Evil Loves Darkness

At one time I thought that hooligans and thugs (society’s misfits) slept all day and came out at night.  This misconception was just that, a clouded view of the behavioral habits of sinful men and women. 

The happenings around us certainly reflect the number of crimes and assaults that are more prevalent at night, because there is less chance of the perpetrators being recognized, but crime knows no boundaries.  Scoundrels move through society in the daylight hours as well, but evil loves darkness more. 

The Bible says it well in (John 3:19).  This passage refers to Jesus Christ as being the light that came into the world, but mankind preferred to remain in darkness of sin rather than coming into the light of God’s Son.

(John 3:19), “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

Things have not gotten any better, only worse, because of the falling away from the truth and principles upon which this nation was founded:  “In God We Trust.”  Every day there is something new that someone wants to rebel against. 

I have heard news reports of lawsuits being filed, in protest, to implement a ban on Nativity Scenes at Christmas.  There have been judgments imposed to compel, by legal means, the removal of The Ten Commandments from courtroom walls and off government buildings. 

There were also movements initiated to remove the words In God We Trust off coinage and Federal Reserve Notes, and to take the words Under God out of the flag salute, while Christians stood idly by and watched, to lazy to speak out against the move of Satan in his efforts to rid America of its hope—God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son.

It is believed that an atheist by the name of Madalyn Murray O’Hair was solely responsible for prayer and Bibles being banned from public schools.  I am sure that her aggressive efforts had much to do with this movement against godly principles in the United States, but her voice was not the only one speaking out against God.

In March 8, 1948, the McCollum vs. Board of Education case was decided by the Supreme Court.  They held that public schools in Champaign, Illinois violated the separation of church and state by allowing religious groups to teach religious classes to students in the school during the school day.  This decision led to public education becoming completely secular.  No longer is there a strong protestant flavor in public schools like there once was.  

Where were the Christian Rights groups and the outcry from fundamental Christian-based homes when our freedom to worship whenever and wherever was trampled upon?  This was and still is a problem.  The minority in society that is against wholesome values are heard, while the majority sits back and does little or nothing to stop their biased movement.  When are God-fearing people going to get some backbone and tell these freedom-stealers to sit down and shut up?

It is shameful how Christians are looking for someone to point their finger at as being the responsible party for disorder and confusion, when the fact of the matter is that Americans are becoming weak in faith and too fearful to stand up for liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 

Tyranny is running rampant throughout the world; free to spit on all that is holy, while lifting their banner of rebellion against God and the people of God with little or no consequences that befall the aggressors.

It is time to stand and be recognized as the salt of the earth that has not lost its savor.  It is past time for Christians to come up to the “plate of involvement” and rid this country of degenerates that are in high places of government having polluted key positions of authority.  We need to bind together and vote them out of office.

The devious behavior and scheming of some of our leaders in the shadows of darkness speak loudly the lackadaisical attitude of most Americans.  If this were not so, things would not be going as they are.  Freedom and liberty are fading quickly. 

In early American history and even in my father's day, deceitfulness and duplicity were not tolerated.  They did not stand idly by, while treasonous sedition took over in high places. 

I am sure you remember the iconic event called the Boston Tea Party that took place on December 16, 1773.  It was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston against the tax policy of the British government and the East India Company that controlled all the tea imported into the colonies.  Action was taken rather than a passive and submissive acceptance of unfair taxation.  The tea on three ships was thrown overboard into the Boston Harbor in opposition to this unjust tariff.

We must not forget The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783):  the war in which the American colonies won independence from Great Britain.  Wars have been fought and won through the shedding of blood to provide liberty and justice for all?  At this point in our history, freedom and personal rights are slowly being taken from us.  It has to stop.

Yes, evil loves darkness more than light.  Wicked behavior lurks on the corners of our city streets.  It is becoming more prevalent on the streets of our nation, because the liberal media and narrow-minded judges have tied the hands of law enforcement officers.  They crucify them whenever they do their job to rid our cities of crime.  The rights of criminals exceed the rights of innocent victims of unlawful madness.

Americans need to be shaken from their slumber and rise up to shine the light of righteousness on the darkness of wrongdoing.  Christians need to run for government positions at local, state, and federal levels, while other Christians storm the ballot polls and cast their vote for excellence.  We have an obligation to stand and be counted and turn this country around, while we still have a say.

If we sit and watch things happen, rather than attempting to move forward and remove from power those that are free agents; doing whatever they want; becoming exceedingly rich through methods of deception and greed at our expense; this nation will fall victim to a socialist run government.  Our homeland is presently heading in this direction.  We must take steps, now, to head off the inevitable before it is too late to act.

A good beginning is to fall on our knees before God and repent of our slothfulness and ask for strength to do what is needed to get our country headed in the right direction.  People of our nation need to recognize that God, and God alone, is the source of protection from within and without.  It is essential that the United States of America be recognized once again, by all nations, as a country to be respected and yes, feared, for the welfare of this great land.

I can understand how darkness breeds evil when children believe themselves to be the unseen dregs of society’s unwanted trash.  Wrong thinking does not always start at the top and work its way down.  It can begin at the lower end of poverty and want, and work its way up. 

Evil can find lodging in hearts of young people when their minds are most impressionable.  Children that live in settings that are less than stable have a shallow sense of being loved—perhaps one parent families with little or no male influence; being in the foster care system with many foster parents in it for the money rather than extending love and compassion; or children with nothing to call their own.  All these are factors that influence and promote the imbalance of stability in the youth of our land.

Those of us that are looking to change America from what it has become to a nation to be proud of, need to open our eyes to the oppressed children that are within our ability to help and give a hand up.  Teaching a Sunday school class is a great place to start, or helping out at church where they have Wednesday night youth outreach. 

Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America are worthy organizations to get involved with; as are Brownies and Girl Scouts of America.  The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.  We must help them to achieve excellence, with self-confidence.

When a person asks God, “What would You have me do?” they have to take the ideas and thoughts that He gives and implement them.  They will be amazed at the response of those needing direction and the miracles that God will perform through their efforts.  The Lord will impart so much love for the unlovable that there will scarcely be room to contain it.  As caring people stand in the gap and give love freely, God gives back to them a hundred fold.

You can be the means by which God eases the challenges that face love-deprived children, because of your positive influence and roll model.  No longer will they have an attitude of “wanting to get away with something,” which consumes young minds, but you will have given them stability instead. 

They will cease to live an undisciplined life; doing dastardly deeds in the darkness of night, because you have shown them, by example, that Jesus is their true friend that sticks closer than a brother and that He shed His blood to provide freedom for those that are bound.

(Proverbs 18:24), “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

People that want to make a difference in someone’s life can do so by acting upon what they know is right, rather than sitting back and wondering why someone else is not doing it.  Hope and new beginnings can be provided to those that feel misplaced and out of sorts with society.  A cup of cold water to a thirsting soul provides them with a feeling of satisfaction and belonging.

(Matthew 10:42), “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, be shall by no means lose his reward.”

(Mark 9:41), “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

I hope your desire is to be used of God like the song lyrics say:  “Just to be His hand extended, reaching out to the oppressed.  Let me touch Him, let me touch Jesus, so that others may know and be blessed.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Shackled

I believe that you will find this writing thought provoking.  My intent is to stimulate your awareness of the hour of urgency in which we live.  Touchy, feely writings have their place, but miss the mark of realization at times.  They fail to arouse a person’s thinking beyond the three foot circle that surrounds them.  I want to rouse those that are slumbering and awaken them to the need of being sober and vigilant.

Have you ever had a bad dream or considered what it would be like to have your limbs shackled against your will; subject to another person’s narcissistic desires and sinister notions?  Perhaps it is too disturbing for you to think about, but please read on.

The mere mention of the word shackled suggests discomfort and a fear of being in someone else’s control.  Not only is the freedom of mobility impaired, but one’s state of mind is affected to the highest degree when they are unable to move.

Handcuffs and leg irons are effective restraints that are designed and used to subdue and hold a person securely.  Too often we hear news reports that another kidnapping of an unsuspecting victim has taken place.  We hear later that the person abducted was shackled and that their captor did horrific things to them.  The captive was at their mercy, but the end result was physical death.

