What have you heard about the Lord Jesus Christ? Of all that you have heard, what do you know to be the truth? Why? Have you personally studied His Word or do you believe what you’ve heard someone else say? All of these things matter if you want to live your life in the Spirit. First of all, we can’t live our lives on someone else’s faith. It just doesn’t happen. Ultimately, another human being will fail us. There is only One Who is perfect and only One Who will never leave us and His name is Jesus Christ. We need to get to know Him personally.

What is life in the flesh? This is living according to our own beliefs, standards, others opinions, doctrines, the law and everything else written and expressed by man. Life in the Spirit, on the contrary, is based upon the truth, grace, mercy, love, and all the attributes of Holy Spirit. Life in the Spirit is when we walk on a path that is above the snakeline. Even in the natural, there is a limit to how high of an altitude snakes will live. It is also true in the spirit. Take a journey through the Bible and focus on the lives of the patriarchs, the prophets and the disciples. They operated in a realm that was higher than the standards of the normal people around them.

We can live in a place of total trust and reliance on the truth that the Lord is in control of our lives, if we have surrendered and given Him our lives. We can live like a child does with its parents in total trust, confidence and protection. If we hold back areas of our lives from Him because of fear, these areas are exposed to the enemy. Fear is the opposite of love, because the word says that perfect love casts out all fear. Where we have fear in our lives, we haven’t opened up and let His love come in. The more we become wrapped in His love, the higher the path we walk. When we attain that level of love where we are confident in His ability and desire to protect and love us, there is absolutely nothing the enemy can do to hurt us. We become totally dead to the ways of this world, but totally alive in Him. We can see with His eyes and feel with His heart. Our understanding takes on a different perspective because we start to see things from His view. His ways are higher than ours and His thoughts are too.

I have admitted many times all of the fears I used to walk with because of the things I’ve walked through. It took a long time to get to a place of faith. It took me a long time to come to the realization that Father really loved me and that He wouldn’t ever reject me. Each trial I walked through with Him increased my faith, because it didn’t matter how many turned away from me and rejected me, He stayed by my side and loved me. This is what changed me. This is why I am so compassionate that others experience His love. I know that if they can just get a taste or a glimpse, they won’t stop until they get it all. It will change your life and you’ll never be the same. The emptiness inside will be gone forever and love will take its place.

This is why I write posts, books, music and create the artwork I do. I want everyone to at least have a chance to taste of His goodness, to experience His love and walk down this path called Life. In my opinion, there is nothing greater than to know that we are loved, accepted and that we have a purpose and a destiny. The Lord created us for greatness, why would we want to accept second best.

Come on, reach down inside and with all of your strength and dare to believe. Reach out for your miracle and don’t stop until you get it. It’s yours, don’t let anyone steal it from you with their opinions, doctrines and false teachings. Look for the truth, search for it with all of your heart and you will find it. May you have an absolutely wonderful day today. If you want an encouraging wallpaper, just click here and download it free. Focus on Him and everything else will lose its hold on you. He loves you. Do you know it?

Joseph

As requested, I am continuing to share more of my story. I know that I will eventually not be able to respond to all of the emails I receive from others, so I am sharing some of what I’ve written personally to others in hopes that it will benefit many others in the same situation. Some of the following is from an email I just responded to this morning from a precious lady in the United States who has just gone through her third divorce. Who is this person? It might be someone similar to you.

If you’ve read my previous post, “When A Marriage Fails,” you will know that I’ve been through two divorces and have now been married for 13 years. If you haven’t read it, you might want to read it before continuing. It will help you understand the background for this post.

I believe that everyone, who goes through a divorce, gets hurt in some form or fashion. Those who appear to be unscathed must simply be able to harden their heart but it doesn’t change the fact that there was some type or form of rejection and failure. Marriage is a covenant that is honored by the Lord. It is also a blood covenant between two people that is established during sexual intercourse. The breaking of the hymen signifies this covenant. Each partner a person has in sexual intercourse is another covenant created. The two become joined emotionally. When a person has had multiple partners, they can start to become fragmented in their emotions. These things need to be addressed if one wants to be free and whole. The scripture states that most sins are done outside of the body, but sexual sin is done to the body.

Sex can never be casual. It doesn’t matter if you believe me or not, the truth just is. There are emotional things that happen during sex. It may be different for the man and woman to some degree, but there is a connection made. Emotions are transferred from one to another. The state of each person’s being makes a difference. The reasons why also matter. Judgments are made. A person’s mental stability can be affected. How does the other person feel about me? Do they like me or do they reject me? Our identities can be formed in these moments of intimacy, more so than any other form of contact. In every sexual encounter, emotions and thoughts are transferred and they can go to the core of our being. We need to ask the Lord to forgive us for every sexual relationship we’ve had and to heal us and to make us whole again. Also, pray for the other person to be healed and whole. Believe me, you don’t want to carry that junk around with you.

Separation and divorce cut off these relationships. They signify failure and rejection. Some people get involved in casual sex because they fear these things, guess what, it still happens. They still feel these things to some degree. Why was the sex initiated in the first place? When this relationship stops, there is still a separation from the relationship. Everyone wants to be loved for who they are.

During my second separation and divorce, I didn’t want to go on. I was very familiar with rejection and failure and I was totally defeated. I couldn’t work and I could barely cope. Some Christian friends took me in and gave me a place to stay. I am so honored by and grateful to these people. They helped save my life. Others accused me of being a bum. My family could not understand my total turnaround. Here was this person who was intelligent, destined for greatness and all of a sudden he couldn’t even hold a job. My family was fearful and so they reacted in the only way they knew. I didn’t see this at the time and thought that everyone was being critical. To make matters worse, I was a believer and had walked with the Lord since I was 16. How could this happen? You know what I found out, most of the world doesn’t condemn Christians, Christians do that to each other and they are very good at it. I found this part about Jesus to be true. Jesus was crucified by the very ones He came to save. Do we think it won’t happen to us? The religious crowd are ALWAYS the first to judge. Those who truly follow Jesus are the first to forgive and reach out in love. Please Note: This is a good way to find out who is safe and who isn’t. Be on guard, as the word says, some are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Don’t assume that just because someone says they are a Christian, they are safe to be around. Use wisdom.

I know this is a long post, but I don’t want to cut it short. Some things just happen in life. The Lord gave each one of us the right to make choices. Each choice we make has a ripple effect in the lives of others. One example: I can choose to pass on a smile to someone else and brighten their day, or I can grumble and complain about something and bring them down a notch or two. This is my choice, but it affects someone else who affects someone else. Get the idea?

Okay, so enough of my rambling. Following is an excerpt from the email I sent. This person is going through a similar situation that I have gone through. I hope this helps.

I know it is very difficult to be in the position you are in now. I was in a similar position emotionally and physically as well as financially. I had to learn to accept money and help from others and was also accused of being a bum. My family couldn’t understand what I was going through, but the Lord did and that was all that mattered during those times. I had to stay true to Him, He was my only hope. In due time, others began to see and understand some of what I was going through. My family has even turned around. They were very concerned about me, but the way they showed it came through fear and didn’t manifest itself correctly. I needed to come to an understanding that unsaved people cannot see things the way we can and we can’t expect them to understand the things of the Spirit, in fact it is impossible for them to see.

Your family are who they are and until the Lord reaches down and touches them, they will probably stay the same. Forgiveness is a choice and not an emotion and if you can find it in yourself to choose to forgive them with the Lord’s help, I think a lot of things will change as to how you see them. I am not saying that what they have done is right or that you don’t have the right to not forgive them. I am saying that it will make a difference in your life right now. (I don’t know who wrote this, but I read this the other day. “Forgiveness is a selfish thing, because it releases you and frees you from something done to you.” The other party still has to choose for themselves. I thought, how true this is. So be a little selfish and forgive them, but also show a little mercy and pray for them. Then let the healing have its way.)

Try to focus some on yourself too. You need some healing. Your heart has just been torn to shreds and it hurts. It is okay to grieve and cry. In fact it is necessary for the healing to be completed. I would also suggest that you may be fighting generational curses, I know I was. As we forgive our ancestors and apply the blood of Jesus to our bloodline, it cuts the enemy off from us and our children going forward. Of course they are responsible for their own choices, but it does eliminate some of those things deeply ingrained in our families. (I will touch on this subject more in subsequent posts.)

Money is an easy thing for the Lord to change in our lives. The Lord can put us in a situation of plenty overnight. Look at Joseph’s life in Genesis. He didn’t deserve the things that happened to him and he endured a lot of flack from his family. In the end, he was not only able to help them but the whole world around him. Healing the heart, on the other hand, can take a lifetime because it involves us in letting the Lord come into to those secret places and bring His healing. The degree of healing we receive is directly proportional to the depths we are willing to let Him go. Usually, the way He shows us these areas is with other people. What are the judgments we’ve made? Who do we harbor unforgiveness against? Do we keep repeating the same patterns over and over again? Why? Is there a pattern in our marriages? Do the spouses all end up being the same? These are questions to ponder and have the Lord help us with. The more we get cleansed and healed the freer we become. I speak this from experience.

I am going to use some of these things I am sharing with you in my post for today. You have helped me to remember these things and I know it will help others too. Just by your writing to me, you are also now helping others. We are all in this together. As we reach out to others it begins to multiply.

I hope you feel better and I pray that you continue to receive His encouragement and strength. The Lord has great plans for you. You are not a mistake, the Lord knew you before you were born and has marked your destiny. Keep on walking, blessing and reaching out to others and try not to take anything personally. They are not rejecting you, they are rejecting Him.

This is true for you too. As time permits, I will continue adding to my story. May you be totally healed inside. May you find the grace to choose to forgive and let go of others. As you study the scriptures, may you find out how the Lord really thinks of you. You are the apple of His eye. Those who touch you, touch Him. He has a destiny and a purpose for your life. You were born for greater things. It doesn’t matter what others may say about you, it only matters what you believe about yourself and the promises the Lord has for you. No one can keep you from your destiny except you. 2Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Keep your head up, like Thomas Edison said, “I haven’t failed. I’ve simply found another way that won’t work.” Keep searching for the truth and you will find it. Here’s to you. Go for it with everything that’s in you. The best is yet to come. Have a great and wonderful day.

Joseph

When my first wife said she wanted a divorce, I was shell-shocked. I didn’t see it coming. I had vowed to never get a divorce and here I was knocking on the door of the divorce court. My two precious daughters were only three and one and a half. My youngest hadn’t even taken her first steps yet. They were going to go through exactly what my brother and I did at their ages, a divorce. They would be separated from their dad. How can this happen again? Frantically, I went to my lawyer and asked him how I could stop this from happening. What did I have to do to stop it? His answer was simply, “there isn’t anything you can do!” I was devastated. I could see the generational curse happening all over again and I was powerless to do anything to stop it. Later, I would learn that it was my youngest that would pray over and over again for her mom and dad to get back together again, but that never happened.

I learned some important lessons during these trying times. I learned to lean on the Lord and to trust Him in every situation or so I thought. Life is a journey and I had prayed for wisdom and understanding. The scripture says that, “though it cost you everything, get understanding.” I was only beginning on my journey. I did everything I could to try to stay near my girls, but their mom kept moving. I finally surrendered this area to the Lord and told Him I would do everything He wanted me to do, but He had to take care of my family. He still honors this to this day. He has protected and kept us from all kinds of dangers. He is totally awesome.

Well, a few years later I met someone else and I thought that this was it. I thought that this was the person for me and I thought the Lord’s blessing was upon it. It lasted ten short months. This was the one that almost did me in. I couldn’t function anymore. My faith was shaken to the core. Everything I had hoped and dreamed for was lying dead on the floor. I just wanted to leave the earth, but He wouldn’t let me leave. He has given us all choices and we don’t always make the right ones. Sometimes we give up too easily on one another. How will we ever survive, let alone rise victoriously over the things that hold us down? Strictly by His grace and power!

It took me more than two and a half years to come through this last fiery trial. The Lord put someone else in my path and we have been married now for over thirteen years. Was it easy? No! I have learned a lot since then. I have gained some wisdom and understanding. The Lord gives us all choices and some times we just aren’t patient. It is because of our choices we can bless people or create hurt and destruction in others lives. Torn, bruised and broken people are created by our own and others choices. This is who we are without Him.

I have received a lot of healing over the years. I have spoken about my fears in many of my other posts. I am a different person and I hope I can help others find hope and healing too. My wife and I live to help others. This is why we get up and do the things we do every day. We have touched His heart. We have embraced His love. We have received His forgiveness, mercy and grace and now we want to pass it on. We have lived in His miracles and they still continue. Every day has its miracles and we are thankful for everyone. This journey is too wonderful to keep to ourselves. Others need to know they can have this too. I am saddened by the fact that not everyone will, however I am encouraged that some will and this keeps me writing.

Feel free to check out our web site. We will be changing some things in the coming months. My work load is heavy right now with our VaryMedia design business, so I will continue to change things when I can. We are going to create a Flash book for the “Destiny Path of Life, Book 1, The Journy Begins,” book. Everyone can read it on the website for free or download it from our shopping cart for a nominal price. I will continue to write approximately twice a week in the blog. Keep checking back for articles that might interest you or someone else and then pass it on to others. Keep smiling, keep going, you can’t lose if you keep on going. Choose to make a difference in someone else’s life today, and watch it bring you more joy. “Life is a journey, and it is your choices that carve the paths for you to walk!”

Joseph

I just read a story yesterday on the AP wire about this same thing. Check it out if you wish, “Everything Seemingly Is Spinning Out Of Control.” Belief in the government to do the right thing is at an all-time low. Belief in the candidates for president are also at a low. Who can help us? What is the cause and who will rise up in these times to help?

There are two kinds of people in these kinds of situations, those who walk in fear and others who seek to find the truth. In the times of the Great Depression, there were those who lost everything and those who became rich. Those who became rich didn’t panic. They assessed the situation and made the correct moves. The same type of situation is happening today. There are people losing everything and there are others getting rich. Why is this so?

Our world today is changing. We are going from single country economies to a world economy. This is just a fact. There are many adjustments being made as the changes come about. The things that were true for the previous generation don’t work today. We have to put off the old ways of thinking if we are going to not only survive, but also succeed in the days ahead. The old school of thought simply won’t work today. It will bankrupt us.

U.S. corporations and businesses are way out of touch with reality. In their greed for riches they are undermining the American way of life. America wasn’t a selfish nation, but it has become just like the rest of the world, if not worse. When we were a nation of givers, of moral values, and a people who prayed and walked with Jesus Christ, we were a strong and blessed nation. In the last 50 years we have listened to those who thought they knew better, we listened to them and look where we are today. Where are they now? Where are their wonderful words of wisdom? They are blaming it on someone else. Where are all of these people who have said they were going to move out of the country if a certain person gets elected? They are still here. Liars! Where are the real men and women who will lead our nation? Most of them don’t believe anymore and the ones that do have to consider the harsh treatment they will receive if they do choose to run for office. Is it really worth getting their lives torn apart by the media? The media is more biased than ever. To survive, they have to craft stories that will make them huge profits. Where is the truth? Does anyone care? Even some so-called churches are going after riches instead of following the truth. They build their own temples and monuments in their name instead of doing the work of the Lord. My God, my God, have mercy on us. Open our eyes so that we can see how far we’ve fallen. It is a sad day in America. How many of us really care enough to do something about it?

“There is nothing new under the sun,” as Solomon stated in Ecclesiastes. The Lord is allowing our selfish ways to reap a harvest. When man comes to the end of himself and sees all that he has accomplished as rubbish, it is then he looks beyond himself for help. It is then He can even see to acknowledge the Creator. Whether he chooses to surrender his life to the Lord is another story.

With all of our so-called technology and wisdom, we are perpetually becoming more and more wicked. We don’t care about anyone except ourselves and this must stop if we are to see a change and escape the situation that is headed our way. We must surrender our lives to Jesus Christ and find His love. I am not talking about just going to church. Keith Green once said in a song he sang, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger.” I am talking about a personal relationship with the Lord Himself. I am talking about personal communication with Him. You will know if you’ve really surrendered your life to Him and asked Him to come inside and change you, because you will feel like a brand new person. The emptiness that is inside of your heart right now will disappear and love will be in it’s place.

It is only He who can help us in these times of uncertainty. He wrote the book and the end is sure, but it is a glorious end for those who choose to walk with Him. He helps us and guides us into all truth. He wants to help each and every one of us, but the choice is up to us. Will we let pride and ego stand in our way or can we humble ourselves and fall on His mercy and forgiveness? I’ve made my choice and I’ve never regretted it. I can look into my future with certainty. I know that no matter what happens, I will never be alone again. He is my protector, my shield and His love encompasses my whole life. Who should I fear? What about you? What choice will you make? Future Uncertainty or Future Certainty?

It is my prayer that you can find encouragement in these words today. I do care. My life is full of mistakes and regrets and I still don’t do everything right, but my heart is right. I am headed in the right direction. The Lord doesn’t need perfect people, He just needs your heart. Allow Him to change you into the person you were destined to be. Allow Him to lead you into the truth and experience His love. Let Him change you. You can’t do it, it is only by His grace. Relax, let His peace come over you and start a new life today, a life of adventure and do the things you were created to do. You are worth it. He calls you by name. You are not a number to Him. You have His ear anytime you want it. Let Him know your heart and He’ll show you His. Check out my other posts to know more about Him and find a Bible or go to BibleGateway.com and read it there. There are many versions to choose from as well as search tools to use. Let your life be full of certainty. Pass this on to others, smile and try to focus on the things that really matter. Let the distractions fall away and walk in your destiny.

Joseph

There is only one way that I know of to get to the other side and that, my friend, is through the cross of Jesus Christ. If you are like me, we’ve done things our way. It reminds me of the song, “My Way” by Frank Sinatra. “Let the records show, I took the blows and did it my way!” Been there! Done that! I have the scars and wounds to prove it. I like the Lord’s way better. I want this to be my song. “Let the records show, He took the blows and I did it His way.” I want peace in my life. I want to live in love, grace and mercy. I’ve tasted His love and it is good. I’ve shared in some of His sorrows and I see life from a whole new perspective. I’ve been in some of His resurrection power and let me tell you, there is nothing that compares to this.

Why would I embrace the cross and let go of my own life? It wasn’t easy and it was really impossible without His grace. This life is really a journey and each day brings a new segment. When I was going through the bad times, there was so much fear around me. Each fear I faced, brought a new discovery of who He was. He kept bringing me through every situation. There were many times I thought things were impossible and yet here I am. There were things I deserved and yet grace and mercy prevailed, time and time again. It was during the hard times I discovered the depths of His love. By laying down my life, my desires and my way of thinking, I found His plan and purpose for my life. I am doing the things that fulfill my life and I live in peace. There is nothing better than this. Most of my fears are now dead and buried and my faith continues to grow. This is what I call living.

Each of us has a God-given destiny and purpose. It is up to each of us to choose His or ours. We can’t blame our choices on someone else. In the end, we are the only ones responsible for our life. I challenge you to get to know the Lord. Dare to face the biggest challenges of your life and walk in the greatest blessings also. Things are not what they seem. Reality can change in an instant. Miracles happen everyday. The Lord loves you and He wants the best for you. He can take any bad situation and turn it for good.

I encourage you to check out some of my other posts. There are a lot on encouragement, how to get to know the Lord, and how to deal with certain situations. I have them categorized and also listed alphabetically by title for each year with a short summary of each. Feel free to share your comments or to write to me on our contact page. People are writing to me from all over the world. Some don’t know where to turn to for help. That is the reason this site exists. Somehow, we need to encourage each other. You and I need to know we are okay and that the Lord loves us. I get encouraged by hearing from you and by helping and praying. Encourage someone today. Smile to others and watch them refocus on something good for an instant. You just changed their life. You just made a difference. Something good happened to them today, YOU. Pass it on. It is great.

Joseph

The Lord knows what is going to happen around us in the world today and also in the future. Sometimes the miracles we think we need will only bring us more pain down the road. Parents who have children know that you don’t always give the child what they want because some of the things they want would be harmful, if not fatal to them. The Lord is like this also, however, selfish people sometimes get what they ask for to their detriment, so we need to be careful.

I know of a lot of people who wanted to marry a certain person only to have the marriage end in a divorce in less than a year. Our emotions can lie to us, especially where love is concerned. Some people want to have a lot of money and become so greedy they miss out on the life around them. They end up all alone and totally empty inside. Be careful what you pray for.

I used to pray for just big miracles and then I started noticing the little miracles that were happening everyday. There were a lot of situations happening that were perfect timing. Being at the right place at the right time was an amazing thing. Finding the right parking place in a crowded parking lot was really a blessing. Meeting someone for the first time that seemed like you knew them your whole life is an exceptional blessing. Meeting the person the Lord has for you to marry is one of the greatest miracles. Getting a new idea and then turning it into a Kingdom business is also a wonderful thing. With all of this, as wonderful as it is, it is only the beginning. With every miracle comes the responsibility to walk it out.

I now live a life of miracles. I used to look for the big ones, but now I enjoy the small ones. When I meet new people, I wonder, “Lord, what do you have for them today? Why did you put this together? Is there something special going to come from this?” and then I go on. If something happens from it, great and if not, maybe something will happen later. I marvel at God’s creation. I love to look at the sunrises and sunsets. I like to see the clouds from an airplane. I like waterfalls and the sounds of the ocean. I like to look at the mountains and see the Lord and His majesty. Man in all of his abilities has nothing on creation.

I have said all of this to simply say, ask Him for your miracles, thank Him for them in advance, and then eagerly expect to see what He will do. Keep in mind that “no” is also an answer. It is all about you. As you go throughout your day, look around you and see what is happening. Are there others who need your help or just a smile? Brighten someone else’s day and yours will be brighter too. Enjoy your life and expect miracles each day. Give your life to Jesus Christ and experience the greatest miracle in life. He cares for you. He loves you. He gave His life for us, can we expect to do any less for Him?

There are other posts I have written on different topics of getting closer to Him as well as articles for people going through certain circumstances. Feel free to check these out and to send the links to others who need encouragement at: Destiny Path Of Life Blog. We also have some free wallpapers for encouragement and some other things available on the web site. Check them out when you can and we will be adding more in the coming days: Destiny Path Of Life. Whatever you do in life, enjoy it. I’ve made it through many rough spots because of the One I walk with everyday. He hasn’t left me and He won’t leave you. Life is a journey, take advantage of it.

Joseph

John 3:16 “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.

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Father sent His only Son into the world to save us because He loved us so much. Even as the people were crucifying Him with so much hatred, Jesus looks up to heaven and says, “Father, forgive them.” Do you get it? Can you see? It doesn’t matter what you have done, His proclamation wasn’t only for them but for all future sin, for every sin we would ever commit. “Father, forgive them.” The only thing left for us to do is to simply confess our sins to Him and then RECEIVE His FORGIVENESS. It is a gift and it is available to you. If someone gives you a gift, do you tell them thank you and then never take it? Of course you don’t, but there are people all the time that will thank the Lord for His forgiveness but don’t apply it to their lives. They still walk around like they are beaten down. Why? Most of this is because of false teachings of the gospels. Each one of us needs to decide who we are going to believe, man or the Lord.

This is all coming to me with great seriousness. Father is so adamant about this. He wants His people to know the truth. This my friend is one of the most important things you need to understand if you are going to overcome. One of the best weapons the enemy uses against us is guilt. Forgiveness will set you free from guilt. It breaks his stronghold on us. If you simply can’t forgive yourself, ask the Lord to help you forgive yourself and this goes the same in forgiving others. What makes you think you have to do it all by yourself? 2 Corinthians 10:4 We are in a spiritual war and the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, (of the flesh), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. His word is our defense and offense. Learn and study His word in the Bible.

How can you fight doubt, unbelief, man’s lies, and the devil’s lies if you don’t know the truth? You must study the Bible. Get a Concordance and a topical reference or go to http://www.biblegateway.com/ and see where Holy Spirit will lead you in His word. It will start to be fun as you discover meanings beyond just the literal word. Find life in each word as the passages of scripture come alive and energize your spirit. My wife told me that the Lord gave her this scripture on her walk, 1John 2:26-27 “I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” It is a journey and it is fun to discover what the Lord has prepared just for you. Become like a child and let Him teach you and show you His truth. Just think, your journey has only just begun. There is nothing like this walk, I know I am walking it. Let go of the fear of man, the fear of failure, and the fear of rejection and let your spirit soar on the wind of Holy Spirit. Spread your wings and fly and let His love embrace you.

My friend, it is my prayer that you find Him and walk with Him all your life. I write because I want to share what He has given me with you. I write because you are special and I want you to have the best in life. “My success or failure is not measured in dollars and cents nor by the company I keep, but rather by the path I choose to walk.” I write my music because I want to sing to Him and to encourage others in song. I write the books to tell stories of encouragement. I do the artwork to illustrate the Lord’s word in a picture form. He is worthy of my praise, worship, and my life. I hope you discover Him in this way also. Smile, at least for a moment. The Lord loves you and He cares! Now share it with someone else.

Joseph

I am one of the fortunate, I know someone Who helps me everyday. He is closer than my brother and I can share all of my problems with Him. He won’t ever leave me and it is He who calms my fears, fills me with His love, and leads me down the path of life. My purpose and destiny are in His hands and they are secure. The good news is that you can know Him too. He can have the same relationship with you that He has with me. It is your choice.

I’m sure you’ve heard all kinds of stories about Him. Some are probably true and others aren’t. Some stories are well-intentioned, while others want to keep you away from Him. The only thing that really matters is whether or not you want to know the truth. There are many different denominations and different groups proclaiming they know Jesus Christ. Some really do have a personal relationship with Him and some are just living in intellectual religious knowledge and not understanding that there is more to it. So how can you find the truth? How can you know that what you believe is the truth? The best way is to search for it with ALL of your heart. Don’t hold so tightly to any of your opinions in your quest. Find a Bible and start reading it. I suggest you start with the gospels, Psalms and Proverbs. If you don’t have one, go to this web site: BibleGateway.com

My walk with the Lord began with one step at a time. It was similar to the way of meeting a girl, dating, and eventually marriage. What I mean by this is that it really takes time to get to know someone. How do you really know someone if the relationship is never put to the test? It is during these times you find out who you are and who they are. I’ve been through some really tough stuff and each situation helped me know Him better. He never left me, even when it was my fault. There was a time when He was the only one who stood by me.

We all have choices to make. We can choose whether we want to trust others just like us or the One who created us. His word is true. His promises come true. He will have His way and it is good. If you want wisdom, ask for it. It is the same for true love, forgiveness, mercy, peace, gentleness, tenderness, healing, salvation.

One of my favorite stories is about Ezekiel in Chapter 47. Ezekiel was led into a river and as he walked it got deeper and deeper until it carried him. It was the river of the Lord. This is such a great picture of our walk with Him. We can walk with Him on the shore and never get our feet wet. There are a lot of people who do this. They are afraid to let go and let Him take care of them, they are usually so independent. Then there are those who go in up to their ankles and they experience a shallow relationship. There are others who go in up to their knees. They might not be able to see the bottom anymore, which may mean they are unsure of their next steps. Some go in up to their waist and they begin to lose their footing sometimes due to the current, but they also begin to enjoy its coolness and its refreshing touches. Then there are those who launch out into the deep and are carried by the current, helpless but to go where it takes them. These are those who experience the fullness of the Lord. He is their sole provider and helper. If He doesn’t come through, it’s over. These are the ones who experience the depths of His love, the bigger miracles, they see things others don’t get to see because these things can only be seen in the deep waters of the river.

How deep do you want to go? It is your choice. You can always go back to the shore where everything seems to be safe and your feet are on solid ground. What is it you really want? Would you like to find your destiny and purpose? Would you like to know why you were created? Would you like to wake up every day doing the very thing that brings fulfillment to you? Again, it’s your choice. If you choose to never try it, don’t knock someone else who does. Be brave, overcome the fear and at least give it a shot. What do you have to lose except for fear and your pride? What are they doing for you anyway?

What would it take for you to decide to take a new journey today? I can tell you story after story, but if you never take the steps, it doesn’t matter anyway. At the end of our lives, it doesn’t matter what others did to us or how they didn’t help, what matters is what choices we made. It doesn’t matter what time in history and what country we live in, the Lord doesn’t make mistakes. His plan for us starts with where we are now. He has a way to bring us through anything we are going through, but we have to make the choice to trust Him and let Him lead us the way He wants without judging the journey until we make it to the end. We are responsible for our own lives. The Lord is fully capable of creating miracles and changing our lives, but if we don’t give Him the authority and a chance, He can’t. He gave us the freedom of choice. The choice is ours. His hands are tied until we choose.

My choice to ask His forgiveness for all my sins, to lay down my will and choose His, to bow my knee to Him and humbly ask for His help was the best choice I’ll ever make. I have never regretted this decision. It has been a difficult journey, it hasn’t been easy, but its been worth every bit of the journey. I know Him now, and the good news is that you can too. Dare to go out into the deep waters of the river of life and experience His love for you. He cares and He loves you so much more than you can imagine. Let today be the first day of the rest of your life. Let His love cleanse you from all sin. Let Him heal your heart and your body. Invite Him into your heart and you will know that He is real. The emptiness inside will be replaced with His love. Go for it, what do you have to lose that really matters much anyway? This is the greatest of all miracles.

Use the form on our contact page to let us know how you are doing. We are praying for every reader. We care, that is why this site exists. If you feel that no one does, we do. We created this site for those who have no where to turn, those who might be all alone, and those in situations where they don’t know who to ask for help. Please check out my other posts for encouragement and help. We are all human, we make mistakes and we need each other. Also, check out the rest of our site, we have some things available for free. Reach out to Him and live an overcoming and victorious life. Today can begin your life of miracles.

Joseph

Romans 7:21-8:4 …So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! … 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. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit…

Every time we meet with the law, we meet with defeat! Let me say that again, every time we meet with the law, we meet with defeat! When we try to live up to what we should do, we judge ourselves according to the law. The law has already judged us and we are worthy of death. We can’t help but sin, it is in our nature. There is no escape in the flesh. Paul says we are a prisoner of the law of sin within us. How will we overcome? Who will rescue us? There I go, except by the grace of God. Get this please, and my inner man also, except by grace we are capable of doing the same terrible and horrible things that are done in the world every day. Grace! Grace! Grace! If we can really understand this next scripture, it will set us totally free.

Ephesians 2:8-10 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. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

So now, if we are saved by grace, and according to Romans, we have been set free from the law of sin and death, why on earth would we ever want to live according to it again? We do, because that is how we were taught. Some church leaders need some kind of hold on their people, they can’t just let them run wild in the Spirit of God and have some fun and overcoming in Him, now can they? Now, this isn’t always the case, a lot of leaders simply don’t know. They don’t understand this passage. Get the whip out and let’s beat ourselves for missing the mark again. Does this sound familiar? It does to me, I’ve done it and sometimes I still get caught up in it. Woe is me, I failed again. SELF-PITY! The devil loves self-pity. He uses this spirit to render mighty men and women of God defenseless. As long as we are in a pity party, we are of no help to the Lord or ourselves. In all fairness, there are also a lot of leaders who understand this truth and operate in it bringing freedom to their groups.

REFOCUS! I am writing this as much to myself as anyone else out there. We are free from the law of sin and death. Focus on Life in the Spirit and you can’t be judged because the righteous requirements of the law have been fully met in Jesus. If we are living in the Spirit, we are the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. We are spotless and blameless and this is according to His word. The law has no more control over us, unless we allow it. The devil cannot blame us anymore unless we accept his judgments, nor can anyone else. We stand guiltless and sinless before the Lord. Is there anyone else that dares to judge us otherwise? Are they God? Do they stand against Him? We are His children and He will protect us.

Do some reading about the prophets and people of old? Were their lives perfect? Did they obey every word? Would you have chosen them to represent God? What about Abraham and his fears and mistakes? Look at David and his adultery with his friend’s wife and if that wasn’t bad enough, he had him set up to be killed on the battlefield. What about Paul and the fact that the Lord chose him as an apostle when he was the guy who was pursuing and killing the disciples. Peter denied the Lord not once, but three times and the Lord still put him in charge of others saying, “Peter, feed my sheep.” We are in good company. We are human. We make mistakes, but praise the Lord that it is by grace that we are saved. We are not under the law, but under grace. This doesn’t give me a license to sin, on the contrary, if I live in the spirit I won’t even focus on sinning or not, I’ll simply live. I’ll be focused on Him and His love. I’ll be focused on the needs of others. I’ll be so caught up in His love, some things simply won’t matter anymore. This is where I want to stay, wrapped up in His love while living here on earth.

There is a higher way to live. Take gravity for instance, for so many years we were taught that what goes up, must come down. Then NASA sent a rocket to the moon and it didn’t come back down. We simply superseded the law of gravity. This is how it is in the Spirit. This is how it is with the way of the eagle, soaring high above the things that would try to bring it down. We too, can fly above our circumstances. We realize they are there and we continue to work towards their resolve, but we can do it in an attitude of love and confidence that we will overcome. This is the difference.

I have posted other articles for your reading. We have free encouraging wallpapers and a questionnaire to help you showcase your desires, talents and abilities. There is also music and an art print on the path of life. Feel free to check back twice a week for new posts and if you know of anyone who needs to be encouraged, send them a link. If I haven’t quite worded something right, please forgive me, I am limited by my own humanness. Please catch the spirit of what I am saying. Let’s give each other the room to make mistakes. If you see any bloopers, feel free to laugh. Enjoy your life. Get caught up in Holy Spirit and your life will take on a new meaning. Check out some of my other posts if you want to know how to get closer to Him. As my friend in London says, “Have a lovely day.”

Joseph

Revelation 12:10-11 “For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

Have you lost everything? Are you at the bottom of the pit and the way up seems insurmountable? Are you going to give up? Is everything really lost? Does it really matter? Are you just tired and worn out?

I know the feeling. It may have been different circumstances, but I have stood where you are now. Hopeless, alone, rejected, wounded, fearful of what tomorrow will bring. Where will the next meal come from? How will I ever overcome all of this? I am so far down, there can’t possibly be any way out.

Those days have passed. They have faded into the past and only their memory remains. The Lord has been faithful even when I lost all hope. He never gave up on me and He carried me in His arms when I couldn’t go on. He will do the same for you, if you let Him. The Lord isn’t limited by who we think He is or by what someone else says He is like. He is what He proclaimed in the Bible. He is not bound by our religious beliefs. He is not bound by the government or someone’s military might. He is not scared of terrorists. This is His earth and His creation. He created it. He died on the cross to save mankind. He has a purpose and a plan. He will overcome evil and establish His kingdom on the earth. He will wipe the tears away from His people and comfort them in His love.

He is worthy of our praise. I have seen miracle after miracle including physical healings, mental healings, and being translated from one place to another. I’ve felt His presence so heavy, I was unable to stand. He is more real to me than the people around me. He has done this for me and He wants to do the same for you. He wants to have a personal relationship with you. He loves you more than you can imagine. Just think, when He was in the garden of Gethsemane, He knew He was going to die on the cross. He had a choice to make. I believe He saw each and everyone of us and He thought, they are worth it. When He was on the cross, in such agony and pain, He looked up to heaven and said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” It was for you and me so that we could be restored to the Lord.

You are not at the end, my friend. You have only come to a crossroads. It is simply a change in direction and you are never too old to start down this path. Only Jesus Christ knows what you need. He cares enough to interrupt our lives to help us fulfill the purpose we were created. Are you ready for a miracle? If you turn to Him and ask Him for His help, He will. Dare to get to know Him. What do you have to lose?

I have been asked over and over to share my story. I will be starting on it in the upcoming posts. My life, in my opinion, is riddled with mistakes, distractions, and disappointments. I haven’t done the right things, nor made all the right choices. In my opinion, I am not a good candidate for a role model. I’m glad I wasn’t the one choosing. The Lord picked me up in the midst of my misery and changed my life. Lots of things stood against me, but He was on my side. My bloodline was full of unbelievers and sinners and such. My family life was dysfunctional, broken and torn. I had so many fears I didn’t know if I’d ever stand up strong. I searched and I searched for the truth, because I wanted to know. He was right beside me all the time. All I had to do was ask Him for His help. He’s changed my life. It’s been a journey. It’s been a relationship. I still have a ways to go, but I’m glad I made the choice. I can tell you from experience that He is alive. I have seen the miracles. He has healed me and others physically and mentally. He’s not just some words in a history book. He can change your life, if you want Him to do so. Check out these two posts if you want to get to know Him: “Who Do You Trust,” and “In His Presence.”

Since I’ve started this blog, I’ve had people from around the world write to me. You know what, we are all people. We all have emotions and desires. We laugh, we cry, we love, and of course we have the ability to do terrible things. We live under different laws. We have different religious beliefs because of different religious organizations. My goal with this web site is not to answer everyone’s questions. My goal is to encourage you to go on. My goal is to introduce you to the One who has made such a difference in my life. He is not a myth. He is real. One of my thoughts in the beginning was, “If I can just help one person not to commit suicide, that would be worth it for me.” Suicide is making a permanent decision for a temporary problem. It wrecks families and friends. If, for some reason, you don’t believe there is anyone else in the world who cares for you, I am telling you now, I do. You are the reason and there are more than one of you. I am here to tell you that your life wasn’t a mistake. You are not here by accident. You have a purpose and you have a destiny. You just need some help in finding it. Please check out my other blog posts and the web site. If you want, you can write to me from the contact page. I’ll answer as many as I possibly can. I also write new posts based on questions sent to me. Feel free to ask Jesus anything you want, after all He is the One who created you and knows you the best. I have a questionnaire on the site that will help you discover some things about yourself. I have two of my songs on a flash jukebox. As time permits, I will be adding more. There are four encouraging wallpapers available for free to download to your desktop. I also have an art print on the two paths of life. Check these out and I hope they encourage you. Then reach out to others, smile and encourage them. You will be more encouraged just by encouraging others.

Some of my readers have never been inside of a church building. Some do not even have the luxury of being close enough to go. Some won’t come out of their homes because of the fear in their heart. If we never meet, that is okay, but if you leave this earth without meeting Him, you will have lost everything. If you really want to know the truth, then search for it with all of your heart and you will find it. You are at the end anyway, so what do you have to lose. You are not alone. He is with you. All you have to do is ask. If I don’t meet you here on this earth, I hope to see you in heaven. May you live a full and victorious life. May the Lord fill you with His peace, guide your way, and make Himself known to you. May you find your purpose in this life, journey down the path of life, and fulfill your destiny.

Joseph