The gossip wheel turns in your direction. The sweet lying lips of a fair weathered friend have sugar coated fake news to an eager ear. You face slander, libel, false witness and defamation of character. What is a Christian to do when these things arise? We have quoted Revelation 21:8. We know the song from the playground. We’ve read the many Scriptural prohibitions against lying, slander, and giving a false witness. What we don’t know... is the reason WHY people do these things. What’s the purpose? One motive is jealousy, clearly a sin that God detests (Galatians 5:20, II Corinthians 12:20). Another is a spirit of destruction, which usually rears its head because of selfishness (Proverbs 16:18, 18:12, Galatians 5:15). Pure evil intentions could be the motive, which only begets more evil (Proverbs 11:3, James 1:15). In any case, it’s never good. Evil communication does not build up. The motives of defamation are NEVER from Christ. They are actually anti-Christian. I heard an old preacher once say, “It is impossible accomplish God’s work by using Satan’s tools.” So true. A child of God will seek to resolve conflict (Matthew 18:15-17), pray for enemies (Luke 6:27–28), and leave the vengeance to a just and righteous God (Hebrews 10:30). The Lord we’ll defend you! You can’t control the actions or negative words of others. But you can resist the devil. You can turn the other cheek. You can ignore the gossip and lies. You can be more like Jesus. Keep on walking. You are loved. Dr. Ray Reynolds #ReynoldsRap #WixBlog #authentic #Christian #positive #practical #community #fyp #foryoupage #Jesus #socialmedia #Facebook #Twitter #Instagram #YouTube #Twitch #Reddit #TikTok #WWJD #suffering #hurt #pain

We are taught in Scripture that the Christian life is a life of victory. Paul tells us that “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). John encourages us by with the words of assurance that “everyone who is a child of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world—our faith” (I John 5:4). Our faith is more than what we believe, it’s our very essence. Our faith is what moves us, what spurns us, what challenges us, and what sustains us. It no wonder that the Hebrew writer says that t is “impossible to please” God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). Since James teaches us in James 2:14-26 that “faith without works is dead” we need to understand how our faith works. What is it inside of us that compels us to follow God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength? One simple word: L-O-V-E. That is what the Law says in Deuteronomy 6:5, the poet says in Psalm 31:23, the preacher says in Proverbs 6:6, the prophet says in Micah 6:8, and what our Lord says in Matthew 22:37. Jesus will even say that we need to love our neighbor and love ourselves. These things are all signs of God working in my life. They are evidence of a changed life... a life that is no longer living in the flesh, but according to the Spirit. In I Corinthians 13:8 the apostle Paul says that "Love never fails." That emphatic point carries a weight of truth. In this context it is even more amazing! Paul shows that everything else fails. Speaking in tongues would end. Miracles will cease. The only three things that matter are faith, hope, and love (v.13). So when he shares this list of things to consider about love (vs.4-7), he is telling us that these are the qualities that must pass through us if we hope to continue sharing the gospel message from one generation to the next. You and I cannot make the dead rise again with a single word from our mouth. You and I cannot take the gospel into foreign lands without first learning the language. You and I are not blessed with infinite wisdom and miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. You and I cannot heal cancer and A.I.D.S. and other diseases by the touch of our hand. But what we have is far greater, and will last far longer, than any spiritual gift ever given to apostles in the first century. What we possess today will increase our faith, and establish our hope, and solidify our Christian walk. It is L-O-V-E! We can know love. We can show love. We can prove love. Love is what saves us! In the end God will not look at what we have done or what we have accumulated. He will reward us based on our love for Him. If love Him then we keep His commandments. Our faith is just the beginning of a wonderful Christian journey. That leads us to trusting God and obeying God through our faith. Love inspires people. Love changes people. Love causes people to think. God is the one that can change us to become more loving, more welcoming, more friendly, more focused and more Christ-like. Great things will happen when we surrender to the Spirit, are guided by the Word, and resist the evil one. The love of God will never fail us. We can be victorious. Young couples that are in love may do some crazy things to show their love to each other. This Valentine's Day I saw young people buying gifts, sending letters, writing songs, making banners, hanging up billboards, purchasing candy, etc. If we really have LOVE, it ought to cause us to get a little crazy from time to time. Whether we are young or old! We should go out of our way to show love. Jesus did. And people probably thought he was crazy. He put on flesh (Crazy). He walked with the poor (Crazy). He slept on the floor (Crazy). He refused royalty or titles (Crazy). He chose not to say a word at His trial to defend his innocence (Crazy). And He carried his own cross to be crucified on a hill between two criminals (Crazy). All of this was for people that didn’t deserve it (Crazy). That’s just crazy isn’t it? It is called "Crazy Love." Jesus did all of those things and more because He loves you! In most of his writings, Paul was dealing with legalists questioning what we could do to repay Him? Paul’s answer. Nothing. You can’t repay Him. But you can share His story and your story with other people that need to be saved! You can be an example like Jesus to others in love. Remember what Paul said in I Corinthians 13:1-3 when he tells us that all the faith in the world cannot save us. He reminds us that when it comes to faith there is a love connection. You can’t have real, living, active faith without love! Love saves. Love obeys. Love works. Love builds. Love grows. Love hopes. Love inspires. Love... never... fails. Do you have faith in God? Do you have hope of eternal life? Do you have genuine Christian love? Are you confident in your Christian walk? Look to Jesus and you will see L-O-V-E. His love never fails. Have a great week! You are loved. Dr. Ray Reynolds #ReynoldsRap #WixBlog #authentic #Christian #positive #practical #community #fyp #foryoupage #Jesus #socialmedia #Facebook #Twitter #Instagram #YouTube #Twitch #Reddit #TikTok #WWJD #love #compassion

There are many difficult obstacles we are trying to overcome in today’s society. One of the most common is marital problems, which often leads to divorce. Many people are living in broken families or unhealthy relationships. We cannot, and should not, try to ignore these issues. Most of us realize that one of the most important things in having a great relationship, and eventually a blessed marriage, is choosing the right spouse. After having a long conversation with a friend this past week, I thought I would share some personal insight from a biblical context. What does the Bible say about dating, love and marriage? In Old Testament times, the parents chose the mate for their son. The primary reason for this was that the bride became part of the family grouping which was a community in and of itself. Therefore, his parents knew what would be best for the entire family, and put their collective needs into the equation. How would you like to marry under that scenario? Then, when the two were married, and became “one flesh” together, the couple still remained under the authority of the bridegroom’s father! The parents made a choice based on who would best fit into their clan and work harmoniously with the mother-in-law and sisters-in-law to create a perfect family unit. Not exactly the stuff Hallmark movies are made of, right? However, we can learn something important... parents should share insight to whom their children date, because you will end up marrying someone you date. Unless, you end up on "Married at First Sight." Don't get angry when your parents, or family members, share insight on your relationships. What might shock you is that in biblical times sometimes parents made the decisions on dating! Sometimes they consulted with their children to see if they approved of the choice, but many did not. For example, Rebekah was asked if she wanted to marry Isaac (Genesis 24:58), but she had never met him. On the other hand, Samson demanded that a girl be acquired for him, and even though his parents protested, they completed the marriage contract for him (Judges 14:1–4). Frequently people married at a young age, a fact that made the parents’ choice a practical matter and would have given the children less rights for refusal. How would that suit you? By New Testament times, the Jewish leaders had decided to establish a minimum age for which a marriage contract could be drawn up. Tradition says that the age was set at 13 for boys and 12 for girls! Even if the young wife lost her husband in war or accident, and was childless, she remained within the family and was wed to her brother-in-law or next of kin (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). Therefore, the family unit was not compromised and it protected the wife from being shipped to her parents, or kicked out entirely. This arrangement was known as a Levite Marriage. This is the basis for the story of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 3:13, 4:1-12) as it reveals the position of the kinsman redeemer. Luckily for Ruth, Boaz loved her and was more than willing to make arrangements to take in both Ruth and Naomi. Some of us wonder about how these marriages could work when based on concepts foreign to our modern ways. Did they experience love? How did they make it work out? Would you believe that romance before marriage was rare in Old Testament times! Romance and “falling in love” played a minor role in the life of teenagers of that era. They did not marry the person they loved… they just learned to love the person they married! Love began at marriage, not at dating. When Isaac married Rebekah, the Bible records that “she became his wife, and he loved her” (Genesis 24:67). You might be thinking, why write this article? The point is that love is important in marriage, but other factors must also be considered to make a healthy relationship. With all the dating, online romance, and promiscuity in today’s “enlightened” society we are seeing a divorce rate at nearly 60%. Those numbers do not include common law marriages and co-habitation. In Bible times experts believe divorce only happened in about 3-5% of marriages. Please do not think I want us to revert to arranged marriages, and moving in with the in-laws for the rest of our lives, but we can see that our marriages should be nurtured after we tie the knot. Today we need to find a balance. Choose your love and then love your choice! When is the last time you had a date night? How well have you tried to cement your relationships with your spouse’s family? Are you willing to put others before yourself? We would do well to consider the teachings of the Bible on love and marriage. You might be surprised to see just how much there is there to study. Keep growing in love! Have a great week! You are loved. Dr. Ray Reynolds #ReynoldsRap #WixBlog #authentic #Christian #positive #practical #community #fyp #foryoupage #Jesus #socialmedia #Facebook #Twitter #Instagram #YouTube #Twitch #Reddit #TikTok #WWJD #love #marriage #dating

