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The best life is a God First life

Category: Christian living (Page 2 of 6)

FOUL LANGAGE “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 God First

Foul Language: A Lesson in Strength Without Cursing

October 30, 2026 / / 0 Comments

I was taught that using foul language often reveals more about a person’s vocabulary and self-control than about the strength of their argument. Disrespectful, hateful, or crude words are frequently a feeble attempt to gain attention or dominate a conversation when clearer, more respectful language would do a better job.

This lesson was driven home for me years ago. A store manager falsely accused me of bringing in stolen Coke bottles for a deposit refund. What he didn’t know was that my dad had sent me with the bottles from his company—that’s why I had so many. When my dad heard about the accusation, he became furious—his face turned red with anger—and he immediately went to the store to confront the manager face-to-face in my defense. As a 16-year-old, I was struck by what happened next. Without using a single curse word, my dad made his points so clearly and firmly that the manager later told me he felt “so low he needed to pull his socks down to see.” The manager was impressed. He apologized to me and asked for forgiveness.

That experience left a lasting impression. Even in justified anger, we can still treat others with respect. My dad made his case powerfully while treating the manager the way he would have wanted to be treated. When we are wrong, we need the humility to own it and make it right—exactly as the manager did.

Scripture speaks clearly on this:

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” (James 1:26, ESV)

“But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:8–10, ESV)

We will give account for every careless word (Matthew 12:36–37), and we are not to take the Lord’s name in vain (Exodus 20:7). Our speech should build up rather than tear down (Ephesians 4:29).

I’ve not always lived this out perfectly, but the principle remains true: strength is not measured by the volume of our curses, but by the clarity, respect, and self-control of our words.

See also: Colossians 3:8; Colossians 4:6; 1 Peter 3:10; Proverbs 15:1; Proverbs 18:21.

God First!

In the Twinkle of an Eye - Be ready now Jesus IS coming. Only God knows when

In the Twinkling of an Eye: Ready or Not

October 28, 2026 / / 0 Comments

When Jesus comes again, it won’t be on TV or in the news. It will happen too fast for any of that. It’ll be too late for anyone to choose a different path, and only God knows when. But we do know it will happen in the twinkling of an eye. Now that is fast!
The time to show God our love by keeping Jesus’s commands is now. In this moment and every second, we should love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and others as Christ loves us.

IN JESUS’S WORDS…
“Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Reference Scripture:

  • “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” ‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭52‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
  • “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 NASB
  • “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30
  • “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

See also: Matthew 24:36, 42-44; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 1:7; Acts 1:7; 1 Corinthians 15:52; John 14:6, 15; Mark 12:30; John 13:34-35.

God First!

Protect yourself with forgiveness

Protect Yourself with Forgiveness

October 25, 2026 / / 0 Comments

One of the most memorable pieces of advice my mom ever gave me was, “Don’t go to bed mad,” and Mom lived by her words. Mom was the sweetest, most forgiving person I’ve ever known.

I saw Mom’s feelings hurt many times over the years (by all of us.) Of course, those things happen within families from time to time, but to the best of my knowledge, Mom never burdened herself with grudges. She might go to bed in tears or with some sadness occasionally, but never with bitterness, anger, or the desire for revenge toward others.

If you hurt Mom’s feelings and apologized, she accepted it with joy so that the wounds could heal quickly. On the other hand, if you never apologized, I think Mom just turned it over to God because she knew grudges harm our souls. I wish everone could have known my mom; she was awesome, and we miss her!

Jesus thought it necessary for us not to hold grudges against each other; in fact, in Jesus’s own words, He said: “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” Matthew 5:22-24

So, If you have harmed someone, make it right; if you’ve been hurt, do your best to make it right, and don’t let the sun go down on your anger.

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Romans 12:18

Be forgiving!

see: Ephesians 4:26–27; Matthew 5:22–24; Romans 12:18; Ephesians 4:30–32; Colossians 3:13; Matthew 6:14–15.

God First!

Hitting the Mark Matters

Missing the mark so closely can have dramatic results.

October 24, 2026 / / 0 Comments

One day, while cutting down a tree on our property, I ”missed the mark.” I missed it by a couple of inches, dropping the large dead tree in the opposite direction of my intention. My cut was slightly below the wedge I’d removed. I realized it when the tree clamped down on my chainsaw, and it became stuck in the tree. I shut it off and walked away with my brother. As we contemplated the next step, a branch fell from the tree. Shortly after, we watched as the whole tree slowly leaned and fell. The bar on my chainsaw then looked like a twisted metal pretzel.

It’s eye-opening to think about how “missing the mark” so closely changed the results so dramatically.

Thankfully, the result of that day’s mistake didn’t matter much, and nobody got hurt, but it sure reinforces the importance of “hitting the mark” when missing so closely can result in disaster.

It’s also important that we “hit the mark” in doing God’s will; being careless can have dire consequences.

In Matthew 7:21, Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

We really have no excuses for not doing the will of God according to God’s will, as we have the complete word of God (The Bible) readily available. However, scripture does not come by osmosis; We can only know scripture through study. It’s so important that we really can’t allow others to do it for us. We all need to understand Scripture as we are each responsible for working out our own salvation.

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” Philippians 2:12 ESV.

See also: James 1:22; 2 Timothy 2:15; Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:24–27.

God First!

Turn it over to God God First

Turning It Over to God Is Not Trite—It’s Trust

October 23, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Sometimes, it sounds trite to say, “JUST TURN IT OVER TO GOD,” but this is where our trust in God, faith, and belief come into play. When Christians strive to follow Christ with obedient faith, we are striving towards righteousness. In (Mark 11:24) we are told, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” So, how do we turn it over to God? Well, we pray, we believe, and we trust in God’s answer, which allows us to let it go.

I once became so consumed by my concern for a loved one that it affected everything I did, including my marital relationship, until the day I realized that all my attempts to help this person were nothing more than temporary fading patches. Both I and my loved one needed to know that God was the answer, NOT ME or anything else. I asked myself, who would be there for them if I was gone? As I thought about my question, I realized God was the only answer! So, that night, I got on my knees and fervently prayed through heartfelt tears. I begged and pleaded in anguish and fear, asking God to help them, asking God to put people in their lives who could help them. I know that God’s will is the best will for all of us, so I took my cue from Christ’s example in the garden, and I asked that God’s will be done. I turned my cares over to Jesus.

My prayer that night wasn’t me giving up on that person in any way. I just realized, as never before, that God has complete control, and mine is extremely limited. That night, I literally felt a great invisible weight removed from my shoulders, replaced by a trusting calm.

After this prayer, when I heard from this person about self-inflicted difficulties, I limited my involvement and encouraged them to seek God’s will and pray; I offered to pray with them. To this day, I still pray for this person every day, and they have come a long way from those days and now include God in all that they do.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” In 1 Peter 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you.”
In summary, don’t allow yourself to be consumed by things you can’t control. Turn them over to God! Pray and seek help from the one who can help when no one else can, the one who created everything you see and know, the one who created you and loves you like no other – The God of Love, who is Love.

When Christians strive to follow Christ with obedient faith, we are striving towards righteousness. When we turn that which we cannot control over to God, it’s not trite; it’s where our trust, faith, and belief come into play and substantiate our trust in God. God is love and will carry us through. For Christians, this world is not our home. Christians look forward to the fact that there will be no tears in heaven. By putting God First in our lives, we make this world a better place by our loving actions.

God’s word tells us to hear, believe, repent, and confess the name of Jesus and be immersed in the watery grave of baptism for the forgiveness of our sins. In (Acts 2:38) we find in doing so, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Only by doing so and living righteously theirafter, can live knowing that heaven is now our eternal home.

Hearing: – Romans 10:17, John 8:32
Belief/Faith: – Hebrews 11:1, John 8:24, Romans 10:17, Acts 3:19
Repentance: – 2 Cor. 7:9-10, Luke 13:3-5, Acts 17:30
Confess: – Romans 10:9-10, Matthew 10:32-33, Luke 12:8-9
Baptism by immersion for the forgiveness of sin: – Matthew 16:15-16, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, John 3:5, Matt 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:5, Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39, Mark 1:9-10, John 3:23

God First!

God Knows the Election - Pray and Vote God First

Pray, Vote, and Share the Gospel

October 20, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Our USA election is no surprise to God. He knows all and sees all. At the same time, our prayers are important to Him. We are to pray without ceasing, for understanding, for wisdom, with faith, for our leaders, and for peace. Scripture tells us that the prayers of the righteous have great power. We are also given examples of times when failing to seek God’s counsel or remaining passive was not pleasing to Him (Joshua 9, the Parable of the Talents, Esther).

So let’s pray for our country now. Let’s pray that our choices will not hinder our ability to share the Gospel of Christ, but will help and encourage it. Let’s pray that we vote for candidates who use their voice, policies, and actions to stand against the acceptance of evil as the norm, and whose leadership best aligns with God’s will.

I pray that, during and after this election, all of us who consider ourselves Christians will do a better job of spreading the gospel to the world—especially to the leaders of our own country. God desires that everyone hear the gospel, including politicians. The closer they draw to God, the better they understand His principles and standards, and the better they can discern what is right.

“It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). This promise describes the close fellowship God’s people will enjoy in the new heavens and new earth. Even now, He hears the prayers of the righteous, so we can pray with confidence while we wait for that perfect day.

I urge anyone reading this to pray. Pray now and pray often.

See: 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 1:5–6; 1 Timothy 2:1–2; James 5:16; Joshua 9:14–15; Esther 4:14; Matthew 25:14–30; Mark 16:15; Isaiah 65:24; Romans 13:1; Proverbs 14:34; 1 John 5:14.

God First!

A Lie called spin is still a lie

A Lie Called Spin Is Still a Lie

October 19, 2026 / / 0 Comments

How many of us choose the perfect words every time we speak or write? None of us. How many of us when we write create the perfect sentence, paragraph, post, or blog? None of us. Yet today many attack the exact wording someone used while ignoring the clear and obvious intent behind it.

Jesus once said to a group of accusers, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). In that specific setting He exposed their hypocrisy—they were willing to condemn the woman while themselves violating the Law’s requirements. The principle still applies: imperfect people should not rush to cast stones over wording or presentation while overlooking obvious intent or their own faults. At the same time, Scripture holds us accountable for the words we actually speak (Matthew 12:36–37). Both the heart and the tongue matter.

How many imperfect people are casting stones at someone right now, NOT because of their intent, but rather because we did not like the words they used, how they presented them, or what they were told the words meant?

In politics and media, twisting truth is often expected and done on purpose. Instead of calling these efforts what they are—deceit or lies—they are proudly labeled “spin” or “gaslighting.” Phrases such as “that’s their spin,” “what’s your spin?” or “they’re gaslighting you” have become commonplace. The intent of spin and gaslighting is to confuse, distort truth, shift the focus, and weaken the impact of what was originally said, no matter how sound the original words.

Someone once shared that in media they were told, “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” How sad. If it looks and sounds like a duck, it’s a duck. A lie called spin or gaslighting is still a lie.

To counter these techniques we must have the truth. While absolute truth is almost impossible to obtain from politics and media, it is not impossible when it comes to God and our salvation. We have absolute truth in the complete Word of God. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). God’s Word is our standard on all things; the answers are there for us to follow.

God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). That statement was given in the context of orderly worship, yet the principle remains: God is the God of peace, order, and truth—not of deceitful chaos. Therefore we are called to put away falsehood and speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25), and to test everything by Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

“Seek, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7). When we seek God through His Word, we find the unchanging truth that exposes every form of spin.

See: John 8:7; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Matthew 7:7; Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 12:22; Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9; John 17:17; John 8:44.

God First!

As Christians, there is no such thing as Non-Church Days; We are the Church Colossians 1:18 God First

No Non-Church Days: We Are the Body of Christ

October 18, 2026 / / 0 Comments

As Christians, there are no non-church days. We are the church. We do not stop being the church when the assembly ends. We are the church, the body of Christ, 24/7. Paul makes this plain: After describing how God rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, he writes:

“He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. … And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard… Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church…”
(Colossians 1:18, 21–23, 24 NASB1995)

Christ is the head of the body now. We are members of that body now. The transfer into His kingdom and the reconciliation accomplished through His death are not limited to one day of the week. Our identity as the church is non-stop.

This is why Paul also states, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27 ESV). We do not become the body only when we gather; we gather because we already are the body. The local assembly is essential ( see: Hebrews 10:24–25), but our belonging to Christ and to one another does not turn on and off with the church calendar.

There are no non-church days for those who are in Christ. Every day we live as members of His body, under His headship, continuing in the faith and seeking to present ourselves holy and blameless before Him.

See also: Colossians 1:13–24; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:22–23; Romans 12:4–5; Ephesians 5:30; 1 Peter 2:9; Hebrews 10:24–25.

God First!

If it's evil, It's from Satan James 1:17 If it's Good, It's from God If you want God's help, Put God First. Draw near to God and He will Draw near to you. James 4:8a

In Christ We Find Refuge: Comfort When Storms Rage

October 17, 2026 / / 0 Comments

So many of us look at the wreckage of storms, the sudden loss of life, the weight of sickness, the shock of accidents, or other heartbreaking tragedies and want to blame God. I know this temptation. The questions rise quickly: Why, God? Why me? Why us? Why such good people?

Yet Scripture is clear. Moral evil, including temptation to sin, the intent to destroy, and every effort to separate us from our Creator, comes from Satan, not from God. Only good gifts come from the Father of lights (James 1:17). God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one (James 1:13). He never entices us toward sin. Instead, when trials come, He is faithful to provide a way of escape so we can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Those who are in Christ can be comforted even in the worst storms, whether the storm is physical or deeply personal. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in every affliction so that we, in turn, can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3–4).

The path to peace and lasting comfort in this fragmented world is not found in demanding answers for every “why.” It is found in keeping our primary focus on drawing near to God, receiving His grace by doing His will, living with grateful hearts, and remembering the sacrifice of Jesus and the message of eternal life He secured for us. Satan wants nothing more than to drive a wedge between you and God in the middle of your pain. Do not let him.

In Christ we find refuge.
Satan is the evil one.

God First!

(See: Psalm 46:1–3; James 1:13–17; James 5:16; 2 Corinthians 1:3–5; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Romans 8:20–22; John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8; James 4:8)

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