The devil Thought He Had Me. But God!

The devil has already setup traps for you. Some of us have already fallen for the trap. But, It's never to late to get out of them.

Once again thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy this one.

So, this title came to me a few times. At the time it wasn’t the title of a book I’m writing now. It just kind of turned into that. This came to me while thinking about how if I would have died before I had given my life over the Christ and received his salvation. What would have happened to me. I know now that I would be in Hell and then Lake of Fire. It had me thinking back to when I was a very young man. How I remember walking into my mother’s room, and I asked her what she was reading and she told me the bible.

I asked what she was reading in it and she told me something about going to hell. That people who doesn’t serve God or something they will be in hell. Brimstone and fire forever. I didn’t really understand everything she told me. All I remember thinking about was me in fire forever. At that point all I knew was I wasn’t going there.  I walked down the hall to my room and said Lord. Not sure if you’re real, but please don’t let me burn in hell. When I got a little older, I found myself praying that prayer for years. Lord, please save me because I don’t want to burn in hell. Did I know what being saved was at that time no.

I continued to live my life the way I wanted anyway. Stealing, Lying, Fornication, Adultery, Had an evil heart. I had bad thoughts all the time. The Devil really had my mind. Had me doing everything he wanted me to do. He had me helping other people sin. He started using me to get others to sin. People that wanted to live a certain way. I helped convince them they we wrong for doing that. Even though I didn’t cause trouble to the public in the eyes of the law. I was still causing a spiritual problem to people.

In my mind state even though I prayed every night. Even though I spoke to the Lord. I did that out of fear. Trying to cover myself in case I died. Hoping I would be ok because I asked him to save me every night. I asked him to forgive me every night before I went to bed. I figured that was good enough. That’s where my mind was most of the time. I didn’t really read the Bible, but when I was younger my cousin did. I was mad at him because when I wanted to play with him, he is reading the Bible. I’m like come on man let’s do this or that.

The devil was trying to groom me to do some work for him. The same way the Lord uses people to help save other people. The devil uses people to help destroy other people. I couldn’t see it. The scripture tells us the god of this world has blinded the eyes of them that don’t believe. So, now that I’m a child of God and my eyes have been opened. I can look back and see. How the devil had me going in the direction of Hell. To be tormented forever. 

The Roof Top

When I was a kid, I was living in Marcy projects. There was a time when the roof didn’t have guards up there. Someone could just walk right off and fall. I remember going up there sometimes without my grandma knowing and I would walk up there. I would see homeless people up there or people on crack up there. But they didn’t bother me at all. I would walk by the edge of the roof and look down. I would be thinking to myself. I should jump down and see if I can land on my feet. I should jump and see if I could land on the branch on my way down. So many times, somehow my mind got to the point I was close to really doing it. My heart was racing and I felt this peace come over me to do it. Like it was going to be fine, and I didn’t need to live anymore anyway. Right before I would do it. Then, It’s like this commonsense thought comes over me like what are you doing?

 Now realizing the devil was speaking to me to get me to kill myself. He saw the hand of God on my life. He knew before I did, I was going to be someone in the Lord. Same way he saw the hedge of protection around Job. Read this!

Job 1:7-11

⁷ And the Lord said unto Satan, where you coming from? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

⁸ And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and stays away from evil?

⁹ Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

¹⁰ Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

¹¹ But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

See, how he told the Lord about the hedge that was on Job? Job couldn’t see the Hedge of protection on himself. but the devil could see it. So, it shows that the hedge is a very powerful thing. Which the devil can’t do anything to anyone if they have the hedge on them. It was on him and his house and his works. Think about that. He was trying to kill me before I can become what God wanted me to be, but If I didn’t kill myself, he was going use me until he found a way to kill me spiritually and naturally. So, he will use us to do things that stick deep in your mind. That way when the Lord starts talking to us about how awesome we are and how he is going to use us. The devil will bring back to our mind the things that we did. Because at that time. We didn’t believe the devil could talk to us like that. At that time, we think it’s us. So, some things we heard were us and not him at times. 

Attempted Robbery

I remember I was standing at the bus stop waiting for the bus to go to school. I remember this guy from around the way. I didn’t remember his name, but he knew my name. He asked me if I wanted to make some money. I told him OK, because at that time I was surviving off 2 dollars a day in high school. He told me on these days people cash their checks at a store named “Gorman’s” Not sure if I’m spelling it right. Which was right across the street from the house. We walked over there and we saw this white male walk into the store with a briefcase. The guy I was with told me when the guy walks out, we will walk behind him and grab his stuff. In my mind I’m like that sounds easy.

When the guy walks out my heart starts racing and at the same time, I’m like I don’t want to do this. Then I saw my bus coming down the street. Big black and white bus number 57” I was about to tell the guy I’m not doing it. Then he said come on and we started walking faster. Then I can see the guy look back just a little. Next thing I know is he took off running. We are starting to run after him now. I told myself I’m in now. I’m running so I might as well see it through. The problem is. The man made up in his mind too. That he wasn’t going to get caught and robbed by two tall black brothers from the hood. He kicked it into another gear with them business shoes and I never saw him again. Lol! He outran us in shoes while we had sneakers.

See, I don’t know what would have happened if we caught up with him. We could have robbed him and got caught later. Turning my life in the wrong direction. Going to jail for the first time. Not sure what it would have done to my mindset. He could have had a gun and turned and shot us or me. That small situation could have changed my path. But God! I remember stealing bookbags and things from other people in school. When I was younger. I used to steal toys from the outside store on Gram Street. I was learning how to get better. The devil was teaching me. He would say wait until the man start talking to the other man and when he is looking that way grab it.

Next thing you know, I got it and it’s in my bookbag. I was walking with a family friend when I was doing this. They didn’t know I had skills like that.  The sad part was I wasn’t a good liar starting out. I never had an end game to the lie. Lol! I just threw one out there and walked it out until I ran out of store to connect. So, I got caught stealing that one because. I told the lady my grandma brought it for me. I didn’t have the cover story for it. Grandma said she didn’t buy it for me and I was in trouble. At some point in high school, I would roll with these kids and steal people’s Jan Sport bookbag strings. If you’re from New York around the 90s. You know what I’m talking about. At some point in time, I didn’t even feel bad.

But one day now that I have earned the respect from some of these guys I was rolling with. They started asking me to go with them to do other things. The one time I will never forget was. I was standing at the bus stop on my way home from school. and the guys who I rolled with walked up. They asked me if I was rolling with them. I asked where they were going. They said they were going to steal some stuff from the store. I was thinking like chips and stuff like that. But one of the guys had on a trench coat and it was hot outside. He turned around and showed me he had which looked like a shotgun under his coat.

Side note! This is new information to my mother. So, Ma if your reading this. Yes, you raised me better than that. Sometimes a man finds his way in life. By taking some paths even if it's not good for him. Some things you can't just learn from word alone. Experience has to teach in some areas. I have been blessed that the Lord allowed me the grace in some of these areas. Thanks for the side note moment everyone. lol

When I saw that I told them I was good. They were like trying to beg me to go with them. I said no again. They went on to the store. I already witness so much gun violence it just hit my spirit the wrong way. Come to find out a few days later that one of the boys out the group had got shot by the store guy. That could have been me for all I know. Could have been a setup from the devil to get me out of here. I haven’t accepted Christ in my life yet. I was already doing wrong. If I would have died in my sin at that time. I would have been going to hell. It could have been me. The devil didn’t get me, but he got that one boy if he didn’t repent before he died. Not sure if he had the chance. 

I have a story from the bible that you will hear many topics from in church. I would like to shine a little light on it from a different angle. See, even back in the biblical days the devil was setting people up to stop the plan of God on their lives. See, this little story here is with Paul & Silas. I will also help you see how some people may not look like they have a big role in a story, but they really do. Read this!  

Acts 16: 16-35

¹⁶ And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her master’s much gain by soothsaying:

¹⁷ The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, these men are the servants of the most-high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

¹⁸ And this did she did many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out at the same hour.

¹⁹ And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

²⁰ And brought them to the magistrates, saying, these men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

²¹ And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, nor to observe, being Romans.

²² And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes and commanded to beat them.

²³ And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safe:

²⁴ Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

²⁵ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

²⁶ And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

²⁷ And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

²⁸ But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

²⁹ Then he called for a light, and sprang in, came trembling, and fell before Paul and Silas,

³⁰ And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

³¹ And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

³² And they spoke to him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

³³ And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

³⁴ And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

³⁵ And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, let those men go.

³⁶ And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul; the magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart and go in peace.

³⁷ But Paul said to them, they have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have put us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nah verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

³⁸ And the serjeants told these words to the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans.

³⁹ And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

⁴⁰ And they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them and departed.

I like the story and it makes people happy that the Lord would shake a prison to get people out and the power of prayer and praise. What really stood out to me after reading that a few times was the jailer who got saved and gave himself to the Lord. He was doing a job, and it was an easy job. It even said at one point he was asleep. He must have missed some of the singing. I’m sure he felt the earth shake. He might have thought since the people were free, they were going to kill him. Or he was going to be killed for not doing his job. He was about to kill himself. He was going to kill himself and he wasn’t even saved at that time. So, the fear of what another man could do to him. Had him about to kill himself and he wasn’t even ready to die. Then they calmed him down and spoke to him. Telling him that they were all there. Letting him know that they were all accounted for. So, that makes me believe that he might have got killed for not keeping the prisoners in there. Or that he would be tortured really bad and death was better. 

I think he heard them at some point praying and singing before he went to sleep. Inner part where they were locked up had to been dark because he needed a light to see where he was going. Then he asked them once he got in there how he could be saved. So, he had to know somehow, they were servants of the Lord. Maybe through singing and praise. They may have said the Lords name a few times during their praise. Maybe he heard of them before, or the people told him what they did, and he found out that way. They told him to believe in the Lord. See, this jailer was about to be killed and if he did it before they spoke to him. He would’ve been going to hell. But God! He had a plan for Paul and Silas in that prison. See, they have already received the Grace of the Lord. They were on their way to prayer. This random lady that had an evil spirit in her just came up to them to honor them as men of God. How strange is that? See the devil thought he was setting them up to be locked up and God turned it around to unlock someone else and they still got out themselves. The scripture says that the Lord wishes no one should perish. That means no one. Even the murder, the rapist, the thief, no one. So, no matter where you find yourself. The Lord is still trying to save you. No matter what you have done. The devil is the one that wants you to kill yourself before the Lord saves you from yourself. 

If you ever had thoughts of killing yourself. That’s an indicator that the Lord has a great purpose for your life and that he needs you. Also, an indicator that the devil doesn’t want you to find out the truth about yourself and what the Lord has in store for you. Remember that!

The Porn Star Attack

I know this subject header is strange to put up here, but it will all make sense after you read it. So, there was a time in my life that I was addicted to pornography, and I really didn’t know how bad it was until I realized I wasn’t ashamed to go into the little secret video stores and go behind that black curtain. As I saw other guys and girls there. It felt ok because I knew I wasn’t the only one in there. This started back when I found my uncle’s magazines in the closet. See how what someone else is doing can affect someone else’s life. Then as I got older some of my friends had videos. Now I’m thinking about it. All of us that were watching these videos had the same problem. (The Lust of the Flesh). We all knew what we were doing with those videos. But it was ok at that time and when you know other people are doing the same thing. It relaxes your mind as well. Like you won’t be judged because we are all in the same boat. So, at some point I was able to buy my own and I found myself spending money that I shouldn’t have just to get a movie. 

Once I started using the computer at home it got worse. Now I didn’t have to buy them I just watched the short videos. So, after a while I hit the point where the Lord was drawing me closer to him. I started feeling bad about watching it at times. Then I continued to hear the word and read a little. I didn’t find anything about what I was watching. But as the Lord was dealing with me. I started to feel different. But the devil knew that and he could see me looking at it less. So, he would say things to me like. What is wrong with looking at two people naked? The Lord started us out naked so how can that be wrong? My dumb self was like yeah that’s right. So, I stayed in it a little longer. Then I start leaving it alone again. Here he comes saying. If the Lord can see everything. He must be looking at people having sex and they are naked doing all of this. If he can’t look at sin and he can look at that. It must not be a sin. He got me on that one as well.

Then, after I ran into a few of those tricks. I just finally felt the urge to stop. So, I decided to throw away all the videos, and my friends stole some of them. So, that was fine. Now the battle was with the computer. Every now and then I would find myself looking for a video or two. Then I started to feel bad about it after I was done. Then I was trying to find a way to force myself to stop looking at these videos. I would sit at the computer and tell the Lord I was sorry and I wouldn’t do it again. Next thing you know, I’m doing it again. So, at this point I was getting upset with myself for not having self-control. So, I tried to scare myself by saying Lord if I get on here again make me lose my job. That was going to be my sign that if he didn’t then it was ok what I was doing. Since he didn’t make me lose my job. I felt a little better about it. Then when I did feel bad again. I said Lord if I don’t stop kill me. Then I quickly realized I was being selfish because I had a family at the time. So, I tried to pull that one back quickly.

So, I heard a man of God preaching one day and I remember he said sometimes you need to starve the devil. So, fasting was the first thing that came to my mind on how to do it. So, it was put in my spirit to fast from electronics and TV for 60 days. So, on my phone I put parental locks on there and made so random password I wouldn’t remember. I put the locks on the home computer and give it some random password I wouldn’t remember. So, it was set. Now access to these things. I was so tempted some days. I would just see if I could pull up a picture of these ladies I used to watch. But then I say no, I’m not going to do that. I had to pray most days for strength. Next thing you know is a few weeks later. I didn’t have the urge to watch or look anymore. So, a little before the fast was over. I remember going to the gas station on my way to work.

As I started pumping gas. I saw this pearl white Chevy Suburban 2004 on 26-inch rims pull into the gas station. I was in love with it. So, as I was looking at the truck. This lady gets out the truck. She looks at me and starts to walk my way. At this point I’m asking myself if she is walking to me or is she going to turn at some point and go into the store? So, at this point she walks up to me. I’m looking around because I’m not sure if I’m about to be set up or what. She introduced herself and I said Hey! She then asked me if I was looking for a job. I told her no I’m good. She gave me a business card and said she would like to offer me a job working with her. I said I will check it out. I didn’t even look at the card. I didn’t want to take my eyes off my surroundings. I had to keep my head on the swivel in case someone was trying to walk up behind me or something. I was in Charlotte you know. Lol!

She walks off and I jump in my van. I looked at the card. And it said, “Chocolate Stallion” With the silhouette of a lady on it. I turned the card over to the back. It had two pictures of her from the movies she made. Which were from Porn movies. Once I saw the pictures. I then realized I had seen the movie with her in it. Then I realized she was one of the ladies that I watched a lot. I guess I didn’t recognize her with clothes on. SMH I drove to work thinking what are the odds of running into her at a gas station and her wanting to work with me. Which when I thought about it. I said Oh! She wants to have sex with me. I was blown away at how this whole thing happened. Then I started thinking wow. The devil will go to the extreme to not let you leave something he has set you up with to keep you in sin. 

He knew I had walked away from that sin, and the Lord was doing something in my life. So, If I wasn’t going to porn. He was going to bring the porn to me. I feel like praising the Lord right now as I’m typing this. He can deliver you if you want to be delivered. He can strengthen you if you need it. He can keep you if you really want to be kept. I haven’t had a Porn addiction or strong urge to watch it again. Have I been tempted as a man of God yes. I have come close to falling once or twice yes. The big thing to pull away from it is that I didn’t. Temptation will come and there is nothing we can do about that. It’s do we choose to fall again is the question. If we really don’t want to. We don’t have to.

See, when I was falling, deep down inside I really wanted to fall, and I was looking for a reason and other things to blame on why I was falling. That’s the problem with the transgressor. It’s hard to do the right thing when you really don’t want to do the right thing. You know how to do the right thing but look for ways to do the wrong things and not get into trouble for it. So, I will leave you with this. When you know that something isn’t right according to the word of God and you are trying to get away from it. It is highly recommended that you disconnect yourself from it at all costs and keep yourself away from it. Use every tactic you can think of and ask the lord to help you and he can and will. Because you are putting forth the effort and he will meet you the rest of the way. Even if you stumble in the effort keep going. Don’t worry about the fall. Focus on the get up!     

Holiday Worship! god’s Among us!

I know this is a touchy subject for most. These Holiday’s! Now I used to get caught up in these as well. Until I found how the word of God was really talking about them. I think we look for the word of God to plainly say Christmas and Valentine’s Day and other days are wrong. It has been telling us in a way that’s different from how we want to hear it. Listen to this scripture here.

Exodus 20:4 

4) Thou shalt not make unto me any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Habakkuk 2:18 

18) What profit the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trust in, to make dumb idols?

Leviticus 26:1 

1) Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.

Colossians 2:8 

8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Ezekiel 20:32 

32) And that which come into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, we will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

Acts 19: 22-28

22) So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

23) And at the same time there arose no small stir about that way. 

24) For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen.

25) Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. 

26) Moreover, ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

27) So that not only is our craft in danger to be set at nought; but also, that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshipped. 

28) And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

See in Acts the guy Demetrius was the guy that made these shrines for Diana which was the so call god that was worshipped in Asia at the time. He made money from this. If you put him in today’s world. He would be the guy that made the chains and the crosses at the jewelry store. That people wear to represent their love for God. There were others that were making money off the goddess as well. Just like today there are many shops where you can buy a gold chain with a cross on it because of what they say it stands for. Or something like a “What would Jesus do” bracelet. People have created many ways to make money off the Lord and other gods. Just like the little car tags with the image of the fish and the words Jesus on the inside. We see them on cars all over the place. Anything; shirts and hoodies and hats that you put the name Jesus on. That’s what they were doing with this goddess Diana at that time.

Paul was coming against that goddess and as he was delivering people from the Lie of her being a real deity. He turned people away from buying the shrines. Which slowed Demetrius and the other businesses down. That would make anyone upset that someone is in town causing people to no longer buy their goods. That was the only reason why they were making money. I get it from their standpoint. See, we understand in Exodus the Lord was talking to his people. About making images of anything in the sky, on the land and in the sea. That would be worshipped. The Habakkuk is asking a question. How does the graven image profit from it? Saying how can a god that doesn’t exist profit from a statue made for it? The statue is getting glory and love from people.

People could worship the image. But it’s just an image a figure made by a man hands. So, if you’re a true God, why are you being made by man’s hands. Where is your true manifestation of yourself. Jesus came down for us to see his true self and that he was alive. You have people trusting dumb idols. That’s like me making a statue of a man out of wood because it came to my mind. Then me saying that he is the god of electricity and then trust that he has power of electricity. So, I’m looking for him to control the electricity on the earth. Now, I’m trusting in him to keep me from getting shocked by electricity or he is going to give me power when I don’t pay my electric bill. See, Colossians tells us to be aware of men and their philosophy and traditions. 

Colossians 2:8

8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

See, Colossians tells us to be aware of men and their philosophy and traditions.

After the rudiments of the world. Any of those things not in Christ. Let’s see what the world says about these words here. Let’s start with Philosophy.

Philosophy: is the systematic and critical study of fundamental questions regarding existence, knowledge, ethics, reason, and reality

So, this word is regarding questions about existence and reason and reality. So, it’s saying be careful when men are talking to you about their understanding of existence and reality. Why would it tell us that. Let’s ask this question. Does every man or woman on this earth have different ideas about how the earth was made? Or is there a true living God? Do some people believe that a baby is not alive until it comes out of the mother? Some believe it’s not alive as the Germinal stage or the Embryonic stage or the Fetal stage. Who are they to give those answers when they weren’t the ones to create that process or this world?

These same philosophies about what exists and doesn’t is why we have holidays. Because people believe in false Gods and they are trying to worship them with certain traditions on certain days. Some research show that Cupid was a God in Roman mythology. The God of desire, erotic love and attraction and affection. Some people engage in Valentine’s Day which is honoring him. I believe some say he is the Son of Venus which is the goddess of love and the father Mars which is said he is the God of war. Which I thought Ares was the god of war in Greek mythology. So, this Cupid guy uses a bow and arrow to inspire love. These come from a different group of people. Watch this, in Hinduism the God of Love is named Kamadeva which is a winged god of love and desire. But this one has a wife named Rati goddess of desire. Wait, how can they both be the god or goddess of desire? Let’s see what a God is according to the world’s definition: 

GOD meaning: A superhuman being or spirit worshiped as having power over nature or human fortunes; a deity.

So, it tells us that Christians call their God as a creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being. We do believe there is only one supreme being. See, our God is not into confusion. All these different Gods and they all are doing the same job in different countries and for different people and if I move to this region of the world the God changes. Think about it. If I was in the Greek region and they have a god of love. but I’m not Greek but Russian. If I prayed to my god of love and bring him or her into that atmosphere in a Greek country. Wouldn’t that bring conflict to both Gods? Or would I have to now pray to the God of that region even though I don’t believe in that one? If I did have to do that. Then how true would I be to the god of that region? Then would this god answer me if I called on them knowing I believe in another god? Would they not allow my prayer to be heard from my god because they rule there? See the confusion? Some people don’t even think about these things.

In Greek mythology Aphrodite is the primary goddess of Love, beauty and sexuality. Egyptian Mythology Hathor is the goddess of love, music, dancing, and joy. So, how can all these people have it right? They all have different names and different people saying things. If I was looking for the right god of love. How would I know which one to pick? Also, if they are gods. And two gods rule over the same thing at the same time. Which one would I pray to? Why not pray to the highest one with the most power? If I did that, would the other god feel some kind of way? If I go to the highest ranked god. Then why would I need the lower ranked one? That why we as children of God pray to the highest of the highest power. “The great I am that I am”. 

See, this brings us to the vain deceit. Being deceived by people to believe in these dumb things if you really ask the questions. It wouldn’t make spiritual sense. Naturally we can make things work how we want them to in our minds. We have people praying to animals and these animals never answer a prayer. We contribute prayers to being answered to the situation because it got better. Not realizing that the true and living God was working out the situation behind the scenes because of his love for his creation. Speaking of behind the scenes. It brings me to my point.

This world has given power to the image of Santa Clause. According to the info on the internet, he started from Greek Bishop St. Nicholas in the 4^th century. Also, some other key creators of the modern image include Washington Irving and Clement Clarke Moore and cartoonist Thomas Nast. In the 19^th century, they dealt with European folklore designed to promote generosity and festive cheer. Then Coca-Cola popularized the modern version of this character.

Folklore: the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth.

They used him to promote things commercially. Not sure how it came to the parents telling their kids Santa is bringing them gifts. Parents telling lies about Santa knows if your Good or Bad. The lie is that he is a real person. You hide gifts and keep secrets and spend money that you don’t have. Just to keep up an image of someone or something that doesn’t exist. 

Even if I took part in the worship of Christmas. You think I’m going to downplay all my hard work and overtime at a job where people get on my nerve. Working all these hours and dealing with my job. Buying presents for children and some of these children are ungrateful. They are looking for some other man to get the credit for my sacrifice to get my child something. This man is really breaking into our homes. We could never see him. We leave cookies out and old milk for him. So, kids can honor him instead of us? No sir! You have people stealing to uphold the image of the holiday. Because their kids are waiting for a big lie to take place. They put this all on commercials and in stores and you see his image everywhere around that time. We are making an idol for our kids. The holiday traditions come from some dark places which I would like you to research for yourself. But when we do this as children of God. We are taking part in the worship of another god, and his image is made by man.

See the word Tradition means: The transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way. Also, a doctrine believed to have divine authority though not in the scriptures. 

Is not Christmas a tradition. We teach our kids to do what we are doing to them? It happens every year around the same time. We do the same thing every year. It causes us to go against Gods commandments. He tells us not to lie, and we do to keep up the image of Santa. Are we now teaching our children to believe in a god type figure. Only a spirit or deity can appear in your house without having to open your doors. Or being as big as he is and coming through the chimney. For other places without a chimney, he just shows up. He knows everyone and whether they are bad or not? That’s big power to be able to do that. But he never talked to anyone in the house when he was there. You see him in malls, isn’t that confusing. That a kid might meet him in a mall and don’t know the kid’s name. When they come up to the parents and say. Why did he ask me my name? I thought Santa knew everything.  What do we say? Are we going to lie? We even tell our kids to behave if they want Santa to bring any gifts. Some people use that to get their kids to behave themselves. Like he is real. Which means if you are using him to have power in your kids’ actions. You are using him as a form of control over your kids. If he has power to make your kids act right for a while and you don’t. First, what have you been doing as a parent and two that is called power, which means he has influence over them. But he is not even real. WOW!

Sounds like he has Godlike effects to me. The Lord said I will have no other god before me. So, we have some people in different stages of this. We have these other ones that want to let the tradition go but can’t. So, they justify it with this action. We will let our children know that God blessed us with the money to get these gifts. Now, you are telling another lie, because God is not going to help you worship another man’s traditions, fake god or philosophy. The scripture tells us he won’t strengthen the hand of the wicked. Then when we come into the knowledge of Christ and that we have made a covenant with him. If we worship another image, idol or god. It is adultery to him. Because when you are a child of God. You have entered a marriage with him. So, just like a regular marriage. If your spouse is having a relationship with someone else only once a year. Is that still cheating or not? If you’re ok with your spouse cheating on you because it’s only once a year. Then that’s on you. But someone that really cares about the other person values their relationship. They wouldn’t do anything to hurt them. Also, if the person values themselves, they wouldn’t accept it either. 

So, we need to search out what holidays were made by these myths and philosophies. How they started and what they were designed to do. You let the Lord lead you on how to handle this issue. So, once you stop, participating in these things. Beware of the family members and the kids. Your family might get mad at you for no longer celebrating these holidays. That’s why I said research them first. Get an understanding of the holiday and then why you shouldn’t. Because family, friends and kids will ask you why you stop. You need to be able to give an answer and stand on it. Because they will find reasons why what you’re saying doesn’t make sense. As if they studied why, you should celebrate it. They don’t even know why they are doing it. It’s just because they are following a tradition that has been passed down. So, we are training our kids to be in sin against the Lord. Then we must teach our kids how and what to say beforehand when people ask them why. Because they will be asked by their schoolteacher and friends and classmates. It’s one thing to tell your child you’re not doing something anymore. It’s another way to help them understand how to handle the backlash of it.

I know some may be small right now. That’s when you tell them to put it on you. School teachers ask why. Tell your child to have them call you so you can speak to them. That way it takes the pressure from them to explain. For some of us the hardest part we deal with is how they will feel towards us. Believe me they will get over it. If they are small. It’s a good time. Even if they have already had a few Christmas days pass already. Once you stick to it for a few years. They will grow up just knowing that they celebrated it at one point. The devil will place in your heart that they will stay mad at us and not love us as they are growing up. All because of us not celebrating that holiday anymore. If you stay consistent and don’t change up. Don’t do anything even close to it. Because you will find yourself still doing it in some way. How? 

Let’s go back to the cheating thing. Some people believe emotional cheating is still cheating right. Even if you didn’t do the act. You’re still having feelings for someone else and spending time with someone else. Then the other side is this. You may not have sex with someone in one way. But there are other actions attached to sex that can be done, if you know what I mean. Is that still not cheating? If you can see that as cheating. Then you can understand how doing things that are like celebrating holidays that the Lord is not in works. Is it not the same thing? Having Christmas trees and no presents is the same thing. Exchanging presents and letting the kids know it was you is the same thing. Dressing up like Santa and having parties are the same thing. Even some churches have allowed it to creep in doing gift exchanges and using the wise men as a form of giving gifts. Well, they gave those gifts to Jesus.

When was the last time we were able to give Jesus a physical present? I believe if he was here. He wouldn’t except the gift anyway. Lol! We give God a gift everyday as believers when we present our bodies a living sacrifice. When we praise him and bless his name. That’s something that we can give him and don’t need a certain day to do it. He has given us gifts that we need to use for him and not our own gain. We have things to give him all the time we just do look at it that way. People will not like it when you’re changing to do better as a believer. Just stand your ground because at the end of the day. The only person you can control is yourself. 

The Family Trick

I remember years ago when I was young. My mother told me the story of how my uncle was killed, and his spirit came back to see me. I believe he died maybe before or a little after I was born. At first when I was younger, I was like that’s a cool story. My mom saw my uncle come back for me.  So, I did hold on to that story for a while. I found out he was homosexual when he died. Even at that point I really didn’t care about that. He was my uncle and he was checking on me. I didn’t know this piece of info at the time. That the dead don’t come back like that. The scripture advises the dead know nothing. Check that out as well on your own time. Then as I got older and dealing with the Lord and my own personal experiences with spirits. I found that the spirit that came to visit me that night was the homosexual spirit that was in my uncle. It trying to stay around in the down line of the family. Trying to latch itself onto me as its next carrier. And if I would’ve allowed it. That spirit would have had me open my son up to him to get him later. 

When I was younger, I had thoughts that came to my head. It wasn’t me being with guys. I wanted to know if it was normal. Or why was it right or wrong? There was a guy that my great aunt worked with. She would bring him to my grandma’s house every once in a blue. He had female tendencies and I didn’t know what to think. I still looked at these people as people but just differently. I remembered putting on my mom’s shoes one day when I was small. I never had a thought about being a woman or liking a man. I just wanted to see if I could walk in them because they looked different. Some people might have a different battle when they put them on. I can only speak about me and my experience. But back to me opening my son up

I know someone is asking the question how would he have you open him up? I’m glad you asked me that question. I would have opened him up to it by allowing him to think it was ok. We know it’s ok in the eyes of people in this world. But not in the eyes of God himself. So, when that spirit starts to talk to me, he is also talking to my son. When my son starts to act out what is going on in his mind. I wouldn’t put too much stock into it. I wouldn’t have looked at it as if something was dealing with him. Because it was ok with me and I felt it wasn’t anything wrong with it. Instead of me stopping him from playing around and walking around in my wife’s heels or wearing a dress just to make us laugh or experiment with things. Not stopping him from watching certain shows and movies. Not talking to him about how God designed us to be. That’s how you open the doors or should I say not close the doors. Not getting him under the truth of God. Even some unsaved people don’t want that for their child. So, think about how much more someone that loves God doesn’t want that for their child. 

See, the visit was presented as a good thing, So, I accepted everything that came with it. That’s why I remember saying randomly that if my son was to turn out to be like that, I wouldn’t mind that. I would still love him. Which one side is true. I would still love him. I wouldn’t be happy about that choice. I’m not going to kick him out of the house or nothing like that. But I’m not going out to eat or any weddings with them together. Unless they want to talk about the situation. Or someone wants to know how to come out of the sin that they’re in and get a relationship with the Lord. 

Now, I know for some of you this is a hard subject to talk about. Because you have family members that may not speak to you again if you talk to them about their lifestyle. This is what I don’t get. If you believe in the Lord. You know that he is real. Then that means you know that the devil is real. If the devil is real. Then Hell is real. If Hell is real. Then people go there. If people are going there. Then you or me may be one of them. Well, I’m not going because I have true salvation. But we say we love our family. Is it not worth it if your family members get upset at you for warning them. It’s easy to point out the things we see what people do on the outside. I’m talking about them not excepting Christ as their personal savior. The changing of the heart.

The true Jesus Christ. Not the one that smokes and drinks with the kids. Not the one that tells us to do whatever we want whenever we want.  Not the one that tells us we can go to the club get drunk bag chicks and sleep with anyone we want. Not that one that say same sex marriage is good. Not that one. A lot the one a lot of people worship right now. Remember that conversation we spoke about earlier with the false gods. That fake Jesus is one of them. That’s the man made one. See, the more we focus on their relationship with God and not so much the sin all the time. We can win people better and our focus of conversation will be more productive. Let me tell you why. If I smoked and drank and stole cars every day. You would tell me to stop that because the Lord doesn’t like that. Will I be in good standing with the Lord if I stop that day? 

No! Why? Because I still haven’t accepted him in my heart. I just stopped doing stuff because I was asked to, but it wasn’t in my heart. So, I can stop doing all these things, but If I haven’t accepted Christ in my life. I’m still in trouble. Because it’s more of completing a task than changing my heart. See, we are coming in under a curse that Adam caused on us. So, to come from under that curse. We must be born the right way. Which is having a new heart. Since we can’t go through our mothers again. The mind must go through a renewing of it. Which is your heart. That’s why once you are born again the same things you use to do that the Lord commanded us to do and not do. Will become more of a love thing of why you do his will. Right now, people don’t care about his will and his love. So that’s why people don’t stop doing things for the Lord. See, people stop cheating on their spouse because they start to love them and don’t want to hurt them emotionally. People don’t hurt their kids’ feelings because they don’t want to hurt them. So, they don’t yell at them and try to give them everything. Even if they don’t deserve it. People do some crazy things for love. People go to jail over love and kill people over love. So, when you don’t love someone, you do whatever to them. That’s why you have people that say they love the Lord but do what they want to do. Imagine someone telling you they love you but keep slapping you in the face really hard. But then they tell you they are sorry. Then they do it again. Then say they are sorry. Do they love you or they just said it? Because love normally brings respect.  I think slaps in the face are very disrespectful. 

Mark 10:17-22

17) And when he went forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

18) And Jesus said unto him, why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

19) Thou knowest the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

20) And he answered and said to him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

21) Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, one thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

22) And he was sad at that saying and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

See, we do good things because most of us were taught good morals. Most of our morals were most likely based off the word of God. So, when we look at it, it looks like we line up as a good person. We have given to people in need. We help the elderly and we don’t steal and kill people. All these things but be able to give up the thing we put the most value in it. So, when we can give up what we think is right and good. Then we can see why these actions are wrong.  Until then everything we think we do the Lord will be pleased with. Focus on the Lord and don’t let the connection to your family’s history be the power that keeps you from finding out about the Lord. Even if your family culture is different from what you find out is right. We know you can be raised and groomed to serve a false god, but because that’s all you know. You stick with it and can’t see the truth. 

Same for other things like sleeping around with everyone. You come up as a young man or lady and all you have seen was cheating and multiple men or women coming in and out the house with your dad or mom. All you know is that it’s a normal thing. So, you grow up with that being in your mind. That is because of your lifestyle, and your image of how the family should be. If you see that and lived around that and you didn’t turn out like that. The Lord had his hand on you at that time. So, that you don’t follow in the way of those people. You have been blessed to not have that stay in your spirit. There must have been something he needed to happen in your life. That might have prevented you from seeing or doing. If you followed what you had seen as a kid. It would have changed your whole path that he had laid out for you.

Road Assassins

I’m not going to get into the details and stuff it will take too long. But I remember back in Maryland my wife and I were trying to get our lives together in the Lord. I remember driving home from work one night. There was a three-way road at a certain part. On my side there was a side street to my right. I noticed a car waiting at the stop sign. I have the right to keep driving straight, I have no stop lights or signs as I’m approaching his street. Next thing you know. He pulls out and turns right at me. I tried to turn away from him, but he hit me head on. I braced myself to keep my face from hitting the steering wheel. Air bags came out and I got out the car quickly because I always thought about in a accident like that the car blowing up. Lol. I checked if the guy was ok. He was ok. Years later as I learned the voice of God when he was talking to me. He told me that it was an attack on my life. The devil seen me trying to get close to the Lord.  But by the grace of God that the impact of that accident would have normally put someone in the hospital.

One year out here in NC my whole family was in the truck leaving to go to the store. I didn’t go with them that day. I can hear the fire trucks going down the street. But I didn’t think anything about it. I got a phone call a few seconds after I heard the fire trucks. Someone told me that my family was in an accident. That was the only vehicle we had at the time. I ran outside to run to the location. I saw this car and this random lady, I stopped asking her to take me down the road. She dropped me off at the scene. My whole family was hurt and the kids on the side of the street and my wife were still in the car along with my oldest daughter and youngest daughter. Some truck randomly turned why they were going straight knocking them into a power pole. The front of the truck was wrapped around the pole. She later advised that she was doing around 40 when the guy knocked her off the road.

Later, I spoke to my big sister in Christ. She testified that it was an attack and she automatically when up in the Spirit, witnessing to her that what she said was right. See the devil was always trying to take us out multiple times on the road. But we are still here. He thought he had us, but God stepped in. He still allowed us to feel the blow. So that we can remember those days as a testimony of his grace and mercy in our lives. That we can say if it had not been for him. I have walked away from 2 car accidents and my wife 3. My oldest daughter 2 times and the rest of my kids 1 each. All of us are still here and praising God and we all have that testimony. This testimony is not only for me and my family. There have been many people that have been in accidents. Trying to be taken out by the devil, but it didn’t work. Because God has need of them or even you whoever is reading this. That accident should have taken you out. BUT GOD! It should have been worse for some it could have been worse than it was. BUT GOD! You should have walked away worse than you are right now. But God!  You may have lost a leg or an arm or bad body damage from it. But it still could have been worse than it is. You still were given a chance to get it right. Because the devil was trying to kill you in your unrighteous state of mind. Trying to send you to hell. But God knew you weren’t ready to live yet. So, he spared your life another day to get it right.

I’m going to let two other people use their testimony to speak. Here we have the man named Job. You can read this whole book when you can. I’m just pointing out some parts of the story that show you how the devil tries to get us to fall. Try to get us to not serve or worship the Lod. Currently in this scripture the devil/Satan has come to the Lord. They had a conversation about Job. Then the Lord allowed the devil to try some things. See what happens.

There are so many ways the devil has tried to get us to serve him secretly and without knowing. He has used us without knowing. Some people have said that the greatest trick he has ever done is to make us believe he doesn’t exist. I don’t know where that came from. But people sure do act like that is true. I hear people and see people talk and walk like he is not out here. They only think about the Lord. So, when good things happen and they get what they want. They give the Lord thanks and when something bad happens. They complain about the Lord. Why does he do this and why does he do that. Not thinking maybe, it was the devil. Maybe you let the devil in and do something. People say why did God allow this person to die or this happen to my child. Maybe the devil did it. We walk like he is not out here. Like his plan is not to destroy us.

I will continue this in part two. Thanks for reading!