When Pigs Fly

When I was just a little guy, I became enamored with flying after seeing the creation of Walt Disney’s Dumbo, the elephant that could fly because of his extremely large ears.  I loved watching dirigibles (blimps) and airplanes fly overhead until they were out of sight.  Observing birds captivated my imagination regarding the idea of flying.  It was all I could think about.

I desired it so much that I saved my nickels and dimes until I had enough money to put inside an envelope with a few cereal box tops to fulfill my dream of flying.  I asked Mom to send away for a super-duper Superman cape with the letter ‘S’ embossed on it.

This “deal of a lifetime” as I saw it, was advertised on the back of the cereal box that Mom set out for me one morning.  Something bothered me.  I had to get my order in before supplies ran out.  Was I too late?  Superman was my favorite super-hero in the comic books I thumbed through.

When the cape finally arrived that I thought may never come, I immediately opened the long-awaited package.  “At last, I can fly” I uttered to myself.  I quickly tied the cape around my neck and headed out the door to climb on top of the roof.  Mom was inside cooking dinner and was not privy to what I had in mind.

I figured if Superman could fly with his cape, I could do likewise now that I had one of my own.  You would think I should have learned my lesson the time I jumped off the roof clutching Mom’s open umbrella, but this present venture was different.  I would be like Superman; able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Thank God we didn’t live in a two-story house.  Though things failed to turn out the way I expected, I was still in one piece but determined to fly one day.  Even in my dreams I would find myself running down hills with my arms outstretched, lifting my feet, and soaring into the wild blue yonder.

Having the innocence of a child’s thought process, I wondered if God would some day give me a pair of wings, like His angels, when I went to heaven.

In my quest and imagination to fly, I bought ten cent Balsa-wood airplanes at the 5 & 10 cent store down the street from where we lived.  When the money waned, I folded paper airplanes and flew them off my grandparents’ two-story balcony at the back of their house that overlooked a gentle-sloping hill.  We lived across the street from them.  I watched my handmade creations soar forever as it seemed, wishing I could do the same. 

One Sunday afternoon my parents and I visited my other grandparents in a nearby city, a bedroom community close to where we lived.  I walked in the front door and Grandpa John, as I called him, greeted me with his favorite saying, “Hi kid!  You’re fine how am I?”  He then hugged me, and I sat next to him to watch television.

It was exciting for me, because we didn’t have a “boob-tube” as they were called back then.  Suddenly, I couldn’t believe my eyes!  I watched intently as a man ran down a steep hill hanging onto what looked like a huge bed sheet that resembled the toy kites I enjoyed flying.

As he built up speed, he lifted his feet (like I did in my dreams) and began to sour like an eagle!  Grandpa called the bed sheet a hang glider.  It was literally a dream come true!  I told him that I was going to do that someday.  I figured I wouldn’t have to wait until I got to heaven to fly like angels.

Years passed.  Married now with three teenage kids at home, my wife and I were driving down the coast to enjoy a day in Monterey, California.  As we drew closer to the city, I glanced out the passenger’s window toward the ocean and spotted something I remembered seeing on Grandpa John’s television set.

Two hang gliders were crisscrossing back and forth as they soared above the sandy beach on the morning breeze blowing in from the ocean.  I took a quick detour to get a closer look at my lifelong dream.  To my surprise, I discovered at that location an independent company was providing lessons on how to fly hang gliders for a nominal fee.

Yes, I took eight assisted flights that day on the large beach at the edge of the ocean.  Two men ran along on each side of me toward the ocean with ropes tethered to the triangle-shaped airfoil called a delta wing.  They prevented me from flying too high, while helping me control the flight.

I was now enthralled with flying more than ever before.  I was hooked.  Later that week I enrolled in a class that specialized in training and licensing people that wanted to hang glide.  The company was located closer to home in Milpitas, California.

For the next few Saturdays, I took 20 more solo flights on their training hill outside the City of Hollister, California.  It took two and a half hours to drive from my house to the site, but the experience was worth every mile I drove there.

The company supplied the hang glider I trained on.  28 flights were now under my belt including the 8 flights at Sand City near Monterey.  I was in ‘hog heaven’ to say the least.  That Saturday I was going to receive my Tear-1 pilot’s license for completing the course.

My 28^th flight was perfect in every way.  I maintained full control of the aircraft, having confidence that I knew how to operate and fly hang gliders.  The energy of the flight was declining as I began to descend.  A few feet off the ground I prepared to land at the bottom of the hill when something unexpected was about to take place.

I flared the delta wing to touch down, while feeling ecstatic with my accomplishments.  What happened next was certainly bad luck, but in my case, it was blind luck.  Of all the places I chose to land, sadly, it was in an area where ground squirrels had dug out their burrows. 

I didn’t see or anticipate what was about to happen; it was too late.  My right foot sank deep into one of the open holes as I collapsed in excruciating pain.  My dream of obtaining a pilot’s license flew out the window that day. 

The goal I wanted to achieve was shattered in a moment of agony when my ankle twisted and the glider fell on top of me, adding weight to an already bad situation.  The results of the X-ray revealed that my ankle was not broken as I had anticipated, it was a very bad sprain that laid me up for several months.  I was told that sprains can be worse than broken bones in some cases.

A while after my recovery I began to feel the urge to once again take the class and complete my training to secure the pilot’s license.  Thinking about it now, it reminds me of that hardheaded kid that attempted to fly with his mom’s umbrella.  Not giving into failure, he was willing to try again to fly with a cape he purchased.

Someone had other ideas with more sense than me, with regards to flying off cliffs and perhaps leaving this world forever.  After all, I would be subject to the wind, at its mercy.  What if I encountered a downdraft, then what?

My wife, in a calm, yet stern voice, having a stiff upper lip said the following three words to me: “When pigs fly.”  I knew what that meant.  It’s an adverb, meaning ‘never’.  You know what they say, “Happy wife, happy life.” 

That was the end of my flying adventures, because I didn’t want her to worry about me.  But I flew!  It was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.  I was happy that my childhood desire was satisfied. 

After analyzing the accident, I concluded that my misfortune may have saved my life sometime in the future.  I figured if I got hurt that badly on a good flight, what would happen on a bad flight?

God gets the glory out of situations that we sometimes think are negative in nature and not going our way, hence the accident.  God knows best.

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

(Jeremiah 29:11), “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

On a day that is soon to come, I will take one more flight into the wild blue yonder to meet Jesus in the clouds of glory.  It will be the flight of all flights when I and all my loved ones, with those that are born-again Believers, will rise into heaven when Jesus returns for all of God’s children.

We will be caught up in the blink of an eye to meet the Lord in the air.  Gravity will no longer have the power to restrain us from flying.  It’s the flight I’ve been planning for my entire Christian life.  It is the hope of every Christian; the promise from God to those that gave their heart to Him, having their sins forgiven.

Living for eternity in heaven is the promise.  In that I accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, I would like to think that He blessed me with my pilot’s license after all, because of His death on the cross.  He gave His life freely so that we could take that final flight with Him to heaven.

(1 Thessalonians 4:17), “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.”

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd 

Stay Focused on the Positive

It seems that my first inclination or reaction-reflex to anything negative that comes my way is anger or fear.  In some cases, an overwhelming sense of panic raises its ugly head.  It takes a moment for my mind to grasp the gravity and full impact of the situation, while trying to determine at what level of vulnerability I perceive things to be—high, low, or somewhere in the middle.

I then cry out to the Lord and shake myself out of the initial impact of the situation that I’m experiencing.  The refreshing realization as to who I am in Christ Jesus floods my soul and takes precedent over the bad that’s happening.

God helps me to refocus my visual upon Jesus rather than the crushing blow of anxiety and doubt that just creeped into my heart.  I call out His name, “Jesus!” and He answers.  My hopelessness automatically shifts towards Him, who is my deliverer, close friend, and Savior.  He is the answer to the raging storms that come our way.

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

After digesting and figuring out the extent and impact that is taking place in my life, I combat it with an immediate rebuke, while pleading the blood of Jesus over the matter.  I am learning to react quicker toward the positive as I grow in grace and have learned to trust God to intervene.

My awareness of where or whom the bad is originating becomes apparent and I endeavor to surrender everything to the Lord even though the enemy of my soul tries to overshadow me with doubt and despair.

Though Satan roars loudly, I realize it is just noise compared to the calming voice of the Holy Spirit speaking peace to my soul… “Peace be still.  Trust in Me and I will give you rest and deliver you out of darkness!”

Though Satan is going about as a roaring lion, I believe that Jesus has removed his teeth when the Lord rose from the dead after being crucified on a cross for the sins and healing of humanity.  That agape love included you and me.

(Isaiah 53:5), “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”

Within seconds, I can shift my thought process to the God-relationship I have with Him.  I am a child of the most-high God; in Him is all power; why should I fear?  In His strength and because of the confidence I have in Him, I begin to focus on the positive rather than listening to Satan’s roar of negativity.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, I can concentrate my faith on the good and what will be in Jesus’ name rather than giving into fear and converging my thoughts toward the woes that may be happening.

Paraphrasing the Bible, it says that the Lord will not allow anything to tempt us more than we are equipped to handle.  This scripture is referring to being tempted to sin, but I believe, wholeheartedly, I can apply it to the times Satan urges me to give into his lies (tempting me) to believe that the power of God is null and void in my situation. 

Remember this; God has the final say!  The Lord is our stronghold and fortress when we are under attack.  In Him we are victorious in all things, including temptation to doubt.

(1 Corinthians 10:13), “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

I love this promise!  It gives strength to my bones and hope to my soul during rough and challenging times.  It is wonderful to have a personal relationship with our Creator, the loving God of Whom I can cast all of my cares upon, because He cares for me.

(James 1:2-4), “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,” (vs 3) “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (vs 4) “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

If it were up to me, I would rather not be subjected to trials and misfortunes.  I’m sure you feel the same.  I understand that enduring adversity helps us to grow spiritually and increases our faith in the promises of God.  I am also cognizant that perfect love casts out all fear.  This is what the Bible promises.

Jesus is certainly perfect in every way and walks beside us.  The Holy Spirit calms shattered nerves when we place our trust in Him, while leaving our requests on the altar before Him.  He is our Comforter in times of trouble.

When we lean on the Lord, He smooths out the rough road ahead and gives us hope for tomorrow.  Realize this: Jesus prays to our heavenly Father on our behalf, while holding us closely in His arms of love.  He delivers us from the oppressor and tormentor of our soul. 

Jesus prevents the devil from gaining ground and a foothold as we trust the Lord to see us through our trials.  Jesus speaks victory as we claim His promises, standing erect in God’s strength.  The Lord will see us through anything that comes our way.

No doubt trials and the challenges in life teach us how to trust God’s delivering power.  I am convinced that the Holy Spirit and the angels of God protect me from the wiles of evildoers.  He loves me!  And I know He loves you!

Perhaps you have had similar experiences…close calls and near-death experiences, but God said, “No!”  He has a wonderful plan for you!  Allow Him to work His ‘miraculous’ in your life.

God can bring good out of all situation’s; we must look for the good and stay focused on the positive.  If God is for us, who can be against us?  Afterall, He is God Almighty!  In Him we live and have our being.

Don’t get lost in the noise of trouble, or the roar of Satan.  Stay focused on the positive.  The word of God cuts through the noise that is trying to distract us from the truth of His delivering power.  Trust God!  He is our hope and salvation, our solid rock in times of trouble.

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Is That Me Over There

When I see people less fortunate than me, I am cognizant of one thing, I must keep the right spirit regarding the temptation to feel prideful for the things I possess.  No-one should look down their nose at those that are struggling and less fortunate.  It is just wrong to judge others for their misfortunes or to think of oneself as better than those in need.

Everyone should take a moment to consider their own station in life and not think of themselves above those living on skid row or living in squalor on the streets of our communities—just be thankful it’s not ‘me over there’.  Shame on anyone that would entertain such negative thoughts.

If a hottie type person would just take the time to get off their high horse for a moment and evaluate how fragile their surrounding quality of life is, they would realize that their living condition is mere things, the amenities they enjoy that can disappear as fast as “quick and get ready.”

All of it could be lost due to ongoing health issues or losing their job because of another national health epidemic like Covid-19, or other such reasons.  Nothing is foolproof or a sure thing in this world except taxes and dying.

Experiencing an unforeseen loss in the stock market, investments taking a plunge southward, or a hundred other things can change overnight and eliminate one’s safe place.  Yes, the status of a person’s lifestyle can surely change.

Perhaps you can remember, or you have read about the world’s economic depression beginning in the United States, taking place in 1929 and lasted until 1939.  It was known as The Great Depression—it was devastating.

The ‘what if’s’ are out there and can certainly be a determining factor that can contribute to debt collectors knocking at the front door.  Things happen, causing people to live out of their cars or on the street.

The homeless are everywhere; only God knows the reasons why they are in the situation that has befallen them.  Drug addiction is also on the increase and becoming more prevalent everywhere you turn.  Because of the servitude that addicts are caught up in, there is an uncontrollable urge for another drug-induced high that supersedes their desire for a hot meal.  Sadly, they are slaves to their addictions.

There is an overpopulation of hurting people under freeway overpasses, including those living on sidewalks across our nation.  In some locations, degradation is in full display as the quality of life diminishes.  Never in my lifetime have I seen such poverty-stricken people, crime-ridden cities running rampant, and a blatant disrespect for authority figures, widespread.

Were it not for the Lord, there go I.  It’s hard to envision me under a freeway overpass or panhandling on some corner, but I could have been there had it not been for Jesus Christ and my acceptance of God’s grace.  God saved me out of the sinful lifestyle that was leading me down a darkened pathway that was full of regrets and having the question, “How did I get here?”

I was on the threshold of heading down a similar path as those seeking highs to alleviate heartache.  I stood at the line of demarcation of doing harmful things to my body to numb the pain of things that had me in a whirlpool of calamity and confusion.  I believe I was going down for the third time in a cesspool of filth, because of wrong choices.

I am sure that people who are searching for answers of how to someway escape their hurtful dilemmas are not limited to feelings of rejection and loneliness, they need Jesus, the Son of God.  

For me, God’s mercy exceeded the temporary pleasures that I was involved in.  It was a futile attempt at trying to satisfy the craving I had for lasting joy.  I couldn’t find it in the places I frequented.

God’s grace was freely given through Jesus’ death on a cross for my sins.  All I had to do was reach out and receive it—I’m glad I did.  The Lord established a new direction when He saved me.  No longer do I travel down the wide road to destruction.

Before my conversion to Christianity, I had been feeling the tug of the Holy Spirit saying, “I have a better way.”  When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, He opened my blinded eyes and gave me peace and joy.  I now stand, unmovable, on the solid rock, Jesus, rather than blindly remaining in the shifting, unstable environment that I was caught up in.

At the time I was most vulnerable to sin, lacking direction, Jesus became my stronghold in times of distress, thus preventing me from becoming totally engulfed by sin.  I’m glad I took refuge in the Lord.  In Him I live.

(Nahum 1:7), “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.”

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Rejecting the Rhetoric of Naysayers

Who or what is a naysayer?  It is a person who criticizes, objects to, or opposes something.  It seems like every time I turn around, I hear of another naysayer on a feeding frenzy trying to devour things that are wholesome and good with counter attacks of unfounded, meaningless jargon.

They push their agendas feverishly to supersede, suppress, and counteract common sense thinking to nullify the purity of truth.  They want to achieve top billing above the populous of which is the majority even though these naysayers are in the minority. 

Most of these naysayers are squeaking louder than most Americans, thus getting the grease and attention from the news media, achieving recognition for their godless viewpoints.

The following question is regarding the responsibility of Christians and good people everywhere.  When sin bombards good and howls like a torrential rainstorm with floods following, where are the solid masses of people that should be rising to protect the vulnerable and naïve?  They should be constructing dams of steadfastness to make things right instead of lying down on the job in defeat, failing to support all that is good.

Another question is this.  Where were God fearing individuals and straight thinkers when they should have taken a stand on the firm foundation of truth for the Constitutional Rights of the majority before allowing one atheist, being the minority, to be instrumental in the removal of Bibles from public schools?

I was appalled when I recently learned that there is a very small percentage of Christians that vote in elections.  In my opinion, this is WRONG, anyway you spell it. 

Where is the standard that is spoken of in the Bible if Christians stay home to watch their favorite television shows or attend sport’s arenas and support their teams rather than casting their all-important vote at the polls for the wellbeing of Home, State, and America?

By their noninvolvement, they are in essence saying, “What will be will be.  It’s in God’s hands.”  Are not Believers God’s voice?  Are we not His hands to check the right box for liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness, maintaining “In God We Trust” in America? 

Not only Christians, but every red-blooded American should stand for something worth while rather than taking a backseat and fall for every wind of doctrine or false prophet (naysayer) that opens their mouth to usurp the voice of freedom in the good ole U.S.A.

I can only propose solutions as I see them, but I realize it is up to every individual that reads my thoughts to put into action what they know is the right thing to do, without compromising better judgement and their principles.  The Bible says that if we pray and seek God, our land will be healed. 

I believe that voting our conscience goes hand in hand with the following scripture as we pray and ask God for direction as to which person, or important measure to vote for.  We cannot sit by and do nothing, allowing naysayers to have their way.

(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.”

Negative people that live their lives hungering after dissension and confusion rather than looking for the good in people and giving of themselves to society’s betterment, are, in my opinion, naysayers.  I believe it is worthwhile to do something positive with one’s life rather than tearing down rules and regulations and failing to appreciate the good things that are worth living for.

At the end of the day, naysayers are of all people most miserable.  How do I know this?  I was one of these people before I surrendered my life to Jesus at my bedside one evening when I realized that I was a negative person without peace and searching for it in all the wrong places.

I found Jesus the Prince of Peace.  In Him was the stability I needed and the purpose I could get behind and support, while telling others of God’s love.  The Lord is the cornerstone of my new life and solid foundation upon whom I firmly stand. 

It is an ongoing battle for me to find grace to help me overcome my pessimistic, Type-A personality.  It takes work to keep my heel on the nape of my old nature and heart of stone, but I always find grace in the eyes of the Lord.  If it were not for His long-suffering, where would I be?

We must guard against being swain this way or that way and stay clear of the temptation to unite with naysayers that strike out against all that is good.  We need to do the opposite of their gymnastics and stand for the good rather than falling for things that are bad.

When I listen to special news reports on television, it seems that sin is abounding like never before, but it doesn’t mean that I must follow in the wake of the minority as they spew their one-sided nonsense.  I am determined to stand for Christ in the face of any kind of opposition.  God is my strength, and His grace will always abound.

(Romans 5:20), “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound.  But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”

(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.”

Hurtful and outlandish rhetoric is always accompanied with judgmental accusations against God and the things of God.  These acts are certainly anti-Christ in nature and full of dissension, whereas they are like dead man’s bones, having no life.

This last-ditch effort of Satan (evil against good) is increasingly troubling to me, as people give themselves over to smoke and mirror type propaganda that apposes all that is good.

When I witness to non-Christians about the love of God, on occasion some of these people balk at the message.  As I continue to share words of life with a concerned and caring attitude for their well-being, things level out, and they begin to listen to the words I have.   I tell them about the death of Jesus on a cross and that He gave His life for their sins and that God loves them with a never-ending love.

Naysayers are becoming more emboldened with the lies they promote, and sadly, increasing in numbers, but God will always have the final say as men, women, boys, and girls take a stand against evil in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit.

Troublesome places of contention are happening in public schools, and several colleges around our nation.  Naysayers are raising their ugly heads everywhere, while fake news on local television stations jump on the bandwagon to support extremism.  It is shameful how they spread bitter lies and capitalize on unfounded propaganda.

Christianity and Judaism are looked down upon by naysayers that are anti-Christian, while antisemitism is on the rise.  Some schoolteachers, college administrators and professors fail to safeguard the civil rights of students as they ought, against antisemitic harassment.

Activists have nothing better to do than demonstrate on campuses against certain ethnicities, such as Jewish students, preventing them from attending classes.  It would be outstanding if these demonstrators would read the Golden Rule and realize the true meaning of it and apply its fundamental message to themselves.  It is the principle of treating others as one would want to be treated by them.

I look at these naysayers as ponds being used in the greater scheme of things—tyranny, the unrestrained exercise of power and abuse of authority.  Many of these people act out to watch themselves and their rebellious activities on the 5 o’clock news.  Some of them can’t even give a cognitive explanation as to the full story of their cause and why they are demonstrating.  Many are mere followers, being manipulated and used by naysayers to advance unrest and calamity.

You and I need to guard against being led astray by the world’s standard of what seems right and stand firm in one’s values rather than becoming like a leaf in the breeze of rebellion and allowing oneself to be blown wherever the wind of anti-establishment is inclined to blow. 

If we are not careful, we can give into being dominated by the minority rather than standing up for what we know is right.  This takes intestinal fortitude to not flow with misdirected and misinformed naysayers.  To bring it closer to home, it takes guts to stand up for what’s right.

Ask yourself, “Do I want to become a person that throws away my personal values of humble integrity, or is it easier to raise my hands in total surrender to the tyranny of naysayers, because I am weak?”  God gives strength where strength is needed.  He is our high tower and standard to combat the world’s influential rhetoric of negativism.

Christians are the salt of the earth, and the oil that suppresses the squeaking sound of naysayers and shuts up the noise when they strive to invade our peaceful lives with negativism that brings confusion and heartache.

(1 Corinthians 14:33), “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Suddenly

I woke up this morning from a good night’s sleep and a word kept going over and over in my mind.  It was the word, suddenly.  Thoughts began to permeate and flood my awareness as I quickly captured them on paper.

I am sure most people can do without intense surprises that cause them to become disconcerted—taken-aback.  I hate sudden surprises, although birthday and anniversary surprises are acceptable, which are the exceptions.

I am talking about something that surprises me in negative ways that happen suddenly and are most difficult to react to, of which could mean the difference between life and death.

My wife and I were traveling on Highway 4 from Concord to Pittsburg, California, about a ten-mile jaunt from our home in Concord.  We were doing less than the speed limit because it was pouring rain, when suddenly, without warning, a car passed us on the left going at a high rate of speed.

The driver lost control of his vehicle as it hydroplaned directly in front of us, sliding to the freeway shoulder on the far right.  The car missed us by mere inches.  I had no time to react; it happened suddenly.  We were all okay, just shaken up.

I am the only one in my family that was born in California having never experienced ravaging storms of any kind.  Mom, Dad, and my three siblings moved to California from the Midwest where storms were a way of life. 

I remember Dad talking about tornadoes and how quickly they touch down from angry clouds to contact the earth, bringing with them destruction and death at times.  Though warning sirens are blaring loudly for everyone to take cover, people are sometimes slow to react, thinking they have time to do what they know is the right thing to do to survive.

Tornadoes hit areas suddenly, without warning when they finally touch down.  People that procrastinate in finding prepared shelters can regret not doing so when it’s too late.  The lack of expedience could mean the difference between life and death.

I read in the Bible that a great event is going to take place that will happen suddenly.  Sirens of warnings have been sounding out for decades via Christ’s ambassadors, preachers, evangelical outreaches, Christian parents, and through Believers that have shared about God’s redemption promise and that Jesus is coming back.

This redemption is nigh at hand.  When this phenomenon takes place, there will be no time to plead, “God forgive me of my sins!”  Time will be no more; it will be too late to cry out for God’s mercy. 

God’s grace is extended to whosoever will in the now before Jesus arrives in the clouds of glory.  Jesus is coming back in the twinkling of an eye the Bible says.  Talk about suddenly.  It can’t be much quicker than that.  This is one “suddenly” that I am looking forward to.

Either a person has found shelter in the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ, having their sins forgiven by God, or they are in serious trouble that will last for eternity in hell, separated from Almighty God forever. 

The sad and cold fact of the matter is this, death is eminent without the shelter of God’s grace covering our sin.  Jesus’ blood protects our soul from death.  He shed it willingly on the cross to provide life.  Jesus is our haven of rest and the assured passport to heaven when He returns for the children of God.

It’s hard for my mind to grasp this reality, but I’m thrilled beyond words that His promise is mine and to those that want to be saved.  Remember, there are no second chances the moment Jesus appears in the clouds to receive His bride unto Himself, which is all Christians that have been born-again and prepared for this promised event.  They will spend eternity in heaven.

Jesus is our shelter from the vicious storm of sin that kills.  He provides life rather than death in His sanctuary of safekeeping.  People should not procrastinate in doing what they know to do. 

Today is the day of salvation.  Tomorrow may be too late.  Jesus might even come before you finish reading these thoughts.  Are you ready to meet Him?  Jesus is coming!  It’s only a matter of time.  It’s going to happen.

We don’t want to miss our only secure path to heaven.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  In Him we live; without Him we die.  He is our shelter in time of storm.

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Will vs. Shall Not

There are words in the dictionary that have opposite meanings, such as: will vs. shall not, will not, and unwillingness, to name a few.  They are antonyms of the word, will.  There are no ifs, ands, or buts that each represents their opposing positions as they posture at opposite ends on the spectrum of word meanings.

There is no way that these antonyms can ever unite and become synonyms with similar definitions.  There is nothing remotely resembling any kind of likeness.  The word, will, is quite specific as to its significant meaning, likewise the words, shall not also mean what they say.  Will and shall not are totally opposite from each other.

A person’s understanding of the words is usually clear and concise as to their precise meaning unless an intellectual obscurity is present in the psychological conception some way…right, meaning wrong and wrong, meaning right.  In this rare perception of word meanings, some people, because of intellectual misconceptions, govern how they perceive things vs. their true meaning.

In that you and I are cognizant of the word ‘will’ and we trust its meaning in the dictionary, we acknowledge that antonyms like, shall not, will not, and unwillingness, are totally opposite.  Why then should we question the Bible as to its validity and infallibility when God uses the word ‘will’ or ‘shall not’ in scriptures?

Do scriptures lie?  I believe the answer is emphatically, “No!”  Does God mean what He says, or does He beat around the bush and play word games?  I believe we both know the answer and agree.  God does not mince words when He says something, nor does He vacillate or waver between different actions or scenarios.

God’s magnificence and splendor represents all that is good, wholesome, and honest.  Satan is the one who takes words out of context and tries to create doubt in our minds as to their meaning and truthfulness.

Stay with me; I have a thought that will convey a correlation with the preceding narrative.

(Genesis 2;15-17), “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” (vs 16) “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;’ ” (vs 17) “ ‘but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you ‘shall not’ eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’ ”    

Look what happened to Adam and Eve in the garden when Eve gave ear to the serpent as he tempted her to disobey God by saying the following:

(Genesis 3:4-5), “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You shall not surely die.’ ” (vs 5) “ ’For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ ”

Eve surrendered to temptation and ate the forbidden fruit that God forbade and then pulled Adam into her web of deception and disobedience.  Did God really mean ‘shall not’ eat of the tree of good and evil or did He misspeak and perhaps mean ‘should not’, while exaggerating what might happen to them?

The consequence for their sin of uncontrolled desire gives the answer.  God expelled them out of the garden.  It was because of the sin of selfish desire and not obeying the warning from God that initiated sorrow for humanity. 

This sin-nature is now visited upon all humans, whereas we need the Savior, Jesus Christ to set us free from the bondage of sin that we inherited.

There is an eye-opening awareness that we need to pay close attention to in the Bible when the word ‘will’ is spoken by Jesus four times in the following three scriptures.

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

In that God meant what He said in the Garden of Eden and followed through as He banished Adam and Eve from the garden, don’t you think He means what He says in the Bible when using the word ‘will’ in these scriptures?

I am positive He is not using the word to merely sound good in the moment, having little or no substance.  The Lord always means what He says!  We can take that to the bank, as they say.  So why is it that Christians hesitate and find it difficult to put into action what they know to be true in God’s infallible Bible? 

Believers need to take the bull by the horns, figuratively speaking, and step out in the faith God blessed them with when becoming born-again as they believed Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified for our sins and that He is the Son of God.

God imparts the same Holy Ghost to newborn Christians that empowered the 120 Believers on the Day of Pentecost when we experience the ‘new birth’, having our sins forgiven.  The same Spirit dwells within all children of God today.

Miracles should, without question, be expected when we pray in the name of Jesus without doubting the results.  We can kick disbelief to the curb of Satan’s word manipulations and lies.  Faith enhances when we absorb the word of God, the Bible.

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

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

God wants us to be His vocal cords, sharing His promises with others and having expectancy in our heart that He ‘will’ do what He said He ‘will’ do as we become His outstretched hands. 

As we present our bodies living sacrifices to God, which is our reasonable service, we become vessels that He will flow through to people that need the Savior and those crying out for miraculous interventions.

All Christians should continue their quest for the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus to become God’s outstretched arms of compassion, with Holy Ghost power to present the agape love of Jesus to those needing hope.  This happens when born-again Believers step out in faith.

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

As children of God, we ‘will’ become conquerors through Christ who is within us, while maintaining the unwillingness to compromise our faith when facing doubt and fear.  With God’s help, we will maintain His strength and not give into Satan’s lie that the Lord may not answer our prayers.  This is the fear that is generated from the pit of hell.

God still answers prayer!  His wonders to perform according to His perfect will.

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

 

The Tenderness of Love

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd 

Warriors and Not Worriers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the following scriptures, Jesus is speaking.

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

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

I Embrace Your Character

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Romans 12:1), “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

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

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

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Seeing is Believing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd 

There's No Time Like The Present

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Romans 12:1), “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” 

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

(Luke 6:38), “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

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

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

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

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

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

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd