What is going on in the world right now? Does anyone seem to know what to do next? I see many t-shirts and bumper stickers with the label “No Fear,” but this isn’t what I am seeing. People everywhere are fearful about what to do next. Some have lost their jobs and wonder how they are going to feed their families. Some are wondering how to survive with their present job or business. Tumultuous times and catastrophic events are here and predicted to get worse. What do we do? Who do we turn to for help? Future Uncertainty!

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

Comments

As I was asking Father what to write today, this is what He said. “Tell them I love them. It doesn’t matter what they have done or haven’t done in their lives, I love them. I want them to come to me and be healed, saved and delivered from all the things that are oppressing them. If they would only believe and trust in Me, I will bring them close to Me and become their friend and Father. I will show them things they can’t even imagine and I will help them find their purpose and destiny. After all, I am their Creator, I know what each one needs. I know their name, I’ve seen their tears, and I’ve heard their cries, if only they would come to Me.” God Loves You!

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

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Is there anything good in this life? Is your glass half empty or is it half full? What does it matter? This is the the main event. The eyes and heart you look through lead you down the path they choose. Glass half full or half empty?

We make hundreds of choices every day. Have you ever stopped and thought about it? We make a decision on whether to sleep in a few more minutes or get right up. What do we wear and why? In what sequence will we do everything this morning? The list goes on and on. Now, what has a major influence on each choice we make? It is our eyes and our heart. What is the mood we wake up in? Are we happy or are we depressed? What do our eyes see? What do our eyes want that we might not be able to obtain? Can you see where I am going with this?

Is your glass half empty or is it half full? The logical answer to this question is correct no matter which choice we make. However, the way we see the glass will influence every decision we make, either to take us down a path that is good or one that will add misery. Now, when we talk about this choice between glasses, we come to the realization that we need to make a choice previous to the one concerning the glasses. What are we going to focus on each day? Do we choose to look at the good things in each day and dwell on them or do we focus on all the bad that happened? If we make a choice to start focusing on the good in each day, when we are faced with the question about the glass, we find that the choice has already been made. IT IS HALF FULL. This means that we have an expectancy that the glass is going to get fuller. Someone who sees it half empty is already expecting it to be emptied.

Let’s focus on the glass half full scenario for this section. I wake up in the morning and it is raining and there is a hole in my roof and water is pouring in on the floor. The storm knocked over a tree and it landed on my car. How do I respond? If the glass is half full, the worst part of my day has already happened, so everything that happens from this point on must be good. I need some encouragement so I am going to get dressed and find out how the rest of this day is going to turn out great.

Now, let’s take the glass half empty scenario and use the sequence of events above for it. What do you think might be different? What do you think the outcome will be? What was the expectation from the beginning?

Can we see that choice impacts our attitudes? It is not about changing our attitudes. It is totally about the choices we make that lead us down the paths we choose to walk everyday. We need to make intelligent choices to get to the place we want to be.

The Lord simply says, “Choose Life! I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6 What choice will you make? I hope this makes sense. All of my life I’ve heard these words, “All you have to do is change your attitude.” Do you need to forgive someone? It is not about how you feel about it, it is simply a choice. If we make the choice, with His help, our attitude will line up with the choice.

Somehow we need to grasp this concept. If we can separate our emotions for just a moment, we can make the right choices. If something bad happens to us, let us not make a quick choice based on our reaction. If we can, let us wait until the heat of the moment passes and then make an intelligent decision.

I really hope this helps you. As I was writing this, I began to gain understanding. I make far fewer emotional choices now than I used to. As a result, I reap better rewards. Things happen. Life sometimes dumps on our doorstep. When it does, remember, greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world. Tomorrow will be different. One day at a time. The glass is half full. It is being filled.

My prayer for all of us is that we walk in His grace, mercy, peace and love. May we explore the depths of His love. May we know Him and walk with Him each and every day of our lives. May He guide our every step and lead us down the path of life.

Joseph

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What do I mean by, my work, my mission? My mission in life is to do everything the Lord wants and has planned for me to do. Is this always easy? No, but it is the best there is and it fits me perfectly. So, how does this fit into today’s society? Here’s how! My Work, My Mission!

John 6:29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

John 17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

There was a time in my life that I thought the work of the Lord was becoming a pastor or being in full-time ministry. There was so much fear in my heart, that I became paralyzed and couldn’t focus on anything else. I had failed so miserably and now I only wanted to please Him. Graciously, He put others around me who could nurture me during this time. There are things that happen sometimes that tear us apart. I can testify, He is the One Who can heal broken hearts and bruised spirits.

Okay, so what is our work? 1 It means to believe in the One He has sent. That is really straight forward. It means to put our total trust and reliance for everything in Him. 2 It means to complete the work He gives us each individually to do. This is the one we will explore deeper.

As the Lord began to heal my wounds, I began to see a different view of what He wanted me to do with my life. I think sometimes we don’t understand what it is to lay down our lives so that we might live. We live in a society that seeks its own glory, power, and renown. With the Lord, we must lay down our pride. We must come to that place of knowing, deep inside, that we can do nothing without Him. We can think we know it, but until we actually get to the point of walking it, we truly don’t understand it. It is He who gives us the power, knowledge and understanding to do anything. If He simply backed off, we would be totally helpless.

My work is to do daily what He places in my path. Sometimes it is to go to a cafe with my wife and just be who we are. We reach out to others as the opportunity presents itself and usually this is just being friendly and encouraging others. Sometimes we listen to their stories without saying much at all. Other times, because of the listening we have done, we are able to share certain things. Sometimes I do contract work for individuals and small companies. Sometimes I work for another company. I believe that if we make ourselves available for whatever opportunity comes along, we can spread His love and encouragement to others. Sometimes this only involves planting a seed. Other times it is watering a seed that someone else planted and still other times it is reaping a harvest. I am learning how to be content in each situation.

I believe in helping others to succeed. If I am working for someone else, then my goal is to increase the worth of their company or being. I want to give much more than I receive. I like to see people smile and if you’ve read any of my other posts, you know this already. I have noticed that when someone smiles, for a brief moment their thoughts are focused on something good even if everything else around them is a chaotic mess. What can we give to someone today to help make their day a little easier and less stressful. What ever we do, we should do it with all of our hearts or we might need to ask ourselves if we are in the wrong place. I want to live my life to the full and who cares if someone else gets more than me, it will all work out in the end. You can’t out give the Lord. He gave . . . He gives . . . and He will continue to give . . .

I used to get all condemned when I would listen to certain evangelists say that I should be doing more. How many souls have you saved today? Thank the Lord that I’ve never saved any. It is up to Him to bring others to Himself and to save them. We are simply His ambassadors. It is much easier to live each day, one day at a time.

Where is my work and where is my mission? It is all around me, everyday. Yours is too. May we learn how to relax and be at peace. May we walk in His grace and love. May we have the courage to be different and reflect His light to a lost and dying world. There are many lost souls that attend churches every weekend. Many hear someone preach every week and never hear the real gospel. It isn’t about a building. It isn’t about another program or building project. It isn’t even about serving on some team or committee. It is about knowing Who He is. It is about walking with Him and being His friend. It is a personal relationship that becomes more real than anything else on this earth. It is knowing in your heart that you have found the part that fills the emptiness that was once in your being. It is knowing true love and being willing to die for that love. It is being free from fear and bondage and walking every day into ever increasing freedom and healing. It is a process. It is a journey. It is our destiny. It is our path. We can choose to finish the race set before us and gain the crown of life. Be encouraged. Encourage others. Take time to love and give.

Joseph

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Are you a selfish giver? Do you give and give, but don’t like to receive? If so, you are a selfish giver? How can you say that, you might add? Read on and I’ll show you what I am talking about. The Selfish Giver!

Acts 20:35 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive”

In this passage, the Lord didn’t mean that we shouldn’t receive. In fact, being unable to receive can be a symptom of pride. It can also be a feeling of owing someone something if we receive from them. This is not true. When we fully understand the concept of giving and receiving we will be free to enjoy its rewards. Giving and receiving is a cycle. What happens with cycles? They must be complete in order to work. If we give something, the Word says that we will receive. What if we choose not to receive because of the source of the giving? We not only don’t receive, but we keep the giver from receiving a blessing also. That is the way it works. Are we a selfish giver?

Let’s look at the story with Elijah and the widow.

1 Kings 17: 9-14 “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

“As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’ “

What would we do if a poor person comes up to us to give us something? Would we take it and bless them? Would we look at them and think that they need it more than we do? This is exactly what I am talking about. The Lord had purposed to help this widow lady and her son. He wanted to bless her. She would have to step out in faith to give so that she would be blessed. Elijah could have stopped the blessing. Will we dare to stop someone else from receiving by refusing to receive from them? I pray that we won’t. I pray that we are humble enough to complete the cycle of giving. Would you want someone else to stand in your way of receiving a blessing from the Lord. Check out the blessing this widow lady received. Not only did she have enough to eat during the whole time of the famine, but her son was raised from the dead at a later date.

Can we see the magnitude of completing the cycle? Do we judge when others take from those less fortunate because they have been asked to do so? Next time we see this, we need to thank the Lord and ask Him to make sure they receive an awesome blessing. Give and receive and help others to do the same. Selfish giving! I don’t think so!

I’ll be sharing, at a later time, a company that operates on this principle. It was founded and is being overseen by the Lord. It is the only large corporation I know of, that operates on godly principles and at the command of the Lord. Keep checking back for this post and where to go to find out more. May the Lord bless you abundantly and help you walk the path He has for you. Bless you.

Joseph

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Are you hidden and protected? Do you feel safe and secure, or do you feel exposed and in danger? Have you ever been in the middle of a crowd with chaos all around and felt like you were in a peaceful bubble? This is a safe place. This is a secure place. Hidden!

Zephaniah 2:3 “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.” It is interesting that the name Zephaniah means “hidden in Jehovah” and he is the one prophesying this passage. Our names have meaning and when others call us by name they are also speaking the meaning back to us. Many throughout history have been given a new name by the Lord because of the new work He was doing in their lives. My name is Joseph which means, “the Lord will add.” I was also given a nickname at birth which I went by until four years ago. Now, I go by Joseph again because of what the Lord wants to do in my life. What about you?

Throughout the ages the Lord has hidden his people from danger. Jesus’ life was in danger and He simply walked right through their midst and escaped. There is a time for exposure, but that is at the right moment and in the Lord’s timing. The enemy’s plan is to expose us prematurely. He will try to get us to move out ahead of time. Not only is it alright for us to wait but it is also neccessary for us to wait and to be hidden until the appropriate time. Isaiah 49:2 “He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.” Psalm 18:14 “He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies, great bolts of lightning and routed them.” As we can see in these two scriptures there is a special time to come out.

The Lord cares about us so much. Don’t be anxious to come out too soon. Let the workings of the Lord have their purpose. If we take a look at the life of Joseph, we can see how he was hidden until the Lord’s purpose matured inside of him. We might see this as a raw deal, however, when he emerged from prison he was ready to be second in command of an entire country. Not only was he second in command, but he led them through a serious time in history. There were to be seven years of plenty. The wisdom was in storing up food for the seven years of famine. Had they not stored up the food, they would have died. In addition to this, because of the dream and their obedience, Egypt had other countries coming to them and paying them for the excess food they had stored up. They gained notoriety and fame. There are rewards for doing things the Lord’s way. Joseph attained more because of his obedience and walked into his destiny and purpose.

Are you hidden? Does it seem like you are in prison? Are things not going your way and possibly going opposite of your dreams and visions? Rest assured, you are in a maturation process. As bad as it sounds, this is a good place. You are being protected and you will be brought out at the proper time. Rest! Take advantage of this opportunity to learn what you need to know for the day of exposure. Hidden!

I know it isn’t easy being here. I’ve been here for a long time. I kept getting glimpses of coming out and each time I was encouraged. Hold on to hope. There is a special time and a special season. May you find the strength you need. Embrace this time and get ready to walk in your purpose and destiny. Hidden!

Joseph

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In this world, we are familiar with oppression. We see it every day and it happens to most people everyday. When will it all end? When can we be done with it? Emptiness, despair, depression, worry and anxiety are close friends to those who don’t walk with Jesus. These things even try to be friends with those who do walk with Him, however, we have the power through His Name to make Oppression Go Away.

There are two types of people; those who know Jesus and walk with Him and those who may or may not know of Him and do not walk with Him. Years ago Keith Green sang a song and in it he stated, “Just because you go to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger.” The scriptures are very clear on this matter. There is a choice to make. Just going to church and being part of the crowd or even helping doesn’t make you a Christian. You CANNOT become Christ-like unless you give your life to Christ and let Him change you to become like Him by His grace and through the power of Holy Spirit, period. There is no other way no matter what any one else says. No one else is accountable for your life, except you. At the end of our lives the Lord is not going to ask others about our walk with Him, He is going to ask us. It is our choices in this life that determine our place in eternity. We can’t blame it on our spouse, our parents, our pastors, or anyone else. We will stand alone, in front of Him on that day. How will we respond?

Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! Revelation 18:11-12 “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more—cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.”

I like to go back to this verse and read it every now and then. Babylon The Great! The great city of oppression will be no more. This world system that is empowered by spiritual darkness will come down. Right now it is spinning out of control and it is oppressing people all over the world. The Lord warns us to come out of it. Don’t get all caught up in it. It will suck the life right out of us if we let it. Notice that some of the cargoes of the merchants is the bodies and souls of men. How is this so? People sell their souls to the system everyday usually for power, greed and riches. At the end of their lives they have nothing left.

I started writing this message yesterday and meditated on it overnight like I usually do and I awoke this morning not wanting to say the wrong thing or leave some stone unturned and then I realized this is impossible. My goal in writing is to encourage others and this happens to be me also when I go back and read them. If you find any encouragement, please take it and use it and pass it on to others if you can. If you are offended by anything I have said, please forgive me, it isn’t my intention. I am human also and I’ve made more than my share of mistakes and I am sure that there will be many more while I walk this earth in this frail flesh.

Oppression is a hard thing to get through alone. It is an outside force that seeks to destroy. If you are under its hold, ask someone you trust to pray for you. Use our contact form and let us know. Ask the Lord to help you through. You are not alone in this. If you are the cause of it, ask His forgiveness and those involved if possible. If you are not the cause of it, just hold on until you make it through. The Lord needs each of us to be where He wants us so that His plan will come to pass. He doesn’t want anyone to be lost. Keep doing what you know to do. Keep your head up and your focus on Him. He won’t let you down. Enter His peace, love, rest, and protection. He is our Refuge in times of trouble. Oppression go away!

I pray that your life is blessed today and that you get filled with His anointing. May you be filled to overflowing with every blessing He has for you. May there be a sparkle in your eyes and a smile on your face as you realize that greater is He within you, than those who are in the world. It’s not for nothing, but for everything.

Joseph

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Keeping up with the Jones? Staying in the clique? Let’s be fair now! Look at them! God’s not fair! Why do they get to do that? What’s it to you? What’s it to me? Everything!

John 21:17-22 “Jesus said (to Peter), ‘Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’ Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is going to betray you?’) When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’” NIV

The truth is that God is fair. He treats each one of us individually. We don’t need to be treated like someone else. He knows what I need and He knows what you need. I am so glad that we are not just a number with Him. He knows our deepest and darkest secrets. He knows how much we can take and He knows how to protect us. He knows the kind of discipline and training each of us needs and He does it personally. He knows which areas are our strengths and which are our weaknesses. We each have different talents and abilities. We were created for a specific purpose and destiny. He knows exactly where we fit in His plan. When we are doing what we were created to do, we are the happiest and fulfilled people around. If we allow Him, He will help us to find and fulfill His purpose and destiny in our lives.

Is our destiny like someone else’s? No, but it is ours. Is God fair when He treats us different from others? Yes, even if it seems like someone else is getting the better deal. Everyone has their share of heartaches, brokenness, trials and tribulations. Each individual must deal with their own thoughts and choices as well as their rewards and consequences.

Is life fair? No, it isn’t in the least. Some people get hurt, killed, die before their time, abused and cheated, while others seem to live the good life. What is fair? Are we talking about this time on earth or are we considering eternity also? When we stop and consider eternity, this time on earth takes on a new meaning. An 80 year lifetime suddenly seems small in comparison to eternity and forever. In fact, eternity is hard to comprehend when everything we know has a beginning and an end.

Why not just live life for the moment? That’s all great and good if there isn’t an eternity. Why not return hurt for hurt and just live for the pleasure? I mean, if there isn’t an eternity, why not just indulge? We could, but then again, even if there isn’t an eternity I prefer to help, encourage and love others. It makes me feel good to help someone else. Do I like everyone or want to help everyone? No, and I don’t. I help those I believe I am supposed to help. I know that I can’t help everyone so I won’t even go there. There are others who have different abilities and they can help in other ways. I simply want to do what I need to do every day. When I have done what I know to do, then I am at peace and rest. I can sleep at night. My conscience is clear and I go on to walk in another day. Everything that happens has a purpose, just like every weight I lift increases my natural strength. In every situation I have a choice to respond or react. I choose to respond. If for no other reason than this, I choose to live my life this way.

I choose to be thoughtful of others and what they might have gone through. A person, who has no fear of heights, can work up high on the edge of a skyscraper, but that same person might have a fear of close relationships. Someone who is too timid to walk into a dark room, might be great with close relationships. We all have our fears. We all have our ghosts. We have those secret places that loom in the dark and when we are alone. I have seen a lot of signs that say, “No Fear!” I don’t believe them for a moment. Everyone has something they fear. I believe that someone who tells me they have no fear, are simply living in an illusion.

I would like to share a story to illustrate a point. This is somewhat graphic, but it needs to be to illustrate the point. Suppose you and a group of people are on a mountain and close to the edge of a cliff. Now let’s say that your close friend starts walking towards the edge oblivious that they are in danger. Here’s the question. What extent would you go to keep your friend safe? Would you yell? And if that doesn’t work would you run over and hold them back? What if they still walk on? Would you grab the nearest board and knock them out and then pull them to safety? What would you do in that situation? Would you simply let them walk over the edge? What is fair in this situation? Would it be fair for you to hit them over the head and possibly seriously injure them to save their life? What would that person say after you saved them? Would they be grateful? This is how the Lord sees us. He sees the end from the beginning. We can’t see what’s fair from our side of eternity, but He can. Isaiah 55:9 His way is greater than our way. His thoughts are higher than ours. He already knows the end from the beginning and He knows how to save, heal and deliver us. He cares and He knows us each by name. He not only died to save us, but He lives on to walk with us and be our friend. So what’s it to you if someone else has a different path? Keep your focus on yours, it is the one that is good and fair for you.

I hope this encourages you to find your God-given purpose and destiny. I hope you don’t compare your life to others. I hope you don’t even judge how things are going. We can’t see the outcome, but we do have a choice to trust in the One Who can and has our best interest in His plan for us. Get to know Him if you don’t know Him and get to know Him better each and every day if you do know Him. May you see others in a better way from this day on. Reach out and touch someone today. Share in their life and be touched in yours. Choose carefully, and let your choices carve the paths for you to walk.

Go for the Greater Things! Don’t settle for less. You are welcome to use this image as a wallpaper. Just click on the image to go to our wallpapers page.

If you would like to use our free online Questionnaire to see if you can discover your talents, gifts and abilities just click here.

Joseph

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In the beginning . . . WHAT? What was in the beginning? There are a lot of people with a lot of theories. The big bang! I believe there was a big bang, but not like some teach it. Sooner or later the truth will come out. Science is proving it more and more every day. In The Beginning . . .

(This image is available to use as a wallpaper on your computer. Simply click on the image and then follow the instructions.)

“IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].” John 1:1-5 Amp

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” Genesis 1:1-5 NIV

The Big Bang. I believe that this really did happen. What about you? The universe was void. Even scientists think this. God spoke and all of a sudden it came into being. Maybe there was a loud clash. According to science, it is still happening. The universe is still growing. What power there is in words. It wasn’t random. There was a purpose and design to it. The universe is so intricate and perfect that it had to be by design. Look at the atom. Some say that it happened by coincidence or random action? Give me a break. I am not that dense. It would take more faith than I could ever attain to believe something so ludicrous as that. We don’t have to believe someone or group of people simply because they have a bunch of degrees. People with degrees also said that “whatever goes up, must come down.” Now we send spacecraft into space. And of course, it goes on and on. Who do we believe?

Spoken by design! These words still happen today. We hear the stories. To every good story there is an, “in the beginning.” In the beginning someone had an idea or dream. They wrote it down. They went after it. Then somewhere down the line it came into being. It was created by design. Only a fool says in his heart, “there is no God!” Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1 Look at the evidence.

In 2004, I wanted to create this web site, but I didn’t know much about the computer or the internet. I knew how to surf a little and I knew how to send and receive emails. I also didn’t have the money to pay someone to do it. The job I had went away. What was I going to do? It was time to change careers. Within two weeks I was back in school for the first time in many years. It was a school I couldn’t afford to go to financially, yet the Lord made a way. There were times during my time in school I questioned whether this was the right choice. A little over two years later I graduated with honors with an Associate of Applied Science in Multimedia and Web Design from the Art Institute of Dallas and all of this with a family. I felt so honored. The Lord is so good. What an understatement.

In the beginning there wasn’t even a chance for this site, only a vision. Now, in less than three years, it had become a reality. Then it started growing. The vision continues to grow. It’s more than just encouraging others. It is about building the kingdom His way. It is about helping His people, even those who don’t know they are His yet. It is about walking the walk and demonstrating His plan and purpose on this earth. It’s not about perfection, but about grace. How will they know? How will they see? Someone must not only tell them, but also show them. It’s not about us talking about the love. It is about us being the love and then sharing the love. Jesus said, “Greater things will you do than this, because I go to the Father.” Greater Things!

Jesus made a profound statement. He simply said, “I Am.” He didn’t preach a lot of empty words. He was what He spoke. We must become that which we speak. As He is, I am. If He is in us, we are. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. They were called that because they were Christlike. Let others call us Christians because of our love. Let us stop judging and start living and being the example. Let us be like the early church who became a model and the Lord added daily to their number. Be who you are and stop acting. If you aren’t there yet, that is okay, but admit it. I’m not there, and I don’t think I will attain it this side of eternity. This life is a journey. It is a growing process. A blossom on a tree isn’t a ripe peach until it grows and matures. Above all, be true to yourself. Don’t live a lie.

I have found that one of the most profound things in life is a smile and a kind word. It changes lives. That person across from us or standing next to us needs to be encouraged. Life is hard. Can we smile? Are they worth it? You are worth it. You are loved. You need to know that and so do I. I need to know that He loves me. We need to encourage each other, everyday. Yes, in the beginning! What is your, In The Beginning? What is it that beats with every breath you take? What is your passion? In the beginning . . . to where it becomes reality. You can get there. The Lord will make a way where there seems to be none. Be encouraged! Journey on!

Joseph

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Have you ever wondered what your future looks like? If we look at the past, it is almost like a movie up to the present day and then it stops. What will the rest of today look like? Who will I meet and how will my life change? What choices will I make that will affect the rest of my life? Destiny Awaits!

“Destiny Awaits — No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (NIV) Click on the image to see more photomontages.

What a wonderful way to look at our future? If we haven’t liked the past, we simply make new and different choices and it is created. Of course, there are some choices we have already made that might have set us on a certain course, but that can be subject to change. What kind of future do we want? It’s not too late to find out from the Lord what His purpose and destiny is for our life. Everything can change and become brand new. Think about it. What would we like to see?

Have we made some wrong choices? Are we in a dead end space? Is all hope lost? No matter where we are today, the next few moments can redirect our lives. Make the choice to follow Him. Dare to see where this new path will lead. Has our way gotten us anywhere, anyway? What do we have to lose, or better yet, what do we have to gain?

I have created four photomontages now. After I created the first one, I shared it with a friend who was so encouraged that I decided to send it to others I knew to encourage them. The responses were great and it felt really good to be able to share this with others. I sent one to my publisher in Colorado and she asked me to create three more so that we can make posters out of them. So this is the story of the wallpapers. The rest is history and a new destiny has been created. I have this travel mug that has a paper insert behind clear plastic. Yesterday, I took the “New Thing” photomontage and printed it out and put it behind the plastic. We went to our local cafe hangout and others asked where they could get one. So I guess we’ll be offering these soon, too. The Lord is so good. When we start sharing encouragement and love with others, we don’t know what will happen next.

If you would like to see all four wallpapers just click on the image. You are welcome to copy and paste them to your computer and use as a wallpaper. If you like, you can also send the link to others you know. Maybe it will brighten their day and help them focus on the goodness of the Lord. I love the old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

As I am sitting here writing, I feel the love of the Lord pouring all over me. I can see people who are reading this and I see their lives being touched by Him. It feels so good to be able to touch others who I have never met and may never see in this lifetime. You are worth it. Your life has meaning. You are the reason I make the time to write in this blog twice a week. You are the reason this web site exists. That is another story in itself and Lord willing I may share it in my next post. I want you to know that your life matters not only to the Lord, but also to me. God doesn’t create throw-aways. Each of us has been created for a purpose and a destiny. I pray that you find the courage to stand up to the things that would try to keep you down and find yours. No one and nothing can keep you from your destiny except you. The Lord will move mountains to help you. He will even change the course of history. Just one of us can impact history, how much more a bunch of us. Feel free to comment on this post or use the contact page on this site to send me an email.

May you be blessed today. May the Lord pour out His love upon you today and may this be the start of a brand new future for you. It is never too late and the Lord is always on time. What does your future hold? Destiny Awaits!

Joseph

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