Don’t leave others wondering at your funeral. Live like you love Jesus!

We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) This love for God is a result of Him loving us first. But this result, this love for God, should be tremendously apparent in our lives. No one should be left to wonder at your funeral if you loved God or not. Our loveContinue reading “Don’t leave others wondering at your funeral. Live like you love Jesus!”

How easily are you offended?

If I know God, I ought to live like I know Him. I should live with a confidence but also with love and grace toward others. “By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that theContinue reading “How easily are you offended?”

Have you seen God?

If someone tells you they’ve actually seen God, this is a big RED FLAG this person is not speaking truth. Our human eyes could not behold Him and live. John reiterates this when he clearly says, “No one has seen God at anytime.” (1 John 4:12) But we can often see God in others, can’tContinue reading “Have you seen God?”

Truth. Not just a wishful hope!

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) ❤️ It’s not you “will” overcome them. You HAVE overcome! This isn’t a motivational speech. It’s truth! It’s a done deal.It’s certain.It’s finished. Not because of youContinue reading “Truth. Not just a wishful hope!”

Are you really helping others if you never speak truth?

John keeps going on about loving others and he reminds us of how Jesus loved us —“He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16). Now, you likely won’t be asked to die for someone else, but John says if you seeContinue reading “Are you really helping others if you never speak truth?”

Loving & Forgiving Others is part of Following

John says if you don’t practice righteousness, you’re not a child of God. He then goes on to say in that same verse “nor is he who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10) John is emphasizing that loving others is an absolute basic characteristic of a Christ follower (1 John 3:11). He pointsContinue reading “Loving & Forgiving Others is part of Following”

Uncomfortable Truth

The beloved disciple of Jesus, John, seems to be repeating himself, but perhaps he is reinforcing this very big point…you can’t keep on walking in sin as if it is no big deal. If you can, you may not be a child of God— Remember, John’s audience is the young church—believers. But, as in anyContinue reading “Uncomfortable Truth”

What could make a Christian ashamed?

John urges believers to “abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28) What might make me ashamed as a Christian standing before the One who died for me? Perhaps if I’ve lived my life for me instead of Him? WeContinue reading “What could make a Christian ashamed?”

Yes, you need to pursue Jesus every day!

As we continue in 1st John, let’s slow down and not breeze past things we’ve read just because they may be familiar. In 1st John 2:12-14, John calls his audience—“little children”, “fathers”, and “young men”. As Christians, we can be as— “little children” -thankful for God’s forgiveness for our sins because of Jesus. “fathers” -whoContinue reading “Yes, you need to pursue Jesus every day!”

We’ve got no excuse but to love others.

It’s obedience and it’s LOVE. The early Christians, who would first read John’s letter, would have known a lot about the law (which John is not discounting); but he is trying to help them see fellowship with God requires not only obedience but love. John is explaining to believers that he is not writing aContinue reading “We’ve got no excuse but to love others.”

Sin should be as attractive to you as dog POOP!

Do you have a heart that cares to keep the Word of God? Are you intentional to repent (turn from your sins) and walk in God’s better ways as defined in His Word? If so, this is evidence of fellowship with God and salvation in your life —“But whoever keeps His word, truly the loveContinue reading “Sin should be as attractive to you as dog POOP!”

If sin doesn’t bother you, are you really a Christian?

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”. (1 John 2:1) John addresses the Christians who would read his letter with the compassion of a loving Father. John rightly characterizes sin as dangerousContinue reading “If sin doesn’t bother you, are you really a Christian?”

God > My Emotions

and that equals PEACE! My middle child was born at 31 weeks. He had many health issues that compounded being born so prematurely. He spent 264 days of the first year in the hospital followed by years of doctor’s visits , more hospital stays, and major surgeries including two heart surgeries. My niece and herContinue reading “God > My Emotions”

THIS might just cause you to worship!

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7) This “walking in the light” yields not only sweet fellowship with God but also with others. And notice this “walking”Continue reading “THIS might just cause you to worship!”

Lasting JOY will never come from half-hearted devotion & walking in sin.

John begins I John by definitively declaring himself a witness to God in flesh—Jesus Christ. God became man in human form.He came to us! This wasand ISmind boggling! And for John, to say this was to literally risk his life! Remember, at the point John writes these words, Peter and Paul had been executed, JerusalemContinue reading “Lasting JOY will never come from half-hearted devotion & walking in sin.”

The world is hard. Let’s plant our feet in truth. Let’s read 1st John!

This world is full of temptation, trial, and false teachers. It’s easy to get discouraged, distracted and tired. This is exactly why we need God’s Word every day. For sometime now, I’ve been drawn to the book of First John. John. The beloved disciple. The son of Zebedee who, with his brother James, were calledContinue reading “The world is hard. Let’s plant our feet in truth. Let’s read 1st John!”

Christians should vocally applaud this move!

Yesterday, President Trump signed an Executive Order banning the chemical castration and medical mutilation of children. Christians should vocally applaud this move. We know this is a good and right decision. We know because scripture tells us,“God created man in His image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He createdContinue reading “Christians should vocally applaud this move!”

Jesus didn’t call wrong right.

You can’t be neutral in your faith. If it impacts you, you should want it to impact those you care about. John Piper went so far as to say, “If you don’t want people to believe what you believe about God, your views of Him are not functionally significant for you.” The fact is, ifContinue reading “Jesus didn’t call wrong right.”

Whew! Some people got upset yesterday!

Jesus.The real Jesus,as defined in the Bible,is offensive to a lost world. I was reminded of that yesterday by many comments on a post I shared that was reshared over 2000 times on Facebook. Some, people who normally wouldn’t see what I write, saw it. Quite a few were upset, to put it mildly (andContinue reading “Whew! Some people got upset yesterday!”

Beware- False Prophet

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde is the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. She was given a great honor yesterday, a chance to speak truth and unify America around a Christian message. Instead of using her platform to elevate God and His ways, and the blessings that come when individuals and countries follow Biblical principles,Continue reading “Beware- False Prophet”