Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Whose Am I

The title may seem a bit odd or weird, but whom we belong to matters.  I am not talking about individual’s parents, stepparents, adopted parents, or foster parents; I’m talking about the character of good or evil—the essence of principled values vs. unprincipled deficiencies that a person looks up to and heeds.

Ask yourself, “Whose am I?”  Are your needs met with blessings, or are you struggling, unsure and hesitant?  What entity are you spending most of your time with?  What spirit is directing your life?  Who do you think gives hope and comfort in times of need—Satan or God?  I ask these questions because I know you matter to God.  He loves you profoundly!

With whom have you decided to follow?  Whose are you anyway?  Jesus paid the price for sin when He died on a cross for humanity, whereas Satan is seeking those that he can devour and destroy their lives.  Do you think he would give his life for you or me?  If the answer is no, then why would a person give their life on earth and the hereafter for him?

Not only does a person’s physical makeup suffer on earth when serving the wrong master, the spiritual man will be totally dismayed and separated from God one day in everlasting darkness. 

Jesus offers eternal life in heaven where the light of the Lord shines forever, because He sincerely loves us and shed His blood on the cross for our transgressions.  He died to unite sinful mankind with a holy God.  What greater love is there than this?

Yes, it is certainly a great question to ask one’s self, “Whose am I?”  I want to belong to God Almighty and be able to call Him, Abba Father, which means, Daddy God.  When we accept His Son, Jesus, into our heart, we become sons and daughters of Father God.  We now belong to Him and are members of the family of God.

When you know Jesus as Lord, you can say with confidence that you belong to our Father in heaven.  (Whose am I) is answered with, “I know in Whom I believe!”  Jesus’s blood covers and protects us from our adversary the devil.  The evil one is the dearth that God fends off because we belong to Him.  We have hope in Jesus.  He removes the doubt of whose we are because His love indwells us.

(1 Corinthians 6:20) “For you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

When the Urge Hits

 

What does it mean, “When the urge hits?”  When I was a kid growing up in the bedroom community of Martinez, California, my Grandma Boyd taught me the significance and distinction between number 1 and number 2 when it came to going potty.  Funny, but this training has followed me into adulthood.

I had great bladder control in my youth so I would put it off and put it off until the urge really hit me and then I would run home lickety-split and barely make it to the bathroom in time.

Now, in my twilight years, when the urge hits me and Mother Nature is calling, I usually stop what I’m doing to “see a man about a horse,” as my Grandpa Boyd would say.

Every now and then my night sleep is interrupted when an urge hits me to pray for someone.  I believe there is no distance too great for prayers to span, in that God is omnipresent, which is being everywhere at the same time.  Afterall, He is God, and He can do anything.

As quickly as I awoke, I would easily fall back to sleep when my prayer had concluded.  There is power in prayer; it moves the hand of God when nothing else seems to work.  All we must do is ask and He will do the rest.

(Matthew 7:7, 8) “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”  Vs. 8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

I love to compose short writings and post them to my blog so that others may glean from my experiences and insight.  In the middle of the night, I have been awakened suddenly with an urge to write.  Inspiring thoughts were motivating me to rise from bed and jot down the ideas flooding my mind.

I have learned in the past that if I do not get up when the urge hits me, the thoughts are gone the next morning.  It is better to not put off something for another time lest a notion be lost because of sleepiness.

It is enjoyable to sit at my computer and reflect on the goodness of God and listen intently to what God is speaking in my mind.  At times it is difficult to keep up with words that are inundating my thought process, but it is rewarding none the less. 

The urge to write is so strong on occasion that it is joy unspeakable and full of glory when my senses are touched by God and the words are flowing like a fountain of living water.  It is amazing what an inquiring mind and open heart can hear and feel when a person turns off the TV, silences their phone, and ceases to search the internet for something that steals time.

To listen is gain, rather than doing all the talking or pounding the keyboard looking for websites to entertain and satisfy one’s curiosity.  Quiet time is the key to spiritual enlightenment.  It is wonderful when God is speaking, and I am tuned into His frequency. 

What better place to listen than the quietness of my home office to be caught up with enlightenment and awe as I quickly type on the keyboard, careful not to miss anything that the Holy Spirit is sharing with me.

As a side note, now and then I will go back and read thoughts contained in some of my writings, which bring tears to my eyes, because I know that God was speaking when I penned the words.  I figure if the content touches the author in this way, others can be touched as they read writings of hope.

When I was newly saved and allowing God to direct my life, while teaching me how to live an overcoming lifestyle, fresh ideas overflowed my mind and feelings came that I had never encountered before, like the time a sudden urge came over me to go into the carpenter’s hall.  It was a bit strange because rollcall was Monday mornings not Tuesdays…this was a Tuesday.

I had been out of work for a few weeks and was getting a little worried.  Building projects were slowing down, because of high interest rates.  I was faithful to check in for Monday rollcalls hoping there was a request for an apprentice carpenter on the bulletin board.  Contractors usually called the office on Mondays, the day when out of work carpenters were there.

The more I resisted the uncanny urge to go in, it became stronger and stronger until finally I had to yield to the puzzling impulse.  I whipped my truck around and headed toward the hall…only to realize later that the pressure I was feeling was the Holy Spirit directing me that day.  This experience was new to me.

I walked into the hall just as one of the union Reps. tacked up a request on the board for an apprentice.  No-one else was there but me.  It was the beginning of my understanding of how God speaks to His children—after all, I was now His child.  He was with me to meet my every need if I remained tuned into His voice and moved in faith.  God leads us into all truth.

I’ve had urges hit me to ask perfect strangers if I could pray for them.  These times were the most terrifying moments as a Christian, but never was I denied, by any person, to pray.  Not only had God laid it on my heart, but He also prepared them to receive an outsider's prayer as an answer to their need.

I did not know their need, but God did.  The Lord chose me to be His hand extended and then leave the rest to Him.  He is faithful and we must trust that His timing is perfect in all things.  

Feeling the urge to pray for someone is like the one I had when I drove to the union hall, which, I might add, landed me a job that lasted over a year—God’s blessings!  That experience of yielding to God and going into the hall was one of the most enlightening days I could have had.  It taught me to be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit, even when it comes to praying for people I don’t know.

Are you having an overwhelming urge to bow your head and talk to God?  Do it!  Ask for His touch in your life and believe that the urge you are feeling is God speaking.  He is ready to forgive your sins, heal your mind, and cleanse you from whatever is keeping you in bondage.  God can set you free when you call upon the name of Jesus.  Just try Him and see what happens.

(2 Corinthians 5:17, 18) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  Vs. 18 “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Run the Race with Confidence

I ran track as a young teenager in high school.  My coach wanted me to try out for the 880-yard run, because I had long legs.  The distance was two laps around the football field.  This half mile was a strenuous race at a fast, grueling pace.  I was always exhausted at the end, but the reward of metals I received at meets made all the hard work at afterschool track-practice worth the effort that I put into it.  I had more endurance because of it.

The type of athletic shoes worn with cleated soles, and the wind sprints at practice and breathing techniques, prepared me to win.  My body was made strong for competition and I did well, because of good coaching and personal discipline. 

On occasion,  I experienced what is called a second wind.  It is the feeling of an exhilarating burst of energy that happens when a runner is becoming fatigued.  It is like a breath of fresh air or inhaling pure oxygen.  This sense of bliss was always welcomed when the going got tough.     

I could always hear Coach urging me on and calling out the elapsed time as I drew nearer to him on my first lap, which helped me pick up the pace.  I not only wanted to please him, I wanted to win the race.  He was always there to encourage me with, “You can do it!”

The attitude I demonstrated to Coach and my own state of mind played an important role in the success of each lap and the results at the end of the race.  I always had a made-up mind to endure to the end no matter what shape the track was in or what elements that I had to bear with regards to weather conditions.

Some schools that I competed at were lucky to have a football field or track at all do to the lack of funding in that district.  These unkept surfaces were less than desirable to run on, because of the ruts and unevenness that puddled at times due to the field sprinklers going off or passing rainclouds that dumped water the day before a big event.

The build-up of wet soil on my shoes made it difficult to turn a satisfactory time at the end of the race, but all runners had to tolerate the same degree of challenges as me.  The success or failure to place was dependent upon where the runners landed their feet on the track, careful not to twist an ankle or fall.  The amount of hard work and dedication that athletes did at practices to ready themselves for upcoming meets was invaluable. 

Preparation, both mentally and physically, had a lot to do with winning races.  My dad always said that a good mindset affected the end results of something wanted.  In essence, he was saying that if a person wants something bad enough, they will not give up when the going gets tough.  An “I can do it” attitude plays an important part in winning.

A winner never quits, and a quitter never wins.  Two more phrases that inspire me are: “Keep on keeping on,” and “Inch by inch anything’s a cinch.”  No matter what comes our way, if we maintain a healthy relationship with God and not give up, we will finish the course a winner when we pass from this life to the hereafter.  It takes watching where we place our feet on this road of life and looking out for pitfalls that are filled with the miry clay of sin.

The Lord is always encouraging us saying, “You can make it.”  He is there for us and never leaves us alone to run the race without having prepared us with His Word and breathing into us the breath of Life.  Jesus is at the finish line waiving us home to victory.  The Holy Spirit is our second wind when we become tired and face situations that test our faith.

Our existence on earth is a race.  Instead of receiving a metal at the finish line, we inherit eternal life in heaven as our reward.  Jesus will welcome us across the finish line and place a crown of righteousness on our head, because we endured till the end.  I believe that He will embrace us and exclaim, “Well done!” 

Though metals were nice to display on my varsity sweater for the wins in 880-yard runs, a robe of purest white will be mine along with a crown of sonship, which will be the ultimate prize for finishing the course.

Though ruts of temptation surround me, and the mire of sin tries to slow me down, my healthy relationship with Jesus always provides the stamina I need to finish the race-of-life.  Keeping my eyes on the finish line and Who is cheering me on, gives me the wherewithal to keep on keeping on.  I desire to please the Lord in all things, and yes, I want to win the prize.

The reward at the end is what matters, not the circumstances we face on the journey.  It will be worth it all when we see Jesus and hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of the Lord.”

When I cross the finish line and break the blood-stained ribbon, it will be a reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus endured on the cross for my successful run.  He paid the price for sin when He willingly shed His blood and died for you and me.

