God is Light: In Him there is no Darkness!

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light: in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. Be, if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin" ~ 1 John: 5-7.

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched, this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it and we proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And, our fellowship with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ"~ 1 John: 1-4.

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words" ~ 2 Corinthians 2:9-13.

Those who live in the World and not in Christ

There are many living in the world and not in Christ though they claim to be Christian. They think that they are good Christians because they are not sinners, but they are / we are sinners. Praise God that Jesus Christ came for sinners, not the righteous. Who are these righteous? They are the righteous in their own eyes making them unrighteous. Many say, "I am not a sinner, for I have kept the commandments." Really? Did you know that no man on earth is free of sin. We have in our spiritual DNA, the sin of Adam/Eve. Paul reminds us that even after we 'see the light' as he did, we still sin though we don't want to ~ Romans 7.  We sin everyday consciously and unconsciously.

Have you given false testimony about someone based only what you think you heard them say or what someone told you about them? Have you put other gods before Jesus Christ? Of course, you probably don't think so. You may not be at the altar of a pagan god but so many worship at the altar of an idea - evolution -science/math or nationalism or at the altar of a a sports team, or the altar of Hollywood glamour, or the altar of the shopping Mall or Home Goods, and certainly many worship their job (which requires their entire being there), their lifestyle, their clothes, their shoes, and purses, their restaurant, their family.

How could that be? If you love and worship those things more than worshiping the Lord God everyday, you may have a problem with sin. "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" Why do you ask me about what is good... there is only One who is good. Follow me! Matthew 19:16-21

Worse is that in our own sin, we cause others to stumble and fall in their faith and that is thus sin piled on top of sin. I see this everyday on social media and in face to face situations. Someone posts that they heard or think they know someone as a bad person and suddenly there is a swarm of others like vultures swooping down to condemn a person based on what they said. Even if it were true, we all say negative things, we just don't let others know we say them. Then we pass this false information along as true for today and all time. That is bearing a false testimony. We boast about ourselves as we passed on this on good information. We boast that we are good Christians, our family is the most righteous, our children, our spouse.

We worship the flesh even if we don't look at porn. How? We want to have and show that we have the best dress for the party or church on Sunday. We have the right shoes and purse and other accessories. We have the right hair style and though we may say we don't seek compliments, we sure love when they come our way. We want to have a nice landscaped yard and to have smart children again to show ourselves to others and get compliments.

The worst is that we call ourselves Christians. But, far worse is that in our sin, we cause others to sin. We make they feel like they don't have what we have and that they too should have it, including smart children and a good looking spouse. We may or may not realize that by doing this, we take away from them their Christian walk with the Lord and pollute them with false gods.

What is the way out? Jesus Christ is the way!  "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" Why do you ask me about what is good... there is only One who is good. Follow me! Matthew 19:16-21

There best new is the Gospel. Christ was born, died and risen for sinners like me, like you! Forgive and embrace peace in the Peace and Presence of the Lord this Christmas. 

Give Thanks and Praise ~ The Lord God has No Equal!

If you are a Christian, you have been grafted into Israel. Jesus was a Hebrew, a Jew = God's chosen people. You cannot be a true Christian without knowing and accepting this. For Christ lived among his own kind, his people and he died and was resurrected for them. Isn't everyone on earth God's creation? Yes, but only some are called, chosen and faithful ~ "those he predestined, he also called, those he called, he also justified, those he justified, he also glorified," Romans 8:30. The Lord God Jesus Christ decides. His mercy and grace are not for our giving out but His.

Why?

In Isaiah we read, "Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighted the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the Lord ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of Justice? No, for all the nations of the wold are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand. All the wood in Lebanon's forest and all Lebanon's animals would not be enough to make a burnt offering worthy of our God. The nations of the world are worth nothing to him. In His eye they count for less than nothing... mere emptiness and froth.

To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble him? Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with god and decorated with silver chains? Or if people are too poor for that, they might at least choose a wood for a skilled craftsman to carve an image that won't fall down. Haven't you heard? Don't you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God, the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? God sits above the circle of the earth.

The people below look like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them. He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and they wither. The wind carries them off like chaff. To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal? asks the Holy One. Look up into the heavens, Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name, because of his great power and incomparable strength not a single one is missing.

O Israel how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint" ~ Isaiah 40: 12-31.

What Does a Christian Parent Say/Do about Santa Claus?

That is a good question? Why? Because, speaking as a sociologist and social psychologist, I can tell you that whatever the majority does appearing as 'normal' it is difficult to be against it. Jesus knew this and though He was as both a man and God, the situation was not easy to deal with or face on His own but he had to do for our sake.

I remind you of this because whenever we/you have to face a majority of people who are doing or practicing something and we/you know that is not godly, we/you face being bullied, and or being persecuted. People don't like their sin being called out. At the same time, we feel we should belong to a group, and we should. We as Christians are members of the body of Christ. However, we see among us the worship of false gods. People with good intentions do this, we have 'American' traditions of this.

