A Christ Follower: The Journey

Beloved, Let Us Love One Another. For Love Comes From God. And Everyone That Loves Is Born of God And Knows God. Those Who Do Not Love Do Not Know God: FOR GOD IS LOVE The Apostle John 1 John 4:7-8 A few days ago a young woman whom I admire, and who is on the complete opposite spectrum from me politically, asked me a question.  She seemed so distraught, and my heart was hurting for her.  She asked something like this:  "What does God want?" Now, these may not be her exact words; however, I think that I have the spirit of her question .   I responded to her, "He wants us to love one another, but we don't seem to be cooperating with him." Her question is perhaps one of the most important questions any person of faith should be asking right now.  I would only extend her question to ask, "What does God want of me ."  After all, the only person I can come close to having control over is me, myself and I.  And there is no way I can control ...

Behold, all you who kindle a fire ... walk in the light of your fire and among the brands you have set ablaze. Isaiah 50: 11 Sometimes we find ourselves walking in a dark place. Life happens and we lose our balance and our direction. Or the Evil one places thoughts in our minds contrary to the truth of our Savior  that sets us free, and we sort of believe these thoughts in our heads. The biggest mistake we can make is to look at life through the eyes of a mere human being rather than through faith in our life changing God. Focusing on the problem -- rather than the ONE who will renew our minds and give us grace to solve our problems -- then results in a certain amount of misery. We become more confused than our ancient ancestor Eve. Why? Because we are doing what some psychologist friends of mine call "Stinking Thinking." The key is remember who you are and whose you are.  Follow the example of our overcoming spiritual ancestors.  Wait on God. Focus on God, ...

Over All Appearances In The Bible Used 735 times (54 times in the book of Revelation alone), the number 7 is a foundational number of God's word. If we include with this count how many times 'sevenfold' (6) and 'seventh' (119) is used, our total jumps to 860 references. The Creation Connection To The Number 7 Seven is the number of completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual). It derives much of its meaning from ... being tied directly to God's creation of all things. According to Jewish tradition, the creation of Adam occurred on October 7th, 3761 B.C. (or the first day of Tishri, which is the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar). The word 'created' is used 7 times describing God's creative work (Genesis 1:1, 21, 27 three times; 2:3; 2:4). There are 7 days in a week and God's Sabbath is on the 7th day. Biblical Divisions The Bible, as a whole, was originally divided into 7 major divisions. They are 1) the Law; 2...

If you commit yourself to sin that sin will make you its slave. Jesus: John 8:34 In John 8, Jesus is speaking with some folks who were apparently people who were believers; as the discussion continued, Jesus began speaking about His teachings.   He told them if they held to His teachings, then they would know "the truth and the truth will make you free."   (John 8:32) Now, I would have thought this would have made these folks very happy. Instead they became angry and began to argue with Jesus. They told Him that they were children of Abraham, and they also said they had never been slaves to anyone.  REALLY?  Did they forget the Roman boot on their neck?  Did they forget the four hundred years they, the Israelis, were enslaved to Pharaoh in Egypt? Did they forget their seventy years of being in exile and slavery to the Nebuchadnezzar or the Medes and Persians? Sure they had been enslaved. So what is going on with them? Sadly, like a segment of o...

Making a decision is easy for some, but difficult for others.  Doing so can be especially challenging for people in the midst of dramatic struggle and pain. I have provided Pastoral Care and Counseling for more people than I can remember.  The numbers are significant, and a huge number want to decide not to decide when they are asked  to decide to surrender their will to God.  When they really want is  to be in control of the life wreckage they have created in creating a whole bunch of  their uncontrollable stuff.  Now, keep in mind that to decide to not decide is indeed a decision. This non-deciding decision does not occur in a vacuum, and it will have consequences perhaps more significant than if they had decided to make a healthy choice followed up with a plan. I have seen people in bondage to cocaine not decide to surrender their addiction to the Creator.  Needless to say, they became progressively worse and they cycled downward spiritua...

I   Am The Vine.  You Are The Branches Apart From Me, You Can Do Nothing. Jesus One of the great things about knowing the Son of God, Jesus or experiencing The Son of God, is the power that comes upon a Christ-Follower's life when we actually are IN Him and HE IS in us. This is quite a relationship. Jesus describes this relationship in many ways, and this includes an interesting discussion He has with us in John 15. He actually shares with us the identity we have by telling us who HE is and who we are.  He says, "I AM."  Now that is a biblically accurate name for God, but HE says more.  "I AM THE Vine." It's interesting that HE does not say I AM "A" Vine.  HE is clear that HE is authentically "THE" vine.  There may be all kinds of other creatures out there that are called vines, but it's clear that the Son of God is making an authoritative point. I don't think that Jesus views Himself as a mere anything.  It's ...

Get Your Own Copy of  Rock-Solid Living In A Quicksand World at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FE8J78I/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Get Paperback or Kindle.   Matthew 5:1–12 Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of ...