You have heard the saying, “The truth hurts.” But I believe the truth sets us free. Free from what? Free from lies, deception, and things that can hurt us. The truth actually sets us free from sin and bondage.

The truth is what God is. He doesn’t have truth — He is truth. And the truth is what helps us to be healthy: spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s deception that hurts us, ignorance that destroys us. Truth does not hurt us; it helps us.

We should pray for God to open our eyes so we can know what is true. When we know what things are true, that’s when we can make decisions for the betterment of ourselves and the ones we love — to live in the light of God’s word, to rid us of deception.

So many in our world are deceived. They are deceived about who Jesus is. They are deceived about right and wrong. They are deceived about what is moral and what is immoral. People are deceived about how to vote, how to raise children, what to do with money. There are so many lies and deceptions that the truth will expose.

Thank God He loves us enough to give us truth so we can live better, be better, and do better.

Just a thought,

PSS

People today are looking for purpose or wanting the questions answered: “Why am I here?” “Why do I exist?” To make it worse, society creates even more confusion. The reason is that morality, or what is right or wrong, changes constantly, which has created an identity crisis. We really don’t know why we exist — what our purpose is. Because of that, people are disillusioned, feeling hopeless, or becoming apathetic to this gift we have been given called life.

In order to find real purpose or answer the question, “Why do we exist,” we must decide what we believe. If you believe the world was made because it just happened, or you believe in evolution (which, by the way, takes more faith than to believe everything was created by God), then you won’t ever find the answer. Why is it, in the most prosperous country in the history of the world, people are still searching for meaning? It’s because we have not submitted to our Creator.

Genesis 1:1 says: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. If He is the Creator (the Designer), then He gives His creation purpose, a mission, the reason for living. So, we must submit ourselves to Him by receiving Jesus as our Lord. Romans 10:9-10 is the way. Only then will you find the real meaning for living. Life is worth living when we learn why we are here and Who put us here.

Just a thought,

PSS

Fear is one of those emotions that causes us to be overly safe in our lives. It can be a result of hurts, disappointment or tragedy. Whatever the cause, it’s not a place where we should camp out. Too many of us spend our lives in fear. We take no chances, and we try to control everything and everyone around us.

Fear manipulates us into giving up on others and living a life that is only focused inwardly. We should strive to live a life that not only improves our life but the lives of those around us as well. A life of service and helping others is a life well lived.

Protecting ourselves from life’s misfortunes and making sure we never get hurt again isn’t living life to the fullest as God intended. When you serve others and pour yourself into it, you’re bound to get hurt from time to time. But isn’t the risk worth it?

One day we’ll stand before the only judge that matters and have to give an account for our life. What would the judge say to the one that declares, “Lord, I played it safe and didn’t take any chances — I only looked out for myself and made sure I didn’t risk anything”? How can He judge that?

It’s all about loving life and trusting God with it. Step out in faith and help others by serving in the kingdom!

Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark — professionals built the Titanic.  — Author Unknown

Just a thought,

PSS

Too many of us mean well, try hard, and really work to do well — to succeed at our jobs, homes, marriages, raising our children. But then there are those things called distractions. We intend to do the right thing, but along the way we get distracted. We get overwhelmed, and our lives are overcrowded with stuff, with life.

It’s so easy to get distracted from our goals, our desires. We don’t intend to, it just happens little by little. Distractions creep in and choke out the word of God and, if we are not careful, can cause our dreams not to come to pass. We need to stay focused on the task, the goal, the word of God.

Distractions are those things that prevent someone from giving full attention to something else. There are so many things crying for our attention. We have to train ourselves to stay focused on our goals, the things at hand. It will take some work, but it will be worth it when we experience the results of a job well done, when the thing we desire comes to fruition. With all the technology out there we have our work cut out for us, but if we will give our attention to the task at hand, we will accomplish so much more.

It is distractions that are keeping the word of God from really working in our lives. The Bible teaches us it is the cares of this world that are choking the word of God in our lives. These cares, distractions, are keeping us from experiencing the abundant life God promises to those who stay focused.

Just a thought,

PSS

When it comes to serving God, we must allow Him to lead and guide us. The Bible teaches us we cannot serve two masters; either we will hate the one and love the other, or else we will love the one and hate the other. There is only room for one God in our hearts. When we try, or allow something or someone, to replace Him; it is called idolatry.

At times our emotions and feelings attempt to take God’s position as number one in our hearts. Because of our feelings we reject God and His word. We ignore what He says for our own sense of right and wrong. I believe it’s why so many struggle in their lives, especially in their walk with God.

God first — only one God: the Father of our Lord Jesus. The Bible teaches us to remember the Lord in all we do, and then He will give us success. We have to decide who is first in our lives. We choose whom we will serve. “You shall have no other gods before or besides Me” (Exodus 20:3). There is not room for two gods — only one. We all have to decide for ourselves whom we will serve. What we fight against is: Who is in control, God or self?

You see, pleasure is obtained quickly and benefits us now (or we think it does). The benefits of serving and loving God are often in the future. So we all have to decide for ourselves. My hope and prayer is for all of us to decide with finality God is first, and I will serve Him — and Him alone.

Just a thought,

PSS