Jesus the one and only: the one who provides

Jesus the one and only:  the one who provides by ric Gustafson


Every faith and religion has some sort of prayer. God hears our prayers. God wants us to ask him to provide for our needs. So what do we pray for?. God says to pray for our daily bread. God wants us to pray for our unconfessed sin. God wants us to pray that we stay away from temptation. We pray to God that he will take our sins away. God will always meet our needs.


research help:  ' 52 weeks with Jesus' by James Merritt


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Grace: I am a new person

Grace:  I am a new person by ric Gustafson


According to II Corinthians 5:17, anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. From God's point of view, we need all things to become new. Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin. He rose from the dead to display his power over sin and death. In God's eyes, faith in Jesus makes us a new person. Our old life is replace with a new one.
Sin messes up our life. Jesus as our Savior gives us a brand new life.


research help: ' Amazing Grace' by Our Daily Bread


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God's Best: Redeemed

God's Best:  Redeemed by ric Gustafson


We are blessed with everything. God anticipates our every need. God knows before anything happens to us. God provided for our needs before we even needed it. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus. We need to keep our minds on the promises of God's Word. According to Psalm 46, God is our refuge and strength. We are already blessed with all spiritual blessings. Praise God.


research help: ' Living in God's Best' by Andrew Wommack


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Grace: coming to God freely

Grace:  coming to God freely by ric Gustafson


Romans 3:24 says that God in his grace freely makes us right in his sight. How much does it cost to enter the Kingdom of God?. It costs nothing. Jesus paid the cost for us by his death. We need to acknowledge our spiritual need and accept by faith God's forgiveness for our sins. Then we can have a new and everlasting life in him.
Jesus died on the cross for us. He was resurrected from the dead. Jesus has paid the price for us to be his and be with him forever.


research help: ' Amazing Grace' by Our Daily Bread


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Grace: I am loved

Grace: I am loved by ric Gustafson


Ephesians 5:2 tells us to live a life filled with love. We are to follow the example of Jesus. Jesus loves us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us. Jesus gave his life to provide forgiveness of sin. He loves us everyday of our lives. Salvation is a daily experience of forgiveness, assurance and grace.
God wants us to be kind and patient to others. Jesus is the example of God's love and grace for us.


research help: ' Amazing Grace' by Our Daily Bread


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Grace: I am forgiven

Grace: I am forgiven by ric Gustafson

According to Romans 3:23, because of sin we deserve death. According to Romans 5:8, while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. Jesus who was sinless and holy gave up his life so we could escape the penalty for our sin and have the chance to one day live forever in heaven.
Eternal life is a gift from God. We do not earn it. We are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus.


research help: ' Amazing Grace' by Our Daily Bread


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God's Best: it is just stuff

God's Best:  it is just stuff by ric Gustafson


God gives to us through blessings and miracles. Manna was a miracle and the Promised Land was a blessing. Blessings are not things. Some people look at things and say thanks for the blessings. What we have are blessings and favor from God. When we have faith in Jesus, it should not matter what happens to the stuff we have. We are blessed by God if we have possessions or not. Even if we lost all of our possessions and stuff, God still loves us and blesses us. Praise God


research help: ' Living in God's Best' by Andrew Wommack


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Jesus the one and only: a prayer warrior

Jesus the one and only: a prayer warrior by ric Gustafson


Do you ever wonder if God hears you?. Prayer sometimes is a struggle for Christians. The disciples watched Jesus pray. They listened to Jesus as he prayed. Even though we can pray anywhere, Jesus suggests that we pray in private. Jesus wants us to pray sincerely. Jesus wants us to pray specifically. Prayer is about spending time with Jesus. Praise God.


research help: ' 52 weeks with Jesus' by James Merritt


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Jesus the one and only: a divine divider

Jesus the one and only:  a divine divider by ric Gustafson


In Luke 16, Jesus tells the story of a man named Lazarus and a rich man. The rich man was a billionaire and Lazarus was a nobody. The rich man loves wealth and possessions. Lazarus had nothing. The rich man had everything. Lazarus was sick, poor and had nothing. Both men died. The rich man went to hell. Lazarus went to heaven.  Don't wait until the last moment to give your life to Jesus. Don't risk it.


research help: ' 52 weeks with Jesus' by James Meritt


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God's Best: already blessed

God's Best:  already blessed by ric Gustafson


Ephesians 1:3 says that Jesus has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings. God has already blessed us. By grace, he has already provided everything for us. All we need to do is believe and receive it by faith. All we need to do is receive God's best. Because of Jesus on the cross, we have God's favor. We already have the glory of God.  Praise God.


research help: ' Living in God's Best' by Andrew Wommack


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Jesus the one and only: the object of our worship

Jesus the one and only: the object of our worship by ric Gustafson


Luke 18 talks about two men. One man was convinced for the wrong reason that he was right with God. The other man was convinced for the right reason he was wrong with God. He got right. God does not want you to look down on others. God does not want us to compare ourselves to others. The Pharisee and the tax collector were totally different. The Pharisee only thought about himself. The tax collector knew he was a sinner and asked God for mercy.
Jesus wants you to admit that you are a sinner in need of grace. Jesus will forgive you.
Praise God.


research help: ' 52 weeks with Jesus' by James Merritt


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God's Best: a leap of faith

God's Best: a leap of faith by ric Gustafson


According to II Kings 7: 3-4, four lepers decided to take a leap of faith or they would die. Are you content in your Christian life right now and don't want to do anything about it. God wants us to take a leap of faith. Are you afraid that a change may not work?. God wants us to take a leap of faith. Change is risky and you could fail. In some parts of the world, becoming a Christian is risky. God wants us to take a leap of faith. We must believe for something bigger. As believers in him, God wants to stretch us. God wants us to do great things for him and his Kingdom. Praise God.


research help: ' Living in God's Best' by Andrew Wommack


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

World Heroes: Constantine the Great

World Heroes:  Constantine the Great by ric Gustafson


Constantine was the first emperor to convert to Christianity. His reign was a watershed in the history of the Christian church. He ushered in religious tolerance and freedom. His path was the foundation for a new age of Christian learning and prosperity.
Constantine was born in 285. He was the son of a general. He watched the brutal reign of Diocletian. His father died in 306 and he became emperor. In 313, he drafted the Edict of Milan. This proclamation extended to everyone the freedom to worship who they wished to. Christians were granted legal rights for the first time. For the first time, Christians could worship God without fear.
Constantine was baptized on his death bed. Praise God.


research help: ' 101 World Heroes' by Simon Montefiore


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God's Best: God's kind of love

God's Best:  God's kind of love by ric Gustafson


I Corinthians 13:4 talks about love that suffereth long and is kind. God's love is not critical, angry or bitter. God's love is charity and not envy. God's love is not puffed up or vaunts itself. God's love does not boast or seeks it's own.
Some people lose heart and turn to themselves instead. But God says I am here turn to me. The good news is that God's love will never fail. Praise God.


research help: ' Living in God's Best' by Andrew Wommack


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

World Heroes: Cicero

World Heroes:  Cicero by ric Gustafson


Cicero was a master of the spoken word. He was Rome's finest orator. He was a statesman with devotion and loyalty. He was a man of intellect and refinement. As a youth, he studied under the best minds of the day. In 63 BC, he became a national hero. He became the greatest orator Rome ever produced. Cicero introduced Greek ideas to Rome.
At the end of his life, Cicero became an enemy of the state. He was brutally murdered.


research help:  ' 101 World Heroes' by Simon Montefiore


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God's Best: Debt Free

God's Best:  Debt Free by ric Gustafson


One of God's plans for us is to be debt free. Being in debt, limits God in what he can do for us. Romans 13:8 says to owe no man anything. God does not want us to have a debt mindset. We need to trust God to help us be debt free. We need to humble ourselves and resist debt. We need to depend on God. We will receive his best. He promises us that. Praise God.


research help:  ' Living in God's Best' by Andrew Wommack


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God's Best: God Dependent

God's Best:  God Dependent by ric Gustafson


Storms come our way in this sinful life. How low can things get before we say I am not going to live like this any longer. God made us for something special. He did not create junk. He has never made a failure. He has created us to be unique and special. God wants us to submit and yield to him. When we try to deal with our lives and problems ourselves, we limit what God can do for us.
Jesus loves us and wants the best for us. Praise God.


research help: Living in God's Best' by Andrew Wommack


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

World Heroes: Aristotle

World Heroes:  Aristotle by ric Gustafson


Aristotle was a philosophical giant  who laid the foundation for Western thought. Aristotle was the son of a court physician. He spent ten years studying under Plato. He wrote ' His History of Animals' is a record of every animal in the Greek world. Aristotle transformed the methodology of thought.
At the age of 42, Aristotle returned home to prepare the king's son Alexander to become a political leader. Aristotle died from a stomach complaint.


research help:  ' 101 World Heroes' by Simon Montefiore


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Jesus the one and only: a hospitable host

