Let Your Yea Be Yea, and Your Nay Nay: Why We Shouldn’t Make Promises

Growing up, my mom had a quiet but profound way of teaching life lessons. One that stuck with me over the years is something she repeated often: “Don’t make promises.” I can still hear her voice saying, “Maybe we can do that,” or, “I’ll try to do that.” At the time, those words felt uncertain—like a soft maybe when I wanted a firm yes—but as I’ve gotten older, I realize she was modeling something deeply Biblical and wise.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He gave this direct instruction:

“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”

— Matthew 5:37 KJV

And again, James—Jesus’ brother—echoes it:

“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.”

— James 5:12 KJV

In both passages, the message is clear: speak simply, honestly, and without the need for oaths or grand promises. Our integrity should be so consistent that people can trust us without the added weight of “I swear” or “I promise.”

My mom didn’t quote Bible verses every time she said, “I’ll try,” but she lived by the principle. She understood that life is unpredictable. You can have every intention of keeping a promise, but what happens when the car breaks down, someone gets sick, or your circumstances change? That’s why she chose her words carefully. Not because she was afraid of commitment—but because she respected the uncertainty of life and the importance of being truthful.

Her restraint wasn’t evasive—it was humble.

Scripture gives us a powerful reminder of just how uncertain life can be:

“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

— James 4:15 KJV

Too often, we speak with certainty about things far outside our control. We say, “I’ll be there,” or "I’ll do that,” But none of us knows what a single day may bring. The humble response, as James teaches, is to say: “If the Lord wills.” That’s not just a spiritual tagline—it’s a confession that God is sovereign and we are not.

This doesn’t mean we become flaky or noncommittal. On the contrary, it means we commit to being honest and realistic, not driven by emotion or pressured to say what others want to hear. It means our yes carries weight because we only say it when we mean it—and our no is respected because it’s given with clarity and care.

It’s okay to say:

• “I hope to do that, Lord willing.”

• “I can’t promise, but I’ll make every effort.”

Let your words be true, even if they’re few.

Conclusion

In a world full of broken promises and hollow vows, simple honesty stands out. Jesus wasn’t just giving a rule—He was showing us the path of righteousness. My mom lived that out in the way she spoke to us: with caution, honesty, and faith. And now, those words have become part of my own vocabulary.

So today, let’s embrace this principle: Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. And when it's something out of your control, say... "We might go and do that," and "If it's God's will." Speak with humility, and trust God with the rest.

Jump5 vs. PureNRG: A Personal Look at Fun, Faith, and Growing Up with Christian Pop

When I think back to the early 2000s, some of my happiest memories include dancing around my room to Jump5. Their high-energy songs and upbeat sound brought so much joy to my childhood. They were fun, wholesome, and full of life—and there’s something really special about that. Jump5 absolutely had a place in my growing-up years, and I look back on those moments with a smile.

But as I grew older, I naturally began to look for music that spoke more directly to my faith—songs that helped me think, pray, and reflect on Jesus in a deeper way.

That’s when PureNRG entered my life. I first discovered them around age 11, and their music immediately stood out to me. Their songs spoke openly and directly about Jesus, and that resonated with where I was spiritually at the time. Their lyrics felt bold, sincere, and rooted in faith, and they helped me think more intentionally about my relationship with God.

PureNRG’s music stayed with me through different seasons of life. Even now, I’ll occasionally revisit their songs—not just for nostalgia, but because the messages still mean something to me. Tracks like “Sweet Jesus” and “Savior” weren’t just enjoyable; they encouraged me to lean on the Lord and reflect on my faith in a deeper way.

Looking back, I see how music marked different chapters of my life. Jump5 represents joy, movement, and carefree childhood moments. PureNRG represents growth, reflection, and spiritual discovery. Both played a role, just in different ways.
If you’re interested, I’ve made two videos where I talk more in-depth about each group. Feel free to check them out—and I’d love to hear which songs from your childhood still stick with you today.

Disclaimer: I still listen to Jump5 sometimes, too. Especially their Christmas albums around Christmas time. It's just not music I find myself wanting to worship to.

Eternity Is Forever!

We make decisions every day—what to wear, what to eat, what we watch, what we listen to. But the most important decision you’ll ever make is giving your life to Jesus. 

Eternity isn’t just a distant concept. It’s forever. Heaven and hell are real. And where you spend forever hinges on one simple, sincere choice:

🙏 Call on Jesus.

📖 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Romans 10:13 (KJB)

You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need a perfect past. You just need a humble heart.

➡️ Admit you’re a sinner.

➡️ Ask Jesus to forgive you.

➡️ Invite Him to be Lord of your life.

That’s it. No rituals. No checklist. Just faith.

❤️ Jesus died so you could live—with Him, forever. Don’t wait. Eternity is too long to gamble with.

📖 Don’t Be Misled — Know the Truth for Yourself ✨

There’s a lot of noise out there. Preachers, influencers, and voices claiming to speak the truth—but not all doctrine is sound. False teachings can lead many astray, away from the true gospel and into confusion.

But here’s the good news:

You don’t have to be deceived. You don’t have to blindly follow. You can open the Word of God for yourself.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

— 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJB)

God gave us His Word so that we can know Him, not just hear about Him. The Bible is your anchor in a world full of shifting doctrines.

🕊️ Don’t just take someone else’s word for it.

🕊️ Test every teaching against the Scriptures.

🕊️ Let the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth.

Truth is available. You just have to open the Book.

#BibleTruth #SoundDoctrine #ReadTheWord #KingJamesBible #JesusIsTruth #StudyTheScriptures #FaithNotFables #ChristianLiving #BiblicalTruth #TruthInChrist

🌟 Let Your Life Be the Light 🌟

Imagine if every Christian lived with radical love, genuine joy, and a life so set apart that the world couldn’t help but notice.

✨ Not just in church.

✨ Not just in words.

✨ But in every moment — shining the joy of the Lord in a world so desperate for hope.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

— Matthew 5:16 (KJB)

If the world saw a Church full of people who lived like Christ — full of peace in the storm, joy in the trials, and love for even their enemies — many would say:

“I want what they have.”

“I need that kind of joy.”

“I want to know their God.”

The way we live should draw people to Jesus, not push them away. It’s not about being perfect — it’s about being real and filled with His Spirit.

🔥 Let the joy of the Lord be your testimony.

🔥 Let your life speak louder than any sermon.

🔥 Let your difference point people to Jesus.

#LiveSetApart #JoyOfTheLord #LetYourLightShine #JesusInMe #KingdomLiving #BeTheLight #HolyLiving #ChristInUs #KingJamesBible #DrawThemToJesus

To the Young People Who Are Struggling with Faith

Many young people are walking away from the faith—not because of Jesus Himself, but because they were introduced to a distorted version of Him. Instead of encountering the real, living Christ, they see false teachings, hypocrisy, or shallow religion and conclude that all of Christianity is like that.

And sadly, some churches create environments with no room for growth or genuine relationship. They reduce faith to a rigid list of dos and don’ts. But let me be clear: following a set of rules alone will never save your soul.

Discernment is crucial.

There’s so much false teaching today, which is why we must return to the Word. Know the Scriptures so you can recognize truth from deception.

So here’s what I want to say to you—just fall in love with Jesus.

Seek Him personally. Open your heart and read Scripture for yourself. The Holy Spirit will guide you, teach you, and show you how to live a godly life from the inside out.

A Living Blessing

A Living Blessing: The Light of Christ in Olivia Health 

By Breana Pope

Her name was Olivia Health, but to all who knew her, she was simply called A Living Blessing. From the very beginning, it seemed the Lord Himself had formed her with holy care, stitching kindness and compassion into every part of her soul. Born in the spring of 1903, Olivia wasn’t just a child—she was an answered prayer, a living testimony to the faithfulness of God.

Mr. and Mrs. Health had longed for a child for many years...  They trusted the Lord, holding to His promises, believing in His power. 

The Lord had remembered them.

From her very first breath, Olivia brought light and peace, like a candle lit straight from heaven. But even the purest joys on earth are touched by sorrow. When Olivia was only three, her mother, Kathrine Health, fell sick with a strange and sudden fever. No physician could heal her, and within days, she was gone. But before she passed, she told her daughter, “Jesus is with thee, always. Never forget.”

Mr. Health, though brokenhearted, raised Olivia with courage and faith. He read the Bible aloud each evening, taught her to pray when fears came, and reminded her always that her hope was in Christ alone.

Allow me to pause—I am Amanda Frankford, and I have the honor of telling this story. I first met Olivia in 1919, when she was sixteen. I had just arrived in town, and before I heard of the mayor or the schoolmaster, I heard of a young girl who rose before dawn to bake bread—not for herself, but for the poor.

Each morning, Olivia would knead dough by the flickering light of an oil lamp, humming hymns softly. Once the bread cooled, she wrapped each loaf in cloth, prayed over them, and delivered them to the widow on Fifth Street, the sickly boy by the river, and others whom only God had placed on her heart.

She never wanted praise. “It’s not my name I wish them to remember,” she once said to me, “but His.”

She spent her afternoons in the old schoolhouse, which also served as our little church. There she tutored younger children in reading, numbers, and truth from God’s Word. She often began lessons with the Psalms and reminded each child that they were , “...fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14b, KJV). 

Behind the church, she planted a garden—beans, carrots, squash—all freely given. She said she thought often of the parable of the sower. “We sow more than seeds in the ground,” she said. “We sow love. We sow faith.”

When not teaching or baking, she visited the elderly and forgotten. She’d read from the Scriptures, sung softly, and sat quietly listening.

Over the years, Olivia’s quiet deeds became known beyond the town—not because she sought it, but because “a city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14, KJV).

The last time I saw her was in the bitter winter of 1931. The snow was thick, the wind sharp, but there she was—walking door to door, arms filled with warm loaves and a heart full of love.

Today, I sit by the same window in that same town, and I see children running past the old church-schoolhouse. But more than that, I see those that were taught by her grown up living a blessing as well.

 I see young girls with baskets of bread. I see boys sowing seeds in the garden. I see teens reading from worn Bibles beside the elderly.

They are not merely kind—they are Christlike. And that, dear reader, is what Olivia taught us.

She didn’t just bless us—she discipled us. She taught us how to live for Jesus by living like Jesus.

Her life was guided by the holy words:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, KJV).

Though she still walks among us, the love of Christ she carried now flows through many hearts and hands.

The light she bore was never hers alone.

It was His.

She simply let it shine.

She lit the town on fire for God.

And many of us carry that flame.