The best life is a God First life

Category: Attitude (Page 1 of 4)

Satan’s workshop or God’s? our choice

Social media turns off many people because freedom of speech is abused with disrespectful, attention-grabbing rants, gossip, foul language, crude and distasteful images, etc.; I’ve heard many refer to social media as “the devil’s workshop.” Well, this may all have some truth to it;  however, it will be what we make of it.

It doesn’t have to be just Satan’s workshop. No, when good, righteous-seeking people who love Jesus decide to post, share, like, and love only good things, we help make social media a better place. The simple truth is that Satan is in this world, his actions are all around us, and we can’t make a difference if we hide rather than let our light shine and try to make a difference (Mathew 5:14-16). Jesus charged His disciples with sharing the gospel with the whole world; we are to plant the seeds of Truth. So, when we choose to walk away from farmland we could cultivate and plant, we leave it wide open for Satan to spread seeds of weeds and destruction.

Why not be engaging instead? We can use social media platforms to encourage and share the soul-saving truth of a better life with Christ. We don’t have to write articles, but we can support those who do with LIKES, LOVES, and encouraging COMMENTS. We can share articles and memes of truth and uplifting thoughts.

On social media, the seeds of truth will be cast on all types of soil; so spread them, God will provide the growth, even if you never see the results. Trust God (1 Corinthians 3:7).

When you encounter negative statements, and you will, don’t take them personally; be compassionate, understanding, and try to be helpful; they stem from the ignorance of God’s Word. Jesus and his disciples cast numerous seeds, and when they were rejected, it was in far worse ways than a negative or hurtful comment.

  • Mark 4:1-20
  • 1 Corinthians 3:6-11
  • Mark 16:15–20
  • Matthew 28:19–20

God First!

Alzheimer’s and change

The point to the attached meme is not lost on me. However, I have also discovered that things may not be what they seem on the surface. My wife once had issues with her “pew seat” as her Alzheimer’s progressed. You see, for such patients, small changes can be big issues; even a simple change, like having to sit in a different location, can be a problem as they are losing their ability to understand the change.

This was during an earlier period of the disease; where she would sometimes say loudly, “They’re sitting in our seat or some other irritated remark, and she would sometimes become discombobulated when she couldn’t find and sit in her usual seat. I would then try to get her to understand it’s not a big deal and sit elsewhere with her.

Alzheimer’s or other dementia-type diseases don’t always stand out in appearance. For a very long time, people would talk to my wife occasionally and have no idea she was on this downward journey.

My reason for addressing the message behind this meme is to draw attention to the possibility that, before we assume rudeness is intentional or unchristian-like, maybe we should consider that there may be more to the situation than we see on the surface. Maybe it would help to assume there is such an issue and draw on our compassion rather than frustration or judgment in such a situation. I’m sure that if a Christian knows there’s a reason like this behind someone’s attitude, they would be more than happy to accommodate them.

Today, because of the progression of this disease, that issue is gone as we are not able to attend services as we used to.

I hate Alzheimer’s

  • Colossians 3:12
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God First!

Broken hearts and pain, for what?

Our hearts and the hearts of family and friends can be broken, torn apart with sadness and pain by the actions of one alcoholic drinker. One drinker behind the wheel can take a life. One drinker with loose lips can destroy relationships; one drinker not exercising self-control can start a fight that ends or maims a life.

To many, drinking is harmless and often associated with socializing, fun times, relaxation, romance, and parties (I used to think this way). Sip by sip, one loses their ability to react swiftly in emergencies. Many who drink will never admit they’ve been affected negatively. Instead, they tout, “It’s only one beer or one glass of wine.” They may exclaim, “I don’t get drunk,” or “I function fine on just one or two drinks,” etc.

Maybe, just maybe, that’s because they’ve never faced a real emergency when drinking; never faced a situation where their best was required, and they didn’t have it. When their reaction was slightly slower, their words were unwise and led to devastating results. Heartache, pain, and lives turned upside down in avoidable and unnecessary turmoil.

It’s been a while since the van of a niece was hit by a drunk driver and flipped: her husband and one of her children were with her. At that time, my niece went through much pain, and the rest of her family was seemingly OK. It’s scary to realize that we could’ve lost them all; they could’ve been horribly injured, maimed for life in some manner, all because of a social drinker. One person who thought they were in control, who drank just enough to impair their ability and cause an accident, an accident that now labels them “a drunk driver.”

I quit drinking alcohol several years ago because I came to this conclusion: “If there are more reasons not to do something than to do it, then why do it?”

There are many logical, biblical, and common-sense reasons not to drink. I started asking myself, why do I need to drink alcohol? I found no good reason! I still have a good time; I still enjoy my friends; I can still be silly and do all of this without alcohol; plus, as a great big bonus, I get to remember more about the fun I had.

Philippians 1:27 ESV

God First!

What’s not to love about Christianity?

Unless one’s goals are to do evil, what’s not to love about Christianity?

Christianity promotes: (Goodwill, Kindness, Love, Honesty, Compassion, Mercy, Forgiveness, Sharing, Sanctity of Life, etc.) “All things good!”

Christianity opposes: (Lies, Thievery, Corruption, Greed, Dishonesty, Revenge, Murder, Hatred, Deceitfulness, selfishness, hate, etc.) “All things bad!”

Utopia on earth is NOT possible, but if everyone embraced the teachings of Christ using God’s Word as our standard, we would be much closer.

  • 1 Corinthians 13
  • Ephesians 4:32
  • Mark 11:25
  • Matthew 6:14-15
  • John 13:34-35
  • Acts 2:38-47
  • Romans 12:19

God First!

Life can be tough; it’s why we need Christ as our foundation.

Sometimes life can be very tough, yet in Christ we will find ways to trudge forward. In Christ, we learn to lean on Christ by leaning on God’s Holy Word; to do so, we study and pray to know God’s Word, to know God.

In Christ, we pray with thanksgiving and hope, knowing God will provide. We cling to unwavering faith, knowing that tough times, like storms, eventually fade into sunshine and calm skies.

During seemingly long storms, our roots may be strained, but if we cling to the foundation of Christ, as the storm lifts, our roots will heal, and we will become stronger than ever. Our faith and foundation deepened, adding to our wisdom. Eventually, Good times will bless us again, and what we’ve gained will help us bless others, so that when we look back on our lives, we will find beauty growing along our paths and count it all Joy.

Remember, with God, all things are possible, and the storms will lift.

  • James 1:2-4
  • Matthew 7:24-25
  • Psalm 1:1-3
  • Jeremiah 17:7-8
  • Philippians 4:6
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God First!

GOD -FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY?

As a young adult, I remember thinking and touting that no matter what my plight, I can make the best of any situation. Now, as an aged Adult, my thoughts and words have been severely tested. What I should have been thinking and saying is that with Christ, no matter what my plight, we can make the best of any situation.  Virginia and I lived many of our early years together, treating God as if He were in a drawer labeled ” FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY.”  Looking back, I now recognize many lifelong repercussions from those years. Without Christ and His Church at the forefront and center of our lives, we were broken wrecks, unintentionally causing trickle-down harm through our choices by our examples.

Like us in these early days, many who are not baptized into Christ, who do not put God First in their lives, and who are not an active part of the Church Christ established, may not understand what I am saying here, but I can tell you our lives and relationship became significantly better after we chose to include and live for Christ daily.

Only through understanding, belief, and doing God’s will according to His will, in other words, through our faith in Christ, did we have the strength and comfort needed to endure some of the most difficult times—unexpected losses, financial struggles, and, currently, my wife’s Alzheimer’s. Without Jesus, we are broken; with Jesus, we are whole.

In the 1996 movie Jerry Maguire, a now-famous line is: “You complete me!”

This is what Jesus really does for those who pick up the cross and follow Him. Jesus completes us!

The Apostle Paul had it right…

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11)

We Can Do All Things Through Him who strengthens us.

Matthew 16:24-26, Luke 9:23-26, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, Philippians 4:7, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 2:38-41, James 1:2-4

God First!

Take a stand, be the example

In 2026, several Hollywood elites, TV shows, and news personalities seem to believe and justify the idea that hatred, disrespect, and often foul language are now funny, even required to make their points and get attention. Of course, they would never agree with this assessment, yet their actions and words show how true it is.

HATRED IS NOT FUNNY

Hateful actions are not funny, Hateful pictures are not funny, Hateful words are not funny. Hateful videos are not funny. Laughing and sharing hateful things encourages hateful things. Stop it, please! Instead of laughing at and justifying gossip and hate, encourage kindness, make a positive difference, inspire positive change, and help remove hate from the overall equation.

We have a choice!

Don’t laugh, don’t justify, don’t encourage, change the channel, walk away, take a stand, and protect your heart and soul. “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (See Philippians 4:8)  

It is what it is, but it will be what you make of it!

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV

Romans 12:18, Matthew 5:16, Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 22:39, Ephesians 5:2, John 15:12, Jeremiah 31:3

God First!

We do what we do when we need to do it. – It’s the way it’s always been!

When my father was still alive, I had this dream. We were finishing a project we had been working on together and were about to head our separate ways. In the dream, I asked Dad if he could do the next task on his own.

Dad said, We do what we do when we need to do it. I responded, It’s the way it’s always been! (I then woke up) Reflecting on the dream, those words have enormous truths.

When tasks were daunting or seemed overwhelmingly difficult to accomplish single-handedly on their own, both my dad and his father were known for rolling up their sleeves and finding ways to accomplish seemingly insurmountable or downright impossible tasks. Their determination and ability always inspired me, and one reason I believed my Dad when he told me:

I am very thankful for the many lessons I learned from my father, and that he had the wherewithal to put God at the forefront of our home and live accordingly, secularly or spiritually, with God; all things are possible!

We do what we do when we need to do it. – “It’s the way it’s always been!”

  • Matthew 6:33 (seek first)
  • Joshua 24:15 (my house)
  • Luke 1:37 (nothing impossible)
  • Matthew 19:26 (with God)
  • 2 Peter 1:5-6 (perseverance)
  • 1 Corinthians 10:31 (to God’s Glory)

God First!

Seeing Soul’s,

  • If you’re attractive – so what!
  • If you’re ugly – so what!
  • If you’re poor – so what!
  • If you’re rich – so what!

My actions are not decided by skin color, appearance, status or if someone is black, white, yellow, green, purple, or red… So, what!

When I wave at you, I wave at a soul; when I smile at you, I smile at a soul, but more importantly, when God looks at you, He sees your soul. When God looks at you, He sees your heart and knows your mind.

Let us always live to bring honor and glory to God, striving to be someone after God’s own heart, willing to do all God’s Will to the best of our ability, and we will be pleasing to the loving eyes of God.

“And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.”

Acts‬ ‭13:22‬

‬God First!

The eyes of love

“If you saw the glories of life through my eyes, you would go to sleep each night with great anticipation, looking forward to the next morning’s air, its sunshine, its birds, and playful squirrels in the trees.

Through my eyes, each morning brings a new opportunity to hear the voice of those I love and do my best to see them smile and hear their laugh; to tease them, hug them, play with them, or even just sit with them and soak the glories in!

Through my eyes, We all miss out when we sleep in late and must rush to start the new day’s race. But even then, I do my best to start their day at its very best! To bring a smile upon their face, they can carry through the new day’s race.” ~ Casper

Galatians 5:22 ~ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

If only we humans lived each day in this way, what a blessing it would be to everyone around us. What Joy we would have in our hearts, what Joy we would bring to others. When we bring joy to others, are we not doing good?

Never give up on doing good!

Galatians 6:9-10

God First!

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