Jesus the one and only:  a hospitable host by ric Gustafson


In Luke 14, Jesus is at a home hosted by a ruler of the Pharisees. The Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus by debating him. Jesus invited them to follow him. He invited them to fellowship with him. They turned down his invitation.
Jesus invites us to join him at the table. The meal is prepared. It is ready to eat. This meal is free. Have we said yes to Jesus's invitation to join him at the table?.  I pray that we have.


research help: ' 52 weeks with Jesus' by James Merritt


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

World Heroes: Confucius

World Heroes:  Confucius by ric Gustafson


Confucius was a Chinese philosopher and teacher. He regarded learning as the true path towards individual self improvement. In the East, he is known as Kongzi. His parents were aristocrats. By the age of 15, he was a dedicated learner of archery, music and arithmetic. He questioned his teachers at the temple. His approach to learning involved both pupil and society alike.
Confucius died at the age of 73. His teachings have endured to this day.


research help: ' 101 World Heroes' by Simon Montefiore


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Jesus the one and only: the life of the party

Jesus the one and only:  the life of the party by ric Gustafson


There were always two groups of people around Jesus. The wrong crowd was the group that Jesus hung around with the most. The right crowd was the Pharisees and other religious people who thought they were the right crowd. Jesus told them that they were not. They could not understand why Jesus hung out with sinners the wrong crowd. Jesus loves us all the good or the bad crowd.
When one of Jesus's flock of sheep is missing, he looks everywhere until it is found. If you are a helpless wanderer, Jesus will find you and offer you the chance of a lifetime. Come and be one of his followers. Will you join him?. Praise God.


research help: ' 52 weeks with Jesus' by James Merritt


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

World Heroes: Cyrus the Great

World Heroes:  Cyrus the Great by ric Gustafson


Cyrus was born in Persis. His mother was the daughter of Astyages who was king of the Medes. Cyrus became the king of Persia. Persia was a powerful empire that dominated Western Asia and other areas for two centuries. He was a peerless ruler and a bold soldier. He was a tolerant monarch who recognized human rights. In 559 BC, he became head of the Persian dynasty. Within twenty years, he had started the greatest empire the world had ever seen. He allowed religious freedom everywhere in his kingdom.
Cyrus died in 530 BC fighting nomadic tribes. His kingdom lasted until Alexander the Great.


research help: ' 101 World Heroes' by Simon Montefiore


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Jesus the one and only: the God of tomorrow

Jesus the one and only: the God of tomorrow by ric Gustafson


In Luke 16, Jesus tells a parable. This story is about an account manager who cheats his boss. It is a story about money. The Pharisees who loved money ridiculed Jesus. One day, we will have to account for all that God has given us. The rich man in Jesus's parable found out that his manager was mishandling his money. He fired him on the spot. One day, we will have to give an account for our lives.
God wants us to make eternal investments that will last forever. I pray that we do.
Praise God.


research help: ' 52 weeks with Jesus' by James Merritt


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

World Heroes: Rameses the Great

World Heroes:  Rameses the Great by ric Gustafson


Rameses II was the greatest of the Egyptian pharaohs. In sixty years, he had military successes and impressive building projects. He led Egypt into a period of creative prosperity. Rameses inherited the throne in 1279 BC. Rameses recorded the first peace treaty in history in 1258 BC. Rameses built huge monuments that are still standing today. He died in 1213 BC when he was in his 90's. After his death, Egypt went into decline.


research help: ' 101 World Heroes' by Simon Montefiore


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Jesus the one and only: the financial planner

Jesus the one and only:  the financial planner by ric Gustafson


How do you see your wealth?. If you have shelter, food and clothes you are doing better than a lot of people in this world. In Luke 12, Jesus tells a parable about a rich man. This man wanted more than he had. This man wanted more wealth than he had. That night, God personally comes and calls the person a fool. God tells him that his soul is required that very night.
God wants us to become rich by being rich in him. Jesus died for our sins. We need to be rich toward God. Praise God.


research help: ' 52 weeks with Jesus' by James Merritt


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

people in the Bible: Stephen

people in the Bible:  Stephen by ric Gustafson


There was a man named Stephen who was a deacon who served those who spoke Greek. He had a good reputation and was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was also full of faith and power.
One day, he was accused of blasphemy and dragged in front of the Sanhedrin. He was quickly sentenced to death. He was taken outside the city and stoned. He was the first Christian martyr. Many many more have followed after him.
Are we willing to give our life for Jesus?. I pray that the answer is yes.
Praise God.


research help: ' People in the Bible' by Woodrow Kroll


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Jesus the one and only: the divine auditor

Jesus the one and only:  the divine auditor by ric Gustafson


In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a story. The story is about a master who is going out of town. He entrusts his property to his servants. Based on their talents, each servant gets a certain amount to maintain and grow. These talents were different in amount but the same in source. Every servant here has ability. Abilities are for the glory of God.
God wants to know what we will do with what he gives us. Two of the servants made more for the master. One did not. I pray that with the abilities that God has given us that we can further his Kingdom. Praise God.


research help: ' 52 weeks with Jesus' by James Merritt


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

people in the Bible: Solomon

people in the Bible:  Solomon by ric Gustafson


King Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem. His wisdom and wealth was unmatched by anyone in the world. But he was unsatisfied. He was very unsatisfied.
Our human wants is that enough is never enough. Grace from God is enough for us. Jesus does not want us to gain the whole world yet lose our soul. True satisfaction in life comes from God and not things that we get. Praise God.


research help: ' People in the Bible' by Woodrow Kroll


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Jesus the one and only: the eye opener

Jesus the one and only:  the eye opener by ric Gustafson


In Luke 10, a lawyer asks Jesus a question. He asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life. He was testing Jesus and possibly trapping him. Jesus asks him to tell him what the law says. The lawyer answered correctly. Then he asks Jesus who his neighbor is?. The lawyer was looking for a loophole.
Jesus mentions one person who was robbed, beaten and left for dead along the Jericho Road. He was a man in need. Jesus was explaining that there is only two responses to this. To the lawyer, Jesus explains that the true neighbor was the one who showed him mercy.
Praise God.


research help: ' 52 weeks with Jesus' by James Merritt


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

people in the Bible: Simeon

people in the Bible:  Simeon by ric Gustafson


Simeon was a devout and pious man. He had been waiting for years for the Messiah to come. The Holy Spirit had promised him that he would not die until seeing the Messiah. Simeon clung to that promise.
One day, Jesus's parents brought him to the Temple. Simeon saw him and lifted him up in his arms. He prayed that now he could depart in peace according to his Word. For his eyes had seen thy salvation. Through Simeon's old eyes, he saw God through Jesus. Praise God.


research help: ' People in the Bible' by Woodrow Kroll


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

people in the Bible: Saul

people in the Bible:  Saul by ric Gustafson


Saul was an impatient King. Saul was chosen as Israel's first King. He was a remarkable and big man. The problem was that his blunders overshadowed his capabilities. His problems were mostly because of his impatience. According to I Samuel 13, Saul impatiently and unlawfully offered a sacrifice himself. This impatience sealed Saul's fate.
God wants us to curb our impatience. I pray that we can. Praise God


research help:  ' People in the Bible' by Woodrow Kroll


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

a call to die: too full to eat

a call to die:  too full to eat by ric Gustafson



Spiritually, we are starving to death. We let garbage like revenge, unmoral activities, unmoral movies and music to seep into our hearts. God wants us to feed on him. We need spiritual food like God's Word, Christian music and movies to replace the bad in our hearts. We are God's. We call him Father, Lord, Savior and Friend. I pray that we will always crave spiritual food.
Praise God.


research help: ' A Call To Die' by David Nasser


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

people in the Bible: Sarah

people in the Bible: Sarah by ric Gustafson


Abraham and Sarah went to Egypt when she was 65. At age 75, she gave Hagar to Abraham as a wife. When Sarah was 90, she gave birth to Isaac who was the child of promise. Sarah died at age 127. She was the only recorded female in the Bible whose age was recorded at death. This was because of her importance in God's Word.
When the Apostle Peter thought of a woman who was old and beautiful, he thought of Sarah. God thinks more of the inside than the outside. Praise God.


research help: ' People in the Bible' by Woodrow Kroll


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

a call to die: the old and new self

a call to die:  the old and new self by ric Gustafson


Colossians 3: 5, 9-10 talks about the old and new self. Our old self is our human sinful nature. Some people think that when you convert to Jesus that the old nature completely goes away. That is not true. We will always struggle with our old self. When we give our life to Jesus, wonderful things happen to us. We are forgiven, we have eternal life  and the Holy Spirit inside of us guides us.
The Apostle Paul tells us to fight and kill those sins dead. When we put on the new self, we do it in the image of God our Creator.


research help: ' A Call To Die' by David Nasser


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

people in the Bible: Sapphira

people in the Bible:  Sapphira by ric Gustafson


Sapphira and her husband Ananias gave money to the church in Jerusalem. Then, they began to wonder if they could afford to be so generous. They decided to keep part of the money that they would have given. Because of their deceit, both of them died. They were buried immediately.
God wants us to be honest in what we give to his Kingdom work. God wants us to be honest with him. I pray that we always are with our Creator. Praise God.


