PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS: NAME IT CLAIM IT

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST:  OCCULT IN PROSPERITY DOCTRINE NAME IT CLAIM IT

Photo courtesy Google images

One of these days, we are going to have to come eye to eye with God and He is going to ask what did we do with the Grace that He gave us in the salvation provided by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  This is no fairy tale, this is not a bed time story, it is not a myth created to threaten children into behaving.  This is truth, this is our souls and our eternal life at stake.  Pastor John Collins of Love That Cross Ministries is up front and puts it right out there when he preaches from the heart and calls out the dilution of the Gospel when it’s presented in prosperity doctrine or other forms of false doctrines.  One of these false doctrines is the fad of “Name it Claim it”.  Faith is not a fad.  Salvation is not a fad.  God and Jesus are not fads, They have been around since the beginning of time, the Holy Bible says so. 

“Name it Claim it” is promoted by the likes of Joyce Meyer, Paula White, Joel Osteen, T. D. Jakes, Creflo Dollar and others, and is another false doctrine of prosperity doctrine.  If you can visualize something and call it out loud to God, He will provide you with what you ask for.  God is not in the business of giving us what we want, He is in the business of saving souls.  God demands humility.  For us to demand of God what we want will earn us a ticket to someplace we don’t want to be, and we are not going to be able to explain it away when we do meet Him face to face one day.  People don’t even recognize that what they are doing is actually offensive to God because they don’t know the truth of the Gospel and they don’t know the Holy Bible.

“There are many Christians that see no harm in a visualization board, affirmation clippings and scrapbooks of hopes that are created, kept and prayed over. What is wrong with picturing a better life for yourself, creating a visual focal point so that you can put out into the world your hopes and dreams and create for yourself the life that you desire? Many believe that you can state your claims out loud to God and He will answer your heart’s desire. That is your will, not His. As much grace as God is willing to provide, He is not in the business of granting wishes like some genie in the sky.” Pastor John Collins (March, 2018).

Pastor John Collins, evangelist, is the head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries.  For the past decade, Pastor John Collins has been bringing God back to churches across the country, most recently through a true revival of faith and hope.  The Gospel has been so watered down that it seems that it is being fed like Koolaid to those who thirst for some kind of taste of God that will make them feel good.  Pastor John Collins is redeeming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, preaching the truth of the Word of God and His Son, Jesus Christ.  What is being preached from the pulpits in so many churches and other media venues is a feel-good, what people want to hear, not the truth that Jesus came to teach us over 2000 years ago, and the sacrifice of His human life is not even taught to congregations across this country.  Pastor John Collins preaches the truth of the Gospel with vigor and enthusiasm, he does not write what he preaches:  Pastor John Collins preaches from the heart.

Pastor John Collins writes:

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:24-25 (NKJV).

Name it and claim it! There are many churches out there that have been peddling the law of attraction for some time now. There are many Christians that see no harm in a visualization board, affirmation clippings and scrapbooks of hopes that are created, kept and prayed over. What is wrong with picturing a better life for yourself, creating a visual focal point so that you can put out into the world your hopes and dreams and create for yourself the life that you desire? Many believe that you can state your claims out loud to God and He will answer your heart’s desire. That is your will, not His. As much grace as God is willing to provide, He is not in the business of granting wishes like some genie in the sky.

The challenge of being a true Christian in this life is to deny the passions of your flesh. That is what you fight against. Your flesh wants nice things, joy and happiness above all and most of all it wants validation for your importance and existence. People want success and recognition for their efforts and they want the paycheck that goes along with it. There are many that say to live your life to the fullest, claim your reward, allow God to do more for you than you realize was possible. God is in the business of saving souls, not making your dreams come true. God desires humility and not pride of life. People want to try this and that to make their lives better but do not even see when those things are anti-biblical because people don’t know the word of God.

This name it and claim it nonsense is of the new age church. There are many churches today that are introducing and blending pagan ideas and activities into their church, whether they realize it or not, which are contrary to true faith and genuine worship of the Father and the Son. Be careful of the influences that you allow into your life, your church and especially your home. Many Christians don’t know about the occult and those practices which makes it hard to rebuke when it enters your life and there are many of these that seem harmless enough but in reality all they do is undermine your beliefs. God has been fighting the evil practices since the beginning and many cannot see that it is nothing new but it is just updated and repackaged for this generation. Paganism and idolatry is an abomination to the Lord and you must be cautious and aware in what you allow to have influence over you. Hold tight to the doctrine of truth and let humility rule your life.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Pastor John Collins emphasizes it’s time, now, to get on our knees and pray, open the Holy Bible and read it.  The kingdom of God, the King of God, is before us and we need to repent and get ourselves back to God.  If we don’t change, things are going to get worse, it has to be done right now.

Pastor John Collins has many sermons, recordings, interviews, blogs and other media available throughout the Internet that can be found by clicking on the links found in this post.  Pastor John Collins can also be heard Sundays at 1000 am Mountain Time on Heaven’s Country Radio with Marty Smith at www.heavenscountry.com.  Pastor John Collins is available to speak with you in person, not to debate, but to minister to you at jc65777@yahoo.com.  Pastor John Collins is also available for guest speaking and can be contacted at the same personal email address.  God wants us back, as many as will come.  We need to hear and learn the truth first.  Pastor John Collins is in it to win it for God.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS: GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: THE GOVERNMENT-WE ARE GETTING WHAT WE ASKED FOR

photo from Google images

Over two hundred years ago, this country was won and built in a revolution by the faith of men in God.  Those forefathers who laid the foundations of this country and its government based it upon their faith in God whom they knew and believed helped them win the war of independence against the then largest empire, Great Britain, and its well-trained army of skilled professional soldiers.  The odds were against us becoming the United States, but by God’s grace and certainly His desire, this country became the land of freedom for all. Pastor John Collins, Love That Cross Ministries, tells us our dilemma of today’s government and society is because we have kicked God out of everything, including our government.  Those founding fathers knew that the only reason the war was won was because it was God who blessed us.  Truly, just as Pastor John Collins says it, we have now turned our back on God, kicking Him out of school, family, churches, and the government.  It has been progressing to the point it has become over decades.  And no, just as Pastor John Collins says, God is not blessing this country.  Why would He right now?  We are getting exactly what we have asked for in our government.

“How can we complain about the bloated condition of our government when the people voted these politicians into the positions that they have? It is the people who raise up for themselves leaders who they believe will accomplish the goals that they have for themselves. When the majority of the populace is not godly themselves, then they will be governed by ungodly people. Our country is truly in a state of distress and the people are picking up cause after cause to rally behind, but, who is willing to say what the root of the cause of the condition is itself? I will. There is no faith here, no righteousness here and no godliness here that is in any majority of any group.” Pastor John Collins (March, 2018).

Pastor John Collins, evangelist, is the head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries.  Pastor John Collins has been promoting a revival of hope and faith for many years.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been diluted with the desires of what people want to hear, with the Koolaid of prosperity doctrine, of wrong interpretation of the Holy Bible, and that Gospel of redemption now needs to be redeemed itself, says Pastor John Collins.   The only way we are going to turn this country around is to get on our knees to pray, to open the Bible and read it for ourselves instead of expecting someone to do it for us, and allow the beauty and love of God to fill us as it was meant to.  Salvation is still ours to claim, preaches Pastor John Collins, it hasn’t changed in more than 2000 years, but mankind has found ways to fill our own egos and greed on the back of the Man who died to save us from our sins, instead of focusing the purpose of the pulpit and preaching of the pastors on the Salvation of Jesus Christ and His singularly willing sacrifice to die for us so that we can have eternity to live instead of eternity to die.  That mindset has found its way into our government, and we the people put it there.  God has no reason to bless us, and until we make the change toward him, that won’t happen.  Pastor John Collins has the lifelong commitment to bring God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ back, to redeem that Gospel and help us found our salvation.

Pastor John Collins writes:

“And He said to me: ‘So of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel to this city.’” Ezekiel 11:2 (NKJV).

If you don’t like the decisions of the president then sue him. If you don’t like the decisions of the state then sue the state. If you don’t like the decisions of the school board then sue them. If you don’t like the rules then sue whoever it takes until the rules change. How can we complain about the bloated condition of our government when the people voted these politicians into the positions that they have? It is the people who raise up for themselves leaders who they believe will accomplish the goals that they have for themselves. When the majority of the populace is not godly themselves, then they will be governed by ungodly people. Our country is truly in a state of distress and the people are picking up cause after cause to rally behind, but, who is willing to say what the root of the cause of the condition is itself? I will. There is no faith here, no righteousness here and no godliness here that is in any majority of any group.

The people of this country have lost their way and have banished God from their lives, their homes, their schools and most important from their government. The polls will tell you that most politicians have a claim to Christianity but the truth is the fruit of the tree and these people are not bringing God into the decisions that they are making for our country. Just because you say you are of Christ does not mean that you are. When did we fall asleep at the wheel and allow ourselves to become disjointed, unruly and so micromanaged that nothing can be accomplished for the good? How did we allow ourselves to get so caught up in specific causes that we cannot see the forest for the trees? Where is God in this country? If we allow our lives to be barren of our faith then we will definitely heap up for ourselves those who will be blind leading the blind. It is not only our religious leaders that we must be willing to discern the righteousness of a man but it is our political leaders as well.

If you cannot see a solution to the complicated mess of a system that is out of control then let me enlighten you to what is needed. Get on your knees. Get a bible and open it and get right with God. It matters if you are justified in the eyes of the Lord and each household that is a light unto this world can create another and another. Be willing to stand for the truth of God and do not compromise on those standards. This world may call for abominations to be written into law, but you need to be willing to stand against the tide of the world for the righteousness of God. You may not think that it matters, but it does. Be willing to be a ripple of godliness in an ocean of sin and know that your efforts will be counted as good fruit. Do not be ignorant to the tests that enter your life through the corruption and sin perpetrated by those in positions of authority.

“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming-in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning- lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” Mark 13:35-37 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Pastor John Collins can be heard each Sunday at 1000 a.m., Mountain time, on Heaven’s Country Radio with Marty Smith.  You can link here and listen at www.heavenscountry.com.  Pastor John Collins has many blogs, recordings, interviews, articles, sermons and more that can be found by clicking on the links found within this post.  If you wish to speak to Pastor John Collins for prayer, guidance, faith, or to reach him for guest speaking, he can be reached at jc65777@yahoo.com. Pastor John Collins says it very clearly, he is in it to win it for God.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS: HOW TO BECOME CHRISTIAN

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO BECOME GOOD CHRISTIANS?

Romans 10: 9-10 (NKJV)

There is a difference between becoming A Christian and becoming Christian.  Pastor John Collins tells us the first step is to speak it with our mouth and believe it in your heart, which is what Paul the Gentile's apostle wrote in Romans.  That's becoming A Christian, but the journey only begins there.  How do we become Christian, because it doesn't happen overnight~author's comment. 

What does it mean when we choose to accept the salvation of Jesus Christ, seek sincere forgiveness, and become Christian?  What do we need to do to become good Christians?  Simply saying that we believe in God, that we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is not enough.  There is work to be done, preaches Pastor John Collins of Love That Cross Ministries.  Asking Jesus to come into your life is the first step.  From that point onward, our journey is lifelong.  Paul turned his life around in an instant, and yes, that is possible:  for Paul and most of us it is a struggle and a journey that we must work on every day.  What we were taught, what we believe, our habits, our thoughts will poison our heart and keep us from becoming righteous.  It is a process of choosing to do things differently.  Where do we find how to do this?  The Holy Bible.  That book is the blueprint on how to live, how to act, how to become a Christian.  Everything we do can be measured by what is in the Holy Bible.  If you attend a church that does not encourage you to get into the Holy Bible, it’s likely time to change churches.  If the sermons you hear don’t help you let go of who you were and help you to become a better Christian, then it is likely time to find another source.  The whole pivot point of becoming a Christian is seeking Jesus Christ, every day, so that you can work on the salvation of your soul.  Your eternal life and where you spend that eternity depends upon it. 

“God wants to see us make the effort to choose His ways over our ways. That is why we are not given perfection and complete faith immediately upon belief. We must choose to work for what we want. That is how we show God and Jesus when we are tested that we want them above all. This is why it is so important to be open to finding our faults, open to repentance and open to growing as a Christian. Nothing of value in life will come without effort. We must choose what we are willing to make an effort for in our lives.” ~ Pastor John Collins, March 2018.

Pastor John Collins is a nationally and world known evangelist and the head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries.  Pastor John Collins has been spreading revival of the Word of Jesus Christ for many years, beginning with a fresh approach to redeeming the Gospel in Wyoming.  Pastor John Collins speaks the truth when he preaches, and he has a way of reaching into our hearts and making us feel what we need to do to change ourselves.  Pastor John Collins makes the Gospel easy to understand, very much like the late Reverend Billy Graham, with the humility of the late Reverend David Wilkerson. 

In daily devotionals, Pastor John Collins writes:

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” Philippians 3:12-15 (NKJV).

Following Jesus is work and not easy work because it calls for self-sacrifice and self- honesty and self-awareness. We must be willing to look within ourselves and see the truth. We must be willing to let go of what needs to be let go of and to make the continuous effort to seek righteousness in all that we do.

How do we do this? What needs to happen for us to be good Christians? When you first believe and ask for forgiveness, if you are sincere, you are forgiven. But that does not mean that you have obtained righteousness. There is work to be done. Your past beliefs, habits and mentality will continue to poison your heart. You need to learn to see things differently and to react to things differently and to choose to act differently. Just because you choose Jesus will not make lust disappear from your heart immediately if you are a very lustful person. You must recognize that lust is not right and make the effort to change the way you feel about looking at what is desirable to you. It will take practice and in time through effort your thoughts will grow to become less lustful and your heart will respond by not being filled with lust when you see that object of desire.

God wants to see us make the effort to choose His ways over our ways. That is why we are not given perfection and complete faith immediately upon belief. We must choose to work for what we want. That is how we show God and Jesus when we are tested that we want them above all. This is why it is so important to be open to finding our faults, open to repentance and open to growing as a Christian. Nothing of value in life will come without effort. We must choose what we are willing to make an effort for in our lives.

Let us be open to allowing God to show us what needs to be let go of inside of us. Let us be willing to find what we need to repent for and to find within ourselves the genuine ability to see things as God does so that change does come for us and it stays once we have obtained it.

It is not easy to look in the mirror and it is very easy to deny what we hear from others as just judgmental nonsense. Be willing to accept that there is a need for repentance inside of you and be willing to accept the need for change. Be willing to work for the salvation of your soul knowing that you have the best champion in your corner, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV).

Love That Cross, Pastor John Collins

Pastor John Collins can be heard live every Sunday morning on Heaven’s Country Radio with Marty Smith at www.heavenscountry.com, at 1000 a.m. Mountain time.  Other sermons, recordings, interviews, and blogs by Pastor John Collins can be viewed by clicking on the backlinks found within this blog.  Pastor John Collins can be reached personally through his email at jc65777@yahoo.com for prayer, hope, and encouragement.  Pastor John Collins says it best, he is in it to win it for God.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS: THE WAY HOME

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST:  HOME

Imagine growing up knowing that you would die to save the world.  Your entire life would be devoted to the singular goal of giving your life as a sacrifice so that all would have the opportunity to live.  In this day, it sounds almost like fictional super hero characters seen on film and in science fiction stories.  The thing is, that very story is true and it is written about and spoken of over and over again for over two thousand years.  Pastor John Collins, evangelist and head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries, tells us the truth of the Gospel in sermons and daily devotionals.  The way to get back home to heaven is to turn to Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came to this world and left  His heavenly home, to save our souls by giving His earthly life as a sacrifice for God for us so that we can live eternally.  Our souls are what live on after we die here on earth and leave these fleshly bodies behind.  Eternity is forever, and what we do here during our lives will determine whether we get to go home to our Creator, our Father, or whether we spend our eternity in misery and pain that we cannot imagine.  Jesus Christ is the only way to get back to God and to get back home.

“God has always done things to reach us and has always provided a way home. God has given us His Son and we should take note of the character of Jesus so that we can learn from Him. Jesus pleased God in every way and we should seek to do the same. It is possible for us to have the commitment to God that Jesus displayed by choosing to follow our Lord.” ~ Pastor John Collins (February, 2018).

Pastor John Collins is a nationally and world known evangelist and is the head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries.  It is Pastor John Collins’ lifelong commitment to bring the Word of God back to all of us in the world, to teach salvation, and to redeem the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has been so watered down and manipulated by man to suit man’s needs for over two thousand years.  Pastor John Collins preaches it like it is, getting to the point of the truth of the word in a straight forward and understandable manner.  Pastor John Collins writes and preaches from the heart:  what Pastor John Collins says is from God, not a prewritten, preconceived sermon that is read over and over again.  Beginning in Wyoming, Pastor John Collins started a revival of the Gospel, redeeming the Holy Bible so that we can understand the truth of the Word for our salvation.

Pastor John  Collins writes:

“ ‘Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. ‘Father, glorify Your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.’ Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to Him.’ Jesus answered and said, ‘This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.’” John 12:27-30 (NKJV).

