Insecure Rebellious Surrendered Blessed

Mine is a journey from insecure child,

to rebellious drug using teenager,

to Bible college student, to husband, father,

youth pastor, and grandfather, etc.

God used not only these aspects of my life but also softball, karate, and the FBI, among other things to direct my path and to “bless my socks off,” so to speak. When I sought and followed His instruction.

But when I didn’t? Well?

The key truth I long for readers of this book to grasp is what Jesus said to the Sadducees:

Matthew 22:29

Jesus answered and said to them,

“You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures

nor the power of God.”

Every time, and I do mean every time, that I acted contrary to God’s Word, I made an error.

Simply put, when we choose to sin, we will be badly mistaken, in error,

making the wrong choices, going the wrong direction at those forks in the road.

Thus, the reason our Father inspired David to write these words:

Psalm 119:11

Your word I have hidden in my heart,

That I might not sin against You.

Nothing will change our lives more, than becoming a diligent student and doer of God’s Word.

Joshua 1:8

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night,

that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Our Father made it very clear in that scripture that he does not demand success, He gives it!

Throughout Matthew chapter five,

several times Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said,” followed by “But I say to you.” We have information and opinions flying at us from every direction on a daily basis. We must know what God says.

Our own families can lead us stray. “We have always done it that way,” or vice-versa, “We have never don it that way.” Beliefs founded possibly on nothing more than tradition. The culture, the place and time in which we currently live, will certainly attempt to lead us astray. The things we value become our gods. We give our time, our money, and quite possibly our hearts to them. We serve and worship them. Joshua challenged us all to follow his lead and make the wise choice. It was written so long ago yet seemingly more relevant today.

Joshua 24:15

15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord,

choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

If you choose to read this book you will see for yourself that everything about my life changed when I took hold of God’s Word.

Then when I allowed God’s word to take hold of me some incredible changes and blessings started appearing.

I have had experiences and met people that I would not have enjoyed, had I not decided to follow Jesus. Oh, and as I chuckle a bit, I tell you in advance, I am a name dropper. If I have met anyone even semi-famous, you are going to read about it here.

God’s Word put me on a different path.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet

And a light to my path.

A lamp on our feet shows us our own current condition, where we are.

A light on our path shows us

where we need to be headed.

This is a “rags to riches” story.

But please know that I’m not talking about money.

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal,

and to kill, and to destroy.

I have come that they may have life,

and that they may have it more abundantly.

There is a huge difference between existing and really living.

This is about what God can do with a life.

He truly wants to bless us, but He will not do for us

what He has told us to do ourselves.

He promises in James 1:5 “wisdom,” free for the asking.

Wisdom is defined as the proper use of knowledge.;

however, He tells us that we must go get the knowledge.

2Timothy 2:15

Be diligent (study) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.

I invite you to journey with me through the phases of my life and the many ups and downs. Watch carefully what our Father does and be reminded of what He can and wants to do for all of us! And it bears repeating, every time that I, we, choose contrary to God’s Word we err!