Lost and Found

My thought for today begins with a question.  Have you ever lost a wallet or purse?  If so, I am sure you can relate to this writing. 

Remember the panic you felt in the pit of your stomach when you discovered that it was gone?  It wasn’t so much the money that I was concerned about; the angst of cancelling credit cards, obtaining a new driver’s license and medical card was now facing me.  I fretted deeply regarding identity theft.

I thought that I had been pick-pocketed at a garage sale, because I had the wallet in my hip pocket starting out that Saturday morning, but after the first or second sale, the wallet was gone. 

The experience left an indelible impression in my mind to take precautions as to the contents that I pack with me and to be more aware of my surroundings.  Lessons learned?  Yes, but who needs this kind of stress in their life? 

It is amazing how many times I looked under and behind my truck seat and every room in my house after hurrying home.  I retraced my steps and racked my brain; replaying the morning’s activities over and over again.  I was a mess.

It is easy to tell someone else that is going through similar anxieties to let God be their strength and not worry.  But when the experience becomes firsthand, the anguish of the event makes it harder to believe that God is concerned and will see you through the ordeal.  We just need to learn how to trust Him in all circumstances of life. 

My wife, the encouraging person that she is, told me that she felt strongly that the wallet would be returned through the mail, dropped off at the local police station, or brought directly to our front door by the person that found it.  She believed, because she had already given the situation to God, while I checked the mailbox, looked under my truck seat again, and looked in every room of the house for the umpteenth time.

I called the fraud alert; cancelled my credit card; went to the Department of Motor Vehicles; and the following Monday we went to the police station and filed the necessary report after being told that the wallet was not there.  Things were looking bleak, yet my wife reiterated, “You’re going to get it back.”  Wow, what faith!

How many times do we pray for help, but in the back of our mind we think that there is no hope?  Faith will move mountains when we trust that God will work out all things according to His perfect will for us. 

What is the mountain in your life that needs to be moved?  Pray, and then believe that God hears your prayer and will do what He said He would do in the Bible (give you the desires of your heart).  Then have faith to leave it in His hands to accomplish what needs to be done…not like the guy in the following paragraph.

I am reminded of a man that wanted to test his faith.  So one evening, before retiring, he looked through his bedroom window at a mountain in the far distance and exclaimed, “Mountain, be cast into the sea!”  The next morning he went to the window, and sure enough the mountain was still there.  “Just as I expected” he affirmed.

Where was his faith?  He prayed a miss.  He didn’t really believe that the mountain would be gone, because of his last statement. 

We need not test our faith in this manner, but when an opportunity arises that faith is knocking at the door to challenge our belief, we must open the door by faith and allow faith to receive the answer to our prayer.  Remaining behind closed doors accomplishes very little.  It takes opening the door to receive what God has for us. 

(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.”

My office is at the front of my house overlooking the street.  In this day with home invasions becoming more frequent, I am cautious as to whom I open the entry door.  Monday afternoon about 4:00 o'clock, two days after losing my wallet, a black car pulled up in front of my house.  I have heard that criminals sometimes use women as a ploy to get a homeowner to open their door and then men will storm the opening.

I heard a knock at the door.  I peaked out and a young woman was standing there with something in her hand.  I cautiously opened the door and the first words out of her mouth were, “Did you lose a wallet?” as she held it up for me to see. 

I could not believe my eyes!  But I should have, because I prayed that God would someway return it.  My driver’s license, credit card, medical card, important papers, and my pictures were all there.  She had found it in the gutter on her way to school.  It must have fallen out of my pocket, while exiting the truck.  Amazing!  Just amazing that I was staring at my lost wallet!  I was awestruck.

(Psalm 84:11), “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

God is concerned about the small things just as much as the big ones.  Though I had taken care of everything I needed to do when losing important cards, etc., the peace of mind and ecstatic joy that I experienced in seeing my wallet again was overwhelming.  It showed me just a glimpse of what God must feel when a wayward soul repents of their sins and is reunited with Him.

The lyrics to the song, Amazing Grace, say it all.  “I was lost, but now I’m found.”  I was like the wallet, away from my keeper, but God reached down into the gutter where I had ended up and brought me to the very door where I was received with great rejoicing.  Jesus will do the same for you.  Just say His name, repent of your sins, and believe.

(Luke 15:10), “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Consider the Plank

I believe the following statement is typical of most inhabitants in the world.  Seeing another individual’s faults, yet failing to see their own shortcomings is characteristic of humanity, generally speaking.  For some reason, prying minds are enthralled with other people’s dealings to the point of thinking they have all the answers to right the wrongs in another person’s life.  Honestly, I cannot think of anything else that comes easier than standing in judgment of others, which is frowned upon by God.

When I was a youngster, my mom told me that if I pointed my finger at someone else, three fingers were pointing back at me.  She was saying, in essence, “Don’t be so quick to judge.”  Mom made me aware that I should not criticize or challenge another person’s behavior or choices when my backyard may be full of like things as theirs or perhaps even worse.

It is an “elective duty” that people take upon themselves to straighten out another person, as it were.  It is easy to stand on the outside of someone’s house-of-affairs and think they can do things better than they.  But the critical observer may not have all of the facts nor see things from the other party’s prospective. 

Perception is something interpreted through a mental impression, which is not always as it seems.  If a “duty minded” person is not walking in the same shoes as those going through certain challenges of life, it stands to reason that it becomes easier to pick apart the other person’s motivation when all the facts are not known, especially when they themselves are blind in one eye and can’t see out of the other, figuratively speaking.

If we live in a glasshouse, we should't throw rocks.  Likewise, seeing faults in someone is not a license to act upon that observation when there is blurred vision involved.  To see clearly to assist someone else takes clear vision on our part, which involves removing the things out of our own life before trying to help those that are facing far less ordeals than we are.  Our efforts will be rejected as they exclaim, “Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?  Look at your own life!”

(Matthew 7:3-5), “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”  vs.4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?”  vs.5 “Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Someone that is head-over-heels in debt; owing everyone under the sun, has no business giving advice to those having missed a car payment unless they themselves get their house in order by eliminating debts.  They may then be able to advise those having financial setbacks on how to manage their money.

