Category Archives: bible

affirmation, appreciation, bible, change, faith, God, grace, Gratitude, Growing, journey, Lessons, life, personal growth, scripture, self improvement, Suffering

It’s All Good!

Many years ago, one of my best friends tuned his back on me, stabbed me in the back multiple times and began the unraveling of a life that I had spent all of my life trying to build and grow. The confusion, heartache and stress that it brought into my life, ultimately brought me to a place of just wanting to die. I asked him multiple times what was going on, what had I done in an attempt to find out how I might could fix what was obviously very broken. I never found out the answers to any of the thousands of questions that I had and eventually that became okay, because at the end of the day – that’s life.

As I sit here this morning, thinking about how grateful I am for the blessings that God has poured out upon my life, I can’t help but think back to those very dark times when I really didn’t care if I made it though another day or not. While I did not want to live, because the frustration, heartache and pain was just too much, God never left me. His presence was always with me, holding me and keeping me safe from myself. God used a lot of different things and people to help put the broken pieces of my life back together again. I am sure that to others I appeared broken, confused, lost and probably best just forgotten, but to God this “ole boy” was a different story.

Only a small handful of people really know the struggle between light and darkness that I was engaged in and of those that would say that they did, most of those people did nothing to help me, instead they looked down their noses in judgement and speculated in their gossip. It’s sometimes seems that others get their good feelings for themselves in the misery of others, which makes absolutely no sense to me, but I am sure that I have been guilty of the same.

At some point, the God, Who never left me, helped me to find my way out of the darkness and into His marvelous light. All of my life, I have witnessed God doing amazing and beautiful things through ordinary people. I now have a better understanding of how God uses the broken to bring blessing and it has changed the way I live by changing the way I see life, others, myself and God.

While I was lost in the darkness, wandering around trying to make sense out of the senseless and discover the purpose which I had lost somewhere along the way, God was preparing me to receive a gift, a new and improved outlook which reminds me that “God Gives Beauty For Ashes!”

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes,the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD,that he might be glorified. -Isaiah 61:3

My point is this: Whatever is going on in your life at this particular time – EMBRACE IT! In my ole country boy way of putting things, I would just have to say: “It’s All Good!” It is true that God uses even the bad for our good as we love and trust Him. Life is probably not going to work out the way you think it should, no matter how good your thoughts and plan might be. Things will happen. Some days the sun will shine on you and some days the rain will fall, but remember this: There is a God, Who loves you and who has a plan to bless you. According to that plan, He will use even the bad for your good as you love and trust Him…

affirmation, bible, change, choices, enemies, faith, grace, Growing, Healing, Jesus, journey

The Battle Rages!

Some days are just harder than others. I am a Pastor/Preacher, I am supposed to be close to God, I’m the one that is supposed to hold it all together while it’s all falling apart for everyone else. In reality, I am just like you – a soul living, existing, learning and sometimes just getting by in the flesh.

There are days that I feel like I am at my limit, like I can’t go on. My flesh has convinced me that there is a line and if I cross it, then I am not going to be able to go on, but my spirit tells me a different story and so the war rages on.

As I read through my Bible, I see this same war all through it’s pages. From the very beginning of human history, there has been a battle between good and evil, the spirit and the flesh, God and Satan. This war began even before all of this as we know it today.

One of God’s Angels that were created by God to serve His purposes, became proud and made the choice to become his own god, rather than to worship and serve the One True God.

12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart:‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. -Isaiah 14:12-15

One third of the angels sided with Satan and decided to declare war on God and they became an army devoted to destroying God’s Kingdom. This rebellion culminated into a great battle against God and Satan and his demons were kicked out of Heaven.

Their rebellion culminated in a great battle against God and His holy angels. Satan and his demons lost and were kicked out of heaven. And now the battle is here on earth, where we live a spiritual beings in human bodies and are in the fight of our life.

The Scriptures tell us that God has come that we might have life and life more abundant, but the enemy has come to steal, kill and destroy. The battles we face every day of lives are a result of Satan and his pride. One of his greatest tricks is to distract us from what the battle is about and who the real enemy is, but we do not have to give into his lies and tricks, because God gave us JESUS and JESUS has set us free from Satan and his limited power.

affirmation, bible, choices, Discipleship, enemies, Enlightenment, faith, God, Growing, Jesus, journey, Lessons, life, personal growth, self improvement, spiritual enlightenment, Spititual Development

Chase The Devil Away!

You are a victorious warrior and you were created for victory and blessing. Never ever let the enemy convince of you of anything less than God’s very best. You have a Bible, God’s Word that is filled with promises from God to you. God loves you and has an amazing plan for your life and it to bless you, favor you and grow you into someone and something amazing for His glory and everyone’s blessings.

When we read in God’s Word, we discover that He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. God promises in His Word that He will cause our enemies who come against us to be defeated before our very own eyes. The key to victory is making sure that we stay connected to God as our source and strength.

If we are not careful, we can become our very own worst enemy and end up getting in the way of the blessing and victory God has for us. Do not give the enemy an inch, because if you do, he will take a mile. Here are seven things you can do to take your stand and protect your ground:

1. OBEY! God gives us instruction to help us, not to hurt us. Read His Word and obey His Word and you will be amazed at the difference it will make in your life. You can’t obey it, if you don’t know it and you will not know it if you don’t read it. Remember one minute in God’s Word is better than zero!

2. REPENT! To repent means to turn around, change directions. When the Spirit shows you that you are traveling in the wrong direction, repent, turn around and head back toward the good things of God!

3. BELIEVE! Believe that God is for you and not against you. God is not trying to keep you from enjoying life, God is trying to bless you and grow you in this life to get you ready for ETERNITY with HIM.

4. FIGHT! Fight the good fight by expecting that there are times that you are going to have to engage the enemy. It’s not all roses and there are tough day, but if you will fight, God will strengthen and victory will be yours.

5. PRAISE! Praise the Lord. Find some uplifting, encouraging and spiritually focused music and get your praise on. When the praise go up, the blessing come down and the enemy can’t stand the noise you God blessing His children…

6. ARMOR UP! The Scriptures teach us to put on the full armor of God. God gives you what you need, but you have to put it on and utilize it for it to be effective. Armor hanging in the closet does you no good. Get dressed up with the promises of God’s Word everyday and go out and claim your victory.

7. PRAY! Pray always and then pray some more. The Bible teaches us to pray without ceasing. Prayer is simply conversation with God. Talk to God, listen to God – enjoy the conversation.

It’s all boils down to a matter of choice. Make the choice to do your part and know that God will do His. Victory is yours, you just have to claim it!