“Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9 ESV)

Perceptions of God Vary Among People

Some picture God as an impersonal, white-bearded old man sitting on a cloud far away—completely out of touch with the modern world. Others see Him as a harsh judge with a strict set of rules, constantly watching to catch any mistakes. And when you fail, like the evil Ming from Flash Gordon, He supposedly sends terror from the sky through plagues, storms, or other so-called “acts of God.”

Some see Him as a mean and controlling father, teacher, or drill sergeant—someone who sends problems, accidents, or sickness to “teach you a lesson.”

If your perception of God aligns with any of these, it’s no wonder you might find it hard to pray. You likely wouldn’t want to spend time with Him, be His close friend, or even be near Him. In fact, you might be afraid of Him.

On the other hand, If you see God as good, loving, kind, generous, and joyful—a personal and approachable God who saves, provides, protects, and blesses—you’ll have a much more positive view. Prayer would come easily, because you’d be spending time with someone you’re excited to be around!

You can know who God is

The passage at the top of the page says you can learn about God by looking at Jesus. In John 10:30, Jesus also said, “I and the Father are one.”

Seeing God According to the Life of Jesus

• He came to seek and save the lost
“For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.” (Luke 9:56 KJV)

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10 KJV)

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17 NIV)

• He is joyful and wants you to be joyful too
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11 ESV)

• He loves you and doesn’t want you to perish
“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.” (John 3:16 ESV)

“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.” (1 John 4:9)

• He wants you to be victorious
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57)

• He wants your life to be abundant
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

• He wants to have a close and personal relationship with you
“Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.’” (John 14:23 NLT)

Therefore

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9)

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19)

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” (Matt. 7:3-5 ESV)

Blame: To find fault with; an expression of disapproval or reproach—censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, dis, dispraise, fault, knock, pan, reprehend.

Blaming Others Is Nothing New

When caught in sin, Adam blamed both God and Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent:

“The man said, ‘The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.’ Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’” (Gen. 3:12–13 ESV)

Blaming shifts the focus

Casting blame on others does not solve the root problem. It simply shifts the focus away from ourselves and onto someone else—essentially sweeping the issue under the rug. But if it isn’t personally addressed, the problem still remains.

An old saying reminds us: When you point one finger at someone else, three fingers are pointing back at you.

Take responsibility

To receive mercy, the Bible instructs us to acknowledge our sins, take responsibility for them, confess them, and forsake them. Blaming others short-circuits that process.

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Prov. 28:13 ESV)

“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” (Rom. 2:1 ESV)

Therefore

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:31–32 ESV)

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” (Prov. 21:2 ESV)

Quote

“Hell begins with a grumbling mood, always complaining, always blaming others.” – C. S. Lewis

“You do not have, because you do not ask.” (James 4:2 ESV)

Someone once asked a bank robber why he robbed banks, and he replied, “That’s where the money is!” He was certainly right about that—although his way of getting it was definitely wrong.

Just as a bank is "where the money is," God is where the provision is. When you consider who God is—our Creator and Provider—you can clearly see that’s where the blessings and provision are found. Therefore, it should be obvious that you must go directly to God to receive what you need.

But in reality, and as the verse at the top of the page reminds us, “You do not have, because you do not ask.” We often fail to receive simply because we do not go to God and ask! In fact, Jesus said that should be our first response.

The following are some verses which tell us what we should do when we have a need.

WHEN YOU HAVE A NEED:

• Seek God first about it - “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33 NKJV)

• Boldly approach God about it – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 NKJV)

•  Don’t worry about it - “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (Phil. 4:6 ESV)

• Ask for it in the Name of Jesus - “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14 ESV)

• Ask with correct motives – “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:3 ESV)

• Find and claim promises in God’s Word to support your request – “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” (2 Cor. 1:20 ESV); “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7 ESV)

• Ask with confidence and expectancy - “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:7-11 ESV)

• Believe with faith that you have received it -“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24 ESV); “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matt. 21:22 ESV)

• Thank God for it – “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Eph. 5:20 ESV)

 Therefore

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7 ESV)

The six verses of Psalms 150 is a doxology that closes the entire Book of Psalms and it is a general exhortation to praise God. The psalmist urges the congregation to praise God with music and dancing, naming nine types of musical instruments. For this reason it is also called "The Musicians’ Psalm”.

“1  Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 

2  Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3  Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,

4  praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, 

5  praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 

6  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”

(Psalms 159:1-6 NIV)

Therefore

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Col. 3:16)

Quote

“Praise is the rehearsal of our eternal song. By grace we learn to sing, and in glory we continue to sing. What will some of you do when you get to heaven, if you go on grumbling all the way? Do not hope to get to heaven in that style. But now begin to bless the name of the Lord.” - Charles Spurgeon

“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” (Prov. 22:29 NKJV)

My father, Roger French, epitomized the essence of excellence in every job he undertook. No matter where he worked, he consistently stood out as a model of dedication and skill. When he began his career at the Alaska Lumber & Pulp mill in Sitka, Alaska, during the mid-1960s, he started at the lowest rung of the maintenance crew. Yet over four decades, his relentless commitment and hard work propelled him through the ranks, ultimately making him the top leader at the mill.

How he did it

He attributed his remarkable journey to a personal work ethic grounded in seven unwavering principles, which he adhered to religiously. Though he always began at the bottom in any organization, his commitment to these principles led him to rise to the pinnacle of success. These were the guiding rules he lived by:

1. Arrive at work early and leave late.

2. Come prepared to work and focus on your tasks.

3. Read and adhere to the company’s operating manuals.

4. Anticipate and execute “the next step” without needing direction.

5. Do everything in your power to contribute to the company’s success and profitability.

6. Support management wholeheartedly.

7. Maintain a positive attitude.

Excellence, as he defined it, is not just a goal—it’s a state of being, characterized by superiority, leadership, and the embodiment of exceptional qualities.

My dad was a hard act to follow, but I did my best—and his rules worked for me too! I’ve made it a priority to pass along his “7 Rules” to my children and grandchildren. And as a follower of Christ, I believe striving for excellence is especially important.

Christians must always strive for excellence

What you do represents who you are—and who you belong to. God is your Father. Jesus is your Savior and Lord. Why would you settle for anything less?

Examples of excellence in the Bible:

• Daniel’s excellent spirit
  “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” (Dan. 6:3 KJV)

• Joseph’s excellent work
  “You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you. Pharaoh also told Joseph, ‘I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.’” (Gen. 40–41)

• Mordecai’s excellent behavior
  “For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews and highly favored by his many kinsmen, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.” (Est. 10:3)

Therefore

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Phil. 1:9–11)

“And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” (1 Thes. 3:12–13)

Quotes

“The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” - Vince Lombardi

“The secret of living a life of excellence is merely a matter of thinking thoughts of excellence. Really, it's a matter of programming our minds with the kind of information that will set us free.” - Charles R. Swindoll

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,” (Heb 9:27 NIV)

The following has been posted and reposted on the Internet. I don’t know who the originator is, but it is insightful and impactful, so I’m reposting it here. If you know who wrote it, and can verify it, please let me know and I will provide credit.

When you die, don't worry about your body...

Your relatives and funeral staff will do it. I know this first hand. I’ve done it myself…

They will take you out of the house and deliver you to the funeral home of your family’s choice.

They will take off your clothes

They will wash you

They will dress you up

They will even apply makeup to make you look presentable

Many will come to the funeral to honor you

Some will even cancel their plans and ask for leave to go to the funeral.

Your things--things you hate to be borrowed will be sold, donated or burned

Your keys

Your tools

Your books

Your CDs, DVDs, games

Your collections

Your clothes...

The world won't stop and cry for you

The economy will continue.

You will be replaced at work. Someone with the same or even better ability will take your place.

Your property will switch to heirs

And don't doubt the small and big things you have done in your life will be spoken of, judged, doubted and criticized.

People who only knew your face will say, ′′Poor thing!"

Your good friends will cry for a few hours or several days, but then they will laugh again.

Your pets will get used to the new owner.

Your pictures will be hanging on the wall for a while, then they will be put on furniture and finally stored at the bottom of the box.

Someone else will sit on your couch and eat from it.

Deep pain in your home will last a year, two, maybe ten...

Then you will join the memories and then your story will end.

It will end among people, end here, end in this world.

But your story begins in a new reality... in your life after death.

The things you once have will lose their meaning

You cannot bring your earthly possessions here.

the beauty of your body

last name

property

loans

working position

bank account

the house

the car

academic titles

Classmates

trophies

Friends of the world

man / woman

the kids

the family...

In your new life, you will only need your soul

The only property that will last is the soul.

The big question is: Do you know where your soul is going after this life is over?

Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

The Bible is clear that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again (John 3:3).

John 3:18 explains in the simplest terms who will go to heaven and who will go to hell: “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." So, those who go to hell are specifically those who do not believe in Jesus’ name.

Simply, if you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, by grace alone, through faith alone, you will spend eternity in heaven. If you do not receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, you will be eternally separated from God (Matthew 25:46).

The Bible says, "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" (John 3:16).

We can choose to trust in Jesus’ payment for our sin, or we can choose to pay for our sins ourselves—but we must remember that the payment for our sin is eternity in hell.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31)

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32 NKJV)

Happy July 4th!

Today, America celebrates freedom—and rightly so. Freedom is precious and has been paid for by the blood and sacrifices of many who went to war to defend it. But there is another kind of freedom—freedom found in truth. This truth is revealed throughout the Bible and is offered to us in the form of God’s many promises.

The verse at the top of the page tells us that truth makes us free. But notice: it’s not just any truth—it’s the truth you know that sets you free. And this freedom is available to all who discover and apply God’s promises to their lives.

The truth you know

Over the years, I’ve heard people repeat the old saying, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.” But when it comes to the promises in God’s Word, that simply isn’t true. In order for God’s promises to work for you—especially in your time of need—you must know them. If you don’t know them, you can’t apply them.

God has placed thousands of promises throughout the Bible to free us from things like lack, fear, weakness, temptation, sin, and the attacks of the enemy. These promises bring freedom from anything that tries to keep us in bondage. Let’s see what Scripture says about them:

Exceeding great and precious promises

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature." (2 Peter 1:4 KJV)

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Cor. 1:20 NKJV)

How many of God’s promises do you know and apply to your life?

Sadly, even though there are literally thousands of them, most Christians can’t name more than two or three Bible promises! And that’s tragic—because they’re missing out on the many blessings God has already provided.

Here are just seven life-changing promises you should know and use:

1. Freedom from Lack – God has promised to supply your every need.

   “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19) — Also read: Matthew 6:33.

2. Freedom from Weakness – God’s grace is sufficient for you.

   “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor. 12:9) — Also read: Eph. 2:8; Rom. 5:2.

3. Freedom from the Power of Temptation – God promises you will not be overtaken.

   “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13) — Also read: Jude 1:24.

4. Freedom from Defeat – God has promised you victory.

   “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cori. 15:57)

5. Freedom from Fear – God is with you and upholds you.

   “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.” — Also read: Deut. 31:8.

6. Freedom from Eternal Destruction – Those who trust in Jesus will be saved.
   “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9 NIV) — Also read: Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; John 10:27–28.

7. Freedom from Anxiety – The God of peace will be with you.

   “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil. 4:6–9)

Therefore

Let these promises become the truth you know—and you’ll begin to experience the freedom God has always intended for you.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36 NIV)

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1 NKJV)

With so much negativity present in the news and all over social media platforms, it would be easy to become troubled if you let yourself be. But, don’t let your heart be troubled because you can control your heart! The above statement by Jesus, says, “Don’t let your heart be troubled.” That statement is a command by Jesus and He would never command you to do anything  you could not do! In fact, He will help you do it if you ask Him!

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10 ESV) 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV) 

Draw near to God with trust

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8 ESV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6 ESV)

God will put a new heart and Spirit within you 

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Eze. 36:26 ESV)

Therefore

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Prov. 4:23 ESV)

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7 ESV)

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” (Luke 16:10 ESV)

If you think little things you do don’t matter, think again. The Bible is filled with many examples of how little things do big things. 

Little things do much

·      Faith the size of a mustard seed — “He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” (Matt13:31-32 ESV)

“He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt. 17:20 ESV) 

·      A little boy’s lunch that fed thousand — There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” (John 6:9 ESV) 

·      The small rudder guides a large ship — “Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.” (James 3:4 ESV)

·      A small stone brought down Goliath — “Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.” (1 Sam. 17:40 ESV) 

·      A little bit of yeast affects the entire loaf of bread —  “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” (Gal. 5:9 ESV) 

·      The small tongue has great power — “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!” (James 3:5 ESV)

Therefore

“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Cor. 1:26-29)

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” (Jer. 33:3 ESV)

Quote

“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” – Jesus Christ