When we hear of such atrocities, our heart skips a beat and anger fills our being.  Feelings of sorrow and outrage on behalf of the ill-treated party emerge, and for a brief moment we try to imagine the extent of suffering and torture that they had to endure.  As long as it didn’t happen to us or someone dear to us, we soon forget the person that was victimized by Satan, and life continues down the same old path of unawareness as it once did.

There are vicious people all around us.  A false sense of security is created when we buy dogs, guns, and install alarm systems with heavy-duty security doors in an attempt to safeguard our family and prevent home invasions from demonic-possessed reprobates.  Satan is as sadistic and inhumane as he ever was.  He is merciless and seeks to kill and devour unsuspecting souls that are not vigilant to his schemes of deception.

It horrifies me to imagine the grotesque, physical pain of captivity, but to be shackled spiritually is worse than death itself.  Being bound by sin and living a life of “the living dead” is nightmarish and unnecessary, because Jesus paid the price to prevent an existence such as this. 

When a person is shackled by Satan, it becomes a daily routine of being confined inside a vacuum that is void of hope and peace (a living hell).  Every waking moment is filled with despair and mental torment, because joy has taken flight and the bitter reality of sin is realized.

Nothing can satisfy the longing of a soul that is shackled and tortured by the devil.  A person without Christ is at the mercy of Satan, but he has no mercy.  He is far worse than any kidnapper, rapist, or serial killer such as Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer.  It is estimated that Hitler was responsible for the deaths of 11-17 million people in the holocaust.

Satan appears as a shining light of beauty, but he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing just like Bundy and Dahmer.  They were handsome, full of charm and charisma, and appeared to be trustworthy on the outside, but were deceitful and deadly within.  They had one thing in mind; to kill and destroy innocence.  This is certainly a picture of Lucifer; the great deceiver.

(1 Peter 5:8), “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

Mere mortals that try in themselves to resist or break free from Satan’s restraints are no match for his cunning, manipulative ways.  He knows our weaknesses and lures us into his web of torment unless we are protected by the blood of the lamb—the blood that Jesus shed for the redemption of mankind.

Satan tries to seduce people in subtle, non-predictable ways such as telling them that money can buy freedom, and that fame with its power bring happiness.  The one thing he does not reveal is that the shackles that bind people can only be broken by Jesus Christ.  The devil does everything in his power to hide this truth from us. 

When the Lord paid the price for our freedom, through His death on the cross, He took the keys to death, hell, and the grave and set the captive free from the shackles of sin.  Nothing or on-one else can set humanity free from this curse of sin, only God’s Son, Jesus.

I am reminded of my younger days when riding motorcycles and hanging out with the wrong crowds provided momentary glory, but when the short-lived pleasures faded and the highs came crashing down, I was left to weep alone, because the reality of my lonely existence was fully realized. 

It was difficult for me to grasp that a holy and righteous God cared about me personally, but Jesus was patiently awaiting my cry for help.  It wasn’t until I surrendered my conflicting, inconsistent thinking to Him and confessed my sins, that discord and confusion vacated my inner being.  Jesus set me free and broke the bonds of prison that held me captive.  I found the missing piece to my puzzling existence—the Prince of Peace, Jesus.

(John 8:36), “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

A person needn’t possess a bagful of regrets, because of wild living or belonging to a gang, to know the pain of bondage.  Those that suffer can be anyone among us, including ourselves.  They can be law abiding citizens with good, moral character on the outside, but on the inside, where no-one is looking, they may be shackled by alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual promiscuity, or an addiction to pornography.

Bondage has no mercy, conscious, or respect of person.  It affects both genders in most every age group, even those people that find themselves in a place where everything is coming their way.  It would be most wise for them to check if they are in the wrong lane or heading down a one-way street.  Bucking the flow of traffic of those that are heaven bound and heading in the right direction is unwise.  The end result is spiritual death; far worse than the physical demise. 

