t dance with the devil all week long and be a Christ-follower; it doesn’t work that way. God expects his children to toe the line, keep his commandments, and make him our priority. We’re not perfect and will sin occasionally, but we will feel the full force of condemnation because we know we’ve disappointed the Father. That’s the difference between a true Christ-follower and a liar. There is something else; if you follow Jesus, there is protection from the devil. I find that comforting. The Holy Spirit resides within us, so the devil cannot penetrate our hearts, and we are protected from eternal demise. The critical point is to make God your priority, and everything else will fall perfectly into place.

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 1 John 5:18

November 13, 2022

We went to the local county fair last night and watched the 4-H and FFA sell their market pigs. Where I grew up, we didn’t show sheep and goats, so I watched the youth exhibit them for sale along with the pigs for the first time. When I think of a lamb, I think of a small animal, but these were over 100 pounds. I had no idea that a year-old lamb could be so big. 

There is a lot of symbolism in the picture I’ve attached, more than I will touch on today. I don’t know the girl in the photo, but she was an excellent showman and proudly displayed her lamb for all to see. As cute as it is, it is doomed to be slaughtered and will be on someone’s table for Christmas dinner. The pigs, goats, and lambs, all selling at the same market, will go to the slaughterhouse together but end up in different places. That’s not unlike the mix of people here on earth. On judgment day, the sheep will end up in Heaven with Jesus, while the rest go to a different place. 

Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalms 100:3

Did these animals choose who they became? No. They were born to be what they were. For us, God knew, before we were born, who we would become, and by faith, we became the sheep of his pasture and overcame the world. 

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4

November 12, 2022

With the political atmosphere not changing as much as we had hoped, it's hard not to concern ourselves with what may become of our country. However, the trials and tribulations the world is facing are not for us. It may impact us, but we are not the target because we have put our trust in Jesus. It's the evildoers who need to be scared. Tribulation may encourage more people to trust Jesus. We've all been through trials that helped us look to him as our source and to trust him with our lives. With all the chatter we hear on television and social media, it's easy to become fearful. Take a look at what the Bible says about fear:

By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:17-18

There is no reason to fear. When fear begins to overtake you, reach out to Jesus, who will comfort you with his love and calm you with his promises. Jesus has perfected love, so we can trust him to soothe our weary minds.

November 11, 2022

Some people are hard to love. My immediate thought when I encounter hateful people who seem unloveable is that they don’t know Jesus. They may know of him but lack a relationship with him. Don’t make the mistake of believing someone knows Jesus because you see them sitting in a pew at church. Our outward sign that we love God is that we love others; that shows that his spirit resides within us. God has given me the ability, as I’ve grown closer to him, to look at someone I disagree with or whom I find unintelligent and see where the devil has misled them. These people are valuable tools in the hands of evildoers, but they are also someone we should target and try to bring into the saving knowledge of Jesus. If God has hardened their hearts, then at least we tried, and perhaps we planted a few seeds so when he allows the truth to penetrate their hearts, we will have done our part to help bring them to salvation. It’s never wrong to try.

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:6-8

November 10, 2022

If you’ve read 1 John, then you have read this verse as I have, but for some reason, I never noticed it until today. I guess I ramble on past it. If you are living with guilt from your past, you need to memorize it!

for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:20

When Jesus died on the cross, he forgave all of our sins, not just the ones we’ve forgotten. He has also forgiven the sins we hang onto and beat ourselves up over. Read what he says about letting go of that sin:

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 1 John 3:21-22

If you are having trouble letting go of your past, it’s time to stand before the throne of God and ask him to help you release your pain so that you can move on with your life. He wants you to give it to him. It even says he will reward you by answering your prayers! Today is the day you defeat the enemy’s stronghold by asking God to help you have mercy on yourself. It’s not enough to say it; you must do it!

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18

November 9, 2022

Here is a bit of truth that struck me as I was reading this morning:

And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 1 John 2:28

We know from prophecy that the return of Jesus is close. That information gives us more reason to stay under his cover and follow his commands. Imagine feeling ashamed rather than the feeling of joy in his presence because of our sin. I want the feeling of elation to overwhelm me and not fear him because I've made worldly affairs more important than him. Hold him close, worship him with all your heart, and don't let the day's distractions draw you in and cause you to become separated from our one true love, Jesus.