The Truth IS Out There

 I asked a friend of mine, who will be ordained as a Catholic priest in June, How does one get to heaven? His response scared the poop out of me! He said Jesus...but then went on to say Jesus is love, so love is how! When I mentioned that Jesus said He is the only way to heaven, my friend started talking about how many different translations of the Bible there are and no one really knows what Jesus said! And went further telling me anyone who says they understand the Bible, believing a certain way and speaking it as the only way are judging others! In defense of Catholics out there, he is being ordained as an Independent Catholic.. whatever that means. It seems to me that it means 'we believe what we want to believe so we can feel good about ourselves'! Sadly he and many other people are mistaken in their reasoning. My friends, as followers of Christ, we must always be ready to defend the gospel. That's why I'm always reminding y'all to stay in the Word! 1 John 4:1-3 states" Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God; every spirit that confesses that Jesus has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that is coming, and now it is already in the world." It is easy to be swayed by falsehood if we are not grounded in the Word. If we neglect to study the Scriptures we can be overcome by Satan's devices and maybe even lead others astray! See, he had some truth sprinkled in to what my friend said? " Jesus is the way you get to heaven" " Jesus is love." Yes folks these are truths! But the rest is human understanding. Knowledge gained by the flesh NOT discerned by the Holy Spirit which is the only way to understand His Word! Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:14" But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." My beloved friends. Our enemy, the devil, seeks to discredit and take the power of the Word away from you. He seeks to destroy your very faith in Jesus! Be mindful of the Word of God as we encourage each other in the Lord!

The Power of Positive Thinking

    I was talking to a good friend the other day and he said something that worried me. We were talking about God. Not sure exactly what we were referring to, but what he said confirmed what the Holy Spirit had been telling me about his walk with Christ. He said that ( in summary) Christianity is really just the power of positive thinking. I tried to explain my perspective. For instance, I've done the power of positive thinking thing. When I was practicing witchcraft that's pretty much what you're doing when doing a ritual for say, healing or to build self confidence or give you peace. True Christianity is not and cannot be that! Number 1, the " positive thinking" will not last. The peace you " draw" to yourself never lasts! The healing won't last! You have to keep doing the ritual to " recharge". In contrast Jesus said in John 14:27" Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives." The Psalmist David writes " The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses His people with peace." (Psalm 29:11).Also in chapter 119 verse 165" Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble." Number 2, the true follower of Christ is not focused on " positive thinking"! They're focused on the relationship they have with Jesus. Their personal relationship that is deepened by reading and studying His Word and praying/ seeking His face! My buddy implied that you're just giving your problem to " something else"". Another " god." He's right in that respect when it comes to anything other then Christianity. See my beloved friends, the difference between Christianity and every other religion, is that our God is alive! Our God is powerful! He is the Alpha and Omega! The beginning and the end! He knows us before we are even conceived in our Mother's womb! He knows the very number of hairs on our head! And He loves us enough to speak to us through His Word and via the Holy Spirit! We don't need to make a statue of our God to worship! They can't talk back anyhow! Even the mouth we carve into their faces cannot speak! I understand a doubting of your faith perhaps. Wondering does God REALLY exist? Oh my friends, heed this warning! " Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him standing firm in the faith." (1Peter 5:8-9a) The devil wants you to doubt which can easily come about by neglecting your relationship with Jesus. Not reading the Bible or praying. That's why I'm always reminding you my beloved friends to stay in the Word and keep in prayer daily! Christianity is NOT a religion. It is a relationship with the Creator God of the universe, Who sent His only Son to atone for our sins so we can have a relationship with Him and have life abundant and eternal!