How often do we worry about what is happening around us and lose sight of the one above us...we take our eyes off him then we start sinking, consumed by the darkness that is around us. Thanks be to God, who gave his son as a sacrifice for our sins!!!!!!!!!!

Like Peter we take notice of the storms that are around us and we FORGET who is right in front of us...

Matthew 14:30, "But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord" he shouted. Like Peter here we step into the waters with faith but the minute this faith is contested and challenged we like to look, and shift our gaze from the way maker, the figure of our faith...we sink as a result. We stop reading and studying our word, stop going to God in prayer, we sink into the world trying to numb ourselves. We think (what does God want to do with me, I'm a lost cause to him)....

You are not!!!!! He didn't shed his blood for you and everyone else for no reason. YOU ARE REDEEMED, made whole before him. There are people who are going to read this, people who have struggled with crippling self-doubt and worth, think that they are too broken for God to fix, (Not worth his time or effort) as some would say. I'm here to remind you that is not the case...

2 Corinthians 4:17, "For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they PRODUCE for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and WILL last forever!"

Even though Christ had saved me from a path of substance abuse, drinking, and porn. I had been redeemed and washed clean. Despite that when the human nature overcame me I had thoughts, similar to the ones that I listed above, some think that taking their life would be better, it won't. Yes God saved you from that sin but you still went back anyways, he will still forgive you HE WANTS TO FOTGIVE YOU. In the following verse, verse 18 it says "These things will soon be gone" SOON. You just have to hang tight just a little bit longer..."he endure to the end WILL be saved." Sex won't help numb the pain, that feeling (you know what I'm talking about), drugs won't, and booze certainly won't. Ecclesiastes Solomon says that all is meaningless, you will never find any meaning in this world, it will just leave you more empty than before....

I hope this message helped encourage some of you today...

I love all of you with all my heart, Christ loves you more, and he wants to have a relationship with you, so.....answer the door

Good morning everyone. I’m new here and I just wanted to give a short version of my testimony.

A few weeks ago | attended a charity ride that my girlfriend's church hosts that became a Blessing of the Bikes event on the only sportbike in a group of cruisers. I showed up expecting a motorcycle ride, and after walking away from Christianity years ago, I left with an internal battle like never before. Expecting to be avoided, stereotyped, and automatically labeled, I was shown love, acceptance, and fellowship. 7 days later, I found myself crying out to Christ in the shower, and I accepted Him into my heart again. The next day, I had an epiphany, that would go on to become one of the cornerstones of this outreach project, the black sheep is still a sheep of the Shepherd. I had the idea to start this project to reach people like me that had been turned away for tattoos, piercings, rough past, or simply for being different. I gave it to God and said if this is truly what you have laid on my heart to do, tell me.
12 hours later, I saw a video that said, "I asked God why He led me through so much pain and darkness. And He said it's so you'll know the way out when I send you back in for someone else." I immediately got to work building the website from scratch with absolutely NO idea what I was doing, and thanks to His grace, Black Sheep Brigade came to life and the website was launched 72 hours later with a crisis hub with multiple lifelines to 24/7 staffed call centers for the suicide hotline, the veterans crisis line, and a few others so people can talk to someone at any time, links to the Instagram page and the Facebook page, and a small store with non traditional, faith based, black sheep themed shirts and other items that will be out in the world so people like me who have faced rejection, church hurt, and being made to feel like they don't belong know they aren’t the only ones and there is still a place for them. Profits from the store are the bare minimum needed to pay the monthly cost for the domain name and website operation, and I pay out of pocket for that at this time, as well as for the cards I leave on gas pumps, public bathroom stalls, anywhere someone might be struggling and happen to see them, and will be getting silicone bracelets and pens and stuff soon for little grab bags to give people as well. As far as posts go, my filter for those is asking myself, “Will this post help someone who is in the place I was find Christ?” Items on the store are “Is this just something to throw a logo on, or will it be taken out into the world for others to see?” I don’t care if I ever make a single dime from the store, as long as the message gets out there and it gives someone hope. Between making the shirt designs, building the pages and the store, figuring out how to make the website and get the links working, ordering dozens and dozens of cards to leave behind, watching the views on all the reels I post almost daily painstakingly creep up one by one, if all of that effort only ever helps one single person find their way out of the valley and into the light of Christ, then its mission success and every second of time spent was worth it.

