Monday, August 31, 2026
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Confession and Then Forgiveness
Confession of offense and forgiveness are two sides of the same coin in relationship resolution. Both must be present for the relationship to be restored.
We do not forgive for our own feelings; we do not become bitter when we do not forgive the unrepentant. We bless those who curse us, treat them with the respect they didn't give us when in company, but cannot have a relationship with them.
God's way of forgiveness is repentance, forgiveness, and then restoration of the relationship, the same way He expects us to forgive.
Luke 17:3-4 "3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Matthew 18:17 "
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
People who are rebellious and divisive must be avoided. Those who are rude, offensive and destructive will continually cause trouble between friends.
Romans 16:17-18 "17 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such people are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting."
This means we are to not associate with those who will not confess their sin and even justify it.
Because the church as a whole is not obeying God in this command to forgive God's way, the entire society has neglected accountability, leaving people as spiritual and emotional infants.
These people are not only not sorry for their offenses, but they expect to be reinstated in broken relationships while nothing has changed.
People are not growing wiser, stronger in the Lord, nor are they reconciling. The relationship remains broken, the people remain broken, and their witness of Christ is broken.
Those who follow God's Word and expect others to do the same will be excluded and gossiped about, even when their aim is to help mend and restore relationships.
Pray for those in rebellion at a distance, and be sure to pray for your own heart as you do, that you not become bitter, but also that we not concentrate on it continually, ruining the other parts of our life that we must attend to.
May we not abandon God's way just to have people around us, let's promote obedience to God, and those who love Him will be our friends.
We do not forgive for our own feelings; we do not become bitter when we do not forgive the unrepentant. We bless those who curse us, treat them with the respect they didn't give us when in company, but cannot have a relationship with them.
God's way of forgiveness is repentance, forgiveness, and then restoration of the relationship, the same way He expects us to forgive.
Luke 17:3-4 "3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Matthew 18:17 "
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
People who are rebellious and divisive must be avoided. Those who are rude, offensive and destructive will continually cause trouble between friends.
Romans 16:17-18 "17 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such people are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting."
This means we are to not associate with those who will not confess their sin and even justify it.
Because the church as a whole is not obeying God in this command to forgive God's way, the entire society has neglected accountability, leaving people as spiritual and emotional infants.
These people are not only not sorry for their offenses, but they expect to be reinstated in broken relationships while nothing has changed.
People are not growing wiser, stronger in the Lord, nor are they reconciling. The relationship remains broken, the people remain broken, and their witness of Christ is broken.
Those who follow God's Word and expect others to do the same will be excluded and gossiped about, even when their aim is to help mend and restore relationships.
Pray for those in rebellion at a distance, and be sure to pray for your own heart as you do, that you not become bitter, but also that we not concentrate on it continually, ruining the other parts of our life that we must attend to.
May we not abandon God's way just to have people around us, let's promote obedience to God, and those who love Him will be our friends.
If We Love People Tell Them The Truth
God never says to hope someone will become what they should and act on that basis.
We deal with people the way they are, not what we hope they might become.
When we pretend someone might become something they are not now, we thwart the discipline and correction that God might have for them to improve and repent.
Someone who accepts rebellious people to avoid conflict is lazy. When we are lazy and do not obey God out of fear of being rejected, we will never grow, and neither will anyone who spends time with us.
The person who gets away with sin without accountability falls deeper and deeper into their rebellious heart, eventually will become hardened.
Ephesians 4:18 "They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart."
Proverbs 25:18-20 "18 Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor. 19 Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble. 20 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart."
Jeremiah 17:5 "This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes mere flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD."
Isaiah 30:1-3 "Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:"
There is only one solution to avoid a hardened heart.
Matthew 13:14-15 "Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’"
Those who walk in rebellion against the Bible must repent to be cleansed by God.
We deal with people the way they are, not what we hope they might become.
When we pretend someone might become something they are not now, we thwart the discipline and correction that God might have for them to improve and repent.
Someone who accepts rebellious people to avoid conflict is lazy. When we are lazy and do not obey God out of fear of being rejected, we will never grow, and neither will anyone who spends time with us.
The person who gets away with sin without accountability falls deeper and deeper into their rebellious heart, eventually will become hardened.
Ephesians 4:18 "They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart."
Proverbs 25:18-20 "18 Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor. 19 Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble. 20 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart."
Jeremiah 17:5 "This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes mere flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD."
Isaiah 30:1-3 "Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:"
There is only one solution to avoid a hardened heart.
Matthew 13:14-15 "Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’"
Those who walk in rebellion against the Bible must repent to be cleansed by God.
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Judge According to God's Standard and not our Own
Many years ago, when I was a new believer and told someone they were wrong about something according to the Bible, a woman told me I shouldn't tell people they're wrong, while she was telling me I was wrong for telling people they were wrong.
Those who say we should not judge cannot be consistent. If they were consistent, then they would not judge us about anything we say and do.
It would be irrational to think that we could go through life without judging whether or not something or someone was good or bad.
Those who only like to judge others as good are forgetting that declaring someone is good is also judging.
God declared that we should judge righteously according to His principles and commands, not according to our own.
Those who say we should not judge cannot be consistent. If they were consistent, then they would not judge us about anything we say and do.
It would be irrational to think that we could go through life without judging whether or not something or someone was good or bad.
Those who only like to judge others as good are forgetting that declaring someone is good is also judging.
God declared that we should judge righteously according to His principles and commands, not according to our own.
Friday, August 28, 2026
Many False Christians are now influencing others in these last days!
Why all the hubbub about Dolly when the decision has already been made by God about where she went after her death?
I was not concerned about where Dolly went; that decision was made by God already, and it's His business.
However, I am very concerned about those who watched her life and thought it was a valid version of Christianity.
Many superficial people who lack discernment will be led astray by her glitz. New believers might be confused about what it means to be born again by the deception she left behind.
2 John 1:6-7 "6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. "
When someone says there are many ways to heaven, just believe what you want and make that your truth, we know they do not know the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:11-12 "11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Anyone who says they are a Christian and proclaims many ways to heaven is a false Christian. We need no other evidence than this to believe they are heretics.
It doesn't matter to us where Dolly went when she passed; it does matter the legacy and stain she left behind with her false gospel.
I was not concerned about where Dolly went; that decision was made by God already, and it's His business.
However, I am very concerned about those who watched her life and thought it was a valid version of Christianity.
Many superficial people who lack discernment will be led astray by her glitz. New believers might be confused about what it means to be born again by the deception she left behind.
2 John 1:6-7 "6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. "
When someone says there are many ways to heaven, just believe what you want and make that your truth, we know they do not know the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:11-12 "11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Anyone who says they are a Christian and proclaims many ways to heaven is a false Christian. We need no other evidence than this to believe they are heretics.
It doesn't matter to us where Dolly went when she passed; it does matter the legacy and stain she left behind with her false gospel.
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Avoid Heretical Movies
If you are a believer, do not bother watching the movie "The Passion of the Christ." There is so much wrong with it, but so subtle that it will distort Christianity for those who don't know their Bibles.
Discerning When to Correct or Expose Something or Someone
Often, correction is based on the feelings of the one who corrects. Whether or not they like us is a big factor. Very few people actually know us; they have observed a couple of things, listened to some gossip, made a judgement, and they are the ones who shout "don't judge" the loudest.
Correction is only legitimate if the one who wishes to correct saw the whole matter and has a discussion with us. It is not valid to correct someone with half the information and without discussion to discover truth.
Matthew 18:15 "“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother."
This pertains to when someone sins against you personally. If you see or hear about someone sinning against another person, this is not your business unless you are a part of what is going on. And even then, there must be a discussion about the matter with all parties involved.
Guessing what others are doing from afar is nosiness and is based on gossip, not facts.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 "and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."
1 Timothy 5:13 "At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention."
This principle of "minding one's own business" does not mean that we neglect warning others about false prophets or public celebrities.
False prophets and prominent public figures are accountable to the public and must be exposed when in grievous error.
Ephesians 5:11 "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."
Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."
Romans 16:17-18 "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."
2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
When we know the Bible, we will be able to see when to act and when to remain silent. We will judge righteously rather than in error based on personal opinions or prejudices.
May each believer seek the Holy Spirit in everything so that we will be pleasing to God in our judgements and communications.
Correction is only legitimate if the one who wishes to correct saw the whole matter and has a discussion with us. It is not valid to correct someone with half the information and without discussion to discover truth.
Matthew 18:15 "“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother."
This pertains to when someone sins against you personally. If you see or hear about someone sinning against another person, this is not your business unless you are a part of what is going on. And even then, there must be a discussion about the matter with all parties involved.
Guessing what others are doing from afar is nosiness and is based on gossip, not facts.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 "and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."
1 Timothy 5:13 "At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention."
This principle of "minding one's own business" does not mean that we neglect warning others about false prophets or public celebrities.
False prophets and prominent public figures are accountable to the public and must be exposed when in grievous error.
Ephesians 5:11 "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."
Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."
Romans 16:17-18 "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."
2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
When we know the Bible, we will be able to see when to act and when to remain silent. We will judge righteously rather than in error based on personal opinions or prejudices.
May each believer seek the Holy Spirit in everything so that we will be pleasing to God in our judgements and communications.
The Way to Grow in Holiness
The only way to grow in holiness is to confess often and immediately to be cleansed by God when we falter or sin, even the smallest matters in the mind, before they become actions that need to be confessed to God. If we have offended someone without realizing it and they tell us, then we should be ready to apologize to them for hurting them.
1 John 1:8-10 "8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…
One way to discern if someone is not confessing is if they do not seem to grow. This is someone who can never admit they were wrong, even defending bad attitudes or behavior to justify themselves. These people never consider the feelings of others, they only care about remaining dominant over others.
These people refuse correction, even raging when confronted with something in them that needs to change. They will even rage when someone merely expresses their own opinion that differs from theirs.
Those who walk in humility appreciate honest correction and make changes. Humility demands that we consider the well-being of the other person so that we are not doing harm.
A kind person does not practice pride and disrespect toward anyone. They do not have it in their character to be unkind.
Someone who is kind to some people and unkind to others is an unkind person but is selective so as not to damage their reputation toward those they wish to impress, while having no concern for those they disrespect.
We can see growth in those who are sensitive to offending God and confess to be cleansed. We can also see a lack of growth in those who wish to elevate themselves above God and others through their absence of love toward those for whom they have contempt.
Matthew 7:16-20 "16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
When we have a discerning heart, we will see things in ourselves and in others that need work.
1 John 1:8-10 "8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…
One way to discern if someone is not confessing is if they do not seem to grow. This is someone who can never admit they were wrong, even defending bad attitudes or behavior to justify themselves. These people never consider the feelings of others, they only care about remaining dominant over others.
These people refuse correction, even raging when confronted with something in them that needs to change. They will even rage when someone merely expresses their own opinion that differs from theirs.
Those who walk in humility appreciate honest correction and make changes. Humility demands that we consider the well-being of the other person so that we are not doing harm.
A kind person does not practice pride and disrespect toward anyone. They do not have it in their character to be unkind.
Someone who is kind to some people and unkind to others is an unkind person but is selective so as not to damage their reputation toward those they wish to impress, while having no concern for those they disrespect.
We can see growth in those who are sensitive to offending God and confess to be cleansed. We can also see a lack of growth in those who wish to elevate themselves above God and others through their absence of love toward those for whom they have contempt.
Matthew 7:16-20 "16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
When we have a discerning heart, we will see things in ourselves and in others that need work.
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Cultural Christianity in the South
Dolly was raised in the South, where "cultural Christianity" was the norm. When she began her career as a young woman, proclaiming herself a Christian in the South enhanced her career. Christians were very likely to overlook clues about a false Christian because they were so superficial themselves.
Many people thought just adding the words; "Jesus Christ" would make people believe they have been born again. Sadly most people believed because we are saved by grace and grace alone by believing in Jesus Christ that there was no need for a changed lifestyle.
What they didn't understand was that the words alone didn't make them transformed by Christ, it was trusting in Christ and desiring to be changed by Him that caused Him to change us completely into a new creation.
Those who decided to join the Christian club but had no sorrow over their sinful nature and didn't trust Christ, but continued to trust in themselves were never transformed and remained in their lost state.
The need to feel famous and attention-seeking through acting in a place like Hollywood was the first dead giveaway.
Self-seeking and showing off to gain wealth is a sin.
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."
1 John 2:15-17 "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
James 4:4 "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Those who love show-people are idolizing them. They are ignoring all the signs of worldliness to enjoy the sofistication and popularity, a sign that the one who idolizes wishes they could be like those with fame.
1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
Don't be caught up in the fame of those who have been loved by the world, pretending that if someone does some good deeds and shines in the eyes of the world, they are going to heaven.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
Many people thought just adding the words; "Jesus Christ" would make people believe they have been born again. Sadly most people believed because we are saved by grace and grace alone by believing in Jesus Christ that there was no need for a changed lifestyle.
What they didn't understand was that the words alone didn't make them transformed by Christ, it was trusting in Christ and desiring to be changed by Him that caused Him to change us completely into a new creation.
Those who decided to join the Christian club but had no sorrow over their sinful nature and didn't trust Christ, but continued to trust in themselves were never transformed and remained in their lost state.
The need to feel famous and attention-seeking through acting in a place like Hollywood was the first dead giveaway.
Self-seeking and showing off to gain wealth is a sin.
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."
1 John 2:15-17 "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
James 4:4 "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Those who love show-people are idolizing them. They are ignoring all the signs of worldliness to enjoy the sofistication and popularity, a sign that the one who idolizes wishes they could be like those with fame.
1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
Don't be caught up in the fame of those who have been loved by the world, pretending that if someone does some good deeds and shines in the eyes of the world, they are going to heaven.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
I applaud this father. He is not hurting that child; the child is having a tantrum, not in pain. I was switched with a willow switch when I was a child. I never held that against my parents. I even had to cut my own switch. I only had to have that switch once to learn my lesson. Proverbs 23:13-14: "Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell."
Where is the Love?
John 13:34-35 "34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
John 15:8 "This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples."
Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
1 Peter 2:12 "Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us."
1 Corinthians 13:12-13 "…12 Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love."
The most lacking fruit in the body of Christ today is love!
35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
John 15:8 "This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples."
Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
1 Peter 2:12 "Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us."
1 Corinthians 13:12-13 "…12 Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love."
The most lacking fruit in the body of Christ today is love!
Liars and Manipulators Undermine Faith
Liars and manipulators can undermine our faith, stripping away our peace merely to make themselves seem superior to us. They work to bait us into unhealthy responses so they can blame us for something. The worst offenders of this are those who have been challenged about their own sinful attitudes and actions. They refuse to hear anything that would help them improve and grow into a healthier person.
God told us to stay away from these people and often not to respond to their provocations.
Proverbs 26:3-5 "A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes."
Follow the Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8az-cfLF1e8
God told us to stay away from these people and often not to respond to their provocations.
Proverbs 26:3-5 "A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes."
Follow the Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8az-cfLF1e8
God's Way is Different from Man's Way
The way church gatherings have been practiced for hundreds of years was not Biblical and led Christians to believe a man was in charge instead of the Holy Spirit.
Because the brand of Christianity was man-centered and rule-oriented instead of Christ-centered, and devotion to Him was not real, people have been following traditions of men, not the commands of God.
They used the excuse that God said not to forsake the gathering while ignoring everything else God said about the gathering.
Satan has managed to take scriptures out of context, guilting people into following the rules and leadership of man rather than the commands of Christ as led by the Holy Spirit.
I have had more people ask me what it is like to hear from the Holy Spirit than proclaim they have heard from Him.
When we hear from the Holy Spirit we know it, it is clear and it never disagrees with His Word, the Bible.
John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
John 14:26 – "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
Isaiah 30:21 – "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
John 16:13 – "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth..."
Nowhere does the Bible tell us to seek men for truth. Believers only instruct others as led by God, not by rules and rote, and not by authority over. No person has authority over another believer; only the Holy Spirit has this Authority.
We have leaders in our lives, in the church and in the community; we obey them as long as they obey God, but they lead by example and teaching, not by authority over.
God tells us to obey our leaders, but only when they do not tell us to disobey God.
God always comes first, and His principles are our guide for life.
Because the brand of Christianity was man-centered and rule-oriented instead of Christ-centered, and devotion to Him was not real, people have been following traditions of men, not the commands of God.
They used the excuse that God said not to forsake the gathering while ignoring everything else God said about the gathering.
Satan has managed to take scriptures out of context, guilting people into following the rules and leadership of man rather than the commands of Christ as led by the Holy Spirit.
I have had more people ask me what it is like to hear from the Holy Spirit than proclaim they have heard from Him.
When we hear from the Holy Spirit we know it, it is clear and it never disagrees with His Word, the Bible.
John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
John 14:26 – "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
Isaiah 30:21 – "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
John 16:13 – "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth..."
Nowhere does the Bible tell us to seek men for truth. Believers only instruct others as led by God, not by rules and rote, and not by authority over. No person has authority over another believer; only the Holy Spirit has this Authority.
We have leaders in our lives, in the church and in the community; we obey them as long as they obey God, but they lead by example and teaching, not by authority over.
God tells us to obey our leaders, but only when they do not tell us to disobey God.
God always comes first, and His principles are our guide for life.
Monday, August 24, 2026
Who is the Church?
The people who have trusted Christ and have been changed into a new creation by Christ are the church. The Church is not a place to go or a system of rituals. People are the church: those transformed by Christ and in whom He lives. Our modern "paid-pastor" system was never God's intent. He told us to gather to edify one another as encouragement to live out our devotion to Christ in our lives after we leave the gathering.
Those who are the church are those who have been transformed by Christ and in whom He lives until He takes us home.
1 Corinthians 14:26 "What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up."
Rituals hinder spiritual and emotional maturity. They become a source of pride that makes us feel superior. Those who follow ritual and expect others to do so also are not following Christ; they are following traditions of men.
Mark 7:13 "13 thereby invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”
Colossians 2:8 "8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
Hebrews 13:9 "Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them."
Ephesians 4:14 "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming."
Galatians 1:6-9 "I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!"
1 Corinthians 1:20-25 "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom."
Many people are unconcerned about false doctrine in the church, treating it as just disagreements that can be ignored. Unfortunately, this is not true. Christ's Word is the very essence of Who He is, and every word is important; this is why we must strive to understand, asking God to inform us of truth as we read. When we are in error, we must recognize and abandon it.
Those who are the church are those who have been transformed by Christ and in whom He lives until He takes us home.
1 Corinthians 14:26 "What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up."
Rituals hinder spiritual and emotional maturity. They become a source of pride that makes us feel superior. Those who follow ritual and expect others to do so also are not following Christ; they are following traditions of men.
Mark 7:13 "13 thereby invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”
Colossians 2:8 "8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
Hebrews 13:9 "Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them."
Ephesians 4:14 "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming."
Galatians 1:6-9 "I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!"
1 Corinthians 1:20-25 "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom."
Many people are unconcerned about false doctrine in the church, treating it as just disagreements that can be ignored. Unfortunately, this is not true. Christ's Word is the very essence of Who He is, and every word is important; this is why we must strive to understand, asking God to inform us of truth as we read. When we are in error, we must recognize and abandon it.
Sunday, August 23, 2026
"Doubting Thomas" was not a doubter, he was a wise man who followed Christ before he saw the Risen Christ.
Another term fashioned after the Western mindset and not the Bible. "Doubting Thomas." Only a fool would accept just anyone claiming to be Jesus Christ. Asking for proof is reasonable!
Thomas didn't doubt Jesus Christ; he wanted evidence that it was really Him.
Thomas trusted in Christ years before Christ died and followed Him. He was a disciple of Christ. Thomas was saved; however, as a wise man of God, he was not going to believe just any ghost or demon who appeared to him.
Thomas was obeying God in one aspect, that is "test all things," as written in 1 Thessalonians. Thomas was not a doubter; he was a wise man.
Christ was not chastising Thomas for requiring proof that He was the risen Christ Who stood before Him. Christ knew that there would be many who would never see Christ who would trust in Him. They would be following Christ by faith, as Thomas did when he first followed Christ as a disciple.
This is the problem when people add their own words and ideas to Scripture. They name-call using words like "doubting Thomas," which are not in the Bible.
John 20:29 "29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Be careful to never accept phrases that have come down through man's traditions. The account of Thomas's encounter with the Risen Christ was legitimate; Christ was not chastising him for requiring proof. He was merely stating that there will be far more believers who have not seen Him who would believe, and their faith would bless them too.
Warning: never trust someone who comes to you and claims to be Christ. The Bible will guide you with all the principles necessary to be able to discern the truth as you read the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in everything.
Thomas didn't doubt Jesus Christ; he wanted evidence that it was really Him.
Thomas trusted in Christ years before Christ died and followed Him. He was a disciple of Christ. Thomas was saved; however, as a wise man of God, he was not going to believe just any ghost or demon who appeared to him.
Thomas was obeying God in one aspect, that is "test all things," as written in 1 Thessalonians. Thomas was not a doubter; he was a wise man.
Christ was not chastising Thomas for requiring proof that He was the risen Christ Who stood before Him. Christ knew that there would be many who would never see Christ who would trust in Him. They would be following Christ by faith, as Thomas did when he first followed Christ as a disciple.
This is the problem when people add their own words and ideas to Scripture. They name-call using words like "doubting Thomas," which are not in the Bible.
John 20:29 "29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Be careful to never accept phrases that have come down through man's traditions. The account of Thomas's encounter with the Risen Christ was legitimate; Christ was not chastising him for requiring proof. He was merely stating that there will be far more believers who have not seen Him who would believe, and their faith would bless them too.
Warning: never trust someone who comes to you and claims to be Christ. The Bible will guide you with all the principles necessary to be able to discern the truth as you read the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in everything.
Saturday, August 22, 2026
It's Almost Over Brothers and Sisters
Someone once said to me, "It seems like you talk so much about chastising people, more than you do about praising them for good things.
My answer was: "Good things do not need correcting; they should just be normal, expected, and appreciated.
Bad things need continual correcting because the culture as a whole does not follow Jesus Christ. Someone has to do it, and most people will not, so I guess it will be me."
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "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"
Since most of the world rejects Jesus Christ, either by words or in the case of those who attend church, by deeds, lack of obedience while punishing those who speak the truth, we live in a negative world.
I notice that Christ followers are chastised for being negative, but those doing the negative are left alone and even coddled and protected.
In these last days, bad is called good and good is called bad on a massive scale, even in the gatherings that claim to be Christian. Those who speak the truth from the Bible are disparaged as though they did something mean or rude. While those who are rude and mean are shielded.
2 Peter 3:3-4 "Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”
Remember this, brothers and sisters; soon we will be leaving this corrupted and vile world to attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, where everyone there will love Jesus Christ and support all that we stood for here on earth.
It is hard now at times, even though our joy and peace never leave us. And we know that existence here is very temporary. Our brothers and sisters all agree with God, and they are our family. Rejoice in this!!!! Hallelujah!!!
My answer was: "Good things do not need correcting; they should just be normal, expected, and appreciated.
Bad things need continual correcting because the culture as a whole does not follow Jesus Christ. Someone has to do it, and most people will not, so I guess it will be me."
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "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"
Since most of the world rejects Jesus Christ, either by words or in the case of those who attend church, by deeds, lack of obedience while punishing those who speak the truth, we live in a negative world.
I notice that Christ followers are chastised for being negative, but those doing the negative are left alone and even coddled and protected.
In these last days, bad is called good and good is called bad on a massive scale, even in the gatherings that claim to be Christian. Those who speak the truth from the Bible are disparaged as though they did something mean or rude. While those who are rude and mean are shielded.
