Run, Run, Run!

"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!"
-- 1 Corinthians 9:24

"Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."
-- Vince Lombardi

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
-- John 16:33

"Run, run, run, till your daddy takes your T-bird away."
-- The Beach Boys

Whether you realize it or not, each of us has been blessed in this life with far more than a "T-Bird." Consider that for a minute.

You have life!

Whether you believe you were given that life for a purpose, or aren’t sure what you might be here to do, or are capable of doing – you have life! Use it.

Be a world-changer, not a dust collector.

Use the life God says He has given you. One day you will no longer have this life. It will be gone. It could be tomorrow – God warns us of that very possibility.

He could take your life, or your “T-Bird” at any moment. Use the breath He’s given you, and do something worthwhile with it. He wants you to.

I urge you to run, run, run -- Until your daddy takes your T-Bird away!

Yes, There's John 3:16 -- But What About 17 & 18?

First, I want to apologize. I've not shared anything here in almost 4 months. Still shared some on Facebook, but not here. In those 4 short months, I've moved to Colorado, gotten married, and started back to college.

Life changes... thankfully, God's word, God's promises, God's faithfulness, do not.

Okay, I'm not clear on the differences of beliefs, but I'm asking for clarity, here, today. If there are Jehovah's Witnesses, I'm asking kindly and hope any will answer the same. Also, I know I have a few friends here that are Mormons. So I'm asking about John 3:17-18?

If I'm wrong on what I think I roughly understand both Jehovah's Witnesses & Mormons to believe, I apologize, please forgive me. I think I understand Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses believe something to the effect that Jesus and Lucifer were brothers, and Jesus is not God incarnate. If that's the case, how then do you answer the questions the following 2 verses bring up, please?

I'm asking in sincerity here, wishing to understand better. Thanks to any who care to try to clarify:

This is Jesus speaking to Nicodemus, teacher of the Jews, here:

John 3:16-18 --
16 “For God so loved the world,[i] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Now, it says twice there in 3 verses, "only son." So how exactly are Jesus and whoever else, thought to be brothers, please?

Thanks to any who care to discuss this civilly.

The Only Work God Wants from You

"Jesus told them, 'This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.'" (John 6:29)

'Work' isn't easy. It's why they generally have to pay you to do it. It's often challenging, takes effort, and is at times hard.

We are to WORK to believe.


Learn what you need to, in order to grasp the truth of God, of Christ.

Strive for a fuller understanding of God. Put forth effort in knowing Him better.

Work at it! :)

Prayer for Today

Father God, thank You for your son, Jesus. Thank You for your word to guide us, in the Holy Bible.

Please continue bringing us closer to You, Lord. Please bless us with a strengthening of faith.

Bless us with your Godly wisdom.

Bless us with discernment -- so that we may tell the truth from lies, the hype from the holiness, and your righteousness from our own rotten pride.

Please, Lord, help us to know You better, deeper, more intimately. Give us a fuller understanding and faith in You, the One, True, Almighty God.

Thank You for Jesus. It's in Him that we pray to You now. Amen.

The Good Shepherd?

"I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and my sheep know me--
just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father--
and I lay down My life for the sheep.”
(John 10:14-15 -- NIV)

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father;
and I lay down My life for the sheep.”
(John 10:14-15 -- NKJV)


With this verse, Jesus calls himself, “The good shepherd.”

It occurred to me this morning upon reading it that if there's a 'good' shepherd, there's probably a BAD shepherd, too.

We know this to be true, of course. I just don't know if it ever hit me like it did this morning.

We need to ask ourselves every morning -- and every time we take action or react, truly:

Which shepherd am I following right now?

While instant transformation may be the case for some, God shows clearly in scripture that this is NOT how He works on every one of us.

The Spirit is in us at the point of salvation, yes. But He chips away at us over a lifetime, it shows again and again throughout the Old and New Testaments.

“Choose This Day…”

It is our ‘daily’ battle as to which shepherd we choose to follow.

God says in the Book of Joshua:

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”
(Joshua 24:15)


It's not a once-a-week battle. It's not a day-to-day battle. It is a moment-to-moment, action-to-reaction struggle.

Do you let your circumstances dictate your actions and reactions? Do you let your emotions rule over you?

Most of us do, day after day.

Each day will, Will, WILL have its own set of 'circumstances' which will delude you, trick you -- and take your attention away from what truly matters -- if you continue letting them.

A Prayer for You Today

Lord Jesus, you are our good, great, and Almighty shepherd. We choose You, Lord. Thank You for choosing us first.

Please help us today to be bright lights for you. Like your cities on a hillside for all the people to see and come to for refuge, for comfort, for strengthening. Use us today, Jesus, please.

Love others through us today, Lord. Help us be better than we could be on our own. Help us share Your Truth today, Father. Please bless us with your Godly wisdom. Bless us with a strengthening of faith. Bless us with and through your Word.

Most of all, Your will be done, not ours. Here on earth, as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name we pray to you, Father, and we praise You. Thank You for loving us. Amen.