Advocate for Christ

The best life is a God First life

Tag: God (Page 1 of 3)

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Tears at the Sound of His Voice

July 30, 2026 / / 0 Comments

With all the media today, we get to hear many beautiful singing voices, some of which are stunningly peaceful. Sometimes I will scroll through social media reels listening to the singing talent, yet I doubt the best voices on earth could compare to hearing the voices of heaven, to hear the angels sing. There are a few verses commonly linked to angels singing or praising God in song-like ways: Job 38:7, Luke 2:13-14, Revelation 5:8-12

How about God? How would we imagine experiencing the perfect sound of God singing or joining us in song?

One time, long before Virginia’s Alzheimer’s, I remember her becoming emotional, and when I asked why, she told me this verse had brought the tears to her eyes as she had been meditating and envisioning what the sound of God singing over her would be like. I am not sure how she imagined it, but it certainly touched her emotions deeply on that day. Can you imagine?

In Zephaniah 3:14, God’s people are called to “Sing aloud… shout… be glad and rejoice.” Then in verse 17, God Himself joins in the rejoicing with His own singing. Can you imagine the sound of pure love? God is love! (1 John 4:8)

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
He has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
He will quiet you by his love;
He will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:14-17)

Old Testament scripture never ceases to teach me.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

God First!

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!

Social Media not just the devils workshop / Seeds of Truth - Let your light shine for Christ

Satan’s workshop or God’s? our choice

July 14, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Social media turns off many people because freedom of speech is abused with disrespectful, attention-grabbing rants, gossip, foul language, crude and distasteful images, etc.; I’ve heard many refer to social media as “the devil’s workshop.” Well, this may all have some truth to it;  however, it will be what we make of it.

It doesn’t have to be just Satan’s workshop. No, when good, righteous-seeking people who love Jesus decide to post, share, like, and love only good things, we help make social media a better place. The simple truth is that Satan is in this world, his actions are all around us, and we can’t make a difference if we hide rather than let our light shine and try to make a difference (Mathew 5:14-16). Jesus charged His disciples with sharing the gospel with the whole world; we are to plant the seeds of Truth. So, when we choose to walk away from farmland we could cultivate and plant, we leave it wide open for Satan to spread seeds of weeds and destruction.

Why not be engaging instead? We can use social media platforms to encourage and share the soul-saving truth of a better life with Christ. We don’t have to write articles, but we can support those who do with LIKES, LOVES, and encouraging COMMENTS. We can share articles and memes of truth and uplifting thoughts.

On social media, the seeds of truth will be cast on all types of soil; so spread them, God will provide the growth, even if you never see the results. Trust God (1 Corinthians 3:7).

When you encounter negative statements, and you will, don’t take them personally; be compassionate, understanding, and try to be helpful; they stem from the ignorance of God’s Word. Jesus and his disciples cast numerous seeds, and when they were rejected, it was in far worse ways than a negative or hurtful comment.

I personally don’t want to gamble my soul’s eternity on what someone feels scripture says when there is so much understanding to be had by gaining a fuller knowledge of what God’s Word actually says.

God’s word cannot be shared with silence. It is what it is, but it will be what you make of it!

  • Mark 4:1-20
  • 1 Corinthians 3:6-11
  • Mark 16:15–20
  • Matthew 28:19–20

God First!

Darkness may win a few fights, but in the end, it loses the battle

Overcoming Darkness

May 19, 2026 / / 0 Comments

One thing is certain: when you’re on the right side, you are simply on the Right side. No matter how long it takes, no matter how many lies are told, truth eventually shines through. Let the light in your heart shine, and it will overcome darkness.

“Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” John 14:5-7

  • John 1:5
  • John 8:12
  • Psalm 18:28

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

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!

God First

What do I mean by “God First”?

April 22, 2026 / / 0 Comments

What do I mean by “God First”?

When I use the term” God First,” I intend to encompass ALL of God (the Trinity), Our Heavenly Father, Jesus (The Son), and the Holy Spirit. I use the phrase “God First” to state my belief that God should be First in our lives every second of every day.

God’s Greatest commandment is that we love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (see Mark 12:30) Scripture tells us to do everything to the glory of God. That “…from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36)

God also tells us that as we draw closer to Him, He draws closer to us. (see James 4:8) (talk about inspiring motivation)

However, it’s impossible to put” God First” if we choose not to do God’s will and keep His commands, which we find in” The Holy Bible.”

The Bible is God’s completed Word (see 1 Corinthians 13:8-10) and tells us

” All Scripture is God-Breathed”

Not some, ALL!

Jesus put it this way, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

Not only the ones we like, but all.

  • 1 Cor 10:31
  • John 14:15
  • 2 Timothy 3:16
  • 1 Corinthians 13:12

The best life is a God First life!

God First!

Be the Rock

Jesus is our Rock, our foundation.

April 6, 2026 / / 0 Comments
  • Let us mimic Christ
  • Let us be the rocks of faith set firmly on the cornerstone of Christ!
  • Let us be the stability of Christlike love that others can count on
  • Let us not waver from righteousness when the winds of desire or difficulty blow.
  • Let us be the example of Christlike love in all that we do

Stand Firm!

Study and learn God’s word so you can know God’s will for yourself rather than relying on someone else.

Pursue God’s will, for if God is with you, who can be against you?

(see Romans 8:31)

Be the Rock of faith that inspires others to learn and become rocks of faith themselves, especially to our little ones who see you as their examples.

Love others as Christ loves you.

Be mindful of this fact: The closer we draw to God, the closer he draws to us. (see James 4:8)

Trust in God!

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. “

John 13:34 ESV
  • Ephesians 2:20
  • Matthew 7:24-27
  • Proverbs 10:22
  • 2 Timothy 2:22
  • 1 Corinthians 10:1-6

God First!

Wow, if only the Apostle Peter Knew

Wow, if only the Apostle Peter knew

April 3, 2026 / / 0 Comments

On the day of Pentecost, when Peter preached the first gospel sermon, do you wonder why? Why is it that when Peter and the other Apostles (in Acts 2) were asked by the crowd whose hearts had just been pierced by the message of Christ,” Brothers, what do we do?”

Why did Peter NOT answer the crowd’s question with: “Accept Jesus into your heart and recite with me these words in a prayer, and you will be forgiven, you will be saved.”

WOW, if only the Apostle Peter, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, had known what many people claim today. That they could “just” accept Jesus into their hearts and recite a prayer to be saved; however, that’s “NOT” how Peter answered.

Peter never said, “baptism is an outward sign of an inward decision.” In fact, no such prayer is found in God’s Word. INSTEAD, Peter (filled with the Holy Spirit) tells them exactly what God wanted them to do… “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 ESV)

None of Peter’s responses indicates that any of God’s instructions were mutually exclusive.

In verse 41, God’s Holy Word says: “So those who received His word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41 ESV)

So, right after they received the message of Christ, they immediately followed the Apostle’s instructions and were immersed in the waters of baptism. They could have set appointments; they could have done so in small groups over weeks, but instead, we find urgency is implied: “So those who received His word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41)

That day, about 3000 souls were added to the Church! (Don’t you know that took a while?)

These scriptures show us that hearing, believing, repenting, and being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ is how we obtain the Holy Spirit.

Who did the adding? Who was being saved? Verse 47 “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47 ESV)

Please, don’t take my word for it. Take God’s word for it. “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)

“Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20)

Below are several passages on Grace, belief, repentance, confessing Jesus’ name, and baptism for study.

• Grace: – Ephesians 2:8, Romans 3:24, Titus 2:11, Acts 15:11

• 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: – 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!

A Walk in the Park

March 25, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Smiles, laughter, beauty, and sounds bring an epiphany of joy to our hearts as we walk in God’s creation.

We pause from time to time to listen and breathe; we feel the cool air as it caresses our skin, as it moves the leaves of the trees; our eyes, overwhelmed by the beauty of morning light as it speeds, seemingly still, warming our faces and bringing sparkles to our eyes.

It’s all perfect!

With each step, God conducts a combination of peaceful, calming sounds for us to hear.

It’s all perfect!

As squirrels rustle through the limbs of the trees and the leaves on the ground, water flows calmly through the nearby creeks, over rocks and tiny waterfalls, accompanied by crickets and tree frogs, creating a symphonic, heavenly background of sound to feature the birds as they sing and whistle in the trees.

A beautiful symphony of God, it is perfect!

~Wayne R Johnson

God’s perfection surrounds us daily; it helps quiet our souls, take time, make time, to soak it all in. We are so blessed to be part of and amid His creations. Let’s notice what we often overlook, the peace and love our Heavenly Father provides.

God is perfect, Love never ends, it is well with my soul.

Psalm 119:24 Psalm 104:1, Psalm 19:1, Ecclesiastes 3:11,

God First!

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