Hobo at a Valero

Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.

I was just thinking about this while I was filling the gas tank earlier today. Of course I didn’t follow through with it at the time , but I thought to walk up to someone and tell them this story. I thought to do it to pass along what I have learned looking back at this memory all these years later. If only I would have listened to the hobo back then I would’ve been saved from a lot of hurt.

The story was many years ago, I’m 36 now so I would say at least ten years ago, which for me is many. I was at the gas station filling up and out of no where a man walked up to me. He was looking weathered and rough around the edges. It was one of those encounters that takes you by surprise and the details are not clearly remembered. I don’t remember the man asking for anything and I don’t clearly remember how he said it but the man tried to talk to me about Jesus Christ.

At this time in my life, I shrugged it off as a loonie off his meds spewing psychotic babble. I had it all in life back then, or so I thought. A good job, a house, a family, and all the opportunity to “live life to the fullest”. I didn’t need Jesus, my life couldn’t have gotten better, unless I found the fulfillment I was still looking for. I was certain it was behind the next purchase, trip, or sinful experience.

Of course, I shrugged the man off with an awkward laugh. I thought back then was that the Bible is solely the best selling book and if it helped people get through life easier, hey it’s good for them.

At the gas station earlier, I wanted to be that man. I still do but I’m working on the courage. Funny how that hobo is now almost a hero to me, to walk up to complete strangers and without fear say something that so easily can be misconstrued. All the while, the man was trying to help me realize that it’s true so I could believe and my soul would be saved.

Glory be to God that it wasn’t the last time He tried to reach me. I gave my life to Jesus Christ in September 2021 and now looking back at that time it was another time when He was trying to save me. That hobo was an angel that I disregarded. Next time someone tries to reach through to you and point you to Jesus, I pray you listen.

The only thing to fear…

I remember when I was a little kid, I cried to my grandma that I didn’t want to die. I don’t exactly remember what stirred up this emotion. It could have been something I saw or heard, but the fear of death was instilled in me. Throughout my life, this fear has had certain stages. When I was younger, it was almost this wonder. “What does happen beyond this life?” Either I had a good imagination or I thought I had enough time to figure it out but it didn’t cause too much negativity after the initial incident. As I got older, this fear grew in increments.

The biggest increment was after I had brain surgery. I was cursed with, what seemed to be, a limited life. After my surgery, scans showed “spots” in my head. Despite being referred to Sloan Kettering, no official diagnosis could ever be given. This is due to the inability to biopsy them with their sensitive location (which also made surgery out of question).Low grade gliomas was their best “unofficial diagnosis” with a life expectancy of 10 years.

As a result, I was set on this schedule to receive a scan which would determine if those years were to be cut short. They started every three months, then after a few it went to six months, then twelve, and eventually 18 months. I called this increment “the blessing and the curse”.

The blessing was that it gave me motivation to “live life to the fullest” you know the old version before “YOLO”. By this time, I already wasn’t a good person, this kicked it into overdrive. It gave me this selfish urgency to life. Whatever I wanted to do, I did. Whatever I wanted, I bought it. Trying everything to find this feeling of fulfillment where I could say “I’m ready”. Sad news, after going full throttle for ten years, that feeling still eluded me to the exhaustive point of almost giving up the search.

Now, my fear is that someone else might be stuck in that fear and could be until it’s too late. I fear someone I know may never hear that they truly don’t need to fear. Well here is my declaration to everyone. What pulled me out of that fear was Jesus Christ. He pulled me out of that pit and set me on the path toward eternity. As I learn to walk it with him, I grow stronger in faith to let go more of that fear.

However, the other fear grows more giving an urgency to what any Christ follower should want: to let others know and point them towards the Savior. I don’t receive anything in return, not here on earth anyway, because I truly don’t do anything to save anyone. I’m sharing what Christ has done for me, that He is real, He loves you, and He can save you too. I use the word “you” because whoever reads this, it’s true for you.

I pray you come to know Him who saves us from ourselves, from past traumas, from future mistakes, from sin and death. That you find the Truth, the Way, and the Life. I pray you see that the only thing to fear, is not death, it is the Lord. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Glory be to God 🙏

”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.“ John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

One who walks beside…

What makes a good leader?

A good leader is one that walks beside those who should look up to them. A leader strives to be better themselves, encouraging those around them. Motivating others to be better and guiding them. A good leader also listens to those he leads and is humble to take direction along the way.

Finally, a good leader knows they are never in full control. Some may stray away regardless of guidance. Others may not trust in your judgement and go their own way. Some may see, that the best way to lead is along side.

”shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.“ 1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When forgiven…

Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved?

Im not sure how to have a negative example of feeling loved, regardless I will share two of my most positive examples of feeling love.

The first example was September 17th, 2021. I pray to never forget the day, like the Israelites forgot their miracles in the wilderness. The miracle that occurred the morning of the 17th, is the miracle that is destined for all who come to believe. While I lay at rest, not sleeping but not awake, I felt this feeling wash over my entire existence. I felt a calling and that all my past was washed away and I knew He is real. I knew Jesus is real and felt his merciful forgiveness for all that I have done. It was a feeling of love I cannot fully describe, but it was so pure and powerful that it a love that could only come from God.

The second example occurred nine days later on September 26th. This love came through my wife but am sure it originated with God. The days between these two events were powerful, I believe God was building my faith for what was to come. On this day again early in the morning, I became even more free from my past when, after confessing to my wife 15 years of sin against her, she forgave me. It was a powerful decision that I know God must have empowered her to make.

I believe if this decision was laid out to others, not many would be able to make the same choice, and many would say she was wrong for it. Regardless, she did and again in this moment I felt indescribable love.

The following months were not easy to say the least. Our true forgiveness can take much longer than God’s, and rightfully so. Since these events, the love I felt from these two sources has encouraged me to follow Christ and to be a godly husband.

The greatest choices are sometimes the hardest to make. My wife made one of the hardest, if not the hardest, I have ever witnessed a person make. I try to repay her for the love she showed me that day, but I’m not sure if I will ever be able to.

The love I felt from Christ, on the 17th and since, has encouraged me to help others to feel this love. I cannot describe how to feel it to others, if I could it would be to seek Him, ask for his forgiveness, and if He forgave me He can forgive anyone.

”Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.“ 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

”You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.“ Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

”but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.“
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Romans 12:2

Where can you reduce clutter in your life?

My mind.

”Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.“
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Second chances

I saw a post where someone asked “Will those left behind get a second chance?”

I believe anyone has a second chance as long as they are alive. Until judgement day, by then all choices must be made. Thief on the cross shows this, in that even while being punished for being committed of a crime, in his last moments of life accepted Christ and is with Him in paradise.

”And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.“ Acts 2:21 KJV

”Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.“ Revelation 3:12 KJV

”And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.“ Revelation 3:7-12 KJV

Imagine trying to read this after the rapture. (Unless the world is like in “the book of Eli” and all bibles have been burned.) You try to decipher this without a helper, man or spirit. Few will be able to therefore, as long as one can call of the name of the Lord, I believe they shall be saved. However, after He receives His new name, that is it. Hell is eternal separation from God, they will never know His Name. Glory be to God