Forgive Yourself First

In this season of Lent, there is a lot of talk about sin and redemption leading up to the Resurrection of Easter. I have learned the hard way that if you want to be forgiven by God, you first need to forgive yourself. You have to acknowledge what you did wrong, have a contrite heart, and then ask for forgiveness. But you always first have to forgive yourself.

Lent ends with Easter and Jesus dying on the Cross and rising from the dead. What Jesus did was take ALL of the sins of mankind—past, present, and future—and let those sins die on the Cross with Jesus’ human body. All sins are gone. If you believe in what Jesus did, you forgive yourself in acknowledging your sin(s), and ask for forgiveness with a contrite heart, your sins are forgiven. But there are no shortcuts.

I know this because I am a great sinner. I screw up all the time. I think it’s just part of being human. But I am getting better at not screwing up by staying as close to God as possible. I’m far from perfect but I try to be.

Take a good read of Psalm 51 where David realizes he screwed up BIG TIME! Read it carefully and meditate on it. Then, start by forgiving yourself. Don’t dwell on your sin(s). Repent and move on. But you have to mean it. You can’t just sluff it off.

Forgive yourself (and others) to be forgiven.

Enjoy the week ahead!

Where Do You Fall?

Jesus said it all too well in the Beatitudes. This wasn’t some pretty speech. This was a checklist of living. In this current era of power and politics, the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10) stand out in stark contrast to the world today and our leaders. Read these, think about them, meditate on them, and ask yourself if you are truly living these as a real Christian:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
1Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Have a peaceful week ahead!

Boy, Will Hell Be Beyond Packed!

It’s one thing to not identify as a Christian. It’s entirely another to say you are a Christian but your actions are anything but Christian. The fastest one-way ticket to Hell is by flaunting your so-called Christianity but not practicing it. Worse yet, are actions that are clearly not Christian.

It seems I am wring a lot about this lately but that’s because there are a lot of so-called Christians out there who are clearly not Christians.

I know it seems like I am crossing the line a bit in being judgmental. After all, Jesus (Christ) said to look at the log in your own eye before seeing the speck in another’s eye. I am not trying to judge anyone. I’m just saying that there are a lot (a LOT!) of people out there touting their Christianity but doing the exact opposite of what Jesus commanded.

Jesus gave us one simple commandment. To LOVE. Not selectively but everyone. Not family and friends but everyone. Simple. You don’t LOVE and you don’t follow Jesus (Christ). Therefore, you are not a Christian. This couldn’t be simpler.

Hell is going to be overflowing. It will be hell!

Hope you have a GREAT rest of the week. Maybe think about this.

Rise of the Phony “christians”

I couldn’t help writing about this again because, unfortunately, the phony so-called “christians” are gaining. I won’t even dignify using an uppercase “C” to refer to these phony christians.

There is nothing complicated about this. A true Christian is just that—a follower of Jesus Christ. And Jesus gave us one simple commandment and that is to LOVE. Not just LOVE your spouse and family but to LOVE EVERYONE! You don’t LOVE, you are not a true Christian. You’re a phony christian.

There is no selection in the LOVE department. You LOVE all or you’re simply not a real follower of Jesus Christ—a true Christian.

Simple. Unfortunately, the phony christians spewing hate are winning out. You can stop them by being a real, true Christian. LOVE!

Have a great week ahead walking in LOVE.

Surgery, New Years, Blues & God

I had major surgery at the end of October. All went well and I fully healed. Great. But I couldn’t help feeling a little “down” going into this New Year. The surgery “blues” are a real thing but the New Year should be a time of renewal—a new beginning, an upbeat feeling. Not a time for the “blues.”

Whenever I feel a little down, I reach out to/for God. After all, He is always here less than a heartbeat away. And per my last post, I’m treating every day as Christmas. Letting Jesus Christ be reborn in me.

That said, it’s fine and normal to feel the “blues” on occasion. The trick is to look to God to pull you out before you sink further. Again, God is always less than a heartbeat away and waiting for you. This sounds simple but always rely on Him.

Have an UPBEAT week. And Merry Christmas!

Christmas Ever Day in 2026

That’s my New Year’s resolution. Make every day Christmas in 2026! I’m not talking about lights and presents. I’m talking about the birth of the Christ child. I’m talking about Jesus being reborn in me. Not just on Christmas day but every day.

What does this practically mean?

There is so much negativity in the world that I want to surround myself with positivity. That means keeping a positive outlook and shutting out all negative thinking. Not easy but that is my resolution.

Think about the Christmas story. Joseph could have renounced Mary. They could not have made the journey to Bethlehem. Too long, too hard. They could have stayed put there and not fled into Egypt. Negatives all around. But not totally comprehending the magnitude of what was happening, they stayed positive. They had to shut out the negatives.

Try it. Christmas in 2026. Not just on the 25th but every day.

Merry Christmas! And blessings for 2026!

The Real Meaning of Christmas

Trees, tinsel, lights, gifts, cards, etc, etc. That’s outward “Christmas.” But what is the real meaning of Christmas? I bet you say simply the birth of Christ. But it goes way deeper than celebrating a birth over 2,000 years ago. The real meaning of Christmas is seeking to have Jesus Christ reborn in you. Each one of us.

I know I have been reborn in Jesus years ago. But Christmas is about experiencing that birth again. Of course you can be reborn in Jesus any day or time during the year. But Christmas is just that check at the end of the year to experience that rebirth, or birth for the first time, again.

There are lots of crosses being worn, especially by the politicians, to show that they are Christians. But it’s not about wearing anything externally or living Christianity on your sleeve. It’s about Jesus being reborn inside of you and living in your heart. Following Jesus—what true, real Christianity is about—is not about words and wearing things. It’s about what’s in your heart and how you live your life.

Rebirth in you. Tha’s what Christmas is truly about.

I’ll be back before the rebirth of Christmas but let the rebirth start happening!

Jesus Just Shaking His Head!

Even though He knows how this all plays out, I can’t stop thinking that Jesus is just shaking His head in disbelief. I’m an optimistic person, always looking at the glass as half full. But this world of ours is a complete mess. It’s a powder keg ready to explode. We have politicians who just think of themselves, not the people who elected them to serve. We have war crimes across the globe and complete devastation in areas.

Jesus has to be shaking His head in disbelief. Is this what He really died for?

I’d like to be more positive but that’s tougher by the day. Sometimes I feel that we just need to do everything all over again. Start over again. And that may well happen as the nukes keep increasing.

It’s tough to be positive but that’s what I am trying to be. If I can at least shine my light and follow what God wants me to do, then maybe I can make a difference in my corner of my world. It’s tough to do but it’s the only way to be. Positive.

Think about shining your light in a world that is getting darker by the day!

Reflect God

I learned years ago that when looking at another person—and I mean anyone, regardless of who they are—I should be staring into the face of God. After all, if God made each one of us, then God is in each one of us. Look at someone else and you should see God.

God is in us—intertwined with our DNA—but we need to reflect God outward. That makes it easier to see God in us. Pretty simple. And once again, God means life to be so simple. We are the ones who complicate it.

The easiest thing to do is ignore God in others and to judge them. No doubt that’s the easiest way to walk through life. But it’s not the way the God intends us to live. Unfortunately, we live in a time of judges, where more people, especially the politicians who should be our leaders, simple judge, look down on others, see themselves as superior, and totally ignore God in others. Are they in for a big surprise when facing God at the end of life!

Remember, you need to do your best to reflect God in you!

Enjoy the weekend and do your best to see God in everyone around you, regardless of who they are!

Humility Lost

We live in a world where humility is increasingly lost, especially among so-called “Christians.” Jesus was pretty clear when he said, “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). Let me tell you, there will be a LOT of people in this world who will be forced humbled because they exalt themselves.

It’s tiring to hear co-called “Christians,” especially politicians, exalt themselves. They are always right, and put themselves up as the paragons of righteousness and virtue. They exalt themselves over and over again. And they judge.

There isn’t a lot of rocket science to this. If you want to be exalted, and into eternity, humble yourself. If you want to humbled, and into eternity, exalt yourself. Simple.

Jesus tells us about the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the temple. Jesus was teaching that true righteousness comes from humble repentance and a plea for mercy, not from self-righteousness and comparing oneself to others. The Pharisee exalted himself whereas the tax collector humbled himself.

Are you the Pharisee or the tax collector?

Enjoy the rest of the week in humility!