Advocate for Christ

The best life is a God First life

Category: Doing God’s Will (Page 1 of 12)

Our Souls’ Eternity depends on our Choices

May 13, 2026 / / 1 Comment

Occasionally, we can become disheartened and discouraged when things happen that are out of our control. Satan jumps on these opportunities to tempt us; he wants us to throw our hands up in the air, give up, stop trying, sulk, become apathetic, go back to old ways, or try unexplored ways of living like the world. Satan wants us to believe his LIE that a life with little or no time for God is a life of fun, satisfaction, and prosperity, and we deserve it.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

Satan wants us to believe God does not mean what He says. That somehow, there is a way around being held accountable, there is some explanation we can give, and Jesus will say, “Oh, in that case, come on into heaven, ” but that is not what we find in Scripture; we find God tells and gives us example after example that there are serious consequences for not doing things God’s way. By choosing to do things our way, we exclude God; yet by choosing God’s way, we can have a joy-filled life that ultimately rewards us with eternal life with God.

God wants us to lean on Him, cast our burdens on Him, and trust in Him, His Word, and His promises of eternal life. He wants us to stay the course laid out for us in His Holy Word. After all, it is written for our benefit—NO REWRITING TO OUR DESIRES.

God gave us the freedom to choose; follow Christ or the world.

Sometimes we do trudge through difficult times, but if we are “In Christ,” we don’t have to do so alone; through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God provided a way for each of those in Christ to approach His throne through humble prayer, asking for His help in Jesus name, and He will hear our prayers.

By staying God’s course, we become a light to those around us: Family, friends, children, grandchildren, and even strangers. So, when we feel disheartened or discouraged, and those temptations try to settle in, recognize who they are from, push them aside, and pray. Remember, you are loved, and you set an example to someone who loves you! Our choices will determine our souls’ eternity, and our example may have a deep impact on the choices of those we love, family, friends, and children.

  • 1st Peter 5:7-8
  • Psalm 55:22
  • James 5:14–16
  • John 14:15
  • John 3:16
  • James 4:10

God First!

God gave us boundaries like a fence to protect us; when we push through them, we become victims

Boundaries are for our protection

May 11, 2026 / / 0 Comments

God gave us boundaries like a fence to protect us; when we push through them, we become victims.

  •  “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Don’t become a victim. learn and adopt God’s ways from His Word, put your faith in Jesus, keep His commandments, and trust in God, press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

  • “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:10-17
  • Philippians 3:14
  • Psalm 46:1
  •  Psalm 91:1–2
  •  2 Thessalonians 3:3
  • 1 John 5:18
  • Matthew 6:25-26. 25
  • Matthew 6:32-33. 32
  • 2 Corinthians 11:23-25

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Mistreating Jesus

Mistreating Jesus?

May 9, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Jesus is not our equal; He is God.

God’s love is NOT an issuance of permission slips to treat “God the Son” or “God the Father” as our equals. God’s Love is extended by grace, not to be abused.

According to Scripture, Jesus is the Word… “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1-5)

Jesus is our Messiah, the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and we should treat Him with humble reverence. Jesus is Holy (John 4:26, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Revelation 19:16).

We should be mindful that when we use language without thought to its meaning, like” OMG” or exclaiming terms like “JESUS CHRIST!” and other derivatives, we disrespect our Creator and Savior. We are mistreating the Almighty with our lips. Doing so is not harmless, and according to God’s Word, we will be held accountable for taking God’s name in vain. His name is Holy.

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)

I cringe when I hear or see such terms being used by anyone, but especially those who claim to love God.

One who loves God should understand what God did for us, how Christ suffered for us, and that this knowledge would make one’s heart extremely conscientious with gratitude and respect. That our heart, soul, and mind would “WANT” to make every effort to treat our Heavenly Creators with the utmost reverence by not using Their name lightly.

Christians should show love, appreciation, and respect with every word and action we take. We are to be an example to the world of Christ-like love, which includes displaying our ultimate respect to the Godhead.

Colossians 2:9

Matthew 12:36-37

Psalm 111:9

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Galatians 2:20

1 Peter 2:9

Ephesians 4:22-24

2 Timothy 1:9-10

Mark 12:29-33

Psalm 119:9

Romans 6:1-23

James 3:9-10                                                          

God First!

Our God is an Awesome God

May 8, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Though this knockout rose bush is gone now, it has a story. It was given to us several years ago by our neighbors. I set it on the back porch, intending to plant it, then forgot about it for almost two years. At that point, it looked like sticks in a bucket; I almost threw it away. Instead, I made the effort and planted it. God provided it with incredible growth, turning what was seemingly dead into a beautiful, thriving bush full of roses that we enjoyed for several years.