research help: ' People in the Bible' by Woodrow Kroll


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

a call to die: bought and paid for

a call to die: bought and paid for by ric Gustafson


According to I Corinthians 6: 19-20, we are not our own we were bought at a price. We are to honor God with our body. When we focus on ourselves and not God, we become slaves to sin. When we disobey God, we become slaves to sin. We must ask ourselves who is our master?. Lust, greed, envy and jealousy gnaw at our hearts. When sin becomes our master, that is spiritual death.
Jesus wants to be our master. We must remember that we were bought with a price. Jesus can release our grip on sin. We must realize that everything we have is a gift from God.


research help: ' A Call To Die' by David Nasser


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

people in the Bible: Samson

people in the Bible: Samson by ric Gustafson


Samson was the world's strongest man. He also had a major problem with moral weakness. He married a young Philistine woman despite his parents objection.  Eventually, he got caught up with a woman named Delilah and the rest is history.
How is my moral character today?. God wants us to strengthen it today right now.
Praise God.


research help: ' People in the Bible' by Woodrow Kroll


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

the Great Supper page 3

the Great Supper page 3 by ric Gustafson


Howard Moore slowly drove the 2009 Lincoln down the long driveway. He stopped in front of a two story white colored house. He got out of the SUV and walked up to the front door. He glanced at his watch. It was 3:30 pm. He had an hour and a half to pick up Mr Eldon's three friends and get them to the party by 5.
He rang the doorbell. The door was opened by a man Lee's age. He was talking on a cell phone.
" Hi I'm Howard Moore  assistant to Lee Eldon".
The man lifted his eyes from his phone. " I'm sorry you are who again".
" I'm here to take you to Mr Eldon's supper party".
" I'm sorry, I forgot it was this afternoon".  He went back to his phone. " I just bought a house to fix up for profit". He looked up again from the phone. " I just can't go right now".
Howard looked at his watch. " We need to leave or we will be late".
" Tell Lee I am sorry". He smiled. " Because it is business, I'm sure he will understand".
Howard left knowing that Mr Eldon was not going to be happy.


research help: ' All the Parables of the Bible' by Herbert Lockyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Jesus the one and only: the best boss

Jesus the one and only:  the best boss by ric Gustafson


In Matthew 20, Jesus tells a parable. In this parable, he talks about a vineyard owner who hires day laborers The first workers were hired early in the morning. They knew what they would receive for pay. The workers hired at noon or later did not know what they would  be given for pay. Later, everyone was paid the same amount no matter when they started. Jesus told this to explain what heaven is like. God is generous and gracious to everyone. God's grace is for everyone.
Praise God.


research help: ' 52 weeks with Jesus' by James Merritt


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

people in the Bible: Ruth

people in the Bible: Ruth by ric Gustafson


There was a man named Elimelech. His wife's name was Naomi and his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They went to Moab because of a severe famine. The sons married girls from Moab. Their names were Ruth and Orpah. Then Elimelech and his sons died. Naomi, Ruth and Orpah did not know what to do. Ruth followed Naomi back to Bethlehem.
Ruth and Naomi stuck together as a family. God wants us to do the same.
Praise God.


research help: ' People in the Bible' by Woodrow Kroll


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

people in the Bible: Rahab

people in the Bible:  Rahab by ric Gustafson


Joshua sent spies to scout out Jericho. They stopped at an inn seeking information. The inn was run by Rahab who was a prostitute. God was working in her heart. She hid the spies.
Rahab became a great grandmother of King David. Thus Rahab was a ancestor of Jesus Christ.
If a prostitute can become an ancestor of Jesus, we can become a member of God's family.
Praise God.


research help: ' People in the Bible' by Woodrow Kroll


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

the Great Supper page 2

the Great Supper page 2 by ric Gustafson


Howard scratched off Mr Dworak's name. He put the card aside and pulled out another card. He took a sip from his diet coke. He dialed the number. " Hello, is this Justin Koch?".
" Yes, it is".
" This is Howard Moore, assistant to Lee Eldon".
" How is Lee doing?". The voice hesitated. " I haven't seen him in several years".
" He's fine and he's inviting you to a big supper party he is hosting".
" Sure, tell Lee that I will be there".
Howard picked up a third card from the rolodex. He dialed the number. " Hello, is Don Butler there?".
" Who is this?".
" I'm Howard Moore, assistant to Lee Eldon".
" How is Lee these days?".
" He's fine and he's inviting you to a big supper party that he is hosting".
" Of course, tell Lee that I will be there".
" Thanks". Howard hung up the phone and put the three cards back into the rolodex. He took a sip of his soda. He smiled knowing that he had accomplished what his boss wanted him to do.


research help: ' All the Parables in the Bible' by Herbert Lockyer


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric