But I made up my mind not to grieve you with another painful visit. [2] For if I cause you grief [by a well-deserved rebuke], who then provides me enjoyment but the very one whom I have made sad? [3] And I wrote this same thing to you, so that when I came, I would not be filled with sorrow by those who ought to make me glad, for I trusted in you and felt confident that my joy would be shared by all of you. [4] For I wrote to you out of great distress and with an anguished heart, and with many tears, not to cause you sorrow but to make you realize the [overflowing] love which I have especially for you.- 2 Corinthians 2:1-4 AMP

I realize that my posts, replies, devos, the way we do what we do, etc, may sometimes seem harsh or unloving to some.  The truth is that I love The LORD and His Word and am saddened when I see so many who take Him for granted and my goal is love, which rarely seems like it to those who aren’t doing the right thing! 

There are many who claim to be Christians, yet they either totally ignore God’s Word or twist it to accommodate their lifestyles or the lifestyles of those they love.  They then make It into what they want it to say.  Some do it so much that it isn’t even recognizable anymore.  This is warned against in several areas of Scripture, including Jesus who said that we’re to beware of some who act like Christians but aren’t and then said that many will come to heaven and say LORD, LORD, but He will know that they didn’t make Him LORD of their lives and they will spend eternity away from The LORD in hell.    (Matthew 7:18-23, Revelation 22:18-19)

There can be serious consequences for all of us Christians whenever we sin, some we face immediately and some when we get to heaven.  Remember that there are sins of commission, things we do that are wrong, and sins of omission, things we’re supposed to do but don’t do.  (James 4:17) 

Yes, we may go to heaven, but we’re warned that we will all appear before the judgement seat of Christ by Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:10 AMP-For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities].

The unrighteous will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God and that is what we as Christians came from, not what we are.  We’ve been washed by Jesus’ blood so that our lives will be transformed into His image.  Transformation means change.  Our lives are not our own.  The LORD sanctified us to Him, in other words, we’re supposed to be set apart from the world and live lives that honor and glorify Him, not us!  Why?  Because we’ve been bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  (1 Corinthians 6:9-20, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)    

While there is absolutely NOTHING we have to do to be saved from the penalty of all the sin in our lives, past, present, and future, and all we have to do is accept the free gift of salvation from God, Jesus didn’t save us so that we could live our lives anyway we feel.  He died to be LORD of our lives.  When we continually do what we want to do, ignore, and/or twist what His Word says about how we’re to live our lives, then we are making ourselves lord of our lives and not Him.

If you know me and have spent any time with me, then I pray that you know my heart for The LORD and for others.  I pray that like Paul wrote to the Corinthians that our love for The LORD and those who we are connected to no matter where we are, is realized.  I only want to obey Jesus, by loving God and loving others and then wherever in the world that I am to make disciples of Christ by teaching them all that Jesus has taught me in and through His Word!  (Matthew 22:37-40, Matthew 28:19-20)  I desire to follow Him all the days of my life and to take serious and be a good steward of those things that He’s placed me over, such as my marriage and Calvary Relief.  (Joshua 24:15)  Please pray for me as I pray for you and be one another people!  (James 5:16)

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, prayer requests, etc.  We'd love to pray with and for you and to the best of our ability answer any questions you may have soley using God's Word!

Love y’all and LORD Bless,

Curt & Mary Jo