The Tenderness of Love

I’m sure you’ve looked at the faces of brand-new parents as they lovingly gazed upon their newborn baby.  I saw the tenderness of love expressed in their faces as if they were saying to each other, “Wow!  Look what we did!”

I remember looking at each of my three children in complete ecstasy and being awestruck, while admiring the beauty of God’s creations and miracles.  I was blessed to be present when all our kids were born.  Talking about miracles, I’ve never experienced such excitement as my wife gave birth to them.

After each birth, my wife’s parents and mine rejoiced with us as they peered anxiously through the hospital nursery window.  Tears of joy flowed with smiles from ear-to-ear thanking God for these precious additions to our families.

Reminiscing the wonder of God’s love, in my mind’s eye I can almost see the tenderness and excitement on God’s face after my born-again experience and giving my life to Him.  God became my Father that day.  With this new birth, I inherited eternal life in heaven, which is my hope after He forgave my sins, and I became His child.  All the heavenly hosts rejoiced in like manner as our families did when my children were born. 

The tenderness of love that parents have for their babies will always be in their heart as these dear souls grow into adulthood.  It is like the love that God has for us, bountiful with much tenderness.

The Bible says that we can call Almighty God, who is the God of all creation, “Abba Father.”  Yes, we can call Him, “Daddy.”  just like my kids called me.  Our relationship with Him is certainly personal and up close! 

Christians are given total access to our Father anytime we fall and skin our knee, spiritually speaking, and need to feel His compassion and loving touch, holding us tenderly and close to His bosom.  To sense His reaffirming acknowledgement that we are His child is like hearing Him exclaim, “There, there my child, everything is going to be just fine!”  It is always reassuring to sense His love.

God’s love for His children is everlasting.  He will never leave nor forsake them.

(Matthew 7:9-11), “Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?” (vs 10) “Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?” (vs 11) “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

When I read in the Bible how much compassion and love Jesus, the Son of God had for those He encountered that were demon-possessed, sick, lame, blind, and even dead, His tenderness of love was always expressed as He met the needs each time He ministered to individuals.

This empathy that Jesus had for others stands out to me in Bible scriptures of which assures me that this same love is as real today for those searching for answers and needing to be filled with overflowing joy, as it was when people experienced miracles when Jesus walked amongst them.

If any person is wanting to become a child of God, all they need to do is believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He resurrected from the dead for our redemption three days after His brutal crucifixion on the cross.  He gave His life willingly and rose again to save us from our sins when we ask God to forgive our sins.

Immediately, that person is saved by grace through Jesus the Savior of mankind, and they are transformed into new creations.  Old things pass away, and all things become new in Christ Jesus.

Becoming a son or daughter of God is instantaneous.  They are born into the family of God through the ‘new birth’.  New Believers will sense the tenderness of love as they begin a new chapter and journey in their born-again experience through Christ, thus becoming Christians.

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd 

Warriors and Not Worriers

It’s easy to tell someone not to worry when I’m not facing the challenges they face.  To say, “I’ll pray for you” is a commitment that is made between the person saying it and the individual needing help, whereas I believe a statement such as this is also a contractual promise between God and the person volunteering to pray.

The antonym of ‘promise’ is the word ‘breach’.  I would also consider another word that says it quite well; the word is ‘lie’, and we all know what that means.  As I see it, to breach a contract or lie to the Holy Spirit is like walking on thin ice or like the idiom “one step forward, two steps back.”

Yes, God is long-suffering and forgives sin and we are living in the dispensation of grace, and not under the law of Moses, but I am sure God expects better from us.  I believe He wants us to become warriors, standing strong in faith and believing in the power of prayer rather than being a worrier and giving into fear.

I am aware that it’s easy for me to sit here and give my two cents concerning people and their faith or lack thereof when I don’t know the circumstances surrounding their need, but this I do know, prayer changes things and gives hope to the hopeless that enriches their faith in God when He answers prayer.

I will not soon forget that I am a walking miracle because of the barrage of prayers that people prayed on my behalf.  Fervent prayers produce warriors out of worriers, because God’s strength becomes their strength.

(James 5:16), “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

A quick side note: how many times do you think the following statement has been made to people in stress by meaningful souls, yet having little follow-through in what they promise?  The sensitive statement is this: “I’ll pray for you.” 

Sometimes I wonder if these words are spoken out of habit or rote, because of concern in the moment, or did they want to appear spiritual because they felt it was the right thing to say at that moment in time?

I know I’m meddling, and being a bit facetious, but if I were to go my separate way from a person having a need and vowed to pray for that need but failed to do so because of a short memory, my question is this: How does God feel about broken promises?  Remember, it is a vow to God as well.

(Ecclesiastes 5:4-5), “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools.  Pay what you have vowed.” (vs 5) “Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.”

I’ve been there.  I did exactly this, because of my busy schedule and things that were pressing my mind, but is this an excuse acceptable to God?  We may be held accountable, because of our lack of due diligence.  I don’t really know, it’s just a thought, but it is certainly something to ponder.

To make a promise and break it is not good.  In my opinion, there is no excuse or way to justify inactivity when breaking promises to pray.  I felt distraught when I finally remembered the person that I was going to pray for but didn’t.  I quickly asked God to forgive me when I realized what I failed to do.

I’m confident God forgave me, because I believe we learn by our mistakes, which taught me to be deeply mindful of the importance of follow-through with things I commit to do.  I am more diligent regarding my promises now, and confident that I will do better with future commitments.

Allow me to propose the following solution that works for me.  This is my suggestion for people that have good intentions yet fall short in keeping their ends tucked in regarding promises made, promises kept.

Try this: Pray for the person’s need where they stand no matter where you are.  Believe with all that is within you that God will move in their situation and send a miracle.  Be brave and refuse to allow your spirit to become intimidated or embarrassed because of people that may be around. Maybe they too will be touched through your prayer or perhaps bring back memories when God meant something in their life.

Before hanging up the phone after learning of a person’s need, immediately pray for that individual and the needs they have.  Don’t tell them that you will pray and then forget.  It’s better to pray now than being embarrassed before God if we forget to pray as we promised.

Through prayer, we become warriors of the faith as we step out in the power of the Holy Spirit to help worriers become strong believers when prayers are answered and miracles take place.  We need to move with the same boldness of power that accompanied the apostles of Jesus after the Holy Spirit descended upon each of them, being filled with power from on high.

Our obedience could ignite revival-spirited attitudes that would rekindle Holy Ghost faith by reaffirming that God’s presence is still active today as He was in the early church.  God never changes.

The Lord is the same God that parted the Red Sea, healed the leper, the blind man, and the woman with an issue of blood, to name a few.  The God of today is the same God that raised Lazarus from the dead and the young boy that was being buried after his funeral procession. 

Our Lord is the same God that turned water into wine at the wedding feast, and fed the Children of Israel, Manna from heaven as they trekked across the desert to the promised land.  God is the same God yesterday, today, and forever.  Christians must mentally and spiritually galvanize the fact that they walk in Christ, while guarding against becoming weak in faith through compromising one’s commitment to Him.

Believers in Jesus should always trust God’s word and believe His promises without wavering.  The same Spirit dwells within Christians, today, that dwelled in the apostles of Jesus when they did miracles in His name.  We need to stand firm in our faith and become God’s warriors and stop worrying whether He will embarrass us by not answering our prayers when we pray for people.

One man or woman plus God is the majority.  The power of Almighty God is within all Christians.  We just need to recognize Who’s we are, and who we are in Him; then act accordingly in the power of Jesus name.  Pray, believe God, and leave the answers with Him.  We are then warriors and not worriers. 

In the following scriptures, Jesus is speaking.

(John 14:12-14), “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (vs 13) “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (vs 14) “If you ask anything in My name I will do it.”

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

I Embrace Your Character

 

Have you ever met a person that stood out in a crowd as someone you would like to emulate?  Individuals that I’ve observed had pleasing personalities that were blessed with an amazing character.  Their pleasantries were pleasing and not only appreciated, but they were also approachable.

I think most people could do with a little life changing improvements in openness and congeniality, especially people like the select group of students that strutted around the campus of my old Alma Mater, many years ago.

These students related to and were a part of the 'In Crowd' as other students called it.  A few of them were real snobs, to put it lightly.  They wore expensive designer clothing, thinking they were privileged and above everyone else, many of which had a ‘me, me, me’ type personality.  It was all about them and their close nit compadres.

These kids could be spotted right away through their actions, demeanor, and the words they used.  Everyone called this group high society or white shoes.  They were in a club all to themselves, a ‘click’ that included a few individuals that hung together with their noses in the air.

As my memory serves me, I was concerned about their health and safety if it were to rain.  With their noses turned up they would have probably drowned.  Of course I’m exaggerating.  They perhaps were not as bad as I am making them out to be.  No doubt I was jealous that I wasn’t a part of the 'In Crowd'.

I was just a person on the outside looking in and wishing I was in the group, because of their popularity.  I didn’t agree with the way some of them, not all, treated other students that were not in their circle of friends.  They had little to offer, because of their self-centeredness, and for this reason I was not drawn to them. 

For me, I didn’t look down on anyone. My desire was to connect with students having compassion, and concern for others.  Something was missing inside me, and I needed someone to be my friend; a person that I felt comfortable embracing with their character.

Allow me to refocus on my thoughts.  I would rather take the rest of our time together reminiscing about people that have giving-type character traits that cause others to be drawn to them like a magnetic field that pulls metallic items to itself. 

I’ve noticed through the years that something special exudes from certain people that made me want to embrace them.  They were born-again Christians that had this wonderful quality and beautiful air about them.  I sensed something different regarding their demeanor at first glance.

It was the aura of Christ and His character that I was seeing.  The feeling I had made me want to embrace and even emulate their personality and character, were it possible.  I’m here to tell you that it is indeed possible to possess humility and at the same time show the character of Christ.

It takes leaving the self-indulgent demeanor of self, behind in the wake of positive changes in one’s character that is brought about through Jesus, God’s Son.  God’s Spirit was within each person, which drew me like a magnet before I became a Believer myself. 

It seemed like their flaws were far and in-between because they showed kindness to me.  Their heart had been changed by God.  They did not exalt themselves above me nor did they think they were better than I was.  It seemed that they were someone special and I wanted what they had and to know their inner thinking.

Now that I am a Christian, my desire is that people will see and perceive, from my aura, that there is something different about me as well.  I want the aura of godliness to shine brightly from me.  My desire is that my countenance and actions exemplify Christ, showing that I am a man of God with godly integrity that personifies the character of Jesus Christ.

I may be too bold to suggest that you ask yourself the following questions, as I will.  Am I quick to anger?  Am I long-suffering?  Do I exude kindness with a smile?  Do I present the fruit of the Spirit spoken of in the Bible?  Is this fruit active in my life every day or just on Sundays?

If the answers are somewhat hesitant, then we need to go back to the basics of our faith, our first love, and visit the altar-of-submission to revisit our communication skills with the Lord God Almighty. 

The awareness and implications of “not my will but Thine be done” are difficult to abide in and live up to at time, but as we yield our desires, emotions, and self-will to the Holy Spirit, He helps us to walk in the Spirit and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.

(Galatians 5:22-23), “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,” (vs 23) “gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.”

The attributes of Jesus can be ours if that is our true desire.  As we magnify His goodness to those around us, they will recognize, right away, that there is something different, something desirable that is showing through our smile.  They will want to embrace and be around these kinds of characteristics.

It takes work to emulate the Lord and His character; it just doesn’t happen.  It is sometimes easier to yield to the flesh and the old nature from whence we were delivered, than to discipline flesh of which the new-birth-experience set us free from when God saved our soul and forgave our sins.

When we ask the Holy Spirit to be the watchman at our mouth to bridle our tongue and to speak loudly to our heart when things don’t go our way, He helps us maintain our emotions before we blow up and do or say the wrong thing.

When we allow this act of obedience time to mature, we will stand steadfast in God’s strength.  Before long it becomes second nature to just give it all to Him and walk away in victory.  Let’s face it, we cannot do it on our own merits.  It takes God to help us—and He does.

(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.”

Don’t give up on yourself.  Keep trying and changes will come in due time as you remain patient and true to the Lord.  We need to lean upon Jesus and give Him a chance to work in our behalf.  There is nothing better to hope and strive for than to be like the Lord.

I make it a point of saying, “I embrace Your character.”  God’s Spirit in us will draw people to Him.  It’s like building a fire when camping in the woods.  The company we are with, if cold, will huddle around the fire to get warm.  Likewise, people will want to embrace our warmth, because of the beauty and inviting warmth of our character when they see Jesus in us.

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Seeing is Believing

The essence of the title is not always true, but in the case of ‘Doubting Thomas’, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, believing was made so.  He would not believe that Jesus resurrected on the third day after being crucified on the cross until he could verify for himself, with His own eyes, the Lord’s nail-scared hands and pierced side.

Jesus came to where Thomas was.  Standing amazed when he beheld the piercings, he saw and believed.  In his world of doubting, now resolved, we can say on his behalf, “Seeing is believing.”

Some people are taken in by what seems right, beguiled because of trickery.  A good example is magic shows.  Even though a person knows the hand is quicker than the eye, tricks are amazingly believable if done correctly. 

It is hard not to believe what is taking place before their very eyes at times.  It causes the mind to sputter and become enthralled with what they think they are seeing.

A person should not believe everything they see with untrained eyes.  These shows are meant to deceive and tease our minds into thinking—maybe it’s real.  This is deception at its best depending on the believability of the magician performing the tricks.  A seasoned prestidigitator, as they are called, is a dedicated performer that can make a person fall into a false sense of ‘seeing is believing’.

I am thinking of a seasoned sorcerer having tricks that catch the eye of unsuspecting people to believe a lie and be damned.  The deceiver or performer of deception in this scenario is Satan.  He puts on a believable show to win our confidence and eye gate.  He is nothing more than a liar and fraudster in sheep’s clothing, presenting falsehoods.

Satan puts on a big show of worthless glitter, with smoke and mirrors to try and pull the wool over our eyes to make us believe that what we see is truth and that we can count on what we see or hear.

When a person is led by the Spirit of God, seeing and accepting something as factual is NOT always believing when it comes to the treacheries and cunning performances of Satan.  It’s not for mere entertainment that he throws illusions our way, his antics are well planned out, intended to lead us astray down the wide road to destruction with death following, void of life.

Every person must stay alert to sidestep the devil’s sideshow of him trying to convince us that what we see and hear is real.  The Bible says that we must be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Allowing oneself to be hoodwinked by Satan’s activities does not help our steadfast faith that we depend on.  I thank God for giving me spiritual eyes to see through the devil’s misuse and twisting of the truth.  The Lord wants us to walk in the Spirit so that we are not blown about like a leaf in the breeze; tossed about by every wind of doctrine and beguiled by the devil’s slide of hand.

The windstorm of supposed believability is well rehearsed and crafted such that even the very Elect can be misled.  His techniques have proven to work from Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to present day dealings with him.

We must keep our minds stayed upon the Lord and not take things at face value.  Jesus will reveal the hidden plot behind Satan’s ruses and con jobs.  The believability of something we see is not always factual.  It may be a counterfeit that appears as truth.  It is imperative that we guard our minds from Satan’s showboating and not believe everything we see or hear.

Taking things at face value is dangerous, spiritually.  The eye and ear gates are Satan’s access points to our eternal souls.  By cutting him off at the pass, we walk in victory through Jesus Christ, God’s Son.  When we keep our minds on Truth, Jesus, the prestidigitator of deceit, trickery and dishonesty will take flight.  Seeing is believing.

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

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd 

There's No Time Like The Present

I’m sure the core thought of the title to this writing may not interest or even gel with procrastinators, per say.  Whether a person makes the most of 24 hours in a present-day scenario depends on the attitude, nature, and disposition of that person’s mindset.

The older I get; I find myself procrastinating a little more than usual.  It is out of the norm for me, and I realize when I toss around whether I want to do this or that, I am reminded that I’m not as young as I used to be and it takes a little longer to get things done.

People have their reasons for putting off things, and perhaps it’s just their nature and personality.  Watching them and their actions or lack thereof, speak louder than words.  I can see by their emotions and playbook of habits that their motto for living may be, “Live for today and let tomorrow take care of itself.”  I can only speculate.

Things today are not like they were when my dad was younger and raising a family.  Real Greenbacks exchanged hands rather than credit cards.  It is understandable and quite common for people to be tempted to buy things, now, instead of waiting for a time they can afford them.

Banks make it easy to buy and pay later at an extra cost.  It’s called interest payments.  Society is prone to spend what money they have and then use plastic money as if there were a money tree growing in their backyard to ‘Pick and Pay’ from.

I cannot entirely agree with this course of action when buying on credit.  A person’s thinking and philosophy for going in debt is not for me, because I’m an old-school thinker, with old-school ideas.  That’s just me.

I believe in sacrificial saving, which means I make decisions in the present to lay instore whatever money I can for probable obstacles in the future.  My dad called it, “Making hay while the sun shines.”

An untouched savings account is a way to avoid stress when an unexpected problem knocks on the front door and money is needed to remedy the situation.  It’s most important to anticipate future challenges and do something about them and not procrastinate.  There’s no time like the present to begin this regiment of self-control saving.  People that do so will be happy that they did later.  

The fable about “The Three Little Pigs” is an example of good planning vs. bad preparations.

God wants us to be wise when making financial decisions and not fall off the cliff of unnecessary spending or become trapped in high interest payments, because of indebtedness.  It’s not in the nature of some people to wait a while to buy something until good financial planning makes it possible to purchase a little later.  It makes good sense to wait.  Money problems we can do without.

I believe that God expects us to be good stewards of our money, and at the same time not forgetting Him regarding the finances it takes to spread the Good News that God forgives sin through His Son, Jesus.  It’s called tithing, which is a tenth of one’s earnings set aside for God’s work in the church.  Allow me to continue.

It takes money to keep foodbanks stocked with food, local food kitchens to provide meals for the hungry, Christian outreach programs to canvas neighborhoods for the cause of Christ, and as the Bible says in (Mark 16:15), “And He said to them ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ ”  It all takes money.

I’m sure people have their own ideas and slant on this controversial subject of tithing.  Whether tithing has become a way of life or not, it is entirely between an individual and God as to what they do.  I’m just expressing my point of view of giving.  We must work out our own salvation.

(Philippians 2:12-13), “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; (vs 13) “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

As for me, I have tithed on my income since becoming a Christian.  A close parallel to tithing is the giving of offerings of goodwill to others.  As the Holy Spirit moves upon my wife and me to give to a special program to help the needy, or help an organization doing God’s work, we feel blessed that God uses us to be His hands outstretched to those less fortunate as He supplies the means to do so.

My wife and I try not to close our heart of compassion.  With God at the helm and the head of our household, we, together with God are a super-special team.  As we are obedient to God, His will is being done in our lives and others.

I am thankful that the returns on our investments are lost souls becoming Christians; having a born-again experience, because of Jesus Christ, our Savior.  The knowledge that we are helping those in need is worth it all.  Sacrificial giving goes hand in hand with the following Bible scripture.

(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.” 

My intension here is to shed some light on the positive aspects of giving.  By doing this, my wife and I have found that we can do more with 90% of our money than we can with the full 100%.  It just works this way.  God’s promise in (Luke 6:38) is true and His numerous blessings that flood our bosom are amazing.  We walk in the joy of the Lord.

(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.”

Does tithing sometimes involve sacrifices when giving?  It does, but these are the times that God speaks peace to our heart through Bible scriptures.  We are encouraged with words like: “Trust me!” and “Step out in faith!”   When we do what God asks, the needs are always met, and we are again blessed beyond measure. 

What greater investment is there than giving to God’s programs and being blessed as we walk in His perfect plan for us and others?  If you feel that God is speaking to your heart to do something nice for someone, there’s no time like the present to do so.  Trust God, step out in faith, and see what happens.

The Children of Israel learned to trust God in the desert after being set free from captivity in Egypt.  Their exodus from Pharaoh’s bondage was indeed miraculous.  When Moses obeyed God, things happened.  The same holds true when we obey God; things happen.  Even if a person feels like they are trekking through the desert-of-faith, the result of their obedience is always positive for those less fortunate.

If you are seeking God’s direction or need answers to unanswered questions, give it all to God, because He cares about everything concerning you.  If you are feeling unstable and need a firm foundation to stand on, I give you Jesus.  There’s no time like the present to turn your life over to Him. 

Ask God to forgive your sins.  He will change your total outlook on living, because He gives life and life more abundantly when the bondage of sin has been broken.

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

What's The Harm in It

The title of this writing brings a word to mind that reminds me of my father-in-law.  He emphasized his interpretation of the word when I was questioning a dilemma that I was facing.  He gave me sound advice, and I’ve never forgotten it.  I miss his counsel; he passed away too soon.  The word he expounded on was ‘justify’.

He and his loving wife, Marie, impacted many, young lives for Christ and influenced me in godly ways that were extraordinary in the short time that I knew them as Mom and Dad.  They may have left this world but never my heart.

They expressed love in ways that I could feel the very presence of God in their touch and words.  The power of God was no stranger to them.  They were strong Believers and walked in His power, while standing firm in their faith.  The extreme love they possessed poured out on everyone they met.

Dad, as I called him, accepted Jesus as his Savior at the age of forty-two.  A person is never too old for God to save their soul and bring happiness and peace into their life, while freeing them from the bondage of sin.  The devil says, “It’s too late.” but God says in (Corinthians 6:2), “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Regarding the word I mentioned earlier, my father-in-law told me that a person can ‘justify’ just about anything they want to obtain, do, or say, but it doesn’t necessarily make it right with God.  I believe Dad was saying that justification is merely the manipulation of one’s mind to make it right in their own thinking when they know in their heart it is wrong.

My soul desire is to love and please the Lord in the same way I observed my in-laws and their dedication to God when they were with us.  Their example of God’s love remains foremost in my mind.  They lived what they shared with others.

The one thought I would like you to take away from this writing is how important it is to grasp the concept that honesty is the best policy in everything and not try to justify anything. 

In my opinion, even if it means losing out on questionable deals where money is concerned, or when material things become the bottom-line temptation; doing the right thing should always be paramount above desires, greed, and foolish thinking.  To justify and reason out ideas to obtain something is probably wrong, anyway a person tries to justify it.  By doing this, they are no doubt thinking, “What’s the harm in it?”

I sincerely strive with everything in me, and of course with the Lord’s help, to keep my head on straight; to be honest and aboveboard in whatever I do.  I believe in the quote, “Honesty is the best policy.”  There has never been a more accurate statement made in my opinion.

(1 Timothy 6:9-11), “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” (vs 10) “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (vs 11) “But you, oh man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.”

If you are in a quandary as to whether or not the next move you make is sanctioned by God and you have a sneaking suspicion or a slight inkling that you are perhaps being manipulated and beguiled by Satan, ask yourself these two questions: “What would I do if Jesus were standing next to me?” and “What would Jesus do?”

I believe the answer will be in the highest percentile that the answer you receive will absolutely reveal what to do next.  It is then up to the individual to heed or ignore the answer they get.  They can yield to fleshly desires and give into crafty manipulations of the devil or be wise and not justify one’s actions to procure something.

As my father-in-law pointed out, “Do not justify something and regret it later!”  If we choose unwisely, this defiance, because of selfish desires, will more than likely bring self-condemnation, worry, and sleepless nights, while the closeness to God may fly out the window until such time that forgiveness and/or restoration has been restored.

Experiencing ongoing joy and peace is contingent upon walking uprightly before God in ALL things.  A person reaps what they sow.  The following scripture says it quite well.

(Galatians 6:7-8), “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (vs 8) “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

The Bible says that God will provide a way of escape, a route away from situations when being tempted, but it is up to the one being tested to exit stage right or stay and perform the act of rebellion against God.  Fame, fortune, advancements at work through deception or backstabbing, or coveting someone’s property or cavorting unwisely does not pay good dividends, spiritually or otherwise.

It’s not worth it.  Finding oneself out of harmony with God, because of disobedience is not wise.  The pleasure of sinning is seasonal at best—not lasting.  Then regrets come.  I would be foolish to say that there is no pleasure in sin, because there is, but the wage of sinning is quite high.  Sooner or later, wrongdoing will catch up to a person, at which time the Piper must be paid one way or the other.

No doubt you are acquainted with Newton’s 3^rd law of motion: “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”  I believe we can apply this law to the negative repercussions that sin brings.

I thank God that He provided help and forgiveness to everyone that stumbles and falls on their face, because of wrong choices or falling into the trap of justifying one’s actions.  Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for sin.  He gave His life, freely, on a cross for the sins of humanity.  He loved us that much!  This included you and me.

If we fall, I believe God is saying, “Get up!  Dust yourself off!  My strength is your strength!  Keep on keeping on!  A winner never quits, and a quitter never wins!”  He also says the following:

(Matthew 11:28-30), “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (vs 29) “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (vs 30) “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

(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.”

As I see it, if a person has an attitude of, “What’s the harm in it?” they may be walking on thin ice or playing Russian roulette with their life.  Personally, as I wrote earlier, I want to please the Lord in all things.

If you are facing what seems to be an insurmountable mountain ahead of you, do this.  Speak the name of Jesus over that mountain, and every temptation, question, and shadow that falls across your path.  Give it all to Jesus and look for the EXIT to escape temptation and it will be there.  You will then be able to watch the hand of God move in your behalf.

(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.”

I’ve heard that we learn through our mistakes, but when we listen to God’s voice speaking to our subconscious and do what he says to do or not do, I believe that we will cease the verbiage, “What’s the harm in it.” when God shows us a better way to live. 

God gives us an abundant life through Jesus, His Son.  It takes our obedience to God, by allowing the holiness of Christ to live through us, much like my father-in-law, mother-in-law and my Christian parents did while they were alive.

(Romans 12:1-2), “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.” (vs 2) “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by, 

Papa Boyd

Give Your Face a Rest

My thoughts are all over the place this morning.  I have no idea where they are going to take us, but God does.  They may be for you and probably for me.  Close your eyes for a minute and think of someone you don’t want to be like.  I already have a person in mind.

I know it’s a strange request, but surely there is someone you can think of, like the person in your neighborhood that has a frown on their face every time you see them.  And if you had to listen to them spout their negative rhetoric, it would be worse than getting a root-canal.

You should pray for that person.  I’m positive that God prefers them to have a renewed spirit to see things differently and experience peace in their soul rather than capitalizing on the negative.  God can put a smile on their face.

I don’t know for sure if it’s true, but I’ve heard that it takes more muscles in the human face to frown than it does to smile, which brings me to today’s thoughts.  If this is factual that there are less muscles, we need to give our face a rest and smile a while.

The last three words above remind me of a chorus I used to sing in church as a kid.  “Smile a while and give your face a rest.  Raise your hands to the One you love the best.  Then shake hands with those nearby and give to them a smile.”

People do not smile enough these days.  It seems like many of them are down in the mulligrubs with depression, hopelessness and sadness.  Smiles elude them, because they feel there is nothing to smile about.

I’m sure you are aware of the importance of staying healthy and physically fit as we age, but I seldom lift weights at a gym or run on a treadmill for thirty minutes each day.  It’s one of those ‘should do’ realizations, but I fail in this area.  I told you this writing was probably for me.

I do stay active mowing and edging my lawns and smiling at my wife as I plant shrubs when she has new ideas on how to beautify things around the outside of our house.  I am what you might call a ‘backyard mechanic’.

I’ve been blessed with the ability to fix and do things myself rather than hiring them out.  It puts a smile on my face that I am still physically able to stay active, while keeping the money in my wallet.

As a person ages, they need to stay fit and develop their muscles rather than allowing them to decline in strength and develop atrophy.  This may be true of facial muscles used for smiling as well.  Without exercise, muscles lose strength, stamina, and the ability to function properly.  They gradually decline in effectiveness due to the lack of usage.

When I look around and see faces with frowns on them, I wonder if the muscles in their faces have become atrophy for lack of using the smiling muscles.  Perhaps if they did more smiling, facial muscles would stay toned and strong with less sagging, thus preventing those ugly frowns.  Yes, I’m exaggerating a bit.

You might ask this question, “How can I stay positive and keep a smile on my face in a world filled with negativism?”  I believe the answer lies in three adjoining, uppercase letters—GOD.

God is the positive side of the “liberty vs. bondage” equation that gives a reset on life for those that accept Jesus as Lord and asks God to forgive their sins.  The Lord is my laughter and the center of my joy when I think about positive things.

(Philippians 4:8), “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

When troubles come, I turn my eyes toward Jesus, whence comes my help.  Things level out, because He makes it so.  The Bible says that God can bring good out of bad.  As we claim His promises, adverse situations grow strangely dim, while hope provides a smile on my face when I surrender doubt and fear to the Lord. 

The following song says it well.  “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

Being born again and having the hope of living in heaven for eternity should keep a smile on a person’s face for the rest of their life.  Salvation equals big smiles.  This is exactly what God put on my face when I became a Christian—a joyful countenance with a smile.

The day after I gave my heart to the Lord, my friends asked me, “What happened?” as they stared at my face.  I had a huge smile on it, whereas I never smiled here-to-fore when I was wandering away from God’s grace.  They literally saw the change.  My attitude was transformed, and I ceased to use inappropriate words.  I found the peace and happiness that I was looking for.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  In Him there is everlasting joy and smiles galore.  When challenging trials and bad circumstances put a frown on my face, I look to Jesus and quote this scripture, (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.”

We are eternally blessed, because of Jesus.  He died a horrific death, while enduring excruciating pain as He suffered on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.  He did this because we are precious in His sight.  Jesus loves us with agape love—everlasting love.

God does not want us to worry, fret, or be downtrodden in any way, shape, or form, but wants us to trust Him in all things and have a smile on our face as we walk with Him.  God’s grace is sufficient for whatever His children encounter.  I know this in my mind, and I believe it, but in the next breath I pray, “Lord, I believe but help my unbelief.”

When it comes to accepting it and living by faith like I were in a spiritual bubble, I cling to faith, which is confidence in God.  If God promised it, He will do it!  God does not lie. 

I don’t know if you are like me, but I sometimes frown, pout, snarl, say the wrong things, and complain when things don’t go my way.  When I fail to give challenging moments to Jesus, right away, the turmoil and irruption in my soul are wearisome. 

After a time of struggling, I finally realized that I’m trying to do things on my own, and that if I had only left them on the altar and allowed the Holy Spirit to enter my dilemma as soon as negatives came, victory would have come sooner than later.

Trust comes when I give God all my challenging moments.  This act of faith is usually accompanied with a smile, because the Holy Spirit is my Comforter when I present things to Jesus and leave them with Him. 

Being human, I am sometimes prone to hand my problems to the Lord and then take them back to work things out for myself, thus promoting frowns, unnecessary complaining, loss of sleep, and worry.  We need to give our face a rest and walk in victory, while smiling through the trials.

God is our heavenly Father, and with this knowledge we need not frown.  He is the I Am that I Am, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  In Jesus we live victoriously, while giving our face a rest.  You will be singing that song when you walk in faith… “Smile a while and give your face a rest.”

Walking in joy and smiling at everyone you meet demands a smile back; they cannot help themselves.  A smile is contagious like a knee-jerk reflex or reaction in those that see it.

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Hearing But Not Listening

Consider the following thought for a minute.  What do you think communication gaps stem from?  Personally, I think the reason that some people run into communication problems may encompass the habit of hearing but not listening.

Another thought, they may need to just turn up their hearing aids.  But wait, they may be turned down on purpose, because of the round-the-clock bombardment of exhausting words they hear.

It is certainly probable, in my opinion, that mental insecurities may be associated with listening or lack thereof.  Two valid questions are these.  What about the communication gap that people have with God?  Could it be the same thing, hearing but not listening or not hearing at all?

Perhaps the lack of listening, which follows hearing, is more prevalent than one would believe or suppose because of the effort it takes to hear God’s quiet, still voice.  The conveying of words cannot be one-sided. 

To improve on better communication requires being a good listener, but it takes a “want to listen” attitude to discipline oneself and be willing to break old habits of tuning people out, whereas in this scenario, tuning God out.  It makes sense to me that people should not always be the ones talking.

I’ve watched people stick their index fingers in both ears when they’ve heard enough from another party to get the point across that enough is enough.  It is so easy to carry this type of action over to the spiritual realm when God is trying to get our attention.

Many people tune God out.  We need to train our spiritual ears to hear His voice when He speaks.  The first, and foremost step is an important one.  This process of training is difficult at times, because it takes control to stop talking long enough to not only hear, but to listen.

I believe the best choice is to say nothing when God is talking.  The proverb “Silence is golden” says it quite well in just three words.  The goal to rid ourselves of the communication gap between us and God is attainable.  To listen closely for God’s still, small voice requires a quiet environment to hear Him.

(1 Kings 19:11-12), “Then He said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’  And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;” (vs 12) “and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still, small voice.”

When we discipline ourselves and refuse to be mentally brainwashed and blindsided with spiritual abuse via the vulgar nonsense on television and paying good money to watch and listen to Hollywood’s declining rhetoric and filth at movie theaters is like removing thickened wax from one’s ears to recognize and know the voice of God.

(John 10:27-28), “My sheep hear My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.” (vs 28) “And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.”

The realization of “garbage in garbage out” and recognizing its subliminal effects is a huge step in the right direction of disciplining ourselves to not allow our spirit to consume things that can influence us negatively.  Doing something to prevent bad stimuli is a must. 

Accepting the statuesque of things, while thinking, “I’m strong enough, it won’t affect me” Is a deception from the enemy of our soul.  It is possible that this kind of justification may end up being a stumbling block when walking with the Lord. 

As my father-in-law would say, “We can justify anything, but it doesn’t make it right.”  Yielding to devilish things vs. listening to God to resist those things are opposites.  Good and evil, God and Satan do not mix.  They are like oil and water.

A friend of mine was having real problems with his hearing and believed it was the result of aging.  It was getting so bad he felt embarrassed to ask people to repeat what they were saying.

After some encouragement, he finally gave into his better judgement and made an appointment with an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist.  The doctor saw the problem right away.  He removed a large buildup of wax from both eardrums.

My friend said that when he left the doctor’s office, he could hear the sweetness of birds singing and the wind rustling through the leaves in trees.  He was amazed at what he had been missing out on prior to visiting the doctor.

The same is true when we open our ears to what the Holy Spirit is whispering to us.  We miss out on so much of God and the blessings He wants us to enjoy, because subconsciously some people refuse to listen with their spiritual ears to hear His voice.

I think they may be afraid to hear and listen for fear that God might ask them to give up something that they don’t want to give up, or to do this or that, because they feel inadequate to do it. 

People play the “I can’t hear You!” game with God.  But they are not fooling Him, whatsoever.  He doesn’t force Himself on anyone.  It is up to the individual as to how much of God they want to be exposed to and depth of involvement they want to pursue.

Holding onto God with one hand and the world with the other is not wise.  It might be spiritual suicide, but that’s between them and God.  God’s grace is without measure and His mercy is coupled with love everlasting—without end.  I used to sing a song entitled, “His grace is sufficient.”  I found this to be true in all areas of my life.

(James 4:8), “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” 

Ears hear different frequencies and some frequencies not at all.  Through practice, and disciplining what enters the ear gate, the practicality of finding the frequency of God’s voice is 100% foolproof.  He is always ready to have a wonderful, one-on-one conversation and relationship with us.  Again, we need to listen and not do all the talking.

I would be remiss if I failed to encourage you to hide Bible scriptures away in your heart through memorization.  God absolutely speaks directly to our soul through His word.

(Psalm 119:11), “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

(Psalm 119:105), “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

When I was a young boy, I learned a few Bible verses while attending Sunday School at a local church.  The teacher rewarded the children that memorized certain scriptures with prizes.  Toys and money were great incentives.

Before I became a born-again Believer as an adult, I searched for peace and the meaning of life.  One day when I was praying to God for help, one of those scriptures came flooding back.  It helped me make the decision to become a Christian. 

The scripture came alive and touched me deeply at a time I needed it most.  God spoke to me through His word.  God was at the bottom of my list of desires.  I was putting the things of the world before Him, but He made me aware of this with the following scripture.  My life changed when I put God first above all things.

(Matthew 6:33), “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Can you hear that?  Can you hear the sound?  It’s adventure calling.  God bless you!

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

When We Listen

I just let my wife off at the crosswalk in front of one of her favorite stores to do some shopping.  Before she stepped out of the truck she said, “You can see what pops into your brain to write about.”  She’s always an encouragement.

At that point I had nothing, but after finding a parking place to wait for her return, my brain began to awaken.  Sitting there with my air conditioner blasting, my mind shifted into high gear, while praying to receive something extraordinary from God.

Perhaps the following thoughts might uplift and strengthen you in some way.  I’m hoping that I can encourage you with the awareness that when you are finished reading these words, you will feel that the Holy Spirit has spoken directly to your heart, giving you clarity of mind and a direction to pursue.

Whether you feel God or not is not relevant.  It is spiritual health to trust God and not live by feelings alone, but to walk by faith, while allowing Him to direct your footsteps.

(Psalm 37:23), “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” (vs 24) “Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”  

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.”  The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  What He has done for others, He will do for you.  His love does not fluctuate one-iota, nor does it falter in any way. 

God will never, ever fail us, because His love is deeper than the deepest ocean, wider than the east is from the west, and higher than the highest mountain.  God’s love for us is without end.  It is infinite.  God loved us so much that He died on a cross for our salvation to free us from sin when we ask for forgiveness and surrender our lives to 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.”

We need to learn how to trust this love in all things…emphasis on ALL THINGS!  Before I became a Christian, when something came my way that I couldn’t take care of myself, I tried just about everything worldly in a feeble attempt to find answers to my unresolved issues.

Most of the time I was filled with disappointment, because my search failed to materialize positive results that left me feeling helpless and alone.  The wise thing I should have done was petition the God of Creation to intervene, and then trust Him for a miracle, but I was headstrong and not on the same wavelength as the Lord at that time.

When a person believes and gives their problems to God and says, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” peace takes over as they rest in Him, while watching the hand of God calm the raging storm and the troubled sea with words like, “Peace be still!”  God cares for us deeply and wants us to live a victorious and over-coming life.

(1 Peter 5:6-7), “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,” (vs 7) “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Several years ago, I went through cancer surgery.  My wife literally stood on the Bible and believed God for a miracle.  He honored her faith and brought forth the miracle.  I thank God that I am still around to author words that I pray will bring peace to troubled hearts at the precise moment they need it most.

During my recovery, I received a wonderful letter from a lady in our church that strengthened my spirit during challenging times.  She drafted such amazing words that I knew they had to be from God, and that He was using her to bless me in such a way that the words penetrated the very core of my being.  I WAS ENCOURAGED!

I could feel the anointing of God’s Spirit as I read each word.  I lifted my head toward heaven and thanked God for the woman’s obedience to take time and send the letter my way.  It was strength and healing to the very marrow of my bones.

Perhaps you are feeling a churning within your spirit to do something nice for someone.  I say, “Do it!”  Maybe that person’s name is being manifested in your mind at this very moment.  Don’t wait until they become totally indifferent to receive any acts of goodwill that God may be coxing you to do.

Do it before their heart becomes hardened with the notion that no one really cares.  I am sure they will appreciate a note, phone call, text, flowers, or perhaps give of your time to lend a helping hand in some way.

Showing concern for others can be healing if they are floundering and could use some encouragement.  Everyone needs someone in their corner when the storms of life become intolerable.  Contact them as if you are doing it unto the Lord.  They may be grasping for an act of kindness and thoughtfulness to come their way.  Don’t wait.

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

(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.’ ”

Your benevolence could very well make the difference in helping someone choose rightly or prevent them from giving into hopelessness or having a nervous breakdown because of stress.  They may be fighting a battle to not lose faith in God, because they think their problem is too big for Him to handle or that they are not worthy of God’s love.

You can be the instrument or conduit that God flows through to bring hope into their life.  If God is speaking to you, listen to His voice.  If He has already given you a name that may need your compassion and understanding, know this, the results of your kindness can move mountains as you trust God and step out in faith.

Why am I writing these thoughts?  God only knows.  When my wife got out of the truck, my mind was not on you the reader, or any of the preceding words presented here.  But as I opened my mind to what God had for us today, the words seemed to flow like a rushing, mighty river that stimulated my mind.

Maybe all these words are meant for you or for me, just like the letter I received from the lady in our church that touched me.  God bless you as you become a blessing and strength to someone else!

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Better and not Bitter

How many times have you sipped a beverage or swallowed medicine and found them to be bitter to taste?  Sugar sometimes helps to sweeten a drink, or a peppermint lifesaver can cover up the aftertaste of bad tasting medicine.  These steps can make them better and not bitter.  Of course, better is always more favorable than bitter, as I see it.

The lyrics of the following song said it very well when Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews in the 1964 film) sang it.  “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.”

Coffee, tea, and lemonade are prime examples of drinks that are enjoyed with sweeteners.  As for me, I drink them without.  I don’t know if it’s because my wife tells me that I’m just too sweet for words, or that she’s trying to build my ego. 

I’m teasing, she is expressing love.  In any case, I try to stay away from sugar of any kind and sodas with artificial sweeteners.

People use the following words to express affection: Sweetheart, Sweetie, Sweet-pea, Honey, and Sugar when addressing loved ones.  These words are not used in bitter conversations, because they are meant to relay compassion and love.  They help to magnify better communication, not a bitter one.

When I was a non-Christian, my relationship with God was bitter, not on His part, but mine alone.  After accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, my relationship became and is becoming much better as I learn to put off the old nature and slip on my garment of praise in the new nature that God gave me when I became His child.

This change from a bitter heart to a better one is because Jesus gave His life, freely, on a cross for our sins.  He put a heart of compassion within me and took away the heart of stone when I became a born-again Believer.  It all happened when God forgave my sins.

(Psalm 51:10), “Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Life is full of ups and downs with many challenges.  Not everything that comes our way is sweet like honey; they can be bitter like medicine.  Medicines certainly have positive influences on the body, so we take them for the good they do—better health.

We can obtain and be joyful, while experiencing victory over bitterness, because of God’s strength within us.  He brings maturity and health to our spiritual growth and life to a mundane lifestyle.

Uplifting songs can inspire spiritual health and help dispel bitter feelings in one’s heart when they listen to the lyrics or sing them, like the old song, “Jesus is the sweetest name I know.”  The power of His sweet name changes things for the better and sets people free from bitterness.

When I was walking in carnal flesh, without the Spirit of God within me, I was bitter because there was no joy inside me.  I was searching for a better way to live but was running in the opposite direction from God.  I finally realized that He, and He alone, could satisfy the longing in my soul and make things better and not bitter.

When I surrendered to the wooing of the Holy Spirit, I was able to find the sweetness of God’s love in Jesus Christ.  He dispelled my bitter attitude.  The wonderful thing is this, I didn’t have to be perfect to find God’s love. 

God’s word declares that we can come to Him as we are, with all our hang-ups, questions, and sin, and the Lord will set us free.  God was waiting patiently for me to decide that He was the only way to possess a better life rather than a life of bitter regrets.

I was thinking how a single letter in a word can change the total meaning of that word.  Take the letters “i” and “e” for example.  The word ‘better’ is spelled with an “e”, whereas ‘bitter’ is spelled with an “i”.  One letter makes a difference as to the meaning.

The letter “o” in ‘Son’, and the “i” in ‘sin’ conveys different meanings.  The perfection of God’s Son vs. Satan’s sin is the defining difference between a better life in Jesus rather than a bitter life with Satan.  I’m glad that God threw bitterness to the wind and replaced it with His Son, Jesus.

If you are searching for meaning to life and a better way to live, I give you Jesus.  He is the Prince of Peace.  He provides lasting peace that passes all understanding.  He is the answer to all your quandaries.  Through Him, heaven is our hope for eternity.

(John 3:16-17), “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (vs 17) “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com 

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Words Have Power

After saying my prayers and retiring for the evening, I laid in bed thinking about the goodness and beauty of God’s love and how life changed when I redirected my loyalty at the crossroads-of-new-beginnings.  The day I chose Jesus to be Lord and Savior of my soul, the experience of being born-again was an absolute turning point that affected my life in many, positive ways.

God gave me peace of mind that was certainly unattainable in the lifestyle I was living.  It eluded my grasp.  Joy unspeakable filled my being as quickly as I asked God to forgive my sins.  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit made their abode in my heart that blessed day.

The Lord gave me wonderful hope that I will spend eternity in heaven with Him someday.  At that appointed hour I will have a new, glorified body that is able to behold the full magnificence of God’s Shekinah glory as I look upon His face.

Laying there, I allowed my mind to embrace the awesomeness of how God has gifted me with the ability to arrange words in such a way that people are touched when they read them.  This awareness is mind-boggling, knowing that the writings I post on my blog are read around the world.

It is amazing to see how many viewings are recorded each day and in what countries.  ‘Blogspot’ tracks this information through their database, which I can view.

One day my sister texted me a message that encouraged me from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet.  She joyfully wrote that I was fulfilling scriptures with my blog and gave me the associated verses in the Bible.

(Mark 16:15-16), “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ ” (vs 16) “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Seeing the countries that my blog reaches, my sister was saying that my writings could be considered as being a parallel to physically going into all the world, via the internet.  I never thought of it this way until she brought it to my attention.

I am blessed to know that I am, in some way, inspiring others and encouraging them when they read my writings.  I am sincerely touched when I receive their positive comments.

I laid there with the covers pulled over my shoulders, tucked under my chin, and stared at the ceiling, thinking that we can allow the Holy Spirit to be the watchman at our mouth to help us share words of encouragement or talk off the top of our heads with little thought to the power of words spoken.  It’s our choice.

Spoken words, written words in a letter, or published writings to a blog can be powerful one way or another depending on the attitude and disposition of the one drafting the message.  I believe the content depends on the author’s heart, whether it is a heart of stone or a heart of flesh that is spoken of in the Bible.

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

Words can come across as a resounding gong or clanging cymbal when they are lacking love.

(1 Corinthians 13:1), “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become a resounding gong or clanging cymbal.”

Hopefully, the words that we speak and the words we author are words of life that echo strength and stability, while inspiring those that hear or read them.  I want the words that come from my mind and heart to be Spirit enlightened.  I pray that they will be light in the darkness for someone that needs hope as they read them on my blog.

I’ve listened to music and the words moved me in ways that my soul was rejoicing by the end of the song, whereas I’ve listened to songs that left me empty, a voidness in my heart after they ended.  I believe the positive or negative result is dependent upon the attitude and spirit of the composer.  He or she makes the difference in how the words are received.

A person can read the Bible and be touched in such a way that the words challenge them to change what direction they want to pursue, the path toward heaven rather than the wide road to destruction.  It is the power of Almighty God that rests upon each word in the Bible.  They were blessed by the Holy Spirit as godly men of old penned God’s living words for humanity to receive direction, the road map to salvation through Jesus Christ.

God breathed upon each person as they authored His words without error.  God’s words are infallible, full of inspiration and alive, not dead like a resounding gong or clanging cymbal.

(Hebrews 4:12), “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

I pray that the words I use in my writings have the same anointing on them, with the power to open the minds of people to truth and encourage them to look in God’s direction for their needs.

As thoughts come to me, I jot them down.  When I sit to put these words into sentence-form, many times my eyes tear up because my soul is touched with what God is speaking.  My hope is that the same awareness touches you, the reader.

I believe my writings and Bible scriptures will make positive differences in your life.  I pray that my words will never become like a resounding gong or clanging cymbal.

As I author and post “Writings of Hope” on my blog, I trust that God will give my “Thoughts for Today” power to be like a cool, refreshing glass of water to parched lips of those needing living water from God’s throne.

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd