The Process of Elimination

My wife is spring cleaning a bit late this year, because she broke her ankle in three places, seven months ago.  She is doing fine now.

My better half, as I sometimes refer to her, is on me to eliminate some of the old shoes and graphic T-shirts that take up a lot of room in our clothe closet.  What can I say, they are broken in just the way I like them.

I know if I give in, she will just turn around and buy new.  So, what is my hesitation?  Well, they are comfortable, that’s all I can say.

Such is sin.  Being involved with it is comfortable at times and it’s what sinners do, as I did before meeting the Lord.  Sinning becomes a way of life and is hard to rid oneself of this nature.  Apposing God was part of my everyday wardrobe, because I am part of Adam’s race and Gene-pool, as are you.

In that he and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, we are born with the sin nature within us.  Everyone has this same inherited affliction.  I might say, too many old clothes or skeletons were in the closet of my heart—unwanted wear that needed to be eliminated.

Jesus did this when He saved my soul, but it is an ongoing battle to keep myself from falling into various temptations.  I strive to keep my heel upon the neck of the old sin nature so that it does not raise its ugly head.

God removed the old, worn-out, sin-apparel that was not pleasing to Him.  Since I took the positive step in God’s direction and Jesus filled my heart with His Spirit, God is helping me to not do the things I once did.  One by one I am eliminating old habits.

I can do without the confusion and heartache that sinning brings.  God is showing me a new way to live, free of regrets.  Doing things His way brings joy and lasting peace.

As a newly born, babe in Christ, and the years following, through the process of elimination I am putting off the old man as God opens doors to new experiences in Him.  The more I eliminate things of my old nature, the more of God I receive.  The more of God I receive, the more of Him I want.

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

God’s blessings are deep and wide, like a great river that never runs dry.  God is like a beautiful fountain of endless love. 

Being affected by sin or should I say, infected by exterior influences and their visual effects, I liken this lifestyle to a kid walking through a toy or candy store wanting to touch and sample everything he sees.  But his parent or guardian is with him and helps the boy control his urges through correction.  God disciplines those He loves.

(Hebrews 12:7) “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”

It’s like walking with Father God and experiencing the positive changes that He brings through correction, if needed.  Just knowing that God has far greater goodies for His children than what Satan has to offer, it causes me to dig deeper and pray harder so that I walk even closer to God than ever before.

The devil’s candy store and toy store lose their appeal, because God outshines the negative aspects of worldly glimmer.  It is amazing how the Holy Spirit comforts me in times of sorrow, while Jesus embraces me when I weep alone.  God the Father always speaks words of encouragement to my heart when I am dealing with things out of my control.

These are just a few positives that take place when eliminating unwanted sin in one’s life.  There is more room for the Lord when we do so.

When I ran track in high school, before my heat (race) in the 880-yard run, I always eliminated my warm-up sweats and heavy Converse tennis shoes.  I didn’t want to be encumbered with unnecessary, extra weight.

The freedom I felt in shorts and a thin jersey made running the half mile much easier, especially after putting on my lightweight track shoes.  They were the lightest ones that I could buy.  It was like running barefooted.

After my new birth experience with the Lord, I eliminated drinking, partying, cruising the main to meet girls, and a host of other unnecessary weights that so easily beset me.  They once bogged me down spiritually, but no more.

The burden of sin that was pressing me down was lifted and I could breathe.  It was like getting a second wind when running the 880.  This is exactly what it feels like when Jesus takes up residence in our heart.

I am running a race toward heaven, remaining unfettered by worldly influences that weigh me down.  This ongoing process of eliminating temptations is achieved with the help of the Holy Spirit, as I have stated.  He is my strength.  All things become new in Jesus when God forgives sin.

After conversion, it is a process of learning how to eliminate unwanted temptations by listening to the One who wants to give me a new wardrobe of righteousness.  I keep my eyes on the Lord.  This cleaning process provides more room in my heart to receive God’s blessings as I work out my own salvation in fear and trembling.

The wonderful gifts that God imparted to you and me at Calvary are ours for the asking, when we accept Jesus as Lord.  We become God’s kids and part of His family.  The same privileges that Jesus is given are ours to share.

As I learn how to eliminate habits obtained in the world, I am amazed at how white and clean the blood of Jesus has washed my sin-stained soul.  According to the Bible, God made it white as snow.  It is as if I had never sinned. 

The blackness of sin disappears, because of the grace and mercy that God extends to whoever calls upon the name of Jesus.  When Jesus freely gave His life on the cross for sinners, He had you and me on His mind.  Even before we were born, He knew our name and loved us.

The process of elimination is about sin that was holding me fast in its ugly clutches until God eliminated them.  The river-of-life now flows from His throne to me.  God’s blessings will never run dry.  There is a vast, unlimited supply.  His pure, fountain of love, whom we know as Jesus, freed my soul from sin.

I am a sinner saved by grace.  God will do the same for every person that is searching for peace, true freedom, and a new way of living, without all the drama and shenanigans that the world presses in on us.

We cannot buy or obtain salvation because of who we are, and certainly not by our own good works lest we boast of our accomplishments.  Salvation is given freely through Jesus, God’s Son.  No other name, not mine or yours can save humanity from their sins.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Prioritizing Life

What does the word prioritize mean to you?  Simply put, it is something that is more important than something else. 

I believe a person that wants to keep things in right perspective with God, must prioritize their involvement when it comes to anti-Christ activities that can disrupt the very core of a Christ filled life. 

