It always disturbs me when others want to hold past forgiven sins against their target, when the problem no longer exists.
Everyone is foolish in their teen years if they are smart, they learn from it and change their behavior.
Those who want to hold past forgiven sins against others love to feel superior and want their target to suffer with guilt the rest of their lives. That all by itself is sin!!!!
There is no purpose in dredging up past failures on others to hold over their head except to pretend to be superior.
Those who have repented in the past from sins and learned from it are in a better place than those who refuse to admit they have failures. Those who refuse to admit will never grow or change, they remain emotional and spiritual infants until they confess to God and those they harmed.
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
God never told us to confess our sins to just anyone who had no part in the knowledge of that sin. Some people think we are accountable to them for sin we never committed against them. God never tells us to confess to one another sins not done against them.
Psalm 32:5 "Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah"
God told us to confess our sins to those we have sinned against and only them. Unless there is sin that has not yet been confessed and then a friend is allowed to confront them in love about their sin so that they will confess it and forsake it. This is far different from reaching into the past when the sin has already been dealt with and expunged by God through repentance.
Galatians 6:1-2 "1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Asking someone who has repented why they did something is not only useless, it is arrogant. The only answer anyone could give for their sin is that they wanted to do it. No one can give an excuse for any sin.
The reason someone would ask "why did you do it", is to further heap unnecessary grief on the one who is repentant. This is evidence that the person asking the question is full of pride and reveling in your grief.
Remember that anyone who loves to see our failures is never anyone we should share our lives with, they will only look for every opportunity to keep you in guilt, grief and feelings of total failure. Avoid such people as this, they will never pull you out of the bog, they will push you further into it just to feel powerful over you.
Everyone has sins they had to repent from; their very nature was full of sin before they became born again. No matter how clean you think a life is, they are still headed for hell if they have never trusted in Christ. No one is without sin, to act superior and rude toward a repentant brother is to believe they have never sinned.
Romans 3:23 "23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
Those who love Christ grieve with a repenting sinner and are full of joy that they repented.
Galatians 6:1-3 "Bear One Another's Burdens
6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself."
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Flying Monkeys and their Choices
Flying monkeys can choose to ignore the gossip, or they can ask the one gossiped about; they have a choice.
I do blame people who treat others badly because of what they have heard and not seen for themselves.
They are pawns, of course, but it is a choice to believe something merely because they want to maintain the friendship of the one who is a rumor monger.
It is one thing to listen to a trusted friend and perhaps even believe them, and quite another to pass the information to someone else.
When truth is the most important thing to a believer, they dismiss gossip, leaving room for another side to the story. Many people present to others what they want to believe about a situation rather than sharing facts.
The prejudice against a person will determine how a story is shared.
It is unwise to believe the first version of an account without witnesses to corroborate the story.
There are those who are dedicated to misunderstanding someone because they dislike that person. Because of this, it is my practice not to pass on information shared with me by a friend, not because I think they were wrong in their observations, but because there is the element of "needing to know." Does the person I share information with have a need to know it, or are we just attempting to gain converts to ourselves?
I like to share life stories I have encountered with people without their names. I do this not to gain converts but to teach life lessons about the encounters I have personally had with people. I don't like to share things I have heard or observed without all the information about an event.
And, this may be a shocker to some, I do consider even good stories no one can prove as a form of gossip. It doesn't matter if the act is good or bad; if we cannot prove it is true, then we should just ignore it.
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
It is corrupting to pass on good or bad information that may not be true and cannot be proven. Even if the information sounds good, we might be believing a lie if it is only one person's perspective without truth.
Proverbs 6:16-19 "There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers."
Lying of any sort, whether gossip to demean and tear down, or gossip to cause others to idolize someone because of good deeds.
It is not gossip to call out, even publicly, the false gospel of a preacher who has influence over many people. In cases like this we are to rebuke in the presence of all so that others may fear committing the sin that occurred.
1 Timothy 5:20 "Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning."
It is reasonable and even commanded that we call out the gossip when they are causing division while destroying relationships because of their idle chatter.
We have to remember that not everything we see or everything we hear is our business. People are treated with contempt based on gossip they have heard without justification and without knowledge or wisdom.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 "11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you,"
I do blame people who treat others badly because of what they have heard and not seen for themselves.
They are pawns, of course, but it is a choice to believe something merely because they want to maintain the friendship of the one who is a rumor monger.
It is one thing to listen to a trusted friend and perhaps even believe them, and quite another to pass the information to someone else.
When truth is the most important thing to a believer, they dismiss gossip, leaving room for another side to the story. Many people present to others what they want to believe about a situation rather than sharing facts.
The prejudice against a person will determine how a story is shared.
It is unwise to believe the first version of an account without witnesses to corroborate the story.
There are those who are dedicated to misunderstanding someone because they dislike that person. Because of this, it is my practice not to pass on information shared with me by a friend, not because I think they were wrong in their observations, but because there is the element of "needing to know." Does the person I share information with have a need to know it, or are we just attempting to gain converts to ourselves?
I like to share life stories I have encountered with people without their names. I do this not to gain converts but to teach life lessons about the encounters I have personally had with people. I don't like to share things I have heard or observed without all the information about an event.
And, this may be a shocker to some, I do consider even good stories no one can prove as a form of gossip. It doesn't matter if the act is good or bad; if we cannot prove it is true, then we should just ignore it.
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
It is corrupting to pass on good or bad information that may not be true and cannot be proven. Even if the information sounds good, we might be believing a lie if it is only one person's perspective without truth.
Proverbs 6:16-19 "There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers."
Lying of any sort, whether gossip to demean and tear down, or gossip to cause others to idolize someone because of good deeds.
It is not gossip to call out, even publicly, the false gospel of a preacher who has influence over many people. In cases like this we are to rebuke in the presence of all so that others may fear committing the sin that occurred.
1 Timothy 5:20 "Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning."
It is reasonable and even commanded that we call out the gossip when they are causing division while destroying relationships because of their idle chatter.
We have to remember that not everything we see or everything we hear is our business. People are treated with contempt based on gossip they have heard without justification and without knowledge or wisdom.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 "11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you,"
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Follow the Example of Christ in Our Inheritance
It is reasonable to decide to do what Jesus Christ does; He only leaves an inheritance to those who love Him. We can leave our inheritance to those who love us; it is not revenge, just good sense.
To think we have to give money to people just because they were family is to place too high a value on money.
We gave them our love and the first 20 years of our lives, along with our training, so they would be able to live a kind and righteous life, but they chose otherwise, so they can live with what they chose.
Never allow the culture to guilt you into giving to people who do not love Christ and do not love you.
1 Peter 1:3-5:14
A Heavenly Inheritance
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
Our children's salvation is far more important than money. No rebellious child will suddenly begin to love Christ because they inherited money from us. Perhaps no inheritance will show them their need for Christ.
Our money and goods should go to those who love Christ, so that it will be used to the glory of God.
To think we have to give money to people just because they were family is to place too high a value on money.
We gave them our love and the first 20 years of our lives, along with our training, so they would be able to live a kind and righteous life, but they chose otherwise, so they can live with what they chose.
Never allow the culture to guilt you into giving to people who do not love Christ and do not love you.
1 Peter 1:3-5:14
A Heavenly Inheritance
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
Our children's salvation is far more important than money. No rebellious child will suddenly begin to love Christ because they inherited money from us. Perhaps no inheritance will show them their need for Christ.
Our money and goods should go to those who love Christ, so that it will be used to the glory of God.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Love Revealed by Author Unknown to Me
Judas is a reminder that betrayal does not always come from strangers.
Sometimes it comes from people who sat at your table.
People who knew your story.
Knew your struggles.
Heard your prayers.
Saw your kindness…
Knew your struggles.
Heard your prayers.
Saw your kindness…
and still chose to hurt you.
Jesus walked beside Judas for years.
He shared meals with him.
Served him.
Loved him.
Trusted him enough to let him stay close.
Served him.
Loved him.
Trusted him enough to let him stay close.
Yet Judas still betrayed the Son of God with a kiss.
Think about that.
The greatest act of betrayal in history came disguised as affection.
That is why betrayal cuts so deeply.
Because the pain is not just about what happened.
It is about who did it.
The people we expected to protect our hearts…
sometimes become the ones who wound them most.
sometimes become the ones who wound them most.
And if we are not careful, betrayal can change us.
It can make people cold.
Distrustful.
Bitter.
Guarded.
Distrustful.
Bitter.
Guarded.
It can make them build walls so high that nobody gets close again.
But Jesus never allowed betrayal to poison His heart.
Even knowing Judas would betray Him, Jesus still washed his feet.
That says something powerful about the heart of God.
Because love is not proven by how we treat kind people.
Love is revealed by how we respond when people hurt us.
And maybe this is what someone needs to hear today:
What broke your heart did not escape God’s notice.
He saw every tear.
Every disappointment.
Every silent moment where you questioned why someone you loved could hurt you so deeply.
Every disappointment.
Every silent moment where you questioned why someone you loved could hurt you so deeply.
And just as God carried Jesus through betrayal…
He will carry you too.
Do not let the actions of broken people make you forget the faithfulness of God.
People may fail you.
Friends may disappoint you.
Even those closest to you may walk away.
Friends may disappoint you.
Even those closest to you may walk away.
But the Lord never will.
Scripture says:
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Not some wounds.
All of them.
So give God the hurt you have been carrying.
Because betrayal may have wounded your heart…
but it does not have to harden it.
God can still heal what people tried to break.
The Love Yourself First Doctrine has Destroyed the People
This is what the lie "you have to love yourself first before you can love anyone else" has created. Parental estrangement by adult children is the result of this monstrous teaching of psychology over the past 40 years.
I had conversations with Christians back in the 70's and 80's about this matter of self-esteem, and every single conversation, I was seen as foolish for saying the culture was training the children to only think of themselves.
Even their good deeds were praised for making them feel good about doing the deed. It wasn't about the need of the other person; it was about how good they felt about doing it.
I have seen news casts like this when a young person was interviewed about their kind act, and they say something like, "it made me feel good about doing it." They didn't say "I felt bad for the person and wanted to help."
The truth is, the more we love ourselves, the less we care about others. We are born loving ourselves too much and need to cultivate denial of self to love others. It is human nature to want to think highly of ourselves, which is why so many people who do good acts love being seen for what they are doing more than they care about the people they are serving.
God condemns deeds done to glorify and gratify self.
Matthew 6:1-2 "1“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward."
Matthew 23:1-12 "23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,
2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat,
3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues
7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.
8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.
11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 1
2 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
I had conversations with Christians back in the 70's and 80's about this matter of self-esteem, and every single conversation, I was seen as foolish for saying the culture was training the children to only think of themselves.
Even their good deeds were praised for making them feel good about doing the deed. It wasn't about the need of the other person; it was about how good they felt about doing it.
I have seen news casts like this when a young person was interviewed about their kind act, and they say something like, "it made me feel good about doing it." They didn't say "I felt bad for the person and wanted to help."
The truth is, the more we love ourselves, the less we care about others. We are born loving ourselves too much and need to cultivate denial of self to love others. It is human nature to want to think highly of ourselves, which is why so many people who do good acts love being seen for what they are doing more than they care about the people they are serving.
God condemns deeds done to glorify and gratify self.
Matthew 6:1-2 "1“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward."
Matthew 23:1-12 "23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,
2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat,
3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues
7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.
8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.
9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.
11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 1
2 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Making Peace May Not Be What You Think
Making peace through truth will be despised by those who love conflict. I am peaceful even when they are not; those who reject truth are the ones causing trouble, not the ones who speak truth.
God told us to be peace makers, not peace keepers who generally sweep things under the rug to avoid conflict.
When we speak truth boldly but lovingly, we are peace makers. Those who are dedicated to being liked and avoiding conflict while endorsing sin are not peace makers, they are peace keepers to protect themselves.
God never told us to "keep the peace." He told us to make peace by seeking the truth. The only solutions to problems are in facing the truth and presenting God's solutions as written in the Bible.
When we see that our attempts to make peace through truth are rejected, then it is time to move on from those who want to fight against genuineness, authenticity, and legitimacy.
Those who care about genuine resolution to problems will want to talk things out with love in their hearts, not confrontation.
Many years ago, a young woman approached me in angry tones, declaring that we were going to have a fight; this was her idea of resolving things. My answer was: "I am not going to fight with you, if you want to come back calm with a desire to understand my side too, then we can have a discussion." She never came back, which told me that all she wanted was to vent and refuse to hear me, a sort of hit-and-run attitude.
When someone comes to us with kindness in their voice and love in their heart to work out a problem and to discover our understanding, then that is when we know they are genuinely caring about our relationship. When they come with anger to attack, then it is only to win over us in some way.
It is not possible to help others understand us when they are dedicated to misunderstanding, twisting everything we say as something awful, then there is no reasoning with them.
Proverbs 18:1-3 "1 He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment. 2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions. 3 With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace."
God told us to be peace makers, not peace keepers who generally sweep things under the rug to avoid conflict.
When we speak truth boldly but lovingly, we are peace makers. Those who are dedicated to being liked and avoiding conflict while endorsing sin are not peace makers, they are peace keepers to protect themselves.
God never told us to "keep the peace." He told us to make peace by seeking the truth. The only solutions to problems are in facing the truth and presenting God's solutions as written in the Bible.
When we see that our attempts to make peace through truth are rejected, then it is time to move on from those who want to fight against genuineness, authenticity, and legitimacy.
Those who care about genuine resolution to problems will want to talk things out with love in their hearts, not confrontation.
Many years ago, a young woman approached me in angry tones, declaring that we were going to have a fight; this was her idea of resolving things. My answer was: "I am not going to fight with you, if you want to come back calm with a desire to understand my side too, then we can have a discussion." She never came back, which told me that all she wanted was to vent and refuse to hear me, a sort of hit-and-run attitude.
When someone comes to us with kindness in their voice and love in their heart to work out a problem and to discover our understanding, then that is when we know they are genuinely caring about our relationship. When they come with anger to attack, then it is only to win over us in some way.
It is not possible to help others understand us when they are dedicated to misunderstanding, twisting everything we say as something awful, then there is no reasoning with them.
Proverbs 18:1-3 "1 He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment. 2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions. 3 With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace."
Sealed Forever in Christ
Those who have trusted in Christ can believe Him when He says we are sealed forever.
Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 8:15-16 "15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,"
I John 2:3-5 "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him."
1 John 5:13 "12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life."
When we are transformed by Christ His Holy Spirit lives in us, He never leaves us we are sealed until He takes us home.
Ephesians 1:13-14 " 13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory."
Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 8:15-16 "15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,"
I John 2:3-5 "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him."
1 John 5:13 "12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life."
When we are transformed by Christ His Holy Spirit lives in us, He never leaves us we are sealed until He takes us home.
Ephesians 1:13-14 " 13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory."
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Protecting Our Friendships
Sadly, "laughing emojis" were designed to laugh at jokes, but they are often used to mock others. When this is used at a serious comment meant to help, we know what kind of people these are who use them.
I was raised in a family that mocked to demean and intimidate so I am acutely aware of the covert ways in which people degrade others merely for disagreeing.
It is not possible to have a rational, loving discussion with those who use mocking and demeaning language to control the emotions of others.
We need not take these relationship destroyers seriously, but it is best to eliminate those from our lives who use underhanded and belittling language or gestures.
The reason to remove ourselves from those who use these techniques is to avoid wasting our time and a chance at being triggered.
Matthew 23:27-28 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."
Unreasonable people who mock and intimidate others cannot be trusted; they cannot be relied upon to make the right choices in life experiences. They cannot be relied upon to do the best for others; their only goal is to gossip and spoil the bonds between those who are their targets and the attachments of their targets.
These kinds of relationships destroyers ruin their own friendships, and our relationships with others.
In these last days of apostacy, it is difficult to find deep, lasting friendships. We must protect our connections from those who wish to destroy them.
Romans 16:17 "Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them."
2 Thessalonians 3:6 "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us."
I was raised in a family that mocked to demean and intimidate so I am acutely aware of the covert ways in which people degrade others merely for disagreeing.
It is not possible to have a rational, loving discussion with those who use mocking and demeaning language to control the emotions of others.
We need not take these relationship destroyers seriously, but it is best to eliminate those from our lives who use underhanded and belittling language or gestures.
The reason to remove ourselves from those who use these techniques is to avoid wasting our time and a chance at being triggered.
Matthew 23:27-28 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."
Unreasonable people who mock and intimidate others cannot be trusted; they cannot be relied upon to make the right choices in life experiences. They cannot be relied upon to do the best for others; their only goal is to gossip and spoil the bonds between those who are their targets and the attachments of their targets.
These kinds of relationships destroyers ruin their own friendships, and our relationships with others.
In these last days of apostacy, it is difficult to find deep, lasting friendships. We must protect our connections from those who wish to destroy them.
Romans 16:17 "Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them."
2 Thessalonians 3:6 "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us."
Saturday, May 23, 2026
The Second Timothy Three Generation
We are living in difficult times in which adult children are disobeying the Scriptures that command us to "honor our parents" and going with the culture that says "parents are stupid and have nothing to offer.?
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Difficult Times Will Come
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."
This generation of adult children is dedicated to misunderstanding. If they really wanted to understand, they would ask to hear more instead of interpreting what we say the way they think about us and not the way we really are.
We are living out 2 Timothy 3 now more blatantly than ever before. When we know this we do not have to take anythnig personally and we are free to move on from them without putting up with their nonsense.
Matthew 13:55-58
"55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is His mother not called Mary, and His brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man acquire all these things?”
57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not dishonored except in his hometown and in his own household.”
58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief."
Jesus Christ was rejected by His own people why would we think it would be different for us when we attempt to tell the truth and help others to trust in Christ.
Our confusion comes when we tell the truth of the Scriptures to Christians who act like those Christ refused to speak to because of their refusal to follow the Bible, Christ's own words.
Matthew 10:21-23 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."
God never told us anywhere in His word to remain friendly with family members who reject His Word and reject you. He told us to move on to others.
Matthew 10:14 "And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet."
Never feel bad at having to remove yourself from those who reject the Word of God. We are only the messengers; God brings the increase, their response is His business.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Difficult Times Will Come
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."
This generation of adult children is dedicated to misunderstanding. If they really wanted to understand, they would ask to hear more instead of interpreting what we say the way they think about us and not the way we really are.
We are living out 2 Timothy 3 now more blatantly than ever before. When we know this we do not have to take anythnig personally and we are free to move on from them without putting up with their nonsense.
Matthew 13:55-58
"55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is His mother not called Mary, and His brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man acquire all these things?”
57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not dishonored except in his hometown and in his own household.”
58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief."
Jesus Christ was rejected by His own people why would we think it would be different for us when we attempt to tell the truth and help others to trust in Christ.
Our confusion comes when we tell the truth of the Scriptures to Christians who act like those Christ refused to speak to because of their refusal to follow the Bible, Christ's own words.
Matthew 10:21-23 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."
God never told us anywhere in His word to remain friendly with family members who reject His Word and reject you. He told us to move on to others.
Matthew 10:14 "And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet."
Never feel bad at having to remove yourself from those who reject the Word of God. We are only the messengers; God brings the increase, their response is His business.
Friday, May 22, 2026
Repentance and Forgiveness in Marriage
In marriage, when someone repents, and the spouse forgives, the impact of the sinful event diminishes greatly over time until it is only a faded memory and no longer a hurt.
The relationship becomes stronger than it was before, and the devil is put to flight. Hallelujah!!!!
If people would require accountability for offenses and the offender is sorrowful, then both parties grow emotionally and spiritually. Without this difficult process, no one changes, nothing good happens, and things even grow worse.
Reconciliation through confession and forgiveness is the only way anyone can benefit.
Sweeping things under the rug to merely feel better momentarily causes bitterness and further defiance.
We live in a culture that does not want to "work things out" through dialogue because it means we must evaluate ourselves and admit painful things about our character that need work.
What is missing is the attitude of "no pain no gain" in our relationships; the same mantra used for a physical workout is beneficial for character training in righteousness.
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him".
Nothing we do ought to be done for comfort, ease or personal gratification, all must be done to improve ourselves and our relationships.
The relationship becomes stronger than it was before, and the devil is put to flight. Hallelujah!!!!
If people would require accountability for offenses and the offender is sorrowful, then both parties grow emotionally and spiritually. Without this difficult process, no one changes, nothing good happens, and things even grow worse.
Reconciliation through confession and forgiveness is the only way anyone can benefit.
Sweeping things under the rug to merely feel better momentarily causes bitterness and further defiance.
We live in a culture that does not want to "work things out" through dialogue because it means we must evaluate ourselves and admit painful things about our character that need work.
What is missing is the attitude of "no pain no gain" in our relationships; the same mantra used for a physical workout is beneficial for character training in righteousness.
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him".
Nothing we do ought to be done for comfort, ease or personal gratification, all must be done to improve ourselves and our relationships.
Forgiveness God's Way
Thank the Lord for His system of relationships restoration. When confession of sin and brokenness occurs in the heart of the offender, the heart is changed forever.
When forgiveness is extended out of a deep love for the offender, then there is reconciliation.
When someone repents, and the spouse forgives, the impact of the sinful event diminishes greatly over time until it is only a faded memory and no longer a hurt.
People can and do change but only if there is a strong sense of hatred for sin. The person who forgives an offender is one who has sorrow for the pain the offender is going through and wants to restore them to fellowship.
Galatians 6:1-2 "1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Restoration does not happen by flippanly saying words, its a spiritual desire to make things right, to be healed from the sin and to heal others of their pain of hurt.
When there is indifference to the offender and the only focus is on sparing oneself, then there is false forgiveness with a selfish motive. We ought to care more deeply about the spiritual well-being of the offender than we do about ourselves.
If we care about others, we will inform them about how their actions or attitudes have harmed someone so they can repent and be cleansed while the relationship is restored and strengthened.
Stoicism and psychology cares only about protecting oneself, very little about the rehabilitation of those who have repented. This is why it teaches; "forgive for your own sake" instead of the model of relationship restoration God requires.
Luke 17:4 "nd if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Let's not forget the part of this passage that says; "if the offender turns and says, 'I repent, ' you must forgive him."
When forgiveness is extended out of a deep love for the offender, then there is reconciliation.
When someone repents, and the spouse forgives, the impact of the sinful event diminishes greatly over time until it is only a faded memory and no longer a hurt.
People can and do change but only if there is a strong sense of hatred for sin. The person who forgives an offender is one who has sorrow for the pain the offender is going through and wants to restore them to fellowship.
Galatians 6:1-2 "1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Restoration does not happen by flippanly saying words, its a spiritual desire to make things right, to be healed from the sin and to heal others of their pain of hurt.
When there is indifference to the offender and the only focus is on sparing oneself, then there is false forgiveness with a selfish motive. We ought to care more deeply about the spiritual well-being of the offender than we do about ourselves.
If we care about others, we will inform them about how their actions or attitudes have harmed someone so they can repent and be cleansed while the relationship is restored and strengthened.
Stoicism and psychology cares only about protecting oneself, very little about the rehabilitation of those who have repented. This is why it teaches; "forgive for your own sake" instead of the model of relationship restoration God requires.
Luke 17:4 "nd if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Let's not forget the part of this passage that says; "if the offender turns and says, 'I repent, ' you must forgive him."
You Shall Know Them by Their Fruit
Next time you hear a testimony about someone like this, remember what God said in His Word: That testimony is "I know that person is saved, but they have spent years in their old lifestyle and though nothing changed, but I know they are saved."
We can know the spirit of a person by how they choose to live every day. One slip-up does not tell us anything, but a lifestyle defending sin tells us a lot.
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.'"
1 John 3:9 "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God."
Matthew 7:16-17 "16By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.…"
Galatians 5:22-23 "22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
We can know the spirit of a person by how they choose to live every day. One slip-up does not tell us anything, but a lifestyle defending sin tells us a lot.
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.'"
1 John 3:9 "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God."
Matthew 7:16-17 "16By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.…"
Galatians 5:22-23 "22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Accountability s God's Way of Reconciliation
There is a very wrong teaching about forgiveness that is being taught by nearly everyone these days.
They say forgiveness does not mean reconciliation. This is completely wrong and based on feelings and words alone.
God declared that forgiveness was predicated on confession of sin and was for the purpose of reconciling a relationship.
If there has been true forgiveness after repentance, then there will be reconciliation followed by an even deeper closeness in the relationship than there was before.
The purpose of forgiveness is not to keep us from becoming bitter, it is for the sake of the relationship.
God made it clear how confession of sin and forgiveness is suppost to work and what it is suppose to accomplish.
Luke 17:3-4 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
People overlook this phrase in the Luke passage: "if they return and say "I repent."
We are commanded to bless our enemies, not to take revenge, and keep ourselves from bitterness, but this is not forgiveness. If there is confession of sin and forgiveness extended, then there will be reconciliation.
Too many people today believe all people are going to heaven because God forgives, even if they are not sorry; this could not be farther from the truth.
Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
This culture needs to stop pretending they forgive while still refusing contact with the offender. There is good reason to avoid those who are not sorry and even think they did nothing wrong defending their sin against us. However, forgiveness is not accomplished until the offender is convicted of their sin and wants to repent and reconcile.
If we obey God by acting with love and kindness, no matter what they do, then we will remain innocent, but this is not reconciliation; it is refusing to be manipulated into acting like the offenders.
Christ treated everyone correctly all the time, and most were not reconciled to Him. He never said to people; "I forgive you even if you are not sorry."
When Christ said on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do", He was not forgiving individuals; He was asking the Father to extend forgiveness to the world because of His sacrifice. Extending forgiveness to those who are repentant is far different from forgiving them when they are not repentant.
Acts 3:19: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
God never forgives or reconciles to those who are not sorry! The condition for becoming born again is to confess our sinfulness, trusting in Christ to change us into a new creation, and desiring Him to do all the work in us.
No one will be reconciled to us or to God when they maintain their wicked attitude of remorselessness.
When we say to people we should forgive when someone is not repentant, we are giving them a false picture of how Christ forgives and enabling them in their sinful stance.
It is not unfriendly or unkind to withhold forgiveness to the unrepentant, just the contrary, it may help them see their sinfulness has consequences and it may even cause them to see the error of their ways and rethink their attitude.
Our world is growing worse in terrible attitudes and disrespectful actions because of the psychology that teaches the lie that friendliness is what causes people to rethink their own heart. Just the opposite is true, when we require nothing from offenders, we enhance their selfish and ignorant stance.
Proverbs 22: 24-25 "24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,
25 lest you learn his ways
and entangle yourself in a snare."
When we require nothing from others and they require nothing of us no one grows and changes. Holiness is either stymied or non-existent, everyone grows more evil because there is no accountability.
Satan loves this because it causes people to place pressure on the innocent party to forgive and continue with those who have abused them, or at least feel responsible to be or do something God never intended, while the offender is never told to repent.
Justice is important to God and it should be important to us too.
Micah 6:8 "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Isaiah 1:17 "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."
God did not write these verses just for the righteous; He wrote them for the offender too. Never ignore what the offender did and pretend your lack of accountability absolves them.
They say forgiveness does not mean reconciliation. This is completely wrong and based on feelings and words alone.
God declared that forgiveness was predicated on confession of sin and was for the purpose of reconciling a relationship.
If there has been true forgiveness after repentance, then there will be reconciliation followed by an even deeper closeness in the relationship than there was before.
The purpose of forgiveness is not to keep us from becoming bitter, it is for the sake of the relationship.
God made it clear how confession of sin and forgiveness is suppost to work and what it is suppose to accomplish.
Luke 17:3-4 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
People overlook this phrase in the Luke passage: "if they return and say "I repent."
We are commanded to bless our enemies, not to take revenge, and keep ourselves from bitterness, but this is not forgiveness. If there is confession of sin and forgiveness extended, then there will be reconciliation.
Too many people today believe all people are going to heaven because God forgives, even if they are not sorry; this could not be farther from the truth.
Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
This culture needs to stop pretending they forgive while still refusing contact with the offender. There is good reason to avoid those who are not sorry and even think they did nothing wrong defending their sin against us. However, forgiveness is not accomplished until the offender is convicted of their sin and wants to repent and reconcile.
If we obey God by acting with love and kindness, no matter what they do, then we will remain innocent, but this is not reconciliation; it is refusing to be manipulated into acting like the offenders.
Christ treated everyone correctly all the time, and most were not reconciled to Him. He never said to people; "I forgive you even if you are not sorry."
When Christ said on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do", He was not forgiving individuals; He was asking the Father to extend forgiveness to the world because of His sacrifice. Extending forgiveness to those who are repentant is far different from forgiving them when they are not repentant.
Acts 3:19: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
God never forgives or reconciles to those who are not sorry! The condition for becoming born again is to confess our sinfulness, trusting in Christ to change us into a new creation, and desiring Him to do all the work in us.
No one will be reconciled to us or to God when they maintain their wicked attitude of remorselessness.
When we say to people we should forgive when someone is not repentant, we are giving them a false picture of how Christ forgives and enabling them in their sinful stance.
It is not unfriendly or unkind to withhold forgiveness to the unrepentant, just the contrary, it may help them see their sinfulness has consequences and it may even cause them to see the error of their ways and rethink their attitude.
Our world is growing worse in terrible attitudes and disrespectful actions because of the psychology that teaches the lie that friendliness is what causes people to rethink their own heart. Just the opposite is true, when we require nothing from offenders, we enhance their selfish and ignorant stance.
Proverbs 22: 24-25 "24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,
25 lest you learn his ways
and entangle yourself in a snare."
When we require nothing from others and they require nothing of us no one grows and changes. Holiness is either stymied or non-existent, everyone grows more evil because there is no accountability.
Satan loves this because it causes people to place pressure on the innocent party to forgive and continue with those who have abused them, or at least feel responsible to be or do something God never intended, while the offender is never told to repent.
Justice is important to God and it should be important to us too.
Micah 6:8 "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Isaiah 1:17 "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."
God did not write these verses just for the righteous; He wrote them for the offender too. Never ignore what the offender did and pretend your lack of accountability absolves them.
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Forgiving to Reconcile is God's Plan
I do not forgive for the sake of my own peace; I forgive to reconcile the relationship when someone is repentant and desires to heal the bond of friendship.
Luke 17:3-4 "…3Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
God is all about relationships and little about feelings. We have feelings, and we need to pay attention to them, not to act on them, but to gauge our hearts to see if we are indulging ourselves or obeying God. We must evaluate our feelings according to the Word of God so that we do not follow feelings that are not accurate.
Feelings lie to us often; they tell us things are bad when they are good, and things are good when they are bad. We cannot trust our feelings, which is why I place no value on making myself feel better by claiming to forgive when someone is unrepentant.
Nothing is resolved according to feelings. In fact they can make us feel proud that we are special because we feel good about forgiving, but it does not cleanse us of anything, nor does it help the relationship.
Saying, "I forgive" someone who is not repentant does nothing at all. It does not resolve any problems, it does not seek to understand someone, nor does it cleanse anyone of anything.
God is not about pretending attitudes to feel superior; He is about resolving problems between people. If they cannot be resolved because someone will not admit to their failures, then we must move on and let God.
We are commanded to bless those who curse us when in company with an offender, but this is not a resolution to a conflict, nor can the relationship be mended until there is sadness that the relationship is broken.
Confession of offense and forgiveness are two sides of the same coin; both must be present for a relationship to be restored. When we pretend we forgive but do not reconcile, then the process is not complete, and the relationship remains broken.
It has been psychology that has taught this idea that we should just say in our head we forgive when someone else is not repentant to make ourselves feel better, but it is useless to God's plan.
God does not forgive without repentance; He is our ultimate example. When there is repentance and forgiveness extended it is a beautiful thing, and the relationships become stronger than it was before.
God cares more about results based on His principles than He does about feelings. We can only do our part, which is seeking confession to be reconciled; we cannot do the part of the other person.
Notice you rarely hear of anyone chastising the offender to confess and repent? All the pressure is placed on the one who was wronged to forgive, but no pressure is placed on the one who offended. Seems unbalanced, doesn't it?
Next time you are tempted to chastise people to forgive someone, be sure you also go to the offender and tell them to repent. And, be sure you counsel the one to wait upon the repentance before forgiving, so there will be a real and lasting bond of friendship.
We are seeking reconciliation, as well as spiritual and emotional maturity, which only comes from both confession and forgiveness. We are not seeking a superficial sweeping under the rug and pretending you did your part by messaging your feelings.
Luke 17:3-4 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”"
Let's obey the Bible when God says; "rebuke your brother" and "if he comes and says I repent, forgive him."
Luke 17:3-4 "…3Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
God is all about relationships and little about feelings. We have feelings, and we need to pay attention to them, not to act on them, but to gauge our hearts to see if we are indulging ourselves or obeying God. We must evaluate our feelings according to the Word of God so that we do not follow feelings that are not accurate.
Feelings lie to us often; they tell us things are bad when they are good, and things are good when they are bad. We cannot trust our feelings, which is why I place no value on making myself feel better by claiming to forgive when someone is unrepentant.
Nothing is resolved according to feelings. In fact they can make us feel proud that we are special because we feel good about forgiving, but it does not cleanse us of anything, nor does it help the relationship.
Saying, "I forgive" someone who is not repentant does nothing at all. It does not resolve any problems, it does not seek to understand someone, nor does it cleanse anyone of anything.
God is not about pretending attitudes to feel superior; He is about resolving problems between people. If they cannot be resolved because someone will not admit to their failures, then we must move on and let God.
We are commanded to bless those who curse us when in company with an offender, but this is not a resolution to a conflict, nor can the relationship be mended until there is sadness that the relationship is broken.
Confession of offense and forgiveness are two sides of the same coin; both must be present for a relationship to be restored. When we pretend we forgive but do not reconcile, then the process is not complete, and the relationship remains broken.
It has been psychology that has taught this idea that we should just say in our head we forgive when someone else is not repentant to make ourselves feel better, but it is useless to God's plan.
God does not forgive without repentance; He is our ultimate example. When there is repentance and forgiveness extended it is a beautiful thing, and the relationships become stronger than it was before.
God cares more about results based on His principles than He does about feelings. We can only do our part, which is seeking confession to be reconciled; we cannot do the part of the other person.
Notice you rarely hear of anyone chastising the offender to confess and repent? All the pressure is placed on the one who was wronged to forgive, but no pressure is placed on the one who offended. Seems unbalanced, doesn't it?
Next time you are tempted to chastise people to forgive someone, be sure you also go to the offender and tell them to repent. And, be sure you counsel the one to wait upon the repentance before forgiving, so there will be a real and lasting bond of friendship.
We are seeking reconciliation, as well as spiritual and emotional maturity, which only comes from both confession and forgiveness. We are not seeking a superficial sweeping under the rug and pretending you did your part by messaging your feelings.
Luke 17:3-4 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”"
Let's obey the Bible when God says; "rebuke your brother" and "if he comes and says I repent, forgive him."
Appreciating One Another in the Body of Christ
Fellowship gatherings in homes in the first century were devoted to the people centered around Christ and not a building or a system.
It is a wonderful thing because everyone is free to share, edifying one another as they speak of Christ. The relationships were deeper because they were centered around Christ, not a man-made system with rules and expectations God never commanded.
1 Corinthians 14:26 " 26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church."
The leaders did not dominate the church gathering; they guided by example and teaching, and all were included in the exchange, allowing others to bring their perspectives and gifts. When we know the gifts of each are from the Holy Spirit, we will not be criticizing others or expecting them to be something God never called them to be.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
"12 For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one part, but many.
15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired.
19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20 But now there are many parts, but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again, the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;
23 and those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable,
24 whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked,
25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another.
26 And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it."
In God's body of believers, no one is less than anyone else, and all are to be honored and blessed by the love of the others.
When we appreciate that everyone has a part and everyone is to be loved, there will not be competitiveness or a sense of superiority.
We can even appreciate differing personalities that bring color and life to everyone else. With this perspective, we can stop judging things that are not sin and be grateful, treasuring our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Praise God for His design within the church gathering and the beauty of it when all work together in their particular gifts.
It is a wonderful thing because everyone is free to share, edifying one another as they speak of Christ. The relationships were deeper because they were centered around Christ, not a man-made system with rules and expectations God never commanded.
1 Corinthians 14:26 " 26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church."
The leaders did not dominate the church gathering; they guided by example and teaching, and all were included in the exchange, allowing others to bring their perspectives and gifts. When we know the gifts of each are from the Holy Spirit, we will not be criticizing others or expecting them to be something God never called them to be.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
"12 For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one part, but many.
15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired.
19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20 But now there are many parts, but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again, the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;
23 and those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable,
24 whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked,
25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another.
26 And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it."
In God's body of believers, no one is less than anyone else, and all are to be honored and blessed by the love of the others.
When we appreciate that everyone has a part and everyone is to be loved, there will not be competitiveness or a sense of superiority.
We can even appreciate differing personalities that bring color and life to everyone else. With this perspective, we can stop judging things that are not sin and be grateful, treasuring our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Praise God for His design within the church gathering and the beauty of it when all work together in their particular gifts.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
What We Teach Others Exposes Our Own Mentality
Some people are teaching young people to have their fun before getting married, have their fun before having children, because one day they will have to stop having fun, so do it while you can.
The sad truth about this mentality is that life is not about fun. It's about living life for God and for Spiritual and emotional growth so that when old age arrives, we will be full of wisdom and insight.
The wisdom and insight do not come from pleasure, so any growth is delayed until there is sobering of the heart that desires to put away childish pleasures to begin learning about life and truth.
1 Corinthians 13:11 "11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
Many, perhaps most people today are delaying their wisdom, remaining spiritual and emotinal infants. By the time they should have it, they have developed a full life experience of avoiding it to have fun. The habit of a lifetime is pleasure. Not only has wisdom been avoided it has been interpreted into modern language that elevates play above everything else.
2 Timothy 2:22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."
1 Corinthians 10:7 "Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
Life with Christ is full of pleasures that flow from love, developing relationships on the mutual pursuit of working together for the greater good. Seeking God for His purposes, serving others as led by Christ.
Every day is a blessing and an adventure when we live for Christ. Our adventures are simple and uncomplicated. We see the children playing in the yard, the deer walking through, the rabbits in the grass, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the birds that are singing. Things we don't have to chase after but are right in front of us are God's blessings and joy we carry every single day.
There are more blessings, such as the joy of sharing with a friend their heartache or their accomplishments. My husband says frequently, "A shared blessing is a blessing doubled, and a shared grief is half a grief.
When we share with one another the experiences of life, we strengthen and encourage one another. This is a lost art in our day, with everyone wanting to share their own stuff with no interest in the experiences of others.
Why do so many want to share about themselves but are uninterested in others? The answer is clear: we live in a culture of boasting to impress others.
People are remaining immature longer in our culture. Their focus is so self centeredd, boast oreiented and deeply insecure that it cannot find purpose other than pleasure, which has become addictive.
Normal life with all its challenges are no longer fulfilling for most.
In this culture, people pursue God for the sake of what they can get out of Him. Just as they pursue others for what they can get out of them. The basic mentality is to surround themselves with those who elevate them.
1 Timothy 5:6 "But she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives."
We do not want to be self-indulgent people. As born-again believers, we want to be useful for the kingdom of God, even if it means in small matters. Taking care of business in our families, living a Christian witness of love in the community, extending a helping hand to others, and more, as led by the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:4 "That each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,"
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
The sad truth about this mentality is that life is not about fun. It's about living life for God and for Spiritual and emotional growth so that when old age arrives, we will be full of wisdom and insight.
The wisdom and insight do not come from pleasure, so any growth is delayed until there is sobering of the heart that desires to put away childish pleasures to begin learning about life and truth.
1 Corinthians 13:11 "11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
Many, perhaps most people today are delaying their wisdom, remaining spiritual and emotinal infants. By the time they should have it, they have developed a full life experience of avoiding it to have fun. The habit of a lifetime is pleasure. Not only has wisdom been avoided it has been interpreted into modern language that elevates play above everything else.
2 Timothy 2:22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."
1 Corinthians 10:7 "Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
Life with Christ is full of pleasures that flow from love, developing relationships on the mutual pursuit of working together for the greater good. Seeking God for His purposes, serving others as led by Christ.
Every day is a blessing and an adventure when we live for Christ. Our adventures are simple and uncomplicated. We see the children playing in the yard, the deer walking through, the rabbits in the grass, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the birds that are singing. Things we don't have to chase after but are right in front of us are God's blessings and joy we carry every single day.
There are more blessings, such as the joy of sharing with a friend their heartache or their accomplishments. My husband says frequently, "A shared blessing is a blessing doubled, and a shared grief is half a grief.
When we share with one another the experiences of life, we strengthen and encourage one another. This is a lost art in our day, with everyone wanting to share their own stuff with no interest in the experiences of others.
Why do so many want to share about themselves but are uninterested in others? The answer is clear: we live in a culture of boasting to impress others.
People are remaining immature longer in our culture. Their focus is so self centeredd, boast oreiented and deeply insecure that it cannot find purpose other than pleasure, which has become addictive.
Normal life with all its challenges are no longer fulfilling for most.
In this culture, people pursue God for the sake of what they can get out of Him. Just as they pursue others for what they can get out of them. The basic mentality is to surround themselves with those who elevate them.
1 Timothy 5:6 "But she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives."
We do not want to be self-indulgent people. As born-again believers, we want to be useful for the kingdom of God, even if it means in small matters. Taking care of business in our families, living a Christian witness of love in the community, extending a helping hand to others, and more, as led by the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:4 "That each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,"
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Let Them Go and Move On with Your Life
In another thread, I was watching a man speak of those who assumed that if a child cut off their parents, then the parents must have been bad parents.
Define "good parents" The best parents are the ones who tried to teach their children good things, but the culture made the children think their parents were bad for having standards and rules.
The parents who do not get cut off are often those who have no standards.
Adam and Eve, who only had one perfect parent, and that was God, defied Him. He is perfect, and yet His children defied Him. David, a man after God's own heart, has a child named Absalom who hated him.
The prodigal son demanded his inheritance so he could go live wickedly. He hated his father and yet nowhere in the scriptures does God say he was a bad parent.
To assume that children are right that their parents were bad enough to be entirely rejected by their children is a form of gossip. Unless you saw what went on daily in a household with the children, you cannot judge the parenting as bad.
Rebellious children will take innocent acts and even good teaching and call it bad. They are never satisfied with just hating their parents; they must punish them by keeping their grandchildren from them and even gossiping about them to turn others against them.
Often these rebellious children marry rebellious people who enjoy the estrangement of their spouse from their parents. They not only facilitate the angry mentality but also endorse it.
We are living in the 2 Timothy 3 times of every evil mentality possible in families.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "Difficult Times Will Come
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."
Do not allow the rejection of your children to cause you to ruminate on the hate; get on with your life without them, knowing that their company was nothing but continual anger and retaliation for things you never did to them, but they wanted to believe you did.
Titus 3:9-10 "9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned."
To be overcome with grief over the loss of your children is to be co-dependent. You must move on and allow your children to do the same. If they come back repentant, then we can rejoice, but if they want to come back to cause more trouble, you must not allow it.
Define "good parents" The best parents are the ones who tried to teach their children good things, but the culture made the children think their parents were bad for having standards and rules.
The parents who do not get cut off are often those who have no standards.
Adam and Eve, who only had one perfect parent, and that was God, defied Him. He is perfect, and yet His children defied Him. David, a man after God's own heart, has a child named Absalom who hated him.
The prodigal son demanded his inheritance so he could go live wickedly. He hated his father and yet nowhere in the scriptures does God say he was a bad parent.
To assume that children are right that their parents were bad enough to be entirely rejected by their children is a form of gossip. Unless you saw what went on daily in a household with the children, you cannot judge the parenting as bad.
Rebellious children will take innocent acts and even good teaching and call it bad. They are never satisfied with just hating their parents; they must punish them by keeping their grandchildren from them and even gossiping about them to turn others against them.
Often these rebellious children marry rebellious people who enjoy the estrangement of their spouse from their parents. They not only facilitate the angry mentality but also endorse it.
We are living in the 2 Timothy 3 times of every evil mentality possible in families.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "Difficult Times Will Come
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."
Do not allow the rejection of your children to cause you to ruminate on the hate; get on with your life without them, knowing that their company was nothing but continual anger and retaliation for things you never did to them, but they wanted to believe you did.
Titus 3:9-10 "9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned."
To be overcome with grief over the loss of your children is to be co-dependent. You must move on and allow your children to do the same. If they come back repentant, then we can rejoice, but if they want to come back to cause more trouble, you must not allow it.
Salvation is Entirely a Work of Christ
Salvation to those who think they can lose it depends entirely on them.
If it did not depend on them, then they would not fear losing their salvation.
If any part of salvation depends on us, then all of it depends on us.
I don't think these people believe they needed the cross at all because ultimately they determine their salvation by their own works.
Ephesians 2:8-9 "8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Did God lie when He said no one can save themselves, that there is no good in man that could save him.
Romans 7:18-19 "18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.…"
People say, "He is a good person, look at all the good he does." What they don't know is the heart of the one who "does the good." People who are not saved do good to glorify themselves, so they are not good; they only want to be seen as good by others.
The person who walks with Christ, doing authentically good things in obedience to Christ, is doing it through the Holy Spirit, and God gets the glory.
Romans 3:10-12 "as it is written: 'None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
Since no one is good and cannot save themselves, then how could they do enough to gain heaven? Their good deeds are as filthy rags to God because only He is good and could do what was needed to save mankind, which was to shed His innocent blood on the cross to pay for our sins. We couldn't shed our own blood to save ourselves, so how could we possibly do anything short of shedding blood to earn or keep salvation?
Is a good deed equivalent to the shedding of blood? Of course it would be silly to say that. Since we cannot shed our own blood because we are "wicked without remedy", and Christ had to pay the price for us by shedding His blood, how could we think our silly little selfish good works save us on any level?
Those who think they are saving themselves by their good deeds or keeping their salvation by good deeds are trusting in themselves and not Christ. Ultimately, in their mind, they are in control of their own salvation, which is blasphemy.
Romans 3:10-11 "10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God."
Galatians 3:10 "All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
If it did not depend on them, then they would not fear losing their salvation.
If any part of salvation depends on us, then all of it depends on us.
I don't think these people believe they needed the cross at all because ultimately they determine their salvation by their own works.
Ephesians 2:8-9 "8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Did God lie when He said no one can save themselves, that there is no good in man that could save him.
Romans 7:18-19 "18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.…"
People say, "He is a good person, look at all the good he does." What they don't know is the heart of the one who "does the good." People who are not saved do good to glorify themselves, so they are not good; they only want to be seen as good by others.
The person who walks with Christ, doing authentically good things in obedience to Christ, is doing it through the Holy Spirit, and God gets the glory.
Romans 3:10-12 "as it is written: 'None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
Since no one is good and cannot save themselves, then how could they do enough to gain heaven? Their good deeds are as filthy rags to God because only He is good and could do what was needed to save mankind, which was to shed His innocent blood on the cross to pay for our sins. We couldn't shed our own blood to save ourselves, so how could we possibly do anything short of shedding blood to earn or keep salvation?
Is a good deed equivalent to the shedding of blood? Of course it would be silly to say that. Since we cannot shed our own blood because we are "wicked without remedy", and Christ had to pay the price for us by shedding His blood, how could we think our silly little selfish good works save us on any level?
Those who think they are saving themselves by their good deeds or keeping their salvation by good deeds are trusting in themselves and not Christ. Ultimately, in their mind, they are in control of their own salvation, which is blasphemy.
Romans 3:10-11 "10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God."
Galatians 3:10 "All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Lies from the Devil that have Ruined many in the Church
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:9 says that to grow in holiness, we are to confess and ask to be cleansed. This is not about salvation but about growing in Spiritual maturity. Those who lack Spiritual and emotional maturity are not asking to be cleansed because they cannot admit they have flaws and hidden sin.
Most Christians are buying into false doctrine, self-indulgence and self-reliance to appear holy, because they have been trained to love themselves first.
Anyone who loves themselves first will never love Christ.
For many years, we heard people say, "if you don't love yourself first, you won't love anyone else." That was a lie of the devil. God says we must love God first and deny ourselves.
If we cannot deny ourselves, then we will neither love God nor others. The more we love God, the less we think about ourselves, and the more we are dedicated to Christ, which will result in loving others.
Often, our modern culture takes three words out of the scriptures and makes a false doctrine out of it without the benefit of the rest of Scripture. Satan loves this and uses it frequently in these days of apostasy.
May each of us be diligent to find the meanings of practices and follow only those things as described in Scripture.
1 John 1:9 says that to grow in holiness, we are to confess and ask to be cleansed. This is not about salvation but about growing in Spiritual maturity. Those who lack Spiritual and emotional maturity are not asking to be cleansed because they cannot admit they have flaws and hidden sin.
Most Christians are buying into false doctrine, self-indulgence and self-reliance to appear holy, because they have been trained to love themselves first.
Anyone who loves themselves first will never love Christ.
For many years, we heard people say, "if you don't love yourself first, you won't love anyone else." That was a lie of the devil. God says we must love God first and deny ourselves.
If we cannot deny ourselves, then we will neither love God nor others. The more we love God, the less we think about ourselves, and the more we are dedicated to Christ, which will result in loving others.
Often, our modern culture takes three words out of the scriptures and makes a false doctrine out of it without the benefit of the rest of Scripture. Satan loves this and uses it frequently in these days of apostasy.
May each of us be diligent to find the meanings of practices and follow only those things as described in Scripture.
Rituals God Never Commanded for the Church
In recent years, I asked God what the hand holding in a circle when praying was all about. It seemed ritualistic based on pagan practices.
I was one of those irritating children who was always asking why. I think my parents saw it as rebellion instead of a desire to understand the why of everything we did.
The idea that there is greater power in the prayer, incentivizing God to hear and answer when we are in solidarity, smacks of ritual that expects God to do more if we practice this, a sort of manipulation of God.
Within pagan ceremonies, there is a saying "complete the ring", with the expectation that the spirits will come if we are in solidarity. It is perceived as a manipulation and power technique.
It seems to be that in holding hands to pray, we are focusing more on the people around us than on Christ. The sense that the power is in the people and the holding of hands and not in Christ.
John 4:24 "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth".
The holding of hands originated from Pentecostal and Charismatic groups, who have added a lot of ideas that are not Biblical, often emulating the pagans, thinking it will bring greater power.
Another ritual that came from paganism that Christians have adopted is the practice of putting one's hands together to pray. We see no mandate or example in the Bible of believers doing this, but we do see it in pagan religions.
When we ask God to show us the traditoins we were raised with to see if they are taught by God, He opens our eyes to many things Christians practice and even require of one another that God never commanded or endorsed. They were brought into Christianity by people who wanted to feel spiritual, so they adopted these practices from paganism, thinking they would Christianize them.
The problem is they adopted the rules that became habits and turned them into mandates that caused others to judge one another over something that is not Biblical or godly.
Mankind has the habit of desiring to appear more spiritual while disobeying the scriptures. They hold dear to their own idea of holiness based on rituals that are useless in our walk with Christ.
God's word is so simple and does not require many rituals. God gave us the Lord's supper to remember Christ and what He did on the cross. He also gave us the head covering during the gathering to demonstrate the relationships between Christ and the church. He gave us baptism to demonstrate the born-again experience and Christ coming to live in the believer at salvation.
These practices were given by God; nothing more needs to be added to walk with Christ, only the things He gave. Anything else is man's pride, adding things to feel more spiritual.
To add things to our Christianity that God never gave is a matter of pride. We think we are appeasing and pleasing God when we are prideful in thinking we need to add to God's commands our own.
When we do not participate the humanistic rituals of the culture around us, that culture will despise us for not doing what they do. I understand that people often do not know why they do things, so in their heart, they may not be disrespecting Christ. I do not judge their heart. I just know that I have no desire to follow pagan practices merely because the rest of apostacy is doing it.
When we ask God the why of things, He is going to show us, and it will set us apart from nearly everyone.
Some example of rituals the church practices are as follows:
Christmas, Easter, Halloween, birthdays, hand holding in prayer, folding of hands while praying, lighting candles during Lent, giving up foods for Lent, lighting candles for the dead, talking to the dead at funerals, attending a large gathering in a building called a church, the paid pastor system, pews all facing forward while no one is allowed to speak except the paid preacher, funerals, and more, that God never commanded and have distracted beleivers from Christ to place their trust in these rituals.
I was one of those irritating children who was always asking why. I think my parents saw it as rebellion instead of a desire to understand the why of everything we did.
The idea that there is greater power in the prayer, incentivizing God to hear and answer when we are in solidarity, smacks of ritual that expects God to do more if we practice this, a sort of manipulation of God.
Within pagan ceremonies, there is a saying "complete the ring", with the expectation that the spirits will come if we are in solidarity. It is perceived as a manipulation and power technique.
It seems to be that in holding hands to pray, we are focusing more on the people around us than on Christ. The sense that the power is in the people and the holding of hands and not in Christ.
John 4:24 "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth".
The holding of hands originated from Pentecostal and Charismatic groups, who have added a lot of ideas that are not Biblical, often emulating the pagans, thinking it will bring greater power.
Another ritual that came from paganism that Christians have adopted is the practice of putting one's hands together to pray. We see no mandate or example in the Bible of believers doing this, but we do see it in pagan religions.
When we ask God to show us the traditoins we were raised with to see if they are taught by God, He opens our eyes to many things Christians practice and even require of one another that God never commanded or endorsed. They were brought into Christianity by people who wanted to feel spiritual, so they adopted these practices from paganism, thinking they would Christianize them.
The problem is they adopted the rules that became habits and turned them into mandates that caused others to judge one another over something that is not Biblical or godly.
Mankind has the habit of desiring to appear more spiritual while disobeying the scriptures. They hold dear to their own idea of holiness based on rituals that are useless in our walk with Christ.
God's word is so simple and does not require many rituals. God gave us the Lord's supper to remember Christ and what He did on the cross. He also gave us the head covering during the gathering to demonstrate the relationships between Christ and the church. He gave us baptism to demonstrate the born-again experience and Christ coming to live in the believer at salvation.
These practices were given by God; nothing more needs to be added to walk with Christ, only the things He gave. Anything else is man's pride, adding things to feel more spiritual.
To add things to our Christianity that God never gave is a matter of pride. We think we are appeasing and pleasing God when we are prideful in thinking we need to add to God's commands our own.
When we do not participate the humanistic rituals of the culture around us, that culture will despise us for not doing what they do. I understand that people often do not know why they do things, so in their heart, they may not be disrespecting Christ. I do not judge their heart. I just know that I have no desire to follow pagan practices merely because the rest of apostacy is doing it.
When we ask God the why of things, He is going to show us, and it will set us apart from nearly everyone.
Some example of rituals the church practices are as follows:
Christmas, Easter, Halloween, birthdays, hand holding in prayer, folding of hands while praying, lighting candles during Lent, giving up foods for Lent, lighting candles for the dead, talking to the dead at funerals, attending a large gathering in a building called a church, the paid pastor system, pews all facing forward while no one is allowed to speak except the paid preacher, funerals, and more, that God never commanded and have distracted beleivers from Christ to place their trust in these rituals.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Friday, May 15, 2026
Marriage is wonderful and hard but worth every lesson it brings.
55 years ago today, my husband and I married. We had been engaged for two years before our wedding day. We did not live together; we chose to wait to marry so he could finish his college degree before beginning married life. My Father-in-Law asked my husband not to marry until he had his degree, and my husband honored that request.
My husband was from a family of fifteen children, and his parents could not afford to help him through college, so he worked at a bakery after school, on weekends, and in the summer to earn what he needed to attend college. He was not one to play; he worked to achieve a goal and realized that goal, then he was ready to take a wife.
I was sixteen when he asked me to marry him, and he was 20.
No one would be able to convince me that marrying too young is the problem in marriages today. It is not the age that makes the difference in marriage, it is the mentality. We were dedicated to the principle that marriage was for a lifetime until death.
All relationships take work to gain closeness. Without the commitment to remain, discuss, and compromise, there is no relationship. Relationships are not built on ease of existence; they are built on mutual understanding, and this can only happen when each listens to the other, determined to grasp the concerns of the other.
It is interesting that people quote all the time things like "no pain, no gain", when it comes to physical prowess, but never speak of these principles for gaining wisdom and spiritual maturity. Life is painful, from relationship problems to physical illness. But when we are dedicated to fixing things we come out the other side of these problems stronger in our maturity and in our relationships.
This does not come easy when the youth of today have been taught in an indulgent play-oriented culture that everything should be fun and just the way they want it to be. They do not love someone enough to go through their challenges with them. We are sinners until Christ changes us into a new creation. No one comes to a marriage exactly what they should be, and sadly, those who think they do remain emotional and spiritual infants until they can admit they have flaws that need the cleansing of Christ.
There are spiritual leaders in our day who teach their followers that the man has ultimate authority over the woman and she should just obey without a word. This is not only the farthest from the truth, it is also ruinous to a relationship.
If a man loves a woman and if a woman loves a man, they will each care deeply about the desires, hopes, and plans of the other. To dominate someone without concern for them is slavery, not a marriage.
Matthew 20:25-26 " 25 But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,…"
This passage is referring to church leadership but applies to any relationship where there is a leader. Leaders are to lead by example and by loving teaching, not by force and indifference to those under them.
When Christ said that we will become one flesh in marriage, His intent was not that one half of the partnership would be completely silent and the other just along for the ride. Christ taught that we will no longer walk alone as if the other does not matter. All our considerations and decisions should be mutual.
If the husband is staunch and cannot be convinced, then the woman can go to prayer as she honors her husband in solidarity, as long as the husband has not told her to sin. If the husband is telling the woman to sin, she must decline and obey God first.
Remember Ananias and Sapphirah, this wife obeyed her husband when he told her to lie to the Holy Spirit, and God counted them as conspiring together and killed both of them. Each spouse must decide for themselves God's will and do it even if the others will not obey God.
The husband never takes the place of the Holy Spirit in a marriage. He is the leader in the home, but he is not the mediator between the woman and God. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. The Wife is the CEO of the household as described in Proverbs 31. That job was not given to her husband to tell her what to do; it was given to the woman by God, and she determines all that goes on in running the household.
The greatest concern of the husband should always be the well-being of his wife, and the greatest concern of the wife is to support her husband when he obeys God.
Ephesians 5:24-26 "24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her 26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word."
Obey your husband in all things in this passage does not mean when they ask us to sin, but rather when they obey Christ. We know this because God told us to "obey God rather than man", in other passages.
Colossians 3:19
"Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them."
1 Peter 3:7 "Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered."
Jesus Christ is the head of all born-again believers, no man takes that position.
Colossians 1:18 (Christ) 'And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence."
Marriage is tough, but deeply rewarding when each party learns and grows. It teaches us to become selfless with great purpose when we seek Christ rather than self in it. If anyone marries to gain something for themselves, then they are not ready to marry.
My husband was from a family of fifteen children, and his parents could not afford to help him through college, so he worked at a bakery after school, on weekends, and in the summer to earn what he needed to attend college. He was not one to play; he worked to achieve a goal and realized that goal, then he was ready to take a wife.
I was sixteen when he asked me to marry him, and he was 20.
No one would be able to convince me that marrying too young is the problem in marriages today. It is not the age that makes the difference in marriage, it is the mentality. We were dedicated to the principle that marriage was for a lifetime until death.
All relationships take work to gain closeness. Without the commitment to remain, discuss, and compromise, there is no relationship. Relationships are not built on ease of existence; they are built on mutual understanding, and this can only happen when each listens to the other, determined to grasp the concerns of the other.
It is interesting that people quote all the time things like "no pain, no gain", when it comes to physical prowess, but never speak of these principles for gaining wisdom and spiritual maturity. Life is painful, from relationship problems to physical illness. But when we are dedicated to fixing things we come out the other side of these problems stronger in our maturity and in our relationships.
This does not come easy when the youth of today have been taught in an indulgent play-oriented culture that everything should be fun and just the way they want it to be. They do not love someone enough to go through their challenges with them. We are sinners until Christ changes us into a new creation. No one comes to a marriage exactly what they should be, and sadly, those who think they do remain emotional and spiritual infants until they can admit they have flaws that need the cleansing of Christ.
There are spiritual leaders in our day who teach their followers that the man has ultimate authority over the woman and she should just obey without a word. This is not only the farthest from the truth, it is also ruinous to a relationship.
If a man loves a woman and if a woman loves a man, they will each care deeply about the desires, hopes, and plans of the other. To dominate someone without concern for them is slavery, not a marriage.
Matthew 20:25-26 " 25 But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,…"
This passage is referring to church leadership but applies to any relationship where there is a leader. Leaders are to lead by example and by loving teaching, not by force and indifference to those under them.
When Christ said that we will become one flesh in marriage, His intent was not that one half of the partnership would be completely silent and the other just along for the ride. Christ taught that we will no longer walk alone as if the other does not matter. All our considerations and decisions should be mutual.
If the husband is staunch and cannot be convinced, then the woman can go to prayer as she honors her husband in solidarity, as long as the husband has not told her to sin. If the husband is telling the woman to sin, she must decline and obey God first.
Remember Ananias and Sapphirah, this wife obeyed her husband when he told her to lie to the Holy Spirit, and God counted them as conspiring together and killed both of them. Each spouse must decide for themselves God's will and do it even if the others will not obey God.
The husband never takes the place of the Holy Spirit in a marriage. He is the leader in the home, but he is not the mediator between the woman and God. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. The Wife is the CEO of the household as described in Proverbs 31. That job was not given to her husband to tell her what to do; it was given to the woman by God, and she determines all that goes on in running the household.
The greatest concern of the husband should always be the well-being of his wife, and the greatest concern of the wife is to support her husband when he obeys God.
Ephesians 5:24-26 "24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her 26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word."
Obey your husband in all things in this passage does not mean when they ask us to sin, but rather when they obey Christ. We know this because God told us to "obey God rather than man", in other passages.
Colossians 3:19
"Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them."
1 Peter 3:7 "Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered."
Jesus Christ is the head of all born-again believers, no man takes that position.
Colossians 1:18 (Christ) 'And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence."
Marriage is tough, but deeply rewarding when each party learns and grows. It teaches us to become selfless with great purpose when we seek Christ rather than self in it. If anyone marries to gain something for themselves, then they are not ready to marry.
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Rebellion and Disrespect are Close Companions
In our day of nearly total rebellion, many adult children are rejecting their parents, and in so doing, they are training the grandchildren by example to dislike their grandparents. They are even withholding the grandchildren from the grandparents.
When adult children keep the grandchildren away from their grandparents, it is often because they want the grandchildren to believe a certain way about them and do not want them to find out what they have been taught is not true.
There is a fear that the grandchildren will love the grandparents and enjoy them, this would be a big blow to the disrespectful parents of the grandchildren.
What they don't realize is that in training the children to dislike, ignore, or disrespect in any way the grandparents, is that one day it will be them who are ignored, disrespected and demeaned. Since the training by example was disrespect, the mentality of disrespect will permeate the lives of those who observed it.
There is no way to train a child to be disrespectful in just one area and respectful in another. Disrespect is a character flaw that will run through all their lives toward anyone who does not measure up to their own idea of good.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Difficult Times Will Come
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."
The idea of valuing people, loving and accepting, and even appreciating who they are is nearly non-existent in the last days apostacy. People are basing their treatment of others on how much those others praise them, not on the value of the person who is loved, or feigned love.
Love now is conditional to how much we feel special when with that person, not on how much we can make someone else feel special to us.
I am encountering many people who are describing terrible disrespect from adult children and their grandchildren for no good reason.
When adult children keep the grandchildren away from their grandparents, it is often because they want the grandchildren to believe a certain way about them and do not want them to find out what they have been taught is not true.
There is a fear that the grandchildren will love the grandparents and enjoy them, this would be a big blow to the disrespectful parents of the grandchildren.
What they don't realize is that in training the children to dislike, ignore, or disrespect in any way the grandparents, is that one day it will be them who are ignored, disrespected and demeaned. Since the training by example was disrespect, the mentality of disrespect will permeate the lives of those who observed it.
There is no way to train a child to be disrespectful in just one area and respectful in another. Disrespect is a character flaw that will run through all their lives toward anyone who does not measure up to their own idea of good.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Difficult Times Will Come
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."
The idea of valuing people, loving and accepting, and even appreciating who they are is nearly non-existent in the last days apostacy. People are basing their treatment of others on how much those others praise them, not on the value of the person who is loved, or feigned love.
Love now is conditional to how much we feel special when with that person, not on how much we can make someone else feel special to us.
I am encountering many people who are describing terrible disrespect from adult children and their grandchildren for no good reason.
What is a Kind Person
When you are a kind person in a wicked world, you will be under attack because the world views kindness as weakness.
1 Corinthians 2:13-15 "…13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.…"
Those who are deficient in kindness will attempt to paint kind people as foolish, even lie and twist the good things they do to make them look as though they did bad instead of good.
They did this to Jesus Christ, claiming He did His miracles by the power of the devil. They will do it to authentically born-again believers, too.
John 14:17 "the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you."
Romans 8:7 "because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so."
When we know the devil is working to foster this in people, using what they already feel in the flesh to escalate the mentality to cause harm to those he hates.
People who are intimidated by kindness will be triggered to include others in their hatred through gossip. They are never satisfied with being rude and mean themselves, they must gather others to do the same. They always need allies to prop them up.
These groups of people will unite against us, because they do not have a legitimate reason for their hate, they must be continually propped up by others to evade the guilt that dwells constantly inside.
True kindness is a character quality Christ gives us and comes from a place of strength. Even though others revile us for doing what is good and right, we remain sturdy and robust. Each rejection leads to resilience and perseverance. We do not become weaker from the attacks of the devil and those he uses, we become stronger.
Some hate our kindness because they think we are being manipulative. They believe this because when they are kind, they are manipulating and they think we do the same thing.
I once heard a woman say she was deliberately being nice to a person who was angry with her to "heap hot coals of kindness", she wasn't coming from the place of loving that woman, she just wanted the woman to feel bad about herself and this was the method to do that.
This kind of false kindness triggers more anger because it is obvious that it is manipulative, and the target knows it.
It is common for unkind people to poke at you with the hope you will become angry so they can justify their rudeness. If they can make you angry, they can claim you are worse than them.
This is why God tells us to bless our enemies, not to manipulate them but to keep ourselves from sinning in response to them.
It is not what people do to us that matters; it is how we respond in a Christlike manner to protect ourselves from becoming someone who dishonors God. This is the devil's goal to cause us to bring a sinful testimony to the world.
We must always be aware of why we are kind. Is it because we have the character of Christ and it is the bone and sinew of who we are, or are we being kind to get something out of it for ourselves?
When we operate out of kindness to make people happy with us, this is manipulation. True kindness coming from the heart does not have to be calculated or feigned; it will come naturally, even without thinking or expecting anything in return.
Healthy people are not threatened by genuine kindness; unhealthy people are threatened by kindness because it shines a light on what they lack. Unhealthy people need to feel special and superior; everything they do is based on the elevation of self.
It is important to be ourselves and allow others to be themselves. Then we can choose who our close friends are and who we need to keep our distance from.
Remember that unbelievers are not our friends, they are the enemies of Christ and of us. They need the gospel and salvation before they can be our friends.
Ephesians 4:18 "They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts."
1 Corinthians 2:13-15 "…13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.…"
Those who are deficient in kindness will attempt to paint kind people as foolish, even lie and twist the good things they do to make them look as though they did bad instead of good.
They did this to Jesus Christ, claiming He did His miracles by the power of the devil. They will do it to authentically born-again believers, too.
John 14:17 "the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you."
Romans 8:7 "because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so."
When we know the devil is working to foster this in people, using what they already feel in the flesh to escalate the mentality to cause harm to those he hates.
People who are intimidated by kindness will be triggered to include others in their hatred through gossip. They are never satisfied with being rude and mean themselves, they must gather others to do the same. They always need allies to prop them up.
These groups of people will unite against us, because they do not have a legitimate reason for their hate, they must be continually propped up by others to evade the guilt that dwells constantly inside.
True kindness is a character quality Christ gives us and comes from a place of strength. Even though others revile us for doing what is good and right, we remain sturdy and robust. Each rejection leads to resilience and perseverance. We do not become weaker from the attacks of the devil and those he uses, we become stronger.
Some hate our kindness because they think we are being manipulative. They believe this because when they are kind, they are manipulating and they think we do the same thing.
I once heard a woman say she was deliberately being nice to a person who was angry with her to "heap hot coals of kindness", she wasn't coming from the place of loving that woman, she just wanted the woman to feel bad about herself and this was the method to do that.
This kind of false kindness triggers more anger because it is obvious that it is manipulative, and the target knows it.
It is common for unkind people to poke at you with the hope you will become angry so they can justify their rudeness. If they can make you angry, they can claim you are worse than them.
This is why God tells us to bless our enemies, not to manipulate them but to keep ourselves from sinning in response to them.
It is not what people do to us that matters; it is how we respond in a Christlike manner to protect ourselves from becoming someone who dishonors God. This is the devil's goal to cause us to bring a sinful testimony to the world.
We must always be aware of why we are kind. Is it because we have the character of Christ and it is the bone and sinew of who we are, or are we being kind to get something out of it for ourselves?
When we operate out of kindness to make people happy with us, this is manipulation. True kindness coming from the heart does not have to be calculated or feigned; it will come naturally, even without thinking or expecting anything in return.
Healthy people are not threatened by genuine kindness; unhealthy people are threatened by kindness because it shines a light on what they lack. Unhealthy people need to feel special and superior; everything they do is based on the elevation of self.
It is important to be ourselves and allow others to be themselves. Then we can choose who our close friends are and who we need to keep our distance from.
Remember that unbelievers are not our friends, they are the enemies of Christ and of us. They need the gospel and salvation before they can be our friends.
Ephesians 4:18 "They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts."
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