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The best life is a God First life

Tag: Faith (Page 1 of 3)

THE TRUTH SHOULD NEVER BE OFFENSIVE Why would it be? It's the truth God's Word is 100% Truth

God’s Word Is 100% Truth — Feelings Don’t Get a Vote

July 24, 2026 / / 0 Comments

The truth should never be offensive. Why would it be? It’s the truth!

God’s Word is 100% Truth, and knowing this, we should all agree that the Bible is our ultimate authority. It’s the words God gave us; it’s the message of Christ, our salvation, our promise. It tells us what’s expected of us by our Creator.

If we agree that the Bible is our ultimate authority, then we have unity. Although feelings have their place, God’s truth is not subject to our feelings but rather to the words of God. So, if we want to keep the precepts, examples, and commands of God, we go to God’s Word to find Biblical Authority for our actions.

Truth

  • Galatians 4:16 – “Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?”
  • John 8:32 – “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
  • John 17:17 – “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
  • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “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.”
  • Psalm 119:160 – “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”
  • Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Feelings

  • Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
  • Proverbs 28:26 – “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”
  • 2 Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Unity

  • Ephesians 4:3-5 – “…eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
  • 1 Corinthians 1:10 – “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

God First!

To Tolerate Everything Is To Stand for Nothing: Why We Must Teach Our Children to Care and Stand for Righteousness — God First!

July 20, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Pursuing “the right things” only matters to those who care. We need to teach our children to care so they will want to stand up for what is right. When we fail to take a stand and do nothing, we teach our children apathy, which is the same as teaching them that wrong is okay; look the other way. IT’S NOT!

Doing wrong doesn’t matter to the unconscientious, so we must train our children to be conscientious, to care. We need to teach righteousness in our homes and by our examples. The best source for lessons in righteousness, love for others, and selflessness is God’s Word.

Training Children in Righteousness

  • Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.“
  • Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
  • Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.“
  • 2 Timothy 3:15-17- “and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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.” (emphasis added)

Rejecting Apathy

  • James 4:17 – “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
  • Proverbs 24:11-12 – “Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back. If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?

Not Tolerating Evil

  • Ephesians 5:11 – “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;” (emphasis added)
  • Revelation 3:15-16 –‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.’

Caring for Others & Christ’s Attitude

  • Philippians 2:3-5 – Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,“

Putting God First

  • Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

God First!

Our Forefathers Fought & Died for Freedom, We the People, God First, One Nation Under God, With Liberty and Justice for All

250 years later

July 1, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Our forefathers (for many, these are distant relatives) suffered, fought, and gave their lives in battles for independence, and for “Liberty and justice for all,” and in 1776, America was born. “We the People” celebrate America’s independence on the 4th of July each year.

Fast forward 250 years, and it seems almost half the nation wants to give away the independence our forefathers fought and died for; half the nation appears “Ok” with the idea of socialism, even communism, and would rather whine and have government be our babysitter than take personal responsibility for their role in Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Our country did not become great from our ancestors sitting on their tushes and wallowing in self-pity, expecting a government to provide for them.

NO, our country became great as our ancestors met overwhelming struggles head-on. Dreaming and working to make those dreams a reality. Legal immigrants became Americans, and those Americans came together, working and striving to better their lives through hard work and big ideas. Americans of all shapes, sizes, colors, and beliefs made the seemingly impossible possible. They forged wilderness into this country of vast convenience that our families enjoy today.

Our American ancestors worked hard to give us freedom, and we must work hard to maintain it. It’s hard to understand, knowing freedom and wanting to be chained to Socialism.

Sitting on our tush and expecting others to provide for us will destroy our nation. Let’s honor the lives of those who fought and died to give us freedom; let’s take pride in the work we each do as One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Our constitution is under attack, our freedom of speech is under attack, our voting system is under attack, and our freedom of religion is under attack; the list keeps mounting.

While it’s true that the Christian’s ultimate home is not of this world, those of us who live in America have been blessed to live in the land of the free, allowing us to share God’s Word according to God’s Word.  Let us pray, study, learn, and spread the seeds of Christ that God may provide the increase before our children suffer the consequences of only having Satan seed the land. We are so blessed to live in today.

A country with God is a country blessed; A country without God is a country lost.

God First!

Does your thinking call God a liar?

Does your thinking call God a liar?

June 30, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Sometimes, we let our smarts get in the way of the obvious as we seek hidden meanings behind simple words rather than accepting them at face value. Sometimes, we do this with each other, and it causes issues; sometimes, with God’s word, and it causes issues. However, with God’s word, we can be certain there is only one perfect answer, one answer that will not conflict with other parts of God’s word. God cannot lie, and all scripture is God-breathed, so the Bible will not contradict itself.

“God is not the Author of confusion…” 1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV

“Be not wise in your own eyes; …” Proverbs 3:7 ESV

“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:21 ESV

“…God, that cannot lie…” Titus 1:2 KJV

“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 NASB1995

  • Hebrews 6:18
  • Titus 1:2
  • 2 Peter 1:20-21
  • Galatians 1:8

God First!

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

June 22, 2026 / / 0 Comments

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!

Jesus Completes Me

GOD -FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY?

June 20, 2026 / / 0 Comments

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!

If our Children see God as part-time in our lives, how will He become full-time in theirs?

If our children see God as part-time in our lives, how will he become full-time in theirs?

June 8, 2026 / / 2 Comments

According to God’s Word and stated by the Son of God, Jesus is the only way to eternal life: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ – John 14:6

Many parents claim to believe in Jesus; they want their children to know Jesus, but their actions lack priority and commitment, making their words empty.

Our examples are so very important to our children, much more important than stating words. If we say, “Don’t smoke.” Don’t cuss, don’t cheat, don’t steal, don’t do drugs, don’t get drunk, don’t lie, etc., etc., etc., while puffing a cigarette and doing the very things we state are wrong, we contradict ourselves, making our words meaningless.

If we say we believe but don’t take time each week to come together with our fellow believers to sing praises, pray, worship, and remember the sacrifice of Jesus in communion and be involved, what priority are we presenting to our children? If we dismiss portions of Scripture as inconvenient, what example are we giving, and what are we saying to Jesus?

Jesus gave perfect examples in His life; they matched His words in every way. He told us, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” The apostles likewise set an example that matched their words, prioritizing worship, the breaking of bread weekly, and the sharing of God’s Word.

If our children see God as part-time in our lives, how will he become full-time in theirs?

  • Hebrews 10:24-25
  • Acts 2:42
  • 1 Corinthians 11:17-25
  • Colossians 3:16
  • John 14:15
  • Matthew 6:33
  • James 2:19
  • 1 Peter 2:21
  • Ephesians 5:1-2
  • 1 Corinthians 11:1
  • Philippians 2:5
  • John 13:15
  • Galatians 2:20
  • Acts 20:7 (The first day of the week comes every week)

God First!

IF, indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel

IF – sets important conditions

May 26, 2026 / / 0 Comments

This Verse in Colossians speaks of Jesus

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him,

IF

indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”

(emphasis on “If” added as this small word points out important conditions)

(Colossians 1:15-23 ESV)

In thick or thin, Triumph or failure, on top of the mountains or in the depths of valleys, stay true to God, lean on Jesus, and He will carry you through.

  • James 1:12
  • James 1:2-4
  • Philippians 4:13
  • Isaiah 41:10
  • Psalm 23:4
  • Proverbs 3:5-6
  • Matthew 11:28-30
  • Deuteronomy 31:6

God First!

Striving to mimic God's love Striving to mimic God's love

Knowing or hoping you are saved

May 23, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Jesus walked this earth and walked the walk of doing God’s will.

  • Jesus: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (in Matt. 26:39)
  • Jesus: “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.” (in Matt. 26:42)

In agony, Jesus prayed so fervently that His sweat became like blood, yet doing His Father’s will was more important to Jesus than his own wants. Jesus was determined to do God’s will above His own. (see Luke 22:39-46)

In these passages, we get to see into the heart of God. We get a glimpse of love beyond our imagination. We get to see Jesus’s incredible love for us and for God (His Father). Jesus, while on earth, demonstrated the love for God and mankind that we should all strive to mimic. To acquire the love of Jesus, we must fervently strive to do everything according to God’s will, not ours. We must seek never to add to or take away from God-Breathed Scripture. In (John 1:1-14) we find Jesus was with God from the beginning, from the creation… “all things were made through Him.”  Jesus’s life on earth, His death, and resurrection gives us every reason to believe, every reason to have hope, and every reason to follow Jesus in obedient faith. Doing God’s will according to God’s will is the difference between knowing you are saved and hoping you are saved.

Yep, it’s serious! We don’t want to be part of the many mentioned in Matthew 7:22 because we did things our way and decided it would be ok with God, that’s not what Jesus did:

” Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:22-24

  • 1 John 5:13
  • John 14:15
  • Romans 1:5
  • Hebrews 11:8
  • Luke 6:46

God First!

The Christian's Training Ground

Marines for God -Semper Fidelis

May 21, 2026 / / 0 Comments

The Bible is the Christian’s training ground, our means of staying the course. In it, we find the power of God, hope beyond measure, our daily armor, our weapon of truth, our shield of faith, our protection from Satan, and our only pathway to eternal life with our creator; the Bible is our connection to God’s will for us, our strength for endurance, and our means for sharing the message of Christ with everyone.

The study of God’s Word is our preparation, sharing God’s Word is our exercise, and the ability to defend God’s Word is our duty as soldiers of Christ.

The Marines’ motto is Semper Fidelis, which means “always faithful” or “always loyal.” Let’s be Marines for God; let us always be faithful and always be loyal. In “ALL” circumstances, let us take up the shield of faith. (Ephesians 6:16)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. “Put on the whole armor of God”

Ephesians 6:10-20

If God is with us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

1 Peter 3:15

God First!

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