👺The Third Sin😮‍💨

No one can just tell one lie for one lie always requires another and another and a…….

Read your Bible and you will find it starts off in the book of Genesis telling of a wonderful place. In this wonderful place called the garden of Eden God places a male named Adam and a female named Eve. All they would ever need was there and there was only one rule: don't eat the fruit of one tree; the tree of good and evil. Who can’t keep one rule? We can’t! You and I can only imagine what it must have been like, but just like you and I they had an enemy. That enemy wants to make their life miserable just as the same enemy wants to do for each of us. He did by convincing Eve that breaking the rule would make her wise; which it did not. That was number one sin number two is the one you and I still have trouble with. It is running and hiding.

Genesis 3:8 (KJV) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Hiding only makes things worse. Why? Because when you get caught hiding brings on questions you don’t feel comfortable answering. (God)

Genesis 3:11 (KJV) And he (God) said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Questions cause us to blame others; sin number three. Genesis 3:12 (KJV) And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

What Adam said was true and what Eve said was also true. Genesis 3:13 (KJV) And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Blaming others never changes who’s fault it is. Over the years I have learned not to blame others, for no one has ever twisted my arm and made me do anything. I have to take ownership for my wrong doings. I remember when my dad asked me this question, why did you drink that beer? The answer should have been, the truth. Oh no, I blamed those I was with. It wasn't my fault, it was their fault. Blaming others I thought was a good escape route for my wrong doings. One day I picked up a book written by Andy Andrews. It was titled “The Traveler's Gift.” In that book Andy wrote about Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success. The first one he wrote about was the Buck Stops Here! Quit blaming others. Oh my blaming others never changes what I have done! It didn’t change Adam nor Eve’s wrong doing. They may have been encouraged to disobey God but they were the ones who did it. Oh it wasn’t the ones in the car that night that made me do anything I did it because I wanted too. My dad was much smarter than I was giving him credit for; birds of a feather flock together and he knew that. I just didn't happen into that car that night nor did I just stumble across that beer. Oh no I was in the decision making and the getting operation. Oh I still remember it on a back street in East Atlanta GA.  I remember going up to a house giving a man I didn’t know my daddy money to buy beer for minors. That man walked down the street and bought it for us. That’s the truth I didn’t tell my dad. Well you might have said oh my 😱how could you have done such? That is what sin will do: it makes us liars to those we love. Haven’t you blamed others thinking it would save you from the wrath to come? Come on now! Yeah that memory you just had. 

👨‍⚖️Covenant or Contract?🎚️

One may preach a covenant of grace more clearly than another. But when they preach a covenant of works for salvation, that is not truth. Anne Hutchinson

Let us think for a minute. The Bible is called The Word of God. When we say that then we are saying that the Bible; yes the one we bought down at the store. Is without any mistakes? If so why then haven’t we trusted it? It is reasonable to ask such questions and those questions need answers. Even with answers some will not believe. We as human beings make mistakes, I have made more than my share and if allowed to go back and fix the mistake I made I would make more. How depressing that would be. The only way I know to know and understand God is by the book He had mankind to write under His supervision. 

Exodus 34:27 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.

A covenant? Let’s not run past that word, what is a covenant? Merriam-Webster says It’s a binding agreement. A covenant is not a contract. Here is the difference “A covenant is a one-sided promise that remains intact regardless of whether the other party fulfills their obligations, while a contract is a mutual agreement that can be terminated if one party fails to meet their terms.”

Hebrews 10:29 (KJV) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Mankind’s salvation has been put in place by God's covenant. It matters not if we accept it or not it’s a covenant. Which means it is a promise of and from God and it’s true whether you or I accept it or not, it’s binding. God is saying I have paid the price for the sin of the world in my Son Jesus Christ who gave His life. It’s paid for and it makes no difference how you or I feel, it’s done, it’s paid for. Do good all you want and we should but that is not payment for our sin. Say you are sorry and that is wonderful but that does not pay for our sin. Our salvation is a gift.  

Ephesians 2:8 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

It is like any other gift, it must be received to become yours. A gift has already been paid for, it matters not whether you accept it or not the price has already been paid. I have a small apiary of honey bees. When it came time to harvest the honey it was a long process. Cut the comb off the foundations and it filters down into a pot. That took forever. Now my daughter bought me a gift, an electric extractor which throws the honey out of the foundations in a circular motion. That does two things: it gets the honey out of the foundations without destroying them. Which allows me to reuse them so the bees won’t have to spend time remaking their comb. What a great gift. All I had to do was receive it, which made my life better. Jesus paid the price all you and I have to do is receive it and our life will be better. 

John 10:10 (KJV) 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.

🥚Humpty Dumpty Put Back Together🫗

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty back together again.

I’m not sure when I first heard that but it was a long time ago. Humpty Dumpty was pictured as an egg although it never says anything about an egg. So as a child I sang that riddle as a song; can’t you hear the music now? Anyways I understand that as much as one tried to put all the broken pieces back together it just could not be done. When we were babies we were all the wonder of our parents. They were so proud of us why most dads back in the day gave real cigars away at our birth. Now you might get a bubble gum looking cigar if even that. Oh, but back in the good old days it was a real smoke. Then one day we told our first lie 😱oh no. Then we disobeyed our parents by doing what they told us not to do. As sorry and you and I might have been there was no way to go back and fix it. We couldn't untell the lie and we couldn’t fix the wrongness of disobeying. Just imagine the image of an egg falling to the floor and being broken never to be put back together. Brokenness is hard to fix but our parents, as wonderful as they were, forgave us and life went on.  Then later in life our learning changed to that of somehow there was an explosion and when it was over well we have this beautiful world we now live in? I can see why we are a bit confused, can’t you? We can’t put it back together and then somehow all the pieces came together and something beautiful was made. 🙆🏻‍♂️Sounds a bit crazy doesn’t it? Now I think it is really hard to put trust in that theory. This theory is much easier to place trust in.

Genesis 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

John 1:3 (KJV) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

No Humpty Dumpty being put back together.

Oh but it goes much deeper than that. Just as we disobey and lied to our parents we have all done the same to our Heavenly Father and more. Now the question is have we realized it and have we asked for forgiveness? If we haven’t we are broken and never will we be put back together without realizing we have been broken. 

1 John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Just like Adam and Eve our wrongs must be acknowledged before they can be forgiven. 

😀Good News📰

Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! and what your potential is!

~Anne Frank~

Good news, let me be honest, the real truth is, but the question is can you believe who says those words? Does this person care about me? Or do they just want me to buy their product or sign up for their plan?  Am I really hearing the truth or are they just saying it’s the truth. How does anyone know they are hearing the truth? Are we asking the same question as Pilate asked; “What is truth?” John 18:38? 

Truth never changes 2+2=4 that will never change. It’s true that the sun will come up every morning and that will not change. Look at a lake and the surface of the water is always level that will not change. I have never heard anyone while boating say “hold on we are about to go down a steep hill.” We may put cream and lotions on our face and look like we are much younger than we are, but the truth is we get older everyday and that will not change. Life and death are true, whoever is born will also die. That is true and cannot be changed. What is the meaning of truth in our world today? I found this statement. “In today's world, truth is often split between objective reality (what actually matches facts) and subjective experience (what an individual feels or perceives as "my truth.” So what’s wrong  for you may not be wrong for me because I feel like it is true. Feelings have nothing to do with what is true. Truth never changes! What was true in 1950 is also true in 2026. Jesus steps out on the pages of our Bible and makes this statement John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Truth is important. Truth may or may not have feelings but we should never take our feelings over truth. What if I were to feel like I could fly? I go on top of my house and jump off. What is going to happen? Truth is going to take over in the form of gravity and down I go because gravity is truth. What goes up must come down. God is looking for people who worship Him in spirit and truth. John 4:23 (KJV) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

God wants people to have the correct information about Him. We can’t worship Him in spirit and truth unless we have true knowledge about Him. Where do we find that knowledge? We have a Bible that is full of truth. Sometimes it may be easy to believe a lie and many times the truth hurts to the point we just don’t want to believe it. John 8:45 (KJV) And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

God’s truth is seen everyday. 

Matthew 5:45 (KJV) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

We were able to get up this morning because God loves us. God has given the greatest gift anyone could give. The truth is that God sent His Son Jesus Christ into this world to pay our sin debt which we could never pay. It's a gift that we must receive, it is offered to everyone in the whole world. We will all get to feel the sun today and we need it for many reasons. The rain, well it’s for everyone too. Why? Because God loves us He gives. The payment for our sin, well it is for everyone too. Do we understand we are sinners? Do we know that God hates sin? God has provided a way out and a wonderful home, all you and I have to do is to realize we need it. 