People are quick to find fault in others even though they are a mess themselves.  We can all learn from the teaching in (Matthew 7:3-5) if we heed its message.  It will help to free us from the responsibility that we have placed upon our shoulders of living another person’s life for them.  Losing sleep when they make bad choices is not healthy. 

The Lord can make good out of bad situations when called upon in times of need.  God will never leave nor forsake His children. 

In my opinion, learning by our mistakes is sometimes the best teacher when the advice from others fails to hit home, thus, falling on deaf ears.  But there are extenuating circumstances that can certainly enter into this scenario, which should allow consideration.

A development of events beyond their control may open the door for deliberation on such matters, but wisdom should always be implemented prior to involving oneself financially or any other way if lessons need to be learned. 

People mean well when they bail another person out of their woes of which lighthearted decision-making may have created.  I believe it is an attempt by the enabler to ease the pain or burden that falling into a pit can cause, especially if they themselves stumbled, because of similar pitfalls. 

How will a person learn to stand on their own two feet and prevent from being entangled in foolish spending and wasting money if a rope is always thrown to them when they send out an SOS?  This undisciplined lifestyle of throwing money to the wind is like saying, “Live for today and let tomorrow take care of itself.” 

Who am I to tell them how they have erred if I do likewise or worse?  Time will reveal what mistakes they have made, and hopefully they won’t repeat them.  Each of us needs to consider the plank in our own eye and remove it so that we can see clearly how to remove the particle of sawdust from someone else’s eye.

Whenever I am tempted to speak my mind about what another person is doing or not doing, the Holy Spirit is quick to remind me of my shortcomings, which helps me to re-evaluate my thoughts and control my tongue.  My prayer is as follows:

(Psalm 141:3), “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

It is not fun to look inward, because of what may be revealed, but these are the moments when God can help us draw neigh to Him by helping us to behold the plank in our eye and then doing something about it.  This is the process by which Christians learn to put off the old, sin nature and put on awareness of how to become more like Christ.

I thank God for His love and patience in making me conscious of areas that need improvement.  The Lord helps me to enlarge the boarders of my understanding, while improving our relationship with one another. 

He will do the same for you if you want more of God; Who will enable you to be a true help to those around you.  Clear vision will follow when the plank has been considered and removed from your eye.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

The Open Door

I wonder how often a person misses out on opportunities from God, because of fear.  It is certainly intimidating at times to step through the open door in front of them to venture into uncharted waters.  But how many times have they been protected, because they called upon the name of the Lord before stepping through a door that God did not open?

As for me, I move slowly and with caution when approaching an open door of believed prospect.  My very nature is to slow things down, but some people are impulsive and go headlong into areas where angels fear to tread.  Investing time, money, or talents is indeed rewarding when it is God’s timing to step through a door of His choosing.

When I am not sure if it is God’s will for me to speculate on making a move, it is always slow going and deliberate, which I believe is prudent in this day.  Something negative could be lying in wait beyond the open door; hoping that I will blindly step through, however, it could be something good that is about to happen, but I need to prayerfully venture outside of my comfort zone to see what God has in store.  

Unscrupulous people are always trying to get into our hip pocket or purse strings  and lead us astray in some way, whereas, the continued blessings of God could be just beyond the threshold.  This is why we must always be led of the Spirit. 

There is nothing wrong with being cautious and getting all the facts before making our way through the opening.  Praying “Not my will, but Your will be done” should always be the number one priority before taking a step of faith.

I believe that my steps are ordered of the Lord as the Bible says.  When it appears that a door is open before me, I do not jump through it without first considering the full cost of the move.  I pray until I have peace in my heart that the decision I am about to make is in my best interest.  

I endeavor to allow the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth and that the choices I make are within the realm of God’s plan for my life.  I have never been led astray when I included God in my decision making.

The natural propensity of hasty people is to sometimes act without thinking when it seems that a deal or opportunity is going to slip through their fingers unless they act quickly.  These are the times when throwing caution to the wind can be detrimental.  Weighing the pros and cons, through prayer, is in order and will certainly be to their advantage when disciplining themselves to not get caught up in the rush of things.

If a Believer is supposed to have a certain thing, God will make a way and give peace, while helping them achieve it.  If not, I believe that God will block the open door to prevent access as long as they are mindful to His warnings.  

With God on our side, whom or what shall we fear?  All power belongs to Him.  He supplies our needs according to His riches in glory; the very best for His children as they abide in His statutes and obey the Ten Commandments. 

The last statement is not to say that God does not want the best for non-Christians…He does, but it is up to each individual whether or not they give their life to God in order to receive His best.

Open doors test our ability to maintain patience, while exercising faith.  I always pray, “If it is Your will that I step through the open door, then let no man close it, but if not, close the door and let no man open it.”  This has always worked for me.

Three ways to know if an “Open Door” is from God:

1. The door that God opens will never contradict His Word.
2. The door that God opens will be accompanied by confirmation.
3. The door that God opens will require you to depend on Him.

I worked in an office where the departmental head had an “open door” policy, which made working there a delight.  He was a good boss that didn't sit behind closed doors and deny a one-on-one visit from the employees.  Communication was always encouraged and he listened to anything that was on our mind; without reproach.

Our heavenly Father is like this.  We can go to Him with all of our concerns, questions, doubts, fears, and uncertainties, because He is a good Father that does not condemn us.  We can approach Him with anything and He will take the time to listen and give direction, while stroking us in love.

Whenever I step through a door that God opens, I am amazed at the wonders and blessings that come my way, because I trusted Him.  He has always exceeded my expectations when I took a step of faith.  His resolve has been perfect in all things, but it required me to walk through the opening.

(Ephesians 3:20-21), “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” vs.21 “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.”

When we step through doors of opportunity, it can advance us monetarily, spiritually, or whatever way God chooses to bring His Word to fruition in our life.  Or perhaps God has someone in mind that He wants us to speak life into; a person that is seeking answers to feed their starving soul. 

It is remarkable how God fills my mouth with words that are not my own; just the right words to promote the “Good News” to people that need it the most. 

The power of the Holy Spirit works in and through our efforts to help non-Believers become a part of the family of God; to provide them with the direction they need in order to find salvation through Jesus Christ.  God’s Word never returns void.  It is everlasting.  The Holy Spirit will continue to draw them to the Lord, because of the words that we shared in love. 

The Good News is Jesus Christ, God’s Son.  God gave His Son to die on the cross for our sins in order that we possess the hope of eternal life in heaven and life more abundantly on earth.  Salvation is just a prayer away.  Old things (the former way of life) pass away and all things (a new beginning) become the superior mindset of a soul that has been set free from sin.  This experience is called the “new birth” or being “born-again.”

(2 Corinthians 5:17), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

When Christians give away from themselves and step through doors that God has opened, He always rewards those that give.  We do not give to get, but God’s Word declares it to be so.  He gives far more than our giving, because the Bible is truth and when truth prevails, positive things happen.  God cannot lie.

I am sure that you have read the words of Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).  This statement is so true.  Whenever a person blesses another individual, the mere act of giving brings an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement to the giver.  The following are more words spoken by Jesus.

(Luke 6:38), “Give and it will be given to you:  shaken together and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”  

The open door policy that God makes possible, allows us to come boldly to His throne and communicate with Him anytime that we want.  We can go directly to Him through Jesus Christ and know that our petitions are heard and that He will fulfill His promise to never leave or forsake us.  He will always supply our needs.

(Hebrews 4:16), “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

We have the privilege to knock at the door and know, with confidence, that God hears our knock and will open it unto us.  He wants to commune and love us with a never ending love.

(Matthew 7:7), “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”  vs.8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

The Agonizing Question

I figured since I am periodically bothered with the question that I will address in today's thoughts, perhaps you too are troubled with similar questions.  I am sure that my slant on the subject and Bible truth concerning the matter will help alleviate your doubt and/or despair. 

Before dealing with the question itself, I want to take you on a quick journey to explore the topic of faith, hope and charity, and tie it in later with the question that buffets me. 

When a person makes up their mind to live for Jesus rather than merely existing without Him in the routines of life, this step of faith is the first step to abundant living.  It is a walk of faith; not by sight.

I did not have to be at the tomb where Jesus was buried to visually see that He rose to life on the third day after being crucified on the cross for our sins.  I accept it by faith and believe that God indeed raised Him from the dead, because the Holy Bible tells of this epic truth.  Our hope of eternal life in heaven is based upon this event. 

The salvation of one’s soul is through Christ alone and none other.  It is the substance of that which is hoped for, while experiencing, firsthand, the evidence of things not seen.  This is exactly what faith is all about.  Without faith there is no hope.

Believing that God’s Word is truth embodies our faith in God.  It is totally within our aptitude to trust that He protected the Bible from any errors for our benefit and gain.  Trusting that the content therein is the inerrant Word of God is faith at work.

I was set free from the bondage of sin in my mid-twenties when I asked God to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.  He did exactly that.  But you may ask, “How do you know for sure?” 

There was no doubt in my mind that something wonderful happened that day.  The burden of sin that was crushing me transferred to the Lord, because He chose to carry it.  His great love for me made it possible to cast the heavy load I was carrying upon Him.  I remember taking a deep breath and saying with excitement, “I can breathe!”

(Psalm 55:22), “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

My personality changed; I had a smile on my face; and no longer were my desires centered on wrongdoing, because I wanted more of Jesus who set me free.  I felt the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  It was at that moment I took the deep, cleansing breath of freedom.

(1 Peter 5:6-9), “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,” vs.7 “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”  vs.8  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  vs.9 “Resist him, steadfast in the faith…”

My experience of the “new birth” was indeed real and my friends could see the difference in my countenance, disposition, and attitude.  Upon leaving the sanctuary of my bedroom where I knelt to pray the sinner’s prayer, Satan immediately began harassing me with the question pertaining to this writing:  “How do you really know you’re saved and going to heaven?” 

This question troubled me deeply.  The more I gave ear to the father of lies the more agonizing the question became.  While reading the Bible I learned that if I resisted the devil he would leave me alone, so I put God’s Word to the test, and it worked!

(James 4:7), “Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” 

God strengthened my faith the more I read His Word.  I was pleasantly surprised with (Romans 10:17) that faith actually becomes stronger when we read the Bible.

(Romans 10:17), “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

If Satan is causing you to doubt your “born-again” experience and tells you that heaven is not for you, just resist him and he will go away.  Yes, he’s going to return sometime in the future to test your faith again, but the Bible says that God is greater than the devil.  We need not concern ourselves with his lies and deceitful claims. 

(1 John 4:4), “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 

My mom always pleaded the blood of Jesus when the devil was on the offensive, because there is all power in His blood.  The blood He shed on the cross made it possible for you and me to enter heaven.  This is the promise of God, which is the hope of every Believer.

Before coming to Christ, I wasted many years refusing His outstretched hand through the efforts of people that tried to share with me the good news of God’s grace and mercy.  I did not want it or desire to hear about it.  Change was not for me, because I thought I was happy with the statuesque of living life.

Actually, I was running from God, while looking for my niche in society without committing my self-serving character to Him.  But it wasn’t working.  Though I had ample money to buy most anything I wanted, there was still something missing inside me. 

Girlfriends and the popularity of my peers became less meaningful, while the value I placed in these relationships fell to a superficial and trite state of decline.  Nothing was working to fulfill the longing of my inner being; my soul.  All was vexation of spirit. 

So when Satan bangs at my heart’s door with the question, “How do you know you’re going to heaven?” I plead the blood first and then think back to how miserable I use to be and the filth that I was involved with prior to becoming a child of God.  Then the peace of God comes and dispels all doubt.

It is amazing how unstable I had become and how far adrift from the sense of belonging that I wanted so badly.  It was beyond my reach until I gave my heart to Jesus.  Though I was out of sorts with God, He continued His quest to make me His son. 

I am thankful that He didn’t give up on me when fame, fortune, and status were all encompassing.  Jesus saved me from a negative state of mind and the tailspin that I was in, of which I could not correct on my own.

When my mental instability was collapsing and I was at rope's end of self-sufficient living, and the fanfare of parties and other entertainments failed to bring peace, Jesus was waiting patiently for me to take His hand when I was going down for the third time.  He is our only hope for survival in a world having no peace and lacking hope.

(John 14:27), “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” 

So when the agonizing question I referred to in the title brings fear and uncertainty that heaven is outside our reach, STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN to what the Holy Spirit is telling you through God’s Word.  It will deliver you from any doubt that you have, because the Bible is alive in truth, which sets at liberty those that are tormented by the devil. 

(1 John 4:18), “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

When an individual surrenders their will unto God they are made perfect in love.  This act of faith gives them entitlement.  They become a child of God and joint heirs with Christ. 

When we accept Jesus as Lord, He saves us from the punishment we deserve.  Though I know this, a battle of the mind still ensues, because Satan wants to dissuade me from the things of God, but I stand with my feet firmly planted in faith.

The truth of God’s Word puts Satan to flight, especially the scriptures dealing with son ship and the chastisement of God.  They support the certainty that I am heaven bound, because my heavenly Father, in love, convicts me of sin just as I corrected my children when raising them in order to bring out the good when disobedience wanted to raise its ugly head. 

(Hebrews 12:5-8), “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:”  ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;’ ” vs.6 “ ‘For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’ ” vs.7 “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”  vs.8 “But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.” 

God gives sinners the faith to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead.  That is exactly the amount of faith a person needs to become a Christian.  I did not have to see the nail scared hands and feet of Jesus, nor the wound in His side to believe that He died for me.  The Bible declares it and I believe it—such is faith.

Faith increases the more we read the Bible, which gives us more power to resist the devil.  Questions will become less and less a problem when more and more of God’s Word is hidden in our heart.    

Faith pleases God.  Those patriarchs in the Bible, men and women like you and me, exercised faith, which are examples to us of the willingness of an omnipotence God to intervene when all else fails.  We must strive to live by faith and not by sight.  As we do this, agonizing questions will flee; dispelling all doubts and fears.

(Hebrews 11:6), “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a re-warder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Blood-red Moon

I do not pretend to understand or grasp the ins and outs of dreams and their purpose, but I do know they have caused my spirit to rise up, take notice, and make improvements in my life depending on the content of the dreams.  

As a side note, compare this to television, which is not worth watching these days; movies with ratings not fit for family viewing; and the liberal news media that sanctions all that is unholy and anti-Christ.  These platforms fail to stimulate people in positive ways.

It is disgraceful to see how low that ‘so-called’ entertainment and American values have plummeted from the moral standards on which this great nation was founded—God’s principles.

There is just something about meaningful dreams that intrigue me more so than the snippets of filth shown on T.V. Ads.  Shamefully, most of the programs are deplorable and unacceptable.  Thank goodness for a DVR so that I can skip over them and record shows, which are wholesome in nature; though in short supply. 

To parallel some of the above thoughts, I have learned that possessions, assets, and the like cannot provide lasting satisfaction or peace.  Money, in particular, and what it can buy, fails to enrich spiritual growth or inspire my ability to improve relationships with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  

We need things in our life that give hope and a sense of well-being that encourage true contentment; not momentary pleasures that quickly fade away.

In my preadolescent years and earlier, I remember my mom telling me that if I shared a dream before eating breakfast that it would come true.  So if I had a good dream, I told it, but if not, I waited. 

It is funny how old wives tales peak the interest of people of all ages to the point that some actually believe the subject matter as being factual.  With this being said, an event is near-term that is neither a wives tale nor the figment of someone’s imagination.  It is the totality of what life is all about and the reward for making right choices—the return of Jesus and going to heaven.

God can speak to us using any means that He chooses.  I believe that dreams are mediums that He makes use of when other attempts of getting our attention fail, especially those efforts that roll off our back like duck feathers repel water.

Angelic visitations and the awareness of their presence; messages from God; and things of spiritual influence that bring a responsive reaction of one’s relationship with the Lord can very well happen, because of dreams.  They are exciting encounters having to do with the supernatural, which certainly captivate my attention.

I analyze, question, and explore the content of these dreams in an effort to capture the full essence of their meaning.  You may think this a bit strange, but how many dreams pertaining to the supernatural does the average person receive in their lifetime?  So it behooves me to understand what it is that God is saying.

I believe that dreams can directly correlate the sensations of our senses with the spiritual world where God operates.  I also believe that a person can sojourn in a place of holiness; a position in God, where they are actually in the Spirit.  I call it the “God-mind.”

John the Revelator wrote the Book of Revelation; the last book of the New Testament.  In my thinking, he was in the God-mind when he compiled the visions that God commanded him to write for the enlightenment of humanity in the last days prior to the second coming of His Son, Jesus.

I believe that a similar state of mind briefly encapsulated my psyche last night, though I am not comparing myself to John in any way.  Perhaps it was a dream, but it may have been a vision, I’m not sure.  It was so thought provoking and meaningful; it moved me to write these words today.

While lying in bed with my eyes closed, I could see the beauty of God’s handiwork in the heavens and was pleasantly surprised that a full moon was in view.  The more I drank in the splendor and awesomeness of creation, my eyes beheld a scene that I have never witnessed before.

There, kneeling at the base of a huge bolder was the shape of a man dressed in white garments.  He had a long walking staff in his left hand, which he leaned upon during his time of prayer.  It was as if he were looking directly into the face of God with his head lifted high.

His silhouette could be seen clearly with the moon shinning behind him, which caused me to become more intrigued as I focused on the image before me.  And then suddenly it happened without warning!  The moon took on a different appearance!

No longer was it the captivating moon that caused my wife and I to become moonstruck when we were dating and so much in love; it became a visual message of intense importance.  I remember the experience being an overwhelming reality that authenticated the Bible scriptures that I had read in (Revelation 6:12-17) and (Joel 2:30-32) concerning the end times.

On the extreme, right side of the moon, about 1/8^th of its surface was the shape of a crescent; blood-red in color.  While in a state of awe and drinking in all that the moment offered, I realized that it was a sign to me that Jesus was about to return on clouds of glory to receive those that were looking for His appearing.

As soon as this realization was understood within my perception, the man ceased to look upward and slowly turned his head toward me and fixed his eyes on mine.  It was then that my uncertainty of who he was took flight.  It was Jesus!

It was extraordinary and wonderful as He continued his gaze in my direction, but uncomfortable at the same time.  It was the same stare that my dad gave me when he wanted me to mind as a child; not having to say a word, because I knew the look and what it meant.  The Lord’s countenance was stern, yet compassionate, with eyes concerned, but full of love.

Like a child, I received the message God had for me and for you as well.  He wanted to make sure that we knew Jesus as Lord and was attentive to His Word when it stated that we must be ready when Jesus returns.  He stood firm with regard to no second chances—a middle of the road relationship with Him would be rejected.  

Jesus emphasized the fact that we must take note of the signs around us, because His return was nigh at hand, thus, the moon turning to crimson red…not fully engulfed as yet, because God’s grace was still allowing us to pray, “God forgive me of my sins.”  He was still extending mercy to lost souls, but for how long?  

The message was five-fold—time is of the essence; today is the day of salvation; no one has the assurance of tomorrow; and we must live each moment as if Jesus is coming back before our next breath.  The Lord is coming in the twinkling of an eye to receive His bride unto Himself; the bride being, born-again Christians.  Are you ready to meet Him when He returns?  I pray that you are.

(Joel 2:30-31), “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:  blood and fire and pillars of smoke.”  vs.31  “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.”  vs.32 “and it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved…”

(Revelation 6:12-17), “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.”  vs.13 “and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.”  vs.14 “Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.”  vs.15 “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,” vs.16 “and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!’”  vs. 17 “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Dream Awareness

I am sure that you could validate the fact that dreams can be off the wall at times with regard to content; a little far-fetched in some instances.  But then there are those epoch moments that awareness-of-reality someway makes its appearance in our dreams.  Such was the case a couple of nights ago.

As I lay sleeping I experienced an extremely, unusual dream, which could have been a nightmare had I not been a Christian.  It was eye-opening, yet worrisome and distressing at the same time. 

I dreamed that I had the ability to time-travel back to earlier days of my life.  I guess I’ve been watching too many sci-fi movies lately.  Just at the moment I transcended to a day in the past, in the twinkling of an eye, Jesus returned for those that were living for Him.  Many people call this experience, “The rapture of the church.”

Though I was a Christian and ready to meet the Lord, the timing was such that I was not taken, because I was not present at the exact moment of His coming, but somehow aware of the wonderful event that I had heard about for so long.  It really happened!

I was awestruck, mesmerized, and taken aback at what took place.  Though surprised that the promised event finally took place, I was more concerned about those that were left behind.  Wait!  I am now in their past; surely they will listen to me when I tell them of the impending phenomenon that is going to take place! 

The awareness of lost souls was overwhelming.  The dream alerted my psyche to the same realization that our pastor, at church, was trying to get across to the congregation; that we must share the good news that God forgives sin through His Son Jesus Christ.  He said that Jesus died on the cross to bring salvation to you and me, our households, neighbors around us, and people throughout the world.

I wondered why Christians were so lax in their responsibility of sharing this message with others when the reality of the end of time was so close at hand.  I was compelled to tell every person I met that Jesus was really coming back.  Some listened and gave their heart to the Lord, while others rejected the message of the hour.

I was aghast that more people did not surrender their life to God.  “Why won’t they listen?”  I cried out.  Then the Bible parable came to me about a certain rich man that fared sumptuously and a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table (Luke 16:19-31). 

So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.  The rich man also died and failed to make things right with God and went to hell, because he had made money his god.

Being in excruciating torment from the unquenchable flames, the rich man asked father Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers that were still living and warn them of the impending judgment; a horrifying destiny that awaited them if they didn’t change their ways.

(Luke 16:29-31), “Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ ” vs.30 “And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ ” vs.31 “But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ” 

In my dream I realized that some people would sooner live for the devil in poverty of spirit than surrender their will to the God of peace.  This is the nature of fallen man.  Everyone has a freewill to choose their destination—heaven or hell.  It was impossible to make that choice for them though I wished I could.

It seemed as if the people that rejected my message thought they were going to live forever, or did not want to face the fact that what I was saying may actually come true.  They chose to live their life in a vacuum of their own making; refusing to see beyond the momentary pleasures that would one day seal their fate in hell.

They looked at life as if it were an hourglass full of sand.  When the last grain was about to fall through they would turn the glass over and restart their meager existence again, taking up where they left off.

I believe that God has given us ample time to make the decision to walk with Him, while enjoying an abundant life in Jesus.  God gave mankind seventy plus or minus years—a dressing room to prepare for eternity.  We can either wear garments of virtue or rags of iniquity.  Heaven is the reward for those that become children of God, which is the hope of Christians.

The dream was a reminder of the importance of witnessing—sharing my faith with others.  It also prompted me to re-examine my relationship with God to make sure that I was living the life that ought to be in order to make heaven my home. 

I live in the knowledge that God set me free from sin through the blood that Jesus shed on Calvary.  I am saved, because of His great sacrifice and love.  It is not of my own righteousness, lest I should boast, but the righteousness of Jesus who set me free.

The dream awareness is fresh in my mind and I trust that you too will consider this dream as a wake-up call.  The reality of this experience is that it won’t be a dream one day.  Are you ready to meet the Lord?

Written by,

Papa Boyd

The Undoing of Perfection

To preface this writing, the following, profound, Bible scriptures will open anyone’s eyes to the urgency of the hour when the message contained herein is focused upon.

(2 Timothy 3:1-5), “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come;” vs.2 “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” vs.3 “unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,” vs.4 “traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” vs.5 “having a form of godliness, but denying its power.  And from such people turn away!” 

People that take the time to center their attention on the happenings around them, while looking beyond the four walls of self-indulgent living, will have a shocking realization regarding the stench of sin that is filling the air, of which is becoming commonplace in many homes of today’s America and around the world.

The United Stated of America was once “Under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” and founded upon the affirmation of “In God we trust,” which is now reeking from the disgusting odor of filth; the smell of ungodliness in a land that is quickly being overtaken by sin.  What happened?

God’s Word reveals the future to whoever reads it.  It warns of the impending judgment of God that is quickly approaching the inhabitants of earth that are not serving God.  The signs are everywhere. 

When a person takes their head out of the sand and looks at the corruptness and mayhem around them, these signs tell us that we are in the season of the Lord’s return and God’s final judgment.  The end of time is upon us whether a person believes it or not.

When God created the heavens and earth and all living creatures, He saw and declared that this wonderful creation was good.  It was beauty at is finest; absent of sin, which corrupts and destroys everything in its path.  But when sin entered God’s perfect utopia, the beginning to an end began its haughty stand against good, while pursuing those that God created in His image.  It is the evilness of Satan marching forward; devoid of trepidation—having no concern for God’s commandments.

Sin is sin at any level of activity when people sin, if there are actually degrees or levels of sin.  If anything at all is contrary to the statutes and holiness of God, it is sin in its debased form, according to the Bible.  Anything that is anti-pure is sin. 

On an infinite scale between good and evil, sin is at the opposite end of holiness.  God is at one end of the gamut and Satan is at the other end and everything in-between.  A person either serves God or the devil. There is no ‘safe zone’ anywhere in the middle where sin is concerned.   

Sin began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, which was the beginning of the undoing of God’s perfect creation.  Rebellion took a stand against God, which set into motion His timetable with regard to the decline and demise of mankind.  

It began with Eve when she was beguiled by the serpent, Satan, to ignore God’s command to not eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that stood in the midst of the garden.  She then gave the forbidden fruit to Adam, and he too ate, which caused the beginning of sorrow for them and the fall of all future generations.

The foolishness of their self-seeking revolt against God in picking the fruit was unwise.  This act created the birthing place for sin, which matures in filth and leads to lower stages of corrupt behavior in people. 

The lowest and final stage of sinning is the ultimate betrayal of God’s mercy, which causes God to separate Himself from any unprincipled, depraved person that is totally bad.  The word given to this depravity is called, reprobation.

Any person that God turns over to a reprobate mind has no conscience.  They lack the sense of right and wrong and are absent of scruples and principles.  They do things that are against God’s standards and have pleasure in doing them.  Reprobates believe there is no wrong in what they do, because ethics and morals are gone. 

(Romans 1:28-32), And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;” vs.29 “being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,” vs.30 “backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,” vs.31 “undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;” vs.32 “who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

Is this sounding more and more familiar to you as you read?  Look around and see what the leaders and judges of our nation are sanctioning as proper and appropriate living.  Reread vs.32 above.  Many of their decisions directly oppose God’s Word.  How far we have fallen!

God extends His love, grace, and mercy to prevent this from happening to whoever accepts Jesus as their Savior, the only means for sins forgiven.  Every individual on earth has freewill to choose or reject the Lord.  God provided the only way that mankind could be saved from the punishment of hell.  Salvation comes through His Son, Jesus Christ, but each of us has the freedom of choice.  God leaves this decision to us.

God does not send evildoers to hell, they do that on their own by turning their back on Jesus.  Every person makes the choice themselves; life in heaven with the Lord or death in hell with Satan.

After the first sin in the Garden of Eden, it spread outward like a fast growing cancer, which to this day is destroying everything it touches.  Adam and Eve’s sin-nature, which was passed through their lineage, initiated the hand of God when He destroyed the inhabitants of earth the first time with water.  Noah and his family were the only ones spared, because Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

The final undoing of God’s creation will be when He destroys it with fire, because of sin.  As I have said, sin corrupts and causes God to react.  Those that are safe in the arms of the Lord will escape His final judgment.

Time will be no more and God’s timetable complete.  All creation will be purged of sin in like manner as Sodom and Gomorrah when these two cities and the residents therein were destroyed by fire.  So shall it be in the concluding judgment of God.  

As Noah had a safe haven within the ark he built, Jesus Christ is our ark of safety that will save Christians, His bride, from annihilation and damnation.  Those that have accepted Him as Lord and Savior will ever be with Him in heaven.

The content of this writing is certainly mind-bending and perhaps difficult to ingest, but God’s grace extends beyond personal persuasions, beliefs and ensuing questions of any kind.

If you are not 100% sure where you stand with God, a prayer of repentance will give you the peace you need.  Why not give God the opportunity to prove His love, and ask Him to forgive you of your sins?  In doing so, you safeguard your future in heaven, while becoming a child of God at the same time.  Joining the family of God makes you ready to meet Jesus when He returns, prior to the old order of things passing away.

The following scripture is the hope of Christians—Jesus is speaking.

(John 14:1-3), “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”  vs.2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.”  vs.3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Let Go and Let God

It is amazing to me, in such a short amount of time, how people in our nation are swinging to the other end of the pendulum where kindness and being courteous are non-existent.  It seems like fewer and fewer people care about the needs of others like they once did.  They don’t want to get involved, because of their busy lifestyle at home. 

People are in their own little world of happenings.  As long as they have a cell phone or computer to play games and send text messages they are just fine.  They wouldn’t think of asking for help, because that would obligate them to return the favor.  The fewer the obligations the better they feel regarding helping someone. 

A particular, common practice in the 18^th and 19^th century in rural North America was 'barn-raising'.  This term describes a collective action by the members of a community to help build or rebuild a barn for a member of that community.  Neighbors and friends addressed the need by enlisting other members of their community, unpaid, to assist in building the barn.  The favor would eventually return to each participant.

People were not embarrassed or afraid to let go of their arrogant pride and ask for help; allowing others to see their vulnerability.  As I see it, this giving and receiving character in people is changing from what America was built upon—the statutes of God and close-bond camaraderie with neighbors.

Past generations were more God conscious and involved Him in sensitive areas of life more so than people of today.  “Who needs God?” is the general consensus and intellect of communities throughout the nation. Some Christians are timid to speak up for what they believe is right, because of the backlash received from non-Believers around them. 

It is easier to shut up than to let go of fear and let God work in and through their efforts to create change.  This way of thinking must cease if Christians truly desire a godly nation to continue; maintaining Christian values in America.

