“how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 9:14
Interesting times lie ahead folks I’m sure of that! I believe we are coming to a crossroads with regard to biblical Christianity and what I will call moralistic religiosity. Moralism I believe is where individuals and societies put constraints on one another as they attempt to create an “atmosphere” of right and wrong according to their likes and dislikes. Many such societies receive their guidance from biblical principles and believe that living as closely to the bible as they possibly can without being conformed to the requirements of God’s Son the Lord Jesus Christ will advance their greatest needs in life without accountability. Therefore individual’s as long as they have not been harmed by various “injustices” will desire to have morals and principles that they ordain as right leading to relativism. Relativism is one of the evils of our day because it makes truth and experiences subjective and seeks to deny God and His overwhelming revelation to us.
When we make truth relative we deny accountability, hope, reason, logic, love, objectivity and the like. God in His mercy has revealed the truth to us in four simple yet profound primary ways, namely Creation, Conscience, the Scriptures and Jesus Christ. To deny any of these is to deny the facts of history and therefore fall into a trap of humanism and its many failings in answering the very important questions of life. Remember that God took on flesh in the person of Jesus confirming this event through many prophesies thousands of years before the actual event and this was simply to bring light into the world (John 1:4), preach the good news (Mark 1:14-15), reveal the Father (John 17:3) and by His death make the captive free (John 8:36).
We all need to be cleansed from sin and dead works through the blood of Christ by faith. Something we hate to even consider but that needs to challenge the very fibre of our beings. Our consciences are defiled and leave us stranded and helpless before a just and holy God and therefore I encourage each and every one of us to look at the overwhelming proof of the birth, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This means that fear, bondage, slavery, and being beholden to our own desires and sinfulness continue to separate us from a holy God and His just requirements. We all know Jesus died on the cross, but it is time to determine why? The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and that God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17). This is the message of the cross folks!
Seek Him in earnestness! It will change your life forever, I promise you 😊
Oh Yes, I found a serious Kit-Kat!!! → → →
Ministry and Fellowship Update
We have had a blessed two weeks full of fellowship and service of the Lord. First up, some of the folk in the church play in a local softball league and we joined them on Monday evening to support them which was a blessing. It was extremely cold and the weather countrywide as most of you know has been unreal. California has received a lot of rain for the first time in many years. The rain has been an absolute blessing however there are issues locally in Los Angeles with drainage (actually statewide) which has caused some flooding.
We then had our Christmas day service and potluck and both encouraged us tremendously. I was blessed to be able to share on “the necessity of the Incarnation” and the fellowship and food were amazing! We had Tamales, pulled pork, shortbread and cheesecake to name a few. We then took a drive to Calabasas and Malibu the following day. We drove down the Malibu canyon and ended up in Malibu and its surroundings. The drive was beautiful! We drove past Pepperdine University and decided to stop in. Unfortunately, they are re-tarring the roads and we were therefore denied entry and so we will have to go back next time. We then took the coastal road from the Malibu area to Santa Monica and drove to Malibu Pier then after a long time in the car driving back to the Valley (where we are) via Mullholland drive up to Burbank and then Sun Valley. Kelly and I had a great time together!
⇓ Pics Below ⇓ on Scroll ⇓
Lastly, we had a busy week and were blessed to share a meal with Clay and Cindy whom both celebrated their birthdays. We went to a typical American diner and the fellowship and food were excellent! Please continue to pray for the folk here as there are some of us that are growing closer.
The new year has come and I hope and pray that it is a blessed one for each and every one of us. I have the conviction that as a church and people who profess Christ, we need diligence, humility, and tenacity. I believe we are void of diligence and need to at all costs seek and serve the Lord with diligence. The Lord says if you seek Him with your whole heart you will find Him. Also, Paul writes to his protégé Timothy and says that we must be diligent to present ourselves approved to God, workers who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).
Please continue to pray for us and we send all our love to you with big hugs and kisses!
Shalom!
Love these updates!!! that Kit Kat😳😳😳!!! J I seriously hope you shared it with my Kel 😂😂 God Bless my sweet people, love you guys tons x
All our love my friend. No I haven’t bought that Kit Kat yet … was worried about a sugar attack of note (ha ha ha). Much love to you and Stef
If we bought that, Jean would have to wrestle me for it 🍫
Hi Folks. You played softball but what about the ‘”Traditional American Hot Dogs” or is it all Chiwawas in L.A?
2023 and be diligent. Two verses come to mind and I pray that the Body of Christ both here and there will be diligent to apply the Apostle’s exhortation:
2Ti_2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2Pe_1:10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble.
Blessings, strength, fortitude and courage in Christ as we fly through yet another year in growing mayhem in this fallen world.
Not yet on the traditional dogs, haven’t gone as far yet (ha ha). There is a take-out or restaurant on every corner here so that will never be exhausted. Love those scriptures, thank you brother. Lord bless you and fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of eternal life
🤣 Colin, when we experience the dogs, we’ll let y’all know about it. So far, it’s only been the tamales and the po’ boy sandwiches from one of the guys in the church. Really delicious though.
Thank you for the scripture. Hope you are doing well.
Dear Jeandre and Kelly thank you for sharing. Wishing you both all the best for the New Year. Love your photos the country side looks amazing and the photo of the two of your makes me realise how l miss you both. You are both doing an awesome work on the other side of the world God bless you both. Look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Tanti baci xxxl as you say Shalom
Mama Rita, thank you for the message. We pray that you have an awesome year full of fellowship and love and holiness. We miss you and will definitely chat again soon. All our love in Christ Jesus!
Thank you mama Rita. Love and kisses to you too 😉
Thank you for your insight before you give us the update on your going’s on. I find it very thought provoking. So happy that you guys are becoming part of the church community. Praying that you develop deep and meaningful relationships. God bless Stew
Amen awesome my brother. Thanks for the message and Lord bless you!
Thanks Stu. Hope you are well too and are blessed by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.