Will Satan Celebrate When You Leave This World?

Have you ever thought of what Satan will do when the Angel of Death comes to take you home? When you draw your last breath and your eyes close forever on this dying earth, will Satan stand idly by, bow his head and wish you good riddance...or will he gather his demons and throw one hellish party, celebrating your demise. So let's stop and take a moment to "flesh" this thought out....

HOW WILL SATAN REACT WHEN YOU ARE DEAD AND GONE?

He could face your calamity with a calm and cool demeanor, since you did very little to impend his progress of obtaining "souls" for his growing population in Hell. I mean, you were a BELIEVER in your heart, but your actions and the words that came from your mouth did little to convince others that you were an ardent follower of Christ. Or perhaps you did more than attend church on Sunday; but also came to Wednesday evening worship, sang in the choir and took your rotation in the Nursery, the fourth Sunday of every month...good for you; but that made little to no difference to the evil works of the devil. Or perhaps you went on an occasional mission trip, tithed when possible and tried to "love your neighbor as you loved yourself"? Sounds like you were on the right track, but you still were probably never really on the devil's radar as a "threat" to rob him of some of his converts.

It is only with the heart and mindset of Job that you would have given Satan cause for concern. In Job, chapter one, we find the devil (a fallen angel) in a conversation with God concerning Job and his faithfulness as "a perfect and upright man."  Satan contends that Job is upright in verse ten, saying... ¹⁰ “You are like a wall protecting not only him, but his entire family and all his property. You make him successful in whatever he does, and his flocks and herds are everywhere. ¹¹ Try taking away everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face.” ¹² The Lord replied, “All right, Satan, do what you want with anything that belongs to him, but don't harm Job.”    Then Satan left.

And so, calamity befalls Job, his family, his wealth and all that he has...only he and his wife remain. The devil thinks he has one; but JOB REMAINS FAITHFUL TO THE ONE TRUE GOD AND DOES NOT FOLD! So, the devil says, "let me take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face." God allows him access to Job's health, but he cannot take his life....and in Chapter 13, verses 13-15, Job gives his answer to all that he has endured in the loss of God's favor, when he says,

^"13 Be quiet, and I will speak. Let whatever comes happen to me .¹⁴ Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands? ¹⁵ Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways before Him.: HCSB

And though the Book of Job contains 42 chapters, the verses above are the bedrock of Job's faith from which he did not stray; you can bet that Satan threw a big party when Job died...for a testimony of faith like Job's can move mountains and change the hearts of men, turning them to God and the eternal love, forgiveness, grace and mercy that only HE CAN OFFER.

SO, are you a man (or woman) of faith, perseverance and "and a perfect an upright man of God." If so, you can be sure that Satan will not be attending your funeral. He will be too busy planning the party that celebrates your death; and rejoicing in the fact that you are no longer a 'thorn in his side' as he continues to recruit others for their eternal trip to hell...and if you have done a good job of telling your friends, family and those that God sends your way about the ONE TRUE GOD and the sacrifice of His Son for their sins...then, they will not be in attendance at Satan’s party for your send off!!!

Living to thwart Satan's Plans....Lighting the World with God's Love,

WPQ

 

DAY SIX-THE LAST POTHOLE

The Pothole of Bitterness...

The Heartache That Never Heals!

For at least the last ten years, my loving wife has been dealing with a botched crown job that has left her in much pain and discomfort; but, in just a few short days, our new (and highly skilled dentist) will be replacing that crown with a new and improved one. In this interim period of waiting for this new crown, my wife has mentioned on several occasions that she could not wait to "get rid of this horrible metallic taste in my mouth"....which got me thinking of all the times in my life that I have had this horrible taste in my mouth when someone I love, know and trusted has hurt me and shaken me to my core...that taste that truly starts in my heart and soul tells me that I have run headlong into the Pothole of Bitterness.

We have all been there. You are traveling the highway of life, minding your own business, when  someone says something that is totally false, fabricated and fictitious...with the sole aim of hurting you and damaging your reputation. You muster up the courage to take them on regarding this and to your total dismay, they are not the least bit repentant...how do you respond? For most of us, it is in that moment that we begin to experience that taste of bitterness. Or what about that promotion at work that you have poured your heart and soul into. You have done everything you can to get noticed so that the only logical choice is YOU...and then, the boss gives it to someone else with fewer skills and a whole lot less time on the job....and before you know it, here comes that test of bitterness that starts in our soul and works its way into our mouth (better watch what you say) and then into our actions (better watch what you do).

Or maybe you have been harmed physically by an abusive mother or father that treated you as a punching bag, blaming you for all their shortcomings and taking out their inadequacies by mistreating and belittling you...can you taste that terrible metallic bitterness as it begins to well up from your soul and makes you heart seem like a stone toward that parent? Or what upon that sibling that always seem to get what they wanted from your parents while  you, your brothers or sisters were scrapping for the tiniest bit of love and affection that might be leftover and fall your way. 

In the Bible, young Joseph, with his coat of many colors, certainly felt the bitterness of his brothers' hearts when they sold him into slavery and then convinced their father that Joseph had been attacked by a wild animal and killed. If you know the story of Joseph and all the heartache and hardships that he endured as a captive in Egypt, it is easy to imagine that bitterness was at the heart of his survivorship. Rather, it was the desire to see his family again that spurred him on as he followed the leading of the one true God and became second in command, only to the Pharaoh. At long last, when his brothers came to Egypt in search of food, he revealed himself to them. This could have been one of those scenes where they were all cast into a dungeon, never to see their father or the light of day again; but Joseph did not live in bitterness but rather in love and forgiveness...thus he brought the whole family to Egypt to once again live as a family under the covenant of the mighty Jehovah God.

When it comes to the pothole of bitterness, you are faced with two choices of how you will react to having such a jarring experience. You can move forward in retaliation, or you can release your anger and hurt in forgiveness...the choice is always YOURS!

Unfortunately for most people (Christians included), we see the course of retaliation as the correct course of action. After all, these people (our boss, parents, siblings, co-workers; the list goes on and on), they should be held accountable for their words, deeds and actions that harmed us in such a way...in fact, if we don't punish them, how will they ever learn not to treat others the way they treated us? God has something to say about that ....simply,

"VENGENANCE BELONGS TO ME; I WILL REPAY!' "Deuteronomy 32:35

So if God is in the business of setting things right and seeing that they learn their lesson, what should we do? Romans 12:20-21 says, "Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome with evil, rather overcome evil with good." And I call that RELEASE....you let go and let God. You were never meant to punish those that harm you; that activity belongs to a holy and righteous God. You were made to trust God and His infinite wisdom...you are to leave the details of who, how, when and why someone receives their "crops" from the seeds of destruction they have sown. Trust me, God has a whole lot more in store for them than you or I could ever imagine!

So forgive, forget and get back on the road to the abundant life that God has in store for you. Please don't let the pothole of bitterness wreck your life as you struggle each day to carry the baggage of hurt, hate and heartache from the evil someone has inflicted on you. Yes, there will be wounds that may never heal; scars that are visible and deeply etched into your soul...but the good news is simple....GOD LOVES YOU AND WHEN ALL IS OVER ....YOU WIN!!!!

Living Triumphantly.....Tasting the Sweetness of His Goodness,

WPQ

 

Poem for the Day...
Life can have its ups and downs
And people can be cruel;
But we who trust in the Father's love,
We follow the Golden Rule.
 
We don't allow the Evil one
To steal our joy away.
We gladly shun the bitterness
That life may bring our way.
 
We walk where God will lead us
And trust in His recompense
For someday in the future
His ways will all make sense!
 
WPQ 2017
 

 

 

 

 

 

DAY FIVE-The Pothole of Failure....

Living in the Community of "what if?"

If you are living in this world and are not acquainted with failure, then I must question you and ask...."Are you really living at all?" Let's be honest, we all have failed. In fact, the Bible tells us in Isaiah 53:6,"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all" OR as I would paraphrase, "We have all failed to live as God intended, doing our own thing and hoping He would approve; but because of our disobedience, God has punished His own Son for our failures and He has borne the weight of our sin so that we might be declared righteous before a Holy God."

Now that's failure on a spiritual level; but what about the failure that comes into our lives and often paralyzes us so that we cannot move forward.

Like the pothole of failure when we marry the "love of our life" and after 25+ years of what we assume is wedded bliss, our partner walks out the door without so much as a goodbye or thank you for the years we've spent together...and you are overcome by the enormous feeling of failure.

Or what about that business you started in your youth. You poured all your time, energy and money into building a successful company and in so doing, neglected so much of your life and its other duties; then, in a  twinkling of an eye, it all come crumbling down, as you file for bankruptcy and have to begin life again in your twilight years....WHAM...SLAM... BAM...as you ricochet from the direct hit in the pothole of failure.

Then of course there is the loss of your physical health and the failure that you feel every time you look into a mirror. Gone is that handsome, debonair young man or that gorgeously-striking, young woman. Now you find yourself staring at a image of someone that remotely resembles the person you used to be...One hundred pounds overweight, losing hair, wrinkles upon wrinkles,  poor health and this terrible feeling that you failed to live up to the potential that you had as a younger adult...and no matter how you try, the failure of losing your health and your youth trap you into believing that life might as well be over.

But how does God view failure?  I believe God sees failure as the human condition...since the first bite of the apple and the curse of sorrow, pain and endless toil to exist, God knew that man would strive to succeed; however, in his own strength, man is destined to fail. Don't believe me...consider Peter, and the testimony of this ardent follower of Christ. He traveled almost all the way to the cross with his Master...devoted, loyal and ready to fight to save Jesus; however, when Jesus needed Peter to be the "Rock" and stand firm, what did Peter do?

HE FAILED MISERABLY....in fact, if Jesus had not prayed to the Father on behalf of Peter, his failure might have been insurmountable. In Luke 22, verse 31 and 32 from The Living Bible we read, "Simon, Simon; Satan has asked to have you, to sift you like wheat, but I have pleaded in prayer for you that your faith should not completely fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up the faith of your brothers.” Yes, Christ knew that Peter would fail...that he would deny three times that he even knew this man called Jesus, and if left to his own device, the failure foretold by the Savior would become a pothole for Peter from which he might never recover. But praise be to God that He is able to take our failures and make them turn out for our GOOD and His GLORY...and it is only God that can accomplish that in us.

We can take our failures and let them define who we are, and what we can or cannot do; but God, in His infinite wisdom, sees beyond the failures, the pain, the emotional scars and He breathes new life into our being, so that we can move up, move forward and move beyond the failures that may hold us captive. GOD ALWAYS HAS A BETTER WAY...He is just waiting for us to put aside ourselves and our disappointments and look to Him for new challenges and new opportunities to serve Him so that He receives the glory due Him.

Just look at Peter and the man he became when the risen Christ asked him, "Peter, do you love me?" His emphatic answer was, "Yes, Lord, you know that I do!" To which Jesus replied, "Feed my lambs." And after asking the same questions two more times, Peter, now grieved in his spirit said, "Lord, you know all things; You know that I love you." And in a loving manner that only Jesus could express to one that had so miserably failed Him, He told Peter to feed his sheep and to follow him, even if it led to death...which is just what the great apostle Peter did.

So, have you been struck by the pothole of failure...are you sitting on the apron of life's highway as the hustle and bustle of life races by? Have you given up and accepted your fate that your are just a miserable failure? Then, maybe it's time to ask yourself....do you love Jesus...because if you do, you know this....GOD DON'T MAKE NO JUNK...AND HE IS NOT IN THE FAILURE BUSINESS!!

It's time to trust in God, love Him as He intended, and move out in the faith that He has something for you to do that only YOU can accomplish....and since He is still working in and on you, He won't quit until you are just like Jesus!

Living to be like Jesus...Loving the Life set before me,

WPQ

 

 

Poem for the Day:

We can face life's darkest hour
Confident in our strength and power;
But knowing that we gave our best
May not pass the failure test.
 
For doing what we deem is right
By turning darkness into light;
With Christ beside me I cannot fail
No matter what….I shall prevail!
 

DAY FOUR-The Pothole of Guilt & Regret....

Anchored to the Past...living in the ruins!

I don't know about your days of childhood, but my were filled with carefree play and time with my neighborhood pals...romping up and down our street, doing what little boys do and more often than not, getting into trouble....nothing major, just stuff that we were hoping won't be noticed by the grownups.

Invariably, we would do something that we knew was wrong... like turn over someone's birdbath or knock the heads off of some pretty flowers with our baseball bats. Then, like roaches exposed to the light in a dark room, we would all go scurrying off to our homes with one thought in our little boy minds...DON'T TELL ANYONE WHAT WE HAD DONE. Doing that was never easy for me because my parents were raising me to be honest, truthful and "a good boy." So when I didn't squeal on myself or my pals, I always had this terrible feeling come over me as I tossed and turned in my bed at night...that feeling was GUILT...and until I came clean and confessed my wrong doings to my parents, it would not go away.

For a lot of people on the road of life, they have encountered the pothole of GUILT and it's family member of REGRET. Now, they are not living with the transgressions of their childhood pranks, but they are dealing with some serious stuff that has left them broken-down on the side of the road as they try and push away the guilt from an extramarital affair. They may have long since stopped the action of giving themselves to another person who is not their spouse, but the guilt and shame of that action of infidelity hangs over them and they still cannot bring themselves to let go of the pain and shame they caused their spouse, even when they have been forgiven. And it is in that failure to let go that they continue to build those walls of discord and discontent that keeps them from re-building the marriage they once had or hoped for when love was in full bloom.

Or what about that woman that did what she now considers unthinkable as she bore a child out of wedlock and then gave away her baby because of the societal mores that she was under. She relives every day that moment when her child was taken away and regrets the decision to let the child go...how does she live with the pain of guilt and regret that wells up every time she sees a photo of someone's new grand child or holds a baby in the nursery at church?

Or what about the person that spread some terrible lies about the person in the next cubicle at work and in so doing got a co-worker fired. Now, those actions and those words spoken have left an indelible mark on the soul and the guilt haunts every interaction with those still in the workplace. 

Or what about you and me and our relationship with a Holy Creator. We know that we have sinned and that our relationship is broken with our Heavenly Father, but we think that at the right time, when we get our act together, we will come to God with our cleaned up life and make amends for all our wrong doing...but until then, we will just have to deal with the guilt and the regrets that we carry for a life carelessly lived. But to me the pothole of guilt and regret is even worse and does far more damage in the life of a Christian that will not forgive themselves for their transgressions against God.

They have accepted the grace of God but are not at peace with God because they are still toting around the guilt that came with their sin. They have not learned the truth that when God forgives, GOD FORGETS....He do longer holds the sin against you for the debt and the punishment due you for your sin has been PAID IN FULL by Jesus. So when you continue to carry the guilt or live in regret for your sins of commission or your sins of omissions, you are telling God that the sacrifice of Jesus was not enough to pay for your sins....that it is only through your guilt that you can be made whole....and to that I say.....HOGWASH!!!!!  God's Word says it best in Romans 5:1 which says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." And that peace is made manifest by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and through the power of the spirit all GUILT and all REGRET is cast out...you just have to let it go and get back to traveling the road of life with this one central thought....

WHATEVER I HAVE DONE, THE BLOOD THAT CHRIST  SHED FOR ME HAS COVERED MY SIN AND NOW I AM FREE...A NEW AND GLORIOUS CREATION THAT HAS BEEN SET FREE..NO LONGER SHACKLED TO MY SINFUL PAST, BUT ALIVE IN CHRIST!!!!

Make this your mission statement ....Letting go of the past, holding firm to my Savior, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength...there is no pothole that can keep me from my journey's end... GOING HOME WITH MY LORD WHERE ETERNITY AWAITS!!!!!

Dodging the potholes....Letting Jesus steer,

WPQ

 

Poem for the Day....

Life's potholes may get the best of you

     As you are tossed both to and fro:

    And you may question the Father's love, 

    Unsure which way to go...

 

But never doubt how much He cares for you,

As you travel life's highways;

The Father's love will see you through

To Eternity one day....

 

And when you enter those pearly gates

To be met by those above;

The Father's arms will be opened wide

As your welcomed Home in love.

 

WPQ 2017

 

 

DAY THREE -The Pothole of Rejection....

 The Bump of Loneliness

If there is one word in the English language that everyone almost instinctively knows the meaning, it is the word REJECTION. We have seen it displayed to and by others more times than any one of us would care to admit. We have felt the pain, dismay and loneliness that being rejected brings. Since rejection and the emotions that is brings seems to be so universal to all, you might ask why consider rejection as a pothole that can totally disrupt and derail a life...the answer is both simple and complex.

Simply put, rejection hurts us...and depending on how great our love and affection for that person who rejects us, the hurt can go all the way to the heart of who we are and who we might desire to become.

Now I came from a very loving and supportive family with two great parents and a sister, all of us bound in a family unit with our love for each other and for our Lord at the center of our home. We supported each other in many ways and even in the worst of times, we let each other know that they were loved and cherished as a family member. So, when I got married for the first time at the ripe old age of 27, I married a woman that was 31, widowed, with two sons from her previous husband. I loved her and her boys more than life; so when after three months of what I thought was wedded bliss, I came home from work to find my suitcases packed and my neighbor's husband sitting in my kitchen to tell me that my "wife" wanted me to leave ...I was floored, flabbergasted and extremely hurt from this display of total rejection. This cut me to my core and as I returned to my parent's home, all I could think about was how disappointed everyone would be in me that I could not make my marriage work. I took a lot of aspirin when I got home, went to bed and hours later, I woke up in the hospital after having my stomach pumped. I don't believe that I tried to take my life, but I was looking to ease the horrible pain I felt from being rejected by the woman I loved.

It is this kind of rejection that can be a pothole that consumes you and takes away your will to go on. It has happened far too many times when someone has been spurned, turned aside and rejected by a true love that they never recuperate...they become sullen and despondent and lose their zeal for living. Too often someone that has suffered tremendous rejection becomes a recluse or at best, a sad and lonely figure, living on the edge of society, but never really fitting in or moving forward from that pain of rejection.

Even Christ our Lord suffered the greatest of pain on the cross, not from the nails driven into His hands and feet, but in His final hour, He cried out to His Heavenly Father saying, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It was in those last few breaths before Jesus died that He experienced the greatest pain of His life...the loss of His Father's love. It was in that moment God turned His back on His eternal Son as He bore the weight of all our sin on His shoulders...yes, Jesus suffered the spurning rejection of the Father so you and I would not have to know such heartache.

Is there a pothole of rejection...and can it do irreparable damage in one's life? I truly believe there is!  I believe it is far more insidious in our lives than often we know. But though we may encounter this pothole, we need not let it define the rest of our life...for God has already taken care of the holy rejection that comes from on high. He has forever called us to be His own, never more to be rejected by the sins that separate us from Him and His righteousness....WE BELONG TO GOD WHEN WE BELIEVE THAT CHRIST'S SACRIFCE ON THE CROSS PAID OUR SIN DEBT AND WE CHOOSE TO LIVE FOR HIM.

My friend, no more should you look at your life in terms of what you do not have because of who or what may have rejected you...Look rather at your life as the true gift that it is....a life set apart, abundant and free, loved and adored, happy and at peace because God has made you a part of His heavenly family ....it is a family in which you will forever belong!!!!!

 

Living life with no regrets....Loved by the Father...Cherished by the Son,

WPQ

 

Poem for the Day:

If life has been good to you
And you've found someone to love.
It's all because He cares for you
From His Heavenly throne above.
 
So don't despair if you're cast aside,
Don't let rejection rule the day.
Just trust and rest in the Father's grace
For another love is on the way!
 

WPQ 2017

 

 

DAY TWO-THE POTHOLE SERIES

 

The Pothole of Unexpected Loss and Sorrow...

 The First Big Bump!

 I am confident that when I mention this first pothole...the pothole of unexpected loss and sorrow...I am not catching anyone off guard with the news that life can bring you sorrow. In fact, in the third chapter of Genesis, we see sorrow and pain enter the world due to the sin of Adam and Eve when God says to the woman, "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children."  And thus, pain and sorrow took on dimension in the lives of us all...until that time that we return to dust.

But what is sorrow and how should the pain of unexpected loss effect us and our lives? The Bible teaches us that sorrow is the uneasiness or pain of mind which is produced by the loss of any good; or it is the frustrated hopes of good or expected loss of happiness that leads one to grieve or be sad; however, I am not speaking here of the sorrow that comes due to the natural ebb and flow of life. If you have ever lost a parent or grandparent to death in their ripe old age of late seventies, eighties or nineties, you indeed will experience the sorrow of loss of a loved one... one who meant so much to you as a cherished member of your family; however, due to their age and possible physical health at the time of their passing, you probably were expecting them to pass, maybe even hoping for such so they would no longer suffer in their degenerative state. And because of our sinful world order, you will be sorrowful, sad and grieve them and the loss that you have incurred with them gone...but even in those moments, life tells you to press on for at some time, you too will stand at heaven's door and be ushered into eternity.

But how do we deal with that unexpected loss when someone you love is quickly snatched from life...a child that is lost to cancer or a defective heart at a tender age; a teenage son or daughter killed in a senseless car wreck by a drunk driver; a mother of 3 children who dies of breast cancer at age 34; a son killed on the battlefield at age 22...and the list could go on and on. For we all have been devastated when someone we know, someone close to us, is ripped from the fabric of our lives, leaving behind a tattered soul that cannot move beyond the tragedy. That loss which creates such a  BIG, EMPTY HOLE often brings such pain and sorrow that we blame God and turn our back on the one we need the most to see us through such pain.

For Jesus himself was not immune to such unexpected loss...for when he came to the town of Bethany, the home of his good friend Lazarus, Mary came out to meet Jesus and took him to the grave of her brother. Scripture says, "Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her weeping, his spirit groaned within him and he was troubled." John 11:33 And in verse 35 of this same chapter we see the humanity of Jesus..."Jesus wept." John 11:35  Jesus had to deal with the great pain and the unexpected loss of his good friend, and he did as we all would do...He cried, releasing the pain and sorrow that dwelt inside. But more than that, He knew that God wanted more to be experienced in this situation than the loss of a loved one. God wanted all to know His power and the power given to the Son ...and in knowing this, we might come to the belief that God's power can overcome any loss and is far greater than any pain that might beset us... (End of part One)

I have known many people that have struck the pothole of unexpected loss. They endure to this day the great and awful pain that comes with such loss. They loved so much and had built their life around that person (mother, father, husband, wife, child, etc) in such a way that upon the death of that loved one, they ceased to live. Now, they pass through this life in a slow and pain-filled existence, just waiting for their turn to be visited by the Grim Reaper. Their joy is gone and, too often, even their love for the Lord has been snuffed out, void of even a smoldering ember to re-light their way back to their Heavenly Father. But there is hope for anyone who has hit the pothole of unexpected loss and pain...just turn in the Bible to the writings of Paul as he shared the great hope of the coming of Jesus with his Thessalonians  brothers and sisters when he writes, "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope."

In this brief passage concerning the return of Christ, we are told not to be sorrowful, rather to trust in the Father and the word of Jesus who told us that He would come again to reclaim His own, "for where He is we shall dwell also."  And in that truth, WE FIND OUR HOPE!!!!

Yes, we may hit this pothole that will seek to wreck our life as one we love is taken unexpectedly from us; but that does not define us or in any way diminish the Fathers' love for us. We must choose to trust that God wants us to experience more from our loss that might have ever been gained by holding on to that great love...for in letting go, we can come to love Him more and learn to lean on Him for all of life's catastrophes. In fact, as Paul finishes the passage of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, he concludes, "Therefore comfort one another with these words."

Maybe, you have seen your life upended and torn apart by the pothole of unexpected loss and pain, but our God is bigger than your loss and far greater to heal and take away your pain...You just have to be willing to let him take control of the steering wheel...and why not? There are probably more potholes in the road of life just ahead; so let Him who has the power and the knowledge get you to where you want to go... Because He Loves You with an EVERLASTING LOVE!!!!

Trusting the Lord....Dodging the Potholes,

WPQ

 

 

 

THE POTHOLE SERIES...REVISITED.

 

THE POTHOLE SERIES....Living Beyond the Potholes on the Road of Life!

 

For most of the better years of my life, I have spent my time traveling across the United States along the roads of commerce in search of a sale. Whether it was hawking eyeglass frames, PoeticArt, insurance or who can remember what else, I have encountered more than my fair share of potholes and have been left to deal with the destruction that they leave in their wake...no doubt you have too!

These insidious holes in the road are brought about by erosion, freeze and thaw events and the sheer number of vehicles that pass over a certain portion of a road, day after day after day...well, it is no wonder that left untreated or unrepaired, they lie in wait for that unsuspecting motorist to pass by and then they pounce...not literally mind you, but it sure fills that way sometimes. How often have you, like me, been humming down the Interstate, the sound of the clickety-clackety of your tires keeping the beat to the song on the radio when suddenly, without any warning, an unseen pothole consumes your tire, even if only for a split second, jarring your front teeth, making your contacts pop out or your toupee sit sideways. The steering wheel is contorted in a devilish fashion as your fight to regain control of your car, all the while trying to maintain your composure as you reassure yourself that all is "OKAY."

BUT IS IT?

As you continue your journey, you notice that the steering wheel seems to vibrate in your hands and if you take your hands off the wheel for just a moment, the car starts to change lanes without you steering in that direction. Now, you notice a funny noise coming from underneath the car that you have not heard before. The smooth and noise free ride that you have always enjoyed is somehow quickly diminished and all because of that unseen, man and nature-made evil entity called a POTHOLE.

Some would say, "SO WHAT?" That's just life so deal with it...and by and large I would agree. But what if the pothole were a metaphor for what happens to us in real life when we are cruising along, enjoying the life we have chosen...and what if that pothole (and others like it) derails us, knocks us off the road of life and puts us in the junkyard of despair, loneliness and hopelessness long before the end of our journey...WHAT THEN?

Which leads me to ask ....have you ever considered The Five Potholes of Life and where they may lead? Jesus did...the Bible does...and we should. So for the next five lessons or so, follow along with me on the road of life and see if you may have become a victim of one of these five potholes...

1) The Pothole of Unexpected Loss & Sorrow

2) The Pothole of Rejection

3) The Pothole of Bitterness

4) The Pothole of Failure

5) The Pothole of Guilt & Regret

 

Happy Motoring...Living Beyond the Potholes,

WPQ

A Poem for Easter

 

Will You Willingly Bear His Cross ….
 
It was a day, not like any other,
As angry mobs began to stir.
For the prophet of Nazareth
And His disciples; they gathered to confer.
 
This day was just another Thursday;
And now, with the crowds left behind.
The Son of God sent His faithful two;
A respite they were to find.
 
A place to gather with the Teacher,
A place of quiet and sweet repose.
Away from the seeking, pleading throngs,
To a shelter that few ever come to know.
 
So sheltered in that small Upper Room,
With His beloved disciples gathered ‘round…
The King of all the highest realms,
Now knelt on Holy ground.
 
With a towel tightly girded around his waist,
In the shadows of flickering candlelight….
Was a wash bowl filled with water used
To wash the feet of those that night.
 
For Jesus taught to each one there,
As he washed and dried their feet;
That if you seek to be truly His,
You must seek other’s needs to meet.
 
For time is quickly slipping away;
Will you look back to count the loss?
For if you seek to follow Jesus Christ,
Will You Willingly Bear His Cross?
 
W. Patrick Queen © April 2026

When Storms Arise...Where Do You Turn?

Last night, I was sound asleep, with not a mind-numbing care in the world! Then, there was a loud crack of thunder that rattled the windows in my bedroom, and I quickly awoke to the sound of thunderous rain and howling winds. I was totally caught by surprise, and though I knew rain was in the forecast, I was not expecting any violent thunderstorms….which got me to thinking about life in general.

We all like to think that we have some infallible plans for when storms begin to howl in our lives…we make contingency plans for such occurrences. If you lose your job, you have money in the bank, saved for such an occasion…at least you hope, until you’ve found another job. Or if unexpected sickness should befall you or a loved one, you have health insurance to help meet your financial obligations and keep you on your feet. But….try as we may, we can’t plan for every emergency that might come our way. In fact, sometimes a storm arises that we could not have forecast or prepared for in advance. So what do we do or where do we turn?

Scripture tells us to “SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND” and I, as a follower of Christ, believe that He is with us ALL THE TIME; however, He seems to draw nearer to us when storm clouds begin to form, and we reach out to Him in prayer and by reading His Word. It is in these times that our need for Him is increased, especially if we have tried to weather the impending calamity of a storm on our own. Was our Savior not asleep on the boat with His disciples when they woke Him up and pleaded with Him to do something about their impending doom?  And after Jesus spoke to the winds and calmed the seas, Jesus said to them, “O ye of little faith?”

In the Old Testament, we read in Psalm 107:28-31, ^“Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and he saves them. He calms the storm and stills the waves. What a blessing is that stillness as he brings them safely into harbor!  Oh, that these men would praise the Lord for his loving-kindness and for all of his wonderful deeds!” (TLB)  

Maybe today, you find yourself in such a situation. Despite all your best attempts to be prepared for all situations and any impending storms…YOU HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED by the waves and the winds, and you need to find a peace and a calm….and the safe harbor you so desperately long to call HOME. If that is you, then let go of the helm;  turn it over to the Master of the Sea who will guide you to where He wants you to be…SAFE AND AT HOME WITH YOUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. For He alone can bring about the calm that you need and the peace that you will find in Him. Who else but the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE can speak to the storm and bring about the calm that you long to have in your life….YES, STORMS WILL COME AND  YOU WILL HAVE ALL YOU NEED TO WEATHER ANY STORM…  WHEN YOU CALL ON JESUS!

 

Living in the calm….prepared for any storm,

WPQ

 

Poem for the day….

When the storms of life beset you
And the gale winds begin to blow
Just turn your ship into the storm
And trust in the ONE you know....
 
With Jesus at your helm of life
No matter the stormy sea;
He will steer you safely home
To His peace and harmony.
 
And once again on solid ground
His praise your lips will sing;
In wondrous hallelujahs
To Christ, your Lord and King!
 
September ©2017

 

LIVING A LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP & PRAISE

 So, let's bring our study of PREPARING FOR ETERNITY...WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? to a close with this blog as we take a closer examination of Peter's last verses regarding how we are to be living. He says in verse 8, "If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God. You will produce the kind of fruit that should come from your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Easy to Read)

And isn't that our purpose on this earth....to be useful to God as we live and produce fruit...as we seek to tell others about Jesus and His sacrifice for us, as we look forward to spending eternity with Him. And all that is ENTIRELY POSSIBLE, if we learn more about who Jesus is, and as we walk with Him in our daily lives, making EVERY effort to be more like Him (godliness) and to show the love of God to those who are living life on their own terms; totally and selfishly without regard for God's great love and sacrifice. I mean, if we can somehow earn our way into God's PERFECT Heaven; then what was the cross for and why did Jesus come to earth just so He could die the most horrible death possible? 

Peter goes on to say in verse 9, "But those who don’t grow in these blessings are blind. They cannot see clearly what they have. They have forgotten that they were cleansed from their past sins. Yes, we will miss the blessings that God has stored up for us both here on earth as well as in Heaven if we fail to worship Him for all He has done for us...both now and in eternity to come. 

Imagine, if you will, you are in a upcoming dramatic play...what is your first act of getting ready to perform the play...LEARN YOUR LINES, THEN RUN THEM WITH SOMEONE ELSE; THEN PRACTICE YOUR BLOCKING ON STAGE, THEN THE DRESS REHERSAL..NOW YOU ARE READY FOR OPENING NIGHT.

The same is true for your preparation for Heaven....first you picture WORSHIP and then you PRACTICE WORSHIP as laid out in Psalm 119:164, which reads, "Seven times a day and all day long do I praise You because of Your righteous decrees." (AMPC) Yes, the more we visualize our acts of worship, the more we are prepared to practice our acts of worship and receive the blessings that God has ALREADY PREPARED FOR US....He is just waiting for us to do our part so that He may do His part!!!! 

In fact, if you will closely examine the last verses of this Scripture passage in verse 10 & 11, you will find seven blessings that are provided to us as we use the tools we have in our toolbox to do God's work and to worship Him in true honor and praise for all HE HAS DONE AND ALL THAT HE WILL DO TO COME...THEY ARE,

GODLY MATURITY

GROWING PRODUCTIVITY

GREATER CLARITY

GRATEFUL MEMORY

GENUINE STABILITY

GUARANTEED SECURITY

and probably the most important blessing of all....

GLORIOUS ETERNITY!!!!

So, let's crack open our toolbox, knowing we have EVERYTHING WE NEED TO LIVE A SUCCESSFUL AND GLORIOUS LIFE FOR OUR HEAVENLY FATHER....AS WE DO THE GOOD DEEDS SET BEFORE US AND HE RECEIVES THE GLORY, HONOR AND PRAISE HE IS DUE!!!

WORKING FOR JESUS...WAITING ON HEAVEN'S REWARD,

WPQ

Brotherly Affection Gives Way to Agape LOVE

So as we as we wrap up our study of PREPARING FOR ETERNITY, the apostle Peter gives us our last two tools for use in building our toolbox for our earthly gain and our heavenly work that prepares us for our upcoming job titles in God's Heavenly Kingdom. The first is Brotherly Affection; a sincere and active love for our brothers and sisters in Christ! I mean, if we cannot show affection, love and a sincere desire to know and grow with those of our kindred Spirit, how can we ever be expected to show the LOVE of GOD for those still lost in a world of sin and despair? THE SIMPLE ANSWER...WE CAN'T!!!!

In fact, Peter tells again in his first letter, 1 Peter 1:22, which reads, "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart." ..Or we read in Romans 12:9-10, "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor."  In fact, there is no better way to show true brotherly affection for each other than to show respect for those members of the faith who may or may not agree with you in all things; but who are honestly and eagerly seeking to know Jesus more intimately as they continue their walk with Him and grow to show more brotherly affection to others in the Christian faith. 

It is here that Peter tackles the last instrument of use for us all as sojourners in this world...the gift of AGAPE LOVE...God's unselfish love that knows no boundaries and takes us from our comfort zones as we seek to live out the Great Commission given to us by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus has called us to make disciples, but His first command is to "go into all the world"...to GO so that we may SHOW...to show and to demonstrate the true love of the Father, " that whoever would believe that Jesus is the Son of God; that He bled and died on Calvary for our sins; that He was buried in a borrowed tomb, but yet, rose again on the third day...FOR THE ONE THAT HAS SUCH A FAITH HAS FORGIVENESS AND AN ETERNAL HOME WITH THE FATHER AND HIS SON, IN A DAY THAT IS COMING FOR ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD...that man or woman or child is an extension of the AGAPE LOVE OF GOD...and will one day reign with all of Heaven and with those who belong to the family of  GOD....HALLELUJAH AND AMEN!!!!

And in conclusion, Peter further instructs us in verses 8-11 of 2 Peter 1, when he writes...If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God. You will produce the kind of fruit that should come from your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who don’t grow in these blessings are blind. They cannot see clearly what they have. They have forgotten that they were cleansed from their past sins. My brothers and sisters, God called you and chose you to be His. Do your best to live in a way that shows you really are God’s called and chosen people. If you do all this, you will never fall. And you will be given a very great welcome into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, a kingdom that never ends!!! (Easy to Read Bible)

And to do all of these things, God has given you EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO LIVE FOR HIM...

HOWEVER, ALL THIS COMES TO FRUITION ONLY WHEN YOU BEGIN TO LIVE A LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP AND PRAISE....the last requirement for you to be ALL that God meant for you to be on this earth as you prepare for ALL THAT HE HAS IN STORE FOR YOU IN HIS KINGDOM TO COME...see you again with the rest of God's plan in PREPARING YOU FOR ETERNITY!!!

FILLED MY TOOLBOX...READY TO WORK FOR THE LORD,

WPQ

BUILDING OUR TOOLBOX…READY FOR USE

As we continue in our series of the study of 2Peter 1-11, we find Peter extolling us to add these tools to our growing toolbox…and this one may be hard to use on a regular basis; BUT ONE THAT WILL BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER…IT IS THE TOOL KNOWN AS SELF CONTROL…NOT SELFISH CONTROL!

You see, these tools I just mentioned have similar nomenclatures, but are used in TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAYS. First, Self Control, pulls in the reins of how we interact with those we may know and love…OUR FAMILY. When we use self-control in dealing with our family, we make our decisions and have our interactions with regard to what is best for our mom, dad, or other siblings…we want what they want, if in is good for them as well as for us. Do we hog the bathroom as we get ready for the new day…or do we make it a point to get in and out so that others have time for doing what they need to do to get ready for school or work? Do we look for opportunities to help around the house…or do we leave a mess and just walk away, dirty dishes in the sink and food left on the kitchen counters?

You see, the opposite of self-control is SELFISH control…a time when we make it ALL ABOUT WHAT WE WANT OR NEED, WITH LITTLE, IF ANY REGARD FOR OUR FAMILY OR OTHERS WITH WHOM WE INTERACT? God’s Word has plenty to say regarding self-control, but one of my favorite's follows: “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)  

So, which tool will you be packing in your toolbox? SELF- CONTROL OR ITS EVIL LOOK ALIKE….SELFISH CONTROL?  IT’S  YOUR CHOICE!!!

The next tool Peter tells us to add is the tool known as STEADFAST…which means to us as believers….UNWAVERING FAITH, PERSEVERANCE TO ENDURE HARDSHIPS WITH A RESOLUTE HEART AND THE ABILITY TO STAND FIRM IN OUR FAITH THROUGH OUR GODLY ACTIONS; especially as we commit ourselves to doing God’s will when LIFE seems to overwhelm us and seeks  to pull us away from being obedient to our Father. The apostle Paul shares this verse with us from Philippians 4:1, which reads, “Therefore, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. So, if you are going to call yourself a true believer in Christ, the tool of STEADFASTNESS will constantly be at use in your walk with Christ!

As we continue to walk with our Lord, Peter extols us to add a few more tools to our toolbox of FAITH as we combat the wiles of the devil as he seeks to devour those who would try to live life on their own terms. And our next tool is one that I feel many Christians fail to use properly…it is the tool known as GODLINESS!

And how might one describe GODLINESS? It is what a believer seeks to do as one aligns their thoughts, actions, feelings and interactions with the world, to display an inward peace by imitating our Lord, Jesus Christ. IN SHORT, OUR ACTIONS REFLECT THE CHARATERISTICS OF GOD….WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Paul, in his teachings to young Timothy says in Philippians 4:8, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

But, we must be careful that our desire to be a godly Christian does not come off as an affront to others that see our attitude as “holier than thou” or that might give us a lofty perch that allows us to look down on others who might be struggling in their walk with Jesus. So be GODLY in all you say and do…not GRUMPY AND GROUCHY THAT OTHERS ARE NOT AS GODLY AS YOU BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE. So, how’s your toolbox shaping up; and more importantly, are you acquiring these tools…and if you are, HOW ARE YOU USING THEM FOR YOUR GOOD AND GOD’S GLORY?

Come back tomorrow as we add our last tools and examine our need to live a LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP…BOTH NOW ON EARTH, AS WELL AS IN OUR PREPARATION FOR HEAVEN….

LOADING UP MY TOOLBOX….READY TO WORK FOR THE KINGDOM,

WPQ

AND OUR NEXT TOOLS ARE....

As the apostle Peter begins to share with us in his second book, we find that he behooves us to start adding "tools" to our toolbox. As we read in the next verse of 2 Peter1:5, it says,  For this very reason, applying your diligence to the divine promises, make every effort in exercising your faith to develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding).

We see here that clearly our next tool is moral excellence or in the vernacular of years ago…VIRTURE! So, we must ask ourselves; what is virtue and how do we attain it? For believers in Christ, virtue is best defined in our ability to actively pursue God’s will and display His character in ALL THINGS. In essence, MORAL EXCELLENCE or VIRTURE occurs by living out our faith in all of life, even when it is difficult, in order to bring God, the GLORY He is due!!

We only have to look in God’s Word to find examples of such virtuous, morally excellent followers of the one true God. Examples like Joseph, King David, Ruth, Esther, Daniel, Andrew, or Simon Peter…but one of my favorites; Joseph, the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus. Yes, the Holy Scriptures are resplendent with a myriad of examples of those who pursued the will of God with their entire beings.

Our next tool Peter encourages us to add to our “toolbox” for godly living is… KNOWLEDGE….and here we must differentiate between the kinds of knowledge that will draw us closer to God.

First, we have SECULAR knowledge….the knowledge of the ways, the ins and outs, the ebbs and flows of this secular, but universal world. This knowledge allows us to move throughout our world with the understandings of how God uses this world of His Creation to provide His greatest creation to exist and flourish as He provides us the very essences of life on this planet we call, HOME!

Second, and far more importantly, is our SPIRITUAL knowledge that allows us to ascertain the Divine Truths, Personal Faith, Scriptural Insights and Spiritual Experiences that bring us into a close and more intimate walk with our Heavenly Father. This Spiritual knowledge gives us a sense of meaning and purpose (Jeremiah 29:11); it allows us to gain an inner peace and feelings of contentment (Phil. 4:11-13); it provides us with better coping strategies and skills (Hebrew 12:5-8); and probably, most importantly for our interactive lives, the Spiritual Knowledge that increases our compassion and empathetic feelings toward others (Matt.9:36 & 14:14).

Yes, our journey to Heaven will be fraught with many speedbumps, brick walls and insurmountable obstacles that will impend our travels; however, if we use our willingness to remain seekers and does of moral excellence, and spend our time in lofty pursuits to gain more and more spiritual knowledge of the will and way of our Father, we will be ready for what He is preparing for us in our celestial HOME…the home that is known as THE KINGDOM OF GOD!!!

 

PREPPING FOR THE KINGDOM,

WPQ

The First Tool for Our Toolbox….DILIGENCE!

When we left my last post, we had taken a closer look at the idea of making plans for our future work in Heaven; particularly, using the talents, skills and passions of our life on earth, as well as, what we might best be suited to do as we work for Jesus in Heaven. But, before we get to our work in Heaven, we must make sure we have properly prepared our skills while working for Christ on earth…and to do that as we should, we have to exercise the first tool that the apostle Peter tells us to add to our toolbox of things we will need to use to make sure we are prepared for our work in Heaven.

AND THAT FIRST TOOL IS ….DILIGNECE. Peter writes about it in our study chapter of 2 Peter chapter one, verses 4 & 5, which read,   For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature. ⁵ For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to_________________! (We’ll fill in this blank later on in our further discussions).

Here, Peter is reminding us that we have been given all we need to prepare us for successful living for Christ here on earth, but also in Heaven…IF WE REMAIN DILIGENT IN OUR USE OF THE TOOLS WE WILL BE ADDING TO OUR TOOLBOX.

But for now, why is Diligence so important for us in this life? For one, the devil has a way of entering our lives at the worst possible times and causing us to falter in our faith and our walk with and for Christ. For example, you just lost your job; or gotten a bad diagnosis from the doctor; or lost a loved one in a tragic accident or to a terminal disease…and before you realize that your anger with God has pushed Him far away from where He longs to be…and where you need for Him to be…your anger has broken your fellowship and hindered your relationship with your Heavenly Father.

While I was in the Navy, stationed aboard a WW11 destroyer, I stood many a night watch in the midship’s guard hut,  either from  8 until midnight or from midnight until 4 am….standing for those 4 hours, looking across the dock for anything that might be suspicious or preparing to cause harm to me and my shipmates…in precise words….I WAS STANDING WATCH WITH THE OFFICER OF THE DECK AND ONE OTHER OF MY SHIPMATES. Now truth be told, if anyone meant to do me and my 280 plus shipmates harm, the 45 I carried at me side would only last for twelve shots; however, that would have truly sounded as a warning to all those aboard that something of harm was coming our way….and THAT TYPE OF DILIGENCE MIGHT JUST SERVE AS THE KEY TO STOPPING THE EVIL THREAT THAT STOOD BEFORE US,READY TO DO US HARM.

And that’s the kind of diligence that Peter is talking about in this chapter. You see we have everything we need to protect us from our enemy and all that we need to be holy and righteous before our loving Father; however, if we are not diligent in looking after our hearts, minds and most importantly, our souls, THE WAR MAY BE LOST BEFORE THE FIRST BATTLE HAS BEEN WAGED!!!

Unfortunately, we live at a time when the enemy of DILIGENCE is so prevalent in our society, and it is always working to make us less than effective in our walk with Christ…and what is that demon of our demise…DISTRACTIONS. Yes, if we are not careful to stay attentive, alert and using our acumen of diligence, we will be caught unaware of the wiles of that beast, who roams this world, seeking whom he might devour.

Certainly,  we have all been told, in no uncertain terms, to…KEEP THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING…and that is solid advice; but how do we do just that? I recommend the following three “Ds” to keep you on the road to self-awareness and disciplined in your walk with Christ.

First, of course, DILIGENCE….GUARD YOUR HEART AND TAKE CAPTIVE YOUR THOUGHTS!

Second,  DETERMINE, BEFOREHAND, TO STAY THE COURSE AND STAND WATCH, NO MATTER THE DISTRACTIONS.

Third, DECIVISE ACTION IN ALL YOUR DECISIONS; THEREFIORE, YOU ARE NEVER A DOUBLE-MINDED, UNSTABLE, RESTLESS PERSON, TOSSED ABOUT ON STORMY SEAS! (See James 1:8)

Yes, we have everything we need, but be sure to come back later this week to see what other tools belong in your toolbox….TOOLS THAT YOU WILL NEED, BOTH NOW AND IN THE ETERNITY THAT AWAITS ALL WHO BELIEVE…FINALLY AT HOME, WITH GLORIOUS WORK STILL TO BE DONE!!!

Loading up my toolbox…remaining diligent in all things of the Lord,

WPQ