Fear Robs / Hope Gives

It seems like everything I hear on the news is negative, which can create fear in the hearts of those that take in a steady diet of the woes around them. 

Fear robs the joy that we once felt when things were not as bad and out of control as they are now… on the brink of World War III, home invasions, gangs infiltrating America, ongoing homicides, and the list goes on and on.

The world is in dire need of hope and spiritual revival.  Surely, we are in the beginnings of sorrows spoken of in the Bible—the end times.

(Matthew 24:6-8), “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (vs 7) “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” (vs 8) “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

(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!”

We are amid all of the above.  Fear is a terrible thing to live with.  No-one should have to endure the worrisome trauma that fear brings.  The Bible says that when Christians see these things coming to pass, that we should lift our heads and rejoice, because our redemption draws near.  Christians need not fear.

This phenomenon is known as the second coming of Jesus Christ.  It is referred to as, ‘the rapture’ when all born-again Believers in Christ ascend into heaven to spend eternity with the Lord.

(Luke 21:26-28), “Men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” (vs 27) “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (vs 28) “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

There can be obvious physical reactions in those that experience fear.  They might have shortness of breath, heart palpitations, shaking, lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting.

Fear robs people of peace of mind, thus reducing the vibrance of living an abundant life in Christ the Lord.  I have read in the Bible that perfect love casts out all fear.  I believe this phrase implies when people possess true love or unconditional love within their being, fear diminishes or disappears completely.

Again, I say, Believers need not live in fear.  Jesus is perfect love, who will remove fearfulness and all trepidation when we speak His name.  Jesus will not allow fear to rob Christians of the victory that God imparts to them (gives) after the new-birth-experience (being born-again) when we ask Him to forgive our sins and come into our heart.

God, through Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all unrighteousness, while giving hope of eternal life in heaven.  Jesus becomes our strength, peace, and of course hope.  He is the Prince of Peace!  Jesus gives hope to the weary and faint of heart.

(Romans 15:13), “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

(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.”

Fear not only produces physical weaknesses, but spiritual feebleness, because it slowly robs lifegiving freedom to be able to walk circumspectly in a world that is filled with calamity.

When we have hope in our heart, this manifestation encourages us to share this same hope with others.  Hope gives us the power to walk in faith.  Faith, hope, and charity allows us to live a victorious life.  It is the perfect recipe that casts out fear and produces joy, without all the drama that fear brings.

Agape love is the true love that sets people free from the bond of fear.  When we speak the name of Jesus, the spirits of darkness and the evilness of anything anti-Christ, tremble at the mention of His name.  Fear must leave us, because of the omnipotent power (all power) that is in Jesus’ name.

Jesus is our hope who keeps giving and giving.  My father-in-law use to say, “There are givers and takers in the world.”  All good things come from God—the giver, and everything bad comes from Satan—the taker, especially fear, which robs people of happiness.

God is the giver of life and the hope of the world.  God loved every person He created with such sacrificial love that He gave His only Son to die on a cross for our sins.  The gift of life is free to whoever will.

(John 3:16), “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.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

The Center of My Joy

The essence of my thoughts does not refer to or imply any negative connotation regarding God’s amazing creation, only manmade offerings.

The title of this writing refers to something that most people strive for—joy in the beginning, middle, and through the end of life.  I cannot think of anything tangible that produces unlimited and lasting joy anywhere around me, or something that someone else has that I don’t.

A person that expects material things to bring them joy will certainly be disappointed, because satisfaction is limited and seasonal at best…nothing lasting.  I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Is that all there is?”

No matter what a person buys or something they obtain by hook or by crook to fill that empty feeling inside them, the temporary joy of finally securing the item or things wear off quickly.  Idealists then look for something else to satisfy that hunger in their soul, because of the unfulfilled search for lasting joy that did not come through.

That’s just the way it is, whether we like it or not.  No amount of money can buy true happiness or real joy.  No matter what we achieve in life, or how much money we have in the bank, or the fame that we’ve managed to achieve because of our talent, nothing can provide permanent joy except one individual.  His name is Jesus.

If things could satisfy the deep longing for joy that people seek, or peace of mind, or a home in heaven after death, the need for a Savior would be null and void.  Talk about void, God created a voidness or vacuum with every soul that is shaped exactly like the Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Lord knows exactly what shape that is.  Only the Trinity can fill this void to its full capacity.  Nothing in the world can do this, though millions of people try every day, but to no avail.  It is all in vain.  Their efforts are unsuccessful and impossible to achieve.  It’s an effort in futility.

Happiness and joy cannot be found in things of the world or in sinful pleasures.  Lasting joy flows to us from the throne of God.  Jesus is the water of life.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  The sooner people realize this the sooner they can find absolute fulfillment and peace of mind.

The joy of the Lord is our strength, and with it comes the peace of God that passes all understanding.  Non-Christians desiring joy, keep butting their heads against the impenetrable wall of resistance with no success when looking for enjoyment in the wrong places or in things of the world.

The preceding endeavor is called ‘self-gratification’, but as hard as they try, things cannot do it for them.  They will never find it in superficial, manmade things.

(Philippians 4:6, 7), “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” (vs 7) “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Jesus is the center of my joy.  It was impossible to find until I met the Lord and surrendered my life to Him.  He upholds me every day by His Spirit.

(Psalm 51:12), “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”

I’ve heard people say, “But I have to give up too much to become a Christian.”  In my humble opinion, we should be willing to trade anything we have to obtain “joy unspeakable and full of glory,” as the song goes, especially in a world of hopelessness and unfulfilled enjoyment.

A rich young ruler came to Jesus and wanted to do something good that he may have eternal life.  No doubt he was lacking joy.  When Jesus said to sell what he had and give to the poor and follow Him, he went away sorrowful for he had great riches.  He loved his possessions and money more than the joy and assurance of eternal life that Jesus had to offer.  (Matthew 19:16-22)

It is worth noting, salvation is free for the asking.  It is the unmerited gift from God to whoever asks Him to forgive their sins, and who accepts His Son, Jesus, as their Lord and Savior.  It does not cost anything to become a Christian and we need not trade or give away something we own to obtain it.

(John 3:16), “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.”

If you think you are giving up your freedom, think again.  The bondage of sin is like being incarcerated or institutionalized in a self-made prison, to suffer the consequences and negative aftermath that sinning brings.  There is no lasting joy when a person sins, only frustration, and when that kind of joy fades, all that is left is disappointment.

The chains of sin are hard to break within our own ability, but Jesus will break the chains of bondage and wipe the slate clean, regarding sin.  He sets our feet on the straight and narrow path that leads to heaven.

God delivers us from the prison of habits, anxiety, fear, and any other thing we struggle with.  Yes, we need lasting joy in our life, which produces harmony and fulfillment.  Jesus is the center of my joy.  He gave His life on a cross to be your center of joy also.  Ask and you shall receive. 

(Matthew 7:7, 8), “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

Where Peaceful Waters Flow

I love sitting on a log or blanket, nestled in a grove of trees overlooking fast-flowing rapids from melting snow.  The birds singing in the trees make it serene and lovely.  It’s a wonderful environment to bask in, while sensing the presence of our Creator and enjoying His handiwork.

Time alone with God, whether in the woods, my office at home, or sitting comfortably in my easy chair in the family room, helps to open my mind to receive what the Lord is sharing with me for another writing to post on my blog.

Fast-flowing rapids remind me of the day that my older brother, 14 years my senior, came by and picked me up.  I was thrilled to be with my big brother.  He drove us to a location in Antioch, California, about 16 miles from my house.  He chose a nice place where there was a flowing body of water called the Delta.  

He was excited to try out his 8-foot hydroplane that he had just completed building.  It was a small one-man craft with a 35-horse outboard motor secured to the stern…not too much horsepower, just enough for the size of the craft.

It was getting close to dusk and the water was becoming a bit choppy, but not too bad.  I think I was 13 or 14 years old and asked my brother if he would let me take his longtime project out for a solo run.  I couldn’t believe my ears when he said, “Sure.”

I don’t know where his head was in letting me do this, but I was delighted that he trusted me.  As I got farther out in the middle of the Delta, the wind suddenly picked up, creating whitecaps all around me.  I started getting that helpless, what am I doing here, feeling.

I was becoming distressed as the waves intensified.  I thought I was reducing my speed, but instead, I shoved the throttle lever all the way forward rather than pulling it back, which gave the motor full power.

Time seemed to stand still.  I was scared to death as huge amounts of water splashed over the bow into my face.  It was like a bad dream that I was hoping to wake up from at any moment, but the traumatic experience was happening to me in real time.

I could hear the motor revving high as I plowed through the whitecaps at full speed.  There was so much water splashing into my face I couldn’t see where I was heading. 

My panicking mind finally realized what I had done and quickly yanked back on the throttle instead of moving it slowly.  Instantly, the wake from behind swamped the boat.  Talk about panic.  I was certainly praying for an appearance of Jesus walking on the water and the winds to cease at His command.

The saving grace of my near demise was my brother’s foresight in building large air pockets on each side of the hydroplane within the cavity of the plywood construction to prevent sinking, should a situation arise like the one I was in.  Thank God he did.

I was too far from shore to successfully swim back to where my brother was, but it all ended well.  I was safe and secure back on shore after my encounter with Mother Nature, as was the hydroplane after we removed all the water.

This dramatic experience reminds me of the time when Jesus’s disciples were caught in a dreadful storm, while crossing the Sea of Galilee.  They were fearful of perishing when Jesus appeared, walking on the water.   He got into the boat and calmed the raging storm but was disappointed in His disciples for their lack of faith to calm the elements as He did.

I have read in the Bible that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.  I have learned, through personal experience, that faith in God calms the storms of life when we sincerely ask that something be done.  God answers prayer when we ask in Jesus’ name.