Worship of the first day of the week is something that we all should look forward to each week. Sometimes we are not sure how to conduct ourselves in worship. I want to share with you some practical ideas to help us stay focused. If we all practiced these principles our worship would be even more effective. 1. During Bible class and worship try not to get distracted. Remember why you are there, keep your mind open, but focused. 2. Don’t do your nails, clip your nails, or check your make-up. This can be smelly, distracting, loud, and inappropriate. Excuse yourself to the bathroom. 3. In the classes, try not to interfere with useless questions, keep them pertaining to the subject or text being discussed. 4. If you are teaching a class, try not to chase too many “rabbits.” 5. When the classes dismiss keep it organized, go to the bathroom, get a drink, get a bulletin, so that you will not have to leave during the assembly. 6 When we begin the worship try to keep focused on the words in songs and prayers, listen to the lesson, and reflect during the Lord’s Supper. 7. When we sing, you should be singing, it doesn’t matter what you think you sound like, just sing! 8. When we pray, bow your head, and listen to the words. Say “Amen.” 9. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper you should be silent and focused, not flipping through the song book or playing with baby in front of you. 10. If you are teaching, leading a prayer or singing, do it loud and speak into the microphone. 11. During the lesson, have your Bible open, and follow along. 12. If your child is loud, those things happen, but if you think its distracting, take them to the cry room, or outside to discipline them. 13. Don’t let your children distract others. Try not to let them roll under the pews or throw things. Remember we do have a nursery. 14. Couples sitting together should be under control. No kissing, playing, or petting. It is very inappropriate in worship. 15. During the invitation, if you need to respond, do so, and if you want to come forward earlier, before the invitation, its okay. 16. Unless it is an emergency, try not to leave before services are over. 17. During the announcements, it should be organized. Don’t blurt out more announcements, give them to announcement person after services. 18. When the last prayer is being said, we are still in worship. Try not to let the children get into the isle or climb out of the pew. 19. When the prayer is finished, the children can exit the building in an orderly fashion to the playground. Please, no running. 20. Stick around after services to greet the visitors. I hope these suggestions are helpful. I know they can help all of us to have great worship services. Next week we will consider how to act after the worship. Have a great week!!! You are loved. Dr. Ray Reynolds #ReynoldsRap #WixBlog #authentic #Christian #positive #practical #community #fyp #foryoupage #love #Jesus #socialmedia #Facebook #Twitter #Instagram #YouTube #Twitch #Reddit #Parley #TikTok #WWJD #worship

The apostle Paul said, "From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (II Corinthians 5:16-21 - ESV) Recently I was reading the preceding text and some thoughts hit me hard. First, we cannot ever forget that we are ambassadors for Christ. Second, we are called to reconcile people to Christ. And, finally, the most important thing Christians need to remember is that Christ is the hope of the world! I love the word "Hope" and it has become one of my favorite biblical themes. In fact, Misty and I use this phrase often on social media and in our ministry. We believe in finding hope and reclaiming that hope. When I read these words above from Paul I see my hope, but I also see the consequences of those living without the hope that God offers humanity. Christ never promised that we would have everything we want, yet He provides everything we need. Isn't that amazing!?! Romans 5:6 tells us that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." We might die for our momma, a friend, maybe even a stranger, but definitely not a criminal that did not care for our sacrifice. However, this is exactly what Christ did for us! Whether you asked for it or not. Whether you wanted it or not. That is how much He loves you! There is a story of some young poor boys trying to sneak into baseball games. Each day there was a game after school they would walk to the stadium and find an open gate. As the story goes, a man saw this on a few occasions and decided to buy them tickets so that they would not be caught or punished. They didn’t deserve the tickets or the privilege. They deserved to be punished for sneaking into the games. However, they were given the opportunity to accept his free gift or risk punishment in the future. The cost of a a ticket was only $7 each, but it was given to individuals who could not repay it. This is the way it is with Christ. We could not pay the debt, so he paid the debt for us to keep us from punishment. We deserve punishment, but by God's grace we have another option. A better one! The apostle Paul speaks of how Christ gave Himself for His church in Ephesians 5. Husbands are called to do the same thing for their own wives. This brings reconciliation. I Corinthians 12:13 says that we are all united because we are all saved by the same grace. Galatians 3:27, Ephesians 1:3, etc. tell us that spiritual blessings are in Christ. When we accept the hope that He offers, we are saved! These thoughts should motivate us to reconcile with our families, friends, and neighbors. Also it should encourage us to share this hope with those who are without hope. The hope and assurance Christ has promised us is guaranteed. We need to stay in the light to have the confidence of hope in a hopeless world. We need to remember our purpose, our plight, and God’s provision. God is so good! Find hope. You need it. Share that hope. Lost souls depend on it. Have a great week! You are loved. Dr. Ray Reynolds #ReynoldsRap #WixBlog #authentic #Christian #positive #practical #community #fyp #foryoupage #love #Jesus #socialmedia #Facebook #Twitter #Instagram #YouTube #Twitch #Reddit #Parley #TikTok #WWJD #hope

We live in an age of pessimism and doubt. As Christians, we ought to radiate courage and boldness. We often forget that Lord promises to be on our side! God’s people have been given promises, but this may be the greatest one ever given. Under the Old Law we read that God promised Israel that He would never leave or forsake them, and this promise was extended to the New Testament church (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). Our God is with His people in every way and on every day. That brings the promise of provision and blessing. It ought to give us great assurance. In the past, the Lord promised to fight for His people (Exodus 14:14). What does it meant to have God on our side? First, think about temptation. If it is so terrible, why does God allow us to be tested? Why doesn't He just rescue us every time? The Bible clearly teaches us that God wants to examine us and allow us to be tested for our faith to made stronger (Jeremiah 17:10, Job 23:10, II Corinthians 12:7 -10, James 1:2, I Peter 1:6-9). We should not lose heart because we know there is a reward for the believer who overcomes (James 1:12, Revelation 2-3). We should see temptation and trials as an opportunity to prove our genuine faith (I Peter 1:7). For those who are unable to pass the test, they will be punished (Romans 2:6-10, Ephesians 5:6). In the Old Testament, tempting by God may actually be translated as testing or proving. The context is the covenant relationship of mutual love and faithfulness between God and His chosen people. The Lord tested Israel to prove the true nature of her faithfulness to Him (Genesis 22:1, Deuteronomy 8:2-16). His purpose is not to induce, tempt, or cause His people to sin, but to confirm their faith (James 1:2-4). In the case of Job, Satan the tempter can serve the Lord’s purpose, but God allowed the temptations and did not take part in them in any way. Satan’s temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was also the Lord’s testing of their faith. This temptation was the first, and it led to the fall of all men. The Israelites tried to tempt and test the Lord by questioning His loyalty (Exodus 17:2-7, Psalm 78). God had promised to preserve Israel as His own possession, but His righteousness also requires that He destroy a rebellious nation (Hebrews 10:31). The disobedience of His people tested the Lord to break His promise to be their God, but He did not because He does not change, although He will punish those who are disobedient. Immediately after Jesus’ baptism He was led into the wilderness to be tempted (Matthew 4:1-11). These temptations were real, whether external and literal, internal and mental, or a combination of both. He did not pretend to be tempted, but by resisting the temptation to sin, Jesus demonstrated His qualifications to be God’s Messiah and humanity’s Savior. Jesus met many temptations throughout His ministry (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13 Luke 4:1-13). Some of these occurred: (1) when the crowds only wanted a healer (Mark 1:35-39), (2) when they wanted to make Him king (John 6:14- 15), (3) when His disciples rejected Him (Matthew 16:21-28), and also (4) when He was in Gethsemane looking for a way to pass the cup (Matthew 26:36-46). Hebrews 2:18 says, “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” We can all learn from the temptations of Jesus. We need to be reminded that Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” By living in human flesh, staying faithful to the Lord, and not giving in to temptation, He set a great example (I Peter 2:21-25). We need to look to Him as our great and perfect pattern Hebrews 12:1-2). We should consider how he faced every temptation. He was able to logically think about each temptation and reminded Satan, and Himself, what the scriptures said. Temptation is an enticement or an open invitation to sin, with the implied promise of greater good to be derived from following the way of disobedience. We need to note that God does not tempt people, nor can He Himself as the holy God be tempted (James 1:13). God cannot be induced to deny Himself (II Timothy 2:13). The supreme tempter is Satan (Matthew 4:3, I Corinthians 7:5, I Thessalonians 3:5), and he is able to prey upon the weakness of corrupted human nature (James 1:14) and so to lead people to destruction. The Bible tells us to resist temptation (Luke 22:40), promising blessedness to those who do resist the temptations of the devil (James 1:12). The gospel also directs us to pray for deliverance from exposure to temptation and from surrender to it (Matthew 6:13, Luke 11:4). The Lord will not allow His people to encounter any temptation beyond what they can handle. Therefore, we will have ability to resist it with God’s help (I Corinthians 10:13, Philippians 4:13, II Peter 2:9). The Lord is with you! It is His promise to the saved. However, you still have to overcome the battles in front of you. Lean on Him, but resist the devil! Have a great week! You are loved. Dr. Ray Reynolds #ReynoldsRap #WixBlog #authentic #Christian #positive #practical #community #fyp #foryoupage #love #Jesus #socialmedia #Facebook #Twitter #Instagram #YouTube #Twitch #Reddit #Parley #TikTok #WWJD #battles #temptation

I've been using social media for nearly 15 years now. I started with MySpace in 2006 and then quickly added Facebook in 2007. It wasn't long before I added Twitter and others. At first, I used social media to connect with family, friends and to advertise ministries like church work, TITUS Camp, and other good works. Little did I know that within a decade I would be creating content for over 20 different platforms on 12 social media outlets. It is one of my greatest passions but I also take it very seriously. Churches, leadership organizations, colleges, ministries, and businesses rely on my insight and integrity. When I speak to young people, and really anyone in general, I try to encourage people to avoid certain things on social media. I call these the "Seven Simple Standards for Social Media" and I pray they will help you in your Christian walk. #1 = Don't Bully People - Remember the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12). Simply put... treat other people the way you want to be treated. You might take it a step further in a positive direction and consult number seven in this list. If you cannot agree with people, or at least learn how to handle difficult people, you will struggle on social media. I heard a great quote once that says, "When in doubt, sit it out." You don't have to attend every pity party, roast contest, and bandwagon criticism on the internet. Don't fight with people. A counselor once wisely told me, "Hurt people... hurt people." That is an absolutely true statement. Bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) not the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). #2 = Don't Use Hate Speech - This is a serious issue today, especially on social media. Racism, discrimination, loathing, sexism, and prejudice have no place in the kingdom of God. The Bible plainly teaches against such behavior. We need more love (John 13:34-35, Acts 17:26, I Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:32, I Timothy 5:21, I John 2:11). Jesus spoke out on issues of hate and you should report hateful comments, memes, images, or rhetoric immediately. Promote a safe and loving environment. Intimidation, insinuation, and defamation are not Christ-like attributes. The Lord is a loving, compassionate and patient... the same should be said of the children of the Lord. He is not the author of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33). #3 = Don't Use Passive-Aggressive Language - Passive-aggressive behavior is defined as "a pattern of hostility" while revealing "an avoidance of direct communication." This is a strategy of an aggressor to throw out seemingly random statements that are clearly directed toward an individual or group, but only a limited audience clearly understands the genuine threat or intent of the comments. This individual wants to appear as the victim or martyr, but the statements made reveal the opposite. This behavior reveals a coward who refuses to practice the biblical principles of conflict resolution (Matthew 18:15-17, Galatians 6:1-2, Ephesians 4:29, James 4:11). If you use phrases like "you will reap what you sow" or "you will get what's coming to you" or "what goes around comes around" or "you better be ready" or "you know who you are" or other phrases like that it sounds like you are struggling with paranoia and/or need psychosis. How do you know the person you are trying to bully is even reading those comments? Threatening karma, giving warnings or praying for God's vengeance on another person not only makes you look childish, petty, or hateful but it makes you look like our real enemy (Ephesians 6:12). #4 = Don't Share Things To Quickly - This is something we are all guilty of from time to time. Be aware of the original links of the original post. People will track back the content creator and it may be sensitive or copyrighted material. Be careful that you listen to the entire video or watch the entire GIF. Some videos have music and commentary that would be considered un-Christian, racist, or insensitive to the people who follow you. Be slow to speak or respond to anything (James 1:19). Always pray about it first (Matthew 6:33, 7:7). Be sensitive to your followers or friends. You may think the content is funny or informative, but you have to consider your audience. #5 = Be Aware of Addictive & Dangerous Behavior - Too much of anything in this world can be dangerous. Take a break from time to time. Technology is addictive. Also, we are all aware of road rage... right? The same thing can happens when we are overzealous about a comment or post on social media. We might spend hours "defending" ourselves or someone else. Is this helpful? At this time I would like to mention that some people simply cannot handle social media and should avoid it all together (I Corinthians 1:10, Galatians 5:9, James 4:1-3). If you have problems with the four A's you should avoid social media: anger, anxiety, arguing, or arrogance. The internet can have such a positive influence on people. However, is also a breeding ground for narcissism, egoism and vanity. #6 = Be Aware of Your Influence - As powerful as your influence can be for good... it can also be a great influence for evil. We need to watch our words, tone, and content. James warned his readers that out of the same mouth cannot come blessing and cursing (James 3:10). Non-believers criticize Christians (and rightly so) for our hypocrisy. We should carefully examine everything we do or say (I Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17). If our behavior resembles the wickedness... how can people see the difference between the darkness and the light (Matthew 5:14-16)? You are influencing family, friends, and others with everything you do. Are you a good ambassador of Christ (II Corinthians 5:20)? #7 = Be Like Jesus - Ask yourself a few simple questions... Would Jesus post or share this (Philippians 2:5)? Is this Christ-like? If Jesus were to return as I am hitting the send or share button, would it effect my eternity? Is it profitable? Is it positive? Does this hinder my influence? Is this really worth my soul? I hope you take these things to heart and share them with others. Have a great week! You are loved. Dr. Ray Reynolds #ReynoldsRap #WixBlog #authentic #Christian #positive #practical #community #fyp #foryoupage #love #Jesus #socialmedia #Facebook #Twitter #Instagram #YouTube #Twitch #Reddit #Parley #TikTok #WWJD

Once upon a time there were a Dad and Mom who had two children, ages 2 and 5. Those children were a handful. They got up early and stayed up late. They loved to jump on their beds and on the couch. They fussed a lot when they didn't get their way. And they couldn't remember to obey what they were told from one moment to the next. At night you could find that Dad and Mom exhausted, and in a daze, sitting on the couch. "Our kids are wearing us out!" they would say. One day the family went to Pizza Hut for lunch. As the mother went back and forth to the food bar, fixing first one plate and then another, the father watched the kids and tried to keep them in their seats. When Mom went to get their drinks, she noticed that her kids had captured the attention of a man sitting at a corner table. He especially kept watching the little girl. As the mother passed the table, the man politely asked, "How old is your daughter?" "She's two, "replied the frazzled mother. "And she sure is a handful! She really keeps me running! There's never a dull or quiet moment with her around." The man only smiled. Finally, after the children were situated, the mother went back to get her own plate (Dad always insisted on being last). She bumped into the same man again, the one from the corner table. "When is your daughter's birthday?" he asked. With a questioning look, the mother replied, "March 26th.'' (For men don't usually pay attention to such details about a stranger's children). "I had a little girl," the man went on. "She was born April 26th, and would be about the age of your little girl. We lost her to cancer in September. I always notice little girls this age, and wonder what it would be like..." By now, the mother's eyes had filled with tears. She remembered how much she had complained about the stresses of having a two-year-old. Now the trials didn't seem so bad, compared to the blessings. When she got back to the table, she told her husband what had happened. They both looked down at their plates. Food seemed so unimportant, as they realized the seriousness of their mistake. Kissing their two lively kids, they made a silent promise to themselves and to God. "We will not let the frustration outweigh the joys; we will count our children as blessings every day." This couple remembered what God had said. He said, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." (Psalm 127:3) He also said, "Do all things without complaining and disputing." (Philippians 2:14) This is a true story (by Mike and Cherie Vestal). Sometimes it takes some traumatic event for us to realize our blessings. Other times stories like this one can touch our heart and remind us of the wonderful blessings we have from God. I pray that we will all see God’s blessings through new eyes. We need to look at the suffering around us and then praise God for what we have. I hope that you will have a great week, filled with lots of blessings. If you need God to help you though a trial you are facing, He wants to help you. If it is spiritual blindness you are suffering from or spiritual sickness, it is serious and the Great Physician is waiting to heal you. Let's show the world the love of God! Have a GREAT week! You are loved. Dr. Ray Reynolds #ReynoldsRap #WixBlog #authentic #Christian #positive #practical #community #fyp #foryoupage #love #Jesus #parable #parenting #children

The apostle Paul wrote to the church of Galatia and said, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." The message of Galatians 5:22-23 still resounds today. If we are born of the Spirit (John 3:5, Acts 2:38, Romans 8) it is natural for us to bear the fruit of the Spirit. What does that mean? In this space today, I would like for us to consider "SELF-CONTROL" as a fruit of the Spirit. The Bible has a lot to say about SELF-CONTROL. In fact, since Paul mentions SELF-CONTROL let's see what he says about it. *Husbands & Wives Should Practice SELF-CONTROL (I Corinthians 7:5) Because if you don't Satan will destroy your intimacy. *Single Christians Should Practice SELF-CONTROL (I Corinthians 7:9) Because if you don't you will burn with passion that leads you to lust and sin. *Athletes Should Practice SELF-CONTROL (I Corinthians 9:25) Because if you don't you won't receive the prize. *Young Women Should Practice SELF-CONTROL (I Timothy 2:9) Because if you don't you will not be adorned with the things that matter to God. *Preachers Should Practice SELF-CONTROL (I Timothy 4:12) Because if you don't you will not be the example God desires you to be. *Elders Should Practice SELF-CONTROL (Titus 1:8) Because if you don't you will not be able to lead the Lord's kingdom. *Older Women Should Practice SELF-CONTROL (Titus 2:1) Because if you don't younger women will never learn it. * Older Men Should Practice SELF-CONTROL (Titus 2:2) Because if you don't younger men will never accept it. *Young Men Should Practice SELF-CONTROL (Titus 2:6) Because if you don't you will never gain the respect of others. Wow! That's a list. Did he leave anyone out? I heard a great illustration once that said ego stands for: E – Edging G –God O – Out. That is the anti-thesis of Christianity. Paul also said in II Timothy 1:6-7: " This is why I remind you to keep using the gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. Now let it grow, as a small flame grows into a fire. God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and SELF-CONTROL." (NCV) God gives us His Holy Spirit to stop our reckless behavior. Isn't it time we surrendered to Him? Our Lord is not a God of confusion or lack of control. He is temperate. He expects His children to do their best to practice SELF-CONTROL. May God bless you and keep you! Choose SELF-CONTROL. You are loved. Dr. Ray Reynolds #ReynoldsRap#WixBlog#authentic#Christian#positive#practical#community#fyp#foryoupage#fruitofthespirit#self-control

The apostle Paul wrote to the church of Galatia and said, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." The message of Galatians 5:22-23 still resounds today. If we are born of the Spirit (John 3:5, Acts 2:38, Romans 8) it is natural for us to bear the fruit of the Spirit. What does that mean? In this space today, I would like for us to consider "GENTLENESS" as a fruit of the Spirit. Do you love pie? I do. At least when I am not dieting! I love apple pie, cherry pie, pecan pie, chocolate pie, blueberry pie, . . . well, the list goes on and on! But there is one kind of pie that I would rather avoid at all costs . . . . humble pie! Have you ever heard that expression before? You know, “He (or she) had a nice slice of humble pie.” It tastes bitter. It doesn’t wash down very easy. We don’t mind serving it, just not eating it! Who really wants a slice of humble pie? GENTLENESS is often translated as humility. There are times that God has a way of humbling us. I am reminded of the young preacher that was very successful as a circuit preacher. He went from town to town holding meetings and conducting church growth seminars. After a passionate message one evening in a large congregation he was stopped by a sweet elderly lady that had worshipped in that congregation for several years. She said, “You must be proud of your accomplishments.” The man smiled and replied, “Why, yes, I am.” “And you seem to be so proud of your successes in the church,” she stated. “Of course, I am,” the man quickly responded. After a brief pause she looked at him in the eyes and said, “Why is it that you take the glory for what God has done?” Ouch! But her point was clear: “God alone deserves the glory!” Maybe you have said it or maybe someone has said it to you. “You are the reason this church is where it is today.” “You are the heart and soul of this business. They couldn’t make it without you.” “This ministry would not be here if it were not for you.” “He/she would never make it without you.” “No one is better than you.” It sounds so good. It feels nice, but somewhere tugging on the back of our mind we remember that Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (NKJV). We need to practice humility. We need to learn the importance of GENTLENESS and meekness. Sometimes Satan build us up into thinking that we really are the best. God wants us to be edified but He also wants, and might I add deserves, the credit for our good works. The result of good works is for men to glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). If we believe that we are the best, God may be waiting to serve us some humble pie. Remember the humble will be exalted (Luke 14:11). We need to be GENTLE to keep our pride in check. GENTLENESS is expressed in our words and actions. It requires us to practice discipline and have patience with others. Think of all the Scriptures that teach us to be GENTLE or the seek GENTLENESS in our spirit. Why is this so essential? To keep us from eating too many slices of humble pie! Our GENTLENESS should be evident to everyone around us (Ephesians 4:2, Philippians 4:5, Titus 3:5). It is part of our DNA as a believer in Christ (Colossians 3:12). We even use GENTLENESS when we are defending our faith (I Peter 3:15) or restoring the weak (Galatians 6:1-2). Our Lord is GENTLE. He expects His children to do their best to practice GENTLENESS. May God bless you and keep you! Choose GENTLENESS. You are loved. Dr. Ray Reynolds #ReynoldsRap#WixBlog#authentic#Christian#positive#practical#community#fyp#foryoupage#fruitofthespirit#gentleness

The apostle Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia and said, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." The message of Galatians 5:22-23 still resounds today. If we are born of the Spirit (John 3:5, Acts 2:38, Romans 8) it is natural for us to bear the fruit of the Spirit. What does that mean? In this space today, I would like for us to consider "JOY" as a fruit of the Spirit. On Tuesday I had the pleasure of baptizing a young man named London into Christ! It was an amazing moment! After the baptism I went back to my office to start working on my article. I knew it was going to be about JOY, but the baptism gave me some inspiration. Why are we so full of JOY when we are baptized or watch a baptism? The thought of salvation offers hope to the believer. It has brought confidence and assurance in one's eternal destiny. Do you really have the hope of salvation? Do you struggle with doubt? Do you have abounding JOY because of salvation? Our world overflows with sorrow. Just look around you and you will see riots, sickness, disease, neglect, abuse, violence, terrorism, etc. In homes, places of business, schools, and throughout every community you can sense that something is terribly wrong. There is misery, pain, and tears. We see broken lives, broken hearts, and broken homes are in evidence in every city. Is there any hope for mankind? Does anyone have a workable solution to this mounting problem of human suffering? Yes, there is an answer. Salvation comes with JOY unspeakable! Christians should be the happiest people on the planet but far to many church goers look like they’ve been weaned on a pickle. We see sour faced, contentious, negativists that have their heads in the mud. When did we start letting finger pointers, whistle blowers, hypocrites, and squeaky wheels have the loudest voices? Is that the picture we have of Jesus? Or of the early church? I asked a preacher friend what it would take for His church to grow. I though he might say a few more baptisms, but his response was "A few more funerals should do it." That is heartbreaking, yet possibly true! We can become our own worst enemy. We forget that Satan is our real enemy and start fighting among ourselves. We lose sight of the fact that we have treasures in heaven and that we are only strangers in this world anyway. I am only an ambassador in this country with a temporary work visa. I don’t have time to deal with love busters, grace robbers, faith stealers, and joy snatchers... because I’ve got work to do! We must rediscover the JOY and spirit of the first century church. The Word of God! This book has inspired nations and moved multitudes and yet few Christians read it cover to cover, or attempt to replicate its message in their lives. How can you read this book and not be changed? How could someone glaze over the stories of the providence of God, the revival and restoration of God’s people, Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, or the good works of the early church? If you are saved, and have the hope of salvation, you should be full of JOY. Psalm 35:9 says, "And my soul will be JOYful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in His salvation." Isaiah 35:10 says, "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting JOY upon their heads: they shall obtain JOY and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Romans 14:17 says, "For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 says, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all JOY and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit." JOY is a product of heaven and cannot be bought, manufactured, inherited, or stolen. JOY is a gift from God, it is the fruit of His Holy Spirit, and you need it! May God bless you and keep you! Choose JOY. You are loved. Dr. Ray Reynolds #ReynoldsRap #WixBlog #authentic #Christian #positive #practical #community #fyp #foryoupage #fruitofthespirit #joy

The apostle Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia and said, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." The message of Galatians 5:22-23 still resounds today. If we are born of the Spirit (John 3:5, Acts 2:38, Romans 8) it is natural for us to bear the fruit of the Spirit. What does that mean? In this space today, I would like for us to consider "LOVE" as a fruit of the Spirit. Last year I read a book entitled, "Catching Fire with the Holy Spirit" by John Smith. It was written by a friend of a friend and I was given a copy. It's a wonderful book. There are several interesting points made in the book about how the Spirit tries to guide a Christian. One part that stood out to me was how He guides us toward LOVE, joy, peace, hope, etc. I will paraphrase some of his thoughts and share some of my own revelations. When a Christian begins to insert the word HATE into their vocabulary, especially toward another individual (even an enemy), it is evidence that their conscience is being seared (I Timothy 4:2). The Holy Spirit works alongside our conscience to move us toward the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and away from the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Only one has LOVE while the other has HATRED. The greatest command for a Christian is to LOVE (Mark 12:30-31). If a Christian says "I HATE YOU" to another person, especially to a brother or sister in Christ, it is evidence of them possessing more flesh and less Spirit. God is LOVE and He cannot reside in HATE (I John 2:11, 3:15, 4:20). Instead of choosing to walk in the light of God's Spirit that person willingly chooses to surrender to the unfruitful works of darkness. Suffice it to say we should choose our words carefully (Ephesians 4:29). We will each be judged by our words (Matthew 12:36). Let's choose LOVE, not HATE. Let's choose the light, not the darkness. Let's surrender to God, not the real enemy. May God use our words to build each other up and not destroy. You may have noticed that I have used all caps on the words LOVE and HATE. Which was more prominent to you? I suppose it is the one that you notice the most. I pray that each of us will choose LOVE over HATE. I want to close with Paul's own words about LOVE. He said, "LOVE suffers long and is kind; LOVE does not envy; LOVE does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. LOVE never fails." (I Corinthians 13:4-7) May God bless you and keep you! Choose LOVE. You are loved. Dr. Ray Reynolds #ReynoldsRap #WixBlog #authentic #Christian #positive #practical #community #fyp #foryoupage #fruitofthespirit #love