A Mile In His Shoes

Sometimes we are so quick to judge. Why did they do that? Couldn’t they see? What were they thinking? They should have known better?

I find myself in this place sometimes. It is far less than it used to be but still way too much. What is really bad is when I turn this inwardly on myself. I should have done this or that. Why do we do this? Interesting question and it deserves some notice. Everyone has a reason for why they did or did not do something. Perfection is a killer. It will destroy relationships faster than anything else, at least that is my opinion. Why do we want to be perfect? It’s easy. We want to be perfect so that we can measure up and not look bad. What a terrible place to live. What a stressful place to live. What a stressful person to be around.

We are human beings. Flaws are a part of our being. This is what makes us unique. We have to be able to laugh at ourselves. We need to be okay with who we are.

We are a generation that is constantly looking for heroes. We expect them to rescue us and to be perfect. Woe to them if they have any flaws. We will make sure the world knows about it. Just run for a political office and see how quickly your life comes under scrutiny and exposure. But we want someone to do it. Sadly, some Christians can be among the worst in this category. They strive so hard for perfection that they totally walk away from mercy and grace. Since they can’t measure up, they have to make others look bad so they won’t look so bad in their own eyes. What a horrible way to live.

There was only One who was perfect and He was crucified. He forgave us all and pours out His mercy and grace on us continually. We are human. He made us that way. He understands. His loves covers us. We stand perfect in Him only through His sacrifice. His love covers us totally and completely.

I can’t measure up to the Law and I never could. We were never meant to. It was always about His love, mercy and grace. Love is never about being perfect. Love just simply loves.

Paul made an awesome statement that changed my life. He said something like, “I do not even judge myself.” Why did he say that? He was talking about judging himself from a worldly view. At best, that is all we have. How can we judge what we do everyday based on what we can see? The Lord judges from above. He has a whole other vantage point.

1 Corinthians 4:3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

It should be enough that we live each day as best we can. It should be enough that we treat each other with respect and love. Give out a little grace and mercy and watch as it blesses you. Be understanding at someone else’s shortcomings and watch their spirit soar as they find the love they so desperately need. Take some time to care. Give yourself some love and laugh again. Take some time and relax. Exhale and let it all go. Let it all go. You are forgiven. You are loved. And you do matter. Rest.

Joseph

Miracles

Do you want to live in the miraculous? You can. It isn’t that difficult. You just have to be in a place where you need them. Still want to go there? Interesting decision.

Over the years I have talked to a lot of people who have wanted to live in the miraculous and see miracles. Most of them have no idea what they are asking for though. Have you ever stopped to think that the only time a miracle is granted is the time a miracle is actually needed. Of course it is nice to have one when you need it.

My family has experienced many miracles over the years and it is great to live in the miraculous, but it can also be stressful. Have you ever needed a miracle to happen for your next meal? Were you ever stranded out in the middle of nowhere, vehicle not running, and no money to repair it? What about a desperate need to get somewhere in half the time it is going to take you to drive it? Once you realize what you may have to go through to live in the miraculous, it might not look that appealing anymore.

The miraculous is an awesome place to live and walk. It is really the only realm to walk in. The Lord gets the glory and only He deserves it anyway. If we have all the money we need or want, then what good is a miracle if we can buy whatever we need. What about health problems? Do you spend all of your money on your health or do you choose to opt for a miracle? If you have the money, do you also have the faith for a miracle? If you don’t have the money, do you have the faith for a miracle? Can you see where this is going?

Look at all of the miracles in the Bible. They only happened when they were needed. Father loves to show off for His children. He will again and again. He cares for you and He cares for me. He is supernatural. He is by nature, miraculous. Choose to walk with Him. Choose to live your life to the full. Let Him help you become the person He created you to be. Fulfill your destiny and enjoy every moment of your life doing what you were created to do. If you need any help figuring out what to do, please see our other posts, visit our website, or contact us. May you live a life of true blessing.

Joseph

Business & Ministry

Business and ministry together, what a thought. But I’ve always heard that business is business and you can’t run a business and ministry together. Why not? Why is business allowed to deal according to the standards of the world system and not the standards of scripture? Why must one keep ministry out of business? It’s because of the lies of the enemy.

Don’t touch the sacred cow? I will indeed and I’ll go further than that. I am so fed up with hearing that it was just a business decision. What about you? Let them stand before Jesus and tell Him that and rest assured, one day they will. Corporate America will not let the ministry into its unethical, treacherous, greedy and power hungry structure. In fact, if it did, that structure would crumple in a heart beat. Who knows, we might even make a new name for ourselves world-wide. Can American business really care about and take care of its clients and customers without hurting anyone? If you mention this now, people wonder what potato cart you fell off. How did we fall so far?

It is interesting that David was a king and a priest before God. In everything he did, he wanted to honor God. He danced in front of the whole city giving praise to his God for their victories. He was the king, so why would he strip off his royal robes and demean himself like that? These were the thoughts of his lovely wife, in fact she thought he made a fool of himself. That would surely be the thoughts of some people if a business owner did that, how much more corporate executives. Perish the thought that they would ever give Him His due.

What about Jesus? He is also king and priest. What about us. Scripture says we are also kings and priests. There is no separation, yet most people don’t even give it any thought. Go to a church building on Sunday and then go and do business the same old worldly way during the week. Hypocrites! No wonder the world has mixed messages about Christians. Did you know the disciples were first called Christians by the Ephesians because they noticed that they were Christ-like. It’s so interesting that we have to promote ourselves as Christians. Why don’t we let others call us Christians instead of touting it so loudly that we totally disturb their peace. We’re probably afraid they wouldn’t see the resemblance.

As I have experienced Corporate America and its dealings with its employees, clients, customers, and the environment we live in, I have acquired a really bad taste in my mouth. It’s all about money, greed and power. Woe to anyone who stands in their way to success. What is more amazing is that we are so willing to put up with it and let them have their way. We have a voice and it’s our pocket book and the legal system. We can say no. We can make a difference. Oh how the mighty are falling. Enron and Worldcom are just the beginning. The veil of secrecy is coming off and many will be surprised at what is going to be revealed. Secrets long hidden will soon be shouted from the housetops. Remember, this is only the beginning.

I have been meditating on something for a long time and now is the time to share it. Christians are selling their souls to the devil. They are selling marketing strategies and inventions given to them by the Lord to the highest bidder and then selfishly living off of the rewards. If that is not bad enough, they are also using the same tactics as their worldly counterpart in their marketing and business dealings. Judgment day is here.

No longer will the old ways of business continue to work. There are new businesses springing up that are solid and ethical. There are new inventions on the way. There is a remnant who will not bow their knee to the god of this world. As the Lord raises up His businesses there won’t be any competition. These businesses will minister to their own, others, and will help to change the environment. These businesses will bring a new meaning to the marketplace. They will bring change. Get ready for the King to take His rightful place. He has heard the cries of the destitute, the hurt, and the broken.

Don’t get left out. Stand up and take your place. Watch for the change, listen to His voice and go for it. You’ve weathered the storms. Now is your time. Simply listen and obey. Be the person you were meant to be and not what someone else wants you to be. Join with those He shows you. Link yourselves together and rise victorious.

Joseph

Hear My Cry

Is anyone there? Help! I’m drowning in this sea of humanity. No one can hear me. No one cares! I know what, I’ll just disappear. No one will ever know.

Have you ever had these thoughts? Are you having them now? Do you know of someone who might? What would you tell me if I said that this is a good place to be? You are at a crossroads. You are special and have been given a unique opportunity. Unfortunately, some people never see the crossroads and continue down a path oblivious to the choices that are available to them.

So have I gotten your attention or are you so angry you are going to close this page? It’s your choice, but I pray that you will consider what I have to share. I have been where you are more than once in my life. Each time was very difficult and I didn’t want to go on. In fact, I just wanted to die. “Lord, take me home.” “How can I get out of here?” “No one can see me and no one cares.” “They’d be better off without me.” “No one will even miss me.”

These are all emotions and they are temporary. They spring from depression and sometimes self-pity. If they go unchecked they can attract a spirit of suicide or murder. Take a look at your life and see how you got here. Was it something you did or didn’t do, or was it something someone did to you? You are at a crossroads in your life. The choice you make here will either lead to new life or down a path of destruction and death. You can choose to forget the past for now. You can choose to see that maybe the Lord is reaching out to you to give you a brand new start and a brand new life. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. The place you are in is only temporary. Don’t make a permanent decision for a temporary problem. Suicide is a permanent decision. You are in a temporary situation. Can you hear me? You need to hear this truth above everything else you are feeling or may be hearing. You are special and you are precious to the Lord.

This is a place of building your spiritual and emotional muscles. How do athletes get strong? They lift weights. They keep adding more weight over a period of time until they get stronger and stronger. That is also how it is in the spirit. You have a spirit man, but if you don’t lift the weights of the trials you face, you will get weak and die. The Lord wants us to be strong in Him so that we can overcome and help others. Allow your spiritual muscles to get strong by overcoming the obstacles placed in your life. Don’t close up and keep all of that stuff inside. Choose to forgive and forget with His strength and grace. Let Him forgive others through you. Making the choice is the hardest part. Walking the path is much easier. When you align your will with His, His grace kicks in and enables you to conquer the highest mountains in your life. It isn’t easy, but it is worth it. I have always come to a better place. It has always been worth the choice. If I had to do it all over again, I’d still say yes to His way. It’s not the mountain top experiences that change our lives the most, it is the journey up to the top.

I hope this encourages you. I know it has encouraged me just writing it and reflecting on those dark times in my life and seeing just how far I’ve come. While this isn’t the life I would have chosen for myself, it is a good life. When you are on a journey with the Lord, it is always full of adventure and excitement. It is my hope that you dare to make the change. Lift up your head and see that the Lord is good and that He is Who He says He is. Others can talk a lot about Him and what they believe, but you need to experience a relationship with Him for yourself. Go for it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Dare to reach out to others who are hurting and you will be encouraged also. Who knows, you may even find a friend or two who will become your best friends. Share your smile. Share His love. Change a life and change yours too.

I have some songs I have written that talk about the crossroads. As time and funding become available, I’ll record and produce these and make them available on the web site. I built a flash jukebox on the site with two of my songs recorded live in San Antonio, Texas, if you would like to listen to them. Here is the link. There are more posts available on this site for you to read or share. I have a book and an art print that we will be offering in the near future. I am currently in the middle of writing my second book and hopefully it will be available soon.

May the Lord bless you and may you have a wonderful life as you walk with Him. May He anoint you and fill you with His peace, love, joy, hope, and grace.

Joseph

Dreams

Some dreams are more than dreams. They are prophetic and they can warn us, encourage us and some can give us insight. How can you tell the difference?

Some dreams are simply an outworking of the previous day. Stress can have a great effect on dreams. Watching a show or movie can initiate a dream. A new relationship or the desire to have one with a particular person can also initiate a dream. But what about those dreams that are beyond this? Let’s explore.

The second type of dreams are angelic or demonic visitations. I am not talking about the ones that happen when you are awake. These are the ones that seem so real, there is an actual spiritual manifestation and you remember them vividly when you awake. They have a particular message and are usually very emotional.

The third type of dreams are the ones that are meant to relay a revelation or warning about a particular individual or situation. Dreams use imagery and are sometimes very difficult to decipher. So how does anyone decipher a dream? Well, the best way I know is to ask the Lord for the interpretation. I had a dream about someone this morning and it was a very important dream. The first thing I did was start praying. Next, I asked a series of questions. Do I need to contact the person and share the dream or just pray for the person? More often than not, I simply pray for the person. This morning’s dream, however, involved a deadly accident. Furthermore, I was instructed to contact the person and share it. Was the accident a physical one or was it something that was going to happen in the spirit? When was it going to happen? This dream involved the spirit, but the attack was going to cause major damage to the person emotionally if there wasn’t any intervention.

These types of dreams are the hardest and most difficult to me. I have to be sure I heard the interpretation correctly and that I didn’t use my own understanding. I also have to relay the dream in the same way. Ultimately it is up to the receiver and how they respond to it. I believe the Lord gives us dreams to warn us of danger and then shows us what to do to avoid it or how to go through it. He also gives us dreams to encourage us.

There are some good books available on the imagery used in dreams but please use caution. In the book of Daniel 2: 21-23, Daniel always acknowledged that dreams come from the Lord and only He can interpret them. In every case, make sure you hear His interpretation. God speaks to us in ways we can understand. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist. It simply takes listening. Weigh each dream and its revelation according to the scriptures. If it doesn’t make any sense or if you don’t have any peace about it, put it on a shelf. If this changes later great, if not, let it go.

May the Lord also give you wisdom as you walk with Him and discover His ways. Walk deeper and deeper with Him. Let His river carry you. Let go, spread your spiritual wings and fly above the things that have held you down. Experience His majesty and greatness. Rise above mediocrity. Dare to dream again. The only way you can fail is if you give up and quit.

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Joseph

Who Am I?

Who am I? What is my purpose? Is there more to this life than this? Here we go again, another spin on the merry-go-round. Stop the world and let me off! There must be something more!

Have you ever had these thoughts? I have. When I was younger it happened a lot. What is my purpose? What is my destiny? That’s why this site is named, “Destiny Path of Life.” I searched and searched until I found the truth. I wouldn’t take just anyone’s opinion. It mattered to me to know the truth. But how can you be sure it is the truth? Truth is waiting to be found. It doesn’t hide behind trickery and deception. It doesn’t play tricks on our minds. It just is and it is always true. Yes, but how can you know. You will know when you find it. Every part of your being will know and finally you will understand that you no longer have to search for it.

Everyone of us has an emptiness inside from the moment we are born. If this emptiness isn’t filled, we will try to fill it with things like relationships, money, possessions, power, etc. If we continue in these things, the emptiness only continues to grow and consume us and the things and people around us. You know I’m speaking the truth because you can feel the touch in your heart. However, when you find the thing that can fill the emptiness, peace floods into your being and for the first time in your life you feel true love. You change. It is part of the process and it is the most wonderful thing that can happen.

I watch people all the time. I wonder what they are thinking as they go about their way each day. What makes them tick? What are they interested in? What is happening in their life today? Are they going through some kind of trial or are they on a mountain top? Sadly, I see too many people who are too busy to notice anything around them. Most of them seem to fill every moment with noise. They never have any quiet time to think and most don’t want any quiet time. They miss the most important things in life while trying to get ahead or to keep up with the world. They are stressed and it is evident. There is no peace nor rest. They take drugs for this symptom and drugs for that symptom never realizing the deadly poisons that are pulsating through their veins. Some have the luxury of something happening in their lives that causes them to take a look and make a change. Some never get the chance, they die suddenly. The carrot is always around the next corner. If I can only make it through today. Why not live today? Why not take some time and discover the rest of your life? The world will still be there tomorrow and it will always take you back.

My friend there is only one way to eternal life. People can argue all they like. The truth doesn’t and can not change. It just is. After everything is said and done, only the truth remains. It doesn’t matter if you believe me or not, if you get mad or upset, it still remains. How can I know that I found the truth? It’s simply this, the emptiness is gone. Love is in its place and peace fills our soul. I don’t have to work at it. I don’t have to do anything to make it that way.

Jesus Christ is the only way. At this point, you can get all upset and walk away. That is okay. I won’t judge you. I hope and pray that you find what you are looking for. Someone must have really hurt you deeply and I pray for the healing to come. No one should be alone.

There are many people who claim to be Christians and follow Jesus Christ. This doesn’t mean they are telling the truth. I am not talking about going to church on Saturdays or Sundays and belonging to a particular group. I am talking about having a relationship with the Lord. I am talking about a relationship that becomes more real than any relationship you’ve ever had. He wants the best for you. He wants you to be free, healed, saved, and delivered from the darkness that binds you. Ask Him for His help. Ask Him to make Himself known to you. Be willing to turn from your ways to find His way and ask Him to fill your heart with His love. You will be changed. It will be real, in fact others will notice. You will see everything in a whole new way and you will never want to go back. Then continue to walk with Him. Get a bible and start reading and ask Him to give you understanding as you read. Find out who He really is and not just what others say about Him. You can know of a person and know certain things about them, but when you become their friend and share each others secrets only then do you really know them. Find the truth for yourself. It is your right and privilege.

If you need any help, please email us by using the form on our contact page. We do care. The opposite of love is not hate, but rather fear. Feel free to read our other posts at our web site.

May you have a wonderful day today. May you see the sun rise and set and see the beautiful colors in the sky. Look at the trees as the wind blows. Listen to the birds sing their songs. Hear the ocean surf or a simple waterfall. Listen to someone laugh. Wear a smile and see how it changes others around you. You can make a difference, one person at a time. You can change the world, make it count. May the Lord bless you abundantly.

Joseph

Inheritance

Which inheritance do you want, Financial, Relationship, or Spiritual? Most everyone knows about financial inheritances, but what about the other two? These two are more important than the first. For those who have these two, the first becomes the icing on the cake.

Out of all three of these, the spiritual inheritance of a person is the greatest or worst thing that can happen to them. I have touched on the different types of gardens we can have in our lives in the posts titled, “Answers,” “Answers - 2,” and “Answers - 3.” Please refer to these for a deeper look at curses and blessings. There are also some good books available to read on this subject. However, for this post, we will concentrate on the inheritance issue from our parents and the generations before to passing on an inheritance from us to our children.

Generational curses are real and do pass on from generation to generation until they are broken and it is the same for blessings. Have you heard the saying that a certain disease is in the family and is passed on to the next generation. Take a look at Deuteronomy chapter 28. Your walk with or without the Lord can affect generations to come. If you were born in a family that served the Lord you were able to start out much further ahead of someone who was raised in a family who didn’t walk with Him. This was very evident in my life. I had many things to overcome once I was born again. I asked the Lord to forgive my ancestors of the sins they had committed. I applied His blood over the generational bloodline and asked for His blessings, however, there were still things I had to overcome and stand against in the power of His Name. These things and entities did not give up and simply walk away. They fought with everything they had.

There were many times I wished that I would have had a father around. He left when I was three and I felt abandoned, lost and alone. I not only wanted a father but a godly father. I didn’t know how to be growing up. I didn’t have a personal example. I so desperately wanted to be a godly man. I searched and prayed and I found the truth and yet I still fell in a lot of pits along the way. I took the truth I found and I applied it to my life and cleared the land so that my children could inherit blessings. How could I help my children and the generations to come? That was the cry of my heart. It is also the cry of Father’s heart. He longs for us to live in His blessings. Make the choice to turn your life around. Forgive those, with His help, who have hurt and abused you. It’s not worth the price you will pay for unforgiveness. Most of those who have wronged you don’t even realize it. Most of all, don’t make your children pay for it.

Next in line is the relationship inheritance and it goes hand in hand with the spiritual. What kind of relationship did you have with your parents? This relationship greatly affects your relationships with other people. Were you hugged a lot? If you were, you are usually closer to other people and feel more loved. If not, you normally stand off from others and feel more alone. I grew up in a family that rarely hugged each other. I found it hard to get close to people and felt alone. After I grew up I forced myself to reach out and get close to others. I hug my children and I am determined to help them have an easier journey. This is not all there is to the relationship inheritance, but it should give you an idea and a starting place. There is also the way our families reacted or responded to other families, governmental authorities, employers, and other groups of people. All these relationships either brought blessings and help us or brought curses and hindered our development.

Last on this list is the financial inheritance. This is perhaps the easiest of the inheritances to obtain, especially when one considers the spiritual and relational aspects. It is relatively easy to obtain money. All it takes is for one certain thing to go right in your life and it can be poured into your hands. There is usually a cost involved and one must consider the cost of financial wealth. While I am suggesting that it can be easy to obtain financial wealth, I am not saying that it is easy to become wealthy. Being wealthy is more than having a lot of money or possessions. The true meaning of wealth includes the blessings of the first two inheritances I mentioned. Without obtaining the blessings of the first two, a financial inheritance can become more of a curse than a blessing. If you don’t believe me, read about some of the wealthiest people in history and then read about their state of mind and follow the lives of their children, blessing or curse.

I hope that this helps you and I hope that it encourages you to get closer to Him. He cares. He cares so much that He was willing to give us the choice. Without choice, love can not exist. You have a choice. I have a choice. I can choose to react to what others have done to me or I can choose to respond to Love. I choose Love. What about you? I pray you make the right decision and give it one more try.

Joseph

Poised for a Miracle

Are you at the end, maybe even the end of yourself? It may be a good place to be. You might be Poised for a Miracle.

Sometimes we become stagnant in our walk. We get in a comfort zone. It seems that it is our nature to remain in these comfort zones, however, if we stay in them we cannot continue to grow and mature.

If we take a look at the eagle, we can get a better picture. The eagle usually builds its nest on a high and treacherous cliff or in trees. It is usually a frightening view for the little baby birds. The adult birds provide everything until the young ones are old enough and it is time to get out of the nest, the comfort zone. Then the adult eagles start tearing the nest apart until the young eagles have no choice but to launch out and fly on their own. Will they make it before they hit the ground? I know that if I was that high up, it would scare me. They have to trust and spread their wings and fly. This portion of their journey in life is now over and they must move on if they are going to survive.

It is the same with us. There are times of comfort and healing. There are times of staying in one place, maybe even for a time to help others. Then there is that inevitable moment when the comfort zone disappears. “God, what are you doing to me?” or “What did I do?” is a typical response. However, it may be something as simple as, “It’s time to move on and to go higher with your life.” If these times are occurring in rapid succession, you might be in a period of rapid ascension. We have to keep in mind that these times are not punishment but rather, a season of going higher.

Now is the time He has your focus and you are ready to hear and see. You are in a place where you are more willing to launch out because there is no other way to go. If you don’t launch out you are destined for failure and loss. It’s not a bad place to be, but rather a place to adventure and go on to a better place. So listen, keep your eyes open and discover what is on its way to you. It may come from, and usually does, a place you least expect it. Don’t try to preconceive what will happen. Simply let it come to you as you continue to do what you know to do.

Peace to you my friend. May His grace empower you to continue on and His faith well up in you so that you can soar above everything that is trying to keep you down. May you be filled and continually be being filled with the anointing of Holy Spirit. Walk in the power of His anointing.

Joseph

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