“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: 2015
“I am delighted to hear of the careful and orderly ways you conduct your affairs.” ~Apostle Paul
There is a way that Jesus the Messiah challenges us to live. Is it to be haphazardly? Is it to …
“Jesus brought together God and his people in this new way.” Author of Hebrews
Jesus, the Messiah, has ushered in a whole new agreement and plan (covenant). It is his gift to us through …
“There are a lot of lying religious leaders loose in the world.” ~Apostle John
My natural inclination is to trust ministers and the clergy. The Apostle John advises otherwise. He knows that there are …
"You’re more than happy (blessed) when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat." ~Jesus
Am I starving for God? Do I have a good appetite for Him? Is all I think of my next …
“I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed.” ~God
Now here is good news. God can’t see our old heart. God can’t see that we are dirty and need …
“I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God.” ~Apostle Paul
Sometimes, OK, many times, I need to be reminded to fan the flame. It hasn’t completely gone out but it …
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide.” ~ God’s Angel
When it was time to give birth to Jesus, no one had room for Him. So, Mary did what she …
"Neither he (the Son) nor the Father shuts anyone out." ~Jesus
Jesus demands radical obedience from us but also brings good news. No one is shut out from God. All are …
“This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in.” ~Jesus
First of all, God conceived us in love. That is the starting point and is amazing in and of itself. …
“God, God-of-Heaven, the great and awesome God, loyal to his agreement and faithful to those who love him and obey his commands.” ~Nehemiah
Nehemiah was an amazing man of God. He had a big yes going on in his life. He knew how …
“I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally.” ~Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul was there. He had learned how to be content. He was more than happy. It didn’t matter …
“Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got!” ~Moses
Jesus understood what He was here to do. Jesus, the Messiah, reminded us of the new plan as He lived it …
“It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad.” ~Apostle Peter
A curious warning is given to us in Peter’s first letter. There he tells us to be ready to give …
What is the inside story about God?
We all want the “inside scoop”. We know we do. And so here is good news. We have it. We …
Love is …
Love is not stingy. Love is not miserly. Love is not tightfisted. Love is not grudging. Love is bighearted. Love …
Are we rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic as the band plays on?
They didn’t think it could happen, but it did. How often does that happen? We believe something that isn’t true. …
“Take on an entirely new way of life working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.” ~Apostle Paul
How is my attitude these days? Is it focused on the new agreement we have with our Father? Am I …
When will we come to Jesus?
When we will come to Jesus? When will be the right time? Now is the time. Jesus wants us just as …
“Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.” ~King Solomon
Sometimes my thoughts wander off when I am praying and meditating. They move away to my “agenda” and what I …
“If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it. How shortsighted to refuse correction!” ~King Solomon
The first thing is cultivating a love of learning. To be wise means we need to grow. It isn’t something …
Jesus offers a complete benefits package
Who doesn’t want to work for someone where there is a complete benefits package? We all do of course. Our …
“You miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me!” ~Jesus
Jesus had a lot to say to the religious scholars of His day. He still does. Do we really think …
“I do nothing without consulting the Father.” ~Jesus
Even Jesus the Messiah – God the Son – consulted with God the Father before doing anything. How much more …
“God believes in you even if you don’t believe in Him.” ~Tourist to Russian athiest
One of my favorite stories is told in a book called “Believe in the God who Believes in You.” Robert …
“I tell you, do not worry about your life.” ~Jesus
What Jesus would say to me if he just walked into my room right now? I think he would look …
“If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face.” ~Jesus
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable” I …
Remember the early days when we first came to Jesus?
We should remember the early days when we first came to Jesus, the Messiah, and saw the truth. Those were …
“Love doesn’t strut.” ~Apostle Paul
We see athletes do it all the time. Strutting their stuff when they do something cool. Subtly we are learning in …
Worrying always results in missing God’s goal
Worrying always results in missing God’s goal. Fear paralyzes and keeps us from acting on what God has planned for …
“If the Government of Condemnation was impressive, how about this Government of Affirmation?” ~Apostle Paul
We either live in the government (kingdom) of condemnation or the government of affirmation. We must choose. Jesus, the anointed …
What does God do well?
If you think about it, there are a lot of things we don’t do well. No point in even making …
“I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me.” ~Jesus
Many days, I am just following my own whims. Whatever feels good to do right then is fine. No plan. …
“It’s something only God can do, and you trust him to do it.” ~Apostle Paul
There are many things we work for, and we deserve to be paid for it. Getting paid for what we …
“This crowd is breaking my heart.” ~Jesus
Jesus gets moved by our condition. Something simple, like being hungry, breaks his heart. Jesus knows they have sacrificed for …
“Our God gives you everything you need, makes you everything you’re to be.” ~Apostle Paul
What I think I need and what I actually may need are probably two different things. God focuses on giving …
“The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” ~Albert Schweitzer
Why are we here? God has a goal in mind for us. It is to love God and love everyone …
“Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.” ~Apostle Paul
How many times do we envy what someone else has? How come they have such a loving family? How come …
What fruit am I bearing?
There is my way and there is God’s way. What happens when we live God’s way? Imagine an orchard and …
Do you want bleach for the stains of missing God’s goal?
God’s love never fails. It just doesn’t stop. We see Him some days through our own eyes and we know …
“Keep company with God, get in on the best.” ~King David
God has a goal for us. God wants us to spend time with him. God wants us to keep company …
“I am God, your God, who teaches you how to live right and well.” ~God
God is God. God is in control of everything. God sent his son Jesus to win the victory for us …
“Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow; you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow.” ~King Solomon
Oh, how we love to plan. We worship our to do lists. Some of us even put things on them …
“God does both the making and saving.” ~Apostle Paul
God made us and God saves us. It is all his doing, through his son, the Messiah, Jesus. We have …
“May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God.” ~King David
I know God likes to hear me laugh. Jesus wants me to be joyful and glad. When I am in …
“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds.” ~Moses
I like to walk. I am definitely not a runner. I can pray as I walk. Walking through my neighborhood or …
"You’re more than happy (blessed) when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight." ~Jesus
We live in a culture of competition. It’s a fact. It’s not pretty. And, worse, we seem to thrive on …
Should we hesitate to walk right up to God?
Because of what Jesus did, we can walk right up to God. We don’t even have to hesitate. We can …
“A good person’s mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom; a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp.” ~King Solomon
We have all experienced being around someone with a foul mouth. We have all experienced someone whose speech is a …
"You look wonderful! You’re well!" ~~Jesus
He had been crippled for 38 years. Now that is a long time. Jesus, the Messiah, healed him. Not a …
Celebrating and mourning the death of Jihadi John from the Islamic State
Originally posted on The Culture Alternative:
Jihadi John To some extent, this news of Jihadi John’s demise was eclipsed by the events…
How will we roll with Jesus?
Our God is removing the curse of missing His goal for our life. Jesus, the Messiah and God’s son, is filling …
“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law.” ~Jesus
Jesus’ habit was to teach about the way God intended things to be. He had a vast number of people …
What is my give to get ratio?
We live in a culture where there is always something else to get. We are not content. We want the latest …
“Go and do likewise.” ~Jesus
There are experts galore. No lack of those who “officially” know all the rules and regulations. When Jesus asked the …
Do you think you are pushing things too far with Jesus? That is the only way to know how far you can go.
God challenges us to get radical for his blessed son Jesus, the Messiah. This is not a life for the …
How many hairs do you have on your head?
How many hairs do you have on your head? Do you know? We cannot but admit that not even the …
“As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” ~Isaiah
God is passionately in love with us. God’s love is not just an average run of the mill kind of …
Will I be a blessing to someone now?
Fear and anxiety can weigh us down. It can seem like we are drowning. We all know it is no …
“But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is!” ~Apostle Paul
There are many mysteries with God. But His reality is plain enough. All anyone has to do is open their …
“Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” ~Apostle Paul
What happens when I live God’s way? (I am pausing here to think on this!!!) Jesus, the Messiah, brings gifts …
Want a present? Focus on today as a gift of God.
We worry about tomorrow. We regret yesterday. Jesus, the Messiah, and our Master, challenged us to pray, “give us this …
Is my focus success or being faithful to God?
There are a lot of things all of us can focus on. We have a choice to make. I have …
“If you are thirsty, come to me!” ~Jesus
I am thirsty. I have this desire in my heart. I am desperate for God. Nothing else will satisfy me. …
“The great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God’s authority over you and presence with you.” ~Jesus
Jesus, the Messiah and our Master, challenges to understand what is remarkable about this powerful life in the Spirit of …
What is the importance of prayer?
R.A. Torrey lamented the average believer’s indifference to prayer by writing: How little time the average Christian spends in prayer! …
“I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking.” ~Jesus
Powerful message from Francis Chan. Jesus, the Messiah and our Master, requires pretty much one thing. We must be obedient God. …
Who is God?
Love is not something God does. Love is something God is. This is a huge distinction between what God does …
Are we doing our best or are we doing what is required?
We are all focused on are we doing our best. The culture of self-improvement requires we worship “the best”. It …
"But you haven’t seen the half of it yet, for in the same way that the Father raises the dead and creates life, so does the Son." ~Jesus
Some days we think we have seen it all. Of course, we know it isn’t true but it sure does …
“It is a beautiful day and I can’t see it.” ~Blind beggar
I must admit it. This brings me to tears. It is a beautiful day. May God give me the ability to …
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” ~Apostle Paul
Some days it is hard to describe. And, if the Apostle Paul couldn’t do it some days, it is OK …
Don’t be greedy for happiness. You’ll be more than happy with humility. God is in a good mood.
Greed comes in all forms. It takes all shapes. It is not all about money. We are developing a culture …
Was Jesus elected to the position of our high priest and the Messiah?
Before Jesus, the High Priest had to offer up sacrifices to blot out the continuous nature of our missing God’s …
Jesus will not be molded into someone who makes me feel comfortable.
Jesus will not be molded into someone who makes me feel comfortable. I must be absolutely devoted to my Master …
“The church is the Messiah’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.” ~Apostle Paul
We have a choice about what kind of church we attend. Which will it be? One where the power of …
Did you do your best? Do you have faith in God? Then you can forget the rest.
One of my mentors always had a great question. I can still hear it. It is always relevant. “Is this …
“We did not follow cleverly invent stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Master Jesus the Messiah.” ~Apostle Peter
They must have talked about it their whole lives long. Surely, they did. How could they not? It started out …
Worrying is a nasty habit ..you’ll notice if it ain’t one thing it’s another.
Why worry? God has a plan. God is working his plan. We can trust in Him. He is in an …
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” ~Apostle Paul
This is worth repeating. It needs to be said frequently. It is absolute. May I rejoice in the Master always. Jesus, …
Faith is an act. I will say yes to God. I will go even though I don’t know the destination.
God is asking me to move on. I don’t know where, but Jesus does. My job is to go, even …
“I am making everything new!” ~Jesus from the Throne
Jesus, the Messiah, and my Master, walks over to me. He reaches out His hand. Slowly He wipes away my …
I have a choice. Will I be sad, or will I be glad?
God challenges us to see what He is doing. It is a choice. If I look around I can see …
“Be alert and of sober mind.” ~Apostle Peter
I need to keep a cool head. I should always be on the alert. I must keep my guard up. …
Fear looks. Faith jumps – and never fails to obtain God’s goal!
When Jesus, the Messiah, says “Jump”, we jump. That is the essence of faith. Our enemy. fear, whispers in our …
“Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, Beautiful inside and out!” ~Angel Gabriel to Mary
Mary didn’t know it yet but she needed encouragement. God has a wonderful way of building us up before we …
"You’re fortunate [blessed] when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you." ~Jesus
Jesus, the Messiah, and our Master, challenges us to be radical in our love for God. Do I want to …
Trust in, lean on, rely on… God.
We have a faithful God. He is all we need. God is God. His son, Jesus the Messiah, is in …
“If you are mocked and insulted for the name of the Messiah, you are more than happy.” ~Apostle Peter
I am extremely fortunate when I take grief because I follow our Master Jesus. Those who insult me cast blame …
God is talking
God has been talking to me a long time. I can go back. Dr. Pirtle spoke the word of God …
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” ~God
It is all about our heart. Jesus, the Messiah, and our Master has given us a new heart. We must …
“Love doesn’t have a swelled head.” ~Apostle Paul
Love just does its job. That is normal in God’s way of doing things. Love doesn’t get all enamored with …
May we focus on God’s opportunities and not worry about our competence. He is willing and able. He is God!!
God gives us opportunities every day. We all know it is true. So, look back a few years. How much …
“As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.” ~Joshua
I have a decision to make. I get to make it every day. Is it a dreadful thing to worship …
We have someone guarding our heart. It is Jesus the Messiah. Now that is some good news.
We all know it deep down. Our hearts are very fragile. It can be broken. We get depressed and angry. It …
“Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus the Messiah” ~Jude
The mission God has given me is to keep myself in a faith that is set apart for Him. That …
“Whoever does the will of God lives forever.” ~Apostle John
It is hard to remember some days that this life is noticeably short. Then other days it comes home to …
May God’s love smother us all today!!
Our heavenly Father is magnificent. There are no boundaries to His greatness. I stand in awe of His great power. …
“So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” ~Author of Hebrews
Am I letting it slip through my fingers? I have access to God. Jesus, the Messiah and our Master, paved …
“I pray that you grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of the Messiah.” ~Apostle Paul
Imagine being so full of God that there is no longer any room for anything else. Imagine all of God’s love …
Jesus Quotes and God Thoughts 