I’ve seen and experienced God’s Word provide the same incredible increase in people.

It’s an amazing sight to see when someone, once consumed by their own desires, puts on Christ and puts God first in their lives. God then provides growth, and they blossom into beautiful, caring followers of Christ.

Our God is an Awesome God!

  • Psalm 92:12-14
  • Isaiah 55:10-11
  • Ephesians 2:4-5
  • 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17

God First!

It is more blessed to give than to receive

IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE

May 7, 2026 / / 0 Comments

In Acts 20:35, Luke records the words of Paul to the Ephesian Elders, where he instructed them to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said,  

“IT’S MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE”

Give What?

In part: • Time • Money • Food • Compassion • Love • Service

Give to whom?

• Spouses • Children • Family • Christians • Widows • Orphans • Elderly • Strangers • Those in need

All commandments are summed up in love.

“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” – Romans 13:10

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Galatians 6:9

God First!

Life Coach Recommendations

May 6, 2026 / / 0 Comments

I want to highly recommend my “Life Coach.” We were introduced when I was young. Unfortunately, I moved far away and lost touch with Him for a very long time. Those years were chock-full of unnecessary hurt and struggle that my life coach would’ve helped me avoid had I not chosen to move so far away.

A few years ago, I reconnected with my “life coach,” and He has worked side by side with me ever since, helping me avoid many potentially harmful choices. He also sits with me, listens to me, reassures me, and holds my hand as I navigate through both enticing and difficult times. He has provided me comfort that surpasses any understanding. He is not only my life coach but my most reliable friend.

I highly recommend my “Life Coach,” His name: “Jesus.” He’s not the kind of coach you pay for; in fact, He loves all people so much that He actually gave His life through a horrible death for all of us, so we could choose to follow His lead and be with Him forever. He conquered death, raised by God, that we might have hope for eternal life in heaven. Jesus lives today! He is the King of all Kings; God’s only son who was with God from the beginning. The arms of Jesus are outstretched to anyone who chooses to “put on” Christ and follow Him. We find how to “put on” Christ through God-breathed scripture, the Bible, which is, as someone coined it, our…

Basic

Instruction

Before

Leaving

Earth

Jesus is the Ultimate Life Coach!

  • (John 1:1-5) from the beginning
  • (2 Timothy 3:16) God-breathed
  • (Galatians 3:27) put on Christ
  • (Romans 6:1-23) United in Christ

God First!

“Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

Worldly means vs. The good life!

May 3, 2026 / / 0 Comments

“Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” This verse from Luke 9:62 really stands out to me; Why? Because I spent and regret several years of my life with skewed priorities.

I spent years doing what I wanted, seeking fun, money, adventure, and things. Attempting to find and express my worth to self and others through what scripture refers to as “worldly means.”

During this part of life, I sought wisdom in my own eyes. Self-indulgent, manipulating wisdom. As a result, I spent years treating our Creator as if He only mattered when nothing else did, and one big issue here is, I knew better!  

I already had a good understanding of the life God gives us through scripture, “The Good Life.” I was already aware that much of what I was doing went against God’s will for us. As a result, I lived those years apart from God, not truly realizing the huge negative impact I was having on others.

If I were to look back and pine for those old times or long for that old lifestyle, it would indicate that my love for Christ is neither hot nor cold but rather lukewarm. In doing so, I would NOT be looking toward Jesus, and, as Scripture puts it, the path I plow would become crooked. How, then, would I be fit for the Kingdom of heaven?

I would essentially be longing for a time when I was” apart from God.” I never want to long for those days again; life is so much better with Jesus as my shepherd who leads me beside quiet waters that guide me towards peace within.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:1-6

Jesus Tells Us:

“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. “Revelation 3:16-17

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” Hebrews 10:26

  • Proverbs 3:7 (wise in our eyes)
  • Isaiah 59:2 (separation)
  • Hebrews 6:4-12 (Crucify Him again)

The best life is a God First life!

God First

Carried by the Angels

Carried by the Angels

May 1, 2026 / / 0 Comments

During COVID, I saw several posts and news stories of people separated from loved ones in care facilities because of quarantines; they were not allowed to be with loved ones during their final moments on earth. This saddened me, and I empathized with the pain in their hearts, knowing they wanted to be with their loved ones. So, I leave you this thought, which helped me when we lost my father.

Our family was not physically with Dad when his soul departed his failing mind and body for Paradise. Although we were not with him physically the morning of his passing, I’m confident Dad was not alone.

I believe that, just as in Jesus’s illustration of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16, the angels of God were with Dad and carried him to paradise. How awesome will that be?

I believe this because Dad was a Christian, a man who lived as a true disciple of Christ, diligently following Jesus and striving to keep His commandments in accordance with scripture. I also expect we will see each other again in new heavenly bodies as we spend eternity with our Lord and Savior.

God is good; God is Love!

  • Luke 16:19-31 (Rich Man and Lazarus)
  • Philippians 3:20-21, 1 John 3:2, 1 Corinthians 15:44-49 (new body)
  • 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
  • Revelation 21:1-27

God First!

We all gain at different levels, but we all gain by studying Scripture.

Understanding God’s Word

April 28, 2026 / / 0 Comments

There are many misrepresentations of God’s word in the world today, and yes, scripture needs to be studied to be interpreted properly, not just read. If any scripture seems to contradict itself at any point, we are misinterpreting it and should study it more deeply to identify what we are missing.

Who it was written to, when it was written, and for what purpose can help us gain more insight than what we might get from scripture’s face value alone.  Sort of like the milk vs. solid-food scripture.

God, through His infinite wisdom and in His Word, has given us what we need for our understanding so that we can know what we must do to be saved. The whole Bible is from God, and no matter our educational level, if we have access to God’s word, we have access to God’s intent for us, without needing to know the background and history of every word we read.

Today, there are many translations of Scripture, written in multiple languages, some created with little scrutiny and sometimes with an agenda rather than strict interpretation. In contrast, others, such as the KJV, were completed using “rules of language” with strict interpretation and incredible scrutiny. Most later versions use the KJV as their base.

I have complete trust in God and don’t believe God would allow the translations from the languages of old to be included in the King James Bible if they did not convey His Words and intent properly, so I believe the correct interpretations from those old languages have been preserved. We don’t need to be Greek Scholars to understand God’s intent.

“Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”

Proverbs 30:5

Consider 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

While understanding the meat behind this scripture, such as who the letter was written to, Timothy’s history, and all the interesting additional information one can derive with deep study to gain deeper insight, the milk of this passage of Scripture stands on its own, pointing out that we need to study, to show ourselves, workmen, not ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

God’s Word is the whole of Scripture. God only needs to say something once for it to be true. That said, to understand what God says once correctly, one may also need to know more of Scripture; however, some attempt to change the face-value meaning of Scripture by using other possible Greek interpretations to claim the interpretation of all those past Scholars is wrong, in order to convey a message that tickles their ears and, sadly, misleads others.

As stated in Scripture, God did not give us a book of confusion, and no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation and provides understanding even to the simple. We all gain at different levels, but we all gain by studying scripture.

  • 2 Peter 1:20
  • 1 Corinthians 14:33
  • Psalm 119:30
  • 2 Timothy 3:16
  • 1 Corinthians 3:21
  • 1 Peter 2:2
  • Hebrews 5:12-13

God First!

Worldly wealth ends, love Transends

Worldly Wealth Ends, Love Transcends

April 26, 2026 / / 0 Comments

I read an article about a man who founded many U.S. companies. He amassed great wealth, created many jobs, and earned much respect. The man died in 1919. Today, few know much about him.

Jesus tells us:

  • ~ It’s not about this world.
  • ~ to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven.
  • ~ Where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.
  • ~ if you love Me, you’ll keep My commandments.
  • ~ The greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
  • ~ The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves.
  • ~ There is no greater commandment than these.

When we love as described in these commandments, we love as “the poor in spirit.” Although all are sinners and unworthy of God’s love, the poor in spirit recognize and appreciate the greatness of God’s love, God’s grace, and the sacrifice given in our stead. The poor in spirit realize that all good gifts come from above, that accomplishments are not ours alone but happen as blessings from God, with God’s help, so joyfully proclaim to God be the glory!

While there’s nothing wrong with amassing great wealth, the challenge is keeping our hearts focused on the treasures of heaven: keeping God First in our hearts; keeping His commandments; and doing His will through our actions of love for Him and towards others, remembering that our accomplishments are blessings, far from ours alone.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

Thank you, God, for loving us. To God be the Glory!

  • John 18:36
  • Matthew 6:19-21
  • John 14:15
  • Mark 12: 30-31
  • Matthew 5: 3-12
  • Mark 16:16      

God First!

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