Category Archives: Greater is HE that is IN US!

Walking With My Friend??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #397

16 Thursday Oct 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Blessed by God, Blood of Jesus cleanses us, Brighten Your Corner!, Broken Hearts, Friends, Friendship, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Greater is HE that is IN US!, JESUS, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all

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Walking With My Friend???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #397

Someone once said to me, “You talk about Jesus like He’s your best friend”, to which I replied, “He is!”  I just want to let you know this morning, that Jesus is there for you also!  You can come to Him in faith and repentance of your sin and receive the gift of eternal life that He bought and paid for at Calvary’s cross!  He loves you that much!  While I am open to being a friend, only Jesus can save you from sin and give you new life—eternal life– with Him!  I just want to share a few passages of scripture that you may know that His love and provision are for you as He does for me!

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

While Jesus is my Lord and master, He is also my friend, even as He told His disciples just before His crucifixion and death—but praise God, He didn’t stay dead, He rose on the third day to buy salvation for you and me—for all who will come to Him in repentance of sin and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice!  Oh, what a wonderful friend He has been, is even now and will be for all time; what a blessing to know Him, and you can know Him too.

“Greater love hath no man than this,

that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends,

if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants;

for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth:

but I have called you friends;

for all things that I have heard of my Father

I have made known unto you.”  John 15:13-15

Jesus is there for you, and he will be with you in all your ways if you will but trust Him.  I pray that you will hear His voice calling you and run to the shepherd who loves you, will guide you and ever be the greatest friend you will ever know!

“Then said Jesus unto them again,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me

are thieves and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.”  John 10:7-11

And in closing, if you need peace, true peace is only found in the Lord of all creation, who gave Himself for you and me on that cross of Calvary.  He gives peace beyond measure, and He will walk with you continually, not just once in a while!

“Peace I leave with you,

my peace I give unto you:

not as the world giveth,

give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid.

28 Ye have heard how I said unto you,

I go away,

and come again unto you.

If ye loved me,

ye would rejoice,

because I said,

I go unto the Father:

for my Father is greater than I.

29 And now I have told you

before it come to pass,

that, when it is come to pass,

ye might believe.”  John 14:27-29

His confident reassurance is found in His promise to save and keep His own; for HE is the only way to heaven, life and peace!

“Let not your heart be troubled:

ye believe in God,

believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions:

if it were not so,

I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again,

and receive you unto myself;

that where I am,

there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go

ye know,

and the way

ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord,

we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth, and

the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:1-6

He’s waiting for you today!  Won’t you come to my best friend?  He’ll be your greatest friend also!

Amen and Amen!!!

Comfortable Or Committed??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #374

10 Sunday Aug 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Comfort, Commitment Or Convenience, Confidence, Conformed or Transformed?, Conformed to HIS image, Crucified With Christ, Do You See What God Sees?, Every Knee Shall Bow, Eyes that SEE HIM, Fickle or Faithful, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Freedom To Or From?, God Who Sees, God's Call, God's Faithfulness, God's glory NOT mine!, God's Time, God's ways are not our ways, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Ready or NOT Here Jesus Comes!, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Redemption Through HIS Blood

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Comfortable Or Committed???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #374

A passage that we considered recently is one I want to revisit today, but from a different perspective; as you can tell from our title, I want us to assess our life with Jesus!  What have we set our eyes on?  Are we set on being comfortable or committed to whatever Jesus has called us to.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside

every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction of sinners

against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

Jesus has called us to “lay aside” some things, and to “run with patience” the race that He has set before us; keeping our eyes fixed on Him, because He alone can lead us in the right path. He is the only way to God—the only way of salvation!  And apart from Jesus we have no hope, as Jesus tells us, we must be in The Vine and “abide in HIM”!

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”  John 15:5

We are called to bring forth much fruit, and that can only happen when we abide in The Master, Jesus; for HE is the vine, not us—we are but branches and dependent upon our attachment to the vine—Jesus!  We can do that as we determine to be committed to Jesus regardless of the difficulty or discomfort.  We get into trouble when we choose comfort over commitment; when we choose frivolity over frugality (being wise stewards over all, not just finances); do we exercise impact spending over impulse (again not just talking about money, but time, talents, desires, and focus)!  It’s so easy to get caught up in social media, ad-fed spending, entertainment distractions, any number of things—you can fill in the blank of the things that try to draw us away from our commitment to Jesus!   Let’s consider a couple of passages that give us good guidance and food for thought as believers to continue to abide in The Vine—Jesus!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2

And Peter’s inspired advice. (And FYI, conversation=lifestyle.)

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

 not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

 Be ye holy;

for I am holy.

17 And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons

 judgeth according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God,

that raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith and hope might be in God.”  1 Peter 1:13-21

It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!

Amen and Amen!!!

Do We See What God Sees??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #365

16 Wednesday Jul 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Ears that hear not, Enabler or Transformer?, Eternal Consequences, Evil and Adulterous Generation?, Examine Myself?, Eyes that SEE HIM, Eyes that see not, God Is In Charge, God Knows His Own, God Who Sees, God's Faithfulness, God's glory NOT mine!, God's grace is sufficient...always!, God's Judgment, God's measure isn't ours, God's provision, God's Righteousness Not mine, God's ways are not our ways, Godliness will be opposed, Godly Wisdom, Gospel, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Growing in Jesus!, Have you not heard, Have you not seen?

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Do We See What God Sees???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #365

“Blessed be the LORD,

that hath given rest unto his people Israel,

according to all that he promised:

there hath not failed one word

of all his good promise,

which he promised

by the hand of Moses his servant.

57 The LORD our God be with us,

as he was with our fathers:

let him not leave us,

nor forsake us:

58 That he may incline our hearts unto him,

to walk in all his ways,

and to keep his commandments,

and his statutes,

and his judgments,

which he commanded our fathers.

59 And let these my words,

wherewith I have made supplication

before the LORD,

be nigh unto the LORD our God

day and night,

that he maintain the cause of his servant,

and the cause of his people Israel

at all times,

as the matter shall require:

60 That all the people of the earth may know

that the LORD is God,

and that there is none else.

61 Let your heart therefore be perfect

with the LORD our God,

to walk in his statutes,

and to keep his commandments,

as at this day.”  1 Kings 8:56-61

As Solomon and the people of Israel celebrated the completion and dedication of the temple that Solomon had been called to build in his father’s place (See 1 Chronicles 28:3); all had gathered to offer sacrifices and offerings as they rejoiced at the presence of God in their midst.  Solomon praised God and prayed for His continued blessings on the people—sadly many failed to continue in God’s ways, including Solomon (See 1 Kings 11:3), because they chose to go their own way and disregard the law and commands of the God they were praising ‘today’!  How about us?  What are we doing today—both inside and outside of the ‘house of The Lord’!

What does our life say to the world? Why did Solomon proclaim all of these things?  Why was he challenging his people to be found faithful to God?  I think verse 60 says it all.

“That all the people of the earth may know

that the LORD is God,

and that there is none else”

What is my life telling the world about my God?  Is God seeing a true reflection of Himself and Jesus in me?  Jesus said something similar Himself as He prayed for us in John 17, just before going to the cross for us.

“That they all may be one;

as thou, Father,

art in me,

and I in thee,

that they also may be one in us:

that the world may believe

that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me

I have given them;

that they may be one,

even as we are one:

23 I in them,

and thou in me,

that they may be made perfect in one;

and that the world may know

that thou hast sent me,

and hast loved them,

as thou hast loved me.”   John 17:21-23

Again, what does the world see in me?  Do they see Jesus or a carbon copy of the world with a “Jesus t-shirt” on?  What does God see in me?  Is He saying of me the same thing He spoke to Jeremiah?

“Declare this in the house of Jacob,

and publish it in Judah, saying,

21 Hear now this,

O foolish people,

and without understanding;

which have eyes,

and see not;

which have ears,

and hear not:” Jeremiah 5:20-21

God is talking to this same people who praised His name at the dedication of the temple, yet now they have defiled it with idolatry, immorality and wicked hearts. What are we doing to/in the physical house of The Lord?  What are we doing in, with and to our bodies which, if we are genuinely born again, are the Temple of God (See 1 Corinthians 6:19)?  Have we ignored God’s call to holiness and said of our wicked life choices, “…but I’m under grace…”!  James had something to say to those who claim His name but live under their own power; James says it so much better than I can, I’ll let God’s Word speak for me; God sees the heart inside of every choice we make, be they for Him or against Him—even when we profusely claim “grace” over our sin! I’m not talking about genuine repentant hearts, but presumption on God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness. Ask Jesus to search your heart—I can’t, but HE can and will.

“From whence come wars and fightings among you?

come they not hence, even of your lusts

that war in your members?

2 Ye lust,

and have not:

ye kill,

and desire to have,

and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend

of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;

and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted,

and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter

be turned to mourning,

and your joy

to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:1-10

Are you drawing near to God or the world?  Are you judging yourself with God’s judgment or the “everyone is doing it” line?  As I often say, “Saying so, doesn’t make it so!”, it isn’t simply claiming the name of Jesus, and living our own way, but being transformed by the blood of Jesus that “cleanseth us from all sin…”!  Have you been washed in the blood or are you trying to work your way to heaven—won’t work!  Here’s what Jesus has to say, it’s what God sees that counts—for He sees the heart not just the words!

“Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:20-23.                (Be sure and read 24-27 as well)

The Apostle John gives us some wonderful insight, and if we will heed his call to walk in the light, we will not wander around in the dark.

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:5-10

What is God seeing in you and me?  The reflection of His Son or the world?  Please read through this passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans slowly and prayerfully. God will speak, if we but listen.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not what we should pray for

as we ought:

but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?”  Romans 8:26-31

May God guide your heart to Himself.

Amen and Amen!!!

Thanksgiving Blessings!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #156

20 Monday Nov 2023

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Choose Gratitude and show it!, Choose you this day?, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Thankful, Thankfulness with joy!, Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving Blessings!!!  A Word from THE WORD!!! #156

“O come,

let us sing

unto the LORD:

let us make a joyful noise

to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come

before his presence with thanksgiving,

and make a joyful noise

unto him with psalms.

3 For the LORD is a great God,

and a great King

above all gods.”  Psalm 95:1-3

 I pray that your time of Thanksgiving will include the greatest gift of all, the love of God toward us in sending HIS SON, Jesus to be our redeemer, savior, and LORD!  May God’s blessings rest upon you and yours as you take time to express your thanks in various ways.

May I just offer a few reminders of some things that could make your Thanksgiving special:

Share with someone in need out of your bounty (whether your bounty great or small

Call a friend or relative and tell them how thankful you are that God placed them in your life—

Hug your loved ones one more time, you never know when it might be the last hug—

Do something special for your spouse that doesn’t cost money, their favorite dessert, an unexpected massage, a surprise trip to see the sights or visit a friend—

Offer to help an elderly neighbor with their decorations—

Call or write someone who was a blessing to you or for some almost forgotten long ago kindness, you could make their day—

Tell your parents, children, friends and loved ones near and far that you love them, and then LOVE THEM—

Gratitude and kindness are contagious, spread them around!!!

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD,

all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD

with gladness:

come before his presence

with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful

unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth

to all generations.”  Psalm 100:1-5

May you have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving season with family and friends.  God bless you with joy and laughter!

Amen and Amen!!!

Gratitude Spills Over??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #154

13 Monday Nov 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, Blessed by God, By His Grace, Confidence, Don't Wait, Faithful Follower, Follow Jesus, Forgiveness, Giving and Sharing, Giving or Getting, Giving Or Taking?, God's love, God's measure isn't ours, Good Neighbor, Good Stewards, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Jesus IN You!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Living Right, Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

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Gratitude Spills Over??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #154

For the rest of this month (unless I change my mind!!) I want us to focus on God’s goodness and our attitudes; for sometimes we just take God’s goodness for granted and forget to thank HIM or share HIS goodness with others, Paul says it better than I could.

“Let him that stole

steal no more:

 but rather let him labour,

working with his hands

the thing which is good,

that he may have to give

to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication    

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace

unto the hearers.”  Ephesians 4:28-29

 Paul calls believers to live and behave like believers—those who “were” thieves were called to (in Blanche’s paraphrase) “get a job and work diligently to provide for one’s self and have to give to those in need”!  Our actions and our words have an effect on those around us—especially those ‘little people’ who follow us around and learn from our behavior and actions way more than they learn from just our words!  Are we teaching our children and grandchildren about gratitude—about sharing what we have—about looking to Jesus instead of the world—about giving more than receiving?  The truth is that we are teaching them every day, whether we are paying attention or not!  Paul’s admonition to live holy, faithfully, and generously is a call to each of us!  It compels us to hear and obey the call of Jesus to “do unto others” as we desire to be treated.  Small words but a giant obligation to reject the “ME” mentality of the world and share the “others first” love of Jesus!

“Jesus said unto him,

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God

with all thy heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it,

Thou shalt love thy neighbour

as thyself.”  Matthew 22:37-39

When the “love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost…” (See Romans 5:1-11) it ought to spill over on all around us!  An outflowing of the gratitude that we feel for the “gift of God” (Romans 6:23) which is eternal life in JESUS!  Are you shining for Jesus or hoarding everything to yourself?

Paul shares more in his letter to the Colossian believers; may we willingly and gladly heed God’s Word to our hearts?

“Put on therefore,

as the elect of God,

holy and beloved,

bowels of mercies,

kindness,

humbleness of mind,

meekness,

longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another,

and forgiving one another,

if any man have a quarrel against any:

even as Christ forgave you,

so also do ye.

14 And above all these things

put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called in one body;

and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

in all wisdom;

teaching

and admonishing one another

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”   Colossians 3:12-17

May we truly be fountains of blessing to those around us, taking every opportunity to share not only Jesus, but the material resources that HE has blessed us with to those around us in need, as God leads?  We are to be wise and generous stewards of God’s blessings, not greedy, selfish Scrooges!  How will God assess our gratitude quotient?  Let’s be one of the ‘overly generous’ ones, not the selfish ones!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test!

“But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly

shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,

so let him give;

not grudgingly,

or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able

to make all grace abound toward you;

that ye,

always having all sufficiency in all things,

may abound to every good work:

9 (As it is written,

He hath dispersed abroad;

he hath given to the poor:

his righteousness remaineth for ever.”                              2 Corinthians 9:6-9

May we be known for our gracious, grateful, and generous spirit.

Amen and Amen!!!