Belonging to a group is an important aspect of identity. Again, we want to belong, we want to do what everyone else does because not belonging and feeling on the outside of society is very difficult for an adult and certainly for a child. That is why, we as Christian parents, have to be strong in our faith and demonstrate this to our children.

With so much commercialism around us and a part of our American life style, it is difficult to not be part of it. Santa Claus was a created figure by certain elites to draw people together into what we know as a civil union or civil religion. There is nothing Biblical about Santa Claus. Our children should know this. Does that me we should forbid our children from singing songs about Santa, or from sitting on his lap to get a picture with the family, or from hanging a stocking by the fireplace with hopes that St. Nicholas will be there?

No, but when we do  it 'religiously' and without Christ in our Christmas then it is not a good practice; especially, if we want our children to grow up to be good Christians, to be saved! It is wise to children and grandchildren that Santa Claus is a man made symbol used to promote giving which is a good thing (the Magi brought gifts to Baby Jesus) but without hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ, it is an unwise symbol that could be idol worship. I also tell them that many people in the world are not Christians and we should pray for them so that they reach out to the Lord Jesus Christ. And, I stress that when we look upon that man made symbol, we should first should think of Jesus Christ who is the greatest symbol of love, giving and hope.

There is no point to demonize 'Santa Claus'. Why not demonize him?  If children have a sound faith in God they will see for themselves who the false gods are. And, they will not be drawn away from the true God because they feel outside of the 'normal operations of society'. Best to prepare your children for living in this world with the Word of God, so that they can redirect social norms toward the truth - one body in Christ the Lord.

Mostly, you want your children to know unconditionally that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior and that all things are possible in Him! Glorify the Lord! Sing songs of praise to Him. Place a manger scene under your tree and talk about the love and peace we have in Jesus Christ!

Women can do what Men do and Better!

I hear this statement a lot these days. Women can do what men do and better. Somehow 'modern' women have forgotten that their job is the most godly, valuable and precious of all!

Just because you can do what men do, does not mean you should or that you are of less value if you don't. Just because you can lead a group of people as a CEO or work on a loading dock, or teach a class, or dig a ditch, or conduct surgery does not mean you are equal to or better than men. If women today feel less valuable it is only because they let Satan whisper in their ear that this is true. No God created Godly woman would listen to that lie.

The argument made by women today is that women are made to be slaves to men. Where is that in the Bible? They argue that in the Bible women are required to be submissive. Being submissive means to come under protection. One submits to authority in many instances and it is instructed to us that it is for our own good. This starts in childhood as we submit to parents and continues as we submit to teachers, to pastors, to priests, to policemen, to government, and all those who have been given the role to guide and protect.

Read Ephesians 5 again and understand that your role of wife and mother is the most Godly of all and must be protected. First by God, then by your husband. Yes, there are rules for husbands to love their wives like Christ loves the church. You may ask, 'so why don't husbands treat their wives like this'? Why don't you ask their mothers; for their life begins in their womb and where/when our true and godly work begins. 

The most dangerous place in America today is in the womb ~ Chuck Missler. Why? Because more babies have been murdered in the womb than those killed in WWII. Life begins at conception. "Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear. But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! ~ Luke 1: 41-44.

Women, want to change the world? Live according to the Word of God!

How to be Discerning in these times?

How to be discerning in these times? When someone bases their thesis or thinking/belief on the Word of God = Bible, then you know that person is being led by the Holy Spirit. However, even those who think they know the Word of God must provide defense by showing in context of the scripture 3 times that their understanding is that of the true Gospel. What is that? The true Gospel asks only to love one another in Christ. To rest in His Peace and know that He saves - saves us from the sin of death and Thank God Jesus Christ died for our sins for we are sinful in our flesh as all flesh is corrupt! This is the Word of God and is found in the Gospel numerous times! There is no work we can do to be saved. It is His Will that be done, not ours! 

"Praise the Lord with His goodness, and for His wonderful works! Psalm 107:31


Who will be saved? Those that are called, chosen and faithful. What demonstrates this? Those that faithfully give Thanks and Praise to the Lord Jesus Christ in all things/for all things and share this message which is the true Gospel.This is all the work we are ever required to do.

For those who claim or boast that they are their own savior, or that their doctor saved them, that a new drug, or medical treatment saved them, that their education/professor saved them, that their new job saved them from financial ruin, that their hard work saved them, that their own view on the world saves/saved them as they see the Bible in their own eyes... those people are not 'yet' saved. All their work is for nothing!

"Praise the Lord O my soul, I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save." Psalm 146:1-3

All are called, be chosen and be faithful!

So many Christians have no idea what the true Gospel is about or for. Jesus Christ! He was the once and for all sacrifice. We can rest in the Peace of His Love. That is all we have to do. That alone is what is required, that alone is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. With that knowledge, we do not wish to pursue or indulge in the flesh or fleshly things of this world.

We need not fret about the world and what the world presses us for: the right college, the right house, the right job, the right car, the right party, the right president, the right country, the right priest, the right church, the right person (s) in charge, the right dinner, the right Christmas songs to sing, the right agenda to vote for, the right person to help, the right person (s) to let in, the right tree, the right lights, the right gifts, the right dress, the right jewelry, the right answer, or just the right whatever. 

All that is worry is being worrisome and that is false work = sin!  
Stop being a Martha and be a Mary ~ Luke 10:38

If we simply took pleasure in the knowledge that Christ is who we live for then all those right things we worry about would not be so worrisome, nor would worrying about those who need help; all would have the true Gospel and all would be at rest in His Peace and thus all would be helped in the same way – through Jesus Christ. 

All are called, be chosen and be faithful. 

For He who is in the world is not as great as He who is in us ~ 1 John 4:4.

Those Called by the Father ~ Be Faithful and True!

Jude 1:1-25
This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.

I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more mercy peace and love. Yes... more and more
But, now I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God's marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

So, I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful. And, I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. And, don't forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God's judgement.

In the same way, these people who claim authority from their dreams live immoral lives, defy authority and scoff at supernatural beings...These people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain... They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots... They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness.

The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgement on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.

But, you my dear friends must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said,. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God's Spirit in them.

But, you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love. And, you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgement. Show mercy to still others but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

Now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power and authority are his before all time and in the present and beyond all time! Amen.

If you don't work you will not eat!

Sometimes, we as Christians tend to multiply duties in observance of 'our' religion. This practice enables us to give money, time and work so that we feel good about ourselves, fulfilled in our duty. However, our true Christian walk with the Lord is not 'religious' nor does it require a religious leader to tell us what to do or rituals to practice so that we know what to do.

Dear brothers and sisters, know that our religious leader is Jesus Christ. He is the high priest. You see, serving out of a sense of duty or established rules and rituals, and sacraments become mechanical as in habitual and thus are false works, lulling the soul into a comatose condition. God searches for in His children an awakened soul that thrills to the Joy of His Presence! He provides the Joy, your part is to glorify Him! Share that and you will share the true Gospel. ~ Jesus is Calling!

We tend to think that as Christians we must feed the world by serving soup and in this way people will know God and we will be saved. Yes, it is true that we as Christians must feed the world but not with food for the stomach though a bit of something in the stomach makes it easier to know that godly people exist in this world and do care. I am talking about the true Bread of Life ~ The Word of God! This is what we must feed the world! How much of that do you share?

When Christians read 2 Thessalonians 3:10 this misunderstand its meaning. So, what does it mean that if you don't work you will not eat? Does it mean labor for others as in building up their business or projects or pulling weeds in their garden or harvesting potatoes in their field so that you have shown the Lord your work? No. But, what we do labor. What for then? We labor to spread the true Gospel and to Glorify God!

Paul said, out of example, we take care of ourselves our own body and by doing that we are able to share the true Bread of Life. Yes, we must take care to provide our body with physical bread and that labor is not to be a burden to anyone but our own responsibility so that we can do the real work of the Holy Spirit which is to serve the Word of God! This is what we share and work for.

Be in Christ ~ He is our Peace!

In these times, Christians can be frustrated with current events. They may not have a good grasp of the Word when confronted by those who wish to argue the faith or do harm. There is no reason to be a contender as in fighter or one who struggles and competes for the faith. Christ Jesus did all the fighting and will continue to do all the fighting for us. We can do no thing that requires struggle. He is our peace!

So, what does it mean when we read in Matthew 10: 34 “I do not come to bring peace but to bring a sword?” Does it mean we will/must fight as Christians for Christianity for Christ? No, it means that He will fight, He will do all the necessary fighting that has to be done with Satan. We have nothing to do with that. He does. Jesus told us when He was in the garden, for those who use the sword, they will surely die by it. Matthew 26:52.

Jesus Christ never asked anyone to murder in His name. He does not need any human hand to bring peace on earth. When will He bring peace? We cannot know the day or the hour. But, that is not our cause of concern. Our cause is to Give thanks and Praise that Jesus Christ died for our sin. He will come again! Praise God for His Coming! 

In this fallen world, though, He died for our sin once and for all, He asks us to sin no more. Until He comes again, we still are born to and live in a fallen world; therefore, our only struggle is to fight with our sin. That is our personal fight and in Jesus Christ we can win.

We can and must fight that good fight, 2 Timothy 4:7 and run the race for God for it brings an eternal prize 1 COR 9:24. And, we contend in this way.  For confirmation of this, in Philippians, we read that we are to conduct ourselves in the manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ. Philip 1:27. He is our Peace!

Yes, He is our Peace! "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body, they cannot touch your soul... not a single sparrow will fall to the ground without His knowing it." Matthew 10:28-29.

Be Still in His Presence!

"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But, anyone who does what pleases God will live forever" ~ 1 John 2:15-17.  You see, modern man has lost the perspective of eternity. He is engaged in ceaseless activity and amusement. The practice of being still in His presence is almost a lost art, yet it is this very stillness that enables you to limit the physical world and experience His eternal love ~ Jesus is Calling!

It is being still in His Presence that sets us apart. It is through your sacrifice of precious time that He will bless you far more than you dare to ask.