Friday 3/16 ~ Then God played a trick on Satan

On March 16, 2018July 15, 2025 By In Death of Jesus Christ, Satan, Saved from hell, truth, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, March 16 (3/16), is John 3:16 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Guess what? Many people have heard there is such a scripture as John 3:16, but they do not know what it says. And among those who do know what it says, many have no idea what Jesus dying on the cross has to do with going to heaven.

It is important for us to read the entire Bible so we can understand the isolated scriptures we hear or read. There was a song written several years ago called, No Man Is An Island. No scripture is an island either. Just as every person influences other people in some way, every scripture influences other scriptures.

The meaning of John 3:16? Romans 3:23 says “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” And Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is [spiritual] death.”

There are certain truths that cannot be broken. For example, it is impossible for God to lie. Another truth is that both good and evil exist. It is obvious both are in a battle to win. Satan is the seat of evil. God is the seat of good. God is stronger than Satan. How do we know? Whatever Satan does, God can undo. When Satan causes someone to be sick, God can heal them. When Satan causes someone to sin, God can forgive them. When Satan causes someone to die, God can bring them back to life.

Satan held mankind hostage because we all sin. The ransom to free mankind was the death of someone who had never sinned. Only one being had never sinned ~ God. But God was smarter than Satan. God sent his Word down to us in flesh (John 1:1f, 14) ~ Jesus ~ who lived that perfect life that is impossible for us to live. Then, the fleshly-part of God paid the terrible ransom: He died physically and spiritually on the cross.

The ransom was now paid (Matthew 20:28 and I Peter 1:18-21). Then God played a trick on Satan. Only the flesh part of Jesus died. And even then, that body came back to life.

Today, we have a choice: Become a Christian or tell God the way we live is none of his business. Think. Think about this. Deeply. “God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son.” Understanding the price he paid to keep y out of hell, how can anyone walk away from him?

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Thursday 3/15 ~ Rise up and sing!

On March 15, 2018July 15, 2025 By In family, forgiveness, Inspirational, problems, Thanksgiving, truthLeave a comment

The scripture for today, March 15 (3/15), is Colossians 3:15 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Paul was encouraging the Christians at Colossae to get along with each other. After all, they were all members of the one body ~ the one church. In the next verse, he gave them a way to help it along: Sing.

Today, let us sing. Sing to each other. Sing in unison to unify your heart with others. Sing in harmony to harmonize their lives together. Sing to show thanksgiving for your brothers and sisters.

What a wonderful way to mend a rift. Sing. Sing with the person you are not getting along with. Watch the smile on your face drift over to them. Watch the smile on their face rise up out of a heart that really does want to love you.

Let not little things interfere with your love for others. You do not want to cause pain to your heavenly Father when his children do not get along. Let us join each other ~ and sing!

Wednesday 3/14 ~ Are you throwing away your prize?

On March 14, 2018July 15, 2025 By In Heaven, Inspirational, power, victory1 Comment

The scripture for today, March 14 (3/14), is Philippians 3:14, as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Toward the end of Jesus’ sojourn on earth, he knew that, out of jealousy, the religious leaders were trying to kill him. So for a while, he stayed out of Jerusalem where the religious headquarters was. Eventually, the time came for him to put himself in their hands. Was it easy for him to do? Definitely not! For he knew his death would be by torture. But he pressed on.

“They were on their way up to Jerusalem with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished while those who followed were afraid” (Mark 10:32).

Jesus pressed on. He did not want to go through the crucifixion. Hebrews 5:7 says that “during the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.”

As difficult as it was for him, Jesus pressed on toward the goal to win the prize. But the prize was not for himself; it was for us ~ eternity in heaven instead of hell!

None of us has to go through what he did for our salvation and avoidance of hell. Our little bit of sacrifice is nothing by comparison. Shall we throw away the prize Jesus sacrificed so much for so we can have a little more fun, accumulate a few more things, be a little more important to our friends?

Can you press on? Or are you throwing away your prize?

Tuesday 3/13 ~ It’s God’s heart calling to your heart

On March 13, 2018 By In Daily, healing, Inspirational, ScriptureLeave a comment

The Scripture for today, March 13, Is Ezra 3:13 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.”

Solomon’s great temple had been destroyed and the Jews forced to go to Babylon. Now, 70 years later, they were back and had rebuilt the temple. The older Jews who had seen Solomon’s temple wailed in grief because it was not nearly so grand as Solomon’s. The younger ones shouted for joy because at least they now had a temple again. So the laughing of the young people and the crying of the old people mingled.

Today, sometimes the laughing and crying around us get too loud and put our lives in confusion. We don’t understand what is going on. Sometimes the laughing or crying is our own. Sometimes we need to get away from the loud laughing and crying.

Turn off the television. The radio. The phone. The computer. Don’t answer the door. Go into a room where you can be alone in complete silence. Then pick up the Bible and begin to read Luke about the life of Christ, or Philippians about peace, or the Psalms about overcoming adversity, or James about the direction your life is going. Read the whole book in one sitting.

Be still. Hear it now?

It is God’s heart calling your heart.

A Child’s Bible Heroes Book 5 ~ Joseph

On March 12, 2018 By In InspirationalLeave a comment

05-Joseph-KindleMedium

1 ~ Joseph Is Born

2 ~ Dreams

3 ~ He Goes Away

4 ~ Egypt Far Away

5 ~ Another Lie

6 ~ Life in Prison

7 ~ Pharoah

8 ~ Being Hungry

9 ~ Reunions

10 ~ The Impossible

Joseph’s brothers did not like him. As a boy, he had dreams of them bowing down to him and that made them madder. So, they sold him to become a slave in the far-away kingdom of Egypt. He even spent many years in prison. But he never complained. Then he was made almost a king himself and his brothers bowed to him.

Monday 3/12 ~ Prepare to be delighted

On March 12, 2018July 15, 2025 By In Bible, blessings, faith, Inspirational, knowledgeLeave a comment

The scripture for today, March 12 (3/12), is Ezekiel 3:12 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“The Spirit lifted me up and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound ~ May the glory of the Lord be praised in his dwelling place!”

This is quite interesting because, despite some who preach being “slain in the Spirit,” the Spirit does not make people fall down. The Spirit lifts people up. The Spirit did this to Ezekiel on several occasions; always, if he was sitting or lying down, the Spirit lifted him up onto his feet.

There are so many things we think we know about the Bible, but when we begin to investigate, it just isn’t there.

>What about Joseph dying after Jesus turned 12? When Jesus was rejected after preaching in Nazareth a year before his crucifixion, they mentioned Joseph in the present tense.

>Or the Holy Land always having been desert? The Bible tells of nine forests plus those on mountains.

>Or the prodigal’s brother? As the oldest son, he was going to inherit the entire estate, but his insane greed wanted his brother’s party too.

>Or David being just a boy when he killed Goliath? He had already killed a lion and bear before that, and big Saul’s armor fit him.

>What about “Doubting Thomas”? The other apostles refused to believe before they saw Jesus alive again. More, when Jesus wanted to go to Jerusalem, his apostles said no, but Thomas said, “Let us go to Jerusalem so we may die with him.”

>Or everyone going inside the temple to worship? Only priests were allowed inside the building. Commoners worshiped in the courtyard.

>Or Bethlehem being a little town? It was a fortified walled city.

What excitement to read the Bible for yourself and discover its treasures for yourself. Open it. Read it. Be delighted.

Sunday 3/11 ~ Shhh… Listen… He’s calling for you

On March 11, 2018 By In InspirationalLeave a comment

The scripture for today, March 11, is Ecclesiastes 3:11 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“…He has also set eternity in the hearts of men….”

People have always thought about eternity. Everyone wonders sometimes why we are here and what happens when we die. All people hope to live on.

That instinct is God speaking to us saying, “Yes, there is an eternity, and I want to be part of yours.”

Indeed, there is a God-shaped emptiness in the heart of man. God wants to fill it. We want him to.

But how bad do we want him to? If we spend each day so busy pursuing things and pleasures and power, it’s easy to forget about him. Then our heart aches, and we do not understand why.

It is eternity calling out to you still. It is God calling out to you still. Listen! He’s calling you in His Word ~ the Bible. Open it and listen. Shhh. Don’t you hear him?

Saturday 3/10 ~ Will you last forever?

On March 10, 2018July 15, 2025 By In Bible, Heaven2 Comments

The scripture for today, March 10, is Colossians 3:10 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

Did you ever make something with your hands and it was your pride and joy? Were you so proud of it that you would stop at nothing to take care of it and make sure that it lasted forever? Yes, you had a few rules about its care. You had a few rules about who could touch it and who couldn’t. You have a few rules about whether it should be kept at high or low temperature, should or shouldn’t be exposed to water. You were its creator and it was, in a sense, a part of you.

Do you resist knowing the Bible because you think of it as being full of rules from a God who doesn’t really like you and is just giving you a hard time so you can’t have any fun?

Think again. He made you. You are his pride and joy. He will stop at nothing to make sure you will last forever. He made a few rules for your daily spiritual care.

He is your Creator. He loved you enough to make you, and you are a part of him. Now he wants to take care of you so that you can last forever. Can you love him back ~ your maker and the lover of your soul?

Friday 3/9 ~ Open the door to the mystery and step inside

On March 9, 2018July 15, 2025 By In church, Death of Jesus Christ, forgiveness, Saved from hell, victory2 Comments

The scripture for today, March 9, is Ephesians 3:9f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“To make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Ever wonder why God created the world? Here it is: The “mystery”. The” mystery” can be discovered by making a chart each time “mystery” appears in the Bible along with who understands it and who does not.

The “mystery” as expanded upon in this letter to the church in Ephesus, is Jesus paying the ransom for us sinners and setting us free from Satan. It is complete and full forgiveness.

Who does God desire to explain this “mystery” to? Rulers and authorities in heavenly realms ~ angels, demons, and Satan. You see, angels don’t seem to get it, and Satan does not want anyone to be forgiven.

Satan spends a lot of time and energy convincing people good is bad and bad is good. He doesn’t want to be the only one going to hell. And he wants to prove he is stronger than God. But even when Satan is successful and we sin, God just negates it and forgives us. There is nothing that Satan can do that God cannot undo. That enrages Satan.

Oh, the grand “mystery”. It is God’s love demonstrated by the death and resurrection of his Son so we can be set free. This “mystery” is revealed through the church who has believed it. Open the door to the “mystery” and step inside. God is there waiting for you. And he is smiling.

Thursday 3/8 ~ If you lost everything tomorrow

On March 8, 2018July 15, 2025 By In emptiness, Heaven, Inspirational, Loss, sacrifice, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, March 8 (3/8), is Philippians 3:8 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ.”

Wow! Paul, who wrote this, considered everything he had previously owned and every position he had ever held as rubbish ~ garbage ~ compared with belonging to his Lord.

Paul apparently came from a well-to-do family since he was born in today’s Turkey but went to school in Jerusalem. He also apparently held a position in the Jewish ruling body, the Sanhedrin, since he could vote on whether to execute someone. So he probably owned a lot of things and had an honored position. The King James Version of the Bible says he considered it all as dung ~ manure.

Where are your priorities? What do you spend most of your time on? The stuff you just have to own, exciting things you just have to do, the power you just have to claim? All to enhance the little inch of your life on earth?

What if a storm destroyed your house, your car, and all your stuff tomorrow? What if you were banned from a sport you love tomorrow? What if a rumor destroyed your career with all its power tomorrow? Then what?

Or could you consider the deep and unconquerable love of Christ Jesus your Lord the most valuable thing in your life? Could you accept your loss, take advantage of it, and unleash a different kind of life for Jesus with no regrets?

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