John Jay is arguably one of the greatest Americans of all time. He is one of my favorites! Many things could be said of Jay, among which are elected President of the 2nd Continental Congress, Co-Author of The Federalist Papers and the 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, just to name a few. He genuinely was a Founding Father. Jay was also President of another institution important to United States history, the American Bible Society. He was a firm believer in the importance of studying the Bible. In correspondence with his son, Jay told him “The Bible is the best of all books, for it is the word of God and teaches us the way to be happy in this world and in the next. Continue therefore to read it and to regulate your life by its precepts.” May we all heed that advice for ourselves! 

The word of God…
• will endure forever (1 Peter 1:25)
• is nothing to be ashamed of (2 Timothy 2:15)
• is sharp enough to pierce into our soul (Hebrews 4:12) 
• came to us by the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21)

There is a reason God wanted us to know His thoughts (1 Corinthians 2:6-16.)

So, if you dig into His word you will find treasure with an eternal purpose for your soul. Truly, the Bible is the “best of all books.”

Love & peace my friends… Stevo

When I am asked about what I love most about teaching, my answer is always the same; the relationships we build. The teacher and student relationship is built not just on teaching but on laughing, crying, confiding, and getting angry with each other. So, over many months seeing each other 5 days a week and 7 hours a day, we learn how to get along, regardless of the cultural boundaries. We find a common peace with each other.

When we are at peace with family and friends, life is so much more bearable. All barriers to communication are usually gone and open discussion can pursue. Life is breathable you might say. But that striving for peace also allows us the opportunity to better live the holy life God expects for us. A life of holiness is not so easy to attain, but if we can find peace with those within our influence, the task is simplified.

My prayer for all of us today is that you are at peace in your life, so God can live more gloriously through you.

Love & peace my friends… Stevo

The Bible paints a bleak picture of the world and the dangers of trusting in it and not Jehovah. We must live in the world, but we are not to walk hand-in-hand with the world. The world leads to lust and pride (1 John 2:15-16) and separates us more and more from the one our focus should really be on, Jesus.

IF we are walking with God, Jesus is a part of that walk too and He lights our world. The truth is if we are one with Jesus the world can’t control us and thus darkness will not reign in us. 

Fighting the pull of the world is just as tough as the mythical sailors being lured by the siren’s song bringing them to a sure death. But that does not have to be us! To live by the light of Jesus means that sin has been exposed for what it is, spiritual death. May we help each other to walk in the light of Jesus each and every day to keep worldly darkness out of our souls.

Love & peace my friends… Stevo

There is a reason why love is the greatest:

• God is love. The very essence of God is love. (1 John 4:8)
• God demonstrates love. God has a plan to save us just so we can live in His eternal home of love. (Jude 21)
• God sacrificed for love. Jesus was given as a ransom payment for our sins because He loved us. (Romans 5:8-9)
• Love proves obedience. When we keep the commandments of Jesus we show Him we love Him. (John 14:15)
• Love leads to faith. The deeper we fall in love with the word the deeper we fall in love with Jesus. (Romans 10:17)
• Love secures our hope. Our destiny hinges on how much we love God and love each other. (Mark 12:3-31)

Christian love is not solely based on emotion, does not necessarily do the natural thing, or is spent only on those close to us. But when we truly practice this type of love, we can know we are in tune with the love that Jesus had for us. 

Let us all love like Jesus.

Love and peace my friends… Stevo

Harry Houdini is considered one of the great escape artists of all time. For example, he escaped from milk cans, jails, straightjackets (while suspended upside down), and of course his most famous the Chinese Water Torture Cell. Obviously these were tricks, but great skill with physical and mental stamina were needed in escaping these various devices.

Paul lets us know that we have the opportunity to perform escapes greater than any Houdini ever accomplished! What an incredible promise God has given!!

Temptations are real. Even Jesus Himself was tempted (Hebrews 4:10.) We all struggle with that “sin which so easily ensnares us” (Hebrews 12:2.) Yet God’s promise remains and is true. When temptation knocks and wants in our mind, we are promised that we can handle it and will be given an escape opportunity from it.

When we realize that each time a temptation attacks our mind and we find that escape route from it, a battle is won toward the ultimate goal of honoring our Savior and heaven. So, surrender your mind to Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:5.)

Love & peace my friends…Stevo

Do you complain about thorns on the stem of roses or can you look past the thorns and be thankful for the beauty of the rose?

The current atmosphere in the United States is quite draining. Regardless of where you look or what you hear it seems that everything is coming up thorns instead of roses. When the country’s mood is so politically and socially toxic it can appear as if there is nothing to be thankful for. Yet, can we stop just for a moment and consider Psalm 9?

King David wrote this psalm knowing he had personal enemies that would love to destroy him and his country but took the time to still be thankful. How? Because of the relationship David had with God. He looked past the thorns and saw the rose. David saw God!

David could be thankful because God will judge the wicked.

David could be thankful because God could be trusted in times of oppression.

David could be thankful because God showed mercy to His people.

Does the same not hold true for us IF our relationship with God is not one sided?

We can be thankful that a relationship is even possible with God because of Jesus.

We can be thankful that God is righteous in His judgments, assuring us that He will never leave us alone in a dark cruel world.

We can be thankful that His mercy will always be available to us because of what Jesus of Nazareth accomplished.

So may we also learn to look past the thorns and see the beauty of the rose. Thank God for this “Rose” too wonderful for words! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Love & peace my friends…Stevo