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

Water can become dangerous if circumstances turn bad and even deadly.  My lack of experience added to the calamity that day and the results could have turned out differently, but God was with me.  I may not have seen the Lord walking on water, but He was in the boat with me.

Know this, there is water that flows calm and peaceful from God’s throne, unlike the Delta and Sea of Galilee when we need peace in our life. 

(Revelation 22:1), “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

This peaceful flow provides the soul with comfort and sustainability against the howling wind of Satan’s hot breath as he roars like a lion.

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

There is also water that we can drink and never thirst again.  In the following scriptures, Jesus is talking to a woman at a well about eternal life and that He is the water of life that she needs.

(John 4:13, 14), “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.’ “

A person may survive without drinking water for just a few days.  The body needs water to live, whereas the spiritual man needs the water of life to survive spiritually.  Jesus is that sustenance that we need to live an abundant life and inherit eternal life in heaven.

It is free to whoever desires that their spirit lives forever in heaven with Jesus.  We never have to fear the water of life or feel panic when we are bathed in God’s fountain and having our sins forgiven.  The Lord is the Bread of Life and the Springs of Living Water.  He is where peaceful waters flow.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Too Far Gone or a Lie

My dad would not tolerate me lying to him when I was a child growing up.  I learned early on that lying was indeed a ‘No-No’ with Dad, if you know what I mean.  I certainly didn’t make a practice of doing it.  Lies are of the devil and not fun in ‘the end’ when I was caught fibbing.  A fib is still a lie wrapped in toilet paper.

If anyone listens to the devil, the father of lies, they usually regret doing so.  He is the master deceiver and attempts to convince anyone who listens to his cunning words that his lies are truth.

Lies are something we can certainly do without, but the devil is relentless if we don’t do something about his antics.  He knows our weaknesses and capitalizes on them.

The devil is also known in the Bible as the serpent.  He has had much practice honing his skills of deception since the beginning of time.  In the Garden of Eden, he lied to Eve and deceived her.  Adam, then followed her sinful example and he too sinned.  Punishment followed.

The devil’s reputation and M.O. “modus operandi” precedes him.  We know his techniques and that he is sneaky, but detectable when we stay alert.  This makes it easier to sidestep his deceptive maneuvers and close our mind to him. 

I recognize his characteristics, and I consider the source when negative thoughts come my way, such as, “Are you sure you’re a Christian?” or “How could God ever forgive your unforgivable sins?”  These are just more lies.

The devil will insist that we’ve gone too far down the wide road to destruction and there is no hope of ever being forgiven by God.  It’s nothing but lies.  We need to be like star kickers on football teams and kick this lying fraud and his tormenting thoughts to the curb when he tries to get into our head.

We can do this by disciplining our mind to think on something positive, rather than dwelling on disingenuous and criticizing rhetoric.  Rebuke the devil in the name of Jesus.  This really works!  There is all power in His name.

I’m sure everyone hates to be lied to, probably as much as my dad, but we can do something about it.  Simply refuse to listen to the devil’s blatant lies.

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

Jesus wants to become our Savior and Lord, while God desires to be our heavenly Father.  He made a way for us to experience, for ourselves, what it means to be born again. 

God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on a cross to pay the full price for our sins.  This is the whole truth and nothing but the truth! 

I don’t know if you are in the valley of decision, but know this, if you were the only individual on earth to have sinned, Jesus died for you, because of agape love—a sacrificial, God love.

(1 John 1:9), “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Don’t listen to the devil’s lies when he whispers in your ear, “You’re not good enough.  There’s no hope for you.”  Just ask God to forgive your sins and turn from your sinful ways.  Believe the Bible.

(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.”   

(Matthew 11:28), “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

If you sincerely asked God to forgive your sins, believe this, you are a new creation, because of what Jesus did for you on the cross.  He is now your Savior!  You are now a child of God!  All the devil’s lies cannot change or nullify this fact, because your name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life, in heaven!

CONGRATULATIONS!  You have been born again!

Written by,

Papa Boyd

The Magnificence of Creation

I cannot begin to capture with mere words the magnificence and amazing splendor of God’s, incredible creation.  Trying to describe creation’s grandeur falls short of seeing and experiencing its majesty firsthand through the body’s senses.

The city I live in is getting busier by the day.  It seems that everyone is experiencing the hustle bustle of hyper speed living.  In my area, the streets are always filled with cars coming and going.  Store owners are elated and smiling all the way to the bank, because of tired, yet determined shoppers buying merchandise, especially at Christmas time.

I am sure you’ve heard the saying, “Stop and smell the roses.”  I seldom slow down long enough to look around at the beauty of God’s creation.  I must encourage myself to relax and take in the incredible masterpiece of divine origin Who spoke everything into existence for humanity to enjoy.

When I am compelled, because of fatigue or for sanity’s sake, I put on the brakes and slow down my forward momentum, which produces something peaceful inside me.  It calms my spirit as I view the stunning display of exquisiteness around me, and it gives me a sense of well-being. 

The solace is well worth the ‘time outs’ that helps me to become more sensitive and appreciative of the seasons, among other magnificent things—a wealth of blessings, for sure.

I become like a sponge as I behold God’s perfection.  When springtime arrives, everything is gorgeous with flowers blooming and trees swaying in the breeze with newly formed, vibrant-green leaves, beautifying the landscape of homes and roadways.  The weather is crisp, and the air quality is fresh and clean.

When autumn rolls around, the brilliant colors of turning leaves always make me smile.  It is an incredible sight to behold.  I am literally overwhelmed at what my eyes are seeing.

Immediately after autumn, fall is upon us.  Though the leaves have all fallen to the ground, raked up and discarded, there is something spiritual-like of how the tree branches seemingly reach toward heaven as if to praise God and thank Him for creating them.  If I were an artist, I would attach canvas to an easel and paint the splendor that my senses are receiving.

Wintertime has its ups and downs, but when I look for the positives and try to grasp the excellence of God’s amazing irrigation system, it blesses me in knowing that God is in control and keeps everything alive.  It’s because of the water.

Snow and rainfall are systematic and in perfect harmony.  What would we do without water to drink and snowpacks in the mountains, which melt to supply refreshing water during the lack of rainfall in summer months?

When I was a kid, summer was my favorite time of the year.  There was no school, because of summer vacation that gave me ample time to play with my neighborhood buddies.  I was also allowed to stay up past my regular bedtime hours.  Each morning, I would awaken to the chirping of birds outside my window, which I loved and still do.

The firmament above is mind blowing, especially on a clear night.  Just think, some of the stars that are brightly shining have already experienced supernova of catastrophic explosions and have totally disintegrated into space, yet we still receive the light from them, because they are millions of light years away.

An example: If our sun were to completely break apart and cease to be in a moment of time, we would not realize what happened until eight minutes later, because the sunlight is still traveling to earth at 186,000-miles per second.  The sun is 93-million miles from earth.

The vastness of the universe is unfathomable and makes me feel like a speck of dust when trying to grasp the magnitude and immenseness of outer space with my limited and finite mind, yet the omnipotent Creator, God Almighty, knows my name and loves me.

Got spoke into existence all things in seven days, and then rested on the seventh day after seeing everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. (Genesis 1:31)

Let’s face it, we are blessed people, but for the most part, we fail to recognize and appreciate what the Lord has created for our enjoyment.  I am thankful that He has given us five senses to enjoy His proficiency and handiwork.

Our five senses: sight, to see and enjoy a beautiful sunset, the flowers around us, and the face of a newborn baby; hearing, to listen to the beauty of birds singing their songs of praise to God; taste, to be able to enjoy the food that God has provided for us; the sense of smell, to take in the wonderful fragrance of flowers, chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven, and a companions perfume or aftershave cologne; touch, to be able to lay down in the grass of a meadow and feel the cool breeze blowing against one’s face, while gazing into the sky and watching fluffy, cotton-like clouds roll by.

The magnificence of creation is assuredly His goodness to mankind, which is just a glimpse of God’s brilliance and glory of what greater surprises that heaven holds for His children.  Our Creator saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

 

Why Did He

The title is somewhat vague.  It leaves much to the imagination, lacking information.  Why did he do ‘what’?  And who was ‘he’?

Have you ever met someone; their actions spoke louder than the words they spoke?  My wife is such a person.  Though she tells me all the time that she loves me, her expressions and the things she does for me speak quite loudly about her love.

She has shared many times through the years that she had eyes for me since she was 13 years old.  She used to attend Christian rallies in Walnut Creek, California where she watched and listened to me sing in a gospel quartet when I was 16.  They were called Eye Rallies and promoted by local churches in the area.

Our marriage was founded upon the Lord, and I only hope that my actions toward her speak as loudly of my love for her, as hers does for me.  True love goes the extra mile, gives without expecting anything in return, while giving 100% of oneself.

A loving relationship is not a 50/50 proposition, as you might think.  I believe it to be 100% from each partner.  I will go as far as to say that love can even find itself moving into the realm of a sacrificial type of giving, the giving of one’s life for the other.  Is there any greater love than this?

(John 15:13), “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

The ‘he’ in the title refers to Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and the ‘why’ speaks of Jesus’ sacrificial love that He had for humanity.   Down the corridor of time Jesus saw you and me and was touched by the feelings of our infirmities and how the chains of sin had us bound.

It was such an unmeasurable love that He gave His life, freely, for the redemption of every person on earth that was born with a sin nature within them, thanks to Adam and Eve and their disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden.

You and I were not left out of God’s plan, on the contrary, He knew us in our mother’s womb and has a wonderful plan for you and me.  We just need to draw close to God and find out exactly what He had in mind.

A simple prayer of repentance of our sins will reveal all as we become children of Almighty God.

(Romans 3:23), “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

(John 3:16), “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.”

Why Did He die on a cruel cross?  He wanted to become our Savior and friend.  He knew there was no other way to make heaven our home, except for Him taking our sins upon Himself.  He paid a debt He did not owe; we owed a debt we could not pay.

Jesus paid the full price for our sins.  He gave 100% of Himself that we might have life and that more abundantly.  We need only to reach out and receive, by faith, His unmerited love and forgiveness.

Trust me; trust Jesus; when we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins.  It is that easy to become a born-again Christian.

Written by, 

Papa Boyd

 

Just Say No

The following is an excerpt I found on Google regarding the above title: “Nancy Reagan often attributed the origins of the phrase to a 1982 visit to Longfellow Elementary School in Oakland, California: when asked by a schoolgirl what to do if she was offered drugs by her peers, the First Lady responded, “Just say ‘no’.”

I appreciate the response that Mrs. Reagan gave to the girl that day.  As I see it, the word ‘no’ is losing ground regarding its true meaning, as rebellion and disobedience fills our land.  It is shameful how this word is being ignored by people that are doing their own thing, while thumbing their nose at authority of any kind, especially those children that are disrespecting their parents.

(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!”   

Look around; the things that are taking place in the world are signs that Jesus could come back at any moment to rapture the “Church” (Christians) and take them home for eternity in heaven.

Though many have forgotten the meaning of the word ‘no’, and have turned their back upon the Lord, it is not too late to say, “No!” to worldly pleasures and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

As a child growing up, when my dad said, “No!” I obeyed him, because there were consequences for my disobedience if I did not listen.  When he made up his mind about something, there was no negotiating.  No, meant no and I knew I had better submit to his wishes, or there was a price to pay.

Occasionally he gave me an explanation, but other times when I questioned, “Why?” the answer was, “Because I said so.”  And then there were those times, “Because I said so, period!”

After all, he was the parent, and I was the child.  That’s the way it was back then.  I obeyed my parents, including Mom, especially when she exclaimed, “If you don’t mind me, I’ll tell your dad when he gets home from work!”  That was all she had to say.

Like most kids, on occasion I would get real brave and toy with the notion of disobeying and evading the warning I received by doing what I wanted to do anyway.  This was after much soul-searching and weighing the punishment vs. my desire, hoping I wouldn’t get caught.

I guess the one word I can think of relating to Dad is (respect), or perhaps a more fitting word is (fear), which brings a smile to my face.  He was never abusive or overbearing.  He was a dad that cared about what kind of man I would become. 

Not too often would I tempt fate, because I dreaded the consequences after a little bird told Dad about my disobedience.  I haven’t figured that one out yet, although I had three older siblings and Mom. 

No, they wouldn’t have given me up, or would they?  I sometimes wonder if that little bird is still around, telling on me.  Thinking back, all I needed to do was Just Say No to temptation and the Holy Spirit would have given me the strength to resist the urge to disobey Mom and Dad.

As an adult, God, my heavenly Dad, sometimes tells me ‘No’ when I want this or that, because He sees the danger in saying ‘Yes’, because He does not want anything to happen to me physically or spiritually.  He loves me that much; I am His child.

Now that I am older, and have raised three children of my own, I know why Dad said ‘no’ when he did.  He was protecting me, his child, from things that might have harmed me of which I was not aware of.  And like my dad, sometimes my Father in heaven must scold or chastise me for disobeying Him.  God most definitely loves me with agape love, and desires that the fruit of righteousness remains in me.

(Hebrews 12:7-12), “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.” (vs 9) “Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect.  Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?” (vs. 10) “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.” (vs 11) “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

The problem I see with Christians, or perhaps I should bring it closer to home, is that I am sometimes tempted to toy around with things that are not in my best interest, and I am tempted to evade the warnings from God.  But I have learned to Just Say No and then Satan flees from me, because I resisted him in the name of Jesus.

Through the years, God has taught me that it is all about love and the calling He has placed on me to be an example to others of the great and wonderful relationship that we, mortal humans, can have with our sovereign Creator.  This roots me in faith to not desire things that might jeopardize my awareness of His presence in my life.

There is nothing in this whole-wide-world that can compare or is more important to me than the personal closeness that I have with Father God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

“You and me, right God?”  “That’s right son; it’s you and Me!”  This is the feeling that encapsulates my committed relationship and awareness of God’s presence.  Undeserved love encompasses my walk with Him each day.

If you are needing a friend that will always walk by your side and stick closer than a brother, Jesus wants to be your friend and Savior.  Just Say No to the life you are now living.  This happens when you simply ask God to forgive your sins and invite Jesus into your heart to become your Lord and Savior.

That’s it!  It was that easy, because God does not make it hard to come to Him.  Welcome to the family of God!  You are now His child, saved by grace!  He loves you with a never-ending love!  All of heaven is rejoicing!

Written by,

Papa Boyd

The Company We Keep

There is much to be said about the following quote: “Birds of a feather flock together.”  I will share my thoughts on it a little later.

Another interesting quote is, “I’m at the end of my rope.”  I interpret this saying as being frustrated when immediate challenges overwhelm a person’s limitations relating to their temperament.

My creative imagination offers this thought: God supplied just enough rope to everyone He breathed life into, for stressful situations.  The length of rope is dependent upon each person’s level of angst when facing demanding times.

The rope is long enough that when a person is at the end of their rope, it is God’s perfect timing, because when people are desperate, exhausted from pressures, and hanging on for dear life, hopefully, they call out to the Lord for help and surrender their life to Him.

It is interesting to me that God gives us freewill to choose the path we want to travel.  We are not dominated or scrutinized at every turn by Deity.  God allows humanity to live and do as we please, yet we learn from our mistakes with His help.

God is always ready to embrace us, especially when we repent of our sins.  We are also free to involve ourselves in bad choices and live with the consequences of poor judgement.

Regarding “birds of a feather flock together,” the environment a person frequents, and the people they hang with, can affect sound judgement in toxic ways.  Ongoing exposure to negative influences can change people.  In time, the true status of their heart, mind, and soul is unmasked.

Ask yourself, do the friends I associate with contribute to constructive thinking and promote good judgement?  It matters, because our outward appearance and countenance are reflective of the person inside us.  These attributes are what others see, which cause them to draw a conclusion from the visual perception as to what kind of person we are.

Actions and words set the tone of what we harbor deep inside ourselves that become a clear picture or reflection of our identity.  There’s a scripture in the Bible that reflects the above thoughts.

(Luke 6:45), “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Our mouth tells on us— “the good, bad, and the ugly.”  It is an extension of what we feel and who we are, and at times will spew out hurtful words of anger and untruths, among other unkind things.  The Bible says that the tongue is hard to tame and sits on hellfire.

(James 3:6), “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.  The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”

(James 3:8), “But no man can tame the tongue.  It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

For the most part, we are the company we keep.  Birds of a feather flock together.  It is a natural desire for most people to feel the need to be part of something and to enjoy a sense of belonging.  There are those among us that are influenced by others and take on their characteristics, becoming what they see and what they hear.

When I was living the fast life, my friends and I were seeking thrills in all the wrong places.  We allowed the devil to dictate our coming and going like leaves in a breeze.  Our personalities were intrusive and uncompromising.

It doesn’t take long for strong personalities to rub off on others in a group.  Everyone wants to emulate and be like the Kingpin.  This coupled with a negative environment and being around other hard-nosed personalities, is a sure recipe for heartache and regrets.

The eye gate plays an important role in the person we are likely to become if we choose to remain in this unhealthy environment.  That which enters our eyes and what we listen to take up lodging inside us. 

For example, some PG rated movies along with PG-13, R, and X rated movies can affect what comes out of a person’s mouth and the attitude they exude, because of negative input.  Who and what we listen to plays a big part in shaping our emotions, because of the power of the spoken word.

If we open our minds to contentious and questionable rhetoric, it can hurt us in many areas: spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically to name a few.  The company we keep is who we are in most cases, although I am sure there are exceptions to my supposed opinion.

As I see it, some people display attitudes that resemble a laptop computer, garbage in, garbage out.  To me this means, if people fill their minds with filth, filth comes out.

Finding myself at the end of my rope, despondent and having a feeling of hopelessness, I reached out to God and became a born-again Christian.  Thinking about my transformation, it is intriguing to me how my attitude, personality, desires, vocabulary, and whom I associated with, changed.

When God forgave my sins and came into my heart, things inside me were different.  I can’t explain it; it was like a miracle.  One moment I was looking for things to pleasure my senses, but then everything changed for the better when I asked God to forgive my sins.

The driving force to sin was removed from my heart when Jesus took up residence inside me.  Yes, temptations are a part of Christianity, but the Holy Spirit is my strength upon whom I lean heavily.

(1 Corinthians 10:13), “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Some of my friends turned from their wayward lifestyle when I presented Jesus and the plan of salvation to them.  It was wonderful when they accepted the Lord as their personal Savior. 

I believe the power of God was in the words I shared, when telling them of His love and grace, and how God would forgive their sins.  Words had a positive impact on their decision making.

Some friends listened and God changed them, just as He did me.  Others rejected God, and in time we went our separate ways.  The common denominator we once shared ceased to be.  Sadly, they chose to walk away from Truth and continue down the wide road to destruction, the opposite direction that I was now headed.

The few friends that accepted Jesus as their Savior are on the path toward heaven with me.  I thank God for His mercy and grace that saved us from an eternity separated from Him.  I am becoming more and more like the company I now keep—Jesus, my friend forever.

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

The Bible says that God will never leave me not forsake me.  He is always with me.

(Deuteronomy 31:8), “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you.  He will be with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

His attributes are becoming my qualities.  The company we keep, namely Jesus, makes all the difference in this world, and where we spend eternity.  Heaven is the magnificent place that God promised to those that are born-again Believers—His children.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

 

Freedom of Choice and People

There are those in this entrepreneurial, capitalist-based nation that can become a bit spoiled and somewhat self-indulgent as they enjoy the benefits of their hard-earned money.  Serous work ethics and the incessant time spent achieving certain goals and dreams made it possible.  But all Americans are not entrepreneurs.

Most people are blue collar workers trying earnestly to make ends meet.  And there are underprivileged recipients that receive a sum of money from the government or a public body to assist them.  At whatever level of success people find themselves in society, they have freedom of choice in America.

Without a doubt, the United States is the greatest nation on earth with regards to freedom of choice, which we are privileged to make each day without fear of retaliation from a dominant power of some kind.

I am thankful to God that the citizens of this great nation are not under a dictatorship form of government.  We are not dominated by a self-exalted dictator that rules with an iron fist, who is hellbent on achieving total power and uses suppression to rule the people.

We are a nation of free choice and with God’s help, we will maintain this freedom of choice.  Nor is this country a communist-led regime where property is publicly owned, and a person is paid according to their abilities and needs.

Americans refuse, through the process of free choice at the voting booth, to resist falling victim of socialism, that stifles individual capitalism.  We are blessed with freedom of speech; the privilege to vote the way we want; and able to worship as we please.

I am thankful for the Constitution of the United States.  This country declared its independence and freedom from Great Britain on July 4, 1776.  In God We Trust is the standing premise on which our founding fathers signed The Declaration of Independence.

This free country will keep giving and giving as long as self-serving people that want to change or discard the Constitution are kept at bay.  This Republic, under God, is unlike other countries around the globe.  We pride ourselves as being, The Land of the Free.

We need to keep the word ‘freedom’ fresh in our mind the next time we see someone less fortunate than ourselves digging through a garbage can looking for food.

It would be wonderful if every individual, across the land, could experience financial freedom, which would help nullify the stress level that accompanies not knowing where their next meal is coming from, or freedom from worry of how the bills are going to get paid.  These dear souls might need a helping hand from time to time.

We live in an affluent country of prosperity and plenty, yet it is easy for some people to become spoiled in well doing.  Anyone can develop a hoarding attitude if they fail to guard their mind against “possessive-intrusion.”

These people can also develop a selfish heart and find themselves in a self-made slump of a “me, myself, and I syndrome” where it becomes difficult for them to give away from themselves.

I have met people that have money in the bank and plenty of food on the table, but for whatever reason, their arms are always open to receive, charging ahead for just a little more.  What they have amassed is never enough.

These people tend to wear blinders, figuratively speaking, to prevent them from seeing the needs around them.  They persistently repel the guilt complex that accompanies wrong choices when they choose not to give away from themselves when a legitimate need becomes apparent.

I am reminded of a poor, widow woman, spoken of in the Bible.  (Luke 21:1-4)  She gave money into the treasury, which amounted to two mites, two small copper coins worth a few cents.  Compared to the other people that gave much from their abundance, her mere offering amounted to nothing in the eyes of the wealthy.

But there was a notable difference between the widow and the other givers.  Jesus, seeing what she did, said to his disciples that the poor widow put in more money than all those who gave to the treasury.  She, out of her poverty, put in all that she had, her whole livelihood, which could have bought the necessities of life. 

There are some people that maintain a tight grip, like a vise on steroids, grasping their possessions.  Perhaps they consider themselves above those having less income and look down on others in lower social circles than they.  People with means are sometimes prone to justify their lack of giving by saying, “Why should I help?  They need to get out there and work for what they want!” 

Yes, there are scammers on every corner it seems, and panhandlers lurking outside stores and businesses, but if God lays someone on our heart and it’s a strong impression to bless them with money, groceries, or words of encouragement, we need to adhere to what we feel in our heart is right.

Of course, it is our choice to consider God’s nudging or reject the notion and make up excuses for not doing what our conscience is telling us to do.  I believe when we simply give a cup of cold water to someone in the name of the Lord, we have done it unto God. 

Again, the choice is ours to make.  We must be wise as serpents and harmless as doves when dealing with people.  God gives us good judgement and we need to listen to His voice, while remaining in harmony with the Holy Spirit.  He directs our path.

(Psalm 37:23), “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” 

There is a scripture in the Bible that may step on a few toes when it is read.

(James 4:17), “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

The following scriptures will encourage your heart when it comes to giving.

(Acts 20:35), “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak.  And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

(Luke 6:38) “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, 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.”

For me, I choose to obey God’s Word.  I do not give to get, I give because it is the right thing to do, especially when I am prompted by the Holy Spirit to do something.

I want to have a pliable temperament, and not become resistant to my feelings, which ultimately affects my obedience as to whether I close my eyes or sear my conscience from having compassion.

It never fails when I give, it is inevitable that I receive blessings that I cannot contain.  I have learned that it is more blessed to give than to receive. 

An appreciative smile or seeing a tear roll down the cheek of a person I helped, or hearing words of gratitude expressed by a charitable organization I’ve supported is blessing enough for me.

I feel good inside when choosing to obey God when He lays something on my heart and then I do it.  Try it sometime.  You will reap the joy of giving as much or more than the person that received a helping hand.  It just works that way because God said it would in the Bible.

A person cannot outgive God.  His storehouse is full of blessings for those with compassionate hearts that put action to God’s prompting.  Yes, we all make choices as we walk this straight and narrow path to heaven.  Happiness and blessings come when we make the right choices.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

A Shoulder to Lean On

I’m sitting here, sadly recalling the horrific day of September 11, 2001, (9/11), when the twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New York City was attacked by al-Qaeda terrorists. 

They hijacked two commercial airliners and crashed them into the towers causing both to collapse to the ground.  Tragically, 2,753 innocent people died that morning, of whom 343 were firefighters.

Stunned passerby’s and first responders were able to assist several survivors and provide a shoulder to lean on when escaping the catastrophic nightmare.  Later these heroes and all of America grieved and mourned the loss of those that died.

The normal reaction of most people that find themselves in frightening situations experience an acute stress response called, fight or flight. 

Those that decided to move, expeditiously, to help people escape the overwhelming shock of a calamitous occurrence, probably experienced a split-second decision to flee or deliberately act with purpose, and someway attempt to safeguard the lives of those in need; a shoulder to lean on, as it were.

The boldness of these heroes that did everything they could to help, speaks loudly the strong determination that people can generate, while adrenaline courses through their body in times of crisis, and let us not forget the desire in one’s heart to make a meaningful difference in someone else’s life.

Their acts of bravery and genuine concern for others, regardless of their own safety, reminds me of a story in the Bible.  It involves a person that Jesus called, a certain Samaritan.  He is known as The Good Samaritan.  (Luke 10:25-37)

Jesus was sharing with a lawyer the importance of loving your neighbor as yourself when he shared this story about a certain man that fell among thieves on his trek down from Jerusalem to Jericho.  They stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

A priest came down the same road and saw the injured man and passed by on the other side without stopping.  A Levite, when he arrived at the place, seeing the man in desperate need of help, didn’t want to get involved, and he too passed by without providing aid.

But a certain Samaritan saw the man, came to him, evaluated the situation, and did what was necessary to save his life.  He did not pass by on the other side of the road but was moved with compassion for the dying man.

The Samaritan, poured on oil and wine, bandaged the wounds and set him on his own animal and took the man to an inn where he cared for him that night.  Before leaving the next day, the Samaritan gave money to the innkeeper to care for the man and promised to repay whatever more he spent when he returned.

I am sure the man owed his life to this selfless individual who stopped, because of the need.  The preceding story has to do with loving our neighbor as ourselves as one of the things to inherit eternal life. 

I would like to think it also relates not only to giving ourselves in minister to the physical needs of others, but becoming involved at whatever level the need dictates and not standing outside looking in, doing nothing. 

The following thoughts center around the spiritual wellbeing of individuals needing life-giving sustenance to help guide them through life’s challenges.

The most important aspect of life is not so much our physical wellness, though important, it is the spiritual, inner soul of a person that may need our attention to share words of encouragement, or to be a sounding board to just listen to their woes, or to be a friend to lend a shoulder to cry on.

Healing comes in different forms, and we should be ready to stand in the gap where we are needed to be God’s hand extended, by proxy.  The life we save is someone’s child, whether that person is young or old.  How sad, if a legitimate need presents itself, yet we walk by because of our busy schedule doing whatever. 

We must be mindful to not close our bowels of compassion when opportunities knock at our door to give a cup of cool, refreshing water to a thirsting soul that is suffering from spiritual dehydration, or share a piece of the living bread of life to a malnourished soul needing the Savior.

Jesus is the water of life that quenches the thirst of a soul needing Godly sustenance.  The bread of life is God’s Word, the Bible.  When we look for opportunities to be God’s arms outstretched and provide a shoulder that someone can lean on when they are spiritually wounded and needing someone to care enough to share the Good News that Jesus loves them, we will not be disappointed.  We will be blessed.

There is always someone in need just around the corner or next door to where we live.  We should never be too busy to take time and meet the spiritual needs of others.  One soul that surrenders their life to the Lord is saved from an eternal separation from God.

This redeemed soul is worth more than all the money in the world.  I thank God for the individual who took time with me when I was spiritually wounded and dying on the inside.  He ministered and was instrumental in bringing healing to my sin-sick soul.  I was that person who needed a shoulder to lean on.

(1 John 3:17), “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

Salvation is having one’s sins forgiven by God, which provides hope of eternal life in heaven.  This is worth more than money can buy.  A hand full of hundred-dollar bills cannot buy what Jesus Christ, the Savior, gives freely to whoever accepts Him as Lord.

When I was ministered to, my soul was healed, and it did not cost me a dime.  Salvation, through Jesus, is free for the asking.  He will never pass us by but will bandage our spiritual wounds and give life more abundantly.  He provides the shoulder we can lean on when times are tough. 

Thank you, Jesus, for your love and compassion to me, a sinner saved by grace.

Written by,

Papa Boyd