God's Voice--Audible or Not

Have you ever heard the voice of God, and if so, was it an audible voice or did He someway use one or more of the body’s five senses to speak?  I wonder what God’s voice sounded like when he spoke from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). 

Was His voice like turbulent, whitewater rapids on its trek down a mountain from melting snow?  Did it sound like a category 4 hurricane hitting landfall on the coast of Florida, or was it like the roaring sound of a tornado touching down with deafening claps of thunder overhead?

Whatever the texture, tone, or intensity of God’s voice sounded like that day, I believe it commanded respect and reverence from all that heard Him.  The Bible says in (1 Kings 19:11,12) that God speaks in a still, small voice, and not in a strong wind, earthquake, or fire.

My mind pictures God’s voice as being quite audible, with no-one questioning as to who is speaking.  I think His voice is like a cool, morning breeze blowing against my face.

I believe that God’s voice can be heard through signing with hands, though not audible, but powerful and distinct.  I have heard God’s voice through an anointed sermon from my pastor.  At times His voice sounds exactly like my wife’s voice when He uses her tongue to speaks words of wisdom to my heart.

There is no limitation with God, no barriers to overcome when He chooses to speak.  In (Exodus 3:1-6), God spoke from the midst of a burning bush to Moses.   I believe God could speak to me through nature, by having the wind blow through tree branches, if He were inclined to do so.  I’m sure the message would come through very clearly.

One time I heard God speak my name, while I slept, as plain as day.  It seemed quite audible when He said, “Dennis, wake up.”  I immediately knew that it was God calling my name.

Fully awake, I felt His presence and someway heard God speaking from deep within my soul or in my mind.  He continued with words of encouragement, speaking to me like a friend speaks to a friend.  It was a feeling of total companionship between the Lord and me.

All this awareness and the words He spoke were familiar, directing me, loving me, speaking through one or more of my five senses.  I do not comprehend, totally, how it all came about, or how God conversed with me, but I know it was the Lord taking time to support and love me.

The Bible says in (Acts 2:17) that young men shall see visions and old men shall dream dreams.  When these phenomena happen, I am sure God’s voice will accompany the visions and dreams either audibly or through feelings or the other four senses.

God will speak when we are listening.  I am positive that more individuals would hear from God if they were not so involved with the things around them.  God speaks in a calm; soft voice and it requires a quiet environment to hear Him.

Time alone with God is imperative to hear His voice.  We need to stop talking long enough to hear Him speaking—Stop, Look, and Listen. 

God certainly speaks to us through His Word, the Bible, which was recorded by holy men of old as the Spirit of God breathed upon each of them.  He spoke His infallible words to their heart, and I believe they heard God’s voice within them as they penned each word with care.

Words reveal themselves to me as I expose my heart and soul to the Lord in the quiet times of meditation.  When I become inspired, I write down each word, phrase, and thought that comes.  Sometimes they come so quickly that it is a challenge to keep up with the thoughts.  I later compile all that God gave me into the writings you read on my blog.

Do I hear an audible voice speaking into my ears?  No.  I sense His presence within me as I close myself off with Him and allow my mind to grasp what He is saying.  Is God’s transfer of thoughts verbal or through feeling?  They can come any way that God chooses to give them to me.

An example:  I may be sitting in the car waiting for my wife to finish her shopping and see an advertisement sign in the parking lot or a sign on the side of a building; or I may see a picture and wording on a billboard on the side of the road.  A nugget that I hear from a sermon can inspire thoughts to pour into my head.

I then take these thoughts and allow God to go with me to the recesses of my mind and formulate sentences and paragraphs in writings that I pray touches the hearts of those that read them.  God’s words, His voice, can come to me in a myriad of different ways.  I try to stay alert and one with the Spirit to receive them.

A person may ask, “Why don’t I hear the voice of God like you are writing about?”  I don’t have all the answers, but this is what comes to mind:  Number one, we must be ready to listen.  Number two, we must want to hear His voice.  Number three, we must turn off devices like the radio and television to hear His voice.  Number four, we must be prepared to do what God is asking us to do.

Number four is where the rubber meets the road.  Either we are amenable to be used of God, for His glory, or we are not.  I believe when people are active for the Lord, at any level, God is speaking.  He will not leave us nor forsake us.