Jesus can release anyone from the shackles that bind them if they want to be set free.  This is where the rubber meets the road; where a decision must be made.  It is the place that being sober and vigilant pays great dividends if we choose life rather than death.  Each of us is at liberty to choose Jesus or Satan.  No-one can make the decision for us.

If a person, for whatever reason, does not make a choice, by default they have chosen wrongly.  Their destiny is what it is; a life without Christ and an eternity completely void of God’s presence.  Hell is a dreadful place to end up.  Only the sound of gnashing teeth and screams of torment are the things received, because of a life filled with sin.  The horror of such a place surpasses our comprehension and most vivid imagination.

When a person chooses Jesus, He immediately puts them on the road to heaven; going in the right direction as soon as they confess their sins and ask God to forgive them.  No-one needs to spend another moment shackled by sin.  Jesus paid the price for our redemption.  He is our Savior and soon coming King.

(John 3:15-18), “…that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”  vs.16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  vs.17 “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”  vs.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd



Without God I am Nothing

It is remarkable to me how people that once tasted of the Lord; having experienced the ‘new birth’ of the ‘born-again’ experience through Jesus Christ; and finding peace with the God of all creation; how they can act like toddlers that know they are not to touch the knickknacks on the coffee table, but persist in pushing the envelope with Mommy and Daddy to see just how far they can get. 

The little guys know they are going to get in trouble, but something inside them causes a rebellious streak to rise up to test the authority of their parents.  They want their own way; it’s as simple as that.

I believe that people try to hold onto the things of the world with one, hidden hand, while the other hand attempts to grasp the things of God.  Like a child, they straddle the line of demarcation between good and bad.  They want to be a Christian, but a strong force draws them like a magnet to do things that they know are wrong.

Weak Christians have not yet seen the complete picture of the blessings that disobedience is taking from them and others.  They understand the concept of God’s grace that He is faithful and just to forgive sin when He is asked, but they fail to see the value in keeping themselves pure and holy, without blemish before God at all times.

Christians that insist on pushing the envelope of self-will, inevitably become anemic; weak in faith.  They find themselves living far below their privileges as joint heirs with Christ.

I believe that God, because of a person’s stiff-necked living, puts them on restriction from privileges that would otherwise be theirs to enjoy, thus, affecting not only themselves, but everyone around them in negative ways.  When a Christian’s eyes become focused more on worldly things than the work of the Lord, their ministry dries up like dead men’s bones.

Those that are watching the wishy-washy lifestyle of “Born-again Believers” often become disillusioned when they see them for what they are—hypocrites.  The joy of the Lord, which draws people to Christians, hence, to Jesus, loses its fervor.  Smiles are no longer present, because of bad behavior.  We are not an island unto ourselves; people are watching and listening.

(Matthew 5:14-16), “You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”  vs.15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”  vs.16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

When living too close to the line that separates godliness from sinfulness, sooner or later their responsibilities and positions held in the church are forfeited.  I believe God says, “Enough is enough.”

It takes time to regain lost ground of a personal testimony in Christ after it fades from view.  When a person finally comes to their senses and falls prostrate before God to repent and rededicate their life to Him, a new day dawns.  Nothing is impossible with God.  He can restore what the cankerworm of careless and carefree living has destroyed in one’s life.  Limitation (restriction) is cancelled, because of good behavior and submission to authority.

(Luke 16:10-13), “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”  vs.11 “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”  vs.12 “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?”  vs.13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon.”

It is my purpose in life to strive for the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.  I endeavor to walk each day according to the statues of God and His holy ordinance.  Though I fail from time to time, God reminds me, in love, that His strength is my strength.  He teaches me through each trial to lean more upon Him in all things.  I have learned that His hand is not shortened when it comes to helping me succeed in Him.  Without God I am nothing other than sounding brass and clanging cymbals.

(Isaiah 59:1), “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear.”

I believe that I have a grave responsibility to those that read my writings.  I want the words they read to be blessed of God; with His approval and anointing on everything that is written.  How can I live straddling the line and expect God to send readers my way if my writings are not of Him?

How can anyone expect God to bless their talents and ministries, in church or elsewhere, when they are holding onto things that are Satan based.  The person next door or down the street deserve more than a façade or pretense of a Christ filled life.  They need Jesus! 

Family members and friends are watching; including those at church.  We are not an island unto our self.  We affect those around us, whereas, in my case, those that read my writings.  My vertical relationship with God must be in right standing, such, that the horizontal efforts of ministry can be blessed of the Lord and go forth in power and the might of God’s Spirit.

Written by,
Papa Boyd

The Potter's Clay

I remember playing with clay as a child.  It was fun and satisfying.  Even adults find working with clay quite enjoyable and fulfilling especially when looking at the finished product they created with their own hands.

It takes patience and determination to sculpture something that one can be proud of.  Some clay is non-pliable in the potter’s hands, because the moisture in the clay has dissipated, which is a key factor to good, workable clay.

A potter must then take the hardened clay and knead it with care, adding back the all-important moisture that is needed before the process of molding and shaping can be accomplished.  Soon the reworked clay is formed into a vessel of honor, which the potter appreciates and is quite proud of; a work of art.

Seasoned potters are masters at what they do.  They understand what it takes to succeed—patience and workable clay.  Before they even begin, potters envision in their mind the finished vessel before the lump of clay is shaped into a form of beauty. 

To the natural, inexperienced eyes of those looking on, the process it takes with certain clay to make it usable is considered too much work.  The onlooker is quick to exclaim, “Throw it away; it’s of no use!  Hardened clay is a waste of time to mess with.” 

The master potter knows that patience brings forth beauty, as the rough edges are smoothed away and the areas needing substance are filled.  The potter knows that in time, the clay will take on the characteristics of the vision they had for its intended use.

If clay had vocal cords and could speak, I’m sure it would shout, “Leave me alone!  I don’t want to change!  I am what I am, just a piece of worthless clay!”  But the potter is willing to work with the clay, because of its potential. Though it appears to be a piece of valueless clay to others and to the clay itself, figuratively speaking, until someone takes the time to work with it, how can it be said that the clay is of no value?

There are times that I feel worthless and ugly when I fail to obey God’s Commandments.  Every time I allow my nose to get bent out of shape concerning this or that, it is not long before I feel the breath of God breathing upon me as He lovingly kneads me back into shape.  Once again He smoothes out the rough edges that have formed, because of disobedience.  God patiently works with me, because He sees the end result—a beautiful vessel that He is proud of.  I am of value to Him.

Quite often Christians get bent out of shape over silly things that influence the beauty of their outward appearance.  How a person feels inside ultimately affects their appearance on the outside.

God, in His position as Master Potter, knows exactly what is needed to straighten out this form of His making if we yield ourselves to the Master’s all-knowing techniques of resolving issues that take away the beauty of His most prized vessel. 

If we permit Him to fill in the cracks with more of Him, rather than us saying, “I am what I am, just a piece of worthless clay,” God will smooth out and make beautiful the vessel that He is bringing to perfection.  He desires that we continue to be used in the capacity for which we were made.

We are all precious in the sight of God.  He works patiently to perfect us into the vessel of honor that He knows we can become, even though the ugliness of our rebellion seems non-pliable at times.

The Master Potter does not give up on those that are ugly, because of sin.  He sees us in our mother’s womb even before we take on human form.  He envisions the beauty of a finished vessel that He is molding with care.  God provides the Holy Spirit to perfect and transform ugliness into a vessel of beauty through Jesus Christ.

Too often clay dries out and loses moisture, because it is not protected properly.  This is a representation of Christians that fail to protect themselves from the elements around them that try to take the all-important substance that provides pliability—the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, they must undergo the process of being broken, which is a painful process, because God refuses to give up on them. 

Sometimes Christians lose vision of their purpose as children of God, which is living the life so that others can see the beauty of Christ in them.  Better care is needed to protect ourselves from drying out and becoming like a heart of stone; not a heart of flesh or workable clay, symbolically.

(Ezekiel 36:26-27) “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”  vs.27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

Though the plan and purpose of the clay is in the potter’s mind, we must not lose focus on the plan for which God envisioned for us.  If we fail to preserve the moisture of God’s Spirit within this vessel of His making, we can become hardened.