2 Peter 3:3-4 "Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”
Remember this, brothers and sisters; soon we will be leaving this corrupted and vile world to attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, where everyone there will love Jesus Christ and support all that we stood for here on earth.
It is hard now at times, even though our joy and peace never leave us. And we know that existence here is very temporary. Our brothers and sisters all agree with God, and they are our family. Rejoice in this!!!! Hallelujah!!!
Divorce and Remarriage Offends God
Almost all my family members have gossiped about me and treated me with disrespect for not attending the second marriages of divorced people. Love is remaining faithful to God so that others will repent or avoid sin.
Are we helpers to those who are faltering on the edge of a cliff if we stand by and watch them jump, or are we loving by trying to prevent them from harming themselves?
Interesting, too, that we are expected to do what they want us to do and are punished for not doing what they want us to do. If they loved us, they would have respect for our decisions for ourselves. They are supported in sin, and we are punished for not supporting the sin of others. Welcome to the end times.
Perhaps the passage applies here when Jesus said, "let the dead bury the dead; you come and follow me." I understand this is talking about not waiting for your father to die to follow Christ. But could it also apply to letting the dead attend pagan things, but you do not?
Are we helpers to those who are faltering on the edge of a cliff if we stand by and watch them jump, or are we loving by trying to prevent them from harming themselves?
Interesting, too, that we are expected to do what they want us to do and are punished for not doing what they want us to do. If they loved us, they would have respect for our decisions for ourselves. They are supported in sin, and we are punished for not supporting the sin of others. Welcome to the end times.
Perhaps the passage applies here when Jesus said, "let the dead bury the dead; you come and follow me." I understand this is talking about not waiting for your father to die to follow Christ. But could it also apply to letting the dead attend pagan things, but you do not?
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Friday, August 21, 2026
Christ Transforms Us, We do not Change Anyone Else
Our enemies teach us things about ourselves. Our response to them shows what might need work in ourselves.
In the times when I left my enemies to God, even if nothing changed the offenders, I learned to act like Christ.
There is no exercise without workouts. Our emotional and mental state must be "boot camp" at times to be able to learn how Christ would act.
Matthew 27:14: "But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed."
When the gossip flies unjustly, ignore it; do not try to fix it. God has our back, and He knows how to reach people better than we do.
My prayer for my enemies is that they will hear God and repent. Anything other than that is up to Him.
Romans 12:19: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Romans 12:18-20 "…18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
We do not do good to heap hot coals; the hot coals may be a result of our kindnesses, but if it is our goal to cause guilt, then we are guilty of subtle revenge.
Leviticus 19:18: "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."
When we attempt to do God's work for Him, we are playing god ourselves.
Our goal, no matter what anyone else is doing, is to remain in the will of Christ. Our goal is not to change others; our goal is to share information that can help others seek Christ for change in themselves.
2 Thessalonians 1:6 "After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you."
1 Thessalonians 4:6 "and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you."
Matthew 5:44 "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Luke 6:27-28 "But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
The most important thing is that we follow Christ ourselves; we are not in charge of changing the character of others only informing them so they can seek Christ to transform them.
Proverbs 20:22 "Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you."
In the times when I left my enemies to God, even if nothing changed the offenders, I learned to act like Christ.
There is no exercise without workouts. Our emotional and mental state must be "boot camp" at times to be able to learn how Christ would act.
Matthew 27:14: "But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed."
When the gossip flies unjustly, ignore it; do not try to fix it. God has our back, and He knows how to reach people better than we do.
My prayer for my enemies is that they will hear God and repent. Anything other than that is up to Him.
Romans 12:19: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Romans 12:18-20 "…18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
We do not do good to heap hot coals; the hot coals may be a result of our kindnesses, but if it is our goal to cause guilt, then we are guilty of subtle revenge.
Leviticus 19:18: "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."
When we attempt to do God's work for Him, we are playing god ourselves.
Our goal, no matter what anyone else is doing, is to remain in the will of Christ. Our goal is not to change others; our goal is to share information that can help others seek Christ for change in themselves.
2 Thessalonians 1:6 "After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you."
1 Thessalonians 4:6 "and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you."
Matthew 5:44 "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Luke 6:27-28 "But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
The most important thing is that we follow Christ ourselves; we are not in charge of changing the character of others only informing them so they can seek Christ to transform them.
Proverbs 20:22 "Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you."
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Friends should be those who encourage us to follow Scripture not man's rules God never commanded
I can be friends with someone who thinks differently from me about a Sabbath or not eating certain foods. However, when they start judging someone as unsaved because they do not follow Old Testament dietary laws and special days, we have to part friends.
Colossians 2:16-17 " 16 Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ."
Romans 14:3-4 "The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."
Those who make rules about abstaining from marriage are disobeying God. One can choose not to be married to more fully serve the Lord, but no one else can dictate whether or not someone marries. We are speaking about marriage between a man and a woman for the first time. It is sad in our day that we have to even say this because our culture is so distorted and perverted we now have to say it.
1 Timothy 4:3-5 "They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."
When we are presented with a rule made by men that God never made we are free to ignore it. If those who demand these manmade rules punish you, isolate you and gossip against you for not complying to them, then you are free to leave that group and only join with a group that is following only the Bible.
Matthew 23:1-34 "23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;
6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be 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 do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.
11 The greatest among you will be your servant.
12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees
13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’
17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’
19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
Matthew 23: 20-27
23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.
28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Matthew 23:33
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town."
The religious leaders of Jesus' day on earth rejected Him, and the religious leaders of our day will reject us. Those who follow rules God never commanded and pressure others to do the same are not worthy of our attention.
When someone has an expectation of us we must always seek Christ and His Word to see if it is from God. Do not follow what God never commanded.
Colossians 2:16-17 " 16 Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ."
Romans 14:3-4 "The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."
Those who make rules about abstaining from marriage are disobeying God. One can choose not to be married to more fully serve the Lord, but no one else can dictate whether or not someone marries. We are speaking about marriage between a man and a woman for the first time. It is sad in our day that we have to even say this because our culture is so distorted and perverted we now have to say it.
1 Timothy 4:3-5 "They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."
When we are presented with a rule made by men that God never made we are free to ignore it. If those who demand these manmade rules punish you, isolate you and gossip against you for not complying to them, then you are free to leave that group and only join with a group that is following only the Bible.
Matthew 23:1-34 "23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;
6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be 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 do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.
11 The greatest among you will be your servant.
12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees
13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’
17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’
19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
Matthew 23: 20-27
23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.
28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Matthew 23:33
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town."
The religious leaders of Jesus' day on earth rejected Him, and the religious leaders of our day will reject us. Those who follow rules God never commanded and pressure others to do the same are not worthy of our attention.
When someone has an expectation of us we must always seek Christ and His Word to see if it is from God. Do not follow what God never commanded.
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Putting Your Best Foot Forward Leaves You on Your Back Foot
Nowhere in Scripture does God say, "mankind must do its part too in order to be saved.
If any part of salvation depended on us, then none of it would have depended on Christ. A man who is desperately wicked cannot change His character; only Christ can do that!
Only the Perfect Lamb of God could pay for the sin of mankind. No person is perfect; therefore, they could have no part in their own salvation.
Luke 5:21 "And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Even the Pharisees recognized that only God could forgive sins. This is why they considered it blasphemy that Christ claimed He could forgive sin because He was the Son of God and one with God the Father.
Anyone who thinks they are saving themselves by being good enough is denying Jesus Christ as the only One Who can save mankind from sin and hell.
Isaiah 53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Mankind cannot lay upon itself the iniquity of itself in payment for its own sin; it is desperately wicked and without remedy, as God clearly states in His Word.
Jeremiah 17:9 "9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
What do "desperately wicked" and "deceitful" mean?
The human mind has the ability to trick itself into believing how wonderful it is, right in the middle of hateful and despicable attitudes and actions, while pretending to be righteous.
Mankind can make seemingly good choices, but choices without God will be self-exalting and self-promoting every time. The propensity to do good deeds to elevate oneself is the ugly plight of mankind. Without Christ, nothing is done selflessly, no matter how good it looks or what someone may say.
All we have to do is watch the response when we correct or chastise someone for bad behavior. Nearly every time, we will not experience humility from the one who has been reprimanded; the response will be arguing to justify or denying the truth in most cases.
There are few people left who appreciate being corrected and want to better themselves. Nearly everyone has a much higher opinion of themselves than is warranted, wishing to impress others with what is not real.
The final verdict in this mess of mankind is that no one has the ability to add to the saving grace of Jesus Christ with their own efforts.
No one is special; no one deserves anything but death. The beauty in knowing this is that we have no good expectations of ourselves; we can fully lean on Jesus Christ, depending on His goodness and His virtue and not our own.
Mankind is without goodness entirely without Christ.
Romans 1:31-32 "…31 They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them."
Why are our churches a mess today? The answer is simply that many people are joining them but have never trusted in Christ to be indwelt by Him. They have never heard the salvation message of repentance and are coddled in their sin, even endorsed in it by lack of correction.
Those who have not trusted in Christ do not realize the burden that is lifted when we know we are not expected to perfect ourselves; Christ must do His work in us or all our efforts to be good enough for heaven are useless and completely unproductive.
Ephesians 2:10 "10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Luke 18:10-14
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Matthew 32:12 "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
If any part of salvation depended on us, then none of it would have depended on Christ. A man who is desperately wicked cannot change His character; only Christ can do that!
Only the Perfect Lamb of God could pay for the sin of mankind. No person is perfect; therefore, they could have no part in their own salvation.
Luke 5:21 "And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Even the Pharisees recognized that only God could forgive sins. This is why they considered it blasphemy that Christ claimed He could forgive sin because He was the Son of God and one with God the Father.
Anyone who thinks they are saving themselves by being good enough is denying Jesus Christ as the only One Who can save mankind from sin and hell.
Isaiah 53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Mankind cannot lay upon itself the iniquity of itself in payment for its own sin; it is desperately wicked and without remedy, as God clearly states in His Word.
Jeremiah 17:9 "9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
What do "desperately wicked" and "deceitful" mean?
The human mind has the ability to trick itself into believing how wonderful it is, right in the middle of hateful and despicable attitudes and actions, while pretending to be righteous.
Mankind can make seemingly good choices, but choices without God will be self-exalting and self-promoting every time. The propensity to do good deeds to elevate oneself is the ugly plight of mankind. Without Christ, nothing is done selflessly, no matter how good it looks or what someone may say.
All we have to do is watch the response when we correct or chastise someone for bad behavior. Nearly every time, we will not experience humility from the one who has been reprimanded; the response will be arguing to justify or denying the truth in most cases.
There are few people left who appreciate being corrected and want to better themselves. Nearly everyone has a much higher opinion of themselves than is warranted, wishing to impress others with what is not real.
The final verdict in this mess of mankind is that no one has the ability to add to the saving grace of Jesus Christ with their own efforts.
No one is special; no one deserves anything but death. The beauty in knowing this is that we have no good expectations of ourselves; we can fully lean on Jesus Christ, depending on His goodness and His virtue and not our own.
Mankind is without goodness entirely without Christ.
Romans 1:31-32 "…31 They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them."
Why are our churches a mess today? The answer is simply that many people are joining them but have never trusted in Christ to be indwelt by Him. They have never heard the salvation message of repentance and are coddled in their sin, even endorsed in it by lack of correction.
Those who have not trusted in Christ do not realize the burden that is lifted when we know we are not expected to perfect ourselves; Christ must do His work in us or all our efforts to be good enough for heaven are useless and completely unproductive.
Ephesians 2:10 "10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Luke 18:10-14
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Matthew 32:12 "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Purpose for the Believer in Christ
We live in a fallen world; it is natural for everyone who exists to experience difficult things and good things.
However, for the believer in Christ, God turns all things into lessons that benefit us, growing us in wisdom, courage, and good character.
Romans 8:28 "28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Nothing is wasted on the born-again believer, and nothing will come upon us that will not have a purpose.
Hallelujah!
However, for the believer in Christ, God turns all things into lessons that benefit us, growing us in wisdom, courage, and good character.
Romans 8:28 "28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Nothing is wasted on the born-again believer, and nothing will come upon us that will not have a purpose.
Hallelujah!
Falling Away is not what Many People Think
Falling away has nothing to do with losing salvation; it has to do with pretending to be a Christian but never having trusted in Christ. No one who has been transformed into a new creation by Christ ever falls away. They may sin and are disciplined by God, but the Holy Spirit never leaves them. The Holy Spirit may go silent in them because they disobey and won't listen, but He never leaves them.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"
When I gave birth to my children, they remained my children in their DNA and bloodline; that was never taken from them. However, if they deny me, they do not have the advantages of an inheritance.
When Christ transforms us we gain a new family, one that is spiritual and permanent for eternity.
John 3:16: "Declares that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life." This does not say "until you sin."
When Jesus Christ transforms us into a new creation, we will always be His children, but we may miss blessings, and the Holy Spirit may stop speaking to us because we are stubborn.
Ephesians 4:30: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption"
1 Corinthians 11:32 "But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world."
There are many Facebook users who are deceiving people into believing you must do well and be completely obedient to be saved. They say one can lose the seal of the Holy Spirit. They never tell us which scriptures explain which sins will cause us to lose salvation or at what point the Holy Spirit leaves a born-again believer. They don't explain these things because there are no passages that say such things.
God does describe those who pretend to be Christians but have never been transformed by Christ because they do not love Him and are attempting to gain heaven in their own power through their own good deeds. These people disobey more of the Scriptures than they obey because they have no conviction of their pride that leads to confession of their sinful nature. He says in His word, "I never knew you." This means that someone who says they are a Christian but Christ never knew them, that they declared themselves that rather than trusting in Christ to transform them. They often are very clever, even have all the right words and actions but remain dependent on themselves and not Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
When Christ transforms us, we are completely different people desiring to live for Him. Even though we may falter at times, we hate that we do and confess it to be cleansed of that sin. Our Spiritual growth depends on how frequently we confess our sins and desire to be delivered from them.
Keep looking up, our home going is soon.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"
When I gave birth to my children, they remained my children in their DNA and bloodline; that was never taken from them. However, if they deny me, they do not have the advantages of an inheritance.
When Christ transforms us we gain a new family, one that is spiritual and permanent for eternity.
John 3:16: "Declares that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life." This does not say "until you sin."
When Jesus Christ transforms us into a new creation, we will always be His children, but we may miss blessings, and the Holy Spirit may stop speaking to us because we are stubborn.
Ephesians 4:30: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption"
1 Corinthians 11:32 "But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world."
There are many Facebook users who are deceiving people into believing you must do well and be completely obedient to be saved. They say one can lose the seal of the Holy Spirit. They never tell us which scriptures explain which sins will cause us to lose salvation or at what point the Holy Spirit leaves a born-again believer. They don't explain these things because there are no passages that say such things.
God does describe those who pretend to be Christians but have never been transformed by Christ because they do not love Him and are attempting to gain heaven in their own power through their own good deeds. These people disobey more of the Scriptures than they obey because they have no conviction of their pride that leads to confession of their sinful nature. He says in His word, "I never knew you." This means that someone who says they are a Christian but Christ never knew them, that they declared themselves that rather than trusting in Christ to transform them. They often are very clever, even have all the right words and actions but remain dependent on themselves and not Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
When Christ transforms us, we are completely different people desiring to live for Him. Even though we may falter at times, we hate that we do and confess it to be cleansed of that sin. Our Spiritual growth depends on how frequently we confess our sins and desire to be delivered from them.
Keep looking up, our home going is soon.
Growing in Holiness
James 5:16 "16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
No one can grow and change without seeing ourselves in truth. Admitting our flaws and warts with the desire to be different is the only answer to permanent and systemic change.
Christ is the answer for transforming us into His likeness; however, He will only do so if we want Him to cleanse us of our sinful attitudes and actions.
James 5:15-17 "…15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years."
Proverbs 28:13 "He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy."
1 Peter 3:12 "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
2 Peter 3:18 "18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
No one can grow and change without seeing ourselves in truth. Admitting our flaws and warts with the desire to be different is the only answer to permanent and systemic change.
Christ is the answer for transforming us into His likeness; however, He will only do so if we want Him to cleanse us of our sinful attitudes and actions.
James 5:15-17 "…15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years."
Proverbs 28:13 "He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy."
1 Peter 3:12 "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
2 Peter 3:18 "18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
Monday, August 17, 2026
The Marriage Covenant A Picture of Salvation
A Marriage covenant is based on the one who makes the covenant; it is not human to God; it is God to human. We cannot break a covenant from God to us; we can only violate it, not break it, because it depends on God.
2 Timothy 2:13 "13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—"
Marriage is a covenant between God and man; it cannot be broken by man and is only severed by God at the death of one of the partners.
Romans 3:3-4 "What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”
1 Corinthians 1:9 "God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."
2 Thessalonians 3:3 "But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one."
The marriage covenant between God and man is a picture of the covenant between Christ and His church. We cannot lose salvation because it does not depend on us.
However, evidence of true salvation is seen in the fruit of the Spirit and a lifestyle that is dedicated to Christ. This is the evidence that we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise as a guarantee of our inheritance.
He gets all the praise because our salvation is all His work when we trust in Him.
Ephesians 1:13-14 "13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."
2 Timothy 2:13 "13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—"
Marriage is a covenant between God and man; it cannot be broken by man and is only severed by God at the death of one of the partners.
Romans 3:3-4 "What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”
1 Corinthians 1:9 "God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."
2 Thessalonians 3:3 "But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one."
The marriage covenant between God and man is a picture of the covenant between Christ and His church. We cannot lose salvation because it does not depend on us.
However, evidence of true salvation is seen in the fruit of the Spirit and a lifestyle that is dedicated to Christ. This is the evidence that we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise as a guarantee of our inheritance.
He gets all the praise because our salvation is all His work when we trust in Him.
Ephesians 1:13-14 "13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Teaching Children to Enjoy Working in their Play
Play for children should include accomplishing or creating something. It teaches children to enjoy achievements and productivity. Those who learn to enjoy work never have to "play" at useless things that only give them temporary happiness.
Children are apprentice adults. Everything we do with them from birth should be to prepare them for learning how to be responsible adults.
Even small children can learn to work by picking up their toys or helping a parent rake the leaves, each at their own level according to their abilities. Teaching children to enjoy work starts when they are toddlers.
Colossians 3:23 "23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,"
1 Corinthians 10:31 "31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10:3 "31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Proverbs 13:4 "4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied."
Ephesians 4:28 "28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need."
Children are apprentice adults. Everything we do with them from birth should be to prepare them for learning how to be responsible adults.
Even small children can learn to work by picking up their toys or helping a parent rake the leaves, each at their own level according to their abilities. Teaching children to enjoy work starts when they are toddlers.
Colossians 3:23 "23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,"
1 Corinthians 10:31 "31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10:3 "31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Proverbs 13:4 "4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied."
Ephesians 4:28 "28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need."
The Peacefulness of Obeying Christ
When we declare our allegiance to Jesus Christ by obeying His commands ourselves and refusing to support those who disobey them, we will be rejected by most of the culture in which we live.
Acts 5:29: "But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'"
Romans 12:2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind."
1 Peter 1:14: "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance."
Galatians 1:10: "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
There is much greater peace in obeying God than ever could be in following the traditions of men that defy God.
Trust in Christ every day for everything and you will be content, peaceful and full of joy!
Acts 5:29: "But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'"
Romans 12:2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind."
1 Peter 1:14: "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance."
Galatians 1:10: "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
There is much greater peace in obeying God than ever could be in following the traditions of men that defy God.
Trust in Christ every day for everything and you will be content, peaceful and full of joy!
Friday, August 14, 2026
Our Bodies are Living Sacrifices
In these last days before Christ takes His church home, God is exposing us to the truth, a sort of return to proper thinking about the gathering of born-again believers. Perhaps things had to become so extreme in the modern gatherings that those who are seeking Christ would be able to accept the truth and free themselves from organized, man-centered religion.
Follow the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhLTDPL0qfg
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Nephilim were Bullies not Devil Hybrids
The word "nephilim" means bully or tyrant; it has nothing to do with mating practices or devils.
To say that devils can make a baby in the womb the way God the Father did with Jesus Christ in Mary's womb is blasphemy.
Devils have no seed, and they don't even procreate among themselves. God said each thing after its own kind; cows do not mate with horses, cats do not mate with dogs, and spirit beings do not mate with humans.
I am astounded at how many prominent preachers are teaching that spirit beings mated with humans, since this idea is based on Greek mythology and the Book of Enoch, which was not written by Enoch of the Bible.
We see what happens when preachers begin to read unbiblical sources, gleaning from them things that sound interesting but have no basis in Scripture.
Worse yet, well-known preachers feel a need to keep up with other preachers and seminary ideas that are not Biblical but that they think are harmless.
It is vital in these last days that we question all things and hold no man in high regard. We can listen to others but never without evaluating what they are saying according to the Bible.
As we progress in these end times to the very end, we will hear many false doctrines; throw away what does not match with Scripture.
To say that devils can make a baby in the womb the way God the Father did with Jesus Christ in Mary's womb is blasphemy.
Devils have no seed, and they don't even procreate among themselves. God said each thing after its own kind; cows do not mate with horses, cats do not mate with dogs, and spirit beings do not mate with humans.
I am astounded at how many prominent preachers are teaching that spirit beings mated with humans, since this idea is based on Greek mythology and the Book of Enoch, which was not written by Enoch of the Bible.
We see what happens when preachers begin to read unbiblical sources, gleaning from them things that sound interesting but have no basis in Scripture.
Worse yet, well-known preachers feel a need to keep up with other preachers and seminary ideas that are not Biblical but that they think are harmless.
It is vital in these last days that we question all things and hold no man in high regard. We can listen to others but never without evaluating what they are saying according to the Bible.
As we progress in these end times to the very end, we will hear many false doctrines; throw away what does not match with Scripture.
Satan Uses People, Let the Holy Spirit Lead You
Satan most often uses people to attempt to goad us into sinful responses.
The beauty of a life filled with Christ is that they cannot accomplish it, because it is not our character to be rude and mean like those who hate us.
What comes out of us when we are pressed is our real character.
Have you ever thought after being insulted, "I wish I had said something"? Often, I was silenced when insulted because the Holy Spirit did not want me to respond to the rudeness.
Romans 12:17-21 "17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:"
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[b]
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
It is our character that drives our spontaneous responses.
Those who manipulate and scheme against us are displaying their inner character of anger. If they had no anger, they could not do and say the things they do to harm us.
We are not harmed when we walk with Christ because our character is that of Christ and cannot be provoked into something that is not a part of our being.
Hebrews 10:23-24 "…23 Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds."
This does not mean that we never address what is done to us, but often there is no need. It does mean we hear from the Holy Spirit and speak when He gives us the words. He knows better than anyone whether or not something should be addressed.
Then, when the Holy Spirit speaks, we should not worry about the response of the one hearing; we can leave that to Christ.
In our culture, people will judge us based on how the other person responded and not on what we actually said or did. We must resist the temptation to feel guilty about what the Holy Spirit told us to do.
Final takeaway: Depend continually on the Holy Spirit for all your answers and responses.
The beauty of a life filled with Christ is that they cannot accomplish it, because it is not our character to be rude and mean like those who hate us.
What comes out of us when we are pressed is our real character.
Have you ever thought after being insulted, "I wish I had said something"? Often, I was silenced when insulted because the Holy Spirit did not want me to respond to the rudeness.
Romans 12:17-21 "17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:"
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[b]
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
It is our character that drives our spontaneous responses.
Those who manipulate and scheme against us are displaying their inner character of anger. If they had no anger, they could not do and say the things they do to harm us.
We are not harmed when we walk with Christ because our character is that of Christ and cannot be provoked into something that is not a part of our being.
Hebrews 10:23-24 "…23 Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds."
This does not mean that we never address what is done to us, but often there is no need. It does mean we hear from the Holy Spirit and speak when He gives us the words. He knows better than anyone whether or not something should be addressed.
Then, when the Holy Spirit speaks, we should not worry about the response of the one hearing; we can leave that to Christ.
In our culture, people will judge us based on how the other person responded and not on what we actually said or did. We must resist the temptation to feel guilty about what the Holy Spirit told us to do.
Final takeaway: Depend continually on the Holy Spirit for all your answers and responses.
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Living a Lifestyle of Respect for Others
As believers in Christ, we are called to give respect to everyone no matter how they treat us. We give the respect to bullies that they never gave us.
That's what makes us different from the world. Taking rudeness personally is a weakness in us. Compassion is at the very root of someone who loves Christ.
We may have to call out rudeness when there is a consistent bully, and we may have to remove ourselves but we do not have to act the way they do.
Matthew 5:44: "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.Proverbs 26:4-5
Proverbs 26:4-5 "4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes."
My take on this passage is that we are not to answer a fool the way he speaks to us, but we can answer wisely without anger.
When we see they are stubborn and resistant, then we do not give them any feedback; in other words, silence.
Proverbs 23:9: "Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words."
2 Timothy 2:23-24 "But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing."
And finally, if we have constant companions who act foolishly and contentiously, we will begin to act like them. This is the reason our close circle of friends must be those who love Christ the way we love Him.
Proverbs 13:20: "He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed."
1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Proverbs 29:9 "If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution."
Proverbs 9:7-8 "He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself. Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you."
Sometimes silence is the best answer of all for those who wish to provoke you into sinful responses.
That's what makes us different from the world. Taking rudeness personally is a weakness in us. Compassion is at the very root of someone who loves Christ.
We may have to call out rudeness when there is a consistent bully, and we may have to remove ourselves but we do not have to act the way they do.
Matthew 5:44: "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.Proverbs 26:4-5
Proverbs 26:4-5 "4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes."
My take on this passage is that we are not to answer a fool the way he speaks to us, but we can answer wisely without anger.
When we see they are stubborn and resistant, then we do not give them any feedback; in other words, silence.
Proverbs 23:9: "Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words."
2 Timothy 2:23-24 "But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing."
And finally, if we have constant companions who act foolishly and contentiously, we will begin to act like them. This is the reason our close circle of friends must be those who love Christ the way we love Him.
Proverbs 13:20: "He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed."
1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Proverbs 29:9 "If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution."
Proverbs 9:7-8 "He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself. Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you."
Sometimes silence is the best answer of all for those who wish to provoke you into sinful responses.
Forgiven Means Gone Forever
I do not expose the sins of those who have repented. God doesn't hold them against us, and neither should people.
Anyone who holds past forgiven sins against others must also hold their own against themselves.
Anyone who holds past forgiven sins against others must also hold their own against themselves.
Obeying God is Better than Allowing Wicked People to Manipulate Us
Holding onto anger is a choice and will make those who engage in it physically ill. God told us to be angry but not sin.
Ephesians 4:26: "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger."
There were times when Christ was angry but never allowed that anger to cause Him to sin.
When Christ lives in us, we do become angry at sin, but we should never allow us to act sinfully or use anger as an excuse for a bad attitude or behavior.
When we bless those who curse us, gossip against us we are dispelling any bitterness.
There are times when I feel angry at injustice, especially when I see the damage it does to those who are innocent. This anger is justified but is not a license to be rude, mean, or contentious toward the one who harmed me.
If someone is disrespectful on a regular basis without remorse for it, then I know there is a pattern and will avoid that person so that I do not become bitter. I might call it out or not but we should never retaliate, thinking we will teach them a lesson by doing the same to them that they did to us.
Those who have a pattern of disrespectful behavior do not learn from us acting "in kind", they only use it as an excuse to further harm, feeling justified even though they were the first to act this way.
Romans 12:17-21 "17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Our goal as born-again believers, above everything else, is to refrain from becoming like the world. Satan will use ungodly people to poke and prod at you to cause you to look no better than the world.
When we obey God, we are free from the guilt that comes from disobeying Him. We walk in peace because we are not guilty of allowing others to manipulate us to sin.
When we retaliate, we are demonstrating our emotional weakness and a sense of revenge.
Strength comes when we ignore our fleshly feelings to strike back and do what God has commanded us.
Luke 6:27-28 "27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
Obeying God is far more peaceful than being manipulated by wicked people to act like them.
Ephesians 4:26: "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger."
There were times when Christ was angry but never allowed that anger to cause Him to sin.
When Christ lives in us, we do become angry at sin, but we should never allow us to act sinfully or use anger as an excuse for a bad attitude or behavior.
When we bless those who curse us, gossip against us we are dispelling any bitterness.
There are times when I feel angry at injustice, especially when I see the damage it does to those who are innocent. This anger is justified but is not a license to be rude, mean, or contentious toward the one who harmed me.
If someone is disrespectful on a regular basis without remorse for it, then I know there is a pattern and will avoid that person so that I do not become bitter. I might call it out or not but we should never retaliate, thinking we will teach them a lesson by doing the same to them that they did to us.
Those who have a pattern of disrespectful behavior do not learn from us acting "in kind", they only use it as an excuse to further harm, feeling justified even though they were the first to act this way.
Romans 12:17-21 "17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Our goal as born-again believers, above everything else, is to refrain from becoming like the world. Satan will use ungodly people to poke and prod at you to cause you to look no better than the world.
When we obey God, we are free from the guilt that comes from disobeying Him. We walk in peace because we are not guilty of allowing others to manipulate us to sin.
When we retaliate, we are demonstrating our emotional weakness and a sense of revenge.
Strength comes when we ignore our fleshly feelings to strike back and do what God has commanded us.
Luke 6:27-28 "27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
Obeying God is far more peaceful than being manipulated by wicked people to act like them.
Trusting in Christ is Different from Trusting in Yourself
The Bible teaches that faith alone saves, but that faith produces a lifestyle transformation and actions.
The actions do not come first; faith comes first and all by itself.
Remember the thief on the cross: he had no deeds, only faith, and Christ told him that he would be in heaven that very day with Him.
James 2:20-24 "20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone."
The problem is when people believe they can save themselves by their actions without faith in Christ. They are attempting to gain heaven by their deeds without trusting in Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23 tells us that many, perhaps most people, will trust in themselves and will be turned away on the day of judgment.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
Those who have been transformed by Christ because of their faith in Him are those who are eternally saved.
Those who think they are going to heaven by being a good person but are not trusting in Christ, and have no desire to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, are not saved and will not gain heaven.
The question is not whether you did enough good deeds, but whether you trusted Christ and were transformed by Him.
The actions do not come first; faith comes first and all by itself.
Remember the thief on the cross: he had no deeds, only faith, and Christ told him that he would be in heaven that very day with Him.
James 2:20-24 "20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone."
The problem is when people believe they can save themselves by their actions without faith in Christ. They are attempting to gain heaven by their deeds without trusting in Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23 tells us that many, perhaps most people, will trust in themselves and will be turned away on the day of judgment.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
Those who have been transformed by Christ because of their faith in Him are those who are eternally saved.
Those who think they are going to heaven by being a good person but are not trusting in Christ, and have no desire to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, are not saved and will not gain heaven.
The question is not whether you did enough good deeds, but whether you trusted Christ and were transformed by Him.
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Monday, August 10, 2026
Every Born Again Believer Will Have a Job
Not every born-again believer will lead someone to Christ. There are lots of people who speak the gospel to the unsaved, and others come along and water what they planted.
In fact, many believers will live Christlike lives as influences to those around them, which will be their witness.
John 4:37-38 "For in this case the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the hard work, and now you have taken up their labor.”
1 Corinthians 3:5-7 "…5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. 6 I planted the seed, and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."
I am comforted by the fact that God gives each of us jobs to do in our mission on earth and no one else's job will be exactly like someone else's.
Acts 18:24-28 "Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures. / He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. / And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately."
Some of us teach and correct, and others of us focus on evangelism. Some merely serve their families and communities in obedience to Christ, others spend much time in prayer and are available to serve as Christ leads them.
It is never a good idea to pressure another believer to do what we think they should do, their calling comes from Christ alone.
Colossians 2: 6-15 "6 Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
8 See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ.
9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority;
11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ,
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13 And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings,
14 having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him."
To recap:
Colossians 2:6-7 "5 For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ. 6 Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
In fact, many believers will live Christlike lives as influences to those around them, which will be their witness.
John 4:37-38 "For in this case the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the hard work, and now you have taken up their labor.”
1 Corinthians 3:5-7 "…5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. 6 I planted the seed, and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."
I am comforted by the fact that God gives each of us jobs to do in our mission on earth and no one else's job will be exactly like someone else's.
Acts 18:24-28 "Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures. / He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. / And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately."
Some of us teach and correct, and others of us focus on evangelism. Some merely serve their families and communities in obedience to Christ, others spend much time in prayer and are available to serve as Christ leads them.
It is never a good idea to pressure another believer to do what we think they should do, their calling comes from Christ alone.
Colossians 2: 6-15 "6 Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
8 See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ.
9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority;
11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ,
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13 And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings,
14 having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him."
To recap:
Colossians 2:6-7 "5 For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ. 6 Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
Sunday, August 9, 2026
America a Country of Complainers
The people of America are ungrateful, always looking for something to complain about.
They complain about the quality of the food; they complain about doctors and many other things that have been keeping them alive and healthy for their entire lives.
I am weary of all the complaining about food, doctors and the price of things.
If you did not go hungry today, or a doctor gave you medicine or an operation to relieve your suffering, and you have been able to buy what you complain about, then you have no reason to complain.
We are such a country of complaints that we even complain about news that is fake when we run out of other things to complain about.
Philippians 4:11: "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content".
Hebrews 13:5: "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'"
1 Timothy 6:6: "But godliness with contentment is great gain".
1 Timothy 6:8: "If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that".
They complain about the quality of the food; they complain about doctors and many other things that have been keeping them alive and healthy for their entire lives.
I am weary of all the complaining about food, doctors and the price of things.
If you did not go hungry today, or a doctor gave you medicine or an operation to relieve your suffering, and you have been able to buy what you complain about, then you have no reason to complain.
We are such a country of complaints that we even complain about news that is fake when we run out of other things to complain about.
Philippians 4:11: "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content".
Hebrews 13:5: "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'"
1 Timothy 6:6: "But godliness with contentment is great gain".
1 Timothy 6:8: "If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that".
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Keeping the Stain of the World off of Us
It is not surprising that if one person in the family is a 2 Timothy 3 narcissist, there will be other family members who think the family dynamic was perfectly normal.
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 one or two people in the family who are not narcissists, those who are authentic Christians, are bullied for their honesty and dedication to the Bible.
In these family systems, in those family units where most of the people agree with the bullying and disrespect the Christians, the Christians can do no right. In the eyes of the unit, the scapegoated Christians are completely stupid, dismissed, demoralized, ignored and excluded for their audacity to choose their own path.
This should not be a surprise since this is how the prophets were treated; the apostles and Jesus Christ Himself were treated in this way.
The Pharisees accused Christ of doing His miracles by the power of the devil. Just as these pseudo-Christians will accuse authentic believers of character flaws, words, and actions they never expressed.
This is why God told us in 2 Timothy that these would be difficult times. There is nothing more disturbing than to have family and friends accuse you of things before they even hear your defense.
Not only do they not care to hear your explanations for things, but they make up lies about you through innuendo without evidence to discredit whatever you say.
They will judge your every action without knowing the details of what you are doing. They follow the pattern of the devil, which is to accuse the brethren, placing obstacles in the way of good communication.
Jude 1: 17-19 "17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit."
So what does God say our response to this mess should be?
Jude 1:20-25 "But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22 Be merciful to those who doubt;
23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."
The key to our continual Spiritual and emotional maturity is to refrain from engaging with those who enjoy causing drama and division. We will be tested; the more we submit to Christ, the less we will become like those who cause problems.
James 1:26-27 "…26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
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 one or two people in the family who are not narcissists, those who are authentic Christians, are bullied for their honesty and dedication to the Bible.
In these family systems, in those family units where most of the people agree with the bullying and disrespect the Christians, the Christians can do no right. In the eyes of the unit, the scapegoated Christians are completely stupid, dismissed, demoralized, ignored and excluded for their audacity to choose their own path.
This should not be a surprise since this is how the prophets were treated; the apostles and Jesus Christ Himself were treated in this way.
The Pharisees accused Christ of doing His miracles by the power of the devil. Just as these pseudo-Christians will accuse authentic believers of character flaws, words, and actions they never expressed.
This is why God told us in 2 Timothy that these would be difficult times. There is nothing more disturbing than to have family and friends accuse you of things before they even hear your defense.
Not only do they not care to hear your explanations for things, but they make up lies about you through innuendo without evidence to discredit whatever you say.
They will judge your every action without knowing the details of what you are doing. They follow the pattern of the devil, which is to accuse the brethren, placing obstacles in the way of good communication.
Jude 1: 17-19 "17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit."
So what does God say our response to this mess should be?
Jude 1:20-25 "But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22 Be merciful to those who doubt;
23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."
The key to our continual Spiritual and emotional maturity is to refrain from engaging with those who enjoy causing drama and division. We will be tested; the more we submit to Christ, the less we will become like those who cause problems.
James 1:26-27 "…26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Know Your Bible First
I am convinced that anyone born again who is in a cultic system, such as the Catholic church, will leave eventually as the Holy Spirit leads them out of error, since God told us not to associate with anyone who brings a false gospel. The Holy Spirit will not leave them there.
Galatians 1:6-9 Distortion of the Gospel
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel,
7 which is not just another account; but there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
9 As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
The meaning of "accursed" is doomed to destruction and under God's wrath.
So many Christians are becoming confused, believing the Catholic church is just another denomination. It is not only not a Christian denomination, but it is deeply cultic and misleading.
If you are going to do research to prove this or disprove it, read your Bible first before delving into the doctrines of the Catholic church. Many Catholics today have been trained in what to say to Christians that sound good but are a deception.
Unless you know your Bible well first you might miss the subtle deceptions.
Galatians 1:6-9 Distortion of the Gospel
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel,
7 which is not just another account; but there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
9 As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
The meaning of "accursed" is doomed to destruction and under God's wrath.
So many Christians are becoming confused, believing the Catholic church is just another denomination. It is not only not a Christian denomination, but it is deeply cultic and misleading.
If you are going to do research to prove this or disprove it, read your Bible first before delving into the doctrines of the Catholic church. Many Catholics today have been trained in what to say to Christians that sound good but are a deception.
Unless you know your Bible well first you might miss the subtle deceptions.
God is not Finished with the Jews
There are so-called "Christians" who are spreading lies that God is done with the Jews. This could not be farther from the truth.
Romans 11:1-36 "I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace."
Patrick Kelleher gave the following comment on another thread:
"For those of us of Christian faith, we must always be aware that we are a tree that has grown from our Jewish roots.
An attack on the roots of a tree is an attack on the whole organism. We must protect our roots if we are to survive the attack by the Godless hordes."
By no means has God rejected the Jews; He is preparing them now to return to Him.
Romans 11:1-36 "I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace."
Patrick Kelleher gave the following comment on another thread:
"For those of us of Christian faith, we must always be aware that we are a tree that has grown from our Jewish roots.
An attack on the roots of a tree is an attack on the whole organism. We must protect our roots if we are to survive the attack by the Godless hordes."
By no means has God rejected the Jews; He is preparing them now to return to Him.
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