“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.” ~Apostle Paul
The main thing: God is God. God is in control. I don’t get that some days. What about that jerk …
Category Archives: Vault
“I love God because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy.” ~King David
God is gracious. It is all God, through his son Jesus, and not anything I do. God is in a …
“If God hadn’t been there for me, I never would have made it.” ~King David
I get scared. I am upset. I get beside myself and lose it. It happens. It is not pleasant. I …
More than extravagant: A Poem
I know that our heavenly Father can be extravagant. I know that He can be VERY extravagant. But more than …
“Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and the Messiah’s love for us?” ~Apostle Paul
God’s love for us is astounding. That is all there is to it. He sent his son Jesus to redeem …
“Yes, I am God. I’ve always been God and I always will be God.” ~Yahweh
God is God. There is no other. God is God. When you bundle all the attributes of God in one unified …
Is God our friend?
We start out as slaves. Our path to maturity starts with servitude and obedience. I saw this in my relationship …
“When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of God.” ~King David
There are times I am in the dumps. It happens. It isn’t always pretty but it is true. God gives …
“Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.” ~King Solomon
God has a goal in mind for me. Am I ready? Have I prepared? Will I be up to the …
“Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.” ~King David
God’s good word to us is constant. There are no ups and downs with his love. The message of Jesus …
God formed us. Sin deformed us. Jesus transforms us.
Now here is some good news. God formed us. Sin deformed us. Jesus transforms us.
“Whoever has Jesus, has life” ~Apostle John
I have Jesus in my life. I have life. This is the essence of the “big thing”. God wants me …
“I’m going to keep that celebration going because I know how it’s going to turn out.” ~Apostle Paul
I know the end of the story. I know that Jesus is the anointed one of God and is in …
“If you want to claim credit, claim it for God.” ~Apostle Paul
This is subtle but significant. Who gets the credit? Who made it happen? There is only one answer. God gets …
“Let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without.” ~Apostle Paul
I get distracted. It seems to happen way too easily. It must be the “shiny new object” syndrome. Jesus challenges …
“It’s God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other.” ~Apostle Paul
Who do I answer to? Is it the minister, my wife, my boss, or my children? It is a simple …
“I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking.” ~Jesus
Uh oh! Dear Jesus, help me not to be lukewarm. Help me to be on fire for you. I will be …
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” ~God
How often do I dwell in the past? Remember the time …. Ah, the good old days!! God is doing …
“So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk.” ~Jesus
The religious bullies want to intimidate us into silence. Nothing would please them more. Jesus challenges us to speak up …
“God delights in his people!” ~King David
We have amazing news. This is not trivial. This is beyond good. This is great. God is in a good …
No problem ahead of you is more powerful than the God behind you.
No problem ahead of you is more powerful than the God behind you. God is great. God is mighty. God …
“For God makes all the decisions here. God is our king. God runs this place and he’ll keep us safe.” ~Isaiah
What happens when God is charge? We have peace and safety. God keeps us safe. We have nothing to fear. …
“I’m sticking with God” ~Jeremiah
I am sticking with God!! I could trust myself, my friends, my family. Nothing wrong with that. That is what …
“Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.” ~God
God is God. God made everything, the whole universe. The universe of universes. God is a mighty God. God cares …
“Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but.” ~James
Am I fooling myself? Possibly. Probably. This is a tough question. I have heard a lot. God’s word has been …
“There is no likelihood man can ever tap the power of the atom.” ~Robert Milikan, Nobel Prize in physics, 1923
We say lots of things. Many times, we don’t know what we are talking about even if it sounds good. …
“I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end.” ~Apostle Paul
God has a goal for me. It is God’s plan not mine. He has set me apart to make sure it …
What happens when we live God’s way and not ours?
How often do we try to force our way in the processes that the world normally uses? Sheer determination. We’ll …
What is happening with my friends who follow Jesus?
I think of certain friends very often. Every time I think of them, I am so thankful to God for …
I must move with Jesus. He ROCKS and is my rock. Are you with me?
I want more supernatural courage. That kind of faith is growing, and I thirst for it. Do you? I want …
The problem with putting it all on the line for Jesus is …..
The problem with putting it all on the line for Jesus… is that it might not work out. The problem …
“When you enter a town, heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, ‘God’s government is right on your doorstep!'” ~Jesus
Jesus doesn’t make it complicated for us. He wants us to replicate what He is doing. Jesus sends us out. …
I am eager: A Poem
So I have to suffer a little. Suffering comes and goes. Suffering is a part of life. I have lots …
“My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God.” ~Apostle John
Interesting that John challenges us to continue to love. Not start but continue. Real love that comes from our Father requires …
If you don’t believe in miracles, perhaps you have forgotten you are one.
You are a miracle. That is God’s good word to you. If you don’t believe in miracles, you have forgotten …
"Son, I forgive your missing God’s goal for your life." ~~Jesus to the paraplegic he was about to heal
Jesus is impressed by bold belief. Boldness, while it may seem outrageous to us, helps us stand out to Jesus. …
“Be cheerful, no matter what.” ~Apostle Paul
I have been focusing increasingly on simplicity. I have been trying to reduce many complex issues down to no more …
“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.” ~King David
Now here is a good word. What should I do? I should seek Jesus with my whole heart. David knew this …
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” ~Mother Teresa
I have a choice. We live in a culture where we are all critics. It is an easy trap to fall …
“You’re more than happy when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.” ~~Jesus
Jesus knows that following Him may not be a “bed of roses”. Jesus tells us about it in advance. We …
“Be God’s fool — that’s the path to true wisdom.” ~Apostle Paul
I really enjoy my “news reader” on the internet. I keep up with 100′s of stuff (feeds) a day. I …
"You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom—you know how it works." ~Jesus
God has a kingdom where he rules. It doesn’t work like any government we know in this world. Jesus is …
“He could show up any minute!” ~Apostle Paul
Paul lived as if Jesus could show up any minute. He believed it in his core. His passion, every minute, …
“Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.” ~~Apostle John
The Apostle John is consumed with the purity of Jesus life. It came down to one thing in John’s mind. …
“Because we love something else more than this world, we love even this world more than those who know no other.” ~C. S. Lewis
Jesus challenges us to love everyone, all the time. Jesus challenges us to love God, with a passion that can’t …
"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant." ~~Jesus
Jesus challenges me to change my mind about how to pray. We are steeped in the religious way to do it. That …
What goal does God have in mind for us?
God is getting us into shape for the goal He has for us. I need to desire to reach that …
“But you’ve seen and heard God’s wisdom because God, by his Spirit, has brought it all out into the open before you.” ~Apostle Paul
We have God’s wisdom in our life. The amazing Spirit of God leads us. That is amazing. While we don’t always …
“We don’t expect eloquence from fools, nor do we expect lies from our leaders.” ~King Solomon
It is sad that we have probably come to expect lies from our leaders. It clearly shouldn’t be that way …
"What you’re called does not matter and where you go to worship does not matter." ~~Jesus
It is not about what religious group you are born into. It doesn’t matter what church you go to. Jesus …
“We keep getting reports on your steady faith in the Messiah Jesus, and the love you continuously extend to all Christians.” ~Apostle Paul
What is worth reporting on, in Paul’s opinion? It is all about the love we show to others. That is …
“I can’t believe your fickleness.” ~Apostle Paul
We don’t like to think about it but there are several messages delivered by men of God that aren’t good …
Can I win two games at one time?
I can’t win two games at one time. I am going to focus on the one I am in right …
“This signet (the Holy Spirit) from God is the first installment on what’s coming.” ~Apostle Paul
God has given us the Holy Spirit. That is a sign of His authority in our life. Jesus has left …
“Love must be as much a light, as it is a flame.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
Love serves a purpose. The purpose is to not just be a flame but to be a light. Love shows …
“Be careful that you don’t become misers of what you hear.” ~Jesus
I have heard a lot. God is good and tells me His secrets. Are we keeping them to ourselves or giving them …
“To the church that meets in your house.” ~Apostle Paul
We know this but forget it. The church, that is a building, didn’t exist for Jesus and his followers. What was …
“Does it make sense to send a devil to catch a devil, to use Satan to get rid of Satan?" ~Jesus
It is hard imaging this actually happened but then again sometimes we have a “fantasy image” of Jesus that is …
"Why are you so skeptical?" ~Jesus
Jesus had said to a paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.” This infuriated the religious elites. They whispered “He can’t …
What God wants more than anything
God has a goal in mind for us. God wants things here on earth to be like they are in …
"What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit." ~Jesus
Jesus was about to ascend into heaven. The disciples were very concerned and wanted to know if Jesus was going …
“That was my reason for writing a letter instead of coming.” ~Apostle Paul
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was very direct. He was concerned about what he was hearing. Sometimes a clearly …
Have I mastered the basics as a disciple of Jesus? Am I ready to move on?
There are basics in being a disciple of Jesus. Are the following in place in my life? Do I trust …
Smile even if you are hurting. Be happy even if you are unhappy. It’s called strength!
Smile even if you are hurting. Be happy even if you are unhappy. It’s called strength! Jesus didn’t call us …
“Summing up …” ~Apostle Peter
It helps to sum up and shut up. This says it all. We have a job. Let’s do it. Summing …
Why do I believe in Jesus?
Jesus came into the world as light. Jesus makes everything clear. I can see because of Jesus. Without Jesus, I …
“So what difference does it make who’s religious and who isn’t?” ~Apostle Paul
It isn’t about who was raised in the church and has a religious background. Paul is clear on that. If …
What is your desire from Jesus? What do you want from the Messiah?