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

With our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, our lungs filled with the breath of God, and our eyes focused on Jesus, all will bring a victorious win in the race we are running.

(2 Timothy 4:7,8) “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  Vs. 8 “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

To be a winner takes discipline and courage to follow the Ten Commandments of God, which make the race a successful one.  Remember, Jesus was and is a perfect example of discipline and obedience to Father God, while obeying the Ten Commandments.  He is our example.

If anyone ran the race with purpose, Jesus did.  He endured to the end, thus, teaching us that all things are possible when we trust in God.  Our hope of finishing the race will become reality one day.  We will see God face to face.  Wow!  There is no greater prize than this!  Thank you, Jesus, for making it possible for me to behold the Creator of all things!  I am His child, because of You!

(1 John 3:2) “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Does It Really Matter

 

Is there such a thing as a little, white lie?  Of course, there is, but the question should be, “Is it the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”  If the answer is no, then I guess it must be a lie any way you look at it. 

Where does a person draw the line where honesty is concerned, or a more sobering question, “Where does God draw the line?”  Does He wink at white lies and look the other way?  Does He overlook it like it does not matter?

One thing is constant and sure, God is holy.  He is perfect in all ways as was His Son Jesus when He walked the earth.  I believe that God expects us to strive for perfection, because the moment we sin, we may be taking a step away from a holy God.

My desire is to draw as close to God as I can, but I am not naïve to think that I have reached the pinnacle of perfection.  I do not think there is a day that goes by that I do not call out to the Lord for help and forgiveness for my folly.  I feel like a child at times that misbehaves and needs to be reconciled with their earthly father or mother.

The Holy Spirit makes me aware of my reckless behavior by convicting me when I step out of line.  He makes me cognizance of my shortcomings.  God desires that I mature and repent, thus, being reconciled to Him, our Heavenly Father.  I do not want to crucify Christ afresh and put Him to an open shame by sinning.

(Hebrews 6:4-6) “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,” Vs. 5 “and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,” Vs. 6 “if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

The Holy Spirit reminds me of my responsibility as a child of God to let the light of Christ shine brightly before others that they can see the glory of God in me.  It is only by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, that those around me can be touched for the cause of Christ.  My righteousness is as filthy rags, but God forgives sin when we ask Him to do so.

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

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

The above scripture is God’s promise to us.  Without forgiveness, no one can see God, because sin is enmity to Him.  He hates sin of any kind, because sin is sin; there is no in-between areas acceptable to Him.  It is like a pregnant woman—she is, or she is not. 

The fact of the matter is this; yes, God hates sin, but He loves the sinner so much that He gave His only Son to die on a cross for the salvation of mankind.  Jesus paid the full price for our redemption when He willingly died for our sins.  Though we misbehave, we can be reconciled with Father God when we confess our sins.  He forgives us, because of Jesus.

This manifestation of love is called grace.  God is merciful and wants us to be with Him in heaven.  God’s grace is sufficient for everything we face in life.  He is our strength and high tower.  In Him we are made complete. 

No longer do we have the stigma of sin buffeting us each day, because they have been thrown into God’s sea-of-forgetfulness…never to remember them against us again.  This is how Christians walk in peace—it is the peace of God that passes all understanding.

God’s ways are far beyond our ways and higher than any intellectual personality.  Natural thinking measures lies on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being a downright, dirty lie and 1 being a tiny, trivial, white lie.  But remember, it is impossible for God to lie at any degree or level on the “honesty scale.”

Each promise in the Bible that God and Jesus declared to people like you and me is truth and nothing but the truth.  None of them are little, white lies.  If God said it, He will do it!  We need not fret and lose hope if the answer is not immediate?  Giving God a chance to work out the situation is key.  Discouragement, giving up is the lack of faith.  Maintaining proper focus on Him and not the problem is called faith.

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

It is the ability of our finite mind to trust the honesty of God.  He is infinite…limitless in power and love.  It is just impossible for our Heavenly Father to lie to His children.  It will not happen.  We can believe with confidence, knowing that God is touched by the feelings of our infirmities.  We can call upon Him and trust that He has all things in His control.  We can walk in peace because you and I matter to Him.

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

The next time I am tempted to tell a little, white lie, I will ask myself, “What would Jesus do?”  No doubt this will give the answer.  Little, white lies matter to God.  Though He may frown on the times we slip and fall, yet He forgives our trespasses when we ask Him to do so.

God does not take pleasure in chastising us, but when necessary, in love He will do what is needed to get our attention to help us become more like Jesus.  His way of helping us grow spiritually is not like some parents raising their children, “Do as I say, not as I do.” 

The kindness of the Lord leads us to repentance, which allows reconciliation that removes the fear of punishment.  We again feel the tender embrace of compassion from Father God.  Once more we are reminded that He loves us with a never-ending love.

The Lord encourages repentance, which helps us grow in grace, rather than allowing us to continue practicing bad habits.  It matters to God, which path we travel.  He is perfecting us in the image of Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth.

(Proverbs 3:11,12) “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction;” Vs. 12 “For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”

My example of telling a white lie is only a clumsy way in trying to encourage you to be mindful of how to keep an open communication with God.  When we endeavor to please Him and put aside questionable situations and attitudes, it negates the chance of a rift developing between He and us.

We will walk in newness of life and experience the blessings of Almighty God.  When we draw nigh to Him, He draws nigh to us.  It is like taking one step toward Him, while He is taking two toward us.

Does it really matter how we live our life?  Yes, it matters to God, even when we tell little, white lies.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Monday, February 1, 2021

When Storms Abound

 

A couple of days ago was quite unnerving to say the least.  It was a blustery day with strong winds and driving rain.  Trees toppled and telephone poles broke under the gale-force winds leaving thousands of people without power to heat their homes and sustain perishables in refrigerators.  It was just one more negative event to add to the perils of Covid-19.

Fences blew over, trees fell across houses, cars, and power lines, which made life more unbearable for many people.  As if corona virus were not enough to deal with…people losing their jobs and business, and not having enough money to buy food or pay bills.

I am old and have never seen such unrest and uneasiness around me.  There is so much going on in our government, riots in the streets of America, murders and mayhem throughout the land, while hatred is taking center stage.  The United States of America is becoming a scary place to live and call home.

People are buying guns like there is no tomorrow, because of fear.  Chaos is on every hand, but I do not have to tell you what you already know.  It is how a person handles stress and fear that matters most to the wellbeing of mind, body, and soul.

We need not allow fear to dictate our emotional state of mind, because love casts out all fear.  When we put our trust in God and reassure ourselves that He cares about every predicament we face, fear takes a back seat, becoming subject to the Spirit of God.  The Lord takes up all the room in our heart where fear wants to abide.  He pushes it out and removes it all together.  There is no chamber left in which fear can hide.

(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.”

Fear reveals itself in many ways.  Hording food and toilet paper, buying generators and storing several cans of gasoline, while remaining behind locked doors to prevent Covid-19 and unwanted intruders from entering are signs of fear.

Watching daily news on television can worry a person, because of all the negative happenings around the world.  Our hope lies in Jesus Christ who overcame the world and provided a way to remain calm during stressful situations.  All power rests in the name of Jesus.  When we speak His name, fear and distress dissipate, and hope arises.

God always makes a way were there seems to be no way when we put our trust in Him.  He leads and guides into all truth and will never leave nor forsake us, because our hope is not in mankind or what the government can do for us, we are sustained by the Holy Spirit, our Comforter.  Hope is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

When we feel like screaming at the top of our lungs and giving up, because of worry, stress, and just the everyday pressures of life, remember, there is One who is bigger than your problem.  The Lord will meet your need when you call upon Him. 

When the blustery storms of life blow your way and you do not know which way to turn, lift your eyes toward heaven and speak the name of Jesus and then believe that He hears your petition, because He will calm the storms in your life if you trust Him to do so.

(Hebrews 4:15,16) “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”  Vs. 16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

The preceding scripture is telling us that God sympathizes with His children and will come to their assistance in time of need.  What greater promise can a person have than this?

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

The Clamor of Instability

 

We live in a world where practical thinking and good judgment is being replaced with nonsensical rhetoric, becoming a willy-nilly concept of ideas rather than exercising good horse sense, as it were.  I am from the old school and it is hard to teach old dogs’ new tricks, especially when it comes to commonsense logic.

I may not have a degree from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, or other prestigious universities that some people are financially able to attend, but my dad and his dad before him encouraged me to be quick to listen and slow to speak.  In this way, I learned much and have been able to sort out things of importance on my own without a college professor teaching me his or her philosophy on life.  My dad called it, “Picking the other person’s brains.”  It is a skill that I learned at an early age.

Although college is certainly advantageous in expanding one’s intelligence and can help with their ability to secure certain job opportunities along life’s road, but college is not always the answer for some people.  The lack of finances or personal desires can influence choices made.  Individual mindsets to achieve goals, while possessing the drive to succeed, by not giving up, has produced greatness in many people through history that did not have college degrees.

I was thinking of fanatical professors that believe that their viewpoints are the only way to live life, which, in my opinion, add to the confusion and clamor of instability where individuals believe one way and refuse to listen to commonsense reasoning.  It is their way or the highway.

The statement, “Rank has its privileges,” is inept thinking when it comes to stepping on others for political gain or any kind of advancement when individuals are thrown under the bus in order to achieve the whims of power seekers.  I personally refuse to bend and give tribute to such aspirations.  Life should not be a game of chess where people are sacrificed like pons.  It is shameful when immoral success trumps compassion and kindheartedness. 

People with good horse sense should take center stage when sensible decisions are needed.  It is reprehensible when those having less than ethical and principled behaviors express their clamor of unstable thinking and expect people to jump when they say, “Jump!”  Our society has become lax and beaten down to the point that many ask, “How high,” on the way up.  

It takes courage to stand for uprightness, decency, and honesty.  Where are these people?  They need to step up to the plate and make their voices heard.

It is becoming more and more apparent that good, law abiding individuals are being deprived of commonsense thinking.  Their right to think and say what they feel is quickly being suppressed.  It seems that we are becoming subject to subgroups of minority behaviors and beliefs. 

Efforts to honor or coddle those that choose certain lifestyles as a way of living is being herald as acceptable behavior.  Yes, every person has the right to choose the way they want to live their life, but the clamor of instability presents itself when they exert their rank and status, while expecting others to privilege them above one’s own beliefs and expectations, thus, taking away the right to say, “I don’t agree.” 

“Let and let live” should be our motto, but the clamor occurs when those in power exert their authority in ways that diminish wholesome respect for them.  We are admonished or censured for taking a stand against overbearing leaders and lifestyles that are not conducive to our way of living.  Veracity is frowned upon by interest groups, while lawmakers point fingers of accusation and exclaim, “You must obey the law!”  Where is the justice in this when the law may be wrong?  In lies the problem.  

Like I said, allow people to live their life the way they choose to live it, and allow other people the option to say that it is not for them, without prejudice.  I do not accept that any person has the right to tell me how to live, especially when they critique, criticize, and condemn me, while saying that I am wrong to think the way I think and believe the way I believe.  

Too often, power goes to a person's head and they expect people to bend and be molded into their way of thinking.  This is wrong any way you look at it.

Legal voters must take responsibility to vote their conscience.  Our government is founded upon “of, by, and for the people.”  It is a philosophy that works when people exercise their constitutional right to vote individuals into office that are like-minded and motivated to serve their constituents, rather than those that are power hungry, self-serving, and greedy.  We must be vigilant instead of having a passive, "oh well" attitude.  

It is becoming harder and harder to be “politically correct” when trying to converse with others and live my life with God-given convictions, because of all the nuances that are prevalent today.  I am old and it is not my eyesight that is having trouble seeing, it is the unrecognizable mannerisms and lifestyles that do not resemble the America that I remember as a young man.  It produces unsettling questions to ponder.

A person is called a hatemonger and bigot when they do not hold the same opinions as those of other persuasions.  God said that we are to love one another as ourselves and to love our neighbor as Christ loved the Church.  Though it may be hard for some to do this, I am persuaded that if we do not love, how is the love of Christ in us?  We must pray for our leaders and not set ourselves in judgment of anyone.

We may not agree with other lifestyles and certain people in powerful positions of leadership, but I believe we are required by God to also pray for our own attitudes and bios thinking; not that we turn from our convictions, but that we, ourselves, might live daily without the stigma of judgmental attitudes that weaken our walk with God.

Though we fight a battle to not surrender to external pressures of indoctrination, we must be mindful that we are not the judge or jury of things that God has control over.  His grace is sufficient in all things if we put out trust and allegiance in Him. 

If we allow ourselves to drown in the sea of confusion, while being swallowed up in the fire of temptation and greed, a whirlwind of calamity will cause us to real and rock due to the onslaught of indecisive living.  We must remain strong and believe that God is still on the thrown and that He alone has the answer for the woos of mankind—Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

Christians must remain steadfast in faith and resist doublemindedness.  The Bible says that a double minded person is unstable in all their ways.  We must guard our mind against untruths that resemble truth and recognize Satan’s camouflaging attempts to beguile us in accepting wrong as right.

It is easy to be swept up in political jargon that is difficult to understand.  The do’s and don’ts are sometimes hard to interpret.  Covid-19, also known as coronavirus, is another unpredictable element that can cause fear and anxiety to abound if we do not put our trust in God Almighty.  We may not understand the why’s and misgivings of happenings in the world, but God is in control; He is sovereign.

The clamor of instability in streets around the world loudly speaks the unrest of hopelessness, which plagues many people that feel they are misunderstood and being unjustly taken advantage of.  

I do not agree with demonstrations of violence and mayhem or louting and the destroying of businesses in the name of justice or equality.  This form of rebellion cannot elevate their cause, it only brings resentment and anger from others.  Stone throwing and other acts of aggression are not acceptable behaviors against society and hardworking entrepreneurs that are trying to make a living.

I believe the unrest and clamor of instability is raising its ugly head, because people are leaving their ideals and values—God Almighty and His commandments should be foremost in the minds of people wanting answers.  I feel they are putting their hope in “man” rather than the “One” who can meet their every need according to His riches in glory.  

I think I understand the perplexity of not wanting to be shoved to the back of the bus again, because of ignorance, and feeling like second class citizens as we have seen in past acts of cruelty and oppression...they are just looking for hope. 

Peaceful demonstrations are one thing, but lawless behavior does not help any cause.  It only detracts from the intent of the movement.  When God is left out of the equation, the road ahead becomes rough and impassible at times.  God restores the wrongs to right if we lean upon Him and do things according to His will.  He goes before us and makes a way where there seems to be no way.

We, as a nation, can continue to bury our head in the sand of uncertainty, and disregard commonsense practices of prayer, reading God’s Word, and loving our neighbor as ourselves, or continue in revolt and running from God’s fruit of the Spirit, thus, allowing sin to abound.  The answer is to allow Jesus to bring peace and harmony.  He is the Prince of Peace, God’s Son.

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

Good spiritual health depends on the entity we choose to follow—Jesus, Satan, or our own willful ways of disobedience to God’s commandments.  The choice is ours to make.  We can choose good health, both physical and spiritual, or death.  It is that simple.

(Romans 6:21) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

If a person chooses to live haphazardly, this action takes its toll not only on the physical well-being of that individual, but spiritually as well.  The vertical relationship is most important to maintain, because one day we will stand before God and give an account for the deeds done in this flesh when we come to the end of life’s journey.

Though we live in a world of instability and witness the calamity of discourse around us, our stability rests in Jesus Christ, the Hope of the world.  Real security does not begin and end with one’s bank account, position held at work, or the friends we choose to associate with.

Jesus came that we might have life and life more abundantly.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No-one comes to the Father in heaven except through our Lord and Savior, Jesus.  He brings peace to the soul of mankind when we call upon His name.  He calms the storms in our life when He speaks, “Peace be still.”

(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.”

(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.”

The clamor of instability ceases when we surrender our will to God’s will by accepting His Son into our heart.  Old things pass away, and all things become new, because we become the sons and daughters of our Creator, God.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

 

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Spiritual Balance


When I was just a little shaver, no bigger than hop-o’-my-thumb, Mom and Dad took me to church quite regularly.  They were adamant about teaching me right from wrong to the extent of not allowing me to visit those terrible places called, “movie theaters.”

Even though free tickets were given for Saturday morning matinees to each person on the crossing guard squad, which I was a member of in grade school, there was no gray area with Dad.  He wanted me to shun the very appearance of evil, as it were.

I was disappointed not being able to watch Disney or hop-along Cassidy movies, but I didn’t want to go to hell as I thought I might.  I did not disobey my dad.

I envisioned God as someone waiting for me to make a mistake so that He could put a black check-mark next to my name in heaven.  Anyway, that is what I was told would happen by my older siblings.  The truth was certainly exaggerated in order to keep me on the straight and narrow path.

I remember sermons being preached about hell, fire, and brimstone, which indelibly branded my mind.  I tried my best to be good lest I end up in hell, so I watched my “Ps” and “Qs” until my teens.  It was then a new world of discovery raised its ugly head and I began to run from God, trying to find myself and where I belonged.

In my youth, I seldom heard messages about the love of God and that if I slipped and fell, He would forgive my sins.  Emphasis was on DO NOT SIN OR REAP THE CONSEQUENCES!  At least that's the way I remember it. 

Yes, (John 3:16) was preached, but my conception of God was misconstrued, that of fear.  I am not saying that preachers of old should not have taught on the wages of sin leading to death, but the merciful, tenderness of God should have been communicated, more so, to offset the hell and damnation that my young brain was exposed to.

I am sure that today’s rating of some of the sermons preached would have been at least PG (parental guidance).  I respectfully call these types of messages, scar tactics to get a person to serve God.  In any case, they sure scared me.

I truly believe that old time evangelists were God conscious and wanted His will in the lives of people as they painting vivid pictures of the place to shun.  I am sure their aim was to save people from hell.

Perhaps for this reason I find it difficult to totally grasp the love of God as an adult.  No doubt God loves me with a never ending love and is long-suffering and merciful, yet I struggle to understand the depth, breadth, and height of agape love.

In today’s society, this type of teaching does not go over well in my opinion.  As I see it, it is a sore subject with some folks, because people are prone to take a stand against someone telling them what they can and can’t do.  I guess it’s the times in which we live…individuals pushing against authority figures, and the notion that someone is dictating to them how to live.

It has been years since I have heard a message about hell, and that if we sin, this terrible place is where we will find ourselves.  I believe this food for thought concerning hell is needed, inclusive of messages that Jesus Christ is the Savior who delivers us from sin.

The Bible says that we are no longer under the law; we are in the dispensation of grace, because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, the only begotten Son of God.  In that He paid the full price for sin through the shedding of His blood on Calvary’s cross, you and I can be set free from the bondage and stigma of sin.

When Jesus becomes our Savior, we need not fear hell, because we become sons and daughters of God Almighty through Jesus Christ.

(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.”

If I blow it and sin, the old teaching I received in my youth sometimes kicks in and I wonder, “Am I going to hell?  Will God really forgive me?”  If God does not forgive sin when we stumble and fall, will there be anyone in heaven?

God desires persistence not perfection, because we will never attain this status.  If we fall, He wants us to get up, brush ourselves off, and continue the race.  God forgives sin when we ask Him.  He is our heavenly Father who wants us in heaven with Him. 

There was only one perfect man that walked the earth—Jesus.  We are not perfect, just forgiven.  We learn through life’s experiences how to put off the old ways of the world and walk in newness of life through Jesus; in the strength of the Holy Spirit.

God looks at the heart, (the soul), and sees our true desire to live for Him, not the outside that is fallible.  God sees the mistakes we make through the blood of His dear Son, who freely gave His life for our redemption; for the failures we make.

God wants intimacy with the real you, not someone else you are trying to be.  We must pattern ourselves after the attributes of Jesus Christ, not some great spiritual leader or guru.

(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.”

When I was standing on the precipice looking into the vastness of past sins, I felt hopeless and alone.  It was at that instant the teachings of my youth flooded my mind and I cried out to God for help.  He was there, took my hand, and led me to a safe haven of refuge and security.

The Lord gave me peace of mind that all things were controlled by Him and not to worry.  Accepting Jesus into my heart was the pivotal moment that changed the rest of my life and the afterlife too.

When I read about the compassion that Jesus had for people and the love He expressed to all He met, I am encouraged that had He not loved me, He would not have died for me.  The Lord desires that all should come to Him and repent of their sins and be born-again.

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

Though preachers and evangelists bombarded young minds with messages about sin and death, I am persuaded that their intentions were honorable and pure.  They preached what I needed to hear at that time, because I am serving God today.  Everything works together for good.

(Romans 8:28), “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Today’s society needs the teaching that there is a hell to shun and a heaven to gain.  We must not bury our head in the sand or sing Kumbaya, while refusing to listen to sound doctrine like old time Pentecostal teachings about hell, fire, and brimstone.  It is what our soul needs in addition to the teachings of God’s eternal love.  Together they provide spiritual balance.

Written by,
Papa Boyd


Sunday, November 3, 2019

Tomorrow Is Here Today


As you embrace these thoughts, my prayer is that they help to open closed ears and broaden your visual horizon of upcoming events if needed.  They are not meant to discourage or offend in any way, because it is my desire that you experience the very best in life and heaven too.

Most people shy away from asking themselves:  “Do I really wanna die and go to hell?”  This question is quite specific in nature and most likely intimidating, yet it is a most important question to ask oneself rather than numbing the senses to a vital subject matter.

I, for one, refused to think or talk about such things when I was living a reckless existence.  It was easier on my psyche and less stressful to occupy my mind with other things and leave worrisome thoughts for when I was too old to enjoy life.

“Just let me sow my wild oats” is usually the cry of young people wanting excitement and a lot of relationships.  The sad part of this philosophy is that it doesn’t always work out this way.

In my youth and into adulthood, I was heartbroken when a couple of my friends succumbed to the pressures around them by ending their life.  I have witnessed people of all ages dying from the effect of a disease or injury before reaching their twilight years.

I don’t know anyone that desires death and I am sure that most level-headed people do not want to go into eternity without their sins being forgiven.  Dying and hell are not the most favorite subjects to talk about, especially if a person is walking away from God.

It is systematic suppression that causes non-Christians to hide their head in the sand-of-procrastination rather than facing the inevitable with an open mind.  Remember, no one is getting out of this world alive.

Life doesn’t come with safety nets included.  We are all walking a high-wire and not having a net.  Standing on the periphery of the unknown is more than a bit scary; the thought of it is terrifying to some individuals.  For this reason they close their ears and hope to escape the haunting thought of the inescapable, a certainty that is coming no matter what we think or believe.

When I became a Christian I told my friends about the love of God and a heaven to gain and hell to shun.  At times a quiet hush would fall.  My words were met with the sound of silence, because my friends were faced with a decision resembling a life/death scenario; uncomfortable to say the least, but necessary to talk about. 

Some attitudes were, “Tomorrow I will consider God.” I was endeavoring to tell them, “Tomorrow is here today.”  It was like I had a fistful of smelling salts attempting to awaken them from their slumbering lifestyle. 

The adage, “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” hints at a “hide or seek” game; hiding from what’s to come.  I associate it with someone pretending to be unaware or choosing to look the other way. 

Some friends were hearing, but not listening.  They resembled the world’s populace that has forgotten how to listen…minds filled with computer games and bombarded with text messages, while surfing the internet consisting of interconnected networks.

It is becoming easier for the adversary of our soul to squeeze the very life out of us, making it effortless for humanity to become lost in the world of cybernetics rather than thinking about tomorrow or the next minute, while there is yet time to say yes to Jesus.

Life is brief, but people, in general, think they have time to make things right with God.  In this present day of delight and pleasure, those that delay or postpone getting their life on track have a typical response, which is someday—a code-word meaning never.  They are being deceived by the devil who says, “God is no fun; let me show you what real fun is all about.”  

Satan is the great deceiver and father of lies.  Hell is the destination when giving ear to his lies whether we want to face this fact or not.  But God has a way to escape this terrible place—Jesus Christ.  He is the way, the truth, and the life.

If we are fortunate enough to experience a ripe old age and not die prematurely, we actually choose our own destiny.  The entity we serve on earth determines the place we spend eternity—Jesus or Lucifer; heaven or hell.  The choice is ours to make.  Putting off and saying, “I will serve God when I am old,” is wasted words if death calls today.

(2 Corinthians 6:2), “…Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

I believe the few years that we have on earth is a dressing room for eternity.  How we live our life and what we wear as apparel, righteousness or unrighteousness, will determine tomorrow’s residence and the days, years, and millenniums that follow.

I understand why people skirt conversations and refuse to think about what happens after death.  I was apprehensive to close my eyes at night for fear of where my soul would end up should I die in my sleep.

As a Believer, I now have a hope through Jesus Christ that heaven will be my home forever and ever.  Fear departed and peace of mind replaced it.

You too can walk in calmness of spirit, because God gave His Son to die for your sins and mine.  Just ask for forgiveness and receive the free gift of salvation.  Be born again through Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of mankind.

(2 Peter 3:9), “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

May you have a long and prosperous life, but the time to serve God is here today.  Make the decision now, because tomorrow may never come.

Written by,
Papa Boyd

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Ask and Believe


My daughter-in-law came over yesterday to show my wife how to use the new pressure cooker I bought.  She brought her grandson, my great grandson, of whom I hadn’t seen in some time…how he had grown! 

He is eight years old and very personable with great manners.  As he and I visited in my home office, he proceeded to tell me that for the past two or three weeks he has had a cold and unable to shake it.

I got up from where I was sitting and laid hands on his chest to pray.  I spoke the name of Jesus, because the Bible says in (Isaiah 53:5), “By His stripes we are healed.”

Jesus suffered a brutal beating prior to being crucified on the cross.  He was God’s Son dying for the sins of mankind.  There is all power given unto that name.

(John 14:13), “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

I prayed that God would heal his body from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet.  I felt the power of God in my prayer as did he.

He stood there motionless, kind of in awe, and not saying anything.  I knew he felt the touch of God, because tears welled up in his eyes.  I proceeded to tell him of the times that my dad prayed for me when I was his age, having immediate results after he prayed.

Dad was a man of faith and believed in laying hands on the sick and praying that they be healed of their affliction.  He raised me by showing the power of God through prayer.  He believed that prayer is the key, but faith unlocks the hasp that binds people.

It would be enjoyable to write several pages on the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, but my thoughts today revolve around the gifts of healings, which is certainly a blessed gift to have.

I believe a Spirit-filled Christian can be used, by God, in all nine gifts if occasions warranted these actions to be implemented.  The Bible says that we are to pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1).

If it was not possible to stir up the gifts of God in us, Believers would not have been encouraged to do so.  There are nine gifts in all and nine fruit of the Holy Spirit; a writing for another day.

Of the nine gifts, the gift of healing resounds loudly in my spirit, because there are so many people around us that need a touch of healing from the Lord.  I am sure that when Jesus walked the earth He was moved with compassion at every turn.  I am convinced that He healed all that had little hope in their struggle of life.

I believe in prayer and raised my children with prayer; results following.  We do not have to beg God when making our petition known, we need only to ask and believe that He hears and answers prayers.  We then leave it with Him, knowing that He is touched by the feelings of our infirmities.

I have been around a long time and heard many sermons on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Sadly, I seldom hear messages preached on the subject.  Just because society is shying away from talking or singing about the blood of Jesus does not nullify the power that allows me to plead the blood over any situation and expect a miracle.

I’ve heard that the consensus of certain faiths feel that gifts were for the early church and not prevalent for today’s refined culture of church goers.  I understand that some printing companies have removed songs from hymnals that speak to the blood of Jesus.  I perceive that they don’t want a bloody religion. 

As for me and my house, we believe in the power of the blood that Jesus shed for the healing of body and soul.  I try not to get caught up in the whys of omission or become stagnated in what Christians do not do.  I would rather focus on what I can do through Christ who strengthens me when I step out in faith to put into action what I believe, whenever the occasion presents itself.

You may think, “I have little or no faith at all.”  For this reason I am sharing my thoughts today.  First of all, faith is generated by reading the Bible.  It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. 

(Romans 10:17), “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 

I believe Christians should be ready to stand in the gap where needed to do whatever the Spirit of God is prompting.  My grandson’s cold and the action I took is a small example of this.  He will remember the power of prayer in days and years to come, as have my children as they raise theirs.

A Believer can move with boldness and assuredness that God will intervene whatever the need may be, because He cares.  This means having responsibility to the need and to God, being willing to move in faith at any time or place to use one or all nine of the gifts.

Christians can walk with God’s anointing in their daily life and not fear or be embarrassed to be used of God in any situation, because it is not you or me that perform miracles, it is the Holy Spirit working in children of God.  It is up to God as to the results of our obedience in doing what He wanted us to do.

(1 Corinthians 12:7-10), “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:”  (vs.8) “for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,” (vs.9) “to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,” (vs.10) “to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”

No doubt there will be times that we balk and fail to do what we are prompted to do, but that’s okay; God will use plan “B” when He needs to by using someone else to bring about His will.  It happened to me.

I remember sitting in church having a strong impression to go pray for a young man I had never met.  The moment I quenched the Spirit and didn’t move out of my seat, another Christian got up, walked over to him and proceeded to minister to his need.

I missed the opportunity to be part of God’s work.  It was a lesson I’ll never forget.  Rationalizing things to the point of vetoing the power of the spiritual realm in me, in favor of what I was feeling, fear and embarrassment caused me to miss a blessing to grow even stronger in the Lord.

When we pray for boldness, God gives it.  When we ask to be used, He uses us.  To be His hand extended is my desire.  I hope it’s yours as well.

It is my belief that the Holy Spirit can manifest any of the nine gifts at anytime through Believers that walk in God’s anointing, if they allow Him to do so.  Let us not forget the free access we have as children of God.  God is not limiting us to only one gift.

The following choruses express my sentiments regarding ministry:

To be used of God to sing, to speak, to pray
To be used of God to show someone the way
I long so much to feel the touch of His consuming fire
To be used of God is my desire

Oh to be His hand extended
Reaching out to the oppressed
Let me touch Him, let me touch Jesus
So that others may know and be blessed

Sharing the Good News that Jesus heals, through action, not only builds confidence that God still answers prayer in today’s unbelieving populace, it encourages the person being prayed for to reach out on their own behalf to believe God for miracles whenever they or someone else has troubling issues.

Written by,
Papa Boyd