Do you have your priorities straight – Jesus first?

May4

Question: How do I know if I’m keeping Jesus first in my life?

Answer: It’s very important that Believers remember to put Jesus Christ first in their lives! Start by praying for God’s Holy Spirit to help you. Pray that as you go about your day you will be mindful of the things you do and say. Ask yourself if your words and actions are reflecting the love and teachings of God’s Word.

To know what God has to say to us, Believers should regularly read and study God’s Word — the Bible. It says we are to, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)

In doing so, we learn so many important things. For example, we learn about how God wants us to live our lives to please Him. We learn about the gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Read John 3:16). Plus, we learn about the many wonderful promises God has made to us if we obey His Word (Read Jeremiah 29:11). We also learn of the deadly consequences we face if we are disobedient to Him and don’t turn from our sins and accept Jesus as our Savior.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

God also understands how difficult our enemy, Satan, tries to make our lives. Satan definitely does not want us to put Jesus first. In fact, he’s a thief who wants to rob us of our faith. One way he may try to do this is by making us doubt God loves us. Or he makes us think God is no longer around to help us. Satan makes us have these feelings when we have to deal with hard issues like sickness, money problems, relationship troubles, or crime.

But remember not to believe Satan’s lies! “The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Also, remember that God said, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

So, know that there will be times when you find yourself facing difficult situations. You will face social pressures, rejection, or even retaliation for choosing to reject sin and instead follow the teachings of God. When this happens, don’t be afraid or discouraged — stand strong for the Lord! Pray for God’s Holy Spirit to help you through these challenging times. Live your life to please the Lord.

Keep Jesus first!

What excuses are you making to God today?

Apr5

Question: How do I do a better job of living my life for God?

Answer: The first step to living our lives to please God is to understand that we are all sinners. We can’t enter Heaven in our sin, so we need a Savior to take away our sin. Because God loves us, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to be our one and only Lord and Savior. (Read John 3:16) God gave His Son to die on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sins. Jesus rose to life again three days after His death and lives with God in Heaven. When we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord, have asked Him to forgive us, and have repented, He cleanses us of our sins.

But know that Salvation only comes through Jesus Christ! “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4: 12 NKJV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new…. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (Read 1 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Once we are saved, the next step to living our lives for God is to know God’s words to us through the Holy Bible. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness….”

In knowing the importance of the Scriptures, we can understand why Believers must stay in God’s word. We can understand why we should regularly read and study the Bible. Through these Scriptures, we also learn of our need to pray regularly. We learn that we need to pray for God’s Holy Spirit to bless us, to guide us, to comfort and help us as we deal with life’s challenges.

A third important step in living to please God is to understand that living for God is not merely a suggestion. It’s also not something you apply to one area of your life but not to another. It’s not something you do just on Sundays. And it’s not something you make excuses not to do because of the unfair actions of others towards you.

You can’t tell God you are making decisions in your life that go against His word because you want to be accepted by those in the sinful culture. You can’t even blame your life choices on the fact that there are some hypocrites in the church.

God already knows about everything that’s going on in the world. He is still in control and will deal with all these things in His own time! He wants us as Believers to love and trust Him and to live according to His word. In part of what’s known as The Great Commission (See Matthew 28: 18-20), Jesus instructs His disciples to “make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” His word expresses His desire for how He wants us to live!

So, as you talk to God today through prayer, see to it that you are not making excuses for why you are not living to please Him! Instead, follow the instructions of Jesus and live your life according to God’s word. Ask His forgiveness and repent when you fall short. He loves you and will forgive you.

Show your love for Him by choosing to live your life to please God. No excuses!

(Re-posted from my June 2022 Blog Post.)

Do you know what God says about revenge?

Mar12

Question: Does God say anything about revenge?

Answer: Yes! God clearly says we should leave the revenge taking to Him! It’s not that God does not care about us. In fact, He loves us! He understands how we can be upset and want revenge when others mistreat or harm us or our loved ones. He is also grieved by the injustice, assaults, and murders that are committed by evildoers around the world. He understands why we would want these evil people to pay for their crimes.

Our Heavenly Father also knows that those committing these injustices are allowing themselves to be used to do the evil work of Satan. Jesus Christ told us that “The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” Jesus goes on to say, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)

Therefore, we know that Jesus wants the opposite of what Satan wants for our lives. Satan supports those who mistreat us and do evil. Jesus wants those of us who follow Him to be protected from the evil one and have an abundant life! He does not want us spending our time trying to figure out how to harm others who harm us. This would not be living abundantly.

God wants us to know that He is looking out for us. He will take care of bringing revenge against those who are doing evil against us. He tells us this many times in His word. For example, in Deuteronomy 32:35, God says to His people, “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.”

Also, in his letter to the Romans (Chapter 12:17-20) the Apostle Paul instructs the people about what God has to say concerning revenge, saying:

“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. ‘Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; If he thirsts, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.'”

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (v.21)

Also, Paul writes to the Ephesians, “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.”

Leave the revenge to God. He will take care of it for you!

Do you know which is the greatest commandment?

Feb10

Question: Which is the greatest commandment?

Answer: Jesus said: ”… you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There are no other commandments greater than these.” (Mark 12: 30-31 NKJV)

So, based on these commandments, how should Believers live to please Jesus? Start with asking yourself, “Do I truly love the LORD?” Usually, what we truly love, we prioritize in our lives. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”(John 14:15) Ask yourself, “Is it my priority to follow God’s word in every aspect of my life? Am I truly putting God first?”

If your answer is yes – and if you are a Believer, your answer should be yes – how are you showing your love for Jesus? For example, are you reading His word to know what He has to say to you? Throughout the Bible, from the beginning in Genesis to the end of Revelation, you learn what God has to say about how He wants us to live to please Him. Believers, remember that we are to, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV) This is what the Apostle Paul told Timothy to teach the people of his day, and studying God’s word is what we should do as well.

Also, are you seeking the help of God’s Holy Spirit to guide you in your daily decision-making? Or, do you make decisions based only on what pleases you- even if it goes against the directions of God and supports sin? If so, you need to repent of your sins, ask forgiveness, and do what God says is right.

The Apostle Paul warns the Galatians to, “…Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16 NKJV) Paul goes on to list examples of the works of the flesh versus the “fruit of the Spirit.” (Read Galatians 5:19-26)

And, what about loving your neighbor as yourself? Are you showing love to others like God would want you to? For example, do you look down on or dislike people who are a different race than you, or who are poor, or who are rich, or who have little education? If so, this is not showing love for one another. You need to repent and ask forgiveness of these sins.

You should seek ways you can show the love of Christ to others. For example, you could help out those in need and “…through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). In your dealings with others, remember to treat them with fairness, kindness, and respect. But, you should show others love without tolerating their sin. “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” (Romans12:9) And remember to pray for one another!

Even though we all fall short in showing the love of Christ sometimes, know that God still loves us. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Loving God and loving your neighbor. So, how are you doing with following these commandments?

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Do you know if you’re being deceived?

Jan15

Question: Can Believers still be deceived by Satan?

Answer: Yes! In fact, when His disciples asked, “And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Jesus begins His answer to them by saying, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” (Matthew 24:4 NKJV) Jesus does not want us to be deceived by Satan!

    Since the time of Adam and Eve, Satan has worked to deceive God’s people. Satan wants us to disobey God and serve him instead. For example, when he presented himself in the form of a serpent to deceive Eve, he started by challenging what God said. Satan said to Eve, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?'” (Genesis 3:1)

    “And the woman (Eve) said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'” (Genesis 3:2-3) Note here that Eve, like many Believers, knows God’s words. We, like Eve, know what God says is the right way to live. Also, like Eve, we sometimes choose to do the opposite of what we know is right.

    We go on to read that the serpent then said to Eve, “You shall not surely die. For God knows in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil,” (Genesis 3-4-5). Eve chooses to disobey God and do what Satan wants her to do instead. She eats the fruit since she “saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise…” (Genesis 3: 6)

   Being deceived by Satan, not only does Eve eat the forbidden fruit, but she also gives it to her husband Adam. He eats it too, so they both commit sin! Though they tried to hide their sin from God, God knew exactly what they had done. God always knows what we do as well!

   Like Eve, even Believers can make choices or support the actions of others that we know God calls sin! Like Eve, we may find ourselves attracted to going along with what “looks good!” For example, it may look good to us to fit in with those we admire for their popularity, wealth, or intellect. Even when these people push sinful behavior, we still give them our support. We allow Satan to deceive us in to rationalizing that our support of these people is fine since we aren’t personally committing the sins they promote. In actuality, Satan is using these people to deceive us!

   The Apostle Paul warns Timothy to be aware of such people saying that “…evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). He tells Timothy to rely on the Scriptures to help him with this and all situations.

   In 1 John 4:1, we are reminded to “test the spirits” and make sure what we are doing or supporting is in agreement with the teachings of God’s word. If it doesn’t agree with God’s word, it is of Satan.

So Believers, make sure you’re not letting Satan deceive you. Don’t fall for the devil’s lies! Study the Scriptures and pray for God’s Holy Spirit to give you clarity and strength to make decisions and live to please God!

    

   

   

   

   

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Don’t have a Jesus-free Christmas!

Dec9

Question:  In the hustle and bustle of the season, how can I make sure I’m keeping Christ in Christmas?

Answer:  Even dedicated Christians can sometimes find themselves consumed with every tradition of the holiday season except what’s most important.  They can forget that Jesus really is the reason for the season!  Christians know that this is the time of the year we choose to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we should make the time and make the effort to keep Christ in our Christmas!  But, if we know this, then why don’t we do it?

Unfortunately, some Christians can get as consumed with creating the picture-perfect Christmas experience as the world does. They fill themselves with anxiety trying to get the best super sales on the most popular gifts.  Adults get worked up over seeing their peers gifting themselves with the latest “must-have” gadgets and new technology.  They wear themselves out trying to keep up with the trends of the crowd. They forget to  pause, reflect, and be thankful for the greatest gift – Jesus Christ.

Likewise, many Christian families find themselves in turmoil during this season.  Married couples fight over which in-laws they are going to spend Christmas Day with.  Parents argue over how much money they are going to spend to make sure their children have this year’s hottest toys. They fill the family calendar with so many seasonal activities that they find themselves exhausted.  Yet, they fail to make time for the most important things – reading, meditating on, and discussing God’s Word.

Most importantly, during this season of spending extra time with family and friends, too many Christians fail to include in their discussions talk of their walk with the Lord.  They tend not to share with their family and friends how God has brought them faithfully through this year.  They are willing to talk about everything else but Jesus.  It doesn’t have to be this way.

Don’t have a Jesus-free Christmas!  See that you and your family are keeping Christ in Christmas. There are many ways you can do this.  For example, plan to take your family to a church Christmas program that tells the story of Christ’s birth.  While decorating the tree, play or sing Christmas hymns that give praise to our Lord.  Make sure to share with your family and friends how God has blessed you this year.  And, always make sure your family knows the story of the birth of our Savior.  Luke 2: 1-20 spells out in detail how Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  This Bible passage may be one you’d even want to read aloud together.  Listen to a reading of this account by clicking here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCKpwaRxIww&feature=youtube_gdata .

And, have a very Merry CHRISTmas!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family    www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network  www.cbn.com

World Magazine   http://www.worldmag.com

(Reposted from my Dec. 2014 Blog Post)

Being thankful for NOT getting what you wanted!

Nov9

Question:  Should we give thanks for unanswered prayers?

Answer:  Yes, give thanks to God because He always answers our prayers.  Remember, His answer may be yes, no, or not yet, but He always answers.  We are reminded of this in       1 John 5:14-15, ” Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (NKJV)  Note that what we pray for must still go along with God’s will for our lives.  God’s will and our desires may not match.  That said, God very much wants us to continue to pray to Him for the things we feel we want or need.  We usually enthusiastically give God thanks when He answers our prayers with a “yes.”  Of course, when we do this, we are doing the right thing.  However, it’s very important to remind ourselves to give thanks even when God’s answer is “no.”  Believers know that while we may think we know what is best for us, God truly knows what’s best for us in every situation of our lives.  We must also know that our ways are not necessarily His ways, and our preferred timing for things to happen, is not always His timing for things to happen.

Here are two examples of God knowing what’s best for us better than wedo.  Consider the twenty-something young lady who has a strong  desire to get married and even has her eyes set on the exact young man she considers her perfect match.  He’s handsome, successful in his career, and regularly attends church.  She prays to God to bless her to get married to this fine young man.  After the two have dated for a while, the young man seems to lose interest in her and goes off to eventually marry someone else.  Our young lady is crushed, and she doesn’t understand why God didn’t answer her prayer with a “yes.”   Twenty years later, we find our young lady happily married to a wonderful man she first met in her thirties.  She is surprised to learn that the young man she prayed to marry decades earlier is now on his third divorce.  According to his ex-wives, he had been a terrible husband.  Our lady is now very happy God answered “no” to her earlier prayer.

A different example:   a middle-aged man prays to God to get a new career position that he thinks is just right for him.  He’d be working for a great company and making a much larger salary than he’s making in his current position — something especially important as he starts to get closer to retirement age.   However, this man watches in disbelief as someone else gets that prized position.  He can’t understand what he had done so wrong that God would not reward him with the job of his heart’s desire.  Later, it turns out the person taking his dream job lasts less than a year.  The company down-sizes and that position gets eliminated.  That person is now unemployed.  Our middle-aged man is happy he still had his job.  He’s also very happy that God answered his earlier prayer with a “no.”

If we are being really honest with ourselves,  most of us can probably recall times in our lives when we were very upset when God said “no” to us.  Likewise, as in these two examples, we can look back at one or more of these “no’s” and be thankful.  We now shudder at the thought of how things would be if God’s answer had been “yes.”  As believers, we know that we will never understand in this lifetime, why God answers us in the ways He does.  Also, God knows, understands, and cares when we are hurt and disappointed when He doesn’t answer all of our prayers with a “yes.”  He wants us to trust that He knows what is best and take comfort in this knowledge.  We must pray to have stronger faith and trust in God.  Then, we will be spiritually equipped for those times when we need to be thankful for NOT getting what we wanted!

(Re-posted from my 11/21/2013 Blog Post)

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family    http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine        www.worldmag.com

Are you letting Satan play with your mind?

Oct6

Question: Why do I have such a hard time believing God loves me?

Answer: You’re having a hard time believing God can really love someone like you because Satan is messing with your mind! The devil does not want you to believe that God loves you. He does not want anyone to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior! Simply put– Satan does not want you to believe God because he wants your soul for himself!

Instead of letting Satan play with your mind and convince you that God doesn’t love you, trust instead in God’s own words to us.

For example, 1 John 4:9-10 (NKJV) says, “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

John 15:9: “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you, abide in My love.”

Therefore, Believers need to protect themselves from the devil’s lies. You do this by first praying for God’s protection and guidance, and then by staying in His Word to know what is true. Know that any thought that comes to your mind that does not agree with the teachings of God’s word is a thought that is not of God. Don’t believe it! Remember “that the thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus Christ) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)

By knowing that Satan has evil intentions, Believers can be prepared to face the challenges he brings against us each day. God gives us His Holy Spirit to help us win our daily fights with Satan. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians describes this preparedness as putting on “the whole armor of God.” (Read Ephesians 6: 10- 17.)

So, be prepared. Don’t allow Satan to play with your mind. Instead, totally trust in the truth of God’s word!

Are you following False Teachers?

Sep2

Question: What does God say about following false teachers?

Answer: Plenty! This is one more reason Believers need to read God’s Word. By studying the Bible and praying for the Holy Spirit to give you discernment, you will be prepared when you encounter false teachers.

Among the many Scriptures that talk about false teachers is Matthew 7:15-20. Jesus warns, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” He goes on to say, “You will know them by their fruits…. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (NKJV)

Also, Believers should not be fooled into following those who tell them some things that are godly while also telling them to support sinful behaviors. Read about some of these sinful behaviors in Romans 1:18-32. Jesus spoke of such people.

He said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” (Matthew 7:21-23.)

Unfortunately, some Believers choose to follow false teachers. They may admire them because they are famous or in high positions. This would include people in the church as well as people outside church in positions of influence on the national and international stage. They want to continue to give them their support because they agree with many of the things they are saying. But the problem comes when these “teachers” convince Believers to help them spread sinful behaviors to others under the guise of also doing good things. Believers simply turn a blind eye to the sin and convince themselves that giving their support is fine as long as the Believer isn’t practicing the sins themselves.

We read about the Apostle Paul’s warning about such Believers to a young pastor named Timothy. Paul warned: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you (Timothy) be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of the evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:3-5)

So, make sure you are not following after false teachers. Protect yourself by studying God’s Word and praying for His Holy Spirit to give you discernment. And look for the “good fruits!”

Weak-kneed about standing strong for God?

Aug5

Question: How do I stand strong for God in a hostile environment?

Answer: It’s not always easy to stand strong for God when those around you are hostile towards His teachings. Therefore, you must always remember to share God’s teachings respectfully, in ways that reflect God’s love. Make sure you don’t come across as hostile yourself by being mean, uncaring, or hypocritical. Instead, let your interactions with others reflect kindness, joy, and peace. (Read about these and other “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23)

Still, even when you try to be loving when sharing your beliefs, there may be people who will accuse you of acting like you think you’re better than everyone else. Others may say you’re being too judgmental. They may even try to prove you’re wrong by quoting the verse, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1 NKJV)

However, they fail to give the rest of that passage. For Jesus goes on to warn first against being a hypocrite — someone who points out the sins of others without acknowledging and repenting of their own sins. Using symbolism for sin, He asks,” And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” Then, He goes on to say, “First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Read Matthew 7:1-5) Jesus does want us to speak His truth to others about the consequences of sin and help them understand God’s Word.

Unfortunately, many people just don’t want to accept that it’s God — not man — who determines what is good and what is evil. Therefore, they may attack you verbally or even physically try to keep you from speaking God’s Truth. You may be ridiculed, not invited to parties, denied job promotions, be fired, or even sued for practicing your unpopular beliefs. This is all because you choose to stand strong for your Christian faith.

Even some Believers may get combative or turn against you for calling out sin in today’s culture. They may react this way for many reasons. But one reason might be that your boldness for the Lord makes them embarrassed and ashamed. Deep down, they know they have been failing to stand strong for their faith like God wants them to do.

In fact, Jesus said, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)

In order to deal successfully with any of these situations, you must start with prayer! Our loving Heavenly Father hears our prayers and is with us to help us through our daily trials. His Word tells us to, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) God always wants us to turn to Him — including when we face attacks.

The Apostle Paul teaches us that these fights we face are actually spiritual battles. They are conflicts between those who support what God calls evil and those of us who support the goodness and righteousness of God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul reminds Believers to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10)

When we face challenges because of our faith, we, like Paul, should pray for God’s Holy Spirit to help us. Paul urged the Believers of his day to be praying for other Believers and for him, “……that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel… that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Read more about putting on “The Whole Armor of God in Ephesians 6:11-20)

So, don’t be weak-kneed. Boldly share your beliefs with grace, kindness, respect, and love. In doing so, you’ll be helping to fulfill The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) given by Jesus, to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

****Enjoy this beautiful song of encouragement by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir entitled, “Take Up Your Cross.” (Click on this link: https://youtu.be/77RHISYAD_E)