The Gift of Friendship

Proverbs 27:17-Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.


     I am thankful to GOD for my brothers in Jesus Christ.I am not sure that my walk with Christ would be as strong today without them.
     There is one in particular that I am most thankful for.I will not share his name for fear that I might embarrass him. I will just say that I am most thankful for his guidance and friendship that he has brought to my life. God has used him to strengthen my friendship with the greatest friend anyone can ever have-Jesus Christ.
    I have learned that it is extremely important in these difficult times for a man to have a friendship with another man.  Not just any man, but a GOD fearing, Christian Man.
    Why is it so important? and why did I exclude women? It is important because men have such a difficult time sharing their feelings,unlike women, who have no problem. So when GOD brings someone into your life that you immediately connect with...well that is a powerful and precious gift. 
  Christian Men need each other to keep one accountable for the struggles that each goes through in life. Life is a little bit easier when you have such a man in your corner like my dear friend. But more importantly, he is an even greater man if he points you to Jesus Christ and encourages you to pursue a deep and intimate friendship with the one who knows us the best. Remember, Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we will spend eternity with him in Heaven,spending endless fellowship with our Lord and Savior. The thought of spending eternity with the greatest friend man will ever have excites me beyond anything that I have encountered in my life. 
   Why have so many denied eternal friendship with Jesus Christ?
   This sounds like another interesting topic to discuss at another time.
   May GOD bless everyone.

Follow The Holy Spirit

^{Galatians 5:16-16}So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.


                What happens when I Don't follow the Holy Spirit?
                What happens when I don't listen to what the Holy Spirit is directing me to do with the life GOD has given me?
                What happens or what results is chaos,turmoil and defeat. Before long you find yourself apart from the Holy Spirit.
                When I find myself off the path of God,when I find myself seperated from God's Holy Spirit, which Is Jesus living in me, what am I to do then?
                Repent. I ask God to bring to my attention what sin is running rampant in my life. I usually know the answer to that-most ofthe time.
                When I ask God for forgiveness, I find myself back where God always intended for me to be-with Him, being led by the Holy Spirit.
                Nothing good can come from my life when I am apart from God.
                The key to follow God? Follow The Holy Spirit, who lives in us when we have confessed our sinful nature to God and confess that Jesus Christ is our Lordand Saviour. 
                Just watch in amazment where God will guide you.
                Walk in The Holy Spirit.

Seek Refuge In The Lord

Psalm 2:12 (c)-Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 46:1-GOD is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

     It is such a blessing that we can take refuge in the Lord, especially in times of trouble.
     But should we seek refuge only when we are experiencing trouble?
Psalm 119:10-I seek you with all my heart;Do not let me stray from your commands.
    Doesn't trouble seem to occur or take over your life when your not seeking GOD with all of your heart and soul?
    I would like to say that I am one of those who seek refuge in the Lord when things are going great. Sometimes this is true of me. Other times it is not true at all.
   Just the other day, I strated back to boxing training with my coach after taking a year off. I found myself focusing on boxing and not focusing on GOD. My world quickly became out of focus.
  That is because I was not seeking GOD. I took my eyes off of him for an instant and before I knew it everything in my life began to unravel.But when I returned my attention to GOD, he restored all the mess that I made. Praise GOD for that!
BOTTOM LINE-Focus on the Lord.When you don't, your life loses the GODLY perspective that he has for us.
Prayer- Father GOD,I pray that you will teach me to keep my attention on you and your Holy Word as I go about the day that you have laid out for me.
 In Jesus' Holy Name I pray-Amen.

Prayer Journal

1 John 5:14-15:
"This is the confidnece we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we sk-we know that we have what we asked of him."

       How good of  a Prayer Warrior am I? Or am I worthy to call himself a Prayer Warrior? What is a Prayer Warrior? Prayer Warriors are those who go to God in prayer for another person in need.
      One of my dearest friends that God has given me in my life recommended strongly that I start keeping a prayer journal. He said that I would be amazed at all that the Lord has answered or has not answered (as of yet) in my life and for others in my life. I have been doing for about a week now and I am blown away at how The Lord has moved in my life and those that I have prayed for.
      I have always known that prayer is a powerful gift that God has given us, but after journaling for only a week, I am realizing that prayer is more powerful than I could have ever imagined.
      As a matter of fact, I urge everyone reading this to keep a prayer journal. You will truley be amazed at what God does in our lives and in others that we pray for when we pray.
      Another aspect of praying is praying for those in need. This where we get the name Prayer Warrior.
Praying on behalf of others is a very powerful thing. Jesus says this about joining another person in prayer: "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in Heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."-Matthew 18:19-20.
      I have been praying for my buddy and his wife for months now, and he has really been an incredible influence on me on many things, but he has been especially influencial with the subject of praying.I know this might sound shocking to most people reading this, but before learning just how powerful talking to God can be, I really never prayed for my family. As a matter of fact, I would call myself a terrible prayer.
     But now I am learning how to pray. Maybe perhaps one day I will be called a Prayer Warrior. That would be a pretty cool title. Right up there with "wonderful, beautiful child of God".

The Simple Life

5 You who are simple, gain prudence;


you who are foolish, gain understanding.-Proverbs 8:5
 
             I have found that it is much easier for me to find  wisdom and understanding when I am seeking GOD. When I chase after GOD, he in turn, supplies me with all that I need, whether I know this at the time or not. When I seek, or chase after GOD, I put myself in a position to recieve all the wisdom and understanding that he has for my life.
            When I don't focus on GOD, when I don't seek him with all that I am, I put myself in a postion to focus on other things that GOD deems unworthy of my attention. This is where I get into trouble. This is where darkness creeps into my life, and soon, I am in total darkness, in a spirtual sense. And then, that darkness spills out into everything that I touch and everyone I come into contact with.
          Why would anyone want to feel that way? Why  would I want to feel that way? Why do I let this happen to myself? I don't have the answer for the first two questions, but I do have an answer for the third question, and that answer is what I have already stated: I DON'T FOCUS ON GOD.
          Proverbs 1:7 says that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and disipline." I have been that fool, and sometimes I still am.
  Prayer: Father God, I pray that you will give me the wisdom and knowledge for what you would have me do with the life you have given me. I also pray for wisdom and knowledge for my family and friends. I pray that you will give the strength and courage to rise up and lead my family to greater knowledge of your love and plans for our lives.
   In Jesus' holy name I pray,
   AMEN

TRUST IN THE LORD

Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding- Proverbs 3:5



GOD has taken me further in life when I trust him with all that I am.
It's when I lean on my own understanding that I go absolutely nowhere.
GOD wants us to focus on him.
GOD want us to talk to him.
GOD wants us to share everything with him, even though he already knows everything about us.It's when we bring everything that we are to him, that he reveals his will for lives.It is a step forward in trust-bringing all that we all to him. The good. The bad. The Ugly. It's okay. He's GOD. He can handle anything and everything.
That problem at work. Give it to him.
The problem(s) in your marriage. Give it to him.
Worries  about your finances. Give it to him.
I think you know where I'm going here. Give all your troubles to GOD. He will handle them. There's just one small thing he asks in return-to trust him with all that we are.
He wants you to believe that he will handle your problems at work.
He wants you to believe that he will give you the answers to a better and stronger marriage.
Hewants you to believe that he will handle all of your financial worries.
Once again, all we have to do is trust him with everything that we are.
How about it. Let's Trust in the Lord together. There isn't nothing that he can't do.

Thank you, Father GOD, for all that you do for me and my family. In Jesus' Holy name I pray. AMEN.

THE ONLY BOOK I WILL EVER NEED

⁸ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful-Joshua 1:8


 There has been much said of THE HOLY BIBLE. Positive things and negative things. Many have hearled it as the greatest book ever written. Some have called it a book of fairy tales.
 What do I call THE HOLY BIBLE?Besides calling it GOD'S Holy Word to his people, I refer to THE BIBLE as something else as well. But I will have to tell a story first. A story that is true. 
 When I was a boy, around the age of nine, I spent many hours playing in my parents backyard alone. That was my place where I could go alone and talk to GOD. Sometimes I would hear him. Sometimes I would not. I know what some of you might say-William has gone off the deep end. He claims GOD speaks to him. And I would say back to you that " I am not alone!"
 On this particular day, I was out in the backyard throwing a baseball against the side of the house and thinking about THE BIBLE. I don't recall what led to this. I only recall what GOD said to me about his HOLY WORD. He said to me that it would be "THE only book that I will ever need in my life." 
 How prolific those words are to me. That is one of the points that I would like to make right here and now. Every word in THE BIBLE is true and prolific. 
  I have read many books, but as my wife can tell you, I have started way more books than I have finished. Way more. Way,way more.
  I think that I know the answer to  that. Because THE BIBLE is the only book any of us need. Yes, THE BIBLE can be a puzzling and complicated book at times, but other times, and for me-most of the time, it is the instruction book for my life.
THE BIBLE is the only book I will ever need.
Thank you Father GOD, for your HOLY WORD.

Confessions from a BITTER Man!

³¹Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.-Ephesians 4:31


  I am guilty of being a bitter man.
  Why am I bitter? Hmmm,well, let's first lookat the definition of bitter, shall we.
I have found three definitions on the word bitter, according to Dictionary.com.
The first is characterized by intense antagonism or hostility:bitter hatred. The second is hard to admit or accept:a bitter lesson. The third and final definition is  resentful and cynical:bitter words.
  All three of these definitions fit me to a tee as of late. I have repented and asked GOD to forgive me. That is always the most important action to take when we( or me) sin. 
  I am not proud of this behavior. Actually, I am ashamed of myself. But the next step I have taken is to ask GOD to cure me of my bitterness. 
  And the next step after that? To swallow that bitter pill and ask those that I have been bitter towards to forgive me. That will be hard, but I know that is exactly what God wants me to do. Whether those people will accept my apology is up to them. 
   Here is a even tougher question that I have for myself and GOD? Where do I go from here?

I AM A SINNER....

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD,"-Romans 3:23





I am not perfect. Let's get that out of the way, right here and now.

I was born a sinner, just like everyone else. But I am forgiven for my sins, like all believers in Christ Jesus, who (1) confess that he or she is a sinner, (2)confess that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Saviour and (3) that he died on the cross for every one's sins.

Because I am born again does not make me perfect. Only Jesus is perfect.

"It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness,holiness, and redemption."-1 Corinthians 1:31

I struggle with things, but, being in Christ Jesus, I can give those things to him.

"Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you."-1 Peter 5:7

Once upon a time, not so long ago, I was the reigning Heavyweight Champ of anxieties. Since then, I have learned to "cast all my anxieties on him", but that was a very hard thing to learn, and it still is for me. But when I get caught up in all drama of the day, I remind myself that I need to stop and give it all to him.

I will say it again-I AM NOT PERFECT! But, it does say in Ephesians 1:4 that "he(GOD) chose us to be holy and blameless in sight." And that is the life that try with all my heart and soul to live daily.

I am thankful that I have Jesus to go to and give all my burdens and imperfection to him. It is then, when I come to the Lord with all my heart and soul, that I can begin to lead a holy and blameless life.

Thank you, Jesus, for dying for my imperfect self.

Seeking GOD with all that I am

" You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."-Jeremiah 29:13

" Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."-Deuteronomy 6:5

What is the first thing that I do in the morning when I wake? Thinking of God, then I thank God for another day.

The next thing that I do is to seek him with everything that I am.

Have I always done this? Of course not. I would be lying if I said I did. This is something that I have had to learn over a very long period of time.

Seeking GOD can be a lonely road. The friends I've had for years seem to have abandoned me ever since I started living my life completely for GOD. Maybe it was too much for them to take. Only GOD knows. But over time I have realized that I am not here to seek others approval. That has taken me many,many years for me to realize. I am here to live my life for GOD.

Will I mess up? Of course. It's what happens after I mess up that matters. Confessing my sins to GOD and repenting.

I have also found that seeking GOD is a road that has blessed me in ways I could have never imagined. With the loss of old friends, GOD has put new friends in their place. One in particular that has shown me things about myself that I never realized.

GOD has also opened up doors that I once thought were closed. But I will talk about this on another post.

I have also learned to focus on Jesus Christ, and I am learning everyday, more and more how to more of him, and keeping focus on him throughout the day. I'm finding this to be a daunting task, but with Jesus living inside me, and guiding me through the day, it is a task that I don't have to do alone.

God Bless all in Jesus' Holy name.

Why I pray(part 2)

"If You believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."-Matthew 21:22

As I sit here in front of the computer screen, I ponder this verse for a bit and a question comes into my mind- What do I ask GOD for?

A new car? A better paying job? A stronger marriage? to lose more weight? for Christian friends?

I think that we should ask GOD for whatever weighs on our heart and soul. GOD knows what we want or need before we even get on our knees and begin to pray.

What happens when GOD answers my prayers? Or when he doesn't answer my prayers? I would like to say that I praise his holy name as soon as my prayers are answered. Sometimes I get caught up in the moment and forget, but I do my best to thank GOD for all my prayers-answered and unanswered.

How do I thank GOD? By praising him as much as I can. Even for the prayers he didn't answer. Looking back on all the unanswered prayers shows me that GOD has always had my best interests at heart, and I also realize that there were lessons that he wanted me to learn. I have failed at learning some of those lessons, but I know that GOD does not give up on me, and is patient with me being a slow learner.

Praise the Lord,indeed.

Why do I need to pray?(Part 1)

"pray continually"-1 Thessalonians 5:17

Why do I need to pray?

The Bible has tons to say on the subject of praying and why we should pray, but the question is WHY should I pray?

Praying is our way of communicating to GOD. GOD wants to hear from us-all of us.

In the past, I was ( and sometimes still am) guilty of treating GOD like a genie in a bottle.

"GOD, please give me this."

Or praying only when I found myself in trouble.

"GOD, please help me out of this situation." (I still do this as well.)

But back to the original question-Why do I need to pray?

Prayer is a wonderful, multi-functional way of communicating with GOD,and for the rest of this post I will focus on one aspect of prayer-establishing a relationship with GOD.

GOD loves to hear from us, and when we come to him with everything that we are, and when we bring everything to the table-good and bad, GOD is all ears.

Yes, GOD is all knowing, but he wants our attention, just like we crave attention.

Look at John 16:7. I t says that "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you."

Does this mean that I can ask GOD for a new car? Sure, but I doubt that I will get that new car unless it is apart of GOD's will for me., but that is another subject.

The point I want to make here is this, and I will end this post by making (hopefully) my point-

GOD wants to hear from us, so by (1) praying to GOD with everything that we are and (2) trying to focus on GOD the whole day, as hard as that may be, with all the people and things that vie for our attention from moment to moment,and (3) by spending time in the BIBLE, we have an excellent shot at remaining in him.

My prayer is that everyone reading this today will remember their maker and come before GOD with all their heart and all their soul, and just spend some good quality time with GOD, by pouring out the heart to him. I guarantee the end result will be something incredible that GOD wants to do in your life.

May GOD bless you all.

Wygle out!

Blogging (again)!

Here I go again, attempting to blog again.

This time,though, it is different.

You might be wondering how so?

Because I believe with all my heart and soul that writing is something that God has gifted me with.

The problem is that I seldom put the gift God gave me to work.

But nevertheless, here is my latest and greatest attempt.

You might be wondering what I will be blogging about? Everything that pertains to my walk with God. The blog will present my thoughts and views, so I apologize before hand if I offend or get any biblical theology twisted. That is not my intent. I am learning day by day, moment by moment, just like everyone else.

So here we go. I hope those who stop by will be entertained, inspired and enlightened.

God Bless everyone.