God will fill our mouth with words that are not our own when we are witnessing to others about God’s amazing love.  I believe the words that come out of my mouth, when I am under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are God’s words to those listening and not only to them, but to me as well.

I am blown away, figuratively speaking, when I start talking and I realize that my tongue is moving, but the words I am speaking and listening to are not my own.  In my prayer time, I have prophesied over myself as God used my tongue to speak to me personally.  Don’t ask me to explain how it works, it just does.

God uses vessels, conduits as it were, called Christians.  They move in faith and touch other people’s lives as they listen to God’s voice through the words Believers speak or the words they put on paper. 

God’s voice is recognizable.  The Bible says that his sheep know His voice.

(John 10:27), “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

 

On Hold When Things Turn Good From Bad

I realize just how many years have slipped by when considering my age today.  Life has a way of passing quickly, like a vapor.  It seems the older I get, the faster the years go, but my memory is sharp, clear, and concise when looking into the rearview mirror of memories.  They reveal truth that does not lie. 

Memories confirm my suspicions regarding the lack of reconciliation with God, while transitioning from bad times, when people pray to Him for help, to snubbing God, in good times, when He is no longer needed.

It is understandable that most people are looking for a blissful existence in a world where nothing is set in concrete nor does a sure thing exist except death and taxes.

In times when less things are troubling the minds of society, life is considered good.  These are the “wonder years” when life is moving along smoothly with fewer things to elevate one’s heart rate.

Sadly, I believe these times seldom challenge people to include God in their comings and goings, because all is well with no lingering worries to speak of.  They go about their daily living and give little thought to God as they place Him on the back burner, because there is no “needy list” of critical concerns to pray about.  Things are good.

Expectations of God are far and in between when there is no longer a need to call upon His name, yet God wants to be involved in every area of our life, because He loves us.

In our immediate surroundings, when there are less worries, or none, an impudent society simply thinks they do not need God’s interference, because they believe they have all the answers. 

Arrogance, once again, takes center stage as men and women become puffed up, thinking themselves as little gods.  I have seen it happen more times than not, emphasizing that actions speak louder than words.

In times of plenty, when inflation is down, wages are up with money in savings, unemployment is down, our military is strong, our dollar is strong, and there is plenty of food to set before our families, life is good.

Sadly, there is less desire to communicate with our Creator, because more interesting things take His place.  This is the nature of mankind, isn’t it?  But if anything happens out of the norm or beyond the control of humankind’s ability to counter the problem, immediately, prayer is implemented, calling upon the powers of heaven to intervene.

No doubt, this is typical of human beings.  I perceive the way people treat God is like turning on a radio when they need soothing music to level them out, and then turning it off when the soul has finally mellowed.

I wonder at times why God puts up with it and is always ready to encourage, strengthen, and show love to anyone that asks, after being treated so poorly.  But that’s called, “Unconditional Love.”

Covid claimed almost seven million lives worldwide, causing panic and fear in every household.  People wanted to attend synagogues, mosques, churches and other places of worship and prayer, but were not permitted to do so for fear that the virus could spread more vigorously when in proximity and contact with other people.

Individuals found God in places like the privacy of their home, or in a car.  It really didn’t matter about the venue, because people were finding supernatural intervention wherever they prayed during the pandemic.  God did not leave nor forsake us.

The intended purpose of this writing is to point out the lack of respect, honor, and reverence given to the true and living God when dark clouds dissipate, and the sun is shining again.  Shame on us for putting God on “hold” in the good times.

Though September 11, 2001, was devastating, the hearts of many were full of warmth for others less fortunate than themselves.  The terrible memory of 9/11 is haunting.  I remember exactly where I was when our homeland was attacked by terrorists.

Men and women came together after the attacks, despite race, creed, or color, to aid those in need and pray for one another.  Our nation was united.   An outpouring of love and support, with hearts aching, went out to the victims and their families.  Everyone felt the anguish of families that were directly affected by the attacks. 

No doubt, thousands of people found themselves crying out to God for help.  Sorrow was present for the many people that were trapped in the Twin Towers and those on hijacked airliners, while asking God to give guidance to our country’s leaders during this horrific time.  But again, God was consoling broken hearts and giving strength to a nation in quandary.

It seems like yesterday and so vivid in my memory, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963.  It was one of America’s darkest days.  As a kid, I felt unsafe and afraid that the United States would be invaded at any moment, because our leader was dead. 

I am sure that many people, including myself, began to bombard heaven with prayers, asking God to protect us from the onslaught of peril.  We cannot forget that God did not turn His back on us.  He gave hope and spoke, “Peace” to our soul and the nation.  God never left us.

It is sad how soon Americans forget the Almighty when the storms of life subside, and the stress level of calamities exits.  I observed people returning to their busy lifestyles and daily routines with little thought of how God was sustaining our existence.  I seldom heard thanks given to God for His peace during the unknown.

As people step farther and farther away from God in the days of now, I believe that more and more people ignore the words printed on our money, IN GOD WE TRUST.  In fact, many people want to remove the words all together.

In ignorance, they are setting themselves, once again, on the throne of God, thinking themselves little gods, until the next calamity or threat comes their way.

The 2024 election for President and Vice President of the United States is drawing near.  We are facing an upcoming battle for “truth, justice, and the American way,” regarding liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans.

The election of the right leaders is paramount and will be a pivotal point as to what direction the U.S.A. will be headed in years to come.  I pray that more Americans will see the importance of praying about this election than ever before. 

We must pray for the leadership of America and trust that God’s will be done to give us people of integrity that truly have the American people at heart rather than power and prestige.  This comes through prayer.  I believe God will hear our prayers when we seek His face.

(2 Chronicles 7:14), “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Let us pray for God’s divine intervention, while there is yet time.  We need to get back to the basics that God is holy and omnipotent, and we should worship Him as the true and living God.  He gave His Son to die for the sins of not only America, but all humanity.

We can call upon the Lord at any time, in the good times and bad, through thick and thin, through plenty and wane.  God does not change with the weather when times are good or bad.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  We can ask anything in the name of Jesus and receive answers to our petitions.

The Bible says that we have not because we ask not, so God expects us to call upon His name, always, not just the bad times.  Jesus is without a doubt our hope in this life. 

The following questions keep circling my mind.  Why do negative things need to happen before we turn our faces toward God?  Why do people set themselves above God until they need Him?  Does God allow things to happen to get our attention long enough to once again place Him back on the throne where He belongs?

Let us not forget upon Who’s statutes the United States of America was founded…In God We Trust.  Our nation must return to the Lord.  It must begin with you and me.  Remember, one person and God is the majority.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

The Gift of Life

As frontier settlements sprang up in the wild west, in one county, a man by the name of Phantly Roy Bean, found himself at the upper end of a gavel when he was elected Justice of the Peace in 1884, in Val Verde County, Texas.

His rulings were the law and strictly enforced.  As the story goes, Judge Roy Bean was an American salon-keeper that held court in his saloon along the Rio Grande of southwest Texas.  He called himself, “The only law west of the Pecos.” 

After his death, fictional, western films and books cast him as a hanging judge.  In his tenure of almost twenty years as Justice of the Peace, he simply officiated over misdemeanor cases and sentenced only two men to be hanged, one of which successfully escaped his fate.

In the 1800s to the 1920s, criminal justice in the Old West was swift, especially if the perpetrator was a horse thief.  They would, in most cases, be sentenced to hang by the neck until dead.

When I considered this kind of brutal punishment, in my mind’s eye I visualized a young man with his hands tied behind his back, with a noose around his neck, awaiting his fate.  My heart was saddened because he appeared to be too young to die for a stupid mistake that he made at such a young age.

Yes, it was a poor choice when he gave into the temptation to steal someone else’s property.  He was quickly apprehended, rushed to justice in court, and found guilty of stealing his neighbor’s horse and sentenced to pay the ultimate price for his transgression of the law.

The fictional character that I created stood on top of a trap door in the middle of a raised platform.  The newly, constructed gallows was built for this man and others like him that disobeyed the law.

I could see him trembling with tears coursing down his cheeks as he watched the hooded hangman reach for the lever to release the trapdoor.  The condemned man was praying to God for forgiveness and to somehow save him from the mess he was in.  I cringed to think the kid was going to meet his Maker at the end of the rope in the next few moments. 

Death is a terrible price to pay for spurning the law.  Laws will always dictate the penalty for anyone breaking them.  The young man had a choice to adhere to the law or do his own willful thing; the decision was his to make.

Just before the lever was pulled, out of nowhere an older, sun-backed farmer, ruddy from the elements, came galloping up on a heavily, lathered mare.  The man was screaming at the top of his lungs, “STOP, STOP, WAIT!” 

I watched carefully as he leaped from his horse and ran up the rickety stairs leading to the platform.  I believe I could hear him pleading with the hangman to please have mercy on the boy, saying, “I know he did wrong, but I’m here to take his place!”

The hangman, flabbergasted, asked the out-of-breath rider why he wanted to sacrifice his life for a criminal.  I listened as the panting man, breathing with short quick breaths, exclaimed, “I’ve known this boy since birth, and I love him.  He’s, my friend!”

Onlookers, there for the hanging, had never witnessed such love as this man showed by freely offering his own life to save another’s.  Volunteering to die for the horse thief was monumental love at its highest.  He was willing to lay down his life for a friend.  That is amazing anyway you look at it!

You might say, he was showing grace when he became the scapegoat, or sacrifice, as it were, for the crime committed.  This act of pure, unadulterated love allowed the condemned man to go free and not suffer the consequences of his actions.

The executioner placed the noose over the horseman’s head, tied his hands behind his back and pulled the lever.  It was a horrifying death as he hung there until his spirit was claimed by God.  I believe it is called “unmerited favor” that was demonstrated that day for the young man.

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

God gave His most precious gift, His Son, to be hanged on a cross to die a horrific death for the sins of the world, so that we would not have to pay the penalty for disobeying the 10 Commandments—God’s Law.

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

Jesus paid the price, in full, for our redemption.  He became the sacrificial Lamb for all humanity when He gave His life, freely, for the transgressions that we made against the law. 

I was saved from certain death, because I accepted God’s Son as my Savior.  Jesus gave me the gift of life just like the farmer did for the young man that stole the horse.

Now that I have new life through Him, God desires that I present my body a living sacrifice and tell others about His unconditional love.  I am committed to doing this, because of the grace He showed me. 

I will not have to suffer the judgement and consequences that sin brings, which is the spiritual death.  It is my reasonable service to be a shining testimony of the mercy and grace that God showed me. 

I was given the gift of life that set me free—the unmerited favor of God.  In other words, I didn’t deserve it, but He gave it to me anyway, because of love.

(Romans 5:8), “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus will either be our Savior in this life or our Judge in the hereafter.  The choice is ours to make.

(Romans 6:23), “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(Ephesians 2:8-10), “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” (v 9) “not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (v 10) “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

(Romans 12:1), “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Listen To Your Inner Voice

Do you ever wonder if you talk too much?  If you think about it, most people are prone to talk, talk, talk, and then, talk some more, but seldom listen.  Sad to say, I believe it is becoming a rarity for people to even listen when the voice inside them is speaking.

My oldest grandson loves to talk, and it’s not a bad thing.  In the work he does, he needs this gift of gab. 

As a young boy, whenever he rode with Nana and me to an event or just across town, he would share, nonstop, from the moment we loaded into the car, to the time we got back from our destination, but I enjoyed every minute.  That boy could talk! 

As a man, now pushing thirty years old, he still loves to talk when we get together, and I just listen.  I am naturally quiet and reserved, whereas my wife is totally opposite from me until I’ve had two or three cups of coffee in the morning and then look out…we trade places.

When communicating with others, it would enhance understanding and clarity if everyone learned the true art of listening, but it seems that most people are fixated on having the last word.  They think they are filled with limitless wisdom and knowledge, or they probably consider themselves the “answer-person.”

It sounds like I’m reaching, but I am old and have listened to many conversations through the years, and it seems that no-one wants to listen.  If I were texting, I would inject LOL at this point.  It is funny when I listen to dialog at how absurd people can be at times in their thinking.

I believe, for the most part, this is what one-sided communication with God is like or lack thereof.  No doubt I am always talking, asking Him for this or that, praising Him of course, questioning why some things are the way they are, and finding it hard to shut my mouth and listen. 

However, I am learning to turn up my spiritual hearing-aid and listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to my heart.  These are the times when I am inspired with thoughts and words that make up my writings, of which I post to the blog I created.  They are called, “Thoughts for Today.”

I know the Bible says that we are to pray without ceasing, but I am sure God expects us to stop talking long enough to listen to the voice within us.  He wants to be involved in every part of our life, including, but not limited to every nook and cranny of it.

God is our Heavenly Father and loves our communication with Him.  He adores us with a never-ending love.  This thought brings back fond memories of the times I spent with my grandson, listening, and loving it.

The Bible says in (1 Kings 19:12), that God is not in the earthquake or fire.  He is in the still, small, voice.  I am confident that God desires that we listen when we decide to turn off the television, the car radio, and put other activities on the back burner, in second place to the Godhead.  Things can certainly steal time away from our Maker if we fail to prioritize. 

As I perceive the above scripture, God is not in the thunder, the whirlwinds, or the roar of crashing waves along the shoreline, I’m paraphrasing.  We need to listen to the whispers of His tender, compassionate voice.

Let’s face it, we are busy people, coming and going at all times of the day and night.  No wonder we sometimes question why we are so tired and have less energy and time for devotion or prayer.

Allow me to bring my thoughts closer to home.  How many times have you left a store, went to the car, checked the receipt, and saw that the cashier failed to charge you for an item or gave you back too much change? 

I knew a person that considered these situations as God’s blessings to her.  I didn’t agree with this logic then and I don’t agree with it now.  I believe it is a sin when someone does not try to make things right when they know in their heart it is wrong.

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

Oil and water do not mix, nor does fresh and bitter water come from the same fountain or spring.  God is infinitely distanced from sin of any kind.  He is Holy—the total opposite of sin.

I am not looking to be addressed as, “Halo-Boy” or anything like this, but when I see an error of any kind, I try my best to make things right.  It seems I am often tested in this area, but I want everything to always be A-Okay between me and the Lord.

My question is this: “What is the difference between keeping $.10 that was accidentally given in change at a checkout, or stealing $100 that is not ours?”  Do we keep the dime, because it is of less denomination than the hundred dollars?  I hope we don’t justify our actions by saying, “It doesn’t matter.  It’s only a dime.”

When I first became a Christian, I asked myself this very question as I sat in my car, counting the change I just received after a purchase.  The lady gave me too much money.  I told myself, “It’s only ten cents.” 

Suddenly, a voice began speaking, quite clearly, within me.  “Is it yours?”  The voice was convicting me of the thought I had, to just keep the dime.  I got out of the car, walked through the front door and handed the clerk the dime that wasn’t mine.

I stepped outside and looked up at the sky and said, “You and me, right God?  and it was like I heard the answer deep within my soul, “That’s right son.  It’s you and Me.”  I felt good about what I did, and I know God did as well.

We must listen to the voice within us and do what we know to do is right.  God expects this of us.  I am not saying to go in and embarrass the cashier or go to the manager and get them involved, or anything like that.  I think we need to use wisdom and allow God to intervene in the way it is supposed to work out.

For example:  I bought several items at a hardware store the other day and the cashier, I believe to be the manager, failed to charge me for a pair of gloves I wanted to purchase.  My wife caught the error as we drove home. 

Yes, I turned around and went back and explained the situation, while showing him the receipt.  He said, “Thank you for your honesty.  Go ahead and take them.”   He didn’t charge me. 

The gloves were on sale for $1.60 plus tax.  It wasn’t the amount that mattered, it was what I did that was most important.  My wife said that it was a testimony to the young man that there are still honest people out there.

I believe the whole situation was for him.  God only knows.  Or maybe it was another test to see what I would do, because I was a third of the way home and it was “only” $1.60 plus tax.  I would spend more than that in gas if I turned around and went back.

About that time, I remembered the dime when I was a new Christian.  The amount was irrelevant.  The gloves were not mine, because they weren’t paid for yet.  We should always listen to the voice inside and obey Him.  Obedience matters to God.

I remember my sister asking me a question in my informative years growing up.  “What would Jesus do?”  I have never forgotten this question.  If you really want to know the answer to your predicament, ask yourself the same question.  Listen to your inner voice and it will always lead you in the right direction.

I call this awareness, the God conscience.  It is the cautioning of the Holy Spirit to do what is right.  We can choose to listen or go about our business and ignore the inner voice.  It is up to everyone how they respond when finding themselves in a tempting, compromising situation.

As for me, I strive to do what Jesus would do and listen to my inner voice.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

From Rags to Riches

Early on in my childhood days, my mother had an old sewing machine and loved to sew.  She made several of the shirts I wore to save money.  I also had hand-me-downs from friends and extended family members that Mom was always grateful for.

The clothes were nice and not rags, for which she was thankful.  I, on the other hand, may have turned them into rags, while playing outside in the dirt, wrestling with my neighborhood buddies and crawling around on my hands and knees playing army.

Oh yes, let’s not forget about those grassy hillsides that I slid down, with large pieces of cardboard under my bum.  It was so much fun I never worried about the clothes I was wearing.  I remember Mom sewing denim patches on the knees of my play-jeans, because of the holes I put in them.

Mom did her best to keep me dressed nicely, especially if there was enough money left from Dad’s limited income.  That’s just the way life was back then.  I wore what I was blessed with, and life went on.

My parents did what they could, with what they had.  One thing is certain, they gave me the necessities of life.  What more could I ask for?  But like most kids my age, I did ask, yet neither of them spoiled me with unnecessary things that I wanted, because they had to watch every expenditure to raise four kids and just survive.

It was that tough, and heart wrenching when I think about it.  Perhaps this is why I’m taken aback at how many children, today, are spoiled beyond what they need. 

Many of them receive just about everything they want, and then some, because Mommy gives it to them and believes that they “deserve” to relate to the “In” crowd at school, notwithstanding, needing all the new fads and certain fashion statements they “should” have.

Forgive me.  I guess I’m being a little facetious.  Without a doubt, I am old-fashioned in my thinking, with old-school ideals, and perhaps mentally reaching for an explanation to help me understand the complexities of new parenting philosophies that are prevalent today.

The reality of the following thought is an eye opener when I think about it.  There are children and adults, from every walk of life, that are happy to have any kind of clothing at all, because of the poverty level they are in.  The rags on their backs speak loudly of the harsh reality of genuine needs that exist throughout the world. 

To compare this observation, I would be considered, by those less fortunate, as being well-off and rich as a child growing up and blessed beyond measure with the hand-me-down clothing I received, compared to the lack that poverty brings. 

I’ve been talking about the material aspects of rags to riches, but the spiritual realm relating to rags is most important to focus on.  Rags are mentioned in the Bible, which is related to one’s relationship with God.  It points us in the direction of awareness when dealing with self-righteousness and how it relates to Him.

God considers our righteousness as filthy rags.  This sounds cold and a bit harsh, but the Bible is quite specific when it says in (Romans 3:23), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  No-one can find favor with Almighty God in their own perfection.

(Isaiah 64:6), “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness’s are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

The Bible says in (Romans 3:10), As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one.”  There was only One, perfect man that walked the earth.  His name was Jesus, and still is the Son of the true and living God.

All of humanity is far from perfect, but sadly, there are those that think they can attain perfection and achieve high status and favor with God through their own good works and being a good person.  This sounds enticing and somewhat feasible, but I would encourage you to not allow people with this mindset to tickle your ears with untruths.

(Ephesians 2:8,9), “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,“ (v 9) “not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

(Acts 4:12), “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

God accepts and recognizes those that have been born-again and cleansed from their sins.  God sees them through the blood that Jesus shed on the cross for their redemption.

Everyone is born with the sin nature, and because of this, they need a Savior to bring them out of poverty (sin) into the riches of God’s glory (forgiveness).  My desire is that the following invitation be the focal point of this writing.

I want to invite you to take off the rags of unrighteousness (sin) and give them to Jesus and allow Him to drape the garments of holiness around you.  God made it easy for humankind to become His sons and daughters by simply asking God to forgive them of their sins.  That’s it.  It’s that easy.

When you sincerely ask the Lord to come into your heart, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit make their abode within you, never to remember your sins against you again.  You have just stepped out of the rags of poverty and sin, into the riches of God’s glory—from rags to riches.

Congratulations!  You are now a part of the family of God.  The old nature (rags) is no longer shrouding your shoulders, because all things have become new (riches) through Christ Jesus our Lord.  No longer do you have a heart of stone; you now have a heart of flesh that God can mold into His likeness.

I can honestly say that I came from rags to riches when I met the Lord.  He gave me the richness of sonship free of charge.  It didn’t cost me anything because Jesus paid the price for my sins on the cross of Calvary.

Jesus gave His life that we could have life and life more abundantly.  He threw the rags of my discord and sin into the sea of His forgetfulness.  Thank you, God, for the blessed hope that I now have of eternal life in heaven.  You too can thank Him for the same hope.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Five Senses Plus One More

When I consider the human body and how marvelous it is, I stand in total amazement at God’s miraculous creation of perfection.  I am awestruck when I think about the following five senses: smell, sight, taste, hearing, and sense of touch.  Five senses in one body are beyond amazing.

Allow me to explore one more sense that I call the “sixth sense” of which I am well acquainted.  In my trek through life, I experience heightened awareness or feelings concerning specific things before they happen.

If I think it is necessary to make certain adjustments to counter and prevent what may happen, I do so.  It’s not that I am psychic, or walk in fear because of my premonitions, I just have specific feelings at times and if I don’t follow through with my adaptations, things seem to happen as I anticipated that they would.

I believe it must be some kind of gift from God.  I know this phenomenon may seem odd to you, but it is what it is, which goes beyond my five senses.  It is my sixth sense that picks up on things, as strange as it may sound.

I do not know if this sense goes together with any of the nine spiritual gifts spoken of in the Bible, so I just live my life and allow my mind to use these feelings in positive ways.

The nine gifts of the Spirit are these:  The word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues.  (1 Corinthians 12:1-12)

When I told my brother concerning these experiences, he called it the God-mind.  I don’t talk about my observations; it is just who I am, and I thank God for the ability to recognize the necessity of doing something early on.

I believe that my sixth sense runs parallel to those times when I feel a driving force to share my faith with others or to take a moment and extend God’s hand, by proxy, when I sense that someone is in need.

Christians do not have to walk around thinking that they need the sixth sense to do something for the Lord.  I am just sharing my experiences with you.  One does not need a revelation or earth-shaking sign from heaven to share the salvation message that Jesus Christ can set humanity free from sin. 

We stay sensitive to the nudging of the Holy spirit and do what God is asking us to do.  Yes, this act of love and having compassion for others, with the follow-through of putting action to our feelings, can be intimidating at times. 

But remember, when giving away from oneself, we may be helping someone make the right choice in a crucial decision that they are facing.  It could change the destiny of the rest of their life in positive ways. 

We might even be used, by God, to lead them to Him if they need salvation.  God knows the need.  One thing is certain, I want to always be sensitive to the God-mind to step out in faith and be His hand extended when good things are needed.

You may or may not call it your sixth sense when God uses you, it really doesn’t matter when Christians maintain the desire to be God’s ambassador.  It is the Holy Spirit that draws people to God, through Jesus Christ, God’s Son.  We should always look for opportunities to share the Good News about God’s love. 

Please allow yourself to consider, for a moment, the senses or gifts that may be within you, but you have not explored the depth of your awareness of what they might be, or a spiritual gift that may be lying dormant within you.

Perhaps someone has told you or you heard that the nine spiritual gifts are not for today.  One or more of these gifts may be deep inside you and just waiting to be released to be uses for God’s glory.

I believe supernatural gifts are needed as much for today’s ministry as they were in the days when the disciples of Jesus performed miracles in His name.  In that the Lord knew the importance for His disciples to exercise the gifts of the Spirit, how much more, today, are these gifts needed?

Maybe you have placed your gift on a shelf, because you have been influenced with wrong information from people that believe they have supernatural insight of what God wants by saying the nine gifts are not for today’s ministry.  I believe they are. 

I say, search your heart and see what God reveals to you and let Him use you in areas of ministry that you once were used in or areas that are yet to be discovered.  Five senses plus one more may equal a spiritual gift that is within you.  Seek God and He will show you. 

The Bible says to stir up the gift that you have.  The following scripture sounds like a positive affirmation concerning gifts.

(2 Timothy 1:6,7) “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”  (7) “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Shake yourself and stop listening to man and listen to God.  Allow the Lord to use you in mighty ways, His wonders to perform through your obedience to Him.

Written by,

Papa Boyd 

Who Is Greater

Recently, before going to sleep, I asked God to give me a title or thought for my next writing.  I waited and waited, but nothing.

That night I dreamed I was writing another story to post on my blog.  The title of the writing was, Who Is Greater.  My dream continued with a young woman trying to do a work for the Lord but was facing opposition in her efforts to do so.

I was troubled that she was struggling, when this thought came to me: “Who is greater if God wants me to do something?”  Christians would probably do more one-on-one ministry were it not for fear of being criticized by others. 

I am usually my own worst critic if I fail to pray for someone, because of fear that God may not answer what I ask Him to do for that person.  In my mind, I know it’s not my reputation on the line, it is God, but it is hard, at times, to activate self and become motivated enough to do what I know is right. 

God wants me to move in faith and leave the rest up to Him.   Let’s face it, witnessing and praying for others can be intimidating and scary at times.  Assuredly, no one wants to look foolish in the eyes of their peers or a stranger they just met.

More than likely, fear and embarrassment are two, leading factors that can trigger timidness when ministering for Jesus.  When Satan throws negative thoughts our way, we need to exclaim to him and to ourselves, “Who is greater, God or the spirit of fear!?” 

When we step out in faith, God knows that we are putting everything on the line for Him, including reputation and being perceived as weird.  But the Holy Spirit encourages children of God to press on with boldness of soul and in the strength of God Almighty.

Becoming His voice and His hands extended to hurting people brings joy to all of heaven.  God will never leave His children hanging in a lurch.  This is an important reason to trust Him.

(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.”

(Hebrews 13:5,6) “…For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ ”  (Vs 6) “So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?’ “

God blesses doers of God’s Word with His glorious anointing, while touching their lips with words that are not their own.  The Bible says that Christians have the authority to lay hands on the sick and expect God to move in that person’s life.

When I find the courage to ask someone if they need prayer, most people say yes.  So why do I sometimes balk at doing what is right?  I think it is a battle that many Christians have within themselves, but the Holy Spirit brings the victory.

God’s timing is always perfect.  He places certain people in our life to bring about His will in them and to help us grow spiritually.  We may not know all the reasons or circumstances behind the meeting, but God does.

When God puts someone in our path to talk to or pray for, we should obey the nudging of the Holy spirit.  Not only will God move in that person’s life, but we also gain strength and encouragement in ours, because we did what God asked us to do.  We then leave it in His hands to do as He pleases.

God has all power to change things in positive ways—His wonders to perform.  Nothing can stand against the power of God.

The Bible tells us about a shepherd boy named David, the youngest son of Jesse, his father.  David answered the challenge when he was fourteen years old by slewing the Philistine giant that was dishonoring the living God and defied the armies of his homeland, Israel.  This nine-foot giant’s name was Goliath. 

Before facing the giant, David remembered the lion and bear that God enabled him to kill to protect his father’s sheep.  David believed that God would deliver him from the hand of this uncircumcised Philistine, just like He delivered David from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear. 

This memory gave David courage and confidence that God would be with him.  David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone and struck Goliath and killed him. (I Samuel 17:10-50)

Moses was victorious in freeing the Israelites from King Pharaoh’s clutches when they were enslaved and held captive in Egypt.  God saved His people through the obedience of Moses, God’s man.  (Story begins in Exodus 3:1)

Joshua fought the battle of Jericho when, miraculously, the walls surrounding the city came tumbling down.  He won, because God’s power was at work.  (Joshua 5:13-6:27)

One man or one woman plus God is the majority, because the Lord is greater than anything or anyone.  (Philippians 4:13) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”    

Before entering the gate called Beautiful, at the entrance of the temple, Peter and John, disciples of Jesus, spotted a man asking for alms that was lame from birth.  They had compassion on him and Peter said to the man that he didn’t have silver and gold, but what he had he would give to him.  He said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 

Peter then took him by the right hand and lifted him, and immediately the man’s feet and ankle bones received strength.  So, he leaping up, stood and walked with them into the temple—walking, leaping, and praising God.

It was a miracle.  The disciples knew that God was greater than any situation, which included the man sitting before them.  Since they acted in faith, the man was made whole.  (Acts 3:1-8)

You might ask, “But were they not men of God?”  As my wife would say, “Who are we, chopped liver?”  Think about it, Christians have the same Spirit of God dwelling in them as David, Moses, Peter, and John had within them. 

Has God changed, or is He still the same omnipotent Creator of past, present, and future encounters?  Who is greater?  Remember, God is greater than any circumstance.  We need only to believe it, and then act accordingly by putting action to our faith, with boldness.

Written by,

Papa Boyd