Category: John

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Life in Christ is Real

It’s hard for me to put in words what’s on my heart this morning. It’s so much a part of me, in fact, it’s my very purpose, it’s all consuming.

I wrote in my journal this morning. “Father, you’re love amazes me! I am beyond words – overwhelmed by your love and peace. I want everyone to experience what You and I share. It isn’t a preaching – it’s real life in Christ!”

“ Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else.

4-5 But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much he made us alive with Christ, and God’s gift of undeserved grace is what saves you. 6 God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. 7 God did this so in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. 8 You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. 9 It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. 10 God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. This is why he sent Christ to make us what we are.” Ephesians 2:3-10 CEV

God isn’t wanting us to live the life He planned for us because He is a dictator and He certainly doesn’t want a horde of religious robots.

He has planned an abundant and full life for us; one where we experience the abundance of his love, his provision, his mercy, his grace and his peace.

“ A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully.” John 10:10 CEV

Our heavenly Father wants us waking up every morning thanking Him for the miracles of the day before and looking forward to walking in constant communication with Him in the day that is ahead.

He is our loving Father! He shows compassion and forgiveness without hesitation.

“So you will be saved, if you honestly say, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death. 10 God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this and tell it to others.

11  The Scriptures say no one who has faith will be disappointed, 12 no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for his help. 13  All who call out to the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-12 CEV

This is real life in Christ. Knowing that the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross paid for our sins – all of them and it gave us a brand new life, free from guilt.

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 18 God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.” II Corinthians 5:17-19 CEV

This life in Christ is real!

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Reflect the Light

The last couple of evenings Dave and I have sat on the patio enjoying the cool evenings! It has been wonderful to smell the fresh air, see our surroundings turn slowly from night into day and rest in all that God has done and is doing in our lives.

As the sun was setting, I was reminded once again to reflect the light. The light of God’s love.

And the greatest of these is love! God’s love for us is beyond amazing. Jesus said to us that the greatest commandment was to love the Father and then love our neighbors.

“… So the Pharisees had a meeting. 35 Then one of them, an expert in the Law of Moses, asked Jesus a question to test him. 36 He said, ‘Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?’

37 Jesus answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and most important command. 39 And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’ 40 All of the law and the writings of the prophets take their meaning from these two commands… None of the Pharisees could answer Jesus’ question. And after that day, no one was brave enough to ask him any more questions.” Matthew 22:34-46 CEV

The Pharisees were trying to test and even trick Jesus into a wrong answer; they were looking for something that would discredit him to his followers and better yet, something that would give them reason to prosecute him and silence him in public.

What Jesus did with his answer was discredit the Pharisees.

By giving the answer that He did, Jesus proved that their heart’s motive was anything but love. If they weren’t walking in love toward Him, their neighbor, they weren’t keeping the greatest commandment. He went on to correct them in their thinking about the Messiah as well. No wonder they decided not to ask Him anymore questions.

The Pharisees had all the outward trappings of religion and righteousness but their hearts were wrong. It was a self-righteousness and it was religion instead of relationship. Jesus was talking about a living relationship with the Father. As we spent time loving the Father we will reflect His love to others.

The moon has no light source in itself but it reflects the light of the sun. In the same way, as we spend time absorbing the Father’s love we will reflect that love to others. We can’t give what we don’t have – so as we receive more and more love from the Father we are able to love others more.

“Stay joined together with me, and follow my teachings. If you do this, you can ask for anything you want, and it will be given to you. 8 Show that you are my followers by producing much fruit. This will bring honor to my Father. 9 ‘I have loved you as the Father has loved me. Now continue in my love.'” John 15:7-9 ERV

The fruit we produce is love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness and self control. There is no law against this kind of fruit; in fact, it fulfills the law.

Father, I desire to love You with all that I am and then to reflect Your light, Your love to those around me today.

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“Walk” in Obedience

Have you ever been crippled? Maybe you’ve broken an ankle, a leg or had foot surgery. Perhaps you had a crippling fear that weakened you; possibly you were an emotional cripple or even financially unable to move.

Most of us have been crippled at one point or another. Imagine now that this wasn’t something you could get over and the longer you lived with limitation it began to steal away your hope.

That describes the man Jesus met by the pool side. He had been a cripple for thirty-eight years. 38 years! Thirty-eight years he waited for his miracle and quite frankly I think he had lost hope.

“Many sick people were lying on the porches beside the pool. Some of them were blind, some were crippled, and some were paralyzed. 5 One of the men lying there had been sick for 38 years. 6 Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been sick for a very long time. So he asked him, ‘Do you want to be well?’ 7 The sick man answered, ‘Sir, there is no one to help me get into the water when it starts moving. I try to be the first one into the water. But when I try, someone else always goes in before I can.’” John 5:3-7 ERV

Do you hear him? “Nobody will help me, there’s nothing I can do about my situation, I’m stuck!”

“Then Jesus said, ‘Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ 9 Immediately the man was well. He picked up his mat and started walking.” John 5:8-9 ERV

The man thought there was no help but the power of the Word of God spoken over our lives is life changing.

“ With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 ERV

I’m sure this man sensed the power in Jesus’ words. This was no ordinary man, these were not empty words. They brought hope and hope brought action; this man went from a cripple to a person of determination and strength.

This isn’t just a nice story of healing that happened in the Bible long ago, it is an example to us for today. We have an open invitation to come to God’s throne and when we come, we find the help we need.

“16 Jesus was doing all this on the Sabbath day. So these Jews began trying to make him stop. 17 But he said to them, ‘My Father never stops working, and so I work too.’…19 But Jesus answered, ‘I assure you that the Son can do nothing alone. He does only what he sees his Father doing. The Son does the same things that the Father does.‘” John 5:16-19 ERV

Our Father never stops working! He is still working today and the things He does, He does because He loves us.

“Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of.” Ephesians 3:19-20 ERV

Our part is to walk in obedience.

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Running Over

When our children were young, they would get to go and spend the night with Grama and Grampa quite frequently.

Our son, in particular, was an early riser. When he woke up, he was always hungry and so he would wake up Gram and tell her he needed breakfast. After a few incidents like this, Mom came up with a plan.

She poured a bowl of dry cereal and put it on the kitchen table. Then she poured a small pitcher of milk and let it in the refrigerator. She told our son that he could pour his own milk when he got up and have his cereal without waking anyone else up. Perfect plan – almost.

The next morning son followed the directions to a “t”. He got the milk out of the refrigerator and dumped it into the bowl. You know what happened, right? Yes. As the milk went in the cereal came out, leaving a mess on the table. His bowl runneth over!

That’s the picture I have in my mind’s eye every time I read Psalm 23.

“You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. 2 You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, 3 and you refresh my life. You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths.
4 I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me,
and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe.

5 You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows. 6 Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, Lord.” Psalm 23 CEV

My cup overflows!

In the darkest of times – when I can see death and my enemies surround me – He fills my cup (my bowl) to overflowing. He fills it with His kindness and His love. And it isn’t just a one-time thing. The Lord continually fills my cup all the days of my life.

He protects and He provides. Jesus said that He came to give us a life of abundance.

“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.” John 10:10 ERV

Life with the overflowing presence of God Almighty.

My mom had to clean up the table and the floor because of the overflow of the milk but God isn’t concerned about what spills out. His love and goodness are never wasted. They never run out.

“On that day Jesus stood up and said loudly, “Whoever is thirsty may come to me and drink. 38 If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from their heart. That is what the Scriptures say.” 39 Jesus was talking about the Spirit. ” John 7:37-39 ERV

The Spirit of God fills our hearts to overflowing with the character of Christ. That overflow is evidence to the world that God’s love is everlasting.

As I finish up this morning, a children’s Sunday School song, began to run through my mind. “Running over, running over, my cup is full and running over.”

I pray that you let the love of God fill your cup to full and running over.

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A New Beginning

Today’s the beginning of a new month. Never again will there be a first day of September 2026.

Let’s look at a couple of verses about beginning.

“In the beginning God…” Genesis 1:1a

In the beginning of creation – In the beginning of my life – In the beginning of my current situation – In the beginning GOD! God was there at the very beginning. He will be there halfway through and He will be there at the end!

He has chosen to invest Himself in my life, in my world, in my total existence. Stop and think, meditate, and ponder deeply these words for a few minutes.

“The Word (Christ) was in the beginning. The Word was with God. The Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 He made all things. Nothing was made without Him making it.” John 1:1-3 NLV

He hasn’t pulled back yet and He won’t. He will continue to be involved in all He has created for all eternity – He is the eternal, the everlasting God and Father. And He’s here for you, because He loves you!

Now let’s look at another verse.

“The one who has spoken these things says, ‘I am coming soon!’ So, Lord Jesus, please come soon! 21 I pray that the Lord Jesus will be kind to all of you.” Revelation 22:20-21

It should give you great joy to know that He is coming soon. Yes, with all the uncertainty in the world one thing is certain, He is coming soon. He was and is and will continue to be kind to all. That’s the reason He came – out of love He became our substitute, the sacrifice for our sins so that we can be reconciled to the Father. Forgiveness is ours; new life is ours, restoration is ours – we simply need to receive it as the free gift that it is.

As you focus on your beginning, you’ll find God and as you look to the end you will see that He’s coming quickly and reaching out to us in kindness.

This new beginning, this first day of September 2026, is a day of purpose. A day filled with promise for the future.

“ For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will look for Me and find Me, when you look for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLV

Blessings to you this day and this new month.

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It Is Finished

When I went to bed last night the words of this song came to mind:

It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there’ll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord

Yet in my heart, the battle was still raging
Not all prisoners of war had come home

These were battlefields of my own making
I didn’t know that the war had been won

Oh, but then I heard the king of the ages
He had fought all the battles for me
And the victory, victory is mine for the claiming
And now praise His name, I am free

It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there’ll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord,

When Jesus said those very words on the cross all the angels in heaven and demons in hell knew what He was saying:

“A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:29-30 NLT

Jesus was talking about the work He had been sent to do, reconciling God and man, paying the price for sin, bringing salvation to all. He was talking about sin’s authority in our lives. It is finished – our lives being subject to fear, sin, sickness and separation.

“ He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” I John 2:2 NLT

“The fact is, it was our suffering he took on himself; he bore our pain. But we thought that God was punishing him, that God was beating him for something he did. 5 But he was being punished for what we did. He was crushed because of our guilt. He took the punishment we deserved, and this brought us peace. We were healed because of his pain. 6 We had all wandered away like sheep. We had gone our own way. And yet the Lord put all our guilt on him.” Isaiah 53:4-6 ERV

It is finished – the condemnation and shame.

“ So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 NLT

“‘Don’t be afraid. I saved you. I named you. You are mine. 2 When you have troubles, I am with you. When you cross rivers, you will not be hurt. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not hurt you. 3 That’s because I, the Lord, am your God. I, the Holy One of Israel, am your Savior. ‘” Isaiah 43:1-3 ERV

I want to assure you, I want you to have confidence in what Christ did for each of us on the cross.

“ So be humble under God’s powerful hand. Then he will lift you up when the right time comes. 7 Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:6-7 ERV

God has provided all we need to live victoriously in this life. The enemy’s power has been broken.

It is finished!

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God’s Love Never Fails

If you read yesterday’s blog you will understand my opening comments.

I got up this morning, made another pot of coffee, filling it to the 11-cup mark and I will do that again tomorrow. I enjoy the coffee each morning, I don’t get tired of making it and I am even willing to share it with others.

That’s how I feel about sharing God’s word with each of you, every morning. It was so good to read Psalm 136 this morning. There are thirty verses and thirty times one phrase is repeated, “God’s love never fails”! In another version it says “God’s love endures forever”.

Forever is a long time.

“Praise the Lord! He is good. God’s love never fails. 2 Praise the God of all gods. God’s love never fails. 3 Praise the Lord of lords. God’s love never fails. 4 Only God works great miracles. God’s love never fails.
5 With wisdom he made the sky. God’s love never fails. 6 The Lord stretched the earth
over the ocean. God’s love never fails.7 He made the bright lights in the sky. God’s love never fails. 8 He lets the sun rule each day. God’s love never fails. 9 He lets the moon and the stars rule each night. God’s love never fails.” Psalm 136:1-8 CEV

Before the earth existed, God’s love was there. Before the sky or the oceans, God’s love never failed. Before the sun, moon and stars God’s love always was!

Before you failed to acknowledge His presence, God’s love never failed. Before great accolades and fame, God’s love was there. When we were prodigal and when off to our own devices and ignored His love, God’s love never failed.

I may need to be filled daily with joy, peace, hope, faith but God’s love never fails and He is always there sharing it with me. Reminding me that:

“ God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” John 3:16 CEV

“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful. 9 But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger.” Romans 5:6-9 CEV

Dave just refilled my coffee cup and that brought one more thought to mind about the love of God.

“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:5-6 NLT

God’s goodness and unfailing love pursues me all the days of my life. My cup is running over with His love. His love never fails!

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All In

Many people followed Jesus when he was here on earth. He was a novelty with his healing power and his words of love. He claimed to be the Messiah and as such they expected him to overthrow the government and set up his reign as King.

No more Roman oppression; this man could multiply food; he could walk on water and even raise the dead. He called out hypocrisy and brought a sense of worthiness to the down trodden. Everyone, it seemed, wanted to be one of his followers.

But then came the call for accountability.

Jesus said that the path of following Him would require them to give up their way of life and commit to His. He even said that they would need to “eat of his flesh and drink of his blood” and this they thought was referring to a type of cannibalism and so many of them left and returned to their old way of life.

Jesus was simply saying that they needed to be all in – totally committed – in following Him. So as his followers were leaving, He turned to his disciples and asked this question.

“Because of what Jesus said, many of his disciples turned their backs on him and stopped following him. 67 Jesus then asked his twelve disciples if they were going to leave him. 68 Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words give eternal life. 69 We have faith in you, and we are sure that you are God’s Holy One.'” John 6:66-69 CEV

Our resolve must be that of the disciples. “Where else can we go, you have the words of life?”.

Father, we gladly follow you today. We are not ashamed to be called Christians – Christ-like ones. You gave your life for us and we will live our lives for you!

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Like a Dove

This morning we’re going to spend a few minutes looking at the third person of the Godhead – the Holy Spirit.

When we talk about the Holy Spirit, many times He is referred to as it but He is every bit as much “God” as the Father and the Son. He is the ever present, empowering, victory giving, life changing, comforting, teaching, presence of God.

In the beginning he was there. “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:2

When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, Holy Spirit was there to confirm that Jesus truly was the Son of God. “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:” Mark 1:10

As Jesus began to do signs, wonders and miracles, it was “THE” Spirit who filled Him with power. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” Luke 4:17

He is the same Spirit that Jesus told His disciples would come and empowered them, and us, as well. “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26-27

and

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:13-14

The Spirit of God isn’t pushy but is patient and He purpose is to glorify Jesus and not draw attention to Himself, but he is our power source.

Paul put it this way in Romans. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

The word quicken means to empower or make alive – and that’s what the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit does for us as believers. Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit’s empowering and then they were to go and make disciples.

“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit is here to empower us so that we can make an impact on our world the way the early Christians did in theirs.

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Some Things Bear Repeating

God is faithful!

Please hear me. We are not promised a life without troubling circumstances or battles but we are promised that faith is the victory that overcomes the world. We also have Jesus words to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world.

“ The time will come and is already here when all of you will be scattered. Each of you will go back home and leave me by myself. But the Father will be with me, and I won’t be alone. 33 I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.” John 16:32-33 CEV

Jesus faced His tribulation without the support of earthly friends but He was quick to say “the Father will be with me, I won’t be alone”. So, when you face the world, cheer up (I won’t leave you alone), I have defeated the world.

God is faithful! We are not alone. Cheer up!

“ Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. 5 No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God.” I John 5:4-5 CEV

God is faithful!

“All of you nations, come praise the Lord! Let everyone praise him. 2 God’s love for us is wonderful; his faithfulness never ends. Shout praises to the Lord!” Psalm 117 CEV

It bears repeating – God is faithful. His faithfulness never ends!

“Our Lord, you keep your word and do everything you say. 14 When someone stumbles or falls, you give a helping hand. 15 Everyone depends on you, and when the time is right, you provide them with food. 16 By your own hand you satisfy the desires of all who live. 17 Our Lord, everything you do is kind and thoughtful, 18 and you are near to everyone whose prayers are sincere. 19 You satisfy the desires of all your worshipers, and you come to save them when they ask for help.” Psalm 145:13-19 CEV

God is faithful! He cannot lie.

“God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind.
When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it.” Numbers 23:19 GW

“You are Lord God All-Powerful! No one is as loving and faithful as you are.” Psalm 89:8 CEV

Yes, it bears repeating. God is faithful and His love is never-ending!!

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