Jesus

Instead of a Bible Verse, I am posting an article.

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What is Thanksgiving Day To You?

Family, Outings, Sports, Day Off, Work, Etc.

I believe that we should be looking at Thanksgiving far more than just a holiday for pleasure. I say this because of the way our world is going. How much our society has gotten away from God and what it used to be.

It appears that satan is gaining ground in his attempts to gather more souls to join him in his final attempts to overthrow God. It is sad to realize that people you know and maybe you will join them separated from God. Satan lost his war against God when Jesus (who is God) came down to earth and suffered, died, buried, and rose again and sits at the hand of the Father waiting to come back and claim those that have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. There are two roads, a wide road (satan’s road) and a narrow road, (Jesus’ road).

Do you realize that all the provisions you enjoy like food, water, air you breath, your home, material of the clothes you wear, your life, etc. come from God? In addition God offers salvation which is life after death through His Son Jesus Christ. God is the sustainer of your life. You are here because He created you for a purpose.

Biblical thanksgiving is an act of worship that involves acknowledging and praising God for His goodness, grace, and provisions through a heart of gratitude. It goes beyond simply counting blessings and is defined by both Old and New Testament scriptures as a constant and active expression of devotion that includes praise, confession, worship, and even sacrificial offerings. Key aspects include recognizing God’s character and His works, giving thanks in all circumstances, and approaching God’s presence with a thankful spirit. 

Core concepts of biblical thanksgiving

  • A form of worship: Thanksgiving is not just a feeling, but an active, spiritual act of worship directed toward God.
  • Acknowledging God’s character: It is about recognizing God for who He is—Creator, Provider, and Redeemer—and praising Him for His infinite majesty and glory.
  • Expression of gratitude: It is a response to God’s gifts, blessings, and redemptive work in one’s life.
  • A spiritual attitude: It is an ongoing attitude of the heart that is to be practiced in all circumstances, not just during good times. 

Old Testament examples and practices

  • Sacrificial offerings: The Old Testament connects thanksgiving with bringing offerings, such as bread and meat, as a thank offering to the Lord (Leviticus 7:13-15).
  • The Psalms: The book of Psalms frequently uses words for thanksgiving to praise God for His mighty acts and deliverance (Psalm 100:4, Psalm 107:1).
  • Hebrew word: The primary Hebrew word for thanksgiving, todah, literally means “extended hand” and is tied to confession, praise, or thanks, often expressed through song, praise, and offerings. 

New Testament examples and practices

  • Greek words: The New Testament uses the Greek word eucharistia, which is a combination of “good” and “grace” or “gift,” highlighting gratitude for God’s grace.
  • Jesus’s example: Jesus gave thanks over the bread and wine at the Last Supper, an act that became the foundation for the sacrament of the Eucharist.
  • Paul’s teachings: The Apostle Paul encourages believers to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

The purpose of giving thanks to God is to acknowledge His goodness and love, express dependence, honor Him in worship, and cultivate a humble, grateful mindset. It is a spiritual response that involves recognizing God’s sovereignty and grace in all circumstances, which can lead to greater peace, deeper faith, and a closer relationship with the divine. 

Expressing gratitude and worship

To acknowledge goodness: 

Thanksgiving is a way to thank God for His constant goodness, love, and providence in both good and bad times. 

As a core part of worship: 

Expressing gratitude is a fundamental part of worship and honoring God through words and actions. 

To celebrate God’s character: 

It is a way to publicly celebrate God’s character, mercy, and compassion by sharing what He has done. 

Cultivating a spiritual mindset

To foster humility: 

By acknowledging dependence on God, thanksgiving helps individuals stay humble. 

To deepen faith: 

Thanksgiving can lead to greater peace, change perspective, and deepen one’s relationship with God. 

To live a life of gratitude: 

The practice is meant to be a lifestyle of constant appreciation, not just a single event. 

Fulfilling a spiritual purpose

  • To renew submission: 

Thanksgiving is a reminder of our dependence on God and can renew our submission to His will. 

  • As a spiritual discipline: 

For believers, it can be seen as a spiritual practice that helps with sanctification and secures blessings. 

  • To prompt further blessings: 

Some spiritual traditions believe that a truly grateful heart can prompt further blessings from God. 

I pray that your mindset and those of your family, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers, that the Holy Spirit stirs your spirit to awaken you to know the truth and the truth sets you free according to John 8:32.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS LOOKING FROM ANOTHER PROSPECTIVE, THE BIBLE.

Jesus loves you and so do I.

ARE YOU CONCERNED?

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ARE YOU CONCERNED?

The Apostle Paul who wrote most of the New Testament says in Romans 9:2 NIV “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.” Paul was referring to people that did not have a personal relationship with Jesus.

Paul was continuously heartbroken for those without hope and without a Savior. God realized that his creation of mankind was losing their relationship with Him. Because of His love for us He sent His Son down to us to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

When God created the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve they had a perfect relationship. Then something happened that is called sin that changed that relationship. That sin was the result of violating the will of God. God told man that he was not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, man choose to violate God’s will and they still do.

Since God created man with free will to make his own decisions, Sin occurs when  a person chooses to be drawn away by their own desires. No one can make another person sin. People make their own decision to do so. Sin is personally and willfully choosing to disobey God.

If you are a born-again believer of Jesus Christ. Do you have a deep concern for people who are separated from God? Be honest as God knows your heart.

 Many people are hung up on the term “born-again.” When God created man, He created them with  a body, soul, and spirit. When Jesus departed this earth after His death, burial, and resurrection He said, I leave you one greater  than I. He is referring to the Holy Spirit. The rebirth comes when a person receives Jesus as their personal Savior. This is where your spirit connects to the Holy Spirit. Your spirit has been inactive until it connects with the Holy Spirit. The rebirth is spiritual. A person confesses their sins and ask to be forgiven. They surrender their life to Jesus and the Holy Spirit takes overs and begins to transform their life in Jesus.  

Somewhere during your transformation, you will become aware  of those that do not have Jesus in their life. It could be loved ones, friends, acquaintances or just strangers. If you are a true follower of Jesus you will come to understand and feel sorrow for those that may be lost eternally, especially if it is a loved one. Don’t run away from the opportunity to share the salvation of Jesus regardless of whoever it may be. This kind of sorrow is not just a feeling but requires action. Not tomorrow but today for tomorrow may be too late.

Because God is love, He is most concerned about people who do not know  His love through His Son Jesus Christ.

God knows and understands the sorrow of separation and is ready to give you His blessings and fulfill our purpose by the power of the Holy Spirit working inside us.

In the world today, it is easy to be caught up in the fleshly desires of life and lose sight of what matters the most. The glory of God and lost souls of people.

Are you one that believes that God is really mad at you and can hardly wait to punish you for your sins? Yes, God hates sin, but He dearly loves the people He created. He loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to be our sacrifice for our sins. There are two choices, you can reject God’s gift through Jesus Christ or received His gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ and enjoy a relationship with Him. You are a free will person who makes their choice, right or wrong. Whatever choice a person makes will determine their eternal destination.

I shudder to think that loved ones, friends, acquaintances, or even a stranger would be separated from God’s love and grace for eternity. They go without God’s help and blessings because of a misunderstanding or teaching that crossed their life at some time.

God is spiritual and not in a physical form to us humans. That is why He depends on His people to help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Are you concerned?

Jesus loves you and so do I.

Savior and Lord

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SAVIOR AND LORD

Do you realize that there is a difference between these two words? The Bible teaches that we are to accept Jesus as both Savior and Lord. It is essential for salvation to be complete.

Jesus is the one who saves us from sin and the one to whom authority is given to continue His saving work. To reject His Lordship is rejecting His saving work. Jesus as the Savior offers redemption for our sins and Jesus as the Lord ask believers to surrender their lives to His rule and guidance.

Jesus as Savior means receiving forgiveness and a new life. Accepting Jesus as Lord means a daily yielding to His will and trusting Him with your entire life. Jesus expects to be called Savior and Lord.

If you are honest with yourself, you must realize that your decisions in your life are not very good. If we followed the Bible guide lines, life would be so much better. Most often we think we have the answers to our problems. Yes, I am no different and I have learned and still learning a lot by hard knocks. I am trying to pass on some important lessons that could save you from some of your serious problems.

Time is short, whether you want to believe it or not. God has blessed me with 89 years on this earth. When I stop and think, I ask myself, time has gone by so fast. You may come to realize how fast, days, months, and years go by faster and faster. The most important question you need to look at, is how do I stand with Jesus Christ? Is my name written in the BOOK OF LIFE?

Maybe you have not received Jesus Christ as your Savior. Maybe you have received Jesus as your Savior but not as Lord. I pray that you consider doing so soon. The Bible tells us not to put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Jesus loves you and so do I.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT VOTING?

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I’m about to enter a subject that is very controversial. I do so by the guidance of the Bible. As we near a time to vote, we should do so with guidance. Although we do not live under Old Testament law, there is much we can learn from what it tells us.

In 1 Samuel 8:1-22 there is the story of Isreal rejecting their God, the one who rescued them from slavery, provided for them and gave them victory over their enemies. Isreal demanded a King who would judge them, go before them and fight their battles. God had already provided these for them. They wanted a king as other nations. They rejected their true King. God tried to tell them that He was their King.

God granted their request and gave them over to their desires, but not without warning. He promised them a king like all nations. He would give them one who was selfish, oppressive, lied, and had self-interested instead of the people’s needs. They did not heed God’s warning.

Does this sound like what is happening in our election today. We want to be like everyone else. If we follow Isreal’s desire, we could find ourselves overcome by our leader’s wants and desires. Guess who is going to pay? You will never have enough because the “King” will demand more.  You can be sure we will lose our freedom.

I could go on, and I’m sure you could too. Where has the truth gone? All we hear is lie after lie, They promise freedom, a better life, free stuff, when they are slaves to corruption. 2 Peter 2:19 warns  us about this.

This is what happens when we, like Isreal fall prey to the desires of the flesh. When we turn from the wisdom of the Lord and His ways, we eat the fruit of our ways.

In our ways to be like what the devil wants; we miss out on the real blessings of God. Even though we fallow the desires of the flesh, God still shows mercy and works through our rebellion by providing what is best for us just as God later appointed David King.

In God’s eyes there is only one King and that is Jesus Christ. Freedom will only come by submitting ourselves to the true King, Jesus Christ. Otherwise, there is no peace or freedom.

So, when you vote, people have a choice, you can ask God for wisdom as stated in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you”. Or you can follow your own desire. God also provides common sense as stated in Proverbs 3:21, Encourages people to hold onto common sense and discernment, which are like jewels that keep people safe. 

Regardless of how you vote, are you following the aforementioned guidelines or the desires of the flesh? By living in the United States, you have the privilege of voting and take the responsibility seriously.

For those that follow the Christian life, be informed and vote as you believe the Lord leads especially for those that demonstrate Godly leadership. Be careful not to be taken in by emotional forces or political campaigns or your own selfish interests.

Something that may be overlooked after the election is over, Christians are to pray for those that are in authority. 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2 Pray for those that are in higher offices whose decisions affect many people lives.

PROVERBS 29:2 With good men in authority, the people rejoice; but with the wicked in power, they groan.

We need to remember Hebrews 13:8 KJV,  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

He loves you and so do I.

FAITh

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FAITH

Today is what many look upon as Easter. It is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave.

On the other hand, it is about the Easter Bunny.

My question is which is the most important to you and your family?

It appears that the Easter Bunny is winning the popular vote.

Let’s look at what each has to offer. Jesus is real and offers eternal life. The Easter Bunny is not real and offers temporary pleasure. God has given each person the right to choose, right or wrong.

By the way our society is going, it is what we believe and have faith in. All a person has to look at, what they have to offer? The Easter Bunny offers nothing but a temporary fix.

Everything you have comes from God including your life. He created you and provides everything that sustains you. Also, He is love. By His love you can have life after death through His Son, Jesus Christ.

If you don’t believe and have faith in Jesus Christ, you lose everything. 1Corinthians 15:13 -14 says; “but if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen, and our preaching is in vain is and your faith is in vain.

The righteous shall live by faith. Faith is so important because it is the way we have a relationship with God. For by grace, you have been saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8). By faith you become heirs of all that Jesus has done for you including the punishment He endured for our sins.

Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is.

Faith is the foundation for hope. It is a supernatural gift from God.

Faith enables a believer to further understands the truths about God that cannot be understood by reason alone.

God requires faith because He is our Heavenly Father. It takes faith to believe He loves us, and He provides everything for us. Without God you could not survive. No one living fully understands the things of God. You can learn if you desire.

The first commandment is that you put nothing before God. He means anything.

On this Easter day I pray that all who reads this remembers that Jesus loves you and if you believe and confess Him as your Savior you will become joint heir with Him. According to Acts 4:12, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Salvation is the most important gift you can ever receive. It is all provided for by what Jesus went through for everyone. He is risen!

I love you and Happy Easter

SPIRITUAL COMPLACENCY

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Spiritual Complacency

Where are you with God and His way? Have you become so overconfident with your relationship with Him that you may have entered into apathy?

Are you aware that spiritual complacency is a dangerous spiritual condition that can lead to an outright rejection of Jesus Christ? It leaves a person open to the attacks of satan and his ways.

In the old testament of the bible, it says that people became so complacent with God, they got into making idols. Do you have any idols in your life? It can be anything that comes before God.

One of the signs of spiritual complacency is being lukewarm in your relationship with Jesus. In Revelation 3:14-22 , the letter written to the Church of Laodicea, according to Jesus they were lukewarm. Evidently Jesus cannot stand people that are lukewarm. Another word for lukewarm is complacency. People will find that complacency is not contentment.

Another sign of spiritual complacency is looking upon success, which is far more dangerous than failure. The fruit of complacency is what you consume. In most cases it is what is dictating the direction of your life.

Here are some other indications of complacency.

Do you look at yourself other than what God does? Especially when we think we are doing okay spiritually. Do we compare ourselves with others? The Bible gives us an example in Luke 18: 10-14 of how to compare ourselves to the holiness of Jesus.

Do you live with an attitude of self-sufficiency? Are you trusting your own ability to handle the ways of life? Have you forgotten that God has control of your body, soul, and spirit? Everything good and I mean everything good including you was created by Him. We need to put Proverbs 3:5-6 in our heart and not depend on our understanding.

You have become comfortable with your life. A believer of Jesus should never be comfortable this side of heaven. Have you become so close to groups, systems, lifestyle, politics, etc. that we no longer seek the spiritual things of God. Do not let 1 John 2:15-17 become your lifestyle and lose what the Kingdom of God has for you.

Are you spiritually aware of what salvation in Jesus Christ is all about? Could you be spiritually dull about the understanding about accepting and believing in Jesus Christ as your Savior? Do you desire to live your life with Him? God gave us a book of instructions called the Bible. He gave us a pathway to communicate with Him, it is called prayer. Do you exercise these blessings in order to have victory over the forces of the devil or are trying to carry on without help from the only one who has provided you with victory, Jesus Christ. Read and follow Ephesians 6:12-18.

The real danger of complacency is when we are not paying attention to the real spiritual dangers such as you no longer have intimacy with Jesus as found in Mathew 7:21-23. You are no longer part of His purposes as stated in John 15:8. You are no longer prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ as found in John 5:28-30.

If there ever comes a time when you feel smug or satisfied with yourself regarding your achievements, or feel overconfident, you may be headed into spiritual complacency. I’m sure that most of us have had periods where complacency has entered our lives. If there comes a time when you think you are headed in that direction, get out of it as if your life depends on it.

Find the promises of God. The Bible has around 7000 promises. If you are following Jesus here is 7 promises He has for you.

Life – Matthew 16:24-25 It seems like an incredible contradiction, but we will only find life when we quit pursuing it. When we stop chasing the things we believe will bring us life and instead, pursue the creator of life, we discover life as it was designed to be.

Acceptance – John 6:37 Charles Spurgeon once called this one of his favorite verses. In this passage, we discover Christ’s assurance that he will not send those who come to him away. We see this acceptance peppered throughout his interactions in the Gospels. If we come to him, we will find him waiting with open arms. Christ’s invitation extends to everyone, and he accepts all those who follow him.

Reward – Mark 10:29-31, Following Jesus requires sacrifice. There are times when the immediate benefit of going our own way may appear to outweigh the potential gains of obedience. Jesus wants us to know that our sacrifices aren’t in vain and there’s nothing we can surrender that exceeds what’s attained in following him.

Revelation – John 14:21  When you get down to it, there’s an element of God’s truth that one can only understand from the inside. All the arguments and proofs for God’s existence pale in comparison to actually experiencing a relationship with God through Christ. Jesus promises us that, when we obey him, he will manifest himself to us.

Friendship with God – John 15:14-5 Jesus came to reconcile God to mankind. The surprise there isn’t just that a bridge would be built between God and humanity; it’s that we would enter this relationship as friends. Yet, this is exactly what Jesus promises us. 

Joy – John 15:9-11   We’re instructed to continually exist in God’s love, and he tells us that we can do that by keeping his commands. Our obedience keeps the relationship alive and active, allowing us to remain in his love. Why does he want to securely stay in this relationship? So, our joy will remain full.

Jesus promises us that joy is a byproduct of remaining in God’s love.

Trials – 2 Timothy 3:12 When you get down to it, following Jesus puts you at odds with the world. This persecution can vary in extremes. Some that belong to Jesus will lose friends, family, jobs, opportunities, maybe even their lives. This truth is partially why these other promises exist. It’s as if God is saying, “Following me will be a struggle, but here are the things I will promise those who persevere.”

Jesus says it this way: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:10-11)

There is a very important question you need to answer, do you claim the promises of Jesus but do not believe with living in oneness with Him?

If there is a way, I can encourage you to examine your relationship with Jesus, I do so now. Every one of us is in a learning stage. If there are areas of your life that needs to change, share your heart with Jesus in prayer or just have a conversation with Him, then listen and keep listening. He hears you and will come to you.

Remember that Jesus loves you more than you can understand. We are entering a time when we celebrate the Gospel. Jesus suffered, died, buried, and rose from the dead and is alive so that we may live.

Jesus loves you and so do I.

BROKENNESS

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BROKENNESS

There are several definitions of brokenness. I want to look at the Biblical reference of the subject.

Brokenness, in God’s eyes, is being so crushed by the sin darkness of the world that we recognize there is no place to turn but to God.

You may ask why should we go through brokenness? When we are broken, God transforms our sinful lives into something that gives Him glory. In other words, you give Him the ability to clean you up, He puts His righteousness in you, and gets you headed in the right direction.

You and I will never meet God in revival until we first meet Him in brokenness. 

Important examples of brokenness is where Jesus went through agony at Gethsemane as stated in Mark 14:32-42, Matthew 27:45-46, Also, in Hebrews 2:18, where it says that Jesus was broken and suffered so that could relate to our needs.

When God created man, He gave human beings the power to make choices regarding their destiny. He did so that He would not be dictating their lives. We now have the responsibility to make choices. So,  if you make a bad choice and things go bad, don’t blame God.

Some choices you will make or not are, believing and receiving Jesus as Savior or not? The choice is yours. Is my name written in the Book of Life or not? The choice is yours. Reading, studying, believing, and following what the Bible says or not? The choice is yours. Some choices may be easy, and some may be difficult. The  eternal road to God’s Kingdom will cause some unwilling to go off course and chose another eternal destiny.

It appears that the present generation has been programmed to pursue happiness in whatever form to satisfy their pleasures. I can assure you that God is not interested in this direction as that kind of happiness will not last. God is more interested in making us like His Son Jesus. That is the pathway to holiness with humility and brokenness. God’s eternal kingdom is the opposite of what we have here on earth where satan has access to our lives.

Brokenness is a choice. Brokenness is not a feeling; rather, it is a choice, an act of our will. In most cases it is not a one-time experience. It most likely is an ongoing process.

If you don’t make a choice, you have made a choice!

What does God say about choices? According to Galatians 6:7-9, whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. A man reaps what he sows.

God is urging us to make serious and deliberate choices toward the conclusion of His purpose. He requires us to commit and make decisions. Remaining neutral is not an option. His issues are plainly defined: obedience vs. disobedience, life vs. death, good vs. evil. Every one of us have a choice: we can make excuses or follow God’s instructions as outlined in the Bible. God created us so we are free to follow Jesus or free to follow satan. It is a choice you make. If you make the wrong choice, who is going to be your advocate?

Scripture tells us that Jesus is close to those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit. In our brokenness, it is important to know that we are not alone and that there is great hope. You may think the Scriptures are all rules and regulations. That is far from the truth. They have many purposes; one is to help you overcome satan’s temptations and lies. The most important is to have Jesus and His gift of salvation.

Have you ever noticed that test and trials, tend to draw us closer to God? That’s because subconsciously we realize, we cannot overcome it, in it of yourselves. Our power or intellect cannot make our current struggle, pain, anxiety go away completely. It can only offer temporary relief.  

We need Jesus. Matthew 11:28-30 says “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Deuteronomy 30:15–20 NKJV 15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 rI announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 sI call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that tI have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your ulife and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers,


In our brokenness, it is important to know that we are not alone and that there is great hope. God has provided us with the  scriptures to encourage us when we have lost our way and to keep us going. 

The following paragraphs are some definitions of characteristics of broken people.

Broken people know that they can’t do anything of eternal value in their own strength. They understand only as they rest in Jesus Christ and allow Him to do His work in them and through them.

Broken people are Kingdom-oriented. They understand that what truly matters is getting to know God and getting to know who I am in Him as stated in Matthew 6:33.

Broken people have laid down their rights in front of God. They understand in reality that God is the giver of all good things. God has provided everything that sustains your life. They are grateful when important things occur in their lives but accept the fact that life does not turn out the way they would like it to be.

Broken people do not have to know everything, have a plan, being in control, and know everything that’s going on. They rest in Jesus Christ trusting Him to know and choose what they need to know.

Broken people cease doing things their way and learn to do them God’s way instead. Through their submissiveness, Atonement can take effect and true repentance can occur.

These are a few of the characteristics that God is making a difference through.

 God uses broken things and broken people to do great things. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are looking for those that will make a choice for them. Will you make the right choice or not?

I want to point out a couple especially important Bible verses that require a choice.

Acts 4:13 KJV says that, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (Jesus Christ) under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

There is only one name to whom God has given authority by which one can experience salvation and that is Jesus. No one else has that power or authority.

In Revelation 20:12 KJV, stated that: and I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the BOOK of LIFE: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

I would say that what is written in those verses are what choices people have made or did not make in their life here on earth. Again, I ask, Have you made the right choices or not? It is never too late as long as you are still breathing.

In closing, I pray that everyone will really consider the relationship they have with Jesus Christ. God wants you to freely give yourself over to Him. He created you and wants you to be part of His eternal family. Many have ignored the Bible, Jesus’ invitation, due to their choice of what you think of what you will give up. What you will give up is nothing compared to what God offers you in exchanged. It is either what God offers or what the  devil offers you. I guarantee you won’t like the latter. It will be your choice or not.

Many people have said that they will make a choice tomorrow. Proverbs 27:1 NIV Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Do what you need to do today. Don’t wait to receive Jesus. Don’t put off doing the will of God.

Today, Jesus said, “ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

Psalms 51 is a prayer that can help you along the way. It’s a choice!

Jesus loves you  and so do I.

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

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2024 A NEW YEAR
How much garbage are you bringing into the new year? Whatever it is, why are you carrying it into a new year? Most of what you are taking into a new year is your choice.
A lot of your choices come from self-help, social media, family, friends, new year resolutions, or some fad that is popular. Some may seem to be working out for the best, but to be honest, they turn out to be a disappointment in a short period of time. They do not bring comfort, joy, direction, and peace into our lives.
Most of our decisions are based on our senses, sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. They are carnal or of the flesh. We tend to follow the human nature side of our life.
The lower side of man is estranged from God and therefore prone to sin. The Divine Influence is absent from man.
According to the Bible, Matthew 15: 18-20 KJV – those things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adultery, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. these are the things that defile a man.
Matthew 12:36-37 KJV But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Sometimes we need a little reminder that the best gift we can give others and ourselves is forgiveness. We can follow the example of Jesus and offer others forgiveness as he forgives us of our daily sins. Ephesians. 4:29-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Could this be part of your garbage? The Bible is full of instructions for us to follow God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

According to Luke 12:10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. People refer to this extreme sin as unpardonable sin, the unforgivable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and the eternal sin.
Who is the Holy Spirit? 6 definitions of who He is.
The Holy Spirit is a unique person.
The Holy Spirit is one both with the Father and with the Son.
The Holy Spirit was the agent of creation.
The Holy Spirit is the author of the new birth. Born Again Spiritually.
The Holy Spirit is the author of the Scriptures and the teacher.
The Holy Spirit is the Truth.

Continually failing to confess Jesus as your Savior will lead to final rejection, but actively opposing the work of the Holy Spirit puts one in a place where one can never turn from sin to Savior.

Jesus promised a Helper of the same kind rather than of a different kind. The Spirit is the parakletos, the one who comes alongside. Jesus said He would “be with you forever . . . he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17.) In other words, His ministry is both permanent and personal.

God created you with a spirit. When you receive and confess Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit joins your spirit and teaches you the truth. There must be a surrendering of self for you to receive His teaching. You cannot continue to live in your former lifestyle. God wants you to become like His Son and join His family

Dump your past garbage of 2023 and past and join Jesus for a new life in Him. You won’t be sorry! You become an heir to all that Jesus has and he is building a new Kingdom for all that come to Him. It is a paradise beyond your imagination. You will need to learn, and your subject matter is in the Bible.
John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Jesus loves you and so do I. Happy New Year!

For your information.

deanstuyvesant , , , , , ,

For your information.

According to You Version Community in 2023, the Bible verse most shared, bookmarked, highlighted is…Isaiah 41:10.

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

I can assure you that God is real from my own experience. He is our creator who loves you beyond your imagination. He wants nothing more than for you to believe in Him and follow His instructions given to you in the Bible.

In a few days we will celebrate the greatest gift given to mankind, the birth of Jesus the Christ. Christ is the title given to Jesus. The meaning of Christ is “God is help,” “the Anointed One,” “the Promised Messiah,” who came to us.

According to Jesus’ Words in John 14:6 KJV, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

God’s Grace is everything that sustains you. God thoughtfully crafted you. Everything that makes you who you are and what you need has already been given to you. You just need to claim it through Jesus who came as our Savior.

Jesus loves you and so do I.

OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

deanstuyvesant , , , , , , , ,

I did not write the following post, and I do not know the author, but I thought it is worth reposting due to the way our children and young people seem to be headed. Yes, I came out off the old school where we were taught about God. We recited the Lord’s prayer in school along with the pledge of allegiance to flag of the United States of America. Today, both are gone and look at how society is going. Whether you are a parent, grandparent or great grandparent, follower of Jesus or not I want to assure you that God is real, and Hell is real. There is coming a time in everyone’s life when they will come to know the truth. I pray that that those that disregard God’s warnings and instructions come to see the truth. Everything you have at your disposal comes from God’s source. God’s source includes everything He has provided by his grace. That includes the precious children, grandchildren, great grandchildren. My question is, what are you teaching them? What are they learning from you? Yes, someday you will answer to the Creator for what they have learned. It is never too late to reverse the way they are going. God loves you so much He gave His Son, Jesus Christ to die for you so you can receive His blessings. Jesus loves you and so do I.  Dean Stuyvesant

DEUTERONOMY 6:6-7 NKJ 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 “You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

God holds all parents responsible for teaching their children. But that does not require some formal approach to instruction. The best way is a natural flow of information as we go through life.

God’s Word tells us that teaching our children should happen during the normal events of daily life. We can illustrate truth and apply it to what happens every day, just as Jesus did with His disciples.

We must also realize that everything our children see us do in life is also unintentionally teaching them. Whatever they see you do is a lesson your children are watching and learning from.

If you never speak of God and His Word, it communicates to your children that God is not very important to you. If you don’t read your Bible, don’t expect your children to read the Bible.

It is also important to mean what you say and say what you mean — to always tell the truth. If your children know you don’t keep your word, they won’t expect God to keep His Word either. So, if you tell your child something, either do it, or ask their forgiveness for not keeping your word.

Don’t try to leave the responsibility for teaching your children about God to someone else. You may not feel qualified, but God will help you. Just be honest with God and honest with your children, and you will make progress with both.