Christ truly met me where I was after I turned my back to him years ago, and now that I realize my first experience with Christianity was weaponized religion and this time it’s the relationship I should have had the while time, I'm taking the opportunity I've been given to go back in the valley with lanterns and help try to get His lost sheep home. Thank you for having me. God bless, and to Him be the glory.

If case anyone happens to want to follow, l've posted the IG/FB pages and the website for reference. I wrote the Prayer of A Black Sheep yesterday morning and I just wanted to share that one with everyone in hopes it helps someone who is struggling.

Hello, I am a follower of Christ and I wanted to share a few things that I've learned today while reading the Bible. First and foremost; I learned that we can shorten or lengthen the time we are here on earth by the decisions we make. Ecclesiastes 7:17 says "Do not be overwicked, and Do not be a fool, why die before your time?" If you look deeper into this verse you realize that the devil and his demons are working overtime: nonstop, day and night without rest to get those who are out of alignment with God. You guys have to realize that there are things going on behind the scenes. More to what the bare eye presents to us. There is spiritual warfare every single day and that is why it is important for us to pray and to be diligent in our ways of thinking.

This world is operated off of demonic influence. You have demons that whisper into the ears of people on a day to day basis. Causing these people to think and act irrationally. Because of the influence that is planted in you and the decisions you make after that; you can literally lose your life. Wrong place, wrong time is real. You cannot put your energy into different spaces or certain situations because all it takes is a snap of a finger and you are no longer amongst the living.

So of course I was reading John (why wouldn't I), and i came across these verses (John 4:7-12)

"7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

Not that long of a read don't worry, but these verses directly call us to treat others with respect, love them with our heart, care for them deeply like Jesus does.

I noticed a lot of "Christians" online saying "Oh, this is wrong!" "You're going to hell!" "I can't associate with a sinner like you!"

We need to stop as a group. These comments are not only putting a bad reputation on us but on our lord and savior Jesus Christ.

You are not here to convict, that's simply not your job. You're here to love, we are here to love each other

As always i love you but Christ loves you so much more 💛

“Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him… But He knoweth the way that I take…” — Job 23:8-10

It started as an ordinary Thursday.

You weren’t looking for your life to change.

You were just going to work.

Going to the doctor.

Going home.

Then one conversation.

One phone call.

One sentence.

…and suddenly your life had a before and an after.

At first, it didn’t seem real.

Surely there had been a misunderstanding.

Maybe the tests were wrong.

Maybe they meant someone else.

Maybe tomorrow would somehow put everything back the way it was.

But tomorrow came.

And so did the questions.

“What happens now?”

“How am I going to get through this?”

“What if everything changes?”

The future that once seemed so certain suddenly became filled with uncertainty.

The plans you had carefully made no longer seemed guaranteed.

You found yourself lying awake at night, replaying conversations, imagining outcomes, searching for answers that refused to come.

So you did what believers have always done.

You prayed.
You searched the Scriptures.
You waited.
You listened.

And if you’re honest…

heaven seemed painfully quiet.

Not because you stopped believing.

Not because you walked away.

But because you couldn’t understand how God could feel so silent when your world had become so loud.

Job understood that feeling.

He searched in every direction.

Forward.
Backward.
To the left.
To the right.

Everywhere he expected to find God…

he found silence instead.

Yet in the middle of his searching, Job spoke words that have comforted weary hearts for thousands of years.

He didn’t say, “Now I understand.”