Jesus grew up knowing the duty and responsibilities that He had been given. He knew what would come and He lived with an awareness of what was to be gained. He did not live with His own needs and wants but with those of His Father’s. Jesus was driven to give as He had always seen God give.

It is so clear that Jesus wanted those He encountered to understand the gifts that came from the Father. He wanted them to know that God was reaching out to them. He often pointed out that certain things were done for the benefit of others. Jesus did not need the reassurances that we need and did not lack the understanding that we do.

I believe that we often take too much of life for granted. We should slow down and look up. We should stop in our tracks and pray. Jesus was mindful of God always and was mindful of His impact on our souls. Jesus cares for us and wanted only the best for those that He ministered to. His life was full of determination for all of the right things. We have so much to learn from Him and we have so much be thankful for.

If there is one thing that you can do for yourself in your daily lives, it is to take the time to connect with the Lord. You should be seeking the opportunities to quiet your lives and to become more aware of God. You should think about what you have done in your life and what you want to do. But do this according to the gospel of Christ and see where that takes you.

God has always done things to reach us and has always provided a way home. God has given us His Son and we should take note of the character of Jesus so that we can learn from Him. Jesus pleased God in every way and we should seek to do the same. It is possible for us to have the commitment to God that Jesus displayed by choosing to follow our Lord.

Let us be aware of the efforts of God and Jesus and let us respond to their love. Let us be honest with ourselves in our lives and be willing to sacrifice for our eternal souls. Let us become more faithful people who choose to pay attention to the things that are above over the things of this earth. Let us praise God for His consideration and selfless love.

“’Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.’” John 12:31-32 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Pastor John Collins can be heard live on Sunday mornings on Heaven’s Country with Marty Smith, 1000 a.m. Mountain time, at www.heavenscountry.com. Pastor John Collins preaches on current issues with a positive outlook for our lives.  Other sermons, interviews, recordings, videos and media by Pastor John Collins can be accessed by clicking on the links embedded in this post.  Pastor John Collins can be reached in person through Pastor John Collins’ email at jc65777@yahoo.com if you are seeking hope, encouragement, and prayer.  Pastor John Collins is in it to win it for God.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS: EASTER WEEK THOUGHTS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST:  THE "MYTH" OF JESUS CHRIST

Courtesy of Google images

This week is traditionally recognized as Holy Week, Christians around the world reflect upon the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  Jews will begin the celebration of Passover at sundown on Friday.  Easter for most Christians is recognized as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.  Without Easter, or Resurrection Day, Christmas is pointless.  In a recent broadcast, Pastor John Collins, evangelist and head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries, reflected that a survey of 10,000 people revealed that at least 58% of those surveyed believe that Jesus Christ and His story is a myth. The “myth” of Jesus Christ living and dying is written in the Holy Bible, for Christians, that is enough.  However, for those who question the validity of Jesus, there are other separate and distinct documentations of Jesus Christ written by the Romans very accurately:  Romans kept detailed documentation of political issues within the Roman Empire.  Also, a man known as Josephus, or Flavius Josephus, wrote a detailed and documented text about the history of the Jews which includes validation of the life of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is not a myth.  As Pastor John Collins succinctly put it, Jesus died, Mohammed died, Buddha died, Confucius died, John Smith died….they all died.  The ONLY one who rose from the dead is Jesus Christ.  The impact of Jesus Christ continues to spread more than 2000 years later, however, those of us privileged to live in the United States have degraded the lessons He taught and twisted them to what people want to hear.  We kicked God out of government, out of family, out of school, and out of church, and wonder why we have greater issues now in our society than ever before. 

“Jesus came to this world and from His earliest age was doing the work of His Father. Jesus concerned Himself with His people, His land and the salvation of this world. Jesus taught others and took the time to heal others and be kind. Jesus is perfect and yet He suffered for you. Jesus was ridiculed and mocked, beaten and hung on a cross to die. For you.”  Pastor John Collins (March, 2018).

Pastor John Collins is an evangelist and the head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries.  Pastor John Collins has been redeeming the Gospel of Jesus Christ for more than 10 years, more recently as a revival of hope and faith across the United States.  With a style similar to the late Billy Graham, Pastor John Collins preaches in a manner that is easy to understand and relate to, reaching into the hearts of those who hear him and helping us to understand what it is in ourselves that needs to change so that we can make it home to heaven, God and Jesus Christ.  Pastor John Collins does not pull back and tell us what we want to hear from a pulpit.  Pastor John Collins tells us what we need to hear, what we need to know about the truth of Jesus Christ and what we need to do to gain salvation.  Pastor John Collins emphasizes that being Christian isn’t just showing up for church on a Sunday, it is what we do-our actions-between the times that we go to church. Just because we go to church does not mean that we are Christian.  Being Christian means we believe in the Gospel that Jesus Christ taught and we work every day to become Christ-like and please God.

 

Pastor John Collins writes in daily devotions:

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53: 4-6 (NKJV).

This world is not innocent. So, why do so many take things so personally and get so offended by the grief that comes with life? Why do so many place the blame squarely upon the shoulders of God? What is wrong with sorrow and grief? It teaches you to appreciate the joy and hope. What is wrong with sickness and death? It teaches you that there are seasons to life and health is not a guarantee. What is wrong with loss? It teaches you to appreciate what you have. There is beauty and wonder that we have feelings at all. Life is precious and filled with the ability to emotionally connect with others and death is filled with hope because Jesus has made it possible for you to continue loving those that you love.

People want to feel wounded and offended that they have suffered in this life and they want someone to blame and want to complain about it all, to be the victim. There are victims in this life and there are terrible things that happen but that is part of living among others who have the same opportunity as you have and that is free will. There are bad people in this world and there is evil in this world and that is something that we all have to deal with for now. It doesn’t mean that anyone has the right to blame God or to sit on the pity pot because as long as there is breath in your body, there is hope for salvation and you will not be gaining salvation while there is resentment for God and bitterness toward Him because you find your sufferings too big to accept.

Jesus did not grow old. Jesus did not get gray hair and lose His eyesight. Jesus did not raise a family and rock His child to sleep. Jesus did not take vacations and travel around the world to see different places. Jesus did not have the luxury of a long life. Jesus came to this world and from His earliest age was doing the work of His Father. Jesus concerned Himself with His people, His land and the salvation of this world. Jesus taught others and took the time to heal others and be kind. Jesus is perfect and yet He suffered for you. Jesus was ridiculed and mocked, beaten and hung on a cross to die. For you.

This is not a fairy tale that you have outgrown. This happened. Jesus is not just some man that lived long ago. Jesus is the Son of God and your Savior. Think about just how much you do have to be thankful for this week. As you make your plans to gather together for a meal and rejoicing, think about the times that Jesus gathered with His people for a meal. Jesus always was thinking of others, the salvation of souls. In the end that is what counts because the soul is eternal and we should all be thinking in that manner, maybe then awareness of the enormity of the gift that Christ has made possible for us all would truly sink in and gratefulness, the kind that produces life, would follow.

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until the day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.’” Matthew 26: 26-29 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN 

Pastor John Collins can be heard live weekly at 1000 am Mountain Time, Sundays, on Heaven’s Country Radio with Marty Smith.  You can listen live by clicking on the link www.heavenscountry.com.  Other content, media, broadcasts, interviews, sermons and writings by Pastor John Collins can be found by clicking on the links within this post.  You can reach Pastor John Collins personally through his email at jc65777@yahoo.com for prayer, questions, and fellowship.  Pastor John Collins is available to guest preach and speak around the country, and you may use his email for that contact as well.  Pastor John Collins makes it very clear that he is in it to win it for God.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS MINISTRIES: DESPAIR

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS: COPING WITH DESPAIR

 

photo courtesy Google images

How many of us have not felt despair?  Things happen in this life we live here that are sad, dark, scary, ugly and leave us feeling like we want to curl into a fetal position and just stay there.  That darkness is of Satan and it is meant for us to become separated from God who loves us.  It gives that evil being pleasure to know he can torture God’s creations.  We know pain because it’s part of this world, says Pastor John Collins in today’s daily devotional.  So many of us do not know how to handle the pain because society has driven God from church, family, and home.  There is an epidemic of narcotic and opioid use that is out of control.  Alcoholism destroys families and individuals.  The agony of this life is overwhelming at times and we simply are at a loss to understand how to cope.  The answer is faith.  Believing in something that we cannot see is discouraging if we don’t have immediate positive feedback.  The false hope that is often preached by those who only want to line their own pockets through snake oil style methods is sadly the most prevalent voices we hear from the pulpit and the media.  Faith in God, faith in Jesus is what will pull us through the shadows of fear and darkness.  It is the only way. 

“We need to choose to not allow pain to overwhelm us when we will be confronted with pain every day, whether or not that pain is our own personally or collectively. You see, when there is hurt in this world we need to make an even greater effort to love more. The more that we can genuinely love, beginning with loving God, who in turn allows us to love ourselves, not selfishly but with compassion and the ability to forgive ourselves so that we don’t go on punishing ourselves for past mistakes, bad choices or tragedies that we internalize and take on guilt for and that allows us to be able to love others with sincerity and truth.” Pastor John Collins (January, 2018).

Pastor John Collins, evangelist and head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries, does not and never has preached false hope.  Pastor John Collins preaches truth.  It has gotten to the point that the Gospel of Jesus Christ now needs to be redeemed because those in the pulpit over the past two thousand plus years have watered it down and turned it into something to serve man, not God and His Son, Jesus Christ.  Pastor John Collins redeems that Gospel, telling it like it is so that we can learn what each of us needs to do to get back to God.  Hope will come from faith, and as Pastor John Collins continues to preach, faith as small as mustard seed can move mountains.  God will take that tiny bit of faith in us and teach us lovingly to become strong and overcome the agony that we endure here in this world. 

Pastor John Collins writes:

“Cursed be the day in which I was born! Let the day not be blessed in which my mother bore me!” Jeremiah 20:14 (NKJV).

Who has not felt despair pulling on their world that seems to outweigh any hope that may exist? This life is full of ugly truths and disappointing days that will rip your heart out if you let it. There are valleys and shadows of a darkness that is uncompromising. People who find themselves at low points may turn to substances, whether prescription or illegal or over the counter in order to dull their pain and put off the agony of reality. It is at these low times when you feel as though you have nothing to hang on to, nothing to live for and nothing to pull you out of the darkness that faith is most important. For some, it is these dark spaces that create faith and for others it is the place that creates the doubt that challenges one’s faith. Sometimes it is hard to hold on to what you cannot see.

The human spirit is amazingly resilient. We are tougher than we realize. The truth is that there will come a time or many times in a person’s life that will leave you low and wanting to curse not only the world but your place in it. We are created with a great capacity to feel great emotions both high and low and we are capable of great compassion for each other and need to find the ability to have compassion for ourselves, not in any superficial or selfish way but in a way that allows us to let God into our hearts in order to be healed by Him. We need to choose to not allow pain to overwhelm us when we will be confronted with pain every day, whether or not that pain is our own personally or collectively. You see, when there is hurt in this world we need to make an even greater effort to love more. The more that we can genuinely love, beginning with loving God, who in turn allows us to love ourselves, not selfishly but with compassion and the ability to forgive ourselves so that we don’t go on punishing ourselves for past mistakes, bad choices or tragedies that we internalize and take on guilt for and that allows us to be able to love others with sincerity and truth. We have to be able to see the big picture as well as the little picture at the same time. Not only do we need to realize that God does have a plan and that He has not forgotten us nor forsaken us but know your life matters, what you do and who you love matters and that love needs to allow for forgiveness, acceptance and hope to shine through the darkness.

If you have not experienced pain of the soul that sucks the breath right out of you then you have not lived. If you have not stood back and felt awe for the world we live in then you have not awakened to the truth of God. The entire human experience will bring both despair and joy beyond imagination and knowing both allows you to be a better person and a person of compassion and truth. God is good and will not leave you alone. Do not grow bitter for having known the darkness because without it you could not appreciate the light.

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion's fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, therefore I hope in Him!’” Lamentations 3:22-24 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Pastor John Collins is a nationally and world known evangelist.  You can listen to Pastor John Collins live, Sunday mornings on Heaven’s Country radio, broadcast on www.heavenscountry.com,  at 1000 a.m. Mountain Time, with Marty Smith.  Pastor John Collins’ messages are to the point and compel us to examine ourselves and our hearts to draw us closer to God who loves us.  The answers we are looking for can be found by looking up, not looking in.  God sent Jesus Christ to teach us and then save us from ourselves, Pastor John Collins preaches that Word live every Sunday.  You can also find other sermons, broadcasts, blogs, articles and other media by Pastor John Collins through links found within this post.  Pastor John Collins is also available for personal contact for prayer, encouragement and hope through his personal email jc65777@yahoo.com. Pastor John Collins is in it to win it for God:  it is time for a change.