Oh happy day when I realized Jesus really loved me. I ran to His open arms and He took me in and I have never been the same. More about Jesus I would know, more of His love to others show. Hallelujah I’m going home! Because I have a true book, the Bibles to show me the way. Oh what a Loving God we have. 

🍕Pizza ❤️

Love is not getting what one deserves, it's receiving what one doesn't deserve. 

I”m amazed by today's meaning of Love. We say we love so many things. We say I love my boat, car, house, life, pizza why we say we can even make it. We have so weakened its meaning. We hear others say “I’m getting married to the love of my life.” Only to find out that life must have ended because now we hear they are getting a divorce; and you heard one of them or both say “I hate instead of I love.” Oh what happened to the love? Maybe it was a  pizza love, they could take it or leave. That my friend is not love at all, at least not the Love of God. I can see how it would be hard to understand love if you don’t know what love is. Love keeps its word. Love wants the best. One of, if not the most favorite verses in the Bible is John 3:16 and it reads like this. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Don’t read so fast, God so loved that he did something. What was that? “he gave.”

God didn’t do like some of us have done. There was a husband that gave his wife a car. Wow now that’s love. You think? Here is the rest of the story. He brought himself a new car and gave his wife his old car. That was love alright but it was love for himself. Not so with God, He loved not just one but everyone of us “the world.” Now if you are from somewhere like Mars or the Moon it may not mean you; but if you are from this world then you are loved by God. We have in writing, this is not hearsay. But something bad happened and it wasn’t your fault. Remember Adam and Eve? I’m sure you do. They disobeyed God and because they disobeyed it affected the whole world. Find that hard to believe? Well it's true. I’ll show you; what you and I do, good or bad it effectives others not just ourselves. What Adam and Eve did affected the whole human race. God's love made a way for each of us. You say why am I punished for what Adam and Eve did? Good question and here is the answer. 

Genesis 1:27 (KJV) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Then Adam and Eve were told to multiply. 

Genesis 1:28 (KJV) And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered and when Adam and Eve had children they were born sinners because that’s what their mother and Dad were. Because of Adam and Eve this world needed a Savior to redeem the human race. Just as John 3:16 reads “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God so loved, therefore He gave. God loved and gave for a purpose and the purpose was for what Adam and Eve did could be made right for you and I. You know what? God didn’t just leave us to hope that we have eternal life. Oh no we will know by two ways.

1 John 5:13 (KJV) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Oh yes we have that in writing too. Webster says the word “Believe” means “To credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of something upon the declaration of another, or upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by other circumstances, than personal knowledge.”

When we believe something happens. What’s that? Guess what? We have that in writing too. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. When we believe, things change. Just as they did with Adam and Eve. Instead of running away from God we run toward God. We learn what Love is, why? Oh yeah we have that in writing too. 1 John 4:8 (KJV) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

When we know God we learn what real love is “God is love.”

🦹‍♀️Improve👩‍🏫

Listen to yourself, do you keep hearing the word can’t in your vocabulary? Then learn to say I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. 

There are those who never improve themselves, they just learn to adjust. It’s a great excuse isn’t it? I don't think so. Why would a person be satisfied when they could improve themselves? In John chapter 5 we read of a man who had a sickness of some type like 38 years. Wow, that is a long time. We read that this man would go to a place that was known for its healing powers. Like everything else in life there were some requirements. It was first come first serve but it had to be at the right time; timing was everything. Now we read that this man had been sick for 38 years; not sure if he had been laying around waiting for the right time for 38 years. Just that he had been sick that long. One day Jesus came by and asked this man who knew without doubt he was sick. Jesus said “would you like to be made whole?” Wasn’t that what he was there for? Read his answer “I have no man to put me in the water when it’s trouble.” Think about this man for a moment. He is a man who knows he is sick. Believes he knows where to get help. He goes there and waits. He needs help, he is at the place where he can get help, but can’t because there is no one there to help. Then Jesus asked him a question 

John 5:6 (KJV) When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? You think that sick man would have said yes, please. Read what he says; 

John 5:7 (KJV) The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

I don’t have any help. Someone always steps in front of me. You have worked hard for a promotion but someone else bigfoot steps right in front of you; almost, maybe next time. Jesus didn’t say “would you like for me to see what I can do?” No Jesus said “would you like to be made whole.” Jesus didn’t want to hear an answer with excuses. He just asked if he really wanted to be healed. Then Jesus told the man to get up and walk. I love what happened next. John 5:9 (KJV) And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

There are those today just like this sick man. They have tried Church and many have been sitting around waiting for a long time. They got involved, they gave and they have heard how others got help; but them, nothing. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, it's not the church just like it wasn’t the pool of Bethesda. Now the healing was found at the pool of Bethesda. It is not a pool or water that heals the sin sick, it’s the Blood of Christ. Has Jesus ever passed by? Have you ever heard that small still voice saying would you like to be made whole? Are you at Church listening for a small still voice. See that sick man that day had no doubt he was sick. He was on a search for help and when help came he had to obey, get up and walk. He did and from that day forward he was healed. I can’t express it enough that the enemy doesn’t want you to hear that small still voice. Oh no, he is happy where you are, confused. What Jesus does is not done over time, it's done immediately. I know that is hard for many to believe but it’s true and happens every time Jesus says come unto me and that person listens and obeys. I’m living proof. 

🤔Forget? I Don't Think So🥰

In Jesus we have forgiveness through his blood, even the forgiveness of our sins:

Luke 15:2 (KJV) And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.(Sinners)

The first thing I see is in the wording “This man (Jesus Christ) receiveth sinners” 

The second thing is that Jesus Christ is not too good to sit down with Sinners.

Jesus overheard the murmuring of the Pharisees and the scribes and gave them a word picture. Jesus looks at them and bringings it down to their level. Which of you having a 100 sheep and one of them went missing would not go looking for the one that was missing? Or would you just say well I still have 99 that’s not too bad.  No you would leave the 99 and go searching for the one that wandered off. You look and look until you find it. When you find it you place it upon your shoulders rejoicing. When you get back home you call your friends and others you know and you tell them the story and now all are rejoicing over one sheep that wandered off. 

Luke 15:4 (KJV) What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

Luke 15:5 (KJV) And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Luke 15:6 (KJV) And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

Then Jesus gives the meaning of what He just said. Luke 15:7 (KJV) I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Jesus said in a like manner there is joy in heaven over just one sinner that repents. Then Jesus says that there are 99 who need no repentance. Why? Because they look at themselves as being just. Wow! People are not sorry for their actions, they have no remorse, they have become hard hearted. Have we as a people come to this point that we are unwilling to forgive each other? We hear words like you just don’t know what they said to me and how it made me feel at the time. You have no idea or understanding how those words cut through me, I was so embarrassed. We have all been there and I will agree that those are very uncomfortable moments. Does that justify a lifetime of unforgiveness? I think not. Well how can I ever forget what they did? You may not be able to forget but God didn’t ask you to forget He asked us to forgive. I have heard many say that God has forgotten all our wrongs. Sounds good until you ask yourself what else has God forgotten? Read this verse 

Psalms 103:12 (KJV) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Removed or forgotten? 

Hebrews 8:12 (KJV) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Hebrews 10:17 (KJV) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

God says that I choose to forgive therefore I refuse to bring it up. Once upon a time I sold a table that my wife ask me not to. Boy was she upset with me and forgiveness was nowhere to be found. Then on top of that I was never paid for the table. Oh boy that was no help I couldn’t say “but look sweetheart we made money.” I had to forgive that man because we went to church together. I saw him every week at least 3 times. Did he forget to pay me for that table? Oh no he just chose not to remember. Our Heavenly Father will never say to us “you haven’t forgotten about that little problem you were having have you?” Oh no He hasn’t forgotten our Lord chooses not to remember when we repented. Think about it, God has not forgotten about anything and when we ask for forgiveness God says you are forgiven and we will never discuss this again. 

Hebrews 8:12 (KJV) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Well there you go once again we have that in writing.

Well what about my wife? She forgave me. How do I know? She hasn’t said anything about that table in years. She has chosen no to remember. Well has she forgotten? What do you think? My answer would be NO! Oh no I just remembered about that table myself. See how we don’t forget! Forgiveness is not forgetting, it's a choice not to remember. 

Luke 15:7 (KJV) I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

When you and I get to heaven and we are introduced. God will not say “I would like everyone to meet; you can place your name here. Bob, the man that had that awful problem with….. That my friend will never happen. That is God Mercy.