Do you love me?

Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

Jesus also said "If you love me, obey my commandments. ..."the new covenant is based on our love for Jesus... loving him because he first loved us. The more we know and understand the depth of God's love for us, the more we are able to love him in return. So think about all the things God has done for you, all the things He has forgiven you of and all the times He has comforted you and given you strength to carry on in times of struggle. Jesus didn't say "if you obey my commands", He didn't say "if you go to church" He didn't say "if you read your bible" Jesus said, "IF YOU LOVE ME" God wants your love for Him to be in the things you do. So obey God's laws...because you love Him, Go to church... because you love Him, read your bible...becuse you love Him. Everything acceptable to the Lord comes from a love for Him, not in doing something because you have to. What was it Jesus wanted Simon (Peter) to do, because he loved Him? He wanted him to take care of His sheep, and the best way to care for someone is to love them! 

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

~ Psalms 77:14 ~

Sometimes God allows us to go through things to demonstrate His glory and power. Through miracles the world witnesses God's glory when He delivers and heals us. But other times it is in people standing strong in faith during their struggle that speaks to people. Whatever your going through, stand strong in your faith while waiting and praying for healing as both your faith and your heailng may lead people to Christ.



Be Alert

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. ~ 1 Peter 5:8-9 ~

Often when we're not paying attention the enemy will sneak up on us and use situations in our lives to lead us into doubting God. When we start to doubt, fear creeps in, and then disbelief, and eventually disobedience and a hardening of the heart that leads to death. The Word says in Romans 8:28  "...we know that God works all things together for good to those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose." Whatever your facing in your life whether it be financial, pain, sickness, broken relationship, or anything else, do not let then enemy devour you, be on your guard against doubt, fear, and disbelief. Trust the Word of God, stand firm in the faith you have in Christ Jesus, and find strength in knowing you are not alone.

Wisdom will lift you up

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding

~ Proverbs 3:13 ~

Blessed is the man who "finds" wisdom. This implies you must seek it out. Wisdom will not simply fall into your lap, but if you ask for it, and diligently seek it out, God says He gives to all who ask.

The Sinful Mind

 The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.

~ Romans 8:7 ~

He does not say that it is impossible for a wicked man to become good, but that it cannot be done while he retains a sinful mind. He must be converted first. Romans 5:8 tells us "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" If we repent and believe, not by our efforts, but by the grace of God, and by the blood of Jesus, we are saved from a life of sin & given eternal salvation.

Life and Peace

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace

 ~ Romans 8:6 ~

 Believers may be disciplined by the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world. By Christ through faith, they are saved. Do you as a lifestyle choose the flesh or the Spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace? For which of these do you give permission, by which are you controlled?  2 Corinthians 13:5 gives us instructions concerning this matter "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

It is by grace through Christ and Christ alone that we are saved and not by good deeds, the evidence that you are saved is that what is inside your heart will come out in your actions and your words as you are led by the Holy Spirit, as the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

Repentance vs. Feeling Bad

 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

~ Matthew 3:8 ~

There is nothing beneficial in feeling sorry for your sins but continuing in them. Repentance is turning away from sin and turning toward God. When you confess your sins and turn from them, God will enable you, give you strength, courage and wisdom, and from this will come many good and godly things. So don't just feel sorry, produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Bad Fruit

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. ~ Matthew 3:10 ~

1 John 3:6 tells us "No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either
seen him or known him" this is not about being perfect because 1 John also tells us "if we claim to be without sin, we lie" What is being talked about is a condition of the heart and soul! Galatians 5:16 talks about living by the spirit for the spirit is in contrast to the sinful nature. If Jesus truly resides in you then you cannot have a lifestyle of sin. You may sin occasionally, but the Spirit of God convicts you and tells you it's wrong so you can confess it and turn form it. But when Jesus does not reside in you then you live a life led by the flesh or your own desires and wind up entangled in a life of sin. God tells us these people will one day be thrown into the lake of fire, or hell. The good fruit spoken of is in short the good things that come out of you because God lives inside of you, this kind of fruit glorifies God. There is another fruit, bad fruit, it may not always appear bad to us at first but we can tell the difference because it glorifies ourselves and not God.

Forever and ever and ever...

...All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever... ~ 1 Peter 1:24-25 ~

No matter how much success or celebrity status we may achieve, it does not last forever. Even the summers tan many work so hard for quickly fades by fall, success is short lived as is the men & women themselves. But the Word of the Lord stands forever! The Bible tells us in Revelations 4:8 "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." By the grace of God, not because we deserve it, we have been given an invitation to live with God forever, it's on His terms, but the invitation is free.

God Heals the BrokenHearted

He (God) HEALS the brokenhearted and binds their wounds.

~ Psalm 147:3 ~

Have you ever heard it said that "time heals all wounds" well, that is not really true. Time does make things easier but the pain and sorrow are still there deep down inside. When we surrender everything to God, He doesn't just make things feel better, He takes the pain, hurt & sorrow away...He removes it from us. Psalm 91:1 tells us "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” & Psalm 3:3 says's "But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head."  If something is heavy on your heart or your mind, give it to God, tell Him all about it, then trust Him to take away, He Heals the brokenhearted!

Why do you go to Church?

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet ~ Matthew 11:7-9 ~



  John hung out in the desert, he baptized people and told of the Saviour Jesus still yet to come. Some people would go to the desert to listen to John teach so they could know God's truth & be closer to God, and to be baptized. Some though, would follow whoever was most popular at the time, they would go here and there being blown around like a reed in the wind. Others wanted prosperity, wealth, fancy clothes and to be associated with high class people. Jesus separated the people by the condition of their heart. Today, do you go to Church to listen to the Pastor speak the truth of God's Word, learn, & worship, or do you you go to gain wealth and status? Or, are you simply blown by the wind, coming and going when something popular is happening? Jesus basically told the disciples "If your looking for worldly things, your not gonna find it here!" Search your heart & your motives and if they are not right then confess it to God and ask Him to draw you close to Him & he will fill you with His Love.

Prince of Peace

 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace ~ Isaiah 9:6 ~

Isaiah foretells of a child to be born (Jesus) that is both man and God. He is son of man being born into this world but Son of God being born by a virgin, the fate or the Salvation of the whole world rests on His shoulders alone, He is the wonderful Counselor, there is no other teacher like Him, He is Mighty God, He is in control of everything, He is Everlasting Father, God is eternal or forever, we are adopted in God's family when we believe in Jesus and we too can have eternal life with Him, and He is the Prince of Peace as it is He who reconciles or brings us back into a right relationship with God.
 Romans 5:1 tells us "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"

Are you thirsty for life, real life?

And he (Jesus) also said, 'It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.'

~ Revelation 21:6 ~

Jesus is telling us, no one was before Him and no one is coming after Him, there is no other way to salvation, no other religion, no other possibilities, you can't do it on your own, you can't buy it, and you can't earn it.  Jesus is the alpha & Omega and to everyone who truly desires to know Him, to follow Him, to live the life He has planned for them, He is willing to not just give, but give freely. It is finished.

Blessed be the name of the Lord, there is no one like Him!