Notes On Life

 Eventually, we FINISH everything we do. We finish the end of each DAY, each WEEK, each MONTH, and each YEAR; but there’s one last major thing that we all will finish — like a runner at the end of a race — and that is how well we finished At The End Of Our LIFE. As Paul wrote in today’s scripture, he endured until the end, overcame the battles he was given to face, completed the entire route that he needed to transverse, and lastly kept – not just a credo, religious practice, or tradition – but continued in FAITH with faith in God to the eternal blessed hope that is the promise of all who are faithful to the end. Friend, your finish line is coming at some point. How Will You Finish?  God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You NotesOnLife.org Share this Note with others: https://www.NotesOnLife.org/YDN/archive/2025-12-31.php?src=B.1000_FinishingTheRace Subscribe via email — NotesOnLife.org/subscribe #Finish #EndOfLife #Eternity #NewYear #NewDay #NewLife #BornAgain #Truth #JesusIsGod #C...

 The best-selling book, ‘Your Best Life Now’ provided an uplifting message that was irresistible to many. All that was needed was a positive attitude, belief in yourself, trust in God and a life full of promise, peace and prosperity will come. Hey! I read the book too! It was a well-written, uplifting feel-good tome that sold millions — perhaps for the same reason that late-night infomercials selling the latest weight-loss gadget or drink additive also promise to easily melt off pounds with likewise appeal of minimal effort. However overcoming real-life problems (and losing fatty pounds) doesn’t work by positive affirmations alone. On the contrary, Living The Christian Life Is NOT Easy . Not only do we have to contend with a world that constantly fights against our values of godliness and holiness, but also dealing with the temptations of the flesh and the distraction of the snares of this life that are constantly around us. (Psalms 38:12) Jesus did NOT say “Build large churches f...

 The memorable television program LAW & ORDER chronicled stories of people that had been charged with a crime, tried by the prosecution, but also vigorously defended by an attorney that advocated innocence for the defendant. In the series, almost all were convicted but occasionally, using the law itself, the strong pleadings of the intercessor overcame the charges, and the defendant was found not guilty. In the courtroom of heaven, we are all charged with the crime of sin and violators of God’s law but when Christ came and died on the cross, he paid the wages of sin and death and now stands as our advocate to intercede and plead in the court of righteousness to intervene on our behalf. Unlike the TV series, he uses the heavenly LAW OF GRACE AND MERCY to prove our innocence — and here is how. The word ‘SIN’ in Greek is ‘harmartia,’ and is a metaphor of an archer missing the mark of the bullseye. Each time we sin, in essence we are missing being perfectly on target, and each ...

 Why do people ‘HATE?’ Hate is defined as having a strong dislike, disgust, abhorrence, and loathing of something or someone. It is passion against something that is repulsive and worthy of being reviled and rejected. The ultimate fruit of hate is to subject that object of hatred to scorn, scolding, mocking and at it’s ultimate evil fulfillment — persecution. Jesus experienced all of this from the time he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane through the trials and scourging by the temple officers and Romans to his ultimate death on the cross. Given this, for who he was and all the good he did and the words he preached why was he hated so much and why did he say that the world hated him? The answer is Jesus was and is “The light of the world” (John 9:5) and HIS LIGHT is always HATE to others because “(the world) loves darkness more than light.” (John 3:19) Likewise, it is no wonder that when we “Let (our) light shine before others” that the light of Christ in us will also c...

 In the United States, it is hard to not see evidence about the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. While driving, it is not uncommon to see the motto “In God We Trust” mon license plates, and alongside many highways are monuments of three crosses reminding us that, at heart, this is a Christian nation. The inscription “In God We Trust” is imprinted on all the coins and currency we handle every day. By Congressional decree “In God We Trust” is written prominently in stone above the chair of the Speaker, and The House of Representatives affirmed this phrase legally in HR 112-47 as the official motto of the United States. Buildings in our Nations’ Capitol as well as many others in around the country have ”Anno Domini” - Latin for ”In the year of our Lord.” - etched into their cornerstones. On Inauguration Day the entire nation sees the President rest his hand on a Bible, and the Chaplin prays for blessing from Almighty God over the proceedings. Lastly, we all enjoy – regardless of fait...

Just over 2,000 years ago Christ was born, and so significant was his entry upon the earth that the entire world measures TIME as the number of years Before his birth ( BC “Before Christ”) and After his birth ( AD ‘Anno Domini’ “In the year of our LORD”). The time and date Christ came in world history was not arbitrary, because God does nothing haphazardly. Everything in HIS TIME is perfectly planned precisely, and Jesus’s entrance on the timeline of the world was at a particular intersection of very specific events: Prophetically : Daniel 9 prophecy that exactly 173,880 days from the decree by King Darius that the messiah would enter Jerusalem (fulfilled on Palm Sunday) Covenantal : The “Fullness of the Time” was completed (based on the timing of …) Dispensational : From Adam to Moses/2,000 years, and Moses & The Law to Christ/2,000 years Political : Roman rule over the world made possible… Logistical : …Roads and commerce which provided… Cultural : …a common la...

 The words ‘AWARD’ and ‘REWARD’ sound a lot alike — but there is a significant difference between the two. An AWARD is an Honour or Gift that you are Given , but a REWARD is something that you are PAID  — and Romans 6:23 is very clear about this distinction: “For the wages of sin is death… (but see below).” God’s Word repeatedly makes this very sharp distinction, all of which detail the true type and cost of this eternal ‘reward:’ warning about: “A reward of their shame”  —  Psalms 40:15 “The reward of the wicked”  —  Psalms 91:8 “The wicked… shall be ill with…the reward of his hands”  —  Isaiah 3:11 Lastly, 2 Peter 2:13 describes the type of those souls given this reward saying that they “… shall receive the REWARD OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS , as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you.” God takes no pleasure in giving REWARD to the unrighteous, but instead takes delight in g...

 The Devil is the Spirit of Darkness, the Prince of Death, and Diabolic in all His ways . He lives to D eceive with D ivisive, D istrustful, and D erogatory words to D emean, D isrupt, and D evastate people’s lives. He is D evious, D ishonest, and a D istorter of the truth, D eceitful in his actions to D isrupt, D emolish, and D estroy all that is Good and Holy. He celebrates all that is D irty, D isgusting, and D egenerate and exalts D isobedience, D isloyalty, and D isrespectfulness. His goal is D isaster and D evastation and he is D esperate to achieve it. Yet, finally, by the BLOOD OF JESUS WHO CONQUERED THE DEVIL He is Defeated —  and DOOMED . God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You NotesOnLife.org Share with others:  https://www.NotesOnLife.org/YDN/archive/2025-12-22.php?src=B.0992_Devil_D Subscribe via email — NotesOnLife.org/subscribe #Devil #Demon #Destroyer #Darkness #Defeated #Doomed #BloodOfJesus #Faith #JesusIsGod #Christ #Faith #Christian #Christianity #BibleTeaching ...

 This comforting verse from one of the most obscure and little-known books from the Old Testament speaks and warns of protection from coming judgement; but what judgement by who and why? And who and why are those that will find this refuge? Nahum was addressing a peoples, culture, and nation that not only practiced but pridefully celebrated all that was profane, unrighteous, and ungodly that was an abomination to God. His short tome starts off declaring that those holding this this devil-may-care attitude will bring judgment and destruction upon themselves, and this same attitude of wanton living is pervasive today 2,500 years later with overt emphasis on sex, pleasure, power and possessions. However this message of judgement doesn’t fit with the commonly believed and misguided view of God only as a loving, kind being that always unconditionally loves and accepts everyone for who they are and what they are. On the contrary, while God IS LOVE He is also JUST ; and First And Foremos...

 Have you ever really wanted something to happen, but the door you wanted CLOSED ? I have, and like today’s Bible account it closed for a God-ordained reason that later would lead to a bigger blessing. Out of High School I sold shoes in a department store. The shoe manager went on vacation and the district shoe manager put me in charge for two weeks promising if my sales were up he’d make me store manager of a brand-new store at the mall. After two weeks business was flat and that door CLOSED . Because that door closed, a better door leading to a far better blessing followed . Likewise in today’s scripture, a CLOSED DOOR to Paul was the OPEN DOOR for the Gospel to reach the world! You see, it was the Western world of Rome, and the nations of Europe and the Americas that followed — and Not the Oriental Nations — that explored, colonized, and spread the Gospel and Christianity as the major religion around the world. Because the Holy Spirit closed the door to Asia, it opened a far ...

  Years ago I lived in a small apartment on Capitol Hill, and back in those days D.C. wasn’t very safe and crime was everywhere. One day glancing out my window two guys in black hoodies mugged a young intern, beat him to the ground and briskly walked away. Quickly putting on a pair of sandals I went out to check to see if the fellow was OK. By then the thugs were then about a block away, and although it was a very cold winter day I impulsively decided to follow them, but after about three blocks wearing just a long sleeve shirt on a freezing winter day I began to wonder exactly what I as doing! At the fourth block they turned left and I walked across the street and I also turned left too only to see them waiting for me hiding across the street. Instead of two big guys, was one a small short kid and the other a tall skinny kid of high school age. Once they saw me they walked towards me and shouted and confidently said, “Hey! You followin’ Us?!” I angrily said, “I saw what you did to...

  I have been a professional lead trumpet player for many years, and part of what we do is playing   High Notes . Other trumpeters often ask me, “How  DO YOU  play so high?” and while diligent practice and careful technique is essential, when the moment comes to play those notes, you have to  BELIEVE  you will and  Not Have Doubt . Nobody can believe that for me. — I have to believe it myself. Likewise, believing in God and the promises of the Bible for forgiveness and salvation is  Something Only You Can Do . Nobody can do that for you. You have to believe it for yourself. It doesn’t matter if you were raised in church, attend every Sunday, have friends that are Christians, attend a Bible study, go on retreats, have people lay hands on you or have a pastor pray for you. When you get to that point in your 'song of life' ultimately  YOU  have to  BELIEVE  the gospel and in Christ yourself with confidence and also  NOT HAVE ...

 One of the most frequently quoted chapters in the Bible is the ‘LOVE Chapter,’ 1 Corinthians 13. While it extols the godly qualities of true love, there is also a far deeper prophetic meaning here that many people miss which is verse eight: “Love will never fail or end, But prophesying will pass away, tongues will cease, and the gift of special knowledge, will also pass away.” The key to fully understanding this is the relationship of Faith, Hope and Love concerning TIME: FAITH has to do with the Present HOPE has to do with the Future LOVE has to do with Eternity You see, we “Walk By Faith” in the NOW trusting in God to keep and preserve us in the present time, but we have “Hope of eternal life in Heaven” in the FUTURE, but once this world passes away, there is no need for faith or hope any longer because we will be in Christ and totally in HIS LOVE. Love is LAST because it is the only thing left that we need and is and will be. To get there as the old gospel hymn says we must...

  Today’s scripture describes a proud religious officer praying in the temple who strongly believed that his sincere and heartfelt works meant that he was fully acceptable before God. Like that man, many people also think that they are on the right track to go to heaven based on what they FEEL about how they are living their life. However as someone once wisely said: “Feelings are a great caboose, But a lousy locomotive!” Jeremiah 17:9 confirms this saying  “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”  In other words, if your track to heaven is based on how you  'Feel'  that doesn’t mean that you are heading in the right direction or that your salvation is sure. Like that holy man in the temple,  Being Sincere About How You’re Living Your Life Cannot Save You  because salvation does not depend on FEELING but FAITH and this is by FOLLOWING the true engine of your salvation which is Jesus Christ. Friend, there are m...

 These are TURBULANT times, and with the rapid pace of the world today we are left with unease and uncertainty. With all that is going on, it’s easy to be thrown off balance with the daily rise and fall of social disorder and division of unity, uncertain financial markets, god-like AI technology and so much more that trying to absorb and keep up with it all can be overwhelming. We never know what we’re going to hear what has happened next on the news, so it’s understandable that we might become discouraged and lose heart. But basing all our hope on man’s ability to solve problems or to modify a situation is not the answer. The root cause of problems in our world is not political, financial, or social but spiritual . It all comes down to man’s sinful nature that has been in enmity with God since Adam and Eve. Wars, greed and selfishness have continued all throughout time and why? Because of SIN there is — nor can there be — Peace On Earth . Sin prompts us to lookout for ourselves an...

 What is the difference between Fear and Faith? These are not quite the opposites you might think they are. FEAR is seeing the known and negatively responding to it FAITH is seeing the unknown and positively responding to it The Apostle Paul put it eloquently when He said “Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17) Notice that there is no ‘seeing’ involved , and when it gets into the mix, that is what contaminates our faith, just like when Peter started walking on the water. He SAW the storm , accepted this as ‘fact’ and his faith was immediately contaminated and he began to sink. Let’s fast forward to the present epidemic and the current storm in the world. We SEE people walking around cautiously — wearing masks, gloves, not socializing — and then respond with FEAR. This is not the FAITH response. This of course does not mean that we should not be cautious or practice safe hygiene, but do not ACCEPT what you SEE or how people are responding contami...

Temptation. It’s something we all face each day, but what is it? The core definition of temptation in English, Greek, and Latin all point to experiencing a TRIAL, specifically ‘a test’ to see how we will respond. At the root, it is being curious about an opportunity to engage in and explore short-term pleasure to satisfy a longing we think we want that interferes with what is ultimately good for us. It is always an appeal to our fleshly nature to indulge in something that we know deep down is wrong. Jesus said that avoiding temptation was so important that He ends the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ with “Lead us not into TEMPTATION, but deliver us from EVIL.” This was His explicit warning that what lies at the end of the road that temptation points to will always terminate in an evil end. All of us will have to stand in trial in court before our heavenly judge for the temptations and sins to which we have succumbed and found GUILTY except for those that sincerely repent and confess their sins. ...

 There is a great debate among Christians — and criticism by non-believers — about the “Prosperity Gospel.” Scoffers rightfully point to mega-church pastors with their elaborate salaries, huge mansions, and expensive clothes while Christians also condemn the “sow a seed” approach used by these and other ministers proclaiming that their financial faithfulness will promise ‘prosperity’ as a reward to all that “sow into my ministry.” On the other hand, ardent advocates of this teaching recite the verse above and other scriptures to “Proclaim it and Name It” with the expectation that “whatsoever ye desire” will be given to you (because) all you have to do is “speak unto that mountain and not doubt and it will happen.” So is the ‘Prosperity Gospel’ true or false? The answer is both YES and NO …but it depends on the WAY and PURPOSE to which it is applied. God is not an ATM machine, Santa Claus, or unlimited Amazon gift card. Used this way, the ‘Prosperity Gospel’ is an erroneous, mislea...

If someone were to say, “The capitol of California is San Francisco” is that False or is it a LIE? The difference is this: If it was Said Sincerely it may be taken as an Honest Error or mistake, but if Said With Malice with the intent to mislead or deny it is to Lie In The Face Of The Truth . As this passage from today’s verse in the Book of Romans reminds us, there are some that not only think and believe the bible (lowercase, ibid) is not only Not True , but is instead a LIE , and as the following verses in this chapter go on to promote, the truth of God is instead replaced with lies defiantly contrary to the truth of God. This is the choice that all will make regarding the Bible: Is it TRUE ? Is it an honest but FALSE book of stories, fables, and traditions? Is it an outright LIE ? Friend, this message is not to say that the Bible is TRUE, FALSE, or a LIE. That is up to you to decide. What is your opinion? God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You NotesOnLife.org Share this story with ...

 There are many things in this life that don’t happen ‘Automatically,’ or ‘Accidentally.’ For example, all baseball players don’t ‘accidentally’ hit a home run, all professional musicians aren’t automatically selected to world-class symphonies, and all football players don’t automatically get into the NFL. Going to heaven also doesn’t happen accidentally or automatically . Many people think that just because they are ‘good’ that’s all that is required and going to heaven is automatic, but today’s verse is clear who goes to heaven — and this is a lot simpler than being a “GOOD” professional athlete or musician. All that is required is believing in Christ, placing your trust and faith in him, and honoring him as your LORD. Those that do will have eternal life . Do you Believe This? …or do you REJECT THIS? God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You NotesOnLife.org Share this story with others: https://tinyurl.com/HeavenIsNotByAccident Subscribe via email — NotesOnLife.org/subscribe @Getnotes...

  What are you looking at? Or rather,   What Are You Looking FOR?   In both cases, what is being sought starts with sight, and that sight emanates from the window of the soul; the   EYE . As today’s scripture says, it’s not just looking but lusting that leads one to living a life of pride, and as Proverbs 16:18 warns,  “Pride proceeds destruction, and arrogance before a fall.”  So instead of believing that you’ve 'found yourself' by what you see, you have instead become  'Lost at SEE' . The temptations and opportunities that the world has to offer are many, and it is easy to get caught up looking at the things of the world that provide pleasure, power and prestige — and it always starts by casting your eyes on all those things on which you focus. Jesus said,  “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.”  (Luke 11:34) Friend, be careful what ...