Confess and Follow Christ Alone

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

                                                                                      (1 John 4-2-4 KJV)

There are so many false gods in this world that one cannot even begin to count them. There are so many spirits that are not of Christ that I cannot begin to fathom the number.

I have come to a point in my life that I have become weary of telling people that they must stay away from tarot cards, horoscopes, fortune tellers, and calling upon the dead to guide them. This is very dangerous business. When we call upon any other entity to guide us we are simply asking for trouble. When we do not trust the one true God to guide and protect us; to show us the way, we will end up on the path that leads to destruction. Do not listen to anyone who would encourage these things. Do not listen to anyone that would tells you that there are many paths to heaven. Jesus, himself, tells us: "...Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

There is only one Spirit that will lead you on the path of Christ and that is the Spirit of God. When we confess that Jesus is the Christ sent by God; we profess our faith; our trust, in his spirit to lead us on the path that he has set before us.

May God help us to not waiver from following on that path.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Real Treaures

This cross was a gift from the Sunday School at my last

congregation. Real treasures are not things. The real treasure 

is living in relationship with God and with one another.

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt 6:19-21 NRSV)

Where is your treasure? Where is your heart? In this world? In this physical world or in the Kingdom that Jesus has prepared for you? What treasure could be greater than being reconciled to God our Father? Expensive cars? Huge homes? A closet full of designer clothes? Expensive jewelry? What? Fame? Fortune? What treasures in this world demand your attention at the expense of a relationship with God our Father, God our Savior, God our Comforter? 

Do you love God? Do you truly love Him? Where your treasure is, there your heart is! Get real! 

God grant that all eyes would be opened so that the real treasure given to us through Jesus Christ our Lord might be revealed. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Like An Old Bear...

Like An Old Bear

There is a time and a season for everything under the sun. (Eccl 3:1)

Tis the season... Tis the season for me to want to sleep a lot. When winter rolls around, I start thinking and acting like a bear. My mind and body keep telling me to "go to sleep." I do not want to go outside when the sun is not shining. No matter how early the sun might set, I want to sleep. I just want to hibernate. I need the light to live a fruitful life.

But, life goes on and there is no sense in sleeping our days away. Our hours are most valuable. We only get so many in this lifetime and then they are gone. They are like the pennies found on the ground. Some would walk by them thinking them worthless. Yet, others might collect them and amass a small fortune. Every minute of our lives is valuable. They add up to hours and days and years. They add up to a life-time. Grasp those minutes and hours and do not fetter them away.   

Fortunately, I have enough to do, deadlines to keep, to keep me awake during most of the day. I still get up early; but, I lie down to rest much earlier every evening or I can get a little ornery, just like an old bear.                                                                                                        

We need our rest; but, not so much as a bear needs his. We have been given life, so let us live it and not squander it away.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Couldn't help but post two photos this morning as bears are one of my favorite of God's creatures.