Category: Christian

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday July 07TH 2024, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

I continue to write my next sermon titled “Music & Lyrics”. It’s about half-done on paper. I’ve got some ideas floating around in my mind for my next sermon after that. It may be an Old Testament-based message. I may start writing it before I complete my ongoing sermon. I’ve discovered in the past that writing two sermons simultaneously actually enhance each other. I love how God leads me down these winding roads on this journey.

Since the start of April and for the next couple of months – I’m presenting the full transcription of my recent Jude message series consisting of two sermons – “Jude & Judgment” (Verses 1-11), and “Jude & Jury” (Verses 12-25). I preached them to my Homestead Florida church family on November 26TH 2023 and December 03RD 2023 respectively. Links are provided for Parts 1 to 8 of “Jude & Judgment” over on my SERMONS page. (It’s Sermon 56.) Here’s Part 4 of “Jude & Jury”:

[CONTINUE SERMON]

“The Lord is coming … to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” These people are grumblers and complainers – living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. (Jude 15-16)

See that’s who the enemy uses to deceive us. Marge – you know these people. Judy – you know these people. Some may even be your “friends”. Some are my coworkers. They are grumblers and complainers. They are only happy – when they get their way – which is probably not your way – or God’s way. They don’t care about your way – or God’s way. They are braggers. It’s all about themselves. As the Scriptures say – “If you want to boast – boast only about the LORD.” (2 Corinthians 10:17)

They are flatterers – to get what they want – in any way possible. Don’t fall for them. Don’t be like them. You’ve come a long way on this journey. Remember the way that you used to be ? – back before you knew Christ ? I remember that person that I used to be. That was just over 17 years ago.

But you don’t have to go that far back to your pre-salvation life. Don’t be like the person that you were last year – or the year before that. You’re closer to God now than you were back then. You know more about Him now than you did back then.

In fact – don’t even be like the person that you were yesterday. Where you’re going tomorrow – is not where you are today. Our God has plans for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster – to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11b)

So Jude warns his readers (that includes us – we’re reading his letter in the Bible). He warns of these dangerous false teachers who lurk all around us – in the darkness and in the light. And then Jude gives us some good advice:

But you – dear friends – must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ – who will bring you eternal life. In this way – you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution – hating the sins that contaminate their lives. (Jude 20-23)

That is very good advice right there. That is Godly advice right there. We must build each other up instead of tear each other down. You know it’s easier to tear someone down rather than build them up. God doesn’t want us to do what’s easy. The world teaches us how to tear someone down. I mean just look around. We tear each other down – out there in public – and especially online on social media. But our loving God – He teaches us how to build someone up. When you build someone up – you show them your love, and that’s God’s love. When you build someone up – you build-up God’s Kingdom. When you build someone up – you may be saving their life. You may be rescuing them from the flames of judgment.

[TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK]

My testimony is featured each week here on #SundayScripture – whether it’s part of a sermon, or just me writing about the events of the past week. Hopefully it encourages you and inspires you to seek the Lord, and get closer to Him with each new day.

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday June 30TH 2024, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

What a fun church week it was. This past week (Monday to Friday night) I had the honor and privilege of participating in my very first Vacation Bible School (#VBS). It’s like a week-long church summer camp for elementary school kids.

A few months ago I was asked (at Bible Study) by the lady who always sits next to me if I’d be willing to play a character at the upcoming #VBS. I immediately said “yes”, and I got the script for my character a week or two later. I portrayed (all 5 nights in a series of comedic skits) the slightly dimwitted but always learning “Jim NoLand”, and I made him my own with various ad-libs and other crazy personas from myself and other people I know. I played the role alongside my Pastor – who naturally played himself – “Shipwrecked” on a remote island full of monkeys and coconuts. It was a lot of fun. I didn’t know what to expect before it all got started, but I’m glad that I was asked to be a part of it. I think I was a “fan-favorite” with the kids. I also got to enjoy great fellowship with the adults each night.

It was perhaps my most complete and fulfilling church week in my 17+ years as part of various church families. I’m really enjoying and thriving in this current season with my church family here in Sebring. I’m coming up on 10 months with Highlands Community Church. Our Pastor is wonderful. His preaching and teaching style and his personality and sense of humor is very similar to my own, and his theology is the closest of any Pastor I’ve studied under or served with.

You know the church is the living and breathing body of believers and followers of our Lord + Savior Jesus Christ, and I believe that our church body is strong and bold and moving closer to and for our 3 in 1 God – Creator, Christ, and Spirit.

God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is His body. It is made full and complete by Christ – who fills all things everywhere with Himself. (Ephesians 1:22-23 NLT)

Since the start of April and for the next couple of months – I’m presenting the full transcription of my recent Jude message series consisting of two sermons – “Jude & Judgment” (Verses 1-11), and “Jude & Jury” (Verses 12-25). I preached them to my Homestead Florida church family on November 26TH 2023 and December 03RD 2023 respectively. Links are provided for Parts 1 to 8 of “Jude & Judgment” over on my SERMONS page. (It’s Sermon 56.) I’ll continue with Part 4 of “Jude & Jury” – next #SundayScripture.

My testimony is featured each week here on #SundayScripture – whether it’s part of a sermon, or just me writing about the events of the past week. Hopefully it encourages you and inspires you to seek the Lord, and get closer to Him with each new day.

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp