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Eternity In Our Hearts

Photo by Ryan, Private lake in our neighborhood

With everything that has happened with the intense turmoil we have all gone through the last two years, people are aware of their mortality perhaps more than ever before. Anxiety and fear are plaguing the whole world for one reason above all else; people are afraid of death. This truth confronts and tests all of us, no matter who we are or where we live. None of us want to die, but we all know that someday we will take our last breath. We also know that when that happens we will step into eternity, and deep down we know that we need a Savior. Deep in our hearts we know our souls are eternal and we know we need to be saved. We can only be delivered from the fear of death and have peace with God when we accept this truth and come to know our Savior.

Although our bodies are mortal, we all inherently know our souls are eternal because God has placed eternity in our hearts. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says:

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

We instinctively know that when we die our souls will live forever somewhere in eternity. All of us want that somewhere to be Heaven. God’s Word, the Bible, teaches us that there are only two places in eternity: Heaven or hell. It also teaches us there is only one Way to Heaven, and we must be forgiven of our sins to get there. Our sins separate us from God, and the only Way to be forgiven and enter Heaven is by knowing our Savior who died as a sacrifice of atonement to forgive our sins, and reconcile us with God. The only One to ever do that for us is God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ. Only through believing in Jesus can we be forgiven of our sins and made righteous before God.

“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” -Romans 3:22-24

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” -John 14:6

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 6:23

We can only be set free from the fear of death by knowing Jesus. People are afraid of death because the devil holds the power of death. That is why death is terrifying. We all know deep in our hearts that there is something very real to be scared of in death unless we have a Savior. Jesus is the only One who ever defeated the devil, and He is the only One who can rescue us and save our souls. Only Jesus can break the bonds of slavery to the fear of death. Only Jesus can give us freedom and eternal life!

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil–and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” -Hebrews 2:14-15

This great salvation is a gift from God that can never be earned. Eternal life in Heaven is by God’s grace alone, and can only be received through faith in Jesus Christ. No amount of good works will ever be enough to achieve Heaven because our sin separates us from God. We must have our sins washed away, and that forgiveness can only be attained by believing in Jesus. His blood shed on the cross is the only blood powerful enough to cleanse us from all our sins.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” -Ephesians 2:8-9

“He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.” -Hebrews 9:12

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” -Romans 5:1-2

Please heed the warnings of Jesus, and accept His invitation to eternal life! You do not need to die in your sins, you do not need to fear death, and you do not want to lose your soul! There is no condemnation in Jesus. Jesus loves you, He will forgive you, and He will give you eternal life in Heaven!

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” -Jesus speaking in Matthew 16:26

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” -Jesus speaking in John 3:16-18

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” -Jesus speaking in John 5:24

Again, you can only receive eternal life through faith in Jesus. Believe in Jesus this very moment, and your sins will be forgiven, and your soul will be saved! Once you place your faith in Jesus, God will fill you with His Holy Spirit, which will give you power and guidance to live a holy life that pleases God. The Holy Spirit is God’s seal on us guaranteeing our redemption. This is not a metaphor. It is a beautiful miracle and gift of God. Everyone who believes in Jesus is literally filled with the Holy Spirit, and is blessed with the fruits of the Spirit in their lives.

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” -Romans 10:9-13

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.” -Ephesians 1:13-14

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.” -Galatians 5:16-18

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” -Galatians 5:19-21

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” -Galatians 5:22-24

“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” -John 7:37-39

You don’t have to be afraid of death anymore! Come to Jesus, and He will set you free!

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” -Jesus speaking in John 10:27-30

Grace and peace to you all!

Praying For Ukraine

Photo credit: istockphoto

By now, most of the world has heard the disturbing news regarding Russia invading the peaceful nation of Ukraine. The images and videos coming out of Ukraine are heart breaking. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are fleeing their country, and they desperately need our prayers.

There are many people from Ukraine and the surrounding Eastern European countries that read my blog. I want you all to know that my heart, soul, and prayers are with you all. Millions of my fellow Americans are standing with you in prayer as well. We stand with Ukraine and pray for your protection, and for blessings of peace and healing.

Photo credit: currytee

To all my Ukrainian brothers and sisters, God is with you and He loves you! He has not abandoned you and He never will. This evil attack on your country will be defeated. The Lord is rising up nations to support you, and billions of people are standing with you in love and solidarity. You are not alone.

No matter who the rulers of the earth are or how powerful they may think they are, they will never be more powerful than God. Jesus is and always will be the King of kings and Lord of lords, and someday every knee will bow to Him and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. Jesus offers eternal life to all who believe in Him. If you don’t know Jesus, please come to Him this very moment, and He will save your soul.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” -Jesus speaking in John 3:16

“Lord Jesus, we pray right now for blessing and protection for all Ukrainians. Please lift them up and intercede for them. Pour out Your Holy Spirit on them and give them victory over this evil attack. Give your angels charge over them and fight for them. Rise up more nations to help them and give them all the support they need to overcome this invasion. Please keep their children, families, and soldiers safe, and strengthen and encourage their hearts. Please Lord, stop this violence against them, and bring peace and healing to Ukraine. In Your Holy Name we pray Lord Jesus, amen.”

Grace and peace to Ukraine! Grace and peace to you all!

A Decade Of Suffering, Faithfulness, & Forgiveness

Photo by Ryan, Venice Beach Pier

Hello friends and family, and God bless you all. Today is January 6th, 2022. Ten years ago, on January 6th, 2012, I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. To say it has been a long road and a difficult journey over this last decade would be an understatement. It has been absolutely torturous at times, and many of the lessons I have learned along the way were learned the hard way, but the last ten years have also been filled with the Lord’s faithfulness and forgiveness. Jesus has been with me through every step of this broken road of suffering, and He has never left me nor forsaken me. My prayer is that this post will bring Him glory, and encourage others who are living with chronic illness and pain.

When Christians think of suffering, many of us immediately think of the story of Job. I wish I could say I was as faithful as Job was through his suffering. Sadly, I was not. When I speak of faithfulness, I am referring only to the Lord’s faithfulness to me. After being diagnosed with Celiac, I became angry and bitter. Even though I had walked with Him since October of 1996, I fell away from the Lord for a time, and that bad decision just caused more pain for me and my family. Thankfully, the Lord is gracious and merciful and He never gave up on me.

The Lord drew close to me, even when I shook my fist at Him and wrestled Him with disappointment and bitterness in my heart. He met me right where I was in my darkest hour and let me pour out my heart to Him. He held me in His loving arms as I foolishly fought against Him, and struggled to come to terms with my new reality. And finally, with His deep unending love and forgiveness, He lifted me up, helped me arrive to a place of peace and understanding, and graciously reinstated me to continue fulfilling His calling and purpose for my life. It was astounding and amazing when He called me to publish my testimony and start blogging in 2018, and I am forever grateful.

One Man’s Very Strange Supernatural Life

Those years from 2012 to 2018 were the hardest and most painful years of my life. So many regrets and so much time I can’t get back. However, they are also years the Lord strengthened my faith and caused the roots of my trust in Him to grow deep. I will never forget the miracle the Lord performed to save my life when I stopped breathing on April 28th, 2012. Talk about a faith builder! Many of you know what happened that day. If you don’t, please read my post titled:

My Lazarus Moment

I quite literally died that day due to anaphylactic shock, and the Lord brought me back in the power of the Holy Spirit. The mighty wind of the Spirit was all around me, and my wife heard it rushing through our room just like on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts! It was the most excruciatingly painful and the most miraculously glorious day of my life, and I am only alive today because the Lord had mercy on me. Thank You, Jesus!

The greatest lesson I have learned through a decade of suffering is that the Lord’s grace is truly sufficient for me. No matter what you are going through, please don’t give up. Dig deep into your faith and cling to Jesus with all your heart. Even if the pain is so bad that you are barely hanging on by your fingernails, don’t let go! He is there with you even now, and He will never abandon you!

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” -2 Corinthians 12:9

I have wanted to give up so many times. Those first few years when I couldn’t stop throwing up and going #2 eight times a day. The endless days, weeks, months, and years of burning pain in my gut that would drop me to my knees. The horrific weight loss down to 128 pounds, and the torturous pain of a damaged small intestine so bad I could barely walk. The terrible pain of starvation as my body struggled with digestion and a severely restricted diet. So many times I cried out for God to take me as I lay face down on the floor barely clinging to life. So many times I just wanted it to all be over.

Jesus never stopped comforting me. He never left my side even for a moment. Every day He picked me up off the floor, dried my tears, and gave me strength to press on. Even if I could barely sense His presence and all I could muster was whispering His Name to help me, He was right there with me. Even when horrible thoughts of taking one last walk in the woods with my pistol in hand plagued my mind, still He protected me and fought for me. Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and I love Him with all my heart! Keep loving Him and rest in His love for you!

This life on earth can be so painful for so many of us, but there will be a day when He wipes all the pain and tears away. Don’t ever forget that! He is coming back soon, and He will make all things new! Jesus loves you so much! Run to Him, fall in His arms, and never let Him go!

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

“He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” -Revelation 21:4-5

I was 33 when I was diagnosed. I am 43 now. After all the pain and despair I have lived through the last ten years, I am still standing victoriously in the Lord by His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love.

Since having the emergency gallbladder surgery last April, I am no longer suffering the excruciating gut pain, and I have even stepped out in faith to enjoy going out to eat at a few restaurants. I still have to be careful about cross contamination, but there are many options for those of us who can’t eat gluten, dairy, eggs, or soy, and it has been a huge blessing. We took our kids to Disneyworld on January 1st, and I was even able to enjoy lunch and dinner at the nice restaurants at Epcot. I hadn’t eaten out since being diagnosed, and it’s something I never thought I would do again. Even now as I still have days where I struggle with pain due to intestinal and colon trauma, I have hope that things are getting better and the Lord still has good plans for me.

Photo by Ryan, Fireworks show at Disneyworld

Nothing is impossible for God. Keep hope alive and never stop believing He can do all things! His love is greater than any suffering on this earth!

Grace and peace to you all!

Jesus Secured Our Salvation

Photo by Ryan, Sunset at Venice Beach, FL

Well, we made it to December. Praise God! We are just a few short weeks away from Christmas, and this is a crucial time to tell the world about Jesus. It is of the utmost importance that believers share the Good News of the Gospel, especially during the Christmas season and especially now during these dark times we are living in. There has been something heavy on my heart lately regarding believers who distort the truth of our secure salvation in Christ. The celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, and the message of His Gospel are full of light and hope because God offers mankind salvation as His most precious gift of grace. Let us not ever forget that there is nothing we could ever do to earn salvation, and it is not by our own effort that our salvation is secured. Christmas is a time of hope and joy because Jesus was born to save us from sin and death, and God offers that glorious invitation of salvation to the whole world by His grace to anyone who will believe in Jesus.

It really hurts my heart when I read condemning posts regarding losing salvation that sow doubt and fear in people’s minds and hearts. There was a sentence recently that really bothered me due to the intensely false message it carried and how subtly the author wrote it. The post was about salvation and living for Christ, and near the end the author wrote (and I am paraphrasing here) that we need to live in a way that we “secure enough grace” to ensure our salvation. I froze upon reading that and said out loud, “What?! Jesus already secured our salvation!”

If you are a believer in Jesus, do you truly understand that you are only saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus? Do you truly understand that there is nothing you are doing or could do to earn or secure salvation by your own effort? How exactly would we “secure enough grace” to save ourselves? When would enough grace be enough? I’ll tell you, it would never be enough. Neither the shedding of our blood or our good works would ever be enough to “secure enough grace” for salvation. Jesus did that for us. Only the Blood of Jesus covers our sins, and Jesus secured our salvation the very moment He died for us on that cross!

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” -Ephesians 2:8-9

“When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of his creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.” -Hebrews 9:11-12

“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance–now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” -Hebrews 9:15

“but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” -Hebrews 7:24-25

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” -Hebrews 6:19-20

Do you hear that truth? We have this hope as an anchor for our souls, and that hope is firm and secure. Why? Because Jesus shed His Holy Blood for us and He saves us completely! There is no worry about not being saved enough or not having enough grace to be saved! Jesus is our mediator, and He always lives to intercede for us. It is arrogant and sinful to think that we are doing anything to secure our salvation. Can you enter the Most Holy Place by your blood? No, none of us can. Our salvation is secure because Jesus obtained eternal redemption for us by His own Blood. We are only saved because of God’s grace through faith in Jesus, and God’s grace is all the grace we will ever need to secure that salvation.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” -Hebrews 10:19-23

God is faithful and we can trust Him. We have confidence to enter Heaven and can live with great hope in full assurance of faith because God has promised that those who believe in Jesus will be saved. Jesus is our mediator, intercessor, and advocate. Of course we should die to sin and live for Jesus, and do everything we can to please God, but we must remember we are not earning our salvation or “securing enough grace” to be saved. Our salvation was bought and paid for in full by the Blood of Jesus. Do not ever try taking that glory and praise away from Him by believing there is something you need to add to His finished work on the cross in order to be saved, as if you are righteous on your own. We are utterly sinful, and we are only saved by God’s all sufficient grace through faith in Jesus.

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” -1 John 2:1-2

Do not ever forget that God gives us His Holy Spirit when we believe in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is God’s seal on us that guarantees our salvation. We do not seal ourselves. Our good works would never be enough to earn enough grace to guarantee redemption. We are only righteous because of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit inside of us. The good works we do in the Name of Jesus are for His glory, not to earn our salvation.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.” -Ephesians 1:13-14

Just as Jesus promised us:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” -John 10:28-30

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” -John 5:24

If you have fallen into sin, repent and return to the Lord. Do not listen to the condemning lies of the evil one. Do not let false preaching of a works based salvation make you a slave again to fear. Do not think for one second that you are beyond God’s grace, forgiveness, and faithfulness! If you believe in Jesus, then you belong to Jesus and no one can snatch you out of His hand! Take Jesus at His Word, trust in Him, and return to Him for He has redeemed you! If you have never accepted Jesus, please come to Him today! The time of the end is drawing near. Put your faith in Jesus this very moment, and your sins will be forgiven and you will be saved!

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” -Romans 10:9-13

Christmas is a time of great hope and joy because the message of the Gospel is filled with great hope and joy. God loves us so much that He sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. That glorious hope of salvation is firm and secure through faith in Jesus alone because Jesus is the only One to ever secure salvation for us by His own Blood. That is why the angel was sent that wonderful night to announce that Jesus had been born. Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and that is truly good news of great joy for all of us!

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” -Luke 2:8-11

Grace and peace to you all, and Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving 2021

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in America. We have been enjoying spending time together on our Thanksgiving break this week. It has been a rough year for many of us around the world, but there are still so many blessings to be thankful for. Thanksgiving is a time to acknowledge those blessings and give thanks to God who graciously blesses us with them. May we all remember the goodness of God this year, and give Him the gratitude and praise He deserves.

The photo above was taken by my Mom at our old house in Colorado. We have a different kind of turkey down here in Florida known as Osceola Turkeys. There were a couple in our backyard in July. They are big funny birds, and we see them all the time in our neighborhood.

Photo by Ryan, Florida Osceola Turkey in our backyard

Since today is Thanksgiving Eve, we have been spending the day cooking and preparing for tomorrow. My wife is making her famous homemade cinnamon rolls, and we will be making cookies soon too. There are wonderful scents of cinnamon, brown sugar, and maple syrup in the air, and we are all looking forward to enjoying those delicious rolls. My wife says they are more like sticky buns because of the special glaze she cooks them in, so I suppose they should be called sticky cinnamon rolls. They sure are good, no matter what you call them.

My wife preparing the cinnamon rolls. Notice the delicious sugary glaze, yummy.

God has been so good to us this year. He has given us victory over health challenges, and seen us through many trials and troubles. He is so very faithful, merciful, loving, and forgiving, and we give Him praise!

“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” -Psalm 103:1

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” -Psalm 107:1

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” -Colossians 2:6-7

I know many of you are suffering and are in the midst of serious trials right now. Our hearts and prayers are with you all. Let us not forget our brothers and sisters who need our support and prayers. Please pray for our good friend and sister in Christ, Vivian. Her husband Mark has been battling brain cancer for many months now. Please pray for them and their four children. Vivian has specifically asked for prayers for peace. We know God can do all things, and He can heal and perform miracles at anytime. Please lift up their family to the Lord.

You can also bless them financially through PayPal at: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/helpoutviv

As we go through hard times, may the promises in God’s Word encourage and refresh our hearts, and may the peace and comfort of the Lord be with us. The Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. He will be with us always to the very end, just as He promised.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” -Jesus speaking in John 14:1-4

Count your blessings this Thanksgiving, give thanks to the Lord, and love each other deeply from the heart. From our family to yours, have a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

Grace and peace to you all!

So Thankful!

Photo by Ryan, Venice Beach, Sunset

Hello friends and family, and God bless you all! This will just be a quick post to follow up on my prayer request regarding my health. The doctor called me today to discuss the blood work and ultrasound results for my thyroid and liver, and he gave me good news. Everything is normal and healthy, and no further testing is necessary! Praise God!

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement! I am so thankful to the Lord for the excellent news! My heart, liver, thyroid, and all my enzyme levels are okay and functioning properly. They even checked the common bile duct and the area where the gallbladder was removed, and all of that looks great too. It is very comforting to know that my body is still working right even after all I’ve suffered with Celiac. Glory to God!

Now I just want to move forward and get back to writing consistently for the Lord. Thank You, Jesus, for all You have done for me and my family! Your grace is truly sufficient in all things!

No matter what you are going through, keep trusting in Jesus, and never give up. He’s got your back and He will see you through it to the very end!

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Grace and peace to you all!

Veterans Day 2021

Today is Veterans Day. It is the day we give thanks, honor, and respect to all our brave veterans who have served and are serving our country in the armed forces. Thank you all for your service and sacrifice in defense of our freedom and security. God bless you all and your families!

The service of the courageous men and women in our military reminds me of three Bible verses regarding what Jesus did for us, how much He loves us, and how we should love one another. These verses teach us about the character and humility of Jesus, and show us what love truly is.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” -1 John 3:16

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” -Jesus speaking in John 15:13

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” -Jesus speaking in Mark 10:45

Jesus set the highest example of love and service when He died for us on the cross to save us from sin and death. Our veterans are the epitome of this love and service as they have laid down their lives to serve our country and protect our people. Jesus deserves all the glory, praise, and honor for laying down His life to save our souls, and our veterans deserve respect, honor, and gratitude for courageously following His example.

Grace and peace to all of our veterans! Thank you for your service and for loving our country so much you were willing to lay down your very lives for us!

Grace and peace to America! Grace and peace to you all!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” -Jesus speaking in John 3:16

25 Years Walking With Jesus

Photo by Ryan, Sunset, Venice Beach, FL

Today is October 11th, 2021. 25 years ago, at the age of 18 in 1996, I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I actually don’t remember the exact date, but I know it was a Friday in October, and I’m pretty sure it was the second Friday that month, which was the 11th. It was the day my life changed forever when God took a confused and hurting teenager, and turned me into a Gospel preaching man of God. God has been so good and faithful to me, and I give Him all the glory and praise as I celebrate my salvation anniversary!

When the Lord called me and drew me near, I was utterly lost in the darkness of drugs and alcohol. I loved to party, and I hated God and Christians. Thinking back to who I was, and how God still loved me and wanted to save me reminds me of a famous verse in Romans.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8

I am so grateful for God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness! The depth and power of His love is truly great and beyond comprehension! Nothing in my entire life compares to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus! Thank You, Lord!

1996 was my freshman year in college. I had just come from a terrifying ordeal that lasted 4 years all through high school, and I desperately needed the Lord. Many of you have read my book and you know my testimony. For those who don’t, those 4 years were horrific. My family was not saved at that time. In the middle of my 8th grade year we moved to Illinois, and we ended up living in a house that was possessed by a demon. It was an extremely dark time for us, and it almost ruined our lives. You can read all about it in my book, “One Man’s Very Strange Supernatural Life.” I have also written about it here on my blog. Check out my post:

“Remember that time when…”

I have indeed had a very strange supernatural life. Even now, I don’t fully understand why, but for whatever reason God decided to use the spiritual realm to save my soul and strengthen my faith. Two years after accepting Jesus, the supernatural events continued when I had two miraculous encounters with angels in the summer of 1998. Then in 2012 I suffered anaphylactic shock, which caused me to stop breathing and die for a short time. I left my body in the Spirit, I was with Jesus for a moment in perfect peace, then He put me back in my body in the powerful wind of the Holy Spirit. The last 25 years have been truly amazing to say the least!

One thing I have learned without a doubt is that nothing is impossible for God. He can do anything at anytime, and He will do more than all you can ask or imagine! Jesus Christ is Lord, and He is alive! He is still the Resurrection and the Life, and He still performs miracles on earth! I give You praise, Lord!

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” -John 11:25-26

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” -Ephesians 3:20-21

“For nothing is impossible with God.” -Luke 1:37

If you would like to know more about the day I stopped breathing and came back to life, check out my post:

My Lazarus Moment

I don’t know why all these amazing things have happened to me (and I stopped asking why a long time ago), but I do know God wants to use it for His glory to help people come to Jesus. People need hope, especially now in these dark times we are living in. I am here to tell you there is still hope! A great hope and joy that overcomes this dark world! God loves you and He wants to save your soul! He loves us so much that He gave us His Son to die for our sins, so we could be forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven! That my friends is the greatest hope of all!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” -Jesus speaking in John 3:16

Another thing I have learned in my 25 year walk with Jesus is that everything in the Bible is true. The angels, the demons, the miracles, Jesus dying for us and raising to life, all of it! It’s all true! God’s Holy Word is His love letter to us, and every word in it is inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is living and active among us, and reading His Word will change your life in the best way possible!

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” -Hebrews 4:12-13

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” -Jesus praying in John 17:17

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” -2 Peter 1:20-21

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

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” -John 8:31-32

God’s Word will lead you to the salvation of your soul and set you free! We all need forgiveness for our sins. Nobody is perfect. The Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The great news of the Gospel is that God freely offers salvation to us by His grace through faith in Jesus. Eternal life in Heaven is the greatest gift God offers all of us. Do not make the grave mistake of rejecting that precious gift! Come to Jesus today and receive His beautiful mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love. He will accept you as His own and save your soul!

“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” -Romans 3:21-24

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” -Romans 10:9-13

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” -Ephesians 2:8-9

Most of all, I have learned that Jesus is loving and faithful, and we can trust Him 100% to fulfill all His promises. I have not always been faithful to the Lord over the last 25 years, but He has been absolutely faithful to me. Where I have failed, He has corrected me, forgiven me, and picked me up again. He has never left me or forsaken me, and He never will. Jesus is pure love and devotion, and you will never know a greater love or faithfulness.

If you do not know Jesus, I pray the Lord opens your mind and heart to the truth, draws you close to Him, and saves your soul. God truly loves you more than you can imagine, and He does not want you to perish. He created you to know Him, be loved by Him, and spend eternity in Heaven. Come to Jesus this very moment, and He will fill you with His peace and love by the power of the Holy Spirit, and give you eternal life!

“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” -John 7:37-38

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” -John 14:6

Always remember, Jesus loves you and He will save your soul!

Grace and peace to you all!

The Condemnation Attack

Photo by Ryan, Sunset, Venice Beach, FL

Some of you may have noticed that I have not been writing as consistently as I once did. It has been very difficult for me to write over the last several months due to physical and spiritual battles I have been going through. On top of dealing with pain from chronic illness, there has also been a great deal of suffering from homesickness, feelings of hopelessness, and horrible condemnation attacks from the enemy. The evil one loves to constantly accuse those who belong to Jesus, and remind us of times we have sinned or fallen away from the Lord. The attacks of condemnation are brutal, and many times are accompanied by dark thoughts of shame, guilt, and even suicide. It can leave a believer in Jesus feeling like a complete failure, and feeling isolated, alone, and abandoned, but we must remember who we are in Jesus. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” -Romans 8:1-2

It is not easy talking about our struggles, but I write this in hopes that it will help other believers who are suffering the same attacks. None of us have followed the Lord perfectly since the day we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior. Even the Apostle Paul was very open and real about his struggles and encouraged us to “press on toward the goal.” None of us are perfect, and of course we should never abuse the grace of the Lord or use our freedom as a cover up for sin, but the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us even if we slip. It is the evil one who tries to make us feel condemned and abandoned. Those types of thoughts are not from the Lord.

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” -Romans 6:15

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” -Galatians 5:13

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 3:12-14

If we fall into sin at some point during our walk with Jesus, there will be discipline and correction (and that can be painful), but the Lord promises to never leave us. He will finish the work He started in us, and He will fulfill His purpose for us. He will treat us with love in His discipline, and restore us in His wonderful grace, mercy, and forgiveness. He will never condemn or abandon us!

“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” -Hebrews 12:4-11

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 1:3-6

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;

your love, O LORD, endures forever–

do not abandon the works of your hands.” -Palm 138:8

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.” -Hebrews 13:5

We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus, and Jesus promised us that once we belong to Him nothing can snatch us out of His hand. Nothing can separate us from His love, we are sealed in the Holy Spirit, and He will never leave us! Through faith in Jesus, God does not treat us as our sins deserve. He forgives our sins, removes our sins from us, and remembers them no more! Just like the paralytic in Matthew, we can always and forever take heart that our sins are forgiven!

“If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,

O LORD, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness;

therefore you are feared.” -Psalm 130:3-4

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our

iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above

the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear

him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our

transgressions from us.” -Psalm 103:8-12

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” -Hebrews 8:12

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” -Ephesians 2:8-9

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” -1 John 2:1-2

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.” -Ephesians 1:13-14

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” -Jesus speaking in John 10:27-30

“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” -Matthew 9:1-2

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:38-39

Amen! Thank You, Lord Jesus! Thank You so much for loving us, dying for us, and saving our souls! Thank You for Your discipline, and thank You for Your unending mercy, grace, and forgiveness! Thank You for never leaving us nor forsaking us! The condemnation attack is nothing compared to You, Lord! When those attacks come, help us remember Your Holy Word and Your promises! Help us draw the Sword of the Spirit, and cut the lies of the enemy down! All blessing, praise, honor, and glory be to You, Lord! In Your Holy Name, Lord Jesus, amen!

Always remember the Lord’s great mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness. Shame, guilt, and condemnation are attacks of the enemy. The sins we committed before we knew the Lord are painful, but it is the sins we fell into after knowing the Lord that the enemy uses against us the most. The condemnation attack is meant to make us feel separated from the Lord, forsaken, and abandoned, but those lies will never be able to stand up to the Truth of God’s Holy Word or His promises to those of us who believe in Jesus. If you have fallen, repent and run back to Jesus. He has never left you, and He never will. He is waiting for you with open arms to restore and heal you just like the father of the prodigal son.

“I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” -Luke 15:18-20

“I have swept away your offenses like a

cloud,

your sins like the morning mist.

Return to me,

for I have redeemed you.” -Isaiah 44:22

If you believe in Jesus, you will never be condemned! Remember His great love for you! Remember, and be at peace in the Lord! If you don’t know Jesus, today is the day of salvation. Come to Jesus this very moment, and your sins will be forgiven and your soul will be saved!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” -Jesus speaking in John 3:16

Grace and peace to you all!

The Gospel Is Not Complicated

Photo by Ryan, Sunset, Venice, FL

I’d like to ask you a question. Do you want to go to Heaven? Most people would answer yes, and I hope you do too. The answer to how do we get to Heaven is only found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Gospel is not complicated. Jesus is the only One who died to forgive our sins, Jesus is the only Way to Heaven, and it is only through faith in Jesus that we can be saved and go to Heaven.

Most of my posts are at least a thousand words or more. This post will be short because I want you to focus on the simple truth of the Gospel, which teaches us that we must believe in Jesus to be saved. Saved from what, you might ask? Saved from eternal separation from God in the lake of fire. When we believe in Jesus, our sins are forgiven and we are given eternal life in Heaven.

As Jesus taught us:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” -John 14:6

How do you put your faith in Jesus? Here is how the Apostle Paul answered that crucial question:

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” -Romans 10:9-13

Amen! That is the simple, powerful, and eternal truth of the Gospel. Believe in Jesus this very moment, and you will be saved!

I could write so much more, but as I said the Gospel is not complicated. We must come to Jesus by faith, and it is only through faith in Jesus that we are allowed into Heaven. If you would like to learn more about Jesus, the forgiveness of sins, and salvation, please check out the posts below:

Worth A Thousand Words

Jesus Died For The Sins Of The Whole World

If You Were To Die Today

May the Lord bless you, draw you to Himself, open your mind and heart to the truth, and save your soul.

Grace and peace to you all!