If a Christian is not careful, like clay, they develop air bubbles (misbehavior) and hard spots (naughtiness), perhaps not seen from the outside, but when tested in the fire, or kiln of everyday living, everything hidden is exposed.  Sin is revealed sooner or later.

(Numbers 32:23), “But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.”

If you visit a potter’s workshop, you will see that the clay is protected with plastic coverings to keep in moisture.  It is wise to understand that in order to protect oneself we must always be shrouded with The Whole Armor of God, which keeps in the moisture of holiness so that we can remain pliable rather than becoming hardened; needing to be broken in the potter’s hands again.

(Isaiah 64:8), “But now, Oh Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.”

(Psalm 33:15), “He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd



Happily Ever After

If our dreams, otherwise known as objective aspirations or goals, become reality, it sets into motion an optimistic way of thinking and a personal lifestyle that is filled with a sense of well-being.  Feelings of accomplishment soar to great heights with every fulfilled dream.

I want to bracket two words together for the purpose of this writing, (dream and vision).  Dreams and visions are open gateways into the cosmos of awareness where understanding of one’s position in life takes on new meaning.  A person needs only to walk through the portals to experience the reality of joy that is offered.

A deeper knowledge of right and wrong, and good vs. evil develops when we pursue dreams.  It’s what we do with dreams that matters most, because it directly involves making a decision to step into the realm of the unknown, or not. 

It is not that dreams are out of line with reality or without merit regarding truth or consequences; dreams resemble faith when they are acted upon.  Dreams and visions are the substance of things hoped for of things not seen.  They are very important to an individual’s comfort level when facing tomorrow’s challenges.

(Proverbs 29:18), “Where there is no vision, the people perish:  but he that keeps the law, happy is he.”

(Hebrews 11:1), “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

The person with few or no dreams usually find themselves wilting on the vine called, “lethargy” with a sprinkle of “do nothing” thrown in, which allow happiness and execution of direction to escape their grasp and sift through aging fingers like sand in an hourglass.

Before quick can get ready, time runs out and there is no longer an occasion to put into action those visions that were on the back burner where happiness begins or stagnates.  It depends upon the dreamer’s state of mind and whether or not they put into action formative ways of achieving their goals.  A happily-ever-after experience is created by those that refuse to let grass grow under their feet.

Taking into consideration the many things that people try in order to find happiness, or in the above connotation (fail to try), it stands to reason that money in all of its worldly glory cannot buy happiness.  People everywhere spend it in hopes of finding delightful bliss to no avail.

Material things fail to provide lasting gratification and cannot fulfill the longing of the heart.  If things were the answer to man’s quest for peace and happiness, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ would be in vain.  God made us this way.  The void in a person’s soul is in the shape of Almighty God.  Nothing in this world can fill this emptiness except His Spirit—a perfect fit. 

Efforts to harness the essence of material things as being the answer to an unquenchable thirst for satisfaction cannot and will not provide the happily-ever-after experience.  Things are seasonal at best in granting contentment; nothing lasting.  The sooner that people realize this reality the faster they will enjoy their time on earth.

This reality was what Jesus talked about when He met the Samaritan woman at a well one morning.  He provided her with knowledge concerning His relationship to mankind, which enabled her to understand her state of affairs regarding the lack of true happiness in her life.

(John 4:13-15), “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,’ ” vs.14 “‘but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.’ ” vs.15 “The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.’ ”

Jesus was referring to the emptiness in the woman’s soul and the lack of fulfillment and happiness that she tried to find in five husbands and the man that she was presently with.  Her efforts were futile.  God’s Spirit was the only entity (the fountain of living water) that could quench her thirsting soul.

The woman was tired of not having any dreams of grandeur or visions that never came true, because of her lifestyle.  She realized that it was not too late for her to enjoy the happily-ever-after experience.  Because of Jesus Christ, that day was the beginning of the rest of her life, which allowed her to move forward with hopes and dreams that lay dormant on the back burner of a foolish, misguided life.

When individuals choose Jesus as Lord and Savior, the dreams of a perfect ending to their life goes something like this:  “And they lived happily ever after”—referring to eternity in heaven.

God not only provides visions, but He gives the wherewithal to achieve such dreams by supplying the energy and strength to step out in faith to obtain them.  Life becomes rich in peace when God’s children experience fulfilled visions.  The void that is created by the lack of visions is replaced with hope, because God helps Christians achieve their dreams and visions.

It is sound advice to not rush through life without having visions and the fulfillment of such.  The feeling that is generated is one of accomplishment.  This empowers the psyche and innermost part of a person’s belief system to trust that God helps those who help themselves.

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

Written by,

Papa Boyd

I Am—the all sufficient One

As you read this writing and others that I have written, you will discover the essence and passion of my writings.  The center focus and moral fiber of each writing surrounds the God of no beginning and no ending; the One and only Jehovah God who created the universe and all living things—the foremost character known as, “I Am.”

Most importantly, the emphasis contained in my writings encompasses the fact that this same God desires a personal relationship with mankind.  He wants to see all of humanity repent of their sin and accept His Son, Jesus, as Lord and Savior of their life.

My ongoing endeavor and soul purpose for writing is to encourage readers to place their trust in the Lord.  I have made every effort to paint pictures with words the magnificence that serving God brings. 

That which God has done for me He most assuredly will do for you when you decide to surrender your vacillating lifestyle, as it may be, to Him.  He has a perfect plan designed just for you; one of peace even in the midst of storm.

(Jeremiah 29:11), “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” 

Turning over a new leaf, seeing the Light, as it were, does not negate heartache and trouble that come our way.  As long as we are in the world, trials and tribulations will step across the threshold of our existence, whether a person walks in the statues of Christ or not.  The Bible says in (Matthew 5:45), “…for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

To the measure and degree by which these unwanted times exasperate our being, reveal the source of our strength and allegiance of spirit—God or self.  People are weak within themselves with regards to mental, physical, and spiritual challenges that repeatedly bombard the psyche and body.  

I am a Christian and believe that God is all sufficient for my needs, yet I fight battles within myself that cause doubt and despair to raise their ugly heads.  They buffet me in my walk of faith, but God has never failed me.  He is my source of strength, which enables me to sustain my commitment to Him.  

I lean heavily upon His unfailing arms, because He brings me through each encounter as victor.  Trials reinforce the underpinning of my faith, while providing the needed potency and trust in Jesus.  The peace that the Lord conveys in each victory fuses our relationship in an even greater measure than before.

(Hebrews 11:1), “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

All is not a garden of roses or beautiful landscapes of green, grassy meadows; touched by the morning sun at the beginning of springtime.  There are often storm clouds that accompany serenity and thorns that are attached to stems of beautiful roses. 

All reasoning and footsteps taken to find tranquility are neither easy nor pleasant at times, but I have found order and resolve on my trek through the ups and downs of life.  There is grace sufficient enough and blessings numerous enough to sustain me in areas of weakness and those times of vulnerability.

I am most satisfied with the way things are, which makes me want to keep traveling on.  Some of the lyrics to the song, “I Don’t Regret a Mile,” by Larry Sparks, go something like this:  “I’ve drank the cup of disappointment and pain, and gone many a day without a song, but I’ve sipped enough nectar from the roses of life that make me want to keep living on.”

God is the only answer for the dilemmas we face, because His strength becomes our strength and His peace our peace.  What could be greater than these wonderful blessings from God?  They represent the truth of God’s Word, which are free for the asking to whomever.

Truth is open to any person that is open to it.  Non acceptance of truth is a sign of a mind that is clouded by unbelief and self-sufficiency; robed in self-indulgent living.  Those that are stiff-necked individuals deprive themselves of the joy of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ.

Power, fame, nor fortune can produce true and lasting happiness, though people depend on them each day in hopes of fulfilling the emptiness they have inside.  Such things are temporal, whereas, God is everlasting and all sufficient. 

People that are searching for the purity of life or the meaning of success need not look any farther.  The moment a searching soul submits their will to God’s will, He reciprocates by filling them with His Spirit—Truth.

(Revelation 3:20), “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd