Life threw me a curveball, one that left me bruised and confused. I grew up in a storm – a storm of abuse that clung to my family like a shroud. My brother, good guy that he was, just couldn't escape the darkness. He chased fleeting comforts, leaned on people who wouldn't hold him up, all the while the enemy whispered sweet nothings in his ear. Codependency, they call it – relying on the wrong people for love, a trap that slowly choked the life out of him. He never found his faith, and that's a burden I carry with me to this day. But even in the wreckage, there's a chance to find hope. My brother's struggle, the pain that shadowed our family – that's the fire that forged my faith. I saw firsthand the destruction that came from chasing fleeting shadows, and I clung all the harder to the teachings of Christ. That's what redemption is all about, you see. It's taking the broken pieces of your life and offering them up to God. It's letting Him mend the cr...

Even in our freedom gained through true salvation, maintaining faith that God's plan is still in effect in the face of extreme adversity is difficult.  We are on the training range and the battlefield simultaneiously.   Ephesians 6:13 does not say put on part of the armour of God, but the whole armour of God.  I may still piecemeal my armour but I am learning that God hast to be at the center or actions become mine, not his.   It is a unique perspective to think that when we are on the offense we need to be in a position of surrender. Selfish revenge is not what God had is mind when he said Vengeance is mine. Romans 12:19 -21: Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave iti to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but ov...

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:20-21 My brother had a personal brand for a while. It was "Dead Existence" Alive, but not really living.  It's been 5-months since 19 Jul 23 when my mother called and at first I thought she was just talking fast as she does sometimes and thought it was a fun conversation at first but I remember the moment in the conversation of Mike and "He died."   The girls and were supposed to go to Orlando--to Universal for a few days or Christian concerts at the park.  I originally was going to reach out to my brother, Mike, and ask him if he wanted to hang out with his brother and 2-Nieces.  My youngest misses him the most.  It was going to be a little surprise because we hadn't talked in over a year or so.  ...

  Waiting on God When You're Hurting I've been hurting for a long time. I've been through a lot of pain and loss. I've felt like God has abandoned me. But I know that's not true. God is still with me. He's still loving me. He's still working in my life. I'm just having a hard time waiting on Him. I want things to be better now. I want the pain to go away. I want to feel like I'm not alone. But I know that God has a plan for my life. And I know that His timing is perfect. So I'm trying to be patient. I'm trying to trust God. I'm trying to believe that He's good, even when I don't feel like it. I know that waiting on God is hard. But it's also a time of growth. It's a time to learn to trust God more. It's a time to learn to rely on Him more. So if you're hurting, and you're waiting on God, I want you to know that you're not alone. I'm right there with you. And I want you to know that God is good. He's...

  The Meaning of Redemption The word "redemption" means to be bought back or set free. In this passage, Peter is saying that we have been redeemed from our empty way of life by the blood of Christ. What does that mean? It means that our sins have been forgiven, and we are no longer slaves to sin. We are free to live a new life in Christ. The Power of Redemption The redemption that Christ offers is not just a theoretical concept. It is a real and powerful force that can transform our lives. When we accept Christ's redemption, we are given a new identity. We are no longer defined by our past mistakes, but by the love of Christ. We are also given a new purpose. We are called to live a life of love, joy, and peace. We are called to make a difference in the world. The Hope of Redemption If you're hurting, I want you to know that there is hope. Your life is not empty or meaningless. You have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. You can start living a new life today. You ca...

All Life is Redeemable I've been hurting for a long time. I've made mistakes, I've done things I'm not proud of, and I've hurt people I love. I've felt like I'm beyond redemption, like I'm too far gone. But then I read these words from 1 Peter 1:18-19: For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. These words gave me hope. They reminded me that I am not beyond redemption. That my past does not define me. That I am valuable to God, and that He loves me enough to die for me. I'm not saying that it's easy to walk in the freedom of redemption. There will be times when I'm tempted to go back to my old ways. There will be times when I feel like I'm not good enough. But I know that I can always come back to these words, and find the strength to keep going. If you...

After the Storm And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  1 Peter 5:10 Free the Hate Free the Bitterness Free the Anger Free the Despair Free me from the enemy Lead my thoughts, actions and desires  Reveal the truth Revive the death Redeem the Joy Redeem the day Redeem this life It’s not over, it’s just beginning