You can have 500 friends but how many of those friends do you take the time to have real relationships with? When you don't know someone our perceptions of them can be so very far from true reality. We can be so quick to judge. Finding faults in others is a quick temporary way to make us feel better but that temporary boost quickly fades. Instead of finding faults in those around us we should look for the good in everyone. We were all created unique and special. Everyone, despite their talents or abilities has something to offer. Often times, those with the least have the most to give. I write books. Sometimes I am asked for my autograph. But I am no more special than someone that can't read. I fall. I stumble. I am imperfect. A gift is just a gift. God gives us our gifts. We are responsible for our hearts. Find the good in those around you. Comfort those that are hurting. Give words of encouragement to those that are struggling. Look not for what you can get or gain but what you can give. Be a shining light for someone today! Matthew 19:30 “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first”
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Often times in conversation or in messages people will ask how I am. Maybe it's just politeness or normal conversation but I always feel a bit awkward when I answer the same thing every time. I wonder if people really believe me. I mean, I do get angry and frustrated at times like anybody does, but I am always, always good. Even when I am bad I am good. There is nothing or no one that can take what I have. My joy doesn't come from money, toys, weather, sports, weekends, how my body looks, or how someone treats me. My joy comes from knowing I am on the winning team. My joy comes from knowing the best is yet to come. My happiness comes from the one true God. My life hasn't always been soft, warm, and cozy. I have lost my job and I was so broke I couldn't afford to buy food. I found my wife of nine years dead in my front yard and I was left all alone to raise my 1 year old son and my six year old daughter. I have been fat and out of shape. I have suffered injuries that left me unable to workout or at times walk. I was subjected to things as a child that no child should be subjected to. These things were hard to go through but I have been molded and shaped by everything in my past and I wouldn’t change anything if I could. Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I realize my earthly home is not where I belong. I have a hope for a place where sickness and suffering do not exist. Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
For all intents and purposes, my new book is done. What an eye opening journey it has been. I once read a quote years ago that has stayed with me. To paraphrase it said to create is to be in partnership with God. Writing this latest book has brought a deeper meaning and understanding of this quote to me. From the beginning I felt like this book was a message from God. I am not saying I am prophetic or in any way special. Many times I feel God is telling us to do something and we ignore it. If our hearts are in the right place and he tugs at that heart, we have free will to do things our way or to listen to Him. When He tugged at my heart in the spring of 2014, I thankfully listened to Him. Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
Knowing that God wanted me to write this book, I prayed to Him multiple times a day about the book. I prayed for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. I prayed that I know all the truth. I prayed and prayed and prayed. What followed I consider remarkable and amazing. From the moment I was freed from the demonic oppression I was under, I felt a veil was lifted from my eyes. I felt I instantly had greater understanding and clarity of the spirit world and of God. Proverbs 2:3-6 “indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” In my research I stumbled across one thing after another that I previously knew nothing about. Each piece fit together like a 1000 piece puzzle effortlessly. At times I would write about something and I would just kind of get in the zone so to speak. When I would finish writing, I would read back over what I wrote and I would think to myself, WOW! I understand so much better now. Sometimes I wondered where this understanding and these words were coming from then I would remember my many prayers…”God give me the words to this book.” Perhaps the greatest thing I was taught through this whole experience was the true power of the Gospel. It is something that is always talked about but I understand it in a whole new way now. The Bible is not a book or a history of events from the early church. The Bible IS God! (John 1:1) When we read the Bible, God draws near to us. When we read the Word, we become more filled with the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” John 15:3 “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” John 6:63 “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” The world may tell you that you are not pretty enough or smart enough but the world is wrong. The world may reward fame and fortune, but that fame and fortune will fade. The world teaches live for today, live for pleasure, and run from pain. But no matter how many surgeries you get to stay looking younger, you will still grow old and die. No matter how much money you have when your time is up, you will leave this world with the same amount as everyone else. It doesn’t matter how much earthly wisdom you obtain during your life, that wisdom is useless when you stand before God. The world teaches to obtain things and live for you. God teaches to seek Him and live for others. We all have a choice to make. We can live for the moment and choose the world or we can live for God and choose to live forever with Him. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. If you seek Him, you will find Him. |
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