The best life is a God First life
Sharing God’s Word
“GO” is something we just can’t do by being still. Jesus said,
“GO into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.“
Mark 16:15
Jesus also said;
“GO therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
Matthew 28:19
God First!
Have you ever gone out of your way to do good and help others in difficult times only to be overlooked or forgotten? Maybe as they recall the experience, you find your efforts credited to someone else or not even in their recollection. This forgetfulness sometimes happens in different situations. Stress can definitely affect what we remember. Maybe, you’re just so close to them that their mind categorizes your efforts differently as we sometimes do with family members.
I remember several times thru the years when my wife would become annoyed with me because I shared something with her I had recently learned from another.
Virginia’s annoyance was not with the info but rather, the fact that she had told me the same thing herself (maybe more than once), and here I was, giving all the credit to someone else and excitingly telling it to her as if it was the first time I had ever heard it. Yi yi yi!
The point is, not being credited, thanked, or having the credit given to someone else can be slightly discouraging, but it happens.
We just need to ask ourselves, why do we do good things? We see a need, and we step up. Are we looking to be praised? No, for most, we simply want to help others through the love and compassion in our hearts. It’s not about us. It’s about them.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6:9-10
What really matters?
Jesus tells us:
“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:3-4
God First!
Writer: Wayne Johnson
Fake news is nothing new to Christians. We have been bombarded with Fake News since the beginning of Christianity. Jesus’s disciples and apostles spread the Good News of our salvation through Christ by telling of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. They established congregations all over, giving us examples of Church actions, worship, and leadership. Many of the letters we find in the New Testament are addressing “Fake News” and it continues today. Our world is full of Fake News in Christianity, but there’s good news. We don’t have to be gullible!
God has given us the means to discern the Truth from the Fake. We have 66 books of inspired words from God to study so that we can discern God’s Will, God’s teachings, through His holy word, comparing them to the desires and teachings of mankind. The answers are not found in what someone says is of God’s Word but in what God’s word actually says.
God First!
Writer: Wayne Johnson
Several days each week, my sister-in-law Julie and her two teenage children meet to go on evening walks with some other brothers and sisters in Christ. Yesterday, on the ride there, in an attempt to spark conversation with her teenage son, she asked him this question: “If you were to die tomorrow, what would you wish you had gotten done today?”
She expected a secular answer, but his response: “Be Baptized.”
This lead to further discussion, and my nephew Michael Jr. Johnson (affectionately known as Mikey) made the absolute best decision any of us ever make in this life. Mikey decided he wanted to have eternal life in heaven by being baptized and following Christ for the rest of his life.
So, last night, Michael Jr. confessed Jesus as the Son of God and was baptized into Christ in the name of The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of his sins. Later, Mikey told me he had been thinking about it for a while. You just never know what’s on someone’s mind.
The timing of his mother’s question and a follow-up question of “why wait?” Seemingly perfect.
Welcome to the Lord’s Church, Michael Jr. Johnson
God First?
written by: Wayne Johnson
Our forefathers (for many, this is distant relatives) suffered, fought, and gave their lives in battles for independence, for “Liberty and justice for all,” and in 1776, America was born. “We The People” celebrate America’s independence on the 4th of July each year.
Fast forward 245 years, and it seems almost half the nation wants to give away the independence our forefathers fought and died for; half the nation seems “Ok” with the idea of socialism and would rather whine and have government be our babysitter than take personal responsibility for their role in Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Our country did not become great from our ancestors sitting on their tushes and wallowing in self-pity, expecting a government to provide for them. Our country became great as our ancestors meet overwhelming struggles head-on. Dreaming and working to make those dreams reality, legal immigrants became Americans, and those Americans came together, working and striving to better their lives through hard work and big ideas.
American’s of all shapes, sizes, colors, and beliefs made the seemingly impossible possible. They forged wilderness into the country of vast convenience we know today. Our American families had to work hard to get us to this point, and we have to work hard to maintain it.
Sitting on our tush and expecting others to provide for us will destroy our nation. Let’s honor the lives of those who fought and died to give us freedom; let’s take pride in the work we each do—One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We need to find as many legal ways as possible to stop America’s Cancelation! Our constitution is under attack, our freedom of speech under attack, our voting system under attack, freedom of religion under attack, the list keeps mounting.
While it’s true that our ultimate home is not of this world for Christians, those of us who live in America have been blessed to live in this land of the free and given the opportunity to share God’s Word, According to God’s Word, let us study, learn, and spread the seeds of Christ’s message. Let us make a difference today before our children suffer the consequences of only having Satan seed the land we were blessed to live in.
God First!
Jesus would not be swayed from his purpose. His purpose was to do the will of His Father!
Even after fasting 40 days and nights. When Satan tried he could not sway Jesus.
When Jesus was weak and hungry Satan tried to exploit that hunger and provoke Jesus to perform a miracle “tell these stones to become bread”
Instead, Jesus quotes scripture to Satan telling him that life comes from “Every Word of God” (The Holy Bible is the word of God for us today)
Satan then tries to get Jesus to prove; He is, the Son of God, by throwing himself down from the pinnacle of the temple in the holy city, SATAN EVEN USES SCRIPTURE in his temptation.
Jesus quotes scripture again,
” ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
Satan tries yet again, and shows Jesus the splendor in all the Kingdoms of the World and offers them to Jesus If, he will just bow down to him.
Jesus tells him to “BE GONE” and quotes scripture a 3rd time.
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”
This is a great example to Christians to not allow Satan to sway us from our purpose, to put God first, to seek all his righteousness, to hold fast and to trust God.
It shows us that Satan, knows scripture, Satan will try to use scripture to mislead us. It’s also a great example of how knowing scripture can help ”us” overcome temptations and discern the truth. It points out that we are NOT to test God and ARE to Worship and Serve God Only
God knows what’s best for us, if we love him we will keep His commandments and when we study we shew ourselves approved unto God.
If God is for us who can be against us!
May God be with us all!
God First!
Why would you want to cheat yourself like that?
As I pondered this question, I realized that not taking advantage of Bible classes and Worship at every opportunity is cheating myself. This question prompted a positive change in my life. It led me, to pursue a stronger conviction of my priorities to truly, put God First. Not just through words but action.
God’s word is so powerful, we have so much to gain by hearing it, studying it, adopting it, and applying it to our lives and we cheat ourselves when we don’t.
It’s my hope you will also ponder this question because it’s not just you that’s affected. It’s those who know you and see your example. Your family and friends. It’s all who hear the truth you learned rather than recollections and speculation of things you’ve heard but don’t fully grasp.
When we engage in understanding the whole truth that is spoken in “God-breathed” scripture, when we actualu study and apply what we learn from our Heavenly Father we stop cheating ourselves and we stop cheating others. We became part of a grand solution.
Take advantage of every opportunity you can to learn more of what God, wants for us.
God First
”But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
(Matthew 6:33)
So many of us try to protect our hearts by hiding them and shielding them behind tough exteriors. Yet, when we actually take the risk by extending our hearts and sharing them with others, we really make a difference, not just in the lives of others but in our own lives.
The risk is worth the effort.
God’s Word tells us to Love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love our neighbor as ourselves and not hide the light of our hearts under a bushel; let it shine!
I am very grateful to those who take the risks. Your compassionate and giving attitude of love lights up the lives of others and makes the world a better place. You are a needed encouragement.
Thank you!
God First!
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