Love, Mercy, and Grace

Like the song says, “Who am I that a King would bleed and die for?”  I may never know the answer to this question, but I do know that God left His kingdom in heaven, came to earth and embodied Himself (incarnated) into human flesh as a baby, born to Mary and Joseph. 

You can read about His birth in (Luke 2:1-14).  My mother-in-law called it The Christmas Story.  This God/Child was named Jesus—King of kings and Lord of lords—God in flesh.

How can I, being a mortal human being, ever commune with Him or stand in the presence of Deity?  I can do so, because of God’s amazing grace, which is His free gift to humanity.  This includes you and me.

We are no longer under the law of Moses, but under the dispensation of grace.  A person who surrenders their life to the Lord becomes a born-again-Believer.  They are recognized by God, as His child, after He saves them by grace, through Jesus, His Son.

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

I’m just a sinner saved by grace, through faith.  Jesus is surely the wind behind my sails.  He is the reason I have a song in my heart, because He is that song!

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

Jesus, alone, is our only hope of an abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven.

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

God extended mercy, rather than judgement, when I asked Him to forgive my sins.  God loved me so much that He gave His only Son to die on a cross for my redemption.  He forgave everyone of my transgressions.

The plan of salvation was culminated at the cross of Calvary when Jesus was crucified.  After enduring the heartbreaking acts of hatred against Him, and the excruciating pain that He was subjected to, He said, “It is finished!”  And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.  He suffered and died, because of the love He had for you and me.

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

God did not reject me or hold my sins over my head and exclaim, “There is no hope for you!”  Jesus became our hope when He willingly died for our sins.  He paid the full price for our redemption, debts that He did not owe, which were the debts we could not pay.

I needed a Savior to wash my sins away.  Jesus gave me living water for my thirsting soul.  It was pure and refreshing springs of living water that flowed directly from the throne of Almighty God.

(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.”

God does not want anyone to perish or lose their way and become separated from Him for eternity.  His love is unmeasurable, deeper than the ocean and higher than any star in the heavens.

(John 3:17), “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Faith, Hope and Charity…the greatest of these is charity (love).  These words go together with Love, Mercy, and Grace.  Jesus is all the above.

Who am I that a King would die for?  I was a sinner searching for peace in a world filled with confusion and hopelessness.  I needed something solid to place my feet upon, and someone I could trust to be my friend.  Jesus is that friend.

(Proverbs 18:24), “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

I was like a lamb, lost in the wilderness of sin, but Jesus found me and lovingly took me by the hand in His nail scarred hand and brought me home to the fold.  He came to me when I felt alone and weary from my long, hard journey. 

My sins were many, whereas my righteousness was as filthy rags in the sight of a holy God, but He looked beyond my faults and saw my need of a Savior—Jesus Christ.  All I needed to do was reach out my hand and receive His gift of grace and accept His Son as Savior and Chief Executor of my affairs.

A wandering soul need only ask God to forgive their sins, and they will receive His free gifts of Love, Mercy, and Grace. 

Just open your heart’s door to Jesus, in faith, and God will do the rest.  He completely saves and will set your feet securely on the unmovable, unshakable, solid rock—Jesus.  He becomes the chief cornerstone as you build a relationship with Him.  All of heaven rejoices when a person becomes a child of the King. 

There will be no regrets in heaven when we stand before a righteous God and hear Him say, “Enter into the joy of the Lord, good and faithful servant.”  It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

No Longer a Heart of Stone

I didn’t know that the heart could be stony until I read the Bible.  Talk about stones, if you have never passed a kidney stone, it’s no fun.  Please drink plenty of water—take my word for it. 

I have never experienced such pain when one of my kidneys expelled a stone into the ureter that leads to the bladder.  I felt like giving up the ghost…oh me, oh my!  Ouch!  I’ve heard that it’s worse than having a baby.

The pain was so intense that I pleaded with my wife to run the red signal lights as she drove me to the hospital emergency.  But she was a conscientious, law-abiding Citizen and didn’t do what I was begging her to do.  It makes me smile, now that I look back.

Another stone I want to forget is the 1” diameter gallstone that put me in the hospital a few years back.  I lost my gallbladder over that encounter.

I’m not sharing these woes to drum up sympathy; I just want to someway present a parallel having to do with stones in my life.

Before I became a Christian, I was on a rocky road that was filled with pain of different sorts.  My friends were stone cold and lacked compassion and tolerance for anyone.  My temperament was like a heart of stone.  It was not a caring heart by any stretch of imagination.

I was a man running from God that could hurl stone after stone at those having faith in the solid Rock, Jesus Christ.  I wanted no part of Him.

One night I was feeling low and thinking about the road I was traveling on and the turmoil that was rocking my world.  I finally saw the Light in my early twenties when I realized just how miserable I was without the Lord in my heart.   I lifted my hands toward heaven in the quietness of my apartment and surrendered everything to my Creator.

When Deity took up residence within me, my heart rocked with joy.  I used to be a person who rocked out at parties and clubs, but since my amazing conversion to Truth, the old man took on a new look with new desires to draw closer to Almighty God.

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

I found a new way of living, with wonderful values and a heart for people that need the same Savior that forgave my sins.  God removed the stony heart and replaced it with a heart of compassion and love for others…a real treasure of new beginnings and concern for those needing the Lord.

(Matthew 6:19-21), “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;” (v 20) “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (v 21) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

After God freed my soul from sin that held me down like a millstone around my neck, peace flooded my soul.  Now, there is no longer a heart of stone where once there was a heart that rejected God’s grace.

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

I found Who I was looking for.  God gave me new visions and a real purpose for living.  Thank you, God, for your faithfulness and love toward me and to the person reading these words.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Grace and Mercy or Discord and Hatred (Part 1 of 2)

(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.”

I value freedom and believe in it wholeheartedly.  I do not agree with any type of governmental weaponization against the people of any nation.  It is just wrong!

The following viewpoints are snapshots of the ‘Oh Me’ quandary that I’m trying to wrap my head around.  The 2024 presidential election is slowly fading into my memory of the ludicrous conduct by journalists, campaign managers, and how people across our nation became shamefully indignant, as they acted like spoiled brats wanting their way.

My observation of what happened leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  Life is hard enough without outside influencers doing their best to clutter our minds with swamp-slime falsities straight from hell.  Unity is the best policy, not messages that promote division and divisive nonsense.

I am shocked and bewildered at how divided our nation has become.  As I see it, Americans were purposely pitted against one another during the presidential campaign, prior to the election, and during the voting process.

People were split across every state in the Union and not encouraged by either party to extend mercy and grace to others with differing opinions.  Now that the election is over, several TV hosts are encouraging those that voted to spurn and ostracize friends and family members if they didn’t vote the way they did. 

This type of behavior is instigating more division in our nation.  How dare the broadcasting stations to allow this offensive conduct!  Welcome to more turmoil versus unity. 

It is heart sickening to see how the United States of America is becoming the Divided States of America.  Dissimulation is not of God; it is satanic behavior.  I believe the negative energy of pure ugliness and fear mongering was and still is generated by power-hungry narcissists at the top of an extension ladder of their own making.

They created animosity and division among the constituents and candidates, through personality bashing and instigating hatred by their persistent backstabbing and negative rhetoric. 

In my humble opinion, I believe the intended goal of these underhanded schemers was to manipulate and interfere with the electoral process by influencing and controlling the mindset of voters, while endeavoring to seduce and sway commonsense thinking, as they hid behind the veil of deception.

Freedom to have a fair and upright election was the last thing they wanted.  As I see it, winning was everything, and nothing or no-one else mattered.  During their debacle attempts to persuade voters to their way of thinking, while dreaming up other tactical maneuvers, there was a great failure on their part to recognize the desperate needs and pain that American citizens were going through.

Needy people were treading water and going down for the third time, because of high inflation, an unstable economy, and food prices doubling.  Unreasonable prices at the gas pumps were preventable, but nothing was done to curb the relentless gouging.

Life was and is unbearable for low and middle-class families trying to make ends meet.  The safety factor in most communities across the United States was also ignored by the powers that be, regarding crime, aggravated assaults, rapes, and homicides of innocent people.  This serious problem is becoming paramount in epidemic proportion.

It is out of control and getting worse, while nothing is being done to remedy the problem.  The cry for help from the innocent has fallen on deaf ears.  This lack of caring and doing nothing to protect U.S. Citizens is not only irresponsible, but thoughtless in nature.

Puppet masters, as I call them, tried to tie the hands of voters to manipulate the strings, but Americans and candidates began to realize that they were being hoodwinked.  The status quo defenders considered them nothing more than marionettes to handle in ways to obtain their own greedy agendas.

Backing off and trusting the will of the populace to express their own personal convictions and constitutional right to choose at the ballot box was out of the question and beyond the scope of fair play.  The unseen power-players made their demands known by vocalizing their opinions and deceptive strategies, while vibrations of hate-mongering and personal attacks proceeded from their mouths.

They focused on spreading malicious lies that caused division and feelings of animosity toward candidates amongst the voters.  Hearsay and untruths from unscrupulous voices were disgusting and hard for me to digest.

I believe that power-hungry-gatekeepers of the bureaucracy wanted more power, to raise taxes, bigger government, and total control over the lives of every citizen in the United States.

Really?  The government is supposed to work for the people, not the other way around.  What happened?  How did things become so lopsided and resembling a régime of dictators?  I’m sure you have your own thoughts and opinions on the matter.

I have never in my lifetime witnessed so much discourse and undercurrent against presidential candidates, individuals running for the U.S. Senate, and those seeking a seat in the House of Representatives.

Negative rhetoric on both sides of the aisle was unacceptable in my opinion.  They should not have stooped to low levels of slander and name calling.  It was unbecoming and reprehensible behavior for anyone that was involved in doing such things, no matter who they were.

The Bible says that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves and not bear false witness against them.  It is easy to see just how far ‘The Land of the Free’ is falling from grace when listening to the filthy words spoken and lies that were manufactured, not withstanding, unrestrained false accusations and misinformation being spewed from the news media during the campaigns.

Just listening to evil words of hatred and seeing the uncontrolled lawlessness of smash and grab criminals, the burning of American flags, looting and destructive demonstrations in the streets of our cities, all of this and more, speaks loudly the decline of America.  God help us!  We must pray for peace!  We need to pull together and make our country strong.

The vicious wagging of venomous tongues throughout the election was indeed anti-American and set on the flames of hellfire,

(James 3:6), “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.  The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

(James 3:8), “But no man can tame the tongue.  It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Grace and Mercy or Discord and Hatred (Part 2 of 2)

Whether people want to believe it or not, God is in total control of all that happens in this world, though it seems like it’s tearing apart at the seams.  His perfect will shall always prevail in every situation though we may not understand His reasoning.  We must remember that it is God Who sits on the throne in heaven.

God allows certain individuals to be in leadership positions to bring about His will and plan for humanity.  It is amazing to me how arrogant and self-centered people think they are in charge.  They believe they are powerful enough, smart enough, and because of their money, can elevate themselves above God and what He deems necessary.  They are so smart they’re stupid, with little sense at all. 

God may permit people to elevate themselves to high places of nobility and power for a season, and He may even allow them to use their money to influence others in getting their way at any cost, but God has the final say.

God must chuckle at people that think their words should somehow be recognized and held in high esteem as having merit, while using their fortune to accomplish dirty deals.  It goes without saying, self-exalted people expect praise and adoration from others.  When they don’t receive it, they pout like spoiled children and then all hell breaks loose.

They begin dictating, authoritatively, how everyone should behave, obey them, and follow their lead without question.  These morons lack good sense!  Know this, big dollars are limited as to what they can buy, especially when God is in full control.

God sits on His throne and no self-absorbed person or entity of any kind, can dethrone the Creator of all things.  Look what happened to Lucifer and a third of the angels when they tried to usurp God’s authority.  They were cast out of heaven to suffer punishment and eternal damnation at a time of God’s choosing.

You and I need to take heed lest we fall into the same trap and blindly walk away from God’s grace and mercy.

(1 Corinthians 10:12), “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Dictators of self-imposed regimes that are around the world may have their day in the limelight, but there is a judgement day coming.  God will always have the final word.  God created the world and all that is within it and will do whatever He wants to do.  He is (omnipotent), all powerful.

No-one can match God’s splendor and authority.  The earth and its inhabitants are His to move upon as it pleases Him.  There are many scriptures in the Bible that point specifically to the attitude of finite thinkers.  The following says it all.

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

When humans become puffed up in themselves regarding power, versus the power that controls the universe, they are playing hardball without a baseball glove.  They are like those in a boat without a paddle or ship having a broken rudder.  No-one is above God’s providence.

We must all get back to the basics and the perfect chain of command—God first.  Let us not forget to treat our neighbors with respect and love.  We must endeavor to not speak words that impact others in negative ways, as happened in the 2024 Presidential election. 

(Leviticus 19:18), “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

It's Not Too Late

It’s not too late to become what you could have been.  This is an odd statement, isn’t it?  I look back on my life and regretfully see many years that I walked without peace, and at times feeling alone in a crowd.

It’s sad when a person takes inventory of their yesteryears, looking for a hint of something to bring a smile to their face, but fail in their effort because happy memories are few and far between.  Though I regret those years, I’m glad the past is in the past now that I am a born-again Christian.

(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.”

You may be experiencing a similar journey with feelings like mine, while sensing that you are walking alone without God in your corner.  Take my word for it, it’s not too late to become what you could have been.

For me, it is sometimes difficult to make sense of things that are behind me and why they happened as they did, but there is hope for anyone desiring a new beginning and a decisive direction to travel, having less stress.

Though the past may be filled with questions and angst, Jesus is wanting to become the special friend (BFF) that will never leave nor forsake a person that is seeking peace that passes all understanding.  The Lord will walk by their side through thick and thin, good times and bad.

It is advantageous to take a moment and consider what has been missing in one’s personal circle or environment in days gone by.  Examining oneself will open the door to positive changes that can be made for future enjoyment.

If anyone is contemplating what could be, compared to what has been, I believe the Holy Spirit is dealing with that individual and desires to become their Savior and Best Friend Forever.  All they need to do is invite Jesus into their heart.  God does the rest.

I wonder at times why it took so long for me to surrender my life to the Lord, especially when everything was spiraling out of control?  I was running in the opposite direction from Him and had the attitude, “If I can’t do it, it can’t be done.”  I was independent and stubborn.

I believe if a person has breath, it is not too late to make a positive choice to become God’s child.  I’m glad I did exactly this, rather than standing before God’s judgment seat without having my sins forgiven.

A person once asked me, “Do you ever regret giving your heart to Jesus?”  The answer was an emphatic, “No!”  I then explained how I found what I was looking for, or I should say, Who I was looking for.

Prior to changing direction and going God’s way, I rejected the notion that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was the ‘Who’ that I needed.  When I invited Him into my heart and asked God to forgive my sins, peace like a river flooded my soul in fathomless depths and waves of love.

The heavy burdens that were crushing me were instantly lifted off my shoulders.  My soul was set free!  God forgave my sins!  I remember taking a deep breath and exclaiming in an excited voice, “I can breathe!”

I believe a miracle happened that night.  I became a new person with new desires and expectations for life immediately after I prayed a simple prayer for forgiveness.  It was amazing!  Jesus took every care that was pressing in on me.  I now have a blessed hope of eternal life in heaven, because of the ‘new birth’ in Christ.    

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

Before I saw the Light, I struggled as if sinking in quicksand.  I had few memorable experiences to speak of, but Jesus, the Light of the world, made all the difference in positive ways when He rescued me.  I am creating wonderful memories for future recall.

Do you feel disquieted in your spirit at times like you are alone in a crowd or walking in circles?  It might be that you are wandering without a compass to help point you toward ‘True North’, which is a worthwhile direction to go, away from old habits and disappointments.

Perhaps you are wondering if an experience with Christ could ever happen to you.  It can and will when you accept Jesus as Lord.  I give you Jesus.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  He is ‘True North’ that will present you to the Father in heaven.

Forgiveness and complete liberty are just a prayer away.  Today is the day of salvation.  It is never too late to become what you could have been yesterday in Christ Jesus.

If you sincerely want to accept Jesus as Lord and its your desire to walk in peace, having your sins forgiven; find a place where you won’t be disturbed and bow your head in prayer.  Ask God to forgive you of your sins and ask Him to come into your heart.  Believe that He has done both, and you will be saved.

(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.”

CONGRATULATIONS!  You have just become a child of Almighty God!  Yes, it was that easy!  All of heaven is rejoicing!  God knows your name and has a wonderful plan for your life.  Trust Him as you walk in faith.

When you get a chance, confirm your decision to follow Jesus by sharing this new-birth experience with another person.  This act of sharing confirms the spiritual transformation that took place in your heart, mind, and soul.

After my conversion, I told my friends about Jesus and the love He had to offer.  To my great and wonderful surprise, some accepted Him as Lord and Savior.  They too received the same blessed peace that filled my soul.

Your next step is to find a church that teaches that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He shed His blood on the cross to save humanity…a full gospel, believing church.

Now, find a Bible with a translation that is easy to read and understand.  I use The New King James Version.  There is a Table of Contents in the front.  Begin reading the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  Then read the Book of Acts. 

Get to know Jesus and what He accomplished on the cross for you.  Jesus died for your sins, because He loved you with a never-ending love.

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

(John 3:16-18), “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.” (v 17) “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (v 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 

The Creeper

I am patiently waiting, in the car, for my wife to find a Christmas gift for me at one of our local stores.  This is giving me time to open my mind to what God might be saying with regards to my next writing—this writing.

While jotting down thoughts as they come, it seems as if a single word ’creeper’ keeps floating around in my brain.  I am excited that my creative juices are beginning to flow as this word takes on meaning and is becoming more amplified in character as I think on it.

It’s always interesting to see where the Lord directs my thinking, because I take pleasure in every thought that God gives me.  Safeguards for everyday living are just ahead; keep reading.

Lucifer tries to accost Believers with unwelcome and inappropriate input when two of the body’s senses are left unattended, which can influence the brain.  The eye-gate and hearing-gate can be vulnerable if we don’t keep them in check.

I’ve heard of putting a watchman at our mouth to prevent blurting out something that might offend others, but when a Christian neglects giving attention to the entrances of their intellectual thought process, this can spell, TROUBLE.

This error in judgment or lack of awareness can allow the enemy of our soul to creep in through these unprotected entrances and flood the mind with negativity.  I believe that Satan takes full advantage of any breach that he finds available.

An access point left unattended can cause consequential problems, enabling our adversary to capture our thoughts, while amplifying his own agenda and worrisome rhetoric.

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

We need not worry or lose sleep over policing potential breaches if we read the Bible every day and maintain an ongoing prayer life.  Putting the preceding Scripture into practice keeps us on the straight and narrow path to heaven.  Christians that struggle to do so can become spiritually weak, and their maturity in Christ can decline.

The lack of self-discipline and a decline in resolution to follow-through with things we know to do may allow the gates to the mind to become ajar.  We must take heed to practice ethical stamina and moral fortitude.

(1 Corinthians 10:12-13), “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”  (v 13) “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Maintaining an ongoing routine of devotions establishes an everyday, godly top-off of our spiritual tank, which keeps it full to overflowing with the power of God.

Another step to a successful relationship with God is to reign in and harness our thoughts by keeping them under subjection with help from the Holy Spirit.  Remaining focused on the things of God is most important when desiring a victorious walk with Jesus.

The creeper, namely Satan, still attempts to buffet Christians, but his efforts are thwarted and ineffective when we walk in the Spirit.  For anyone to stick their head in the sand or pull the covers over their head, figuratively speaking, hoping that the intruder will go away, does little in putting the enemy to flight.

Placing our foot on the adversary’s neck and causing him to submit to God’s authority will not happen in our strength alone.  It takes Deity living within us to conquer his endless endeavors to disrupt our walk with Christ.

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

Victory comes in the morning when we verbally assert passages from the Bible and proclaim the powerful name of Jesus in the face of opposition.  The devil must yield to the all-powerful name that is above all names, Jesus.

When I was a kid, my mom always told me to plead the blood of Jesus to stop the advancement of the creeper, which disarms and makes him inept.  It works!

The creeper knows he is a defeated foe.  We, ourselves, need to confirm this fact in our own mind, and let him know, by our spiritual resilience, that he is not welcome in our sphere of involvement.  If he could, this creepy crawler would slither his way into our space with the same old rhetoric of past shortcomings that God, through Jesus, forgave.

When a person becomes a born-again Believer, they are protected by the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross for all humanity.  The old nature of sin and degradation that the creeper tries to remind us of is kept at bay and halted, because of who we are in Christ.  Christians are set free and no longer held captive by sin.  They were nullified at the cross. 

Old slew foot is creeping around us and looking for any opening that may be ajar, especially when we are doing a work for the Lord.  The creeper wants to stop our progress.  He is devious in every way and always tries to discourage Christians from doing what God desires of them.

I shudder at the thought of giving the devil access through any gateway to my mind.  We must keep them locked to prevent his intrusion.  When we rebuke and resist the devil, Jesus, without fail, raises up a standard against him and brings victory to our soul every time the creeper tries to come in.

This intervention takes place because Christians are the children of Almighty God.  Jesus is their advocate and attorney who prays for them, while pleading their case before the Father in heaven. 

This assurance provides peace of mind and enables Believers to resist the lies and accusations that Satan spouts.  The Spirit of God gives strength to overcome the wiles of the enemy in every situation.

(Isaiah 59:19), “…When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”

Satan, the creeper, is going here and there as a roaring lion, trying to deceive and devour not only non-Christians, but the sons and daughters of God.  This is when the Holy Spirit steps in and exclaims, “No way!”

Jesus defanged and pulled the teeth of this lying menus at the cross of Calvary.  All that’s left is a loud roar.  Christians need not fear the ranting and raging when they stand in Christ and keep the gates to their mind locked and secure.

Not only does the devil try to slip in and steal our joy, but he is also a liar and the father of lies.  He is the same creep that seduced Eve in the Garden of Eden and wants to invade the sanctity of our soul in the same manner.

(Proverbs 4:23-25), “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (v 24) “Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put perverse lips far from you.” (v25) “Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you.”   

(1 John 4:4), “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

 If we are in Christ, all of Satan’s antics are nullified.  The Lord protects and guards our mind from all alarms.

(Deuteronomy 31:8), “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you.  He will be with you.  He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

 

Dreams and Crossroads

No doubt you have had dreams and wondered what the underlying reasons were for having them.  Many of my dreams seemed real, as if the substance of each dream was coming directly from the realm of reality, which, at times, were disturbing and a bit frightening…bad dreams.

Dreams give me pause to try and figure out what they are saying to me, personally, especially the ones that repeat themselves in various scenarios.  Many of them have elements that seldom vary in content and have the same, common denominator message.

I looked up the word, floundering, to perhaps use it in this writing.  The definition, shockingly, brought back memories of past dreams that I had before becoming a Christian.

In these dreams, my feet would bog down when trying to run as if they were stuck in thick, gooey mud that was holding me fast.  Most of the time I perceived that someone was chasing me, and I didn’t know who or why they were doing so.

In my efforts to flee, I felt a bit of comfort, in that my pursuer never caught up with me even though I was floundering when trying to run.  As I now ponder these thought-provoking dreams, I wonder if the one pursuing me was the Holy Spirit.

I was certainly determined to run in the opposite direction and get away from whomever it was.  I had no interest in finding out who they were, because my focus was on getting away from this assailant or stocker.

If it was the Holy Spirit behind me, the mud I was stuck in must have represented sins that were restraining me and controlling my every move. 

In the real world, where the rubber meets the road, my drive for enjoyment was top priority before I became a Believer.  My wayward lifestyle consisted of things that brought hurtful regrets, which caused frustration and pain.  I was on the wide road to destruction, which was a filthy, muddy avenue that I traveled.

When I was a teenager, I believe that God sent a godly man my way to tell me that if I chose the straight and narrow path, instead of journeying on the road I was on, it would lead toward heaven and provide real purpose and meaning to my unfulfilled existence.

(Ezekiel 34:11), “For thus says the Lord God: ‘Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.’ ”

One day, an unusual circumstance happened that brought me to a crossroads where I was faced with a life-changing decision that needed to be addressed.  Was this the path that the man was talking about so many years ago?

(Psalm 139:7,8), “Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Or where can I flee from Your presence?”  (v 8) “If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.”   

At this crossroads, I weighed my options and contemplated which way to go.  I wondered if this new direction could really be the answer to escaping the heavy burdens that were impacting me in negative ways. 

I was in my mid-twenties and finally ready to submit to the narrative that kept resonating in my mind of what the man shared.  His voice was encouraging me to make a change from the way I was headed and take the detour to an abundant life in Jesus.

No doubt it was the Holy Spirit bringing his message back to me.  Living was certainly too confusing and unpredictable on the road I was on.  I needed help.

The same person told me that happiness was just a prayer away, and all I had to do was make the decision and turn from my wicked ways.  He said that peace would be mine on the straight and narrow path that led away from the road I had been traveling.  He then shared the following scripture with me.

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

I was running from God and tired of the unrest I was stuck in.  The Holy Spirit was urging me to detour from sin that brought confusion, but the choice was mine to make.

I am thankful that I chose to reroute and exit the road that was familiar to me and take the path toward heaven where real contentment would be mine all the days of my life.

God is sovereign, yet He gives us freewill to choose.  He does not horsewhip us into submission to serve Him, but lovingly draws us to Himself through the wooing of the Holy spirit.  God, in love, presents a better way to live by placing crossroads in our pathway that lead away from the wide road to destruction, away from the weary journey that entangles us in sin.

I received total liberty when God forgave my sins.  At the very moment I accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, peace began to flow like a river through my entire being.  I was finally free from the bondage that I had suffered with for so long.

God gave me new life when I made the turn and invited Jesus into my heart.  Liberty to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth is now mine, because God loved me so much that He gave His only Son to die on a cross for my sins.  This act of love also included you.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Disarming the Enemy

Living in today’s economy is hard enough without being attacked on every side by the adversary of our soul.  I am thankful that God’s Spirit dwells within me Who provides peace during the storm.

(Philippians 4:7), “…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

We can all experience this peace through Jesus.  Turmoil and unrest come from our enemy, the devil, that advances in different waves of 3D methods to vex one’s inner peace. 

Any one of the following three tactical maneuvers can have negative effects on the sanctity of life if we are on the receiving end of Disappointment, Discouragement, and Doubt.  But God is greater!

The Bible says in (1 John 4:4), “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

3D tactics can deplete the joy that God provides to those that accept His Son as Lord if they surrender to these strategic attacks.  It is good to encourage those going through heartache and to pray for their deliverance.  God-given words, with meaningful substance, can encourage the heart of anyone suffering an attack from Satan.

The Spirit of the living God is our strength when the pressures of life and the attacks of the enemy try to invade and come between our relationship with God.  God will not hesitate to come to the aid of His sons and daughters.  He died for us on the cross of Calvary, because He loved us with a never-ending love.

In God there is all power.  We cannot forget that He is omnipotent and our advocate.  What concerns you, concerns Him. 

If hard times overshadow us, it is sometimes easy to forget who we are in Christ Jesus.  We are the children of Almighty God Who we can cast our cares upon!

(1 Peter 5:7), “…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

We can stand invincible through the power of the Holy Spirit when a trial raises its ugly head and tries to invade our comfort zone…the Godly position in Christ.  The name of Jesus will always defeat any incoming attack, because God is sovereign, and Jesus’ name is powerful. 

Even the demons believe and tremble at His name… (James 2:19).  We can resist the incoming flood of Disappointment, Discouragement, and Doubt when we plead the blood of Jesus and declare His name in the face of our enemy and the turmoil he brings.

The searching, negative questions that Satan tempts us to ask when facing opposition, are quickly extinguished before they become a raging fire of doubt.  God said that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  The Lord cannot and will not lie! 

The devil, on the other hand, would have you think that you are walking alone, and that God has separated Himself from you, because of this or that reason, but this is not true.  The devil is a liar.

(John 8:44), “…He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”    

 When we refocus our gaze upon Jesus rather than staring at the seemingly, insurmountable circumstance we face, we can close our ears to the devil’s lies and lift our chin high and know that victory is nigh at hand.

God provides strength as we cast our cares and discouragements upon the One Who loves us.  Jesus wants to carry our burdens.  He died on the cross not only for our redemption from sin, but to provide an abundant life, free from worry.

Jesus gives peace when we are attacked, because He disarms our enemy.  Be strong and of good courage, because Jesus is our ally and Savior when we face confrontation and attacks.  Total victory is ours when we speak the name of Jesus when facing opposition.

When we resist the devil, he flees from us.  This act of faith disarms Satan and eliminates the fear of his bite.  His teeth are removed, because of the blood that Jesus shed for you.  The Godhead prevents Satan’s advancements in his attempts to devour us.

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

(Isaiah 59:19), “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd 

God's Plan or Past Memories

It’s fun to plan things and then look forward to those times of relaxation at a resort, on a beach, or camping somewhere in the woods.  It is always fun to get away with the family or friends and spend quality time with one another.

It is becoming a reality for people to live such a hustle and bustle lifestyle that some feel all they do is work and sleep.  Too many times I’ve said, “I can’t believe another week is gone,” as the hectic day I just had slips by and tomorrow comes too quickly.  Such is life if we fail to stop and smell the roses.

Planning vacations and having fun is certainly necessary, but we need to ask ourselves, “What am I doing for the Lord?  Where does He fit in my plans?”

I pray that the following thoughts will congeal enough to reveal helpful hints that can enlighten areas you’ve not yet explored.  Perhaps they can motivate you to challenge yourself to venture out into deeper experiences with the Lord.

I believe, number one and foremost, that God loves us beyond anything that we can comprehend or reasonably expect from Him.  A full understanding of God and His love is beyond one’s wildest imagination. 

No doubt the depth of God’s love is unfathomable and the breath, unmeasurable, because He gave His only Son to die for our transgressions.  What greater love is there?

(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.”

I try to comprehend the intensity and majesty of God’s love, but the abundant capacity of His love escapes my finite thinking.  It is hard for me to understand just how much He truly cares for me. 

I have been saturated from my youth on that God’s love is the real thing and that I can count on Him for all my needs.  But in my limited thinking, I wonder at times how Almighty God, an infinite being who is full of mercy and grace, could love someone that spurned Him for years, while sinning and doing my own unrighteous things.

How is it that He knew me in my mother’s womb and had a plan for my life before I took my first breath?  I read in the Bible that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of humanity, yet it is hard to reason, logically, why He chose to suffer such a horrible death for this ole sinner boy.  Love is the bottom-line reason.

The Bible says that we must worship God in spirit and in truth, because our natural thinking and ability to understand the depth of His love struggles.  It is hard to receive and comprehend His sacrifice when we try to logic, why.

(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.”

This is where faith must rise to the top and allow God’s love to manifest itself, like enjoying the cream that rises to the top of whole milk.

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

As we read more about Jesus and His compassion for mankind, we will more so understand this love.  I hope one day that I can comprehend, in full, God’s love for me.  But wait!  I have experienced His bountiful love when He saved my soul from sin and is now fulfilling His plan in my life.

To understand what He did for us on the cross can only be realized when we surrender our life to Him and experience, for ourselves, the joy, peace, and hope that comes through the born-again experience.  I believe a new birth takes place in a person’s soul when sins are forgiven.  This miracle will only happen through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

An understanding of God’s grace reveals itself as we get to know Him on a personal level.  It becomes a One-on-one relationship with our Creator.  Even with this knowledge, I am sometimes bombarded with guilt of my past sins that can deplete the joy inside me if I allow my mind to dwell on such things.

It is difficult to realize the full relationship we can have with God when our heart and mind are divided with worry of past sins.  When we surrender our heart, mind, and soul to Jesus, there is no reason for memories to haunt us, trying to come between God and us, because God set us free from the bondage of our negative memories.

Yes, I am very much aware of my past failures and shortcomings, and I know that Satan tries to capitalize on them.  He tells me that I am not worthy to be called a child of God, because He is righteous in every way, and I am nothing more than a pile of rags to Him.   

The devil reminds me of my history of running from God, which makes it difficult for me to think or justify that a holy God could love a wretch like me, but the Bible says, unequivocally, that He does!

At times it is hard to kick the memory of past sins out of my mind even though it has been reformed with a new sense of worth at the very moment I invited Jesus into my heart.  Satan would have me live in past degradation and self-condemnation if I allowed him to do so. He uses fearmongering to keep children of God on the defensive, defeated, and feeling inadequate now that they are in the family of God.

Satan is seeking whomever he can devour with lies, deception, and intimidation.  Fear is the result of not forgiving ourselves of things we cannot change.  This is when the Holy Spirit reaffirms who we are in Christ Jesus.  He encourages us to stand fast in His strength and reminds us that God is omnipotent (all powerful).

As we sense God’s presence when we call upon the name of Jesus, He brings victory to a vacillating mind and casts out all doubt and fear.

The devil is not only an accuser of the brethren, be is an accuser of you and me, because of past sins that God has thrown into the sea of His forgetfulness when we asked Him to forgive our sins.

(Isaiah 59:19), “…When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”

When our adversary, the devil, buffets us and tries to bring up our past by cruelly shoving it in our face and accuses us of being hypocrites, we can rebuke him in the name of Jesus and resist his accusations and claim victory, because of Jesus in us.

(James 4:7,8), “Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (v 8) “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…”

You and I cannot do anything within ourselves to merit God’s forgiveness and eternal life in heaven.  It is only by the grace of God, through the blood that Jesus shed on the cross for our redemption that true and complete salvation is ours.

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

(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.”

Please allow these thoughts and Bible scriptures to impact areas that will help you to forgive yourself of past wrongs that you have done, and believe that Jesus saves completely, without any residual sins to bind us from worshiping the true and living God.

As I have said, there is nothing we can do within ourselves to be saved…not our good works lest we boast of self-sufficiency.

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

It is only through the name of Jesus that God recognizes us as His sons and daughters.  Forgive yourself and don’t dwell on the past, from this moment forward, because Jesus paid the full price for your salvation.  We must believe and accept only Him, otherwise His sacrifice for us was in vain.

Be strong in the Lord!  Be of good courage and thank God for His forgiving power that sets us totally free from a heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh.

To put it simply, we can continue with self-destructive condemnation or surrender our all to God’s plan.  This means we can release our grip on sins that God forgave, and close the door on reserved, hidden areas that Satan keeps replaying in our mind.  We can forgive ourselves.

God has a perfect plan for each of His children.  Believe it and live it!  I leave you with this thought.  The next time Satan attacks and tries to condemn you with past sins, plan on resisting him and turning his accusations over to Jesus.  God’s plan for you will continue as you allow Him to reign supreme in your life.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Through the Lens of Faith

Let’s face it, a person can choose to live an optimistic, joyous life, having a smile on their countenance, and being contagious to everyone around them with an uplifting spirit or they can choose not to.

I know a woman that sees the world through the lens of faith and lives every day with a positive outlook on life, similar to rose-colored glasses.  She reminds me of her mother, which was a Godly woman of faith and a prayer warrior.  I am sure she was the apple of God’s eye.

It goes without saying that people like this walk in God’s strength and give Him the glory for each victory that comes in the name of Jesus.  Such a person is my wife, Katie.  She is the best thing that ever happened to me in my lifetime.

Katie is my helpmate in every sense of the word.  She loves me and I love her.   God must have loved me a great deal to bless me with such a giving person.  She is a wonderful mother to our three children and extra special Nana to our six grandchildren.

Her personality is explained in two words, Loving and Kind.  Katie would never intentionally say or do anything to offend or hurt another person in any way.

In a world that is full of anger, frustration, and expressing the “Me” syndrome everywhere you look, it is refreshing and truly saying something when you can look at a person and say, “She’s real and not a phony.”

Katie is who she is.  She doesn’t have to put on a fake façade or pretense, because she is a sincere woman of God.  She considers others before herself to a point that I sometimes catch myself taking up an offensive in her behalf.  I don’t want people to take advantage of her goodness, but she takes everything in stride and knows that God is her vindicator.

I began this writing using the word optimistic.  The opposite to this word is pessimistic.  There in-lies my personality.  Katie and I are total opposites, at opposing ends of the spectrum on the personality graph.

Yes, I walk in faith, but it sometimes takes me a while to totally surrender situations to the Lord, but I am getting better at raising my hands and surrendering my will to His.  I am a man that endeavors to see every angle and critique a situation, having all the facts before making decisions.  No doubt, I am analytical.

My kids and their spouses might say that I can dig in my heals pretty deep until God tells me to move if that is what He wants.  It’s not a bad thing; I am who I am.  God deals with me and every person individually.   He knows me, because He created my personality.

God uses different methodologies with me than He does with my wife.  Perhaps you have a similar personality to mine.  I am not a pushover in any sense of the word, but this is where an optimistic type of personality, like my wife, is used by God to blend patience and humility with my pessimistic way of thinking and handling things.

Katie assists God in soothing my Type-A personality to accomplish common goals in our household and the work of the Lord.  I am not weak, but I am striving to become meeker. 

God in His omniscient knowledge of things knew that I needed a helpmate to help Him level me out at times, which I truly believe has happened since we’ve been married these 53 years.

Am I the head of my household in the way God intended me to be?  I hope so.  I am learning how to do things in a calmer, more long-suffering way, while staying sensitive to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to lead rather than me taking the reins and going off halfcocked in the wrong direction.

Trusting God to lead takes time to learn, but He is patient.  I am learning to be a willing student that listens to my teacher’s voice—the Holy Spirit.  This comes with practice by opening my spiritual ears.

They say opposites attract.  I believe my wife’s weaknesses are my strong points and my weaknesses are my wife’s strong points.  We complement each other as God would have it.  We see through the lens of faith together, as we strengthen each other’s personality.  The Lord does all things well.

I must say that God did a great job in bringing us together, and yes, Katie would say likewise.  We are happy, because Jesus is the common denominator in our marriage.

Are you struggling to find compatibility, stability, or transparency in your relationship?  Put God first and personalities will begin to blend, and the riffs of life will level out as you and your better half lay them at the feet of Jesus.

The three of you will certainly work things out and see through the lens of faith together.  I do not believe in 50/50 relationships.  We must be willing to give 100% and receive 100% from the other party.  It takes working at it on both ends of the spectrum.  It cannot be a one-sided affair.  I’ve heard that it takes “Two to Tango.”

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Follow the Leader

I am sure you’ve watched people walking their dogs in the evening, or I should say dogs walking their masters. 

It is funny, yet sad to watch a dog owner as they struggle to hold onto a leash that is being yanked and pulled, and the person almost being dragged from place to place wherever man’s best friend is determined to go.  It is a true picture of untrained pets that have been allowed to have their way, here-to-fore. 

It is easy to look the other way and be more lenient when dogs are puppies.  Certain patterns are then formed of giving into the pup, but as they mature, the habits they develop can become problematic.  This behavior is then interpreted as being disobedient.  The pet remains the aggressive leader over its master trying to take the lead.

I have also witnessed pet owners assuming their responsible role as leader over their pet and directing them in the path that the owner decides to go.  The dog obeys and joyfully walks at the master’s side, while enjoying the night out together. 

It makes perfect sense to me that proper training of how a pet should follow the leader must happen early on when pets are young.  There is truth in the saying, “You can’t teach old dog’s new tricks.”

When my wife and I were married in 1971, the groomsmen and bridesmaids decorated my car with different, colored streamers and soaped up the windows with, JUST MARRIED.  They also tied thin pieces of rope to my rear bumper with tin cans firmly attached to the other end of the ropes.

Several cars would line up behind the decorated car with the newly married couple inside, my wife and me, and everyone would follow the leader, blowing their horns in celebration of the married couple, while driving single file around town.

This practice was very popular in my day and was called The Chase.  It reminds me of playing Follow the Leader as a kid when I would get together with my neighborhood buddies and ride our bicycles, instead of driving cars, teehee.

We chose a leader to follow and performed on our bikes everything that the leader did on his or her bike.  Following the Leader had its ups and downs, literally.  This could prove somewhat dangerous to those following if the leader was too aggressive, reckless, and took chances that shouldn’t be taken.

It was up to each individual follower if they were dumb enough to try some of the silly stunts the leader was doing or bow out and say “No” to danger and go their separate way.

There was a time I followed the wrong spiritual leader that was dangerous in all his ways and lead me into everything that was unsafe, debased, and anti-Christ.  It was very sad that I struggled when becoming lost on this meaningless journey, while losing sight of important values that I was taught in my youth.

Self-esteem was also slipping away.  My leader, the devil, did his best to take from me any hope of making heaven my home, because I was too dumb to say, “No” to his enticements and go the other way from his influence.  I played Follow the Leader with the wrong example for a leader.

I allowed myself to be put into compromising situations that hurt me physically and most assuredly affected my spiritual wellbeing in negative ways.  It was like the times I hurt myself when crashing my bike, because I didn’t bow out when playing Follow the Leader with an aggressive leader as a kid.

I was being devoured by a selfish, uncaring spirit that is evil in every way that gave me nothing but heartache.

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

Following the right leader matters when we want to respect ourselves, live an abundant, prosperous life, and possess the hope of eternal life in heaven when we pass from this life.  The perfect leader is none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of the true and living God.

We have a choice; we can choose good or evil; right or wrong.  The entity we select to be our leader will ultimately determine where we spend eternity.  A sobering thought is this: Our eventual destination will either be in the presence of Almighty God, in heaven, or with our adversary, the devil, in hell.  It depends on who we follow.

Understand this, we cannot play church and expect anything from the Lord by holding onto the things of God with one hand, hoping or pretending that He is our leader, and at the same time, holding onto sinful things around us with the other hand.  This is foolish; it’s an effort in futility.  Fresh and bitter water never flows from the same fountain.

(Matthew 6:24), “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon (money).”  

There is no in-between with God, no neutral ground.  Being lukewarm is not in God’s vocabulary and unacceptable with Him.

(Revelation 3:15,16), “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I could wish you were cold or hot.”  (v 16) “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

There is only One true leader that God recognizes.  His name is Jesus.  We will most assuredly follow a good leader or an evil one, it is in our DNA to do so.  We were created to worship someone; it will be Jesus Christ or Satan.

Refusal or procrastination to choose Christ means the decision has already been made, automatically, as the default to follow Satan as leader.  We are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God, and because of this, the devil is already the default leader.

This is why every person must choose to follow a leader having pure integrity that has the soul of humanity as His top priority.  Jesus is my perfect leader of choice—the Master and Savior.

When I play Follow the Leader with Him, it is not a game; it is literally a life and death decision and nothing to scoff at or take lightly.  He is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life.  To play Follow the Leader with anything or anyone else other than Jesus, is signing one’s own death warrant for eternity; separated from God forever.

The choice is ours to make.  To follow the leadership of Jesus is the most important eternal decision that a person will ever make in their lifetime.

Written by,

Papa Boyd