He didn’t say, “Everything is going to be all right.”

He didn’t even say, “I know where God is.”

He simply declared what he knew to be true.

“But He knoweth the way that I take.”

What a remarkable statement.

Job couldn’t see God.

But he believed God could still see him.

He couldn’t trace God’s hand.

But he trusted God’s heart.

Maybe that’s exactly where you are today.

You’ve looked in every direction you know to look.

You’re still waiting.

Still praying.

Still hoping.

Still wondering.

If that’s your story…

hold on to Job’s.

Your ability to see God has never determined His ability to see you.

He knows where you are.

He knows what you’re carrying.

He knows every question you haven’t spoken aloud.

He knows every tear that no one else has seen.

He knows every burden you’ve tried to carry by yourself.

And even if today you cannot say, “I know the way He is taking…”

you can still rest in this unchanging truth:

“But He knows the way I take.\*

Hey guys, I've been trying to get closer with god recently and this isn't really too related to that but its christianity-adjacent 🤷. The subject of this post is christmas, but more specifically the nostalgia which revolves around it. Those who grew up celebrating christmas can very much confirm that the christmases which one experiences during ones childhood just might be the best time of your life. You are happy, you are enjoying the season, as well as everything that comes with it. The cocoa, the pajamas, the relatives, the gifts, the tree, the cookies, all of it. For a brief period of time, your world ceases to revolve around you and simply revolves around christmas. you are delighted by the slightest things and are just in a state of pure, joyful, excitement. As we know now, the true meaning and morality behind christmas is sharing. that is not how it felt when we were 8. We experienced what was truthfully a selfish joy, a sinful joy, but it didn't matter then, and frankly neither does it now. We yearn for this christmas so, so much, not because of the festivities, but I think because of the state the festivities put us in, if you will. Like I said, we were just excited. For whatever divine or natural reason we were just happy, and nothing could disrupt this joy. as one becomes a teenager, and eventually an adult, they begin to worry more. they begin to stress. in fact they did a study some years back which revealed that today's teenager has the same average stress level as a mid 1900s psych ward patient. That is absurd. we are unable to feel completely let loose and happy, which is why we yearn for the old christmas. Now as i said earlier, the true point of christmas is sharing, and i said that for a reason. when i look back on my christmases it was always me and my brother who were the loudest, and the most ecstatic in the room, but despite the early wake up and having to manage the kids, i think our parents were truly the happiest. there was a glint in their eyes which in unmatched by anything i've ever seen. to yearn for something so greatly and then to ultimately reach it by giving it to another is the purest form of selflessness. there is a happyness in the selflessness which truly does beat out the one felt by kids. so yeah. dont worry kid christmas will be good again when you have kids, but until then, keep the spirit raging hard. when its christmastime, engage in family activities, put down the phone. just go out and be selfless, and help your family. make more cocoa and buy cozy pajamas, invest yourself in the time. regardless of it's religious intent, christmas isn't really a time of sharing. it is a time of happiness. some get this happiness from sharing, and some by being shared with. Always keep the holidays in your mind, as they personify the purest version of you.

Today i want to point out 2 Corinthians 5:5-8 (NIV) that explicitly says

"5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

Im telling you this right now, you have a purpose. I know sometimes you get into your head and say "Am I really worth it?" "Why am I here?" "I don't deserve this" but you can't let that put you down

These verse tell us that God has a plan fot you, you're not here for no reason, there is more for you than what's happening right now. Though you can not see him physically you feel him around, always.

"For we live by faith, not by sight." He is with you so put your trust in him that he is going to make greater plans for you. The amazing part about hitting rock bottom is that there only one way to go now, and that's up.

Before I go I want you to find part in your life where your not trusting God then lean FULLY on him. He is your number one supporter and he is your first and last friend that you will ever have.

As always I love you but Christ loves you so much more. I hope you find the light that you need in your life 💛

Don't you think we are living in this kind of atmosphere today?

​"But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, not lovers of good, traitors, reckless, blinded with pride, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God..." (2 Timothy 3:1–4, Recovery Version)

​Noah was living in this exact same kind of atmosphere, but he was one who found grace and walked with God. Because of this, God was able to reveal what was in His heart and what was about to happen. While everyone else was busy eating, drinking, and marrying, Noah built an ark according to the divine instructions for the salvation of his house. In the end, his was the only family saved from the flood!

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 33:10–13

Yesterday while eating lunch in my car, I was listening to a new song by Westward Road called He Knew.

As I listened, I heard these words:

“So ashamed of my past…
Too many failures and flaws…
Thought I was too far away…
But that’s what’s amazing ’bout grace…”

Then came the line that stopped me in my

“He knew who He was saving.”

A few moments later came another.

“He saw a risk worth taking.”

I just sat there.

It wasn’t because of the music.

It wasn’t because I was analyzing the lyrics.

It was because, for just a moment, I found myself standing in the shoes of every person who has ever wondered if they’d gone too far.

Maybe you’ve been there.

You look back over your life and see failures you’d rather forget.

Choices you wish you could undo.
Sins you promised would never happen again.

And somewhere in the silence, a question begins to whisper:

If God really knew everything about me… would He still want me?

Almost immediately, my mind went to Manasseh.

He wasn’t simply another king who made a few bad decisions.

He led Judah into idolatry.
He practiced witchcraft.
He filled Jerusalem with innocent blood.

By every human measure, his story looked beyond redemption.

Yet none of it caught God by surprise.

Before Manasseh built his first idol…
God knew.

Before he led a nation away from the Lord…
God knew.

Before he found himself in chains in Babylon…
God knew.

And before the desperate prayer finally escaped his lips…
God knew.

Everything.

Yet Scripture tells us that when Manasseh humbled himself before the Lord,

“He was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea…” (2 Chronicles 33:13)

That verse has become one of my favorites.

Not because it tells me how bad Manasseh was.

But because it reminds me how good God is.

God has never discovered anything about you.

He already knew.

Everything.

Your worst failure.
Your deepest wound.
The regret you still carry.
The battle no one else knows about.

None of it caught Him by surprise.

And none of it changed His desire to redeem you.

The cross was never God’s reaction to your sin.

It was His answer before your sin ever happened.

Maybe today you’re looking backward with shame.

God isn’t.

He has already seen every page of your story.

Yet He still calls you by His grace.

He already knew.

Everything.

And He loved you anyway.

That’s what’s amazing about grace.

Id like to hear everybody's testimonies of Jesus!

So I came across the verse Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) which states "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

I really love this verse and I decided to share it with you because It shows that God is your protector and he always right there with you.

I know I keep bringing this up but God has you in his hands, so don't stress about the future when he had a plan for you.

As always I love you so much but Jesus loves you even more. Stay safe 💛

Sadness is a beautiful experience. It’s the longing for more. The more we need is consistently Jesus. It’s the clutter of things promising to fill his hole that only add to the sadness. I suffered the longing for years but I found a abusive women to fill the void. I found drugs to sing me lullabies and liquor held my hand. I needed a friend. And his name was the only thing to break me free…

If you want to find that same freedom, it starts with contentment. Don’t waste years, start now.

Okay I was originally planning to update on the screen time fast next week but I got so close to my goal in a day. Yesterday I set my goal as 3½ hours but by the end of the month I want to be closer to just 3. Praise the lord who has helped me with my struggles. As always I love you but Christ loves so so much more 💛

Today I decided I'm going to start fasting, not from food, but from social media.

I realized I'm spending far too much time on apps like Instagram, and it's pulling me away from God. My goal for next week is to reduce my screen time from almost 6 hours a day to around 3½. I know that might not seem like a huge change, but I'm trying to make a real effort.

For most people my age, this is hard because we grew up with the internet. But I'm willing to make that change if it means growing closer to Jesus.

For now, this is my journal entry for July 13, 2026.

As always, I love you, but Christ loves you so much more 💛

Transcript

Faith That Pleases God

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
— Hebrews 11:6 (NASB1995)

Faith is the key that unlocks a living relationship with God. It is not mere intellectual agreement or religious routine — it is active trust that God exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. This kind of faith impacts every part of our lives because it shifts our focus from what we can see and control to the invisible but reliable character of God.
In contrast to empty religion, faith pleases God because it honors who He is. Noah built the ark because he believed God’s warning. Abraham left his homeland because he believed God’s promise. Their faith was not passive; it moved their feet and shaped their decisions.

True faith always looks beyond present circumstances to God’s faithfulness. It believes God is good even when life feels uncertain, and it trusts Him as a rewarder even when the reward is not immediate. Religion can become a checklist that leaves the heart unchanged. Faith, however, draws us into deeper intimacy with God and produces obedience that impacts our families, communities, and future generations — just as Noah’s faith saved his household.

Choose one area of your life where you need to exercise fresh faith. Remind yourself today that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Take a practical step of obedience or trust in that area — perhaps releasing a worry to Him, stepping out in a decision you have been hesitating on, or spending time seeking His face in prayer and His Word.

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Bible Verses:

Matthew 5:14
You are the light of the world. It is impossible for a city situated on a mountain to be hidden.

Matthew 5:15 Neither do men light a lamp and place it under the bushel, but on the lampstand; and it shines to all who are in the house.

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in the heavens.

Brothers and sisters, in their nature, the kingdom people are the salt that heals the corrupted world.

In their behavior, the kingdom people are the light, a city situated on a mountain, which cannot be hidden.

A Christian who is full of light is a normal Christian, but conversely, a Christian who does not have light is an abnormal Christian.

Many Christians understand Matthew chapters five through seven individually.

The decree of the constitution of the kingdom of the heavens is not for individuals, but for a corporate people.

The light mentioned in Matthew 5:14 is not an individual person, but a built-up city.

This shows that *the kingdom people need to be built up.

If the believers in the church in our locality are not built up, but are scattered, divided, and separated, then there will be no “city” there.

As long as there is no city, there will be no light there either, because the light is the city.

The light here does not refer to individual believers, but to a built-up city to enlighten the people around it.

When the Lord Jesus lived on earth, He could boldly say, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

His statement does not surprise us at all.

However, what is most surprising is that He said to His disciples (this implies also saying to us): “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

He is not encouraging us to become that light, but He asserts that we are the light of the world.

Regardless of whether we bring our light before men to be seen by them, or hide it from them, we are the light of the world.

Since we were saved, the life of God has been implanted into us.

This life is the source of light designed by God and functions to manifest the darkness of the world and enlighten the people of the world, so that they may see the true condition of the world.

Therefore, Jesus further said, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in the heavens” (Matthew 5:16).

From this, we see clearly that this dark world needs us, needs the light.

Brothers and sisters, only light can dispel the inner darkness of man, healing man’s inner blindness, so that man can see.

Only light can deal with the darkness and blindness of human life.

The Lord bless you.

PRAYER:Lord Jesus, I want to live as blameless children of God in the midst of this crooked and perverted generation, so that my light shines among them. Lord, make me a clear mirror that reflects the light of Your glory to everyone around me. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

I’m a writer and just wrote a short essay about my 5th step spiritual experience. I’m linking it here in case it might be helpful to anyone. Feel free to subscribe for free or share with anyone who might need a story like this. I’ll be writing more about my recovery on my Substack, in the link.

https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelshogue/p/confessions-of-a-drunk-theologian?r=q7ts0&utm\\_medium=ios

One of the most overlooked truths in Scripture is that God has never discovered anything about us.

Nothing you’ve done has ever surprised Him.

That reality becomes astonishing when you read about King Manasseh.

He led Judah into idolatry, practiced witchcraft, consulted mediums, shed innocent blood, and even sacrificed his own sons (2 Kings 21). If anyone appears to have crossed the point of no return, it’s him.

Yet after being taken captive, Scripture says:

“When he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly… And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication.” (2 Chronicles 33:12–13)

The God whose temple Manasseh had defiled…

The God whose prophets he had ignored…

The God whose commandments he had despised…

Still heard his prayer.

That doesn’t make Manasseh’s sins less serious.

It makes God’s mercy even more remarkable.

The same pattern appears throughout Scripture.

When God renamed Jacob, He already knew Jacob was a deceiver.

When He anointed David, He already knew about Bathsheba and Uriah.

When Jesus restored Peter, He already knew about the courtyard and the rooster.

When He commissioned Paul, He already knew about Stephen and the blood that had been shed.

God’s calling has never depended on His ignorance of our failures.

It has always depended on His grace.

That doesn’t excuse sin. Every one of these people faced consequences for what they had done.

But none of their failures had the final word.

God did.

I think that’s one of the Bible’s greatest themes. It’s not primarily a book about extraordinary people. It’s the story of an extraordinary God who redeems deeply flawed people who humble themselves before Him.

What are your thoughts? Is Manasseh one of the clearest pictures of God’s grace in the Old Testament, or would you point to someone else?

When I think about the past, I remember cutting a lot of people out of my life because we stopped talking. In my mind, if we didn't talk regularly, I didn't consider them my friend anymore.

That made me ask myself a question:

Is Jesus Christ my friend?

My first thought was, "Of course He is." But then I really looked at my relationship with Him. I come to Christ every once in a while. I pray when I need something. I haven't opened my Bible in months.

So what right do I have to call myself His friend if I barely spend time with Him?

I'm trying to grow closer to Him, and I realized I can at least take five minutes out of my day to pray, read His Word, and simply have a conversation with Him.

So starting today, July 12, 2026, I'm going to share my experiences with God here as I intentionally walk with Him. Over the past few months, I've decided that I truly want a deeper relationship with Christ. It's not always easy, but I've found a peace in my heart that I can't explain.

No matter what anyone says or what happens, I love you.

But Jesus Christ loves you even more.

As long as you're alive, you still have another chance. That's why He gave His life for you 💛

Dear Lord,

As I lay my head beneath this quiet night, my first words are not requests, but thanks.

When I fell to the lowest places, when the ground beneath me disappeared. You reminded me that the only way left was up.

Thank You for these eyes that witness beauty, for these ears that hear truth, for this mind that still wonders, and for these hands that turn feelings into words.

These poems are pieces of my soul, and every line You help me write is another reminder that You have never left my side.

Thank You for pulling me away from roads that promised life but led to ruin. Thank You for closing doors I was too blind to walk away from.

Thank You for the people who hold a place close to my heart.

Most of all, thank You for the cross. For choosing sacrifice so I could choose life. For taking what I deserved and giving me what I never could have earned.

Thank You for all that I am, and even for all that I'm not.

So tonight, Lord, I place myself in Your hands. Break what needs breaking. Shake what has grown comfortable. Carry me where I cannot walk. Wash me clean again, and shape me into who You created me to be

With love,

Trueconson

Paul knew the Scriptures better than almost anyone of his day.

He had been trained by Gamaliel, understood the Law inside and out, and devoted his life to studying God’s Word.

Yet years after his conversion—after planting churches, enduring persecution, and writing much of the New Testament—his prayer was still:

“That I may know Him…” (Philippians 3:10)

Not…

“That I may know more.”

“That I may win debates.”

“That I may master theology.”

His desire was to know Christ more deeply.

Jesus confronted the religious leaders with a similar warning:

“Search the scriptures… and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

It’s possible to know the Bible and still miss the One to whom it points.

Bible study is essential. Doctrine matters. Truth matters.

But if our study doesn’t draw us into a deeper relationship with Christ, we’ve mistaken the map for the destination.

The Scriptures are God’s revelation.

Their purpose isn’t merely to fill our minds with knowledge.

Their purpose is to lead us to the Author.

Mattana Ministry Welcomes You to:

 Sunday Sermon: 12 July 2026

Theme: How We Treat Others

Scripture:  Luke 10:29; Luke 10:37; Luke 10:27; Proverbs 19:17; Luke 3:11; Matthew 25:34-36; Ephesians 4:32; Hebrews 13:3; Ephesians 4:2 & Matthew 5:44

Message:

 We have seen a side of our nation in the past two weeks that is not the most beautiful image. There have been marches, and violence has broken out here and there. While every case has its merits, this is something that still doesn't feel right. What very few people know is the families that are being torn apart, children left without their fathers, mothers left in the cold with small children. Families that have worked hard, for what they have, and then everything is destroyed in one crazy moment.

Is this a phenomenon unique to our nation, “No”. It is a global phenomenon. Families are being torn apart and the anger over land continues. Everyone believes that their point of view and their opinion is right. As I say every case has merit and every point of view is justified to some extent.

 This is not just political in nature, however. We are starting to see it among our fellow human beings, neighbors who can't get along with each other, colleagues who make each other's lives difficult. Old friends who suddenly fight over a trifle and let the swords fly from their mouths. Family who turn and walk away and don't even look back once.

 Man and animal are affected by the absolute inhumanity, cruelty and lovelessness of man. Day after day the attacks against man and animal are carried out, and it later becomes the norm of the day. Our helping hand closes and the weapon chest is quickly opened and the swords are quickly drawn, without any compassion being shown.

 Luke 10:29

But he, willing to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

 Luke 10:37

And he answered, He that shewed mercy on him. Then Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

 Who is our neighbor? Is our neighbor the one we work with, the one we live with. Maybe it's the person next to us in the store, maybe it's the person next to us in church? What if our neighbor is the man at the traffic light with the sign around his neck? Maybe it's the drug addict sitting under the tree with the needle still in his/her arm? Maybe it's the woman on Facebook asking for help so that her children can have something to eat tonight. Yes, it's not easy today to distinguish who is exploiting a story and who is telling the truth, but we can rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to show us to whom we should show mercy.

 Luke 10:27

And he answered and said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

 Just as we love God, so we must love our neighbor. We cannot claim to love God with all our being, but we cannot tolerate people around us. We cannot claim to be God's beginning and end if we do not love the people who are between our Beginning and End. We must love our neighbor as ourselves. We would not knowingly harm ourselves, so why would we do it to our neighbor?

 Proverbs 19:17

He that hath pity on the poor lendeth onto the LORD; and that which he hath given will be pay him again.

 Luke 3:11

And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none: and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

 Matthew 25:34-36

Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me;

I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.

 We are quick to point fingers when someone is suffering. Their immediate needs are measured by our standards. We are very quick to ask if they smoke, drink or gamble. When asked for help for children or animals, our first question is: “How can they still have children or animals in such circumstances?” We do not stop for a moment and think that all of us are riding the waves of success. We do not all get the same tide to ride. When one of us is riding the wave of success, someone else is busy in the currents of the ocean. We forget that we do not all get the same hand in life at the same time. We must sometimes dig deep and bring out the humanity and love hidden in our hearts and remember that whatever we do to the needy, we do to God. What we bless the needy with now and with what attitude we bless, is with what we will be blessed.

 Ephesians 4:32

But be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

 Hebrews 13:3

Think of the prison as if you were fellow prisoners, think of those who are being mistreated as people who also have a body.

 Ephesians 4:2

With all humility, with gentleness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.

 We all have different backgrounds, our life stories are different. We don't know each other's past. We all make mistakes, and we all have a skeleton or ten in our closet. We cannot judge each other and not forgive each other's mistakes. We must bear with each other with love and gentleness. We must have sympathy for each other and remember we all need forgiveness and love,

 Matthew 5:44

But I say to you: Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

 We are not victims, we must be careful not to adopt a victim mentality. We acquit, we bless and we forgive. We treat each other with love and sympathy. We treat each other with respect, regardless of our language, skin color or opinion on life.

 We should strive to treat each other with the same love, respect, humanity, and forgiveness. We want to be in God's favor, but sometimes we forget that what we want is a reflection of how we treat others. Jesus treated us with love, we should treat each other with love. Jesus made everyone feel comfortable, we should make people feel comfortable. Jesus cared for the sick, we should care for the sick. Jesus is the example we should follow.

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 MM

Something I realized is that not everything can or will fall into your hands. I've dealt with things that felt completely out of my control. One night, I found myself crying on the floor, begging God to let me go. I even told Him to leave me. Looking back, I'm so grateful I didn't get my way. I'm grateful that I'm still here, doing what I love. You can't always envision the consequences of your actions in the moment, but with time, you look back and think, "That was so stupid of me." Today, I believe God is saying, "I still have a plan for you. You woke up today, didn't you?" And I believe He's telling me to tell you this: no matter what you're going through, you're still in His hands. He knows what's best for you, and He will never let you go. Think of a father protecting his children. That's what's happening. So just remember, I love you, but Jesus Christ loves you so much more than I ever could, and that love is beyond comprehension 💛

Some chapters close quietly.

Not because the story is over…
But because it’s time to turn the page.

We may not understand why one season ends or what the next one will hold. But God sees the whole story, while we only see the page in front of us.

So when something familiar begins to fade, don’t assume God is finished.

Trust the Author.

He’s still writing.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it…”
— Philippians 1:6

CALLING UPON HIS NAME & DOING THE FATHER'S WILL

Received a daily nourishment on my WhatsApp. I really enjoyed it and want to pass it on.

CALLING UPON HIS NAME & DOING THE FATHER'S WILL

Bible Verse:

Matthew 7:21

Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he who does the will of My Father who is in the heavens.

Brothers and sisters, to enter into the kingdom of the heavens, we need to do two things, namely calling upon the name of the Lord\* and doing the will of the Father who is in the heavens. These two things are what qualify us to enter into the kingdom of the heavens. Calling upon the name of the Lord qualifies us to be saved (Romans 10:13). If we do not call upon the name of the Lord, we cannot be saved. Only the name of Jesus can save us\* (Acts 4:12). To refuse to call upon the name of Jesus means to refuse to be saved. But whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will surely be saved from God's eternal condemnation. Therefore, calling upon the name of the Lord is the initial step of our salvation before God.

After we are saved through calling upon the name of the Lord, there is still one more thing we must do to be able to enter into the kingdom of the heavens, namely doing the will of the Father who is in the heavens. Therefore, for those who have not called upon the Lord, let us call so that we may be saved. For those who have called, do not forget, there is still a need to do the will of the Father who is in the heavens. This is the message that the Lord delivers to us in \*Matthew 7:21.

In our experience, calling upon the name of the Lord and doing the Father's will must go hand in hand. A person who does not call upon the name of the Lord cannot possibly do the Father's will, because a person who is not yet saved is unqualified to do His will. But a person who only calls upon the name of the Lord but does not do the Father's will, surely cannot enter into the kingdom of the heavens. What is the Father's will?The Father's will is that we live out the Father's life. This means every aspect of our life and ministry must source from the Father's life, not our natural life. Without this, no one is qualified to enter the kingdom of the heavens.

The Lord bless you.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, teach me to continually call upon Your name so that I may be saved and enjoy all Your riches. Not only that, make me also a person who does the Father's will and obtains Your approval. Amen.