🫱Successful Life🤝

 The best decision I ever made was about today!

Go to any Graduation and they will have the most successful student or students come to the stage. Sometimes they will have a successful person give a speech. Is that real success? Then there’s the ones who think possessions will bring happiness. My wife and I started a business. I did the work she did the book work. Our goal was to make a living not to get rich nor have great possession. After 30 years we have been successful; would we say that is success?🤔 NO! Then what is a successful life? Luke 12:15 (KJV) And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Now I am not against having nice things 

and neither is God. If not careful, nice things will have us as well as our focus. Life consists of so much more than the abundance of the things we possess. Let’s learn from one man's mistake who thought more was being successful. In Luke 12:16-23 we read of his demise.  The story in short, it’s about a farmer who had an above average harvest. His harvest was so good that his barns would not hold the harvest. He decides to get rid of his old barns and build new ones. Then he said to himself I will have enough for many years, I can eat, drink and be merry.  Many are working toward the same goal; so what happened to this man? Well first thing is God said this man was a fool. Oh no, yet he looked so successful, how could this be? Well the first thing is what he thought would bring real happiness didn’t. He forgot about today’s rule. The today’s rule? The Lord has told us about today more than once. 

Matthew 6:11 (KJV) Give us this day our daily bread.

Proverbs 27:1 (KJV) Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Today is all we have. Is it wrong to build for the future? No, we should do that without doubt.  We must keep in mind that the future we plan for may not include us, we may never get to enjoy it. God didn’t call the man a fool because he planned for the future. He was called a fool because he left God out of his future. Success is not having a more comfortable life here. Success is having a more abundant life in a place that our minds can’t even imagine. Oh, but I would like to see the beauties of this world. Me too but I know I’ll never be able to see what I would love to see here. Oh but there is a place called Heaven that puts the beauties of this world in the dark. For we are told that eye had not seen nor ear heard what has been prepared for those who love the Lord and didn’t miss that day? What day? The day of salvation. Oh what a great day that was. A good friend of mine just went there. His wife told me of his last moments here. She said he was so excited about all he was about to see. His loved ones, the small child that died that he never held. All the sights of what has been prepared. Was he scared? No, he was excited and couldn't wait. He got his whole family there and told them not to worry. He  got his grandchildren to sing as he told everyone how much he loved them and looked forward to the day they were all together again. Then he said goodbye, closed his eyes and went to the home he had prepared for. What a great way to leave this world all because he didn’t miss that important day; now is the day of salvation. As one person looked at another and said “are you all the way in or not?” You can’t go swimming without getting in the water. 

🌱Grow 🌽

 Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still. 

2 Peter 3:18 (KJV) But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Grow is to enlarge, to produce. When the farmer plants, what does he need to see happen? He needs to see that the seeds he planted are growing. If they grow then they will produce. The same is true with other things. We are born into this world and we are fed milk but as we grew it wasn't long before we needed more than milk. We then were fed soft foods which satisfied us for a while but like the milk we soon needed more. Then we were fed solid foods. Each step showed a growth period. This is true in everything, especially in learning. If we stop learning then we become stagnant, not active in our learning. That is why many know little or nothing about the Bible. It’s because they are having little to nothing to do with their learning process. They have let someone else do their thinking for them. I just don’t have the time to put into another project. Well learning what your Bible says should never be called a project. Church, well there are nothing but hypocrites there and I just don’t care to be around that kind of people. Sunday School, well that’s for kids. Another thing is the only thing the Pastor talked about is money. I will agree there are hypocrites there; Just like everywhere else we go and are a part of but we don’t mind being around those kinds of people then. Sunday School sure it’s for kids but every Church has an adult class and there, if you like you can raise your hand and ask adult questions. Sure the Pastor has to speak about money just like everyone else does but it’s not all the time. When I hear someone say that what they are really saying is I don’t go to Church much but when I go all they talk about is money. 

One can’t grow without participating, keep feeding your baby milk and they won’t grow. Never go to school and you will never learn math, never know what a noun, pronoun, verb or an adjective is. Your reading skills will be very low. What one needs to do is grow and we grow by understanding that’s the growing process.

Hebrews 5:13 (KJV) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Hebrews 5:14 (KJV) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

How much of the Bible do you really know? Here are some questions, be honest and answer them without looking them up, for they are elementary questions.

1. How many books are in the Old Testament? 
2. Adam and Eve who were they?
3. Who built the Ark?
4. Is the book of Matthew in the Old Testament or New Testament?
5. What was the name of the apostle that denied Jesus?

How did you do? I hope very well, if not them it wouldn’t be a bad idea to attend Sunday School. Remember Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people so don’t be unprepared. 

🧐Know The Truth🤩

 I’m back after a quick trip to Aruba.

Truth will always be truth, know the truth and the truth will make you free.

How is that possible? There has to be something to go by that is true. One morning I heard a chain saw. I looked out my kitchen window to see two men cutting down a tree on my property. I walked down to where they were and told them that they were on my property. One of the men told me I was wrong that this was his property. I told him no and I would go get the plot. I returned and he looked at it and then began to step off with his feet and then told me that he was right. I once again told him no and then I pulled a tape measure from the tree to the peg in the ground which showed his stepping off measurement was way off. He then told me that the tape measure was wrong and his stepping method was right. His friend finally convinced him that he was wrong and that the tape measure was right. His stepping method was not the truth, the tape measure was the truth. The tape measure was not true because I said it was, it was an established truth. 

Know John 8:32 (KJV) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

We read that there is a truth to be known. Had I not known about a tape measure then I would not have been able to establish error. Here in John 8:32 Jesus said that there was a truth and that truth shall make one free. Jesus established what truth was in 

John 8:31 (KJV) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Jeus said that the truth could be found in His Word. Great but who is this man Jesus? 

Matthew 16:17 (KJV) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

John 20:17 (KJV) Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Jesus is God's Son. 

Generation/Generations

Genesis 7:1 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

This generation narrows it down to one generation. Now Noah has more than one generation.  

Genesis 6:9 (KJV) These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Noah had more than one generation. Noah had children which had children and so on and so on. When we open up to the first book of the New Testament we read these words.  

Matthew 1:1 (KJV) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Jesus Christ has no generations, only one generation meaning no offsprings. 

Matthew 11:25 (KJV) At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Have we become so smart that we have missed the truth?

Proverbs 30:5 (KJV) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Is the Bible the tape measure or are we stepping it off ourselves?

🤔Be A Learn🤗

When one continues they become a learner or a student. 

Matthew 16:24 (KJV) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

When we read the words “deny himself” it goes against what we want. We hear take care of number one! Be careful that you don’t just see the words “deny himself.” Jesus was talking with those who have decided to follow Him. Once one decides and becomes a learner he knows there are things that must be denied. Reading that shouldn’t be strange. If one wants to increase their body strength there are things they will have to deny. If they want real success they will need a trainer or someone to teach them. That person then would become a learner from one who knows. That is what Jesus is teaching His disciples. The fact is clear “Then said Jesus unto his disciples” or those who have decided to follow Jesus, learn the things of Jesus.  Did you see what those learners were to deny? I didn't think so. As these men were taught they knew what needed to be denied. That's just simple learning. Have you ever learned a better way of doing something? If you have then you have to deny yourself from doing it the old way. Want to build that body mass? Then you will have to deny yourself. Want to lose some weight? Then you are going to have to deny yourself some things. Want to know more about this man Jesus? Then you are going to have to deny yourself. After I gave my heart to the Lord and He forgave me all my sin I had a desire to know who Jesus was. I remember night after night I would read my Bible to my wife. Then I would ask her to explain what I just read. She would and she became my first teacher of God’s Word. I was thrilled and excited and I couldn’t wait for the evening so I could hear and learn more about Jesus. As I learned and became a disciple of God’s Word my learning increased. Then I went to a night college and learned more. Church wasn’t a place I had to go too, it was a place I wanted to go to. In my process of learning I had to deny myself some things to understand and know other things about Jesus.  

Notice what else Jesus said.

Matthew 16:25 (KJV) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

I love how this verse starts off “For whosoever will” it didn’t read if you John, Peter and James will. Oh no it reads if anybody will, that’s me and that is you may friend for God is not a respector of person. Yes without a diploma, you see God is not looking for those with great intelligence. He is looking for those with great desires. Losing life and finding life is the question. I know those who have the Ranch, the Cars, the Boats, the House and all the Cash one could ever desire. Yes the promise of more will bring real joy and happiness, what a lie. One only has to read about Solomon to know better. You nor I will ever have what Solomon had. He realized that people, position, and plenty of stuff doesn’t bring real happiness nor joy. I know many think that if they could just win the lotto they would be happy, but you won’t! It will only increase your troubles. I was on a dead end street until Jesus took time out of His busy schedule to save me. I gave away a life full of nothing and gained a life full of happiness and joy and a place called Heaven. I became a winner! Then Jesus said this; Matthew 16:26 (KJV) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Wow mine and your soul is worth more than gaining the whole world. Why wouldn’t one want to become a learner? I got Jesus. What could I want more? 

I didn’t deny myself I gained it all. This life creeps up on us. The wrinkles slip up on us, our hair falls out along with our teeth, our mind slips and our walk gets slower. One day you realize your strength is getting a bit weaker and then weaker and then, well almost gone. Your eyesight is cloudy. The doctor tells you to watch what you are eating, lose some weight. Well you get the picture don't you? Deny Yourself!

🤺FREEDOM 💀

 Better to die fighting for freedom than be a prisoner all the days of your life.                                           Bob Marley

It would be nice if there were a Formula to Freedom. I don’t know if you could call this a Formula or not but I will let you make the decision. 

• Sept one- “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on HIm.” 

Before one can be free there must be a realization they are in bondage. Bondage is a power that holds. It’s like being behind bars or in prison, you're limited to your will power. You want out of this prison that you are in without doubt but you are bound and you can’t get free. What you need is for someone to come with a key to unlock the cell door. Think of the key as the Formula to Freedom. The key is put into the lock and the door is now able to be opened but you just sit there. Are you free? No! Why? Because you don’t believe you are. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on HIm. Step one is to believe. Mark 9:23 (KJV) Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Step One:

 Is to BELIEVE in Jesus. Oh but there is more than just believing. You see one can believe that the key has opened the door but just believing will not make one free.  There must be action on what one believes. “If”  you keep sitting there, nothing will happen and you will never find Freedom.  

Second Step: 

If you get up and start walking you will find that the door of your bondage has been opened and there is Freedom. “If ye continue in my word” one can believe in Jesus all day long but until they continue in His Word then they will never move forward. “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;” A disciple is a learner. You want to be a Doctor, Electrical engineer, plumber, electrician, you name it whatever there has to be more than believing you are. Would you go to a doctor that came into the examining room and told you that he has always wanted to be a doctor. I quit school in the 11th grade and opened this office. Now tell what has been troubling you?

One doesn’t become a doctor by believing he can, neither can one be free from bondage just believing there is Freedom. Jesus teaches that He knows the way 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.

In Jesus there is real Freedom. Freedom comes by Believing in Jesus then continuing in His Word which is easily found in the Bible and then becoming a learner of His Word.

John 8:31 (KJV) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

It’s a learning process just like everything else. If we spend no time in the Word of God or little time then we know little about real Freedom. Knowing how one can be free will never bring Freedom. How does one learn? By putting forth an effort. I use to work for my Father n Law. One day I was helping him cut rafter as we were framing a roof. He said to me I can teach you because you want to learn. Too many want the know-how without putting in the learning. One learns by doing what he has been taught. My grandson worked on F-15 fighter jets. He fixed problems in the electrical part of the Jet. Once after working on a jet he told the pilot it was fixed. The pilot said “get in, let's see.” Did he trust what he did to fix the jet to the point he himself was willing to go with the pilot in the air? 

That is confidence in what you have been taught. What if he had said no not this time you test it and then I will go up with you. That is having no confidence in what you have been taught.  

2 Timothy 3:14 (KJV) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

Are you walking out of the cell door to Freedom? Or are you just sitting there knowing about Freedom but doing nothing to be Free. You are the one that has to get up. You are the one who has to start walking. You are the one who has to start learning. Keep sitting there and you’ll never learn. You have more than likely heard that phrase “you’ll never learn will you?”

🤠Truth verses Lie 🤡

 If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

After leaving the Air Force flying F15’s I started flying commercial jets for Delta. Then I left Delta and started flying for United because the pay and benefits were better. Now I just fly my little lira jet flying people to places they need or want to go. 

I love my Bible because it has taught me so much. In two verses it has taught me about truth and also lies. Let me share. 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.

John 1:17 (KJV) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Psalms 25:5 (KJV) Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Psalms 31:5 (KJV) Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

Ephesians 4:21 (KJV) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Our Bible is true because it teaches of the one that is true, Jesus Christ. 

Now the story you read at the beginning was almost all a lie. I never flew anything except off the handle. Never worked for Delta nor United and I sure don’t have a small lira jet. I wish all that were true because I love flying but I do not know how to pilot a plane. The Bible that tells us who the truth is also plainly tells us who is a lair and gives his name. John 8:44 (KJV) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Lying is not a good thing but I doubt that there has been anyone born outside of Jesus Christ that hasn’t told a lie. There is proof.  Psalms 58:3 (KJV) The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Would you agree that we all have been born from the womb? If you are a parent did you baby ever cry just for you to hold them or walk them? Sure they did. Unbeknowing to them they were lying to get their way. Know what? We did the same thing when we were small. We grew up learning how to tell lies. Did you do this or that son? Gail, did you bring up the…..? Oh my the lies that I told would fill up many 18 wheeler trailers. When we were born we were all alike except for one difference and that was we were either male or female. Where did this lying come from? If Jesus is the Father of Truth then who is the father of lies? Great question and Our Bible plainly tells by name. We have already read who he was but I’ll write it again.

John 8:44 (KJV) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

When you and I lie we are following the wrong one for he is full of lust, murderer, untruths, he is a liar from the beginning. How will we ever escape?  Escape is the wrong word for if we were just to escape we would have outsmarted and broken free ourselves. What we need is freedom and once again the Bible tells us how to get freedom.. 

John 8:31 (KJV) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;                                                                                                 

John 8:32 (KJV) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

The “the truth shall make you free” we have already established who truth is “the truth is in Jesus” as well as the lair “the devil.” Bondage with no freedom is in the devil and true freedom is in Jesus Christ. We must believe in Jesus as our savior and then continue in His Word the Bible. Then and only then will we become a learner and follower of Him. That my friend is the way to real freedom. 

Mark 9:23 (KJV) Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

John 15:7 (KJV) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

God’s Word abides in us because we continue in God’s Word. Where is the priority of God’s Word in our lives? Is it daily persistence? 

• Are we reading God’s Word? 
• Studying God’s Word? 
• Memorizing God’s Word? 
• Meditating on God’s Word? 

If not, how will we ever get free from that which has us chained?

Did I tell you that I at one time flew jets?

2 Timothy 3:14 (KJV) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;