My Hardest Personal Goal

What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?

My hardest personal goal came after I hit rock bottom in my life. I had to choose whether to give up or fight. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make.

I’ve had to fight my entire life, and I was tired, and thought what was the point in doing it anymore.

My first choice was to run a way from every thing I’d ever knew. Run a way from the pain and anguish I felt. I was in fact trying to run a way from my demons. The problem was that you can’t run a way from your inner demons.

The enemy tries to seize every opportunity to sway our thinking in many different ways and to varying ways. I had this old adage of saying “Don’t let Satan win.” His schemes were so hidden from my conscience thought that he had the foothold no me.

Paul in the Bible warns us that “in your anger do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26-27). I had so much retained anger that I was bitter. I was giving Satan a platform in my life.

Th anger and resentment is so much that I finally exploded. My unwillingness to forgive people in my life that I gave satan a spot to further his advances into my thought process.

That final straw that broke my back was a toilet, yes, a toilet. I had asked my husband to fix it about 100 times it felt like. One morning I just had enough. I threw the toilet lid across the bathroom and left my husband a note that said “I’m gone, I can’t do this anymore,”

I was tired of dealing with the hurt of my mother, my brothers being taken away (being killed), I was angry at my husband for not fixing things that needed fixed all the time.

So in the end it really came down to letting Satan win, or fight harder. It came down to forgiveness of every childhood hurt, the things that happened in my marriage for 25 years. I knew I had to fight harder than I ever had.

A week of constantly asking God for forgiveness, and forgive others was a difficult process. I had to shallow my pride and accept my past for what it was. And choose to start over.

With Satan having footholds and the strongholds over me. I had work on changing my complete perspective on life. It was a long process, and I knew this process would take a long time. But I realized that I had no where to go, but up.

The Absurdity Of Life Without God

The question of God’s existence is the most central and important question we can seek to answer. If God doe not exist and we do not survive the death of our bodies, life is ultimately absurd.

“Suppose I invite you over to my house to play a game of Monopoly. When you arrive I announce that the game is going to be a bit different. Before us is the Monopoly board, a set of jacks, a coin, the television remote, and the refrigerator in the corner of the room. I grant you the first turn, and inform you that you may do anything you want: fill the board with hotels, throw a coin in the air, toss a few jacks, fix a sandwich, or turn on the television. You respond by putting hotels all over the board and smugly sit back as I take my turn. I respond by dumping the board upside down and tossing the coin in the air. Somewhat annoyed, you pick up the board and fill it with hotels again. I turn on the television and dump the board over again” (Illustration by J.P. Moreland).

Now it would take too many cycles of this nonsense to recognize that it didn’t really matter what you did with your turn, and here’s why. There is no goal, no purpose to the game we are playing. Our successive turns form a series of one meaningless event after another. Why? Because if the game has no purpose, the individual moves within the game are pointless. Only a game’s action purpose according to it’s inventor can give the individual moves significance.

If the game of Monopoly as a whole has no purpose, the individual moves within the game have no meaning or value. The only way your moves within the game have significance is if you discover the purpose of the game and you align yourself with that purpose.

As it is with Monopoly, so it is with life. Like that game of Monopoly, the only way our individual lives have any ultimate meaning or value is if life has a purpose behind it, and real purpose requires both God and life after death.

If God doesn’t exist, we as human beings are simply Johnny or Jill come lately biological accidents on a insignificant speck of dust we call earth which is hurtling through empty space in a meaningless and random universe that will eventually die a cold heat death. In this scheme of things, we are no significant than a swarm of things. In a universe where there is no God and no after life, our actions are meaningless and serve no final end because ultimately each one of us, along with everyone we know and have influence on, we die and enter oblivion. There is no difference between living the life of a saint or a sociopath, no difference between Mother Theresa and Adolf Hitler. Whether objective, morality, meaning, purpose or value it’s just incoherent babbling. It’s absurdity of life with out God. We all might as well commit suicide now.

Without God, the universe is the result of a cosmic accident, a chance explosion. There is no reason for which it exists. As people we are a freak of nature – a blind product of matter plus times plus. If God doe not exist, then you are just a miscarriage of nature, thrust into a purposeless universe to live a purposeless life to end everything with death. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize this fact. They continue on as though nothing equals nothing.

It seems to me that when we honestly reflect on the absurdity of life without God we cannot at the same Tim remain apathetic towards the question of God’s existence. God’s existence matters and has tremendous implications for our own existence. Life’s absurdity without God should bother us. It should keep us awake at night, it should jar us out of our apathetic attitude and challenge us to seek answers to life’s ultimate issues. Unfortunately, this is often not the case, especially in our Information Age where it is far to easy to remain distracted and caught up in the daily busyness of life. Sadly many people can simply go on day to day without even giving a second thought to the most important question in life.

But if we want to be intellectually honest, and if are at all concerned with real meaning, value, and purpose, the question of God’s existence demands our attention. We ignore this topic and remain apathetic to it only to our own peril. For a reasonable person, reflection on the absurdity of life without God should be enough to extinguish any remains apathy regarding the question of God’s existence.

Perhaps apathy is not something that can be changed directly, it is not something that can be simply willed away through direct effort. Like many other beliefs, apathy must be changed indirectly. If apathy is the belief that the existence of God is not meaningful or relevant in life, perhaps reflecting on the absurdity of life without God will be powerful enough to indirectly change my beliefs and help communicate the importance of taking God and other ultimate issues serious.

Atheism and Naturalism as a worldview seem unable to offer the kind of meaning, purpose, and hope that humans require and yearn for. But, instead the ultimate fate of a individual, humanity, and even the universe will inevitably be the same regardless of what any person may do. Nothing anyone thinks, says, or does will change the fact that each individual person, all of mankind collectively, and the universe itself will someday be extinct, lifeless and cold. The outcome of atheism and naturalism is an inevitable hopelessness.

Naturalists fails the existential test, and honest atheists cannot life happily and consistently with their worldview. If atheism is true, and if atheists honestly reflect on their own eventual non-existence as well as the fact that their actions in the life have no ultimate meaning, value, or purpose, it seems to avoid the overwhelming feelings of depression, despair, and dejection. It is no wonder then that some atheists have resorted to nihilism.

Biblical Christianity provides the two conditions necessary for a meaningful, valuable, and purposeful life. God and immortality. Because of this we can live consistently and happily within the framework of our worldview. Biblical Christianity succeeds where atheism and naturalism breaks down. Therefore it makes a huge difference whether God exists.

My Favorite Artists

Who are your favorite artists?

My favorite artists would include Morgan Wallen, a American country musician and songwriter.

Another would be Eric Church, he is more of a southern rock, country rock artist and songwriter,

I also am a fan of Crowder, I love his Warrior worship songs, such as Crushing Snakes, Good God Almighty, Lift Your Head Weary Sinner.

I have come to love Hebrew Messianic Music. Music in the Hebrew language seems to instantly relieve my stress and relax me. I have come to love and appreciate this music because of my Pastor. But it has to be sung in Hebrew. Something about this music that resonates with my soul.

I am a music lover. During my childhood traumas music has always been there for me, when it seemed no-one else was.

Favorite Hobby Or Pastime

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?

Hobbies are a great way to reduce stress and take your mind off pressing concerns. I had to think about what hobby or pastime was more enjoyable to me. I think that I have seasonal hobbies.

With the winter season among us, I will set my focus on baking. I love it because it warms my house up, and I love to share what I’ve made with others. My friend know when the winter months come they will be getting cookies and cakes, and other goodies from me. Most people I’ve found hate to make fudge, but it’s one thing I love to make.

During the spring months I enjoy getting a garden ready for planting. There is nothing better than a fresh salad out of the garden.

Summer brings on hiking, and weekend road trips. Anything in nature is a ultimate mood booster for me.

Fall brings on beautiful leaves and cooler weather. There’s nothing like sitting down for reading a good book, and sitting down hot cup of something whether it’s coffee, tea, hot chocolate it’s delightful.

The Devil Is Disguise

Does the Bible tell us what the devil looks like? We see cartoon images of the devil, with a red suit, Fork tail, and all that, but would be recognized him if he appeared?

No, the Bible doesn’t tell us exactly what Satan looks like, and one reason is because he can take on many kinds of disguises and forms. The Bible even says that at times “satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” -2 Corinthians 11:14.

The Bible tells us three very important truths about the devil. First, and affirmed that Satan is real. It’s often been said that one of Satan‘s most effective scheme is to make people believe he doesn’t even exist, but he does. He is a spiritual being with enormous power, and the signs of his activity are everywhere.

Second, the Bible tells us, Satan is absolutely opposed to God, and as a result, everything he planned, and everything he does is evil. Satan is for death, not life. satan is for evil, not good; satan is for violence, not peace. Jesus said, “When he lies, he speaks his native language, where he is a liar, and the father of lies” -John 8:44.

The Bible tells us a third truth about the devil. He is a defeated foe! By His death and resurrection, Jesus, conquered sin, and death, and Hell and Satan -and someday that victory will be complete, when Jesus comes to establish His eternal role. If we are speaking with faith and trust and seeking to follow Jesus every day. The Bible says we can “resist the devil, and he will flee from us.” When we “come near to God, he will come near to us” James 4:7-8.

Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem

There is a war going on in Jerusalem right now. Yesterday when I heard this yesterday, my heart sunk, not only for how useless it is. But because many people have no idea what it really means but that they don’t realize that the Bible said this would happen.

If you think about it the war between Ukraine and Russia, China wanting to declare war on Taijuan, now Palestine and Israel.

When we Learn the wars and rumors of war that Jesus prophesies in Matthew 24:6,

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not afraid.Such things must happen, be the end is still to come.”

Prayer for Jerusalem:

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you prosper. Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces. For my brother and companion sake, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord, I will seek your good” -Psalm 122:6-9

At The Cross

Four Benefits Jesus Gives You At The Cross

1. At the cross, Jesus took our place

In Mark 15:6-15, Jesus is sent to the cross instead of the murderer Barabbas. Jesus was innocent and wrongly accused. Barabbas was guilty and belonged in prison. Yet Barabbas went free, and Jesus wad condemned. These circumstances give us a clear picture of the substitutionary nature of Jesus’s work on the cross. The innocent Jesus substituted Himself for guilty sinners like us. The apostle Paul said, “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

2. At the cross, Jesus took our curse

When the Roman soldiers were mocking Jesus, they placed a crown of thorns upon His head. In the earliest chapters in the Bible, we learn that thorns were one result of the curse that had come into the world because of sin,

“To Adam He said, Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and ate from the tree, about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it, ‘the ground is cursed for your sake. You will eat from it with much labor all the days of your life. It will yield thorns and thistles to you; and you will eat the herb of the field.” – Genesis 3:17-18.

While Jesus was on the cross, there was darkness over the land from noon to 3 pm,

“When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour” – Mark 15:33.

Jesus bore the thorns and darkness of our sin upon Himself at the cross.

Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us -for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13).

3. At the cross, Jesus clothed you

Mark records that when Jesus was crucified,

“Crucifying Him, they parted His garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take” -Mark 15:24.

This was a fulfillment of prophecy found in Psalm 22:18. These wicked men took Jesus’s clothing for themselves. Ironically, the didn’t recognize that through the cross, Jesus would be clothing for His people.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord! My soul will be joyful in My God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks Himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with Jewels” – Isaiah 61:10.

Through His death on the cross, Jesus covered the shame of our nakedness by giving us His robe of righteousness.

4. At the cross, Jesus was tearing heaven open for you

When Jesus died, “the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38).

The curtain was guarded by the holy of holies, where God’s presence was most concentrated. Because of sin, mankind didn’t have the same access to God that the Levitical priests had. Mark used the word “torn” one other time in His gospel when describing Jesus’s baptism,

“And when He came up out of the water, immediately He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove” – Mark 1:10.

Interestingly, Jesus would later associate His crucifixion with baptism,

But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be immersed with the immersion that I am immersed with?” -Mark 10:38

At the cross, the veil was torn, giving access to the heavenly sanctuary.

“Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which He dedicated for us,a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having a great priest over God’s house, let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water” -Hebrews 10:19-22.

What Would I Do If I Lost All My Possessions

What would you do if you lost all your possessions?

After I got past of the shock I’m sure would come. I would start over, what else could I do.

I would surely miss my pictures and my books. Those things help me through bad days, especially my Bibles. A Bible verse comes to mind about having to many possessions. In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, vwhete moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in a and steal.”

I think having unneeded possessions is an attachment to them. What is really valued are the people in your life. While material things serve a purpose, we are not to let possessions rule of life. That being said, I would definitely miss the photographs of my family, with all my family passed on, I would never no way to replace them. I would also miss my old Bibles, that are irreplaceable.

If I lost all my possessions I would be able to do what Colossians tells us to do more easily which is go ‘focus on the things above.’

The Issue I’ve Changed My Mind About

What’s a topic or issue about which you’ve changed your mind?

I used to believe I could change people. But then after many attempts I learned. You can’t make somebody change. Unless they want the change themselves, or things get so bad they don’t have a choice.

You can inspire them to change, and educate them towards change and even support them in their change. That’s because making someone do something, even if it for their own good, requires either coercion or manipulation.

It requires intervening in their life in a way that is a boundary violation which it cause damage in the relationship and sometimes hurts more than it helps.

Sometimes we see clearly what a person needs to do, and it seems an easy change for us. Yet the person doesn’t see it or they see things from a different perspective on it, and seem to have no issue with it.

Being A Watchman On The Wall

Most people that truly follow Jesus, think of themselves as watchmen. We don’t guard goods, but we pray, and protect our families from evil danger.

God gives watchmen specific assignments — individuals, families, other believers, cities, borders, or to watch over Israel.

Most people don’t give much thought to being spiritual watchmen but they really should. It could make the difference as to whether a person or physical territory thrives or languishes.

Being a watchmen has enormous responsibilities. Watchmen in the Old testament stood on the city wall, and stayed alert of danger, especially enemy attacks. They will sound a trumpet alarm, if anything, looks suspicious, putting their lives in danger to protect others.

It’s now the 21st century so what’s the understanding of the watchmen on the wall mean today and how does it apply today?

A Watchmen On The Wall Prays

Watchmans are gods guardians, and therefore called watch and pray. As a watchman, you don’t pray based on feelings. You say sensitive to the Holy Spirit leading and respond quickly on how He moves.

A prayer warrior takes up the mantle as the watchmen by “rejoicing and hope and persevering and tribulation“ (Romans 12:12), and “praying without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). That doesn’t mean there are other things involved. It doesn’t mean that prayer is always on your mind.

That’s because uppermost in Washington life is concern for others. They experience temporary moments of grief and anguish with family struggles, churchgoers, exit from the church, life, and evil seem to ramp up in intensity.

A watchman knows that giving their concerns to God, this results they could never orchestrate on our own.

A Watchmen Stays Committed

Be on the front lines of a spiritual battle day after day can be disheartening. Yet God still expects vigilance. it says in Ezekiel 3:17-18,

.”Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchmen for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately. If you want and wicked saying, ‘ You are under the penalty of death, but you failed to deliver. The warning, they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.“

In the Bible, Paul service as a watchmen over churches, and today, true believers, should warn other believers who are overtaken by sin. Regardless of the personal cost, watchmen is a servant to others on behalf of Christ. A watchman, Siri, spiritual eyes, and a heart sold out to Jesus.

A Watchmen Knows The Enemy’s Tactics

God is bigger than every battle. All watchmen know how the enemy works and aren’t afraid of his tactics.

Do you think David notice Goliath’s stature as she swung the stones? No, he didn’t. Because he focused on how big God is. Don’t be deceived. God knows what goes on behind enemy lines. He gives believers a battle plan so you are silence by attacks.

Jehoshaphat defeated Moab and Ammon by seeking God. He and the people, fasted, prayed, praise God, and waited for His counsel. A prophet delivers God’s message.

He said: “listen, king Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem. This is what the Lord says to you: ‘ do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” -2 Chronicles 20:21.

God tells people to take your positions and standstill. They won’t even need to fight. Ching go half with that singers out for us to pray to God. Praises confuse the enemy, so that they killed each other. God turn cutest dire circumstances into a Valley of Berakah, which means blessing.

Watchmen place himself under God’s authority to outlast the enemy. Watchmen wait to hear God’s instructions because they know He is on their side. Recognizing the enemies plans, I am wearing the full armor of god. They put their trust in God. They never fight alone.

A Watchmen Sees People’s Needs

Staying on the lookout for ways to help people could be as simple as helping someone find what they need at the grocery store, giving a compliment to a stranger when they look down hearted, giving up your seat on a bus or subway, or taking dinner to a sick or lonely neighbor.

A watchman is a person who is full of love and joy. Those virtues work together to spill over into active kindness to help broken people. This, can take expanded energy, or even call you to take risks, or use every available means to lessen someone’s suffering.

A Watchmen On The Wall Builds God’s Kingdom

Are you trying to say, pure, holy, and righteous a watchman on the wall is spiritually awake. They can separate them selves to stay in God’s presence, and remain religion amidst the influences of a perishing world. One thing is for sure no one can be both kingdom minded and earthly minded.

Don’t copy the behavior in customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you’ll learn to know God‘s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

It’s important to know the characteristics of a watchman. Wherever God places you, be a watchman on His behalf. pray, stay committed, and be wise to Satan’s tactics, And meet people’s needs, great and small. Be able to build God’s kingdom one soul at a time.

Get Away I Never Knew You

Imagine, for a moment what it would be like to die and open your eyes in hell. Even more terrifying is it you had spent your life thinking you were a good person doing all the ‘right’ things.

“Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ Then I will tell them, I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.” – Matthew 7:21-23

The three verses in the book of Matthew are probably some of the most troubling verses to me. They travel me because they described many followers of Christ, who at face value, assuming they doing the right things, and the death, they are refused entrance into the eternal rewards of the righteous.

Multitude of church today are blessed with tremendous anointing to move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. During church services, prophecies, words of wisdom, or words of knowledge seem to just fall out of them (…have we not prophesied in your name?).

Many have shouldn’t base your faith with some of the most wicked spirits that hell can produce, casting them out of their victims, sending them back limping back to the abyss (…and in your name cast out demons?).

Your others, how to build large and far reaching ministries and mega churches. They have fed the poor, supplied relief and funds to Third World countries. They have seen multitudes come to Jesus, and receive salvation and physical healing (…and in your name do mighty works?). As we stand before the Lord of Lords expecting to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:21). His words will ring in their ears throughout eternity. “ I never knew you depart from me you that work iniquity.”

These groups will also include Sunday school, teachers, pastors, evangelists, song leaders, choir members, and musicians may also be in these numbers, along with elders, deacons, and stewards. From the most influential member and the church to the least, maybe run the risk of being rejected entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

How could this happen? It seems impossible that people with ministries, that we have judged as successful and blessed, could fall into such a spiritual wasteland. But nonetheless, it could happen.

One of the biggest mistakes we make when reading our Bibles is that too often we use our denominational doctrines or religious traditions as our standard for scriptural interpretation. This is backwards theology. We must live scripture, in context, interpret our living. When we allow doctrine or traditions to interpret scripture, we run the risk , like the Pharisees, of falling into religious tradition.

It has been my experience that religious peoples spiritual lives are usually centered around doctrinal traditions, rather than the Word, in it’s entirety. It is taken out of context to form a certain view or lifestyle.

Sometimes, when I talk to people about Christ the Conversation end with a debate. “Do you believe once saved, always saved? Or does your church speak in tongues?” The sad fact is, they don’t want to know the answer from God‘s Word, they only want to argue doctrine. When we were just people witness, for the most part, they will use the name of Jesus, only to create another, convert to their doctrine or their religious philosophy. Many times they do more harm to the kingdom of God then they do good. They paraphrase God’s Word and don’t involve the truths in the Bible.

A perfect example is myself, I remember the Mormon church coming to my house and telling my parents that it was God’s will that my brother died on a church outing. For many years I believe that was true. I hated God for every He done in my life, the abuse, my brother drowning… I was on my way to hell because I thought God was horrible, and despiteful.

I still would be lost and on my way to hell. That is why Jesus told the Pharisees, woe unto you, scribes, and Pharisees, hypocrites for you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him two fold more the child of hell than yourselves. (Matthew 23:15).

I thank God every day He sent me to the church I go to now. He actually saved me through my children. You may think that cannot be possible, but my children got saved before I did. They are the ones who got me going to the church I go to now. They were raised Catholic, but began going to a protestant church, when we stopped going to the Catholic Church. Thank God that I have a holy scripture, Bible believing pastor that I can call anytime or day or night for anything. And that I am glad to call a friend as well.

God separated me. Because he love me and shit his son on the cross to bear penalty of death for my sins. And if I repented and chose to follow, Jesus as Lord any debt would be canceled and I would be made righteous.

I was lost and suffering when God separated me for him. Now I am found and full of joy.

Feeling Out Of Place

Tell us about a time when you felt out of place.

I’ve felt out of place all my life. I knew early on I was ‘different.’ When I was in grade school I knew I was different from everyone. I always felt like a square peg, being forced into a round hollow,

I had a few people who I could relate to, but they always ended up moving away. By high school I have 4 good friends but I always felt that we were all misfits. I was bullied because I was different. Then I would go home and experience my mother’s abuse. My life wasn’t the greatest. I alway felt like I was born at the wrong time.

Feeling out of place all the time leads to anxiety, self-doubt, and a worry that takes over. I remember thinking “What’s wrong with me?”

As I get older I just learned to isolate myself because that’s the only time I felt safe. I started taking beer out the fridge at home. I knew my Father would notice he was usually drunk trying to cope with my brother’s downing. As time went on I started doing cocaine and felt on top of the world. But that didn’t last forever. Marriage came, kids came and no more drugs. My kids came first now. I focused on them instead of me.

Today I still have a few good friends, but mostly feel out of place. I still isolate myself at times, it’s when I feel safest. But, I’ve realized that I don’t need to fit in. I just do me and if people don’t like it, they can move on.

I am more at home with my church family, than I am with own. And that’s okay.