If adjustments are left unattended or placed on the back burner of things to do, it gives room for wayward thoughts to infiltrate the mind and capture one’s full attention.  This initiative to prioritize life, certainly depends on the circumstance and nature of the involvement that is before us…good or evil.

As an example, we know that oil and water will not mix or blend together.  It is the same scenario when dealing with the things of God in relation to the things of this world.

The Bible explains to us that Christians are in the world but not of the world.  In other words, we are to abstain from entangling ourselves with questionable encounters that can hurt us not only physically, but spiritually as well.  The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

Considering the preceding cliché, we should prioritize our coming and going, such that we don’t offend the Holy Spirit or those around us that may be watching our everyday texture-of-character as to how we deal with the ups and downs of life.

The Bible also says that we should be like a city on a hill, allowing others to see the brightness of God’s glory in us as we express a good attitude, while diligently working to portray His love by not hiding His light under a basket.

(Matthew 4:14-16) “You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (15) “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” (16) “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Prioritizing life, while striving to emulate God’s attributes, will help others see the peace of God through our actions and the words we use.  We should treat people as we want to be treated.  To say we love and respect someone to their face and then cut them down behind their back, or indiscriminately gossip about them, are errors in judgement.  This kind of activity is worldly, and not Christlike. 

It is easy to go the way of the world and flirt with sin, because of its drawing power and the dark forces surrounding us that are trying to compete for our attention to persuade us to backslide against the Holy Spirit.

(Ephesians 6:12) “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

It is challenging to be the person standing out in a crowd, because of our position in Christ, but I would rather be known for my relationship with Him, by prioritizing life, and reveal His love to others, than not.

It is my desire to not close my bowels of compassion when dealing with those that I rub shoulders with each day.  I want to bless them with the Good News that God forgives sin, through His Son, Jesus, and heaven is a real place. 

Yes, prioritizing life requires discipline and hard work, but God is our strength, and He expects nothing less than our best.

(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.”

As Christians, it is in the Lord’s strength that we stand against the wiles of the enemy and battle pressing temptations that we face.  I believe that most people desire recognition and want to belong and feel accepted by others, rather than being rejected by co-workers, family members, and peers. 

It is sometimes like trying to mix oil and water.  Some non-Christians accept the Lord, and some do not.  It is the responsibility of Christians to share Christ, and then leave it up to the Holy Spirit to draw them to God. 

We do not have to partake in non-Christian activities, but the Bible says that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves.  This is where prioritizing life is most important. 

The temptation to regress in faith is sometimes easier than taking a stand for righteousness.  If a person loves God, they will keep His commandments and prioritize the level at which they serve Him...without compromising their faith.

We can ask ourselves this question: “Do I halfheartedly serve the Lord and wink at sin from time to time, or do I resist, for holiness’ sake, temptations to sin?  Christians should demand of themselves, that the inner person within them, reject worldly lust and then follow through with discipline not to partake of the wrong things.

Do we want sin to roll off our back like water off a duck’s back or let it water down our faith in Jesus?  Only you and I can answer this question.  God does not demand or make us serve Him.  He created us to be freewill moral agents that can choose to prioritize life God’s way or run with the crowd.

“Birds of a feather flock together.”  It takes moxie to stand against evil in a world where right is becoming wrong and wrong is becoming right in the eyes of the unrighteous and those that are halfheartedly serving God.  As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

In my opinion, prioritizing life does not mean compromising one’s faith.  I do not believe in compromise, nor do I believe in misrepresenting God in a negative connotation by overloading others with mixed signals.  God forbid that I do such things!

I do not want anyone to stumble because I lack the responsibility to prioritize right from wrong.  This is a thin line of decision making.  No doubt there are areas that I am weak in that may cause me to fail, likewise, others may stumble and fall if they see my indiscretions.

I remember my dad telling me that I needed to be a testimony of the goodness of God, always, to help others come to Jesus and discipline their life.  A person can do what they feel is right in their own eyes, but we need to consider what character image we are presenting…Christ or the world’s standard of living.

(Philippians 2:12) “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.” 

I think where Christians miss the mark and sometimes fall into temptation is when they know something is wrong, yet they go ahead and push the envelope to get as close to the line of demarcation as they can, thinking that they will not step over that line.  Tempting fate is not wise.

This is where Satan can merge and push us over the line like he did to Eve in the Garden of Eden.  He tempted her to sin against God and eat of the fruit that God commanded her and Adam not to eat.

I believe that each time she walked past the fruit, she got a little closer to it.  No doubt Eve felt that the fruit was calling her name, but it was the serpent that was deceiving her.  Perhaps she even touched the fruit a few times to see what it felt like. 

Finally, temptation won out, and sin entered the world.  Sin raised its ugly head, because Eve failed to prioritize what was most important to her. 

The appearance of sin is brilliant to the wondering eye and sparkles like expensive diamonds, but the truth of temptation is that it is only cheap rhinestones that are seen.  We need to turn our eyes upon Jesus.  When we do so, the things of earth grow dim in the light of His glory…like a city on a hill.  This is what I call prioritizing life.

 

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Best Friends Forever

We read in (James 2:23) in the Bible that Abraham was called the friend of God.  I don’t know about you, but true friends are hard to come by.  A friend is more precious than having tickets to premium seats at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Though enjoyable and entertaining at the time, events in the Garden do not last, whereas a lifelong friend is forever; someone that sticks closer than a brother.  They understand you like no one else and are always ready to listen when times get tough.

In the tech world of informational knowhow, the ability to text and receive text messages is amazing technology, in my humble opinion.  It is mind blowing if you ask me.

I am an old guy that still remembers standing in a group of coworkers and hearing a pager sound out and everyone looking at their device to see if it was their pager going off.

Learning the lingo or should I say the shorthand version of sharing messages is quite challenging for this Senior Citizen.  I’m sure you have heard the expression, “You can’t teach old dogs’ new tricks.”  This certainly applies to me.

I am glad I have the Internet to ask what certain letters mean when I receive texts from my grandkids who are savvy and up on new ways to message that are overflowing with abbreviations. 

The following are just a few examples:  LOL…Laughing Out Loud; BRB…Be Right Back; WFH…Working From Home; IMHO…In My Humble Opinion; and the one that takes us back to my thought for today, BFF…Best Friends Forever.

My BFF is more precious than rubies—my wife.  God must have loved me a whole bunch to entrust this treasure to my safe keeping, to love and cherish till death do us part.

Before she came into my life, I was searching in all the wrong places for a companion to settle me down.  I could not find her anywhere until I included God in the search. 

During my failed attempts to locate her, I believed the Lord knew exactly where she was, but I hadn’t talked to Him in years since I was in my late teens.  It was at this rebellious time in my life that I strayed from His safekeeping and went my own way.

In my twenties, I was not a born-again Christian at this juncture.  I had been around the block of hard knocks a few times and was frustrated with the unsettled turmoil that was going on inside me.  I avoided God, while evading peace…not a good choice.

I thought I would take a chance and see what God could do for me.  I had no intension of allowing myself to renew my relationship with Him.  I just wanted a wife, a good woman to call my own.  I needed a person that understood me, loved me, and could tame me, thus helping me turn over new life ambitions.

In the next few moments, I found myself kneeling next to the unmade bed in my apartment bedroom.  I blurted out, “You know where she is!  Send her to me!

Strange as it may sound, I felt the wooing and tug of the Holy Spirit in my heart.  I thought God had forsaken me, because of my rebellious spirit.  But I was wrong!  He was standing patiently in line awaiting my return to Him.  He did not leave; it was me that walked away from Him.

Suddenly, a verse of scripture came thundering into my head that I had learned in Sunday School as a lad.  “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  (Matthew 6:33). 

I sensed God was asking me this question: “How can I send you something good, when you’re living the life, you’re living?”  I was at a crossroads.  I felt a decision had to be made. 

I was given a choice… seek God and His righteousness and receive the desires of my heart or continue down the turbulent road of despair where peace eluded me.  He no longer wanted to be at the bottom of the list of desires, but at the top of my list.  God did not want to be turned on and off like a radio when I needed something.

You know the answer.  I went God’s way, which changed the course of the rest of my life.  Yes, you guessed it.  He sent me the woman I had been searching for…the wife I adore…my BFF.

God restored my relationship with His Son, Jesus.  He died on a cross for my sins, and because of His death and resurrection I am blessed with an abundant life that is full of peace and contentment…my BFF.

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

Written by,

Papa Boyd

I See Clearly Now

Close your eyes and what do you see?  Of all the body’s senses that we are blessed with, I feel that the sense of sight is the highest level of importance.  I closed my eyes and tried to walk, but immediately opened them for fear of stepping into a hole or hitting my face on a low hanging, tree branch.

I feel sad when I observe a person having lost their vision that is accompanied by a guide dog or using a red tipped cane to get around.  Instantly, I pause to appreciate my gift of sight that I too often take for granted. 

My dad lost vision in his left eye when he was a boy chopping wood.  A chip flew up and hit him in the eye.  He still had one good eye but was blind in the other.  

I have closed one eye to feel what effect it would have on me.  Three dimension (3D) was gone.  Everything became flat in appearance, because there was no depth perception.  Peripheral vision was marginal. 

I wanted Dad to play catch with me in my youth, but he could not see well enough to catch the ball.  Distant and close related objects coming at him, like a thrown ball, were very difficult to catch.

I understand that blue eyed people are more prone to suffer with cataracts as they age.  I was struggling with my sight until an eye specialist removed a cataract from my right eye and put in a new lens.   I am thankful to the doctor and the new lens.  I think the first words out of my mouth were, “I see clearly now!” 

Vision is 20/20 in that eye…from darkness to light.  The eye chart at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) should be a sinch when I renew my driver’s license this year.

Even with good vision, I stepped on a raised portion of a sidewalk the wrong way and twisted my ankle.  And one day walking with my wife, I failed to see a low spot in the path ahead of us, stepped into it, and wrenched my back.  Seeing clearly and being aware of one’s surroundings are extremely vital to our wellbeing.

Memory is like a window into the past.  I see clearly and remember, as a child, quoting the catch phrase: “I see said the blind carpenter as he picked up his hammer and saw.”  There was also an old English nursery rhyme and musical round that I sang: “Three blind mice.”

Before I became a Christian, I was spiritually blind as a bat, and ran around like one of the three blind mice, not seeing the pitfalls that Satan placed in my pathway, which caused me to fall.  The pain from these falls was unbearable until I met Jesus.  

The “new birth” experience that happened when I asked God to forgive me of my sins was an eye opener to say the least.  Being “born-again” has given me clarity of vision.  I see clearly now where to place my next step, because God is walking with me.  He opens my eyes to things that are detrimental to my spiritual growth in the Lord. 

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,” is a chorus I have sung in church for years.  How true it is, when we look upon His face rather than sin, the things in this world grow dim in the light of His glory and grace.

The first verse in the song, “Amazing Grace” says it very nicely.  “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost but now am found; was blind but now I see.”

Being visually impaired is terrible, but being spiritually blind is worse.  Jesus restores vision to the blind as He removes cataracts of sin from the heart.  “I see clearly now” are the words that a sinner, saved by grace, will be shouting when Jesus opens their blinded eyes.

This song is likened to eyesight, which helps a person understand the beauty of being able to take in the magnificence of God through the born-again experience when they invite Jesus into their heart.  Old things pass away, and all things become new in Him.

The three blind mice certainly had their encounter with the farmer’s wife, in the end.  I don’t have to worry about my backside, because Jesus has my six.  He protects me from all backdoor attempts by Satan to hurt me.

The Lord tells me to stand in His strength against the devil with the Whole Armor of God protecting my front side.  God will do the rest.  He sees everything and nothing gets past Him because He is omnipresent (everywhere).

Sin loves darkness not light.  If a person is holding onto night-vision goggles, they need to toss them and not wink at sin or even close their eyes at times, hoping it goes away. 

The temptation to sin is like rolling through a flashing, red light at a railroad crossing without stopping.  If we fail to STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN before crossing, we may suffer the consequences of disregarding the warning signs.  We need to stop, open our eyes wide and listen to God speaking to us through His Word, the Bible.

I see clearly now speaks of those who have seen the Light and have come out of darkness, wearing the Whole Armor of God.

(Ephesians 6:11-17) “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (12) “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (13) “Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (14) “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,” (15) “and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” (16) “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” (17) “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” (18) “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd 

A Symphony of Words

I often listen to a certain music artist when I slip into bed at night.  His music soothes and calms the inner person as I drift off to sleep.   I don’t know if the artist is a Christian, but his music is heavenly. 

The beauty of this man’s ability to create and play the piano is exceptional and a blessing.  Though it is a single person playing at times, it sounds like a symphony of music because of the beauty that he composed.

Usually, in the evening after a busy day, I kick back into my easy chair.  I try to bring my mind under subjection without the TV blasting in the background or other distractions that may be happening.  I just rest my mind from the challenges that the day brought.

As I listen to what is stirring in my mind, I jot down the thoughts as I focus on what is being revealed.  When I compose a writing from these thoughts, I pray that they will bless the heart of those that read my symphony of words that I posted to the blog I created.

From time to time, I receive a positive comment from a reader that my writings have encouraged them, which in return blesses me.  My desire is that people who read my writings will be touched in such a way that they are stimulated by the content that they might not otherwise hear or read.

My writings are not to condemn, chastise, or judge in any way, but to uplift and strengthen individuals needing encouragement, without all the hype of discrimination or condemnation.

I want to sooth, with words, the inner character of people that are searching for answers, like a symphony of music.  I try to bring peace to their soul if they are craving harmony.  I believe that God has a plan for everyone’s life, yet His direction can become clouded, like fog. 

My goal is to present the Prince of Peace, Jesus, into their world of “what ifs” and “if I should” regarding the route they should travel.  This requires a map.  The unknown is mysterious and a bit scary at times when a person cannot see what the future holds or what lies around the corner.

The Bible is my map, which helps me to find my way in foggy areas of life when directional signs are dimly lighted.  Detour signs could be a strategy of the enemy of our souls to send us off course from our intended safe place.   

What seems right, may, in fact, be the wrong direction because the path is dark, without proper lighting.  This is where the Bible comes into play.  It is like a flashlight or huge headlight that illuminates the way and provides peace of mind that the heading is the right direction.

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

When I read the Bible, it is like music to my ears, received through the eye gate.  It is the inerrant Word of God, composed by holy men of old that were breathed upon by the Holy Spirit to produce a symphony of words that brings peace to the reader, while providing direction to whoever reads it.

I would encourage you to consume its truth, while you steal away to a place of solace and allow the words to bring a symphony of comfort to your soul.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

 

It's Not Too Late

Perhaps a word or phrase in this writing can challenge you in a positive way.  It may stimulate your curiosity to consider if Jesus Christ is all that preachers and Bible scholars say that He is, or not.

I speak from personal experience concerning the encounter I had with God.  It was an absolute miracle that took place when I invited Jesus into my heart.  Peace like a river came flooding in.  The Bible says that Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  It was He Who took up residence within me.

I sincerely believe that Jesus is, indeed, the Son of God, because of what He did for me.  He gave His life on a cross for the redemption of humanity.  This included you and me. 

When I encountered God’s saving grace, positive changes took place inside me.  This amazing awakening and transformation really took place.  There is no doubt about it.  I was lost but now I’m found…a sinner saved by grace. 

To bring it closer to home and personal, Jesus loves you with a never ending, and compassionate love.  He knows your name, because you are very important to Him.  He loved you so much that He died for you, rather than you having to provide sacrifices of burnt offerings to God for the forgiveness of sin. 

Jesus became the atonement for sin when He exclaimed on the cross, “It is finished!” after being crucified.  He then yielded up His spirit.  God’s plan of salvation was now completed.

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

(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.”

You may consider yourself a good person and wonder if this writing applies to you.  No doubt you are, but the Bible says that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  This pertains to you, me, and every person born.

Adam and Eve’s blunder in the Garden of Eden occurred because they were beguiled by the serpent, Satan, to ignore God’s warning.  Sin entered the world.  We inherited their sin-nature the moment they disobeyed God and ate the fruit that He commanded them not to eat.

They were banished from the Garden of Eden because they sinned against God.  They chose to disregard God and walked away from Him rather than abide in His favor.  Because of their sin, we need a Savior to free us from the stigma of Satan’s sin-nature that was transferred to us from the first man and woman on earth.  Their sin affected all of mankind from that day forward.

Accepting Jesus as Lord eliminates this nature and provides the hope of eternal life in heaven when we take our last breath.  There is no other way to make heaven our home except through Jesus.

(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.”

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain when you surrender your old nature to the Lord.  If Jesus was just a man instead of Deity, then what He said about heaven and hell was a myth and fabricated.  If this were the case, we need not concern ourselves or worry about where we will spend eternity, because we will just fade into oblivion and that’s it.

Since I experienced, firsthand, God’s transformation, I am convinced that Jesus was and is Deity…God incarnated into flesh and blood.  Jesus was God/Man.  I believe He purchased a one-way ticket for us, figuratively speaking, to heaven when He gave His life for you and me.

Salvation is so simple to achieve that a person needs only to open their heart and receive His gift of love.  It is free for the asking to whoever will, which means you and me.  The Bible tells us to try Jesus to see that He is truly the Lord of glory and the hope for mankind.  If you were the only person on earth that sinned, Jesus would have died for you.

(Psalm 34:8) “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trust in Him!”

It is hard to grasp this concept and comprehend His mercy, because we compare spiritual things to the physical or tangible.  They don’t mix.  We must worship God in spirit and in truth, because He is Spirit.

(1 Corinthians 2:14) “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 

It is also difficult to explain the measure of God’s phenomenal love except with this word…Agape.  It is God’s unmerited love for us.  It is unmeasurable in height, depth, and width.  Because of this agape love, the Creator, Himself died for your sins so that you would not be lost.  He would that you have the hope of enjoying eternal life in heaven.

This assurance happens the moment you ask God to forgive your sins.  It is that simple.  God made it easy, because He wants you to come as you are with your questions and hang-ups.  He will make you perfect through Jesus, His Son.

(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.”

The Bible says it’s like we never sinned, because the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness and cancels out the inherited sin of Adam and Eve.  God throws our sins into the sea of His forgetfulness, never to remember them against us again.  Wow!  This promise is amazing!

The dividends of the new birth are many and last forever.  Just ask and receive.  Don’t wait another second.  The family of God is just a prayer away.  The Lord is waiting with open arms to welcome you into the fold.  It’s not too late to give your heart to Jesus.  Today is the day of salvation, not tomorrow.  We have no assurance of tomorrow.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

God Keeps Giving and Giving

I believe that every person should consider which side of their bread was buttered on, and by whom.  We are a nation of plenty, not like some countries that are struggling.  I am glad I was born in America.  Let’s face it, whatever we have, the Lord supplied it. 

Some people want to take credit for their success, inclusive of everything they own, but God gave the increase by giving individuals the mental capacity and drive to accomplish their goals.  Good health certainly enters the equation of success, which allows a person to achieve their desires through hard work and persistence.  We have God to thank for this.  He gives and keeps on giving.

Because of education or being self-taught by reading “How To” books, these people are knowledgeable and have abilities that far surpass the average thinker.  They can see through and grasp how to solve complex issues better than the next person.  Not everyone has this aptitude.  It is God given.

I have used the phrase “Jack of all trades and master of none” to explain my abilities to accomplish certain milestones.  But one thing is certain, I recognize it is because of God that I can do what I do, and I give Him praise for the agility and conviction to get things done.

I try to never take things for granted as relying on my own intellect or position in life to accomplish something.  I owe all my capabilities and all that I have to God.  We can do nothing without His influence.  Being puffed up in oneself is vain, but there are those that do this, while failing to give credit where credit is due.  

There is no justification in trying to take the glory for whatever is done without giving God the praise.  I never want to usurp God’s influence and set myself above Him by taking credit for things that He was in control of.

Those that elevate themselves above another person are prone to look down on those less fortunate.  This is wrong anyway you look at it.  The act of trying to elevate oneself means nothing in the scheme of things. 

There are people around us that may seem a bit odd or out of sorts at times, yet they remain happy in the Lord exactly where they are.  Their expectations of achieving a higher standard of living are usually secondary in their thinking.

These individuals, no doubt, are full of skills and talents that may exceed the intellectual faculties of the person who is looking down their nose at them.  Those that think they have achieved total success in their own eyes are failing to recognize the vanity within.  

Those that seem out of sorts to the onlooker, could very well be the next person to discover an antidote or vaccine that eradicates certain diseases.  They may be the ones to achieve tectological innovations that could change the course of history forever. 

Each of us has our own special gifts and abilities given to us by God Almighty.  He created us and gave each person everything needed to succeed.  Just because a person is perceived to be lacking in certain areas does not justify ridicule. 

No matter how sophisticated or high on the scale of success a scoffer ranks themselves, it does not warrant the display of unkindness.  Even though we have God-given talents of which He gave us, anyone, notwithstanding rank, could find themselves in a desperate, unsettling situation at any time, with assets gone.

From the wealthiest to the less fortunate, we are all privileged to have received the breath of life that God breathed into us. He provides the oxygen we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.  The Lord is supreme and the hope of mankind.  No one should think of themself as a higher power of some kind.  God gives the increase. 

Humanity, created by God, puts on trousers one leg at a time, no matter how expensive or inexpensive they might be.  Though some people live in luxurious homes and others in poor areas, we all sit to do our business, whether in a polished, self-flushing commode, or some other type of receptacle. 

No one should elevate themselves above another person.  Those that look down on others need to reevaluate themselves and find compassion rather than finding fault in others. 

God is the One we need to honor wherever our station in life may be.  God is the giver of every good and perfect gift.  Remember, wealth and status can, in a moment of time, turn to poverty because of failing stocks, health issues and a thousand other reasons. Anyone of us could find ourselves wanting before another day passes.

It is only by the grace of God that we live as well as we do.  We need to keep in mind that God is our source, not our position, fame, or fortune.

When we take our eyes off ourselves, we can see more clearly those less fortunate, and help when we can.  If a legitimate need presents itself, we should listen to our heart and assist as God directs.  I believe that the Lord honors those that give, not only monetarily, but their time as well.  God blesses us as we bless others, while doing His service.  You cannot outgive God.

(Matthew 25:34-40) “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:’ (35) ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;’  (36) ‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’  (37) “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?’  (38) ‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?’ (39) ‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ (40) “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ ”

Everything on earth was created by God and everything belongs to Him.  We are stewards of His creation, and everyone matters to Him whether rich or poor. 

We are accountable to do good unto others and help as we are prompted by the Holy Spirit.  If we give a cup of cold water in the name of the Lord, we have done it unto Him.

(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.”

I believe that God is still taking inventory of our actions and follow through in how we treat one another.  We should not allow our heart to become callused and hardened like a stone but keep it a heart of flesh when considering the needs of others.

(1 John 3:17, 18) “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?” (18) “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive.  He gives us a mind to discern the purpose and motivation of those around us whether there is a genuine need that we should give our attention to or continue our way.

I also believe that God expects us to work for the bread on our table and give Him thanks for it.  We are to give an honest day’s labor for the wages earned.  But because of circumstances beyond a person’s control, they may not be able to work.  This is where the work of the Lord acts in love. 

We need to keep our ears open to the voice of God and be willing to give when a sincere need presents itself.  He will let the giver know how a need can be met, and then do what the tenderness inside you tells you to do.  God will pour blessings your way that you cannot contain.  We do not give to get, but it works that way, because the Bible says that it will.  (Luke 6:38)

There is no feeling like receiving a sincere, heartfelt thank you from a person you ministered to, as you look at the smile of appreciation on their face.  The fulfillment you get is payment enough, because you know a need was met through yielding to God’s Spirit.  It is amazing to be used of God to meet the need of someone that was in a bad place.  Have ears to hear what God is saying.

Another area of giving involves one tenth of the money we earn.  It is called tithing, which is a commandment of God.  I have found that I can do more with ninety percent of my earnings than the full one hundred percent.  It just works that way.  God keeps giving and giving as I honor His Word.

(Malachi 3:8) “Will a man rob God?  Yet you have robbed Me!  But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’   In tithes and offerings.”

I want to be right in all my decision making and not wrong in the choices made on earth.  We cannot outgive God, because He keeps giving and giving into our bosom as we give away from ourselves.  He has blessed me beyond measure my whole Christian life since I started tithing.

God bless you as you consider the words you have read.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Were It Not For Heroes

As I ponder the National Holiday of Memorial Day, that we celebrated last Monday, I am reminded of loved ones, my heroes, that have passed and gone on to their reward in heaven.  The influence and legacy they left are very pronounced in forming the traits I have today.  The role they played certainly impacted my character and helped shape it.

As a nation, the United Stated is infused in liberty and has her heroes to thank for the freedom we enjoy.  Military personnel gave their lives for our independence and sovereignty.  They deserve respect and recognition for their heroism as they faced uncertainty and danger.

Our heroes did not die in vain when they faced the perils of keeping the peace and fighting in wars.  Americans are free to worship God as they desire without fear of being imprisoned or killed for their faith.

Conflicts of any kind can produce feelings of angst in the hearts of Peacekeepers.  Troops face risk with readiness and bravery, because of the training received in bootcamp and personal experience in combat. They have determination to accomplish an objective, which produces endurance and the hope of success.

I am prompted to remember, also, the twelve disciples that followed Jesus as He taught them how to become fishers of men.  I believe their goal was twofold…to be more like Jesus and spread the Good News to the world about God’s kingdom.

When facing danger and harsh criticism for their faith, they put aside fear and conquered it by doing—doing the Lord’s work.  Each disciple did this without compromise, knowing that the freedom of man’s soul, through Christ, was more important than their own safety, even if it meant giving their life for the cause of liberty and the forgiveness of sin. 

They had hope that their objective would, through God Almighty, be accomplished.  I believe they had faith in the knowledge that to be absent from this body was to be present with the Lord.  This understanding transmitted into bravery, which cast fear from them.

Prior to Jesus being crucified for the sins of humanity, He told the disciples that He was leaving them to prepare a place that where He was, they would be there also.  A wonderful hope indeed!  Think about it!  Heaven, where there will be no more pain or fighting battles of any kind.

The Bible tells us that the Apostle Peter, the leader of the twelve disciples of Jesus, was crucified upside down, because he felt unworthy to be martyred in the same fashion as his Lord, Jesus.

Where did he find the strength to face death in this manner?  His belief in the teachings of Jesus exceeded his fear of death because the Spirit of God dwelled within him.  This happened on the Day of Pentecost when 120 Believers were filled with the Spirit as they waited in an upper room to be empowered from heaven.  They were made perfect in love as God’s Spirit fell on each one.

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

All the disciples, except for John the Beloved, were martyred for the cause of freedom in Christ that they were witnessing to others about.  These heroes of the faith wanted God’s kingdom to be experienced by all, through Jesus the Lord.

I am thankful for the freedom I have in the United States of America because of heroes that gave their all, from our military branches.  I am full of gratitude that I have the freedom to worship as I please and share my faith with others without fear of retaliation by lost souls needing the Savior.

Were it not for heroes of the faith working together for the good of mankind, having one common goal of saving souls, the early church would not have existed.  But the power of God was with them as they touched lives.  The early church was born. 

We have their example and legacy to look back on, which gives me strength in knowing that I have a bigger power working within me to battle against the darkness of this world.

The power of God was with the early church as they touched lives with the message that God forgives sin through His Son, Jesus.   We can have that same power working in us, today, as we too become heroes of the faith.

The definition of hero: “A person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities who was an inspiration to others.”

Jesus is all the above and more.  I can come boldly to God through Him because I am a child of God.  He shed His blood for you and me, making Him my hero.  Allow Jesus to bring total freedom to you.  I want the Lord to be your hero also. 

 

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Wanted Dead or Alive

I know it’s a stretch, but if you would allow me, I want to share how the Bible, in some ways, reminds me of the old, western reward posters—WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE—a metaphor as it were.  Let me explain.

I know the wording, Wanted Dead or Alive denotes bringing in a criminal breathing or not.  A bounty hunter or agent will then receive their just reward that was stated on the poster.    

God loves people.  To bring it closer to home, God loves you and me with a sacrificial love, so much that He died on a cross for the redemption of humanity.   

Jesus was unjustly crucified atop the hill called Golgotha, which means, Place of a Skull.  He willingly gave His life for the sins of every man, woman, boy, and girl that needed a Savior.  This means everyone to this day and all tomorrows.  (Matthew 27:33)

This hill was outside the gates of Jerusalem where criminals were executed for their crimes.  But Jesus was perfect in every way and did not deserve to die a cruel death.

We read in the Bible that God desires for every person on earth to become alive through the new birth.  This happens when a person asks forgiveness of their sins and accepts Jesus as their personal Savior. 

This born-again experience is essential because Adam and Eve separated themselves from God in the Garden of Eden when they sinned.  At that moment they became dead in the eyes of the Lord. 

God did not walk away from Adam and Eve; they chose death over life when they disobeyed Him and ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that God commanded them not to eat.  Because of their disobedience, sin entered the world.  Every person that is born has an adamic nature in them and needs a Savior to live again.

(Genesis 2:16,17) “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;’ ” (17) “ ‘but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’ ”

The Bible is the narrative of true events recorded by holy men of old, as God breathed upon each one.  The inerrant Word of God was written on scrolls, now captured between two covers called the Bible.  In it we find how to become alive rather than remaining dead in sin.

Everyone should ask themselves, “Am I dead or alive?”  This question is not to determine the state of one’s health, but the condition of the soul.  Is it full of dead-mans-bones, figuratively speaking, or is it alive and well in Christ Jesus?

God wants every dead person that is walking down the wide road to destruction to be saved.  He also wants those that are alive in Him to stay true to His statutes through every trial and tribulation, as they journey down the straight and narrow path that leads to heaven.

God gave us the Bible as a lamp to our feet and a light to our pathway to emphasize the importance of finding our way back to Him in a dark and nightmarish world of sin through reading His Word and meditating on it day and night. 

Wandering souls, dead in their trespasses, and Christians that are alive because of Jesus, need to get alone with God and ask for His perfect will in their lives.  We need to see the pitfalls that the devil puts in everyone’s pathway.  The Bible gives us the ability to see clearly where our next step will take us. 

(1 Peter 5:8,9) “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (9) “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

Jesus wants those that are tired of running from God, because of their inherited death sentence, to be transformed into a new creation.  The Lord promises that it will be a wonderful transition from being dead to being alive in Him. 

The Lord also wants to encourage Christians, who are stumbling and perhaps fading in faith, to become grounded once again.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  In Him we live.

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

I was certainly a dead man walking before the Holy Spirit sent agents my way that were acting on God’s behalf to share the Good News that Jesus would give me an abundant life if I surrendered to Him. 

I am glad these Christians saw the reward poster, WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE before my number was called and I was weighed in the balance and found wanting after passing from this life. 

I am sure these agents will receive their just reward in heaven.  They were faithful servants of the Lord, witnessing for Him.  I am glad I passed from death unto life before meeting my Maker face to face.  I now have a hope of eternal life when God calls me home.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

 

Something Bigger Than Me

I am amazed and spellbound when I take time to look around me and behold the beauty of God’s creation.  The firmament above is breathtaking, especially when gazing at it in dimly lighted surroundings.  I feel like a microorganism when considering the vastness and splendor of the cosmos when I compare it to me.

The grandeur of all variations of flowers and trees tells me there is a greater power at work as my mind tries to grasp the glory of it all and how it began.  How can anyone say there is no God? 

It is hard to comprehend the magnitude of thunder when listening to it clap loudly overhead after the brilliance of lightning flashes.  It is mindboggling how powerful natural phenomena are.

I remember as a young boy, my dad told me that thunder was the marvelous voice of God.  There is no doubt in my mind that it could be, but I have found through the years that the Lord speaks to me in a quiet voice when I steal away from the hustle and bustle of everything around me and just listen.

Here’s some food for thought.  Just think, a bolt of lightning can carry a voltage exceeding 10 million volts of electricity, with between 30 thousand to 110 thousand amperes.  The power of Mother Nature (God) is mind melting.

To give you a small comparison of the energy in a lightning bolt, a standard electrical plug inside a house, in the United States, has 120 volts with 15 or 20 amperes.  Clothes dryers and oven plugs have 240 volts with 40 amperes.  It is hard to grasp 10 million volts.

Category 5 hurricanes can have a wind velocity of 157 miles per hour or greater, and a category 5 tornado can reach wind speeds of 261 to 318 miles per hour.  A cordless leaf blower produces a mere wind speed of 90 to 150 miles per hour depending on the model.

Earthquakes, tsunamis, and title waves give me feelings of helplessness, inadequacy, and impotence, especially listening to breaking news on television regarding these natural phenomena.  It does something to my brain when I try to comprehend the magnificence of God’s incredible power.

I am captivated when I read about the wonders of God, in the Bible, when He rolled back the Red Sea for Moses and the children of Israel to cross on dry ground.  They were fleeing from the armies of Egypt’s Pharaoh, who, once again, wanted to enslave them or worse yet, slay them all.  

In the following Bible chronicle, the prophet Elijah prepared a sacrifice to the True and Living God and placed it on an altar, dug a trench around the alter, and commanded that four barrels of water be poured over the sacrifice and wood, three times, which filled the trench.  This was after the priests of Baal failed in their attempts to call down fire to consume their sacrifice. 

Elijah prayed and immediately fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, stones, and the soil, and licked up the water in the trench.  This act of faith determined whether the people would serve the god of Baal or Almighty God.     (1 Kings 18:38)

At a wedding feast, the wine had run out and Jesus turned water into the best wine of the day.  It was indeed a miracle, as was the time He fed five thousand hungry souls after they listened to Him teach. 

Jesus blessed a young boy’s lunch of two fish and four loaves of bread and multiplied it more than enough to feed the crowd.  Wow, this tells me that there is something bigger than me at work around us or should I say, Someone bigger than you and me, for sure.  It is the power of God at work.

Mankind can become puffed up in their own ideals and standard of excellence, thinking they are all powerful, because of what their money can buy, but compared to God Almighty, they are just fooling themselves.

Even with weapons of mass destruction that countries possess, they mean nothing in the comparative scale of God’s power.  He is the ultimate power Who has the final say in all things that pertain to heaven and earth.  Remember, He rained down fire from heaven on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because sin had become an abomination to Him.

No man, woman, or Antichrist will ever replace God and remove Him from His throne of authority.  God is omnipotent and unyielding.  Nothing and no one, not even Lucifer himself can achieve the power of God within themselves, because they were the created, not the Creator.

I am now in my senior years and realize more and more each day how quickly a lifespan can slip away.  I have heard my dad say, “The older I get the faster the years go.”  The Bible says that a lifespan is around seventy to eighty years of age. (Psalm 90:10) The Bible also says that life is a vapor and then vanishes away. (James 4:14)

It would behoove us to consider where our alliance lies.  Ponder for a moment how terrible it would be to come to the end of life and not have treasures laid up in heaven, having our way paid for by Jesus, Who gave the ultimate price for our redemption.

The wealth we may attain in this world will stay here when we pass.  Naked we came into the world and naked we will leave it.  No U-Haul trailer has ever followed a hurst.  We need to seriously ask ourselves, “Where do I want to spend eternity…heaven or hell?”

In my opinion, it is fine to acquire money and get ahead in life, but if money becomes a person’s god, I believe it becomes harder for them to think about the true God, because they have no need of Him.  They can buy just about anything they want, except salvation and peace of mind.  These are God-given benefits that only come from Him.

(Mark 8:36) “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

I want to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  In that, Father God, gave His only Son to die for our sins, this is my hope of eternal life in heaven, because I accepted Jesus as Lord.  There is no other name under heaven, whereby, we must be saved.

The message I want to convey is this:  Christians are used to perform miracles.  Today is no different than Godly men of old.  The same Spirit dwells within born-again-Believers.  We need to exercise our privilege as children of God and believe Him for phenomena when we pray, while we still have breath in us.

Christians are special in the eyes of God.  He hears us every time we pray, but haughty people are so caught up in themselves that they fail to see the One Who created them.  They feel sufficient in their own self-righteousness, thinking they need not a Savior.

I consider myself someone special, because God sees me through the blood that His Son shed on the cross for my sins.  The moment I asked God to forgive me of my sins, I became His child with all the privileges the Father gives a son.

I am saved by grace, and I believe that God can use me to call down power from heaven if need be.  It is important that I witness to others about the beauty a relationship with the Lord brings.  He gives peace that passes all understanding when the Godhead takes up residence in our heart.

God’s power in nature is overwhelming, but when a sinful soul surrenders their life to Jesus, this step of faith causes all of heaven to rejoice.  In my mind I imagine that the thunder I hear could be the angels and loved ones that have gone on before are shouting, “Glory to God in the highest!” because another soul said yes to the Holy Spirit’s wooing.

There is something bigger than me at work on earth.  When a Christian trusts God by exercising their faith in the power of the Creator, things happen to glorify His name.  We are a conduit that God uses to bring about His will in people’s life. 

Every man, woman, boy, and girl is precious to God.  His desire is that no one be lost, but that everyone would be saved.

(John 3:15-18) “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (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.” (17) “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (18) “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd