Bridging the Gap

The Great Depression was a severe, worldwide economic depression that took place mostly during the 1930’s.  It was the most widespread depression of the 20^th-century; an intense decline of worldwide economy.  Financial instability was at its lowest, as was the morale of every man, woman, boy and girl.

People, for the most part, was kind natured and considerate of others though reports say otherwise, but it was only news-media hype trying to sell papers, while diminishing the good that people were doing for others when the depression first hit.  

My dad, trying to raise three children in a collapsed economy, lost his job as did many others, but he experienced, first hand, compassion from those that were bridging the gap of poverty in his community. 

Soup kitchens sprang up everywhere, while churches did their best to help sustain the needs of their congregations; people helping one another to literally survive.  The outpour of help from neighbors and friends was awe-inspiring, according to Dad.

Another blow that shook the very foundation of our nation was the series of four coordinated attacks on the United States by the Islamic terrorist group, al-Qaeda, on the morning of September 11, 2001.  2,996 people were killed and over 6,000 others injured. 

I was riveted to the television and witnessed countless people helping others the day the Twin Towers were hit by two jet aircraft in New York.  Foreboding pressure was in the pit of my stomach.  I couldn’t grasp the severity of it all.  “What just happened?” I said aloud.  Feeling such trepidation I wanted to vomit.

That sickening day of 9/11 and days following, people were bridging the gap of fear and fretfulness with encouragement and love like I had never seen heretofore.  People wanted to help, and they did.

It is when things go South that I am reminded how vulnerable we are when circumstances beyond our control come our way, like Hurricane Dorian.  Recently, this Category 5 hurricane, with 185 mile-an-hour winds, struck the northern Bahamas and destroyed homes, businesses, ships and boats, bringing devastation and death.

Again, I watched communities rally together to bridge the gap on behalf of people in need.  I read that an individual bought 100 electric generators, food and miscellaneous things from Costco to assist the Bahamas.  $50,000.00 is how he bridged the gap to help the less fortunate.

It seems when Mother Nature slams into our world of unconcerned simplicity, she awakens the sleeping nature of mankind.  We boast of our strengths, and swank our head from side to side in the face of other nations, but people everywhere are predisposed to the fury of title waves, tornadoes, hurricanes, electrical and hail storms, earthquakes, raging fires, and erupting volcanoes. 

When disaster happens, I am happy to say that people are awakened from their stupor to bridge the gap where tragedy strikes.  All for one and one for all is the underlying, common denominator that brings people together.

(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.”    

My wife and I financially support an organization called, Convoy of Hope.  Wherever calamity and heartbreak happen, the compassion of this group exceeds wonderment when they reach out to feed, cloth, and support hurting people.  They are bridging the gap between the haves and have-nots, like a bridge over troubled water or spanning rugged terrain filled with peril.

They work endlessly to bridge the gap between those people helping and people needing help.  Convoy of Hope is there meeting the needs and being God’s hand outstretched to hopeless, less fortunate people.

Helping others is far more rewarding than you might think.  I always feel better about myself knowing I had a part in bringing a glimmer of hope to someone’s heart.

(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.’ ”

Bridging the gap can be labor intensive at times, but the reward comes when the need has been met—feelings of fulfillment and satisfaction.  The joy of it all is when we choose to address the gap rather than looking the other way.

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

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

I am talking about bridging the gap, whereas, the gap of sin occurred in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  Sin entered the world, which separated them from God, which caused all generations to possess the sin nature of Adam—needing sins forgiven and reconciliation with God.

Since the separation, humanity is attempting to span the gap between God and man with good works, religion, idealistic philosophy, being a humanitarian and having compassion for others, but to no avail.  Let me explain. 

Though these things are commendable and good in themselves, they will come up short in the end when standing before God, because our righteousness and good works are not enough, because of sin.  Only the Cross of Calvary can span the “sin gap.”

If a person knows God, because of a personal relationship with Jesus, compassion and good works should follow, depending upon the personality of the person saved.  It doesn’t happen immediately for some people.

It is taking time for me to learn how to treat others, because of my nature and how I was raised.  God is perfecting me, as He will you, by teaching the importance of representing the attributes of Christ as a Christian.  The Holy Spirit is helping me to grow daily in the knowledge of Jesus’ character.

No one can span the gap of sin, because of who they are or how much money they give to charities.  There are many wonderful people that are filled with compassion that are not Believers, but it is not they that God recognizes; it is Jesus, His Son. 

Though countless people give to help others, there is something missing at the end of the day if they don’t know Jesus as Lord.  They lack the peace and true satisfaction that come when God forgives their sin.  By allowing Jesus to span the gap of sin on their behalf, this act of faith brings completeness to their life.

It is hard for a person that is good-natured, compassionate, and gives away from self, to grasp the notion that they are sinners and cannot span the gap to connect with God even though giving money and time rendered is exemplary. 

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

If humanity were able to bridge the gap between God and man, Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins would have been in vain.  The plan of salvation that God offers is the only way to be united with Him.  There is no other way.  We have no say in the matter, because we have all sinned and are unclean. 

We are in the dispensation of grace, rather than under the Law of Moses.  No longer do we depend upon high priests to sacrifice animals for our sins, because Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God without moral defect or fault—sinless.

God accepted the death of His Son for the sins of the world.  Jesus, bridged the gap of sin, because of God’s great love for His creation.  You and I are the reason He gave His life on the cross.

(John 3:16)  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

God’s grace is sufficient for all sins and any calamity that befalls us.  Thank you, Jesus, for spanning the gap and making a way, (the only way) for me and the reader of these thoughts.  To be born-again (sins forgiven) unites us with Almighty God.  We become children of God.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Be Yourself

Not every Believer is expected to do the ministry of Evangelist Billy Graham, Mother Mary Teresa, or Moses.  They were specifically called to stand in God’s strength and supremacy against principalities and powers of darkness. 

Were they blessed of God?  Absolutely, but God loves all of us, equally, with a never ending love.  He gave His Son to die for humanity’s sins—every man, woman, boy, and girl.  This includes you and me no matter how deep in sin we may be. 

All Christians have his or her battles to fight, but God brings the victory when they position themselves to face the opposition, wearing the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)… Belt of truth; breastplate of righteousness; shoes of the gospel; shield of faith; helmet of salvation; sword of the spirit; praying in the spirit.

It is not difficult to put on the whole armor of God as you might think.  When individuals give themselves to Jesus, they are clothed in God’s armor.  All the pieces of the armor are found in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

God needed personalities like Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, and Moses of whom could endure the challenges they would face, while standing the test of time.  Each of them was faithful until death.  They were special in their own right with character traits that was necessary to do God’s bidding.  There was only one Billy, one Mary, and one Moses.

Mother Teresa was a great humanitarian, nun and missionary.  One of her quotes is this:  “Not all of us can do great things.  But we can do small things with great love.”

When God saves a person’s soul from sin, He expects them to stand with their feet firmly planted in a place where they are needed.  Differing personalities and talents are used by God to bring about positive results in His perfect plan for lost souls.

(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.” 

“God doesn’t require us to succeed; he only requires that you try.”—Mother Teresa

Yes, God uses people like you and me to work in His harvest fields where hopelessness and despair abide.  We are special to Him just as those needing a Savior are special.

God wants us to be our self, not someone else.  Each of us will touch others in ways like no one else can.  God uses our qualities and individuality to spread the “Good News” that Jesus Christ is Lord and that in Him there is forgiveness of sin and newness of life.

This is exactly what Evangelist David Wilkerson did when he felt strongly that God was calling him to the streets of New York City where crime and mayhem were widespread.  David’s compelling desire to testify to gang members that Jesus Christ could give them hope and new purpose in living was met with defiance from Nicky Cruz, the leader of a gang called, the Mau Maus—the Dragons.

Cruz exclaimed, “You come near me and I’ll kill you!”  David replied, “Yeah, you could do that.  You could cut me up into a thousand pieces and lay them in the street, and every piece will still love you.”

God miraculously touched Nicky Cruz.  He, like his protégé, David Wilkerson, expressed the same desire to bring hope, peace, and joy to others.  He accepted a position as director of Teen Challenge that Wilkerson established.

In that David Wilkerson obeyed God and went to New York City, Nicky Cruz was born-again, touching countless lives for Christ.  David or Nicky was not Moses or Billy Graham, but they stood in the gap where they were needed and did the work that God called them to do.

Wilkerson told the story in, “The Cross and the Switchblade” the book he wrote of his experiences.  We all have our stories to tell, but it is the same God that brings the increase of souls into His family through our faithfulness in witnessing about Jesus Christ.

God desires that we show love and servant-hood to those lacking hope, needing a Savior, just as Jesus did when He walked the earth.  It is much easier to live our faith around other Christians, but in the real world where the rubber hits the road, it is more difficult to keep the right attitude when personal feelings are strained and tested to the breaking point.

It is important to remain examples of God’s love and strive to retain the mind of Christ by showing His attributes in our quest to do God’s work.  People are watching and listening to everything Christians say and do.  One’s demeanor will repel or draw them to the Lord.

I remember my sister telling me the importance of not showing negative feelings in the presence of others, even though I may be going through a spiritual battle of my own.  I had just been saved and elected to the position of youth president at the church I attended.  Her counsel has stuck with me through the years.

Words and actions can lift up or tear down another person.  A leader needs to maintain a smile without complaining.  Another quote from Mother Teresa is this:  “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”

You may say, “I’m not a leader and have no desire of becoming one.”  I understand there are different personalities that make up our populace.  Some are outgoing, while others are inward and non confrontational. 

What ever personality is yours, God wants you to be yourself and not someone else.  We are unique to Him and personable in our own right.  I believe that everyone that becomes a Christian is a leader.  Some share their faith openly, while others allow Christ to show through them.

We need not compare ourselves to any other Christian… just be yourself and let God do His work through you as He sees fit.  There is only one you and one me.  God just wants us to be willing to stand in the gap where our personality and talents are needed.  He will do the rest through us.

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

(Zechariah 4:6)  “… Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

God gives us the courage and where-with-all to get the job done in a manner that is pleasing to Him.  He brings the increase. We cannot save a person’s soul, but God’s Spirit draws sinners to Himself through our witness, verbally or living the life in such a way that others see our good works.

Being ourselves, while standing in God’s strength and love, gives us a good moral center that depicts kindness, ultimately putting Christ at the center of everything.

Do people see Christ in you or do they see a reflection of themselves—nothing different…

Written by,
Papa Boyd

Diving For Putrefying Garbage

As a kid, several years ago now, I grew up in the small, bedroom community of Martinez, California where residents left their doors unlocked, because crime was almost nonexistent.  Killings and kidnappings never occurred. 

People looked out for one another in an environment where children felt safe in their surroundings.  Trust was everyday living; a virtue, not like some of today’s restless communities where widespread chaos and disorder run unbridled.

Crime and mayhem not only lurk in the shadows of night, daytime offenses are becoming the norm.  The lack of values and morality are quickly polluting our neighborhoods with the stench of hatred, looming like a garbage dump that you can smell for blocks.  It is called sin.  But where sin abounds, the grace of God abounds even more.

In my youth, people respected each other’s property and a person’s word was their bond.  A simple handshake sealed the deal without an attorney drawing up documents for everyone to sign.  Times have changed and getting worse, because of sin, but God still speaks peace in the presence of turmoil.

I have fond memories growing up, especially of my grandfather working in his garden, hoeing and watering the plants by hand and picking a tomato or two for me to enjoy as we talked about the week I had at school.  Grandpa lived across the street from us and was never too busy to take time with me.  He loved me and I loved him.

My dad found pleasure following in Grandpa’s footsteps, gardening.  There was always something growing in our backyard that he had planted, which rekindled sweet memories of Grandpa and the times we had together.

Like Grandpa, Dad knew how to prepare for planting.  He tilled the earth the old-fashioned way, using a spading fork rather than a rototiller.  Turning the soil over by hand got the job done, but it was hard work.

As I matured and became stouter and stronger, on occasion I surprised Dad by turning the soil and breaking up the dirt clods when he was at work.  It was backbreaking, manual labor to say the least, but worth every blister and aching muscle just to see the smile on his face—nice memories.

The one memory I do have will forever be in my nostrils, figuratively speaking.  Dad had a truckload of steer manure delivered and dumped on the driveway in front of the entry door to our house.  It stunk to high heaven. 

All the neighbors for blocks around could smell the poop.  It was so bad that I thought my nose hairs would fall out or the inner membrane would become damaged from smelling it.  It was the most unpleasant odor I had ever smelled.  I don’t know where Dad bought the stuff, but in my opinion, they got the better end of the deal.

This mound of pure dung had to be moved to the backyard to fertilize the garden area.  That meant several trips with a wheelbarrow filled with smelly poop.  Guess who moved it?  Yep.

I wrapped a cloth around my nose, which did nothing to keep out the smell.  I went to work spreading it evenly where Dad wanted it as he tilled it into the soil.  It seemed like I would never get done, but in time the smell went away and we enjoyed the fruits of our labor as the plants grew and provided their yield.

This experience reminds me of the stinking mound of sin that was piled in front of my heart’s door.  Jesus waded through the disgusting filth to knock on my door.  He told me that God would remove all traces of sin and toss the rot into the sea of His forgetfulness, never to remember them against me again. 

I asked for forgiveness and the disgusting odor went away, because God removed every spade full of sin, which freed me from the stench that everyone around me could smell.  I became a born-again-Believer.

The problem I see with many Christians is hindsight-living; having problems accepting the fact that when God forgives sin, He forgives all sin forevermore.

I believe that people are haunted with past memories of sin.  They find themselves having pity parties again and again, wishing they would have done things differently.  I call this kind of nerve-racking agony, “the-do-betters,”… if only I… I should not have…  Maybe you are one being tormented with past woes that can fill in the empty spaces.

Perhaps you find yourself pleading with God over and over to forgive certain things, whereas, the dregs of the cup have already been tossed out.  Remember, God forgives all sin forevermore.  We cannot do anything about our past, but we do have the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth today.

In my imagination I see individuals diving deep into God’s sea of forgetfulness wearing scuba gear and grasping a sand bucket and shovel to scoop up the sediment of forgiven sins, dive after dive.  I watch as they pour out the contents of the bucket on the altar before God and Him saying, “What is this?”

God forgives and forgets our transgressions.  Living in peace will happen when we stop diving for past sins.  Leave the dregs where God put them. 

We are cleansed by the blood of Jesus that He shed on Calvary for our sins.  We need to believe and accept this truth.  When we resist Satan’s finger-pointing, the disquieting past will heal, because we are a member of the family of God.  The Lord wants us to live in harmony, and certainly victory.

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

The kids of today need to be introduced to the man that can remove all garbage from their life and give hope where there is none.  Jesus Christ is the only person that can do this.  He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Written by,
Papa Boyd

Sucker Punched by Masked Deception

Halloween is a controversial affair that comes once a year on October 31^st.  It is fun for kids of all ages to enter into the festivities and merriment that accompany this day. 

The lack of nervousness toward goblins and the like allows people to embrace and celebrate its coming, much like a masquerade ball or similar venue.  Others frown on its evil perception and forbid their children from participating. 

The internet provides extensive clarification of the baseline beginning of Halloween, leading up to commercial and secular undertones in present day living.  It is interesting reading.

Halloween involves dressing up in masks and costumes, carving jack-o’-lanterns out of pumpkins and trick-or-treating around the neighborhoods and in nearby shopping malls.  There are decorations of skeletons and witches everywhere, and pictures of vicious looking bats and monsters.  Masks of every kind, for all personalities, are seen far and wide.

A mask hides the identity of the wearer, which brings me to today’s thought.  It was customary for outlaws in the old west to wear bandannas over their nose to conceal their identity. 

Covering one’s face still holds true today when committing crimes, because of the consequences that befall them if caught.  Masks are often used rather than neckerchiefs.

I have heard the expression, “You can’t tell a book by its cover,” which can apply to the above scenario as well as the following notion.  I see people wearing dust masks when the pollen count is high and also in doctor’s waiting rooms for health reasons.  They are not going to steal someone’s purse or try and lift a wallet or two, although this has probably been tried.

What is in the mind of a person wearing a mask—deception or nothing to worry about?  I guess we just have to be aware and remain alert.  Deception and purity of heart can run a close parallel, especially when trickery is masked.  It is hard to distinguish one from the other.

Deception comes in different forms and is disguised to appear as light, but behind the sham is the darkness of everything bad.  Satan is the master at deceiving people.  If we allow our mind to turn a blind eye to false teachings that appear as truth, heartache is around the corner.  We must remain vigilant.  

If something seems a little off and that small voice inside is saying, “Look out,” proceed with caution, or better yet, run from the bearer that is pushing their agenda, which goes contrary to God’s Word.  It is not of God.  

Guard against being enticed by any form or mask that the devil puts on, because we run the risk of being hurt by the results of our lackadaisical disregard to things we suspect as being wrong, even though outwardly they resemble truth.

Satan is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  He is like a thief that wants to rob life from us with all of its fullness and joy.  His goal is to kill and destroy God’s greatest creation—you and me. 

We must protect our mind from non-truths and not be sucker punched by masked deception.  God removes the scales from our eyes so that we can see clearly the workings of despicable vermin that seek to devour us.  God desires that we have life.

(John 10:10)  “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

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

The Holy Spirit sheds light on the darkness that surrounds pitfalls of deception, even though they appear to be somewhat acceptable to Christian living.  That which is hidden by the mask Satan wears is exposed, revealing the true nature of his evil ways. 

We need not fear the enemy of our soul, because God gives us the where-with-all to resist the deceptive beauty of Satan’s method of trickery.

Satan schemes to bring to pass a systematic plan for attaining our trust; a secret or underhanded arrangement to separate us from God’s love—a trick.  Remember trick-or-treat?

The devil always tricks and never treats a person with dignity, consideration, or love.  He is cold, insensitive, and has a cruel disregard for humanity.  He is callous and full of iniquity.  No wonder he wears a mask.  He wants to sucker punch the human race in its entirety.

Lucifer, as he was named, paints pictures of splendor on canvases smeared with dung and crustacean.  When the perceived magnificence of his trickery fades, the stench of rotting filth quickly comes forth. 

With God’s help we will never hang his worthless paintings on the walls of our heart.  God is good all the time.  His love never fails.  

Written by,

Papa Boyd  

The Path We Choose

Everyone has their journey, but there is only one path to God.  Though mankind conjures up cynicism as a means to attain justification for their sins, a rude awakening awaits them just around the corner if they continue to spurn God’s love and continue on this path of destruction. 

Many individuals are traveling in their own strength and rely upon good works to make their trip on earth satisfactory to our Creator when they finish the race-of-life, expecting acceptance from God in the here-after.  This is not God’s plan at all.  The Bible says that our righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of God. 

There are wonderful folks everywhere that abide by the laws of the land and treat their neighbors as they themselves want to be treated, but false teachings have obscured the truth of God to the point that they believe their good deeds and self-righteousness are enough to get them into heaven.  These are counterfeits for the purity of Christ that Satan would have us believe.

Believing this lie will ultimately separate a person from the presence of God when they pass from this life.  They must accept Jesus Christ as the only propitiation for sins committed.  There is no other way.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

(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.”

Man’s teaching and philosophy spits in the face of God.  Humanity, since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, is wicked and self-absorbed, needing a Savior.  They willfully try to stamp out and nullify God’s love by setting themselves on the thrown and putting Him under it. 

God gave His only Begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins…a free gift to humanity in order to restore the bond between Him and us. 

Disregarding God’s Word does not change His plan one iota.  God will not allow any person to substitute their unrighteousness in an attempt to negate the true righteousness of Jesus. 

The Lord’s death and resurrection stands unmovable in the face of false teachings that man contrives as truth.  When they try to replace the deity and sovereignty of Christ with heresy, the Holy Spirit lifts up a standard against it.  God has the last say.

Jesus paid the full price for the sins of mankind.  No other person on earth, now or ever, is holy enough to satisfy God for the forgiveness of sin.  Only the blood of Jesus can do this.  It cleanses sinners from the darkness of wrongdoing and makes them pure as the driven snow.

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

I can understand why people choose not to talk about the not-so-popular subject matter of dying.  They lack peace of mind that all is well with their soul—fearing the unknown.  They would rather sip their latte or something stronger and talk about everything else under the sun except meeting their maker.

They skirt the issue in conversation and hide from its finality—the inevitable.  A person that cringes from the subject and refuses to think or talk about it does not negate the inevitable from happening. 

Two things are sure in life, taxes and dying.  They are a part of living that there is no getting around.  Trying to hide from the reality of death by sticking our head in the sand will not change the end results, but the choice we make, while breath is still in our lungs, changes the final destination of where our soul spends eternity. 

I remember in my teens and mid-twenties avoiding the subject all together.  I knew where I was headed and it scared me.  Rather than facing distasteful thoughts, I blocked them by cramming these unwanted reminders of death in the far reaches of my subconscious, but it was a feeble attempt to hide from the inevitable.  The terror of the unavoidable always found its way out, usually when I tried to sleep at night.

The path we choose with Christ provides peace of mind that where He is in heaven, there we will be also.  The opposite is true when we choose to reject God’s free gift of salvation and go our own way.

The choice is ours to make; our destiny depends on it.  God does not choose for us and no one else can make the choice by proxy.  We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  He paid the full price for sin for every living person.  We need only to accept Him as Lord.

(Romans 10:9)  “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Satan provides so much negative connotation in the world that it would fill a fleet of garbage trucks a hundred fold…too many voices saying, “Take this path.”

(Matthew 7:13-14)  “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”  Vs.14 “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

You will find the older you get, the faster the years seem to go by.  It is amazing how quickly time passes.  I wondered if 21 would ever get here, but then shortly thereafter the fast, forward button was pushed and behold I was transported to my twilight years in the blink of an eye.

(Psalm 144:4)  “Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” 

I thank God for each day He gives me to spend time with my soul-mate, children and wonderful grandchildren.  I no longer fear where my soul will end up like I once did, because I gave my heart to the Lord.  Peace that is hard to explain now permeates my thought process. 

Because of the path I chose, no longer do I cry at nights fearing to close my eyes and sleep, because I have hope in the promise of God that heaven is my home…forever.  The hope and peace He gave me, He will do for you.  God is no respecter of person.  He loves you and wants to free you from the bondage that besets you.

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

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Prayer + Faith = Trust

I’m sure you have heard the phrase, “Prayer is the key, but faith unlocks the door.”  This expression sums up the meaning of being a Christian who trusts God.

Walking by faith is more than waking up in the morning and saying, “I am going to rely upon God for everything today.”  These words are nice, but have little depth unless a person has prepared themselves mentally and spiritually for the next few hours of challenges. 

Prayer coupled with faith is the two ingredients that produce a mind-set of total trust in God.  I don’t believe it just happens.  We have to plan, in advance, how to sustain our relationship with godliness. 

Being tempted to stray from biblical teachings, leaving ourselves open to Satan’s trickery is reality in a nutshell.  Look at the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  They were beguiled by the devil (the serpent) to sin.

We are familiar with prayer, but what is faith and how do I attain it?  The Bible says that faith comes by reading God’s Word—the Holy Bible.  It empowers the reader to stand fast in the face of opposition, calamity, and whatever a new day brings.

How does reading the Bible produce power?  I don’t know it just does when an individual dedicates time and effort in reading it.  It is sharper than any two-edged sword.  We can speak its truth in boldness and watch things happen on our behalf.  Peace comes when we leave it with God—His will be done concerning the matter.

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

(2 Corinthians 5:7), “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

The Bible was written by holy men of old that were breathed upon by God to pen infallible words of inspired truth.  God is omnipotent and His Word never fails.  We can trust what it says and stake our reputation and life on its accuracy.  It is God’s will and testament to all Believers.

(Matthew 21:22), “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

I was raised by Christian parents that believed in prayer.  It was a common practice in our household.  They walked by faith every day and taught me the value of serving God and trusting Him in all things. 

Mom told me a story of the time I was being punished for being naughty when I was a lad.  I pleaded with her to pray for the pain that I was feeling on my bottom side.  “Pray Mamma pray!” I exclaimed as the tears rolled down my cheeks.

I knew the power of prayer, because I had experienced, first hand, answers to prayers numerous times when Mom or Dad would lay hands on me and pray for healing.  I had faith in my heart that if Mom would pray, the pain would go away.  She was so touched by my request that she ceased the spanking, thus, another prayer answered.

Prayer coupled with faith works.  I trust the Lord for the details of my life.  He is the complete source of my strength.  There is nothing in this world, except taxes and death that you can count on.  Other things like pride and vanity fail.  They are smoke and mirrors, while material gain produces only momentary satisfaction, nothing lasting.

Prayer plus faith equals trust in Jesus Christ, which completes a person both emotionally and spiritually.  This phenomenon, the object of a person’s perception, allows the senses or mind to recognize Deity.  This observable fact enables them to freely drink from the springs of living water that God provides to those that believe and faint not. 

Their confidence, or trust, is enhanced each time answers avail themselves.  God will do what He said He will do in the Bible for those that believe on the name of Jesus.  This belief system is called, walking by faith, which pleases God.

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

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), “Rejoice always,” Vs.17 “pray without ceasing,” Vs.18 “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Rummaging Through Yesterday's Memories

I don’t make a practice of living in the past where heartache was the norm, because I am now a born-again Christian.  Rummaging through yesterday’s lustful, unwelcomed memories is nothing to dwell upon, whereas, Godly experiences help us face today’s challenges when reflecting upon the positive.

God gave me a wonderful computer on my birthday—my brain at birth.  It can recall things as far back as my youth, no doubt, equal to an elephant’s memory. 

I did research on elephants and the studies that were made regarding their recall capabilities.  It was interesting reading.  To say a person has the memory of an elephant is certainly a compliment, not a criticism.

Because of the marvelous capacity of our gray matter, memories can be pure or they can be tainted if allowed to wander.  When negative thoughts from my past begin to creep into my thinking, I immediately reject them by exclaiming, “I’m outta here!”  In doing so, this is my way of resisting the devil as the Bible says we can do. 

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

Nothing good can come from dwelling upon past memories if those memories are wistful thoughts of the bad and ugly nature of one’s former, sinful life.  Let’s face it, Satan has the monopoly on glitz and glitter in this world, but he fails to inform the user-of-filth of the end result that sin leads to—a life of uncertainty, without hope. 

The unrest and worrisome lifestyle of a non-Christian far exceed what the mind can imagine in the beginning of indulgent living.  The consequences are less than satisfying not only health wise, but most significantly the waning health of the spiritual entity of a person. 

Standing before the Lord on judgment day, giving an account for deeds done, is a sobering thought.  Rummaging through yesterday’s memories of times that the Holy Spirit called their name, but rejecting the call will haunt them for eternity.  I shudder to think how terrifying it would be to hear the words from God… “Depart from Me; I never knew you.”

After jotting down my thoughts today, I questioned, “Where is the hope in this writing?”  The only hope of eternal life in heaven is Jesus Christ.  He is the one and only way to God Almighty.  There is no other name, whereby, sin can be forgiven.

(Isaiah 64:6), “But we are all like an unclean thing and all our righteousness are like filthy rags…”

Jesus changes our thought process when we ask God to forgive our sins and we invite the Lord into our heart.  Good memories begin at the moment of salvation when we become children of God.  The old nature ceases when Jesus becomes Lord of our life.

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

Rummaging through yesterday’s memories is put on hold when we yield our mind to the things of God.  We need not end up like Lot’s wife when she turned and looked back toward Sodom and Gomorrah, cities of the plain where sinful living had become an abomination to God (Genesis 19). 

I believe that when she turned to view the city of Sodom, her memories encompassed the sinful surroundings that she had become accustomed to.  She ignored the words from the angle of God… “Do not look back.”  She was immediately turned to a pillar of salt.

It is just as important for you and me to not look back at past sins and dwell upon their impurities.  Keeping our eyes and mind upon wholesome things prevent us from rummaging through yesterday’s memories of the old sin nature.

(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.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Cast All Your Cares Upon Him

Preparing to write my thoughts, the first words that came to mind were, “God I need You.”  It is my desire to share opinions and viewpoints that are God-inspired, rather than filling a page with words that sound like sounding brass and tinkling cymbals.  I want my thoughts to challenge, inspire, and motivate-to-action those that read them.

I believe that God has sent you my way, not to receive a crutch or band aide to help you through a time of whys and unknowns, but to persuade you in putting your trust wholly in the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills; the One who speaks peace in the face of impossible odds; the One who calms the storm and shines the light of His love where love has ceased to be—His name is Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

I could spend the rest of our time together reminiscing past woes, while anticipating the negatives that may come because of them, or we can put our hand in the hand of someone that affectionately cares about what you are facing.

When Jesus speaks, “Peace be still,” the calmness of His voice and presence of God dispel doubt and fear, while the heavy weight of the cares of life are lifted from shoulders that are weary from carrying them.

The song, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” goes something like this… “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.”

When we take our eyes off of the problem and look to the problem solver, something happens that confounds even the most intelligent of minds.  Peace like a deep, flowing river floods our being when we speak the name of Jesus.  An aching heart is filled with hope, while despair is changed to expectation and optimism.  Try it and you will see.

The Lord is patiently waiting for you to call out to Him for help.  Just cast your cares upon Him and see what happens.  It works; I promise.

(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.”

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

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Nothing of Value Comes Without Effort

With my recent move and settling into a new location closer to our grand-kids, it has been a while since I’ve shared my thoughts.  I suspected that our last home that I built thirty-three years ago would be my place of residence until that final relocation in the sky, but God had other plans.

When you think you have everything figured out and all is going well, God sometimes throws a curve and decision time is here again.  When this happens, everyday routines change and the looking back is usually pleasant or perhaps it isn’t.  Nevertheless, we can trust the sovereignty of God, knowing that He is mindful of our steps.

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

To set in motion God’s plan, we can find ourselves stepping through one door, which leads to other doors that we can choose to walk through or not.  When we believe that all things work together in positive ways for born-again Believers, the will of God is easier to recognize and accept concerning our future.

Sometimes the door in front of us is a bit intimidating to step through, because we cannot see what lies beyond.  But we can put our faith in God to open the door that no man can close or to keep it closed that no man can open.  Thus, we walk by faith if we are of a mind to do so. 

Ultimately, it is our choice; we are free moral agents to choose door #1, door #2, or door #3.  God does not usurp our will, but the Holy Spirit, in fact, moves in our heart to choose rightly.  It is up to us to make the final decision.

For the most part, it is easier to float along with the tide of everyday living and just exist without putting forth an effort to see what is on the other side of the door.  We can become content in well-doing without venturing to far from our comfort-zone, whereas, this movement or lack thereof profits little or nothing.

As I see it, to set back on one’s laurels, lacking the intestinal fortitude to even attempt something new or challenging is like saying I am content with the status quo.  This reluctant attitude of stepping out in faith to see what God has in store for us says a lot about our station in life.  It is easy to give into Satan’s scheme to subdue and set us on the shelf of “do nothing.”

This attitude is a sure way to fail without any effort being manifested.  A person’s behavior of “why try” runs a close parallel to “I give up.”  We must shake our self awake from the supposed, compulsory sleep that has inadvertently overshadowed us. 

To change venue, job employment, so-called friends, or whatever area you are drowning in, takes courage to reach out and take the doorknob and turn it by faith and see what God has for you.  Nothing of value comes without effort.  Determining in your soul to transform certain attitudes is important.  As my father-in-law would say, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

The old nature that says, “Less effort equals failure before doing anything,” becomes less and less noticeable, because “success” is now in one’s vocabulary of hopes and dreams that can be achieved with God’s help.

My dad was a great believer in doing your very best at whatever you set your mind to do.  God will advance our efforts, because He wants the most excellent blessings for His children.  But we must show ourselves worthy of our hire so that God can move forward with His plan for bigger and better things in our life.  This takes effort on our part.

I have often prayed for God to lock the door in front of me or swing it wide open so that I would know that it was He who was doing the work.  Moving from one city to another was no exception, especially this late in life. 

Step by step as door after door opened, it filled me with exhilaration and stimulated my trust in God even more.  I said earlier that looking back is usually pleasant or perhaps not.  I wish I could say that the move was all roses and that nothing unpleasant happened, but this was not the case.  Challenges did happen, but I was not out of the will of the Lord. 

Through each situation my wife and I continued to believe that God wanted us in the same city as our children and grandchildren.  For the most part, all went well, but Satan seemed to raise his ugly head in the best of times to cause us to doubt God’s supremacy.  As an old friend once said, “Keep on keeping on.”  This is what we did.

Looking back we can certainly see the hand of God working out all things in our behalf that were temporary roadblocks that Satan had placed in our pathway.  God’s peace never left us.  The move was and is fruitful, as is our relationship with our sons, daughters, and grandchildren.  The value of togetherness was the result of effort put forth, and of course, trusting God.

Knowing that God’s will is perfect, and believing that God opened a door before us through circumstances, spiritual conformations, or things just working out, it is my nature to be cautiously optimistic when stepping over the threshold into another realm of God’s perfection—guarded in some respects, because I believe that we are to move with caution and eyes open.

When it seems the honeymoon could be over, figuratively speaking, and doubts begin to flood the mind that a wrong decision was made, we must stop, look, and listen to what God is saying; what He wants us to see; and what He wants us to learn.  When we take to heart God’s reasons why the door was there, we again feel His peace.  Resisting the devil’s attempts to create doubt regarding God’s excellence is crucial.  Remember, Satan’s roar is harmless and he is the father of lies.

Perhaps God is challenging our ability to deal with adversities and trust Him for the answers, or He is merely testing our character as to how we deal with the negativity going on in our brain.  Rather than slacking our responsibility to husband, wife, being a parent, or relaxing initiative concerning our employer that hired us in good faith, we must shake our self into submission and rise above downbeat thinking. 

God honors good, moral fiber in those that stand admirably in the face of adversity.  Unhappiness or discontentment can cause premature decisions to be made.  Waiting on God makes sense.  It is crucial.  Being out of God’s will is not a good place to be.  Wrong decisions can change the providence of not only one’s self, but everyone in close proximity to the one making decisions.  

Boredom can create bad habits in the workplace as well as other areas of life when we permit it to consume our better judgment.  For this reason we must resist irritation, not allowing it to devour our happiness.  Waiting for God’s solution and perfect timing is vital when troubles or tribulations arise.  Trusting God and keeping a good attitude about things keep us focused and out of the mulligrubs—ill-tempered mood.

The worst time to make decisions is when we are in the valley of despair.  God sees us where we are and desires the best for His children.  Believe it!  When we keep the right attitude, our Father in heaven will do what He said He would do to provide us with a successful and happy life.  We need to trust Him and put forth the effort it takes to achieve the value of God’s best.

The door God places in front of us can come about through situations changing, word-of-mouth attesting to one’s strength of character and skill, spiritual conformation, or things just working out for our good.  However or whatever God chooses to bring about His ideal purpose concerning us will happen, but we need to be patient and be willing to put forth the effort it takes to open the door when it comes into view.  Nothing of value comes without effort.

There might be a thousand reasons that God needed you where you are, yet we sometimes see through a glass darkly, not seeing the total picture.  Don’t lose heart, in time God clears obscurity-of-vision to reveal the reasons if we are looking for those reasons, rather than complaining and keeping our head bowed low and asking, “Why?”

When we hold our head high and make the most out of the new position, the new location, or new surroundings, a positive attitude develops, especially when we recognize God’s hand at work in our life, while taking heed to those He placed around us.  Perhaps they need a relationship with Almighty God, and God chose you to bring the Good News that Jesus Christ is the answer for their life.

Some doors are placed in our path so that we can influence others in positive ways.  Doors also help us to grow in faith and character in preparation for the next door of opportunity that God sets before us.

When we prove ourselves to God through endeavors to achieve excellence at our present employment, neighborhood, church we attend, volunteer work we are involved with; whatever the mission field we are willing to attach ourselves to, God continues to advance us in ways that will stagger our mind and mental ability to grasp all that the Lord is doing on our behalf.

God sees our faithfulness, tenacity and ongoing effort to prove our self.  He will advance us even higher, because His blessings are limitless.  We are His children and He will give us the desires of our heart.  Believe it!

(Matthew 25:23) “His lord said to him, ‘Well done good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.’"

Written by,
Papa Boyd