From Pity to Praise

The Winning Side

God uses every single trial, every detour, every obstacle in our journey for our benefit, and for our good.

When I was growing up, I often wondered why God would not help me, I asked God continuously why He was letting the abuse happen to me. With my mother telling all the time that I was a mistake and worthless. I began to think she was right, God was not where to be found, because I was bad. I shouldn’t have been born -I was a mistake.

It was only many years later, that God had used my trouble for good. Because what satan means for evil, God uses for good. Sometimes the good is a change in circumstances. Sometimes the good is a strong faith. Nothing is ever wasted.

Satan used Judas to betray Jesus, but God intended for Jesus to stand trial and be condemned to death. Satan used the scheming of Jesus’s enemies to have Him crucified, Th cross was key to God’s plan for securing eternal life for all who believe in Jesus. Satan loses! God wins! Regardless of what it looks like in the process.

Everyday I am thankful for Jesus dying on the cross, and His sacrifice because without that we all would be deemed to hell.

It wasn’t until I told God that “I would not let Satan win,” that I began to heal, for the pain I had endured. It wasn’t until I forgave the hurt my mother had caused me, that God forgave me of my sins.

Martin Luther Kings said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” Genesis 50:20

I love this verse. Because it accurately depicts what God has done with my life. This is because God is in the business of turning anything bad into everything good. Including the details of your life,

In the Old Testament, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely imprisoned by his enemies, and forgotten by two men he befriended. Gods used Joseph and his events to preserve the nation of Israel.

God is able to take the mess of our past and turn it into a message for saving others. He is able to take any trial and turn it itinerary a testimony to encourage others.

So trust God with everything that’s happening in your life. Rejoice that He is going to use all of it for good things.

All of it. Everything in our lives, God will use for good. We can trust Him that we will end up on the winning side.

God Always Warns Us Before The Destruction

God is a god of justice. One of the things evident in the Bible is that God‘s warning proceed His judgment. The only problem is that God‘s warning you’re not always avert is judgment. Why? Because people fail to heed God’s ‘s warnings. -pay attention to it and do what He says.

An example of this is in genesis 19:17,

“Then one of the angels said, run for your lives! Don’t look back and don’t stop in the valley. Run to the hills so that you won’t be killed.” -GNT

People behave as if God is not-going to carry out his judgment. God‘s warning is intended to make people repent and do the right thing. unfortunately, some don’t they follow their own ways.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is the way of death” -Proverbs 14:12, 16:25

God‘s warnings always precedes His judgment. But those who want his self destruct don’t repent instead of repenting and avoiding negative repercussions they continue on their wrong journey and ruin their lives. Before the tragedy that be fell the house of Eli -the death of his two sons and his death God warned about the sin of Eli’s sons and his failure to discipline them. He warned of the impending judgment.

Because they had the wasted opportunities after He had given them time to repent and Eli didn’t discipline them. God’s poured out his judgment on them. god’s warning, preceded His judgment. Don’t joke with God’s warnings.

Today, God is giving us all the warning signs. The ultimate battle between good and evil is among us. We have a choice to listen to God’s warning or face the consequences of His judgment.

What Everyone Should Know About Fallen Angels

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience” -Pierre De Charden

We have spiritual adversaries. Demons are angels. They are the fallen ones. So if our angelic allies are formidable which they are, then our demonic enemies are.

The key to defeating fallen angels is intelligence. The more we know about our enemies strategies, the better prepared we can defend ourselves.

So, we need to understand the influence demons can have over us.

Demons attempt to lead us astray if we don’t know God and His Word.

“They moved him to jealousy with strange gods. The proved him to anger with abominations. They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods that they didn’t know, to new gods that came up recently which your fathers didn’t dread” – Deuteronomy 32:16-17

The irony is that even demons recognize the truth about Jesus, and they aim to lead people as far from the truth as possible. They work in the lives of unbelievers to exploit and redirect the innate human desire to know God and worship something greater than ourselves. There first action is to lure people away from the true God by using idols or false gods.

Satan is good at tweaking aspects of the true gospel. He did it with Eve in the Garden of Eden. And he’s doing it today. Satan always has a master plan, any plan he has his fallen angels are happy to carry out. He thrives on us leaving an open door to our soul. And any doubt that he can use against us he uses.

There are five methods fallen angels (demons) use to accomplish Satan’s plan:

Demons can work through nature -Ephesians 2:2
Demons can work through physical illness -2 Corinthians 12:7
Demons can work through mental illness -1 Samuel16:14
Demons can work through suicide -Mark 9:14-29; John 8:44
Demons can work thought people – Ephesians 5:18

We must continually examine our hearts, motives, and priorities to ensure our lives remain under the control of the Holy Spirit. That’s how we emerge victorious from the battle of good vs evil.

The Moon

How much would you pay to go to the moon?

The Apollo program spend $25 billion to put 12 men on the moon. I have no desire to go the moon. I leave that to the experts.

I know moon exploration can help us understand earth’s past and other necessities. And we should, but I really have no desire I was put on earth by God. He has me right where He wants me. No moon exploration is going to change what is on God’s agenda. It only fills up people’s minds of people who think we are going to be here forever. We are not.

Think of how many people $25 billion will feed, or help suffering people on earth.

How I Will Vote In November

Alternative Career Paths

What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in?

I have always wanted a career doing something that helped people change their lives for the better.

So, in everything I do, that’s my main focus. It’s not about a career choice, it’s about helping others. No matter the career I focus on helping others around me. It just requires having the moral courage to stand up for your principles to stop wrongdoing or protect others. if people need and want help I a willing to help them. If not I move on.

Our Secret Weapon

In the book of Acts, there is a bleak scenario in which James, who was one of the leaders of the early church, was arrested by King Herod and put to death. Then Peter was arrested, and it looked as though he would be executed.

But what did the church do after Peter’s arrest? They did not don’t or match around with picket signs. The Bible says they constantly prayed and offered God for him (Acts 12:5).

In the days we are living, I think the church has lost sight of the most important things. When we look at the way things are going in our nation and wonder what we should do, I say that we should pray about it.

God gave us His prescription for the healing of a nation, when He said,

“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 forgive their sin, and heal their land” – 2 Chronicles 7:14

This is our secret weapon and we don’t use it enough. We need to pray more often. We need to bring our needs before the Lord more often.

Maybe you’re thinking, someone else is praying, they have it covered. God is in control, nothing I can do will help.

This is not true, think of how powerful believers would be if they stopped making excuses.

It is said, 30% of Bible believers do not vote in the election. That may not seem like much, but that is a huge amount of people.

How many do not pray for God to have mercy on us? Prayer is not getting our will in heaven, it’s getting God’s will on earth.

Sometimes when we pray, our minds are occupied with thoughts of what we want or what we need, and we think very little of who we are addressing.

Before we begin asking God for something, we need to first align ourselves with His will. We find His will in His Word. The more we read the Bible, the more we learn about God, and the Better we will be able to know His will and how to part in any given situation. When we learn about God’s nature and character, then our prayers will be to Him.

The reason many prayers have no power in them is that there’s no power in them. If we put so little heart into our prayers we cannot expect God to put much heart into answering them.

When people get together and pray, things happen.

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” -Matthew 18:20

I’ve good to join forces in prayer but, Jesus wasn’t saying that we can dream up whatever we think is a great idea and get someone to agree with us and it would be done. We have to be aligned with God’s will. And keep praying until we get results.

As humans, I believe we have gotten lazy when it comes to praying and being in the presence of God.

If we want to grow spiritually, then we must be part of a Bible-filled church. It isn’t optional. Many seem to think they can slack on Biblical principles. And I believe that is why America is seeing what we are seeing today.

The Tree Of Life

One of the most profound of mysteries beginning with the Garden of Eden and leading to our Salvation.

In Genesis, the Tree of Life is planted in the idyllic Garden of peaceful Garden of Eden. In Revelation, it is found in the center of the River of Life with the New Jerusalem. So, it must be an important image for understanding God’s story.

There are trees throughout scripture that remind us of the Tree of Life at the beginning and end of our journey.

Here are a few examples:

The tree by the river in Psalm 1

The branch that will shoot forth from the stump of Jesse in Isaiah.

The broom tree that Elijah sits under when his life is threatened.

The sycamore tree that Zacchaeus climbs as he sought to listen to the one that brought life.

And for those of us who follow Jesus, it is most significant that Jesus was crucified on a tree made into a cross. Because of His resurrection from that tree, that tree we often call the cross is a symbolic tree of life.

All of these tree images in God’s Word should remind us of the Tree of Life.

What I find interesting is that in Genesis, God forbids humans to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. And most people assume that this applies to the Tree of Life as well.

However, Genesis never says God commanded humans not to eat from the Tree of Life. Just because exiled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden after they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil because He was afraid they would not eat from the Tree of Life. That is different from commanding them not to eat from the Tree of Life.

In Deuteronomy, God practically begs the Israelites to choose life. Deuteronomy 30:19 reminds us of the Tree of Life,

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live.”

If we allow this passage to remind us of the Tree of Life, then we realize that God’s exhortation to “choose life” is like an exhortation to eat from the Tree of Life.

God placed humanity in a garden to flourish with life.
God set before humanity two particular trees worthy of mention and told us not to eat from one of them.
Then humanity goes and eats from the very tree God told them not to eat from.
In the process, the humans ignore the other tree which God never mentioned.
Then probably thousands of years later, God says, “Look, I set before you live in and death. Choose life!”

I don’t think this is coincidental.

God is begging us today, just as in the garden and just as in Deuteronomy, to choose life. What that means for us each day we live is the question before us.

What if, we began to look at the large and small decisions within our daily lives as an opportunity to choose life?

I wonder how that might change the way we think. How it might change the way we live.

Genesis and Revelation are not just simply stories about the past and the future. They are messages for each day. No matter what you are facing along the journey through life, you need sustenance every day.

Will you eat from the tree that Adam and Eve chose? Or will you choose the Tree of Life?

My Food Specialty

What food would you say is your specialty?

The first one is country smoked sausage and potatoes with a few teaks. First I use smoked Smoked Kalabasa cut into coins and well as the potatoes cut into coins. I add 8 oz of cut-up white mushrooms to this. As well as lots of cheese. In a casserole-type dish layer of potatoes then shredded cheese then sausage mixture and more cheese. Bake in oven until cheese is melted.

My second one is my favorite for the holidays that are just around the corner. He would rather have a pumpkin cheesecake before a Birthday cake.

This one has a tweak to it to. Instead of the one container of cheesecake filling, I use regular cream cheese in the block and let get to room temperature.

Pumpkin Cheesecake served with whipping cream or cool whip

What If…

Worry gives our minds an unnecessary workout. We run through all the possible outcomes of our situation. We jump to conclusions before getting all the facts. We weigh ourselves down with all the “what ifs.” Worrying is an exercise in futility. Worry leads to fear and stress instead of faith and rest.

Jesus talked about worry and redirected our focus onto God. The thing is worry does change the character of God. Gasping God’s character changes how we handle our worries.

Perhaps the most poignant phrase Jesus said to those who worry is: “your Heavenly Father knows” (Matthew 6:32).

God knows what’s going on in your life. He cares about your situation. He loves you.

Worry steals your peace and joy, but God gives them abundantly.

I used to be a “chronic worrier.” One day I realized that no matter how much I worried it wasn’t going to change any situation. It was only causing me unnecessary headaches and ulcers. When I realized that God controls everything a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.

We can find freedom and joy as we look to the Lord.

“I prayed to the Lord, and He answered m. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy” -Psalm 34:4-5 NLT

God wants you to remember that He is good and gracious and has compassion for you.

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all, He has compassion on all He has made” -Psalm 145:8-9

God wants you to remember He promises to meet your needs.

“My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” -Philippians 4:19

God does not want you to live in a state of worry.

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own” – Matthew 6:34

God is with you when you’re worried and afraid.

“So, do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” -Isaiah 41:10

God wants you to look to Him when you’re filled with worry.

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy” -Psalm 94:19

God wants you to tell Him your worries and Thank Him for all He has done for you.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” -Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

Letting go of worry and releasing it to God.

First identify what worries you -every issue, every situation. Then go to God in humility and surrender the situation and yourself to God.

Worrying makes us feel completely powerless. But we have to power to release our worries to Him.

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you” -Psalm 55:22

Historical Events

What major historical events do you remember?

As a child, I remember the Watergate scandal. Which became synonymous with illicit activities conducted by President Nixon’s aides. Which included bugging political opponents, unauthorized investigations, and the misuse of government agencies for political purposes. Causing many to lose faith in government, and led to a campaign reform.

Apollo 13 was the goal of America landing on the moon but was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded during the flight.

I remember the anti-war protests during the ongoing Vietnam War, solely because my Father was a combat Veteran. So it was a big deal in my family. My father sacrificed many things during his service in the military. I always thought the President was commander in chief of the military. I never understood why the soldiers were targeted when President Johnson was the one who called these men and women to war.

Biggest Risk

What’s the biggest risk you’d like to take — but haven’t been able to?

The biggest risk I would like to take is driving to Oregon to see the red The Redwoods in Oregon. But I haven’t found anyone to go along. And it’s not safe to drive that far alone.

Sadly the way the world is today it would be far too dangerous.