Decide:

When you decide to trust someone or something, you are confident about its integrity, strength, or ability. So, in order to trust, the object of your trust must be worthy of your confidence and reliance. For example, we tend to marry someone we trust, and if that relationship remains healthy and continues to grow, the trust level will increase, not decrease.

Father knows best: 

As for our spiritual relationship, we need to realize that God has our best interest in mind. Sometimes we look for immediate gratification, where God is looking at the whole picture and for our future. When these ideas clash, it might be tempting to think, God doesn’t care for me or love me.

Trust God:

We have to learn to trust God and have confidence in Him. No matter what, God is the only one who sees our future, and He’s always looking out for us, for our own good, for our life. You can trust Him.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

Just a thought,

PSS

In the Bible, the importance of mothers is repeatedly emphasized through examples of nurturing and influential women. For instance, Mary, the mother of Jesus, exemplifies obedience and faithfulness. Luke 1:38 recounts her words, “ ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ ” Her readiness to serve God’s purpose, despite the challenges she faced, sets a profound example for all mothers on the virtues of faith, resilience, and unconditional love. It's these qualities that help shape the next generation, guiding them through life's complexities with a steady and wise hand.

On Mother’s Day, we are called to reflect on and appreciate the countless sacrifices made by mothers. Just as Ephesians 6:2-3 instructs, “ ‘Honor your father and mother’ — which is the first commandment with a promise — ‘so that it may go well with you and you may enjoy long life on the earth.’ ” This command reminds us of the respect and reverence we owe to our mothers. Their influence is profound and their love immeasurable. As we celebrate this day, let us acknowledge and give thanks for the myriad ways in which our mothers have shaped our lives, modeling the virtues of Proverbs 31 through their everyday actions and enduring love.

Now we know not every mom was a good one. That should not detour us from following God and praying for their salvation. Let us all strive to honor and serve the Lord God!

Just a thought,

PSS

Fear can cause us to act and react in ways that cause us to fail or consistently come up short in the things we attempt to do. It is so paralyzing. It creates an atmosphere of failure and makes us believe we are not as good as we really are, which in turn will create moments of frustration not only with ourselves but with others as well. Fear is so destructive that it will ruin good relationships with others for no reason — only what we imagine to be true because we will think so little of ourselves.

Fear will always give you a reason you can’t, or shouldn’t even, try. We need to train our minds to believe that with hard work and being committed to God and His word we can overcome anything — we can succeed — we can win. We need to get so addicted to winning and succeeding that we will overcome our fear (fake evidence appearing real) and go for it.

With God all things are possible. It’s about overcoming the doubt that we have in ourselves and especially in God and His word.

Just a thought,

PSS

Fear vs faith:

We cannot now, or ever, allow the world, the government, the media to shame us to conform to this world and its fear. Fear is taught. There was a man speaking to two Amish men, and he asked, “Why aren’t you guys afraid of the virus?” Their response was, “We don’t watch TV!” Fear is taught, and the more we are told to be afraid, and we listen to it — begin to believe it — the harder it will be to serve the Lord. It’s impossible to operate in fear and faith at the same time. Faith in God and His word will dispel fear.

Ignorance vs enlightenment:

The world uses shame to get people into compliance. As believers we are not to be ignorant of the devil’s devices, his ways. The devil works through deception, and I believe a lot of believers have been, and are being deceived. We at times are way too gullible. We don’t question what’s being said; we don’t research it. The result is deception, and we were told not to be deceived. Ephesians 5:6 — Don’t let anyone deceive you with meaningless words. It is because of sins like these that God’s anger comes to those who refuse to obey Him.

The only way not to be deceived is to research and learn what the word of God teaches, and obey Him — no matter what. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Just a thought,

PSS

Managing our time wisely is a key to being successful. If we don’t manage our schedule, our schedule will manage us. In other words, if we don’t prioritize what’s important to us, and for us to do, our time won’t be used to maximize our efforts. We should have schedules — schedules can help us stay focused. Without a schedule, we will waste so much time.  

Prioritizing: 

Some things we hear people say are: “I don’t have enough time,” or “There isn’t enough time in the day.” But there is enough time if we prioritize what are the next important things we need to do. It was important for me to watch my kids participate in sports. So, I would schedule their games on my calendar. It was an appointment. When other things would come up, I would have to decline if they conflicted with that appointment.

Scheduling:

Scheduling our time, properly managing our time, will help us get more done in a day. We allot time for everything — 30 minutes for this, an hour for that. It will increase our productivity as we schedule our time.

Time is so precious, so let’s begin to manage it more efficiently. If we do it right, it will also help alleviate stress and running ourselves ragged.

Just a thought,

PSS

The psalm continues by emphasizing that there is no place where one can escape from God's presence. Whether one ascends to heaven or makes a bed in the depths, God is there. This omnipresence assures us that we are never alone or beyond the reach of God’s care. In the imagery of being woven together in the womb, we see a picture of a God who is not only Creator but also a personal artisan, intricately crafting each person with intention and care. This speaks to each person's unique value and purpose, designed by God Himself.

Toward the conclusion of Psalm 139, the psalmist invites God to search and know his heart, to test him and know his anxious thoughts, and to lead him in the way everlasting. This is not only a recognition of God's complete knowledge but also a submission to God's lordship and guidance. It reflects a trust in God’s goodness and a desire to be led by Him away from the ways of wickedness. The God of the universe isn’t just a cosmic observer — He is a personal guide and redeemer who knows us thoroughly and loves us completely.

Just a thought,

PSS

A lot of people are still doing what the angels asked about in Luke 24:5 when they said, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” We still look for life in things that cannot give it. Some look to money. Some look to success. Some look to control. Some look to approval. But anything that can die cannot give you life. Only Jesus can do that. Only Jesus can forgive sin, heal what is broken, lift the weight of shame, and give real peace to the human heart.

So, this Easter, do not just celebrate a holiday. Come to the living Christ. Do not settle for religion, routine, or memory when you can know the risen Savior for yourself. The same Jesus who conquered death still saves, still restores, and still calls people by name. The stone was rolled away, the grave is empty, and hope is alive. Only one God lives, and His name is Jesus.    

Just a thought,

PSS

“Hosanna” means “save us now,” but the tension is this … they wanted rescue without surrender. They wanted Jesus to fix their situation, but not rule their lives. And if we are not careful, we can do the same thing. We can cry out for God to move, bless, and intervene, while still holding onto areas of our lives that we refuse to surrender. You can celebrate Jesus as Savior and still resist Him as King.

Preparing the way is not about a moment, it is about a heart. It is removing anything that resists His rule and allowing Jesus to be who He truly is, not who we want Him to be. The question is not whether He will be King, because one day every knee will bow. The question is whether we will choose to surrender now. Do not just say, “Save me now.” Let Him rule now.             

Just a thought, 

PSS

Because of this pain, ordinary words are often misinterpreted to mean something negative towards them. Have you ever met someone who is overly sensitive? That no matter what you say, they seem to take it wrong. They are extremely sensitive and act out of pain and fear instead of reality. This emotional pain causes them to suspect wrong motives behind others’ actions toward them. That hurt causes them to use the words "unfair" or "unjust" to describe the way they are being treated, even if there is no truth to it.

Hurt can cause paranoia; it’s very deceptive. This is why hurting people hurt people. We allow that hurt to destroy our lives. No wonder Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted. Hurt causes so much pain to the person who has been hurt and to those around them. If you have experienced hurt, God often exposes it so that He can heal it. Instead of hiding it, begin to deal with it, and ask God to heal it so that you can live a more peaceful and fulfilled life.

Just a thought,

PSS

And suddenly you are left asking questions like: “Where is God in this? Why did this happen? Did I miss something?”

Most people assume that when God is working we will see it clearly. We expect obvious signs and clear direction and moments where everything makes sense. But sometimes life feels like a chapter where nothing is happening except loss. The hardest question people ask is this: “Where is God in this?” That question sits right in the middle of the book of Ruth, because when Ruth begins, Naomi’s life looks less like a blessing and more like a slow unraveling. But what Naomi cannot see is that God is already writing redemption in the background. And that is often how God works. God does some of His greatest work when it looks like nothing is happening at all.

Loss

When Life Empties Out

Ruth 1:1–5

In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So, a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband.

The story begins with famine. A man named Elimelech takes his family from Bethlehem to Moab just to survive. At first it seems practical. Maybe even wise. But then the unraveling begins. Elimelech dies. Naomi’s two sons marry Moabite women. Then both sons die. And suddenly Naomi is left with nothing. Three widows. No husband. No sons. No security. In that culture, that meant something terrifying. It meant no future.

Loss has a way of rewriting how we see everything.

Ruth 1:20–21

“Don’t call me Naomi, she responded. Instead call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”

The name Naomi means pleasant. The name Mara means bitter. Naomi is saying, “My life used to make sense but now everything tastes bitter.” You can almost hear the exhaustion in her voice. She is not giving a theological lecture. She is just being honest. She is basically saying, “I did everything right, and my life still fell apart.” And if we are honest, there are people in this room who have felt the same way. You prayed. You believed. You trusted God. And yet life did not unfold the way you expected. But here is what Naomi cannot see. God is not absent. God is quietly working behind the scenes. Oswald Chambers said, “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.”

Loyalty

When Faith Appears in Unexpected Places

Right in the middle of Naomi’s bitterness something remarkable happens. Ruth speaks.

Ruth 1:16

“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.’ ” Ruth is a Moabite. She is an outsider. She is someone who does not belong to Israel. But Ruth refuses to abandon Naomi. She says, “Wherever you go I will go. Wherever you live I will live. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God.”

This is more than loyalty. This is conversion. Ruth is choosing the God of Israel over the gods of Moab. There is a powerful Hebrew word used earlier in this moment. Ruth 1:14 says, “Ruth clung to Naomi.” The Hebrew word is dabaq. It means to cling tightly, to hold fast, to attach yourself to someone. It is the same word used in Genesis 2:24 when it says a husband shall be joined to his wife. It describes covenant loyalty. Ruth is saying, “I am not leaving you.” Even in Naomi’s bitterness God had already placed the first piece of redemption beside her.

Sometimes the first sign that God is working is not a miracle. Sometimes it is simply a faithful person refusing to leave your side. You might think God has abandoned you. But God may have already placed someone in your life that is evidence He is still working. Charles Spurgeon said,

“God is too good to be unkind and too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.”

Providence

When God Is Quietly Arranging Things

Eventually Naomi and Ruth return to Bethlehem. They are poor. They have no land. They have no security. So, Ruth goes out to gather leftover grain in the fields. And then we read something fascinating.

Ruth 2:3

“So, Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz.” The phrase “as it happened” sounds like coincidence. But the Hebrew language is actually almost humorous. The wording suggests something like her chance chanced upon the field of Boaz. From Ruth’s perspective, it looks random. But from God’s perspective, it is providence. Providence means God is arranging events even when we cannot see it. Ruth just happens to end up in Boaz’s field. Boaz just happens to notice her. Boaz just happens to be a close relative. But nothing about this is accidental. What looks random to us is often intentional to God. A. W. Tozer said, “A low view of God is the cause of a hundred lesser evils.” God is never reacting. God is always orchestrating.

Redemption

When God Was Working All Along

Boaz was what the Old Testament called a redeemer. The Hebrew word is ga’al. It describes a kinsman redeemer, a close family member who had both the right and the responsibility to step in when a family experienced loss. If land had been lost, the redeemer could buy it back. If a family line was about to disappear, the redeemer could marry the widow and preserve the family name. The redeemer restored what had been broken so the family would not disappear. That is exactly what Naomi needed. Her husband was gone. Her sons were gone. Her future looked finished. But Boaz had the ability to step in and restore what had been lost. So, Boaz redeems the land. He marries Ruth. And Naomi’s family is given a future again.

By the end of the book Naomi is holding a grandson in her arms.

Ruth 4:17

The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again.” The woman who said she was empty is now full again. But the redemption story is even bigger than Naomi realizes. That child becomes the grandfather of King David. And generations later Jesus Christ will be born from that same family line. Naomi thought her story was ending. But God was writing a redemption story that would reach the entire world. 

The Bible tells an even bigger redemption story. Humanity lost what we could not restore. Sin broke what we could not fix. And just like Naomi needed a redeemer, we needed one too. That is why Jesus came.

1Peter 1:18–19

“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” Jesus stepped in to restore what sin had taken.

Some people listening today may feel like Naomi. Life did not unfold the way you expected. Plans   fell apart. Loss came. And you may have wondered where God is in all of this. But Naomi’s story teaches us something powerful. God was writing redemption the whole time. Just because you cannot see what God is doing does not mean He is not working.

The God of Scripture specializes in bringing life out of nowhere. Joseph thought his life was ruined in a prison cell, but God was positioning him for a palace. David thought he was forgotten in a field, but God was preparing him for a throne. Naomi thought her story had ended, but God was preparing the family line of the Messiah.

Romans 8:28

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

Just a thought,

PSS

Many times, the very thing we think is a disadvantage becomes the instrument God uses. What we see as weakness, limitation, or an ordinary circumstance may actually be the place where God chooses to work. The Bible is full of examples of God using people and moments others would dismiss. God has never needed perfect people or perfect situations. He simply needs willing hearts.

So, if you find yourself waiting for God to move, don’t assume He has forgotten you. The answer may not look the way you pictured it, but that does not mean it isn’t on the way. God still hears when His people cry out, and He still brings deliverance in ways that remind us He alone is the Deliverer.

Just a thought,

PSS

Achan said I saw, I wanted, I took, I hid. That is still the progression today. It starts small. It feels private. It seems manageable. But what is buried in secret eventually weakens what we are building in public. You are only as healthy as what you are willing to bring into the light. God is not trying to shame you. He is trying to free you. The light is not a threat to the believer. It is an invitation to healing.

The valley of Trouble in Joshua became a door of Hope in Hosea. That is the Gospel. What could have destroyed you can become the very place God restores you if you will bring it into the light. Do not wait for exposure. Choose confession. Freedom is always on the other side of honesty. We bring it into the light by confessing our sins to God so He can forgive us and heal us. That’s the way we stay in relationship with Him.      

Just a thought, 

PSS

Sometimes the greatest barrier to experiencing grace is not our past but our perception. We convince ourselves that we have gone too far, failed too much, or waited too long. But God has never been intimidated by anyone’s history. He is not looking for those who have it all together. He is looking for those who will trust Him. Grace does not begin when you become worthy. Grace begins when you believe. The moment faith rises, grace moves.

And maybe the deeper challenge is not just believing that grace can reach us, but believing it can reach others. God is still writing redemption stories. He is still calling people out of darkness and into His family. He is still surprising us with whom He chooses and how He works. Our role is not to decide who qualifies. Our role is to trust His grace, receive it fully, and extend it freely.               

Just a thought,

PSS

Frenemies:

Excellent is defined as: extremely good, outstanding, extraordinary, pre-eminent. When you begin to excel, you will find that people, coworkers, may look for ways to hold you back and tear you down. How should you deal with those who cheer at your failure and even try to cause it to happen?

Holiness:

Conduct your life above reproach. That doesn’t mean perfectly — it simply means you will have nothing to hide. You work hard and produce. You purpose to live a life that would be hard to criticize. You may get criticized for your faith, but not because of the way you act or work. Learn to walk and live according to the word of God — in holiness, living a moral and pure life, serving the Lord in a way that pleases Him, separating yourself for His service.

Purpose:

An excellent spirit is purposing to live a life honoring God, purposing to do things right, not the good-enough attitude. You work hard and purpose to be outstanding or extremely good. It’s becoming more and more difficult to find people who possess an excellent spirit about them. But we can all strive to be better, do better, and live better.

Let’s live a life with excellence.

Just a thought,

PSS

There’s also another side of conviction we don’t talk about enough. Conviction is not just something we feel, it’s something we decide. It’s when we settle in our hearts ahead of time that God’s word is true, even if we’re standing alone. Caleb had that kind of conviction. He didn’t deny the giants. He just refused to let fear rewrite what God had promised.

Here are the questions worth asking: “When conviction shows up in my life, do I soften my heart or harden my position? Do I let God change me, or do I blend in to stay comfortable?” God isn’t looking for perfect people, but He is looking for loyal hearts. And conviction, uncomfortable as it may be, is often proof that He’s still working in us.

Just a thought,

PSS

What Pharaoh did not realize was that his decree could not cancel what God had already ordained. The same river meant for destruction became the place of deliverance. The very system designed to kill Hebrew children became the pathway God used to raise up a deliverer. When God has purposed something, even opposition is often used as preparation.

Here is the thought. Fear attacks the future, but God always protects His promise. What feels like pressure may actually be positioning. What feels like delay may be divine protection. And what the enemy intends for destruction, God still knows how to turn into deliverance.

Just a thought.

                — PSS

Don’t look back:

“But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13b-14).” “But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God’ (Luke 9:62).” The apostle Paul says he forgets those things which are behind so he can reach forward to those things which are ahead. Then Jesus says we cannot follow Him if we are going to keep looking back and rehearsing our past.

 Let go and let God:

God is in the now and the future. Our pasts, if we cling to them, will cause us to stumble and never allow us to move forward in our lives. As people (including me), we need to learn to let go of those things we cannot do anything about. Whatever it is has happened: we cannot unring the bell.

Live in the present:

So, let’s live in the present — right now. That is where God is — He is with us now. Letting go of past hurts, past mistakes, past regrets can be a tough job. But if we believe, God will help us to be healed, set free, delivered from what transpired in our past.

Let’s focus on today, and let God know how much we appreciate Him!

Just a thought,

PSS

The teachings of Mark 11:22–24 call on believers to have unwavering faith, especially in times of adversity. When faced with doubts, fears, or seemingly insurmountable obstacles, believers are encouraged to lean on their faith, recognizing that with God, all things are possible. This is not a call for passive resignation, but rather an active trust that invites believers to partner with the divine, acknowledge the vastness of God's power, and understand that our human perspective is limited. In doing so, believers can find strength, resilience, and hope, knowing that they are held within the comforting embrace of a loving God.

Having faith in God also shapes how we interact with the world around us. It provides a foundation of hope, guiding us to act with kindness, compassion, and love. It instills a sense of purpose, anchoring us during times of tumult and ensuring that we remain grounded in our convictions. Through faith, we learn to see challenges not as deterrents but as opportunities for growth and deeper understanding. We learn that every trial has a purpose, and through unwavering trust in God, we can navigate life's complexities with grace, wisdom, and an enduring spirit.

Just a thought,

PSS

The sacrifice:

A sacrifice is not really a sacrifice unless something means a lot to us — unless we really want to do something. It’s something we give up for someone or something else. If it doesn’t mean anything to us, it’s not really a sacrifice at all.

He paid it all:

“Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay His head’ ” (Matthew 8:20 NLT). Following Jesus will not always be easy or comfortable. It will often require great sacrifice of what we want, and doing what God’s word teaches. Following Christ, to do what He asks, may cost us popularity, friendship, leisure time, or convenience.

Pay the price:

The price of following Christ is saying and doing, “Not my will, but let His will be done.” It is our choice! Too many of us believe we can follow Christ, and do whatever we want. We follow Christ, and do what He requires us to do. It is our choice. Whatever we are unwilling to let go of may be the very thing that costs us our eternal salvation.

Being a disciple of Christ may not always be easy, but it will always be worth it. Again, it is our choice.

Just a thought,

PSS

Paul didn’t measure his life by comfort, applause, or ease. He measured it by faithfulness. At the end of his life, he didn’t say he had it easy; he said he finished well. That kind of finish doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through daily surrender, staying anchored in God’s Word, and choosing obedience even when it’s costly.

One day, each of us will stand before the Lord, and what will matter most is not how popular we were, but whether we kept the faith. So, live today with eternity in mind. Run your race with purpose. Finish strong. Leave a legacy that lasts.

Just a thought,

PSS

Surrender isn’t a vague spiritual idea; it’s very practical. In the simplest sense, surrender means laying down the right to always have things your way. In Scripture, surrender carries the idea of placing yourself under authority — choosing obedience over preference and trust over control. It’s saying, “God, You outrank me.” Surrender shows up not just in what we believe, but in what we do after God speaks.

The Bible says every knee will bow to Jesus. The only real question is when. Grace gives us the opportunity to bow now — not out of fear, but out of trust. Surrender isn’t loss; it’s freedom. Because the safest place in the world is under the authority of a good King — and the King who asks for our surrender is the same King who gave His life for us.

Just a thought,

          PSS

The danger is not in having things, but in expecting things to do what only Christ can do. When we look to money, relationships, comfort, or control to give us peace and identity, we place a weight on them they were never meant to carry. That’s why contentment doesn’t come from having more, but from treasuring the right thing. When Christ becomes our treasure, circumstances lose their power to rule our joy.

This Christmas, the invitation is not to upgrade our lifestyle, but to receive a Savior. Jesus did not come to add something to our lives — He came to be our life. And when Christ is enough, we discover what Paul learned long ago: true satisfaction is not found in what we gain, but in whom we belong to.

Just a thought,

      — PSS

That’s how God works in our lives too. When you feel like heaven is quiet, don’t assume God has forgotten you. He is setting things in motion that you can’t see yet. He’s aligning opportunities, strengthening your faith, and preparing you for what He has already planned. God is never late — He is always precise. And sometimes the quiet seasons end up being the seasons where God does His greatest work in us and around us.

So, if you’ve been praying, believing, and waiting… don’t give up. God hears every prayer, remembers every tear, and honors every step of faith. When He breaks the silence, things begin to move quickly. Trust that He is preparing something good, something purposeful, something bigger than you imagined. Your silence is not wasted — it’s a setup for God to speak again.

Just a thought,

- PSS

Endurance doesn’t mean you don’t get tired. It doesn’t mean you don’t feel discouraged. It simply means you refuse to quit. You keep walking even when it’s uphill. You keep trusting even when the answers seem delayed. You stay on the narrow path because you know God is working in the unseen places — producing something in you that comfort could never produce. When you stand in grace, hardship becomes shaping, and trials turn into training.

So, whatever you’re facing today, don’t turn back and don’t lose heart. God is more committed to your transformation than your temporary comfort. He started a good work in you, and He will be faithful to finish it. Keep your eyes on Him, stay the course, and let endurance do its work.

Just a thought, 

        — PSS

I’ve realized that many believers confuse inconvenience with sacrifice. Being inconvenienced interrupts my preferences — but it doesn’t cost me anything meaningful. Sacrifice, on the other hand, always costs something of value. It stretches my faith, confronts my flesh, and calls me to place something on God’s altar that actually matters. When Paul tells us to be a “living sacrifice,” he isn’t talking about giving God the leftovers of our time or our energy. He’s talking about living in a constant posture of surrender — staying on the altar even when comfort calls us off of it.

Maybe today is a good day for all of us to evaluate: Am I offering God inconvenience, or am I offering Him sacrifice? One leads to the same life I’ve always had. The other leads to transformation. The narrow path may be harder, but it’s where God shapes us, strengthens us, and grows us into who He has called us to be.

Just a Thought

      - PSS

Innate fears vs acquired fears:

We are born with two fears: fear of falling and fear of loud noises. All other fears are learned. We are taught to fear or we have experienced something in our lives that created fear. Fear is said to be an acronym for false evidence appearing real. One study found that sixty percent of things feared never take place. Ninety percent of things feared are considered insignificant issues. Six million three hundred thousand Americans have a diagnosed fear. God says He has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (NLT).

Godly fear: 

There is another fear that is healthy — it’s the beginning of wisdom. That is the fear of the Lord. This fear is not being afraid; it’s not fear of His wrath or a fear of eternal damnation. It is an affection for God — a reverence of Him. This is a healthy fear which is consistent with strong faith, great joy, and true courage. It’s an awesome dread of displeasing God — a deep respect of God.

Choosing your fear: 

People today believe they can become wise by life experience and academic knowledge alone. You get to choose your fear. One choice leads to the fear or fears the world brings: fear of flying, fear of failure, fear of death, fear of the dark, etc. There are so many of them. We can and will overcome our fears when we submit to the fear of God, when we serve Him because He is good and we respect Him enough to purpose to live by His word. The fear of the Lord is given to us when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The fear of the Lord has no bad consequences with it — only hope.

So, let’s choose the fear that will bring blessing to our lives — the fear of the Lord.

Just a thought,

PSS

Generosity is the same; it’s an acquired taste. We’re born with a taste to take, but when we’re born again, we’re reborn with a taste to give. In the Hebrew, the word generous means “of noble birth and noble character.” That means when you’re born into God’s family, generosity isn’t just something you do — it’s who you are. Noble people act differently. They rise above pettiness, overlook insult, and live openhandedly, knowing everything they have came from God.

When you live with that kind of noble spirit, you begin to experience the goodness of God on a deeper level. Life becomes richer. Your heart lighter. Your faith stronger. Because every time you trust, obey, and give, you’re tasting more of who God is — and finding out that His goodness never runs out.

Just a thought,

PSS

We live in a world where everyone does what seems right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). People follow their feelings, redefine truth, and call it freedom — but God calls it deception (Jeremiah 17:9). The problem isn’t that the path looks wrong; the problem is that it seems right. That’s why so many end up hurt, lost, or far from God — because they trusted their feelings more than His Word (Psalm 119:105).

The answer isn’t to follow your heart — it’s to follow God’s direction. His Word is the only map that never changes (Isaiah 40:8). When we walk His way, it leads to life and peace (Romans 8:6). But when we follow our own, it leads to frustration and destruction (Matthew 7:13–14). The way that seems right may feel good now, but only God’s way ends good.

Just a Thought. 

      — PSS

The truth is, storms will always come. But the storms aren’t the real danger — losing sight of Jesus is. Problems will rise up, challenges will come, and distractions will try to steal our focus. Yet Jesus never moves. He is steady, faithful, and strong. All He asks is that we keep our eyes fixed on Him, not the chaos around us.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” The safest place you’ll ever be is not inside the boat, not even on dry land — the safest place is walking toward Jesus. No matter what storms you face, don’t take your eyes off Him.

Just a thought.

                              – PSS

But when righteousness increases, joy follows. A godly parent creates peace in a home. A righteous leader brings stability to a nation. A faithful believer brings hope to their community. Leadership always sets the tone — and the fruit of it is either rejoicing or groaning.

The answer is always the same: return to God’s Word. Psalm 119:105 reminds us, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” His Word anchors us in truth, steadies us in chaos, and gives vision when the world is blind. The world doesn’t need more noise — it needs God’s Word, lived out boldly and faithfully.

Just a thought.

                              — PSS

Jesus said in Luke 12:8–9, “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels” (NLT). That’s why endurance matters. The word endure means to bear up under something hard, to remain when it would be easier to run. Faith is proven not by starting strong, but by enduring faithfully to the end.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s obedience to God in spite of it. Like someone once said, “It’s all right to have butterflies in your stomach — just get them to fly in formation.” Courage is contagious, endurance is necessary, and cowardice is deadly. Every believer is called to live boldly for Christ no matter what. Cowards don’t go to heaven.

Just a thought,

PSS

As unto the Lord:

The Bible does say whatever you do in word or deed, do everything as unto the Lord. How we treat people, how we raise our children, how we talk, and how we think should be dictated by God’s word (the Bible). The only way this is really going to happen — where we see not temporary fixes to our life but permanent ones — is to seek Him, serve Him wholeheartedly. 

Wholeheartedly:

Wholeheartedly means with complete sincerity and commitment; genuinely, enthusiastically, energetically. This is the way we should seek and serve Him. It will lead to greater success in our lives — true success, lasting success — if we will seek Him wholeheartedly, expressing our wholehearted support for God’s ways. The only way we truly know His ways is to know His word. He knows what we need and how we receive His blessings. We just need to seek Him wholeheartedly — purposing to do His will and His word, wherever we go and whatever we do.

Halfheartedly:

Halfheartedly means without enthusiasm or energy; lacking heart, spirit, or interest. How are you seeking Him: wholeheartedly or halfheartedly?

Your choice — it’s either one or the other.

Just a thought,

PSS

But there are also times when silence is dangerous. Proverbs 26:5 says, Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation (NLT). If we let lies, false teaching, or foolishness go unchecked, people can be misled. Love sometimes requires us to speak up, not to win an argument but to protect truth and point people back to Jesus.

The key is discernment — knowing when to be silent and when to speak. Jesus modeled both. Before Pilate, He remained silent. With the Pharisees, He confronted. With His disciples, He patiently taught truth. Our job is to follow His example, letting the cross be the offense, not our attitude. When we speak with grace and truth, we rise above the noise of this world and point people to Him.

Just a Thought

                    – PSS

Peter discovered this when he followed Jesus at a distance and warmed himself at the enemy’s fire. Before he knew it, he was denying the very One he loved. Fear polluted his spring. But here’s the good news — Jesus didn’t throw away Peter. He restored him and filled him with boldness through the Holy Spirit. What once was polluted became pure again, and Peter went on to preach boldly to thousands.

The same God who restored Peter can cleanse your life today. Don’t let the “little foxes” or the “little leaven” spread. Decide now, as Daniel did, that you will not defile yourself. Keep your spring pure, your light shining, and your salt salty. The world is thirsty, and some will taste Jesus through you only. Let them taste and see that the Lord is good.

Just a Thought

                             – PSS

David ends that verse by saying, “Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him.” That word refuge is chasah, which means to run to someone for shelter because you trust them to protect you. It’s not passive hiding — it’s active trust. When life gets hard, do we run to distractions or do we run to the One who can actually shelter our souls? The joy comes not from being perfect, but from knowing where to run and whom to run to.

You see, the Lord really is an acquired taste — not because He’s lacking, but because we’re so used to feeding on the junk of this world. The more we taste and trust Him, the more we realize nothing else satisfies. Today, don’t just stand near the table of God’s goodness — pull up a seat and eat. He’s better than you think. But you’ll never know unless you taste.

Just a Thought — PSS

Get understanding:

Solomon describes the value of wisdom. Proverbs uses the term wisdom in reference to something more than mere intelligence or knowledge. Biblical wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge in a godly way. The capacity to follow God’s will is incredibly valuable, more so than any material possession ever would be. Nothing a person can desire can compare with wisdom. This includes all possessions, accolades, and luxuries.

Get wisdom:

A person may desire fame or fortune, but wisdom is far better. Instead of believing God for things all the time, maybe we should seek wisdom above all else. It’s wisdom that will cause us to be successful in life. Let’s seek wisdom and watch what God does in our lives. 

Wisdom!

Just a thought,

PSS

My way:

So many today want to live any way they want to. This type of thinking separates us from God and grieves the Holy Spirit, keeping Him from being able to work in our lives. So, we must embrace the whole Bible and purpose to live it, knowing we will make mistakes. The only way to really know when we make mistakes is by hearing and believing God’s word. Without it we are lost.

 The easy way:

So many set aside God’s word when things are difficult or they are afraid. We side with evil over God’s word because we think it is easier, or we somehow misinterpret the word of God. Lack of knowledge is destroying so many lives.

His way:

We must learn the word of God and act on it, regardless of what the world is saying or teaching. God is always right! His ways are always the best ways! His thoughts are always better than our thoughts! Until we believe that, we will continually be like children, tossed to and fro by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine.

The Church is the only thing holding back evil. We can’t be true believers and ignore parts of the word of God. True believers believe it all, no matter what!

Just a thought,

PSS

That’s important, because you and I can’t produce that kind of heart on our own. We can scrub the outside, polish our behavior, and look like we have it together, but only God can reach into the depths of our being and make us ṭāhôr — completely pure before Him. This is more than being forgiven; it’s being transformed from the inside out.

When we pray as David did, we’re admitting that our greatest need isn’t just a fresh start — it’s a new heart. And the good news is, God still answers that prayer. If you’ll surrender, He will create in you what you could never create yourself. And that changes everything.

Just a thought,

PSS

Too often, we blame God for messes He never made. We ask Him to bless decisions we never prayed about. And when things don’t work out, we cry out, “God, why?” But God isn’t the one who ran the red light — we did. Yet even in our failure, God is faithful. He still invites us to return, repent, and rebuild. His grace is big enough to meet us where we are and strong enough to lead us where we need to be.

So, if you’ve made a mess, don’t run from God — run to Him. Pause. Pray. Pursue wisdom. Start fresh. Because no matter how fast or far you’ve gone, God’s wisdom is still available, and His mercy is still new. Slow down, listen, and let Him guide your next step.

Just a thought,

PSS

At the heart of any challenging conversation is the desire for understanding and resolution. Active listening becomes crucial, allowing both parties to express their feelings and concerns without interruption. A successful dialogue is built on mutual respect and an understanding that the intention is not to win an argument, but to achieve clarity and, hopefully, find common ground. Additionally, it's vital to approach these interactions with an open mind, free from preconceived judgments. This mindset ensures that the conversation remains constructive, rather than escalating into a heated argument. James 1:19-20 exhorts us that “Everyone should be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath, because the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

In both personal and professional settings, embracing difficult conversations can lead to deeper connections, increased trust, and a clearer path forward. By confronting issues head-on and with empathy, we not only address the immediate concern but also pave the way for more open communication in the future. While it's never easy to dive into sensitive topics, the rewards — strengthened relationships, resolved conflicts, and personal growth — are well worth the effort.

Just a thought,

PSS

The enemy loves to isolate you in the storm, convincing you that distance from God and His people will bring relief. But that’s a lie. Healing, peace, and strength are found only in connection — to God’s Word, God’s presence, and the people He’s placed in your life. Hebrews 10:25 reminds us not to neglect meeting together, because we were never designed to carry life alone.

So, when life gets heavy, don’t retreat — run. Run to His promises, run to His presence, run to the family of God. There is safety in the name of the Lord and strength in the community of believers. The question isn’t if the storm will come — the question is, where will you run?

Just a thought,

PSS

Jesus didn’t say, “Blessed are the right” — He said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” And being a peacemaker doesn’t mean we ignore truth, but that we speak it in love. It means we stop chasing “wins” in arguments and start fighting for peace in our homes, our churches, and our conversations. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is be quiet, forgive, and let God defend you.

Maybe today, God is asking you to stop lifting the floodgate, close the door on drama, and open your heart to healing. A crust with peace is far better than a feast with conflict. Choose peace — not just for yourself, but for the people around you. 

Just a thought,

PSS

We all make plans. We plan our days, our futures, our families, even our vacations. But here’s the real question: are we planning with God or just asking Him to bless what we’ve already decided? Proverbs 16 reminds us that while we can make our own plans, it’s the Lord who gives the right answer and determines our steps. Planning isn’t the problem — planning without God is.

Most people roll their problems to God, but not their plans. We wait until things fall apart, then beg Him to clean up the mess. But God doesn’t want to be our last resort — He wants to be our starting point. Wisdom says, “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” That Hebrew word galal means “to roll” — it’s not just handing something over; it’s transferring the full weight and ownership to Him.

Here’s the truth: surrendering to God’s will doesn’t mean giving up on success — it means trusting Him with the definition of success. Joseph had a God-given dream, but the road looked nothing like what he expected. Betrayal, slavery, prison. Yet through it all, God was directing his steps. Don’t assume delays mean defeat. Trust Him with the plan — and the process.

Just a thought,

PSS

Religion knows how to put on a show. You can raise your hands in worship, serve faithfully, even quote Scripture — and still have a heart far from God. What moves God isn’t outward behavior — it’s inward surrender. He’s not looking for perfect people; He’s looking for honest ones. The tax collector in Luke 18 didn’t have it all together, but he humbled himself — and Jesus said he went home justified.

So today, let this be a reminder: God isn’t asking you to be impressive — He’s asking you to be honest. Drop the act. Stop trying to fake it. Let your pursuit be real. Because God doesn’t miss a thing — and He delights in the one who humbles himself before Him.

Just a thought,

PSS

The Bible warns us that there’s a path that seems right but ends in death (Proverbs 14:12). That means our feelings aren’t always a good guide. What feels good isn’t always good. And what feels right isn’t always right. When we remove the fear of God, we remove the foundation of truth — and when truth goes, confusion takes over. But when God is your foundation, clarity comes. Peace comes. Life begins.

So don’t let the world disciple you. Don’t trade truth for trends or applause. The fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain. Let’s choose God’s wisdom over the world’s noise — because when truth is restored, life is restored.

Just a thought,  

PSS

The rest of that verse says, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. That’s not just about getting what you want — it’s pointing to something deeper. In Genesis and Revelation, the tree of life represents eternal communion with God. In other words, even when your hope is deferred, God is working toward a fulfillment bigger than your moment — He’s anchoring you to eternity.

So, if you’re in a season of waiting, don’t give up. Hope in Jesus never dies. It’s never lost — just not done yet. Keep walking, even if it feels like Emmaus. Jesus is walking beside you. Your story isn’t over — He’s still writing it.

Just a thought,

PSS

Life or death:

The Bible talks about the tongue and how it has the ability to speak life or death — not just into our lives, but into the lives of others as well. We can always talk negatively, and let things come out of our mouths that will constantly be a hindrance to us, or we can speak life — positively speak those things which can help and affect our lives in good ways.

Choose this day:

We get to choose what comes out of our mouths. When I say things like, “I’m no good; I’m never going to make it,” that actually makes me feel bad about myself and affects my outlook on life. But when I begin to speak life, I feel better about myself, and I see life in a better light. We choose every day how we react to situations.

Think on these things:

Start speaking life, start talking positively, get away from bad news, and start talking about what is right in life. Think on things that are good.

Just a thought,

PSS

Jesus asked a sobering question in Mark 8:36: “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” You can be known for success, style, and influence — but if your soul is empty and your heart far from God, that kind of legacy ends at the grave. Legacy isn’t about being remembered — it’s about pointing people to the One worth remembering: Jesus. That’s why we must choose the old ways — the God-honoring ways — because they lead to life, not just applause.

So what will you be known for: a reputation that fades — or a legacy that lasts? Ask yourself today: “Am I living for the temporary or the eternal?” because the life you’re building today will be the story others tell tomorrow. Let’s live it well.

Just a thought,

PSS

The Self-Focused Drift:

We live in a world that constantly asks, “What’s in it for me?” That thinking seeps into the Church too. We show up hoping to be served, entertained, inspired — but not always to serve. It’s easy to fall into that trap. But Jesus didn’t come to be served. He came to serve — and told us to do the same.

The Generous Life:

Proverbs 11:25 says, “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” That’s God’s economy. When we give — our time, our resources, our hearts — God multiplies it. He blesses the giver. The contributor lives large because they’re building something eternal. They don’t just show up to church; they are the Church.

Living Beyond Ourselves:

A consumer keeps everything small — their vision, their faith, their impact. A contributor thinks kingdom-wide. They ask, “How can I build? Whom can I help? Where can I serve?” When we shift from taking to giving, from spectating to participating, everything changes. That’s when God steps in and does what only He can do.

Let’s be faithful to show up, serve well, and give big. Let’s be contributors.

Just a thought,

PSS

1 Peter 1:6–7 reminds us that trials reveal the genuineness of our faith. They don’t come to destroy us but to refine us. You might be in a season right now where you’re praying, “Lord, take this away,” but maybe God’s saying, “Let it grow.” The very thing you’re asking Him to remove might be the exact thing He’s using to develop you. Corrie Ten Boom once said, “Don’t pray for a lighter load; pray for a stronger back.” Sometimes God doesn’t remove the weight — He strengthens your spirit to carry it.

So don’t waste your trial. Let it grow something in you. God is more interested in your character than your comfort, in who you’re becoming rather than what you’re achieving. Stay planted. Stay faithful. The grind may be uncomfortable, but it’s producing something valuable. Keep going — God is growing you in ways you can’t yet see.

Just a thought, 

PSS

When we walk in wisdom, we’re not just being smart or cautious — we’re aligning ourselves with the very foundation of creation. Wisdom isn’t optional for the believer; it’s essential. If God used it to build the world, shouldn’t we use it to build our lives, our homes, our relationships, and our decisions? Wisdom is not just for the old or the educated; it’s for anyone who fears the Lord and humbles themself to seek His way over their own.

So today, before you speak, react, or make that next big decision — ask yourself: “Am I walking in God’s wisdom, or just doing what feels good or sounds popular?” One leads to life, the other to regret. Choose wisdom — it was there from the beginning for a reason.

Just a thought, 

PSS

Our culture doesn’t just tolerate the things God hates — it celebrates them. Pride is called self-confidence. Lies are rebranded as personal truth. Division is sold as honesty. But we cannot afford to agree with the world when it disagrees with God. Romans 12:9 tells us, “Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” If we love what God loves, we will hate what hurts the people He loves. That includes rooting out compromise in our own lives, not just criticizing the world around us. Wisdom doesn’t flirt with sin — it flees from it.

So let me ask you — have you made peace with something God hates? Maybe pride, gossip, bitterness, or even silence in the face of sin? God’s not waiting to crush you — He’s inviting you to repent and align your heart with His again. His grace is real. His truth still stands. And His smile is worth more than culture’s applause.

Just a thought,

PSS

When we give first, we’re saying, “God, I trust You to provide, not my paycheck.” And when we welcome correction, we’re saying, “God, I believe You love me enough to grow me.” Both moments stretch us — but they also build a deeper, stronger relationship with the Lord. Trust is the foundation of that relationship, and it’s revealed most clearly in how we respond to God when things get real.

So ask yourself: “Do I trust God enough to give Him my first? Do I trust Him enough to receive His correction?” Because trust isn’t proven by what you say — it’s proven by how you respond when it gets real.

Just a thought,

PSS

On Easter, we don’t worship a memory — we celebrate a victory. The tomb is empty. Death is defeated. And the Lord of Hosts is alive forevermore. That’s not just good news — it’s the best news. So if you’ve wandered, come back. If you’re tired, trust Him. And if you’re wondering if He’s enough — look to the empty tomb. It’s all the proof you’ll ever need.

Just a thought,

PSS

We often have expectations of how we think God should move. We pray a certain way, expect a certain outcome, and when it doesn’t happen as we thought, we’re tempted to think the plan failed. But the truth is — God’s plan hasn’t failed. Our understanding has. The cross didn’t look like victory, but it was. And your life may feel out of place right now, but if God is in it, it’s still in His hands.

So today, lay down your expectations. Trust the King who didn’t come to take sides — He came to take over. And if I know my Father, I know this: His plans for you are still good.

Just a thought,

PSS

Trust isn’t just a word we throw around when life gets hard — it’s a daily decision we make to lean fully on God, even when we don’t understand what He’s doing. Proverbs 3:5 tells us, Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. That means we don’t give God partial trust or backup-trust — we give Him everything. Our wisdom is limited. His is eternal. When we stop trying to figure out everything and start leaning into Him, peace begins to replace panic.

The truth is, whatever you’re leaning on is what you really trust. Some lean on money, others on talent, connections, or emotions. But those things aren’t strong enough to carry the full weight of your life. God is. He’s the only one who sees the whole picture, knows the path ahead, and has the power to guide you through it. When we surrender — not just our problems but our plans — to Him, He promises to direct our steps.

So today, ask yourself: “Am I trusting with my whole heart or just part of it? Am I surrendered, or am I still trying to stay in control?” You’ll never experience the strength of God until you stop leaning on broken crutches. Trust Him without limits — and watch how straight your path becomes.

Just a thought,

PSS

Envy and jealousy, on the other hand, will rob you of peace. They cause you to compare your journey to someone else’s, making it impossible to truly appreciate what God is doing in your own life. James 3:16 warns that where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, “there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.” Envy blinds us to our blessings, while gratitude opens our eyes to God’s faithfulness.

The key to overcoming envy is trust — trusting that God’s plan for you is good, even if it looks different from someone else’s. Instead of looking at others with jealousy, celebrate what God is doing in their lives. Gratitude frees us from the trap of comparison and brings contentment, peace, and joy. So, take a moment today to thank God — not just for what He’s given, but for who He is.

Just a thought,

PSS

God’s wisdom is not just good advice — it’s life-giving truth. When we choose to walk in wisdom, we choose to reject the lies of the enemy, resist the pressures of the world, and honor God with our decisions. Wisdom doesn’t always lead to the easiest path, but it always leads to the right one. The Bible warns us that the way of the fool leads to destruction, but the way of wisdom leads to life. We must decide daily whether we will walk in obedience or yield to the enticements around us.

What you consent to today will shape who you become tomorrow. One small compromise can shift the direction of your entire life. So I’ll ask you: where is sin trying to gain a foothold in your heart? What temptation have you been entertaining? It’s time to shut the door. Don’t give sin a seat at your table. Choose wisdom. Choose life. Choose God.

Just a thought,

PSS

The problem is, cultural Christianity has distorted giving into something optional or transactional. Some give only out of obligation or for recognition, while others hoard what they have, living in fear of lack. But when we give sacrificially and cheerfully, like the widow who gave her last two coins in Luke 21:1-4, we honor God in a way that reflects our trust in His faithfulness. True giving stretches our faith, deepens our dependence on God, and aligns our hearts with His priorities.

God doesn’t call us to give to leave us empty; He calls us to give so He can fill us with something greater. Philippians 4:19 promises, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Giving isn’t about what God wants from us —it’s about what He wants for us. When we live generously, we become more like Him, trusting in His provision and seeing His blessings overflow in our lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

Unfortunately, cultural Christianity often distorts the meaning of service. Many serve for image, temporary results, or public praise. But as followers of Jesus, we’re called to serve sacrificially, following His example. Mark 10:45 (NLT) reminds us, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus humbled Himself to wash His disciples’ feet — an act of love, not performance. True service isn’t about being noticed; it’s about pointing people to Christ.

Take a moment to ask yourself, Why do I serve? Are you serving to glorify God, or are you caught up in how others perceive your efforts? Let’s commit to serve from hearts transformed by the gospel — loving God and others without seeking anything in return.

When we serve with eternity in mind, our actions carry lasting significance, making an impact for the kingdom of God.

Just a thought,
PSS

Yet, too often, cultural Christianity tempts us to stay silent. Fear of rejection, misunderstanding the gospel, or prioritizing comfort over obedience can hold us back. But the truth is, the gospel was never meant to be hidden. Jesus Himself declared in Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT): “You are the light of the world —like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.” Our faith is meant to shine, bringing light to a dark and broken world. Evangelism is not just a religious duty — it’s an act of love, obedience, and eternal significance.

The good news is that we are not alone in this mission. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be bold and faithful witnesses, planting seeds of faith and trusting God for the harvest. As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:7 (NLT): “It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.”

Evangelism is not about our ability but about God’s power working through us. So, let us rise above cultural expectations and boldly proclaim the gospel, knowing that we are simply messengers of the greatest victory in history: Jesus has won, and through Him, the lost can be saved.

Just a thought,

PSS

In today’s world, there’s an increasing pressure for Christians to conform to cultural ideologies that often conflict with God’s Word. Cultural Christians prioritize acceptance over obedience, embracing relativism and compromising on foundational truths like sexual ethics, the sanctity of life, and the authority of Scripture. But Jesus made it clear in Matthew 6:24 (NLT): “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.” As followers of Christ, we are called to stand firm, letting God’s Word — not the world —

shape our beliefs and actions.

The distinction between a biblical Christian and a cultural Christian comes down to truth. Woke ideologies, for instance, focus on self-identity, human-defined justice, and reject absolute truth. In contrast, biblical Christianity calls us to die to self and find our identity in Christ, trust God’s definition of justice rooted in His holiness, and stand on the unchanging truth of His Word. As Isaiah 40:8 (NLT) reminds us: “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”When we prioritize God’s truth over cultural trends, we live as salt and light in a world desperately needing hope.

Living as a biblical Christian requires intentionality. We must commit to knowing and obeying God’s Word, develop discernment to recognize unbiblical ideologies, and surround ourselves with a community of believers who hold us accountable. Most importantly, we must be courageous in standing for truth, even when it’s unpopular.

The time to stand firm is now. Will we allow God’s Word to guide our lives, or will we be swayed by the ever-changing values of society? Let’s choose to be people of the Word, preserving God’s truth and shining His light in the darkness.

Just a thought,

PSS

As we prepare for 2025, let’s commit to running the race with endurance, as Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT) instructs: “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down … and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” This requires us to leave behind distractions, sin, and anything that weighs us down, including fear of the unknown. Just like a farmer must be patient to see a harvest, we must trust that God is working in the process. If 2024 didn’t go as planned, remember Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT): “For I know the plans I have for you … plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Hope isn’t just wishful thinking — it’s confidence in God’s promises.

So, as we close out this year, let’s embrace gratitude for God’s faithfulness, release anything holding us back, and trust Him with our future. Set spiritual goals that align with His Word, spend time in prayer, and lean into your church community for strength and encouragement. Whether 2024 felt like a mountain or a valley, God’s mercies are new every morning — and every year.

Let’s finish this year well and step into 2025 with faith, courage, and a renewed commitment to live for Him.

Just a thought,

PSS

The angels also proclaimed, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased”(Luke 2:14, NLT). Jesus came as the Prince of Peace, offering a peace that transcends circumstances and fills our hearts even in uncertain times. This peace isn’t something the world can give — it comes from knowing that through Jesus, we are reconciled to God, forgiven, and loved. It’s a peace that strengthens us, gives us hope, and reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas.

As we celebrate this season, let’s respond to the angels’ message with joy and worship, letting the good news of Jesus’ birth fill our hearts. His glory has come near, and through Him, we can have true peace with God. May this Christmas be a time of renewed hope and gratitude as we reflect on the gift of Christ. Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas!

Just a thought,

PSS

One of the most striking aspects of the Christmas story is the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the wise men to Jesus. This star symbolizes the guiding light of Christ — a light that not only reveals the way but also fills us with joy. Matthew 2:10 (NLT) tells us, “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!” Just as the wise men followed the light to the Savior, we are called to seek and reflect His light in our lives. This light is for all people, a reminder that Jesus came to bring hope and salvation to the entire world.

As followers of Christ, we are called to carry His light into the world. Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) reminds us, “You are the light of the world — like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden … let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” This Christmas, let us shine brightly in a world that often feels dark and hopeless. The light of Christ within us can transform lives, bringing hope and pointing others to the Savior.

Darkness cannot overcome light — because the Light of the World, Jesus, has already won.

Just a thought,

 PSS

The works James speaks of aren’t about earning salvation but about demonstrating it. The Greek word ergon refers to deeds that flow from obedience, love, and service. Abraham proved his faith by his willingness to sacrifice Isaac, and Rahab by hiding the spies (James 2:21-25). Their actions didn’t save them; their faith did. But their actions revealed the reality of their faith. Works are the natural result of a heart surrendered to God and a life filled with the Spirit.

Faith is alive when it produces change — in our character, our relationships, and the way we serve others. A living faith bears fruit, not for our glory but for God’s. As Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:20). Let’s take a moment to examine our lives. Is our faith active and alive, or has it grown stagnant? True faith doesn’t just believe; it moves, it loves, and it serves.

Let’s not settle for faith that looks alive but is dead. Let’s live out what we believe.

Just a thought,

PSS

Being robbed:

We all deal with this at some point in our lives — fear of man vs fear of the Lord. Whom do we want to please more? That is the million-dollar question. Whom do I fear the most, reverence, or trust, man or God? The fear of man will rob us of what God really wants for us. 

Pleasing people:

Surely we want, at times, to please others; but never at the expense of serving God. Being a people pleaser is fear of man — being so afraid of being rejected by people to the point that we reject God and His word, that we put someone else’s opinion above the word of God. This hinders so many from honoring God in their lives.

Pleasing God:

So, today we need to ask God to help us recognize if we truly fear man more than God, and ask Him to help us to overcome the fear of man. Let's purpose to do the will of God, the word of God, regardless of what others think. Why? Because we consider what God thinks more than what anyone else thinks.

Let’s develop a fear of God that leads to peace and prosperity in our lives over anything and anyone else.

Just a thought,

PSS

Change:

Nothing changes if nothing changes. What are some of the changes that you will need to make, habits you will need to break, thinking that you will need to change, to follow God and accomplish your goals?

In-law or outlaw:

Separate means cause to move or be apart. There is always a season when children separate from mom and dad. It’s for their good and health and well-being going forward in life.

We even need to separate from our parents if we are going to have a successful marriage. We can love our parents, honor them, but we must separate from them and cleave to our husband/wife. That means parents don’t get a say in our marriage unless we ask them. They don’t get to bad-mouth our spouse. If you are an in-law and you are interjecting yourself unannounced into your children’s marriage, then back off.

Health:

It’s healthy when kids separate from parents, just as it’s healthy for us when we separate ourselves from this world and its ways and philosophies — from the naysayers and the doubt peddlers. It’s all our choice.

Separate yourself from anything that is a distraction from serving God, and you will see it was well worth it.

Just a thought,

PSS

Scripturally, generosity is a core principle in the Bible. 2 Corinthians 9:7 states, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” This verse highlights the attitude behind generosity — it’s about the joy and willingness in giving, not just the act itself. This perspective fosters a culture of kindness and open-handedness, encouraging individuals to give not out of obligation, but out of a genuine desire to help and spread kindness.

The ripple effect of living generously is profound. Anne Frank once said, “No one has ever become poor by giving.” This statement underlines the paradox of generosity — in giving, we often receive. Not necessarily in material wealth, but in joy, fulfillment, and purpose. Generous living has the power to create communities where empathy and support are prevalent, and where the act of giving is valued as a vital part of human experience. It’s about understanding that our greatest legacy is how we impact the lives of others and how we contribute to a world that is more compassionate and kind.

Just a thought,

PSS

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” This verse speaks directly to the need for clarity and purpose in our lives. A “vision” here isn’t just about seeing a grand plan; it’s about understanding God’s truth and aligning our lives with it. When we lack direction from God’s Word, we end up lost, following our own desires or the shifting values of the world. It’s like trying to navigate in the dark without a light. But when we have vision, rooted in His truth, it keeps us focused and grounded, even in a world that often pulls us in every direction.

The second part of the verse points to the importance of obedience, saying that those who “keep the law” are blessed. Happiness here isn’t the fleeting feeling that comes and goes with circumstances. It’s a deep-seated joy and peace that come from walking in step with God’s ways. We see this played out in life: those who have God’s vision and follow His commands avoid many of the pitfalls that lead to heartache and regret. His Word acts as a safeguard, leading us away from paths that harm and toward a life of blessing and fulfillment.

When we understand the importance of vision, it changes how we approach everything — from our relationships to our goals. God’s vision gives us a reason to live beyond ourselves, to look beyond temporary satisfaction, and to pursue something lasting and meaningful. This verse is a reminder to seek His vision daily, to let His truth shape our decisions, and to find joy in obedience. It challenges us to live with purpose, not just to exist, because without vision, we perish — not just in the physical sense, but spiritually, losing the very essence of a life worth living.

Just a thought,

PSS

God never intended for us to live as victims. Scripture tells us that we are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37, NIV). To conquer, we have to change our mindset, choosing to see challenges as opportunities to grow rather than reasons to give up. Shifting from a victim mentality means taking responsibility for our reactions, no matter what life throws at us. It means saying, “I may not be able to control what happened, but I can control how I respond.” This is where true strength and resilience are built — not in avoiding challenges, but in facing them head-on with faith.

If you’re stuck in self-pity today, decide to reframe your perspective. God is with you, and He’s using every hardship to make you stronger. Don’t settle for the victim mindset; choose to be an overcomer. Embrace a growth mindset, trust God’s process, and let every setback be a setup for the victory He has planned for you.

Remember, you have the power to rise above, because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

Just a thought,

PSS

Faith is the key that unlocks the door to healing. James tells us that the prayer of faith will heal the sick, and that’s a promise we can stand on. God doesn’t turn a blind eye to our suffering, and He hasn’t lost His power. The world will tell you to rely on human effort alone, but we have to remember that we serve a supernatural God who created our bodies and can restore them. Healing might come instantly, over time, or in ways we don’t expect, but never doubt that God is working.

So, when you pray, pray with confidence. When you seek healing, do so with the boldness that comes from knowing your Heavenly Father is both able and willing. And if you’re not the one who’s sick, be the one who prays for someone else’s healing. God’s power is still flowing through His Church, and He’s calling us to believe again.

Just a thought,

PSS

Knowing about:

I know some things about Michael Jordan, but I don’t know him. I have never met him, talked to him, hung out with him. I can give you a few facts about him: he played basketball, one of the greatest (arguably the greatest) to ever play the game. But it doesn’t mean I know him. That’s how too many people are with God. They know some things about Him, but they don’t really know Him.

Knowing Him:

Once we get born again, saved, we should begin to pursue God, and really get to know Him. Too many believe the ultimate goal is to get saved. That is just the beginning of our relationship with God. The ultimate goal should be to know Him. How do we do that? One way is by doing His word, reading His word and then acting on it. You can’t get to know God outside of knowing His word. We need to get to know Him as our healer, as our provider. We do that by reading what He says about those things.

The ultimate goal:

Getting to know Him is our ultimate goal. Philippians 3:8 NLT — Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. Knowing Christ is the greatest accomplishment in any of our lives. It’s what will cause us to live an abundant, everlasting life. Jesus says in John 17:3, And this is the way to have eternal life — to know You, the only true God.

It’s our call what we seek. If we seek to know God, we will experience abundant, everlasting, eternal life.

Just a thought,

PSS

Not only will the Holy Spirit help us deal with the hurts and disappointments that we encounter in this life, but He will also encourage us through the good as well. For instance, once somebody becomes successful, the next step is to become significant. Significant means: very important: large enough to be noticed or to have an effect: having a special or hidden meaning.

Whatever God expects of us, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to do. Who hasn’t needed strength to overcome sin, or encouragement to keep moving forward? We all make mistakes, but thank God for His power to forgive. As we go through life, we need to remember that we don’t have to do it alone. We have the Holy Spirit, our Helper, to help us every day — we just need to ask Him.

Just a thought,

PSS

Think about it: when you do something just because you’re told to, you’re being accountable. But when you choose to take action because you see the need, that’s responsibility. For example, taking out the trash when you’re told to makes you accountable. But noticing it’s full and taking it out on your own shows responsibility. True responsibility requires initiative. It’s about ownership, not just compliance.

So here’s the challenge: focus less on just being accountable and more on being responsible. Being responsible means your decisions are better, more thoughtful, and more impactful. Accountability may keep you in line, but responsibility moves you forward. Let’s be people who don’t just follow instructions but who own the mission and make decisions that matter.

Just a thought,

PSS

The Bible is full of people who faced discouragement but didn’t stay there. Look at David, who wrote some of the most powerful psalms while he was being hunted by Saul; or Peter, who denied Jesus three times but was restored and became a pillar of the early Church. Discouragement didn’t end their stories, and it doesn’t have to end yours either. God’s grace is greater than any failure, any sin, or any setback you’re facing. What matters isn’t that you fall — it’s that you get back up and trust God’s plan for your life.

So, if you’re feeling discouraged today, don’t stay in that place. Turn back to God, confess your struggles, and let His Word speak life into you. Remember, as Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.” God is with you and He will never leave you in your valley. Discouragement may come, but it doesn’t have to stay. Trust in Him and watch how He turns your situation around for His glory.

Just a thought,

PSS

No one is too far gone for the grace of God. The story of Saul is a powerful reminder that even the most hardened sinner can be transformed by the love and power of Jesus. Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul, was a man bent on destroying the church, persecuting Christians with relentless zeal. But when Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, everything changed. Saul’s life was completely transformed by God’s grace, and he went on to become one of the greatest evangelists and leaders in the early church. If God’s grace could reach a man like Saul, then it can reach anyone, no matter how far they have wandered or how deep they have fallen.

The truth is, none of us are beyond the reach of God’s grace. His love is limitless, and His mercy knows no bounds. No sin is too great, no heart too hardened, and no past too broken for God to heal and restore. The same grace that saved Saul is available to each one of us today. All we have to do is surrender, believe, and allow God to do what only He can do — transform our lives from the inside out. The good news is that God’s grace is sufficient, and no one is ever too far gone for His love.

Just a thought,

PSS

What’s powerful about Stephen’s story is that, in the midst of his greatest trial, he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. While Scripture often speaks of Jesus sitting at God's right hand, in this moment, Jesus stood to honor Stephen’s faithfulness. This is a reminder to us that Jesus always stands with those who stand for Him. Even when the world turns against us, we are not alone. Jesus is with us in our trials, and He sees our faithfulness.

We should expect challenges when we stand for Christ, but we must not lose heart. Just like Stephen, we are called to speak the truth in love, even when it costs us something. The world may resist the truth, but our reward is not from this world — it’s from Jesus Himself.

So let us keep our eyes on Him, knowing that He stands with us and will one day welcome us home with open arms.

Just a thought,

Pastor Steve

The Holy Spirit is essential to knowing and sharing the truth of the gospel. Jesus said, “You cannot talk about what you do not know.” The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, enabling us to understand the message of salvation and empowering us to communicate it with boldness and clarity. Only through His guidance can we truly represent Jesus and His work. Without the Spirit’s power, our words lack the effectiveness needed to bring others to Christ.

Let’s remember that this mission to be witnesses isn’t optional. As the angels said to the disciples when Jesus ascended, “Why are you standing here staring into heaven?” This was a call to action. Jesus is coming back, but until He does, we have a responsibility to go out into the world, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and tell others about Him. Our mission is clear: We are to be His witnesses, sharing the good news to the ends of the earth, with the Spirit as our guide and strength.

Just a thought,

PSS

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Temptations vs Trials:

Now temptations are different from trials or troubles. Temptations come from the inside, while trials come from the outside. The Bible teaches that temptations don’t come from God but from the evil desires that dwell in our hearts and minds. But trials come to us from circumstances, sometimes beyond our control.

Opportunities:

We will all have trials — no one is immune to trials or troubles in life. But how we see them is of vital importance. The Bible teaches we should see them as opportunities to grow and mature as a Christian and as a person.

Catalysts:

Trials will let us know what we are all about, what we really believe. They can tell us what our weak spots are and what our strengths are. Some think when we face hardships of any kind it’s because God doesn’t care or doesn’t love us. Nothing could be further from the truth. I don’t believe God causes hardships, but if we honor Him and keep His word, they can cause us to become stronger, better in life.

Next time you find yourself in a trial, stay true to God, and look for the solutions and learn from them. See James 1:2-4, 13-14.

Just a thought,

PSS

Confidence in God and His word allows us to stand firm in the face of adversity. As we meditate on the promises and truths contained within the Scriptures, we begin to understand the unwavering love and support that God has for us. This understanding strengthens our resolve and helps us remain confident in our convictions, even when external circumstances may seem daunting or overwhelming. When we keep our eyes focused on God and His promises, we can tap into the divine strength that empowers us to overcome any obstacle.

Courage is the byproduct of a strong faith and unshakable confidence in God. With God on our side, we can boldly face any challenge that comes our way, knowing that we are never alone. As we develop our relationship with God through prayer, worship, and study of His word, we grow in our ability to confront difficult situations with courage and conviction. God equips us with the necessary tools to face life's battles head-on, and when we lean on Him, we find the courage to persevere and triumph over any adversity that may come our way.

Our faith, confidence, and courage in God ultimately serve as a testament to His power and grace, inspiring others to seek refuge in His loving embrace.

Just a thought,

PSS

In moments of weakness, when we are physically or emotionally drained, temptation becomes even more powerful. It strikes when our defenses are down, offering shortcuts, easy solutions, or instant gratification. But these seemingly small compromises can lead to significant consequences. Jesus’ example in the wilderness shows us that the best defense against temptation is a deep reliance on God's Word. He countered every temptation with Scripture, demonstrating that the truth of God’s Word is our most potent weapon against the lies of the enemy.

The reality is that temptation is an inevitable part of life. However, we don't have to face it alone or unprepared. By staying rooted in Scripture, vigilant in prayer, and connected to the Holy Spirit, we can recognize temptation for what it is and resist it. It’s not about never being tempted — it’s about being equipped to overcome it, knowing that in our moments of weakness, Christ's strength is made perfect. Remember, temptation is not a sin, but yielding to it is. Let’s choose today to stand firm, resist the enemy, and walk in the victory that Christ has already won for us.

Just a thought,

PSS

Each of us must ask ourselves: What kind of soil am I? Am I like the hard path, where the Word is quickly snatched away? Am I shallow soil, where faith withers at the first sign of trouble? Or am I choked by the thorns of worldly worries and desires? Jesus calls us to be good, fertile soil — people who not only hear the Word but also allow it to transform our lives and produce fruit that reflects His love and truth.

The fruit we bear is a testament to the state of our hearts. A life rooted in Christ will naturally produce good fruit — visible, beneficial, and reflective of His character. But if we find ourselves bearing rotten fruit, it’s time to re-evaluate the soil of our hearts. With God’s help, we can change our environment, prune away what hinders us, and cultivate a heart that is fully receptive to His Word, ready to yield a bountiful harvest.

Just a thought,

PSS

The last days:

We are seeing we are in the last of the last days, right now! (2 Timothy 3:1). We are living out the Scriptures. We are living in a moment when no one really has any answers. There is no one to ask because in our recent history we have never experienced what we are experiencing in our world today.

No fear:

So, what do we do? Firstly, don’t panic: God has not been caught off guard. He knew this was going to happen. He knew that there would be tremendous amounts of fearmongering and overreacting, as people tend to do. Secondly, don’t be afraid: don’t live in fear, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. We are not to live in fear. We do need to use wisdom, but never fear.

The word:

We do not ever lay aside the word of God for any man, any government. It’s the word of God that lasts forever. The world doesn’t have the answers — they don’t offer any hope to the lost or hurting. Let’s seek God like never before. Let’s take what the enemy means for evil, and use it to do good. Let’s share our faith with others like never before. Let’s be the Church, and lead in these perilous times we live in.

It’s all a choice. I pray we choose life.

Just a thought,

PSS

A convert is:

A convert is one who believes in Jesus, but that’s where it stops. They don’t help. They stand on the sidelines and cheer Jesus on. The problem with that is Jesus didn’t come and die for a bunch of cheerleaders. He came and died for disciples. We are called, commanded to go (as you go, as you live your life) make disciples (Matthew 28:18–20). We are not to make converts.

A disciple is:

A disciple is one who is growing, maturing, being a doer of the word; who is striving every day to obey Christ, obey His word, realizing that they will make mistakes, but because they are a disciple, repent and keep on going. A convert is never really seeking God, never really experiencing any real-life change. They want only fire insurance; they don’t want to go to hell. But if that is all it is, they are going to be very disappointed when Jesus comes back and looks at them and says, “I don’t know you!”

A true disciple is:

We must all become true disciples — willing to put aside our wants, our desires, for what Christ wants us to do. We must deny ourselves and follow Jesus, turn from our selfish ways and follow Jesus, put His ways, His will first, regardless of how uncomfortable it makes us feel.

You have to choose: are you going to stand on the sidelines or get in the game and fulfill the great commission to go and make disciples?

Just a thought,

PSS

The highest standard:

We should weigh every decision against the word of God. When faced with a problem or a tough decision, we should go to the word of God and take our counsel from it. When we are at a crossroads in our life, what we put our trust and confidence in is important. It is the difference between life and death, success and failure, overcoming or being conquered by something or someone. You are the only one who can decide for your life — no one else can decide for you. 

What you believe in:

What a person believes is very important to their life. If you choose to believe in the word of God, and you have complete trust and confidence in the word of God, it will bring life to all your being. Proverbs 4:22 NLT says, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. This is speaking about the word of God.

The final say:

Allowing God’s word to have the final say will keep you safe, protected from making decisions that could cause harm to your life and well-being. God’s word is full of wisdom — we must hold on to it, trust in it, and have confidence in it.

It’s your choice. You choose whom you will serve.

Just a thought,

PSS

To judge means to separate, pick out, and to pronounce an opinion concerning right or wrong. We make judgments every day, all day. When people say, “Who are you to judge me?” what they are really saying is, “Don’t tell me that my morality is wrong.” When you tell someone that you agree with them, you don’t hear them say, “Who are you to judge me?” In reality, you are making as much of a judgment there, as you are if you disagree.

People today don’t want, or are becoming unwilling, to be told that they are wrong. The Bible says, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged … For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:37-45, NIV). If you read it in context, it is telling us not to be hypocritical. In other words, if you are drinking alcohol and trying to tell someone else it is wrong, don’t do it. However, to be able to tell someone that they are wrong in the way that they are living (lifestyle, for example) really is right. We should not do this in a mean way.

If we don’t uphold the standard of God’s word and let people know the standard that God put forth on how we are to live, who will? As Christians, we are to let people know what God’s word teaches on every area of our lives. That, in and of itself, will cause people to either embrace it, or reject it by saying, “Who are you to judge me?” 

Either way, we are obligated to teach God’s word to everyone.

Just a thought,

PSS

Circumstances:

Circumstantial faith is faith that goes up or down, depending on my current set of circumstances. It’s believing in God as long as I am happy with every aspect of my life — everything going the way I want it to go. This type of faith is not at all faith in God — in one day, out the next, depending on how I feel God is acting and what He’s doing for me.

Expectations:

A good term is unexplainable circumstances. We expect God to act in a certain way, and when He doesn’t, we have a crisis of faith. One of our biggest issues is that we are just not good at interpreting events. For example, I worked at UPS for 10 ½ years. I thought God was punishing me for something I did wrong, or He just didn’t like me. I didn’t understand the events. I went to Bible school to be in the ministry, not to work at UPS.

Understanding:

Probably 10 years after I left and began to pastor, I realized it wasn’t that God didn’t like me or was punishing me for something I did wrong. He was teaching me and training me to serve Him. He taught me that no matter how I felt, do my job. Whether it’s freezing cold outside, or 100 degrees with 90% humidity, do your job. Whether you’re angry, sad, or hurting physically, do your job. Little did I know then what I would be doing today. These lessons have served, and are still serving, me well.

In the midst of trials and tough times, based on circumstances which cause so many to fall away and quit serving God, we can begin to wonder, Is God really there; does He care? What we need is focused faith. Faith that keeps on believing and trusting, no matter the circumstances. That’s the kind of faith we want.

Just a thought,

PSS

In the Bible, Jesus also talks about his followers being the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” This means that Christians should live good and pure lives themselves and also help make the world a better place. Being the “salt of the earth” means keeping the good things about God’s world alive and making life better for others. Being the “light of the world” means helping others see the good in the world and showing them the way to God. By doing this, Christians can help make things better, even when there's a lot of bad stuff happening.

But, the Bible also tells us that it's not always easy to live a good and pure life, especially when there are a lot of bad things happening around us. It can be hard to do the right thing when other people are doing the wrong thing. But the good news is that the Bible says God will always be there to help us. There's a part in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 10:13, that says God won't let us face anything we can't handle. And in another part, Philippians 4:13, it says we can do anything with the help of Jesus. So, even though it can be tough to live a good and pure life, we're not alone. God is always there to help us.

Just a thought,

PSS

God's sovereignty is not an excuse for our suffering but a comfort in it. When we are tempted to be angry with God, we must instead lean into His promises and trust in His character. Charles Spurgeon once said, "God is too good to be unkind, and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart." This profound truth calls us to deepen our trust in God's perfect plan, even when it is beyond our understanding. Psalm 34:18 gives us hope, declaring, "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit." This nearness of God is our refuge and strength.

Furthermore, harboring anger against God leads us away from the healing and peace He offers. Ephesians 4:26-27 warns, "Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil." Anger opens the door to bitterness and estrangement from God, whereas surrendering our pain to Him invites His healing presence. As we navigate the trials of life, let's remember to follow the example of Job, who despite his immense suffering declared, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15).

Our faith is refined through trials, and in trusting God, we find the strength to endure and the grace to emerge stronger.

Just a thought,

PSS

Love your neighbor:

We hear some people saying things like, Loving our neighbor is taking a shot, wearing a mask, listening to authorities — that somehow during a pandemic we show the love of God toward others by not contending for our rights which God gave us. But somehow, according to them, loving people means to violate the scriptures, and loving God and His word first is not good or loving.

Love God:

It is not more important to love our neighbors at the expense of loving God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. God is first, always first. And in loving Him, serving Him, we all must contend for the faith. Saying nothing, doing nothing, is the same as saying, I really don’t believe in the word of God. We need to get back to rightly dividing the word of truth. It is not ungodly or wrong to stand up for our freedoms and rights: it is wrong not to. These weak, passive, so-called preachers are soft and wrong. Don’t listen to them!

Flee false teaching:

Loving our neighbors as ourselves has nothing to do with giving up our rights and freedom so we can be a witness to them. Some of these guys have even preached that some won’t come to the Church because we didn’t submit to evil and listen to the authorities who have been proven wrong on how they handled the so-called pandemic. I contend that people don’t come because they don’t know what the Church stands for. Weakness in the pulpits of America is the reason people don’t come to church. These false teachers should never be listened to. They are wrong.

Contend for the faith. Stand up for righteousness.

Just a thought,

PSS

The climax of this story reveals the miraculous power of God in response to such unwavering faith. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the furnace, they were not consumed by the flames. Instead, a divine presence, described as "a fourth man" who appeared like "a son of the gods," protected them. This miraculous intervention underscores that being on God’s side means trusting Him even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Their deliverance not only validated their faith but also served as a powerful testimony to King Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom about the sovereignty and power of the true God.

Ultimately, the story of Daniel 3:8-30 challenges believers to evaluate where their ultimate loyalties lie. Being on God’s side requires a willingness to prioritize His commands over human decrees, even when it leads to personal risk or persecution. The reward for such faithfulness, as demonstrated by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is the assurance of God’s presence and protection. Their story is a timeless reminder that God honors those who honor Him, and He uses their faithfulness as a testament to His glory and power, influencing even the hearts of unbelievers.

Just a thought,

 PSS

Belief vs truth:

Harper’s Bible Dictionary includes the statement when defining truth, “God is truth.” So many believe things that are not true. Truth is something that has to be known, not just believed. I can believe a lot of things that are not true. When I was a kid, it was believed that if you ate something, you had to wait around 15 to 30 minutes before getting back into the water because if you got in sooner, you could cramp up and drown. But now we know that is not true. It was believed, but not true.

His word is truth:

So, knowing the truth is knowing God to some degree! We need to pray and read the word daily so we can know the truth. Things that are true can be proved. So, we know the truth that God is a healer. He heals, so we claim that promise. The way the truth sets us free from the bondage of sin is by our getting to know God better. How do we do that? By learning His word. That’s how we will know the truth.

So, let’s get into God’s word more — so we can really know the Truth.

Just a thought,

PSS

The fear of the Lord acts as a compass, guiding believers to make choices that align with God's will. It cultivates a mindset of humility, acknowledging that human wisdom is limited and flawed compared to God's infinite understanding. This reverence leads to a life of obedience and righteousness, as it compels individuals to seek God’s guidance in every aspect of their lives. It also instills a sense of accountability, knowing that one's actions are seen and judged by a holy and just God.

Moreover, Proverbs 1:1-7 contrasts the wise with the foolish, illustrating that those who despise wisdom and discipline are devoid of the fear of the Lord. The foolish reject God's instruction and choose paths that lead to destruction. In contrast, the wise embrace the fear of the Lord, which is the cornerstone of their pursuit of knowledge and understanding. This foundational fear is not about living in constant fear of punishment but living in a way that honors and pleases God, fostering a deep, intimate relationship with Him.

Just a thought,

PSS

The psalm continues by emphasizing that there is no place where one can escape from God's presence. Whether one ascends to heaven or makes a bed in the depths, God is there. This omnipresence assures us that we are never alone or beyond the reach of God’s care. In the imagery of being woven together in the womb, we see a picture of a God who is not only Creator but also a personal artisan, intricately crafting each person with intention and care. This speaks to each person's unique value and purpose, designed by God Himself.

Toward the conclusion of Psalm 139, the psalmist invites God to search and know his heart, to test him and know his anxious thoughts, and to lead him in the way everlasting. This is not only a recognition of God's complete knowledge but also a submission to God's lordship and guidance. It reflects a trust in God’s goodness and a desire to be led by Him away from the ways of wickedness. The God of the universe isn’t just a cosmic observer — He is a personal guide and redeemer who knows us thoroughly and loves us completely.

Just a thought,

PSS

In the Bible, the importance of mothers is repeatedly emphasized through examples of nurturing and influential women. For instance, Mary, the mother of Jesus, exemplifies obedience and faithfulness. Luke 1:38 recounts her words, “ ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ ” Her readiness to serve God’s purpose, despite the challenges she faced, sets a profound example for all mothers on the virtues of faith, resilience, and unconditional love. It's these qualities that help shape the next generation, guiding them through life's complexities with a steady and wise hand.

On Mother’s Day, we are called to reflect on and appreciate the countless sacrifices made by mothers. Just as Ephesians 6:2-3 instructs, “ ‘Honor your father and mother’ — which is the first commandment with a promise — ‘so that it may go well with you and you may enjoy long life on the earth.’ ” This command reminds us of the respect and reverence we owe to our mothers. Their influence is profound and their love immeasurable. As we celebrate this day, let us acknowledge and give thanks for the myriad ways in which our mothers have shaped our lives, modeling the virtues of Proverbs 31 through their everyday actions and enduring love.

Now we know not every mom was a good one. That should not detour us from following God and praying for their salvation. Let us all strive to honor and serve the Lord God!

Just a thought,

PSS

Above all:

When we truly surrender to God, we are surrendering our instinctual interests which can be selfish and destructive by nature. Surrendering ourselves to God is to pursue truth and righteousness above all else. This means to pursue His word (the Bible), and put it first in our lives. It means to put the word of God into practice in our lives — purposing to do what it teaches above all else — putting His thoughts, His ways of thinking and doing things, above all else.

Every aspect:

In order to surrender our lives to God, we must quit resisting Him, and submit every aspect of our lives to Him. Once we surrender our lives to Him, that’s when we will begin to experience His help and His blessings in our lives. So, I encourage you to surrender every area of your life to Him.

Don’t wait:

Examine your life today, and if there is an area you have not surrendered to Him, do it today. Don’t wait another moment. It’s not surrender unless you have unconditionally surrendered everything to His will. Stop resisting God and His word in your life.

Taste and see that the Lord is good!

Just a thought,

PSS

This narrative drives home the message: God expects us to engage actively with the gifts He has entrusted to us. When the servant who hid his talent blamed his master for his own inaction, claiming fear of the master’s harshness, it mirrored how some of us might justify our lack of action in life. We might say, "God is too demanding," or "I'm afraid of making mistakes." But the master's response — taking the talent away and giving it to the more productive servant — shows that God does not accept these kinds of excuses. He expects us to step up, using whatever we have been given, no matter how small it may seem, to work towards His purposes.

Let this parable be a reminder to us all. No excuse stands when it comes to not doing God's work. It challenges us to avoid complacency and fear, pushing us to seize every opportunity for spiritual growth and service. In God’s kingdom, every gift, every moment, is a precious resource meant for us to use in service to Him and to others. It's a call to action — be bold, be faithful, and multiply what you have been given for the greater glory of God.

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PSS

The rhetorical question, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" posed by Paul in Romans 8:31, offers profound assurance to believers. This statement is nestled within a passage that highlights God's unending love and inexhaustible support for His people. It is meant to comfort and embolden those who might feel overwhelmed by adversities or opposition. By emphasizing that God's presence on our side is mightier than any possible foe or obstacle, Paul underscores the invincibility that comes from being under God's protection. This isn't merely about facing human adversaries but confronting life's trials with a steadfast heart, knowing that the ultimate victory is assured through divine advocacy.

Comprehensive Victory

This declaration is further explored through the succeeding verses (Romans 8:32-39), where Paul elaborates on the nature of God’s support. The argument builds from the general to the specific: not only is God for us, but He also did not spare His own Son, Jesus Christ, to ensure our well-being and salvation. This ultimate sacrifice exemplifies the depth of God’s commitment to His followers. It leads to the conclusion that if God has already provided for our greatest need — salvation through Jesus — then surely He will also graciously give us all things necessary to triumph in life’s battles. The verse powerfully points out that nothing can hinder God’s plan for His people, be it trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword.

Enduring Confidence

Paul’s query, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" invites believers to live with a spirit of boldness and confidence. It serves as a reminder that God's favor is not a temporary or flimsy shield but a profound and enduring commitment to those He loves. The subsequent verses paint a vivid picture of this protection, affirming that neither death nor life, angels nor demons, our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell — can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord. This eternal security fosters a courageous and hopeful outlook, encouraging Christians to face challenges with the knowledge that they are not alone and ultimately undefeatable with God on their side.

Just a thought, 

PSS

                                                                                  — Elbert Hubbard

Fear of:

One of the worst fears people deal with is the fear of failure. Fear of failure is really fear of change and of what others may think of you. This fear limits us, our opportunities, and our growth and progress in life. Without mistakes we wouldn’t ever learn and grow.

Inevitability of:

It’s not that we want to make mistakes: it’s the reality we all will. They are inevitable. They will happen. What we need to be able to do is to recover from them. A doctor told me that after a workout what determines what kind of shape you’re in is how quickly you recover — your recovery time. In life, what is your recovery time from making a mistake? So many don’t attempt much in their lives because they are afraid of making a mistake. Everyone God ever used in the Bible blew it at some point. As Christians we think we have to be perfect to serve the Lord, to honor Him. This is simply not true.

Power of:

We just have to be willing to learn from our mistakes and keep on moving forward. Let’s not keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Failure is an event, not a destiny. Failure is not final. It happens to all of us.

Let’s learn how to overcome and never see failure as our enemy. Look at it and be thankful that we are growing and learning and becoming more like God.

Just a thought,

PSS

The rut of regret:

Regret is defined as: a feeling often accompanied by sadness, shame, and guilt. Regret is when you wish you had done things differently in your past. It is a robber of life and enjoyment. It leaves us feeling bad about ourselves and really does steal our joy. So, regret is powerful, and so many get stuck there.

Learn from the past:

We cannot go back in our past and do things over. Our decisions are our decisions. The thing we can do is learn from them so we don’t continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. We should learn from our mistakes as well as from our successes. We all have to learn to move forward and not live in the past. Being grateful, I believe, will help us do that.

Be grateful:

Gratitude is defined as: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Gratitude is more than feeling thankful for something: it is more like a deeper appreciation for someone (or something) which produces longer lasting positivity and peace of mind. We should be so grateful to God for His forgiveness and His kindness. The Lord is near the heartbroken and He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sins) (Psalm 34:18 AMP). If you have blown it living in your past mistakes, if you have been crushed in your heart and mind, repent for whatever part you had in it. God will heal your heart and mind.

Let’s learn and practice gratitude. It will cause our lives to be better.

Just a thought,

PSS

During this season, we're called to a deeper reflection and a higher action, aligning our lives with Jesus’ teachings by cultivating love, pardoning offenses, and striving for peace within our circles. It's time to examine our hearts, to shed any grudges, and to welcome the life-changing touch of God’s grace.

But Easter isn't just about introspection: it's about living out the Gospel. This means making the church not just a place we go, but a priority in our lives and a central hub for our actions. By diving into church ministries, lending a hand in organizing and running church activities, or contributing to the church's mission, we become active participants in spreading the love and teachings of Christ.

As we move away from the Easter season, let’s challenge ourselves to keep the church at the forefront of our lives. Committing to the church, engaging in its ministries, and serving our church family is how we carry forward the incredible message of hope and resurrection. It’s about more than just showing up on Sundays: it's about embedding ourselves in the fabric of the Church, enriching our spiritual journey, and nurturing a community bound by faith and service.

Through this commitment, we keep the spirit of Easter alive all year long, fostering a culture of renewal and grace that has the power to transform not only our own lives but the world around us. Easter is just the starting point, urging us to live out our faith boldly and visibly, especially through our unwavering dedication to the life and community of the Church.

Just a thought,

PSS

Palm Sunday should stir within us a spirit of deep reflection. It's a time to contemplate the journey of Jesus toward the cross, the burden of the sins He bore, and the depth of His love for us. This day challenges us to examine our lives through the lens of Christ's teachings, asking ourselves how we can embody His example of love, sacrifice, and forgiveness in our daily walk. It's an opportunity to lay down our cloaks of pride, anger, and bitterness, metaphorically at the feet of Jesus, just as the crowds did with their tangible expressions of honor. In doing so, we not only honor His sacrifice but also prepare our hearts to receive the transformative power of His resurrection.

Finally, Palm Sunday is a call to action. It reminds us that Christianity is not a passive faith but a call to actively live out the teachings of Jesus in every aspect of our lives. As we step into Holy Week, let this day ignite in us a renewed passion to serve others, to spread love in the face of hatred, and to be beacons of hope in a world often shrouded in darkness. Let us walk in the footsteps of our Savior, carrying our crosses with the same humility and faith, knowing that beyond the pain of Good Friday lies the joy of Resurrection Sunday. By embracing the lessons of Palm Sunday, we not only commemorate a historical event but also reaffirm our commitment to living a life that reflects the heart of Christ.

Just a thought,

PSS

James wasn't messing around when he said, "Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17). That's as clear as day. It's like saying, "Talk is cheap." If we're spending all our time saying we'll pray about this or that but never actually get around to doing something, then what's the point? Faith isn't just something we talk about — it's something we live out. Prayer is powerful, sure, but it's not a cop-out. It's supposed to fuel us into action, not give us an excuse to sit back.

So, here's the deal: praying about it should be the start, not the end. Let's make sure when we say we'll pray about something, we're not just using it as a polite brush-off. Faith and action go hand-in-hand. It's like being in a car with the engine running but never putting it into gear. We need to drive forward, powered by our prayers and our actions. That's living out our faith — it's active, it's real, and it makes a difference. Let's not just say it: let's do it.

Just a thought,

PSS

The Bible teaches us that human nature is sin nature. Matthew 15:19: For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. Another verse adds coveting, wickedness, deceit, envy, pride — all these evil things come from within.

God says our nature is not good, and the only way to truly change that is by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior and inviting God into our hearts and minds to change this selfish human nature. Only God can do that. Only God can satisfy our spiritual hunger. Nothing else the world seeks can — not power, money, success, nor individualism.

See, if you adopt the humanistic philosophy of life, there is no need for a savior — no need for God. This type of thinking is creating a very selfish mentality: thinking only about me — but God says to die to self and begin to take on His characteristics.

It’s your choice what philosophy you choose to live by. One leads to eternal death, and one leads to eternal life — you choose.

Just a thought,

PSS

Now, let's break it down. Temptation — that's the enemy's playground. He throws these curveballs at us, hoping we'll swing and miss. It's all about pulling us away from our faith, from the path God has set for us. The devil? He knows where we're weak, and he hits us where it hurts, trying to trip us up, to bring us down. But here's the kicker — we have the power to stand firm against these temptations. God's equipped us with His Word, His Spirit, and a community of faith that has our back.

On the flip side, when God tests us, it's a whole different ball game. He's not out to get us; He's out to grow us. Think of it like spiritual training. Every test is an opportunity to level up in our faith, to come out stronger, more resilient. It's about refining us, making us more like Jesus, ready and equipped for whatever comes our way. These tests, they're a sign of His love, His commitment to making us the best version of ourselves.

So, family, as we face life's challenges, let's keep this in mind: Temptations are the enemy's way of trying to break us down, but God's tests — they're His way of building us up. Let's lean into that; let's embrace the tests with open arms, knowing they're all about making us stronger in Him. And when temptation comes knocking? We stand firm, we fight the good fight, and we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Together, with God on our side, we're unstoppable. Let's do this, Legacy Church!

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PSS

The path to breaking strongholds and following God is also one of community and scripture. Surrounding oneself with a community of faith can provide the support and encouragement needed to navigate this challenging journey. Engaging deeply with scripture offers wisdom and insight, acting as a mirror that reflects both our imperfections and God's perfect love and forgiveness. It is in the context of scripture that people find the strength to confront and dismantle the strongholds in their lives, drawing closer to God with each step. This journey is not about achieving perfection but about striving to align one's life more closely with God's will, acknowledging that we are works in progress, dependent on God's grace.

Ultimately, leaving one's old life behind and following God is an act of surrender and faith. It involves trusting in God's plan for our lives, even when the path is unclear. This journey is marked by moments of vulnerability, where letting go of control and allowing God to lead becomes the source of true strength and freedom. As strongholds break and fall away, what emerges is a life transformed by God's love, a testament to the power of faith to change us from the inside out. This transformation is not instantaneous but a continual process of growth and renewal, where each day offers a new opportunity to live more fully in the light of God's grace.

Ephesians 4:21-24

Just a thought,

PSS

Choices:

If you want a soda, does that mean Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Sprite, etc.? If you want a restaurant, do you want steak, Italian food, Mexican food, Chinese food, etc.?  It’s the same thing with buying shoes or clothes. We are presented with so many options that at times it is difficult to make a decision.

Indecision:

Indecision means: the inability to make decisions quickly : a wavering between two or more possible courses of action.

Indecision is paralyzing, and our decisions do determine our destiny. So, we had better make the right ones. There is so much pressure that every decision seems to be life or death. It’s just not true. Sure, some decisions are more important than others, and we won’t get them all right. When we blow it, we are to learn from it and grow. But we have to make decisions every day, and the worst place, most frustrating place, to be is in the place of indecision.

Decision:

So, what are we to do? Firstly, let’s realize as Christians we have the word of God to help lead and guide us, to go to for direction. It is our map to lead us to the right path. It will help us make decisions. Secondly, don’t attempt to make a lot of decisions at once. Deal with one thing at a time and begin limiting your options. This will help you make decisions.

Along with the Bible, believing it enough to do it, act on it, will always be the best guide in making sound decisions — decisions that will bless us.

Just a thought,

PSS

Understanding that we bear God's image is both elevating and challenging. It invites us to live lives that reflect the nobility of this divine attribution. This perspective encourages us to conduct ourselves with integrity, extend unconditional love, and serve others with a spirit of humility. When we grasp the magnitude of our value in God's eyes, it profoundly transforms our self-view and the manner in which we engage with those around us. Every person bears this sacred imprint, compelling us to treat each other with the utmost respect, compassion, and kindness, in acknowledgment of the God-given dignity inherent in every individual.

Moreover, recognizing ourselves as made in God's image has a profound effect on our spiritual journey. A.W. Tozer once said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." This insight reveals that understanding our creation in God's likeness should draw us nearer to Him, encouraging a vibrant and personal relationship. It challenges us to reflect God's character through our actions, attitudes, and ambitions. In a world fraught with challenges and distractions, the awareness that we are made in the image of God anchors our identity and purpose. It reminds us that our calling is to be beacons of light in the darkness, mirroring the love and truth of our Creator in all that we do.

Just a thought,

PSS

Firstly, let's remember the vastness of God's acceptance. No matter our past, our mistakes, or the paths we've walked, God's love for us remains constant and unwavering. He isn't focused on where we've been, but on where we are going and the condition of our hearts. It's an ever-present reminder that it's never too late to turn or return to Him. Just as the prodigal son was welcomed with open arms, so too are we, always. This truth should bring us comfort and encourage us to extend the same unconditional love to others.

Secondly, evangelism is a calling that we all share as believers. We hold the most vital message for the world — the Good News of God’s love and salvation. It's not only our privilege but our duty to share this message. Evangelism is not reserved for a select few: it is a part of the Christian journey, an act of sharing the greatest gift we've ever received. It's about reaching out, making connections, and opening doors to new beginnings in Christ.

Lastly, making disciples is more than just leading someone to Christ; it's a commitment to walk alongside them in their faith journey. True discipleship means nurturing, mentoring, and guiding new believers as they grow in their understanding and love for God. It's about creating a supportive community where we all learn, grow, and encourage each other in our walk with Christ. As we disciple others, we not only fulfill the Great Commission but also replicate the love and teachings of Jesus in our own lives and those around us.

As we continue in our faith, let's hold these truths close to our hearts. Let's be a community/Church known for its unwavering love, active sharing of the Gospel, and dedication to nurturing and growing together in Christ.

Just a thought,

PSS

Scripturally, generosity is a core principle in the Bible. 2 Corinthians 9:7 states, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” This verse highlights the attitude behind generosity — it’s about the joy and willingness in giving, not just the act itself. This perspective fosters a culture of kindness and open-handedness, encouraging individuals to give not out of obligation, but out of a genuine desire to help and spread kindness.

The ripple effect of living generously is profound. Anne Frank once said, “No one has ever become poor by giving.” This statement underlines the paradox of generosity — in giving, we often receive. Not necessarily in material wealth, but in joy, fulfillment, and purpose. Generous living has the power to create communities where empathy and support are prevalent, and where the act of giving is valued as a vital part of human experience. It’s about understanding that our greatest legacy is how we impact the lives of others and how we contribute to a world that is more compassionate and kind.

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PSS

The importance of relationships in Christianity also extends to the concept of fellowship. Fellowship involves coming together for worship, support, and encouragement, reflecting the New Testament's emphasis on the early Christians gathering in unity. This communal aspect of faith is not just about shared beliefs, but about sharing life’s experiences, joys, and struggles. It underscores the belief that faith is lived out in community and that spiritual growth often happens in the context of relationships. Through fellowship, Christians find a place of belonging, learn to exercise their spiritual gifts, and experience the tangible love of God through their interactions with others.

Moreover, relationships in Christianity are a means of witness and service. Jesus’ teachings highlight the importance of serving others, and Christian relationships are often marked by acts of kindness, charity, and social justice. Through loving and serving others, Christians embody the teachings of Christ, offering a visible witness to the transformative power of Christian love. This service extends beyond the church, reaching out to the wider community and world. In essence, relationships in Christianity are a journey of reflecting God's love, nurturing spiritual growth, and living out faith through service and fellowship.

Just a thought,

PSS

Reading the Bible is another great way to feel close to God. The Bible tells us about who God is and what He wants for us. It's like a map that guides us in life. There's a verse, John 1:1, which says the Bible is a way to understand God better.

Finally, Jesus said that loving and helping others is very important. In John 13:34-35, He tells us to love others just as He loves us. When we are kind and help people, it's like we are showing God's love to them. This makes our connection with God stronger because we are doing what He wants us to do — loving and caring for each other.

Just a thought,

PSS

It's all about coming together and sharing peace and joy, just as Jesus wanted. Churches and homes get all decked out, showing off the happiness that Jesus brought into the world. Singing carols and sharing stories about His birth isn't just fun; it's a way to share the hope He stands for. Christmas really shows Jesus' message through the way people give to each other and help out, not just with presents, but with kindness and a helping hand.

Christmas is also a time for personal reflection and growing spiritually. It's a chance to really think about how you're living and how it lines up with what Jesus taught — like being patient, understanding, and kind. It's a time when Christians think about how they can make a difference in the world and spread a bit of love and joy, just as Jesus did. Celebrating Christmas is all about embracing these values and trying to make the world a little better, following in Jesus' footsteps.

Just a thought,

PSS

Furthermore, this concept encourages a form of authenticity and integrity in one's life. It's not enough to simply profess certain beliefs or virtues: these must be lived out through consistent, visible actions. This echoes the biblical principle that faith without works is considered dead. In the context of John 15:8, bearing fruit is synonymous with living out one's faith through actions. These actions then become a testimony to others, serving as a practical demonstration of one's beliefs and values. It’s a call to action for believers not to just speak about love, kindness, and faith, but to actively demonstrate these qualities in their everyday lives.

Lastly, the idea that actions speak louder than words aligns with the pursuit of genuine spiritual growth and maturity. In John 15:8, the bearing of fruit is not just a one-time act but a continual process, indicative of a living, growing faith. This continuous action is essential for personal development and for making a meaningful impact in the world. It's about turning good intentions into tangible deeds, thereby transforming abstract beliefs into a lived reality. In essence, it’s a reminder that true faith is not static but dynamic, consistently evidenced through our actions, much like the ever-producing branches of a fruitful vine.

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PSS

In contrast, ungodly counsel, often anti-God and temporary, tends to overlook these spiritual and moral considerations. Focused on instant gratification, personal success, or gain, it promotes values and actions at odds with God's ways. This type of advice, anchored in the ever-changing norms of society and human reasoning, may offer quick fixes or short-lived satisfaction, but lacks the enduring value and depth found in guidance based on the Word of God. It risks leading individuals away from a path of righteousness and spiritual development, encouraging decisions that favor self-interest and material gains over spiritual well-being and moral integrity.

This distinction between counsel that aligns with God's ways and ungodly counsel emphasizes the need for discernment in choosing our sources of guidance. As Proverbs 11:14 KJV suggests, safety and stability lie in the counsel of many, but it is imperative that such counsel is in harmony with God's ways and teachings. Seeking counsel that resonates with the Word of God enables individuals to make decisions that are wise not just in a worldly sense but in harmony with their spiritual values. This approach ensures a balanced life journey, effectively merging practical needs with spiritual aspirations, leading to not only worldly success but also a spiritually fulfilling and enriching life.

Just a thought,

PSS

PSS

Denial: This initial stage serves as a defense mechanism, often buffering the immediate shock of the loss. In denial, individuals may find it hard to believe the loss has occurred, leading to a sense of numbness or disbelief. It's a temporary response that carries one through the first wave of pain.

Anger: As the masking effects of denial begin to wear off, the pain re-emerges. Here, the intense emotion is not always logical or reasonable, and it may be directed at inanimate objects, complete strangers, friends, family, or even the deceased. The anger may stem from feelings of abandonment, helplessness, or injustice associated with the loss.

Bargaining: In this stage, one may dwell on what could have been done to prevent the loss. Common thoughts might include "If only..." or "What if..." scenarios. This stage often involves a desperate attempt to regain control through a series of negotiations with a higher power in exchange for a reversion or mitigation of the loss.

Depression: As the reality of the loss fully sets in, individuals may retreat, isolate, and focus on the practical implications of the loss. Sadness and regret predominate this stage. It's a period of reflection where the true magnitude of the loss is recognized, often leading to feelings of loneliness and despair.

Acceptance: This stage is marked by coming to terms with the reality of the loss. Acceptance does not mean being okay with what happened, but rather acknowledging the reality and recognizing that life has to be restructured. In this stage, individuals begin adapting to life without the lost entity and start planning for a future as it now stands.

To navigate through these stages, it is important to recognize that grief is a deeply personal and unique experience. There's no right or wrong way to grieve. Accepting your feelings, seeking support from loved ones, and allowing yourself time to heal are crucial. Professional help, like therapy, can also provide guidance and coping strategies. Remember, moving through these stages is not a journey to be rushed —it's about finding a way to live with the changes brought about by loss, at your own pace.

Just a thought,

PSS

1. Comfort and Compassion: The Bible often speaks of God's comfort and nearness to the brokenhearted. For instance, Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
2. Mourning and Lamentation: Expressions of grief and lamentation are seen as natural and important. The Book of Psalms is full of cries of anguish, such as Psalm 22:1, where David says, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
3. Hope Beyond Grief: The Bible also speaks of hope beyond the immediate pain of loss. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, Paul writes, "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."
4. Resurrection and Eternal Life: Central to Christian belief is the hope of resurrection and eternal life, which offers a profound perspective on grief. In John 11:25-26, Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die."
5. Support and Community: The Bible encourages believers to support one another in times of sorrow. Romans 12:15 instructs, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."
6. Understanding and Embracing Human Emotions: The Bible doesn’t shy away from the reality of human emotions, including grief. Ecclesiastes 3:4 acknowledges that there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”

These passages reflect a broad and compassionate approach to grief, recognizing it as a natural part of the human experience, while also offering hope and comfort through faith.

Just a thought,

PSS

So many say, “I know God!” Really? What they are really saying is, “I know of God.” Those who really know Him are purposing to do what He says. They are purposing to do the word of God — allowing it to affect every area of their lives.

It’s not enough to know about God. The question is: Do you know Him? The only way to know Him is by learning His word. In our society today, the church world is putting less and less importance on knowing the word of God (the Bible) and more and more emphasis on feeling good about oneself. So, in turn, people are putting more and more emphasis on who their friends are and less and less emphasis on learning the word of God.

We must believe the Bible literally. We must! Without the word of God, we wouldn’t have any idea who He is. So many today are moving away from the Bible to a message more culturally relevant to the world.

God’s word is the only thing that can save us from our sins. It is the only thing that can free us from the bondage of sin. It is the word you know that helps you. So, we all must be in a church that preaches the pure word of God, not some watered-down version of it. This is one reason I appreciate the people who attend Legacy Church. They love hearing and doing God’s word.

Just a thought,

PSS

Selfish or selfless?

At times, taking shortcuts is a sign of being lazy or not thinking of anyone else but yourself. In order to be successful people, we should purpose to do things right. For example, when going to a grocery store and wheeling the basket to unload into your car, do you take the extra moment to put the shopping cart back into the bin, or do you just leave it out? Do you purpose to leave each person, each place, better than when you found it?

Faithful in little, faithful in much:

See, how we do the small things is a reflection of how we do the big things. Going into a public bathroom and seeing toilet paper all over the floor, and pee all over the seat, I often think, What kind of people do this, leave there, knowing someone else will be using it? It always annoys me.

Do right or do over?

Here is what I know: successful people think of others and understand that taking shortcuts will cost you in the long run. Doing things right, even if it takes you a little longer, will be better for you and save you time in the future. Doing things right just means giving a little more effort. Don’t be the person always looking to cut corners, always looking for loopholes to justify your actions. There seems to be a good excuse for almost anything you do. But it is not worth it.

Learn to be more successful by doing things right — taking a little extra time to think about others as well as yourself.

Just a thought,

PSS

The Act of True Repentance and Forgiveness

The sinful woman's actions toward Jesus — weeping, washing His feet with her tears, and anointing them with expensive perfume — were outward expressions of her deep internal repentance. While Simon merely provided a meal, this woman gave her all, showcasing her understanding of Jesus' true identity and power. When Simon inwardly judged her, Jesus highlighted the disparity between the two by pointing out the lack of basic hospitality Simon showed Him, in comparison to the extravagant love the woman displayed. Jesus' response to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven," demonstrates the depth of God's grace and mercy. No sin is too great for God's forgiveness, and it is available to everyone, regardless of their past.

A Call to Genuine Relationship with Jesus

This passage serves as a profound reminder of how we ought to approach Jesus. It's not with a sense of skepticism, like Simon, but with a genuine heart that recognizes its own shortcomings and is eager to experience His transformative love. Jesus is not a figure to be interrogated or tested, but one to be loved, honored, and followed. The woman's actions underscore the value of genuine repentance and the immeasurable grace Jesus offers. Through her, we see that the weight of our sins should not deter us from seeking Jesus; instead, they should drive us toward Him, knowing that He is the only one capable of granting the forgiveness and peace we so deeply crave.

Just a thought,

PSS

The sacrifice:

A sacrifice is not really a sacrifice unless something means a lot to us — unless we really want to do something. It’s something we give up for someone or something else. If it doesn’t mean anything to us, it’s not really a sacrifice at all.

He paid it all:

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20 NLT). Following Jesus will not always be easy or comfortable. It will often require great sacrifice of what we want, and doing what God’s word teaches. Following Christ, to do what He asks, may cost us popularity, friendship, leisure time, or convenience.

Pay the price:

The price of following Christ is saying and doing, Not my will, but let His will be done. It is our choice! Too many of us believe we can follow Christ, and do whatever we want. We follow Christ, and do what He requires us to do. It is our choice. Whatever we are unwilling to let go of may be the very thing that costs us our eternal salvation.

Being a disciple of Christ may not always be easy, but it will always be worth it. Again, it is our choice.

Just a thought,

PSS

Material mindset:

This is really the thing that defines our society as a whole. This mindset has also crept into the Church as well, where people seek to possess things, to have more stuff rather than have a true relationship with God.

Needs vs wants:

God promises to meet our needs if we seek Him first — if we make a decision that He comes before anything else. So many get discouraged, maybe even disillusioned with God, because they don’t have everything they want. There is a difference between needs and wants. A need is a basic necessity of life (food, clothing, shelter). A want is anything outside of a need.

Biblical mindset: 

You can’t allow yourself to be disappointed in God because you believe He hasn’t lived up to what you think the Bible teaches. So much of what we believe is not biblical. I call this a fake faith. A fake faith is believing in something God never said. God will perform only His word. He can’t perform someone else’s word — only His. Much of what people believe today about God is not in His word, made-up fables that cause people to be discouraged. God promises to meet our needs if we keep His word. His word teaches we must tithe (10% of our income goes to the Church, nowhere else), then give offerings. His promises are conditional — certain conditions have to be met, then He becomes your provider.

Let’s learn what the Bible actually teaches and then become doers of that. I believe what we will discover is a very loving, merciful God who does care about us.

Just a thought,

PSS

Conversely, serving God is anchored in humility, submission, and a profound acknowledgment of human limitations. It involves surrendering one’s will, desires, and understanding to the omnipotent, omniscient Creator, trusting in His wisdom, provision, and purpose above all. Serving God implies living in alignment with His principles and commands, seeking His glory rather than personal acclaim. It nurtures a dependence on God's strength rather than one’s own, recognizing that true fulfillment and purpose are found not in self but in a vibrant, obedient relationship with the Creator. This divine service directs one’s life towards love, righteousness, and eternal values, in contrast to the temporal, self-centered pursuits inherent in self-reliance.

The tension between self-reliance and serving God reveals the ongoing spiritual battle within the human heart between pride and humility, self-will and submission. While self-reliance elevates the self, serving God elevates the divine, transcending human understanding and capabilities. The pursuit of God's will and the service to His kingdom necessitate the dethroning of the self, replacing self-reliance with a reliance on God. This symbiotic relationship with the divine allows for a transformation of the heart and mind, facilitating a life of enduring peace, joy, and purpose, illuminated by the eternal light of divine truth and love.

Just a thought,

PSS

God's Word offers a powerful antidote to this self-defeating mindset. Throughout the Bible, there are countless stories of individuals who, despite facing genuine adversity, relied on their faith and God's promises to rise above their circumstances. Joseph, for instance, was sold into slavery and unjustly imprisoned, yet he maintained his faith, recognizing God's hand in all events of his life. His story in Genesis reminds us that even in the face of grave injustice, one can find purpose and meaning through God's greater plan. Similarly, scriptures such as Romans 8:28, which assures us that "all things work together for good to those who love God," encourage believers to view challenges not as perpetual victimhood but as part of a divine narrative.

To overcome the victim mentality with the Word of God, one must immerse themself in the scriptures, drawing strength from the promises and testimonies contained within. Regular prayer, meditation on the Word, and fellowship with other believers can reinforce a mindset of empowerment, resilience, and hope. By internalizing God's unconditional love and purpose for each individual, one can transition from seeing themself as a perpetual victim to recognizing their identity as beloved children of God, equipped with the strength to overcome any challenge.

Just a thought,

PSS

In a world that constantly shifts and changes, trusting in God remains our timeless anchor. Trust is more than a simple belief: it's a steadfast reliance on the unchanging nature of God amidst life's storms. Many times, the waves of uncertainty, fear, and doubt threaten to overwhelm us, but it's in these moments that our trust in God is both tested and solidified. Just as a tree's roots grow deeper seeking water during dry times, our trust in God deepens as we seek Him during our challenges. This trust is built on the foundation of God's character — His unwavering love, His omnipotence, and His promises that have stood the test of time.

Faith in God: The Journey Beyond Sight

Faith, often described as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen, propels us into a journey beyond our physical sight. It calls us to see with our spiritual eyes, to envision a reality molded by God's divine hand even when our surroundings suggest otherwise. Abraham's faith, for instance, led him to unknown lands and promised blessings. It wasn't the physical reality that guided him, but the promises of a God he had come to know and love. This faith is not passive: it's dynamic and active, pushing us forward, encouraging us to take steps even when the path is unclear. It's a faith that says, "I don’t know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future."

The Dance of Trust and Faith

Trusting God and having faith in Him are intrinsically linked, two sides of the same spiritual coin. While trust is our anchor, keeping us grounded, faith is the wind in our sails, pushing us forward. Together, they form a dance, a rhythm of life that keeps us centered on God. When we trust, we surrender control, acknowledging God's sovereignty. When we have faith, we move forward, acting on the belief that God is with us every step of the way. This dance is not always easy: it often requires letting go of deeply held desires, facing our fears, and stepping into the unknown. Yet, with every step, twirl, and leap, we find that God's hands are there to guide and support us, leading us into a future filled with hope.

Just a thought,

PSS

At the heart of any challenging conversation is the desire for understanding and resolution. Active listening becomes crucial, allowing both parties to express their feelings and concerns without interruption. A successful dialogue is built on mutual respect and an understanding that the intention is not to win an argument, but to achieve clarity and, hopefully, find common ground. Additionally, it's vital to approach these interactions with an open mind, free from preconceived judgments. This mindset ensures that the conversation remains constructive, rather than escalating into a heated argument. James 1:19-20 exhorts us that “Everyone should be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath, because the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

In both personal and professional settings, embracing difficult conversations can lead to deeper connections, increased trust, and a clearer path forward. By confronting issues head-on and with empathy, we not only address the immediate concern but also pave the way for more open communication in the future. While it's never easy to dive into sensitive topics, the rewards — strengthened relationships, resolved conflicts, and personal growth — are well worth the effort.

Just a thought,

PSS

As we enjoy the rest that Labor Day affords us, it's also an opportunity to express gratitude for having the ability and opportunity to work. Work is not just about earning a paycheck: it's also a form of worship, a way to utilize the talents and skills God has given us to make a positive impact on the world. Colossians 3:23-24 reminds us, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." This scripture underscores the idea that our work, performed with integrity and diligence, is a form of service to God.

While enjoying the rest and recreation that come with Labor Day, it's also essential to take a moment to offer thanks for the jobs we have. In a world where many are unemployed or underemployed, having a job is a blessing that should not be taken for granted. As we rest on this day, let's also remember to pray for those who are in search of work and to be thankful for the divine calling that work represents in our lives. This dual focus on work and rest aligns closely with biblical principles, enriching our understanding and appreciation of both.

Just a thought,

PSS

The teachings of Mark 11:22 call on believers to have unwavering faith, especially in times of adversity. When faced with doubts, fears, or seemingly insurmountable obstacles, believers are encouraged to lean on their faith, recognizing that with God, all things are possible. This is not a call for passive resignation, but rather an active trust that invites believers to partner with the divine, acknowledge the vastness of God's power, and understand that our human perspective is limited. In doing so, believers can find strength, resilience, and hope, knowing that they are held within the comforting embrace of a loving God.

Having faith in God also shapes how we interact with the world around us. It provides a foundation of hope, guiding us to act with kindness, compassion, and love. It instills a sense of purpose, anchoring us during times of tumult and ensuring that we remain grounded in our convictions. Through faith, we learn to see challenges not as deterrents but as opportunities for growth and deeper understanding. We learn that every trial has a purpose, and through unwavering trust in God, we can navigate life's complexities with grace, wisdom, and an enduring spirit.

Just a thought,

PSS

In our journey through life, filled with all its ups and downs, we too have a guiding light: the Bible. Written over 1,500 years by 40 authors, it remarkably paints one consistent picture: God’s unwavering love for us.

This week, consider this: What if we treated the Bible like the map apps on our phones — turning to it daily, trusting it to guide our steps, and leaning on its wisdom? As you go about your week, I challenge you to read a verse or two, reflect on its meaning, and find ways to apply it (do it) in your day.

Let’s let the Bible be our guiding light, helping us navigate the storm and sunny days alike (Psalm 1).

Just a thought,

PSS

Separate means cause to move or be apart. There is always a season when children separate from mom and dad. It’s for their good and health and well-being going forward in life. We even need to separate from our parents if we are going to have a successful marriage. We can love our parents, honor them, but we must separate from them and cleave to our husband/wife. That means parents don’t get a say in our marriage unless we ask them. They don’t get to bad-mouth our spouse. If you are an in-law and you are interjecting yourself unannounced into your children’s marriage, then back off.

It’s healthy when kids separate from parents, just as it’s healthy for us when we separate ourselves from this world and its ways and philosophies — from the naysayers and the doubt peddlers. It’s all our choice. Separate yourself from anything that is a distraction from serving God, and you will see it was well worth it.

Just a thought,

PSS

From a biblical standpoint, while concepts like sharing and community support are emphasized, there's also a strong acknowledgement of individuality and personal responsibility. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Paul advises, For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat." This suggests an expectation of individual effort and contribution, not just communal sharing. Additionally, in 1 Corinthians 12:14-20, the apostle Paul uses the metaphor of the body and its various parts to illustrate how individuality and diversity are vital components of a functioning, harmonious community.

Therefore, a biblical perspective invites a balance between communal support and individual responsibility, acknowledging the value of both shared resources and individual efforts. It cautions against extreme uniformity or enforced equality, which can undermine individual freedom and personal responsibility. Instead, it offers a model that respects individual differences while fostering a community that supports each other in love and respect. While societal models like communism strive for uniform equality, the Bible presents a different perspective, promoting both communal unity and individual diversity in a delicate balance.

Just a thought,

PSS

On the other hand, contentment is like a deep and steady current beneath the ocean's surface. It's an enduring sense of peace and satisfaction that comes from within. Contentment is accepting and appreciating what we have and where we are in life. It's a perspective that is less about the external world and more about our inner state. It's about recognizing that while we may not have everything, we have enough. Unlike happiness, contentment is not easily swayed by life's ups and downs.

While both happiness and contentment bring positive feelings, their sources and lasting power differ significantly. The pursuit of happiness can sometimes lead to a constant chase for temporary highs and can potentially leave us feeling unfulfilled in the long run. On the other hand, nurturing contentment can provide us with a steady source of satisfaction and peace, even in the face of adversity. This is not to say that we shouldn't seek happiness, but rather, we should strive for the deeper, more sustaining experience of contentment. Contentment provides us with the strength and stability to enjoy happiness when it comes, without being dependent on it.

Just a thought,

PSS

1. Have a healthy perspective — This can help you face difficult truths about weaknesses in your life, identify and build on strengths, and force growth and change.
2. Understand Who really did it — James 1:17a: Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father.
3. Mention others often — If life is about us only, it becomes very self-serving. We need to serve others.
4. Invest in others — When you help others, God will help you.
5. Love makes you relevant — Always put the word of God first.
6. Integrity is the key — Keep your word.
7. Take your eyes off the scoreboard — Keep serving, no matter what.
8. Yield to the Holy Spirit — He is our teacher; He leads and guides us; He comforts us; He knows exactly what we should do.

Let’s all work on yielding and obeying God and His word. He gives grace to the humble.

Just a thought,

PSS

Similarly, Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." This verse underscores the significance of trusting God and incorporating Him into every aspect of our lives. To put God first, we must learn to rely on His wisdom and guidance rather than solely on our understanding. It involves seeking His will in all our decisions, big or small, and acknowledging Him in all we do.

Putting God first influences every aspect of our lives — our relationships, work, finances, health, and even leisure. It calls for a daily commitment to prayer, reading and meditating on the word, and living a life of obedience and service. It also involves loving and serving others, for in doing so, we are demonstrating our love for God. When God is our primary focus, our lives are enriched with peace, joy, and a sense of purpose. When we honor God with all areas of our lives, He promises to guide us, meet our needs, and bless us abundantly.

Just a thought,

PSS

The biblical scripture, Galatians 5:13, affirms this link, saying: "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Freedom, as a divine gift, carries with it a certain level of responsibility. It urges individuals to use their liberty not for selfish or destructive purposes, but to serve others in love, reflecting the compassion and altruism that God teaches. This message resonates deeply with the founding principles of the United States, as the nation was created with an aim of providing its citizens the freedom to serve, grow, and prosper.

Therefore, as Americans celebrate the Fourth of July, they are not only commemorating a historic event, but also acknowledging a spiritual legacy. The fireworks, parades, and speeches symbolize not only the victory over a physical oppressor, but also the triumph of an idea — that all men and women are born with rights that come from God. This concept, deeply rooted in faith, has shaped the United States since its inception and continues to inspire its citizens to uphold the values of freedom, equality, and service to others. So, while the Fourth of July is a time of joyous celebration, it is also a time of reflection and gratitude for the divine guidance that has led to the liberties enjoyed today.

Just a thought,

PSS

The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 vividly illustrates this concept. In this parable, a man going on a journey entrusts his property to his servants according to their abilities. Upon his return, the servants who were faithful and productive with their talents were commended and given more, while the servant who did nothing with his talent was severely reprimanded. God expects us to use our God-given abilities, resources, and opportunities effectively and for His glory. As we do so, we prepare ourselves for more blessings and responsibilities.

In addition to material or tangible resources, the Bible also encourages us to be faithful with spiritual gifts and the truths we have been entrusted with. Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:20, "Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care." Similarly, we are stewards of the spiritual gifts God has given us, and we are called to use them faithfully in serving others and building up the church. Being faithful in such matters not only brings glory to God but also brings us into a deeper relationship with Him. As we prove faithful with what we have been given, we can expect God to entrust us with even more.

Just a thought,

PSS

Self-focus:

It is no wonder that God detests pride and opposes the proud. It is pride that leads man to believe he can live without God. God wants us to stay close to Him and far from sin. Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall (Proverbs 16:18 NLT). Pride is when we are self-willed, not God-willed. It makes us focus on ourselves instead of on God.

Poison:

Pride makes you small. But He gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble (James 4:6 NLT). Pride is a poison to the mind, soul, and heart of man. It ruins everything it touches. It actually believes it knows better than God.

Humility:

So, what must we do? We must all humble ourselves, recognizing that God knows best, that His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Pride goes before destruction; it goes before damage, something that cannot be repaired. Haughtiness is when someone thinks they are better than someone else — they become arrogant — this comes before the fall, ruin, failure.

So, let’s all make sure we keep a humble (teachable) heart and mind, and be doers of God’s word in every area of our lives. 

Just a thought,

PSS

Unspoken expectations:

We all need to live life with great expectations. But our expectations need to be reasonable ones. Some of us have unspoken expectations. We expect things from others that were never agreed upon or spoken about. We expect something of someone or something that was never discussed. It’s these expectations that get us.

Realistic expectations:

We expect so much from God, even when His word doesn’t say what we expect. When this happens, we get disappointed. Disappointment is defined as the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations. We will hear people say things like, “I thought you meant this,” or “I thought you said this.” We really need to govern our expectations with reality — the reality of what has been said or agreed to.

Godly expectations:

Especially when it comes to God, people so often accuse Him of not caring because He didn’t meet their expectation at the time. But what they expected wasn’t based on fact or in the core truth. Let’s find out what the word of God actually says, then adjust our expectations to what has actually been said or agreed upon.

What we will find is that we won’t experience as much disappointment in our lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." This is an encouragement to be a peacemaker, to be a person who actively creates peace. The term "peacemaker" comes from the Greek word "eirenopoios," which means "one who makes peace." So, being a peacemaker is not just about living peacefully ourselves, but it's about helping others to do the same. They are the ones who step in to calm down disagreements and foster understanding among people. According to Jesus, peacemakers are as special as God's own children, highlighting how important it is to work toward peace.

The Bible also offers a comforting message about finding peace within ourselves. In Philippians 4:6-7, it says, "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." These words remind us that we can experience a profound sense of peace when we place our trust in God. This type of peace is so deep and powerful that it's beyond our full understanding. It can help us stay calm and feel secure, even when we're facing difficult situations. So, the peace that the Bible talks about isn't just about living harmoniously with others, but also about experiencing a deep sense of calm and certainty within ourselves because of our faith in God.

Just a thought,
PSS

Opportunity knocks:

When managed biblically, conflict can serve as a catalyst for change and an opportunity for spiritual and relational growth. Psychologists define conflict to be: a state of opposition, disagreement, or incompatibility between two or more people or groups of people. Conflict mostly refers to the existence of the clash, which can be interests, values, actions, or directions. In a “Peanuts” cartoon, Lucy says to Snoopy, “There are times when you really bug me, but I must admit there are also times when I feel like giving you a big hug.” Snoopy replies, “That’s the way I am … bugable and hugable [sic]!”

Approach/Avoidance:

And so it is with us and our relationships — we need each other, yet we annoy each other. At times, the people to whom we are the closest are those with whom we experience the most conflict. In friendships, we are off again and on again. Before marriage, opposites attract; but after marriage, opposites attack. In the Church, as the old saying goes, “We long to live in Heaven, together in God’s glory. To live together down on earth, well, that’s another story.”

Might is not right:

Proverbs 15:1 (NLT): A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. We must learn how to handle conflict better, realizing it’s not about being right: it’s about resolving the issue. In Matthew 5:39 (NIV), Jesus said, “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” To the Jew, this was offensive. They were looking for a military leader who would help them destroy their enemies. Jesus was saying you must give up your rights. Today, we live in a world where people are taught to stand up, fight for your rights — what you think you deserve. Jesus was teaching us not to demand our rights.

In order to resolve conflict, we must pray and humble ourselves and make it about the issue. The relationship is always more important than the issue.

Just a thought,

PSS

Negotiation:
Too many Christians compromise the word of God in their lives. The word of God is not, and should never be, up to negotiation. Compromise can be beneficial when it promotes cooperation without sacrificing normal values, the standard of the Bible. When you begin to take a wrong step in a direction that you know is unwise, it can lead to compromise. 

The highest way:
Compromise is defined as an agreement or settlement of dispute that is reached by each side making concessions. It also means to accept standards that are lower than desirable. In other words, when you compromise the word of God to do something you want, you are accepting standards that are lower. God’s ways are higher than our ways; His thoughts are higher, better than our thoughts. God’s ways are always the best ways. 

Repentance:
Compromising beliefs has caused so much pain for people. It causes regret. Regret is awful! If you have found yourself compromising the word of God for someone or something, repent quickly and purpose to get it right. Change your ways immediately. Then you will see God’s blessing, His help in your life and family. 

Some things are negotiable but never is the word of God. Believe it and act on it. Hebrews 12:10-13.

Just a thought,
PSS

Decide:
When you decide to trust someone or something, you are confident about its integrity, strength, or ability. So, in order to trust, the object of your trust must be worthy of your confidence and reliance. For example, we tend to marry someone we trust, and if that relationship remains healthy and continues to grow, the trust level will increase, not decrease.

Father knows best:
As for our spiritual relationship, we need to realize that God has our best interest in mind. Sometimes we look for immediate gratification, where God is looking at the whole picture and for our future. When these ideas clash, it might be tempting to think, God doesn’t care for me or love me.

Trust God:
We have to learn to trust God and have confidence in Him. No matter what, God is the only one who sees our future, and He’s always looking out for us, for our own good, for our life. You can trust Him.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

Just a thought,
PSS

Confidence in God and His word allows us to stand firm in the face of adversity. As we meditate on the promises and truths contained within the Scriptures, we begin to understand the unwavering love and support that God has for us. This understanding strengthens our resolve and helps us remain confident in our convictions, even when external circumstances may seem daunting or overwhelming. When we keep our eyes focused on God and His promises, we can tap into the divine strength that empowers us to overcome any obstacle.

Courage is the byproduct of a strong faith and unshakable confidence in God. With God on our side, we can boldly face any challenge that comes our way, knowing that we are never alone. As we develop our relationship with God through prayer, worship, and study of His word, we grow in our ability to confront difficult situations with courage and conviction. God equips us with the necessary tools to face life's battles head-on, and when we lean on Him, we find the courage to persevere and triumph over any adversity that may come our way. Our faith, confidence, and courage in God ultimately serve as a testament to His power and grace, inspiring others to seek refuge in His loving embrace.

Just A Thought,

PSS

Calling:

As followers of Christ, we are called to be missionaries and share the good news of Jesus' love and redemption with others. Our role is not only to invite people into our churches and communities but also to help them understand the true nature of Jesus' kingship — a kingship that transcends earthly power and authority, focusing instead on love, mercy, and sacrifice.

Reflection:

As we celebrate Palm Sunday, let us embrace our calling as missionaries and extend an invitation to those around us to experience the life-changing love of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. We must do this not only with our words but also with our actions, by living lives that reflect the values of Christ's kingdom: love, compassion, forgiveness, and humility.

Sharing:

In our efforts to share the good news, we should not be deterred by the preconceived ideas that people may have about Jesus. Instead, let us gently and patiently guide them to a deeper understanding of the true nature of His kingship. As we do this, we will play a part in helping others come to know Jesus as their Savior, the one who brings peace, reconciliation, and hope to a world in desperate need.

So, on this Palm Sunday and beyond, let us commit ourselves to being ambassadors for Christ, inviting others to experience the transformative power of His love and to join us in worshiping Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Just a thought,

PSS

Sacrifice:
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?’ ” (Matthew 16:24-26).

Commit:
Bearing a cross meant one was about to die, and they would have faced ridicule and disgrace along the way. Therefore, Jesus is challenging us to fully commit to our faith and embrace the sacrifices and hardships that come with being a true follower of Christ. This commitment goes beyond simply saying a prayer or acknowledging Jesus as Lord. It involves surrendering our wills, our desires, and our very lives to Him, letting go of our worldly concerns and selfish ambitions in order to prioritize His kingdom and righteousness.

Persevere:
As we follow Jesus, we can expect to face various trials, persecution, and even ridicule from those who do not share our faith. Embracing the cross means being willing to endure these difficulties and stand firm in our beliefs, even when it's not popular or convenient. It's about recognizing the eternal value of our souls and putting our trust in God's promises, rather than seeking fleeting pleasures or material success. This level of discipleship requires steadfastness and perseverance, but it ultimately leads to a deeper relationship with Christ and a more meaningful, purposeful life.

Devote:
Jesus' words in Matthew 16:24-26 serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of wholehearted devotion to our faith. We must be willing to let go of our own desires and plans, and fully embrace the life that God has called us to. Only by giving up our lives for His sake, can we truly experience the abundant life and eternal salvation that He offers.

As followers of Christ, let us strive to carry our cross daily, embracing the challenges and sacrifices it entails, knowing that the rewards far outweigh the costs.

Just a thought,

PSS

Healing:

God’s heart is for people (2 Peter 3:9). He desires that none should perish, but all come to repentance. He tells us continually to reach the lost, get people saved, make disciples, and teach people what His word says. This is what God is passionate about — healing people from their brokenness. But how can He do that if they don’t know or realize they are broken?

God’s goodness:

The world accepts everything, even thinking up more ways to be evil. So, it’s our responsibility to reach the lost, tell them of the goodness of God. He wants us to have urgency in sharing our faith and reaching people with the gospel. It’s what we are to do, not to cater to people’s feelings but let them know the truth. Why? So that people can make an informed decision about God, about Jesus.

Reaching the lost:

Penn Jillette said, “How much do you have to hate somebody not to proselytize [them]?” If we believe in heaven and hell, we should not care about what people think of us or how upset they may become for our telling them about it. It gives God something to work with.

Let’s get passionate about what God is passionate about — the lost!

Just a thought,

PSS

Only believe:

We serve a God who is able to do abundantly above all we could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). He is also the God of the impossible (Matthew 19:26). If we would ever believe that, we would never be hopeless. I heard a preacher say we don’t need to be hopeful if we are hope filled.

Hang on:

God is hope: He doesn’t have hope; He is hope. We need to hang onto hope so we don’t ever become hopeless. We have to work in this very dark, ungodly world to continue to hope, even through our worst moments, our worst days, and our worst mistakes! God is a God of hope. We need to possess hope. The Bible says hope deferred (put off) makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12).

Choose hope:

There is always a choice to hope, to see light at the end of the tunnel. So, we can’t afford to have our hope deferred, put off, cast off. In fact, faith is the substance of things hoped for. We please God by our faith, by believing Him and His word. So, no matter what you are facing or what you have done, there is hope.

So, let’s continue to have expectations that our circumstances can get better.

Just a thought,

PSS

Maintaining:

I think it is very sad that too many believers fall into the maintaining camp instead of influencing people to follow Christ. If all we do is maintain our faith, we will eventually start moving in the wrong direction. We need to become learners and keep growing, moving forward with God. So, to be an influence on people and the culture, we need to stand.

Being consistent:

1) We must consistently stand on the word of God and never back off, regardless of what the world says, what the culture says.

2) We must be consistent in our faith and walk before the Lord.

3) We must become lifelong learners.

Learning:

Even God cannot teach the unteachable. We must remain teachable and be willing to learn. Part of learning is to be able to say, “I was wrong” or “I didn’t know.” God can and will get us whatever information we may need if we are willing to learn, grow, develop!

So, let’s allow God to make us all influencers for good in this lost, dark world and to help people know there is a loving God waiting to help if we are willing to change and repent.

Just a thought,

PSS

If you won’t work, you shouldn’t eat:

People today (this culture) violate the 10^th commandment —Thou shall not covet. The spirit of covetousness wants others to lose or fail so we can have their success and possessions. We are so concerned with what others possess and how much money they have, and some believe they have the right to someone else’s hard work and sacrifice and success. These people didn’t earn it, but for some reason believe they deserve it. People want to depend on handouts, government, anything except God.

Godliness with contentment:

When you depend on God, you won’t covet what others have. You won’t rejoice when others fail or make a mistake. You will look to God and strive to learn to live content in whatever situation you might find yourself. We really need to begin to depend on God and His word. When we do, our lives will be better and enriched by the power of the Holy Spirit. But it’s always our choice.

Choose this day whom you will serve.

Just a thought,

PSS

Good tude:

Here are some examples of a positive attitude: 1) changing our perspective (our perspective has a powerful influence on our life and happiness), 2) smiling and being kind to others, 3) practicing compassion, 4) not taking things personally, 5) being happy for others’ success.

Bad tude:

Some people have a bad attitude toward work, a person. Here are some examples of a bad attitude: 1) being rude to coworkers or those in authority, 2) not taking responsibility for our mistakes. People with bad attitudes are described as: aggressive, arrogant, belligerent, blunt, callous, critical, cynical, dishonest, distant, envious, guarded, hostile, indifferent, intolerant, pessimistic, prejudiced, prideful, resentful, rude, selfish, suspicious, apathetic, untrusting.

We all have attitude. The reality is, we can choose our attitude. If we find ourselves having a bad attitude, we can change it. If we have a good attitude, we can grow in it.

We all have attitude, but which will we choose? I hope we all choose a good attitude.

Just a thought,

PSS

It spreads like wildfire:

Gossip is defined (Cambridge Dictionary) as: conversation or reports about other people’s private lives that might be unkind, disapproving, or not true. Gossip has destroyed more people, tarnished more reputations, broken more friendships, and split more churches than any sin I’m aware of. Gossip is quickly told, quickly heard, and quickly spread. Worst of all, gossip is quickly believed.

It is denied:

People will confess to stealing, lying, adultery, even murder. But no one confesses to gossip. God’s word teaches us to believe the best in people. The devil, who is a liar and slanderer, comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. He is the author of gossip and everything that causes people to be so insecure.

It is destructive:

We should not gravitate toward gossip or enjoy someone else’s demise. We don’t rejoice at injustice or someone else’s issues. We should seek to help and encourage. Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Let’s use our tongues and words to encourage, to help, and to restore others.

Let’s ask God to heal us and put a guard over our mouths and ears, so we won’t allow gossip to come from our mouths or get into the inmost parts of our being.

Just a thought,

PSS

Reciprocity:

Two areas in which I believe most believers have missed God completely are: one, serving; and two, giving. It’s so sad to me that people will talk about how much they love God and are thankful to Him, but never reciprocate by giving and serving His kingdom. I guess the saying might be true, “Put your money where your mouth is!” In other words, Show us what you believe.

Obedience:

John 14:15 — “If you love me, obey my commands.” Way too many people treat the Bible, the word of God, as a book of suggestions, instead of a book of commands. John 15:14 (NLT) — “You are my friends if you do what I command.” We need to do what God commands. He commands us to give of our money. He commands us to serve.

So, the question I leave you with is this: “Do you love God, and are you thankful enough to do what He commands?”

Just a thought,

PSS

Scarcity mentality:

The poverty and victim mentalities give rise to a scarcity mentality. People with this mentality believe that life has only so much — so much time, so much money, so much intelligence, so much of whatever resource they can name. So, if they give, they will have less. They may even believe in God. They believe God made the earth, but He didn’t make it big enough, and He made it with limited resources. Because of this scarcity mentality, people get deceived and start believing in the wrong things.

Abundant life:

God didn’t make the earth too small, and He definitely didn’t make it with limited resources that will run out. This scarcity mentality is a stronghold for way too many. They need to be delivered from this type of thinking. These false beliefs hinder a person’s relationship with God. We need to believe the Bible and the words of our Lord Jesus. He came to give us life and life more abundantly (John 10:10) — to give us a rich and satisfying life. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Don’t allow him any longer to deceive you into believing God is not big enough.

We really do need to learn and practice generosity. If we do, it could change our whole life.

Just a thought,

PSS

Hope is not a sedative; it is a shot of adrenaline, a blood transfusion. Like an anchor, our hope in Christ stabilizes us in the storms of life; but unlike an anchor, our hope moves us forward; it does not hold us back.
— Warren Wiersbe

Tough times:

Although we may experience tough times, disappointing moments, heartache, we still can have hope if we believe. These temporary detours of suffering will actually strengthen our commitment to Christ and our testimony for Him. You see, as believers, we all have an incredible future with Christ in heaven.

Hope deferred:

Don’t ever allow your hope to be deferred. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12). No one likes waiting. It feels good to get what we want. But when our expectations are delayed, we can experience disappointment, disillisionment, and loss of hope. Waiting can become such an affliction to some that it’s like a lingering sickness. Even though things are delayed, we need to stay in faith, trust, believe in the word of God.

A better tomorrow:

Our hope in a better tomorrow because we are born-again, saved by the power of God, and realizing our future home with God is very real, will help us to keep going. No matter what you face, remember we have a hope that never perishes. It is a shot of adrenaline to our minds.

Let’s never lose this hope God gives us, and when our faith is being tested, remember it is only temporary — it’s God’s kingdom only that lasts forever.

Just a thought,

PSS

“When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ ” (John 21:15)

Restoration:

Jesus has a wonderful way of restoring us when we fail Him! He does not humiliate us. He does not criticize us. He does not ask us to make a resolution to try harder. Rather, He takes us aside and asks us to reaffirm our love for Him.

Failure:

Peter miserably failed his Lord when he fled with the other disciples from the Garden of Gethsemane. Later, he publicly denied that he even knew Jesus. Peter must have wondered if he had been capable of being Jesus’ disciple when he was unfaithful to Jesus in His most crucial hour.

As you begin a new year, you may be painfully aware that you have failed your Lord in many ways. Perhaps you were not faithful. Perhaps you disobeyed His word to you. Perhaps you denied Him by the way you lived. Jesus will take you aside, as He did Peter. He will not berate you. He will not humiliate you. He will ask you to examine your love for Him.

Affirmation:

Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” If your answer, like Peter’s, is “Yes, Lord,” He will reaffirm His will for you. If you truly love Him, you will obey Him (John 14:15). Jesus does not need your resolutions, your recommitments, or your promises to try harder this year. If your resolve to obey God last year did not help you to be faithful, it will not make you successful this year.

Jesus asks for your love. If you truly love Him, your service for Him in the new year will be of the quality that He desires.

Just a thought,

PSS

What is our worldview? What helps us decide what we believe, what we do, how we see the world, from what lens we see it?

Spirit vs flesh:

We either have a fleshly worldview about how we feel — no wrong or right — or a heavenly or spiritual view, based on the word of God. We either sow to the Spirit or the flesh. Way too many Christians’ worldviews are all about what the culture says is right or wrong. Not enough of us have a biblical worldview, where we allow God’s word to inform us of what we should believe or embrace.

Far above all:

Our worldview helps us see the world. If we have a fleshly view, we will end up being against God and His ways. If we have a biblical worldview, we will allow God’s word to shape us — our beliefs, desires, and actions. Colossians 3:1 NKJV — “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.”

Let’s allow the word of God — not this world, not this culture — to dictate our worldview. Let’s never call evil good or good evil.

Just a thought,

PSS

’Tis the season … so it’s said
When God gave reason for sins to shed
It started when a tiny babe
Found within a manger came
A single star that lit the night
Brought wise men far to view the sight
When first they eyed this tiny babe
The wise men sighed then knelt to pray

This truly is the Son of Man
And strength is His that does command
He is the way, the truth, the light
And so we pray our souls ignite
To spread the word throughout the land
Of what occurred at God’s command
This tiny babe the Son of Man
In a manger came when Christ began

— Jo Jo Bean

This is the real meaning of Christmas. People are looking. It is said that people going to mediums, palm readers, etc., went up 70% during the “plandemic”! Why didn’t the Church experience this same thing? It’s because those folks believe in what they do more than the Church does. We want to water down, make the gospel more palatable to the hearer. When we do this, it loses its power to transform, heal. The Church as a whole has run from the power of the word and the power of the Holy Spirit. Not we! Not you!

This year let’s go out of our way to invite everyone we know, even strangers, to our services. Then let’s believe those who attend will hear the truth and respond by becoming born again.

I thank everyone for being so faithful and for being generous.

Just a thought,

PSS

A lot of us say we want to know the will of God as an excuse not to be faithful and responsible.

His written will:

God entrusted this life to us, and it’s our job to live it, not to push the responsibility back on Him. I hear this all the time, “I just want to know: I’m waiting on the will of God.” It is usually an excuse to do nothing. What’s unfortunate is those people discount the will of God that is written — the Bible. It is full of His will for us.

No exemptions:

I believe we don’t want to do the obvious because too many are waiting to hear God tell us we are exempt from His word — very unfortunate. He will never say that. While we are waiting on God, we are to keep doing what we know to do. I may not know whether I should take this job or that one, but I do know to go to church, involve myself, support first the kingdom in every way.

Just do it:

The reason so many don’t ever get the direction they desire is that they are unwilling to do what God has already said. Why would He give us the answer when we ignore what He already has said? He won’t.

Let’s be people who do what we know according to the word of God, and then see how God will lead and direct our steps.

Just a thought,

PSS

Proverbs 3:13-16 (NLT) — Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. 

Get understanding:
Solomon describes the value of wisdom. Proverbs uses the term wisdom in reference to something more than mere intelligence or knowledge. Biblical wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge in a godly way. The capacity to follow God’s will is incredibly valuable, more so than any material possession ever would be. Nothing a person can desire can compare with wisdom. This includes all possessions, accolades, and luxuries.

Get wisdom:
A person may desire fame or fortune, but wisdom is far better. Instead of believing God for things all the time, maybe we should seek wisdom above all else. It’s wisdom that will cause us to be successful in life. Let’s seek wisdom and watch what God does in our lives. 

Wisdom!

Just a thought,
PSS

I 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. We are commanded to be thankful. I believe it is something we need to learn.

Entitlement vs thankfulness:

Billy Graham said, “Thanksgiving — the giving of thanks — to God for all His blessings should be one of the most distinctive marks of the believer in Jesus Christ.” The opposite of thankfulness is entitlement. Entitlement is a belief that we have a right to something we didn’t earn. Somehow, we deserve what everyone else has, regardless of whether we worked for it or earned it; somehow, we have a right to it. This is known as covetousness, which is a violation of the 10th commandment.

Unthankfulness:

Francis Schaeffer said, “The beginning of men’s rebellion against God was, and is, the lack of a thankful heart. God said in Romans 1:20-25 (NLT) that when they knew God, they weren’t thankful, so He turned them over to a depraved mind, a confused mind.

Choose this day:

We will serve somebody or someone. We can serve God and live or we can stay unthankful and serve addiction, fear, anger, no rest, etc. I’m sure you can continue that list. Let’s practice thanksgiving, being thankful, and watch and see what God does in our lives. Be thankful!

Just a thought,

PSS

We definitely live in difficult times. The Bible calls these days perilous times. The word perilous means hurtful, dangerous, unpredictable, uncontrollable, and high-risk periods of time will come.

The Last Days:

We are seeing we are in the last of the last days, right now! (2 Timothy 3:1). We are living out the Scriptures. We are living in a moment when no one really has any answers. There is no one to ask because in our recent history we have never experienced what we are experiencing in our world today.

No Fear:

So, what do we do? Firstly, don’t panic: God has not been caught off guard. He knew this was going to happen. He knew that there would be tremendous amounts of fearmongering and overreacting, as people tend to do. Secondly, don’t be afraid: don’t live in fear, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. We are not to live in fear. We do need to use wisdom, but never fear.

The Word:

We do not ever lay aside the word of God for any man, any government. It’s the word of God that lasts forever. The world doesn’t have the answers — they don’t offer any hope to the lost or hurting. Let’s seek God like never before. Let’s take what the enemy means for evil, and use it to do good. Let’s share our faith with others like never before. Let’s be the Church, and lead in these perilous times we live in.

It’s all a choice. I pray we choose life.

Just a thought,

PSS

Have you ever heard it said, Two things you never discuss are politics and religion? It’s because it causes people to get passionate, angry, and upset. So, let’s just not talk about them. The problem is: these two things literally govern a society.

Political Season:

The word “politics” comes from the Greek words “politika polis,” meaning affairs of the city — a citizen (politician) who has responsibilities to a city. It can also mean the act of living together in a city, state, country, or community. So, we should discuss these things. We are in a very political season. The governor of New Mexico, state supreme court, and house seats, will be decided tomorrow, & more — the future fate of our state and country. So, I believe we must be involved by praying and voting.

The Issues:

Some will say, None of the candidates has or possesses my values, so I’m going to sit this one out. I don’t believe God ever intended His people to sit anything out. I believe one way we can decide is to base it on the issues. We have the issues of the family, abortion, the rights of the unborn, economy. So, I think this could be a way for all of us to engage. But to do nothing doesn’t help shape policy.

Values Voting:

We can influence policy and policy makers — from the governor of our state to the state supreme court. These people have an impact on all of our lives. Here’s one more way to look at it: which candidate will allow us to live out our faith and not come against us or pass laws that limit our freedom of worship and expression? Maybe that will help us all to register and pray and vote. We can influence policy if we are willing to do our part.

I don’t believe God would say He sits out (Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority, except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God — Romans 13:1), then ask us to sit out and do nothing.

Find a polling location near you: Polling Place Locator

Just a thought,

PSS

Hope is not a sedative; it is a shot of adrenaline, a blood transfusion. Like an anchor, our hope in Christ stabilizes us in the storms of life; but unlike an anchor, our hope moves us forward; it does not hold us back. -Warren Wiersbe

Tough times:

Although we may experience tough times, disappointing moments, heartache, we still can have hope if we believe. These temporary detours of suffering will actually strengthen our commitment to Christ and our testimony for Him. You see, as believers, we all have an incredible future with Christ in heaven.

Hope deferred:

Don’t ever allow your hope to be deferred. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12). No one likes waiting. It feels good to get what we want. But when our expectations are delayed, we can experience disappointment, disillusionment, and loss of hope. Waiting can become such an affliction to some that it’s like a lingering sickness. Even though things are delayed, we need to stay in faith, trust, and believe in the word of God.

A better tomorrow:

Our hope in a better tomorrow because we are born-again, saved by the power of God, and realizing our future home with God is very real, will help us to keep going. No matter what you face, remember we have a hope that never perishes. It is a shot of adrenaline to our minds.

Let’s never lose this hope God gives us, and when our faith is being tested, remember it is only temporary — it’s God’s kingdom only that lasts forever.

Just a thought,

PSS

When truth is removed, absurdity rules the day. Think about that statement.

Many truths:

There are a lot of truths in the world: the earth is round; we revolve around the sun at a perfect distance from it so we don’t freeze to death; we are far enough away from it so we don’t burn up. But there is “The Truth” that can be learned from the word of God only. God’s word (the Bible) is truth. It’s the final say! Or it should be, in a believer’s life. If it is not, it is not too late to allow it to be.

Many absurdities:

Without God’s truth, absurdities will rule the day. Absurd is defined as wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate, ridiculous. Absurd is contrary to reason, obviously and flatly opposed to manifest truth and common sense. This is what is happening in our state and country. The philosphy of this world is absurd — from destroying our economy and people’s lives over a virus to the continued murder of the unborn, to allowing the homosexual to recruit our children, from TV shows to the indoctrination of the public school system. It is just absurd.

The Truth:

Ever since this country has removed God and His word from the public square, absurdities reign. How do we ”absurdityproof” ourselves? By reading the word of God, acting on the word of God, and doing it. By hearing it consistently, it will keep us from buying into the absurd.

Stay strong and cling to the word of God. It will help you in every area of your lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

As believers in Christ, our obedience is the main thing.

Trust God:

Obeying God’s word is of utmost importance. If we choose not to obey, it means we really don’t think much of God. To be able to obey God’s word, we must trust Him. Proverbs 3 teaches us how to trust God so we can be obedient. Verse 5 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Because God’s ways, thoughts, are higher than our thoughts, we must learn to trust, even though we don’t understand.

Only believe:

Do we obey or do we disobey? A lot of the time this question can be answered the same way: Do I have to fully understand to obey? The answer is no. We do have to believe and trust that God’s word is true, and God cannot ever lie. Trust takes place when we don’t fully understand.

Choose this day:

Obedience happens when we believe the Bible is the infallible word of God. We can obey it, even when we don’t quite understand why, because we have decided it is the word of God! We must all settle this in our hearts and minds. To be undecided will lead to disobedience, not trusting that what God says in His word is true. The way to remedy this is to purpose to do the word regardless of whether we fully understand it.

Be a doer of the word and not a hearer only.

Just a thought,

PSS

Jesus said in John 8:32 NLT — And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. This is an incredible promise, especially if you need healing —whether the difficulty is an injury, illness, a financial hardship, troubled relationship, or anything else.

Belief vs truth:

Harper’s Bible Dictionary includes the statement when defining truth, “God is truth.” So many believe things that are not true. Truth is something that has to be known, not just believed. I can believe a lot of things that are not true. When I was a kid, it was believed that if you ate something, you had to wait around 15 to 30 minutes before getting back into the water because if you got in sooner, you could cramp up and drown. But now we know that is not true. It was believed, but not true.

His word is truth:

So, knowing the truth, is knowing God to some degree! We need to pray and read the word daily so we can know the truth. Things that are true can be proved. So, we know the truth that God is a healer. He heals, so we claim that promise. The way the truth sets us free from the bondage of sin is by our getting to know God better. How do we do that? By learning His word. That’s how we will know the truth.

So, let’s get into God’s word more — so we can really know the Truth.

Just a thought,

PSS

Acceptance — The action, or process, of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted into a group. Acceptance is so important.

Faith vs works: 

Being accepted, or acceptance, is a different thing for so many. But being accepted by God is even harder for some. We work so hard to be accepted at times by people — willing to sacrifice just about anything, compromise just about anything to be accepted.

But with God you can’t work for His acceptance. You must believe to really receive it. You must accept His sacrifice and make Him Lord of your life. Once you have truly come to believe in Him (we don’t really believe until we are willing to follow Him and obey His word), then you are accepted by Him.

 Worthiness:

So many of us see ourselves as unworthy, not good enough. So, we never enter into God’s rest. We are always working so hard to hopefully be accepted by God, when the truth is, we do the works of God not to be accepted, but to be pleasing to God.

Only believe:

Once you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior and purpose to follow Him, you are accepted. He accepts you with your strengths and weaknesses. You are accepted into His family. You don’t work for His acceptance: you believe for His acceptance. It’s His sacrifice that allows us to have a relationship with God.

Believe, and be a doer of His word. Why? Because God does love you.

Just a thought,

PSS

In order to follow God, to accomplish goals, to be successful, we will have to separate ourselves — from people, entertainment, distractions. We separate ourselves — in order to concentrate, to do the work that will be required for us to follow God and be successful.

Change:

Nothing changes if nothing changes. What are some of the changes that you will need to make, habits you will need to break, thinking that you will need to change, to follow God and accomplish your goals?

In-law or outlaw:

Separate means cause to move or be apart. There is always a season when children separate from mom and dad. It’s for their good and health and well-being going forward in life.

We even need to separate from our parents if we are going to have a successful marriage. We can love our parents, honor them, but we must separate from them and cleave to our husband/wife. That means parents don’t get a say in our marriage unless we ask them. They don’t get to bad-mouth our spouse. If you are an in-law and you are interjecting yourself unannounced into your children’s marriage, then back off.

Health:

It’s healthy when kids separate from parents, just as it’s healthy for us when we separate ourselves from this world and its ways and philosophies — from the naysayers and the doubt peddlers. It’s all our choice.

Separate yourself from anything that is a distraction from serving God, and you will see it was well worth it.

Just a thought,

PSS

Hope is not a sedative; it is a shot of adrenaline, a blood transfusion. Like an anchor, our hope in Christ stabilizes us in the storms of life; but unlike an anchor, our hope moves us forward; it does not hold us back.

-Warren Wiersbe

Tough times:

Although we may experience tough times, disappointing moments, and heartache, we still can have hope if we believe. These temporary detours of suffering will actually strengthen our commitment to Christ and our testimony for Him. You see, as believers, we all have an incredible future with Christ in heaven.

Hope deferred:

Don’t ever allow your hope to be deferred. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12). No one likes waiting. It feels good to get what we want. But when our expectations are delayed, we can experience disappointment, disillisionment, and loss of hope. Waiting can become such an affliction to some that it’s like a lingering sickness. Even though things are delayed, we need to stay in faith, trust, and believe the word of God.

A better tomorrow:

Our hope in a better tomorrow because we are born-again and saved by the power of God, and realizing our future home with God is very real will help us to keep going. No matter what you face, remember we have a hope that never perishes. It is a shot of adrenaline to our minds.

Let’s never lose this hope God gives us, and when our faith is being tested, remember it is only temporary — it’s God’s kingdom only that lasts forever.

Just a thought,

PSS

Expectations:

Disappointment is the feeling of being unhappy because something that you hoped for or expected did not happen or because someone or something was not as good as you expected. If not addressed properly, disappointment will result in negativity, pessimism, and bitterness. It may result in our becoming critical of God because we will end up blaming Him for inaction or for not being fair in our time of need.

Dealing with it:

Psalm 22:5 (AMPC) — They cried to You and were delivered; they trusted in, leaned on, and confidently relied on You, and were not ashamed or confounded or disappointed. Here is what we know: all of us will experience disappointment. Everyone does. It’s unavoidable, but how we deal with it is the key. So often people look for comfort and material blessings, but God is more concerned with our character development.

Only believe:

We hate testing and spiritual exercise that strengthens our faith and makes us stronger. God has no use for untamed followers, so He chooses to train us at times through tough, even painful, experiences. We may never fully understand God and His ways, so we must learn to hang in there no matter what. It’s the present we must learn to enhance in order to handle disappointment and discouragement better. God is always working to help us and make us better. Our responsibility is to believe that.

So, when disappointment comes, and it will, let’s continue to seek God and have a better attitude through it, knowing God is for us, not against us. Let’s begin to ask ourselves, How can we grow through this? What can we learn? It’s our choice. We must choose wisely what attitude we will cling to.

Just a thought,

PSS

The world changes:

The ungodly have become more ungodly, and even the godly keep becoming more ungodly. In a world that is constantly changing, there is a place of refuge for all who truly believe in God and His word, His ways — agree with His word, thoughts. God is our refuge!

He never changes:

We can count on His word always being the same and never changing. Jesus, the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8). The word of God is the only thing we have that never changes. This world is changing so fast — creating uncertainty for many. But God never changes, so we can count on Him, rely on Him, trust Him. He never changes!

He is our refuge:

For some, we need to get back to the basics and renew our thinking to His word so we can walk in His blessings. Psalm 91:1–2 — Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust Him.

Let’s not allow ourselves to get caught up in this world to the point we forget all of God’s benefits.

Just a thought,

PSS

The blame game:

Blaming others will not help you — it will only hurt you, leave you stuck in life. It won’t allow you to move forward. Complaining all the time will do the same, along with causing you to be miserable. Complaining never resolved anything. This is all some people do — see only the bad and never the good. If you are a complainer, it will hinder your growth in every area of your life.

MYOB:

The Bible teaches us to study to be quiet (1 Thessalonians 4:11). Don’t worry so much about what others do. Concentrate on what you are supposed to be doing.

Own it:

Accepting personal responsibility means taking ownership of your own behavior and the consequences of that behavior. Until we all learn to accept responsibility for our actions and failures, it will be very difficult for us to develop self-respect or even to have the respect of others. We all make mistakes and poor choices. The same goes for when we fail to act when we know we should. There are times when we look the other way when we know the right thing to do is to take helpful action.

So, we all must let go of things that have happened to us in the past and not use them as an excuse for bad behavior. God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (Ephesians 3:20).

Just a thought,

PSS

Do not mock God:

Galatians 6:7 — Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. We are taught that sowing and reaping is huge in our lives. When it says “sow,” it means consistently, continually sow, not a one-time deal.

Be patient:

When we do sow, we will need to be patient, waiting on the harvest to come in. That’s why Paul wrote, Do not grow weary in well doing. We must keep sowing to God’s ways if we want to reap a good harvest. If we do sow bad seed, we must be quick to repent. Ask God to pluck those seeds up, those weeds up.

Sow to the Spirit:

When we begin to do what God wants us to do, this is called sowing to the Spirit (God’s ways). We should just slow down each and every day and ask ourselves, What type of seeds am I sowing? Hopefully, that will help us to sow to the Spirit.

We should sow good seeds so that one day we will reap a great harvest of blessings. It’s always our choice.

Just a thought,

PSS

We control it:

There is not much we can control in our lives. We can’t control what anyone else does; we cannot control what someone else says, or thinks. We cannot always control our circumstances, but we can control what we think, what we say, the things we do. We can control our attitude. Our attitude will determine our altitude. How much we accomplish, the opportunities that come our way are a result of our attitude.

Someone fixes it:

No one likes a bad attitude. In fact, when our kids were small, my wife and I would say to them at times, “You correct your attitude or we will, but somebody is going to correct it.”

We own it:

Our attitude is just that — ours. It’s all ours. If we have a good attitude or a bad one, our choice. So, if we are not happy, we have the ability to change that by changing our attitude. So, through each and every circumstance, we have a choice of what our attitude will be. We have the ability to change our attitude today. Right now.

It’s about how we see things. Our choice!

Just a thought,

PSS

Being robbed:

We all deal with this at some point in our lives — fear of man vs fear of the Lord. Whom do we want to please more? That is the million-dollar question. Whom do I fear the most, reverence, or trust, man or God? The fear of man will rob us of what God really wants for us.

Pleasing people:

Surely we want, at times, to please others; but never at the expense of serving God. Being a people pleaser is fear of man — being so afraid of being rejected by people to the point that we reject God and His word, that we put someone else’s opinion above the word of God. This hinders so many from honoring God in their lives.

Pleasing God:

So today we need to ask God to help us recognize if we truly fear man more than God, and ask Him to help us to overcome the fear of man. Let's purpose to do the will of God, the word of God, regardless of what others think. Why? Because we consider what God thinks more than what anyone else thinks.

Develop a fear of God that leads to peace and prosperity in our lives over anything and anyone else.

Just a thought,

PSS

Greater is He:

We will all make mistakes, and fail at times. When we do, sometimes we will feel guilty. Hopefully, it will lead us to repent (change our minds). We shouldn’t allow guilt to keep us from serving, honoring God. Why? Because God is greater than our feelings. No matter how we feel about ourselves, we should keep doing what God has said.

Moving forward:

Guilt is defined as: a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined. When we do something wrong, we should feel remorse, or feel the emotion of guilt. But, instead of allowing that to destroy us, take us away from God, we need to realize God is greater than our feelings. We need to learn from our mistakes, and keep moving forward.

Forgiveness:

There is a healthy sense of remorse and regret, but we shouldn’t punish ourselves forever. Guilt, in a way, is our feeling we deserve to be punished, but for how long? Forgiveness of ourselves and others will help us to be accountable for our actions. When you have done something wrong, be remorseful. You may regret your action, but be quick to forgive yourself so that you can move on in life. Don’t sentence yourself to years and years of guilt. Recognize your wrong, mistake; take personal responsibility for it; forgive yourself.

No matter what, never quit; keep going.  Why? Because God is greater

than our feelings.

Just a thought,

PSS

Don’t look back:

“But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13b-14).” “But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God’ (Luke 9:62).” The apostle Paul says he forgets those things which are behind so he can reach forward to those things which are ahead. Then Jesus says we cannot follow Him if we are going to keep looking back and rehearsing our past.

 Let go and let God:

God is in the now and the future. Our pasts, if we cling to them, will cause us to stumble and never allow us to move forward in our lives. As people (including me), we need to learn to let go of those things we cannot do anything about. Whatever it is has happened: we cannot unring the bell.

Live in the present:

So, let’s live in the present — right now. That is where God is — He is with us now. Letting go of past hurts, past mistakes, past regrets can be a tough job. But if we believe, God will help us to be healed, set free, delivered from what transpired in our past.

Let’s focus on today, and let God know how much we appreciate Him!

Just a thought,

PSS

It’s never too late:

It is never too late to get things right with God. God is the God of another chance! He is always willing to forgive us our trespasses as long as we are willing to forgive others their trespasses. Every one of us goes through good seasons and tough or bad seasons. In our darkest moments there is forgiveness if we are willing to repent. Repent means to change your mind.

God is our friend:

I used to think that God was out to get me or if I made one mistake, I’d be out. What I have learned is that is not true. God is there to help us and strengthen us to do His will, His word. We just have to learn to cling to His word, not the words of others. God is our friend, not our enemy! He doesn’t want to hurt us, instead He wants to help us.

There is always hope:

I believe I have experienced His grace and mercy in a way that gives me hope. None of us is without sin, so we should stop acting as if we are. None of us! So, what do we do? We never stop loving God for any reason. We don’t have to be perfect to receive His promises, His blessings. We must be willing and purpose to never quit. Never stop seeking Him.

Whatever areas we are struggling with, we need to keep seeking Him, doing His word, and we will see how good He really is.

Just a thought,

PSS

Intentions:

We deal so much with the intentionality of our heart when we should be concerned with the obedience we walk in. It’s the willing and obedient who eat of the good of the land (Isa 1:19). When we focus so much on the intention of our motives, it can paralyze us spiritually. Instead, we should work to obey God and His word; just do what He asks. I believe this would simplify our walk. God will deal with our intention (the why-we-do-what-we-do), because who can know the heart?

Actions:

“But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve (Jer. 17:10).” One translation states, “according to the results of his deeds.” It’s what we do that matters with God, at times, more than why we do it.

Feelings:

Maybe we don’t want to help or don’t feel like helping someone, but if we help them anyway, who cares how we felt? We may not feel like obeying or want to obey God, but if we obey anyway, then God says that’s what He will deal with — our actions.

Motives:

Only God knows the heart fully — our motives. Those are all subject to change over time. But what He sees, what He rewards or deals with, are our actions. What we do is what counts. I had good intentions, but I didn’t do anything. That doesn’t help anyone. It has been said, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

We must do what we know is right and not get so caught up with the intention of our actions.

Just a thought,

PSS

Playing God:

Those who fight to kill babies claim that now a woman doesn’t have any say over her body, which is a distraction from the real issue. None of us get to play God and decide who lives and who dies. Most abortions are about convenience, not taking responsibility for our actions and decisions. The other thing is that they fight to murder babies as long as our tax dollars pay for it.

Every child:

It’s so sick and disgusting that any human being could be so callous as to murder a baby just because it’s not convenient to have it. The truth is, every child has the ability to be loved, every child! We should thank God for this decision and keep on fighting to protect the unborn, especially here in NM. We should insist that any candidate whom we vote for is against all abortions. To minimize or compromise is not acceptable.

Healing and restoration:

 One more thing if you have had an abortion. At Legacy Church we offer help to heal and restore those who chose to get an abortion, but then realized it wasn’t right.

Let’s never quit fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves.

Thank God.

Just a thought,

PSS

Many children (and I have met some) go through life with the mistaken notion that their fathers don’t love them. This is a tragedy because most dads love their children and work hard to provide a life for them. But there is still something about hearing those words (“I love you”) that means a lot to children.

So, I encourage the dads out there to remember, even though they work hard, to tell those they love that they love them. Words are powerful.

I leave you with this:

“Silent, Strong Dad” by Karen K. Boyer

He never looks for praises.

He’s never one to boast.

He just goes on quietly working

For those he loves the most.

His dreams are seldom spoken.

His wants are very few,

And most of the time his worries

Will go unspoken too.

He’s there .… a firm foundation

Through all our storms of life,

A sturdy hand to hold on to

In times of stress and strife.

A true friend we can turn to

When times are good or bad,

One of our greatest blessings,

The man that we call Dad.

Just a thought,

PSS

Reprobate minds:

The word of God clearly condemns homosexual behavior. The behavior is wrong. According to the word of God, those who don’t repent before they die will end up in hell. God never made anyone that way. Circumstances do, deception does, but God does not. He doesn’t make alcoholics, murderers, thieves, gossipers — no difference.

Know the truth:

As believers we must become Bible literate, or we will buy into the lies of the devil. The world is lost: they do not honor God as God (Romans 1:18-32). They reject Him and then blaspheme God by making reprobate statements.

Hell-bound:

The Church needs to preach the truth. Why? Because we shouldn’t want anyone to go to hell. We should care enough about those who don’t honor Christ to tell them the truth. We need great discernment. We need to understand God will never be mocked, and those who lie about Him will end up in the lake of fire.

So, let’s learn what the Bible says and do our best to live it and honor it. Then we will see God’s blessings in our lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

Compounding the error:

When, not if, we make a mistake, we shouldn’t compound it into more bad decisions — no matter what we have done or should have done. Learn God’s way of repentance. He is always about restoration, always. What happens is this: we make a mistake, bad decision, then we allow the enemy (devil) to condemn us. When that happens, we feel so unworthy that we run from God instead of running to Him.

Confounding the enemy:

We need to learn not to compound our mistakes — no matter how many times we make the mistake. Condemnation will lead us away from God, not to Him. One of Satan’s strategies is to get us feeling unworthy or that the mistake we made is somehow unforgivable. But no sin is unforgivable except for rejecting Christ while on the earth.

So, let’s not be ignorant of the devil’s devices. Let’s keep coming back to God over and over again until we leave the earth. Don’t turn one bad decision into two. Stay awake and keep serving God.

Just a thought,

PSS

The ultimate price:

Memorial Day is the day we pause to remember the brave men and women who gave their lives protecting our country and our freedoms. The Civil War claimed the lives of 620,000 American soldiers. (Some believe it was many more than that.) This is more than from any conflict in our nation’s history. When the war ended in 1865, there was a need to establish the nation’s first national cemeteries for those who paid, with their lives, the ultimate price to serve and protect their nation.

Decoration Day:

Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was a day to decorate the graves of our fallen men and women who paid the ultimate price with their lives. General John A. Logan, on May 5, 1868, called for a nationwide day of remembering and decorating with flowers the graves of those who died in defense of their country.

Memorial Day:

After World War I, Decoration Day became known as Memorial Day, and the holiday expanded to honor all American military personnel who died in any way. As we prepare to enjoy our 3-day weekend, let’s all pause and take a moment to pray for those whose husband, wife, brother, sister, child didn’t make it back from war. Let’s pause and thank God for this country and ask that He would have mercy on us.

Let’s take a moment to pray and be thankful for all those men and women who fought for this nation.

Just a thought,

PSS

The father of lies:

The enemy of our soul, the devil, is a liar, a deceiver. He tries to get people to believe things about themselves and others that are not true, for the purpose of hurting them, destroying their lives, and limiting their opportunities for success or just moving forward in their lives. Jesus said, “He is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Everything he says and does is deceiving — the thoughts he tries to put into our brains only to steal, kill, and destroy.

Study to show yourself approved unto God:

It’s the truth that sets us free. We need to be bombarded with the truth — constantly meditating on it. The Bible says, day and night. Joshua 1:8 (NLT) — Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. To be successful in life, we need to study God’s word constantly.

Be a doer of the word:

When we know the truth, when we are a doer of the truth, when we walk in the truth, it will expose the lies and deception in our lives — the thoughts we believe, even about ourselves, that are not true. Why? So we can walk in true freedom, that God will open the eyes of our understanding, so we can be strong and courageous.

Know the truth so you can be truly free.

Just a thought,

PSS

The idols:

We have made idols out of convenience, career, our dreams vs God’s will, happiness. The reason they are idols is that we seek these things first, instead of God first. That’s why so many lives are so shallow and in constant transition, going from one problem to another.

The creation:

As long as we seek the things of this world to satisfy our souls, we will always come up wanting. The things on this earth: money, influence, houses, cars, etc., were never meant to make our lives or be the goal. They were meant to add to our lives — make them a little more enjoyable.

The Creator:

We have allowed the things of this world to become our main focus. And, really, God is supposed to be our main focus. He is the only One who can give us true purpose, true meaning, true fulfillment in life.

I believe God is attempting to get our attention so we will seek the Giver of all things, and not the things themselves. What or Whom are you seeking?

Just a thought,

PSS

Worship the Creator:

We are being bombarded continuously by a secular, anti-God message. This message is also teaching our children to believe less in God and more in themselves. The world is recruiting our kids to worship the creation instead of the creator. The world is lying to them about identity — who they are, how God made them — while the Church sits by idly and says nothing.

Rise up:

It is time for the people of God to rise up and be the salt and light we were called to be. It’s time we quit being ashamed of the gospel. It’s time we take our stand on the word of God and never back off. People need the truth. They need someone to care enough about them to deliver the truth — in a way that is kind but truthful.

Preach the word:

If people don’t repent and ask Jesus to be Lord of their lives, they will perish; they won’t make heaven. Through the foolishness of preaching men will be saved. Preaching what? The word of God! It’s God’s word that gives us freedom from sin.

So, let’s purpose to let people know who God is and what He requires us to do to follow Him. We must combat the lies from the world with the truth that comes from only the word of God (the Bible).

Just a thought,

PSS

Purposefulness:

The only way to see your dreams and desires come to pass is to be determined. It’s making up your mind about something and sticking to it. When you are determined, it increases your chances of being successful. If you stay focused and keep a good attitude, you will eventually see your hopes and dreams come to pass.

Persistence:

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not: unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent (Calvin Coolidge).

Passion:

Whatever you do, do with determination. You have one life to live; do your work with passion, and give your best. Whether you want to be a chef, doctor, actor, or a mother, be passionate to get the best results. It’s the determined people who succeed and get ahead in this life.

Let’s all be more decisive with our lives, and watch what God can do.

Just a thought,

PSS

Highest relationship:

So, what does it mean to trust God, to trust someone else? Trust is the highest relationship with others. It means to have confidence in, to be secure, to feel safe. It means you believe what they tell you.

Worldly trust:

In our society, it is hard to fully trust anyone or anything. Marketers are trying to get us to trust in their products. Politicians are trying to get us to trust them enough to vote for them. Spouses want to be trusted.

Biblical trust:

The Bible teaches us not to trust in man. Why? People will disappoint you; they will let you down. But God will never disappoint or let you down. Jeremiah 17:5 — This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.” So, we are not to put our trust in people, but in God. Now we do trust people. We have to at times. Trust people will keep their word, do what they say. But we shouldn’t put our trust in them to the point we lose our faith and our trust in God. That’s what happens to so many. Someone will let them down, and then they get mad at God. That’s what the Bible is teaching. Yes, if people have proven themselves trustworthy, great. But eventually people will let you down, even when they don’t mean to.

God is trustworthy. Let’s begin to believe everything He says, and learn to trust Him totally.

Just a thought,

PSS

The adulterous woman:

Jesus said, when the religious folks were trying to trap him concerning an adulterous woman, “He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.” No one threw any, nor should we. If we see a brother or sister fall or make a mistake, we should be there to help and encourage them, never to throw rocks at them, never to condemn them or act as if we have never done anything wrong.

Two sides:

And before you answer a matter, make sure you have heard both sides. Too often Christians throw rocks at other believers who may have come up short in some area of their lives. Aren’t we supposed to restore those who have sinned, come up short, made a mistake, done something wrong?

No condemnation:

The devil is the condemner of people, not we. We are to restore those, help them, encourage them, get them to repent, so they can walk with God.

So, let us choose to be more like God and less like the devil when it comes to our brothers and sisters who come up short from time to time in their lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

Fleshly appetites:

If this were easy on our flesh, then everyone would do it a lot more. If you have never fasted, it will amaze you how strong our fleshly appetites are — how much of a struggle it is to deny these fleshly appetites. It will take discipline, will power, and God’s Holy Spirit to help you. Push through; don’t give up.

The bread of life:

The Bible says we don’t live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. The word of God will sustain you. So, while you are fasting, spend time — extra time — in prayer and reading your Bible.

To him that believeth:

Believe for something in your personal life — maybe a breakthrough in an area, maybe for a family member, maybe you need the wisdom of God. But believe for God to do something in your personal life. Then pray and believe for God’s Church (Legacy Church) to thrive and grow and reach more and more people with the gospel of Jesus Christ — that the lost would come in, that our church finances would increase so we can continue to expand His Church, making more and more room for the harvest of souls that He is sending us. Let’s believe God together for great things to happen in our personal lives, for the Church, and for our city.

Remember: finish it, no matter what. Push through and watch God move in your lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

Target behavior:

We must observe to imitate. When we imitate or become imitators of God, it allows us to learn new things quickly and efficiently by watching, observing, learning God’s ways. As children, most of us learned by watching our parents, siblings, and others we looked up to. So, God gives us behaviors that we can strive to be like. He gives us a target behavior and then gives us the ability to work towards imitating Him and His ways.

Work in progress:

God knows we are all a work in progress and that we have good moments and some not-so-good moments in our lives. He forgives the not-so-good moments and rewards the good moments of our lives. But He does know we are all just a work in progress. So, let’s keep seeking Him, purposing to get to know Him and His words and truly become imitators of Christ.

Because we have received Him and believe in His name, He gave us the power to become His children (John 1:12).

Just a thought,

PSS

Seek God:

Even John the Baptist, who was used mightily by God, when threatened with death, questioned. Questioning isn’t bad as long as it leads us to seek God’s word and His will. Life can be so good and exciting and also hard and very discouraging at times. Relationships can be difficult, health issues, money problems.

God first:

If we truly seek God, we can and will find the answers to help us keep going. Seek God’s kingdom first, and I believe He will answer and show Himself strong on your behalf. It’s God first, God second; it is God whom we need — His wisdom, His help. If we seek Him, we will find Him.

So, I encourage you today, no matter what you are going through, to keep seeking. If you do, you will see how much He loves you.

Just a thought,

PSS

Behavior modification:

So many of us want to make changes in our lives because it is the right thing to do. It lasts for a few weeks or even months, but then we end up going right back to where we started. God doesn’t want behavior modification. He wants a life transformed from the heart — true repentance! But what happens to way too many of us is that we change some of our behavior but never get to the root of the issue.

New birth:

We really need to understand the new birth. Being born again, saved, doesn’t mean changing only some of our behavior. It means we truly believe in God and His word, and we want to change our lives from the inside out, not outside in. It’s why we do what we do — I’m changing because I believe in God and His word, and He gives me the help I need by His Holy Spirit and His holy word — not just out of duty or because it’s the right thing to do.

We must really have a desire to follow Christ and do what He asks us to do. Truly respect and revere Him. This will make all the difference in and to our world.

Just a thought,

PSS

Fight:  

The Bible says in Galatians 6:9 — Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. As believers we can get overwhelmed with the Christian life. We look and think, There is so much work to be done. There is a constant struggle between our flesh and the Spirit. Our flesh wants to go one way, while our spirit, if we are born again, wants to do something else. So, it’s a fight to do good, especially when we don’t believe it’s making a difference or we think, No one really cares about me. 

Rest:

We all need to check ourselves from time to time. Sometimes we just get tired. We don’t rest properly. We need to get our rest, and at the same time do the will of God. If we do, God says we will reap a harvest at the appointed time — a harvest of good.

Serve:

We help others, and He helps us. So, He says, Don’t grow weary. Don’t be discouraged; never get tired of serving God and others. It can be difficult at times because this world is so wicked, and the culture is ungodly. If we allow ourselves, we can think what we do for God doesn’t matter, doesn’t make a difference.

The truth is: everything we do for God, for the kingdom, matters. That’s why Paul says, If you do not grow weary, you will reap a harvest at the right time.

Just a thought,

PSS

Life is not fair:

The Bible teaches that, while we are on this earth, we will experience trials and tribulations. In other words, we will all experience stuff that is not good and not fair. Our ability to process these things will determine the level of success each one of us will have.

Rejection:

Life is not always fair, and it’s not always going to be easy. Steve Jobs was rejected by more than 20 venture capitalists before one said yes. Thank God his pain threshold wasn’t 19. After 19 rejections, I am done. No, he wasn’t going to quit. His pain threshold was high enough that he could handle 20 rejections, and probably more than that.

No pain, no gain:

See, none of us will ever rise above our pain threshold. Some of us have very minimal pain thresholds. The first sign of a setback, and we quit. That’s why we won’t experience the success we seek. It’s not because of someone else: it’s because of us. The good news is: we can work on our ability to handle pain, setbacks, problems, and issues, by recognizing our attitude during times of trials, then beginning to grow in that area.

Learn to persevere and keep going, no matter what. Learn to endure as a good soldier, realizing setbacks and delays don’t mean we can’t — they are merely obstacles to overcome. Food for thought.

Just a thought,

PSS

Selfish or selfless?

At times, taking shortcuts is a sign of being lazy or not thinking of anyone else but ourselves. In order to be successful people, we should purpose to do things right. For example, when going to a grocery store and wheeling the basket to unload into our cars, do we take the extra moment to put the shopping cart back into the bin, or do we just leave it out? Do we purpose to leave each person, each place, better than when we found it?

Faithful in little, faithful in much:

See, how we do the small things is a reflection of how we do the big things. Going into a public bathroom and seeing toilet paper all over the floor, and pee all over the seat, I often think, What kind of people do this, leave there, knowing someone else will be using it? It always annoys me.

Do right or do over?

Here is what I know: successful people think of others and understand that taking shortcuts will cost us in the long run. Doing things right, even if it takes us a little longer, will be better for us and save us time in the future. Doing things right just means giving a little more effort. Let’s not be the person always looking to cut corners, always looking for loopholes to justify our actions. There seems to be a good excuse for almost anything we do. But it is not worth it.

Let’s learn to be more successful by doing things right — taking a little extra time to think about others as well as ourselves.

Just a thought,

PSS

Love your neighbor:

We hear some people saying things like, Loving our neighbor is taking a shot, wearing a mask, listening to authorities — that somehow during a pandemic we show the love of God toward others by not contending for our rights which God gave us. But somehow, according to them, loving people means to violate the scriptures, and loving God and His word first is not good or loving.

Love God:

It is not more important to love our neighbors at the expense of loving God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. God is first, always first. And in loving Him, serving Him, we all must contend for the faith. Saying nothing, doing nothing, is the same as saying, I really don’t believe in the word of God. We need to get back to rightly dividing the word of truth. It is not ungodly or wrong to stand up for our freedoms and rights: it is wrong not to. These weak, passive, so-called preachers are soft and wrong. Don’t listen to them!

Flee false teaching:

Loving our neighbors as ourselves has nothing to do with giving up our rights and freedom so we can be a witness to them. Some of these guys have even preached that some won’t come to the Church because we didn’t submit to evil and listen to the authorities who have been proven wrong on how they handled the so-called pandemic. I contend that people don’t come because they don’t know what the Church stands for. Weakness in the pulpits of America is the reason people don’t come to church. These false teachers should never be listened to. They are wrong.

Contend for the faith. Stand up for righteousness.

Just a thought,

PSS

Only believe:

We all can succeed, overcome, win in this life if we believe God. Philippians 2:14 — Do everything without complaining and arguing. Most of us have at least heard this scripture before. God wasn’t making a suggestion: He was ordering us. He was trying to help us here while we live on the earth. What was He helping us do? Get, receive His help. If we complain all the time, then God won’t be able to lead and direct us as He wants to, in a way that we need.

Internal battle:

Have we ever stopped to think about complaining internally, arguing and complaining with ourselves, having a secret debate in our minds about the unfairness of life — the unfairness of what we are expected to do, the unfairness of how people have treated us? I believe the scripture is as important concerning complaining and arguing with others as well as with ourselves. So many of us have this battle going on inside. We are debating within ourselves whether or not to believe God, to do what He asks or not to do what He requests. It’s a real battle, and will keep us from God’s help.

The B-I-B-L-E:

We are not to surrender to complaining and arguing with others, ourselves, or God. We are to learn the Bible — the word of God — and renew our thinking. We can see when we are outwardly complaining and arguing. It’s the times we cannot see that might be the most dangerous. Let’s work on our thought lives as well as what comes out of our mouths.

God is on our side. Remember, gritty people win.

Just a thought,

PSS

Growth mindset:

We all need a growth mindset: one that believes in the power of God to be able to change, and that we can grow and develop ourselves, change our habits and change the way we think, process, and function in life, the way we see things, the way we treat others. If we develop a growth mindset, there are no limits for us.

Believe:

If we believe in the word of God, in the power of the word of God, and start speaking it over our lives, meditating on it, we can and will overcome. We will become more and more like God. We will begin to act differently — in a good way. We will see ourselves developing better habits: stronger characteristics of good that will help us become more successful in all areas of our lives.

All things are possible:

We can grow and develop a growth mindset that will help us to achieve and have better relationships, cause us not to be so emotional when things go wrong or become difficult. But it is up to us. What we believe is the most important thing.

We can have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset, our choice!

Just a thought,

PSS

Be a doer of the word:

There are dreamers, and there are people who have dreams. The dreamers talk a lot, but have no actions. Those with a dream don’t talk much, but they do act. Only those who are willing to take action, do something, are those who accomplish things in life. It’s willing to do. James 1:22 (NIV) — Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Persevere:

God knew that those who just talk, waiting for the right moment, for the stars to align, would accomplish little or nothing at all. But those who do, are willing to fail. Those who possess a spirit of perseverance will accomplish much in life. It won’t come without setbacks and disappointments, but the reward of seeing things through, the desire to push through, will give them moments of success that will bless their lives.

Be tenacious:

It’s the ability to do and keep on doing that will bless us. The tenacity to overcome, no matter the obstacles we face, will cause us to be fulfilled in life. Those who are only dreamers will be frustrated, always waiting for someone to come help them, instead of doing what is needed, what is necessary to win, to succeed.

Your choice: be a dreamer or be one who possesses a dream and works to make it happen.

Just a thought,

PSS

No apologies:

Way too many Christians are apologizing for what God said and taught, with the thought, I don’t want to offend anyone. When you apologize for what you believe, it only makes things worse. It’s like throwing chum into the water to a bunch of sharks. It’s not healthy. I will never apologize to anyone anywhere concerning the word of God! We either believe it, or we don’t — either it is absolutely true, or it isn’t.

Established forever in heaven:

We are so overly sensitive concerning the lost that we ourselves are in danger of not believing the word of God. First of all, it is God’s word, not mine. Who am I to apologize for what God said? If living out the scriptures, believing the scriptures, offends someone, so be it. But for me to apologize for what God said, is wrong. We must not only know what we believe, we must learn why we believe it. If God said it, it will never change!

Be bold:

Darkness has a hard time with light. Light repels darkness, and therefore darkness doesn’t like it. Let’s begin to pray and ask God for boldness to speak up when we should and to live out the scriptures — unashamed, unapologetic — and let’s get people saved. Let’s be bold and watch God move.

Proverbs 11:30 (KJV)The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise!

Just a thought,

PSS

As unto the Lord:

The Bible does say whatever you do in word or deed, do everything as unto the Lord. How we treat people, how we raise our children, how we talk, and how we think should be dictated by God’s word (the Bible). The only way this is really going to happen — where we see not temporary fixes to our life but permanent ones — is to seek Him, serve Him wholeheartedly.

Wholeheartedly:

Wholeheartedly means with complete sincerity and commitment : genuinely, enthusiastically, energetically. This is the way we should seek and serve Him. It will lead to greater success in our lives — true success, lasting success — if we will seek Him wholeheartedly, expressing our wholehearted support for God’s ways. The only way we truly know His ways is to know His word. He knows what we need and how we receive His blessings. We just need to seek Him wholeheartedly — purposing to do His will and His word, wherever we go and whatever we do.

Halfheartedly:

Halfheartedly means without enthusiasm or energy : lacking heart, spirit, or interest. How are you seeking Him: wholeheartedly or halfheartedly?

Your choice — it’s either one or the other.

Just a thought,

PSS

Diligence:

The Bible constantly speaks about being diligent. Colossians 3:23 (ESV) —Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men. God highly values our work and expects us to do our best with the ability He has given us. Proverbs 12 :24 (ESV) — The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. You and I need to get things done and not get into the habit of putting stuff off.

Frustration:

Procrastination creates frustration and the sense of being overwhelmed, can cause discouragement and depression; the list could go on. Procrastinators are always looking to put things off until another day. The problem with that is we don’t know if we have another day on this earth. It also causes things to be undone, not finished, to pile up on us.

God blesses those who are diligent, faithful in the little things. So, let’s purpose this year not to be procrastinators, but diligent people, experiencing the blessing of the Lord. If we stop putting things off, we might even find our lives are much more peaceful and prosperous.

Just a thought,

PSS

Godliness:

As we look to make changes in our lives — things like getting out of debt, losing weight, working out, etc. — let’s not forget that bodily exercise profits little. I Timothy 4:8 — For bodily exercise profiteth little, but godliness is profitable unto all things, having a promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 

Lasting change:

We need to put God first in every area of our lives. We need to be more heavenly minded than earthly minded. God is the only one who can truly change a life — change a heart. So often in the new year people make New Year’s resolutions only to see them set aside after a couple of weeks. Let’s put God first and believe God for real, lasting change. Let’s seek Him, and seek Him as we never have.

Priorities:

Let’s put God first, spiritual things first, not natural ones. People will go to the gym 4 or 5 times a week and make it a priority. But maybe they’ll go to church once every 4 to 5 weeks, and if they are really dedicated, maybe once every two weeks. It’s no wonder believers are not stronger. It’s about priorities. God first!

So, when thinking about changes we want to make for this new year, maybe we could make church a priority, God’s word a priority, and prayer a priority. Just maybe be more heavenly minded in 2022!

Just a thought,

PSS

Characteristics of resilience:

Resilient people are aware of situations, their own emotional reactions, and the behavior of those around them.

Another characteristic of resilience is the understanding that life is full of challenges. This is one skill that will help us move forward and succeed in life.

Resilience gives you a sense of control. Do you perceive yourself as having control over your own life, or are you constantly blaming outside sources for failures and problems? What we need to understand is that all of us have the ability to make choices that will affect our situation, our ability to cope, and our future.

Resilient people are able to find solutions to life’s setbacks — they never give up or quit. They take the hit and then see the solution and move forward. They will identify as a survivor, not a victim.

Inflexibility:

The opposite of being resilient is being depressed or constantly unhappy, being hard, inflexible, rigid. We are developing skills, characteristics, whether we realize it or not. The question is, “Are we developing the skill of being depressed, the skill of unhappiness, or the skill of being resilient?” The choice is yours. Are you rigid, or do you roll with the punches? Are you inflexible or flexible, willing to change? Your call.

I pray you make the right decision.

Just a thought,

PSS

Personal convictions:

When it comes to these types of convictions, they are about you and no one else. When the Bible teaches it, it is about you personally. You should never put these types of convictions on anyone else. For example, I get convicted over the words “shut up.” It’s my conviction, so I don’t use it. But I don’t care if anyone else uses it. It doesn’t bother me at all. Why? Because it is my conviction.

Mind your own business:

Some of us don’t like movies or theaters, so we don’t go. If others go, it is none of our business. God doesn’t say movie theaters are wrong. This is a personal conviction. When the Bible is clear on something, then we should honor that. We always submit to the Bible. But so many want others to live by theirpersonal convictions, and if they don’t, they are out — they separate themselves. What they don’t realize is that they themselves are deceived and are in sin.

Deceptive judgment:

God leads and guides by His word. People like this major on the minors — “throw the baby out with the bath water” sort of speak — and they become more and more deceived, further and further away from God, while believing they are serving Him. They see everyone else’s faults and none of their own.

Don’t allow your personal convictions to separate you from God.

Just a thought,

PSS

Gain understanding:

So much happening. We have seen so many great servants go home to be with the Lord — great men and women who loved God and served him faithfully. We have also seen our share of tragedy as well. And I can’t help but be tempted to ask God why this is happening, not in a way that questions Him as God, but attempting to gain understanding.

Trust Him:

Then I think that asking God, “Why?” wouldn’t really help. If He gave me an answer, I would probably have another why. God wants us to trust Him, even when something doesn’t make any sense to us whatsoever. I believe that’s why He tells us not to rely on our understanding, but put our trust in Him. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.

Father knows best:

We feel the pain, sting of loss, and we don’t like it.  Well, I don’t anyway. So, when I’m tempted to ask God, “Why?” I think about Deuteronomy 29:29a — The secret things belong to the Lord our God.There are just some things we won’t ever know. So, it comes back to trusting Him — that He truly knows best!

Trust Him with all your heart.

Just a thought,

PSS

The season:

This is the season of the Lord Jesus’ birth. The reason we celebrate that birth. A time when the whole world was changed forever. A time when the Savior of the world came to the earth in the most vulnerable, humble fashion — as a baby.

The reason:

But Jesus didn’t stay a baby. He grew and gave His life as the Savior of the world that anyone who would believe on Him would be saved from eternal death, saved from hell. A season that He died for our sins that we could be forgiven. All we have to do is believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus, and He will fill us with His Holy Spirit, and save us from being separated from God forever. A season to remember what is really important.

The presence:

For many, this time of year is all about presents and parties. It’s sad to me that Christmas has become so commercialized that the real meaning has been lost. It should be about the greatest gift ever given. Jesus — Immanuel — God with us. To be grateful and thankful for His sacrifice. Let us never mistake parties and presents as the reason for the season.

Let us all reflect on our lives and make sure the real reason for the season is Jesus in our lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

A beacon of light:

Scripture teaches in Amos 3:3 How can two walk together unless they be agreed? God brought people from every nation of the world to make and create America — a place that would be a beacon of light to the world that God is real and that He sent Jesus to save us; a light that other nations would envy; a light that when a nation honors God, He will cause it, them to prosper; a nation like no other nation; one nation under God; “one nation.”

My people:

Regardless of where people are from, when they come here, they become American. America was birthed. God took people from every nation to create one nation where people honor and serve God. Isn’t it sad, especially in the last 12 years, that people don’t want to be one nation under God! They want to be individuals who claim they are working for a group of people (my people) instead of what God intended (My people).

Power:

Now, instead of agreement, we have disagreement. Where there is agreement, there is power; where there is a lack of agreement, there is a lack of power. America is losing its power because we are so divided. The constitution, I believe given by God to be the law of the land, is being set aside to fit individual needs, not best for all, best for some only.

We must pray and ask God to forgive us and expose the darkness that is attempting to destroy America and the lives of people who live here. We must serve God — His way!

Just a thought,

PSS

Wrong thoughts:

God says, My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts. My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine (Isa. 55:8-9). What we think at times is wrong. We at times think too small. We just flat out think wrong thoughts about God at times.

Trusting:

We trust when we can’t see anything happening. We trust when we don’t feel anything working in our bodies. We continue to believe God is working in our lives. We continue to believe for healing even when we don’t feel anything or see anything changing. His ways, His thoughts are greater than ours. Why is that? Because He knows everything. Everything! So, we must learn to trust.

Reaping:

So many ask why this happened or that thing happened. What we learn is that this is a never-ending question. I believe we need to turn the whys into trust. God is God, and He knows everything. We trust when we don’t understand. We yield to His word regardless of how we feel or what we are experiencing. We don’t grow weary in well doing because His word says if we don’t, we will reap a harvest of doing good.

When everything in life is screaming, It’s not working, nothing is happening, we continue to trust and believe and never allow ourselves to grow weary.

Just a thought,

PSS

Highest relationship:

So, what does it mean to trust God, to trust someone else? Trust is the highest relationship with others. It means to have confidence in, to be secure, to feel safe. It means you believe what they tell you.

Worldly trust:

In our society, it is hard to fully trust anyone or anything. Marketers are trying to get us to trust in their products. Politicians are trying to get us to trust them enough to vote for them. Spouses want to be trusted.

Biblical trust:

The Bible teaches us not to trust in man. Why? People will disappoint you; they will let you down. But God will never disappoint or let you down. Jeremiah 17:5 — This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.” So, we are not to put our trust in people, but in God. Now we do trust people. We have to at times — trust people will keep their word, do what they say. But we shouldn’t put our trust in them to the point we lose our faith and our trust in God. That’s what happens to so many. Someone will let them down, and then they get mad at God. That’s what the Bible is teaching. Yes, if people have proven themselves trustworthy, great. But eventually people will let you down, even when they don’t mean to.

God is trustworthy. Let’s begin to believe everything He says, and learn to trust Him totally.

Just a thought,

PSS

Deception:

It’s scary at times to realize how much government and social media have invaded our lives. What’s scarier is how they inundate us with what they want us to believe. They indoctrinate us with whatever narrative they want us to believe. They determine even how we will act and live and what we believe is true.

Propaganda:

“Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth,” is a law of propaganda often attributed to the Nazi Joseph Goebbels. For the last 18 months, we have been told to be afraid, that someone is trying to keep us safe, that if we just do things like wear a mask and social distance, then everything is going to be OK. These measures have been proven not to help at all, or at best could or might perhaps help.

Lies:

Their stories have changed over and over again. Yet people still believe the narrative that the media and government have told us: “We had to ruin your economy so people could live.” It too turned out not to be true. What we must do is start believing the word of God and putting it into our hearts and minds. The only way to combat a lie is to know the truth. The truth makes us free if we will believe it and do it.

The truth is that only God can truly protect us.

Just a thought,

PSS

Negotiation:

People today are in constant negotiation for what they want. The word compromise means: an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions : an acceptance of standards that are lower than desirable.

Government’s laws:

We hear government officials talking about compromise on laws they want passed. This means neither side gets what they want, so they become good with settling somewhere in the middle. I think this is good and necessary at times to move forward.

God’s laws:

But when it comes to the word of God and what He teaches, there is absolutely no compromising the word of God. Our beliefs based on God’s word are neither up for debate nor to be negotiated to a lesser degree. When God says something, it is final. What He says is right, is right. What He says is wrong, is wrong — no compromising His truths.

People get into big trouble believing they can negotiate God’s word or debate it to find a compromise. With God, it’s all or nothing. To compromise it, means to sin; and sin left unchecked can, and will, destroy lives.

So, let’s be firmly fixed on the word of God and purpose to do it every day. “No Compromise!” should be our motto — all or nothing with God. When this happens, we will experience His promises coming to pass in our lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

Above all:

When we truly surrender to God, we are surrendering our instinctual interests, which can be selfish and destructive by nature. Surrendering ourselves to God is to pursue truth and righteousness above all else. This means to pursue His word (the Bible), and put it first in our lives. It means to put the word of God into practice in our lives — purposing to do what it teaches above all else — putting His thoughts, His ways of thinking and doing things, above all else.

Every aspect:

In order to surrender our lives to God, we must quit resisting Him, and submit every aspect of our lives to Him. Once we surrender our lives to Him, that’s when we will begin to experience His help and His blessings in our lives. So, I encourage you to surrender every area of your life to Him.

Don’t wait:

Examine your life today, and if there is an area you have not surrendered to Him, do it today. Don’t wait another moment. It’s not surrender unless you have unconditionally surrendered everything to His will. Stop resisting God and His word in your life.

Taste and see that the Lord is good!

Just a thought,

PSS

Resilience is defined as: the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties : toughness : an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. Resilience is a skill that can and should be developed. It will improve your ability to deal with life’s setbacks.

Characteristics of resilience:

Resilient people are aware of situations, their own emotional reactions, and the behavior of those around them.

Another characteristic of resilience is the understanding that life is full of challenges. This is one skill that will help us move forward and succeed in life.

Resilience gives you a sense of control. Do you perceive yourself as having control over your own life, or are you constantly blaming outside sources for failures and problems? What we need to understand is that all of us have the ability to make choices that will affect our situation, our ability to cope, and our future.

Resilient people are able to find solutions to life’s setbacks — they never give up or quit. They take the hit and then see the solution and move forward. They will identify as a survivor, not a victim.

Inflexibility:

The opposite of being resilient is being depressed or constantly unhappy, being hard, inflexible, rigid. We are developing skills, characteristics, whether we realize it or not. The question is, “Are we developing the skill of being depressed, the skill of unhappiness, or the skill of being resilient?” The choice is yours. Are you rigid, or do you roll with the punches? Are you inflexible or flexible, willing to change? Your call.

I pray you make the right decision.

Just a thought,

PSS

Choices:

If you want a soda, does that mean Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Sprite, etc.? If you want a restaurant, do you want steak, Italian food, Mexican food, Chinese food, etc.?  It’s the same thing with buying shoes or clothes. We are presented with so many options that at times it is difficult to make a decision.

Indecision:

Indecision means: the inability to make decisions quickly : a wavering between two or more possible courses of action.

Indecision is paralyzing, and our decisions do determine our destiny. So, we had better make the right ones. There is so much pressure that every decision seems to be life or death. It’s just not true. Sure, some decisions are more important than others, and we won’t get them all right. When we blow it, we are to learn from it and grow. But we have to make decisions every day, and the worst place, most frustrating place, to be is in the place of indecision.

Decision:

So, what are we to do? Firstly, let’s realize as Christians we have the word of God to help lead and guide us, to go to for direction. It is our map to lead us to the right path. It will help us make decisions. Secondly, don’t attempt to make a lot of decisions at once. Deal with one thing at a time and begin limiting your options. This will help you make decisions.

Along with the Bible, believing it enough to do it, act on it, will always be the best guide in making sound decisions — decisions that will bless us.

Just a thought,

PSS

Low expectations:

At times, if we are not careful when we experience disappointment, we will be tempted to lower our expectations. People might even tell you that you need to lower your expectations, or that you expect too much. This is not a solution: it’s just an avoidance technique. There are better ways of dealing with it.

Unreal expectations:

In a day and age when we expect things to happen fast, we are seeing more and more people dealing with disappointment. Sometimes people do set unrealistic goals that cannot be met. Then there is disappointment that comes from unspoken expectations. We expect someone to do something that we have never spoken about.

Managing disappointment:

There are times when we set ourselves up for disappointment. No matter how it comes, we need to manage this emotion of disappointment. We can do this by having a backup plan if whatever we desire to happen does not happen. We can also realize that failure is not permanent, and that not everything will work out in our timing. We need to learn from our failures and grow from them. So, don’t allow setbacks to keep you from your dreams and desires.

We can overcome disappointment with faith — believing God’s word is true, and that all things work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.

Just a thought,

PSS

1. Healthy perspective — This can help you face difficult truths about weaknesses in your life, identify and build on strengths, and force growth and change.
2. Understanding Who really did it — James 1:17a: Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father.

3. Mention others often — If life is only about us, it becomes very self-serving. We need to serve others.
4. Invest in others — When you help others, God will help you.
5. Love makes you relevant. Always put the word of God first.
6. Integrity is the key — Keep your word.
7. Take your eyes off the scoreboard — Keep serving, no matter what.
8. Yield to the Holy Spirit — He is our teacher; He leads and guides us; He comforts us; He knows exactly what we should do.

Let’s all work on yielding and obeying God and His word. He gives grace to the humble.

Just A thought,

PSS

The foundation:

How unfortunate in this culture that we will be forced to vote for people who are the most closely aligned with our Bible — the word of God. The First Amendment of the constitution is the foundation for all the amendments to our constitution. The two most important principles are freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Without these two, the constitution will fall apart. The government is telling us what we should believe and what we are allowed to say. If we don’t put our Christianity first in every area of our lives, we will lose our rights.

The indoctrination:

If you really believe in the Bible and in the Lord Jesus, you could never support or approve of a socialist. We can see today many, not all, people want things for free. Nothing is free: somebody will always have to pay. Socialism is contrary to biblical principles. I have said it many times, The public-school systems are indoctrinating our children. What they should be doing is educating and teaching them about the greatness of America and the constitution and what the republic means. 

The investigation:

Let’s begin to put the word of God first. Let’s weigh everything against the word of God. If it is not in line with the word of God, we must reject it or them, and allow God to truly lead us. I’m concerned for the Church and people who claim to believe the word of God and claim to obey Him, but yet follow the ways of the world and support people who are against our faith. We will know them by their fruit — their actions, not their words.

The liberation:

William Booth wrote in the late 1800’s: “The chief danger that confronts the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, heaven without hell.” It’s happening today; we are witnessing this right now. Let’s allow God to lead our lives. Let’s put Him first in every area of our lives!

Just a thought,

PSS

The process:

Through struggles and difficulties, we grow. There is a process we must all go through to grow spiritually — to know God, to trust God, and to believe God enough to do His word. Processis defined as: a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end, a natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result, e.g., the processof growth.

The power:

We must willingly submit to God and His word. Then God goes to work to develop us and cause the gifts in us to be cultivated so He can use us to do His will. We must all know God is for us. He has a plan for all of us to help us. We must submit to Him.

The product:

We must all realize that just because we go through difficult times or experience struggles does not mean we have done something wrong. Maybe we have done something right. We can’t really grow unless we learn to believe God, go through some stuff, and toughen up.

So, let’s humble ourselves and watch grace grow and develop us.

Just a thought,

PSS

Bad decisions:

God is not in a hurry as we are. People often move too fast through life, rushing headlong into the unknown. What we need to learn is that hasty decisions, decisions made without knowing all there is to know about them, tend to be bad decisions.

Good decisions:

When we take our time, hear both sides, and process the pros and cons, we tend to make better decisions. So, God takes His time in developing us. He knows exactly what we need, what weneed to work on, and what skills or understanding we will need in the future.

His image:

With God, He is the potter, and we are the clay. He is constantly molding us into His image, and that takes time. A person without knowledge is no good. A person in a hurry makes mistakes (Proverbs 19:2 GW). So, there is a process we must all go through when it comes to growing and getting to know God. And no one gets to skip the process.

So, let’s slow down, think through things, and not make hasty decisions, but allow God to grow us. Life can be more enjoyable if we want it to be.

Just a thought,

PSS

Generosity:

Generous is defined as: being of noble birth and possessing noble character. Such a person is generous in overlooking injury or insult, rising above pettiness or meanness. It also indicates a willingness to give, share, or to bestow favor. When you possess noble character, you have high morals and ideals, and are honest and charitable.

Nobility:

We must all learn to develop generosity and noble qualities. Some of these qualities are courage and selflessness — generous people always put others first — humility, patience, and caring. These are noble qualities we can all learn and develop.

Rebirth:

When we receive Jesus and are born again, we are reborn as a King’s kid. We become of noble birth because Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Thank God He can change everything about us. Then we must learn to be generous, noble. A noble person is admired and respected because they are unselfish and morally good. They are individuals who care for others and want to see them succeed. We may not be born noble, but we can be born-again noble. It’s your choice!

If you choose correctly, your world will get larger and larger. If you choose incorrectly and stay stingy, your world will get smaller and smaller — your choice! The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever(1 John 2:17 GNT).

Just a thought,

PSS

Know the truth:

Ephesians 5:16 (NIV):making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.V17 (NLT): Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.We must learn and know the truth, and that is found only in God’s word (absolute truth). Why? Because the days we are living in are evil. Evil is doing what God’s word teaches us not to do or not doing what God’s word teaches and instructs us to do.

Honor God:

Most people in the world do not honor God; most politicians do not honor God; most leaders in our world today do not honor God. Our days are filled with difficulty. We must keep our standards high, act wisely, and do good whenever we can. We must make the most of each and every opportunity to do good and to live for Christ.

Take a stand:

We must take a stand against the evil. There is a movement to herd all of us towards communism and socialism, and if the Church doesn’t recognize the evil of it and take a stand, it will overtake us. Remember: communism, socialism, and true Christianity cannot coexist.

Let’s be strong.

Just a thought,

PSS

Serving mammon:

From Matthew 6:24, Jesus said, “You will either serve God or mammon, but you can’t serve both.” Mammon is the god of riches, stuff, and materialism. Mammon speaks to us and is a spirit that is in the world today. It represents a prideful, arrogant spirit of humanity that says, “We don’t need God, we can do it on our own.”

Serving God:

God is our source — He is the one who gives us security, identity, hope, happiness, and a future. These are the things that only God can provide. Jesus never told anyone that the answer to their problems was more money! The decision to serve God or mammon lies directly with us.

Tithing:

One indicator that reveals whom we serve is whether or not we tithe. If we tithe, we are saying God is our source. If we don’t, we are saying mammon is our source. We can’t serve both. So, we either serve God or we don’t.

So, the next time that you get paid, you can choose to serve God or mammon.

Just a thought,

PSS

Know the word:

When people say they know God, what they are really saying is they know the word of God. The better we know the (Bible) word of God, the better we know God. We can have faith for so many things, in so many things. But faith in God comes only by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). 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 (Hebrews 11:6 NLT).

Know someone:

When you want to get to know someone, you get around them, hang out with them. The more you are around them, the better you get to know them — their characteristics, their mannerisms. After a while, you will get to know how they would react in certain situations — what they would say to certain things. Why? Because you have gotten to know them, taken the time to really know them.

Know God:

It’s the same way with God: the more we are around Him (being in His Church), the better we get to know Him. The more we hear the word, the more faith we will have to do it. The result is we get to know God: how He does things, how He helps us, His ways. Why? Because we know the Bible. I said earlier, Faith begins when the will of God is known.The more you know the Bible — when I say know the Bible, I mean you act on it, you are a doer of it — the better you will know our heavenly Father, the more you will appreciate Him and serve Him. You can’t get to know God, have faith in God, until you get to know His word.

So, let’s become doers of the word and not hearers only. Then we will truly see God work in our lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

Denial:

It is common today for people to speak as if they were not responsible for their thoughts, feelings, and actions. We are disempowering ourselves from making real change by denying our responsibility over our own minds. Our thoughts are our responsibility, and while we cannot stop every thought that comes to our minds, we alone will be held accountable for what we allow to engage our minds.

Owning up:

The first step to renewing our mind is to take ownership of our thought life. We will never change anything for which we refuse to accept responsibility. God changes our hearts — called the born-again experience — then He expects us to change our thinking to get in line with His word. Our job is to renew our minds. It’s our choice to think His way or not. It’s always our choice — and ours alone. It’s the truth God has provided so we can take wrong, ungodly thoughts and replace them with His word. It takes work and discipline.

Fearmongering:

The world is screaming at every one of us — BE AFRAID! BE FEARFUL! And I hope we all notice they have cut off anyone who says there is no need to be afraid. We must replace fear with faith. Terrible things will happen, and no matter how bad, we are never to succumb to fear — never.

We must renew our thinking to believe in, trust in God. Always our choice.

Just a thought,

PSS

Changing our thinking:

We all need to work on some areas of our lives. Sometimes it can be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. There are always areas we can improve. The reason so many do not is that it is hard work. People will say, It’s no fun; it is hard. Changing our thinking can be a tough process. In our culture today, it seems as if hard work is a disease, and we have built up an immunity to it.

Being patient:

We want everything right now and we expect achieving, growing, and developing will be easy. Anything worth having will take work. When we work for something, we tend to appreciate it more. When it is given, and requires no effort on our part, we tend not to appreciate or value it as much. Our investment into our own lives helps us to respect the process.

Fixing it:

I believe there is an area or areas in our lives that we need to work on. Here is a thought: O.A. Battista said, “An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.” Let’s do the Lord’s work and watch the good things that will happen in our lives.

Do better; be better; live better. You are worth the work!

Just a thought,

PSS

We are forgiven:

Sometimes it is very difficult to forgive ourselves for things we have done. But we all need to find a way to forgive ourselves. I believe it is easier to forgive someone else at times than it is to forgive ourselves. The thing we must realize is that if God has forgiven us, then we are forgiven and must constantly remind ourselves of this truth. Maybe we write down what we have done and after we have done that and prayed, burn it or shred it.

We have no condemnation:

So many are so incredibly hard on themselves. It’s constantly living a cycle of disappointment over the things they have done. It seems endless. I’ve heard it referred to as the obnoxious roommate who takes away your self-esteem. It reminds you of the things you have said about yourself that are negative and wrong.

We are cleansed:

What we have to remember is that no one is perfect. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. So, no one is perfect. We need to remind ourselves that I John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God is a good God and wants to help us, never harm us.

So, let’s kick out that obnoxious roommate of unforgiveness and replace him with one of peace and forgiveness.

Just a thought,

PSS

Waiting:

Too many people are waiting for the right moment, the right situation to come along, before they take action or do something. Some are habitual waiters and not doers. It’s as if that before I act on the word of God, circumstances must be favorable to me! God’s word or acting on God’s word, doing God’s word, is not dependent on circumstances being favorable.

Changing:

It’s the word of God that changes circumstances and can change the outcome. You’ve heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. I believe it. It is insane, but people keep doing it. When I have more, I’ll do something. Why are we waiting to receive God’s blessings?

Believing:

Years ago, I was going into prisons and teaching the word. At the time, I would shrink back from teaching them to not really believing God for more than safety. As I was meditating one day, I believe God gave me a thought — If my word doesn’t work in there (prisons), then it doesn’t work anywhere. In other words, we can’t afford to wait for perfect circumstances to become doers of God’s word. It works anywhere and everywhere — where men will be bold enough to act on it.

Let’s not wait to live for God or be happy. Let’s live now — no more waiting.

Just a thought,

PSS

Enjoying life:

Too many are waiting for circumstances to be just right to start living, to begin to enjoy life. What we learn as we get older is that there will always be something that can get better in our lives. So, we learn to enjoy life as we are working on things. At times we will be sailing along and we get hit with a curve ball — something happens or goes wrong, a problem arises. That should not derail us from enjoying the life that God gave us.

Hope eternal:

This is a poem written on a basement wall in Nazi Germany during WWII. “I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining. I believe in love, even when I don’t feel it. I believe in God, even when He is silent.” If we believe God is with us and will never leave or forsake us, then we will always have hope.

The satisfied life:

Setbacks will happen to us, so how we manage them will determine the successes we experience in life. We need to live the satisfied life that Jesus died for us to live, regardless of the circumstances we face.

We are overcomers, so overcome. Be and do what God’s word teaches us to do, then you will experience the peace and contentment that only God can give.

Just a thought,

PSS

Selfishness:

We have seen in this last year and some months just how selfish people can be. I believe we have seen the best in some, but for the most part, the worst in most. I never realized just how lost and faithless the world is, but also how faithless the Church has become. I asked at the very beginning of the so-called pandemic that we would open up safe, sane, and spiritual. What is so disheartening is that so many who claimed to believe in God and believe in His word reacted to this crisis in a way that doesn’t help anyone but themselves.

Faithlessness:

The world has a pulpit — the media, the TV — to get out its message of doom and gloom and the necessity to depend on a government that for the most part has abandoned the constitution of these United States. Jesus never told us to quit being the Church and to close our doors and hide from our responsibilities. He told us to occupy, preach the gospel, make disciples, and get filled with the H.S. What we need in the Church as a whole is a shot of faith — faith that God’s word is true, and we can trust Him; whereas so many churches in our city or state refused the call of God to continue to do His will, to continue to be the Church He died for, not isolated, not giving in and submitting to ungodly leaders who are attacking our very faith.

Selflessness:

I want to thank the members of Legacy and all who call it their home. You answered the call, and over 3,000 have given their lives to the Lord. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being the Church Jesus died for. James 3:16 — For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. We have witnessed this firsthand from the ungodly.

Seek Him first. Let’s live generous lives, not selfish ones.

Just a thought,

PSS

Discern:

Too many are getting caught up in external things instead of honoring eternal things. There are so many movements in our country, and most of them are not godly, biblical, but we fight over them. Meanwhile hundreds of thousands, millions are dying and going to hell — lost and separated from God forever, and I mean forever. And if you are not in lockstep with this ungodly culture, somehow you are evil. Stand up for righteousness (God’s ways), and you are pure evil. Even some who call themselves Christians think it’s evil.

Discover:

My people perish for lack of knowledge; this is what is happening. Not only are way too many ignorant of the word of God, they have no desire to learn it, yet they call themselves Christians. If you would rather fight for the world’s causes than learn the word of God, you are probably lost, not saved. If you are unwilling to do what the Bible teaches, or at least strive to do it, then you are probably not born again. 1 Peter 2:2 — Desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow.

Desire:

All true believers who are growing and wanting to know God desire the word of God. As newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.When we grow, we put God and eternal things first. What are you desiring; what are you putting first in your life? Whatever it is, is your god.

There is only one God, and He is the Father of our Lord Jesus — only one!

Just a thought,

PSS

Feelings:

You can feel like you’re not worth anything. You can even feel like you’re a human failure, and as powerful as those feelings are, it doesn’t make them true. You might say, “I feel afraid.” Even though that is a powerful feeling, you are not fear. In our society we are being indoctrinated into living by how we feel. A boy might say, “I feel like a girl” or vice versa. But just because they feel that way, it is not a fact.

Facts:

The fact is, we can prove whether you are a male or female. We have been lied to, to believe that our feelings are facts. Some might say, “I don’t feel like God forgave me.” The fact of the matter is, the Bible teaches us that if we truly repent, God will forgive us. What is truer, my feelings or the fact of the truth?

We must begin the journey not to live or make decisions based on a feeling, but on the truth of God's word. It’s not only fact, but it is truth.

Just a thought,

PSS

A sure foundation:

“On Christ, the solid rock, I stand / All other ground is sinking sand / All other ground is sinking sand.” This an excerpt from a poem I read. I believe it expresses a real truth that we either build our lives on the teachings of the Bible or on something else. When we live our lives on the solid rock of the word of God, we have a sure foundation — a foundation so strong that whatever storm, problem, or heartbreak comes our way, we will be able to stand and continue to serve Jesus.

Sinking sand:

But when we build our lives on anything else, it is sinking sand. The philosophies of this world or people’s believing they can use a hybrid model won’t sustain us, won’t help us stand against the evil that is in the world. We either stand on the solid rock of the word or it is pointless. Living some of Jesus and some of the world’s philosophies equals sinking sand. Then, when the storms of life and persecution come, we won’t be able to stand because this type of foundation cannot sustain us.

Don’t be deceived: begin today to live by the only real truth — the word of God.

Just a thought,

PSS

Fail-safe:

So many fail continually in life because they haven’t developed skills (a process to continually succeed). Do we dwell on our mistakes or do we learn from them and move on? These questions, if answered properly — truthfully — can change our lives forever.

Adversity:

How we react to bad news, adversity can determine how successful we can become in life. Do we break down, fall apart, begin blaming someone or something, or do we look at it, see it for what it is, and begin to calmly walk through it? It’s our choice — we learn or we succeed. When you fail — make a mistake, make a bad decision — learn from it. Don’t allow it to sidetrack you, deceive you, but begin a process to learn from it.

Decision:

Someone used an example of traffic lights: 10% of the time you are in the green, 10% of the time you are in the red, and 80% of the time you live in yellow where decisions are being made which will determine how you go into the red or green. But without devloping a process to win, to overcome, you will fail. As believers, I believe we all need to develop a process that helps us win more.

1. Schedule a time to read the word and purpose to do it.
2. Schedule a time to pray.
3. Make church a priority in your life.
4. Serve God by serving others.
5. Give — be generous — make sure you are honoring God financially.

If you do these things, you will find your life is much better and you will win more.

What are your processes leading you to — failure or success? Your choice, always!

Just a thought,

PSS

No fear:

I believe the reason God said to study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) is so that we would be prepared when difficulties come. During this COVID-19 thing, we have seen true believers stand up and fight for their right to serve and worship God, and we have seen others so fearful they began to come against the church, the believers who weren’t afraid or refused to walk in fear.

Study:

What is the difference? I believe it is that one group studied, prepared, and served God, while others didn’t study or prepare properly, so they succumbed to the onslaught of fearmongering, the propaganda that those with an agenda were spewing. It has been sad to watch. So, these people have basically sided with the enemy. They have not been able to rightly divide the word of truth. So many have believed a lie.

Stand:

But, in how many other areas, when unfavorable circumstances come, are we not prepared? So, let’s begin to read the word of God, make church attendance a priority, learn all we can, put into practice the things we are learning, so we can stand in this evil day, on God’s side. We can and must be prepared for persecution when it comes. If not, we will surely fail. If we want true success with God, we must learn His word and do it.

God is for us — He will help us overcome — but we must prepare.

Just a thought,

PSS

Fear hath torment:

When you are fearful and give in to your emotions, you are easily manipulated by all the parties trying to exert control over your life. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. claimed the Nazis said that the only thing a government needs to turn people into slaves is fear. That is exactly what has happened over what some are calling a pandemic. Through this the government and government officials took their opportunity to instill fear in people, telling them they would keep them safe, which they could not do. I have never allowed the corrupt government and judicial system to cause me to be afraid.

The antis:

I am not anti-vaccine. I just believe it is an individual’s choice whether to be vaccinated or not. Their choice doesn’t make them more or less safe. I am not anti-science. The problem with everything is that no one shared any science. We now know in NM the governor, according to her health secretary, made it up as she went, allowing big-box stores, which are globalists, to thrive, while small businesses suffered and even went out of business. I am not anti-business. People should never be told they cannot make a living.

Religious persecution:

A Stanford study found lockdowns were unnecessary and didn’t work. No one really wants to study masks because they know they will find they do not help. So, they continue to put people in fear concerning them. I am not anti-reason. Any reasonable person can see that what started as a public health crisis developed into a political power play, persecuting the church, trying to rid our society of any mention of God.

We are not any safer being afraid of what might happen to us tomorrow (Matt 16:25-26 NLT) (read this). If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.

Just a thought,

PSS

Small beginnings:

In 1902, Philadelphian Anna Jarvis began a campaign to establish a national Mother’s Day. She persuaded her mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia, to celebrate Mother’s Day on the second anniversary of her mother’s death, the second Sunday of May. After establishing Mother’s Day in Philadelphia, Anna and her supporters wrote to ministries, businessmen, and politicians around the United States, promoting the idea of a national Mother’s Day. They were successful, and by 1911, Mother’s Day was celebrated in almost every state in America. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day a national holiday.

Mom types:

Here is what we know: everyone has a mother. Now, we realize some are good moms, some are great moms, and some aren’t that good at all. So, what are we to do? The Bible teaches us to honor our mothers and fathers, which is the first commandment with a promise (that you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord God is giving you). He promised us great quality of life as well as long life. It doesn’t say we have to like them or love them — honor them.

Honoring:

How do we honor a bad mother? We pray for her salvation, that she would yield to God’s Holy Spirit. We refrain from bad-mouthing or blaming her. God knew there would be good moms and bad moms.

So, let’s honor God by honoring mothers on Mother’s Day.

Just a thought,

PSS

The armor of God:

Ephesians 6:13-14 — Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.It’s easy to stand when there is no conflict, but it’s not so easy when persecution comes.

The gates of heaven:

The Church as a whole has capitulated because of a virus that the Left — the world — has used to attack our faith, our belief in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It has been sad to watch people who call themselves believers take the side of the enemy, the devil’s side, against the Church — the belief that a virus that is untreated can cause people with underlying conditions to die (less than 1% of most predictions).

The gates of hell:

But we are not more concerned with sin, which kills 100% of people if not treated with the Gospel. If people don’t repent, they will die an eternal death in hell. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?Romans 10:14. How?

Don’t allow someone’s fear to cause you to be fearful. Fear controls, and so many people who call themselves Christians have allowed fear to control them, instead of God’s Spirit leading them. After you have done everything, stand!

Just a thought,

PSS

My way:

So many today want to live any way they want to. This type of thinking separates us from God and grieves the Holy Spirit, keeping Him from being able to work in our lives. So, we must embrace the whole Bible and purpose to live it, knowing we will make mistakes. The only way to really know when we make mistakes is by hearing and believing God’s word. Without it we are lost.

The easy way:

So many set aside God’s word when things are difficult or they are afraid. We side with evil over God’s word because we think it is easier, or we somehow misinterpret the word of God. Lack of knowledge is destroying so many lives.

His way:

We must learn the word of God and act on it, regardless of what the world is saying or teaching. God is always right! His ways are always the best ways! His thoughts are always better than our thoughts! Until we believe that, we will continually be like children, tossed to and fro by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine.

The Church is the only thing holding back evil. We can’t be true believers and ignore parts of the word of God. True believers believe it all, no matter what!

Just a thought,

PSS

In life, one of the major decisions we make is who or what takes first place. For some, it’s family, and for others, it’s their job or their children. Still, for others, it’s their hobbies or sports. Bottom line: it’s our decision. Even though the abovementioned aren’t bad, the question remains: should they be first place in our lives? I believe the answer is a definite, “No!” God and His ways should always take absolute precedence. If God is first, everything else will fall into place. If He’s not, nothing will fall into place. Again, it’s your choice.

You choose:

Prioritizing God should be reflected in our finances. The first step in making that happen is to return the tithe to Him. The first portion — the tenth — of what you earn is His, and we should return it to Him. We return a tithe and give an offering. When we do, we place God in His rightful place in our lives — first. When that happens, every other area of our lives will start to straighten out. The choice is ours.

Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Just a thought,

PSS

The watchman:

I personally have been sounding the alarm for the past 19 years,warning believers that certain movements will be used to take away our freedom to worship, given to us by God Himself and protected by the constitution of the United States. But we see how this COVID-19 served to simply remove our freedoms in every area, and most Americans — as well as most churches — went along with it.

True commitment:

When something means a lot to someone, when a person is passionate about something, when a person believes in something so strongly that they are willing to die for it, they will fight to the death to keep it. When the temperature of the Church was taken because of a virus, the Church as a whole failed miserably! Still today so many churches are not open. Christians as a whole are so afraid of a virus that they gave up on gathering together and worshiping God, instead of saying to the government and the people in our cities and towns that you will not tell us how or when we can worship God — the only real God, the Father of our Lord Jesus — we just submitted.

Fear God:

So, I’m encouraging the true followers of Christ to follow Jesus and the word of God without compromise, stop being afraid of a virus, and begin to fear the Lord, reverence Him, serve Him. It is time for the true Church to put Him first, no matter the consequences.

I do want to say I am proud to serve with the people who attend Legacy Church. You have truly stepped up and put God first. Thank you, Legacy, for believing and serving God. He is worthy.

Just a thought,

PSs

Forever changed:

What Jesus did for us on the cross has changed the world forever. What is sad today is that the cross doesn’t mean much to people. We hang them, wear them as jewelry, make them look really nice, and maybe forget the real meaning of it. If He didn’t die, He couldn’t be resurrected. Easter cannot be another holiday — can’t be about Easter bunnies and eggs. What Jesus did for us should never be lost to a world that uses anything and everything to commercialize, to sell products.

He is risen:

The cross at one time represented maybe the worst way to die, to be crucified. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on a cross, it now represents hope to all of humanity — that we can be saved, born again, and have a relationship with God Himself because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Then the truth about His (Jesus’) being raised from the dead proves He is the Son of God. He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

It is time for all of us to get serious about our walk and service towards Jesus and God’s kingdom. Allow this to be a moment where we reflect on Jesus’ sacrificing of Himself for us and hope we can get more serious about serving Him, living His way.

Just a thought,

PSS

                                                                                               — Calvin Coolidge

We, as believers in God, and this country need to get back to the Bible — to actually believing it. It’s the only thing that can truly save us.

Under attack:

A dog barks when its master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent. The truth of God’s word, a belief in one true God is under attack in our nation and our world as never before. But no matter what the world says, teaches, believes, we should remain faithful to God and His word (the Bible) and not be moved.

The typical American:

The typical American believes, Truth is what I say it is, and no one can tell me otherwise.Americans today believe that right and wrong can be discerned only by each individual, based upon their feelings and circumstances.

Back to basics:

When we disagree about foundational issues such as God as the Creator, gender (male and female), marriage, family, and the personhood and sanctity of preborn lives in a mother’s womb, where does that leave us? This is why it is more important than ever to get into the word — learn it, live it, believe it. Only those who endure to the end will be saved. So many will lose their souls for eternity because they bought into a lie instead of staying with the truth.

The word of God (Bible) is the inerrant word of God. Believe it and save your soul.

Just a thought,

PSS

Stress symptoms:

Fear causes stress, and stress can be so detrimental to you spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Stress symptoms may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it. You may believe illness is to blame for that irritating headache, frequent insomnia, or fatigue. It may be stress that is the cause. Stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings. Stress left unchecked can contribute to things like high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Chronic stress issues:

The point here is that chronic stress can cause some real issues for you — low energy, headaches, upset stomach, aches, pains, chest pain, frequent colds. This has been a very stressful season. We have been locked down and locked up without committing a crime. If leaders would have looked to the word of God — where God never quarantined the healthy, only the sick — we would be so much better off.

Good news:

The good news is that God’s word speaks to stress. Phil. 4:6-7 — 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 must come to know the Scriptures, and act on them. Then we will experience peace, and stress and its negative effects will go.

Let’s cling to God’s word and experience a peace that surpasses our understanding. God is still on the throne.

Just a thought,

PSS

The last days:

In Jesus’ day the principal occupation was farming, and these people grew skilled at interpreting natural signs. But they refused to properly interpret the signs of the times.

We are in the last of the last days, where the world, politicians, and the courts have removed God from the public arena, the public square. When God and His word (the Bible) are removed, the ridiculous, the absurd prevails.

The absurdities:

It’s absurd for any true believer to believe abortion is OK. It is absurd for a true believer to believe homosexuality is OK. It is absurd for any true believer to believe in bigger government. It is absurd for any true believer to believe that we should listen to the government tell us how we should worship God. It is absurd for any true believer to believe that the indoctrination of our children into a secular, ungodly belief system is OK.

His kingdom:

I hope you get the picture. God is either right, or He is not. He can’t be half right. Either He is Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all. He is not the God of this culture — He is the God of His word (the Bible) and His kingdom. His kingdom is all that matters.

True believers will believe Him, and by doing so we will stand against this ungodly culture.

Just a thought,

PSS

Baal worship:

Baal was the god of gods to the Canaanites; they worshipped him. One of the ways they worshipped Baal was to sacrifice children, burn them to death. There is still the worship of Baal; we just do it in a more sophisticated way. We murder babies in the womb; we call it abortion.

False doctrine:

So much going on in our world today, and way too many people who call themselves Christians find themselves caught between two opinions because they have not decided that God is God and chosen to follow Him. They are tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). So, as true followers of Christ, we have to choose to follow Christ and live out the word of God. It’s always our choice. But to say, I am with God,and believe in homosexuality, abortion, government control of our lives means you have not truly committed yourself to God and His word (Bible). Which means you are lost, out of relationship with Christ.

God’s way:

We must decide whose team we are on — God’s or the world’s. We cannot be on both. Remember, the devil owns the fence. So, make the choice — you can be of only one opinion and be right with God! His way or no way. If you believe you can halfway serve God, and the other half you serve the world — Baal — you will be lost forever. Joshua 24:15 — But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Can’t have it both ways!

Just a thought,

PSS

Fear vs faith:

We cannot now, or ever, allow the world, the government, the media to shame us to conform to this world and its fear. Fear is taught. There was a man speaking to two Amish men, and he asked, “Why aren’t you guys afraid of the virus?” Their response was, “We don’t watch TV!” Fear is taught, and the more we are told to be afraid, and we listen to it — begin to believe it — the harder it will be to serve the Lord. It’s impossible to operate in fear and faith at the same time. Faith in God and His word will dispel fear.

Ignorance vs enlightenment:

The world uses shame to get people into compliance. As believers we are not to be ignorant of the devil’s devices, his ways. The devil works through deception, and I believe a lot of believers have been, and are being deceived. We at times are way too gullible. We don’t question what’s being said; we don’t research it. The result is deception, and we were told not to be deceived. Ephesians 5:6 — Don’t let anyone deceive you with meaningless words. It is because of sins like these that God’s anger comes to those who refuse to obey Him.

The only way not to be deceived is to research and learn what the word of God teaches, and obey Him — no matter what. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Just a thought,

PSS

An everyday habit:

At times, prayer is talked about more than anything else and practiced less than anything else. Too often we associate prayer with crises in our lives. It should be something we do every day, like breathing, eating, and walking and talking. It seems for many like that little glass-covered box on the wall that says, “Break in case of emergency.” You cannot really be an effective believer and not pray. Prayer is simply talking to God; it’s the act of drawing near to God and passionately petitioning Him to perform a specific act — a heartfelt request for God to answer a specific need, a continuous request.

A worthy habit:

One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up (Luke 18:1 NLT). Praying helps you physically as well as spiritually. It can help you stay healthier, studies have shown. We should never feel like we are bothering God or He has something more important to do than to help us. We need to realize when we asked Jesus to be our Lord, God made us worthy to petition Him, to ask Him, to talk to Him, because Jesus is worthy.

A satisfied life:

Too many Christians are only existing and not living a satisfied life in Christ. Jesus came to give us life. “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). In order to really live that satisfied life, it is necessary to pray, learn to believe God.

So, let’s learn as much as we can about prayer, because I believe it is the key to walking with God.

Just a thought,

PSS

The establishment attacks our beliefs:

During the last year, and now the first months of 2021, we have seen an attack on the church that is unprecedented in our lifetime. It’s not just an attack on the church service itself, it is an attack on our very beliefs. Our belief is in what the Bible teaches is right and wrong, good and evil.

Some so-called Christians side with the unbelievers:

Probably one of the most disheartening things about this dichotomy is how many people who call themselves Christians have agreed with unbelievers, taken the side of the ungodly over the Scriptures. One is too many in my opinion. Instead of following Christ and His teaching, they have succumbed to fear instead of operating in faith, believing in things that cannot be proven (such as mask-wearing, not attending church, etc.) instead of putting the word of God first. Why can’t these people just admit they are afraid and have no faith or don’t really believe in God’s word? It would make it easier to see the truth.

God desires obedience:

The truth is, we should never allow anything to keep us from obeying the word of God. Even if we get it wrong at times, make a mistake, we should always come back and purpose to obey His word (the Bible). Obedience is what God desires.

It really is very refreshing to see so many standing on the promises of God, attending church, serving, helping others. To all of you who are keeping the faith, thank you, because it truly is an honor to serve with you.

Just a thought,

PSS

The ungodly choice:

There is not a single day that we do not face the same test that was set before Adam. From the beginning of time until the present moment, the choice has remained the same. Man’s ungodly quest for power, his determination to use his gift of free choice for his own selfish end, has brought him to the brink of doom.

The godly choice:

The better choice is that we can use our free will to obey God’s word — lay down our will so we can take on His will. As Jesus said, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” When we are dealing with difficult circumstances in our lives, painful moments, we too must pray and decide, Not my will God, but Your will be done. God’s will is for us to purpose to obey Him and His word.

Your choice:

There is only one way to serve and follow God — His way! We don’t get to make up our own idea and theology and expect God to be OK with that. Too many people think this way, Well, God understands why I’m not doing His word, and we believe God is OK with that. He is not OK with us ignoring His word for our own way. But again — it’s your choice.

My prayer is we choose life and not death.

Just a thought,

PSS

One way:

Becoming a believer is not difficult, but what we need to understand is that there is only one way to eternal life. Jesus said, “Only a few decide to walk that road.” It’s the walk that is difficult — living His way according to the word of God, renewing our minds, changing habits, giving up on ideas that aren’t from God, letting go of traditions that aren’t godly, purposing to do what He asks us to do, keeping our minds right, continuing to trust God through difficult, hurtful moments in our lives. That’s what is difficult. That’s why very few ever find God’s way.

Show me the benefits:

So many want God’s salvation (they don’t want to go to hell), but they don’t want His instruction, His correction. They want the benefits without doing the work. It doesn’t happen that way. You get to choose, life or death.

Choose ye this day:

According to God’s word, many choose hell. Why? Because serving God requires change — reflection, changing our thinking. Most people want to believe whom they want to believe, and want God to be OK with that. But He is not OK with that.

We must be transformed by renewing our minds, thinking; then, and only then, will we find the narrow gate. Our choice.

Just a thought,

PSS

Heaven and hell:

Jesus loves everyone, but that doesn’t mean He accepts everyone and everyone’s lifestyle. Because of this, so many will miss heaven and end up spending eternity in hell. Jesus doesn’t accept every religion or everyone’s lifestyle choice. When we come to Him, we must be willing to change.

Deception:

Lauren Daigle said, “Ellen DeGeneres is a bundle of light. She is joyful. She was so kind. Ellen is just a beautiful person.” The problem with this is that no one who actually reads the Bible can be under the slightest doubt as to what the Bible says about homosexuality. It is sin. Ms. Daigle began her comments by stating that she has homosexual friends. So what? If she does, she should want to tell them the truth so they could possibly repent and get right with God.

Jesus’ love:

We must love people enough to tell them the truth — that they can be healed and delivered from their sin. In Romans 1:18–32, the Bible says God has made the truth obvious to the ungodly. So, Ellen is not a bundle of light but of darkness, leading many to hell. She, just like anyone else, needs to repent and begin to live according to the word. Jesus accepts us the way we are, as long as we are willing to repent and change our ways, our lives, to line up with His word. If we are not willing, we are doomed to eternal death.

Let’s not be deceived. Let’s begin, as never before, to purpose to do the will of God. Proverbs 10:4 (KJV) says, He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Just a thought,

PSS

Good grief:

The difference is: if we are believers, we do grieve, but not like those who are not saved. They believe death of this physical body is the final end. But those of us who believe in Jesus realize it is only the beginning of eternal life — to be with our Savior and His Father forever. So, we grieve with hope.

The last enemy:

A person’s death is sad for us, but glorious for them. God wants us to love one another, to care, and He knows when someone we love leaves this earth that it hurts. That is why death is called the last enemy. It is an enemy, no doubt.

Hope and healing:

So, as we meditate on the word of God and believe Him and believe in heaven, God, by His Spirit, begins to bring hope and healing to our hearts and minds. We don’t quit caring and loving others: we keep loving and caring for others. Why? Because of the hope God has given us eternal life with Him. I often think, If I could leave my loved ones with anyone, it would be God.I also believe that once those who are saved get a glimpse of heaven, they don’t want to come back here.

So be hopeful! Never give up hope!Just a thought,

PSS

I Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) — The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV) — I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Believe God’s word:

This is a year of spiritual maturity. That means we must learn to live by the word of God and not our natural senses. We can no longer live by what we see, hear, taste, smell, touch. Truth is truth whether we believe it or not. What we believe does not change what is true. If we are going to mature in our faith, spiritually we must believe the truth of God’s word regardless of what we see or hear. I believe that is what God is saying to us today.

Build upon the Rock:

It’s all our choice how we will live. Build your house on a solid foundation — one so strong you can build a great life upon it — and when trouble comes it will stand, or build on a flimsy foundation that falls apart when any trouble comes. We are to grow so God can create increase in our lives: spiritually, physically, emotionally, and intellectually. It’s up to us.

Keep the faith:

The believers who will experience increase are those who are willing to keep the faith. That means we will keep watch, protecting our faith. We are to remain committed no matter what obstacles we face. Those committed Christians will be the ones who experience great maturity and increase.

My hope and prayer are that you choose God’s way over the world’s way and experience God’s blessings in your life.

Just a thought,

PSS

2 Timothy 4:7 NLT

“I have fought the good fight of faith. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”

For all who have kept the faith, I believe God was behind the scenes, digging your foundation. The deeper the foundation, the higher the building can be. So, for those who have kept the faith in 2020, I believe God is going to bless you.

He is going to mature your faith, your understanding of the word. He will bless what you put your hand to. God is waiting for us to reach out to Him. 

So many people make resolutions at this time, firmly deciding to do this or that. Yet so many people fail, almost immediately, because of a lack of maturity. It is because they have focused on the promise of the next shiny, new thing and have neglected the work it takes to walk consistently in maturity. You have to be ready to continue beyond the trendy quick fix and begin living a daily walk with Christ.

So, as we usher in 2021, don’t get fixated on the “new." Work at being consistent in your walk in your new life. It’s not the new that helps us grow; it’s the consistent growth to maturity. It is not very glamorous, but it’s the way we mature the best, the fastest, that gets our eyes fixed on Jesus. Serve Him; honor Him; and prepare to be more and more obedient to Him.

I believe this will be a year of maturing in our faith. Let’s strive to please Him in 2021. Stay faithful; never quit.

It’s going to be a great year!

Just a thought,

PSS

The Author:

Jesus is the author who finishes His work. His work is to perfect us — to perfect our faith, so we may endure through many trials, until finally glory comes. It’s through these trials that we grow, develop spiritually, and strive to be perfected.

The Finisher:

With all that’s going on in our world, we must keep our eyes on Jesus, on His word, in order to keep growing and developing into what God wants for us to become. In order to do that, we must endure whatever we encounter: good or bad, tough or easy. This is the time to really get serious about our walk, our relationship with God.

The Perfector:

As 2020 comes to an end, and we enter 2021, let it be a year where we allow God to perfect us, to build our faith in Him and His word, to allow our foundation to be built on a solid foundation, and develop our knowledge of Him and His ways. All one has to do is make a decision — God is first in my life, and whatever rough edges, the things that hold me back, will be purged and removed. That will come through a commitment — a decision of our will and a commitment to stay with it.

2021 can be a great year. Again, it’s your choice. Choose well!

Happy new year, and God bless.

Just a thought,

PSS

Cultivate joy:

Dr. Pamela Ebstyne King — “Remember, joy is different from happiness. Although they are connected through positive feelings, keep in mind joy involves what holds ultimate significance in your life.” God wants us to enjoy our lives — whether they are easy or difficult. God never intended for anyone to merely exist: He wanted everyone to enjoy their life every day. He said in John 10:10 that His purpose for coming was to give us a rich and satisfying life. The only way to obtain that is to cultivate joy.

Believe joy:

Joy is internal; happiness is external. Joy is God-given, based on what you believe, not on your current circumstances. Too many people think they can be happy only when they go on vacations, when the kids get older, when they are a success at work, when they get what they want. This is not true.

Choose joy:

Happiness is based on circumstance; joy is based on a choice — that through the worst times, worst days, we can experience joy in our lives, and the emotions of peace and excitement, regardless of our outward circumstances. This is the joy God gives. What’s great is that it is our choice. We choose joy.

Jesus gives us the joy.  I hope you choose it.

Merry Christmas to all of you. God bless.

Just a thought,

PSS

Only believe:

Without Emmanuel there would be no salvation, no freedom from sin. Because of this we realize we aren’t just forgiven of sin: we are free from it. Big difference! What we must understand is that Jesus was fully man and fully God. If we don’t believe this, we cannot be born again a child of God.

Test the spirits:

1 John 4:1–3 — Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2) By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. 3) But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

Walk with God:

So, in order to walk with God, we must believe that Jesus is God come in the flesh. Jesus is all God and all man.

As we celebrate this Christmas season, let’s never forget who Jesus is — Emmanuel. God with us! He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Just a thought,

PSS

Unspoken expectations:

We all need to live life with great expectations. But our expectations need to be reasonable ones. Some of us have unspoken expectations. We expect things from others that were never agreed upon or spoken about. We expect something of someone or something that was never discussed. It’s these expectations that get us.

Realistic expectations:

We expect so much from God, even when His word doesn’t say what we expect. When this happens, we get disappointed. Disappointment is defined as the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations. We will hear people say things like, “I thought you meant this,” or “I thought you said this.” We really need to govern our expectations with reality — the reality of what has been said or agreed to.

Godly expectations:

Especially when it comes to God, people so often accuse Him of not caring because He didn’t meet their expectation at the time. But what they expected wasn’t based on fact or in the core truth. Let’s find out what the word of God actually says, then adjust our expectations to what has actually been said or agreed upon.

What we will find is that we won’t experience as much disappointment in our lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

Expectation:

Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines thrill of hopeas piercing, penetrating desire and expectation of an obtainable good. Hope, true hope, can be found in one place and one place only — Jesus — the only true hope that was birthed into a world filled with sins, pining for redemption (Colossians 1:27; Matthew 1:18-23). The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Proclamation:

“The lord is my portion,” says my soul. Therefore, I will hope in Him(Lamentations 3:22-24). “Lament” means to mourn, grieve, weep, to wail — not a happy book but the very book that speaks about Hope, true hope — not a wishful-thinking hope, but a hope built on faith.

Manifestation:

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen(Hebrews 11:1). Hope helps strengthen the immune system, improves social relationships, helps support mental strength and happiness, and helps you wake up feeling positive.

Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future. Let’s keep our hope alive, believing and serving Jesus.

Just a thought,

PSS

Building the wall:

We need to keep building the wall (the Church), no matter who comes against us with fear and intimidation. Way too many pastors and churches are weak. They believe the Church can be dictated to by a lost world. Out of fear they call it concern, being caring. They have shut their doors. They have stopped being the hope of the world. They have decided to acquiesce to an ungodly governor.

Protesting:

Acquiesce means to accept something, but without protest. This is why we have changed our services to protests: we are protesting for our religious freedom, being free to help those who are hurting and afraid, those who are broken, hopeless, relapsing into addiction. That is why the church should remain open.

Watching:

We must decide what we believe and what we will follow. You can follow the lost world or follow the word of God. Are you going to stay on the wall working or come down to your peril? Our city, our state is depending on us to continue to stand watch and continue to build the wall — the Church.

It’s always our choice. Which will it be for you?

Just a thought,

PSS

To my point, everything that is happening with COVID19 is to make people more dependent on the government. This is the government’s way of becoming irreplaceable and creating dependency for all of its citizens. Too many have fallen for the lie of putting our hope in the government: “It will save me,” “It will keep me safe,” “We should follow all the rules,” many say. This misguided mantra that runs throughout our culture will cause people to willingly bow down and worship at the altar of safety and security, clinging to their warm government blanket.

Nearly everything we have experienced in this pandemic has been about control and social conditioning. Even the language that governmental officials use is a part of this power play: “Social distancing” is a more palatable euphemism for “Isolation.” “The New Normal” is a more acceptable way to say “Conform to the new restrictions, loss of freedom, and more governmental requirements.” These are simple ways to get us to willingly—even gladly—lay down our arms. Is there any wonder that mental illness and suicide are on the rise, perhaps at all-time highs in some places?

We are being driven apart right in the time we need to come close. They are sowing discord in the place of unity. We need each other at the exact time they are forcing us to consider it harmful to gather. How many of you have felt that—all of a sudden—your neighbors, friends, even family members now seem like enemies to be avoided—literally—like the plague? But all of this is a prerequisite for their ultimate goal: communism. Relying on the government exclusively leads to socialism leads to communism: the ultimate loss of personal responsibility, freedom, and courage.

George Orwell could be writing current events columns for today’s newspapers in his eerily-similar-sounding-to-present-day-reality book 1984. In it he describes how the “Party” gains control:

“… no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.” –George Orwell, 1984

We are seeing this today as power-grubbing politicians make government the center, not God. God has to be the center of your life. It is sad to see so many Christians cower to, even welcome governmental control. All they while they happily give up their God-given freedoms in favor of being controlled by ungodly people who do not have their best in mind.

Take, for example, the Governor’s announcement yesterday; it created mass hysteria. People endured long lines both inside and outside stores just to get a scrap of toilet paper. This was not happening before. People were able to go in get what they want and go home. But with such long lines and panic, she has caused more of the spread this virus. Will she admit to it? No, she always wants to blame everyone else. We have to fight for our rights and freedoms. If we don’t there will be nothing left to fight for. We need to wake up. These new “two weeks” will be the longest ever, lengthening into another 9 to 12 months of lockdowns.

Taking away personal freedom and removing personal responsibility is wrong; and the Church of the Lord Jesus has a duty and responsibility to stand up against this evil and to fight for our religious freedoms. We will be doing that at Legacy. When many churches will falter, we will not. Standing up can be difficult, especially if we have to stand alone. But now it is time to really count the cost of being a disciple. That is what every Christian must do.

Just a Thought,

PSS

A convert is:

A convert is one who believes in Jesus, but that’s where it stops. They don’t help. They stand on the sidelines and cheer Jesus on. The problem with that is Jesus didn’t come and die for a bunch of cheerleaders. He came and died for disciples. We are called, commanded to go (as you go, as you live your life) make disciples (Matthew 28:18–20). We are not to make converts.

A disciple is:

A disciple is one who is growing, maturing, being a doer of the word; who is striving every day to obey Christ, obey His word, realizing that they will make mistakes, but because they are a disciple, repent and keep on going. A convert is never really seeking God, never really experiencing any real-life change. They want only fire insurance; they don’t want to go to hell. But if that is all it is, they are going to be very disappointed when Jesus comes back and looks at them and says, “I don’t know you!”

A true disciple is:

We must all become true disciples — willing to put aside our wants, our desires, for what Christ wants us to do. We must deny ourselves and follow Jesus, turn from our selfish ways and follow Jesus, put His ways, His will first, regardless of how uncomfortable it makes us feel.

You have to choose: are you going to stand on the sidelines or get in the game and fulfill the great commission to go and make disciples?

Just a thought,

PSS

Do the word:

We are living in some very difficult times — very hard-to-bear times. I believe God can use this to help us grow: to develop our faith in Him and His word if we allow Him to. Only those who do the will of My father (Jesus says) will enter the kingdom of heaven. It’s not the hearers but the doers of the word of God who are blessed, who get to enter heaven.

Only believe:

What we have seen is that people believe inGod but don’t know how to believe God, to exercise their faith. That’s why so many have allowed fear to control them, to dictate whether they go to church or not. It’s funny so many can go to stores shopping, but somehow church is an option. So, they opt out. We either purpose to do what He says or we don’t.

Weather the storms:

Hebrews 10:25 says we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. So many have done that. People have said, It is not safe to come and worship God.I thank God those pastors and Christians in Communist China didn’t say that. Their lives are in danger. They will either be killed or imprisoned for their faith. We might catch a virus which for 99.99 % of people is not fatal. These folks put their very lives on the line. I bet Jesus lets them into His heaven because He states in Matthew 7:24, Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.What are we building our lives on — a solid foundation or a foundation of sand that can’t stand against the storms of life?

Let’s allow God to help us build our faith, not shrink back from doing His will.

Just a thought,

PSS

Compromise:

God and His ways have to be first. When people compromise God’s word it is sin. People who compartmentalize their beliefs have no beliefs. God gave us life, and we should value life. I’ve always wondered how people have the god of a party spirit they put before God regardless of what that person or party believes in.

Big government:

How can anyone who believes in God, loves God support people who believe it’s OK to kill babies, raise taxes, make government bigger? The bigger, more involved government gets in our lives, the less religious freedom we have.

God’s way:

Today is all about light and darkness, righteousness and unrighteousness, evil and good. This is about being able, or not, to worship God the way we believe the Bible teaches. We really do need to repent of our wicked ways and ask God for His mercy to heal our land.

How can two walk together unless they be agreed?

Just a thought,

PSS

Being deceived: 

During this Covid-19 time, our governor here in NM has complete government control of our lives. It is called communism. Communism takes away our religious freedom and makes the state god. So many so-called Christians are being deceived, siding with government officials over the kingdom of God.

Playing politics:

Seek God’s kingdom first (Matt. 6:33) and God’s ways of doing things. So many talk about Romans 13:1–7 and really have no idea what it means. So, allow me to give you a thought. We are to obey the authorities as long as it doesn’t conflict with the word of God. Their mandates have told us we can’t have church, then we can as long as we don’t pray (chant), sing, and worship our God the way the Bible teaches us to. And what is the response of way too many again so-called Christians? They attack the church because of safety reasons. It is really sad to watch. No governor or government has the right to ever tell us how or when to have church. Fear is a motivator, but not a good one. And the politics that are being played with this are absolutely ridiculous.

Prevailing:

It’s the church that the gates of hell will not prevail against. So, the church must be the light, keep its doors open, and honor God over evil, rich, reprobate people who are being used to destroy everything we hold dear, especially our religious freedom and our civil liberties.

Whose side are you on? That is the question only you can answer.

Just a thought,

PSS

Renew your mind:

God is always at work to change what we believe so our decisions will be something He can bless. It’s called renewing our mind — from our own thinking and the way we were raised to God’s thinking and what He says. When we make Him Lord of our life, we are submitting our life, our will to Him, to His ways. So, when we do that everything, every thought, everything we have ever believed is on the table to change. Whatever does not line up with the word of God is subject to change, or should be.

Consider your ways:

Today too many come to Christ and do not want to change. They will hang on to belief systems that are wrong, even against the word of God; for example, how could any true believer vote for anyone who believes killing babies is OK? I know some will say there are other issues. The problem with that reasoning is that usually it is a way to make excuses about why we refuse to change our mind, our thinking in an area. We want to hang on to something that is ungodly.

Repent:

If we get the abortion thing wrong, if we believe that there is any greater issue than the right for a baby, a human to have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, then maybe, just maybe we ought to take a moment and ask ourselves, What could be more important than life? If we don’t get that, if that is not a starting place, especially in our country today, then I think we should pray, read the word, and ask God to help us renew our thinking.

It is hard work at times — that we know. But it is work we must all do.

Just a thought,

PSS

Convenient church:

There are some who advertise easy church — church that never infringes on your life, church that might make you feel better, but won’t help you live for Christ. I wonder if we take the words of Jesus seriously. As believers we should! Rev. 3:15-16 NLT —I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other. But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

Lukewarm church:

Lukewarm means showing little enthusiasm or zeal, indifferent.

1. May occasionally attend church
2. Rarely read the Bible
3. Don’t honor God with the tithe
4. When they sin, not really any conviction
5. One-foot-in-the-world-and-one-foot-in-the-kingdom church

Sacrificial church:

We all need to realize the devil owns the fence. There is no neutral with God. What He requires is our obedience. Convenient church does not work because it is not what Jesus taught. We must be taught sacrifice. Jesus plainly says that to be His followers, we must give up our own ways, take up our crosses, and follow Him (Matt. 16:24 NLT). We all have a mission, a job to do, and the church is supposed to remind us of that.

Let’s put our hand to the plow, work diligently, and be willing to sacrifice and follow Him.

Just a thought,

PSS

Negotiation:

Too many Christians compromise the word of God in their lives. The word of God is not, and should never be, up to negotiation. Compromise can be beneficial when it promotes cooperation without sacrificing normal values, the standard of the Bible. When you begin to take a wrong step in a direction that you know is unwise, it can lead to compromise.

The highest way:

Compromise is defined as an agreement or settlement of dispute that is reached by each side making concessions. It also means to accept standards that are lower than desirable. In other words, when you compromise the word of God to do something you want, you are accepting standards that are lower. God’s ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts are higher, better than our thoughts. God’s ways are always the best ways.

Repentance:

Compromising beliefs has caused so much pain for people. It causes regret. Regret is awful! If you have found yourself compromising the word of God for someone or something, repent quickly and purpose to get it right. Change your ways immediately. Then you will see God’s blessing, His help in your life and family.

Some things are negotiable but never is the word of God. Believe it and act on it. Hebrews 12:10-13.

Just a thought,

PSS

Deception is defined as the act of causing someone to believe something that is not true, in order to gain some advantage; an imposing of a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness; a misleading; a leading astray.

Corrupt systems:

Today people are being led astray by a corrupt system. The reason it’s so corrupt is that the people who are running it are ungodly. They have no morals. The media is no longer unbiased in reporting the news. They are writing their own narrative and then reporting on it. Most politicians are power hungry and don’t care about the people they represent.

Deceived churches:

Even churches who have stayed closed are being led astray, even though God has said we are to gather together. They have even bought into the rhetoric of these politicians. The Bible teaches we are not to be deceived. Col 2:8 (ESV) — See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human traditions, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

The Truth:

The only way we won’t be deceived is to learn and to become doers of the word of God. It is our only hope. Make church a priority. Make sure they are actually teaching the word of God. Purpose to do, put into practice, what you learn.

Learn to repent quickly and forgive quickly, for this will help you not to be deceived.

Just a thought,

PSS

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Many truths:

There are a lot of truths in the world: the earth is round; we revolve around the sun at a perfect distance from it so we don’t freeze to death; we are far enough away from it so we don’t burn up. But there is “The Truth” that can be learned from the word of God only. God’s word (the Bible) is truth. It’s the final say! Or it should be, in a believer’s life. If it is not, it is not too late to allow it to be.

Many absurdities:

Without God’s truth, absurdities will rule the day. Absurd is defined as wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate, ridiculous. Absurd is contrary to reason, obviously and flatly opposed to manifest truth and common sense. This is what is happening in our state and country. The philosphy of this world is absurd — from destroying our economy and people’s lives over a virus to the continued murder of the unborn, to allowing the homosexual to recruit our children, from TV shows to the indoctrination of the public school system. It is just absurd.

The Truth:

Ever since this country has removed God and His word from the public square, absurdities reign. How do we ”absurdityproof” ourselves? By reading the word of God, acting on the word of God, and doing it. By hearing it consistently, it will keep us from buying into the absurd.

Stay strong and cling to the word of God. It will help you in every area of your lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

Many voices:

There are so many voices out there trying to change your thinking, but only one that leads to eternal life and receiving the promises of God. When people say, “I serve God,” here is what they are saying, “My life is built on the word of God. No matter what subject, what I have been taught, or what anyone else says or thinks, it’s the word of God (Bible) that instructs my life, corrects my life, and encourages my life. It supersedes everything and everyone.”

With all your heart:

So, when you don’t get it or don’t understand everything, because you believe in God Almighty and you believe the Bible is the word of God, you simply say OK! Why? Because the scriptures tell us not to lean on our own understanding, but to trust in the Lord with all our heart (Proverbs 3:5).

His voice:

Listen, the word of God is meant to help you — never hurt you — to build you up, to encourage you, to instruct you, and to correct you — not because God is mad at you, but because He truly does love you and He wants the best for you. He is always working to convince you of that.

God’s word is right, and it is the right thing to do in every situation of your life. When you don’t understand — obey! It will help you.

Just a thought,

PSS

The Bible teaches us that to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22). The Bible also teaches us to not lean on our own understanding but to trust in the Lord (Prov. 3:5).

Obedience:

Today we must obey and trust in God and His word. Obedience is required when we don’t understand. There are so many things we are asked by God to do that we just don’t understand. But we do them because we trust God. We trust His word (the Bible) is true. Too many are leaning on their own understanding, so they are not obeying. They are going their own way — doing things their way instead of God’s way.

The highest way:

 God’s word says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”(Isa. 55:8-9 NIV).

The best:

So, in order to follow Christ, we must trust He knows best. So, when we don’t quite understand why He is telling us to forgive and tithe, we obey not because we fully understand but because we trust Him. Even when we believe we understand, there is always more to learn and know.

So, let’s be people who are purposing to be obedient and watch the blessings of God follow us.

Just a thought,

PSS

www.legacychurch.com
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Righteousness and truth:

Jesus saved us and changed our lives from a certain eternal death to an eternal life. He gave us this life to make a difference, to stand for righteousness and truth. Without these America will never get any better, only worse. We are called to be a light in a dark world. When we do this, the world won’t like it. They will attack, which they do. They will say awful things about us, which they do. But it doesn’t change who we are or how we choose to live our lives. What good is it to be the light if we are always hiding or afraid to speak up? Faith is active — it always does something.

Socialism:

We are hearing more and more from the world that it’s “for the common good.” Masks, vaccines, stay at home, don’t go anywhere, tell on your neighbor (which I believe is deplorable), don’t go to church “for the common good.” What we need to be careful of is that “the common good” is representing socialism. I believe the spirit of the Antichrist is working in our country and world right now (“for the common good”). Give up your freedom “for the common good”!

Spirit of the Antichrist:

1 John 4:3 NLT — But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.So many talk about Jesus, but are they telling you the truth about Him? That spirit is working in our country with the mantra “for the common good.”

We need to be careful and keep looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Just a thought,

PSS

www.legacychurch.com
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Idolatry:

The Bible teaches us we cannot serve two masters — we will hate the one and love the other, or love the one and hate the other. There is only room for one God in our hearts. When we try to allow something or someone to replace Him, it is called idolatry.

At times our emotions and feelings attempt to take God’s position as number one in our hearts. Because of our feelings we reject God and His word. We ignore what He says for our own sense of right and wrong. I believe it’s why so many struggle in their lives, especially in their walk with God.

Number one:

God first, only one God (The Father of our Lord Jesus). The Bible teaches us to remember the Lord in all we do, and then He will give us success. We have to decide who is first in our lives. We choose whom we will serve. Exodus 20:3 AMPC — You shall have no other gods before or besides Me.There is not room for two gods — only one. We all have to decide for ourselves whom we will serve. What we fight against is: who is in control, God or self?

Benefits:

See, pleasure is obtained quickly and benefits us now (or we think it does). The benefits of serving and loving God are often in the future. So, we all have to decide for ourselves.

My hope and prayer is for all of us to decide with finality that God is first, and we will serve Him — and Him alone.

Just a thought,

PSS

Have you ever thought about shame? Shame is defined as a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.

Shame vs guilt:

Shame is a negative feeling about oneself, where guilt is about one’s behavior. Shame means you have no value. The type of shame that you have no value is never from God. God knows we are made of dirt, and we will blow it, make big mistakes. Look at David, Peter, and Paul from the scriptures. They all made big mistakes, but it didn’t mean they had no value. If we would ever realize that God knows not one of us is, or will ever be, perfect, we would never allow ourselves to feel such shame that we have no value, or that God is against us somehow.

Value:

God has placed such great value on each and every one of us, regardless of our mistakes in life, even when we really blow it. We may feel guilty about our behavior and might even regret what we have done.

Godly sorrow:

Godly sorrow leads to repentance, but never are we to feel we have no value. God doesn’t want us to ever feel that way — regardless of what we have done. We need to remember God is always for us, you.

So, no matter what: keep the faith and keep seeking God. He is for you!

Just a thought,

PSS

Appreciation:

He wants a real relationship where we serve Him because we do love and appreciate His sacrifice for our lives. When we do really appreciate His sacrifice, we will serve Him, obey Him, and purpose to follow Him. When we don’t appreciate Him, we will fall, stumble, and begin to move away from Him.

Benefits:

The closer we are to Him, the more being a Christian will benefit our lives. So many are just existing, not really enjoying being a Christian, not being satisfied! Then there are some who are truly benefiting the way God intended because they are obeying Him, following Him, worshiping Him.

Joy:

Why is it some, even though life is hard or difficult, enjoy their Christianity, and some don’t? I believe it is because some put the word of God first, not their feelings, not their emotions. When people say, This is just the way I feel, regardless of what the word says, it is not right. We aren’t to live by our feelings, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Fear:

People are living in such fear — Christians are living in such fear of a virus. I don’t really understand. Aren’t we to produce the fruit of the Spirit — peace, faithfulness, self-control? Notice we aren’t supposed to produce fear. Fear is a spirit that causes us to get out of faith, stop believing God and His word, and begin to follow something and someone else. 2 Tim. 3:1-5 reads, … For people will love only themselves and their money. …

Only God can keep you safe, no man, no woman. We must learn to believe in God and His power.

Just a thought,

PSS

How is a believer to respond to the coronavirus? Every day we hear more and more information about the newest coronavirus, COVID-19. One talking head floats a new theory; another pundit introduces his newest (and flawed) statistical analysis, completely disengaged from reality. And we—the apparently helpless public—are fed misinformation, incomplete data models, and political conspiracy theories fraught with holes.

The Government:

The information the government and the CDC dole out is uncertain and speculative at best. The most certain thing they deserve credit for is having created fear in the hearts and minds of individuals across the nation. Because officials cannot control this virus, they locked down America, depressed the economy, threw fuel on the fires of unemployment, and planted fear into millions. What is worse, they selectively introduce facts and target churches: in California, for example, it is now illegal to sing praise to God in church. Not only is it enough to scatter believers—by requiring them not to meet in the name of public health—we have lost our free speech and even our right to assemble peacefully. All of this is an affront to our privately-held, law-abiding, and God-fearing congregations who love America. It seems that to some, only you and I going to church. Borrowing the famous words of the apostle James, “my brothers and sisters this should not be!” (James 3:10 NIV)

The Ungodly:

In the very first Psalm of the Bible, the Psalmist reminds us of the dangers of following ungodly counsel:

   “Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.”

Social distancing is causing increased mental illness, many experts agree with me: depression, anxiety, and even suicide are demonstrably on the rise while the core of how we can fight those things off—even our very way of life—is crumbling. How can we help those in need without being there for them? Isolation is a punishment for the prisons, a remedy for the sick, and now the miracle “cure” for the healthy? This supposed “cure” for the virus has not worked. All the while we sheepishly give up our freedoms and civil liberties without any kind of a fight. It seems that there is one group of “Illuminati” deciding for millions who wins and who loses. And I assert that people’s lives are being destroyed in the name of public safety. In all of this, what is a Christian to do?

The Godly:

Ultimately our safety is not in the hands of the government. God is our source of help in time of need. God Himself tells us why we are secure:

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”

There it is, a promise directly from the mouth of God for believers. If you are concerned in these difficult times, let’s take hope from His Word and protest ungodly counsel and misinformation.

Romans 1:22 KJV — Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. Psalm 46:1 KJV — God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Let’s rise up to be the light and hope of the world in as we believe and trust God.

Just a thought,

PSS

Humble yourself:

To humble ourselves is to be teachable, to put the word of God first, to recognize God as superior and One worth serving. Once we do this, it will be easier to turn from our ungodly ways. One ungodly thing we will turn from is ignoring God and His word. What we have found is so-called Christian people are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:4). People love life, love their life more than they love God. This is one reason people are so compliant to the government.

Submit to God:

The Church doesn’t even recognize when we are being persecuted, and we are definitely being persecuted. We are being dehumanized by face masks and social distancing (for which, by the way, there is no study that definitively proves that it even works). You hear it might, can, may work, but nobody really knows; nonetheless, we submit.

Have faith:

We have become so fearful of a virus which the government thinks they can control. They are trying to play God, but they can’t. They (the government and our governor) refuse to humble themselves before God. So instead, they create and provoke fear in people. We as believers are not to be motivated by fear, but by faith. God’s word says these types of things will happen.

Only believe:

Only God can truly protect us — not a government and not staying away from people. How can we reach the lost if we are fearful and believe this government is the one protecting us? It is time we begin to operate in faith and believe God to heal our land from this virus, plague that is destroying our land.

Matthew 16:25 (AMPC) — For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].

No fear — God is your source!

Just a thought,

PSS

Accept it:

When we accepted Christ, we also accepted the jobs God has for us to do. We were brought into the kingdom by God’s grace with the reality of being a productive servant. The works don’t save us, but they do tell a story — a story that we truly are His servants, dedicated to His will and purpose, knowing we must get to work in order to fulfill His plan in our lives. I believe the reason so many are lost, discouraged, and apathetic toward life is that when they did receive Jesus, they never got busy.

Do it:

The only way we will ever be fulfilled on this earth is to follow God’s plan and get to doing the work He already had planned for us to do. Yes, it is His plan. Good works are the means by which we help those in need — not only caring for the poor, but behaving in a godly way towards others: your employer, friends, family, spouse, and fellow believers. Good work is also giving to the work of the Lord (your tithes and offerings), serving Him.

Produce good fruit:

We are not saved by the good works. But once we have received Jesus, the fruit of that is we produce good fruit. So, have you gone to work for the kingdom since you believed, honoring God with your whole life, or are you simply being a consumer? If you are, it’s never too late to get it right.

Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only (James 1:22 KJV).

Just a thought,

PSS

Be not deceived:

The reality is, in our country, up until now we have never really been persecuted by the state where they mean to do harm. Question: Why are the liberals so bent on keeping churches closed? One reason is the true believer opposes them. This is what is happening all over the country and right here in New Mexico. The sad thing is, Christians aren’t sure if it’s happening, and some of the ones who do recognize it aren’t sure how they should react.

Resist oppression:

So, what should we do? I believe we should fight back by resisting it and pushing back against it. If it means civil disobedience, then that’s where we should stand. I believe we should speak out about it, and let the governor and all her cronies know we aren’t going to sit back and watch our freedom of religion being infringed upon anymore. We should assemble together and worship our God, regardless of what the government says.

Choose life:

This governor really doesn’t care anything about human life. If she did, why is she so happy to see innocent babies murdered? If she cared about life, why didn’t she close the abortion clinics? If she cares about life, why is she ruining so many lives and businesses because of her ungodly orders?

We as believers should take our stand and say, Enough is enough! We serve the only true God, and no one will dictate to us how and where we do this.

Just a thought,

PSS

Priorities:

Despite all the difficulties and complications, life is still good. It’s a constant reminder to keep the most important things important — things like my family and that life is what I make it.

Choices:

I remind myself that the decisions I make today affect and impact my life in the future. You see, the good and bad experiences of our past affect the decisions we make today, and become the default reason we did this or that. The reality is that we have to accept responsibility for our lives and the choices we make.

Responsibilities:

We should no longer allow ourselves to be the victim, but overcome every obstacle and refuse to blame others for our actions. If we do, we’ll continue to make better choices and realize that life really is good. We get only one life to live, and there are no do-overs or mulligans.

Whatever the poor choices we made in the past, we have to let them go and move on and make better decisions with optimism for the future. Life is good!

Just a thought,

PSS

Circumstances:

Circumstantial faith is faith that goes up or down, depending on my current set of circumstances. It’s believing in God as long as I am happy with every aspect of my life — everything going the way I want it to go. This type of faith is not at all faith in God — in one day, out the next, depending on how I feel God is acting and what He’s doing for me.

Expectations:

A good term is unexplainable circumstances. We expect God to act in a certain way, and when He doesn’t, we have a crisis of faith. One of our biggest issues is that we are just not good at interpreting events. For example, I worked at UPS for 10 ½ years. I thought God was punishing me for something I did wrong, or He just didn’t like me. I didn’t understand the events. I went to Bible school to be in the ministry, not to work at UPS.

Understanding:

Probably 10 years after I left and began to pastor, I realized it wasn’t that God didn’t like me or was punishing me for something I did wrong. He was teaching me, and training me to serve Him. He taught me that no matter how I felt, do my job. Whether it’s freezing cold outside, or 100 degrees with 90% humidity, do your job. Whether you’re angry, sad, or hurting physically, do your job. Little did I know then what I would be doing today. These lessons have served, and are still serving, me well.

In the midst of trials and tough times, based on circumstances which cause so many to fall away and quit serving God, we can begin to wonder, Is God really there; does He care? What we need is focused faith. Faith that keeps on believing and trusting, no matter the circumstances. That’s the kind of faith we want.

Just a thought,

PSS

Division:

I’ve been very disheartened to see Christians get divided over this COVID-19, the cares of this world. There is no “Thus saith the Lord” about it. But yet people are divided on how to deal with it, especially concerning the Church. I’ve never thought I would see a time where the Church as a whole would divide over having church or not having church. The Church is not governed by the state, but by the word of God. We should allow the word of God, and nothing else, to guide us.

Freedom:

So many in the Revolutionary War died for this belief — freedom of religion — and yet we look to political people to tell us when it’s OK to have church, and when it is not. So many have bought into the fearmongering of this world. We cannot allow government, race, or money to choke out the word of God in our lives.

Unity:

We must stand united on the word of God, and seek God and ask Him for direction. I’m so proud to be a part of a church that doesn’t allow the cares of this world to choke out the word of God and divide us as Christians. Benjamin Franklin said, “We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

Let’s stay together. There is power in agreement and a lack of power in lack of agreement.

Just a thought,

PSS

Faith vs works:

Being accepted, or acceptance, is a different thing for so many. But being accepted by God is even harder for some. We work so hard to be accepted at times by people — willing to sacrifice just about anything, compromise just about anything to be accepted.

But with God you can’t work for His acceptance. You must believe to really receive it. You must accept His sacrifice and make Him Lord of your life. Once you have truly come to believe in Him (we don’t really believe until we are willing to follow Him and obey His word), then you are accepted by Him.

Worthiness:

So many of us see ourselves as unworthy, not good enough. So, we never enter into God’s rest. We are always working so hard to hopefully be accepted by God, when the truth is, we do the works of God not to be accepted, but to be pleasing to God.

Only believe:

Once you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior and purpose to follow Him, you are accepted. He accepts you with your strengths and weaknesses. You are accepted into His family. You don’t work for His acceptance: you believe for His acceptance. It’s His sacrifice that allows us to have a relationship with God.

Believe, and be a doer of His word. Why? Because God does love you.

Just a thought,

PSS

Fear not:

People use Romans 13 — obeying the authorities — but they use it as all-inclusive. You can find story after story in the Bible where men and women of God didn’t use it as all-inclusive. Daniel was ordered not to pray to anyone but the king for 30 days. Daniel went to his room, prayed as he always had before, and was caught praying by the authorities. Daniel knew after 30 days he could pray. Daniel could have prayed silently. Unfortunately, too many so-called Christians want us to be silent, even now. I believe the reason for this is that they are afraid. Daniel could have prayed without kneeling or raising his hands. He did none of those things. Daniel chose to pray according to Scripture example and according to his lifelong custom (Daniel 6:10). He was willing to face the lion’s den, because he would not let the government dictate his personal expression of worship.

Guide:

Martin Luther King, Jr. — The Church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the Church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.

Stand:

What’s sad today is that a lot of churches, not all, have become just that. I could name two of the bigger ones here in Albuquerque where the pastors are servants of the state, where they stand for nothing or no one. But let you and me be the believers who stand for something. Stand for righteousness.

Let’s be a light to this dark world and to the authorities. Let them know they are not our masters, and they don’t get to dictate how we serve or worship our God — the only true God, the Father of our Lord Jesus.

Just a thought,

PSS

Choices:

We can choose to make good choices, or to make bad choices. But either way, we have the power to choose. If we choose to do the same old thing the same old way, we will never experience opportunities that can help us in life, bring greater success to our lives, and enhance our lives.

Consequences:

The greatest thing God gave all of us is the power to choose. If you use this power to choose to be a victim or to do bad things, the consequences will be bad. So many use the power of choice to blame others, to blame all their problems on someone or something else. Then they wonder why nothing ever changes. But if we use our power of choice to make good decisions, to not blame anyone or anything for our current circumstances, to choose to better ourselves, learn something every day, and take responsibility for our lives, we can watch the opportunities that will come across our paths.

Opportunities:

Opportunity: a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something; an appropriate or favorable time or occasion. If we make choices to blame and to not take responsibility for our lives, opportunities will pass us by, and we won’t ever know it.

Let’s choose life. Make a choice to live. The power of choice — greatest ability we have.

Just a thought,

PSS

Have you ever felt bored? Have you ever been bored?

Boredom:

Bored is defined as: feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one’s current activity; feeling disinterested in one’s surroundings; having nothing to do; feeling that life is dull. Ellen Parr said, “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” With all the lockdowns in this country, with people told to stay at home, closing down everything so there is no place to go, or fewer places to go (by the way, we are all locked down and haven’t even committed a crime), it is easier to get bored because now, for the first time in our recent history, our activities have been severely limited. So, people get bored.

Prevention:

When boredom happens, we will find ways to break up our routines. Hopefully, find good ways to break them up. Unfortunately, some relapse or get into trouble because of boredom. To prevent this, we need to remember our greatest purpose in this life is to please God, to serve Him. So, we need to search the scriptures to help us stay curious.

Creativity:

We need to find ways to break up the routine of life. Be creative, try things that are outside your comfort zone, experiment with healthy things. They might not be normal to you, but can become exciting so you stay interested in God, your family, and even in yourself. So, if you find yourself becoming bored during this lockdown, look to find good things to do. Develop new interests, read more, pray more. Engage more with your family and friends.

Stay curious, and watch God help keep you strong from regressing to some bad habits.

Just a thought,

PSS

Taboo:

Notice our governor won’t talk about how many babies are being murdered, how many people have committed suicide, and how many have died of even the flu. Why don’t they talk about these things? Because it doesn’t fit their narrative — that they (the state) say the governor is keeping us safe. How sick and misguided these statements are. What’s even sadder, people believe them. We don’t care about all the other deaths, only the COVID-19 ones. We are not talking about how the shutdown is creating more issues than it’s helping. We refuse to talk about that, because of the emergency powers: that these governors in a lot of states, ours being one, have turned these people into little dictators — telling people to spy on their neighbors (this is what happened in Germany under Hitler); how we have been threatened and scolded; and somehow, we are not caring or un-American to fight back.

Stand:

It is very sad when we don’t stand up for our civil liberties against the totalitarian form of government. But people say the governor is only trying to protect us. Is she; how do we know that? We are not allowed to say anything or ask questions, because if we do, we must somehow not care about people.

She doesn’t care about anyone but herself and her own ambitions.

Smoke screen:

Instead of dealing with our governor, we attack good Americans who believe in our God-given rights. Even now, she came out after the president spoke about a phased plan to reopen our country and economy and said, “We are not even close.” Not only should we be close, she should have moved to put our doctors back to work and all those who help and are specialists. You can kill a baby, but you can’t have surgery for cancer. This is so demonic and wrong. We should all begin to protest her, call her office, and shut it down by calling and letting her know enough is enough. We should pray and ask God to intervene.

Let’s fight back and address our displeasure peacefully and with lots of passion for our country.

Just a thought,

PSS

Possibility:

Whatever we may be experiencing during this time, we all need hope: hope for better things to happen, hope for our children, and hope for our families. We all need hope to keep going and to look for the possibilities that are out there. Without it, all of this could be overwhelming. So, we need hope in our lives.

Happiness:

People today believe that happiness is about getting what we want, but it consists of learning to be satisfied with what we have and what we don’t have.

Few things are necessary to make the wise man happy, while no amount of material wealth would satisfy a fool.                  

                                                                             — Og Mandino

Uniqueness:

A common mistake is to search outside for happiness. Happiness is unique, depending on each individual. What makes one happy may make another miserable. So, we need to look inside ourselves, and pray and ask God to help us. Because we know He is always with us, we can be hopeful for today and tomorrow, and be happy. If we keep our minds stayed on Him, we will all remain hopeful and happy through the worst of circumstances. No matter the crisis, we will remain hopeful.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you (Isa. 26:3 NLT)!        

Just a thought,

PSS

David Wilkerson, in 1986, prophesied, I see a plague coming on the world, and the bars, churches and government will shut down. The plague will hit New York City and shake it like it has never been shaken. The plague is going to force prayerless believers into radical prayer and into their Bibles, and repentance will be the cry from the man of God in the pulpit. And out of it will come a third Great Awakening that will sweep America and the world.

Prophecy fulfilled:

Most of what he spoke is happening right now. God knew this was going to happen: He is not shocked or surprised. What I believe we should be surprised at, is how quickly the government has moved to quarantine us, lock us down. We haven’t committed a crime; the data are terrible at best. But still they have removed our constitutional rights, taken away our freedoms, and created mass hysteria — where people are spying on one another for the government, are living in such fear, and aren’t saying anything because they are afraid of public shaming if they disagree with the government.

False security:

Benjamin Franklin said, Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety! We, as a state and a nation, have given up more than we know, in the name of being safe. Not only that, you can’t rely on anything they say, because it changes so much.

Look to the heavens:

I believe it’s a time when we look to the heavens: that’s where our help comes from (Psalm 121:2). Seek God, repent, turn from our sinful ways, and follow Him. I believe it is time to speak up, speak out, and let the powers that be, know we won’t put up with this much longer.

The freedoms we freely give up, will be the freedoms we will never get back.

Just a thought,

PSS

Truth frees:

The truth is what sets us free — only the truth. When we speak of the truth, we are talking about the word of God. Truth exposes the lies and deception of this world. The world doesn’t want absolute truth. They want truth that constantly changes with the whims of man’s fancy.

The culture:

The culture is constantly changing. What is acceptable today wasn’t acceptable yesterday. This is the very reason our cities, states, and people are so messed up. Sin always destroys — it never produces a good result. The reason society is so messed up is that society as a whole has moved farther and farther away from God. There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death (Proverbs 14:12).

God’s ways:

We must cling to the word of God, and seek God each and every day — so we don’t get caught up in the deception of the world. Only God can help mankind — only if we repent and come back to Him, His ways, His teachings, and be doers of them.

Let’s all pray that God opens the eyes of our understanding so that we will know and recognize the truth and never walk in deception.

Just a thought,

PSS

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16 NLT).

Your testimony:

The word translated “good” in this verse means attractive and pleasing, rather than good in the moral sense. Of course, our deeds should be moral as well, but the emphasis here is on our works that help other people, that present the Christian life as attractive and pleasing to others. When you let your light shine, people will see your good deeds. The testimony of your life should match the testimony of your lips. That is what Legacy Church is doing. We are letting our good deeds shine out for all to see in this very difficult time.

These times:

This is a time, as we really seek the Lord, that He will speak to us and guide our paths. C.S. Lewis said, “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Sowing and reaping:

God will not be mocked: whatsoever a man sows, that and that only will he reap. In other words, the world has sewn bad seed — murdered millions of babies, and adopted and applauded immoral behavior. At some point, there will be repercussions for such behavior. We may be experiencing a little of it now.

So, I believe God will speak to us through our fear and pain of what is happening with this coronavirus. And as He speaks, we will continue to let our light shine to the lost world by doing good deeds — so our heavenly Father will be glorified.

Just a thought,

PSS

We definitely live in difficult times. The Bible calls these days perilous times. The word perilous means hurtful, dangerous, unpredictable, uncontrollable, and high-risk periods of time will come.

The last days:

We are seeing we are in the last of the last days, right now! (2 Timothy 3:1). We are living out the Scriptures. We are living in a moment when no one really has any answers. There is no one to ask because in our recent history we have never experienced what we are experiencing in our world today.

No fear:

So, what do we do? Firstly, don’t panic: God has not been caught off guard. He knew this was going to happen. He knew that there would be tremendous amounts of fearmongering and overreacting, as people tend to do. Secondly, don’t be afraid: don’t live in fear, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. We are not to live in fear. We do need to use wisdom, but never fear.

The word:

We do not ever lay aside the word of God for any man, any government. It’s the word of God that lasts forever. The world doesn’t have the answers — they don’t offer any hope to the lost or hurting. Let’s seek God like never before. Let’s take what the enemy means for evil, and use it to do good. Let’s share our faith with others like never before. Let’s be the Church, and lead in these perilous times we live in.

It’s all a choice. I pray we choose life.

Just a thought,

PSS

Change:

Nothing changes if nothing changes. What are some of the changes that you will need to make, habits you will need to break, thinking that you will need to change, to follow God and accomplish your goals?

In-law or outlaw:

Separate means cause to move or be apart. There is always a season when children separate from mom and dad. It’s for their good and health and well-being going forward in life.

We even need to separate from our parents if we are going to have a successful marriage. We can love our parents, honor them, but we must separate from them and cleave to our husband/wife. That means parents don’t get a say in our marriage unless we ask them. They don’t get to bad-mouth our spouse. If you are an in-law and you are interjecting yourself unannounced into your children’s marriage, then back off.

Health:

It’s healthy when kids separate from parents, just as it’s healthy for us when we separate ourselves from this world and its ways and philosophies — from the naysayers and the doubt peddlers. It’s all your choice.

Separate yourself from anything that is a distraction from serving God, and you will see it was well worth it.

Just a thought,

PSS

• Warren Wiersbe

Tough times:

Although we may experience tough times, disappointing moments, heartache, we still can have hope if we believe. These temporary detours of suffering will actually strengthen our commitment to Christ and our testimony for Him. You see, as believers, we all have an incredible future with Christ in heaven.

Hope deferred:

Don’t ever allow your hope to be deferred. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12). No one likes waiting. It feels good to get what we want. But when our expectations are delayed, we can experience disappointment, disillisionment, and loss of hope. Waiting can become such an affliction to some that it’s like a lingering sickness. Even though things are delayed, we need to stay in faith, trust, believe in the word God.

A better tomorrow:

Our hope in a better tomorrow because we are born-again, saved by the power of God, and realizing our future home with God is very real, will help us to keep going. No matter what you face, remember we have a hope that never perishes. It is a shot of adrenaline to our minds.

Let’s never lose this hope God gives us, and when our faith is being tested, remember it is only temporary — it’s God’s kingdom only that lasts forever.

Just a thought,

PSS

Evasion:

Charles Dickens said, “Procrastination is the thief of time; collar him.” Abraham Lincoln said, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” People do it all the time. In truth, we all are probably guilty of it from time to time. But it should not be our norm.

Postponement:

Thinking of the future as a future destination can cause us to remain stuck in who we are today. We think, Well, I’ll make changes in my life tomorrow. I’ll start eating healthily tomorrow. I’ll study more tomorrow. I’ll work harder tomorrow when I get that promotion. Don’t wait for tomorrow to become who God wants you to be today. We need to stop making everything in the future — from I will start working out next week and get in shape to I will begin today getting in shape.

Regret:

Procrastination has caused dreams to be unfulfilled, businesses to fail, relationships to end; because the things we know we should do, get done, are put off until it is too late. Then regret has a way of setting in. The opposite of procrastination is anticipation, dealing with beforehand. Let’s be people who get things done when they are supposed to get done. At work make sure we are meeting our deadlines. At home let’s begin today to be more caring and helpful.

If procrastination is an issue for you, ask God to help you, and begin to intentionally get things done.

Just a thought,

PSS

Fixed mindset:

Too many of us have a fixed mindset — I can’t do it. We hear this all the time from people. These words, I can’t do it, are part of a fixed mindset. A person with a fixed mindset spends their time documenting their intelligence instead of developing it. It’s the same way with talent. They believe that talent alone creates success without effort. So, a fixed-mindset believer is a person who believes that their intelligence and talents are fixed. They have a certain amount, and that is that.

Growth mindset:

A growth mindset or a success mindset is much different. A person with a success mindset believes their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching, learning, and persistence. A fixed mindset will say, I can’t do it. A person with a success mindset will say, I can’t do it yet. A success mindset believes anything is possible.

No limit:

All of us need help at times, but only a few of us want to be helped. That’s why the word of God teaches us that, All things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23b NKJV). A success mindset believes we can improve, get better, and do better if we are willing to learn and put forth effort. So, don’t limit yourselves; don’t buy into a fixed mindset.

Begin to believe and develop a success mindset. We really can learn anything and do anything, but it’s all based on what we believe.

Just a thought,

PSS

Multiple masters:

You cannot serve two masters: it’s impossible. Sin is a master that leads to death; God is a Master who leads to life. Every choice we make today is predicting, shaping, molding our future. So, we get to choose whom we are going to serve. We can serve money and sin, or serve God and purpose to be a doer of His word. The choice is there for the making.

Idolatry:

Idolatry is anything we put before God. For some, it’s relationships. They mean more to us than God does. We ignore God’s word in order to preserve a relationship. If we will choose God as our Master, the end result will be freedom from addictions, freedom from self or selfishness.

One Master:

Either God is Lord of all, or not Lord at all. It’s an all-or-nothing proposition with Him. But it’s our choice whom we will serve. As you go about your week, begin to think and process: Who is my master? What do I think about the most, spend a lot of money on? Am I serving some sort of addiction, or am I serving self?

It’s your choice, but you can have only one master — only one. Choose wisely.

Just a thought,

PSS

Disappointment is unavoidable:

They cried to You and were delivered; they trusted in, leaned on, and confidently relied on You, and were not ashamed or confounded or disappointed (Psalm 22:5 AMPC). Here is what we know: all of us will experience disappointment. Everyone does. It’s unavoidable, but how we deal with it is the key. So often people look for comfort and material blessings, but God is more concerned with our character development.

Training is painful:

Disappointment is the feeling of being unhappy because something that we hoped for or expected did not happen, or because someone or something was not as good as we expected. We hate testing and spiritual exercise that strengthens our faith, makes us stronger. God has no use for untamed followers, so He chooses to train us at times through tough, even painful, experiences. We may never fully understand God and His ways, so we must learn to hang in there, no matter what. It’s the process we must learn to embrace in order to better handle disappointment and discouragement.

God is working:

God is always working to help us, make us better. Our responsibility is to believe that. So, when disappointment comes, and it will, let’s continue to seek God, have a better attitude through it — knowing God is for us, not against us. Let’s begin to ask ourselves, How can I grow through this? What can I learn?

It’s our choice. Choose wisely which attitude you will cling to.

Just a thought,

PSS

Scholars say that in 11–16 of the 39 biblical parables, Jesus talks about money. Roughly 15% of His preaching concerned money.

A heart issue:

There are more than 2300 Bible verses on money, wealth, and possessions. Jesus spoke about money, not because He was obsessed with money, but because He knew that money was a heart issue, and that it is one of the most likely reasons not to truly follow Him or to give up on Him (Matthew 6:19-21). Money is essentially morally neutral and powerless. The devil uses money to seduce us, and that is when it can become powerful in a negative direction. He wants us to fall in love with it, so we will become a slave to money rather than becoming its master. The flip side is when we use money as it was intended to be used — as a tool to input into God’s kingdom — then it becomes a powerful instrument of good.

A spiritual condition:

The manner in which we think and behave with money reflects our spiritual condition. Jesus presents all of us with a clear choice in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Someone said it’s like chasing two rabbits at the same time: it cannot be done. Jesus knew that our relationship with God would be deeply impacted by our relationship with money. God wants nothing to come between Him and us.

A warning message:

Much of what God’s word says about money is a warning message. The Bible talks about money because God loves us, and He doesn’t want it to harm us. He wants to help us, but He wants to ensure He has our hearts. If we are worrying constantly about money, then it will be impossible to trust Him.

And if all we are doing is chasing after money, then it’s very doubtful that we are chasing after God, and trying to advance His kingdom.

Just a thought,

PSS

Political season:

The word “politics” comes from the Greek words “politika polis,” meaning affairs of the city — a citizen (politician) who has responsibilities to a city. It can also mean the act of living together in a city, state, country, or community. So, we should discuss these things. We are in a very political season. The president of the United States; house seats, both state and federal; and senate seats, both state and federal will all be decided this year — the future fate of our state and the future state of our country. So, I believe we must be involved by praying and voting.

The issues:

Some will say, None of the candidates has or possesses my values, so I’m going to sit this one out. I don’t believe God ever intended His people to sit anything out. I believe one way we can decide is to base it on the issues. We have the issues of the family, abortion, the rights of the unborn, economy. So, I think this could be a way for all of us to engage. But to do nothing doesn’t help shape policy.

Values voting:

We can influence policy and policy makers — from federal judges to supreme court nominees. These people have an impact on all of our lives. Here’s one more way to look at it: which candidate will allow us to live out our faith and not come against us or pass laws that limit our freedom of worship and expression? Maybe that will help us all to register and pray and vote. We can influence policy if we are willing to do our part.

I don’t believe God would say He sits out (Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority, except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God — Romans 13:1), then ask us to sit out and do nothing.

Just a thought,

PSS

Lifestyle:

Culture determines everything. Culture is a word for the way of life of groups of people, meaning the way they do things. For example, when you are walking into a library, you’re talking and laughing; but when you enter, what do you do? You get really quiet. Why? The culture of the library is to be quiet. Our cultural values and beliefs manifest themselves through our lifestyle — what we believe, how we act, what is permissible and what is not.

Fight:

The fight we fight is a cultural one when it comes to serving the Lord. He says in Isaiah 55:8-9, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. I believe God is talking about the cultural clash that we all must fight and win. It’s understanding that we may not have been raised to serve God and honor His word, that we all have thoughts and beliefs. But if we are ever going to serve God His way, we must deal with culture, and bring our cultural beliefs and ways of doing things in line with His ways.

Change:

This means God is working with us to constantly change our ways to His ways, which means it will take some thought and then the willingness to change. Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). We really need to learn and live on the culture Jesus sets forth. It’s the only way to true peace and growth.

So, let’s persevere with great expectation that God hears and answers our prayers.

Just a thought,

PSS

Unrestraint:

Proverbs 29:18 — Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelation of God), the people perish; but he who keeps the law (of God, which includes that of man) — blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he. Without a vision, the people are unrestrained; they run wild. There is nothing to keep us from doing our own things — casting off all restraint, and feeding and yielding to our flesh.

Purpose:

Vision gives us direction — a road map for our lives, purpose, and dreams. It’s more than a purpose: it’s what helps us fulfill our purpose. Our greatest purpose is to connect with God and learn His ways. Vision begins from a desire — the desire for something better, a better future. A vision for your life will keep you on the straight and narrow. So many lack vision because they are satisfied with where they are.

Future:

P.K. Bernard said, “A man without a vision is a man without a future. A man without a future will always return to his past.” Cleddie Keith said it this way, “A knife cuts because it has a narrow focus.” If you don’t have a vision for your life, begin today by saying, My vision is to know God and His word, and to please Him.

Be a doer of the word of God, then allow God to lead and direct your life. It’s always your choice. Choose life.

Just a thought,

PSS

Choose:

The choices we make are in our hands, nobody else’s. We get to choose what we do and don’t do. We get to choose whether or not we take care of our responsibilities. Some of us will be sad to see 2019 end, while others will be glad to start over in the new year. Either way, we all have choices to make.

Seek Him:

Serving God, honoring God and His word, should be a choice we all make — to be more dedicated to the things of God, to seek Him first (Matthew 6:33). He can make all the difference in our world. But again, your choice. God tells us to choose life, His word, His ways. Jesus said, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4 NKJV).

Persevere:

So, no matter how you view 2019, let’s purpose to seek God, be a doer of His word like never before, and put Him first in every area of our lives. I believe 2020 will be the year of perseverance. We need to persevere in seeking and serving God, and we will see Him move in our lives in a greater way than we have seen before.

So, as you reflect on 2019, look at and take note of the areas you have grown in; and, most of all, always be thankful and grateful to God.

Just a thought,

PSS

Holiday:

So many make Christmas about a day off work or about getting together with friends and family, giving and receiving gifts, sitting around eating turkey and all the fixings. None of these things are bad or wrong. But Christmas is so much more than all of these things.

Holy day:

Christmas is really about celebrating, acknowledging the birth of the Savior of the world, that God came to us as a little baby, grew up, and sacrificed Himself for every one of us. It’s really about God and the Lord Jesus. Without Jesus coming, none of us would be able to have a relationship with God — the God of the Bible, not a fictional god that someone has made up. There are so many fake religions in this world, but there is only one that is right and real.

The way:

Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6 KJV). That’s who He is — all man, all God, God with us. So, as we come to December 25, let it be about celebrating Jesus and what He did for all of us. He was willing to lay down His glory and come down to earth to save anyone who chooses to believe in Him.

Let’s really celebrate His birth, life, death, and resurrection. Let your family know, let your children know that the real reason for Christmas is Jesus and what He did for us.

Just a thought & Merry Christmas,

PSS

An elusive dream: 

We all want peace — peace in the world, peace in our lives, and peace in our relationships — and we will do just about anything to get it. And while peace is our greatest hope, it’s really an elusive dream. We catch glimpses of it, but as soon as we do, it’s gone. We seek world peace — it will never happen. We live in a fallen world: 5,500 years of recorded human history and only 290 years without war. People tend to seek peace where it cannot be found, and if it is, it is only temporary.

God’s peace:

The peace that can be attained in us, in our hearts and minds, is described in 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 are told God’s peace will keep our hearts and minds. This is the place where true peace can be found. “Heart” is referring to our emotions, “mind” is referring to our thinking. Worry is wrong feeling and wrong thinking. The word “keep” means to stand guard over.

Everlasting peace:

If we want a peace that is not temporary, we will need to make Jesus, the Prince of Peace, our Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10). Then His word, as we know it, will stand guard over our hearts, minds, emotions, and thinking, and give us peace. Peace is hope and calm in the heart and mind, despite the fact that we may be experiencing difficult things in our lives. Hurtful things, experiencing setbacks, God can and will provide us peace that keeps us going, serving Him, and possessing a peace that passes all of our understanding.

If you want the Prince of Peace, call on His name today and pray and ask Him to come into your heart and save you.

Just a thought,

PSS

No regard:

A scoffer is someone who laughs, mocks, and speaks about a person or idea in a way that shows that he thinks that person or idea is stupid or silly — a person who has contempt for something. Here are people who have no regard for the word of God or the things of God. They hate God and His ways.

Evil speaking:

We see it all the time when people ignore the word of God for their own desires, when they speak evil of God, when they say things like, Can’t we just change the Bible? or, The Bible isn’t for today, or, God understands why we don’t do what He commands. These types of people we are to stay away from. We need to stay away from, and not listen to, those who discredit or ridicule the word of God.

Friendship with the world:

Our friends, family members, associates can have a profound influence on us, often in very subtle ways. If we insist on friendships with those who mock what God considers important, we might sin by becoming indifferent to God’s will. This attitude is the same as scoffing, mocking. It’s your choice!

We may need to do an inventory of our relationships and whom we allow to have influence on, or speak into, our lives. When we do, we should distance ourselves from the scoffers so we can experience the joy of serving and obeying God’s word.

Just a thought,

PSS

The sacrifice:

A sacrifice is not really a sacrifice unless something means a lot to us — unless we really want to do something. It’s something we give up for someone or something else. If it doesn’t mean anything to us, it’s not really a sacrifice at all.

He paid it all:

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20 NLT). Following Jesus will not always be easy or comfortable. It will often require great sacrifice of what we want, and doing what God’s word teaches. Following Christ, to do what He asks, may cost us popularity, friendship, leisure time, or convenience.

Pay the price:

The price of following Christ is saying and doing, Not my will, but let His will be done. It is our choice! Too many of us believe we can follow Christ, and do whatever we want. We follow Christ, and do what He requires us to do. It is our choice. Whatever we are unwilling to let go of may be the very thing that costs us our eternal salvation.

Being a disciple of Christ may not always be easy, but it will always be worth it. Again, it is our choice.

Just a thought,

PSS

Gratitude:

Gratitude is a virtue because we must choose to celebrate rather than to resent. When we are grateful (gratefulness and gratitude mean the same thing), it is almost impossible to be hateful, angry, and fearful. We should all strive to be more grateful. So many people today are full of hate and bitterness because they feel left out, uncared for; they may even feel as if God doesn’t really care for them.

Comparison: 

I believe a lot of dissatisfaction comes from people comparing themselves to others. When we do this, we will begin to believe that we are being left out, that others have more, are better off than we are. Comparing ourselves to others, I believe, is one of most destructive things we can do.

Thankfulness:

What we need to practice is being thankful for what we do have, being grateful for what we do possess. For some, this will take practice, something we need to do daily. We must retrain our thinking to not meditate on what we do not have, but learn to be thankful for what we do have.

Gratefulness leads to peace and joy, while being unthankful leads to anger and resentment. You always get to choose!

Just a thought,

PSS

Immediate:

We need to repent quickly and forgive quickly. If we can do that, we will always be in good relationship with God. Forgiveness is key to our walk with God. Unforgiveness, after being forgiven by God, is having an ungrateful attitude for the forgiveness shown by God.

Prerequisite:

Forgiveness of others is commanded by God as a prerequisite to receiving His forgiveness for ourselves (Matthew 6:14-15 NLT). If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. We cannot be forgiven if we choose to be unforgiving.

Chosen:

Forgiving helps us physically and spiritually, as well as mentally. Forgiveness is a choice we make each day. We must learn, practice forgiveness. If God can forgive us, we can forgive others. If we don’t, it is as if we are drinking poison and expecting someone else to die from it. Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling. When we forgive, we just don’t want vengeance, or we won’t allow resentment or bitterness in our hearts and minds.

Forgiving others their debts, trespasses is so important because if we don’t, God cannot forgive our debts, trespasses. So, let’s practice forgiving when others hurt us or say bad things to us. It frees us from the past and allows us to move on to our future.

Just a thought,

PSS

Temptations vs Trials:

Now temptations are different from trials or troubles. Temptations come from the inside, while trials come from the outside. The Bible teaches that temptations don’t come from God but from the evil desires that dwell in our hearts and minds. But trials come to us from circumstances, sometimes beyond our control.

Opportunities:

We will all have trials — no one is immune to trials or troubles in life. But how we see them is of vital importance. The Bible teaches we should see them as opportunities to grow and mature as a Christian and as a person.

Catalysts:

Trials will let us know what we are all about, what we really believe. They can tell us what our weak spots are and what our strengths are.

Some think when we face hardships of any kind it’s because God doesn’t care or doesn’t love us. Nothing could be further from the truth. I don’t believe God causes hardships, but if we honor Him and keep His word, they can cause us to become stronger, better in life.

Next time you find yourself in a trial, stay true to God, and look for the solutions and learn from them. See James 1:2-4, 13-14.

Just a thought,

PSS

Inadequacy:

Jealousy is deceitful, causes us to believe things that aren’t true and to want what someone else has. It promotes feelings that somehow we are less than somebody else, or someone else has it better, possesses more, or is better looking/prettier than we are. Jealousy makes us feel inadequate; it makes us want what someone else has. Envy is when we want someone to lose what they have so we can have it.

Wholeness:

The point is, we should not allow feelings of jealousy in our lives. We combat these feelings by learning who we are in Christ, learning and understanding what God’s word says about us. God created us to be whole, and He has a plan for all of us. Sure, some people have it better than we do, have more than we have, are better looking than we are. But that should never cause us to think less of ourselves.

Purpose:

If we ever began to understand that God created us, we would not allow ourselves to ever feel jealous. In fact, jealousy is the cause of so many crimes. It’s unhealthy feelings. The truth is, God created us to serve Him. That is His purpose for every one of us. If we seek Him and remain thankful and grateful to Him, we will walk in compassion and not be concerned with what others look like or have.

So, let’s continue to be grateful to God for who He is and all He has done.

Just a thought,

PSS

Self-focus:

It is no wonder that God detests pride and opposes the proud. It is pride that leads man to believe he can live without God. God wants us to stay close to Him and far from sin. Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall (Proverbs 16:18 NLT). Pride is when we are self-willed, not God-willed. It makes us focus on ourselves instead of on God.

Poison:

Pride makes you small. But He gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble (James 4:6 NLT). Pride is a poison to the mind, soul, and heart of man. It ruins everything it touches. It actually believes it knows better than God.

Humility:

So, what must we do? We must all humble ourselves, recognizing that God knows best, that His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Pride goes before destruction; it goes before damage, something that cannot be repaired. Haughtiness is when someone thinks they are better than someone else — they become arrogant — this comes before the fall, ruin, failure.

So, let’s all make sure we keep a humble (teachable) heart and mind, and be doers of God’s word in every area of our lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

Perceive:

If we see problems or setbacks only as opportunities for failures, then we are looking at them in the wrong light. Everyone has them, but how we view them will determine the outcome. When faced with a problem, see it as an opportunity to grow and develop, to become stronger and better equipped for tomorrow. Even though some issues we face are hurtful and scary at times, they are, nonetheless, opportunities.

Assess:

The next time you face a problematic situation, step back and assess it. Begin to find solutions, or see the bigger picture. Think, I can either let this sideline me, or I can pick myself up and believe that this will work out for my good. That is how you deal with it in a productive and an honorable way.

Overcome:

Do not allow yourself to become hurt, or retaliate; but, instead, learn to rise above your feelings, and do the right thing. Doing this will introduce healing, or maybe reveal an answer. Problems can be opportunities for growth. They can develop our character and enable us to be successful.

How you view difficulties, and deal with them, will determine whether the situation makes you stronger and wiser, or resentful and bitter. It is your call.

Just a thought,

PSS

If you are the type of person who gives up, quits when things get too difficult or hard; know this: just because you quit it does not mean that the issues go away or that you will not have any more problems in that area.

Solving issues vs quitting on them:

We need to understand that avoiding something does not mean it goes away. So dealing with learning to walk through issues is the only way to really get rid of problems. Solving them, not quitting on them, makes them go away. Everyone faces challenges; most at times want to throw in the towel. But there are those who never quit or throw in the towel. They look at their circumstance and believe there is a solution or a way to settle or deal with the issue.

Stay committed:

People must stay committed to working through the issue or resolving the problem because, for the most part, issues don’t ever go away. Some things resolve themselves, but not all do. So we must commit ourselves to dealing with the problem — resolving the problem, the hardship — until it is settled. It takes courage and commitment to do it.

Be courageous; be of good cheer — for we know our heavenly Father will never leave us nor forsake us.

Just a thought,

PSS

In this world that is so full of temptation, which is literally right at our fingertips, it’s tough to stay focused on God and His word.

Compartmentalization:

As well, it is very easy to separate who I am at work and who I am in other areas — act one way at church, another at work, etc. To compartmentalize our lives, is becoming easier and easier in this post-truth world, or you could say post-Christian world. (This means the loss of the Christian worldview in political affairs — especially in the Western world, where Christianity had previously flourished. Today, worldviews such as secularism and nationalism are flourishing.)

Promotion:

What we all need to see and learn is that it doesn’t matter who our boss is, who those over us are. Do we like them or not? What matters is who God is, and am I living life the way He has asked me to? True promotion comes from Him.

Honor:

If we purpose to honor Him, put Him first, live the way the word of God instructs us to live, then God will bless our lives. 1 Samuel 2:30b (TLB) — I will honor only those who honor me, and I will despise those who despise me. God honors only those who honor Him. How do we honor Him? By keeping His word, aligning ourselves with His ways.

So, no matter what circumstance you find yourself in, choose to put God first, and He will help you.

Just a thought,

PSS

On the sidelines:

Converts are new believers. We all begin as converts. Way too often, most stop there. We make Christianity about what we believe, becoming a convert in the beginning of our walk with God. A convert may cheer Jesus from the sidelines; but a disciple is someone who grows, develops, and truly follows Christ.

In the center:

Disciples are the ones who get involved at church, instead of just showing up. They deal with certain bad relationships in their lives, and repent of their sins. True disciples serve, give their tithes and offerings, bring people to church. It’s about Jesus becoming the center of their life. They purpose to learn the word of God and do it. A disciple is salt and light to a lost world.

Good enough:

A convert is one who sits back and thinks just showing up is good enough, one who constantly makes excuses why they don’t give, why they don’t serve. A convert really does not have God’s heart for the lost. Most of the people who attend church today just show up and don’t really contribute. They come, maybe tip God, and don’t serve.

A disciple is one who purposes to follow Jesus and do what He says. They have a heart for the lost, and will share their faith with others. They take ownership in the kingdom of God.

So which one are you, a convert or a disciple? It’s your choice.

Just a thought,

PSS

We must choose to please God over pleasing people.

It’s a fear of disapproval:

In some ways, pleasing people is driving our culture. We must learn to please God. In fact, there is only one we must please, and that is God. A people pleaser attempts to make everyone happy. God cannot please everyone, and I believe we are foolish to think we can. A people pleaser has a fear of disapproval; this affects everything in our lives — what we eat, what we wear, what we do, how we talk.

It’s an addiction:

People pleasers don’t know how to say no. It’s an addiction to approval. We just simply want to be liked and accepted. We don’t want to be left out or rejected, so we attempt to please the people around us. If we are like this, we will miss God, and always feel disappointed in ourselves. I believe because of social media it is a real dilemma in our country.

It’s a stronghold:

Now, there is nothing wrong with wanting to please your parents, wife, husband. Nothing wrong with wanting to be liked, loved, and approved of by your friends, co-workers, family, or neighbors. (The truth is, if you are only concerned about yourself, you are a narcissist or a sociopath.) So, even though we want to be liked or loved, accepted, it becomes a stronghold when it is an obsession — when it dominates us. When we are too afraid of being rejected, we will do anything to avoid that happening.

Put God first:

People pleasers have no boundaries. People who are healthy do. We must break this stronghold in our lives by putting God first. When God is first, people have less influence over us. When people are first, God has less influence in our lives.

So, we get to choose to be a people pleaser or a God pleaser. God pleasers are blessed. They have real purpose for their lives.

I Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

Proverbs 29:25 (MSG)

The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.

You decide!

Just a thought,

PSS

Being kept down:

Regret is a negative cognitive/emotional state that involves blaming ourselves for a bad outcome, feeling a sense of loss or sorrow at what might have been, or wishing we could undo a previous choice that we have made. It constantly works to keep us down or feeling bad about ourselves. It is an enemy of our souls. It will work only to destroy us, tear us down.

Looking back:

Hindsight is 20/20. As we look back at our lives, we regret some decisions, choices we made. But there are no do-overs. We don’t get to go back and do something over again. So, it begs the question, Why do so many live in the past instead of moving forward into the future? Yes, we can all learn from our mistakes so that we don’t repeat them; but to dwell on the past, is a future-life killer. It will rob us of a better today and future.

Overcoming:

So, I believe everyone with a conscience will have to deal with regret. But we can overcome it, defeat it in our lives if we recognize the power of God through the sacrifice of Jesus who paid the price for our sins, our failures, our mistakes. We need to learn to dwell on what He did instead of dwelling on yesterday. How can we move forward if we are always regretting and looking backward?

Let’s purpose to believe in the power of God and the sacrifice of Jesus instead of being in regret.

Just a thought,

PSS

So many Christians believe God is here to fulfill their dreams and make them happy.

All in:

When we think that way, we will miss the truth about our salvation. In fact, God came into our lives to fulfill His will, His desires. God gave us eternal life and freedom from sin. In return, He expects total devotion, total loyalty, total commitment, and total obedience.

Self-denied:

Many believe that God’s only role is to give them what they want — that serving Him means that He wants only for them to be happy. The truth, however, is that this is God’s story to be told — His will to be done. It’s really about His will, not ours; but God requires serious obedience. Therefore, in order to be a devoted Christian, we must learn to deny ourselves.

Fulfilled:

Our walk with God is not about our convenience; it’s all about self-denial. Remember what Jesus said in the garden, “Not My will, but Your will be done.” When God’s will is done in our lives, then we will be fulfilled — not the other way around. Total devotion to God means keeping His commandments (His word).

When we are fully devoted, it’s all about putting God first.

Just a thought,

PSS

Power:

Endure means suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently. Endurance is the power to withstand something challenging. If you run a marathon, you will need lots of endurance to run the more than 26 miles. In other words, for any of us to truly walk with God, serve Him, become successful in life, we must learn and cultivate endurance.

Perseverance:

The apostle Paul said we must endure hardship as a good soldier (2 Timothy 2:3). In other words, we must serve God and never quit or give up. Too many dreams are lost because someone gave up too quickly. They gave up because they became tired, or maybe felt overwhelmed in life, not seeing the progress they thought should be happening. We quit way too often. People quit just because it’s hard or is taking too long.

Persistence:

We should learn to endure. Jesus said those who endure to the end will be saved (Matthew 10:22). Endurance is a quality we all must possess in order to serve God. To be successful, we all must learn to handle the hardships, the setbacks in life. We will all face them. But how will you face them? By quitting or giving up? Or by continually pressing forward, realizing you aren’t alone?

God is with us and for us.

Just a thought,

PSS

The blame game:

Blaming others will not help you — it will only hurt you, leave you stuck in life. It won’t allow you to move forward. Complaining all the time will do the same, along with causing you to be miserable. Complaining never resolved anything. This is all some people do — see only the bad and never the good. If you are a complainer, it will hinder your growth in every area of your life.

MYOB:

The Bible teaches us to study to be quiet (1 Thessalonians 4:11). Don’t worry so much about what others do. Concentrate on what you are supposed to be doing.

Own it:

Accepting personal responsibility means taking ownership of your own behavior and the consequences of that behavior. Until we all learn to accept responsibility for our actions and failures, it will be very difficult for us to develop self-respect or even to have the respect of others. We all make mistakes and poor choices. The same goes for when we fail to act when we know we should. There are times when we look the other way when we know the right thing to do is to take helpful action.

So, we all must let go of things that have happened to us in the past and not use them as an excuse for bad behavior. God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (Ephesians 3:20).

Just a thought,

PSS

Release:

There is such a releasing power found within forgiving and being forgiven. All of us make mistakes, no matter how hard we try. As we grow and develop, we’ll make fewer and fewer of them, and so will others. The ability to pardon and release others, from the wrongs and injustices done to us, is an attitude that we must develop not for them, but for our own well-being. If we don’t, we’ll harbor hate and contempt in our hearts, and that will lead to more pain.

Freedom:

On the other hand, if we’re sincerely sorry, being forgiven frees us from the guilt and shame of doing wrong and hurtful things to others. Forgiveness isn’t just about pardoning others, but ourselves as well. So, no matter what goes on in our lives, let’s purpose to be forgiving people. Let’s learn to let go and walk in an attitude that helps us, not hurts us.

Remember: unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die.

Just a thought,

PSS

Security:

Secure persons know who they are and aren’t threatened by the brilliance and growth of other people. They are comfortable with their place in the world, but are still ambitious. They strive towards their goals, while refusing to drag those around them down.

Uncertainty:

Insecurity refers to not feeling sure about ourselves, who we are, or what we believe in. An insecure person is a vulnerable person who is easily shaped by the views, opinions, and ideas of others because they’re uncertain of their own values. They’re unwilling to question the ideas of others or stand up for themselves.

Sound thinking:

We can now see the symptoms of insecurity, and can now begin to deal with it. Why is it so important? We don’t want to live and make decisions based on our insecurities, or what others are saying or doing, but based on sound thinking.

Be of sound mind.

Just a thought,

PSS

Trust God:

Obeying God’s word is of utmost importance. If we choose not to obey, it means we really don’t think much of God. To be able to obey God’s word, we must trust Him. Proverbs 3 teaches us how to trust God so we can be obedient. Verse 5 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Because God’s ways, thoughts, are higher than our thoughts, we must learn to trust, even though we don’t understand.

Only believe:

Do we obey or do we disobey? A lot of the time this question can be answered the same way: Do I have to fully understand to obey? The answer is no. We do have to believe and trust that God’s word is true, and God cannot ever lie. Trust takes place when we don’t fully understand.

Choose this day:

Obedience happens when we believe the Bible is the infallible word of God. We can obey it, even when we don’t quite understand why, because we have decided it is the word of God! We must all settle this in our hearts and minds. To be undecided will lead to disobedience, not trusting that what God says in His word is true. The way to remedy this is to purpose to do the word regardless of whether we fully understand it.

Be a doer of the word and not a hearer only.

Just a thought,

PSS

There is a difference between forgiveness and repentance.

Seeking forgiveness:

Forgiveness is what most people seek. God forgives us of our sins, the things we do wrong. We forgive others when we feel, believe, they have wronged us. Most people believe God forgives them. But when He forgives us, then what? We need to then repent of our sins. We need to let God know we are willing to change our ways to His ways.

Repenting:

So many will say God has forgiven me, which is true. But have you repented for what He has forgiven you? If you look at a lot of Christians, you will discover very few who are purposing to walk in the Spirit, be a doer of the word, be a true follower.

Being grateful:

See, repentance is what causes us to be grateful. We realize that God truly loves us and wants what is best for us. We’ve recognized His grace and mercy to forgive us when we didn’t deserve forgiveness. And in our gratefulness, we repent — change our minds, change our ways to God’s ways. How do we know God’s ways? By reading and learning God’s word.

When we truly repent, we will be grateful to God for all He has done, which will cause us to follow Him in every area of our lives.

Just a thought,

PSS

Negotiation:

Too many Christians compromise the word of God in their lives. The word of God is never up for negotiation. Compromise can be beneficial when it promotes cooperation without sacrificing moral values, the standard of the Bible. When you begin to take a wrong step in a direction that you know is unwise, it can lead to compromise.

The highest way:

Compromise is defined as an agreement or settlement of dispute that is reached by each side making concessions. It also means to accept standards that are lower than desirable. In other words, when you compromise the word of God to do something you want, you are accepting standards that are lower. God’s ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher, better than our thoughts. God’s ways are always the best ways.

Regret:

Compromising beliefs has caused so much pain for people. It causes regret. Regret is awful! If you have found yourself compromising the word of God for someone or something, repent quickly and purpose to get it right. Change your ways immediately. Then you will see God’s blessing, His help in your life and family.

Some things are negotiable, but never is the word of God. Believe it and act on it (Hebrews 12:10-13).

Just a thought,

PSS

Contention:

So many people are combative (marked by eagerness to fight or contend). We should work towards not being that way. The combative mentality is one of feeling one has been dealt a bad hand in the game of life. The person feels as if someone is always picking on them or being unfair. They feel as if they have to fight to be heard. They want their way so badly that they are contentious with everyone around them. We should learn to live at peace with others as much as possible, and avoid unnecessary fights.

Insecurity:

Sometimes this attitude stems from our own insecurities, such as feeling a need to be validated. Let’s face it: fighting with others isn’t much fun at all. The opposite is learning to let some things go and not be so combative just for the sake of being combative. I don’t believe we want to be known as “the difficult one.” I’ve had employees whom I dreaded having to talk to, or correct. They wouldn’t listen; they always had an excuse, and were “always right.” Every time I had to deal with them, I knew it would be a big deal. After a while, these folks didn’t make it. They always blamed someone else. Let’s try not to be like that.

Take correction and listen to what others have to say (especially your boss or spiritual leader), and let’s learn to honor those in authority over us.

Just a thought,

PSS

There are certain virtues we should all purpose to develop in our lives.

Fortitude:

Virtues are behaviors, traits, qualities that if developed, will help us to live for God. One such behavior is fortitude. We don’t hear this word much, but it means a strength or firmness of mind, courage of soul which enables a person to encounter danger with coolness, bearing pain or adversity without murmuring, depression, or despondency. When someone has fortitude, it means that they have emotional power or reserves and the ability to withstand adversity.

Perseverance:

Fortitude is different from perseverance. Perseverance is continuing in a course of action without regard to discouragement, opposition, or previous failure; while fortitude is mental or emotional strength that enables courage in the face of adversity. This virtue developed becomes our habit that we can rely on to make our lives work — a life that works, a life that functions well.

Tenacity:

Fortitude can mean courage, bravery, valor, heroism. It can also mean endurance, tenacity. It is the ability to stay with a task in the midst of every conceivable discouragement and setback. When we develop this virtue, fortitude, it will cause us to serve God regardless of our circumstances — to not allow ourselves to become so discouraged we shrink back or turn away from God (Hebrews 10:38). God takes no pleasure in anyone who turns away.

So, let’s be people with the habit of expressing fortitude, and continue serving our Lord Jesus. It’s the willing and obedient who will eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19).

Just a thought,

PSS

Be a doer of the word:

One might say, Doing the word of God is too hard. The truth is, God wouldn’t tell us to do something if we couldn’t do it. What makes it hard is at times we don’t want to do certain things the Bible says we should do. The Bible teaches: We can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. To be a true follower of Christ, we must learn and then practice scripture.

I’m-OK deception:

So many want God to do something while they sit back and do nothing. It doesn’t work that way. God gave us His word (Bible) to practice it, to do it. It’s the doers of the word who are blessed. Those who hear it and do it are blessed. Those who hear it and don’t do it are deceived. Too many think they can ignore God, do what they think is right, and be OK. The truth is, you’re not OK. It’s called disobedience. It’s the willing-to-obey crowd that is blessed (Isa. 1:19).

Father knows best:

We all must learn God’s word is not up for negotiation. God knows what is best for His creation. His ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts. This is the truth. This is what we all must learn in order to serve Him. Once we do, we will find we do have the strength to overcome and get through any situation we may face in life.

God wants to help us, but we must do things His way. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Just a thought,

PSS

The Bible teaches: Where there is strife, there is every evil work (James 3:16).

Beginning:

It is so easy for us to be drawn into wrong desires by the pressures and lies of even well-meaning Christians. Strife is defined as: angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict. If you allow strife into your lives, the works of the flesh will begin to be manifested in your lives.

Middle:

You will be against something more than you are for something. Jealousy, envy will be at work in your life that will cause the Holy Spirit to be grieved in your life. So, we can’t allow strife into our lives. Don’t allow anyone to destroy your joy and peace because they have an issue with something or someone.

End:

Life is way too short to allow strife into your life. Cut it off, whatever the source of it is. I won’t allow strife into my life at all because it is so destructive it ruins people. It leads to gossip, slander of someone or something. When strife begins to work in you, stop it. Say, No I’m not going to listen to whatever people are saying. And if you do, go and find out the other side. Strife cannot survive truth. Strife wants to hide in the dark. Bring whatever the issue is into the light, and allow truth to set you free.

Strife will only hurt your life — don’t allow it ever!

Just a thought,

PSS

Daniel 6:3 (KJ21) — Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Frenemies:

Excellent is defined as: extremely good, outstanding, extraordinary, pre-eminent. When you begin to excel, you will find that people, coworkers, may look for ways to hold you back and tear you down. How should you deal with those who cheer at your failure and even try to cause it to happen?

Holiness:

Conduct your life above reproach. That doesn’t mean perfectly — it simply means you will have nothing to hide. You work hard and produce. You purpose to live a life that would be hard to criticize. You may get criticized for your faith, but not because of the way you act or work. Learn to walk and live according to the word of God — in holiness, living a moral and pure life, serving the Lord in a way that pleases Him, separating yourself for His service.

Purpose:

An excellent spirit is purposing to live a life honoring God, purposing to do things right, not the good-enough attitude. You work hard and purpose to be outstanding or extremely good. It’s becoming more and more difficult to find people who possess an excellent spirit about them. But we can all strive to be better, do better, and live better.

Let’s live a life with excellence.

Just a thought,

PSS

Must-haves:

Jesus said, If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else — your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26). Jesus is teaching His ways, His word. Pleasing Him must be the number one priority in our lives, over everything else. If not, we cannot be His disciple.

Self-will:

In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus speaks of those who do what they want, what they think is best, instead of what He wants them to do, what He says is best. They are self-willed instead of God-willed. We must learn to be obedient to God’s ways, His word. That is what He desires. So many miss out on His blessings, His help, because they do what they think is best, instead of what He asks. It’s so sad to me to watch this.

God-will:

If we would simply learn it’s not what we want, it is what He wills, we would all be living the abundant life Jesus came to give us. In order to affect the lost, see them saved, we must let them see us becoming successful, living victorious lives. They are watching how we handle setbacks in our lives.

If you really want the blessings of God, do what He asks (John 14:21).

Just a thought,

PSS

How do you see God? How do you honor and please God? These are questions all of us should ask ourselves from time to time.

A designer god:

Do you really believe? Or, do you wear God like a sticker, a patch, or a designer shirt? Do you believe when it’s convenient, or do you purpose to please Him in all of your ways, especially when it’s hard?

The real deal:

With God, you can’t compartmentalize your walk with Him. You can’t act one way at church and act another way at home, or at work, or out socializing with friends. Too often, when people are caught doing wrong, they are quick to say, “Yeah, but I’m a Christian. I believe in God.”

Getting to know God:

If you are truly right with God (as in, saved or born again), then you will have a real desire to get to know Him. You will want to please Him. You will want to learn His ways and follow His teachings. You won’t be living two separate ways, but you will be consistently living according to God’s word, wherever you go. Your walk will match your talk.

God will no longer be a patch you wear. Instead, you will purpose to serve and please Him in everything you do.

Just a thought,

PSS

So many people know about God, but not as many know God. There is a big difference.

Knowing about:

I know some things about Michael Jordan, but I don’t know him. I have never met him, talked to him, hung out with him. I can give you a few facts about him: he played basketball, one of the greatest (arguably the greatest) to ever play the game. But it doesn’t mean I know him. That’s how too many people are with God. They know some things about Him, but they don’t really know Him.

Knowing Him:

Once we get born again, saved, we should begin to pursue God, and really get to know Him. Too many believe the ultimate goal is to get saved. That is just the beginning of our relationship with God. The ultimate goal should be to know Him. How do we do that? One way is by doing His word, reading His word and then acting on it. You can’t get to know God outside of knowing His word. We need to get to know Him as our healer, as our provider. We do that by reading what He says about those things.

The ultimate goal:

Getting to know Him is our ultimate goal. Philippians 3:8 NLT — Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. Knowing Christ is the greatest accomplishment in any of our lives. It’s what will cause us to live an abundant, everlasting life. Jesus says in John 17:3, And this is the way to have eternal life — to know you, the only true God.

It’s our call what we seek. If we seek to know God, we will experience abundant, everlasting, eternal, life.

Just a thought,

PSS