The Profit Margin for Success Part 2 of 2

When was the last time you saw a U-Haul trailer hooked up to a hurst that was heading for the cemetery?  I am not saying, by any stretch of the imagination, that those having a lot of money has lost their way regarding salvation, or forfeited their soul because of money, God forbid.  It is when money becomes a person’s god that problems arise.

When a person chooses to leave God out of the equation, this personal choice determines their fate at the end of life’s journey. 

(1 Timothy 6:10), “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Yes, they may be able to buy anything in this world in a feeble attempt to satisfy their lack of fulfillment and deep longing for the sanctity of peace, but all their efforts are in vain as they try, unsuccessfully, to find lasting joy that money cannot buy.  They refuse to see their need for God in their life Who is joy unspeakable and gives lasting peace, forever.

(Matthew 19:24), “And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Their profit margin for success in the lifestyle they chose is zip, zero, nada.  Without Christ in a person’s soul, money and things are merely counterfeit placeholders for the Real Thing—Jesus.

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

As you have discovered in Part 1 and Part 2 of this writing, it encompasses how to achieve true success without selling out to mammon (money).  We must be careful not to fall into the trap of putting all our marbles into the ‘sack of greed’ with a hole in the bottom.

At the end of life, a person may find themselves “weighed in the balance and found wanting” as the Bible says, having lost everything, namely their soul, because Jesus Christ was second fiddle to wealth.  It is not too late to place Jesus at the top of your list of desires, if in fact He is toward the bottom.

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

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

 Written by,

Papa Boyd

**Please read, “The Profit Margin for Success” Part 1 of 2, if you haven’t already.

Defensive Praise

There is a program on television, “In the Eye of the Storm” that shows the unprecedented power of Mother Nature’s fury.  They play video clips from individuals that recorded actual moments on their phones when they were literally caught during tornadoes touching down and while experiencing, firsthand, hurricanes as they ripped through their neighborhoods and towns where they lived and shopped.  The power of wind and the aftermath of destruction can boggle the mind.

When death was eminent and the storm was tearing off roofs of homes with people inside, turning cars over with people in them, and houses collapsing around families inside, I heard screams of terror on the videos from people that were panic stricken crying out to God for help and invoking the name of Jesus to save them from the horror they were facing.  They, for sure, knew Who to call on in their time of desperation.

I’ve heard that even professing atheists will call out to God when danger or death threatens them.  There is no doubt in my mind when push comes to shove, we all know in Whom our hope lies.  Salvation is in no other person, place, or thing other than Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. 

When we cast our feelings of hopelessness upon the Lord, it’s the dawn of a new day with hope on the horizon.  I believe that Christians and non-Christians alike call out to the God of miracles in every bad situation when hope is fading and answers evade questions.

The following is my synopsis relating to personal accounts of people I’ve met through the years of how they reacted when troubling times came their way.  I’ve observed attitudes and facial countenances change in an instant, while unbelief and sometimes fear filled their faces when they found themselves in a whirlpool of turmoil that originated from a brewing storm of calamity that was bringing on a state of confusion.

When wave after wave of stress, anxiety, and moments of an overwhelming sense of panic set in, most always the ‘why’ question surfaced.  Now that I think about it, I may be seeing my own reflection of awareness and spiritual growth in the mirror of “teachable moments” as the Holy Spirit taught me, early on in my Christian walk with Jesus, to cast all my cares upon Him, because He cared for me in all situations.

My overview of people going through hardships is what the title of this writing encompasses—Defensive Praise.  I will try to convey how some of these acquaintances reacted to hardships and how they handled uncanny dilemmas they were facing.

I believe a defensive stance was the normal reaction that rose up first to deflect any aggressive action or bad situation that was upon them, whether spiritual, mental, or physical needs.  I interpreted their reactions as the fight or flight syndrome that was kicking in.

I suppose people, for the most part, are prone to become very defensive at the onslaught of bad things that are happening to themselves or their loved ones.  As they stood in this defensive mode, I’ve seen individuals revert to an offensive stance against incoming difficulties of which they didn’t understand nor had control over.

Secondly, a few of them established a hard-shell attitude rather than putting on the whole armor of God like the Bible tells us to do.  While in a defensive/offensive state of mind, while questioning, “What can I do now?” it seemed they took on a position of, “Leave me alone!” while keeping God at arm length in the beginning when everything was coming at them.

I sensed a hardness of spirit creeping inside them for fear of what they were up against.  They had a reflex response from negativism, because the challenges took them off guard and it was difficult to get their mind around what was happening.

Their first impulse was not to praise God during the on-slot of the unknowns  They reacted defensively and sometimes expressed angry demonstrations of rebellion, because of the hurt they were enduring.

The preceding reactions were not always the case, there were certainly exceptions, depending on the personality of each person affected.  In my experience, it appeared to me that shortly after the initial impact and shocking reality of things was evaluated, most of those under attack experienced ‘defensive praise’ that began to exude from individuals that believed in a higher power.

When they realized it wasn’t God who was bringing the problem but Satan or the results of bad decisions on their part, attitudes changed.  The emotions they were caught up in must have required a cooling off period to understand and grasp the gravity of what was happening.  It took time to refocus their loyalty and trust in Jehovah God, the One Who cares.

These people concluded in their minds that there was no one that had the power to bring about positive changes except Almighty God.  I’m sure I speak for most of us when I say, total submission to God takes faith, because we are prone to work things out on our own, but God teaches us that when facing desperate times, desperate measures must be initiated to allow hope to surface from within a person through prayer and praising Him.

We know there is only One true power Who can change things from bad to good; we need only to remember this the moment trials flair up.  We can cry out to God, in confidence, for miracles to manifest themselves just like the people that cried out for help when they were caught in tornadoes and hurricanes.  God protected them from harm.

Though it is hard to relinquish our will to God’s will and trust His sovereignty at times, the bottom line is this: in our ‘God mind’, as I call it, which is the place where the knowledge of God’s omnipotent power resides, this mindset is separate from the ‘natural thinking mind’. 

We can resolve and carefully conclude that when we unite the infinite, Spiritual realm of God with the finite thinking of oneself, good things happen when we trust the Lord.  I call this unification between the two, “faith.” 

This is the only place where individuals can rise above the woes of uncertainty and having defensive feelings, while stepping into the light of God’s hope and allowing Him to bring us out from under the dark cloud of hopelessness into an attitude of praise—Defensive Praise.

(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.”

Let’s face it, giving praise in times when hurt and uncertainty are bombarding us is most difficult, but when we stabilize our thinking, with the help of the Holy Spirit, these are the moments that peace overshadows us like a warm, woolen blanket on a cold, winter’s night.  This peace is unexplainable, yet attainable through Christ.

The warmth we feel is freely given by the Holy Spirit, our Comforter Whom Jesus promised would come when He returned to heaven after being crucified and raising from the dead on the third day.  The Comforter speaks peace to our soul when we offer up a sacrifice of praise to God in all things—Defensive Praise.  The Lord inhabits our praises.

(Colossians 3:16), “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

The Lifeline of Hope

The following definition of ‘lifeline’ was provided by Siri… “A thing on which someone or something depends or provides a means of escape from a difficult situation.”

The impact of an unforeseen adversity, or heart wrenching situation can affect one’s psyche and has a way of shaking the very foundation of faith.  It can be most daunting to try and maintain some kind of semblance of hope when being bombarded by outside forces. 

These forces can affect the mental stability and spiritual state of mind associated with faith.  No doubt the level of heartache is dependent upon the severity or intensity of what a person is going through.  Troublesome times can also cause a glitch in the communication factor between God and those that believe in prayer and trust its power. 

Unexpected happenings have a way of testing one’s capacity to maintain faith when hope is bordering on hopelessness or nearing its breaking point.  This can happen when God’s answer to prayer is delayed or not answered in the time that the petitioner thinks it should happen.  (Note) Impatience is not a virtue; patience is.

All the above thoughts can be misunderstood as negative in nature, and lacking encouragement, but the truth and reality are real.  The above is exactly what people endure when facing trouble.  Stay with me.

Things happen to everyone; no-one is exempt from pain or suffering—it’s life.  How we handle this misery is what matters most.  The Bible says that problems fall on the just and unjust alike, but then there’s God!

When effectual, fervent prayers are exercised and maintained, faith has a way of magnifying the light of God’s power and does not illuminate the problem even in our darkest hour when doubt tries to creep in like a thief in the night.

Through prayer, born-again Believers can stand in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, recognizing that He is the hope for all tribulations. 

(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.”

Most everyone has heard the phrase, “Keep the faith.”  These are powerful words to remember in times of trouble, but it requires perseverance in prayer to do so.  When we submit our emotions, anxieties, and questions to the Lord, while grasping onto faith, we stand our ground and demonstrate trust in God as we face oppositions.  This keeps hope alive in our heart. 

Prayer is the lifeline of hope, and when coupled with faith, they bring peace when we need it the most.  Together they become our stronghold that helps us maintain open communication with God.  Without hope, hearts can real and rock under the strain of unanswered questions that may cause a person to fear the worst.

Do not give fear a seat at the table of hope.  Fear does not have the final say, God does.  When we stand on the Truth of God’s word and pray, this act of faith enables hope to move any situation beyond the finite question of “why” and brings us into the infinite, spiritual realm of God’s realism of hope that allows us to expect and believe Him for miracles.

The Holy Spirit, our Comforter, brings comfort to the weary and hope to worried hearts through prayer.  God’s bountiful love goes beyond our wildest dreams when He speaks peace during the hard times.

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

Intercessory prayer is the lifeline of hope that keeps doubt at bay.  Doubt is most assuredly initiated by our adversary, the devil.  Though he tries to poison our faith in Jesus with lies and unfounded bombast, we can stand on the promise of God.

(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.”    

As I said, it can become a challenge to keep the faith and maintain a positive outlook when our mind is fighting off negative thoughts that Satan throws our way.  He tries to deplete the hope we have in Jesus through his antiques. 

On occasion, my faith is shaken and wains a bit when it seems as if the heavens are brass when I pray.  I’m sure you’ve experienced the same feeling of aloneness, but we walk by faith and not feelings.  Feelings can be misconstrued as factual, and we fail to see the reality of the spiritual realm.

If loneliness rises and shouts with a loud voice in your soul, “Where is God?!” this is the time we can lay honesty on the altar before God and humbly say, “I believe, but help me overcome my unbelief.”

Jesus wants us to be honest concerning our feelings and thought process.  He understands us better than we know ourselves.  If we give ear to the devil’s lies that God is too busy to care about our hardships, this can bring about fear, and cause hope to crumble.

Satan tells us we have no hope and that we are standing alone to face the challenges ahead.  He tries to convince us that we lack strength to overcome the trial by saturating our hope with false misgivings.  But God will someway get the glory out of any situation when we stand in His strength.

God’s amazing love goes far beyond our natural understanding of things.  It is hard to grasp the enormity of God’s agape love that He has for us.  The Bible says that we see through a glass as if it were very foggy.  God’s ways are far beyond our understanding.

(1 Corinthians 13:12), “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” 

Remember this: negative thoughts are generated by the devil and are merely smoke screens to try and overshadow or cover up God’s miraculous power from our tear-filled eyes.  Satan wants us to doubt the superiority and power of Almighty God, with headwinds of negative thoughts, while using people having personalities like job’s comforters to sow platitudes of doubt.

We may not see what’s around the corner, but we need not fear the unknown when God is in control.  We must keep our eyes always on Him.  Rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus and plead the blood of Jesus over your situation!

Keep bombarding heaven with prayers and continue to look for and expect miracles to happen.  Prayer is the lifeline of hope that maintains our faith in Jesus.  Faith moves the hand of God in our behalf.  The following scripture says that we have a High Priest who is touched by the feelings of our infirmities. 

(Hebrews 4:15), “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

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

Whatever troubles us, concerns God.  He has a plan for us and will bring it to fruition in His time.  We must always trust in God’s sovereignty, because He has our best interest at heart—always.  This trust is maintained through prayer, the lifeline of hope.

Don’t allow the devil to steal your hope or shake your faith in Jesus…trust in God; He will never leave nor forsake you.

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

The Perfect Plan

Have you ever made plans, only to have them literally fall apart before your tear-filled eyes with nothing going right?  I know a have.  After the implosion of regrets was over, as I picked up the broken pieces of ‘whys’, it hit me; what or whom did I rely on?

What could I have done differently?  It didn’t take too many disappointing incidents to figure out when I include God in the planning stages, things have a way of working out.  This applies to all areas of one’s life.

The Lord loves us dearly and wants to be involved in every area that concerns us!  He promotes the perfect plan.  With this acknowledgment, it is now fun to plan events.

Planning vacations, an ocean cruise, or surprise parties for friends and loved ones is always exciting.  I would be remiss if I failed to mention the endearing joy of planning a wedding, especially when it’s your own.

The days leading up to my marriage to the most incredible woman that God blessed me with, there was a lot of planning that was challenging and tense at the same time.  I won’t minimize the anxiety level that we faced when trying to get all our ducks in line, as it were, to plan everything…food, flowers, cake, groomsmen and bridal party, tuxes and matching dresses, and most importantly, the bridal gown.

Securing a venue for the reception worked out perfectly.  God calmed our minds and made everything come together.  The church leadership allowed us to use the large, multipurpose room and didn’t charge us.  It was perfect.  I will quote Mr. T in the 1982 movie Rocky III: “I love it when a plan comes together.”

Finding an apartment was quite an adventure.  Hand delivering the information needed by the apartment manager before someone else jumped in ahead of us to secure the apartment for themselves was interesting, to say the least.  It was all in God’s hands. 

The supply and demand ratio of apartment seekers vs. the limited availability of apartments was an eye-opening shocker, but God worked it all out.  I should not have stressed, knowing that God was in control and instrumental in working out His perfect plan for us. 

The Lord does not do things halfway; everything has a way of falling into place.  He helped us find favor with everyone we dealt with.  What can I say?  God is good!  The manager held the apartment for us, and it was perfect in every way.  We loved it!

Planning for the pastor of her church and the pastor of my church to officiate our wedding on the same day took some coordinating, but God, again, worked out every detail, because His plan was perfect concerning my bride-to-be and me.

During all the planning, my fiancé and I went to the courthouse in Martinez, California to obtain our marriage license.  I lovingly looked at her as we stood in line and she was pale as a ghost.  I quietly asked if everything was okay, and she assured me that all was well, and that it couldn’t be better.

Later, she shared that the realization of marriage and the grave responsibility of becoming a partner for life flooded in on her.  Although a smidgen of fear creeped in briefly, she had full confidence that God’s plan was coming together and that everything was working out in grand fashion, according to His will.

It is probably natural for couples that are embarking on a serious venture together in marriage that in the days leading up to any marriage they may experience unsettled emotions deep within their psyche, causing questions to arise.  A lifelong commitment is a lot for anyone to process.

I was sure that this was God’s plan concerning me.  My companion also believed that our unity was God’s plan for her and me.  I was ready for marriage as she was even though we had been dating for only three months, plus three months engagement.

Some people said, “Long engagements are better.”  But she and I were the ones saying, “I do.”  We were ready.  No doubt, with some couples, a longer engagement is best, because a short engagement can generate stress.  It is better to know for sure before tying the knot.  Time provides safeguards against making life-changing decisions too quickly.  We were both excited and ready to take the next step, together.

Backtracking a bit, allow me to give you a little history.  The future Mrs. Boyd was thirteen when she saw me for the first time when I sang with a Christian quartet at an “Eye Rally” in the City of Walnut Creek, California.  The gathering was a David Wilkerson sponsorship for youth. 

I was seventeen at the time, four years older than her.  She was certainly too young for me, but little did I know what was around the corner.

Almost a decade later, I met this girl, because the organist in her church, who knew me, gave me her telephone number.  That teenybopper was now Twenty-one years old.  I called her and we talked for Forty-five minutes.  I was drawn to her on the phone, never having seen her.  There was just something there!  We had a lot in common.  It was God!           

After dating for a while, she told me that she had eyes for me back when she saw me that first time.  How sweet is that!?

Who knew in nine years that I would marry this girl?  Oh wait, God did!  He had the perfect plan for both her and me.  It just took time for everything to fall into place prior to us meeting.  As God’s plan unveiled itself through the years, the Lord directed both our paths and in His perfect timing, we met, fell in love, and were married.  She was Twenty-two and I was Twenty-six.

Our marriage together has been a wonderful partnership, because God’s plan was perfect from the beginning regarding her life and mine.  I believe we were created for each other.  When God does something, He does it right, because of His unfailing love.

My advice to anyone looking for romance, or a mate, or needs confirmation and assurances that they are heading in the right direction is this: most importantly, be patient and DO NOT get in a hurry.  DO NOT branch out into unfamiliar waters to deviate from God’s plan.  DO NOT get ahead of Him by doing your own thing, lest you are filled with remorse later.

Follow God’s direction, faithfully, because the Lord has a perfect plan for those that trust in His providence.  We MUST allow God time to work out the details of His plan. 

For sure, giving our life to God is a step of faith.  It takes courage and absolute trust to not take destiny out of God’s hands to pursue our will.  It is much better to wait a little longer than to make a mistake, an irrational move, and regret the decisions made.  Our adage should be, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”

I am told that patience or perseverance are vital when making decisions.  We all need to practice this concept, because humans are prone to be impatient and move too quickly, because we want it now!  God may have a five-dollar watch, figuratively speaking, but He is never late; He is always on time.

If you are concerned what lies ahead and the things that tomorrow holds around the corner awaiting to be revealed, the moment you give your all to Jesus, your heart will be filled with perfect peace.  He will bring His plan into focus and fulfill the perfect plan in His time.  Allow Him to direct you in the way that is right.   

‘The Perfect Plan’ is His delight, because He delights in you and me.

(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.”

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

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Creepy Crawlers

From a man’s perspective, I would think that guys, for the most part, especially Type-A personalities, do not want to appear feeble, fragile, weak, or afraid of anything.

The word ‘macho’ is sometimes used to describe certain male figures.  I would venture to say that not too many males make a practice of touching or playing with any type of creepy crawler.  I choose to leave them alone and I want them to leave me alone.

In the beginning, God created man with a strong, physical makeup and having a mental disposition unlike the woman.  I believe it’s only natural for males to assume the role of protector and provider, because of their masculinity. 

Let us be real, underneath all that macho persona, often, things exist that men ignore, while hiding them in the recess shadows of their brain, preferring not to talk about them. I believe it is reasonable to say that the one big factor in men, they display an outward façade of manliness to not appear as overly sensitive or having feminine qualities.

Most men sidestep girlish emotions lest they are perceived as being a wuss or lacking manly characteristics.  Please, don’t assume or read into my words that I think women are physically or mentally inept—they are not!  From my viewpoint, they are certainly a helpmate to the male gender in decision making and other important areas.

Some guys live in a bubble that is full of pretense; a pretend reality to modify the truth to suit their mindset.  They want to be seen as brave.  I think the truth of the matter is this: men are sometimes discreet in nature, trying not to attract attention to the weaker areas they are hiding. 

Men do not want to be seen as being an easy mark to be taken advantage of in any way, shape, or form.    This is just my take on masculinity.

The following percentage is quite interesting.  52% of males experience Arachnophobia, a phobia of spiders and Ophidiophobia, a fear of snakes, which are common phobias.  The fear of snakes affects approximately 1 to 5 percent of the global population.  These phobias are usually a non-spoken reality with men, known only to their closest friends or family members.

The fear of spiders is more prevalent in women than men, but I can attest that these phobias are real in my circle of friends.  Some of the men I know are afraid of spiders, even daddy-long-legs. 

One of these guys was an M.P. (Military Police), physically toned and very strong.  I would say a tough character, yet he is vexed with phobias. 

In my late teens, I knew a fellow that if you teased him with a snake, even a non-venomous one, he would beat you to a pulp, because he was deathly afraid of creepy crawlers, especially “slithering reptiles” as he put it.

When I was a young kid growing up in the bedroom community of Martinez, California, one of my childhood buddies had no problem catching and playing with lizards when we were messing around in his backyard.  He had pet tarantulas, snakes, and other creepy crawlers in glass enclosures in his bedroom.

These critters were not in my wheelhouse for having fun.  They creeped me out and made my skin crawl even though my personality was Type-A.

The following creepy crawler was instrumental in bringing about a total mess on earth from the very beginning when God created man and woman in the Garden of Eden.  Humanity has been shackled with the ‘sin-nature’ that has plagued the world’s population since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden.

In their defiance, they ate the forbidden fruit that God commanded them not to eat nor touch.  Because of their shameful disobedience, we inherited an ungodly nature of sinning thanks to these self-centered ancestors.

Eve, the woman God gave to Adam, should have restrained her inner desires and walked away from the one tree that God exclaimed, “Do not eat the fruit!”  She obsessed over the fruit, while listening to the serpent that was more cunning than any beast in the field.  He tempted her to eat the fruit by telling her she would be like God, knowing good and evil.

Eve did the unthinkable when she refused to give credence to God’s warning and ate the fruit.  She then encouraged Adam to do likewise.  That creepy crawler was Satan himself, the deceiver that took on the form of a snake.

Later, when Eve was questioned by God concerning what she had done, she tried to blame the serpent for her disobedience.  God didn’t buy it!  He knew she was not blameless in the betrayal.  This senseless act of willful misbehavior was an out and out sin against God. 

Eve disregarded the consequences for her selfish, undisciplined act, and involving Adam.  She wanted her way, period.  God expelled them out of the Garden of Eden.

Humans, today, are suffering negative repercussions because of Adam and Eve’s sin.  One thing is certain, listening to Satan’s lies and doing what he tempts us to do destroys any chance of promoting forward motion to wholesome living.  Sin does not pay in the long run.

Adam and Eve’s fall is a good example and lesson for you and me to not sin when we know it’s wrong to do so in today’s radical environment of temptations.  It is wise to leave creepy crawlers alone—namely sin.

Why risk playing with sin, like people tempt fate when they handle creepy crawlers, only to get bitten as they play with venomous spiders, snakes, lizards, and other such critters? 

Before sinning, we should consider the consequences of our actions lest we die from the bites.  We need to remember that Satan’s venom is toxic and deadly if we choose to listen to his lies.  Nothing in the world is new since the beginning of time.  The devil is still slithering here and there seeking whom he may deceive and devour.

The ‘Adam-nature’ to sin is born into every human being, but we can resist the urge to sin through Jesus Christ and the born-again experience.  The ‘sin-nature’ was inherently transferred to us through heredity that sets the tone for our behavior, but as I said, we can change because of God’s amazing grace.

Mankind is inclined to do their own thing just like Adam and Eve.  It’s easy to disobey the 10-Commandments and the rule of law in the land, but there is hope in Jesus.  We don’t have to listen to the serpent and give into temptation when we stand in Christ.

Sadly, sinning comes naturally, but God provides a way of escape to those who are looking for deliverance—it’s God’s plan of salvation that is free to anyone wanting redemption from the plague of Adam and Eve’s sin.

Every person that sins can try to blame someone else for their misbehavior, or push it off on Adam and Eve’s as if it’s their fault for having uncontrollable urges to sin, but the truth is this: there is no excuse under heaven for turning one’s back on God and choosing corrupt behavior rather than wholesome living, when God has provided a plan of escape.

Every person is responsible for his or her own actions and will pay the price for their sins, but the answer to ‘new beginnings’ and how to ignore the creepy crawler that tempts us to sin is in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.  He alone sets us free from the ‘sin-nature’, because He paid the full price for sin.

Jesus was crucified on a cross to set us free from the bondage and venomous bite of sin.  God gave His Son to provide salvation for whosoever will, but it is up to everyone to accept Jesus as the propitiation for sin or to reject God’s plan and die as a result.

(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.” 

We need not fear Satan, the creepy crawler.  He is the evil one who wants company in hell and is hell-bent on deceiving us like he did Eve.  God gives us the power to tread on this serpent and cast him to the curb in the name of Jesus.

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

God gives us the insight and wherewithal to identify the creepy crawlers in our lives and to recognize all his disguises and turn away from them before we are deceived and bitten.

Today, people prefer to tempt fate rather than running in the opposite direction.  Even though they know something is bad and that they might get bitten, they go against the laws of God and against the rules of society.  They want to do their own thing just like Eve did in the garden.

Nothing has changed over time.  Satan’s creepy crawlers, the angels of darkness (fallen angels) are everywhere and hazardous to one’s physical and spiritual health.  Though something may seem harmless, it’s better to leave it alone than to die because of hardheadedness.

A person can either partake of sin and die or leave it alone and live through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Why play around with creepy crawlers that deceive, bite, and kill their hosts?

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd

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