Sometimes when looking at life, I look at myself as in a mirror and see what is reflected back at me, and to tell you the truth, I don't always like what I see. But it is still good to look in that mirror, so I can self-evaluate what I am seeing. When I look out a window, I am trying to see something, not me, on the other side of the window. To make my illustration, looking out a window is looking beyond myself and seeing what I can see. From this vantage point, I can make

Luke 17: 26 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 27 In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all. Party hearty, and everything is all right? Probably not! Sometimes we get so secure in our own accomplishments and our own pride about who we are and what we have done, but beware.... In the above verses, Jesus speaks of when He returns

About 20 years ago, God started putting a vision in my heart and mind, and in praying, I have come to realize that whatever vision God gives us, satan is all in to kill that vision. I cannot tell you how many times I have had people that I trust and love tell me again and again to just relax and live your life, and forget this whole vision thing. They are vision breakers!! I have also had some who again and again have told me to keep after it cause God has a special work H

We read and study the Bible, God's Holy Word, for a reason. The Bible has great knowledge, and that knowledge, when applied to our faith walk, takes us into a deeper relationship with our heavenly Father. God wants us to get to know Him, and getting to know Him shows us answers to the mysteries of life itself. It all begins with a very powerful addition principle that is shown in 2 Peter 1: For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodn

Matthew 5: 33 “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ 34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. 35 And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. 37 Just

Wherever we go, we will have divine appointments set up by God. In the grocery store line, at the gas station, and many other places, so be prepared and have your spiritual weapons ready, because we are in a spiritual battle with evil forces. Those evil forces would like to kill the message of Jesus because they know there is power in the message. What weapons am I talking about? First of all, prayer. Praying for God to give us opportunities and, in those opportunities, t

My grandpa Johnson was blind the whole time I knew him, and I had some great adventures on some of my times "leading" him. We would go to downtown Koshkonong, Missouri, where he lived. He had a path he walked, and he knew every little bump or rise to avoid, and avoid he did. I actually had a hard time keeping up with him, but it was fun to watch him navigate every little bump in the road. He relied on his memory of where the hazards were on the trail, and his memory did n

Living the life of a servant is a very important lifestyle, and Paul's words to the believers in the church of Colossae give us some good attitude adjustments that are not worldly-centered but spiritually-centered in every way. Here are the verses. Colossians 3: 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23 Work willingly at

You may not know this, but there are certain things you come to realize when your eyes are opened up to them. Jesus doesn't leave us guessing about much of anything, and the Bible is stocked full of wonderful truths to challenge us to live this abundant life. If you never study the Word, you will miss many things that are plain and common sense. I believe the Word of God. All of it!!! I try not just to pick the parts I agree with and like, but let all of the mysteries of Go

Sometimes in my faith walk, I come up against something in God's Word that I don't really track on as I should. Then I have a crisis of belief: " How do I respond to this?" or "What is God calling me to do?" I would like to think I will bend my will to do whatever God's Word says, but sometimes there is a hesitation that is caused by worldliness or indifference in my life. Where does this come from? I think it comes from the issue of "where is my obedience? When I get to

When we are believers, we have an aroma about us that is distinct and very noticeable. It is so fragrant that those who are lost are drawn to ask what we have in our lives, and that is our chance to say the obvious for us, and that is "We have Jesus. In his letter to the Ephesians, he wrote the following: Ephesians 5: 1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved

Colossians 3: Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that areabove, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. There is an old saying that goes like this: "It's hard to soar like an eagle when

Colossians 2: I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. 2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted ar

Philippians 4: 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Paul writes to the church in Philippi with some instructions about living their faith walk, and it almost seems like a formula that he knew firsthand, because it was that very thing. Pa

Supreme (def) - (of authority or an office, or someone holding it) superior to all others. When I stop to gas up my FJ, I always get the lowest grade and cheapest gas. To get supreme would mean a big cost difference, and I can't bring myself to make the leap, plus I really cannot afford it. Every once in a while, I will take the leap and fill up with the supreme gas, and my FJ almost has a spasm when I take off because of the higher octane. Supreme gas is the best, and if

Defiance (def) - open resistance; bold disobedience. What causes a defiant servant of God? Pride is usually lying somewhere underneath, and the thought "You aren't gonna get anything on me" will be a very prevalent attitude. It is good to stand by your convictions as a Christian and to stand for good and righteousness. There are times when we need to "kick against the pricks" and stand for what is right, no matter what may happen to us. What about defiance when it comes

John 8: 1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” 6 Th

I have been writing about the calling of the first disciples, and it is one thing to be called and another to be cared for, and God takes care of His children and His called ones. Point in case-Simon Peter went through many things, and the situations he was put in seemed unfair at times, but God came through every time. In Acts 12, we read about James being put to death by Herod Agrippa, and it pleased him so much that he went on a rampage, captured Peter, and put him in pr

Who are you pointing to in your life, and is it Jesus? If it is, then you are drawing attention to the hope of the world, and He will not disappoint. John the Baptist had his followers, but he needed to decrease and Jesus must increase. John 1: 35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. 38 J

When we tell people about Jesus, many will say, "Is all this Jesus stuff really true?" To which we take them to the Word of God, and we can say, "Come and see" what you think. In doing so, we are trusting that the Word of God will attach itself to a person's mind and heart and cause a crisis of belief. But if we never share that Word, then they won't be able to see. The life we live has an impact on how people receive the gospel, and it is very important for them to see J