The Jews of Jesus day were practicing a very soul-killing spirituality, a lifeless religion of duty and obligation. Desire was …
“When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” ~Apostle Paul
It wasn’t that long ago that by missing God’s goal, I wasn’t living a very “smart” life. But God saved me from …
Just think about how much time God has on his hands
Just think about how much time God has on his hands. A trillion years is nothing to God. A trillion …
"Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how." ~Jesus
I am mistaken to think that suffering is something to be avoided. Jesus challenges me to embrace it. That is what He …
A bad attitude is like a flat tire, you won’t get very far unless you change it!
A bad attitude is like a flat tire, you won’t get extremely far unless you change it! My attitude about …
“Help them see that the Master is about to arrive.” ~Apostle Paul
Paul is clear. Jesus is about to arrive. Jesus was also clear. No one knows the time that will happen. …
“But the one who keeps God’s word is the person in whom we see God’s mature love.” ~Apostle John
How do we know we are keeping God’s word? Now that is a very reasonable question. God has said so …
"Don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed with someone who is not your wife." ~~Jesus
Jesus knows something and he wants religious people to understand it. Who we are is a result of what we …
Can I rest in Jesus?
God has a goal for me. In His new plan, I can rest from my work and do the work that Jesus …
"You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day."~~Jesus
Jesus challenges me to worship in a clear way. Sometimes I am just guessing. That is not the way of God’s chosen …
“First Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.” ~Apostle Paul
It is so easy to get carried away. Paul had tried polished speeches before. Not much happened (this is detailed …
“If they had a clue about God’s eternal plan, they wouldn’t have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross.” ~ Apostle Paul
We have lots of experts. And that is sometimes a good thing. The problem is that most experts don’t have …
“We can’t quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you!” ~Apostle Paul
I have a job to do. I must continue and continue to thank God for those I have relationships with. I must not quit. …
“Hold out your hand.” ~Jesus
What will Jesus do? One day Jesus went church where he found a man with a crippled hand. The religious leaders …
“His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out.” ~John the Baptizer
I love to hear God remind me that I have been changed from the inside out!! I am a new …
“God’s plan is that we all experience that rescue.” ~Apostle Paul
Jesus has rescued me from this evil world I’m in by offering himself as a sacrifice for my missing God’s goal for …
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” ~Isaiah
There is peace and then there is a peace that is complete, nothing lacking at all. It envelopes us, wrapping …
“It’s in the Messiah that you found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit.” ~Apostle Paul
Do I see that I have finished the most difficult part? In the salvation that Jesus offers me, I’m not quite there yet …
“You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business.” ~Jesus
We always want to know when. Jesus followers wanted to know if Jesus was going to restore the Kingdom now. …
“Summing up: …be sympathetic …. bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.” ~Apostle Peter
My job is to be sympathetic. No doubt about it. That leads to me being a blessing. It is way …
“God has rolled up His sleeves” ~Isaiah
Oh, my goodness!! Our heavenly Father has rolled up His sleeves. He is at work. He is not sleeping. Jesus …
“We want you to be as proud of us as we are of you when we stand together before our Master Jesus.” ~Apostle Paul
Here are some questions. Will I be proud when I stand before Jesus? That is a stunning question. Think about …
Am I just finger painting in my walk with the Messiah Jesus?
When I was young, I loved to finger paint. I was pretty good at it, I think. 🙂 I am …
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” ~Apostle John
I like to think I know a lot about love. It doesn’t start with me, however. It starts with God. …
Am I worshiping the wrong thing?
We worship everything but God. I trust in my 401k. When I am in financial trouble, I have a credit …
Old plan thoughts carry over to the new plan of Jesus
Here some old plan thoughts that carry over into the new plan that Jesus has revealed to us. Mostly things …
"Are you listening to this? Really listening?" ~Jesus
Jesus knows how to ask the right question. He also knows the answer. So, Jesus wants to know …. Am …
Gideon is God’s man even though he is hiding in a pit!
You have to love Gideon. Israel is in bad shape. They have abandoned God. Not just a little but completely. …
Am I a liar about Jesus?
The Apostle John can be direct. I think he learned it from Jesus. No point beating around the bush so …
“It was God who kept us focused on him, uncompromised.” ~Apostle Paul
I like to think I can focus and sometimes I get close. I try hard. I want to be courageous. “I think I can.” It doesn’t work. …
"If I were simply speaking on my own account, it would be an empty, self-serving witness." ~Jesus
Jesus knows who He is. Jesus knows that God sent him to redeem the world. Jesus knows he will pay …
“Do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.” ~Angel to Mary
Mary did not have anything to fear. She didn’t know that but it was true. There are times I don’t …
"Don’t loiter and make small talk with everyone you meet along the way." ~Jesus
Jesus sends us on a mission. Jesus has things He wants me to do for Him. I need to understand His urgency. In …
Jesus Quotes and God Thoughts 