Christians must guard against the temptation of getting caught up in self-sufficiency, while rubbing shoulders with a society that is hell-bent on doing their own thing without regard for God or the 10 Commandments.

To let go and let God involve Himself in one’s life is easier said than done for those that consider themselves independent and self-sufficient.  They do not feel the need to solicit anyone’s help, especially God, in order to make ends meet or help them with the rearing of offspring; teaching them the value of godly principles and becoming dependable, honorable people of society.

Do you remember the ill-advised saying?  “Do as I say not as I do.”  Children learn by example.  What they see and hear they emulate.  This practice is everywhere you look.  A let go and let God standard of living is taught with the help of God Almighty; it is not learned in this world of changing values and self-centered thinking.

Independence, without God, quickly evolves into a prideful individual; a self-imposed, self-doer that refuses God’s interference.  They don’t want it, because the thought of letting God do anything and being obligated to Him goes against the grain of their “I can do it myself!” mentality.  This is a very bad way to live, and unwise to say the least.

Consider for a moment the title of this writing.  I believe it to be self-explanatory and understandable without a lot of words following.  But to put it into prospective, the first two words, “Let God” imply a giving up or opening the hand to release one’s grip on something.  By doing so, this gesture can be interpreted, by some, as being vulnerable.

To permit access to areas that have perhaps been protected up to that point is a fearful thing.  It is misconstrued as surrendering and giving up.  It is scarier to let go of something that has been carried for so long than to allow God to move as He sees fit in certain situations. 

The close proximity of children or parents that are not serving God are two examples of wanting to hold on and not let go for fear that God might knock the props out from under them, because God is seen as a disciplinarian rather than the loving, compassionate, and merciful God that He is.  These people are frequently called enablers.

Enablers are often faced with difficult challenges, because of their great concern for certain individuals.  These ordeals can become paramount to those that lack proper training on how to deal with matters of personality traits, including a host of other disorders. 

Enablers feel that no one else can do or react to the circumstances that surround them like they themselves can, and are most reluctant to hand over to another party their self-appointed responsibility of trying to work out all situations.  To let go and let God is not in their vocabulary, because they fear what God might do.

In actuality, an enabler sometimes keeps those that they care for in a dependent state of reliability—unable to do for themselves, because they are so accustom to things being done for them that self-dignity and self-respect slowly erode away.  Certainly, there are extenuating circumstances that enter into this scenario; like disabilities and birth defects, of which the above thoughts may not apply.

To let go and lay a problem at the feet of Jesus and trust Him with what they could not do can be intimidating; leaving the enabler with feelings of unsuccessful intervention, while being bombarded with the question, “Why do things have to be the way they are?”  But God’s grace is sufficient in all things if we let go and let God help us.

Unlike enablers, self-doers are generally puffed up in themselves, because of their prideful nature, but enablers and self-doers have a common denominator—ongoing frustration.  They are on common ground; void of lasting peace, hope, and in some cases, lacking stability. 

Personal obsessions, coupled with pride, limit a person to the height they can achieve regarding accomplishments.  I call this ascent, ‘the ladder of self-reliance’.  It does not reach to the level of success that they desire, because there is a lack; void of God’s help and strength.  It is only tall enough to reach as high as the glass ceiling of ‘want’ and no higher.

Self-sufficiency without God is like running in place and going nowhere.  It is taking one step forward and two steps back.  It is like a car's transmission that is stuck in reverse; having no forward motion. 

To not let go and not let God work, amounts to a complete standstill when lasting peace and complete satisfaction are at stake, which are common denominators that are missing.  Letting God do the impossible is the only way to realize success in all areas of life.

No one within their own strength or ingenuity can accomplish any visionary scheme for an ideally perfect endeavor no matter how hard they try.  At times it may seem that it is going to happen, because of an inner-drive-methodology at work; thinking they can achieve it, but reality soon reveals the unwanted truth that it just won’t take place without supernatural intervention.

To let go and let God have His way instead of insisting on having our own way requires faith, which is the ability of a person to trust the honesty of God.  Jesus declares in the Bible that He is the only way to success; the truth we can count on in times of need; and the life, which is abundant living—experiencing lasting satisfaction.

(John 14:6), “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ”

Satan tries to blind our eyes from truth and makes it difficult for a self-sufficient person to let go and let God, especially if they have an abundance of money to buy any material thing they want.  It is sad when they love money so much that it becomes their god, which is the route of all evil.

(1 Timothy 6:10), “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Self-sufficient people that ignore God are self-destructive in many ways when they attempt to blaze their own trail without God.  Their philosophy is, “If I can’t do it, it can’t be done.”  This was my attitude before I met the Lord.

After trying with all that was in me to achieve lasting happiness, I came to the bitter conclusion that no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t do it.  I finally let go and let God accomplish what I could not.  He did the impossible for me.

God loved humanity so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins.  He wants to do similar miracles for each person like He did for me.  All it takes is to let go and let God.  He forgives sin and provides hope of eternal life in heaven, while giving peace that passes all understanding, because Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Written by,

Papa Boyd 

The Unseen Enemy (Part 1 of 2)

My aim in this writing is to turn the negative connotation of the above title into a positive, factual declaration of God’s omnipotent power regarding situation solving and intervention.

Try as I may to stay clear of antagonistic people and uncomfortable situations, inevitably they have a way of finding me, because Satan is the unseen enemy; the responsible foe that is seeking whom he may devour in any way he can. 

This nemesis of humanity wants to steal from us the joy, peace, and lasting contentment that are found only in Jesus Christ.  One of Satan’s major obsessions is to bring Christians to the same level of ungodliness as those without Christ in the world. 

Satan also wants to hide the fact from nonbelievers that God forgives sin and His love is everlasting and free to whoever calls on the Lord for forgiveness.  The devil deceives people, because he knows that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

I am striving each day to maintain the vertical relationship in right prospective with God so that the horizontal dealings with people remain calm, while sustaining a Christ-like attitude.  When I am successful in doing this, life is less stressful and my comings and goings are blessed of God.

At times it is difficult to turn the other cheek, figuratively speaking, especially when people exude an unkind attitude, impatience, and rudeness.  The old ‘type A’ personality that I so foolishly displayed when I was younger; not serving God, wants to resurface and thunder to the forefront, thus, striking out with greater intensity than the other person may be showing, especially if they are trying to mistreat or speak cruelly to my wife in a vindictive manner.

I have been around the block a few times when dealing with contemptuous people, but I try to keep that old nature under subjection, because God set me free from this behavioral shortcoming when He forgave my sins.  But on occasion, the gruff personality and quick temper from my yesterday’s antics want to rise to the surface and step in front of better judgment to show his ugliness.

At these times I find myself at the level that I was prior to the hour when God released me from this unwanted personality.  At the moment of confrontation I am eye to eye at the same level as the person I’m leering at, which is the level and path that I once traveled before God delivered me from similar displays of anger.

The Holy Spirit is quick to remind me, just before the adrenaline rush begins to surge, that were it not for God’s grace I would still be a miserable person; cantankerous like the world around me or even worse.  I realize that others’ misfortune could be mine if the blessings and kindness that God imparted to me had not happened.  I am just a sinner saved by grace in a world of sinful people.  “There but for the grace of God go I.”

The words printed on my truck’s license plate holder make a profound declaration.  “Christians aren’t perfect just FORGIVEN” 

The unseen enemy is hard at work trying to steal Christian’s peace of mind and show them that they are no better than those that give them a bad time.  But greater is God within us than the unseen enemy in the world that wants to destroy our soul. 

When I listen to the Holy Spirit and restrain myself from my old way of dealing with impudence and the vulgarity of people, God gives me the strength to overcome and endure; without incident.  Notice that I said, “When I listen…”

I believe that when I sincerely try to maintain control of my emotions, God is quick to work in my behalf to fill my mouth with words that are not my own; calming situations that Satan orchestrated.  A kind word controls things from getting out of hand, because God is sovereign and His Word declares it so.

(Proverbs 25:11), “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”

By giving God the opportunity to work out a problem, and us submitting our will to His, the end result speaks for itself—godly intervention.  The key to suppressing the unseen enemy is to walk in the Spirit each day so that we are emotionally equipped to yield ourselves to God’s way of handling things.

We need not lower ourselves to the level of the world’s standard of reasoning by displaying a belligerent attitude.  With the help of the Holy Spirit we can rise above the temptation to react negatively.  Giving the other person a piece of our mind or doing something worse is not the answer.

This philosophy for living is certainly easier said than done, but when we do it God’s way, we learn that His way is best, because the results are always positive in nature.  I am weak within myself, but I am an over-comer through Christ who strengthens me.

(1 John 4:4), “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

The Unseen Enemy (Part 2 of 2)

Is the enemy truly unseen?  No not at all.  If we take a moment to focus and evaluate the unpleasant traits that others radiate, we will see Satan’s influence through the actions and words they use, because they live by their own standards and set of rules; not God’s.  With the Holy Spirit aiding our efforts to overcome Satan’s advances, problematic situations can be dealt with sensibly rather than reacting without thinking.

Eyes will be opened to see clearly how to handle any state of affairs by remembering past events when God made good out of something bad.  Humanity would be amazed and set-a-back at the omnipotent power of God if they would only allow Him to become involved in all areas of life, especially those times when Satan is revealed as the deceiver that he is and the promoter of disorder and disarray.

When we allow God to be in control of our emotions, the unseen enemy cannot hide.  He is readily revealed for what and who he is.  God has the ability to shine through our weakness in those uncomfortable moments when Satan wants us to believe that we are standing alone and no different than those without Christ.

When we refrain from giving someone a piece of our mind, we retain the God-mind that we so desperately need—the mind of Christ, which helps us maintain our dignity and well-being in Him.

(Psalm 39:1), “…I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.”

I believe in preparedness.  Locking doors and windows at night, for example, is using good sense; not tempting fate.  Being attentive and not burying our head in the sand is prudent. Anyone thinking that all's-well in their society of misguided, self-seeking individuals, are lacking wisdom.

Everything is not hunky-dory, because these Godless people are allowing the unseen enemy to manipulate them into doing horrific things.

God gives us a mind and He expects us to use it to scrutinize and know the workings of Satan. Besides five senses,  I have a sixth sense—my God sense; being able to see things before they happen and then make adjustments accordingly.  I am sure that I have warded off many unhappy endings by doing so.

When growing up, my dad taught me how to fight and stand up for what was right and defend myself in urgent situations.  I can still hear him say, “Never pick a fight, because there is always someone tougher than you.” 

Dad wanted me to know that even though a person may be physically fit and mentally astute to deal with trouble by using certain offensive and defensive moves, situations can still end negatively and that it is much better to avoid trouble if at all possible.

At one end of the spectrum are those that believe preparedness conquers all, while others at the other end are totally oblivious and unaware of the dangers in their immediate surroundings, while potential threats lurk in the shadows.  I believe, unequivocally, that we must stay vigilant at all times, especially in the day in which we live. 

It is not that we walk in fear, but we walk in readiness, while listening and watching for warning signs when conditions just don’t look or feel right.  We must pay attention to our sixth sense.  God gives this insight when Christians walk in the Spirit.  Awareness gives favor, whereas, unpreparedness breeds trouble.

Though a person may feel comfortable with the training they’ve received; having confidence in their ability to aggressively take down any threat that presents itself, the sure way to a successful encounter is to read the signs before things escalate out of control, while remaining pro-defensive in mind, body, and spirit.  Not allowing one’s testosterone or adrenaline rush to overpower good judgment is using wisdom.

When our spiritual eyes are open, the unseen enemy can be recognized for the troublemaker that he is before things reach the point of no return.  Pleading the blood of Jesus and then watching the hand of God take control by whatever means He chooses is much safer and rewarding.

We need not walk with the anticipation of finding trouble and doing something about it, but rather, stay alert and not put ourselves in harms way.  We should also allow God to put a watchman at our mouth to help tame the tongue.  

I believe that this type of readiness is what God desires for Christians that want a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Him.

(Proverbs 15:1-2),  “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”  vs.2 “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd