Posts Tagged ‘Choice’

He is our Heavenly Father

Posted: December 7, 2025 in Father
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“…when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds He inflicted.” Isaiah 30:26b 

I wanted to talk today just a little bit about the side of God that a lot of Pastors avoid because it isn’t easy to discuss. I am speaking about accountability, or the side of God that uses discipline to ensure compliance. God has used discipline on His own people throughout history when they chose their own path…and to be clear…many, many, times they chose their own path. Read through Isaiah 30: 1–26 and see what I mean.

But let’s steer this conversation back to our level because most of us grew up with a father in the house. And speaking just to the men, if your dad was anything like mine, discipline was required and used to ensure my brother and I did what he asked. Just like this entire blog is titled, using the “iron sharpens iron” method, my brother and I grew up to be contributing members of society…for the most part.

And guys, God worked the exact same way using discipline with his own chosen people, and when they rebelled against him, or specifically, when they intentionally chose to disregard His direction by not seeking Him first before making an alliance with Egypt to help them fight the Assyrians…He gave them over to their enemies and many of them were destroyed. Yes…tough love.

Yet the Bible tells us that deep in His heart, “the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:18

Guys, I have spoken about this before, but we either choose God or we don’t. But know that we will all judged for those choices. As Jerusalem found out the hard way in these verses…God will wait for a certain amount of time; If you move towards Him, you will receive salvation… If you move away from Him, He will give you over. In other words, God will give you exactly what you want…even though death is NOT what you want. But you cannot be foolish enough not to recognize that the way of sin is death?

Plain and simple… He is our Heavenly Father who loves us and cares for us, but at the same time, He will use discipline when deserved. We are all personally accountable for our own actions. It is our choice, we were all created with free will and each of us gets to do what we want to do. But the Bible is quick to remind us that all choices have an outcome. If we choose Him and the way of salvation, we get to live forever…with Him in Heaven.

At his core, I knew my father loved me because he told me but as his son, he required me to act in a certain way and follow his rules. If I didn’t, there were consequences that I did not like so I made the choice to listen and do what he asked. 

Our God requires the same from us…it’s really that simple. The only difference; the consequences. I urge you today to think about this and work to make the right choice for you and your family.

Remember, right now, you are in charge of your choices, so make the right one…

Until next time guys-

What? God’s going to Judge my Secrets?

Posted: February 22, 2024 in Husband
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So I recently found myself reading from the book of Romans. I have not spent much time in that book but I came across a scripture that hit me very hard. Honestly, like a brick in the side of the head hard…a scripture that affects all of us…

This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.    Romans 2:16

Now, if you are like me,  most of us don’t think about being accountable or the idea of being judged because maybe we don’t know? or we are just focused on what we see in front of us. Either way, this kind of verse typically isn’t at the forefront of our minds. I completely understand that because I am right here with you. 

Our lives just get in the way.

I also know with guys…well…our minds are usually running 100 mph, am I right? We tend to think about stuff like our work, kids, wife, vacation, yard work, that cute receptionist…You know I am right! You might as well admit that our brains roam all over the place and sometimes land in areas we know we shouldn’t be. These are the secrets that can get us into trouble. 

One more thing I will tell you is we can’t use the excuse “We are guys and we’re just wired that way” NOPE…I am not buying that one…Because you DO have a choice…and you DO have control.

But before I go any further, let me tell you I am NOT judging anyone out there. I fight the same battles you fight and continue to do my best I can to navigate this world just like you. But when I came across that verse…I was compelled to write because we, collectively as men, need to remember that we will be judged on OUR ACTIONS, OUR THOUGHTS, and OUR SECRETS.

That blew me away. Why? Because I thought that my secrets were MINE just like your secrets are yours. No one else knows what they are and that’s why they are secrets. The problem we have now is they aren’t just our secrets anymore. 

God not only knows about them, but He is planning on judging us accordingly…OUCH.

So why do I write this today? Here is how I see this issue; when a verse that asks us (Christian Men) to separate ourselves is NOT in our line of sight, we don’t think about it, right? Maybe some of you never even knew that verse existed. But wherever you fall on that scale now, please understand this, the reason I write is to make you aware. I just want you to think about it.

My intent is to remind you that what you have done, what you are doing, and what you will do…all of that MATTERS to God. And, more importantly, you and I will be held accountable for our lives and how we lived them…AND, for our secrets. 

That verse completely changed my mindset and I hope it does yours as well. By knowing, or just being aware, you can adjust. Every one of us has to make course corrections periodically on this journey we call life. It’s just the way it is…

Until next time guys…

The Story of Satan – part 6

Posted: February 6, 2022 in Something to think about
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So we have finally reached the last episode of The Story of Satan. Several weeks ago, we started this series together with the intent to learn more about our enemy who is the fallen angel Lucifer who is now referred to as Satan. Lucifer was God’s greatest masterpiece, whose creation brought glory to his creator so God placed him in a high rank in Heaven. This gave Lucifer access to the throne of God that the majority of angels would never have. But, as we learned, he became so enamored with his own beauty that evil grew inside him. 

So, Lucifer made his choice that would not only impact him but all the angels that followed him along with the humans that chose or still choose to follow him. The ultimate result of that selfish, sinful choice is what we are going to talk about in this last episode; Satan’s Future.

Can you recall a situation in your own life where you made a decision that had long-lasting effects on you…like for the rest of your life? Now that could be a good decision too, right? Your life or your faith? But then there are the ones that are not so good that have far-reaching effects on your life. 

This is why when you learn more about Satan, you see that his, “thinking he could be better than God” thoughts were just so short-sighted. Against all rational probability, Lucifer waged his will against that of God. This also meant that even through all of his efforts; his scheming, lying, and deception would ultimately still give God the glory. 

YES…this is exactly the opposite of what Satan intended to take place.

Honestly, the most bizarre part about our enemy was his myopic view of what he thought actually would happen. Because the reality for him was the very moment he said, “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God…. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Isa 14:13-14, he was doomed to hell. 

And thus we have exposed evil for what it is: 

The desire to oppose God even with the full knowledge that in the end, the Almighty will triumph.

So now, if we take a step back and look around us, I think we can see that there is an accelerated intensity of evil on this earth. I do not know what the plans of God are but what I do know is that when God no longer needs Satan for HIS purposes, the end will come. 

All of that said, before Christ returns to this earth, things are going to get much worse for humans as Satan and his dark angels continue to step up all of their nasty business.

ALL OF THIS activity will act as the beginning of Satan’s final ruin and this will happen in 3 separate stages:

First, Satan is cast out of Heaven-

Now, there are scholars that believe Satan does NOT still have access to Heaven but I am not one of them. I believe that Satan still has access to Heaven even now and that is evidenced by the final war in Heaven where he battles against the mighty archangel Michael and is defeated. Satan is in heaven already but that defeat meant there was no longer any place for him in Heaven and he was cast out. 

Think about this for a second…Satan, who was created by God long before the world was created, and who had only ever known in his existence in both Heaven and earth…and now he was cast out of this place, permanently. God’s judgment is always final.

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. Rev 12:7-8 ESV

(By the way, if you didn’t notice, the dragon mentioned above is Satan, and “his angels” are the ones that followed him when he decided he had a better plan for his life than God did)

Second, Satan is bound for 1000 years-

At the end of the age, Satan is to be confined into the Abyss for a thousand years.

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him so that he might not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be released for a little while. Rev 20:1-3 ESV

Third, Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire

After his release he will make a final attempt to overthrow God; this act will result in Satan’s final defeat and his being thrown into the Lake of Fire.

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  Rev 20:7-10 ESV 

I heard someone say once that God never learns anything new, and if you think about that for a second, you realize that no matter what Satan thought or did…GOD already knew it would happen. The irony for this fallen angel is that he left Heaven thinking he could rule and be like God himself but instead, he continued to exist FOR the glory of God just as he had always done. 

I also love the hypothetical idea someone said about when Satan successfully tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit that there were no emergency meetings in Heaven as to how to respond and what the next steps were. Why? Because again…none of this activity was new to God. 

If you are a Christian, that is one HUGE relief because, in the Bible, you constantly read about how God has a plan for you and me…and again, ironically, for Satan as well. Remember what Paul said in Romans 8:28,

And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

GUYS – You can bank on this fact: No matter WHAT happens to you in this life, it is NOT by accident…either good or bad…God knew it beforehand. Sometimes that fact will be a very hard pill to swallow depending on your circumstances but I assure you, as the verse states clearly above; God will weave it for good.

Finally, guys, thank you for staying with me on this long series because I have never done one with so many parts before. Also please note that I still had to skip a great deal of information about Satan’s story because my intent was only to summarize who he is, what he does, and where he is going. Frankly, I hope you take the baton from me and study more just for you. 

Honestly, I would call this series a success if it lit a small flame of interest in you to learn more about this topic. If the answer is yes, then I would highly recommend you read this book below as this was a great help and encouragement to me in this study. I don’t normally recommend books, but this one gave me a HUGE new perspective about this topic that I found particularly strengthening so check it out.

Gods Devil, by Erwin Lutzer, and published by Moody Publishers, and of course, it is available on Amazon.

Until next time guys-

Who have you chosen to be?

Posted: November 26, 2015 in Something to think about
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Choices of a businessman

I heard a friend of mine complaining recently about how someone at his work had “made him do something” that cost him and his company thousands of dollars. His error had cost his company lots of money and his excuse was to blame someone else. As his friend, it was difficult for me to listen to him speak about this situation because ultimately I knew I had to ask him the question to get him to stop and think about what he was actually saying.

“Wasn’t that your choice to go with that vendor who ended up blowing the project?”

His response was, “Well yes, but…”

I said, “You are the procurement guy. Don’t they pay you to make those decisions?”

His response was, “You are right, they do”

“Haven’t you told me before that particular vendor has made other mistakes with your work?”

His response was, “I really messed this up haven’t I?”

My only point to him was this; He made the choice to use that vendor and it went the wrong way as a result. He knew better, but he still made the choice. That choice may still end up costing him his job…

Every day of our lives we all have to and get to, make choices that affect ourselves and other people. Some of our choices are good, and some not so much. But our choices will affect us for a lifetime and that is why we must strive to make the right ones…

I am not telling anyone anything here that you don’t already know. This post starts off basic to prove my ultimate point which is that God only recognizes two kinds of people;

The Godly- those who are characterized by righteousness and obeying God.

 The ungodly- those who represent the ways of the world and who don’t care about the Word of God and who will not assemble with God’s people.

Which one are you?

Listen to David’s words in Psalms:

The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest. (Psalms 5:5-6 NIV)

YOU HATE ALL WHO DO WRONG

Guys, evil does not exist in the abstract. God only hates sin, but also hates those who perpetrate evil. On the other hand, the Bible reveals God as the One who loves sinners, reaches out to them in compassion and mercy, and seeks to redeem them from sin through the cross of Christ…remember John 3:16?

We, YOU and ME, get to make the choice for our own lives as to what kind of man we want to be. We choose either to be Godly or not. We choose either the narrow gate or the wide one:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)

These are Christ’s words to us and they are very clear.

As we face a particularly tormented world right now where the future appears very bleak…I encourage you to make the right choice with God by choosing the narrow gate today. This choice will have a positive ripple effect not only in your life but in the lives of all your family members. I have seen this happen countless times and I never cease to be amazed at how the hand of God works with families.

And just think, all of this boils down to you making a choice for yourself…

Remember the words of the great warrior Joshua as he stepped down as the leader of the children of Israel:

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”   (Joshua 24:15 NIV)

Until next time Guys…

Make Serving God…Your Resolve

Posted: June 25, 2014 in Inspirational
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resolveSometimes I find myself sometimes frustrated with people who struggle with making what I call “simple decisions”. Have you ever been in a line behind someone who can’t decide what kind of coffee they would like or whether to use paper or plastic bags? I often wonder how indecisive people make it through life when basic decisions seem to elude them. Now please don’t misunderstand me, I am not picking on anyone here, I am just very different about things like that.

With that said, I have found the same to be true when people choose religion or a god based upon that lifestyle. For some, they pick gods that are very similar to themselves in that there are very few rules or guardrails to worry about which means they can do what they want…no real decisions or commitments to make but the best part is, they can opt out at any time.

Other people go down a completely opposite path where they decide to commit totally and give up huge portions of their time and money to stay connected to their god. Some even commit their families and give up personal opportunities all in the name of religion…On this side, opting out is far more difficult.

Now again, please don’t misunderstand me here, I am just trying to point out the vast differences between how and what my observations are when I watch people and the great differences in what I would call resolve.

In the dictionary it says about resolve:

To come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something): I have 

resolved that I shall live to the full.

Resolve is a strong word in my mind because it connects directly to making a decision and being determined to stay the course. When it comes to becoming a Christian, it takes great resolve to make that first step and move forward in young faith and I admire the ones that do. Many times however, like other things in our lives, the “new” can wear off and frankly, that is where your resolve comes in. Only because I have been a Christian for many years do I see this more in my own life. Honestly, sometimes I have to “make up my mind” that will not deviate from the path I am on even though it may be tiring or NOT the path of least resistance. I have determined for my own life that I am choosing God and where He takes me I do not know…but I do know that on this journey, I will not stop holding onto Him. Determined. Resolve. Anchor.

Have you made up your mind to do something and then resolved to stick with it until theI-resolve end? Maybe your marriage is on rocky ground but you are resolved to continue to work things out? Maybe your job stinks but you are determined to bloom right where you are? Sometimes we choose “resolve” in these areas because we don’t think there is any other way but to be truthful, there is. We can also choose to change or even improve these areas with effort…but when it comes to your God…it takes all the resolve you can muster…why? Because God has never promised an easy road for you or me. Your road as a Christian will probably be a rocky one not because you are a Christian, but because you have CHOSEN to be a Christian. Because of your choice, that puts you in a different category in the eyes of Satan. It will take all of your resolve to stay committed…because you are under attack.

Remember this for your dose of encouragement:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

The purpose of this post is NOT to convince you to have resolve in your journey but to encourage you to KEEP your resolve. Guys…make your choice and then move on…be consistent, push forward, and know that God will not leave you hanging out there alone…He will be right there at your side honoring your resolve to serve Him.

Guys, today I encourage you to make serving God your resolve.

Make your choice…

Stay determined…

Live for Him…

 

Until next time guys…

 

Attitude determines your Altitude…

Posted: February 17, 2013 in Father, Husband, Inspirational
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Personal stories always seem to affect me in my heart. When you see stories of folks who change people’s lives because of their actions, I really like that. I found one of those stories that I want to share with my readers. This one is on a topic that sometimes I struggle with personally…my attitude. It is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to choose…good mood or bad mood? Well actually…when things are good…good mood is easy but when things are not so good…maintaining that good mood is VERY difficult and that is why I share this post with you…because,

YOU…GET TO CHOOSE…enjoy…

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate because He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, “If I were any better, I would be twins!” This guy was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of their situation.

Seeing his style everyday really made me curious, so one day I went up to Michael and asked him, “I don’t get it! You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?” Michael replied, “Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or…you can choose to be in a bad mood. For me, I choose to be in a good mood.” Each time something bad happens, I can choose to either be a victim or…I can choose to learn from it…I simply choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or…I can point out the positive side of life. In every circumstance i come across, I choose to take the positive side of life.

“Yeah right, it’s not that easy,” I protested. “Actually yes it is,” Michael said. “Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation we face is a choice and you get to choose how you react to those situations. You are the one who chooses how people will affect your mood. You either choose to be in a good mood or in a bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live your life and not anyone else”

I reflected on what Michael said and soon thereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch but I would often think about him when I made a choice in my own life rather than reacting to it. Several years later, I found out that Michael was involved in a very serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Michael was finally released from the hospital with steel rods being surgically placed in his back.

I saw Michael about six months after the accident and when I asked him how he was, he replied, “If I were any better, I’d be twins…Wanna see my scars?” I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. “The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,” Michael replied. “Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or…I could choose to die…I chose to live.”

“Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?” I asked. Michael continued, “…the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine but when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read ‘he’s a dead man’. I knew I needed to take action.”

“What did you do?” I asked.

“Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,” said Michael. “She asked if I was allergic to anything.

‘Yes, I replied.’

The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled,

‘Gravity'”

Over their laughter, I told them, “I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.”

Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude…I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday and you are still here and functioning. Remember…when you trust in Him…You have a reason to hope.

I truly pray you will make the right choice…but in case you forget, choose attitude.

Until next time guys…