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The best life is a God First life

Category: Worldly (Page 1 of 2)

Blindness opened Paul's eyes But baptism saved him

Blindness opened Paul’s eyes, yet baptism saved him.

July 19, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Paul’s eyes were opened in Blindness on the road to Damascus, Jesus told Saul…

“But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:6‬)

Saul had 3 days of blindness to think and pray about his “literal” come-to-Jesus meeting.

In a vision, the Lord came to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord tells Ananias where to find Saul and to heal his sight. Scripture reads:

“So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;” (Acts 9:17-18).

Note: Baptism was the very first thing Saul did after meeting Ananias and having his sight restored.

Why? If Saul/Paul’s sins had been forgiven before this moment, he would not need to be baptized to have His sins forgiven or to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, would he?

God’s word tells us that when we are baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, this is when we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

In 1 Peter 3:21, it reads:

“Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’s own words are very straightforward in Mark 16:16,

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Mark 16:16

Paul shares his story in Acts 22:1-16. Please read it for yourself.

  • Why believe all of God’s word when so many claim otherwise? Because all Scripture is from God, inspired by God. Not believing or believing something else would mean calling God a liar, and God cannot lie. ( see: 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Matthew 5:18, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18, Numbers 23:19)
  • How many scriptures need to state something for it to be true? only one.

That said, it is important not to take any single scripture out of context, as God’s Word encompasses all of Scripture; if scriptures seem to contradict, we can know we have the wrong understanding and need to seek what fits the whole of Scripture. There are a lot of false teachings in this world about what God wants, a lot of feelings about what God wants, yet it rests upon each of us to discern what God’s Word actually teaches. Don’t believe me, believe God!

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 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, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:9-13

God First!

We study hard for our jobs. Why not study even harder for our souls?

We Study Hard for Our Jobs — Why Not Study Even Harder for Our Souls?

July 18, 2026 / / 2 Comments

To become proficient in our professions, we study and practice to become Doctors, Nurses, Accountants, Engineers, Firefighters, Carpenters, Bricklayers, etc. Learning and skills are not developed by osmosis. To do our profession to the best of our ability, one must be studious and committed to learning every aspect possible about our endeavor.

Shouldn’t we put even more effort into getting to know God and keeping his commandments? The less we know of God’s Word and the message of Christ, the less we know of God. Yet our souls’ eternity depends on our submitting to God’s will, not ours.

How can we do what we do not know how to do? We should make ongoing efforts to deepen our understanding.

Today, many around the world are denied access to Bibles by their governments, even though they would love to have scripture to study; in some cases, even having a bible can be dangerous to their well-being. However, in our country (the United States), most homes have more than one. So, for us, there is really no excuse for choosing ignorance when God’s Word is so readily available. Understanding comes through study, and there is no better time to begin study than right now. Why not grab your closest Bible or download a Bible app and read it daily starting now?

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15)

“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

God First!

The most valuable time of the day is the time we take to pray!

Include God; He offers so much!

July 15, 2026 / / 0 Comments

We know from scripture that we are made in the image of God; we know that God has feelings, God loves, He hates sin, He is righteously jealous, etc., So, here’s a couple of questions to ponder:

How do you feel when the only time someone thinks of you is when they need or want something?

How do you think God feels when we treat him that way?

Why treat him this way?

It’s obvious from Scripture that God wants to be included in our lives; He wants us to love Him as He loves us. This said, why would we not want to include God in all that we do?. After all, Jesus told us to: ask, seek, and knock.

Our very breath is dependent on our creator! By embracing God’s love and keeping his commandments, we secure God’s promise of eternal life. In other words, we can obtain the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, that will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. If we are truly In Christ, serving Christ, our hearts are filled with joy and the comfort of God.

Therefore, it seems unwise to exclude God when he offers so much to our lives both in this world and for eternity.

  • John 1:1-18 (The Word is Jesus, with God from the beginning)
  • John 14:15 – How to show our love to Jesus
  • Ephesians 6:18 – pray often.
  • Matthew 7:7-11 – Ask, Seek, Knock
  • James 4:8 – How to get God to grow closer to you
  • James 5:16 – Prayers of the righteous avail much
  • Philippians 4:7 – Peace beyond understanding
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 – God of all comfort
  • John 15:1-16 – Joy

God First!

What is the ultimate act of love

UNSELFISH UNCHANGING LOVE

July 10, 2026 / / 0 Comments
  • Our tastes change,
  • Societies change,
  • People change,
  • Governments change,

GOD DOES NOT CHANGE

  • God’s Love does not change,
  • God’s Truth does not change,
  • God’s Word does not change,
  • God’s Promises do not change.

We must NOT conform to worldly changes but rather stay true to God’s unchanging love. His love offers us eternal life in heaven if we choose to accept it and follow Jesus according to God’s will, not ours. Conforming to God’s will is the ultimate act of unselfishness and expression of true love.

Jesus showed us what it is to have unselfish, pure love for God and for us as He walked this earth, staying true to doing God’s Will to the point of becoming the ultimate Sacrifice.

Matthew 26:39: “And going a little farther He fell on his face and prayed, saying, 

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus commands us:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

“For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:13-20

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.“

John 14:21-24

God First!

Broken hearts, pain, and turmoil can be avoided with better choices.

Broken hearts and pain, for what?

July 3, 2026 / / 0 Comments

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.

Please, don’t risk being labeled a drunk driver; the consequences can be severe.

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,”

Philippians 1:27 ESV

God First!

What a different World this would be

Faithful Christians in Government

June 17, 2026 / / 0 Comments

If politicians were faithful Christians, corruption would not be an issue. Lies and Deceit would not be an issue. If we love Christ, we keep His commandments, no matter our role in this world. Love of God and our neighbors are the two Greatest commands.

The keyword to this statement is “Faithful “- those who are continuously striving to be Christ-like, to love others as Christ loved us!

You can’t love two masters, such as greed and God.

“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
  • John 14:15
  • John 13:34

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Breath-Giving Love of God

In Christ, we have access to the power of God

June 16, 2026 / / 0 Comments

In Christ, we have access to the power of God

God: Unseen by the human eye, yet His power and love are evident in all of creation. Through Jesus, we are encouraged to tap into God’s power. Scripture tells us that if we draw closer to God, He draws closer to us, that we should work toward righteousness and demonstrate our love by keeping the commandments of Jesus. Although we live in the world, we should not be of the world, so far as it depends on us, we are to live peaceably with all.

If God is with us, who can be against us!

IN Christ, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, who intercedes with our prayers.
IN Christ and through Christ, we can petition God in faithful, fervent prayer.
IN Christ, we have God’s ear; we can turn those” out of our control” burdens over to Him and trust in Him.
IN Christ, the God of all comfort, helps us in times of suffering.
IN Christ, we can have peace that surpasses understanding.

Scripture tells us how to be” IN Christ,”

“for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29)

They were cut to the heart, and they asked, what do we do? (Acts 2:38-41)

  • Grace: – Ephesians 2:8, Romans 3:24, Titus 2:11, Acts 15:11
  • Hear: – 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, Lu ke 13:3-5, Acts 17:30
  • Confess: – Romans 10:9-10, Matthew 10:32-33, Luke 12:8-9
  • Baptism by immersion for 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
  • Live peaceably – (Romans 12:18)

Other Referenced Scripture: Romans 8:26, James 5:16, James 4:8, John 14:15, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, John 17:14-23, Genesis 1:1, Acts 17:24

Study, Verify, and believe God’s Word!

God First!

Have you noticed? The Bible contradicts a lot of popular opinion. IS TRUTH OFFENSIVE?

Is Truth Offensive?

May 15, 2026 / / 2 Comments

Have you noticed? The Bible contradicts a lot of popular opinion. Many people become offended when someone or something contradicts their understanding or belief, while others find it challenging. There are so many misunderstandings and false teachings about what God’s Word says on various topics; however, in God’s infinite wisdom, He gave us His Word and freedom of choice. We can hear and study God’s Word independently to see if what we are told is true, or we can accept, believe, and practice what others tell us is true, but I ask: How smart is that?

The Bible is God’s Word, and it should be our foundation for discernment.

  • The Bible spans thousands of years and has many different contributors.
  • It does so without contradiction.
  • The prophecies and science we find in Scripture are now known facts.

The Bible was written over about 1,500 years by approximately 40 authors from widely different backgrounds, cultures, and languages, yet it maintains a cohesive story of redemption from Genesis to Revelation. It’s hard to explain all this unity apart from divine inspiration.

Of course, it does take an open mind to replace what we’ve been told with what we will discover through an intuitive investigation. With our freedom of choice comes accountability for our actions or lack thereof.

Rather than choosing to be offended, why not choose to accept the challenge and pursue the truth? We can search and trust God’s Word, or we can accept man’s ideas; the choice is ours, but one we will be held accountable for.

  • “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
  • “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21

John 17:17
Psalm 119:160
Proverbs 30:5
Deuteronomy 30:19
Joshua 24:15
Galatians 6:7

2 Timothy 2:15
Acts 17:11
Job 26:7
Isaiah 40:22
Hebrews 11:3

God First!

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!

Focus on the Good

Let us be wise in the midst of darkness

March 3, 2026 / / 1 Comment

Don’t lose sight of all the good that surrounds you (often in humble quietness).

There is so much evil in this world that distracts our hearts and minds; it’s tempting and easy to lose focus.

Instead, though it may be challenging at times, let’s work to keep our hearts and minds focused on the good; think and practice the words found in Philippians …

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 ESV

Let us be a light of hope and love to others and recognize the shining lights in our lives.

If we look around us, we can find people whose quest is to live righteously, whose lives encourage and inspire others to do the same.  I am grateful for many in my life and hope and pray there are as many in yours.

Many books on business success stress the importance of surrounding yourself with successful people to become successful, and I’m certain there is truth to this.

True success, however, is found in living a life that by example leads us and others to Christ, toward eternal salvation and everlasting life with Jesus. Let us be wise and surround ourselves with those who encourage and inspire us to live for Christ and follow His teachings. Nothing we acquire in this world goes with us to the next.

  • “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed” Proverbs 13:20
  • “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
  • “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 ESV
  • Luke 12:15 (Be on Guard)
  • 1 Timothy 6:7 (Take nothing out of it)
  • 1 Timothy 4:12 (Set example)
  • Titus 2:7 (Model of good works)
  • James 1:22 (Be doers)
  • John 14:16 (Except through Jesus)

God First!

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