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The best life is a God First life

Category: Sin (Page 1 of 2)

Our Lives But a pencil dot on the timeline of Eternity

Life’s Pencil Dot: Our Choice to Follow Christ into Eternity

July 25, 2026 / / 0 Comments
  • – God is real
  • – Jesus is real
  • – The Holy Spirit is real
  • – Heaven is real
  • – Our souls are real
  • – Eternity is real
  • – Satan is real
  • – Hell is real
  • – Your Soul’s place for eternity is real.

Our lives are but a pencil dot on the timeline of eternity, yet a pencil dot so essential that God gave His only Son so that each of us might have eternal life in heaven. Many things are unseen by our eyes, yet real. The evidence surrounds us; hundreds of fulfilled prophecies over centuries appeal to our logical minds as proof. God-breathed Scripture shares all God wants us to know. It is written with God’s inspiration through the Holy Spirit by many authors and is uncontradictory because it is all from God.

“yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” James 4:14

Psalm 39:4-5, Psalm 90:4-10, John 3:16

  • “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 3:36
  • “So those who received His word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:41
  • …the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10
  • “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
  • “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15
  • “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6.

God First!

SELFISH DESIRE BIRTHS EVERY SIN From Adam and Eve to you - God First!

Desire Conceived: The Selfish Root of Every Sin

July 23, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Is there a single sin that cannot be traced back to selfish desires (Lust)?

I can’t think of one; can you? Selfishness seems to be at the root of every sin from Adam and Eve forward.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”   (1 John 2:15-17, emphasis added)

Giving Birth to Sin

 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:13-15, emphasis added)

  • Genesis 3:6
  • Mark 7:21-23
  • Romans 1:24-25
  • Galatians 5:16-17, 19

God First!

Money is not evil

Money is not evil

July 6, 2026 / / 0 Comments

According to Scripture, “the love of money” is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10)

Acquiring or having money is not evil; As the scripture states its the LOVE OF MONEY at the root of evil. Evil comes from how we pursue the money. Do we lust after it? How do we use it? We can use money for good things that glorify God or selfish things that glorify sin; what’s really important is where our hearts reside.

Jesus tells us:  “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” Luke 12:34

 “And you shall 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

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.  Matthew: 6:24

Scripture also states: “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:20

God First!

Protect your heart with honesty

Save yourself with honesty.

May 20, 2026 / / 0 Comments

When good hearts and minds succumb to lies and deceit, guilt arises, and it weighs heavily on the heart and mind. Choosing to hide truths rather than addressing them honestly places unnecessary burdens on us. Burdens of sin that allow Satan to set up residence and dwell in our minds. For example, if we lie or deceive someone (like a spouse), we carry that unresolved lie in our hearts daily. Rather than confess, we may tell ourselves more lies, like:

  • • No real harm done
  • • It’s better if they don’t know.
  • • Why hurt them with the truth?

However, in doing so, we seal that burden of guilt within our hearts, we entrap our minds and souls with the lie. God knows the deception we carry, and if we cover up rather than confess to our loved ones, asking their forgiveness as well as God’s, we may carry that burden to our death and, maybe, add to our deceit by telling multiple lies over many years in our attempt to keep it hidden. I hope no one carries such a burden, but know some do. We may fear our loved ones’ response, but do we really think living with the lie or lies is better?  Is our relationship with our loved ones and God all it can be when we carry these lies in our hearts and minds? Do we not know we will be held accountable by God?

Our cover-up gives Satan permanent residence in our minds, and as just stated

It’s not hidden from God!

God knows the truth and has always told us to speak it. God hates lies!

When we fess up, confess, ask forgiveness, and repent, we simultaneously kick Satan to the curb, kicking him out of that permanent dwelling we’ve furnished him in our mind.

Don’t let Satan settle in; save yourself with honesty, pray, tell the truth, face the consequences, and stop Satan from building a mansion in your mind as one lie leads to two, then three, then four, and many more. No matter how difficult it is, tell the truth that God may purify, heal, and forgive. Don’t carry the weight of those lies, sins, and burdens into judgment; they squelch the joy in this life and endanger the soul.

  • John 8:34 – slave to sin
  • James 5:16 – confess.
  • Matthew 12:43-45 unclean spirits
  • Philippians 4:8-9 rethink
  • Romans 1:28-32
  • John 8:32 – truth
  • Matthew 5:23-24 – Reconcile

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

SATAN IS THE EVIL ONE

SATAN IS THE EVIL ONE

March 28, 2026 / / 0 Comments

 – If you feel farther away from God today than you have in the past, the question becomes, WHO MOVED? HINT: it was NOT God.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 ESV

It stands to reason that the opposite is also true if we move away from God.

“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,” Romans 1:28 NASB

– If there is any evil in it, it is not from God

  • “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” James 1:13 NASB
  • “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all.” (1 JOHN 1:5 NASB)

– God is Love

  • “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 JOHN 4:8 NASB)

– God is Good

  • “For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.” PSALMS 100:5 ESV

– All the Time

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” ISAIAH 5:20

Sometimes, we are tempted to blame God when our hearts are torn in anguish and pain. We struggle to reason why tragic things happen to good people, innocent children, loved ones, or maybe to ourselves. We might ask, why me? Why us? Why them? We may experience a tragic loss or have other life-altering events we don’t understand. Crime, Cancer, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Covid, Heart issues, Blood or Breathing issues, accidents, Lyme disease, to name only a few.

We want an explanation, we want to assign blame, but blaming God is misplaced.

As we see from the scriptures above, there is NO evil in God. There is, however, refuge, hope, and prayers answered. There is the possibility of eternal life in heaven for those who choose to become “In Christ” and keep His commandments according to God’s will, NOT our own.

“For He makes the sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45)

Satan is the evil one; take refuge in Jesus. When we move away from Jesus, we are moving closer to Satan; closer to forever tears.

Jesus is our only hope for eternal life, where there are no illnesses, pain, or tears. Where our souls will live with new bodies, and our hopes become reality forever in heaven with pure love.

Acts 2:38-41, 1 Peter 3:20-21, Colossians 2:11-13, Romans 6:4-5, John 3:5, Mark 16:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Titus 3:5, Matthew 28:19–20, Acts 10:48

God First!

More than we can bear alone

March 22, 2026 / / 1 Comment

Have you ever heard or repeated this phrase: God won’t give you more than you can bear?

Do you realize it’s a misrepresentation of Scripture? Life often gives us more than we can bear.

  • The death of loved ones, especially a child, is more)
  • The hopelessness of Alzheimer’s and Dementia is more)
  • The pain and agony of severe illnesses is more)
  • The lost job and inability to pay bills is more)
  • The hurt and despair caused by unfaithful spouses is more)
  • Coping with the suicide of a friend or loved one is more)
  • Depression, bipolar issues, PTSD, trauma, drugs, all can be more)

This list scratches the surface of the numerous ways we may face more than we can bear on our own.

This misquote implies Suck it up; you got this; you don’t need help because God won’t give you more than you can bear. That’s not the intent of someone saying this; however, these words may spur the feeling that we should be able to “go it alone.”

It may prompt someone to reject others’ help when, in fact, God encourages us to come to Him in prayer, to lean on others, and to accept others’ love. (Unity!)

Scripture teaches us to rely on God, to pray for others, and to believe our prayers will be answered; it teaches us to bear one another’s burdens, to cast our burdens on Jesus, and to confess our sins to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Scripture also gives an example that even the Apostle Paul was burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that they despaired even of life. Why? So, they would NOT rely on themselves but rather rely on God. Paul also told the Church at Corinth and all the Saints in the whole of Achaia that they must help them by prayer. (see 2 Corinthians 1:1-11).

So, what’s this Scripture really about? It’s about sinful temptations and idols, not the struggles and difficulties we suffer in everyday life, but rather the temptations to sin that come our way and the escape from temptation God will supply.

Here is the Scripture-

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

Remember: Satan is the evil one; God is good, and all things good come from God!

JAMES 1:13“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one.”

The caregiver of a spouse with Alzheimer’s asked me to address this misquote of Scripture, as it has been stated to them repeatedly. Consider that, amid their overwhelming daily challenges, someone tells them, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” It’s disturbing and not helpful.

I am very attuned to the challenges of an Alzheimer’s caregiver and understand the irritation this statement implies. It reminded me that when my family lost our Grandson in 2015, this was said to us, prompting unnecessary discussion during a difficult time.

We understand the ignorance behind someone using these words, and we give credit to the “intent of heart,” which is why we are mum about the expression when it’s used.

I hope that bringing attention to this subject will encourage anyone who uses this misquote to recognize its unintended implications, pause, and try to stop repeating it.

Written In Love,

  • Philippians 6:2
  • Galatians 6:2
  • 2 Corinthians 1:8
  • 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
  • James 5:16
  • Galatians 6:2
  • James 2:14-18
  • 1 John 3:17-18
  • Mark 12:31
  • 1 Peter 3:8-9

God First!

Satan loves lies and liars, distorting and twisting is lying

March 18, 2026 / / 0 Comments

If I wrote a book full of incoherent words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs and threw in a few random pictures, I could have a best-selling book, a book of incoherency.

A book that simulates watching the news today, where the goal seems to be to purposely complicate the uncomplicated by twisting every word and distorting every sentence to completely destroy its original intent, where the simplest truth cannot be heard and understood because of the useless but loud chatter of deceptive talking heads.

Simply put, purposely twisting words to apply narratives other than their original intent is lying, and only Satan loves lies.

God tells us:

• “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” (Proverbs 12:22)

• “Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of My own accord, but He sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.’” (John‬ ‭8‬:‭42‬-‭47‬ ‭ESV‬‬)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

• “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

• Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. (Matt 5:37)

God First!

Lies are heavy Weight

Don’t let lies deprive you of true happiness.

February 24, 2026 / / 0 Comments

When we carry the weight of sin on our hearts and in our minds, we invite destruction, that is, Satan, to live with us permanently.

For example, we lie or deceive a spouse or other loved one on a significant matter. As a result of that deception, until we fess up and ask for forgiveness, we carry that lie with us; it haunts us from time to time, and we bear this burden. Conversations may occasionally arise, reminding us of the lie, and give us the opportunity to tell the truth. But instead, we often repeat or expand the lie to avoid upsetting our loved ones and rocking the boat.

Rather than confess, we tell ourselves things like

  • -” No actual harm done.”
  • -“ It’s better if they don’t know.”
  • -” Why hurt them with the truth?”

The result: we may carry the unnecessary weight of guilt (that God knows) in our hearts and minds for years, maybe even to our death.

In doing so, we have offered Satan permanent residence in that part of our mind. Are we not limiting our relationship with God and that person from being all it can be?

However, when we go to God and to that person, asking forgiveness and repenting of our wrongs, we simultaneously kick Satan to the curb.

Kicking him out of that permanent home we’ve furnished him in our mind, where we can now invite good thoughts to live.

Are we not mending our hearts and minds by removing that permanent dwelling of sin?

The above thoughts bring to my mind the following scripture.

1. (story of the unclean spirits) “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.” Matthew 12:43-45

  • 2. Philippians 4:8-9 (focus)
  • 3. James 5:16 – (confess)
  • 4. Romans 1:21-32 (futile thinking)
  • 5. 1 John 4:9, Mark 11:25 (forgiveness)

Starting conversations with a gift of love

February 23, 2026 / / 2 Comments

Virginia and I walked along a nearby circular, wooded path, doing our thing, saying hello to everyone who passed. We greeted one man, probably in his early 30s, exchanged pleasantries, and continued walking, seeing him again about halfway around the circle. Only this time, we all stopped and chatted for a moment.

His name was Mitch, and during our conversation, I asked if he believed in God. He responded, “Yes,” then said he was about to ask me a similar question because he felt the love of Jesus in us earlier. While speaking, I reached into my backpack, told him I wanted to give him something, and began retrieving a God First cup with its messages. While doing so, explaining, “I don’t want to give this gift to someone who won’t appreciate it, which is why I asked if you believed in God.” As Mitch took the cup of inspiration, he was extremely appreciative.

We spoke briefly about some of the responses I have received sharing these cups with others, and how I have been saddened by the percentage of people who state they don’t believe, maybe as high as 25%. I mentioned one seemingly bitter lady who recently responded: “No, I don’t, and I DON’T WANT TO BE PREACHED TO EITHER!” (She later wanted to know why I asked)

During our very brief conversation, we covered a few topics. Mitch mentioned love and the Holy Spirit a few times, emphasizing his understanding of the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives.

I mentioned how we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit by baptism (citing Acts 2:38) and emphasized the importance of studying and learning God’s Word, according to His Word, that we might truly understand and not be swayed from the truth.

How Scripture states, “… each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” Pointing out that I will not be held accountable for his actions, nor will he be for mine; however, we can certainly help each other out along the way.

We mutually agreed that it was important to share God’s word with love, as scripture commands, rather than in a spirit of condemnation.

We discussed that the word ‘Belief’ is often used too loosely. How scripture points out. Even the demons believe—and shudder! So, just saying, “I think there’s someone up there” isn’t enough.

As an example, I mentioned some state: that baptism is not essential to salvation, yet scripture plainly states, “Baptism now saves us.” Though the conversation was short, I also invited Mitch to visit our local congregation, The Buford Church of Christ, where the emphasis is on study and worship that’s modeled on the practices of early Church worship, rather than on entertainment so prevalent in many churches today., so, along with the God First cup, I also gave him a card with the location, Worship and Bible study times, etc.,

(I wrote this synopsis from memory and a few notes made as we walked away from Mitch. Although I did not quote word for word all the verses below in our conversation, I did refer to most of them and explained if we had time, I could find and show him all the scriptures I was referring to.)

Maybe we will meet Mitch again one day and have further discussion, or, better yet, he will visit our Buford Church of Christ congregation, feel the love of Christ so prevalent in the members, and embark on learning more.

Scripture references made:

• Romans 14:12 (each will give account)
• Acts 2:38 (receive the gift of the Holy Spirit)
• Mark 16:16 (believe and be baptized)
• 1 Peter 3:21 (Baptism now saves us)
• 2 Timothy 2:15 (study to Shew thyself approved)
• Matthew 7:21-23 (Not everyone)
• James 2:19 (Even demons believe)
• 1 Peter 3:15 (Share with love)
• Ephesians 6:16-20 (share boldly)

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

God First!

*AI generated photo

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