Thoughts ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZONPRTOFF dateof comment Look Inside Data Conditions:Order: 1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12|13|14|15|16|17|18|19| Dateof Comment 05/30/2025 In my last comment I talked about: Romans 12:15 NLT Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Well, I didn't go far enough. This was revealed to me by a man on TikTok that takes this verse even further: Psalm 34:17-20 NLT 17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. 19 The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. 20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken! The enemy knows his days are numbered and he is trying to take us all out to the place where he is going called "Hell". God's message is that he is here when it appears the enemy is winning. If we are on God's side he will rescue us. God may be waiting for you to pray about the situation: Psalm 34:6-7 NLT 6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. 7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. As a final note, we serve this God: Psalm 56:4 (New Living Translation) I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? I know this is true because "Jesus is Lord!" 05/28/2025 I don't know how many of you are like me but I tend to only hang around happy people. After all there is enough disappointments in life to want to hang around sad people. Except for the cases of being ungrateful and bitter, Paul says we should not necessarily avoid sad people: Romans 12:15 NLT Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Those who are down sometimes just need our encouragement. If we only hang around happy people there will be no one to encourage the downtrodden. Jesus wants to be there for us when we are down, should we not imitate him and do the same for others. Let's serve the "King of kings"! 05/27/2025 As I grow older I began to learn what is important. I may not be as enthused as Paul was but I am getting there more each day: Acts 20:24 NLT But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Since Jesus is Lord, our attitude should reflect what Paul was talking about. 05/25/2025 One of the most interesting things President Trump does is listen to the people who work around him. It does not matter how low we value their jobs. He stops and listens before he responds. He is wise enough to listen about the situation before he responds. God called President Trump to clean up the swamp and they are out to get him. The swamp rats just love ripping off the taxpayers. Even with all the things going against our president, he really remains pretty cool in all the grief. I am sure this drives them nuts. James talks about us to be like this: James 1:19 (New Living Translation) Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. This is the best way to keep us from having regrets and to keep showing others what a Christ-like life is like. As true Christians we do things differently because "Jesus is Lord". 05/24/2025 Billy Graham was right when he said that only 20% stayed committed when coming forward. Being just a man it was difficult in seeing how things were going in each one of their lives. Paul knew that just talking about salvation and God once is not enough. We need to continue to build them up in the Lord: Romans 15:2 NLT We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. Just like the parable of the sower says, the cares of this world can make people walk away from God. Our interest in their lives may just prevent this from happening. Since Jesus is the "King of kings", shouldn't we bow down to this request to check in on people we come into contact with and encourage them. I can get wrapped up in work easily forgetting to do this simple command myself. 05/22/2025 Truly living for Jesus Christ gives us a freedom the world cannot grasp. But if we become lazy we will start to become lukewarm which is a dangerous place to be. Paul recognized this and warns us what we should be using our freedom for: Galatians 5:13 NLT For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Instead of looking out for just our own interests, continue to be sensitive to the needs of others. It is really exciting help those in severe need. Most do not have any hope. You can change that be doing the unexpected. Remember this freedom is not to honor you but to honor our King by our actions towards others. It greatly honors our God when you make an honorable sacrifice toward others. 05/20/2025 Are you like me where the people around you seem to do all kinds of dumb stuff? I also know that I have been in the presence of people who are amazing like President Trump and Elon Musk. This is what God wants from us when dealing with his people: Romans 15:5-6 NLT May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even more than ourselves giving glory to God, it is more important that we can do it with others. It can be work but he loves harmony even with those who do not get it. He also loves it when we praise God in one voice. We need to do it because "Jesus is Lord" 05/18/2025 Have you ever had those times while serving God and giving things up for him that he really cares? It seems those around us who do not even like God are getting all the blessings. Many time those people are in severe debt to put on that show of blessing. For us, it points back to "faith" that something will happen. The author of Hebrews must have had the same thought: Hebrews 6:10 (New Living Translation) For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Never let the "grass is greener on the other side of the fence" syndrome get you down. God never puts anything in his word that is not true. This means he is watching us even now to see what we are doing with our lives. Believe that God is not done working in our lives and his promises will be fulfilled. Jesus "King of kings". He deserves more respect that any earthly king because he is the only King who has ever laid his life down for you and me! 05/14/2025 We have all asked the question "What is God's will for my life?" We should also be asking the question, "Am I still doing God's will?" The enemy uses deception on us to let our guard down. We slowly begin to move back to the ways of the world. Paul says that the enemy is getting so good at deception that in the last days, which I believe is now, that it will be rampant. Most Christians do not know God's word well enough to identify the deception. It is hard to deceive a true Christian who is not lazy and is well versed in God's word: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NLT 9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. Some people who think the are doing God's will, will be part of this: 2 Peter 2:13 NLT Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals. How many people who think the are serving God do this: 2 Peter 2:18 NLT They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. If the world begins to listen to you eagerly then this may be a sign you are going outside of God's will: 1 John 4:5-6 NLT 5 Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. 6 But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception. If you begin to do what the pagans do, you may be going outside of God's will: Romans 12:2 NLT Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Porn and dirty movies can also create a problem: 1 Thessalonians 4:3 NLT God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. If you begin whining a lot, this can be a sign you are losing it. Truthfully, I have done my fair share of whining. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can fulfill this one: Hebrews 10:10 NLT For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. If you are always impatient this is another sign you may be losing it. Sometime I have been guilty of this myself: Hebrews 10:36 NLT Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. If your lives seem powerless or are not honorable you may not be experiencing this: 1 Peter 2:15 NLT It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. We always need to ask ourselves the question, "Am I living outside of Gods will?" Doesn't living in God's will seem like lots of work? It definitely is, but remember this verse to help you begin living inside of God's will: Matthew 11:28-30 NLT Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Jesus is Lord and he wants to help all of us to stay inside of God's will! 05/12/2025 Here is a fitting verse for you great wives on Mothers Day: Proverbs 31:10, 27-28 NLT Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. There are many of you wives out there that this describes you. Continue to love and serve the Lord while loving your husbands. Husbands you need to realize what you have and love what a great person she is! Jesus is Lord!! 05/09/2025 This verse brings out the stupid and the ignorant people. They think God is for slavery: Colossians 4:1 NLT Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven. God's desire is for everyone to be free from persecution to be able to worship him. This misunderstanding is the reason why we need to read the Old Testament to learn. God hated it so much when his people where slaves in Egypt that he just about destroyed the nation when pharaoh would not let his people go. God despises slavery. Even though there were slaves mentioned in the bible, most were indentured servants. While both slaves and indentured servants are forced to work for others, the key difference is that indentured servants had a contract with a limited term, while slaves were owned for life. Indentured servitude was a voluntary arrangement, even if coerced, with the goal of repaying debts. Remember when Jacob worked 14 years for Leban just so he could marry Rachel. Jacob was just like a slave. We have laws making indentured servants illegal in the United States. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1865, explicitly prohibits both slavery and involuntary servitude, with the exception of punishment for a duly convicted crime. While the Thirteenth Amendment allows for involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime, there are ongoing efforts to remove this exception. When you read the word you need to understand the conditions during the period the word was written. Unlike God, man is always changing his environment. Jesus Christ - The same today as he was when Paul wrote the verse. 05/08/2025 Have you ever asked yourself this question, "What is God's will in my life?" Paul had something to say about this. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. I am willing to confess that I have not always been joyful. I always could pray more and you can catch me complaining more than I should. I am sure that I have made Jesus sigh more than once. But I know this verse is true and I always have something to work towards. A lot of things, including God's entire will for us, are hindered in our life when we don't comply with this verse. I really believe that these 3 items (joy, earnest prayer, thanksgiving) are the favorite things that God wants from us. Even though Jesus Christ is the only one who can get us into the Kingdom of heaven, let us try to honor him by working at doing these three things. Jesus - King of kings 05/06/2025 It can be exciting to climb the ladder of success but many times this can turn into selfish ambition. James definitely shows what we also need to be doing: James 5:16 NLT Confess your sins(this also means to forgive.) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. I was curious how "earnest" is defined in a dictionary: adjective: earnest resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction. Even though I think my prayer are earnest I have never seen these results when I pray: James 5:17-18 NLT 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. God never puts things in his word that are beyond our reach. We just put limitations on ourselves that prevent us from experiencing this kind of power in our prayers. A lack of faith, fear, and selfish ambition can be prayer killers. Pray in a way that honors God or Jesus. He loves to answer these kind of prayers. Also remember when you pray that "Jesus is Lord". 05/05/2025 I bet all of you have noticed all of the financial things going on. As humans we seem to look for things to worry about even if nothing major has happened like the tariffs. At first the stock market was tanking when the word was mentioned. Now the market is going up while tariffs are still here. I feel the enemy want us to worry to cause fear and anxiety. Both of these cause people to do dumb things. Paul says, "Stop worrying!" Philippians 4:6-7 NLT Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. We need to fill our thoughts with something else. Paul has the answer for this to: Philippians 4:8-9 NLT 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Jesus Christ - Commander in Chief!! 05/04/2025 As Christians we are exposed to the word faith a lot. In fact, the level of our faith and how we seek after him is what pleases God: Hebrews 11:6 NLT And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Most people stop here but there is so much more to be said about extreme faith. Those people who have it are like this: Hebrews 11:35-38 NLT But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. I always wonder how I would respond if I was held captive because of Jesus Christ and I could see the saw that was about to cut me in half, would my flesh cave in this situation? I firmly believe we all need the power of the Holy Spirit along with strong faith to overcome this scenario. I am thankful that I have not been tested like many who have given their lives for Jesus Christ. The world will never be able to offer what only Jesus Christ can give. I am also thankful that "Jesus is Lord". 04/29/2025 Have you ever asked the question, "What did I do to deserve this?" If you think about Job in the bible he was put in his position because of a conversation between God and Satan. God was proud of Job when Satan accused him of serving God because he was given everything. God replied, "Not so!" and the challenge began. We have to remember that God does give us everything and when trials happen it may be from nothing we have done. Who knows but God may be showing us off to the enemy. It is important like Job that we persevere. We don't have to like it but people are watching us. If we reflect a Christ like attitude people will ask questions and even want what we have. This could be the difference between heaven and hell. And if we persevere it can be just like Job, God can greatly bless us in the end. The book of Job was put in the bible for a reason to explain why things may happen in our lives. Lets think like Job and not abandon our King when everything seems to be coming against us. Have you ever thought that the enemy has challenged God in your life to prove your Love is not real for Jesus. Let's strive to prove the enemy wrong. Jesus is still Lord in my life and I need the Holy Spirit to keep me strong enough to handle life's challenges in a proper attitude. 04/28/2025 Philippians 2:5-8 NLT You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. If you are experiencing attacks from the enemy you are getting there. The more you conform to Christ, the more angry the enemy gets. The amount you get on his nerves, tells you how much you are serving God. Keep up the effort because "Jesus is Lord". We probably can put our names in place of Peters in this verse. Luke 22:31-32 NLT Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. Our King does not want us to fail. 04/24/2025 How many of us have thought how cool it would to be an angel instead of being human. After all they can be anywhere at any time. As far as I know they do not die either. But before you think it is greener on the other side of the fence, why did Jesus lay his life down for us if we are not cool. Peter describes that even the angels wonder what it would be like to be human: 1 Peter 1:10-12 NLT 10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward. 12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. Jesus makes it possible for us to come back to him. The angels do not have this privilege of being his after they reject God. Maybe the angels are wishing they were us. We need to appreciate how God created us. The angels even know that God created us to be cool in his own way. Jesus - "King of kings" over us and the angels. 04/23/2025 This is one of those verses that even so called Christians do not take seriously: Romans 14:11 NIV It is written: "As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God." When those students proclaimed "Jesus is Lord", they were mocked and the zero reverence that was shown to our King. "Jesus is Lord" is about as truthful a statement as you could ever make. Those serving the devil will say it is not so. Have you ever wondered what large event God is going to do to get everyone to wake up and take this verse seriously? I have a feeling this event will shake everyone to the core to get us to honor Christ the way he should be. I pray that we can get this figured out and continue to be witnesses to the ungodly before we are taken down this path. We have to live this verse before we can show others how to do it. God will be the first to tell you that even I need improvement in this area of reverence to our King. We need to recognize our shortfalls in order to make changes. "Jesus is Lord!!!" 04/21/2025 How many of us have been paying attention to the White House secretary "Karoline Leavitt". I do know that she is an amazing talented individual, but I sense there is more than just that. Some of the people who work around her have exposed what makes her so exceptional. They set up a camera and recorded what she said before she entered the conference room. She prayed just this simple prayer: "Lord Jesus, please give us the strength, the knowledge, the ability to articulate our words, have fun, and be confident in Jesus' name. Amen." I believe the Holy Spirit is going to do some amazing things through her. One thing I like about this is the proof you do not need long winded prayers to get God's attention. She spoke out loud what she wanted. God loves to hear our audible voice when we pray just as long as we are not like the Pharisees. Another point to be made is she prayed before she entered the conference room. She knows the enemy will be in that room to confront her. You and I can do exactly what she did to have the power of God on our side when we confront the enemy. So much power is available in prayer when we use it to glorify our King. Jesus Christ - Commander and chief Proverbs 3:6 NKJV 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
