God

Spiritual blessings

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

We have a universally accepted funny saying here in the South. It goes like this: “You can say anything you want, good or bad, about anyone and it will be alright as long as you follow it up by saying, “Bless his/her heart.”

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God

Good people don’t go to heaven, bad people do

Lot’s of good people believe that the way you get to heaven is by being good. After all, God is a good God and heaven is a good place and going to heaven will be a good thing–if we’re good.

The problem is: that’s not true.

Good people don’t go to heaven.  Bad people do.

Bad people who have done bad things WHO HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN go to heaven.

And there’s only ONE WAY to be forgiven–to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. And believe that when He died on the cross, who we WERE died with Him. And we became new creatures in Christ. Born again. From above.

That’s the only way we get to heaven.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

God, Identity In Christ

How well do you know your true self?

A Personal Relationship With God, abiding in Christ, Almighty God, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principals, God, God's Will, Grace, sanctification, The Gospel, Truth

When DO we all get to heaven?

A Personal Relationship With God, adoption, Almighty God, Biblical Principals, changes, choices, Creation, freedom, God alone, God's omnipotence, God's purpose, God's Will, Grace, kindness, Righteousness, Surrender, the cross of Christ, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, trusting God, Truth

Can we be in two places at once?

A Personal Relationship With God, abiding in Christ, acceptance, Almighty God, attitude, behavior, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principals, Blood of Christ, choices, Christian community, Exchanged Life, Forgiveness, freedom, God, God's love, God's omnicience, God's omnipotence, God's Power, God's purpose, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, God's Word, Grace, Grace / Mercy, Jesus, kindness, knowing God, Love, Loving God, patience, Peace, Praise and Worship, protection, Relationship, Relationship With God, Righteousness, sanctification, Servant, sharing, Surrender, the cross of Christ, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, trusting God, Truth, Worship

Must we confess our sins to be forgiven?

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Where will you go when you die?

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God Bless Atheists This Christmas

A Personal Relationship With God, acceptance, behavior, Biblical Principals, change, changes, choices, Christian community, freedom, God, God's omnipotence, God's Power, God's purpose, God's Will, Grace, Obedience, Trials and tribulation, trusting God, Truth

Come on. Get Up!

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Eternity. What a concept!

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What if atheists and non-believes are right?

A Personal Relationship With God, abiding in Christ, change, choices, Christian community, conversation, freedom, God, God's omnicience, God's omnipotence, God's omnipresence, God's purpose, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Grace, Grace / Mercy, Loving God, Obedience, protection, reaching out, Relationship With God, Salvation Plan, showing love, trusting God, Truth

Why did you accept Christ as your Savior?

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Dear Mom, I missed you yesterday

Mom,

Yesterday in church Pastor Gearl recognized all the moms in the audience. His message was about how important a good mom is to her family and to others. I wish you could have been there with me.

I can’t believe it’s been 11 years since Jesus called you home.  I sure do miss you. I can’t count the times I’ve wanted to pick up the phone and call you. I loved to call you and share some way God blessed me, or tell you about something exciting or fun I did that day. 

My conversations over the years with you and Dad created some of my most precious memories. Though we spent most of our lives living a thousand miles apart, I loved being able to pick up the phone and connect with you just to chat.

You gave me something few of my friends here share. For almost 60 years you gave me consistency. You stayed married to each other, despite some extremely difficult times. No matter where I was, or what I was doing, or not doing, I could always pick up the phone and dial 712-246-2655. You were always there. I often brag about my hometown and my wonderful growing up years in my loving family to my friends. Most of them marvel at the wonderful childhood I enjoyed in our small Iowa hometown. Many of my friends have never known the consistence and security you and Dad gave me.

I know we didn’t have a perfect life, either. I know I gave you more than my share of grief and heartaches. For all those, I am genuinely sorry.

I have to confess, Mom: the day you died, I was absolutely jubilant. Not because you died, but because I knew where you were. Your suffering from the cancer that took you from us was over. Not only was I jubilant because I knew where you were. I was jubilant because I knew that someday we would be reunited and basking in the love of Jesus in God’s Kingdom forever. We’ll never be apart again. We’ll never know pain or suffering or sorrow or dismay or any other health problems. And you’d never have to fuss at me again to pick up my clothes.

What a glorious day that will be!

Until then, Mom, please know that I love you and miss you still. I am grateful for everything you were to me, everything you gave me, everything you taught me, and everything you did for me.

I will always love you,

Your loving son, Steve

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Target stores pander to LGBTs; and the bride’s wearing soiled undies.

Biblical Principals, God, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Life, Truth

Spiritual Gravity

God, Identity In Christ

Good people don’t go to heaven

A Personal Relationship With God, adoption, Biblical Principals, God, God's love, God's purpose, God's Word, Jesus, Lessons learned, Love, The Gospel, Truth

In My Father’s House

A Personal Relationship With God, Friendship, God, Grace, Grace / Mercy, How God Loves Us, Love, Peace, Service, Serving others, undaunted

Dot and Doyle’s Miracle: A 73-Year Love Story

God

The Truth About Suicide

Heaven

The Good-O-Meter — How Good Is Good Enough To Get To Heaven

behavior, Biblical Principals, finding your way, God's Sovereignty, Grace, Obedience, Truth

Good People Don’t Go To Heaven

A Personal Relationship With God, Friendship, God's Sovereignty, Grace / Mercy, Peace, Righteousness, The Church

Aliens Or Natives?

Forgiveness, Friendship, God's love, God's omnipotence, God's omnipresence, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, God's Word, Grace, Life, The Great Commission

When God Said No

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Who Are The “Many”?

Biblical Principals, Friendship, God, God's Sovereignty, Life, Relationship With God, Truth

It’s All Just Practice, Folks