Suffering for being a Christian

1 Peter 4: 12-19

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.

16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

18 And,
"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

In today's world there are many who claim to be Christians. I am one of them. It's really hard to claim the name Christian when the world sees Christians in so many different lights. I suppose they are right because I too see many that are calling themselves Christians that don't believe as I do and I wonder if they realize the difference.

What does it mean to be a Christian? First of all, and most important, you have to be a follower of Jesus Christ and believe He died on the cross to pay for all our sins, in full. I suppose that's it in a nutshell.

On the internet, TV, radio and even in some churches, we are being spoon feed what seems like a type of religion, but in fact is just another wave of new age thinking. They leave out the most important thing. They are all about doing good, giving away material things, and seeking a "higher power". Baloney! You know what baloney is... it's a mixture of all kinds of throw away stuff. Something you wouldn't eat if you knew what it was really made of.

I worry about my granddaughters and how they will cope with the dangers of the world as it continues down the path of what appears to me as destruction. Just in my lifetime I have seen so many changes that it boggles my mind. There is no telling what will happen in the next twenty years if God sees fit to let our world continue.

Anyway, on this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful that I serve a living God, that my family is safe and secure, that my grandchildren have Christian parents and thankful for the beauty in my backyard that blesses my heart each time I walk outside.

Enjoy your day on God’s earth.



I had fun today taking photos of my yard. I don't think Cocoa Puff liked getting photographed. :) Or, maybe she just wasn't ready for her close-up.